Replaced By His First Love

Nine years. That was how long I had been actor Julian Chase’s secret girlfriend. When I finally heard he was holding a press conference to introduce his partner to the world, I spent hours dressing up, my heart racing with excitement. Instead, I stood in the crowd and watched him hold hands with a rising starlet, looking at her with pure adoration as he declared his love for her. After the announcement, his manager cornered him backstage, looking both thrilled and nervous: "Your first love is finally back, Julian. But what about the stand-in you've been keeping at home? If the press finds out about her, your career is finished." Julian just gave a cold, self-assured smirk: "Relax. She won't say a word. She's hopelessly in love with me." My heart shattered into a million pieces. I turned around, took out my phone, and called my parents: "Mom, Dad. I agree to the arranged marriage." Months later, we ran into each other at City Hall. When he saw me holding another man’s arm, he rushed forward like a madman. "You said you'd only ever love me! How dare you be with someone else?!" Right after hanging up, my mom texted me the details of the match. I pushed all my chaotic thoughts aside and threw myself into packing, hoping the sheer exhaustion would numb the pain. Just as I finished packing the first few suitcases and was heading to the bathroom to wash up, the front door clicked open. Only Julian had the passcode. He kicked off his shoes, walked straight into the bathroom, and wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Anne, I missed you so much." He rested his head on my shoulder, leaning in to kiss my hair. The memory of what he told his manager earlier flashed in my mind. A wave of disgust hit me. I frowned and stepped away from his embrace. "You reek of alcohol." He didn’t back off. Instead, he grabbed my chin, his fingers tracing over my eyes and lips with obsessive care. I used to think this was proof of his love. I never realized he was just searching for someone else's ghost on my face. All those years of sweet, tender devotion were nothing but an act. And I had been foolish enough to believe I was his one and only. From the very beginning, I was just a stand-in. Sickened by his touch, I shoved him hard. But he was much stronger than me. In one swift move, he hoisted me onto the bathroom counter. Burying his face in my chest, his fingers moved down to unbutton my shirt. "Julian! Stop touching me!" I practically screamed, repulsed by the slick, suffocating feeling of his skin against mine. He froze, a flash of genuine shock on his face. Before he could speak, his phone rang. I glanced down at the screen. The caller ID clearly read: "Anna." He let go of me instantly and hurried to answer it. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Anna. No wonder he always loved calling me Anne. It wasn’t just my face. Even my name was just a convenient substitute to fill the void she left behind. Ignoring his silhouette in the hallway, I quickly brushed my teeth, washed my face, and prepared to head to bed. I never expected Julian to turn his camera toward me. "Is that your little assistant? Has she been on call 24/7? She looks awful!" A sweet, sugary voice drifted from the speaker. Without giving me a chance to react, the girl on the screen cooed, "Hi there! I’m Julian’s girlfriend. Thank you so much for taking care of him all these years." I stood frozen under the harsh lights, staring right past the camera at Julian. His little assistant. How amusing. Since when had I been demoted to his assistant? I caught the brief flicker of panic on Julian’s face before he tapped his screen. His expression softened into that signature gentle smile. "Anna, she’s just really introverted. She hates talking to strangers and avoids the spotlight. I need her on call around the clock, which is why she stays here.""Don't worry, sweetie, I totally get it. It’s part of our job. If I don't understand you, who will? Besides, Miss Hayes actually looks a bit like me! If the paparazzi ever snap a photo of her, we can just say it was me. You really thought of everything, babe." Anna’s tone was playful and teasing. Julian chuckled fondly. "You little troublemaker." "By the way, my place is getting remodeled. Since we’re officially public now, can I move in with you for a while?" Anna asked, her voice tinged with nervous anticipation. Julian didn't hesitate. "We’re together now. My home is your home. You can move in anytime." "Then why don't you have your assistant come pick me up? She can help me carry my bags. You wouldn't mind, right?" Anna’s spoiled whining echoed through the quiet room. I stayed rooted to the spot, waiting to see what Julian would say. He glanced at me nervously, quickly averting his eyes. "You have too much luggage. I'll send my manager. He’s a guy, he can handle the heavy lifting." Anna whined a bit more before Julian coaxed her into hanging up. He put down his phone and turned to face me. "You know how the industry works. It’s just PR. We’re building an on-screen couple brand to gain more fans. It’s purely professional." A chill ran through my bones, but then a