She was professional at being a canary.
She obeyed all his unreasonable demands, while secretly planning for leaving.
When he finally remembered his canary, she was already on a stage he could never reach.
Chapter 1
I was the perfect trophy girlfriend.
Sweet, curvy, and playing the part of a brainless bombshell.
The ridiculously powerful Mr. Watkins absolutely doted on me.
Until the day I overheard him talking to his friend.
"Nathan, Harper Henderson is coming back to the States soon. What are you gonna do about that little canary of yours?"
"A canary? She's just a toy to keep me entertained."
"Once Harper's back, she'll obviously have to be dealt with."
That's when it hit me. I wasn't just a trophy girlfriend; I was a stand-in.
And the original was coming home.
My cushy life was about to end.
But what they didn't know was that I was only ever in it for the money, never for love.
Four years as his canary, and I'd saved up a nice little nest egg.
I could finally bail and go study abroad!
...
His words replayed in my mind, a loop I couldn't stop.
My heart hammered against my ribs. So, four years of Nathan Watkins's affection had all been an act.
To them, I was nothing more than a plaything, something to be passed around and discarded at will.
I ducked back into the walk-in closet.
The wall of Hermès bags greeted me, and a smile spread across my face.
"Time for my little investments to pay off!"
I immediately contacted a luxury reseller, ready to turn my wall of designer bags into cold, hard cash.
I'm a piano major.
I came from nothing, but I was talented enough to get a full scholarship to college.
But right after I started, my grandmother, the woman who raised me, got sick.
I drowned in debt trying to save her.
In the end, she didn't make it.
I was about to drop out to pay off the loans when I met Nathan Watkins.
For the money, I turned myself into his perfect idiot—beautiful, materialistic, and completely helpless without him.
And just like that, four years went by...
Now that I'd saved enough for tuition to study overseas, I could finally leave.
I started making arrangements, my escape plan clicking into place.
That night, Nathan came home reeking of booze.
It was almost instinct. I immediately went soft, melting against him and cooing sweet nothings about his day.
I'd been doing this for four years, playing the part of his dutiful, warm-bodied escape.
Nathan's eyes were hazy with drink. He pulled me into his arms, his command muffled. "Kiss me."
I obediently tilted my head up.
But then, he murmured another name, his voice full of a tenderness he never used with me: "Harper."
My body went rigid for a second.
I lowered my lashes to hide the storm in my eyes.
For four years, Nathan had always called me Harper.
I'd corrected him once, telling him my name was Aubree.
But he just stroked my hair and said, "Everyone else calls you Aubree. I'll call you Harper. It's our special name."
Back then, I actually believed him. I thought it was his special way of showing he loved me.
How fucking ridiculous.
A wave of nausea rose in my throat, but I dutifully returned his affection.
Until I was safely on a plane out of the country, I still had to keep my sugar daddy happy.
The night dissolved into a blur.
The next morning, I woke up with an aching back. Nathan was already standing by the bed, fixing his cuffs.
Unlike before, his expression was distant and cold.
There was even a hint of disgust!
*I rolled my eyes. As if I'm not the one who should be disgusted.*
He was fumbling with his tie.
I got out of bed and reached out to fix it for him.
But he recoiled like he'd been shocked, taking a sharp step back.
"Don't touch me," he snapped.
My hand froze in midair.
I put on a hurt expression, pouting coquettishly. "Nathan, why are you being like this?"
He seemed to realize he'd overreacted. His face was a blank mask as he pulled a black card from his wallet and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. "For last night."
It had been a long time since he'd made our relationship so transactional.
A strange, unidentifiable emotion flickered inside me, but I put on my best money-grubbing face and thanked him profusely.
Nathan just scoffed and turned to leave.
He tossed one last command over his shoulder: "My driver is picking you up this afternoon. Be ready."
I stared at the black card and sneered internally.
*So cheap. A check would've been easier. Now I have to go through the trouble of cashing this out!*
The second Nathan was gone, I emailed the professor who'd been offering me a spot to study abroad and told him I was ready to enroll this fall.
I got an enthusiastic reply almost immediately.
*Three months,* I told myself.
*I just have to put up with this for three more months, max.*
Chapter 2
That afternoon, Nathan took me on a shopping spree at the most exclusive mall.
He was in a rare good mood, having me try on the latest designer dresses and jewelry from the current season.
He sat on the couch, his expression serious, occasionally nodding or frowning as he judged whether the clothes and jewelry suited me.
In the end, he settled on a few outfits and a sapphire jewelry set.
But instead of giving them to me, he handed them to his assistant and told them to pack everything up.
The sales associates around us shot me looks of pity and contempt.
In that instant, I understood everything.
He was just using my body type to pick out an entire wardrobe for his old flame, who was about to return to the country.
I was nothing more than his human mannequin.
I lowered my eyes, hiding the sarcastic glint in them.
I guess he figured I'd been cooperative enough that afternoon, because he casually picked out a necklace to give me.
Of course, it was a whole lot cheaper than the pieces he'd chosen for Harper.
But my mind subconsciously started calculating how much I could get for it.
Back at the villa, Nathan patted my head in a fake-affectionate gesture and told me, "You must be tired."
"I have a dinner meeting tonight, so I won't be back."
I put on the perfect look of disappointment and kissed his lips.
This time, he didn't push me away. He actually kissed me back.
"Buy whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to get. Just use the card."
"Be good."
The second he left, I furiously scrubbed at my lips, then opened up Amazon and went on a clicking spree.
*That bastard. This is for my pain and suffering!*
Then I checked my bank account balance again. Tallying up all the deposits, the total was already massive.
I started preparing my visa application.
The days passed in a dull, unremarkable blur until, finally, it was the day before Harper was due to return.
Nathan came home early that day and ordered me to stand in the living room while he looked me up and down.
Then, he made his announcement. "Tomorrow, you're coming with me to pick up a friend."
"Who is it? You seem to be taking this so seriously, Nathan."
I played dumb, the picture of innocence.
"It's not important."
I knew exactly what he was up to.
He was going to use me, his convenient girlfriend, to get a rise out of Harper, to force him to confront his own feelings.
I obediently agreed.
Seeing how compliant I was, Nathan's paper-thin conscience must have started to bother him.
As if bestowing a great charity, he waved his hand, signed a check, and gave it to me. "Go buy yourself something you like."
I clutched the check, my fingertips trembling slightly, as if I were too overcome with sadness to control myself.
*Inside, I was ecstatic. It's all going according to plan!*
The next day, Nathan took me to Harper's welcome-home party.
I had gotten all dolled up for the occasion, so much so that even Nathan seemed stunned for a few seconds when he saw me.
But the moment he laid eyes on Harper, his attention was completely stolen away, and he didn't spare me another glance.
I was like an invisible shadow, quietly trailing behind him.
The guests shot glances at me, their expressions ranging from pity to ridicule.
I ignored them all.
Finally, Harper's probing gaze landed on me. He asked in a soft voice, "Nathan, who is this?"
Nathan acted as if he'd just remembered I was there. He slung an arm around me, pulling me in close, and announced, each word sharp and clear, "My girlfriend, Aubree Morgan."
I played my part and snuggled into his embrace.
But I could clearly feel the hand he had wrapped around me trembling slightly.
And Harper? Her eyes instantly misted over, but she still managed a graceful smile and made small talk with me.
"How come you never mentioned you were dating someone, Nathan?"
"And you know, she really does look a little bit like me."
"But Nathan, didn't you used to hate this kind of... well, flashy style? You always said I looked best in simple colors. Looks like your taste has changed quite a bit over the years."
With just a few gentle words, she had branded me as both tacky and a substitute.
I kept a faint smile plastered on my face, feeling absolutely nothing.
*Just take the money and do the job,* I told myself. *I'm going to need a lot of it when I'm living overseas by myself.*
Chapter 3
After dinner, Nathan's posse insisted on hitting a bar, and I got dragged along.
The music in the bar was deafening. Nathan kept his arm wrapped around Harper in a corner, the two of them so close they were practically one person.
Meanwhile, I—his official girlfriend—might as well have been invisible.
Nathan's buddies were whispering to each other, their eyes darting over to me with mocking smirks.
"Aubree," one of them said, raising his glass. "This one's for you! Thanks for taking such good care of our boy Nathan all these years."
A sleazy-looking guy, noticing how little Nathan cared, sidled up to me with his drink. The implication in his voice was so blatant it was nauseating.
I forced a sweet, innocent smile, though in my head I was calling him a douchebag.
Then, I gently pushed his glass away. "Mr. Brooks, I'm a total lightweight, I should probably take it easy..."
"So what if you get drunk? Nathan's right here!"
Another guy immediately chimed in, "You think Nathan would actually give a damn?"
Nathan, whose name had just been dropped, didn't even glance our way.
He and Harper were huddled close, whispering about something before they both started laughing quietly.
It was his silent approval.
I guess I'm just a prop for him again, a way for Nathan to prove to Harper how unique and special she is.
Emboldened by Nathan's indifference, his friends immediately swarmed me.
"Aubree, you really should know your place."
"Harper is a real pianist—she's won international awards! And you? What can you do besides drink and put on a fake smile?"
"Oh! And spend money!"
The air filled with their harsh laughter.
For a moment, everything felt surreal.
So that's why...
I had played the piano for Nathan once.
But he had inexplicably flown into a rage and slapped me across the face.
He'd snarled at me, "If you ever play again, I'll have someone break your hands."
After that, everything related to the piano in our home—even the sheet music I'd had since I was a kid—was torn to shreds and thrown away.
So it was all because he thought my playing was an insult to his precious goddess...
Glass after glass of alcohol was shoved into my hand. They surrounded me, forcing me to drink while they tore me apart with their comments.
My stomach was churning and my head was getting foggy.
Just then, Mr. Brooks—the one who'd toasted me earlier—used the alcohol as an excuse to snake a hand around my waist. He pressed his body against me, his boozy breath hitting my face as he leaned in, his lips almost touching mine. "Aubree, why don't you come have some real fun with me over there?"
I went completely stiff and instinctively tried to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.
Nathan, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, finally made a move.
He seized Mr. Brooks's wrist. "Get the hell away from her."
Startled, Mr. Brooks pulled back, muttering, "Hey, it was just a joke. Why so serious, Nathan?"
A wave of suggestive, knowing laughter rippled through the group.
Harper chose that exact moment to tug on Nathan's sleeve. "Nathan, don't let a little thing like this ruin the mood."
"Mr. Brooks and Aubree are both just drunk, that's all."
The way she said it made it sound like I was the one hitting on him.
Sure enough, hearing that, Nathan's face grew even darker. He roughly grabbed my arm. "We're going home!"
His grip was painfully tight, and my stomach churned with a burning heat.
It's just a job. You're getting paid for this.
I chanted the mantra over and over in my head.
Just hang in there, Aubree. You'll be able to leave all of this behind for good soon enough.
Chapter 4
That night, Nathan was rough with me in bed, his movements violent, like he was trying to work out some kind of misplaced rage.
I gritted my teeth and endured it, laughing coldly to myself. I just chalked it up to being bitten by a dog one last time.
When I woke up, he was already gone.
I didn't see Nathan for the entire next week.
