Substitute Illusion

chapter 1

I followed Tristan for three years.

With this face, I became a stand-in for his idealized love.

Everyone thought I was a bird in a gilded cage.

But who would have guessed that this was all my choice?

Because the heart that beats in Tristan's chest originally belonged to my beloved...

Tristan held me as he always did, wrapping me in his embrace as we slept. My ear was pressed tightly against his chest, and in the quiet of the night, the steady, strong rhythm of his heartbeat brought me a sense of peace.

I had been with Tristan for three years. To get close to him, I had deliberately altered my appearance to resemble his first love, his "white moonlight." I meticulously mimicked her every expression and gesture, all to be by his side. Because the heart beating in his chest belonged to my lover, Rory.

Years ago, I had watched helplessly as Rory was hit by a car right in front of me and taken away by the arriving medical team. When I rushed to the hospital, I was told they had not received such a patient.

Desperate for answers, I did everything I could to find evidence, even resorting to compromising my dignity. Eventually, I discovered the truth: Rory was dead, and his heart had been transplanted into the body of Tristan, the head of the Roberts Group.

I had heard that Tristan had a congenital heart defect. Although I found a consent form in Tristan's office, signed by Rory agreeing to donate his heart, and I recognized Rory's signature, something still felt off. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.

I had never stopped searching for the truth of that year, but my efforts had been in vain.

In the darkness, I gazed at Tristan's silhouette. Over the years, Tristan had treated me well, but I knew it was only because I resembled his married first love.

Sometimes, I wondered if it was because of that heart. Despite their completely different features, I often felt as if I were back in the days when Rory was still alive. But I was clear-headed; I would never fall in love with Tristan. The only thing I loved was that beating heart.

Because of that heart, I always kept a close eye on Tristan's routines. Whenever he pulled all-nighters for work or came home drunk from social events, I would frown in anger and worry. I feared he would damage the heart that belonged to my lover.

During those times, he would massage his forehead and patiently promise me it wouldn't happen again. The warmth in his eyes often mirrored the gentle gaze of Rory in my memories. He always gave me the illusion that he had been in love with me for a long time.

I frowned and shook my head, trying to dispel these chaotic thoughts. Even if he did love me, what difference would it make? I was just a stand-in.

What I needed to do now was to uncover the truth behind Rory's death and protect the heart he had left behind.

Chapter 2

Recently, I heard some unsettling news: Julia, Tristan's first love, had divorced.

She was coming back to the country.

I frowned, feeling a bit agitated. It wasn't jealousy over the return of Tristan's first love. It was because I feared that with her return, Tristan would no longer need me as her stand-in. If that happened, I wouldn't be able to stay by Tristan's side to protect Rory's heart.

On the day Julia returned, Tristan went to the airport. He didn't come back for several days. Just as I was pondering how I could stay by Tristan's side, Julia came to find me.

I had to admit, Julia was indeed beautiful. The photos didn't do her justice. Even though my face had been surgically enhanced to perfection, there were still subtle differences when compared to hers. Looking at her face, a sense of crisis welled up inside me. I didn't know how much longer I could stay by Tristan's side.

She looked me up and down and then sneered. "So, you're the woman who had plastic surgery to look like me just to stay by Tristan's side?"

"You did a good job, but in the end, you're just a counterfeit."

She continued to belittle me, but I didn't really listen. My mind wandered, thinking about whether Tristan had been keeping a regular schedule these past few days and whether his heart was functioning properly. I glanced at the beautiful woman in front of me. Had they been intimate these past few days? Would the overindulgence affect his heart?

Seeing my distracted look, she assumed I was worried about being kicked out by Tristan. She mocked, "A fake is always a fake. I advise you to leave Tristan voluntarily. Even if you don't, Tristan will eventually ask you to leave."

I couldn't help but laugh. "So what if you're Tristan's first love? How can you be so sure he'll kick me out?"

I leaned in and whispered in her ear, "After all, for the past three years, every time we were in bed, he called my name, not yours."

Seeing her face darken with anger, I felt a sense of satisfaction. Although I wasn't sure what Tristan would ultimately decide, at least for now, I had won.

