Chapter 3
It turns out all of this was just because of his deceased first love.
He had simply placed the love he had for her onto me.
I turned off the lights in the room and weakly leaned against the door.
I reflected on the little moments from the past year we had spent together..
Tears began to flow uncontrollably.
A voice inside me said:
“Break up, you’re just a substitute.
“What’s more unforgettable than a first love is a dead first love.
“You’ll never measure up to a dead person.”
But wasn’t I happy this past year?
He gave me everything–economic value, emotional value, and sexual value.
So what if I’m a stand–in?
Should I really be comparing myself to someone who’s dead?
Can’t I just pretend it never happened?
Should I give up this huge villa and go back to a bare apartment?
Should I give up the rich second–generation boyfriend and go back to the small town for arranged blind dates?
Chapter
Chapter 4
“Son.”
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice outside the door.
Ruben’s mother, Molly, had arrived.
“Why aren’t you back in your room?
“Did you have a fight with Joanna?
“Even if you argue, she should sleep on the couch, and you should be in the room.
“Look at you, you’re spoiling her.”
Ruben sat up from the sofa:
“No, Mom, we didn’t have a fight.”
Molly put down a large bag and sat beside him, beginning to lecture him:
“Son, I know you couldn’t accept Joella’s passing at first,
“So you found someone who resembles her a little, Joanna.
“But a counterfeit will always be a counterfeit, no matter how much you try to carve it into something real.
“Don’t keep placing your love for Joella onto Joanna. This woman isn’t worth you doing that
for.”
“Mom!” Ruben snapped at Molly.
But she paused for a moment, then continued:
“Do you know? When Joanna’s father was still alive, her mother was already with her
Chapter 4
current stepfather. Her father was literally driven to death by her mother!
“Like mother, like daughter. I won’t let such a woman become my Phillips family’s daughter–in–law.”
Hearing Molly talk about my mom, I couldn’t take it anymore.
I clenched my fists and rushed out the door:
Shut up! My mom is not like that!”
Maybe my sudden appearance shocked her, because her face went pale immediately.
A minute later, she quickly regained her composure, putting on a fierce expression.
She frowned and looked me up and down:
My messy hair, the unsmeared tears, and my bare feet.
She looked at me with a look of disgust:
“Ruben’s in a bad mood today. Can’t you just let him be?”
“Everything you eat, wear, and live with–he provides for you. Is it really so hard to give today to him and Joella?”
I could accept him mourning his deceased first love.
But I couldn’t accept being treated as her replacement.
Ruben stayed silent, letting Molly berate me without saying a word.
Seeing this, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly:
“Fine, leave it to her. How are you going to do that? Are you going to die and go down to keep her company?”
20.20%
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
