Dating His Lookalike for Revenge

Three years into dating Liam Murphy, he found another woman who bore resemblance to me.

Everyone said I was his one true love.

Until later, when he said to me in front of everyone, Got tired of the old stand-in. Time for a fresh flavor.

I obliged. Late that night, I boarded a flight and left.

Everyone started betting on how long it would take for me to crawl back.

Liam just chuckled low in his throat. "Give it three days, tops. She'll be back crying and begging."

But three days passed, then another three. There was still no word from me.

Later, he saw a photo. In it, I was arm-in-arm with a man who resembled him.

He thought I'd found a replacement. I laughed at him. "You were the stand-in all along. Three years, and you never even figured it out."

Liam Murphy and I hadn't seen each other in a month. Tonight, the girl he brought looked eerily like me.

His friends suggested a drinking game. I joined, just for a few more chances to look at him.

The new girl had terrible luck in the first half, losing constantly. Every loss meant a shot.

Each time, Liam stepped in and downed it for her. He used to do that for me.

This was my sixth shot. Liam sat across from me, watching coldly as I knocked it back.

Just as I was about to take the seventh, Liam spoke up.

"That pour wasn't full."

Someone beside me laughed, grabbed a freshly opened bottle, and made a show of topping me off.

Liam knew my tolerance was crap, that getting drunk always meant a stomach ache the next day.

But this time, he didn't intervene,his face a mask of indifference.

I downed it in one go under everyone's gaze, sparking a round of cheers.

My head throbbed and dizziness set in. I knew I was drunk.

The new girl had barely sipped her drinks, yet she feigned deep intoxication.

She draped herself halfway across Liam, practically melting into him.

Everyone watched, clearly waiting for me to blow up, to cause a scene.

The girl lost a few more times. Not wanting to drink, and probably pretending to spare Liam, she turned to him.

"You drink half, I'll drink half."

Liam gave her that signature crooked grin. "Now that's how you play, Lola."

He tipped the whole shot into his mouth, then kissed her right there in front of everyone, feeding her the liquor he hadn't swallowed.

I excused myself, feeling sick, and bolted for the restroom. I threw up violently.

When I got back to the private room, Liam had a guy pinned to the floor, fists flying.

The raw fury and violence on his face was something I'd never seen before.

The guy on the floor was bleeding, unable to fight back.

I stood nearby, calling Liam's name frantically. He acted like he couldn't hear me.

I went over and tugged his sleeve. "Liam, stop!"

"Get off me!" He shoved me hard.

I stumbled and fell to my knees, the impact bruising them painfully, tears springing to my eyes from the sting.

As I tried to get up, I saw Lola burst through the crowd, crying.

"Liam! Stop!"

Just that one word. Liam froze mid-swing.

I stared at him, stunned. The pain in my knee seemed to explode, stabbing at my tear ducts, making the tears flow freely.

Lola pulled Liam aside, fussing over the bruise blooming on his cheekbone.

"Does it hurt?"

Liam shook her hand off, seemingly annoyed, but answered.

"Nah. Why you crying? You're not the one who got hit."

Right then, they looked like the couple.

And I was just the clown who'd fallen down.

A cold dread spread through my chest.

I suddenly wanted to laugh, but laughing just brought more tears.

Before, no matter how out of control Liam got, my presence alone would calm him.

But now?

Now.

How had that person... become Lola?

A stand-in who vaguely resembled me.

A few days later, Liam texted me.

A link to a ticket pre-sale website for a ballet.

Liam used to only care about basketball games. Since when did he develop such bougie tastes?

"Snag me two tickets at eleven? I might forget."

I said okay. He promptly transferred me five grand.

I didn't hesitate and took it immediately.

I set an alarm. At eleven sharp, I snagged two front-row seats, side by side.

I sent him the e-tickets. Hours later, he replied with a simple "K."

I texted back, "Going together the day after tomorrow?"

He never replied.

But the next day, his social media feed boasted a string of gaming victories.

Maybe he just got caught up in the game and forgot.

I picked out a simple dress I knew he liked.

Left my hair down, and put in my contacts.

I arrived early, found my seat as the house lights dimmed.

After a while, Liam walked down the aisle holding flowers.

I ducked my head, suddenly shy. He'd brought me flowers a few times when we first met.

Was this his way of apologizing for hurting me the other night?

He sat down beside me before I looked up.

Liam stared straight at the stage. "It's starting. Quiet."

He held the flowers in his lap, eyes fixed on the stage.

The dancers appeared and the performance began.

Lola made her entrance as the lead and Liam was mesmerized.

His eyes followed her every move. That smile never left his face.

Watching Liam gaze at her with such intensity...

I couldn't help remembering when he used to look at me like that.

Liam's eyes looked so much like his. Every time he looked at me that way...

I couldn't resist leaning in to kiss him.

But now that depth of feeling wasn't for me anymore. It was aimed at her.

I sniffed, forcing my eyes back to the stage, trying to lose myself in the story.

Whether it was the tragedy unfolding or my own heart breaking, I wasn't sure.

I felt wetness on my cheeks. I had started crying again.

The story reached its climaxthe lovers torn apart by fate.

It mirrored my own story too well. I was lost in the sorrow.

When I pulled myself together, the dancers were taking their bows.

Liam stood up beside me, adjusting the bouquet in his hands.

I prepared myself, moving my purse from my lap to the floor.

I wiped my tears and tried to force a smile.

"Li"

I looked down for a second. When I glanced up, Liam was striding swiftly towards the stage.

He thrust the flowers into Lola's arms and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Right then, I felt like the ultimate fool, a clown at a rodeo.

