Love's Illusions: Secondhand Affections

The whole world knows that Rachel Saffron is Matt Quillon's and Sean Coal's true love. My best friend, Winnie Hamilton, and I are merely substitutes for Rachel.

It seems like I'm the love of Matt's life, and Winnie is the only woman Sean has ever had eyes for. However, we both know this is nothing but an act.

The pain was at its worst when the last stroke of the blade cut my abdomen open. I couldn't hold on any longer.

Blood spread down my body as those wicked hands forcibly pried open my abdomen and pulled the child out.

I couldn't speak anymore. All I knew was that the person before me was a demon.

"Dead already?" He patted my cheek. "How boring! Does Matt really care about you? It's been seven days, and he still hasn't noticed you're here with me!"

I couldn't answer because I had already lost consciousness. As my body floated into the air, I impassively looked down at that blood-soaked corpse.

I suddenly saw a box beside it. There was a tiny lump of bloody flesh in it.

A pang of pain struck my heart. I rushed over, trying to reach out, only to fail at grabbing it.

My soul followed the box as it left the basement. I finally saw sunlight.

I had been missing for seven days after I was kidnapped by Matt Quillon's mortal enemy. Thinking I was Matt's weakness, he used me to threaten Matt.

What he didn't know was that I was just a stand-in. Rachel Saffron was the one Matt loved.

Ignoring my pleas, he tortured me to death.

I followed the small box all the way back home. But sadly, after seven days, dust had already settled in the room.

It seemed Matt hadn't come home at all.

Of course, with his company data stolen, Matt was probably overwhelmed. How could he have time to worry about me? Furthermore, my disappearance at such a crucial time made me the biggest suspect in all this.

The man in black placed the box in the living room. I was startled when he came out and sneered at the air where I floated.

He then left and closed the door, and I finally let out a relieved breath.

Just then, I heard a sound outside the door.

"Catherina? Are you home? Catherina!"

It was my best friend Winnie Hamilton's voice!

I excitedly replied, "Winnie! Winnie, I'm here!"

However, she couldn't hear me.

I walked outside the door, and Winnie was standing there, visibly anxious. She took out her phone to make a call.

"Matt, there are footprints and bloodstains at the door. You need to get here right away! Catherina might be in danger!"

My nose soured as I stood aside, listening to her.

Matt's emotionless voice came through the other end. "Better if she's dead! Listen here, not only did she cause the company losses, but she also dared to reveal Rachel's address. Just for that alone, she deserves