Stand-In Lover

ntil his first love, Millie, returned to the

ted we b

of impatience. "Mia, stop it. There's nothing between

by the waist, acting intimat

Ryan, with red eyes, knelt befor

.

ssage to Ryan. "Ryan, what time will you be bac

ge went u

ng

d me. It was his friend, Aidan, who sent me a photo. "No matter

king tenderly at the woman beside him. The woman, dressed in

. bore some rese

pression unfamiliar to me. It was a tend

"I'll be back late today, don't wait up." Short

swallowed it along with my tears. The mixture of sourness, sweet

.

Ryan's company to be

me, the look in his eyes as he looked at m

ur name?"

president, so I gently s

tfully rep

vely name."

wo

me bl

his company. Whether by coincidence or

ffection began to

ndmother was seriously ill and urgently needed a large sum for surgery. I was fra

e often took

ike an ordinary cou

to his heart. But before I could wait until that day, the person who was t

.

an returned, chilled f

and took off his overcoat for him, I smelled a light fragrance of perfum

early?" he asked, frownin

gh my phone on the sofa and

it for me in

he bed, torn about whether to ask him about the photo. But

rms from behind. Through the thin fabric, I could feel his warmth an

arlobe and wh

vier. My mind was in turmoil, and I pushed him away reluct

e I refused him in m

kissed my brow and eyes before turnin

, sometimes sketching them. It turned out it was bec

beside me grad

he window, feeling melancholi

.

said there was a Mitchell Grou

mention there was

ould always ask me to be his date for

spotted Ryan and the woman

ture and composed. The woman wore

onger needed me. Ryan intimately held the woman's

hen returned to normal. "Millie, this is

relationship. "And his girlfrien

tretched hand fr

nager at Mitchell Group, Millie. Thank y

lm. Sta

in my heart, forcing a strained smile as I s

of Millie's eye, just like mine. I al

Ryan. "Ryan, why didn't you mention you had a girlfrien

complex expression. "No

n a dog that I have raised for three y

ced at me coldly, then placed a hand on Ryan's should

. "You reek of smoke," he said,

illie's lungs

everything. For instance, he

ed his mouth to say something,

.

manager to meet

, I excused myself t

Have you seen the real deal?" "After three yea

d circling another man can

pped my coat tighter around me, ignoring

vening, the banquet

lie asked, rolling down the car

, meeting R

yes l

n't feeling well, I

be safe on

into my flesh. Only the pain could help me mai

ed the words over her shoulder,

, inhaling the exhaust fumes as an overwhelming wave of pain engulfed

an returned, carr

ught you so

s, my gaze fall

se me, he would bring a cake

r relationsh

th me, she's like

it, there's not

ust one bite and I couldn't eat anymore. It wa

g down on me. His passi

, he looked at me

y nothing between u

me onto the bed, deft

I responded to him eagerly. I bi

ames of desire. "Mia, I never knew you had this kind of h

nwilling to get up. Ryan gently kissed my brow and e

e by Ryan, even if the fried eggs

owing goodwill? My hea

fit, picking up a bottle of colo

was much more pleasant th

g, I grabbed

ake me to

illie yesterday that I'd pick her up

llie just returned to the country,

turned better because of

a safe trip."

and organized the materia

w person in charge at Mitc

he's very

e company was abu

e plans, and other information to Ryan. "From now on, Millie wil

rig

ient, or rather, now it's

d to offend e

heels as she walked forward. "Miss Lambert, I think there are many

in the meeting

met Millie's

right, I'll mak

ge-scented perfume today. Millie must have noticed, whic

d, only said lightly,

butt of every

ambert, supposed to be Mr

chell so protec

room gossiped, but fell

eep talking,

ipated this day, I coul

constricted by thorny vines, the

ally exhausted. I threw myself onto

ed to Ryan. Three years ago, I mustere

ove

in his arms, pinching my waist a

r did he reject me, and so we

med of my l

y Grandma cherished me like a treasure. She always s

sed me single-handedly, enduring har

call from a neighbor saying my Grandma was hos

caregiver to look after her. Life was tough, but as lo

pours. God always love

ht. My life revolved around the company, the hospital, and my rented apartmen

or it. But even then, I co

gers stroked my cheek and w

I miss you

gging the pers

was Ryan. I thought he w

night

tickled my fac

ill you

won

ext day shopping with his childhood sweetheart

ccompany me to worship and pay my r

he tombstone, kneeling down to pour out my gri

anymore, it hurts so much

s just a stand-in, I coul

I miss you

miss you

y my tears with her calloused hands. "My dear, don't cry

om the yard, waving it in the air. "No o

y. Just a little more, and I could repay R