I Was Only His Substitute Until He Put a Ring on Me

I’ve always had a bit of a gender identity crisis—deep down, I’ve always identified as one of the boys.

So when Xavier Sinclair, the billionaire heir to the Sinclair empire, offered me $20,000 a month to be a paid standin for his first love, I agreed without a single second of hesitation.

Being a lookalike replacement? Please, that’s the easiest job on earth. Three years later, Xavier fell head over heels in love with me.

Thinking about how handsome and ridiculously rich he was, I figured marrying him was basically securing a platinum meal ticket for the rest of my life.

So, once again, I agreed to his proposal without hesitation. But on the eve of our wedding, his first love, Chloe Benson, who had fled the country years ago, suddenly returned.

At her welcomeback party, everyone was playing a game of "Never Have I Ever." Chloe had one too many drinks and deliberately leaned her entire body against Xavier.

Even while visibly drunk, she didn't forget to cast a provocative glance my way. "Never have I ever... known what Xavier is like when he kisses..." Chloe paused on purpose, leaving the sentence hanging.

Everyone’s eyes instantly locked onto me. I just let out an interested "Oh," eagerly urging her on with a face full of excitement. "Don’t stop there! Spill the tea!

I actually need to take some notes." The moment those words left my mouth, the entire room froze. The smug grin on Chloe’s face shattered. She didn't even know how to respond.

Xavier’s forehead creased with pure irritation. "Avery, what the hell are you talking about?" I blinked innocently. "She was talking about how you kiss." I pointed at Chloe, my eyes shining with anticipation. "She wasn't finished.

How is Xavier when he kisses?" Chloe went stiff. The ultimate weapon she thought she had against me turned out to have absolutely zero splash damage.

Seeing her hesitate, I couldn't help but nudge her. "Come on, spill!

Is there some secret technique I don't know about yet?" Someone in the corner couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. Xavier completely lost his cool, too.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a low, defeated chuckle. "Are you seriously trying to trade notes with her right here, right now?" I nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Why not?" Xavier turned his head and snapped at Chloe. "And you, can you stop making jokes about this kind of stuff?" I smiled secretly.

Over the past three years, I had been the most dedicated standin employee ever.

I had a naturally boisterous personality, living by the motto: "We're bros, so don't be strangers." With my internal "broidentity," playing this role was a walk in the park.

When Xavier was taking a shower, I’d barged in just to yell, "Yo, taking a shower, bro?" When Xavier was in the restroom, I’d slide a pack of flushable wet wipes under the door. "You got a lot of hair down there, right?

Use this, it gets it squeaky clean." When Xavier was sleeping, I’d slap his butt. "Flip over, bro, don't suffocate your own junk." This intense exposure therapy had directly resulted in Xavier’s current biggest pet peeve: people having no boundaries and digging into his private business.

But I could tell that because it was Chloe who brought it up, he chose to tolerate it instead of completely losing his temper.

Ignoring Chloe’s incredibly sour expression, I folded down one of my fingers. "Come on, next round! Keep it going!" Chloe refused to accept defeat.

When it was her turn again, she said proudly, "Never have I ever... been a natural Ccup.

If you don't believe me, you can feel for yourself." As she spoke, she unbuttoned the top of her shirt and pushed her chest out.

Xavier didn’t actually reach out, but he swept a critical glance over her. "Looks decent.

Did you get a cheap boob job while you were abroad?" Chloe playfully punched his shoulder, laughing with forced sweetness. "Screw you!

I’m all natural!" With that, Chloe pointedly looked at my flat chest. "Avery, don't force yourself.

Just accept defeat and take a shot." Xavier tried to smooth things over with a laugh. "Babe, don't feel insecure. Chloe and I are purely platonic.

With you watching, I wouldn't dare touch anyway!" Hearing this, Chloe’s red lips curled into a triumphant smirk.

The next second, I punched Xavier hard in the chest. "You really are a careless blockhead.

You don't even know your own childhood bestie's cup size." My eyes slowly scanned Chloe’s chest.

My intense, evaluating gaze made her shiver. "By my professional estimation, she just has a wide ribcage. Her actual cup size isn't that big." "I'm a solid 32B on a good day.

