Chapter 1
I am Alexander Sterling's secretary. I am also his wife.
But to everyone else, I'm only the first.
Five years ago, I married New York's most powerful CEO because of this face—not for love, but because I looked like Sophia. His childhood friend. His adopted sister. The woman whose family shipped her off to London for an arranged marriage.
I thought time would make him forget her.
Then she came back three months ago—a widow.
That's when I finally got it: the stand-in wasn't needed anymore.
So I made my choice.
I got him to sign divorce papers, took a job in Kenya, and decided to disappear from Alexander Sterling's world for good.
Our baby and me both.
Elena's POV
Divorce papers in hand, I pushed open the study door.
Alex sat on the leather couch with Sophia curled against him, watching a movie. She wore only a silk robe, her head resting on his chest like she owned him.
"Remember how we used to watch Pride and Prejudice like this as kids?" She looked up at him.
"I remember." Alex stroked her hair gently. "You cried every time Darcy confessed."
In the warm light, they looked like lovers.
I cleared my throat. "Sorry to interrupt, Alex. I need you to sign something."
Alex frowned at me. Sophia turned, annoyed.
"What document?" He reached for it.
"Sterling Group charity foundation annual report. The board needs your signature." I kept my voice steady.
The folder cover did say charity foundation, but the divorce papers were tucked inside.
Alex opened to the first page, frowning slightly. My heart raced.
"Let me check the terms—"
"God, Alex," Sophia laughed, cutting him off. "Since when are you so paranoid? Elena's been your secretary for five years. She handles these charity reports every year—you never read them closely."
She touched his chest. "Don't you trust your secretary's skills? She has an MBA from Wharton."
Alex glanced at Sophia, then signed with a flourish.
In that moment, I couldn't tell if I felt relief or heartbreak.
"Anything else?" He handed the document back, clearly wanting to return to their bubble.
"That's it." I took the papers.
"Elena," Sophia spoke up sweetly, "since you're here, could you heat some milk for me in the kitchen? With honey—you know my bedtime routine."
I gripped the document tighter. I said nothing.
"If you're busy, don't worry about it," she sighed. "It's just that since Henry died, I have insomnia. This is the only thing that helps me sleep..."
"Go help her." Alex spoke flatly, eyes back on the screen.
This had become routine. Sophia was Alex's adopted sister—they'd grown up together. The family married her off to London banker Henry Whitmore for their British financial connections. Three months ago, Henry died of a heart attack. She came home.
And I finally understood my place.
"Okay." I headed toward the kitchen.
"Thanks, honey. You're always so thoughtful," Sophia said sweetly. "Alex, look how capable Elena is. She handles your work AND takes care of your personal life. She's the perfect... employee. It's just such a shame..."
She trailed off, letting the words hang in the air.
But I knew what she meant—such a shame that's ALL Elena could ever be.
I prepared her milk mechanically, hands shaking as I stirred in the honey. The same honey Alex used to add to my hot chocolate during those first months of marriage. Before I knew it was all just muscle memory from caring for Sophia.
Back in my room, nausea hit. I rushed to the bathroom and dry-heaved—whether from the milk's sweetness or Sophia's words cutting into me like poison.
In the shower, I remembered first meeting Alex five years ago. Fresh out of Wharton, I'd finished school on a Sterling family scholarship. I was an intern in his office when he stared at my face for a long time, something unreadable in his eyes.
Three months later, he proposed.
I thought it was love at first sight. I thought he saw something special in me.
The first year of marriage, he'd make me hot chocolate on rainy nights, saying he worried I'd catch cold. Until I overheard the housekeeper mention that little Sophia used to be terrified of storms—Alex always made her hot chocolate on stormy nights.
At family events, he'd defend me when someone made cruel comments. Later I learned that person had arranged Sophia's marriage. Alex wasn't protecting me—he was getting back at them for her.
It was ALL fake.
He'd never loved Elena Santos. Only Sophia's shadow.
I walked out of the bathroom in my robe when strong arms suddenly circled me from behind.
"Alex—" I tried to push him away.
"Don't move." His breath reeked of whiskey.
His hands slipped inside my robe, roughly touching my waist. I thought of how gently he'd stroked Sophia's hair just hours earlier...
The nausea got worse.
"I really don't feel well today." I tried to push him off.
"You've been acting strange today," he grabbed my chin, forcing me to turn around. "What are you hiding from me?"
His dark eyes bored into mine.
"Nothing." I avoided his gaze.
"Or maybe," he whispered dangerously, his hand moving ruthlessly to my inner thigh, "you're JEALOUS?"
Just as he was about to go further, his phone rang.
Alex immediately let go. "Sophia?"
"Alex, I need you," her voice was sugary sweet. "I'm looking for a jewelry box at my vanity, but I can't reach the top shelf... I think Mom's necklace is up there. Could you help me get it?"
"I'll be right there."
He left without even looking at me. Just like that, I was forgotten again.
I stood there, robe fallen at my feet, but had no strength to pick it up.
My phone suddenly rang. I glanced at the caller ID—Emma, my best friend from college.
"Elena? Are you okay? I just heard from my friend at East Africa Trading Company's HR. They said they offered you the Operations Director position for their Nairobi branch? Two-fifty a year, three-year contract? Are you seriously considering it?"
I froze. I had sent my resume last week but didn't expect such a quick response.
"Elena? Are you still there?"
"I..." I stared at myself in the mirror, my eyes completely dead. "I'm going to accept it."
"WHAT?! But you and Alex... your marriage..."
"There IS no marriage, Emma." My voice was flat. "There never was."
Silence for a few seconds, then Emma said quietly, "If you've made up your mind, I support you. But Elena, are you sure? That's Africa. So far away..."
"The farther, the better." I looked out the window at moonlight in the yard. "I'm DONE being a stand-in."
