Five Years in His Shadow

I'd been with Ethan Pierce for five years, thinking I was the person he trusted most.

Five years of obedience, humiliation, and sacrifice. In his eyes, I was nothing but a shadow, a stand in for Claire Sullivan, the one he truly loved.

The day Claire came back, he made me kneel on the floor to wipe her shoes.

My dignity was crushed again and again.

Even when I left, my freedom was restricted by his power and influence.

Then came the day when he deliberately made out with Claire right in front of me, repeating over and over that she was the woman he truly loved.

I dialed a phone number I'd kept buried for so long.

"Come pick me up and take me home. Also, I want the Pierce family bankrupt."

Sophia Bennett POV

I'd been with Ethan Pierce for five years.

Everyone in our circle knew I was the most obedient pet Ethan kept by his side.

If he told me to go east, I'd never go west.

He didn't let me wear dresses, so for five years I only wore pants.

Everyone thought I was madly in love with Ethan, and Ethan himself thought so too.

Late night. Pouring rain.

I'd just finished cleaning up the company's mess and came back to the villa soaking wet.

The living room lights were off. The smell of smoke was suffocating.

A crimson glow flickered in the darkness. Ethan sat on the sofa, his expression cold and hard.

"You're back?"

His voice was hoarse.

I set down my bag and went to change into slippers out of habit.

"Why didn't you turn on the lights? Is your stomach bothering you again? I'll go make you some-"

"Claire's back in the country."

My movements froze.

The air seemed to freeze.

Claire. The one woman Ethan had always wanted but could never have.

Because my face looked like Claire's, especially my eyes.

After a long moment, I straightened up, my fingertips curling slightly.

"So?"

Ethan stubbed out his cigarette, not even glancing at me.

"She's settling down here and hasn't found a suitable place yet. This villa is close to her company. She likes it."

I lowered my eyes.

"You're telling me to move out?"

"Move to that apartment in Regent Bay."

Ethan's tone was casual.

"Don't bring too much stuff. Claire is obsessive about cleanliness. I don't want any sign that someone else was living here."

Traces of other people.

Five years. Over eighteen hundred days and nights.

Turns out in his eyes, I was just an "other person" leaving my mark on his space.

I smiled.

"Okay."

I didn't cry or make a scene.

He finally looked up at me, frowning slightly.

"What kind of compensation do you want? A check, or resources?"

"No need."

I turned and headed upstairs.

"I'll go pack now."

"Sophia."

He called after me.

I paused.

"Don't blame me."

Ethan's voice was cold.

"When we got together, I made it clear there were rules. Now that the real one is back, the stand in should naturally step aside."

I didn't turn around.

"Don't worry, Mr. Pierce. I understand the rules very well."

That night, I packed quickly.

Actually, I never had much that belonged to me anyway.

The expensive jewelry, clothes, and bags-Ethan had bought them all based on Claire's preferences.

I only took a few old clothes and a photo album.

Before leaving, I placed a spare key on the entry table. It made a crisp sound.

Like something breaking.

The day after I moved into Regent Bay, I was called back to the company.

I was Ethan's executive assistant.

Even after breaking up, business still had to be handled.

These five years, I'd kept work and personal life completely separate.

Even if he left me so exhausted the night before that I could barely get out of bed, I still showed up the next day in heels to go over his schedule with precision.

"Mr. Pierce, here's today's meeting agenda."

I placed the documents on the desk, my expression calm.

Ethan glanced at me.

"There's an auction tonight."

Ethan finished signing and tapped his pen on the marble desktop.

"Come with me."

I gave a professional smile.

"Sure, I'll arrange for a stylist."

"No need."

Ethan tossed me a gift box.

"Wear this."

I opened the box.

It was a white mermaid gown with a daring cut, the back almost completely bare.

This not only didn't fit my usual style, but more importantly, I had a scar on my back.

From three years ago when Ethan was targeted by a rival. During the car accident, I threw myself over him to protect him and got cut by glass shards.

Back then, Ethan held my bloodied body with red-rimmed eyes, saying he'd protect me for life.

Now, as soon as that woman came back, he'd forgotten.

"What? Don't like it?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

I closed the box, my fingers gripping the edge tightly.

"Mr. Pierce, this dress is backless. I have a scar. It might not look appropriate."

"A scar?"

