The guards dragged me out of the mansion like I was a filthy intruder. My screams echoed through the grand halls, but my parents didn’t flinch.

"Please!" I begged, struggling against their grip. "Just listen to me! I am your daughter!"

But my mother’s cold, piercing gaze cut through me like a blade. "My daughter is already home," she said icily, her voice devoid of any warmth.

I thrashed harder. "That’s not me! That’s an impostor!"

My father only waved his hand dismissively. "Get rid of her."

My blood turned ice-cold at the implication.

The guards tightened their grip, their hands reaching for their weapons. They were going to kill me. My own flesh and blood had decided I was better off dead than listening to my truth.

Just as one of the guards cocked his gun, a gunshot rang out.

The guard beside me collapsed with a grunt, and before the others could react, Dennis emerged from the darkness, his gun smoking.

"Let her go," he commanded, his voice sharp and unwavering.

The remaining guards hesitated for a fraction of a second—just enough time for Dennis to shoot another one in the leg. Chaos erupted as gunfire filled the air, and I ducked for cover, my heart pounding like a war drum.

Dennis grabbed my wrist. "Run!"

I didn’t need to be told twice.

That night, I stood on the balcony of Dennis’s penthouse, staring at the vast ocean that stretched beyond the cliffs. The salty breeze kissed my skin, but it did nothing to soothe the storm raging inside me.

Everything I thought I knew was a lie.

My parents had replaced me.

An impostor had stolen my life.

And worst of all—no one even questioned it.

We drove to his small apartment. He cooked me some foods from which is I didn't know why.

"Eat something," Dennis said from behind me, setting a plate of untouched food on the table. His voice was softer now, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond.

I hadn’t eaten properly in days. My appetite had vanished, replaced by a heavy emptiness in my chest. Every night, I cried myself to sleep, mourning the life that had been ripped away from me.

Then, one evening, Dennis handed me a folder.

I opened it with trembling hands, my breath hitching as I scanned the documents inside. Medical reports. DNA tests. Surveillance footage.

After the bombing… someone had copied my face.

It wasn’t just surgery—it was a full-blown identity thieves. They were a lot. That's why my parents thought I was one of them. Now, my body double had taken over my role so seamlessly that even my skeptical, manipulative parents hadn’t doubted it for a second.

That terrified me more than anything.

"Who would go this far?" I whispered, gripping the papers so tightly they crumpled in my hands.

Dennis hesitated before answering. "Your parents wanted you married. Walter Geoffe Montero wanted you in his grasp. You were actually destined to marry him. And now that you were gone, someone had to take your place."

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. "But why? Why did Walter… do this to me?"

Dennis exhaled, leaning against the railing. "Because you were supposed to be his wife."

The words sent a chill down my spine.

"What?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

"You were engaged to Walter," Dennis admitted, his expression unreadable. "That was the blind wedding your parents arranged. But after the bombing, he needed proof that you were really his. That’s why he impregnated you."

My stomach turned violently. I placed a hand over my belly, finally understanding.

Walter did this to me.

I staggered backward, nausea rising in my throat.

"He—he got me pregnant just to prove I was the real Georgia?" My voice cracked.

Dennis didn’t answer right away. His silence was all the confirmation I needed.

Disgust. Horror. Betrayal. It all crashed down on me at once. I felt sick.

I should have been relieved. I finally knew the truth. But instead, it only made me feel more trapped.

Because now… I had no way out.

As weeks passed, my reality became even deadlier.

Walter’s men were hunting us.

Every time we changed locations, they found us again. Assassins lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Dennis and I lived on the brink of death, forced to move constantly, never knowing if we’d wake up to bullets flying through the windows.

One night, while we were hiding in an abandoned villa, Dennis confessed something that shattered the last bit of trust I had left.

"I used to work for Walter," he said, staring into the flickering candlelight.

My breath hitched. "What?"

He met my gaze, his expression unreadable. "I was one of his men."

The words crashed into me like a tidal wave. My mind reeled.

"You—" My voice wavered. "Then why did you save me? Why betray him?"

Dennis looked away, gripping his glass so tightly I thought it would shatter. "Because I found out what he did to you. And I couldn’t let it happen."

Confusion swallowed me whole.

It didn’t make any sense.

Dennis had no reason to save me. No reason to go against one of the most powerful men in the country just to help me escape.

So why?

Why would he risk his life for someone like me?

I wanted to ask. I wanted to know.

But part of me was too afraid of the answer

Months later, I gave birth to a baby boy.

The moment I held him in my arms, all the pain, fear, and exhaustion melted away. He was beautiful. Tiny. Fragile. He had my nose and soft brown hair, but his eyes…

His eyes weren’t mine.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile as Dennis sat beside me, gazing down at the baby.

"He’s perfect," Dennis whispered, brushing his finger against the infant’s cheek.

