Substitute lover

When I returned from studying abroad, there was a new assistant by Ethan’s side, one who looked eerily similar to me. He told me she was just a distraction, a placeholder. On our wedding day, the placeholder had a miscarriage and was hospitalized. Ethan left me at the altar for her. He asked me to wait for him. I smiled and said yes, then turned around and found a new groom.

I never thought I'd become the discarded first love in a story about a replacement taking over. Ethan and I were childhood sweethearts. We built a business together. At twenty-four, we finally had our own company. At the same time, I received an acceptance letter from my dream university. Ethan and I promised that we would get married when I graduated. Studying abroad wasn't easy, but the thought of the future he promised me made all the late nights and exhaustion worthwhile. Just thinking about him turned all the bitterness into sweetness.

I pushed myself to the limit, cramming all my coursework into three years just so I could return to Ethan sooner. My return was meant to be a surprise. But I never expected to find a woman who looked almost identical to me by his side – Heather Garcia. Just looking at her face, she was practically my twin. The difference was, she had just graduated from college; she was younger, more vibrant. Standing next to Ethan, she seemed confident and carefree.

I ran into Ethan at a charity auction. By then, I had achieved academic success, overcoming countless obstacles to finally stand before him. But he was there with a young woman on his arm, extravagantly bidding on the most precious item of the auction: the Heart of the Ocean, a priceless blue diamond steeped in history. I watched as Ethan, without blinking, won the diamond and presented it, under the name of our company, Green Ash, to the beaming woman beside him. Unlimited indulgence, endless glory. And the source of his lavish spending – Green Ash – was the company we had both struggled for years to build.

I can't describe how I felt. The world around me lost all color. I walked up to them, my face expressionless. "Ethan," I said, "long time no see." The next second, the smug look on his face vanished, replaced by shock and then overwhelming joy. He had a handsome face, made even more striking by his recent success. Even with a woman on his arm, he still attracted admiring glances from other women. Ethan stared at me, his initial shock transforming into immense surprise. He nearly crushed his wine glass in his hand as he strode towards me and embraced me without hesitation. "Ashley!" His voice was hoarse, his grip so tight it almost hurt. "You're back..."

Held in his arms, I couldn't see his expression. I think I would have hugged him back. If it weren't for the woman standing right there. "...Ethan, who is this?" she asked. "My girlfriend, Ashley Green." The woman's face paled, but she forced a smile. "Hello, Ms. Green. I'm Mr. Stone's assistant, Heather Garcia." I didn't speak. My eye...