He Too Is A Substitute

I pulled out the divorce agreement. "You mentioned divorce before, and I didn't agree. This time, I'm asking. Sign it, and let's part ways."

Jake Holt's face darkened.

Everyone knew Jake loved Leyla Hardy. I was just her stand-in.

But no one knew I loved Collin Holt, and Jake was merely Collin's substitute.

Now that Collin had returned, I no longer had to tolerate a fool.

1

"Laura, let's get a divorce." Jake rushed back, travel-worn, and presented the divorce agreement.

I ignored him. I lit a lighter and ignited the candles on the birthday cake.

It was my birthday.

That morning, I had asked Jake to come home early to celebrate together.

But as night fell, Jake hadn't appeared. He broke his promise.

My phone, resting on the table, still displayed Leyla's social media post.

The screen showed a photo of Leyla, who resembled me slightly. Jake was fondly touching her cheek.

It was my birthday, but also the day Leyla returned to the country.

Jake had abandoned me without hesitation, forgetting our agreement.

He only remembered to pick up his true love from the airport.

My tone stayed calm. "No matter what, I want to celebrate my birthday first."

Jake seemed irritated, but after glancing at the social media post on my phone, he guiltily tucked the divorce agreement away and sat across from me.

The room's lights were off, leaving only the flickering candlelight.

I gazed at his face, my eyes softly tracing his features.

He looked so much like Collin.

In the dim light, even more so.

"Make a wish." Jake turned his face away, his tone stiff.

I obediently closed my eyes, my voice gentle. "I hope I can be with the one I love, together day and night, never parted."

Jake's expression grew heavy at my words.

Perhaps he feared I meant him. He quickly dampened my mood. "Wishes don't come true if you say them out loud."

"I know." I opened my eyes and looked at him, my tone sincere. "I won't divorce you."

Not yet, at least.

Collin hadn't returned, and finding another substitute so soon would be troublesome.

2

After the birthday, Jake rarely came home.

As for the divorce agreement, he never brought it up again.

I sat in the Holt family mansion, watching entertainment news on the television.

"Famous actor Jake Holt spotted nightly with a mystery woman for a week, strolling sweetly and carrying her bags. Is the actor's romance about to go public?"

The tabloid's voice blared with excitement, while the Holt mansion felt lifeless.

Jake's mom Madison Holt angrily switched off the television and glanced at my expression. "These gossip reporters are shameless! This is pure slander. Don't believe it, Laura."

"Madison, don't get upset. Many reporters just chase rumors." I handed Madison a cup of coffee, playing the considerate daughter-in-law.

"Good, good, good. As long as you don't believe it, that's enough." Madison relaxed at my reassurance.

She held my hand warmly. "Thank goodness you're understanding. Jake doesn't appreciate it. He refuses to take over the family business and insists on fooling around in the entertainment industry! You're so sensible, putting up with so much."

"Madison, the Holt family will be fine." I comforted her.

I had come to the Holt manor to update Madison on the Holt Group's operations.

The Holt family had two sons.

One was missing, while the other was consumed by the entertainment career, unwilling to return to the business world.

To everyone, I was the endlessly tolerant woman who loved Jake.

Even as my own family fell from grace, I married into the Holt family to prop it up, all to wed Jake.

Jake thought so too.

3

The phone's sudden ring interrupted my conversation with Madison.

I answered it.

"Hey, Laura, Jake's out drinking and got cornered by a bunch of rich kids. Come quick!"

The line carried a chorus of mocking and jeering voices.

The sound was loud. Madison's face paled instantly.

"It's okay, Madison. I'll handle it."

I arrived at the familiar bar's entrance. I hesitated briefly before stepping inside.

The man who called was Nathan Thorpe, Jake's childhood friend.

Nathan spotted me and rushed over. "Hurry, follow me!"

Finally, Nathan led me to a private room's door.

The door was half-open, and waves of mocking voices spilled out.

"Jake, still playing the hero?"

"A married man trying to save the damsel? Not afraid your wife will divorce you in a rage? The Holt family would collapse!"

