My Wife Cheated on Me with My Stand-in

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On the meticulously planned proposal I'd set up, my girlfriend, who'd vanished for nearly a month, finally showed up.

Standing next to her was a guy bearing an uncanny resemblance to the man she was obsessed with.

Chloe John puffed up with pride.

I'm pregnant. If you want me to say yes today, you'll announce in front of everyone that you'll transfer all your assets to this child.

I let out a cold laugh, "Sorry, but I don't have the hobby of raising other man's kids."

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, her face flushed crimson.

"If you refuse!" she shrieked, "then you can wait another five years before proposing again!"

She'd been this reckless for years, I had swallowed my pride and tolerated it.

Here she was, carrying another man's child, snarling at me to hand over everything.

She was banking on my love for her, certain I wouldn't let go.

But this time, I truly couldn't keep making excuses for her.

I had spent two months preparing for this proposal, terrified that any misstep might displease her..

And now, I was the one tearing it all apart!

Standing amidst the wreckage, I locked eyes with her. "Chloe John. You disgust me."

Chloe lunged at me, aiming to strike. "You've lost your mind! Get down on your knees and apologize right now, and maybe, just maybe, I'll forgive you! Otherwise, you'll never see me again!"

My response was immediate. "Fine. Then it's over. Don't ever contact me again."

She glared at me with venom.. "So what if I'm carrying someone else's baby?! What's the big deal?!"

"He looks a bit like Ethan Young! Our kid might even look like Ethan! I couldn't marry Ethan, but you! You look nothing like him! That's your fault!"

She was so sure of herself. After all these years of her tantrums, I had never truly blamed her or lost my temper with her.

That's why she had deliberately avoided me for a month, knowing about this proposal, only to show up today and publicly force me to claim her child.

To give her permission to keep seeing other men even after marriage!

Frankly, I suspected that once this kid was born and stood to inherit everything, Chloe would scheme to have me meet a tragic end.

Because it seemed all she ever wanted was my money and status.

I took a breath and, right in front of her, tossed the engagement ring into the nearby trash can.

Chloe clearly hadn't expected me to go this far. Fury blazed hotter on her face.

Being humiliated in public like this was something she'd never tolerate.

"Oh, Ethan Wright! Feeling bold now, are you?! Why don't you tell everyone how you begged me on the phone earlier, almost in tears, pleading for me to come!!"

She wasn't wrong.

A month ago, we'd fought because I hadn't gotten her the latest designer bag she coveted.

I had pleaded for days, finally promising to sign over the villa we lived in just to get her to agree to see me today.

I'd hoped this grand gesture would finally win her over, make her settle down with me.

But after hours of hopeful waiting, she wasn't the first to arrive.

It was Xander Shaw. The guy who bore that unsettling resemblance to her precious Ethan.

A man notorious for leaving a trail of heartbroken women, a well-known playboy.

And now he stood before me, watching Chloe's theatrics.

Even as I turned to leave, he couldn't resist a parting shot, his voice dripping with mockery. "Two months of planning for this? Not a single decent thing in sight. Pathetic."

What he didn't know was that even the seemingly ordinary roses in the corner were carefully selected, pre-ordered, and flown in from abroad.

A single stem cost a small fortune.

Pathetic?

Anyone with eyes could see the effort and money poured into this event.

But Chloe, fueled by Xander's words, found her voice again.

"Exactly! That ring? The diamond was practically microscopic! Who were you trying to fool?!"

"If this is how little effort you put into proposing, you should be grateful I even showed up!"

That ring... I'd sourced the diamond myself. During a work trip abroad, I took time off, went down into a mine.

It wasn't the most flawless stone, but I'd risked my life to get it out. It meant everything to me.

Now, the sight of it made me sick.

While I was down in that dark hole, digging, foolishly dreaming of her happiness...

She was probably in my house, on my bed, making love with another man!

That was her way. No sense of occasion, no sense of decency.

If she wasn't happy, she'd burn the world down.

I'd endured it for years, and it never made her love me.

But I was exhausted. Numb to the pain. "Chloe John," I said, my voice flat, "do me a favor and get the hell out of my life."

Back home, I instructed the housekeeper to pack up all of Chloes belongings and throw it out.

Before this, outside of work, all my free time had been wasted on Chloe.

Our time together consisted solely of her dragging me shopping, me treated like a walking ATM.

Only when she wanted something exclusive, something money couldn't easily buy, would she toss me a crumb of affection.

But after today, I was finally done.

Chloe's call came right then. "Do you even realize I'm pregnant?! I need proper rest!"

I replied coldly, "Not my kid. Not my problem."

She hissed through clenched teeth, "It is your problem! I'm your girlfriend! This child will inherit your fortune!"

