The Stand-In Husband

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I've been transported into a novel, playing the role of the male lead in a stand-in romance.

It was the third year of my marriage to Scarlett Zinberg, and her white moonlight finally returned.

You know, Ive never loved you. This is your compensation.

Scarlett said coldly, handing over a black card. I accepted it without hesitation.

Alright, lets get divorced tomorrow. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!

Because I knew that in two months, she would suffer a fire, be disfigured, and lose both her legs.

Scarlett Zinberg, at this moment, was dressed in a white haute couture suit and skirt, with long wavy hair and exquisite makeup.

Tsk, indeed a domineering female CEO, but unfortunately, shes about to become crippled.

Seeing me take the card and stare at her with a look of regret, Scarlett thought I was having second thoughts.

Youve taken the card, now you want to go back on it?

Her tone was cold, and her expression held undisguised contempt.

I picked up the contract and flipped through it, then said seriously:

My three years of youth are only worth thirty million? Scarlett, youre the CEO of Zinberg Group, people would laugh if they heard that.

You need to pay more!

Scarletts face instantly darkened.

Jackson Avery, you really only agreed to marry me for my money.

If the original character had heard that, he would have been heartbroken.

Before, whenever Scarlett mentioned the name Vincent Sterling, he would be inconsolably sad. In the original story, this scene was even more chaotic.

The original character would not only knock her card away but also cry and ask her what those years of companionship meant.

Later, when the female lead was secretly meeting her white moonlight, he even attempted suicide by slitting his wrists in the bathroom.

He loved Scarlett with all his heart, even willing to give up his budding acting career for her. Only because Scarlett said that after marriage, she had to quit the entertainment industry, he willingly became a househusband for her.

If it werent for the three years of marriage, I believe the original character would have achieved greater things.

You cant say that. I gave up my beloved job for you back then, shouldnt you compensate me?

Im not like your white moonlight Vincent Sterling; hes now an international A-list star. If everyone knew you betrayed me for him, it wouldnt be good for his reputation, would it?

My eyes held provocation and threat.

So what do you want?

Scarletts teeth gritted audibly.

I glanced around the villa and smiled, saying:

This villa goes to me, and another twenty million. One villa, fifty million, to buy Vincents reputationthats a steal.

Scarletts face was grim, as if she had swallowed a fly, and she stared at me intensely.

Just as my patience was running out, her red lips parted: Fine.

Then Scarlett, please leave my house now. Im not used to sharing a roof with others.

I smiled as I asked Scarlett to leave, instructing the housekeeper to pack all her belongings.

She slammed the door in a rage; no doubt she went straight to Vincent.

In the original story, the movie star Vincent Sterling had been inseparable from Scarlett Zinberg since his return to the country.

Even when the media caught them, theyd simply claim it was old friends catching up.

Because the original character refused to sign the divorce papers, Scarlett and Vincent maintained a secret affair.

Until Scarletts accident, Vincent distanced himself, but the original character remained by her side, caring for her devotedly.

But Im not a cuckold. I dont want a woman who doesnt love me.

Scarlett Zinberg, this time Im eager to see if your white moonlight will truly stay by your side and care for you, disfigured and disabled.

Lying comfortably in the bathtub, I scrolled through the news.

The trending topic of Scarlett picking up Vincent from the airport a week ago was still in the top ten.

The hashtag #ScarlettVincentPerfectMatch# remained popular.

Netizens commented on the topic:

[Can't you see it yet? That Jackson Avery is just a cheap version of Vincent, a stand-in!]

[The real deal is back, the stand-in should be dismissed.]

[Serves him right, I never liked him, he doesn't work hard at all, can't compare to Emperor Vincent.]

As I faced these comments, a memory suddenly surged into my mind.

Three years ago, it was also in this villa.

Scarlett was completely drunk, and I helped her to the sofa.

She grabbed my hand tightly, her eyes blurry with tears:

Vincent, dont leave me

I frowned, gently reminding her that I was Jackson Avery.

But she ignored me, pulled my head down, and kissed me.

Her soft, hot lips made my head buzz, and I lost all reason.

The velvet rug under the sofa was soft; we embraced and tumbled around on it.

It wasn't until she sobered up the next day that she found me holding hangover soup.

Seemingly realizing what had happened, she clutched the blanket and frowned, asking me:

Why is it you?

Before I could reply, she said to herself, never mind.

Five parts like him, thats rare enough.

Then, she asked me if I would be willing to be with her.

My heart skipped a beat, and I said, but I'm just a small artist under your company, how could I be worthy?

She reached out and caressed my cheek, smiling.

Do you know why I suddenly called you to drink with me?

Because the first time I saw you, I thought it was him.

Who?

I wanted to ask, but ultimately dared not, because a hint of sadness appeared between her brows.

It was this striking sadness that captivated me.

The absurdity and passion of last night also deeply fascinated me.

Just like that, I suddenly went from a third-tier celebrity to the husband of a domineering CEO.

There was no wedding, no reception, just a cold social media update from Scarlett.

The entire internet exploded, in a frenzy, but the original character was deeply moved, because he was a love-struck fool.