And I was more than happy to have the place to myself.
With Nathan gone, I had more freedom to get my things ready for going abroad.
When Nathan finally came back, he brought Harper with him.
She surveyed the villa's decor with the air of a woman who owned the place.
Then, with a wave of her hand, she had the staff carry in a piano.
I'd once been nearly thrown out of the house by Nathan just for touching the piano.
But now, here was Harper, waltzing in with a piano of her own, and Nathan just watched her, his eyes full of adoration.
Disgusting.
"Oh, Aubree, you're home?"
She walked over to the piano and casually tapped a few keys. "I heard you used to play piano, too?"
"We should play together sometime."
Nathan let out a scornful laugh from behind her. "She's a total amateur," he said contemptuously. "She can't hold a candle to you."
I lowered my eyes, my hand subconsciously clenching into a fist, but I kept a meek smile plastered on my face. "That's right. I just dabbled a bit."
Nathan didn't let Harper move into the master bedroom. She was clearly annoyed, but she accepted the arrangement.
The next afternoon, I went back to my room to get something. The moment I pushed the door open, I saw Harper standing there, holding my bracelet!
It was the only thing my grandmother had left me.
A tremor ran through me. "What are you doing?" I yelled.
Hearing me, she turned around slowly, a smug, playful smile on her face. Then, she loosened her fingers—
and the bracelet fell to the floor.
The sharp crack of it shattering sounded like a thunderclap. I froze, and tears instantly started streaming down my face.
"Harper!!!" I shrieked, lunging at her, wanting nothing more than to tear her to shreds.
The commotion brought Nathan running.
He burst into the room, and when he saw me looking completely unhinged, his face darkened.
"Aubree! What the hell is wrong with you!" He shoved me away, hard. The force sent me stumbling back into a cabinet.
My right hand slammed against the corner, and it quickly began to swell up.
I cried out in pain.
Harper immediately buried her face in Nathan's chest, sobbing. "Nathan, I was just curious, I was only looking… and Aubree tried to attack me! I was so scared."
"When the bracelet broke, it cut my hand..."
Nathan looked at her terrified act and then roared at me, "You'd try to hurt Harper over a stupid, broken bracelet? Get out to the living room and kneel! Don't you dare get up without my permission!"
In that moment, my heart died completely.
I watched him shield the woman who had just destroyed my most precious possession, watched him blow on the nearly invisible scratch on her hand, and realized that even trying to defend myself would be pointless.
I walked silently into the living room and knelt, my back ramrod straight.
The back of my right hand was swelling badly. I was terrified it was broken.
My hand... I still have to play the piano.
I still have to chase my dream.
That night, as I was on the verge of passing out from kneeling, Nathan came and asked me if I had learned my lesson.
I stared him down and said, "I did nothing wrong."
He stared at me, his own expression turning ugly, as if he couldn't believe his docile little canary would suddenly defy him.
"Get out!" he raged. "Get the hell out of my house!"
"And don't you dare come back until you've remembered your place!"
I looked at him and suddenly, I smiled.
I stood up, grabbed the suitcase I'd already packed, and walked out the front door without a backward glance.
A month later, I was on a plane, heading abroad.
And Nathan finally remembered his little canary.
He ordered his men to find me, but all he got was a stammering report from his subordinate:
"Ms. Morgan... she's... she's gone!"The upcoming chapters are even more exciting! Click the download button below to read the entire book!👇👇👇 {"title":"Faking the Game of Love","cover":"https://static-v1.mydramawave.com/novel/landing-page/image-crawl/697d523d022552a5d87384ea3fe8023b.jpg?image_process=quality,85/resize,w_600/format,webp","chapter_title":"Chapter 1","chapter_text":"I was the perfect trophy girlfriend.\nSweet, curvy, and playing the part of a brainless bombshell.\nThe ridiculously powerful Mr. Watkins absolutely doted on me.\nUntil the day I overheard him talking to his friend.\n\"Nathan, Harper Henderson is coming back to the States soon. What are you gonna do about that little canary of yours?\"\n\"A canary? She's just a toy to keep me entertained.\"\n\"Once Harper's back, she'll obviously have to be dealt with.\"\nThat's when it hit me. I wasn't just a trophy girlfriend; I was a stand-in.\nAnd the original was coming home.\nMy cushy life was about to end.\nBut what they didn't know was that I was only ever in it for the money, never for love.\nFour years as his canary, and I'd saved up a nice little nest egg.\nI could finally bail and go study abroad!\n...\nHis words replayed in my mind, a loop I couldn't stop.\nMy heart hammered against my ribs. So, four years of Nathan Watkins's affection had all been an act.\nTo them, I was nothing more than a plaything, something to be passed around and discarded at will.\nI ducked back into the walk-in closet.\nThe wall of Hermès bags greeted me, and a smile spread across my face.\n\"Time for my little investments to pay off!\"\nI immediately contacted a luxury reseller, ready to turn my wall of designer bags into cold, hard cash.\nI'm a piano major.\nI came from nothing, but I was talented enough to get a full scholarship to college.\nBut right after I started, my grandmother, the woman who raised me, got sick.\nI drowned in debt trying to save her.\nIn the end, she didn't make it.\nI was about to drop out to pay off the loans when I met Nathan Watkins.\nFor the money, I turned myself into his perfect idiot—beautiful, materialistic, and completely helpless without him.\nAnd just like that, four years went by...\nNow that I'd saved enough for tuition to study overseas, I could finally leave.\nI started making arrangements, my escape plan clicking into place.\nThat night, Nathan came home reeking of booze.\nIt was almost instinct. I immediately went soft, melting against him and cooing sweet nothings about his day.\nI'd been doing this for four years, playing the part of his dutiful, warm-bodied escape.\nNathan's eyes were hazy with drink. He pulled me into his arms, his command muffled. \"Kiss me.\"\nI obediently tilted my head up.\nBut then, he murmured another name, his voice full of a tenderness he never used with me: \"Harper.\"\nMy body went rigid for a second.\nI lowered my lashes to hide the storm in my eyes.\nFor four years, Nathan had always called me Harper.\nI'd corrected him once, telling him my name was Aubree.\nBut he just stroked my hair and said, \"Everyone else calls you Aubree. I'll call you Harper. It's our special name.\"\nBack then, I actually believed him. I thought it was his special way of showing he loved me.\nHow fucking ridiculous.\nA wave of nausea rose in my throat, but I dutifully returned his affection.\nUntil I was safely on a plane out of the country, I still had to keep my sugar daddy happy.\nThe night dissolved into a blur.\nThe next morning, I woke up with an aching back. Nathan was already standing by the bed, fixing his cuffs.\nUnlike before, his expression was distant and cold.\nThere was even a hint of disgust!\n*I rolled my eyes. As if I'm not the one who should be disgusted.*\nHe was fumbling with his tie.\nI got out of bed and reached out to fix it for him.\nBut he recoiled like he'd been shocked, taking a sharp step back.\n\"Don't touch me,\" he snapped.\nMy hand froze in midair.\nI put on a hurt expression, pouting coquettishly. \"Nathan, why are you being like this?\"\nHe seemed to realize he'd overreacted. His face was a blank mask as he pulled a black card from his wallet and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. \"For last night.\"\nIt had been a long time since he'd made our relationship so transactional.\nA strange, unidentifiable emotion flickered inside me, but I put on my best money-grubbing face and thanked him profusely.\nNathan just scoffed and turned to leave.\nHe tossed one last command over his shoulder: \"My driver is picking you up this afternoon. Be ready.\"\nI stared at the black card and sneered internally.\n*So cheap. A check would've been easier. Now I have to go through the trouble of cashing this out!*\nThe second Nathan was gone, I emailed the professor who'd been offering me a spot to study abroad and told him I was ready to enroll this fall.\nI got an enthusiastic reply almost immediately.\n*Three months,* I told myself.\n*I just have to put up with this for three more months, max.*","chapter_content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/1/en_1df9075d-daa8-42de-85f7-ff72f1ad9e37.txt","chapters":[{"chapter_key":"t9HFkqSaOW","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/1/en_1df9075d-daa8-42de-85f7-ff72f1ad9e37.txt","word_count":829,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I was the perfect trophy girlfriend.\nSweet, curvy, and playing the part of a brainless bombshell.\nThe ridiculously powerful Mr. Watkins absolutely doted on me.\nUntil the day I overheard him talking to his friend.\n\"Nathan, Harper Henderson is coming back to the States soon. What are you gonna do about that little canary of yours?\"\n\"A canary? She's just a toy to keep me entertained.\"\n\"Once Harper's back, she'll obviously have to be dealt with.\"\nThat's when it hit me. I wasn't just a trophy girlfriend; I was a stand-in.\nAnd the original was coming home.\nMy cushy life was about to end.\nBut what they didn't know was that I was only ever in it for the money, never for love.\nFour years as his canary, and I'd saved up a nice little nest egg.\nI could finally bail and go study abroad!\n...\nHis words replayed in my mind, a loop I couldn't stop.\nMy heart hammered against my ribs. So, four years of Nathan Watkins's affection had all been an act.\nTo them, I was nothing more than a plaything, something to be passed around and discarded at will.\nI ducked back into the walk-in closet.\nThe wall of Hermès bags greeted me, and a smile spread across my face.\n\"Time for my little investments to pay off!\"\nI immediately contacted a luxury reseller, ready to turn my wall of designer bags into cold, hard cash.\nI'm a piano major.\nI came from nothing, but I was talented enough to get a full scholarship to college.\nBut right after I started, my grandmother, the woman who raised me, got sick.\nI drowned in debt trying to save her.\nIn the end, she didn't make it.\nI was about to drop out to pay off the loans when I met Nathan Watkins.\nFor the money, I turned myself into his perfect idiot—beautiful, materialistic, and completely helpless without him.\nAnd just like that, four years went by...\nNow that I'd saved enough for tuition to study overseas, I could finally leave.\nI started making arrangements, my escape plan clicking into place.\nThat night, Nathan came home reeking of booze.\nIt was almost instinct. I immediately went soft, melting against him and cooing sweet nothings about his day.\nI'd been doing this for four years, playing the part of his dutiful, warm-bodied escape.\nNathan's eyes were hazy with drink. He pulled me into his arms, his command muffled. \"Kiss me.\"\nI obediently tilted my head up.\nBut then, he murmured another name, his voice full of a tenderness he never used with me: \"Harper.\"\nMy body went rigid for a second.\nI lowered my lashes to hide the storm in my eyes.\nFor four years, Nathan had always called me Harper.\nI'd corrected him once, telling him my name was Aubree.\nBut he just stroked my hair and said, \"Everyone else calls you Aubree. I'll call you Harper. It's our special name.\"\nBack then, I actually believed him. I thought it was his special way of showing he loved me.\nHow fucking ridiculous.\nA wave of nausea rose in my throat, but I dutifully returned his affection.\nUntil I was safely on a plane out of the country, I still had to keep my sugar daddy happy.