Ethan seemed to pause for a moment, then smiled carelessly.

"That old scar must have faded by now, right? Besides, Claire likes this style. I want to see how it looks when worn."

I see.

Another fitting model.

I felt like my heart was being squeezed by a giant hand, the pain suffocating.

I took a deep breath, maintaining my polite smile. "Understood."

That evening, at the auction, I entered on Ethan's arm, turning heads.

The dress was beautiful, but it was also revealing.

I'd covered the scar on my back with concealer, but under the lights it was still faintly visible.

People around whispered, their gazes filled with amusement.

But Ethan seemed oblivious, only focused on exchanging pleasantries.

Until the auction began.

The finale was a set of pink diamond jewelry with a starting bid of eighty million dollars.

Ethan bid without hesitation.

I sat beside him and heard him say in a low voice:

"Claire has fair skin. Pink looks good on her."

The price soared to two hundred million dollars.

Eventually, Ethan won.

After the event ended, staff brought over the jewelry box.

Ethan took out the necklace and turned to look at me.

"Try it on."

I froze.

"It's for Miss Sullivan. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to try it, would it?"

"Just try it when I tell you to."

Ethan's tone was impatient.

"Your neck is slender, about the same as hers."

In front of everyone.

I was forced to lower my head as cold diamonds touched warm skin.

Ethan examined it for a moment and nodded with satisfaction.

"Not bad."

The next second, he reached out and removed the necklace, putting it back in the box.

His movements were efficient, not giving me even one extra second of warmth.

"Alright, send this to Claire."

He shoved the box into my arms and strode away.

I held that priceless box, standing in the cold wind, feeling like a joke.

Sophia Bennett POV

Claire's birthday party was set on a yacht.

I didn't want to go, but as secretary, I had to be there to coordinate.

Top deck of the yacht. Lights and glamour everywhere.

Ethan stayed by Claire's side the whole time. The two of them standing together drew envious looks.

I hid in a corner checking the guest list, trying to minimize my presence.

"Isn't this Ethan Pierce's secretary?"

A few rich kids came over with wine glasses, teasing.

"I heard Mr. Pierce cleared out his villa for the goddess Claire to live in. So where are you living now?"

"Miss Bennett, you used to seem so proud. How are you like a dog now?"

One of them reached out to touch my face.

"After five years with him, it must've been quite an experience, huh?"

I turned my head to avoid him, saying coldly.

"Show some respect."

"Stop acting so high and mighty!"

The man flew into a rage and splashed red wine on me.

My white shirt instantly soaked through, clinging to my skin. I looked completely disheveled.

The man, emboldened by alcohol, reached to pull at my collar.

"Stop!"

Ethan's voice rang out.

The group immediately scattered, apologizing with nervous smiles.

"Just joking around..."

Ethan walked over, his gaze falling on my soaked clothes, a flash of disgust in his eyes.

He took off his suit jacket, but not to give to me. Instead, he draped it over Claire's bare shoulders next to him.

"It's windy. Don't catch cold."

Claire held onto his arm, looking at me with surprise.

"Oh my, Miss Bennett, what happened to you? Go change quickly, don't catch a cold."

I bit my lip hard, saying nothing.

"What are you standing there for?"

Ethan frowned.

"Get out of here. Don't embarrass yourself."

I turned to leave.

Suddenly, the boat lurched violently.

Someone screamed.

"Someone fell overboard!"

In the chaos, I was shoved by panicking people, lost my footing, and toppled over the railing.

At the same moment, Claire was also knocked off balance, hanging precariously on the edge of the railing.

"Ethan! Save me!"

Claire screamed.

I gripped the outer edge of the railing. Below my feet was dark, churning seawater.

I couldn't swim.

Ethan knew this.

Five years ago, I nearly drowned trying to retrieve documents that fell into a pool for him. He was the one who pulled me out.

At this moment, Ethan was only six feet away.

He glanced at Claire, then at me.

Just one second of hesitation.

He rushed toward Claire and grabbed her wrist.

"Save her! Pull Claire up first!"

Ethan yelled at the arriving security guards.

My fingers slipped on the railing, bit by bit.

My nails broke. Blood dripped.

I watched that man who once said he'd protect me for life hold another woman tightly, soothing her gently.

While I was like a withered leaf, unnoticed by anyone.

"Ethan..."

