Chapter 1My Twin Sister Can't Have Children, So She Schemed to Frame Me as a Surrogate. Now They're Calling Me a Homewrecker?

Everyone's calling me a homewrecker because I stole my twin sister's fiancé. But what they don't know is that this was all an elaborate scheme orchestrated by my sister... all because she can't have children.

I'm getting divorced.

My husband, or soon-to-be ex-husband, is named Lucas Parker. He's a high-level executive at a publicly traded company - respectable job, respectable looks.

The only thing not so respectable about him is his wife - me, Olivia Reed. Because I'm the "other woman", the one who stole her own twin sister's fiancé. Everyone who knows Lucas is aware of this fact.

Ever since I married Lucas, I've often been the target of mockery and disdain. I've grown used to it. Even if Lucas and I didn't have this messy entanglement, I was frequently the object of ridicule anyway.

And it's all thanks to my sister, Emily Reed.

I'm not sure what kind of relationship she truly had with Lucas, or if there were real feelings involved. But they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend for seven years.

If I had to guess why Emily pursued Lucas, I'd say it was probably just to spite me.

Emily and I are identical twins. We look very much alike, but our personalities couldn't be more different. According to our mom, Emily is the perfect lady - gentle, virtuous, and well-mannered. I, on the other hand, am the family disappointment, the black sheep. I have no comment on that assessment.

Emily hates me, and I can't say I'm particularly fond of her either.

From a very young age, I was always a loner. I vaguely remember having many friends when I was little, but those friendships never lasted long. Whenever I made a new friend, it wouldn't be long before they became Emily's close friend instead.

Eventually, I just stopped trying to make friends altogether.

Back then, I'd often overhear people gossiping nearby: "Emily, you're twins, but how come your sister looks so... unpleasant in comparison?"

Every time, Emily would smile that fake smile of hers and explain, "Oh no, my sister is fine." Then when I wasn't looking, she'd flash a smug grin in my direction.

As a teenager, I still had some of that youthful defiance in me. I really couldn't stand her two-faced act. So I felt I had to get back at her somehow, and my attitude towards Emily grew increasingly hostile.

The angrier I got, the more pleased she seemed. In the end, of course, I became the villain, while she was the poor little princess everyone sympathized with.

I scoffed at this, trying not to let it bother me. I figured I could just keep my distance. But I never imagined Emily's malice towards me ran so deep that she'd set me up even on my wedding day.

In my youth, I had someone I liked too. But due to my insecurities and tendency to keep to myself, I could only bury those feelings deep in my heart.

That guy looked so handsome in a white dress shirt. I remember secretly peeking at his profile in the library, hiding behind a book.

He was different from the other boys in our class. His eyes were warm and gentle when he smiled.

But now those same eyes look at me with nothing but venom, devoid of any emotion besides resentment.

I'm sure you've guessed by now - he's my current husband, Lucas Parker.

Back then, I thought I had hidden my feelings well. I believed no one knew about my secret crush. But not long after, rumors about me having a crush on him spread all over campus. I panicked and tried to distance myself, thinking if I just avoided him, the gossip would eventually die down.

But I never expected that the next time I paid attention to Lucas, he was already dating Emily.

Emily even had the audacity to claim that all those rumors about me liking Lucas were false, because she was the one who truly liked him, not me. The implication was that Lucas had fallen for the wrong person, and that I wasn't worthy of him at all.

Although I didn't believe her, everyone else seemed to. So I forced myself to believe it too.

Later on, probably because of Emily, I started seeing Lucas more often. But the way he looked at me grew increasingly disgusted.

There was even one time when he asked to meet me alone. Before I could ask why, he got straight to the point: "Even though you and Emily are twins, I only like Emily. Emily's been too nice to say it to your face because you're her sister. But I'm different. I'm telling you to give up on me for good."

I was completely stunned. What was this about? I'd been going out of my way to avoid them when they came over for dinner. What more did he want me to do?

To be honest, hearing the person you like directly tell you they dislike you - even someone with skin as thick as mine was genuinely hurt for a long time. But in the end, I healed on my own. Because no one came to comfort me.