The Stand-In Who Burned It All

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For ten years, I was just a stand-in for Ethan Reid and Adrian Cross.

When Isabella came back, she stole my design drafts and put her name on them.

They said they'd love me forever.

Then I found them in bed with her. They were calling her baby while she moaned beneath them.

That's when I knew. Isabella was the one they'd really loved all along.

I packed my bags. Burned every photo we'd taken. Left for Milan.

Later, they knelt in the rain, begging me to come back.

But I held my fianc's arm and looked down at them. I tossed them a check.

Go back to where you came from. Don't ever show up in front of me again."

Stella Hart POV

After confirming my acceptance of the Milan Design Academy's offer, I exited the group chat called "Stella's Exclusive Knights."

The group originally had only three people: me, Ethan, and Adrian.

But six months ago, a fourth person was added. Isabella.

The name also changed to "One Happy Family."

The moment I left the chat, I didn't hesitate for a second. It felt like finally cutting away a piece of rotting flesh.

On my desk sat a photo of the three of us.

In it, Ethan's cold, sharp features were uncharacteristically gentle as he looked down adjusting my scarf.

Adrian smiled brightly, his arm around my shoulders from behind, like he was protecting some priceless treasure.

I picked up the frame, pulled out the photo, and tore it into pieces without expression, tossing them into the trash bin at my feet.

"Ethan, Adrian, these ten years of entanglement end here."

My phone screen lit up with a private message from Adrian.

"Stella, are you coming to Isabella's welcome dinner tonight or not? Can you stop making a scene? Everyone's waiting for you."

Immediately after, Ethan sent one too. "She just got to New York and doesn't have many friends. As an investor in the studio, can't you help her out?"

I smiled bitterly and didn't reply. Instead, I opened the Instagram post Isabella had made half an hour ago.

In the photo, Isabella wore a haute couture gown with a dazzling sapphire necklace around her neck, smiling sweetly as she stood between Ethan and Adrian.

The caption: "Thank you to my beloved brothers for this surprise. I feel like a little princess."

My gaze locked onto that sapphire necklace.

It was my mother's keepsake, locked away in the studio safe. Only the three of us knew the password.

I took a deep breath and called Ethan.

"Why is my necklace on Isabella's neck?" My voice was surprisingly calm.

There was a pause on the other end, then Ethan's unconcerned voice came through. "Isabella didn't have suitable jewelry for tonight. I saw that necklace wasn't being worn, so I let her borrow it. Don't be so petty. It's just a necklace. If you want it, I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."

Adrian's voice came from nearby, tinged with impatience. "Stella Hart, can you stop making a scene? Isabella's had such a hard life. She finally has one happy evening, and you have to ruin it right now? What we did was wrong, but we're the ones who opened the safe. If you want to blame someone, blame us."

I heard the background music from the party and Isabella's delicate laughter through the phone, and felt my stomach turn.

Before, if anyone so much as looked at me the wrong way, Ethan and Adrian would gouge their eyes out.

When I was sixteen, at a gala, some tycoon said disrespectful things to me and tried to touch my hand.

Ethan smashed a bottle on the spot and ground the man's face into the broken glass. Adrian went further, using his family's power to bankrupt the tycoon's family and run them out of New York overnight.

They used to spoil me endlessly, creating the strictest "protection circle" around me, not allowing anyone to hurt me.

But now, they'd handed the knife to someone else themselves.

"Don't bother replacing it," I interrupted them. "Since she likes it, give it to her."

With that, I hung up and blocked both their numbers.

Seven days until my flight to Milan.

Stella Hart POV

Early the next morning, I went to the studio.

I didn't go to my private office. Instead, I walked straight to the storage room, pulled out a large cardboard box, and started clearing out my things.

Ethan and Adrian pushed through the door just as I was tossing a pair of custom baby's breath couple rings into the trash.

They had pooled their money at an auction when they turned eighteen to buy the raw stones, then spent three months polishing them themselves before giving them to me.

Back then, they'd knelt on one knee and declared domineeringly, "Stella Hart, you can only wear rings we give you for the rest of your life. If you dare take them off, we'll break your legs."