\nThe night dissolved into a blur.\nThe next morning, I woke up with an aching back. Nathan was already standing by the bed, fixing his cuffs.\nUnlike before, his expression was distant and cold.\nThere was even a hint of disgust!\n*I rolled my eyes. As if I'm not the one who should be disgusted.*\nHe was fumbling with his tie.\nI got out of bed and reached out to fix it for him.\nBut he recoiled like he'd been shocked, taking a sharp step back.\n\"Don't touch me,\" he snapped.\nMy hand froze in midair.\nI put on a hurt expression, pouting coquettishly. \"Nathan, why are you being like this?\"\nHe seemed to realize he'd overreacted. His face was a blank mask as he pulled a black card from his wallet and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. \"For last night.\"\nIt had been a long time since he'd made our relationship so transactional.\nA strange, unidentifiable emotion flickered inside me, but I put on my best money-grubbing face and thanked him profusely.\nNathan just scoffed and turned to leave.\nHe tossed one last command over his shoulder: \"My driver is picking you up this afternoon. Be ready.\"\nI stared at the black card and sneered internally.\n*So cheap. A check would've been easier. Now I have to go through the trouble of cashing this out!*\nThe second Nathan was gone, I emailed the professor who'd been offering me a spot to study abroad and told him I was ready to enroll this fall.\nI got an enthusiastic reply almost immediately.\n*Three months,* I told myself.\n*I just have to put up with this for three more months, max.*"},{"chapter_key":"uxzMQL2aY9","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/2/en_9382a009-8534-4b81-89f6-25fbc812dc33.txt","word_count":788,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"That afternoon, Nathan took me on a shopping spree at the most exclusive mall.\r\nHe was in a rare good mood, having me try on the latest designer dresses and jewelry from the current season.\r\nHe sat on the couch, his expression serious, occasionally nodding or frowning as he judged whether the clothes and jewelry suited me.\r\nIn the end, he settled on a few outfits and a sapphire jewelry set.\r\nBut instead of giving them to me, he handed them to his assistant and told them to pack everything up.\r\nThe sales associates around us shot me looks of pity and contempt.\r\nIn that instant, I understood everything.\r\nHe was just using my body type to pick out an entire wardrobe for his old flame, who was about to return to the country.\r\nI was nothing more than his human mannequin.\r\nI lowered my eyes, hiding the sarcastic glint in them.\r\nI guess he figured I'd been cooperative enough that afternoon, because he casually picked out a necklace to give me.\r\nOf course, it was a whole lot cheaper than the pieces he'd chosen for Harper.\r\nBut my mind subconsciously started calculating how much I could get for it.\r\nBack at the villa, Nathan patted my head in a fake-affectionate gesture and told me, \"You must be tired.\"\r\n\"I have a dinner meeting tonight, so I won't be back.\"\r\nI put on the perfect look of disappointment and kissed his lips.\r\nThis time, he didn't push me away. He actually kissed me back.\r\n\"Buy whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to get. Just use the card.\"\r\n\"Be good.\"\r\nThe second he left, I furiously scrubbed at my lips, then opened up Amazon and went on a clicking spree.\r\n*That bastard. This is for my pain and suffering!*\r\nThen I checked my bank account balance again. Tallying up all the deposits, the total was already massive.\r\nI started preparing my visa application.\r\nThe days passed in a dull, unremarkable blur until, finally, it was the day before Harper was due to return.\r\nNathan came home early that day and ordered me to stand in the living room while he looked me up and down.\r\nThen, he made his announcement. \"Tomorrow, you're coming with me to pick up a friend.\"\r\n\"Who is it? You seem to be taking this so seriously, Nathan.\"\r\nI played dumb, the picture of innocence.\r\n\"It's not important.\"\r\nI knew exactly what he was up to.\r\nHe was going to use me, his convenient girlfriend, to get a rise out of Harper, to force him to confront his own feelings.\r\nI obediently agreed.\r\nSeeing how compliant I was, Nathan's paper-thin conscience must have started to bother him.\r\nAs if bestowing a great charity, he waved his hand, signed a check, and gave it to me. \"Go buy yourself something you like.\"\r\nI clutched the check, my fingertips trembling slightly, as if I were too overcome with sadness to control myself.\r\n*Inside, I was ecstatic. It's all going according to plan!*\r\nThe next day, Nathan took me to Harper's welcome-home party.\r\nI had gotten all dolled up for the occasion, so much so that even Nathan seemed stunned for a few seconds when he saw me.\r\nBut the moment he laid eyes on Harper, his attention was completely stolen away, and he didn't spare me another glance.\r\nI was like an invisible shadow, quietly trailing behind him.\r\nThe guests shot glances at me, their expressions ranging from pity to ridicule.\r\nI ignored them all.\r\nFinally, Harper's probing gaze landed on me. He asked in a soft voice, \"Nathan, who is this?\"\r\nNathan acted as if he'd just remembered I was there. He slung an arm around me, pulling me in close, and announced, each word sharp and clear, \"My girlfriend, Aubree Morgan.\"\r\nI played my part and snuggled into his embrace.\r\nBut I could clearly feel the hand he had wrapped around me trembling slightly.\r\nAnd Harper? Her eyes instantly misted over, but she still managed a graceful smile and made small talk with me.\r\n\"How come you never mentioned you were dating someone, Nathan?\"\r\n\"And you know, she really does look a little bit like me.\"\r\n\"But Nathan, didn't you used to hate this kind of... well, flashy style? You always said I looked best in simple colors. Looks like your taste has changed quite a bit over the years.\"\r\nWith just a few gentle words, she had branded me as both tacky and a substitute.\r\nI kept a faint smile plastered on my face, feeling absolutely nothing.\r\n*Just take the money and do the job,* I told myself. *I'm going to need a lot of it when I'm living overseas by myself.*"},{"chapter_key":"96KbvffwDz","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/3/en_a227a3cd-b685-4262-a70c-48fa12c29d3c.txt","word_count":644,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"After dinner, Nathan's posse insisted on hitting a bar, and I got dragged along.\r\n\r\nThe music in the bar was deafening. Nathan kept his arm wrapped around Harper in a corner, the two of them so close they were practically one person.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, I—his official girlfriend—might as well have been invisible.\r\n\r\nNathan's buddies were whispering to each other, their eyes darting over to me with mocking smirks.\r\n\r\n\"Aubree,\" one of them said, raising his glass. \"This one's for you! Thanks for taking such good care of our boy Nathan all these years.\"\r\n\r\nA sleazy-looking guy, noticing how little Nathan cared, sidled up to me with his drink. The implication in his voice was so blatant it was nauseating.\r\n\r\nI forced a sweet, innocent smile, though in my head I was calling him a douchebag.\r\n\r\nThen, I gently pushed his glass away. \"Mr. Brooks, I'm a total lightweight, I should probably take it easy...\"\r\n\r\n\"So what if you get drunk? Nathan's right here!\"\r\n\r\nAnother guy immediately chimed in, \"You think Nathan would actually give a damn?\"\r\n\r\nNathan, whose name had just been dropped, didn't even glance our way.\r\n\r\nHe and Harper were huddled close, whispering about something before they both started laughing quietly.\r\n\r\nIt was his silent approval.\r\n\r\nI guess I'm just a prop for him again, a way for Nathan to prove to Harper how unique and special she is.\r\n\r\nEmboldened by Nathan's indifference, his friends immediately swarmed me.\r\n\r\n\"Aubree, you really should know your place.\"\r\n\r\n\"Harper is a real pianist—she's won international awards! And you? What can you do besides drink and put on a fake smile?\"\r\n\r\n\"Oh! And spend money!\"\r\n\r\nThe air filled with their harsh laughter.\r\n\r\nFor a moment, everything felt surreal.\r\n\r\nSo that's why...\r\n\r\nI had played the piano for Nathan once.\r\n\r\nBut he had inexplicably flown into a rage and slapped me across the face.\r\n\r\nHe'd snarled at me, \"If you ever play again, I'll have someone break your hands.\"\r\n\r\nAfter that, everything related to the piano in our home—even the sheet music I'd had since I was a kid—was torn to shreds and thrown away.\r\n\r\nSo it was all because he thought my playing was an insult to his precious goddess...\r\n\r\nGlass after glass of alcohol was shoved into my hand. They surrounded me, forcing me to drink while they tore me apart with their comments.\r\n\r\nMy stomach was churning and my head was getting foggy.\r\n\r\nJust then, Mr. Brooks—the one who'd toasted me earlier—used the alcohol as an excuse to snake a hand around my waist. He pressed his body against me, his boozy breath hitting my face as he leaned in, his lips almost touching mine. \"Aubree, why don't you come have some real fun with me over there?\"\r\n\r\nI went completely stiff and instinctively tried to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.\r\n\r\nNathan, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, finally made a move.\r\n\r\nHe seized Mr. Brooks's wrist. \"Get the hell away from her.\"\r\n\r\nStartled, Mr. Brooks pulled back, muttering, \"Hey, it was just a joke. Why so serious, Nathan?\"\r\n\r\nA wave of suggestive, knowing laughter rippled through the group.\r\n\r\nHarper chose that exact moment to tug on Nathan's sleeve. \"Nathan, don't let a little thing like this ruin the mood.\"\r\n\r\n\"Mr. Brooks and Aubree are both just drunk, that's all.\"\r\n\r\nThe way she said it made it sound like I was the one hitting on him.\r\n\r\nSure enough, hearing that, Nathan's face grew even darker. He roughly grabbed my arm. \"We're going home!\"\r\n\r\nHis grip was painfully tight, and my stomach churned with a burning heat.\r\n\r\nIt's just a job. You're getting paid for this.\r\n\r\nI chanted the mantra over and over in my head.\r\n\r\nJust hang in there, Aubree. You'll be able to leave all of this behind for good soon enough."},{"chapter_key":"lyZZoKOT92","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/4/en_791dd939-8094-4703-8acb-4e51c8d8c2fb.txt","word_count":746,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"That night, Nathan was rough with me in bed, his movements violent, like he was trying to work out some kind of misplaced rage.\nI gritted my teeth and endured it, laughing coldly to myself. I just chalked it up to being bitten by a dog one last time.\nWhen I woke up, he was already gone.\nI didn't see Nathan for the entire next week.\nAnd I was more than happy to have the place to myself.\nWith Nathan gone, I had more freedom to get my things ready for going abroad.\nWhen Nathan finally came back, he brought Harper with him.\nShe surveyed the villa's decor with the air of a woman who owned the place.\nThen, with a wave of her hand, she had the staff carry in a piano.\nI'd once been nearly thrown out of the house by Nathan just for touching the piano.\nBut now, here was Harper, waltzing in with a piano of her own, and Nathan just watched her, his eyes full of adoration.\nDisgusting.\n\"Oh, Aubree, you're home?\"\nShe walked over to the piano and casually tapped a few keys. \"I heard you used to play piano, too?\"\n\"We should play together sometime.\"\nNathan let out a scornful laugh from behind her. \"She's a total amateur,\" he said contemptuously. \"She can't hold a candle to you.\"\nI lowered my eyes, my hand subconsciously clenching into a fist, but I kept a meek smile plastered on my face. \"That's right. I just dabbled a bit.