"Ha, Laura? That lovesick fool? I bet Jake could cheat in front of her, and she wouldn't ask for a divorce."

At that, I pushed the door open.

My face stayed calm. The rich kids froze, their sneers still plastered on their faces.

My gaze fell on two people seated in the room.

Jake held Leyla, whose clothes were soaked with alcohol, his eyes coldly scanning the rich kids.

"Jake, I can't drink." Leyla noticed me and deliberately leaned closer to Jake.

Jake patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'll drink for you."

I eyed the chips and dice on the table, suddenly feeling weary.

Jake downed bottle after bottle of beer as the rich kids cheered.

"Tch, that's the difference between a true love and a nobody. When Laura drank for you until her stomach bled, you didn't show her any pity."

4

Hearing this, my expression darkened. The rich kids noticed and fell silent, wary of my reaction.

That incident happened just after the Holt family's fall.

Jake had gambled with rich kids, squandering money he no longer had, yet he kept up appearances and bet against them.

Naturally, Jake, a fresh college graduate, couldn't outplay these seasoned hustlers.

I, then Jake's girlfriend, rushed to the scene after getting word. I saw the rich kids' dirty tricks.

I warned him. "Jake, they're cheating at the table."

The rich kids jeered. "Jake, you even brought the Walton heiress? What, trying to rely on a woman to turn things around?"

Jake's pride stung at their words. He snapped back. "Keep barking, and I'll kick you out. Don't ruin my mood."

"Raise the stakes!"

Jake bet everything he had.

And of course, he lost it all.

I studied the dice, ready to expose the rich kids' tricks, but Jake grabbed my hand, his face cold.

"You want them to laugh at me?"

"What's worse, their laughter or losing everything?"

"Who are you to meddle in my business?"

I looked at him in disbelief.

I was his girlfriend, yet he humiliated me in front of everyone.

Clearly, Jake would keep losing if he gambled on.

Having lost everything, he still chased a comeback.

The rich kids taunted. "We don't want your money. Lose ten grand, drink a glass to settle the debt."

"No, Jake." I stopped him.

Jake shot me a disgusted look, ignored me, and kept betting.

Predictably, he lost thirty million.

Penniless, he could only drink to cover the debt-three thousand glasses.

As Jake downed glass after glass, his face flushed dangerously.

I couldn't bear it. I frowned. "I'll pay it off."

"Stay out of it!" Jake shoved my hand away, knocking over the beer bottles. The liquid soaked my dress.

Reeking of alcohol, my expression soured.

The rich kids eyed me cautiously, fearing my anger, and relented. "Forget the drinks. Let's call it even."

"No way. A deal's a deal. What, you think I can't handle it?"

I nearly laughed at Jake's stubbornness.

Then I saw his malicious grin. "You want to meddle? If you're my girlfriend, drink with me. No money allowed."

"Jake, you're insane!" The rich kids gasped. "Damn, Laura, you're actually drinking?"

What choice did I have? Let Jake die of alcohol poisoning?

Due to a childhood injury, my stomach was fragile. I ended up in the hospital with internal bleeding, clinging to life.

But back then, Leyla had sent Jake an email from abroad.

Jake dropped everything, bought a plane ticket, and flew overseas.

The only time he visited me in the hospital was to borrow money for that ticket.

5

Later, I recovered and left the hospital, only to catch Jake with Leyla at a bar.

Back then, I kept my composure. "Come home with me."

In the underground parking lot, Jake spoke. "Laura, did you drive?"

I glanced at my bright pink supercar, built for two with only two seats.

Jake saw it too and said matter-of-factly. "Give me the keys. I'll drive Leyla home."

Jake took the keys and sped off with Leyla.

I even heard Leyla's soft laugh. "Your wife really loves you. She never gets mad."

I stood alone, watching the supercar's taillights fade, isolated.

I knew Leyla's words were meant for me to hear.

5

The scene replayed itself. I caught them together in a bar again.

But the person Jake cherished was Leyla.

Jake couldn't bear to let Leyla drink a drop or suffer any grievance.

I looked coldly at the rich kids. "Stop playing."