That evening, I finally saw Tristan after several days. He looked tired, with bags under his eyes. I frowned, feeling a surge of discontent. It wasn't his own heart, and yet he was neglecting it again.

I spoke with a sarcastic tone, "Mr. Roberts, you must have been lost in the arms of a beauty that you forgot to come back. Do you need some herbal remedy to replenish your energy?"

Even though I knew I was just a stand-in, I never let myself be treated unfairly. If I wanted to be angry, I would be angry. If I wanted to retort, I would retort. If Tristan really didn't want me anymore, I could always keep him under lock and key. That way, I wouldn't have to worry about his busy work affecting his heart.

Tristan frowned, looking puzzled. "What are you talking about? I've been on a business trip abroad these past few days. I just got off the plane."

I was stunned and blurted out, "Weren't you with your first love?"

Tristan looked confused, frowning even more. "First love?"

Seeing his puzzled expression, I said directly, "Julia."

Tristan finally remembered, his face showing a look of realization. Then he pulled me onto his lap, wrapped his arms around me, and buried his head in my shoulder, laughing softly. "So, Claire, are you jealous?"

Jealous? Why would I be jealous? I didn't love him at all. I silently thought to myself.

Chapter 3

I was a bit puzzled. Wasn't I able to get close to Tristan because I resembled his first love, Julia? But why did he seem indifferent to this?

Tristan merely responded nonchalantly, "Oh, maybe there was such a person once."

I was even more confused. Why did everyone say Tristan loved his first love, yet he himself seemed unaware of this?

Never mind, at least I successfully stayed by Tristan's side. Every night, being able to fall asleep to the sound of his beating heart was the happiest moment of my day.

Every year during the Lunar New Year, the Roberts family would gather at the old mansion for a meal. Tristan used to go alone. This year, he proactively suggested taking me along. I was a bit shocked but quickly understood his intentions. He probably wanted to take me back to silence the elders.

Before entering the old mansion, Tristan held my hand and told me not to be nervous. If he wasn't nervous, why should I be? Since I didn't love him, I didn't care about his relatives' opinions. I just let it slide off me.

Sure enough, as soon as I entered the house, the expressions of the people inside subtly changed. At the dining table, one of Tristan's cousins couldn't hold back and complained, "Cousin, why did you bring this cosmetic surgery enthusiast back? Not just anyone can enter our Roberts family."

I ignored her and kept my head down, eating the food in my bowl. Tristan put a piece of braised pork into my bowl and sternly said, "This is your future cousin-in-law. Watch your mouth."

I was so shocked that I choked and couldn't stop coughing. Tristan handed me a glass of water and gently patted my back, telling me to eat slowly.

I didn't understand what Tristan was doing. Wasn't I just a stand-in, a canary he kept, a mistress? What did he mean by future cousin-in-law? We didn't even count as being in a relationship, at most a mistress.

It seemed I wasn't the only one confused; most of the people at the table were stunned, including that cousin. She was initially taken aback, then incredulously said, "Cousin, don't you know that Julia has already divorced and come back? Didn't you find this cosmetic surgery enthusiast because..."

"Shut up," Tristan snapped.

His cousin was evidently a bit afraid of him and fell silent, though she didn't forget to glare at me from time to time during the meal.

In fact, I silently agreed with her. Tristan agreed to let me stay with him because of my face.

The meal was eaten with everyone lost in their own thoughts. After finishing, we didn't stay long, and Tristan took me away. At the door, I remembered I had left something inside. Tristan offered to accompany me back to get it, but I refused.

I quickly walked towards the dining room. Just as I was about to open the door, I heard voices inside.

"Tristan is becoming less and less like he used to be."

There was a moment of silence inside, then someone said, "Are you sure everything from that incident was handled cleanly? No loose ends?"

"Rest assured, the car accident and the medical team from back then have all been dealt with. The forged consent documents for the heart donation are in Tristan's study. If it weren't for Tristan, that boy wouldn't have..."

The voice stopped abruptly. I stood outside, feeling a cold shiver run down my spine.

So Rory's car accident back then wasn't an accident but was orchestrated by the Roberts family. The purpose was to get his heart, which was a match for Tristan.

I clenched my fists. Roberts family, I will make sure you face the consequences.