\"\nNathan didn't let Harper move into the master bedroom. She was clearly annoyed, but she accepted the arrangement.\nThe next afternoon, I went back to my room to get something. The moment I pushed the door open, I saw Harper standing there, holding my bracelet!\nIt was the only thing my grandmother had left me.\nA tremor ran through me. \"What are you doing?\" I yelled.\nHearing me, she turned around slowly, a smug, playful smile on her face. Then, she loosened her fingers—\nand the bracelet fell to the floor.\nThe sharp crack of it shattering sounded like a thunderclap. I froze, and tears instantly started streaming down my face.\n\"Harper!!!\" I shrieked, lunging at her, wanting nothing more than to tear her to shreds.\nThe commotion brought Nathan running.\nHe burst into the room, and when he saw me looking completely unhinged, his face darkened.\n\"Aubree! What the hell is wrong with you!\" He shoved me away, hard. The force sent me stumbling back into a cabinet.\nMy right hand slammed against the corner, and it quickly began to swell up.\nI cried out in pain.\nHarper immediately buried her face in Nathan's chest, sobbing. \"Nathan, I was just curious, I was only looking… and Aubree tried to attack me! I was so scared.\"\n\"When the bracelet broke, it cut my hand...\"\nNathan looked at her terrified act and then roared at me, \"You'd try to hurt Harper over a stupid, broken bracelet? Get out to the living room and kneel! Don't you dare get up without my permission!\"\nIn that moment, my heart died completely.\nI watched him shield the woman who had just destroyed my most precious possession, watched him blow on the nearly invisible scratch on her hand, and realized that even trying to defend myself would be pointless.\nI walked silently into the living room and knelt, my back ramrod straight.\nThe back of my right hand was swelling badly. I was terrified it was broken.\nMy hand... I still have to play the piano.\nI still have to chase my dream.\nThat night, as I was on the verge of passing out from kneeling, Nathan came and asked me if I had learned my lesson.\nI stared him down and said, \"I did nothing wrong.\"\nHe stared at me, his own expression turning ugly, as if he couldn't believe his docile little canary would suddenly defy him.\n\"Get out!\" he raged. \"Get the hell out of my house!\"\n\"And don't you dare come back until you've remembered your place!\"\nI looked at him and suddenly, I smiled.\nI stood up, grabbed the suitcase I'd already packed, and walked out the front door without a backward glance.\nA month later, I was on a plane, heading abroad.\nAnd Nathan finally remembered his little canary.\nHe ordered his men to find me, but all he got was a stammering report from his subordinate:\n\"Ms. Morgan... she's... she's gone!\""}],"chapter_list":[{"chapter_key":"t9HFkqSaOW","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/1/en_1df9075d-daa8-42de-85f7-ff72f1ad9e37.txt","word_count":829,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I was the perfect trophy girlfriend.\nSweet, curvy, and playing the part of a brainless bombshell.\nThe ridiculously powerful Mr. Watkins absolutely doted on me.\nUntil the day I overheard him talking to his friend.\n\"Nathan, Harper Henderson is coming back to the States soon. What are you gonna do about that little canary of yours?\"\n\"A canary? She's just a toy to keep me entertained.\"\n\"Once Harper's back, she'll obviously have to be dealt with.\"\nThat's when it hit me. I wasn't just a trophy girlfriend; I was a stand-in.\nAnd the original was coming home.\nMy cushy life was about to end.\nBut what they didn't know was that I was only ever in it for the money, never for love.\nFour years as his canary, and I'd saved up a nice little nest egg.\nI could finally bail and go study abroad!\n...\nHis words replayed in my mind, a loop I couldn't stop.\nMy heart hammered against my ribs. So, four years of Nathan Watkins's affection had all been an act.\nTo them, I was nothing more than a plaything, something to be passed around and discarded at will.\nI ducked back into the walk-in closet.\nThe wall of Hermès bags greeted me, and a smile spread across my face.\n\"Time for my little investments to pay off!\"\nI immediately contacted a luxury reseller, ready to turn my wall of designer bags into cold, hard cash.\nI'm a piano major.\nI came from nothing, but I was talented enough to get a full scholarship to college.\nBut right after I started, my grandmother, the woman who raised me, got sick.\nI drowned in debt trying to save her.\nIn the end, she didn't make it.\nI was about to drop out to pay off the loans when I met Nathan Watkins.\nFor the money, I turned myself into his perfect idiot—beautiful, materialistic, and completely helpless without him.\nAnd just like that, four years went by...\nNow that I'd saved enough for tuition to study overseas, I could finally leave.\nI started making arrangements, my escape plan clicking into place.\nThat night, Nathan came home reeking of booze.\nIt was almost instinct. I immediately went soft, melting against him and cooing sweet nothings about his day.\nI'd been doing this for four years, playing the part of his dutiful, warm-bodied escape.\nNathan's eyes were hazy with drink. He pulled me into his arms, his command muffled. \"Kiss me.\"\nI obediently tilted my head up.\nBut then, he murmured another name, his voice full of a tenderness he never used with me: \"Harper.\"\nMy body went rigid for a second.\nI lowered my lashes to hide the storm in my eyes.\nFor four years, Nathan had always called me Harper.\nI'd corrected him once, telling him my name was Aubree.\nBut he just stroked my hair and said, \"Everyone else calls you Aubree. I'll call you Harper. It's our special name.\"\nBack then, I actually believed him. I thought it was his special way of showing he loved me.\nHow fucking ridiculous.\nA wave of nausea rose in my throat, but I dutifully returned his affection.\nUntil I was safely on a plane out of the country, I still had to keep my sugar daddy happy.\nThe night dissolved into a blur.\nThe next morning, I woke up with an aching back. Nathan was already standing by the bed, fixing his cuffs.\nUnlike before, his expression was distant and cold.\nThere was even a hint of disgust!\n*I rolled my eyes. As if I'm not the one who should be disgusted.*\nHe was fumbling with his tie.\nI got out of bed and reached out to fix it for him.\nBut he recoiled like he'd been shocked, taking a sharp step back.\n\"Don't touch me,\" he snapped.\nMy hand froze in midair.\nI put on a hurt expression, pouting coquettishly. \"Nathan, why are you being like this?\"\nHe seemed to realize he'd overreacted. His face was a blank mask as he pulled a black card from his wallet and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. \"For last night.\"\nIt had been a long time since he'd made our relationship so transactional.\nA strange, unidentifiable emotion flickered inside me, but I put on my best money-grubbing face and thanked him profusely.\nNathan just scoffed and turned to leave.\nHe tossed one last command over his shoulder: \"My driver is picking you up this afternoon. Be ready.\"\nI stared at the black card and sneered internally.\n*So cheap. A check would've been easier. Now I have to go through the trouble of cashing this out!*\nThe second Nathan was gone, I emailed the professor who'd been offering me a spot to study abroad and told him I was ready to enroll this fall.\nI got an enthusiastic reply almost immediately.\n*Three months,* I told myself.\n*I just have to put up with this for three more months, max.*"},{"chapter_key":"uxzMQL2aY9","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/2/en_9382a009-8534-4b81-89f6-25fbc812dc33.txt","word_count":788,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"That afternoon, Nathan took me on a shopping spree at the most exclusive mall.\r\nHe was in a rare good mood, having me try on the latest designer dresses and jewelry from the current season.\r\nHe sat on the couch, his expression serious, occasionally nodding or frowning as he judged whether the clothes and jewelry suited me.\r\nIn the end, he settled on a few outfits and a sapphire jewelry set.\r\nBut instead of giving them to me, he handed them to his assistant and told them to pack everything up.\r\nThe sales associates around us shot me looks of pity and contempt.\r\nIn that instant, I understood everything.\r\nHe was just using my body type to pick out an entire wardrobe for his old flame, who was about to return to the country.\r\nI was nothing more than his human mannequin.\r\nI lowered my eyes, hiding the sarcastic glint in them.\r\nI guess he figured I'd been cooperative enough that afternoon, because he casually picked out a necklace to give me.\r\nOf course, it was a whole lot cheaper than the pieces he'd chosen for Harper.\r\nBut my mind subconsciously started calculating how much I could get for it.\r\nBack at the villa, Nathan patted my head in a fake-affectionate gesture and told me, \"You must be tired.\"\r\n\"I have a dinner meeting tonight, so I won't be back.\"\r\nI put on the perfect look of disappointment and kissed his lips.\r\nThis time, he didn't push me away. He actually kissed me back.\r\n\"Buy whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to get. Just use the card.\"\r\n\"Be good.\"\r\nThe second he left, I furiously scrubbed at my lips, then opened up Amazon and went on a clicking spree.\r\n*That bastard. This is for my pain and suffering!*\r\nThen I checked my bank account balance again. Tallying up all the deposits, the total was already massive.\r\nI started preparing my visa application.\r\nThe days passed in a dull, unremarkable blur until, finally, it was the day before Harper was due to return.\r\nNathan came home early that day and ordered me to stand in the living room while he looked me up and down.\r\nThen, he made his announcement. \"Tomorrow, you're coming with me to pick up a friend.\"\r\n\"Who is it? You seem to be taking this so seriously, Nathan.\"\r\nI played dumb, the picture of innocence.\r\n\"It's not important.\"\r\nI knew exactly what he was up to.\r\nHe was going to use me, his convenient girlfriend, to get a rise out of Harper, to force him to confront his own feelings.\r\nI obediently agreed.\r\nSeeing how compliant I was, Nathan's paper-thin conscience must have started to bother him.\r\nAs if bestowing a great charity, he waved his hand, signed a check, and gave it to me. \"Go buy yourself something you like.\"\r\nI clutched the check, my fingertips trembling slightly, as if I were too overcome with sadness to control myself.\r\n*Inside, I was ecstatic. It's all going according to plan!*\r\nThe next day, Nathan took me to Harper's welcome-home party.\r\nI had gotten all dolled up for the occasion, so much so that even Nathan seemed stunned for a few seconds when he saw me.\r\nBut the moment he laid eyes on Harper, his attention was completely stolen away, and he didn't spare me another glance.\r\nI was like an invisible shadow, quietly trailing behind him.\r\nThe guests shot glances at me, their expressions ranging from pity to ridicule.\r\nI ignored them all.\r\nFinally, Harper's probing gaze landed on me. He asked in a soft voice, \"Nathan, who is this?\"\r\nNathan acted as if he'd just remembered I was there. He slung an arm around me, pulling me in close, and announced, each word sharp and clear, \"My girlfriend, Aubree Morgan.\"\r\nI played my part and snuggled into his embrace.\r\nBut I could clearly feel the hand he had wrapped around me trembling slightly.\r\nAnd Harper? Her eyes instantly misted over, but she still managed a graceful smile and made small talk with me.\r\n\"How come you never mentioned you were dating someone, Nathan?\"\r\n\"And you know, she really does look a little bit like me.\"\r\n\"But Nathan, didn't you used to hate this kind of... well, flashy style? You always said I looked best in simple colors. Looks like your taste has changed quite a bit over the years.