"I don't want to hear your voice right now. Save your breath!"

She pressed on, "Stop acting! Do you think your little silent treatment changes anything? It just makes me despise you more!"

"What kind of man are you? So petty! So what if I'm carrying another man's child? I still gave you a chance to propose!"

"Listen here! Tell security to let me in right now! I need to rest! If anything happens to this baby because of you, you'll regret it!"

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Regret it? How, Chloe?"

"Chloe, I made myself perfectly clear earlier. I never want to see you again. Get lost. Is that really so hard to understand?"

Her voice turned shrill. "Ethan Wright! Don't you dare regret this! I won't forgive you easily this time! Not even if you crawl on your knees!"

I was done. As I moved to hang up, I heard Xander's voice in the background.

"What a tight ass. How'd you stand him for three years? So what if she's pregnant? She's still his wife, right?"

"Besides, it's his own damn fault. He doesn't look like Ethan Young, and after three years you never got pregnant. Maybe he's not even capable?"

Chloe snorted derisively.

"Only because he harassed me for two years before I gave in! I never should have gotten with that creep!"

"And don't you know how much he repulses me? In three years, I never let him touch me! The sight of him makes me sick!"

Xander's laughter grew louder, more vulgar. "But you let me touch you?"

"Since home's off-limits... how about we find somewhere else?"

His tone was heavy with sex suggestion. "Four months along... doctor said it's safe, right?"

In front of me, she'd rage over needing rest for the baby's sake.

But with another man, she became nothing more than a convenient toy.

Thank God I never had sex with her. the thought alone was nauseating!

Just as I was drifting off, Ethan Young called.

He sounded genuinely apologetic. "Man, I swear I don't know that Chloe John! You know me! Head over heels for my wife since forever, I married her right after graduation!"

"Besides, my brother handles all the domestic business. I moved overseas with my family right after the wedding. I never had a chance to meet her!"

I managed a weak chuckle. "Relax, Ethan. I know who you are. It's just... I was blind about her."

Ethan had been devoted to one woman since high school. Zero interest in anyone else.

Chloe first heard about Ethan during her junior year of college.

After one brief encounter, she became fixated.

But Chloe was too proud, too arrogant to approach him.

She genuinely believed he'd seek her out after that one glimpse, begging to be together.

Then Ethan got engaged very publicly during senior year.

She snapped. Declared him her tragic, unattainable "one true love."

Played the heartbroken, devoted lover ever since.

But the truth was, Ethan never spoke a word to her.

Being Ethan's friend, I noticed Chloe.

Like Ethan, I believed in pursuing what I wanted.

At first, I mistook her for a shy, heartbroken soul who loved from afar.

After we got together? Her true colors slowly bled through.

But I kept believing that with enough love, I could warm her heart and heal her imagined wounds.

I was trapped in my own self-made drama.

By the time I woke up.

Thankfully, it wasn't too late.

The breakup was messy, but I wasn't married to her. I hadn't sunk deeper.

Ethan invited me to his daughter's upcoming third birthday party.

Hanging up, I almost laughed out loud.

Ethan had a loving wife, a kid, genuine happiness.

Chloe? Here she was, orchestrating her own tragic love story, only fooling herself.

Even Ethan felt the need to call and distance himself immediately.

Deciding to go early for the trip, I never expected Chloe to be this persistent.

I'd barely stepped into the airport when I saw her berating a staff member.

The reason was she'd bought an economy ticket but demanded VIP treatment.

Chloe radiated impatience.

"I told you! I always fly first class! Check your records if you don't believe me!"

The staff member looked pained. "Ma'am, you can certainly purchase an upgrade."

Chloe clutched a bank card, her face flushed with humiliation.

Looked like she couldn't even afford that.

I had zero intention of intervening. She didn't deserve it.

An airport staff member escorted me forward.

I hadn't gone ten steps when her voice rang out behind me. "Ethan Wright! You're stalking me! How pathetic!"

She grabbed my arm. "Tell them to upgrade me! Or I swear, I won't speak to you ever again!"

I shook her off, turning to the stunned staff. "My apologies. I don't know this woman."

My status meant they wouldn't cross me.

Chloe escalated. "Have you lost your mind?! How dare you treat me like this!"

"Fine! If you don't want to marry me or beg for my forgiveness, I'll just marry someone else!"

I gritted my teeth. "Marry whoever you want. It means nothing to me."

But Chloe refused to believe I was done.

She kept thrashing, desperate to salvage her "dignity."

Amidst the struggle, someone else slipped their arm through mine.

Her smile was bright, infectious. "Sweetheart, what took you so long? I've been waiting forever!"