The Stand-In Girl He Couldn’t Keep Chapter 04
Listening to their words from afar, my heart grew so heavy with pain that it went entirely numb.
So this was what it looked like when Steven truly loved someone—he shielded them completely, anticipating their every vulnerability.
He gave her everything he had, cherished her carefully, and fiercely protected her from even the slightest scratch.
And me? To Steven, I was probably nothing more than a plaything.
As for the kindness he had showered on me? I suppose that was just the “generous tip” he threw my way after he had enjoyed his fun.
Yet I had been so utterly, pathetically naive, foolishly believing that his affection meant he actually loved me.
A suffocating wave of sorrow drowned my chest. I bit down on my lip hard until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
The door to the room creaked open again.
Steven leaned casually against the doorframe, his voice slow and casual. “You heard that?”
I looked up at him through a blur of hot tears.
His eyes drifted down to my bleeding lip, and he frowned, letting out a soft, clicked sigh of disapproval.
Stepping over, he forcefully pried my jaws apart and used a handkerchief to wipe away the blood.
“You’re so brutal to yourself. Don’t you know it hurts me to see you like this?”
What an exquisite actor he was.
Even at a moment like this, he could put on such a flawless display of deep affection.
But I would never believe him again.
I turned my head away, dodging his touch.
He didn’t seem to mind. He casually tossed the handkerchief into the trash can and then “generously” offered me two choices: “Ellie, I won’t force you.
“If you want to leave, you can go anytime. I won’t stop you.
“However, I know how deeply you love me. So, if you choose to stay by my side, nothing between us has to change. I’ll continue to take good care of you and Melissa.
“I only have one request for you: be nicer to Sophie in the future. Don’t upset her again. Can you do that?”
Right.
I still had Mom to think about.
I didn’t have the luxury of throwing a tantrum.
To keep Mom alive, compliance was my only choice.
But after that day, I swore to rip out any love I had for Steven. From then on, he was nothing more than an ATM to me.
He, too, kept his promise to Sophia, banning me from ever setting foot in any of his properties again.
Whenever we met, it was usually at a hotel or at my apartment.
Tonight was an accident. Steven had gotten completely drunk.
I had escorted him upstairs, but he gripped me tightly and refused to let go.
Neither of us could have anticipated that Sophia would fly back to the country a day ahead of schedule.
I gently touched my swollen cheek, letting out a bitter, hollow laugh.
A single slap in exchange for 30 thousand dollars. That was not a bad deal at all.