I'm No Longer the Replacement of His Childhood Sweetheart

My boyfriend of six years finally agreed to introduce me to his parents.

The childhood friend, who hadn't been around for a while, intentionally dropped food on my dress.

I immediately responded to her provocation.

My future in-laws thought I was being petty, saying it was just a dress.

Even my boyfriend openly sided with her.

"Is it worth making a big deal out of? Just get a new one," he said.

Kayden would never understand that it wasn't just about the dress.

"Let's break up."

I left, feeling completely disheartened.

Kayden didn't care at all.

"She's just spoiled. She'll come crawling back within a day," he said.

But this time, he was wrong.

1

I usually dress simply. But to meet his parents, I wore this designer dress.

After carefully getting ready, I excitedly did a twirl in front of Kayden.

"Do I look good?" I asked.

He was busy with work on his phone. He glanced at me briefly before focusing back on his screen.

Absentmindedly, he said, "Yeah, looks nice. When did you buy it?"

His words instantly doused the excitement of dressing up to please him.

It was a chilling disappointment.

This dress was the one he gave me for my birthday this year.

I liked it so much that I had saved it for a special occasion.

Unfortunately, he had already forgotten about it.

If his secretary hadn't reminded him, he probably would have forgotten my birthday too.

His indifference was like a snowball, growing bigger over time.

After six years together, I finally gave him an ultimatum: meet the parents and discuss marriage.

I needed to test his feelings for me in some way.

If he truly loved me, he should be willing to take this step toward marriage.

However, given the Brooks family's wealth and status, they probably wouldn't think highly of someone from an ordinary background like mine.

Before going, I had mentally prepared myself.

Kayden's mom, Ember Powell's biased treatment still shocked me.

Adeline Bell, Kayden's childhood friend, had returned from abroad and was invited to the Brooks residence on the same day.

We arrived almost at the same time.

Ember dressed like a socialite, greeted Adeline with terms of endearment, holding her arm and fussing over her like her own daughter.

I stood awkwardly to the side, holding the carefully chosen gifts I had brought.

After she and Adeline went inside, she remembered that I was still standing at the door.

She turned back and glanced at me with arrogance.

She said dismissively, "Valerie, right? Just put the things down anywhere and come in."

As for Kayden, he had already gone inside and was sitting on the couch playing with his phone.

He was completely indifferent to the cold reception I received.

The dishes were abundant and exquisite, showing that the Brooks family had put effort into this dinner.

Unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

Ember eagerly served Adeline food, her affection for her was obvious.

"I remember when you and Kayden used to play together as kids. I always thought you'd grow up to be my daughter-in-law," she said.

She glanced at me disdainfully and added, "Who knew Kayden would bring home someone like... sigh."

My expression changed, and I hoped Kayden would say something in my defense.

But he just continued eating in silence, leaving me isolated and alone.

Ember gave him a look.

"Let's test you. Do you still remember what Adeline likes to eat?" she asked.

Adeline coyly replied, "Mrs. Brooks, you're putting Kayden on the spot. It's been so many years, he probably doesn't remember."

Yet she looked at Kayden with hopeful eyes.

Kayden expressionlessly picked up a piece of broccoli and placed it in her bowl.

Adeline exclaimed with delight, "You actually remember?"

"Yeah, you love broccoli," he said.

I could hear the affection in his voice.

A wave of bitterness surged in my heart.

I couldn't help but mutter, "I like broccoli too."

Adeline heard this and immediately put on an innocent face. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

It made me look petty.

She picked up a piece of broccoli from her bowl and pretended to hand it to me, only to "accidentally" drop it.

The broccoli rolled off and landed on my brand new dress.

I looked at her in shock. It was clear she was provoking me.

She used the Brooks family's favor to embarrass me.

I couldn't help but fight back, "This dress was a birthday gift from Kayden. I really like it."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kayden's hand pause on his fork.

Ember dismissed it. "It's just a dress. You can't shake that petty attitude from your humble background, right?"

Her words were full of disdain for me.

Under the table, I carefully reached for Kayden's hand.

I thought he would feel guilty for forgetting about the dress and stand up for me.

But he pulled away.

"Is this really worth making a fuss over? Just get a new one," he said.