My voice was barely audible, scattered in the sea breeze.

Before my last bit of strength ran out, I let go.

Cold seawater instantly engulfed me.

As suffocation set in, I actually felt relieved.

If this was the end, then so be it.

But I was lucky. I was pulled up by a police rescue boat.

Water in my lungs. High fever that wouldn't break.

I was unconscious in the hospital for three days.

During those three days, Ethan never came once.

When I woke up, only a nurse was changing my bandages.

"Your boyfriend is so heartless."

The young nurse felt indignant for me.

"I heard that woman just scraped her skin a bit, and he stayed by her side for three days and nights. You almost died, and not a single person came to see you."

I stared at the ceiling and laughed.

"He's not my boyfriend."

Right. He never was.

Just a sugar daddy and his plaything.

My phone vibrated on the bedside table.

It was Ethan calling.

I watched that name flash for a long time before answering.

Sophia Bennett POV

"You're awake?"

The background noise on the phone was chaotic, like he was still at the hospital.

"Once you're awake, come back to the office and do the handover. These past few days without you, the schedule's been a complete mess."

No concern. No guilt.

The first thing he said was about work.

My throat was painfully dry.

"I'm in the hospital."

"Stop being dramatic."

Ethan said impatiently.

"The doctor said you just swallowed some water. You're not dying. Claire's been traumatized and is still getting psychological counseling. Hurry over and handle the PR. The media got photos of the incident that day."

I closed my eyes. Tears slid down from the corners into my pillow.

"Ethan."

"What now?"

"Let's end this."

Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then came a scoff.

"Sophia Bennett, playing this trick once was enough. Want a raise or want a bag? Just say it."

In his eyes, all my pain and struggle were nothing but tactics to gain benefits.

My hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

"I'm serious. I'm resigning, and I'm... leaving you."

"You dare?"

Ethan's voice turned icy.

"Sophia Bennett, did you forget who pulled you out of the gutter? Without me, what are you?"

"You're right. I'm nothing."

I pulled out the IV needle from the back of my hand. Blood immediately welled up, but I couldn't feel the pain.

"So I'm done serving you."

With that, I hung up and blocked that number I knew by heart.

I climbed out of the hospital bed, ignoring the nurse's attempts to stop me, insisting on checking out.

Back at Regent Bay, I packed up everything Ethan had given me and called a courier to send it all back to the villa.

Then I booked the earliest flight to San Diego.

That was my grandmother's hometown, and where I'd originally wanted to go.

Before leaving, I went to the company one more time.

The HR director looked shocked to see me.

"Miss Bennett, Mr. Pierce said without his signature, we can't process your resignation."

I slapped my resignation letter on the desk, along with a bank card containing five hundred thousand dollars.

"I'll pay the penalty. There's five hundred thousand dollars on this card. That's enough compensation, right?"

"Tell Ethan Pierce that these five years, consider it me paying for his services. Transaction complete. We're even."

The moment I walked out of Pierce Corporation's building, the sunlight was blinding.

I looked back at that towering skyscraper.

That was the cage that had trapped me for five years.

Now, I was finally free.

But I couldn't leave.

At the airport security checkpoint, red lights flashed piercingly.

The ground staff handed back my passport, their eyes carrying both sympathy and the look of watching a show.

"I'm sorry, Miss Bennett. Your identification has been restricted from leaving the country. If you have questions, please contact the police or... the relevant restricting party."

The relevant restricting party.

Besides Ethan Pierce, who else could it be?

My fingers holding the passport turned cold.

I walked out of the airport terminal and called that number I'd just blocked.

The phone was answered after just one ring. A man's casual voice came through, accompanied by the crisp sound of a lighter.

"Finally willing to call?"

"Why did you restrict my travel?"

I stood in the wind, my voice trembling.

"Sophia Bennett, you think five hundred thousand can buy out five years? You think the company's a flea market where you can come and go as you please?"

Ethan exhaled a smoke ring, his tone mocking.

"The company's been dealing with a leak case recently. You're the executive assistant, so you're the top suspect. Until we get to the bottom of it, you're not going anywhere."

I closed my eyes.

"Ethan Pierce, what exactly do you want?"

"Nothing much."

He chuckled, cruel and arrogant.

"I don't like it when a dog I've trained well starts barking at its master. When you learn to wag your tail again, then we can talk about resignation."

