Trap Me or Free Me

My Replacement

York took me abroad.

Then, he brought me to the island.

Rumor had it he loved me to death, keeping his prized beauty hidden away in a gilded cage. Even a young model who looked only vaguely like me could haunt his thoughts.

However, what most weren't aware of was that no one in this world wished for his death more than I did.

After he left, all the bodyguards and servants on the island were replaced with new faces.

I stared blankly at the bloodstains in the courtyard, still untouched and waiting to be cleaned.

Just then, a shrill female voice cut through the air from outside.

"Think you can stop me? You must have a death wish!"

Before I could even get up to open the door, it was slammed wide open as a mob of people rushed in.

The woman leading the pack was dressed provocatively, her demeanor as fiery as her outfit. When her eyes landed on me, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, but it quickly turned to fury.

"You're Nicole Justine?"

I barely had time to register her words before she rushed at me. Then, she slapped me across the face without warning.

"You slut! York nearly didn't make it back because of you!"

She shot me a scornful glance. When she finally took in my features, her anger flared even brighter.

So, she immediately raised her hand again, slapping the other side of my face.

"Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a kept pet! If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll keep screwing things up for him!"

She was referring to York.

She didn't hold back, hitting me so hard that my vision blurred. At this point. I could see stars dancing in front of my eyes.

My body was still in shock, but my mind was sharper than ever.

The woman in front of me was Luna Xenakis, my replacement and York's new plaything.

She had perfect timing. I was starting to worry no one would ever set foot on this island again.

Anger simmered inside me, and I couldn't resist provoking her. "How'd you get in here? Does York even know you're here?"

Without his black card, no one could get in. As a result, I couldn't get out.

Luna sneered before kicking me to the ground. "Open your eyes, you idiot! York proposed to me! I can go wherever I please, including here!"

She smugly stretched out her hand, flaunting the diamond ring on her finger.

York proposed to her?

I squinted at the ring, its design strangely familiar.

Then, it hit me.

"He sure is stingy. Proposing with a ring someone else didn't want?"

Luna's face twisted with rage, the lie now exposed. She was so enraged that she lunged at me, ready to strike again.

This time, I raised my hand and slapped her right back.

She froze, utterly stunned.

I swiftly took advantage of her momentary daze and poured salt on the wound. "You saw the engraving inside? YN0607. Know what that means? The numbers are the date York and I first met. The letters? The initials of our names. This ring… you must've begged him for it, didn't you?"

Last month, York proposed to me with that same ring, saying he wanted to marry me.

I pretended to admire it before turning around and tossing it straight into the sea.

That was when he stormed off in a huff, not showing his face for half a month.

Soon afterward, the rumors began—he had found a young model to replace me.

Of course, I knew the gossip was planted by the servants under his orders, just a ploy to get me to bow down and beg for forgiveness.

Too bad for him, I never cared who he fancied or who caught his eye.

Even yesterday's punishment of the staff was just an excuse for him to vent his frustration.

"What lies are you spewing? York only has eyes for me! If he liked you, why would he lock you up like an animal?"