Chapter 1

Though not conventionally beautiful, Lily is often characterized as elegant and artistic. Coming from a formerly affluent family, she possesses proficiency in various art forms.

Lily and Alex's union was more of a business arrangement, orchestrated by their parents who set them up on a blind date. Recognizing a mutually beneficial partnership, they decided to get married. Right from the start, Lily embraced her role as a substitute, meticulously upholding the persona of Alex's ex-girlfriend to ensure his happiness.

Lily does like Alex, and it's not just because he's wealthy and handsome. She's drawn to him because he's inherently a very diligent and meticulous person, even though he tends to be quite cold towards her.

They knew each other since childhood but weren't very close. While browsing social media one day, Lily stumbled upon photos of Alex's ex-girlfriend, who bore a striking resemblance to herself but was more beautiful than Lily. However, she learned that the ex-girlfriend had returned to Europe to inherit her family business and had not come back. Lily, believing that she was merely a substitute for Alex's ex-girlfriend, began to mimic her behavior and habits based on what she observed on social media.

For two years, Lily devoted herself to this role, meticulously studying and replicating the habits and preferences of Alex's former lover. However, as time passed, Lily found herself growing weary of the constant effort required to maintain this facade. Lily's self-confidence has been lacking, once fearful of losing her exceptional husband, but now she planned to take a break from her act.

Observing the struggles of other substitutes, Lily felt compelled to share her experience and knowledge to help them. She decided to create a comprehensive online guide on how to be a successful substitute spouse, detailing the strategies and techniques she had perfected over the years.

Lily adopted a new virtual persona and gained popularity on TikTok by sharing her insights on being a love substitute. One day, she noticed a fan willing to pay $10,000 for private lessons. The fan expressed admiration for her expertise and requested her guidance on how to become an excellent substitute. Intrigued by the request, Lily agreed to take this stranger on as a student.

As they began to communicate, Lily asked for the stranger's contact information to facilitate their lessons. When the stranger sent over their phone number, Lily was struck by a sense of familiarity. Upon closer inspection, she realized with shock that the number belonged to none other than her husband, Alex.

Lily stared at her phone in disbelief. A whirlwind of emotions swept through her as she tried to make sense of the situation. Why would Alex, a successful and accomplished man, seek guidance on becoming a substitute? The thought struck her like a bolt of lightning—could it be that he regretted marrying her, a mere substitute for his first love?

Determined to uncover the truth and protect her position, Lily resolved to investigate the matter further. She created a fake account, posing as an expert in the art of substitution, and began to communicate with Alex under this guise. As she delved deeper into the mystery, Lily knew that she would have to tread carefully, navigating the complex web of emotions and secrets that surrounded their marriage.