The call ended.

I looked up at the gray sky, feeling a bone-deep chill.

I didn't go back to Regent Bay, and I didn't beg him.

I found a cheap motel in the old district for a few dozen dollars a night.

The room was damp, with the smell of mold mixed with cheap disinfectant.

I curled up on the hard bed, stomach cramping painfully.

I thought once I left, I'd be free.

Turns out in his eyes, I didn't even have the right to escape.

Sophia Bennett POV

Over the next three days, I deeply understood what "absolute power" meant.

I submitted dozens of resumes online, even lowering my standards to apply for administrative assistant and receptionist positions.

At first, the conversations went well, but as soon as they verified my social security number, attitudes would do a complete one-eighty.

"Sorry, Miss Bennett, we've filled the position."

"Miss Bennett, we don't dare hire someone from Pierce Corporation. Please don't make this difficult for us."

Some even threw my resume in the trash right in front of me.

"You offended Mr. Pierce and still want to work in New York? Naive."

My last bit of savings was almost gone.

I stood on the street, looking at the exquisite, expensive cakes in the display window. I touched my empty stomach, turned around, and bought two nearly expired loaves of bread.

I used to dine at high-end restaurants with Ethan. Now I had to carefully budget just to get a full meal.

This was the price of leaving him.

Evening. Pouring rain.

I returned to the motel soaking wet, but the owner threw my luggage out.

"Get out! Someone called and said anyone who lets you stay is going against the Pierce family! I run a small business. I can't afford that kind of trouble!"

The suitcase tumbled in the muddy water. The zipper burst open. A few old clothes scattered everywhere.

That was all the dignity I had left.

I crouched in the rain, picking up each piece of clothing one by one.

Rainwater mixed with tears ran into my mouth, so bitter it nearly made me gag.

A black luxury car slowly stopped in front of me.

The window rolled down, revealing Ethan's cold face without a trace of warmth.

He looked down at me from above, like looking at a stray dog.

"Hungry?"

I clutched the mud-stained clothes in my arms, biting down hard and saying nothing.

"Get in."

Ethan's voice was indifferent.

"Claire wants cake from that shop in the south district. You used to buy it all the time. You know which flavors she likes. Go get some, and I'll let you move back to Regent Bay."

I got in the car.

Not because I wanted to move back to Regent Bay, but because I had nowhere else to go, and the pain in my stomach was so sharp I felt like I was about to pass out.

The car's heater was on full blast. Claire sat in the passenger seat, wearing Ethan's coat, holding a hot water bottle.

Seeing my bedraggled state in the back seat, Claire covered her nose and frowned.

"What a strong musty smell... Ethan, I feel a bit carsick."

Ethan glanced at me in the rearview mirror, saying coldly.

"Open the window."

Outside was heavy rain. Cold wind mixed with raindrops poured in, hitting me directly.

I shivered from the cold.

Ethan acted as if he didn't see, even reaching over to turn up Claire's seat warmer.

"Bear with it. We'll be there soon."

His tone when speaking to Claire was impossibly gentle.

We arrived at the cake shop.

Ethan didn't get out. He didn't even have the driver go.

"Go ahead."

He gestured to me.

"Get the strawberry one. She loves that."

I pushed open the car door and stumbled out into the rain.

There was a long line at the cake shop entrance.

I was soaking wet, my hair plastered to my face, my clothes covered in mud. People around me gave me strange looks and kept their distance.

Half an hour later, I returned to the car with the bakery box.

Just as I was about to open the door, Claire suddenly rolled down the window and said in an apologetic tone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Ethan just said he suddenly doesn't want cake anymore. He wants Japanese food. This cake... you can keep it for yourself."

With that, the window rolled up.

The luxury car spewed exhaust and sped away.

All it left me was a body splattered with muddy water.

I stood there, holding that box of fresh cake.

I looked down at it. This was what I'd waited half an hour in line to buy.

I let go.

With a "splat," the cake spilled all over the ground, cream mixing with muddy water in a mess.

Just like my five years of genuine feelings.

Sophia Bennett POV

I collapsed on the roadside from a high fever and was taken to the hospital by a kind stranger.

I had no money for hospital admission fees.

The nurse, helpless, searched through my contacts and found only one number without a name saved.

Half an hour later, Ethan's special assistant arrived.