He ultimately chose to defend his childhood friend and scold me.

Adeline wiped away nonexistent tears and smirked at my expense.

I was utterly disappointed.

It only took a second for my heart to turn cold.

"No need."

Kayden would never understand. It was never just about the dress.

I stood up and coldly looked at Adeline, Kayden's dad, and Ember.

Finally, I looked at Kayden.

Calmly, I said, "Let's break up."

Kayden looked indifferent.

After I left, he said, "She's just spoiled. She'll come crawling back within a day."

He was just counting on my past unconditional love for him.

But he forgot that I had never mentioned breaking up before.

Now that I had, I wouldn't look back.

2

I heard footsteps behind me.

I thought Kayden might have had a change of heart and followed me.

I turned around.

It was Adeline.

After leaving the Brooks residence, I saw no reason to be polite to her.

"Say what you need to. My time is valuable."

Adeline clearly didn't take me seriously.

She held out her hand and arrogantly demanded, "Give back Kayden's house key."

Her arrogant attitude hadn't changed at all over the years.

I mocked her, "Who do you think you are to say that?

"Or have you and Kayden been scheming together all along?"

Adeline shrugged it off, took a step closer, and whispered in my ear.

"Let me tell you a secret about Kayden..."

Her words made my eyes widen in shock. So that's how it was.

"That's why you can't win against me," Adeline said with absolute confidence.

"Kayden has only ever loved me. You're just a stand-in.

"Believe it or not, all I have to do is beckon, and he'll come running back to me."

Adeline was smug, not bothering to hide her satisfaction.

My heart tightened.

No wonder Kayden, known as a workaholic who was indifferent to women, was acting so strangely today.

It turns out the person he always held in his heart was Adeline.

It was Adeline and I was just a replacement.

What terrible judgment I had.

I forced myself to stand tall, pushing down the discomfort.

In front of the enemy, I couldn't show any fear.

"If you don't mind taking my leftovers, then by all means, go ahead."

"Bitch!"

Adeline was enraged by my words. The next second, she put on a show of tears.

"I never meant to take Kayden from you. It's just... just beyond my control..."

What a convenient excuse.

She cried, her shoulders trembling, looking pitiful as if I had actually bullied her.

"That's enough, Valerie!" Kayden shouted.

I turned around.

So that's how it is.

"Why are you taking it out on Adeline?"

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from Adeline.

He was afraid I might hurt his precious childhood friend.

"Let go!"

I pulled away from him.

We stood facing each other, tension thick in the air.

"If you want to break up, return the key first."

"I'll give it back once I've packed my things."

"If you're so capable, don't take anything I've given you."

I bit my lip, forcing myself not to cry in front of this jerk.

"Kayden, let me tell you, I don't like you anymore. I don't need any of your gifts."

A strange look flashed in his eyes but quickly disappeared.

With a cold expression, he gritted his teeth and said, "You better mean it!

"Forget her. Let's go."

Right in front of me, he took Adeline's hand and walked away.

Finally, my tears fell, despite my efforts to hold them back.

I returned to what used to be our home.

I looked around at every corner of the house, all of it decorated by me.

I once thought that after all our hardships, we'd finally get to enjoy a good life together.

In the end, we could endure hardships together but couldn't share the good times.

If I had known, I never would have let my heart soften on that stormy night.

I met 18-year-old Kayden when I was 21. He was dirty, disheveled, and huddled in a corner of the street.

His once clear eyes were now dull and lifeless.

I held up an umbrella to shield him from the rain.

I gave him a piece of bread to ease his hunger.

As I was about to leave, he shakily grabbed the hem of my skirt.

"My family kicked me out. Can you take me in?"

3

Kayden was an illegitimate child, only brought back to the Brooks family when he was 10.

His stepmother took out all her resentment from the previous generation on him.

For many years, he endured all kinds of torment at the Brooks residence.

At least, that's the version he told me.

Seeing the mix of fresh and old scars on his body, I believed him.

I pitied him, stayed by his side, and helped him slowly climb out of his suffering.

He gradually regained warmth and a sense of security in life.

At 19, Kayden earned his first pot of gold by writing mobile game codes.

He secretly bought a red agate bracelet.