And for a while, I let myself believe it. I let myself believe I was safe. That I could raise my son away from the chaos. That Dennis was really the father figure my child needed.

But then—everything shattered.

One evening, while cradling my son—Lewis in my arms, I overheard a hushed conversation from the other room.

Dennis was talking to someone over the phone. It was on a loud speaker so I heard it easily.

Curious, I crept closer, careful not to make a sound.

Then I heard a voice that made my blood run cold.

Dennis called her ‘Shania'. 

She told him about the updates and information about the W Beauty Cosmetics. So for sure she was the one I saw that day.

And then I heard Dennis, “Your twin sister is living happily here with me..."

Twin sister? DAMN!

The sister I never even knew I had. The same woman who stole my identity and took my place in my family.

I covered my mouth, heart slamming against my ribs as I listened.

"You don’t have to worry," Dennis was saying. "She’ll never find out."

There was a pause. Then Shania’s voice, sharp and filled with authority: "Are you sure?"

Dennis exhaled. "Yes. She’ll never know that I’m the one who got her pregnant."

My entire world collapsed.

“D-Dennis, w-why?" I whispered to myself.

Is that the reason why he saved me? FUCK!

I swallowed my fury.

Dennis had played me for a fool, but I refused to let him see my anger. Instead, I smiled, laughed, and pretended nothing had changed. I studied his routine, memorized his schedules, and mapped out every blind spot in the security system.

It took weeks. Weeks of silent suffering. Weeks of pretending.

But when the night finally arrived, I didn't hesitate.

I clutched Lewis tightly against my chest, heart hammering as I slipped through the shadows. The cool night air bit at my skin, but I ignored it.

Behind me, alarms blared. Guards shouted.

I ran.

I didn’t stop, not even when my lungs burned, not even when my legs threatened to give out. I had to keep going.

By the time the sun rose, my strength had nearly abandoned me. I collapsed beneath an old, abandoned bridge, cradling Lewis against me.

We had nowhere to go. No food. No water. No hope.

And then—

"Georgia?"

The deep, familiar voice sent a shiver down my spine. I turned, barely able to make out the figure standing before me.

Arceus Montenegro.

My ex-boyfriend.

The man I left behind.

The man I thought I’d never see again after my parents forced us to broke each other's heart when they found out that he was just a bartender.

Arceus brought me to his home, a secluded estate hidden away from prying eyes. He didn't bombard me with questions, didn't demand answers. Instead, he simply handed me a plate of food and watched as I ate in silence.

But I knew the questions would come.

And they did.

“Why are there people out there with your face, Georgia?" His voice was calm, but his dark eyes burned with curiosity.

I hesitated. "I don’t know."

It was the truth—or at least part of it.

I saw the news about it, they titled it as ‘Georgia Wilson's Impostors Lookalike!'. I even saw interviews about some of them and then yeah, they want to steal my career.

FUCK THEM!

For weeks, I lived under his protection, slowly regaining my strength. Arceus never pushed me. Never demanded anything.

And despite everything, I felt safe.

Years passed.

Lewis grew into a bright, energetic toddler, filling the house with laughter. Arceus treated him as his own, his presence a comforting constant in our lives. 

That... that make me fall for him again.

One day, we made a choice.

I changed my son’s surname to Montenegro.

If the world wanted to believe he was Arceus’s son, I would let them. It was better this way.

But I never said to him that he was Dennis's son for our safety. I have no idea if Arceus knew about him but I don't care. I needed to protect him just like how he used to protect us.

"I want you to come with me," Arceus said one evening, handing me an invitation.

It was for a grand investor's event.

I blinked at him in shock. "Why?"

"Because I want the world to know you're mine. I'm gonna marry you real soon." His expression was unreadable, but his words sent a shiver through me.

The event was overwhelming—lavish gowns, expensive suits, the weight of power in the air. But nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.

A voice, sharp and mocking, whispered near my ear.

"Finally, hun. We meet again."

I stiffened. Dennis.

He smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I assume you've figured it all out by now?" he murmured, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Clever girl."

Rage burned through me.

I wanted to scream, to throw my drink in his face, to wipe that smirk off his lips.

But I didn’t.

I just smiled. Smiled like I wasn’t plotting his downfall.

Days later, on Lewis’s birthday, Arceus proposed.

The room erupted in cheers. My son giggled in my arms, oblivious to the storm raging within me.

I should have hesitated.

I should have questioned everything.

But when I looked at Arceus—the man who had given me shelter, protection, love—I said yes. This was our plan back then before everything turned into chaos.

For the first time in years, I felt like I could finally move on.

But fate had other plans.

Days later, I went to file for a Cenomar. 

I nearly dropped the document when I saw the result.

I WAS ALREADY MARRIED.

My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the paper, disbelief washing over me in waves.

This had to be a mistake.

Desperate, I spent hours talking to the person in charge, hoping—praying—that there was some kind of error.