wave of pure absurdity washed over me. I burst into laughter. Seeing my smile, he visibly relaxed. "I'm glad you understand, babe. I knew you’d always be sensible." I nodded calmly. Without another word, I turned and walked straight into the guest bedroom, closing the door behind me. The moment the latch clicked, my phone buzzed with a friend request on SnapChat. The profile picture was a matching couple's photo with Julian’s. Julian had used that same avatar for nine years without ever changing it. Which meant they had been using matching avatars this entire time. Whenever I had asked him to use matching photos, he’d always refused, claiming he was terrified the media would dig it up. He wasn't afraid of the press. He was afraid Anna would find out he had replaced her picture with mine. I tapped 'Accept.' I knew she had nothing good to say, but I didn't care anymore. I was leaving to get married anyway. Whatever they did was none of my business. "Miss Hayes, I know you're Julian’s assistant, but I'm moving in tomorrow. We need our privacy as a couple. You know what you need to do, right?" She phrased it politely, but the underlying threat was crystal clear. She was marking her territory and forcing me out. I typed a single word: "Okay." Then, I turned off the screen and pulled the duvet over my head. I was exhausted—mentally and physically. After a restless night, the movers arrived early the next morning. Julian froze when he saw them carrying boxes down the hallway. "You packed all of this in one night? Were you really that desperate to leave me?" He stormed over, his face twisted with anger, and grabbed my wrist tightly. Anyone watching would have thought I was the one who cheated on him. I twisted my wrist, trying to pull away, but his grip was ironclad, leaving angry red marks on my pale skin. "Miss Vance is moving in. If I stay, I’ll be intruding on your private life." I stared right into his eyes. My words seemed to burn him. He let go instantly and took two steps back, his face darkening. "Even so, you didn't have to rush out like this..."I scoffed. The man was pathetic. He wanted to keep me around as a convenient stand-in while simultaneously welcoming his first love into his bed. Men could be greedy, but he was truly in a league of his own. "Rushing? Isn’t Miss Vance moving in today? Leaving right now is perfect timing." I didn't want to waste another second on him. It took nine years for his mask to slip, but I finally saw him for what he really was. I supposed I had been blinded by love all those years; otherwise, how could I have failed to see his true colors? Crash—! A loud noise shattered my thoughts. I looked down at the shattered items on the floor, my brows knitting together. The box that dropped was filled with gifts Julian had given me over the years. Back before we even started dating, he had given me a snow globe. He told me the tiny glass house inside was a promise of the home we’d build together one day. Now, it lay in pieces on the hardwood floor. Much like our supposed future. Beside it was a matching scarf I had hand-knitted for him. He rarely wore his, and I had been too precious with mine to wear it often. Now, it was soaked in murky water and sparkling glitter. Soggy, ruined, and pathetic. There were the handmade ceramic mugs we painted together, carved with our favorite tulips, now reduced to jagged shards. The cracked edges looked like they were mocking me. Each broken item represented a piece of our history. From cheap trinkets to luxury jewelry, the gifts mirrored his rise to stardom—and the decay of his feelings for me. In the beginning, the gifts were cheap but full of heart. Later on, they were expensive, but utterly thoughtless. Whether his feelings had changed or he had simply revealed his true self no longer mattered. None of it mattered anymore. "What the hell did you do?!" Julian roared at the mover, stepping forward aggressively, but I raised my hand to stop him. "It's fine. It was all junk meant for the trash anyway. What's broken is broken." Just like this relationship. It held no value anymore. Throwing it away was the easiest thing in the world. "What do you mean junk?! Those were all—" "Julian, honey, why are you so upset?" A sweet voice rang out from the foyer. Julian’s rage vanished in a split second, as if his furious outburst had never happened. "Nothing, babe. What are you doing here so early?" Julian wiped the fury from his face, turning around with a handsome, tender smile that made him look like an entirely different person. "Well, since I'm moving in today, I figured I'd come over before my shoot for that reality show!" She smiled brightly, directing her personal staff to start bringing in her designer luggage. Catching sight of me, she flashed a practiced, elegant smile. "Don't worry, Miss Hayes. Now that I’m here, you don't have to stress over taking care of Julian anymore. I'll look after him." She linked her arm through Julian’s, their fingers intertwining naturally. I gave a curt nod. "Good. I wish you both the best." With that, I turned back to the movers and told them to keep loading the truck. Since I was leaving, I wasn't leaving