The rich kids, knowing they were in the wrong, flashed appeasing smiles and slunk away.

"Laura, don't be mad. I was trapped by those rich kids and couldn't get out. I had no choice but to ask Jake for help." Leyla spoke first.

"You don't need to explain to her." Jake took off his jacket and draped it over Leyla's shoulders.

Leyla seemed fragile but shot me a smug look.

I found such games tedious. I turned and walked away. "Let's go."

To my surprise, Jake asked, "Are you not mad?"

"Before, when you gambled, you forbade me from using my influence, so I drank for you, but you never thanked me. Now, to save your lover, you had your friend call me to bail you out."

I hadn't finished when Jake's face twisted.

Yes, that call came from Jake's deliberate instruction to his friend.

I knew Jake before refused to let me use my influence to save his pride.

But now, to protect Leyla his lover, he swallowed that pride and had his friend beg me.

True love could indeed change a person.

I realized even Jake's precious pride meant nothing in the face of love.

Jake's anger flared. "You're supposed to help. You're just a stand-in for Leyla. You know that without her, you'd never have married me!"

"Everything you wanted, I gave you. What more do you want?" I snapped back.

Being used repeatedly, even if he resembled the man I loved, I couldn't suppress my anger.

Seeing me upset, Jake's expression oddly softened.

"Lend me your car. I'll drive Leyla home."

"How do I get back?"

"Do I need to teach you? Take a cab!"

Jake rummaged through my bag, grabbed the keys, and left.

I found Jake's behavior absurd, but habit kept me from stopping him.

As I left the bar, a thought struck me.

Jake had been drinking.

What a moron, always causing trouble.

6

Sure enough, my phone rang urgently.

It was the hospital.

Jake, driving drunk, had crashed at an intersection. He was injured and under treatment.

I frowned, finding him increasingly tiresome.

But thinking of that familiar face, I suppressed my irritation, hailed a cab, and headed to the hospital.

The cab's radio blared news of Jake's drunk driving with a woman.

The driver, noting my destination, remarked, "Jake has so many fans. You're the twentieth person I've driven to the hospital."

The crash happened one minute ago; the news broke the next.

Countless fans flooded the hospital to check on their idol.

I stepped out, greeted by bright yellow caution tape barring non-patients.

Fans clogged the emergency entrance.

As I wondered if squeezing through was worth it, Jake emerged from the emergency room.

Boldly, without hesitation, he pulled me from the crowd.

"Jake, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Jake! Why were you out with another woman?"

"Who was the woman in your car? And who's this woman now?"

The fans' shouts angered the security guard, who yelled, "His hand's barely scratched, and that's called hurt? Living the high life, drunk driving, and he still has fans."

The guard's blunt words stung Jake.

I couldn't help but smirk, though I stifled it at Jake's scowl.

"If you're fine, why call me here?"

Jake pulled me to the emergency surgery room's door, his palms sweaty.

"I'm fine, but Leyla's bleeding heavily and needs a transfusion. The hospital's blood bank is empty, and you're AB."

Outside, chaos reigned-fans screamed, worried, or gossiped, while rumors swirled.

Yet Jake showed no intent to explain. Instead, he called me, his wife, to donate blood for another woman.

By normal logic, that woman was his mistress.

A nurse emerged from the operating room, saw me. and asked Jake, "Is she the one you brought to donate?"

Jake nodded naturally. pushed me forward. "Yes, she's AB too."

I turned to Jake. "Are you really serious about having me, your wife, donate blood to save your mistress?"

The nurse's eyes widened, her gaze darting between us. and Jake.

The crowd's gossip ignited.

Jake growled irritably,. "What's with your attitude? Are you joking? Leyla's on the table!"

I looked at him calmly.

It felt bizarre. He caused the crash by drunk driving, yet he was angry because I hesitated to save his lover.

The operating room urged for blood repeatedly. The nurse, impatient, nurse asked, "Are you donating or not?"

"I will!" Jake insisted quickly answered, softening toward me. "I'm begging you, please."

I studied his face silently, then agreed.

I decided this was the last time I'd indulge his selfish demands.

7

After donating, I glanced at my reflection.