"What are you doing?" Ethan strode over and grabbed my wrist, staring darkly at the rings in the trash.

Adrian's expression turned equally grim. "Stella Hart, have you made enough of a scene? Fine, you didn't come to the dinner last night, but now you show up and start throwing things away? What are you trying to do?"

I yanked my hand free from Ethan's grip, my tone indifferent. "Just clearing out garbage. These things take up space. Might as well throw them away."

"Garbage?" Ethan's jaw clenched, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "Do you know what these rings-"

"I know," I cut him off. "But I don't need them anymore."

Just then, Isabella walked in carrying two cups of coffee. Seeing this scene, her eyes immediately reddened and she said timidly, "Stella, are you still mad at me? I already took off the necklace from last night-I'll return it to you right now. Don't be angry with them, it's all my fault..."

She reached out to tug at my sleeve.

I instinctively stepped back, and Isabella suddenly cried out. The coffee cup in her hand dropped to the floor, and scalding coffee splashed all over her leg.

"Ah! It hurts!" Isabella fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face instantly.

"Isabella!"

Ethan and Adrian rushed over simultaneously.

Ethan scooped Isabella into his arms, nervously checking her leg. Adrian spun around, glaring at me with vicious eyes. "Are you insane?! She was just trying to return the necklace to you. Why did you push her!"

I stood there, watching their panicked reactions, and suddenly found it somewhat funny.

"I didn't push her."

"I saw it with my own eyes, and you're still denying it!" Adrian roared. "Stella Hart, when did you become so vicious? Isabella has depression. She can't handle stress. Are you trying to drive her to death?"

Depression.

This illness had become Isabella's free pass in this studio.

Because of depression, Isabella could freely take my design drafts and put her name on them. Because of depression, Isabella could monopolize Ethan and Adrian's time whenever she wanted.

I looked at them coldly. "Since she's so fragile, you two take good care of her. I have things to do. I'm leaving."

I stepped around the coffee spill and walked out of the office without looking back.

Behind me came Ethan's voice, suppressing his rage. "Stella Hart, if you dare walk out that door today, don't expect us to ever speak to you again!"

My steps didn't falter.

Want to speak to me? You lost that right long ago.

Stella Hart POV

I went to a law firm.

I placed the studio equity transfer agreement in front of the lawyer.

"Help me draft a free transfer agreement. I want to split all my shares in the studio equally between Ethan Reid and Adrian Cross."

The lawyer was stunned. "Miss Hart, you founded this studio. All the core design patents are under your name. If you transfer them for free now, you're essentially leaving with nothing!"

"I know," my tone was calm. "Do as I say. The sooner the better."

This studio was something we founded together after graduating from college.

Back then, to secure investment for me, Ethan and Adrian drank until they had bleeding ulcers and ended up in the hospital. From their hospital beds, they held my hand and said, "Stella, this will be your business empire. We're just knights working for you."

But now, the knights had found a new princess.

Walking out of the law firm, the sky opened up with heavy rain.

I didn't have an umbrella and stood under an awning waiting for my car.

A black Maybach stopped in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing Adrian's cold, sharp face.

"Get in." His tone was curt, commanding.

I didn't move. "No need. I called a car."

Adrian pushed open the door and yanked me into the vehicle, his movements so rough they hurt my wrist.

The cabin had the heat on, but it felt suffocating.

"How long are you going to keep this up?" Adrian lit a cigarette and took an irritated drag. "Isabella's leg got burned. The doctor said it might scar. She's a girl. Do you know how devastating this is for her?"

I looked out at the rain, my voice completely flat. "So what?"

"You!" Adrian was infuriated by my cold demeanor. "Stella Hart, you weren't like this before! You used to be kind and understanding. You'd cry over an injured stray cat. How did you become so heartless?"

Kind? Understanding?

I found it ironic.

When I was twenty, I broke my shin protecting Adrian.

Back then, Adrian held me and cried, swearing he'd never let me suffer any grievance for the rest of his life.

Now, just because I didn't help Isabella, who fell on her own, I'd become a heartless villain.

