Chapter 1

Nine years. That was how long I had been actor Julian Chase’s secret girlfriend.

When I finally heard he was holding a press conference to introduce his partner to the world, I spent hours dressing up, my heart racing with excitement.

Instead, I stood in the crowd and watched him hold hands with a rising starlet, looking at her with pure adoration as he declared his love for her.

After the announcement, his manager cornered him backstage, looking both thrilled and nervous:

"Your first love is finally back, Julian. But what about the stand-in you've been keeping at home? If the press finds out about her, your career is finished."

Julian just gave a cold, self-assured smirk:

"Relax. She won't say a word. She's hopelessly in love with me."

My heart shattered into a million pieces. I turned around, took out my phone, and called my parents: "Mom, Dad. I agree to the arranged marriage."

Months later, we ran into each other at City Hall.

When he saw me holding another man’s arm, he rushed forward like a madman.

"You said you'd only ever love me! How dare you be with someone else?!"

Right after hanging up, my mom texted me the details of the match.

I pushed all my chaotic thoughts aside and threw myself into packing, hoping the sheer exhaustion would numb the pain.

Just as I finished packing the first few suitcases and was heading to the bathroom to wash up, the front door clicked open.

Only Julian had the passcode.

He kicked off his shoes, walked straight into the bathroom, and wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Anne, I missed you so much."

He rested his head on my shoulder, leaning in to kiss my hair.

The memory of what he told his manager earlier flashed in my mind. A wave of disgust hit me. I frowned and stepped away from his embrace.

"You reek of alcohol."

He didn’t back off. Instead, he grabbed my chin, his fingers tracing over my eyes and lips with obsessive care.

I used to think this was proof of his love.

I never realized he was just searching for someone else's ghost on my face.

All those years of sweet, tender devotion were nothing but an act.

And I had been foolish enough to believe I was his one and only.

From the very beginning, I was just a stand-in.

Sickened by his touch, I shoved him hard.

But he was much stronger than me. In one swift move, he hoisted me onto the bathroom counter.

Burying his face in my chest, his fingers moved down to unbutton my shirt.

"Julian! Stop touching me!"

I practically screamed, repulsed by the slick, suffocating feeling of his skin against mine.

He froze, a flash of genuine shock on his face.

Before he could speak, his phone rang. I glanced down at the screen.

The caller ID clearly read: "Anna."

He let go of me instantly and hurried to answer it.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Anna. No wonder he always loved calling me Anne.

It wasn’t just my face. Even my name was just a convenient substitute to fill the void she left behind.

Ignoring his silhouette in the hallway, I quickly brushed my teeth, washed my face, and prepared to head to bed.

I never expected Julian to turn his camera toward me.

"Is that your little assistant? Has she been on call 24/7? She looks awful!"

A sweet, sugary voice drifted from the speaker.

Without giving me a chance to react, the girl on the screen cooed, "Hi there! I’m Julian’s girlfriend. Thank you so much for taking care of him all these years."

I stood frozen under the harsh lights, staring right past the camera at Julian.

His little assistant. How amusing.

Since when had I been demoted to his assistant?

I caught the brief flicker of panic on Julian’s face before he tapped his screen.

His expression softened into that signature gentle smile. "Anna, she’s just really introverted. She hates talking to strangers and avoids the spotlight.

I need her on call around the clock, which is why she stays here."