That still counts as a Bcup, so I don't lose." Xavier was stunned for a moment.

Then, he buried his face in the crook of my neck, his shoulders shaking as he muffled his laughter. "You really hate losing, don't you?

Haha!" Seeing our intimacy, the smile on Chloe’s face completely froze. Before Xavier could finish his sentence, I locked my arm around his neck in a playful chokehold. "What?

You got a problem with that?" I applied a bit of pressure, and he laughingly begged for mercy. Chloe's smile turned even stiffer. I smirked.

Over the three years she was abroad, I had watched countless videos of her. I knew her body measurements like the back of my hand.

To look and act more like her back then, I had put in an insane amount of effort. Otherwise, I would have felt guilty taking that $20,000 monthly paycheck.

Perhaps the fact that everyone else at the table was subconsciously siding with me triggered Chloe’s survival instincts.

The next day, Chloe went behind my back and created a new Snapchat group chat.

I had posted about my wedding photoshoot schedule with Xavier in our main group chat.

Immediately after, Chloe started a spam chain in her new, exclusive group chat. [At our old spot on the basketball court! Need one more to make a full squad.

The 'Tempest Four' that ruled high school can't be broken up!] While I was in a meeting with Xavier and the wedding planners, Xavier sent a photo of our venue setup to the main chat.

Chloe immediately shared her live location in her private group. [Guys, just found this hidden gem of a bar.

Get over here right now!] When Xavier and I planned to book our honeymoon registry, Chloe dropped a link in her chat: [New skydiving base in Thailand!

Xavier, this was your ultimate college dream!] The next afternoon, Xavier texted me. "Hey babe, there’s an emergency merger case overseas. I have to fly out for a few days.

Sorry to leave you with the wedding prep by yourself.

Xoxo." But that very evening, Chloe posted a status on her social media: "One last wild ride before my best friend ties the knot." The attached photo was a selfie of her and Xavier strapped together, skydiving.

Of course, I didn't throw a tantrum. After all, I loved Xavier's money, not his soul.

I calmly liked her post, asked the wedding team for a picture of the halffinished venue, and posted my own status update: "A romantic solo preparation." Almost instantly, my phone buzzed.

It was a PayPal notification from Xavier. $800,000. The note read: [Thanks for holding down the fort, babe.

When I get back, I’ll make the guys help with the rest of the setup!] Looking at the screen, I almost burst out laughing.

When Xavier returned, he kept his word and dragged his buddies to help with the decorations. When Chloe found out, she insisted on joining.

But once she arrived, she just held her phone and yelled to the guys. "Come on, guys! It’s the last day of the competitive season! I’m one win away from ranking up.

Let me carry you to victory!" The guys, who were already bored out of their minds doing tedious flower arrangements, instantly looked tempted.

Chloe shot me a smug, sidelong glance, her chin tilted high. Her eyes clearly said: See?

With just one word from me, look who they choose to follow. Even Xavier looked a bit swayed.

He looked at me with a slightly apologetic expression. "We actually have a full fivestack for a lobby.

How about you watch over things here first, and we go blow off some steam for an hour?" I sighed with mock regret. "If I didn't have to write down this guest list, I’d love to play with you guys." Chloe instantly scoffed. "Please.

What does a girl like you know about competitive gaming?" "We've been playing together since we were kids. Our roles are locked in.

There's no room for you." With a victorious smile, Chloe turned on her heel and led the boys to the private gaming lounge.

It wasn't until the next afternoon that the wedding venue was finally fully set up.

I was admiring the floral arch when Chloe walked over, sporting massive dark circles and a pitchblack expression.

Behind her walked a thoroughly exhausted Xavier and his equally drained friends.

Before I could even ask what happened, one of his bluntmouthed friends couldn't help but complain loudly. "Chloe, seriously, what happened to you over the last few years?

Your skills have gone completely down the drain!" "An entire night! You dragged us from Grandmaster all the way down to Gold!

You promised to carry us, but you literally threw every single game!

Don't ever ask us to play again." Chloe’s face flushed bright red, but she couldn't find a single word to defend herself.

Catching sight of me, she instantly tried to regain her footing. "You guys should be grateful!

If Avery played with you, she’d drag you straight down to Bronze!" A chorus of snorts and chuckles erupted from the guys. "Are you kidding?