Too bad, I hate love-struck fools the most; idiots should die!

I texted Scarlett: [What time should we meet at the city hall tomorrow?]

She quickly replied: [You, really agree to divorce me?]

I impatiently replied, otherwise? Watching you trend with Vincent every dayI dont have a cuckold fetish.

She seemed very angry, replying only two words: [Ten o'clock.]

Wrapped in my bathrobe, I began to revel in the spacious villa.

After tomorrow, I'll be a multi-millionaire!

Too excited to sleep, I went to the city hall with dark circles under my eyes.

Scarlett and Vincent arrived together. Thinking about the paparazzi photos of their candlelight dinner last night, I looked at them with disdain.

Truly despicable, spending the night together before the divorce was even final.

Seeing my dark circles, Scarletts brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze held a hint of mockery.

I suppose you spent the whole night plotting how to get more money, didnt you?

Vincent also chuckled, Mr. Avery, do you really think fifty million isnt enough?

I nodded earnestly, Hmm, just because of your movie star status, another twenty million.

Only a fool wouldnt take free money.

Scarlett's face turned ashen, but Vincent stopped her.

He pulled out a card from his pocket and handed it to me, I knew you wouldnt let go that easily. Heres fifty million, from me personally. But you must sign an agreement never to interfere with us again.

I took the card, my heart thrumming with excitement.

Dont worry, Ill sign all your agreements!

After swiftly signing the papers, I received my divorce certificate.

Seeing the undisguised happiness on my face, Scarletts expression turned grim, and she asked me:

Arent you sad?

I immediately shook my head, Congratulations, Ms. Zinberg, on being with the person you truly love. I consider my mission accomplished!

Seeing her speechless, I explained using popular internet slang:

The one who isnt loved is the third wheel, so I know my place.

Vincent, standing by, applauded my clear-headedness, then put an arm around Scarletts shoulders, a smug look on his face.

Scarlett, when are we getting married?

My heart blossomed with joy. The thought of Scarlett being disfigured and amputated in two months made me eager for them to marry sooner.

Apparently annoyed by my reaction, Scarlett muttered "another day" and stomped off angrily.

I felt a little disappointed, but also relieved.

After all, I had no ties to her anymore. Whatever happened to her in the future was none of my concern.

In the original story, after Scarlett became disabled, the original character, in an attempt to prove his true love for her, eagerly rushed to care for her.

When Vincent abandoned Scarlett, she finally realized that only the original character truly loved her, and she confessed her regret.

The original character was moved by her and spent the rest of his life with her, disabled as she was.

Tsk, the thought of having avoided that fate made me incredibly pleased.

In the original story, Vincent had initially broken up with Scarlett because her father's company was in trouble.

Her father suffered a heart attack from stress, and Vincent fled abroad with his money.

Later, with the help of Scarlett's uncle and business partners, the company was saved, but her father passed away not long after.

Scarlett took over as CEO and immediately contacted Vincent, confronting him about why he couldn't stand by her in difficult times.

Vincent blamed her deceased father, claiming the chairman had paid him to stay away from her.

Hearing this, Scarlett begged him to return, promising that no one would ever stand in their way again, and then forced the original character to divorce.

Despicable! Both of them were equally despicable!

I suddenly thought of a way to permanently shackle this conniving duo together.

Back at the villa, I called my former agent, Agent Rose.

She was shocked by my idea of returning to the entertainment industry.

Dont be ridiculous, didnt Scarlett dislike you being in showbiz?

I poured her a drink and placed the divorce certificate in front of her.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she mumbled, no wonder the news about Vincent and Scarlett has been trending so high recently, and Scarlett hasnt had anyone take down the hot search.

Seeing that I was now free, Agent Rose promised to try and find some opportunities for me.

I specified that I wanted to be in the same film crew as Vincent, even if it was just a small role.

She said shed figure something out, albeit with some difficulty.

After seeing her off, I switched to enjoyment mode: buying a sports car, pampering myself, and even enrolling in fitness classes.

During their three years of marriage, the original character hadn't bothered much with his fitness or appearance, as he no longer worried about work.

In just one month, I regained my broad shoulders, narrow waist, and six-pack abs; my face also became fair and handsome.

With the stylist's efforts, I looked exactly like the handsome young "puppy" I was three years ago.

Agent Rose called, saying she had secured me the role of the third male lead; the original actor's schedule had unexpectedly opened up.

I gladly accepted, thanked her, and rushed to sign the contract.

Over the past month, news of Scarlett and my divorce had spread. She and Vincent were constantly seen together, practically making their relationship official.

Seeing me, a hint of surprise flashed in Scarletts eyes.

Vincent looked me over and chuckled, "No wonder Scarlett chose to marry you back then. Looking at you now, you do bear some resemblance to me."

Then, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, "A stand-in should know their place. How dare you show up here?"

I smiled and said, "Why shouldn't I? You two aren't married yet, so you can't stop me from signing a contract."

Scarlett ultimately didn't stop me. The movie was about to wrap up, and they couldn't afford any delays. I was indeed a suitable candidate.

