A Decade of Standing In: The True Heiress Becomes His Unreplaceable
She was still as carefree and whimsical as shed been a decade ago. She handed Adrian Thorne, now a man of thirty-two, a wishing bottle filled with sand as a gift.
Every grain of sand in here, she said, her voice breathy, represents a day I missed you.
Adrians posture went rigid.
Then, Livia turned to me, her chin held high with confidence. Im back. The stand-in can leave now.
At twenty-two, Adrian Thorne had nearly died of a broken heart when Livia left.
I couldnt help but wonder.
How would the cold, ruthless titan of the business world hed become react now?
1
Adrian casually placed the wishing bottle on the passenger seat.
I took the hint and slipped into the back.
He paused, looking back at me. Whats wrong?
I knew what he meant. It was a silent understanding forged over ten years of shared hardship.
We agreed when we got married, I said, my voice even. I would never try to take Livias place.
Ten years ago, Livia had run away from home without a word. My biological parents, the Ashwoods, had rushed to bring me back from the countryside, hastily announcing my identity to the world just in time to salvage the arranged marriage with the Thorne family.
On our wedding night, Adrian drank himself into a stupor, calling out Livias name all night long.
For ten years.
While Livia was dancing in Hawaii, I was bowing and scraping to Adrians stepmother on his behalf.
While Livia was flashing a peace sign at penguins in Antarctica, I was drinking myself into a bleeding ulcer to land our new companys first major contract.
While Livia was chasing the northern lights and watching African sunsets, experiencing jungles and savannas I was losing our first child, and then our second, in the crossfire of Adrians family power struggles. Id even had a kidnappers knife pressed against my throat.
She had her decade of freedom, and now she could just waltz back in and demand I leave?
Did she always expect to swoop in and claim the spoils without lifting a finger?
On what grounds?
Hearing my words, Adrians lips parted as if to say something. Amy, actually, we
He never finished. Livias call came through.
His phone was connected to the cars Bluetooth, and he hit accept.
Adrian, Livias voice bubbled through the speakers, Mom and Dad told me you two still dont have any children.
Is it because you were waiting for me?
Her voice was thick with a poorly concealed shyness and glee.
Livia, what are you talking about! Mrs. Ashwoods frantic voice cut in from the other end.
The topic of children was a minefield for me.
At twenty-five, I was pregnant with our first child. Adrians stepmother tricked me into drinking an herbal tea that caused a miscarriage.
At twenty-eight, I was pregnant again. I was so careful, hiding it until I was six months along, but then I was inexplicably, slowly poisoned. The baby didnt survive.
The day of the induction, my cries were primal, tearing from my soul. Adrian held me tightly, his own tears streaming down his face as he swore he would never let me suffer again.
And he had kept his word.
In three years, he drove out his stepmother and half-brother, seizing total control of the Thorne Group.
At thirty-two, as one of the countrys top CEOs, Adrian gave his first-ever business interview. During the broadcast, he offered a few polite, rehearsed words of thanks to me for my support over the years.
A week after that program aired, Livia returned.
Now, Adrian caught my expression in the rearview mirror and immediately ended the call.
Amy, Livia doesnt know what happened these past ten years. Dont mind her.
Shes always been sheltered. She just speaks her mind, sometimes without thinking
Enough, I cut him off, my patience gone. How is it that the ever-composed Mr. Thorne becomes so chatty when it comes to Livia?
Youre even making excuses for her now?
Adrians brow furrowed. He suddenly wrenched the steering wheel, pulling the car to a screeching halt on the side of the road.
Amy, are you still holding that against me?
2
In our first year of marriage, Adrians half-brother suddenly had a severe allergic reaction. His stepmother insisted Id laced the cookies with peanut butter.
Two housemaids held me down, forcing me, the supposed young mistress of the house, to kneel on the floor.
I looked at Adrian, pleading. He had been with me the entire time; he knew I was innocent.
But he just kept his head down, silent.
That day, those two old women slapped me twenty times, until my lip was split and my face was a swollen, bruised mess.
When we got back to our room, Adrian handed me two ice packs, his face a mask of guilt. The timing isnt right, hed said. I hope you understand.
That single word, understand, forced me to swallow all the pain and humiliation.
Later that night, the throbbing in my face woke me. I went to the kitchen for more ice and heard Adrian on the phone.
Thank God it wasnt Livia, he was saying. She never would have been able to handle it
I froze on the spot.
Building a relationship, seeing true colors in hard times what a goddamn joke.
To this day, Adrian has no idea I heard him.
My sarcastic remark brought him back to the present. He lit a cigarette and got out of the car, agitated. Just then, Livia called again. He answered, but he forgot to disconnect the Bluetooth.
Trapped in the car, I was forced to listen to Livias sweet, cloying voice.
Adrian, can you come be with me tonight?
The Bluetooth cut out instantly.
Through the window, I saw Adrian crush his cigarette under his shoe. He kicked at a small stone on the pavement as he listened, a flustered expression on his face that made him look like the twenty-something boy I first met.
Ha. So this was the power of the one that got away. It could make a man an idiot in a second.
Ten minutes later, he got back in the car, his eyes weary.
Amy, Ill take you home first.
Tonight, I might have to
Dont, I snapped, cutting him off. I couldnt bear to hear what bullshit excuse he would invent for Livias sake.
