Part 1The World Didn't Know He Was Just a Stand-In

The world didn't know it, but he was the real stand-in.

At 2 AM, my ex called, saying he wanted to get back together.

With red eyes, I agreed.

But from the other end of the line erupted a thunderous roar of laughter.

[I told you guys, this woman, Emily Vance, as long as I crook my finger, she'll shamelessly crawl right back to me.]

I didn't get angry. I just asked him if what he just said still counted.

[Nathaniel Hale, as long as you come back, you can do whatever you want to me...]

Deathly silence on the other end.

[Emily Vance! I'm fucking Liam Sterling! You better explain right now, who the hell is Nathaniel Hale?!]

* * *

In the middle of the night, I was running a slight fever.

In a groggy haze, I heard my phone ring.

I answered it. There was a lot of noisy commotion, and it took a while before a man's magnetic voice reached my ear.

[Emily, I miss you.]

That familiar voice made my eyes instantly tear up.

For the past few months, I've been relying on sleeping pills just to close my eyes.

Hearing his voice again, I couldn't help but choke up.

[I miss you too.]

Soon, the voice spoke again.

[Emily, let's stop fighting. Let's get back together.]

The man's voice was like rich red wine, instantly intoxicating me. After the high fever, a layer of sweat coated my body, soaking through my clothes.

My long nails dug into the edge of my phone case. I could barely suppress my sobs as I eagerly nodded in agreement.

But then, a burst of thunderous laughter erupted from the phone.

[Liam is the man! Two sentences and he's got his ex-girlfriend begging like a dog!]

[People actually fall for the middle-of-the-night 'let's get back together' routine? Liam, where did you find this weirdo? When you were together, she treated you like a king. It's been three months since you broke up, and she's still hung up on you.]

[That's just our Liam's charm. When they were together, he'd tell her to get lost and she would, obedient as a dog.]

[One time, Liam was out on a date with another woman, and with one phone call, Emily came over just to drop off condoms.]

[Are there really people that pathetic?]

[That's our Liam's charm. I'll take this penalty drink.]

Unbridled mockery poured from the phone, finally replaced by Liam's voice again:

[I told you guys, Emily Vance is pathetic. As long as I crook my finger, she'll shamelessly cling to me.]

Liam's voice was still deep and magnetic, but laced with a hint of smugness.

Then, he said to me:

[Emily, we're playing Truth or Dare. Thanks for taking a drink for me.]

His tone was dismissive, and he sounded ready to hang up.

But I didn't want to miss this hard-won opportunity. I pressed him urgently: [Did you mean what you just said?]

He froze.

Even the background music seemed to quiet down a bit.

[Emily, are you sick in the head? You didn't actually think I was calling you in the middle of the night to get back together, did you?]

Liam cursed at me.

I ignored him, persisting:

[You said it, and I agreed.]

As I spoke, I couldn't hold back my cries. My voice took on a pleading tone, lowering myself to the absolute dust:

[Nathaniel Hale, as long as you come back, you can do whatever you want to me...]

No response from the other side.

For a long, long time, it was a deathly silence.

Then, a furious, low growl from Liam:

[Emily Vance! You better explain right now, who the hell is Nathaniel Hale?!]