Chapter 1

A friend of Theodore Shaw’s had gotten his hands on a micro-expression polygraph from overseas and egged everyone on to test who Theodore loved most right there in the private room.

Everyone thought that after I had lowered myself and played the obedient fiancee at Theodore’s side for four years, even a stone should have warmed by now. At the very least, his heart should have stirred a little.

But when my photo appeared on the big screen, the green line on the polygraph stayed as flat as a dead pond.

And when Lily Vance’s photo appeared, his heart rate shot straight up to 150.

His friends mocked me one after another. “The second the one who got away comes back, the stand-in is scrapped on the spot!”

I sat in the corner, perfectly calm.

They thought I was swallowing humiliation for love, but they had no idea there was a translucent panel hanging above my head that only I could see.

[Countdown: 30 days.]

Ethan Cole, wait for me.

If I endure just 30 more days, I can take the mission reward and go back to save you.