My hopeful heart plummeted. A hollow ache spread through my chest.

I slipped out quietly. Outside the theater, I texted Liam.

"Heading home."

Days later, coming home from work,

I found my front door unlocked and the sounds of cooking came from inside.

I dropped my bag, kicked off my heels.

I figured it must be Liam, but something felt off.

Liam didn't cook.

I walked towards the kitchen and saw him pressed against a girl. It looked like they were kissing.

My entrance startled them. The girl jumped, clearly spooked.

Liam just looked calm. He even snorted when he saw me.

"If it bothers you, you can leave."

I watched them, intimate right in front of me.

His hand rested on her waist, fingers tracing circles.

The wound in my heart felt ripped open again, salt rubbed in.

I lowered my eyes, slowly pulled out a chair, trying to act casual.

"Almost missed breakfast this morning, I'm starving. Let's eat."

The girl clearly wasn't used to this. She looked awkward and uncomfortable.

I gave her a tight smile. "Sit. Join us."

But the bizarre, tense atmosphere spooked her.

After a few bites, she made an excuse and left.

Liam threw his chopsticks down. "Tch. Boring." His face was stormy.

I knew that anger was directed at me.

I ladled some soup into a bowl and set it in front of him.

"Sorry. Next time you bring someone over, I'll make sure the place is empty."

Liam got up, flopped onto the nearby couch.

He stared at me, like he was trying to see straight into my soul, figure out what I was really thinking.

"Eleanor Vance," he blinked, thin lips pressed together.

"If I'd known you'd be this much trouble, I wouldnt have chased you."

He paused. "Three years. Kinda boring. Feeling kinda... done."

I kept my head down, mechanically shoveling rice into my mouth.

Maybe I ate too fast. I tried to swallow and choked.

I reached for his untouched soup bowl to wash it down, but the choking was bad. My eyes watered.

"I don't mind you bringing others. Just give me a heads-up next time. I won't be here."

"Liam, don't make me leave."

"I just... I just want to stay near you."

Liam went quiet. The smirk faded from his face.

After a long moment, he stood and walked towards the door.

Tossed over his shoulder, "Fine. If it doesn't matter to you, stay."

The girls around Liam kept changing.

But only Lola appeared in his social media posts.

I saw him post pictures with her backstage after performances, over and over.

Lola beamed in the photos, looking just like me during our honeymoon phase.

And Liam's gaze at her was always intense.

In a haze, I dreamed of a face resembling Liam's.

He was gentle and devoted.

On my birthday, he made me a huge cake himself.

It was covered in my favorite strawberries.

I saw his hands, red and raw from the cold prep work.

My heart ached. "Such beautiful hands. Don't freeze them for me."

He just said, "Eleanor Vance, you're the most beautiful thing in my world. I want to give you the best."

That day, I cried as I ate the strawberry cake.

Now, I couldnt even remember how it tasted.

But it was the best cake I've ever had.

I slept deeply. Half-asleep, I heard my phone ring.

I answered, murmuring into it.

"I really want your strawberry cake."

Before the person on the other end could answer, I rolled over and fell back asleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night, starving.

I went to the kitchen looking for food and found a strawberry cake on the table.

Liam was asleep on the couch.

It hit me then that phone call wasn't a dream.

The sound of me eating woke Liam. He saw the cream smeared around my mouth.

He reached out, wiped some off with his thumb, then licked it.

Not satisfied, he leaned in and kissed me, slowly tasting every bit of the strawberry cake from my lips.

Looking into those eyes that always mesmerized me, I fell all over again.

Liam and I got back together. Not just back together, we moved in together.

I thought he'd settle down this time and be good.

But I was naive. Within days, he brought another new girl home.

I made an excuse about needing groceries and left.

Left them to it.

His friends thought I was pathetic, clinging to Liam for his money without any self-respect.

I didn't care what they thought.

It wouldn't be long now anyway.

A few days later, it was Lola's birthday. I didn't want to go.

But Liam sent me three hundred grand and called me multiple times.

He told me to dress up nice and get over there fast.

I obeyed, dressed carefully, and bought a pair of mugs as a gift for Lola.

A wish for her and Liam to last forever.

I pushed open the private room door. Lola had her eyes closed, making a wish.

She was dressed like a little swan tonight.

After she blew out the candles, I stepped forward and handed her the gift.

Lola looked at me with pure disdain.

She took the gift reluctantly, opened it right there in front of everyone, pulled out one mug, and toyed with it.

Someone jostled her from behind. She lost her balance and fell, shattering the mug in her hand.

Her palm was slashed deep, blood pooling on the floor.

Liam was drinking with his buddies nearby but heard the commotion.

He shoved people aside, scooped Lola into his arms.

His voice was ice. "Who the hell did this? Who hurt Lola?"

Eyes turned towards me. The implication was clear: my gift mug had cut her.

I didn't speak or explain. I just stood there, coldly watching Lola cry her pretty tears.

Liam cradled her. "Don't cry. You'll ruin your makeup."

Then he turned that icy stare on me. His lips curled slowly.

"Eleanor Vance. Get on your knees. Apologize to Lola."

My fists clenched. I gave a soft, bitter laugh.

"It wasn'tme."

Liam wasn't listening. He grabbed my arm, forcing me towards Lola, demanding I apologize again.

Seeing I wouldn't bend, a cruel smirk twisted his lips.

"Won't apologize? Fine. Tonight, I'll gift you to my uncle."

"Let him have his fun with you."

"Honestly, I'm bored with you old stand-in anyway. Time for something new."

Staring at that face so similar to Sebastian's, I finally snapped.

I wrenched my arm free and slapped himhard across the face.