\"\r\nWith just a few gentle words, she had branded me as both tacky and a substitute.\r\nI kept a faint smile plastered on my face, feeling absolutely nothing.\r\n*Just take the money and do the job,* I told myself. *I'm going to need a lot of it when I'm living overseas by myself.*"},{"chapter_key":"96KbvffwDz","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/3/en_a227a3cd-b685-4262-a70c-48fa12c29d3c.txt","word_count":644,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"After dinner, Nathan's posse insisted on hitting a bar, and I got dragged along.\r\n\r\nThe music in the bar was deafening. Nathan kept his arm wrapped around Harper in a corner, the two of them so close they were practically one person.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, I—his official girlfriend—might as well have been invisible.\r\n\r\nNathan's buddies were whispering to each other, their eyes darting over to me with mocking smirks.\r\n\r\n\"Aubree,\" one of them said, raising his glass. \"This one's for you! Thanks for taking such good care of our boy Nathan all these years.\"\r\n\r\nA sleazy-looking guy, noticing how little Nathan cared, sidled up to me with his drink. The implication in his voice was so blatant it was nauseating.\r\n\r\nI forced a sweet, innocent smile, though in my head I was calling him a douchebag.\r\n\r\nThen, I gently pushed his glass away. \"Mr. Brooks, I'm a total lightweight, I should probably take it easy...\"\r\n\r\n\"So what if you get drunk? Nathan's right here!\"\r\n\r\nAnother guy immediately chimed in, \"You think Nathan would actually give a damn?\"\r\n\r\nNathan, whose name had just been dropped, didn't even glance our way.\r\n\r\nHe and Harper were huddled close, whispering about something before they both started laughing quietly.\r\n\r\nIt was his silent approval.\r\n\r\nI guess I'm just a prop for him again, a way for Nathan to prove to Harper how unique and special she is.\r\n\r\nEmboldened by Nathan's indifference, his friends immediately swarmed me.\r\n\r\n\"Aubree, you really should know your place.\"\r\n\r\n\"Harper is a real pianist—she's won international awards! And you? What can you do besides drink and put on a fake smile?\"\r\n\r\n\"Oh! And spend money!\"\r\n\r\nThe air filled with their harsh laughter.\r\n\r\nFor a moment, everything felt surreal.\r\n\r\nSo that's why...\r\n\r\nI had played the piano for Nathan once.\r\n\r\nBut he had inexplicably flown into a rage and slapped me across the face.\r\n\r\nHe'd snarled at me, \"If you ever play again, I'll have someone break your hands.\"\r\n\r\nAfter that, everything related to the piano in our home—even the sheet music I'd had since I was a kid—was torn to shreds and thrown away.\r\n\r\nSo it was all because he thought my playing was an insult to his precious goddess...\r\n\r\nGlass after glass of alcohol was shoved into my hand. They surrounded me, forcing me to drink while they tore me apart with their comments.\r\n\r\nMy stomach was churning and my head was getting foggy.\r\n\r\nJust then, Mr. Brooks—the one who'd toasted me earlier—used the alcohol as an excuse to snake a hand around my waist. He pressed his body against me, his boozy breath hitting my face as he leaned in, his lips almost touching mine. \"Aubree, why don't you come have some real fun with me over there?\"\r\n\r\nI went completely stiff and instinctively tried to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.\r\n\r\nNathan, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, finally made a move.\r\n\r\nHe seized Mr. Brooks's wrist. \"Get the hell away from her.\"\r\n\r\nStartled, Mr. Brooks pulled back, muttering, \"Hey, it was just a joke. Why so serious, Nathan?\"\r\n\r\nA wave of suggestive, knowing laughter rippled through the group.\r\n\r\nHarper chose that exact moment to tug on Nathan's sleeve. \"Nathan, don't let a little thing like this ruin the mood.\"\r\n\r\n\"Mr. Brooks and Aubree are both just drunk, that's all.\"\r\n\r\nThe way she said it made it sound like I was the one hitting on him.\r\n\r\nSure enough, hearing that, Nathan's face grew even darker. He roughly grabbed my arm. \"We're going home!\"\r\n\r\nHis grip was painfully tight, and my stomach churned with a burning heat.\r\n\r\nIt's just a job. You're getting paid for this.\r\n\r\nI chanted the mantra over and over in my head.\r\n\r\nJust hang in there, Aubree. You'll be able to leave all of this behind for good soon enough."},{"chapter_key":"lyZZoKOT92","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/4/en_791dd939-8094-4703-8acb-4e51c8d8c2fb.txt","word_count":746,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"That night, Nathan was rough with me in bed, his movements violent, like he was trying to work out some kind of misplaced rage.\nI gritted my teeth and endured it, laughing coldly to myself. I just chalked it up to being bitten by a dog one last time.\nWhen I woke up, he was already gone.\nI didn't see Nathan for the entire next week.\nAnd I was more than happy to have the place to myself.\nWith Nathan gone, I had more freedom to get my things ready for going abroad.\nWhen Nathan finally came back, he brought Harper with him.\nShe surveyed the villa's decor with the air of a woman who owned the place.\nThen, with a wave of her hand, she had the staff carry in a piano.\nI'd once been nearly thrown out of the house by Nathan just for touching the piano.\nBut now, here was Harper, waltzing in with a piano of her own, and Nathan just watched her, his eyes full of adoration.\nDisgusting.\n\"Oh, Aubree, you're home?\"\nShe walked over to the piano and casually tapped a few keys. \"I heard you used to play piano, too?\"\n\"We should play together sometime.\"\nNathan let out a scornful laugh from behind her. \"She's a total amateur,\" he said contemptuously. \"She can't hold a candle to you.\"\nI lowered my eyes, my hand subconsciously clenching into a fist, but I kept a meek smile plastered on my face. \"That's right. I just dabbled a bit.\"\nNathan didn't let Harper move into the master bedroom. She was clearly annoyed, but she accepted the arrangement.\nThe next afternoon, I went back to my room to get something. The moment I pushed the door open, I saw Harper standing there, holding my bracelet!\nIt was the only thing my grandmother had left me.\nA tremor ran through me. \"What are you doing?\" I yelled.\nHearing me, she turned around slowly, a smug, playful smile on her face. Then, she loosened her fingers—\nand the bracelet fell to the floor.\nThe sharp crack of it shattering sounded like a thunderclap. I froze, and tears instantly started streaming down my face.\n\"Harper!!!\" I shrieked, lunging at her, wanting nothing more than to tear her to shreds.\nThe commotion brought Nathan running.\nHe burst into the room, and when he saw me looking completely unhinged, his face darkened.\n\"Aubree! What the hell is wrong with you!\" He shoved me away, hard. The force sent me stumbling back into a cabinet.\nMy right hand slammed against the corner, and it quickly began to swell up.\nI cried out in pain.\nHarper immediately buried her face in Nathan's chest, sobbing. \"Nathan, I was just curious, I was only looking… and Aubree tried to attack me! I was so scared.\"\n\"When the bracelet broke, it cut my hand...\"\nNathan looked at her terrified act and then roared at me, \"You'd try to hurt Harper over a stupid, broken bracelet? Get out to the living room and kneel! Don't you dare get up without my permission!\"\nIn that moment, my heart died completely.\nI watched him shield the woman who had just destroyed my most precious possession, watched him blow on the nearly invisible scratch on her hand, and realized that even trying to defend myself would be pointless.\nI walked silently into the living room and knelt, my back ramrod straight.\nThe back of my right hand was swelling badly. I was terrified it was broken.\nMy hand... I still have to play the piano.\nI still have to chase my dream.\nThat night, as I was on the verge of passing out from kneeling, Nathan came and asked me if I had learned my lesson.\nI stared him down and said, \"I did nothing wrong.\"\nHe stared at me, his own expression turning ugly, as if he couldn't believe his docile little canary would suddenly defy him.\n\"Get out!\" he raged. \"Get the hell out of my house!\"\n\"And don't you dare come back until you've remembered your place!\"\nI looked at him and suddenly, I smiled.\nI stood up, grabbed the suitcase I'd already packed, and walked out the front door without a backward glance.\nA month later, I was on a plane, heading abroad.\nAnd Nathan finally remembered his little canary.\nHe ordered his men to find me, but all he got was a stammering report from his subordinate:\n\"Ms. Morgan... she's... she's gone!\""}],"recommend_text":"She was professional at being a canary. \nShe obeyed all his unreasonable demands, while secretly planning for leaving. \nWhen he finally remembered his canary, she was already on a stage he could never reach.","button_text":"","bottom_text":""} "2600:1f28:365:80b0:a9fc:cf4c:966:931d" {"clickToRead":"🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free 👇","continueReading":"CONTINUE READING","more":"More","open":"Open","bottomText":"The upcoming chapters are even more exciting! Click the download button below to read the entire book!👇👇👇"} {"id":1000202,"name":"Faking the Game of Love","start_time":1762344373,"end_time":1793880373,"status":1,"version_config":[{"name":"base","traffic_interval":0},{"name":"exp1","traffic_interval":100,"landing_page_id":456,"novel":{"novel_id":5662,"novel_key":"B4BvOffuNR","title":"Faking the Game of Love","cover":"https://static-v1.mydramawave.com/novel/landing-page/image-crawl/697d523d022552a5d87384ea3fe8023b.jpg?image_process=quality,85/resize,w_600/format,webp","intro":"I was Mr. Watkins's obedient kept woman—his treasured pet. Until I overheard him dismiss me as \"just a toy\" before his true love's return. But they didn't know—I was never in it for love. After four years, I've saved enough. It's time to leave and study abroad, finally free.","use_default_button_text":true,"lang":"en-US","style":200003,"chapter_count":9,"word_count":6304,"use_novel_desc":true,"chapter":{"chapter_key":"t9HFkqSaOW","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/1/en_1df9075d-daa8-42de-85f7-ff72f1ad9e37.txt","word_count":829,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false},"recommend_text":"She was professional at being a canary. \nShe obeyed all his unreasonable demands, while secretly planning for leaving. \nWhen he finally remembered his canary, she was already on a stage he could never reach.","use_default_bottom_text":true,"chapter_list":[{"chapter_key":"t9HFkqSaOW","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/1/en_1df9075d-daa8-42de-85f7-ff72f1ad9e37.txt","word_count":829,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I was the perfect trophy girlfriend.\nSweet, curvy, and playing the part of a brainless bombshell.\nThe ridiculously powerful Mr. Watkins absolutely doted on me.\nUntil the day I overheard him talking to his friend.\n\"Nathan, Harper Henderson is coming back to the States soon. What are you gonna do about that little canary of yours?\"\n\"A canary? She's just a toy to keep me entertained.\"\n\"Once Harper's back, she'll obviously have to be dealt with.\"\nThat's when it hit me. I wasn't just a trophy girlfriend; I was a stand-in.\nAnd the original was coming home.\nMy cushy life was about to end.\nBut what they didn't know was that I was only ever in it for the money, never for love.\nFour years as his canary, and I'd saved up a nice little nest egg.\nI could finally bail and go study abroad!\n...\nHis words replayed in my mind, a loop I couldn't stop.\nMy heart hammered against my ribs. So, four years of Nathan Watkins's affection had all been an act.\nTo them, I was nothing more than a plaything, something to be passed around and discarded at will.\nI ducked back into the walk-in closet.\nThe wall of Hermès bags greeted me, and a smile spread across my face.