Avery is the one who carried us to Grandmaster in the first place." Chloe’s eyes widened in utter disbelief. "No way!" Xavier wrapped an arm around my waist, proudly introducing me to Chloe. "Why is it impossible?

My wife is literally the professional head coach of a championship esports team!" "Honestly, just delete that new Snapchat group.

You play like trash." The guys chimed in with agreements. I just smiled gently. Sure, some girls might not be great at gaming. But the thing is, I wasn't just any girl.

Internally, I was a seasoned progamer.

Over the past few years, I had used Xavier’s generous allowance to fund and support a struggling underdog team, eventually turning them into national champions.

Naturally, Xavier and his friends had been coached by me to the next level. They were lightyears ahead of Chloe's outdated gaming skills.

After that Snapchat group was deleted, Chloe behaved herself for quite a while.

Just when I thought everything was going smoothly, she suddenly made a request: she wanted to be my bridesmaid!

And Xavier actually agreed to it. Since he had no objections, I certainly didn't care.

If something went wrong, it wouldn't be my reputation on the line anyway—it would be the entire Sinclair family's.

On the day of the wedding dress fitting, I pushed open the door of the VIP suite only to find Chloe had arrived even earlier than me.

What was even more glaring was that she was currently wearing the main custom bridal gown I had reserved for myself. Seeing us enter, her eyes immediately locked onto Xavier’s face.

Xavier was visibly stunned, a flash of undeniable, instinctual awe darting through his eyes. He blurted out, "Damn.

You actually look decent in a wedding dress." Chloe playfully punched his shoulder, her voice dripping with artificial intimacy. "So?

Am I beautiful?" "Incredibly beautiful!" I shrugged indifferently. It was just a dress.

Remembering something highly amusing, a slightly wicked grin spread across my face. "Well, at least you saved me the trouble of trying it on myself.

How does it feel?" Chloe, likely wanting to create a playful, slightly suggestive atmosphere, said dismissively, "Ugh, honestly, I am so not used to these dresses.

It feels a bit drafty down there." She paused, waiting for Xavier to let his imagination run wild and blush.

Instead, Xavier’s face instantly darkened, contorting into an expression of pure, unadulterated disgust. "Can you say something that isn't completely repulsive for once?!" Chloe was utterly bewildered, freezing in place like a deer in headlights.

Standing to the side, I let out a silent laugh. When Xavier first hired me, he did so because he loved my tomboyish, ultracool vibe.

When we signed the contract, he explicitly demanded that I keep my "natural self." I got it. Rich guys always loved a bit of contrast.

So, for one major charity gala, I decided to shock him. I wore a stunning, highslit designer gown.

When Xavier saw me, his eyes looked exactly like they did just now—stunned, burning with an unprecedented heat. The atmosphere that night was perfect.

He pinned me against the hotel room door, kissing me with frantic hunger. Until his hand slid up my gown... And felt the strapon harness I had put on as a joke.

He practically leaped back as if he’d been hit by a taser. "Avery, what the actual hell is wrong with you?!" Even though he scolded me multiple times afterward for "messing around," I kept doing it.

Every time I had to wear a dress, I wore the harness. I thought he’d find it thrilling and kinky.

Instead, Xavier developed severe, psychological PTSD toward "women in dresses." Looking at anyone in a gown now triggered a deeply uncomfortable mental association for him.

I had actually planned to wear a custom bridal pantsuit for the wedding anyway.

I only ordered this gown because I heard Chloe wanted to be a bridesmaid, knowing she’d try to snatch it.

Chloe's comment about it being "drafty down there" had precisely detonated Xavier's psychological landmine.

Pinching his temples, Xavier spoke with lingering disgust and absolute authority. "Chloe, you're not being a bridesmaid anymore.

Just looking at you makes me uncomfortable." Chloe had no idea what she had done wrong. She put the entire blame on my tab, her eyes shooting literal poison at me.

She was kicked out of the bridal party. But I clearly underestimated Chloe’s sheer persistence and flexibility. A few days later, I received the final wedding itinerary.

Indeed, Chloe's name was gone from the bridesmaid list. But she had somehow managed to get herself listed as a groomsman instead!