Chapter 1

At a gala, Ethan was drunk. He slid a diamond ring onto my finger.

Just when I thought he was proposing, he whispered another woman's name:

"Sera..."

But my heart didn't break. After all, I was just his hired girlfriend.

My only job was to play the part of Seraphina.

The next morning, Ethan woke up sober. Looking at the ring on my hand, he snapped, "Take it off. It doesn't belong to you."

I quickly slipped it off and placed it on the nightstand.

"Mr. Vance, you put it on me last night."

"According to our contract, I cannot refuse anything you give me."

My three-year contract with Ethan was almost up.

I glanced at the calendar. Only one month left.

And I had finally saved enough money to save the man I actually loved.

He picked up the ring and carefully placed it back into a velvet jewelry box.

It was a family heirloom from his late mother, meant for his first love, Sera.

"Did we... sleep together last night?" he asked, his voice husky.

I was kneeling on the carpet, gathering his scattered suit jacket and tie. I looked up and gave him the gentle, perfect smile I had practiced a thousand times.

"Don't worry, Mr. Vance. You passed out the moment you got home. Nothing happened, and you didn't say a word."

That was what he liked most about me.

I was obedient, knew my place, didn't ask questions, and didn't remember what I shouldn't.

His expression softened slightly, and he walked into the bathroom.

I breathed a sigh of relief and headed to the kitchen to make him breakfast.

As I set the table, Ethan's personal assistant arrived with fresh clothes and a piece of news.

"Mr. Vance, Miss Miller's return flight is booked. She arrives on the 3rd of next month."

Ethan froze while buttoning his cuffs. His cold, stern face instantly softened, showing a rare trace of nervous excitement.

"The 3rd... That's less than a month away," he murmured.

Then he turned to look at me, his gaze becoming complex and critical.

I knew what he was thinking.

The real Sera was coming back. It was time for the cheap knockoff to exit the stage.

For three years, I had worn the dresses Sera liked, kept my hair long like hers, and even wore her favorite perfume.

I was her perfect shadow.

But shadows can never exist in the light.

"Clara," Ethan said, his tone cold and dismissive. "Move into the penthouse uptown this month. Stay out of my sight unless I call you."

"Of course, Mr. Vance."

I agreed without a second thought. My ready compliance actually made him frown.

"And once the contract ends, I don't want to see you in New York ever again."

"Understood. I will disappear completely. I won't cause any trouble for you or Miss Miller."

I pushed the fresh toast and coffee toward him.

"It's the perfect temperature. Have some before you leave. It will help your stomach."

Ethan stared at my submissive smile, looking uncomfortable.

He probably expected me to cry, scream, or beg him not to throw me away.

But I didn't.

In fact, I was doing the math in my head.

The 3rd of next month.

That was the exact day my three-year contract ended.

Once the final payment of fifty million dollars hit my account, I would gladly stop serving this moody billionaire.

After drinking his coffee, Ethan tossed a black card onto the table.

"Go buy some decent clothes. I'm taking you to a party in a few days. It'll be the last time."

He paused, scanning me with a mocking look.

"Don't embarrass me. And lose that pathetic, submissive look. Sera would never look so desperate."

I picked up the card with both hands, my eyes crinkling with a sweet smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Vance. I'll make sure to practice."

As long as the money was guaranteed, I didn't care. I'd bark like a dog if he paid me enough.