\n\"Time for my little investments to pay off!\"\nI immediately contacted a luxury reseller, ready to turn my wall of designer bags into cold, hard cash.\nI'm a piano major.\nI came from nothing, but I was talented enough to get a full scholarship to college.\nBut right after I started, my grandmother, the woman who raised me, got sick.\nI drowned in debt trying to save her.\nIn the end, she didn't make it.\nI was about to drop out to pay off the loans when I met Nathan Watkins.\nFor the money, I turned myself into his perfect idiot—beautiful, materialistic, and completely helpless without him.\nAnd just like that, four years went by...\nNow that I'd saved enough for tuition to study overseas, I could finally leave.\nI started making arrangements, my escape plan clicking into place.\nThat night, Nathan came home reeking of booze.\nIt was almost instinct. I immediately went soft, melting against him and cooing sweet nothings about his day.\nI'd been doing this for four years, playing the part of his dutiful, warm-bodied escape.\nNathan's eyes were hazy with drink. He pulled me into his arms, his command muffled. \"Kiss me.\"\nI obediently tilted my head up.\nBut then, he murmured another name, his voice full of a tenderness he never used with me: \"Harper.\"\nMy body went rigid for a second.\nI lowered my lashes to hide the storm in my eyes.\nFor four years, Nathan had always called me Harper.\nI'd corrected him once, telling him my name was Aubree.\nBut he just stroked my hair and said, \"Everyone else calls you Aubree. I'll call you Harper. It's our special name.\"\nBack then, I actually believed him. I thought it was his special way of showing he loved me.\nHow fucking ridiculous.\nA wave of nausea rose in my throat, but I dutifully returned his affection.\nUntil I was safely on a plane out of the country, I still had to keep my sugar daddy happy.\nThe night dissolved into a blur.\nThe next morning, I woke up with an aching back. Nathan was already standing by the bed, fixing his cuffs.\nUnlike before, his expression was distant and cold.\nThere was even a hint of disgust!\n*I rolled my eyes. As if I'm not the one who should be disgusted.*\nHe was fumbling with his tie.\nI got out of bed and reached out to fix it for him.\nBut he recoiled like he'd been shocked, taking a sharp step back.\n\"Don't touch me,\" he snapped.\nMy hand froze in midair.\nI put on a hurt expression, pouting coquettishly. \"Nathan, why are you being like this?\"\nHe seemed to realize he'd overreacted. His face was a blank mask as he pulled a black card from his wallet and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. \"For last night.\"\nIt had been a long time since he'd made our relationship so transactional.\nA strange, unidentifiable emotion flickered inside me, but I put on my best money-grubbing face and thanked him profusely.\nNathan just scoffed and turned to leave.\nHe tossed one last command over his shoulder: \"My driver is picking you up this afternoon. Be ready.\"\nI stared at the black card and sneered internally.\n*So cheap. A check would've been easier. Now I have to go through the trouble of cashing this out!*\nThe second Nathan was gone, I emailed the professor who'd been offering me a spot to study abroad and told him I was ready to enroll this fall.\nI got an enthusiastic reply almost immediately.\n*Three months,* I told myself.\n*I just have to put up with this for three more months, max.*"},{"chapter_key":"uxzMQL2aY9","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/2/en_9382a009-8534-4b81-89f6-25fbc812dc33.txt","word_count":788,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"That afternoon, Nathan took me on a shopping spree at the most exclusive mall.\r\nHe was in a rare good mood, having me try on the latest designer dresses and jewelry from the current season.\r\nHe sat on the couch, his expression serious, occasionally nodding or frowning as he judged whether the clothes and jewelry suited me.\r\nIn the end, he settled on a few outfits and a sapphire jewelry set.\r\nBut instead of giving them to me, he handed them to his assistant and told them to pack everything up.\r\nThe sales associates around us shot me looks of pity and contempt.\r\nIn that instant, I understood everything.\r\nHe was just using my body type to pick out an entire wardrobe for his old flame, who was about to return to the country.\r\nI was nothing more than his human mannequin.\r\nI lowered my eyes, hiding the sarcastic glint in them.\r\nI guess he figured I'd been cooperative enough that afternoon, because he casually picked out a necklace to give me.\r\nOf course, it was a whole lot cheaper than the pieces he'd chosen for Harper.\r\nBut my mind subconsciously started calculating how much I could get for it.\r\nBack at the villa, Nathan patted my head in a fake-affectionate gesture and told me, \"You must be tired.\"\r\n\"I have a dinner meeting tonight, so I won't be back.\"\r\nI put on the perfect look of disappointment and kissed his lips.\r\nThis time, he didn't push me away. He actually kissed me back.\r\n\"Buy whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to get. Just use the card.\"\r\n\"Be good.\"\r\nThe second he left, I furiously scrubbed at my lips, then opened up Amazon and went on a clicking spree.\r\n*That bastard. This is for my pain and suffering!*\r\nThen I checked my bank account balance again. Tallying up all the deposits, the total was already massive.\r\nI started preparing my visa application.\r\nThe days passed in a dull, unremarkable blur until, finally, it was the day before Harper was due to return.\r\nNathan came home early that day and ordered me to stand in the living room while he looked me up and down.\r\nThen, he made his announcement. \"Tomorrow, you're coming with me to pick up a friend.\"\r\n\"Who is it? You seem to be taking this so seriously, Nathan.\"\r\nI played dumb, the picture of innocence.\r\n\"It's not important.\"\r\nI knew exactly what he was up to.\r\nHe was going to use me, his convenient girlfriend, to get a rise out of Harper, to force him to confront his own feelings.\r\nI obediently agreed.\r\nSeeing how compliant I was, Nathan's paper-thin conscience must have started to bother him.\r\nAs if bestowing a great charity, he waved his hand, signed a check, and gave it to me. \"Go buy yourself something you like.\"\r\nI clutched the check, my fingertips trembling slightly, as if I were too overcome with sadness to control myself.\r\n*Inside, I was ecstatic. It's all going according to plan!*\r\nThe next day, Nathan took me to Harper's welcome-home party.\r\nI had gotten all dolled up for the occasion, so much so that even Nathan seemed stunned for a few seconds when he saw me.\r\nBut the moment he laid eyes on Harper, his attention was completely stolen away, and he didn't spare me another glance.\r\nI was like an invisible shadow, quietly trailing behind him.\r\nThe guests shot glances at me, their expressions ranging from pity to ridicule.\r\nI ignored them all.\r\nFinally, Harper's probing gaze landed on me. He asked in a soft voice, \"Nathan, who is this?\"\r\nNathan acted as if he'd just remembered I was there. He slung an arm around me, pulling me in close, and announced, each word sharp and clear, \"My girlfriend, Aubree Morgan.\"\r\nI played my part and snuggled into his embrace.\r\nBut I could clearly feel the hand he had wrapped around me trembling slightly.\r\nAnd Harper? Her eyes instantly misted over, but she still managed a graceful smile and made small talk with me.\r\n\"How come you never mentioned you were dating someone, Nathan?\"\r\n\"And you know, she really does look a little bit like me.\"\r\n\"But Nathan, didn't you used to hate this kind of... well, flashy style? You always said I looked best in simple colors. Looks like your taste has changed quite a bit over the years.\"\r\nWith just a few gentle words, she had branded me as both tacky and a substitute.\r\nI kept a faint smile plastered on my face, feeling absolutely nothing.\r\n*Just take the money and do the job,* I told myself. *I'm going to need a lot of it when I'm living overseas by myself.*"},{"chapter_key":"96KbvffwDz","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/3/en_a227a3cd-b685-4262-a70c-48fa12c29d3c.txt","word_count":644,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"After dinner, Nathan's posse insisted on hitting a bar, and I got dragged along.\r\n\r\nThe music in the bar was deafening. Nathan kept his arm wrapped around Harper in a corner, the two of them so close they were practically one person.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, I—his official girlfriend—might as well have been invisible.\r\n\r\nNathan's buddies were whispering to each other, their eyes darting over to me with mocking smirks.\r\n\r\n\"Aubree,\" one of them said, raising his glass. \"This one's for you! Thanks for taking such good care of our boy Nathan all these years.\"\r\n\r\nA sleazy-looking guy, noticing how little Nathan cared, sidled up to me with his drink. The implication in his voice was so blatant it was nauseating.\r\n\r\nI forced a sweet, innocent smile, though in my head I was calling him a douchebag.\r\n\r\nThen, I gently pushed his glass away. \"Mr. Brooks, I'm a total lightweight, I should probably take it easy...\"\r\n\r\n\"So what if you get drunk? Nathan's right here!\"\r\n\r\nAnother guy immediately chimed in, \"You think Nathan would actually give a damn?\"\r\n\r\nNathan, whose name had just been dropped, didn't even glance our way.\r\n\r\nHe and Harper were huddled close, whispering about something before they both started laughing quietly.\r\n\r\nIt was his silent approval.\r\n\r\nI guess I'm just a prop for him again, a way for Nathan to prove to Harper how unique and special she is.\r\n\r\nEmboldened by Nathan's indifference, his friends immediately swarmed me.\r\n\r\n\"Aubree, you really should know your place.\"\r\n\r\n\"Harper is a real pianist—she's won international awards! And you? What can you do besides drink and put on a fake smile?\"\r\n\r\n\"Oh! And spend money!\"\r\n\r\nThe air filled with their harsh laughter.\r\n\r\nFor a moment, everything felt surreal.\r\n\r\nSo that's why...\r\n\r\nI had played the piano for Nathan once.\r\n\r\nBut he had inexplicably flown into a rage and slapped me across the face.\r\n\r\nHe'd snarled at me, \"If you ever play again, I'll have someone break your hands.\"\r\n\r\nAfter that, everything related to the piano in our home—even the sheet music I'd had since I was a kid—was torn to shreds and thrown away.\r\n\r\nSo it was all because he thought my playing was an insult to his precious goddess...\r\n\r\nGlass after glass of alcohol was shoved into my hand. They surrounded me, forcing me to drink while they tore me apart with their comments.\r\n\r\nMy stomach was churning and my head was getting foggy.\r\n\r\nJust then, Mr. Brooks—the one who'd toasted me earlier—used the alcohol as an excuse to snake a hand around my waist. He pressed his body against me, his boozy breath hitting my face as he leaned in, his lips almost touching mine. \"Aubree, why don't you come have some real fun with me over there?\"\r\n\r\nI went completely stiff and instinctively tried to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.\r\n\r\nNathan, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, finally made a move.\r\n\r\nHe seized Mr. Brooks's wrist. \"Get the hell away from her.\"\r\n\r\nStartled, Mr. Brooks pulled back, muttering, \"Hey, it was just a joke. Why so serious, Nathan?\"\r\n\r\nA wave of suggestive, knowing laughter rippled through the group.\r\n\r\nHarper chose that exact moment to tug on Nathan's sleeve. \"Nathan, don't let a little thing like this ruin the mood.\"\r\n\r\n\"Mr. Brooks and Aubree are both just drunk, that's all.\"\r\n\r\nThe way she said it made it sound like I was the one hitting on him.\r\n\r\nSure enough, hearing that, Nathan's face grew even darker. He roughly grabbed my arm. \"We're going home!