Chapter 5
For the next two weeks, Darwin spent all his time with Bella.
Her social media lit up with daily updates.
At the snow–capped mountains, under the aurora, by the grasslands and lakes–always the two of them, clinging to each other.
Tamara tortured herself by scrolling through Bella’s posts over and over. Her bleeding heart slowly grew numb until it couldn’t even stir a ripple.
“Ms. Saunders, Mr. Xavier asked me to take you to tonight’s fireworks
show on the sea.”
Tamara didn’t refuse.
Darwin wouldn’t have allowed her to, anyway.
She only realized the truth when she arrived, this entire event was a grand party Darwin threw just for Bella.
Given his special status, he had never hosted such a high–profile event for anyone before.
Clearly, Bella was the exception.
Layers of bodyguards guarded every entrance. Every guest underwent strict security checks. Tamara’s gun was confiscated the moment she stepped in.
Inside, the yacht was pure luxury. Darwin spared no expense on appearances for her.
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Tamara arrived a little late. By then, the guests were already seated. Bella clung to Darwin’s arm, gracefully greeting the crowd with him.
The timid act she used around Tamara was gone. Now she smiled elegantly, fully stepping into the role of the Xavier family’s hostess.
“I’ve heard how in love Mr. Xavier is with his wife. Seeing tonight’s extravagance, this must’ve cost tens of millions!”
“Open your eyes. She’s not his wife. Word is, she’s his first love–the one he couldn’t have back then. That woman over there? Just a stand–in.”
“Look! That one behind you–she’s the real Mrs. Xavier!”
Tamara pretended not to hear any of it. She quietly found a seat and poured herself a drink.
“You’re right, they do look alike. Especially from the side–like they’re cast from the same mold. But the stand–in’s gaze is sharper, the real one’s softer.”
“Honestly, I almost feel bad for the stand–in. She’s humiliated enough, yet she still has to attend a banquet thrown for the real one.”
“Gotta say though… she’s got some thick skin!”
Their mocking whispers kept getting nastier. Just then, Darwin walked over, face dark.
For a brief moment, Tamara almost thought he was here to defend her.
After all, in the past, if anyone dared to humiliate her like this, Darwin would’ve smashed a bottle over their head without hesitation.
But that was the past.
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Chapter 5
Now that the real one had returned, who would care about a stand–in?
Darwin approached, his voice low and filled with faint sorrow.
“Tonight might be Bella’s last party, Tamara. And you showed up 30. minutes late.”
He poured a glass of wine and handed it to her. “Go over and apologize to Bella.”
Tamara was about to sneer when suddenly–a gunshot cracked through the air.
Screams erupted. The entire crowd panicked and scattered like headless chickens.
Despite all of Darwin’s precautions, chaos still broke out.
Dozens of armed men suddenly stormed through the crowd. They had a clear target in sight–Bella on stage.
The bodyguards outside swarmed in. Chaos erupted on the yacht.
Darwin’s gaze grew icy. He drew his gun from his waist and rushed toward Bella.
Tamara was caught off guard by the sudden attack. Even after everything he had done to her, her first instinct was still to worry about his safety.
She hated herself for it, but her body reacted before her mind could stop
- it.
She ran toward Darwin.
By then, he had already dragged Bella into a corner behind the dining
table.
Bella, who had never seen anything like this, was pale as a ghost, drenched in cold sweat.
Seeing her like that, Darwin’s face was full of heartache. Without hesitation, he made a decision.
When Tamara reached them, Darwin spoke in a low voice. “Tamara! Quick! Take off your jacket!”
As he spoke, he yanked off Bella’s coat and tossed it to Tamara.
“Put this on.”
His tone left no room for argument.
Tamara stared at him in disbelief.
“You want me to die for her?”
Darwin shot her a glare.
“Don’t say it like that! With your skills, you should be able to escape. Besides, they’re after Bella. They might spare you! Time’s running out- don’t make me repeat myself!”
Tamara suddenly laughed.
She laughed so hard that her tears came out.
Eight years as someone else’s stand–in wasn’t enough–now she was supposed to die in her place too.
At that moment, Tamara admitted it.
She regretted it.
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She truly regretted ever falling for Darwin.
Memories flashed through her mind–the love, the tenderness–all of it boiled down to two simple words, stand–in.
That’s all she ever was.
In these eight years of love, the only one who fell was her.
What a joke.
Fine.
Since he saved her 1
back then, she’d return it now.
But after this, she would owe him nothing.
Tamara stared into Darwin’s eyes.
“Alright.”
She put on Bella’s coat. The moment she stepped out, gunshots rang out one after another.
She dodged instinctively. That was all she could do now.
Her gun had been taken before she even entered the yacht.
She didn’t even have a chance to fight back.
But there was nowhere left to hide.
At last, she closed her eyes and leaped into the sea.
The freezing seawater surged into her mouth and nose.
Her final image was Darwin sprinting toward her.
Chapter 5
Maybe it was just her imagination, but…
There was fear in his eyes.
So be it.
She didn’t care anymore.
