The Stand-In Wife Chapter 02

The Stand-In Wife Chapter 02

So I officially swapped back with Leah and moved into the apartment she’d rented a month ago.

“Don’t go out much,” she’d said. “If you do, wear a wig and sunglasses. If anyone finds out, we’re screwed.”

“Got it.”

“I won’t contact you unless I have to, and you don’t contact me. Order delivery for your meals. Keep your phone on twenty-four-seven. If I call, you’d better pick up right away. If something happens with Kane and I can’t answer him, I’ll need you to fill in the blanks.”

I looked at her. She was talking while fussing with her hair in the mirror.

“Got it.”

Kane’s flight landed at 8 p.m. At 7:45, I couldn’t help myself. I went downstairs and took a cab to the airport.

I didn’t even know what I was doing there.

I stood a few yards away from Leah, wearing a wig and sunglasses, watching her wait with that excited, expectant look on her face.

“Leah!”

I flinched automatically and looked over. Kane was pushing a luggage cart, walking toward Leah with a big smile on his face.

He looked a little tanner after two months away. There was still a trace of exhaustion in his face that hadn’t faded.

“Kane!” Leah’s face lit up. She threw her arms around his neck. For a split second, Kane hesitated — but then he lifted his arms and hugged her back tightly.

I was close enough to hear his voice, warm with laughter. “You missed me, didn’t you?”

Vincent nodded at Leah. “Ma’am, Mr. Kane finished his work a week early just so he could be back today for your anniversary.”

I watched them walk away together, Kane leaning down to murmur something in Leah’s ear every now and then, Leah looking up at him and laughing.

Anyone looking at them would see a couple very much in love.

I stood alone at the airport for a long time.

About an hour and a half later, I walked out and hailed another cab.

“Moon Shadow Manor, please.”

“You got it.” The driver was a local guy. “Miss, you live in Moon Shadow Manor? That place is all rich folks.”

I smiled. “…A friend’s place.”

He pulled up at the main gate. Just as he was about to hit the meter, I stopped him. “Hey, I’ll give you an extra hundred if you keep the meter running for fifteen minutes. I need to go to another place after this.”

The driver gave me a weird look. “Miss, what’s this about?”

Why?

I laughed bitterly. I didn’t even know myself.

I waited about ten minutes. And sure enough, I saw that familiar black Maybach slowly pull up to the gate.

But the car didn’t go into the underground garage. It stopped right at the entrance.

Kane got out, holding a tipsy Leah in his arms. They must have just come back from dinner.

He opened the trunk.

Golden light spilled out, lighting up half the street.

I rolled down my window and leaned out a little. Inside the trunk, bathed in that golden glow, were hundreds of white roses.

Kane’s voice drifted over on the wind. “Nine this morning, nine hundred ninety in the trunk. That’s nine hundred ninety-nine total. Happy anniversary, baby.”

“Happy anniversary!” Leah looked up and kissed him, laughing.

I rolled up my window and sat back.

Earlier today, Leah had complimented my acting.

But I realized right then that her acting was way better than mine.

Or maybe she didn’t need to act at all. Maybe the person Kane loved was always her.

I was just the stand-in.

What was I even hoping for?

Kane had always loved her. Of course he couldn’t tell the difference. Why would he?

I was just Leah’s shadow.

Like two cars on the road, but no one noticed the taxi still sitting there.

Vincent drove the Maybach into the garage. Kane had his arm around Leah, walking toward the gate.

“Hey,” I said quietly. “…Let’s go.”

The taxi pulled away slowly. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Miss, was that your ex-boyfriend or something? Look, let me tell you — there are plenty of fish in the sea. Don’t go drowning yourself over one loser.”

I made a sound of agreement and touched my face.

I was crying.

“Not recognized.”

As we passed the gate, a loud robotic female voice suddenly announced.

The pack guard hurried out of his booth. “Sorry, Mrs. Nightwalker, this machine must be acting up. I’ll open it manually for —”

I looked over. All I could see were two blurry figures walking away with their arms around each other.