a single trace of myself behind. "Don't worry about the mess, sir. Like I said, it was meant for the garbage." The moving guy let out a huge sigh of relief. He knew some of the items were designer brands, and if I had demanded compensation, he could never have afforded it. "Thank you, ma'am. Thank you so much!" He carried the remaining boxes out, and I grabbed a broom to sweep up the shards and trash. Anna stood by the hallway, watching me with a smug tilt to her lips. "Miss Hayes, you’re so domestic. Whoever marries you in the future will be very lucky." "Yeah. I think so too." I agreed calmly, not bothering to take her bait. "Wait, don't put my bags in that room! Put them in the master bedroom! I’m staying with my boyfriend." Anna called out when she noticed someone carrying her luggage toward my former room. I looked at Julian. He immediately looked away, unable to meet my eyes. A quiet scoff slipped past my lips. I tied off the trash bag and walked out the front door. The master bedroom was a sanctuary I wasn't allowed into for nine whole years. Yet on day one, Anna moved right in.A stand-in would always just be a stand-in. Never the real thing. I met Julian during my freshman year of college. The moment he saw me, he claimed it was love at first sight. I thought he was just another smooth-talking player. Yet he pursued me relentlessly for over a year before I finally caved and said yes. He treated me with incredible tenderness. He took care of every little detail of my life. In our junior year, his first business venture failed. I stayed by his side, helping him get back on his feet. He would cup my face in his hands, softly whispering, "Anne, my sweet Anne..." He swore he would cherish me forever, that we would never part. Looking back now, every time he drunkenly whispered that name into my ear, staring at my face, he wasn't looking at me at all. He was looking for Anna Vance. Later, he was scouted by a talent agency. With his stunning looks and undeniable talent, he skyrocketed into stardom, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after leading men in the country. He kept using his rising career as an excuse to keep me hidden in the shadows, never introducing me to anyone. Only now did I realize it wasn't that his inner circle didn't know about me. They all knew. They just pretended not to. Everyone knew he had an unforgettable first love, and that I was merely her cheaper replica. In the end, I was just an idiot. But thankfully, it wasn't too late to walk away. The moment my car pulled out of the driveway, my phone chimed with a text from Julian. [Babe, I know you feel wronged. But there might be press or industry people around, so I had to let her talk like that.] [I'll arrange a new luxury villa for you right away. I'll pick you up tonight, okay?] I could practically see his face as he typed those words. Did he really take me for a brainless fool? Someone who would swallow his pathetic, insulting lies forever? I blocked his number and deleted him from every platform, then instructed the driver to take me to my own villa. It was a property my parents had bought for me years ago. I rarely stayed there because I had chosen to live with Julian. The housekeeper and staff kept it immaculate, so I could move in immediately without lifting a finger. The very next day after my return, my parents introduced me to my arranged marriage partner. His name was Vincent Sterling. Tall, poised, and devastatingly handsome, he possessed a pair of deep, captivating eyes that looked like they held endless devotion for whatever caught his gaze. He was an absolute gentleman. Every interaction with him was effortless and comfortable, and I found myself genuinely enjoying his company. My parents, terrified that I was unhappy, handed me an unlimited black card, begging me to buy whatever my heart desired. To them, I had suffered nine years of deprivation living in hiding. They wanted to shower me with every luxury to make up for lost time. I was happy to be back in their warm embrace. Over the next three months, Vincent and I grew closer. Eventually, he made his intentions clear—he wanted to build a real future together and marry me. I said yes. He was kind, attentive, and leagues better than Julian in every conceivable way. I had zero reasons to refuse. So, we threw an extravagant engagement gala. Vincent had an internationally renowned designer tailor a one-of-a-kind gown just for me, and he booked an entire five-star private resort for the occasion. The official Sterling Group Ins account even posted a formal announcement about our upcoming nuptials. The news of the billionaire CEO of Sterling Group marrying the heiress of the Hayes family exploded across social media. It instantly overshadowed the PR buzz surrounding Julian Chase and Anna Vance’s rumored engagement. Vincent even launched a five-million-dollar celebratory giveaway on Ins. Anyone who left a congratulatory message was entered to win. Within hours, the internet went into a complete frenzy! Meanwhile, Julian, staring at his phone screen on the other side of town, went completely pale. "What?! How could Anne be marrying someone else?!"