\"\r\n\r\nHis grip was painfully tight, and my stomach churned with a burning heat.\r\n\r\nIt's just a job. You're getting paid for this.\r\n\r\nI chanted the mantra over and over in my head.\r\n\r\nJust hang in there, Aubree. You'll be able to leave all of this behind for good soon enough."},{"chapter_key":"lyZZoKOT92","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/4/en_791dd939-8094-4703-8acb-4e51c8d8c2fb.txt","word_count":746,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"That night, Nathan was rough with me in bed, his movements violent, like he was trying to work out some kind of misplaced rage.\nI gritted my teeth and endured it, laughing coldly to myself. I just chalked it up to being bitten by a dog one last time.\nWhen I woke up, he was already gone.\nI didn't see Nathan for the entire next week.\nAnd I was more than happy to have the place to myself.\nWith Nathan gone, I had more freedom to get my things ready for going abroad.\nWhen Nathan finally came back, he brought Harper with him.\nShe surveyed the villa's decor with the air of a woman who owned the place.\nThen, with a wave of her hand, she had the staff carry in a piano.\nI'd once been nearly thrown out of the house by Nathan just for touching the piano.\nBut now, here was Harper, waltzing in with a piano of her own, and Nathan just watched her, his eyes full of adoration.\nDisgusting.\n\"Oh, Aubree, you're home?\"\nShe walked over to the piano and casually tapped a few keys. \"I heard you used to play piano, too?\"\n\"We should play together sometime.\"\nNathan let out a scornful laugh from behind her. \"She's a total amateur,\" he said contemptuously. \"She can't hold a candle to you.\"\nI lowered my eyes, my hand subconsciously clenching into a fist, but I kept a meek smile plastered on my face. \"That's right. I just dabbled a bit.\"\nNathan didn't let Harper move into the master bedroom. She was clearly annoyed, but she accepted the arrangement.\nThe next afternoon, I went back to my room to get something. The moment I pushed the door open, I saw Harper standing there, holding my bracelet!\nIt was the only thing my grandmother had left me.\nA tremor ran through me. \"What are you doing?\" I yelled.\nHearing me, she turned around slowly, a smug, playful smile on her face. Then, she loosened her fingers—\nand the bracelet fell to the floor.\nThe sharp crack of it shattering sounded like a thunderclap. I froze, and tears instantly started streaming down my face.\n\"Harper!!!\" I shrieked, lunging at her, wanting nothing more than to tear her to shreds.\nThe commotion brought Nathan running.\nHe burst into the room, and when he saw me looking completely unhinged, his face darkened.\n\"Aubree! What the hell is wrong with you!\" He shoved me away, hard. The force sent me stumbling back into a cabinet.\nMy right hand slammed against the corner, and it quickly began to swell up.\nI cried out in pain.\nHarper immediately buried her face in Nathan's chest, sobbing. \"Nathan, I was just curious, I was only looking… and Aubree tried to attack me! I was so scared.\"\n\"When the bracelet broke, it cut my hand...\"\nNathan looked at her terrified act and then roared at me, \"You'd try to hurt Harper over a stupid, broken bracelet? Get out to the living room and kneel! Don't you dare get up without my permission!\"\nIn that moment, my heart died completely.\nI watched him shield the woman who had just destroyed my most precious possession, watched him blow on the nearly invisible scratch on her hand, and realized that even trying to defend myself would be pointless.\nI walked silently into the living room and knelt, my back ramrod straight.\nThe back of my right hand was swelling badly. I was terrified it was broken.\nMy hand... I still have to play the piano.\nI still have to chase my dream.\nThat night, as I was on the verge of passing out from kneeling, Nathan came and asked me if I had learned my lesson.\nI stared him down and said, \"I did nothing wrong.\"\nHe stared at me, his own expression turning ugly, as if he couldn't believe his docile little canary would suddenly defy him.\n\"Get out!\" he raged. \"Get the hell out of my house!\"\n\"And don't you dare come back until you've remembered your place!\"\nI looked at him and suddenly, I smiled.\nI stood up, grabbed the suitcase I'd already packed, and walked out the front door without a backward glance.\nA month later, I was on a plane, heading abroad.\nAnd Nathan finally remembered his little canary.\nHe ordered his men to find me, but all he got was a stammering report from his subordinate:\n\"Ms. Morgan... she's... she's gone!\""}]}}]} {"name":"exp1","traffic_interval":100,"landing_page_id":456,"novel":{"novel_id":5662,"novel_key":"B4BvOffuNR","title":"Faking the Game of Love","cover":"https://static-v1.mydramawave.com/novel/landing-page/image-crawl/697d523d022552a5d87384ea3fe8023b.jpg?image_process=quality,85/resize,w_600/format,webp","intro":"I was Mr. Watkins's obedient kept woman—his treasured pet. Until I overheard him dismiss me as \"just a toy\" before his true love's return. But they didn't know—I was never in it for love. After four years, I've saved enough. It's time to leave and study abroad, finally free.","use_default_button_text":true,"lang":"en-US","style":200003,"chapter_count":9,"word_count":6304,"use_novel_desc":true,"chapter":{"chapter_key":"t9HFkqSaOW","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/1/en_1df9075d-daa8-42de-85f7-ff72f1ad9e37.txt","word_count":829,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false},"recommend_text":"She was professional at being a canary. \nShe obeyed all his unreasonable demands, while secretly planning for leaving. \nWhen he finally remembered his canary, she was already on a stage he could never reach.","use_default_bottom_text":true,"chapter_list":[{"chapter_key":"t9HFkqSaOW","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/1/en_1df9075d-daa8-42de-85f7-ff72f1ad9e37.txt","word_count":829,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I was the perfect trophy girlfriend.\nSweet, curvy, and playing the part of a brainless bombshell.\nThe ridiculously powerful Mr. Watkins absolutely doted on me.\nUntil the day I overheard him talking to his friend.\n\"Nathan, Harper Henderson is coming back to the States soon. What are you gonna do about that little canary of yours?\"\n\"A canary? She's just a toy to keep me entertained.\"\n\"Once Harper's back, she'll obviously have to be dealt with.\"\nThat's when it hit me. I wasn't just a trophy girlfriend; I was a stand-in.\nAnd the original was coming home.\nMy cushy life was about to end.\nBut what they didn't know was that I was only ever in it for the money, never for love.\nFour years as his canary, and I'd saved up a nice little nest egg.\nI could finally bail and go study abroad!\n...\nHis words replayed in my mind, a loop I couldn't stop.\nMy heart hammered against my ribs. So, four years of Nathan Watkins's affection had all been an act.\nTo them, I was nothing more than a plaything, something to be passed around and discarded at will.\nI ducked back into the walk-in closet.\nThe wall of Hermès bags greeted me, and a smile spread across my face.\n\"Time for my little investments to pay off!\"\nI immediately contacted a luxury reseller, ready to turn my wall of designer bags into cold, hard cash.\nI'm a piano major.\nI came from nothing, but I was talented enough to get a full scholarship to college.\nBut right after I started, my grandmother, the woman who raised me, got sick.\nI drowned in debt trying to save her.\nIn the end, she didn't make it.\nI was about to drop out to pay off the loans when I met Nathan Watkins.\nFor the money, I turned myself into his perfect idiot—beautiful, materialistic, and completely helpless without him.\nAnd just like that, four years went by...\nNow that I'd saved enough for tuition to study overseas, I could finally leave.\nI started making arrangements, my escape plan clicking into place.\nThat night, Nathan came home reeking of booze.\nIt was almost instinct. I immediately went soft, melting against him and cooing sweet nothings about his day.\nI'd been doing this for four years, playing the part of his dutiful, warm-bodied escape.\nNathan's eyes were hazy with drink. He pulled me into his arms, his command muffled. \"Kiss me.\"\nI obediently tilted my head up.\nBut then, he murmured another name, his voice full of a tenderness he never used with me: \"Harper.\"\nMy body went rigid for a second.\nI lowered my lashes to hide the storm in my eyes.\nFor four years, Nathan had always called me Harper.\nI'd corrected him once, telling him my name was Aubree.\nBut he just stroked my hair and said, \"Everyone else calls you Aubree. I'll call you Harper. It's our special name.\"\nBack then, I actually believed him. I thought it was his special way of showing he loved me.\nHow fucking ridiculous.\nA wave of nausea rose in my throat, but I dutifully returned his affection.\nUntil I was safely on a plane out of the country, I still had to keep my sugar daddy happy.\nThe night dissolved into a blur.\nThe next morning, I woke up with an aching back. Nathan was already standing by the bed, fixing his cuffs.\nUnlike before, his expression was distant and cold.\nThere was even a hint of disgust!\n*I rolled my eyes. As if I'm not the one who should be disgusted.*\nHe was fumbling with his tie.\nI got out of bed and reached out to fix it for him.\nBut he recoiled like he'd been shocked, taking a sharp step back.\n\"Don't touch me,\" he snapped.\nMy hand froze in midair.\nI put on a hurt expression, pouting coquettishly. \"Nathan, why are you being like this?\"\nHe seemed to realize he'd overreacted. His face was a blank mask as he pulled a black card from his wallet and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. \"For last night.\"\nIt had been a long time since he'd made our relationship so transactional.\nA strange, unidentifiable emotion flickered inside me, but I put on my best money-grubbing face and thanked him profusely.\nNathan just scoffed and turned to leave.\nHe tossed one last command over his shoulder: \"My driver is picking you up this afternoon. Be ready.\"\nI stared at the black card and sneered internally.\n*So cheap. A check would've been easier. Now I have to go through the trouble of cashing this out!*\nThe second Nathan was gone, I emailed the professor who'd been offering me a spot to study abroad and told him I was ready to enroll this fall.\nI got an enthusiastic reply almost immediately.\n*Three months,* I told myself.\n*I just have to put up with this for three more months, max.*"},{"chapter_key":"uxzMQL2aY9","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/2/en_9382a009-8534-4b81-89f6-25fbc812dc33.txt","word_count":788,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"That afternoon, Nathan took me on a shopping spree at the most exclusive mall.\r\nHe was in a rare good mood, having me try on the latest designer dresses and jewelry from the current season.\r\nHe sat on the couch, his expression serious, occasionally nodding or frowning as he judged whether the clothes and jewelry suited me.\r\nIn the end, he settled on a few outfits and a sapphire jewelry set.\r\nBut instead of giving them to me, he handed them to his assistant and told them to pack everything up.\r\nThe sales associates around us shot me looks of pity and contempt.\r\nIn that instant, I understood everything.\r\nHe was just using my body type to pick out an entire wardrobe for his old flame, who was about to return to the country.\r\nI was nothing more than his human mannequin.\r\nI lowered my eyes, hiding the sarcastic glint in them.\r\nI guess he figured I'd been cooperative enough that afternoon, because he casually picked out a necklace to give me.\r\nOf course, it was a whole lot cheaper than the pieces he'd chosen for Harper.\r\nBut my mind subconsciously started calculating how much I could get for it.\r\nBack at the villa, Nathan patted my head in a fake-affectionate gesture and told me, \"You must be tired.