Once filming began, Vincent and I often acted opposite each other. He was truly an A-list actor, his performance excellent. I, on the other hand, frequently messed up scenes due to not having acted for three years.

Scarlett would often visit the set to bring Vincent snacks and fruit, then turn around and pretend to criticize me, though her gaze was complex.

Outtakes of my NG shots were uploaded online, and netizens started criticizing me again.

[This pretty boy was dumped by the CEO and still has the nerve to work at her company?]

[Such terrible acting, no wonder the CEO chose the movie star over him.]

Faced with these negative comments, I decided to fan the flames.

I hired someone to anonymously leak videos of Scarlett wiping Vincents sweat and Vincent feeding her fruit on set.

The crowd went wild, calling it "so sweet" and wondering if good news was on the horizon.

Fandom culture, as it always is, they always want to force their favorite ships together, completely disregarding others.

Scarlett and Vincent were being pushed into marriage by the entire internet. Some fan-shippers even staked out their homes and caught intimate footage of the two kissing in a luxury van after work, heading back to the villa together.

Thus, at the wrap-up party at the end of the month, Vincent couldnt resist orchestrating a proposal.

In front of all the staff, he knelt on one knee with a large bouquet of roses and placed a diamond ring on Scarletts ring finger.

Scarlett, weve missed three years. I dont want to miss you again. Please let me take care of you for the rest of your life, okay?

Scarlett was incredibly moved, took the flowers, nodded, her eyes welling up with tears.

I watched from the sidelines, nobody knew I was barely holding back laughter.

In ten days, Scarlett was going to suffer a terrible fate.

Vincent, you are so selfish, will you really take care of her, disabled, for the rest of your life?

Soon, I would find out the answer.

Vincent, seeing my inscrutable expression, took her hand and led her to me.

Mr. Avery, thank you for taking care of Scarlett these past three years. From now on, I hope you can keep your distance. After all, you once loved Scarlett so deeply, and the way you look at her makes me uncomfortable.

Scarlett looked at me, a hint of apology and evasion in her eyes.

Her gaze towards me had been complex recently, seemingly appreciating my progress and my indifferent attitude towards her.

Ultimately, it's just human nature to want what you can't have, to be drawn to what remains indifferent.

Vincent couldn't help but notice her attention towards me, which is why he rushed the proposal.

I smiled faintly, completely composed:

Alright, this show is wrapped, and my contract with your company is almost up. Dont worry.

With that, ignoring the disappointment in Scarletts eyes, I turned and left.

As if unwilling to give up, that night I received a text message from Scarlett.

[Don't you have anything to say to me?]

I cursed her inwardly for being such a pain and replied:

[Me keeping my distance, isn't that exactly what you wanted? Congratulations on finding true love.]

She didn't reply again; she seemed quite angry.

That night, I saw the trending news: Scarlett announced her wedding to Vincent would be held in Jeju Island a week later, broadcast live online.

I was so happy I popped open a bottle of champagne and laughed out loud.

Before, I was a little disappointed, as it was just a proposal. Even if Scarlett had an accident, Vincent wouldn't be obligated to stay with her.

But after holding the wedding, it would be different. They would exchange vows, witnessed by the entire internet.

Even if Vincent wanted to shirk his responsibilities like in the original story, it would be difficult.

Soon, their wedding took place as scheduled. Scarlett posted a set of photos of them happily kissing on the island.

I hired some online trolls to question and sing a different tune. Vincent, predictably, couldn't hold back and posted their marriage certificate.

[From today, we are legally married, and I will take care of you for the rest of my life.]

I applauded, even giving the post a like.

The next day, they both canceled all work and left for their honeymoon.

On the third night of their honeymoon, I scrolled past a piece of news.

[Zinberg Group CEO suffers severe burns and falls into a coma during hotel fire on honeymoon.]

In the comments section, everyone was shocked, leaving messages for Vincent, encouraging him to stay by her side.

Vincent, however, wished he could smash his phone: F**k! The doctor says shes not only disfigured but also needs amputations. How can I spend my entire life with a cripple?!

The couple's fans, however, didn't see it that way.

After Scarlett fell into a coma, the comments section was flooded with fans praying for her, even tagging Vincent, lamenting:

[Fortunately, big brother is with big sister, no matter how difficult it is, they won't be afraid!]

Vincents comments section was also inundated with messages, with fans praising him for being responsible and a true man.

Vincent, rendered speechless by the praise, could only grip his phone tightly and curse:

If Id known this would happen, I wouldnt have come back! Why did I have to fight that brat for this useless position?!

My account was also flooded with messages from fans, urging me to visit Scarlett in the hospital.

After all, we were married for three years, and she didnt have any deep grudge against me; I just switched companies.

These people are always so fantastical, their words like farts.

Some fans spoke up for me: [She dumped our Jackson, insisted on being with Vincent, provoked him right to his face, and forced him to switch companiesand that's not a deep grudge?]

[It's just changing companies, not forcing him out of the entertainment industry. Not going means holding a grudge, your idol has such a small mind!]

[No wonder he's a flop, too petty!]

I was amused by these people's values, but I did decide to go see Scarlett.

For no other reason than to see her miserable state.