No Longer a Stand-In

Sarah's POV

I finally managed to get a taxi with help from the restaurant's security guard.

Sitting in the car, it hit me - even this apartment I lived in was from James.

Back when I first started working, I was broke and desperately needed a place to stay.

James had casually bought this apartment near the office and given it to me.

Back then, I thought it meant I was special to him, secretly feeling proud. I'd forgotten that with his wealth, it was nothing more than pocket change.

Reaching my building, I noticed the lights were on in my apartment.

A burglar?

I rushed upstairs, only to find clothes and belongings scattered everywhere when I opened the door.

The entire place had been turned upside down, and the culprit was sitting brazenly on my couch.

"Oh, Sarah, you’re back?” Emma said with a smirk.

"What are you doing?" I glared at her. "You know I can call the police for breaking and entering."

"Breaking and entering?"

Emma smiled dismissively, casually applying lipstick. "How can you prove this is your home?"

She stood up and pressed her finger on the door's fingerprint lock. It beeped and unlocked immediately.

"See? My fingerprint still works.

“Didn’t know that, did you? This apartment was a gift from James to me a while back.

"I went abroad and wasn't using it, so you got lucky. The deed is still in my name.

"I suggest you stop clinging to other people's property and move out soon."

"Wait, that's my lipstick! Give it back!" I recognized the familiar style in her hand and reached for it.

It was the only thing James had personally given me - he'd even applied it for me himself.

He'd said, "It suits you perfectly. Just use this one from now on, the others don't look as good."

"Don't be ridiculous," Emma brushed my hand away, showing me the engraving on the lipstick. "This is mine."

I finally noticed the words "For Emma" engraved on the bottom of the lipstick.

"See? James had this custom-made for me by a designer." She smirked. "Yours was just a mass-produced fake."

I felt all my strength drain away.

"So what?" I forced a smile. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to tell you to stop dreaming. James loves me."

After Emma left.

I sat on the couch for a long time, thinking. Emma was right - I needed to wake up from this dream and live my own life.

I sold all the gifts James had given me, turning them into cash.

After all, money gives me the most security.

At nine that night, my colleagues invited me to a bar for a farewell drink.

But as soon as I walked in, I saw James with Emma by his side.

"Sarah, come join us! We've been waiting for you!"

I tried to leave, but someone pulled me inside.

"We heard you're leaving, and Mr. Carter came personally to say goodbye!"

I frowned - had I known James would be here, I wouldn't have come.

"Mr. Carter, who's this beside you? Haven't seen her before. Now that I look closely, she looks quite like Sarah."

One of my colleagues asked with a smile.

"This is my girlfriend and fiancée, Emma. She just returned from abroad."

Tears instantly filled my eyes.

The word girlfriend hit me like a knife to the chest, and tears instantly welled up in my eyes.

I had spent eight years longing for this title, hoping James would one day hold my hand and introduce me proudly to everyone.

But instead, all I got was him declaring someone else as his girlfriend.

As his words fell, the room went completely silent.

Everyone turned to look at me.

They had always assumed I was James’s girlfriend. After all, I had cared for him in every way, from his work to his personal life.

But now, it was clear—I was just a stand-in. Now that the real one had returned, my presence had become painfully awkward.

"Wow... let's applaud!" I forced a smile, fighting back tears. "Mr. Carter finally has a girlfriend! Let's toast to the future Mrs. Carter!"

Others rushed to join the toast.

I picked up a glass of water, trying to avoid drinking.

"Miss Garnett, we're all drinking alcohol. It's not fair if you just drink water, is it?"

Emma gave me a knowing smirk.

"Sarah, you're about to leave the company and won't even have a drink? Have I been such a terrible boss all these years?" James looked at me with a cold smile.