Seven Years a Shadow: The Stand-In's Escape novel Chapter 1

Noah Miller's eyes were icy, but I had long since gotten used to that. 

I nodded politely to a few familiar faces and turned to go clean up the wine on my dress. 

But Noah suddenly blocked my way, arms spread wide. 

"Take it back." 

"That necklace belonged to my mom. You have no right to sell it!" 

His little face was twisted with anger, his red-rimmed eyes burning with hatred. 

I said evenly, "Lucas gave me that necklace when he proposed."

"I've worn it for seven years. Of course, I have the right to decide what to do with it." 

"She wore it before you!" 

"Noah, everything that belonged to your mom is still at the Miller estate."

"You know this. This necklace was bought from a jewelry store by your father."

"You're well aware of that, aren't you?" 

Caught in his lie, Noah's eyes widened, his face flushing crimson. 

People around us were staring.

He shot me one last furious glare before running off. 

I didn't chase after him like I used to.

I didn't bother pretending we got along in front of others. 

Noah. Noah. 

Even his name was proof that Lucas had never stopped thinking about his first love, Isabella Taylor. 

And me?

I was just a replacement.

A lookalike. 

Isabella, the beloved daughter of the Taylor family, frail from birth but cherished by all. 

I had given seven years of my life, and even the child I raised hated me to the core. 

When I stepped out of the restroom, someone stopped me. 

"Noah left already." 

A young waiter hesitated before adding, "He asked me to pass on a message." 

The waiter looked uneasy. 

"He said… climbing your way into the Miller family was the one thing you were best at." 

I took a cab home, arriving at the Miller estate past midnight. 

My evening gown, elegant and striking, was thin as silk and useless against the cold night air. 

Noah had taken my phone, which meant I didn't even have a way to pay the fare. 

After stepping out, I rang the doorbell. 

I didn't respond. Instead, I sat down on the cold stone steps. 

He actually thought there was something to forgive. 

I didn't even know what I'd done wrong. 

Noah huffed.

"Fine. If you won't apologize, then stay out there and think about what you've done."

"No one will open the door for you without my say-so." 

The wind howled around me, and I shivered, hugging my arms to my chest. 

And suddenly, I remembered something from my childhood. 

I used to move around a lot with my mom. 

She changed jobs often, which meant we never stayed in one place for long. 

Some landlords were cruel.

They'd toss our things out on the street and slam the door in our faces. 

Back then, my biggest dream was to have a home of my own—somewhere we wouldn't be kicked out of. 

It could be small.

It could be old. 

I just didn't want to be locked out anymore.