My face was deathly pale.

The blood demand was massive, and the hospital's bank had none.

I supplied it all.

Pale-faced, I watched Leyla being wheeled out of surgery.

In that moment, Jake looked tense, trembling as he asked, "How's Leyla?"

Learning the surgery succeeded, he relaxed and followed her to a regular ward.

I, his wife, who had just donated a huge amount of blood and was still weak, was completely forgotten.

The nurse, unable to stand it, hesitated before bringing me a cup of hot water and a chocolate bar.

My phone rang, but I lacked the strength to answer.

The kind nurse picked it up and held it to my ear.

"Madison."

Madison's voice was frantic. "Laura, Jake's in trouble. Have you seen the news?"

"He's fine, Madison. Don't worry." My assurance calmed her, and she tried to comfort me. "Don't believe those tabloids. That woman's just a work partner. You're the only Holt daughter-in-law."

I murmured agreement, and Madison hung up.

The nurse gaped, incredulous. "You're really Jake's wife? Then he... he..."

She didn't finish, but I knew what she meant.

How could he keep meeting other women late at night? How could he call me to donate blood for his lover after a crash?

I said gently, "Please don't tell anyone."

The nurse shook her head, sighing. "You must love him so much."

Love? I wondered.

I didn't respond.

The nurse had no time to linger. After eating her offered food, I felt stronger, grabbed my bag, and prepared to leave.

Jake was busy with his lover, too preoccupied to care about me.

I arrived alone, donated blood, and left alone.

Like a tool.

Outside, fewer fans remained, but the crowd was still large.

I chose another exit, quieter and less likely to draw attention.

Yet I felt a gaze fixed on me, watching.

I glanced back but saw no one.

8

In the rideshare, I opened news apps on my phone.

"Shock! Actor Jake Holt Drunk Drives, Crashes!"

"The Woman Jake Holt Risked Drinking to Drive!"

"Mystery Woman Appears! What's the Link Between Her, Jake, and the Car's Passenger?"

Headlines obsessed over Jake's crash.

Some featured clear photos of my face.

I studied the images of myself beside Jake's tall, striking figure.

My finger tapped his face unconsciously.

They looked so alike, no surprise they were brothers.

Fans' detective work was relentless, unearthing everything about Leyla.

Leyla Hardy, Jake's college classmate, had left him after graduation to study abroad, returning only this year.

Since her return, she and Jake met often, hinting at rekindled romance.

But no matter how fans dug, they found nothing on me.

My family had long protected my information, making it impossible to uncover.

Even the rich kids knew my identity but wouldn't dare expose it and anger my family.

Still, I didn't want my name tied to Jake's, splashed online as gossip fodder.

As I prepared to contact officials to remove my information, dizziness hit.

A strange scent filled the car.

9

When I woke, a thick cloth covered my eyes.

My hands were bound, but gently. A light struggle freed them.

As I reached to remove the blindfold, a warm figure embraced me from behind.

My back pressed against him, feeling his firm muscles.

A man.

My heart skipped.

His breathing brought us closer.

His breath brushed my ear.

I steadied myself.

My hands were now pinned by this stranger, leaving no chance to remove the blindfold.

This wasn't the time to unmask him. Seeing a criminal's face might provoke him.

I tested him. "Who are you? What do you want? Money? I can give you any amount."

Perhaps this thug saw the news, assumed I was tied to Jake, and kidnapped me for ransom.

At the mention of money, the man's grip tightened, a suppressed laugh rumbling in his throat.

That voice!

My body stiffened.

Then, he asked softly, "Where's your money from? Your husband, or will you give it to me yourself?"

Hearing that familiar voice, I summoned all my strength to break free.

The man indulged me, releasing his hold.

I tore off the blindfold. In the dim light, I stared at the man before me.

Sharp brows, high nose, full lips.

He resembled Jake by half but was even more striking.

My gaze locked on his face, dazed.

"What, disappointed it's not your husband?"

My expression cooled.

"Still mad at me?" Collin leaned in, trying to take my hand.

I dodged, jabbing at him. "I'm your sister-in-law now."