Chapter 2 Who Was On The Line Just Now

Rosanna froze, caught completely off guard.

Anyone who saw her and Yolanda together would have sworn they were twins. With faces so similar, no one-not even Christopher-would ever realize if they swapped lives for a day.

Given the circumstances, she saw no other option but to do as she was told. Without a word, she unclasped her necklace and let it slip into her palm.

Yolanda's tone turned cutting as she snapped, "Why the silence? Did you fall for Christopher? Let me remind you, Rosanna, you're just filling in. Do you actually believe you could ever replace me as Christopher's wife?"

A tight ache gripped Rosanna's chest. "That's not what I'm thinking..."

Christopher's voice suddenly echoed from the hallway outside the bathroom. "Yoli."

The sound jolted Rosanna, and she ended the call in a hurry.

"Who was on the line just now?" he asked with suspicion.

"I was talking about work with a coworker."

He moved closer, his gaze intense. "Every minute you have belongs to me. I want all your attention."

"They always have been," replied Rosanna. She waited until the redness faded from her neck and arms before stepping into the room with him.

From his position outside the bathroom, Christopher's eyes were immediately drawn to her empty neck, then drifted downward to spot the amethyst necklace resting on the floor.

"Yoli, I thought you liked this necklace. Why did you toss it aside?" Christopher frowned.

Rosanna met his gaze, searching for something to say.

Living through this elaborate deception had left him oblivious to the truth, his world built on misunderstandings and half-truths that he never saw coming.

Before they ever got married, Christopher once confided in her about Yolanda. He described her as his first love-a woman he had admired from afar, never daring to approach before leaving the country to study.

When those four years had passed and he returned, the first thing he did was show up at Yolanda's home to ask for her hand.

He truly believed that he was now married to the woman who had always meant the most to him.

Yet, without realizing it, all the tenderness meant for Yolanda ended up being given to Rosanna instead. This only deepened Rosanna's sense of guilt about living as someone else's stand-in.

Christopher poured his heart into being a loving husband, which made the burden of her secret even harder to bear.

If Yolanda was determined to reclaim him, Rosanna felt it was finally time to be honest, even if that truth left him angry.

But just as she opened her mouth to confess, the memory of the morning call from the hospital flashed through her mind-her mother's health had taken a turn for the worse. The doctor warned her that they'd need more money for the next surgery. If she revealed everything now and Yolanda responded by stopping Ashley's medical payments, Rosanna couldn't see how she could possibly help cover her mother's medical bills.

With that thought lingering, she forced a small smile and said, "I noticed a crack in the stone. That's why I took it off."

Lifting the necklace, Christopher held it up to the light, inspecting the amethyst until he spotted the thin fracture running through its surface. His entire expression changed, and the warmth in his eyes vanished.

Rosanna felt her heart skip, taken aback by the sudden shift. It was rare to see him lose his temper.

"I'm sorry," said Christopher, before stepping aside and pulling out his phone.

Rosanna listened as he shouted at someone on the other end, "How could you be so careless with my wife's jewelry? That's gross negligence. I want every jewelry store they own in town blacklisted-right now!"

A hesitant voice replied, shocked by the demand, "Are you saying all of their stores, sir?"

Christopher didn't even hesitate. "Every single one. Do it immediately. Don't wait for me to ask twice."

He seemed to realize that his anger might have frightened Rosanna. He softened his tone and disappeared into his study.

Everyone knew Christopher rarely let his emotions show, but when he was pushed too far, he could be ruthless.

Stories floated around about how he dealt with those who crossed him-no one ever wanted to be on his bad side.

Rosanna tried to steady her nerves. If the truth ever came out, would he turn that same unforgiving side toward her? Right now, she wore his ring, but how long could she hold onto her place in his life? She was just a stand-in, clinging to a secret that could destroy everything.

Rosanna pushed away her anxious thoughts.

Eventually, Christopher reappeared in the hallway.

They noticed how late it had become, so neither of them bothered with cooking. Instead, they ordered takeout and shared a quiet, simple meal together at the dining table.

When they made their way back to the bedroom, Christopher seemed perfectly composed again. With little care, he tossed the necklace into the trash and leaned closer to her. "Tell me what you want. I'll find you something better than that old piece."

Nervousness lingered in Rosanna's chest, but she didn't let herself move away. Picking the first thing that came to mind, she answered without much thought.

Trying to change the subject, she spoke up. "You should get some sleep. There's a busy day waiting for you at the office tomorrow."

His features softened and he replied, "Alright, if you say so."

The bedroom grew dim as he switched off the main light, leaving only the lamp on the nightstand casting a gentle glow. He wrapped his arm around her as he drifted off, just like every night before.

Sleep didn't come so easily for Rosanna, though. She stayed awake long after his breathing evened out.

Morning arrived, and Rosanna made her way to the hospital.

Ashley's situation hadn't improved. The only thing the doctors could offer was more rounds of chemotherapy, and each treatment seemed to wear her down more.

Watching her loved one suffer left Rosanna feeling helpless. If only she had more money, she could do so much more.

After her meeting with the doctor, she returned to Ashley's hospital room. She paused at the door, noticing she was still asleep, but there was another presence quietly waiting in the corner.

Yolanda wore a champagne skirt, with a crisp white jacket draped over her shoulders. Her chestnut hair tumbled in perfect waves, setting her apart from Rosanna despite their identical features. The rich notes of her perfume hung in the air, colliding with the sharp, sterile scent that always lingered in hospitals.

Rosanna hesitated before speaking. "Yolanda? I didn't expect to see you here. Did you come to see Mom?"

Yolanda had never bothered visiting the hospital before. Even when she agreed to pay for the treatments, it was always her assistant who showed up on her behalf.

With a slight frown, Yolanda rose from her seat. "This isn't the right place for a conversation. Come outside. We need to talk."