"Adrian," I turned to look at him, my gaze calm, "my main show spot at Paris Fashion Week next month. You gave it to Isabella, didn't you?"

Adrian's hand holding the cigarette paused, his eyes shifting away. "Isabella needs a chance to prove herself. You're already a top designer in the industry. You don't need this one opportunity. Just consider it... compensation for pushing her today."

Compensation.

The design drafts I stayed up three nights to create, the show I'd been preparing for an entire year. It all became a casual "compensation."

"Fine." I didn't argue, didn't even show a trace of anger. "Give it to her."

Adrian froze, seemingly not expecting me to agree so easily.

He looked at me suspiciously, trying to find some sign of anger or grievance on my face, but there was nothing.

Just calm like a stagnant pool of water.

Stella Hart POV

The Paris Fashion Week lineup was announced.

Isabella's name replaced mine as the studio's featured designer.

The industry was in an uproar, everyone speculating whether I'd been replaced.

I ignored the outside rumors, clocking in and out on time every day, quietly handing off my work.

Five days until leaving the country.

In the afternoon, the studio held a general meeting.

Isabella sat in the main seat that used to be mine, holding my design drafts and offering opinions.

"I think this gown's waistline design is too rigid. It should be changed to cutouts, adding some sexy elements." Isabella pointed at the blueprints, looking at Ethan delicately. "What do you think?"

Ethan smiled indulgently. "Whatever you think is good. Change it according to your ideas."

I sat in the corner, looking down at flight information on my phone, as if none of this concerned me.

That gown's theme was "Salvation of the Deep Sea." The waistline design was meant to echo the embracing sensation of ocean waves. Changing it to cutouts would destroy the entire concept.

But I said nothing.

After the meeting ended, Isabella called out to me.

"Stella, can you stay and help me modify the blueprints? I'm not very good with that software." Isabella looked at me with an innocent expression.

Ethan frowned and said to me, "Help her out. Don't let her get too tired."

I raised my head, looked at Ethan's expression, and said flatly, "I'm off the clock."

"Stella Hart!" Ethan's voice darkened. "Do you have to be so petty? Isabella is the main show designer now. Her work affects the entire studio's interests. As an investor, don't you have any sense of the bigger picture?"

"Bigger picture?" I stood up, looking Ethan straight in the eyes. "My sense of the bigger picture is not interfering with the main show designer's 'great creations.' Since she thinks my design is rigid, let her change it herself."

With that, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

Isabella suddenly rushed over and grabbed my bag, crying. "Stella, don't go. I know you hate me for taking your position, but I really didn't mean to. I just want to prove myself..."

As we struggled, Isabella suddenly let go, and her whole body fell backward, hitting the glass display case behind her hard.

Crash.

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the entire office.

Isabella's arm was cut by the broken glass, blood flowing freely.

"Isabella!"

Ethan and Adrian rushed over like madmen.

Adrian shoved me aside, causing me to crash into the sharp corner of the desk.

Sharp pain shot through my waist. I grunted, my face turning deathly pale.

But Adrian didn't even glance at me. His eyes red, he picked up Isabella and roared at me, "Stella Hart! If anything happens to Isabella's hand, I will never forgive you!"

Ethan walked last. He stopped, looking down at me clutching my waist and breaking into a cold sweat, his eyes as cold as ice.

"You've disappointed me too much. Starting today, you don't need to come to work. Come back when you realize your mistakes."

The office door slammed shut.

I leaned against the desk, the pain making even breathing difficult.

I slowly rolled up my shirt. My side was already bruised purple over a large area.

I didn't cry. I just took out my phone and sent the lawyer a message.

"Is the agreement ready? I'll come sign it tomorrow."

Stella Hart POV

I went to the hospital alone.

After examining me, the doctor said it was severe soft tissue contusion and I needed bed rest. He also prescribed me a pile of medication.

Walking out of the hospital entrance, the cold wind hit me and I couldn't help shivering.

My phone vibrated. It was a text from Adrian.

He wasn't asking about my injury. He sent me a bill.

"Isabella's hand needed three stitches. The doctor said she can't get it wet. Her medical expenses, nutrition costs, and other losses from this injury during this period will be deducted from your salary. Also, publicly apologize to Isabella in the group chat."