Not to pay the fees, but to take me away.

"Miss Bennett, Mr. Pierce said if you go to one place, he'll count this medical expense as a work injury."

I was delirious with fever and was taken to "Nightshade."

New York's largest club.

In the private room, the lighting was dim, the air thick with alcohol.

Ethan sat in the main seat with Claire in his arms. A circle of rich kids sat around, ready to watch the show.

Seeing me enter, someone whistled.

"Well, well, if it isn't the once untouchable Miss Bennett? How'd you end up looking like this?"

Ethan played with a lighter in his hand, his gaze lingering on me for two seconds, full of disgust.

"I heard you need money?"

He threw a card on the coffee table.

"There's a hundred thousand dollars here."

I stared at the card, my nails digging into my palms.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Claire's shoes got dirty."

Ethan raised his chin slightly, pointing to Claire's high heels that had a bit of dust on them.

"Clean them."

The room instantly fell silent.

Claire pulled her feet back in surprise.

"Ethan, this isn't right... She did follow you for five years."

"Precisely because she followed me for five years, she should know the rules better."

Ethan's voice was hard.

"When you do something wrong, you get punished. Sophia Bennett, you chose to run away. Can't handle this little bit of suffering?"

The high fever made my vision blurry, but Ethan's cold face was seared into my mind.

Clean shoes.

In front of all these people, I was supposed to clean his woman's shoes.

This was his "punishment" for my "betrayal."

"Don't want to?"

Ethan picked up the card.

"Then get lost. Figure out the medical expenses yourself, or go to jail. Leaking trade secrets? That charge alone carries ten years."

A threat.

A naked threat.

I slowly bent down. My knees hit the carpet with a dull thud.

I knelt in front of Claire, my trembling hands using the tissue that kind stranger had given me to wipe the dust off Claire's shoes, bit by bit.

Mocking laughter surrounded me. Phone camera shutters clicked.

Claire looked down at me from above, undisguised triumph in her eyes.

Ethan took a sip of wine, watching me.

After wiping away the last bit of dust, I braced myself on the floor to stand up, but swayed from exhaustion.

"Enough."

Ethan kicked the card toward my feet, somewhat irritated.

"Take the money and get lost."

I picked up the card.

This time, I didn't refuse, and I didn't throw it back.

Because I understood one thing: in front of this man, dignity was worthless.

Only by staying alive would I have a chance to escape completely.

I clutched that card tightly and turned to walk out of the room.

My back was resolute. I didn't look back once.

I took that hundred thousand dollars.

I paid the medical expenses, bought fever medicine. The rest of the money, I donated entirely to an anonymous charity.

Ethan's money burned my hands.

I didn't want to keep a single cent.

The day I was discharged, New York had rare clear weather.

I didn't go back to the motel or Regent Bay. I went straight to the top floor of Pierce Corporation.

That was where I'd worked for five years.

The receptionist tried to stop me. I looked at her.

"I'm here to get my personal belongings and to deliver a big gift to Mr. Pierce."

In the office, Ethan was frowning at a report full of errors.

Seeing me enter, his tone was mocking.

"What, spent all hundred thousand already? Back to wag your tail?"

I didn't speak.

I slammed a thick envelope on the desk.

"What's this?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"You said I leaked trade secrets?"

My voice was flat. "This is all the evidence from the past five years of you using the Bennett family's offshore accounts for money laundering and tax evasion. The originals are with a lawyer. If anything happens to me, these documents will be in the tip line within half an hour."

Ethan's face changed drastically. He shot up, staring at me.

"Sophia, you're threatening me?"

"It's a transaction."

I met his eyes without fear.

"Lift the travel restriction. Cancel the resignation obstacles. From now on, there's no Sophia Bennett in New York, and no secretary by your side."

Ethan laughed in fury, his long fingers pressing down hard on the envelope, knuckles white.

"To leave me, you'd even use this kind of tactic?"

The corner of my mouth twitched.

"Learned it from you, Mr. Pierce."

The air was deathly silent.

"Good. Very good."

He spat out these words through gritted teeth.

"Get lost. Get lost right now!"

I turned and walked away without looking back.

I went to the downstairs restroom, cut up that access card, and flushed it down the toilet.

Walking out of Pierce Corporation, I dialed a number I had buried long ago.

"Come get me. I'm done playing."