Walk 10,000 Steps to See You

I dropped the candied fruit snacks and covered my face, about to run to the bathroom, but she grabbed me with her fair, delicate hand.

"Rafael, there's no need to put on makeup anymore. Anyway, you don't look like Julian even when you try."

I froze in place.

Suddenly, I remembered something from a few months ago. Melia had suddenly ordered me, "Take off your makeup."

I didn’t catch it clearly and looked up in surprise, "What?"

But she stared at me seriously and said, "Rafael, let me see what you look like without makeup."

I firmly refused to agree. That was beyond the scope of my professional duties.

After all, when I received payment, I was expected to act on behalf of others and I had to always show up around Melia with Julian's makeup on.

That way, I could constantly serve as a reminder for the employer.

But now, Melia didn’t say anything. She just turned and walked away. It felt as though whether I wore makeup or not made no difference to her.

"Come here, let’s sleep."

Melia had changed into her sleepwear and was lying in bed, lifting the covers and opening her arms toward me.

The expression on her face was as natural as ever.

I didn’t know exactly when, but our relationship had gradually turned into that of a normal couple.

Every night, she needed to be in my arms to fall asleep.

But the thought that I would eventually leave made me hesitate, unwilling to go over. "Melia, I... I'm not really that tired right now."

Melia looked at me in confusion. "Then don’t sleep yet, come here and hold me while I sleep."

I stood there, dragging my feet.

Melia lost her patience and frowned. "Rafael, are you coming over or not?"

I grabbed a nearby pillow in a panic and quickly ran out. "I... I’ll sleep in the guest room!"

As expected, she didn’t follow.

Lying in the pitch-black guest room, I closed my eyes but couldn’t fall asleep. My mind was filled with thoughts of parting from Melia.

After all, I needed to break the habit even though these three years of being a stand-in had constantly reminded me not to get emotionally involved with my client.

But as the saying went, ‘People were not wood or stone who can be without feelings.’

Even a dog could form attachments, let alone a living, breathing woman.

I had to find a suitable excuse to leave in the next few days.

I woke up from a nap, stretched lazily and before I knew it, someone had pulled me into arms.

I opened my eyes in a panic and realized that I had somehow ended up back in the bedroom in the middle of the night.

"Melia, you..."

Melia had her arms wrapped around my waist from behind, her legs naturally draped over mine. She was still fast asleep but instinctively kissed the back of my neck.

"Be good, don’t move."

In a surge of anger, I turned around.

The moment I saw Melia's sleeping face, my frustration boiled over.

No wonder Julian was willing to spend 15 million to find a stand-in. If I had that kind of money, I’d be scared of such a beautiful woman being taken away by someone else.

But…

She wasn’t someone I could have.

Three more days passed.

I desperately searched for a way to disappear without raising suspicion like disappearing on a trip, being abducted, vanishing without a word.

In the end, I couldn’t settle on a decent plan.

Only three days left.

Julian had called me multiple times, urging me to act.

"Rafael, there are only three days left. You need to hurry up."

"If you haven’t disappeared from Melia’s life by then, you’ll have to pay a hefty penalty."

I could never afford that penalty.

I forced a smile. "Mr. Sinclair, don’t worry. I promise I’ll be gone within three days."

After hanging up, I gritted my teeth and bought a plane ticket for two days later.

Melia, goodbye.

I gazed out the window, lost in thought. In the alley next door, a woman was begging on the street, holding a child in her arms.