\"\r\n\"I have a dinner meeting tonight, so I won't be back.\"\r\nI put on the perfect look of disappointment and kissed his lips.\r\nThis time, he didn't push me away. He actually kissed me back.\r\n\"Buy whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to get. Just use the card.\"\r\n\"Be good.\"\r\nThe second he left, I furiously scrubbed at my lips, then opened up Amazon and went on a clicking spree.\r\n*That bastard. This is for my pain and suffering!*\r\nThen I checked my bank account balance again. Tallying up all the deposits, the total was already massive.\r\nI started preparing my visa application.\r\nThe days passed in a dull, unremarkable blur until, finally, it was the day before Harper was due to return.\r\nNathan came home early that day and ordered me to stand in the living room while he looked me up and down.\r\nThen, he made his announcement. \"Tomorrow, you're coming with me to pick up a friend.\"\r\n\"Who is it? You seem to be taking this so seriously, Nathan.\"\r\nI played dumb, the picture of innocence.\r\n\"It's not important.\"\r\nI knew exactly what he was up to.\r\nHe was going to use me, his convenient girlfriend, to get a rise out of Harper, to force him to confront his own feelings.\r\nI obediently agreed.\r\nSeeing how compliant I was, Nathan's paper-thin conscience must have started to bother him.\r\nAs if bestowing a great charity, he waved his hand, signed a check, and gave it to me. \"Go buy yourself something you like.\"\r\nI clutched the check, my fingertips trembling slightly, as if I were too overcome with sadness to control myself.\r\n*Inside, I was ecstatic. It's all going according to plan!*\r\nThe next day, Nathan took me to Harper's welcome-home party.\r\nI had gotten all dolled up for the occasion, so much so that even Nathan seemed stunned for a few seconds when he saw me.\r\nBut the moment he laid eyes on Harper, his attention was completely stolen away, and he didn't spare me another glance.\r\nI was like an invisible shadow, quietly trailing behind him.\r\nThe guests shot glances at me, their expressions ranging from pity to ridicule.\r\nI ignored them all.\r\nFinally, Harper's probing gaze landed on me. He asked in a soft voice, \"Nathan, who is this?\"\r\nNathan acted as if he'd just remembered I was there. He slung an arm around me, pulling me in close, and announced, each word sharp and clear, \"My girlfriend, Aubree Morgan.\"\r\nI played my part and snuggled into his embrace.\r\nBut I could clearly feel the hand he had wrapped around me trembling slightly.\r\nAnd Harper? Her eyes instantly misted over, but she still managed a graceful smile and made small talk with me.\r\n\"How come you never mentioned you were dating someone, Nathan?\"\r\n\"And you know, she really does look a little bit like me.\"\r\n\"But Nathan, didn't you used to hate this kind of... well, flashy style? You always said I looked best in simple colors. Looks like your taste has changed quite a bit over the years.\"\r\nWith just a few gentle words, she had branded me as both tacky and a substitute.\r\nI kept a faint smile plastered on my face, feeling absolutely nothing.\r\n*Just take the money and do the job,* I told myself. *I'm going to need a lot of it when I'm living overseas by myself.*"},{"chapter_key":"96KbvffwDz","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/3/en_a227a3cd-b685-4262-a70c-48fa12c29d3c.txt","word_count":644,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"After dinner, Nathan's posse insisted on hitting a bar, and I got dragged along.\r\n\r\nThe music in the bar was deafening. Nathan kept his arm wrapped around Harper in a corner, the two of them so close they were practically one person.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, I—his official girlfriend—might as well have been invisible.\r\n\r\nNathan's buddies were whispering to each other, their eyes darting over to me with mocking smirks.\r\n\r\n\"Aubree,\" one of them said, raising his glass. \"This one's for you! Thanks for taking such good care of our boy Nathan all these years.\"\r\n\r\nA sleazy-looking guy, noticing how little Nathan cared, sidled up to me with his drink. The implication in his voice was so blatant it was nauseating.\r\n\r\nI forced a sweet, innocent smile, though in my head I was calling him a douchebag.\r\n\r\nThen, I gently pushed his glass away. \"Mr. Brooks, I'm a total lightweight, I should probably take it easy...\"\r\n\r\n\"So what if you get drunk? Nathan's right here!\"\r\n\r\nAnother guy immediately chimed in, \"You think Nathan would actually give a damn?\"\r\n\r\nNathan, whose name had just been dropped, didn't even glance our way.\r\n\r\nHe and Harper were huddled close, whispering about something before they both started laughing quietly.\r\n\r\nIt was his silent approval.\r\n\r\nI guess I'm just a prop for him again, a way for Nathan to prove to Harper how unique and special she is.\r\n\r\nEmboldened by Nathan's indifference, his friends immediately swarmed me.\r\n\r\n\"Aubree, you really should know your place.\"\r\n\r\n\"Harper is a real pianist—she's won international awards! And you? What can you do besides drink and put on a fake smile?\"\r\n\r\n\"Oh! And spend money!\"\r\n\r\nThe air filled with their harsh laughter.\r\n\r\nFor a moment, everything felt surreal.\r\n\r\nSo that's why...\r\n\r\nI had played the piano for Nathan once.\r\n\r\nBut he had inexplicably flown into a rage and slapped me across the face.\r\n\r\nHe'd snarled at me, \"If you ever play again, I'll have someone break your hands.\"\r\n\r\nAfter that, everything related to the piano in our home—even the sheet music I'd had since I was a kid—was torn to shreds and thrown away.\r\n\r\nSo it was all because he thought my playing was an insult to his precious goddess...\r\n\r\nGlass after glass of alcohol was shoved into my hand. They surrounded me, forcing me to drink while they tore me apart with their comments.\r\n\r\nMy stomach was churning and my head was getting foggy.\r\n\r\nJust then, Mr. Brooks—the one who'd toasted me earlier—used the alcohol as an excuse to snake a hand around my waist. He pressed his body against me, his boozy breath hitting my face as he leaned in, his lips almost touching mine. \"Aubree, why don't you come have some real fun with me over there?\"\r\n\r\nI went completely stiff and instinctively tried to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.\r\n\r\nNathan, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, finally made a move.\r\n\r\nHe seized Mr. Brooks's wrist. \"Get the hell away from her.\"\r\n\r\nStartled, Mr. Brooks pulled back, muttering, \"Hey, it was just a joke. Why so serious, Nathan?\"\r\n\r\nA wave of suggestive, knowing laughter rippled through the group.\r\n\r\nHarper chose that exact moment to tug on Nathan's sleeve. \"Nathan, don't let a little thing like this ruin the mood.\"\r\n\r\n\"Mr. Brooks and Aubree are both just drunk, that's all.\"\r\n\r\nThe way she said it made it sound like I was the one hitting on him.\r\n\r\nSure enough, hearing that, Nathan's face grew even darker. He roughly grabbed my arm. \"We're going home!\"\r\n\r\nHis grip was painfully tight, and my stomach churned with a burning heat.\r\n\r\nIt's just a job. You're getting paid for this.\r\n\r\nI chanted the mantra over and over in my head.\r\n\r\nJust hang in there, Aubree. You'll be able to leave all of this behind for good soon enough."},{"chapter_key":"lyZZoKOT92","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26043/4/en_791dd939-8094-4703-8acb-4e51c8d8c2fb.txt","word_count":746,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"That night, Nathan was rough with me in bed, his movements violent, like he was trying to work out some kind of misplaced rage.\nI gritted my teeth and endured it, laughing coldly to myself. I just chalked it up to being bitten by a dog one last time.\nWhen I woke up, he was already gone.\nI didn't see Nathan for the entire next week.\nAnd I was more than happy to have the place to myself.\nWith Nathan gone, I had more freedom to get my things ready for going abroad.\nWhen Nathan finally came back, he brought Harper with him.\nShe surveyed the villa's decor with the air of a woman who owned the place.\nThen, with a wave of her hand, she had the staff carry in a piano.\nI'd once been nearly thrown out of the house by Nathan just for touching the piano.\nBut now, here was Harper, waltzing in with a piano of her own, and Nathan just watched her, his eyes full of adoration.\nDisgusting.\n\"Oh, Aubree, you're home?\"\nShe walked over to the piano and casually tapped a few keys. \"I heard you used to play piano, too?\"\n\"We should play together sometime.\"\nNathan let out a scornful laugh from behind her. \"She's a total amateur,\" he said contemptuously. \"She can't hold a candle to you.\"\nI lowered my eyes, my hand subconsciously clenching into a fist, but I kept a meek smile plastered on my face. \"That's right. I just dabbled a bit.\"\nNathan didn't let Harper move into the master bedroom. She was clearly annoyed, but she accepted the arrangement.\nThe next afternoon, I went back to my room to get something. The moment I pushed the door open, I saw Harper standing there, holding my bracelet!\nIt was the only thing my grandmother had left me.\nA tremor ran through me. \"What are you doing?\" I yelled.\nHearing me, she turned around slowly, a smug, playful smile on her face. Then, she loosened her fingers—\nand the bracelet fell to the floor.\nThe sharp crack of it shattering sounded like a thunderclap. I froze, and tears instantly started streaming down my face.\n\"Harper!!!\" I shrieked, lunging at her, wanting nothing more than to tear her to shreds.\nThe commotion brought Nathan running.\nHe burst into the room, and when he saw me looking completely unhinged, his face darkened.\n\"Aubree! What the hell is wrong with you!\" He shoved me away, hard. The force sent me stumbling back into a cabinet.\nMy right hand slammed against the corner, and it quickly began to swell up.\nI cried out in pain.\nHarper immediately buried her face in Nathan's chest, sobbing. \"Nathan, I was just curious, I was only looking… and Aubree tried to attack me! I was so scared.\"\n\"When the bracelet broke, it cut my hand...\"\nNathan looked at her terrified act and then roared at me, \"You'd try to hurt Harper over a stupid, broken bracelet? Get out to the living room and kneel! Don't you dare get up without my permission!\"\nIn that moment, my heart died completely.\nI watched him shield the woman who had just destroyed my most precious possession, watched him blow on the nearly invisible scratch on her hand, and realized that even trying to defend myself would be pointless.\nI walked silently into the living room and knelt, my back ramrod straight.\nThe back of my right hand was swelling badly. I was terrified it was broken.\nMy hand... I still have to play the piano.\nI still have to chase my dream.\nThat night, as I was on the verge of passing out from kneeling, Nathan came and asked me if I had learned my lesson.\nI stared him down and said, \"I did nothing wrong.\"\nHe stared at me, his own expression turning ugly, as if he couldn't believe his docile little canary would suddenly defy him.\n\"Get out!\" he raged. \"Get the hell out of my house!\"\n\"And don't you dare come back until you've remembered your place!\"\nI looked at him and suddenly, I smiled.\nI stood up, grabbed the suitcase I'd already packed, and walked out the front door without a backward glance.\nA month later, I was on a plane, heading abroad.\nAnd Nathan finally remembered his little canary.\nHe ordered his men to find me, but all he got was a stammering report from his subordinate:\n\"Ms. Morgan... she's... she's gone!\""}]}} 200003
She was professional at being a canary.
She obeyed all his unreasonable demands, while secretly planning for leaving.
When he finally remembered his canary, she was already on a stage he could never reach.