On my 22nd birthday, he put it on me and made a promise.

"One day, I'll buy you more expensive jewelry, and we'll live in a bigger house."

His sincere and passionate heart finally moved me. I put aside the age difference and agreed to be with him.

I resolutely quit my job as a tour guide and joined him on the tough road of entrepreneurship.

He wasn't good with people, so I took charge of expanding the market.

I spent countless nights staying up, drinking cup after cup with clients until I felt like I could throw up my guts.

He felt sorry for me, but I felt even sorrier for him.

"Your hands should be focused on typing code.

"Leave the rest to me."

In just two years, he developed several hit mobile games, and his career skyrocketed.

He soon fulfilled his initial promise.

The jewelry kept getting more expensive.

The houses kept getting bigger.

But he became more and more like a cold, unfeeling work machine.

Gradually, there was no room for me in his eyes anymore.

When I was hospitalized, he flew abroad for business.

He bailed on me at the last minute for an exhibition that was nearly impossible to get tickets for.

Even on the 10th anniversary of my mother's death, despite my repeated reminders, he forgot the time.

He missed moment after moment when I needed him by my side.

All he did was send me expensive jewelry as compensation.

But he never really noticed.

Aside from that red agate bracelet, which I always wore.

The rest just sat untouched in the jewelry box.

He forgot the passion we once had.

I took only what was truly mine and left that bracelet behind.

That night, Kayden sent me a message.

[If you don't take that stupid bracelet, I'll throw it in the trash!]

[Go ahead.]

After replying to his message, I blocked all his contacts.

4

Three months after the breakup, I used a friend's connection to get a job at a studio.

My job was to plan personalized travel routes.

One day, I received a special order. The theme was "Poetry and Distance."

The requirement was that it should suit a couple looking for a relaxed and romantic trip.

Coincidentally, this was a theme I had always longed for.

I once hoped that Kayden would take a break from work to go on such a trip with me.

I spent three days and nights carefully planning the route.

After sending it out, I quickly received feedback. The customer was very satisfied.

My boss said, "They specifically requested you to accompany them as the guide."

"No problem."

The customer is always right. Besides, I secretly wanted to go on this route too.

Even though I didn't quite understand why a couple wouldn't prefer traveling alone.

It wasn't until Kayden and Adeline showed up at the studio that I realized the truth.

These two just wouldn't leave me alone and came here to make my life miserable.

"This place is such a dump. Kayden, did you choose it just because of her?"

As soon as Adeline walked in and saw me, she covered her nose, looking disgusted.

My boss turned pale angrily but kept quiet since they were paying well.

Kayden wrapped his arm around Adeline's shoulder. His eyes were mostly cold with a hint of mockery as he stared at me.

"Achoo!"

I let out a loud sneeze and said to Adeline, "Who's wearing such strong perfume to cover up that skanky smell?"

"Who are you talking about?"

Adeline instinctively raised her hand to hit me but stopped when she realized Kayden was watching. She ended up faking tears and acting all pitiful.

"See? She's holding a grudge against me. I don't want to go on this trip anymore."

"You have to go." "No refunds if you don't."

Kayden and I said it almost in unison.

Adeline was stunned.

Kayden comforted her, "This trip was carefully planned by Valerie as a romantic getaway for us. How can we waste her effort?"

Adeline quickly understood and smirked at me, "Oh, right. Looks like you'll have to play nanny. I mean, guide us the whole way."

My boss sensed something was off and couldn't help but speak up for me, "Please, speak respectfully."

"It's fine. Customer satisfaction is our priority."

My indifference and coldness seemed to get Kayden angry.

While Adeline was signing the contract, he cornered me outside.

"Take me off your blacklist. I'm your client now."

I stepped aside, putting some distance between us.

"I'll add you on my work phone later.

"If there's nothing else, I need to get back to work."

He quickly grabbed my arm.

He struggled to contain his emotions and started questioning me.

"What's your relationship with your boss?

"A man and a woman alone in a room. Were you really working?

"He seems very protective of you.

"Are you doing this on purpose to make me jealous?

"Huh, don't think I'd get jealous.

"No way!"

I waited patiently for him to finish, then calmly asked, "Are you done?"