Looking at the words on the screen, I found it absurd beyond belief.

I opened the group chat that had become "One Happy Family."

Ethan had sent a voice message in it. "Isabella, don't be afraid. With us here, no one can bully you. Whatever compensation you want, just ask."

Isabella replied with a wronged emoji. "I don't want anything. I just want Stella to stop hating me."

Adrian immediately transferred her money. "Take this and buy something you like to eat."

I quietly watched them perform in the group, my fingers typing out a sentence on the screen.

"I'll pay the medical expenses. But I will never apologize."

After sending this message, I muted the group chat.

Returning home, I started packing.

Actually, there wasn't much to pack. This house was filled with traces left by Ethan and Adrian everywhere.

The painting on the wall was something Adrian bought at a high price at an auction. The carpet was specially air-freighted from Turkey by Ethan. Even the mugs in the kitchen were ones the three of us made together at a pottery studio.

I found a large garbage bag and threw these things in one by one.

At the very end, I found a velvet box in the deepest part of the drawer.

Inside were two wills.

They were written when they were twenty-two, after they encountered an avalanche in Switzerland and narrowly escaped death.

Ethan and Adrian wrote clearly in the wills: If anything happened to them, all their property and shares would unconditionally be inherited by me.

"We are Stella's knights. Even if we die, we'll be Stella's guardian angels."

I still remembered those vows. Now they'd become the most ridiculous joke.

I took out a lighter and set those two wills on fire.

The flames lit up my face. I watched the paper turn to ash, along with my ten years of youth and feelings, burning completely clean.

Three days until leaving the country.

The next day, I went to the law firm and signed the equity transfer agreement.

The lawyer looked at my pale face and couldn't help advising, "Miss Hart, won't you reconsider? Once this agreement takes effect, you'll truly have nothing left at the studio."

"Nothing to reconsider." I put down the pen, my tone as light as discussing the weather. "Please help me mail this agreement to Ethan Reid and Adrian Cross three days from now."

Three days from now was the day I'd fly to Milan, and also the opening day of the Paris Fashion Week main show.

Leaving the law firm, I received a call from Ethan.

"What was that you posted in the group last night?" Ethan's voice was thick with exhaustion and displeasure. "Stella Hart, do you think we won't actually hurt you? Because of what you said, Isabella cried all night. She couldn't even take her sleeping pills!"

I stood on the street, watching the passing vehicles, my voice cold. "How is her crying related to me?"

"You-" Ethan took a deep breath, seemingly forcing down his anger. "Fine, you won't apologize? Then starting today, the studio is cutting off all your resources and access. You think you're so great? Let's see how you survive in this industry without the studio!"

I laughed.

"Fine."

I hung up and blocked Ethan's number too.

Returning to my apartment, I found the door lock password had been changed.

I tried three times. All incorrect.

Just then, the door opened from inside. Isabella, wearing my pajamas, held a glass of red wine and smiled at me.

"Stella, you're back." Isabella swirled her wine glass. "Ethan said you've been emotionally unstable lately and was worried something might happen if you lived alone, so he had me move in to keep you company. I changed the password to my birthday. You don't mind, do you?"

I looked at Isabella wearing that limited edition pajama set I'd never worn, my eyes cold to the extreme.

"Take it off."

Isabella froze, then bit her lip pitifully. "Stella, don't be so mean. Adrian got this from your closet for me. He said you never wear it anyway..."

"I said take it off!" I stepped forward, my eyes as sharp as knives.

Isabella stepped back in fear, deliberately tilting her wine glass so the red liquid instantly splashed onto my white shirt.

"Oh no! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!" Isabella cried out.

Just then, the elevator doors opened. Adrian came out carrying a bunch of things.

He dropped everything and rushed over. He pushed Isabella behind him and slapped me.

Smack!

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the hallway.

My head snapped to the side. Blood trickled from my lip.

"Stella, what the hell is wrong with you?" Adrian's eyes were wild, like an animal backed into a corner. "Isabella just came to check on you, and you hurt her? You really think I won't hit you?"