But there wasn’t.

The marriage was real. Legally binding.

And my husband? Fuck, it's Walter. What they're telling is a damn truth.

Exhausted and defeated, I dragged myself to the parking lot. My mind was spinning, heart pounding with unanswered questions.

I reached for my car door, frowning. Hadn’t I locked this?

Something wasn’t right.

Before I could react, a strong hand clamped over my mouth.

“Hmpp..." I moan.

A sickly sweet scent filled my lungs.

I struggled, panic clawing at my chest, but my strength faded quickly.

The world around me blurred. My vision darkened.

The last thing I heard was the sound of my own heartbeat slowing.

Then—nothing.

I woke up to darkness.

A single, flickering bulb cast eerie shadows across the damp, concrete walls. My head throbbed, my wrists ached from the cold steel of handcuffs. I struggled, pulling against the restraints, but it was useless.

Then the door creaked open.

Shania.

She walked in with slow, deliberate steps, her heels clicking against the floor. The moment our eyes met, she smirked.

“You really don’t recognize me, do you?” she sneered, arms crossed over her chest.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t have to.

“I’m your twin, Georgia,” she finally admitted, her voice dripping with resentment. “Your long-lost sister.”

Shock paralyzed me.

I searched her face for any sign of a lie, but the anger in her eyes was too raw, too real. That's where I realized, she was the person!

“All my life, I was nothing compared to you,” she continued, her lips curling into a bitter smile. “I had nothing. No money, no love, no name. And every damn time I opened a magazine, there you were. The perfect Georgia Wilson.”

Her fingers curled into fists.

“They laughed at me. Bullied me. Treated me like trash,” she whispered, voice shaking with rage. “So when that bomb went off, I took my chance. I became you. Smart, right? I study everything— your style, walk, and the way how you present yourself. I just watched everything on interviews."

I clenched my jaw, my nails digging into my palms.

"You're lying," I spat.

She laughed—a cruel, mocking sound.

"Oh, sweetheart, I’m not." She stepped closer, her perfume choking the air between us. “And guess what? Mom and Dad? They’re dead because of accident. Of course, I infiltrated their last will."

My stomach dropped.

No.

That couldn’t be true.

“Which means…” She leaned in, her breath warm against my cheek. “I own W Beauty Cosmetics now.”

I barely had time to process her words before pain exploded through my ribs.

A hard kick. Then another.

I gasped, curling in on myself, but it didn’t stop. Punches. Kicks. The feeling of drowning as they shoved my head into a drum of water.

By the time they were done, I could barely breathe.

They stuffed me into a sack—like garbage—and tossed me away.

I didn’t know how long I was unconscious.

All I knew was that Arceus found me.

His private investigator had been searching for me in secret. And when they did, they didn’t hesitate.

They saved me.

The next time I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, weak but alive. Arceus was there, his face unreadable.

“Who did this to you?” he asked, voice low and dangerous.

Tears burned my eyes. “Shania—my twin who's p-pretending to be me.” I whispered.

His hands curled into fists, but he said nothing.

I took a shaky breath, swallowing down my fear. “Arceus, I need your h-help.”

His gaze softened. “Name it.”

I clenched my fists. “I-I need to change my face.”

He didn’t flinch.

For the next few days, plans were set in motion. A plastic surgeon was brought in. A new identity was created.

And just like that—

Georgia Wilson was dead.

In her place stood Gale Brittany Mercedes.

But that wasn’t the only change.

For Lewis’s safety, I disguised him as a little girl. If Dennis and Shania were still looking for us, they’d never expect that.

The world moved on, believing Georgia Wilson was gone for good.

But I wasn’t finished yet.

I was just getting started.

A few months later.

I walked into W Beauty Cosmetics—as a man.

I had trained my body, perfected my disguise, and built a new persona.

I infiltrated their company, and soon enough, I was hired.

But I didn’t come here to work.

I came here to destroy.

One night, I snuck into Shania’s office, my heart pounding as I rummaged through her drawers. I needed proof—anything—that could expose her.

The door suddenly creaked open.

I barely had time to hide under the desk before footsteps echoed through the room.

Then, I heard them.

Shania. And Dennis.

Their voices were low, but I could hear everything.

“That bastard Arceus Montenegro,” Shania hissed, her heels clicking against the floor. “His damn company is all everyone talks about. It’s getting in the way of our new product launch. We need to get rid of him." 

Dennis chuckled darkly. “No. We're benefiting to that project. I stole millions from his company while you... you are still earning to that cosmetics!" 

My heart stopped.

They were planning to kill Arceus.

I bit my lip, forcing myself to stay still.

Shania sighed. “We have no choice. That man needs to disappear.”

Dennis’s voice turned cruel. “Ugh! Fine. Give me $10 Mil and I'll make sure he'll be mourned by tomorrow morning." 

I shut my eyes, rage boiling in my veins.