Seven Years of Love Lost, After the Stand-In Left, He Went Mad

After seven years of dating, my fiancé gave his family heirloom bracelet to his first love as a birthday gift. He said, "This jade bracelet has always been reserved for you. Only you deserve to wear it."

The first love shyly accepted it.

I immediately took off the engagement ring on my finger and placed it on her hand, "This ring suits you best too. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and many children."

***

After chasing after Cody Mitchell for seven years, I've decided to give up now. I turned and walked out of the private room.

Just last night, when I learned Cody had taken the family heirloom bracelet symbolizing the identity of a daughter-in-law from his mother, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep.

I kept wondering when he planned to give it to me. Would it be a surprise?

But today, reality gave me a harsh slap. I'm truly tired of this relationship.

I took out my phone and called my manager, "Mr. Brooks, the opportunity you mentioned before about going overseas for advanced training, does it still available?"

Hearing my intent, Mr. Brooks sounded excited, "Of course, Elise. You have great talent in design. If you go overseas for training, you'll come back as at least a design director."

I said, "Mr. Brooks, I've made up my mind. I'll go with you."

"That's great! But what about your fiancé? Aren't you worried about a long-distance relationship?" Mr. Brooks asked.

I replied, "I've already decided to break up with him. I think it's time to focus on my career."

After hanging up, I immediately took off the uncomfortable high heels I was wearing and threw them into the trash.

Honestly, I never liked wearing high heels, but Cody did. He said women walking in high heels looked graceful and sexy.

Because of that one sentence, I wore high heels for seven years. I learned to cook for him, wore tight skirts he liked and kept my hair in long curls he admired. But starting today, I'll be myself.

I bought some casual clothes I liked and put them on, then got a fresh short haircut.

At that moment, Cody called me. He sounded unsteady as he said, "Where are you … Come back and make me some hangover soup … I feel awful …"

I snapped, "Why call me when you feel awful? Go find your side chick, Brittany!"

Cody couldn't hold his liquor well and always felt headache and uncomfortable after drinking. Because of this, I had specifically learned online how to make hangover soup. Whenever he came back drunk and had a bowl, he would feel much better.

I hung up the phone immediately and went to a hotel to have a good sleep. The next day, I returned home refreshed.

Since I'd already decided to break up, I thought it'd be better to talk face-to-face. When I opened the door, I saw Cody and Brittany eating breakfast sweetly together.

Even the ketchup on Brittany's lips was wiped off by him and sent into his own mouth. Yet when I was with him, if I accidentally used his fork, he would scold me harshly.

Seeing me, Cody frowned first, looking displeased and said, "Elise, who let you cut your hair? It looks so ugly."

"Is it that I became ugly after cutting my hair, or that I no longer look like a certain someone after cutting it?" I replied back.

Brittany Aston had long curls, tight skirts and high heels, a standard look. For years, Cody had treated me as Brittany's stand-in.

And I accepted it willingly, thinking that one day, I'd replace her in his heart. Now I finally understood that no matter how well I did or how closely I mimicked her, a stand-in would always be a stand-in.

As soon as the original returned, I immediately lost completely.