Katelyn and Vincent, dressed in formal attire, walked hand in hand toward the palace. They had carefully prepared for their visit. Just as they were about to leave the villa, Khalid and Ashlyn arrived.

Ashlyn gave Khalid a grateful smile. “Khalid, thank you for bringing me back.”

Khalid held Ashlyn’s luggage and stood before her. He gently brushed the tip of her nose and said warmly, “Don’t be so formal. I’m your boyfriend.”

Hearing that, Ashlyn’s mood lifted. Her smile radiated as brightly as the clear sky.

As they talked, Ashlyn’s gaze shifted to someone nearby. It was Sophia. Sophia sat on a swing in the garden, lazily swinging one leg, watching them with a faint smile.

Ashlyn felt uneasy at the sight of her smile. It was a strange feeling.

Khalid remained calm. He held Ashlyn’s hand gently and said, “Let’s go.” She didn’t pull away. She looked at him and nodded. “Okay.” Hand in hand, they walked into the main building.

Sophia watched them leave, still wearing that faint smile.

Ashlyn had been busy designing jewelry at the palace lately. She hadn’t slept much and was completely exhausted. She glanced at Khalid and let out a small yawn. “I’m going to sleep for a while.”

Khalid smiled warmly. “Okay, go ahead!” He reached out and softly brushed a loose strand of hair away before tucking it behind her ear.

The small gesture made Ashlyn blush. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Khalid. “Okay.” Then, she hurried back to her room, her face burning with shyness. Even after all this time, her heart still raced with excitement.

She shut the door behind her and leaned against it, taking deep breaths to steady herself. But exhaustion weighed on her. She had been losing too much sleep lately. Even though she was excited, she dozed off without realizing it.

? glovè?.

Khalid sat on the sofa in the living room and got to work.

Only thirty minutes had passed when Sophia, who had been in the garden, got up and walked toward him.

As soon as she sat across from Khalid, he frowned. “You’re not welcome here.” With Ashlyn, he was gentle. With Sophia, he was nothing but cold.

Sophia didn’t mind his attitude. Smiling, she rested her head on one hand and looked at him. “Do you love me that much? You broke up with me and found someone who looks just like me.” A smirk played on her lips.

Khalid paused his work and gave Sophia a cold stare.

Neither of them noticed that Ashlyn, feeling a bit thirsty, was about to head downstairs when those words hit her.

Ashlyn froze. Her happiness vanished. A cold emptiness filled her heart.

Sophia and Khalid had been in love? And… she looked just like Sophia. A dreadful thought crept in. Was that why Khalid wanted to be with her? Was she just a stand-in?

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