Realizing Id lost my composure, I forced my voice to soften. Mr. Thorne, you dont need to report your plans to me.
The cold formality wasnt lost on him. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel in frustration.
Amy Ashwood, youve always kept a wall up around me. Are you that desperate to draw a line between us?
How ironic. He was the one dancing on the edge of our marriage, yet he had the audacity to blame me.
I turned my head away, fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill over. Ten years had taught me one thing: you can lose anything, but you can never lose your composure.
As the tension thickened, my mother called.
Amy, your father and I were not good with words. We had to ask Adrian to come over and help us convince Livia to move on.
Can you just give your sister a little time? Shes still young. Shell understand eventually.
I let out a bitter laugh. Young? She was thirty years old. How funny. Ten years ago, when they were forcing me into this marriage, theyd said, Youre a grown woman now, Amy. You need to learn to help the family.
My voice was ice. Mom, I see you and Dad havent changed. Still cleaning up Livias messes for her.
But I will say, I added, your tone is much gentler now than it used to be.
I was eighteen when my biological parents found me. But Livia couldn't stand me. She framed me again and again with clumsy, obvious lies, and every single time, my parents chose to believe her.
The last straw was when she threw herself down the stairs and claimed I pushed her.
My father slapped me without even asking for my side of the story. My mother called me vicious and said they never should have brought me back. Without a single thought for my feelings, they unanimously decided to send me back to the countryside.
They only remembered they had a biological daughter when Livia ran from her wedding, and they needed a replacement. All in all, I had spent barely a year of my life with them.
Amy, do you really hate us that much? my mothers voice was filled with disbelief.
Her question actually made me pause. I thought my lack of affection for them was obvious.
Had the last ten years, free of Livias presence, somehow made us all forget our places?
3
Adrian didnt come home that night. I wasnt surprised.
My head throbbed all night as I drafted a divorce agreement I was finally satisfied with.
The wrong baby, taken home, abandoned, then forced to marry I never had a choice in any of it. But this, at least, could be my decision.
At 9 AM, Adrian called.
Last night
Adrian, come have breakfast! I made you sunny-side up eggs, just the way you like them!
Livias voice chirped in the background as he spoke, and a wave of irritation washed over me.
Im not interested, I said, my voice cold.
I had already imagined a hundred different scenarios for their night together. I didnt want to hear a single one of them confirmed.
Amy, do you have to be so cold?
I waited in silence for him to continue, but Livias voice drew closer.
Adrian, dont fight with my sister. If she really cant stand having me around, I can just leave again for another ten years.
That wont happen, Adrian soothed her, his voice gentle. Then, back to me: Theres a family dinner at the Ashwoods later. I expect you to be there.
You have to come, sister! Livia called out playfully.
The line went dead. I gripped my phone, my knuckles white.
Go? Of course I would go. My parents, my husband what was there to be afraid of?
Two hours later, I arrived at the Ashwood villa, dressed to kill in a couture gown.
Livia, however, was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, barefoot, excitedly showing the three of them a thick stack of photos from her travels. She was in her pajamas, her hair loose and tousled.
When she saw me, she froze for a second, then burst out laughing, covering her mouth. Sister, its just a family dinner. Whats with the battle armor?
Dont tell me youre trying to compete with me over a meal?
I faltered, my hands clenching into fists. But I forced a small, disdainful smile to my lips.
Oh, please. That no-makeup look on your face must have taken some effort.
Unlike you, I have an image to maintain. If a reporter snaps a photo of Mrs. Thorne looking sloppy, it reflects poorly on the family.
You! Livia shot up from the sofa, her eyes turning red, tears welling up perfectly. Youre nothing but a thief who stole my life while I was gone! What right do you have to flaunt it in my face?
Coming from her, the girl who had lived my life, the irony was almost comical.
I glanced at my flustered parents and threw my head back, laughing. Hahaha! Between the two of us, who is the real thief?
When you were happy, you were Miss Ashwood, heiress to the family fortune. When you were unhappy, you were just Livia, a free spirit who had to live her own life.
You got to just walk away from it all, so why was I the one left to clean up this mess and go through with this goddamn marriage?
Amy Ashwood!
Adrian, who had been silent until now, roared my name.
Do you have to make your regret so painfully obvious?
His eyes were bloodshot. He stormed toward me, his right hand raised high.
I lifted my chin, meeting his glare without flinching. Let the slap come. It would be the perfect way to wake me from the ten-year dream of being Mrs. Thorne.
Adrian, dont! Livia cried, throwing her arms around him from behind, her voice choked with emotion. We made our feelings clear last night. Thats enough for me.
I couldnt bear it if you fought with my sister because of me.
Made our feelings clear? Why wasnt he pushing her away?
My mind was a chaotic mess. The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. Youre only brave enough to act tough in front of me, Adrian Thorne. In front of her, youre nothing but a well-behaved dog!
SLAP!
The blow finally landed.
From behind Adrians back, Livia peeked out, a triumphant smirk on her face.
Amy, my mother whispered, rushing over, her trembling hands reaching for my face.
Get away from me! I screamed, stumbling back, putting distance between us.
Then I fixed my eyes on Adrian, my voice low and steady. Mr. Thorne, I want a divorce. And for ten years of my life, two billion dollars seems fair.
Adrians pupils contracted. He stood frozen, his gaze burning into me.
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