Chapter 1

After five years of marriage, Rebecca Alcott had resolved to pursue a divorce. When she arrived at the office, she saw the secretary bringing some documents to Stanley. She casually offered to deliver them instead, saying it was on her way, and quietly slipped the divorce agreement into the pile. Stanley was on the phone when he received the documents. He signed everything without even looking, including the divorce agreement. Rebecca stared at the signed divorce papers, momentarily dazed. It was all finally coming to an end. Just as she was about to pick up the documents and leave, her arm accidentally bumped into the delicate photo frame on the desk. It toppled over with a sharp crash, and shards of glass scattered in all directions. The woman in the photo wore a radiant smile, but half of her face was now obscured by broken glass. It was Mia Scott, Stanley's long-dead first love. She was the one he had never let go of. Stanley ended his phone call abruptly. He shouted furiously, "What are you doing?" He shot to his feet and shoved Rebecca hard. She stumbled back, losing her balance. Her hand landed on the shattered glass scattered across the floor. A sharp pain shot through her palm. She clenched her teeth, refusing to cry out, but tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes. She lowered her head and watched blood drip from her fingers onto the documents, staining them red. However, Stanley seemed oblivious to her pain. He bent down to pick up the photo, gently brushing away the shards of glass with painstaking care, as if terrified of causing even the slightest damage. His movements were tender and focused, as though he were handling something infinitely precious. Rebecca felt a deep sorrow as she looked at him. They had been married for five years. Yet somehow, even as a living person, she still couldn't compare to a photograph. "What are you still doing here? From now on, don't come into my office without my permission." Stanley glared at her icily. Rebecca said nothing. She simply gathered the scattered documents from the floor and turned to leave in silence. Blood was still oozing from her palm, but she couldn't feel any pain. Just as she reached the doorway, she heard Stanley make another phone call. His voice was still cold, but carried a hint of urgency. "Have you found a stand-in who looks like Mia?" The person on the other end said something, and Stanley's voice quivered with barely suppressed pain. "Keep looking! Why is it that after all these years, I still haven't come across a single stand-in who looks like her? Why does fate have to be so cruel to me…" Rebecca paused mid-step, a wave of bitterness washing over her. She lowered her head, gazing at her bloodied palm. A faint, bitter smile tugged at her lips. She thought, "Stanley, you couldn't find someone like Mia. But I did. Don't worry, I'll train her well… then deliver her to you myself." Rebecca took a cab to one of her villas. The car sped through bustling streets, the scenery outside flashing by in a blur. Yet, her thoughts drifted back to the past. She and Stanley had grown up together. They had been childhood friends since they were little. She had loved him for ten whole years. But Stanley had already given his heart away. Ever since Mia appeared, there was no one else in his gaze. However, Mia fell seriously ill and passed away at just 20 years old. From that moment on, Stanley became withdrawn and joyless. Ultimately, he reluctantly agreed to the marriage alliance with Rebecca's family. Everyone knew how much Rebecca loved Stanley. Despite this, she endured when he built a memorial for Mia in their home and honored her daily. She tolerated the bedside photos of Mia and his conversations with them. Even when he became obsessed with finding someone who looked like Mia, she still remained silent. She thought that if she stayed by his side long enough, he would eventually turn around and fall in love with her. She even dared to dream that one day he'd forget Mia, that they'd have a child together, and live out a happy life. But reality shattered that illusion without mercy. She experienced three pregnancies, all ending in miscarriage. She initially believed her body was the reason she couldn't carry a child to term. It wasn't until her third miscarriage that she accidentally overheard a conversation between Stanley and his close friend. "Stanley, every time Rebecca gets pregnant, you ensure she loses the baby. If she ever finds out, it'll destroy her." "Whether she suffers or not has nothing to do with me. If I had a child with another woman, Mia would not rest in peace," Stanley replied. She then realized those miscarriages were not accidental. Stanley had been the one giving her drugs to induce a miscarriage each time. All because he thought Mia couldn't rest in peace. A chill ran through her, numbing her to the core. That night, she went to a bar to escape her pain, but ended up saving a young woman from being sold to an older man by her parents. Her face looked just like Mia's back in the day. At that moment, as Rebecca stared at her face, a wild, unthinkable idea surged through her mind. Since he couldn't let go of Mia, then she—the legitimate wife—would step aside. And at the same time, she'd give him a gift. She would train this woman to replace Mia so that she could stay by Stanley's side forever. … At Mistlake Villa, Rebecca pushed open the door and saw Nadia Thorne. She was following the instructions of the tutor Rebecca had hired to dress like Mia. She wore a white dress with a rounded collar, paired with a delicate pearl necklace that made her look sweet and innocent. The only flaw was her hair. It was dull and brittle from malnutrition. Moreover, she was too skinny. But then again, that thin frame made her resemble the ailing Mia even more. For a moment, Rebecca was a little dazed. She provided guidance instinctively. "Mia prefers wearing white dresses. Her hair should be softly curled, and the perfume should be jasmine-scented." Nadia nodded obediently, her voice gentle. "Rebecca, I'll do my best to learn." She didn't want to marry an old man. What she really wanted was to escape her parasitic parents. Rebecca had shown her a photo of Stanley. He was tall, refined, handsome, with an air of noble detachment. He was the kind of man she could never have charmed in the life she came from. She was more than willing to stay with him. That was why she had been learning so diligently lately. Rebecca looked at her, emotions churning. She reached out and gently stroked Nadia's hair. "You've got her vibe already. Very soon, I'll personally send you to his side."