Chapter 1The Perfect Stand-In: Why I Chose My Sugar Baby Over My First Love

Seven years after breaking up with my first love, I took in a college boy who looked just like him.

Everyone around me said he was just a substitute, but he would only smile softly and never argue.

As time went on, I felt that living like this wasn't bad at all. I warned my friends:

"Don't call him a stand-in. I'm going to marry him."

That single sentence caused my first love, who was halfway across the world, to book an overnight flight back to the States.

Even though we had been apart for years, and he had never once come back for me.

* * *

When I pulled open the door, the smile froze on my face.

A man I had only seen in my dreams for the past seven years stood on my porch.

Ethan Vance. My first love.

His features were as sharp and deep as ever, his eyes like stars. He looked more mature than before, and even more magnetic.

Wrapped in a black windbreaker, he stood as tall and imposing as a tree.

I had imagined what we would say to each other if we ever met again countless times, but I never expected him to speak first. He raised an eyebrow.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

When we broke up back then, it wasn't an ugly, screaming fight.

It ended through his long, agonizing campaign of the cold shoulder.

But I had my pride.

On the day of the first snow that new year, I stood alone in the freezing cold and cried until I broke down.

Yet, when I opened my phone, I simply typed one calm sentence:

"Let's break up. You're free."

He replied instantly—something he had almost never done during his months of ignoring me.

"Okay."

From that day on, my unforgettable first love came to a full stop.

For years, I thought I could never forget him.

But it turns out time really does smooth over everything.

Seeing him again, the turbulent waves that used to crash in my chest were completely gone.

Now, he sat in my living room while I meticulously decorated the house.

I hung balloons and string lights. When the cake in the oven was done, I pulled it out and carefully frosted it following a tutorial.

A few stray strands of hair fell across my forehead, but I didn't even bother to brush them away.

I had no time to pay attention to his presence.

In my peripheral vision, I only saw his fingers slowly curling into tight fists.

Today was Liam's birthday.

After a busy afternoon, people slowly started to arrive.

They were all my friends.

I wanted a full house; I wanted Liam to have a happy day.

When my friends saw Ethan sitting on the sofa, those who knew our history froze in their tracks.

But after glancing at me, they kept their mouths shut.

At five o'clock, the doorbell rang again.

I opened the door, and Liam stood there holding a bouquet of flowers, gazing at me with a gentle, loving smile.

I pulled him inside as confetti cannons popped from both sides, showering him in color.

"Happy Birthday, Liam!"

I happily threw my arm around his shoulders and introduced him to all my friends.

I went down the line, and when I reached Ethan, my tone paused for a fraction of a second before I spoke as casually as possible:

"This is... Ethan Vance. An old high school classmate of mine."

Ethan stared at me. When his brow furrowed, he was actually quite intimidating, his presence overwhelmingly heavy.

If I went by my past knowledge of him, I half-expected him to flip the table and storm out.

But thankfully, he didn't.

Even when Liam extended a hand to him, Ethan gave me enough face to shake it.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Throughout the entire birthday party, I made sure Liam was the center of attention.

My friends showered him with relentless praise.

After all, ever since I dropped that warning a while back, no one dared to tactlessly call him a substitute again.

"He's so handsome, Chloe. I'm so jealous you have such a gorgeous boyfriend."

"Not just handsome, but he has a great temper too! Unlike that guy you dated years ago, wow, he was a total..." The person realized what they were saying, shot a terrified glance at Ethan, and instantly clamped their mouth shut.

...

The party's atmosphere peaked after everyone was full and we started playing Truth or Dare.

Liam lost a round and chose 'Dare.' The condition: kiss me.

Everyone clapped and cheered:

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

"Come on, kiss her! You're not a real man if you don't! That's your girlfriend!"

Suddenly, with a loud bang, the front door was slammed shut.

Ethan was no longer in his seat.

...