The Replacement's Revenge - Chapter 3: Chapter 3
You are reading The Replacement's Revenge, Chapter 3: Chapter 3. Read more chapters of The Replacement's Revenge.
Angus rushed to reassure Hallie, his words tumbling out in a hurry. "I told you that kid with her meant nothing. The only children I'll ever have will be yours."
I heard his quick footsteps closing the distance between us as he stopped me from leaving. "Those last three wishes you mentioned—do they still stand?"
I confirmed they did.
Naturally, Angus didn't buy my story about repaying a debt. He was convinced I'd say anything to keep clinging to him.
As I watched him grow impatient, practically shoving me toward the lake to retrieve the ring, a memory flashed through my mind...
Back when Angus's family heirloom had first fallen into the water, he'd held me tight after I emerged with the golden bracelet. His hands had trembled with worry as he scolded me, "Never do something so reckless again."
Now? He didn't even blink.
So I stepped into the lake. Icy water surged up, invading my nose, my lungs. Inside the house, laughter and music played on, completely unaware.
Diving deeper, I fought against the numbing cold until something sharp sliced into my foot. My fingers finally closed around the ring.
When I surfaced, my abdomen ached and blood oozed from my shredded feet.
All I saw in Angus's eyes was revulsion. "Enough with the pathetic act. It's disgusting."
I pressed the ring into Hallie's palm.
"This is your ninety-eighth wish," I told Angus before walking away.
Gritting my teeth against the pain, I limped past the Davidson house—fully aware of Angus's stunned gaze burning into my back.
A replacement was just a replacement. When the real thing returns, you become less than a stray dog begging for scraps.
The physical pain in my feet was nothing compared to the glacial ache spreading through my chest, freezing me from the inside out.
I spent the next three days hospitalized.
The whole time, I heard how Angus never left Hallie's side, telling everyone I was just a pathetic leech who couldn't take a hint.
I felt like death—feverish, agitated, unable to rest.
Then a news alert lit up my phone:
[Prince Angus's Woman Exposed as Adult Film Star]
The woman in the video was unmistakably Hallie Palmer—down to the distinctive mole on her neck.
Some commenters claimed it was AI-generated, but the public wasn't buying it.
[No way this is AI. The finger movements are too natural.]
Angus's text arrived like a gut punch:
[Name your price. Take the blame—say it's you in the video.]
I stared at the message until my vision blurred. Take the fall? I'd be socially radioactive in Astrait forever.
Swallowing the bile in my throat, I replied: [So... is this your ninety-ninth wish?]
He agreed instantly—Hallie's reputation was all that mattered.
When Angus came for me, his first stop was a tattoo parlor. A technician inked an identical black mole on my neck.
"Hallie wants an entertainment career," he explained. "This scandal would destroy her."
As if. Since when did Hallie fancy herself a starlet?
Angus went nuclear—organizing a press conference to whitewash the scandal.
Standing under the blinding lights, I delivered my lines: "I'm the woman in that video. I apologize to Miss Hallie Palmer for any harm I've caused."
The crowd erupted. Curses rained down—whore, liar, disgrace. The humiliation was worse than anything I'd imagined. My legs nearly buckled as I stepped down.
Then, for the first time ever, Angus caught me. He draped his jacket over my shaking shoulders.
"You actually did it," he murmured, sounding almost impressed.
So he knew. He knew exactly how thoroughly this would wreck me.
I heard his quick footsteps closing the distance between us as he stopped me from leaving. "Those last three wishes you mentioned—do they still stand?"
I confirmed they did.
Naturally, Angus didn't buy my story about repaying a debt. He was convinced I'd say anything to keep clinging to him.
As I watched him grow impatient, practically shoving me toward the lake to retrieve the ring, a memory flashed through my mind...
Back when Angus's family heirloom had first fallen into the water, he'd held me tight after I emerged with the golden bracelet. His hands had trembled with worry as he scolded me, "Never do something so reckless again."
Now? He didn't even blink.
So I stepped into the lake. Icy water surged up, invading my nose, my lungs. Inside the house, laughter and music played on, completely unaware.
Diving deeper, I fought against the numbing cold until something sharp sliced into my foot. My fingers finally closed around the ring.
When I surfaced, my abdomen ached and blood oozed from my shredded feet.
All I saw in Angus's eyes was revulsion. "Enough with the pathetic act. It's disgusting."
I pressed the ring into Hallie's palm.
"This is your ninety-eighth wish," I told Angus before walking away.
Gritting my teeth against the pain, I limped past the Davidson house—fully aware of Angus's stunned gaze burning into my back.
A replacement was just a replacement. When the real thing returns, you become less than a stray dog begging for scraps.
The physical pain in my feet was nothing compared to the glacial ache spreading through my chest, freezing me from the inside out.
I spent the next three days hospitalized.
The whole time, I heard how Angus never left Hallie's side, telling everyone I was just a pathetic leech who couldn't take a hint.
I felt like death—feverish, agitated, unable to rest.
Then a news alert lit up my phone:
[Prince Angus's Woman Exposed as Adult Film Star]
The woman in the video was unmistakably Hallie Palmer—down to the distinctive mole on her neck.
Some commenters claimed it was AI-generated, but the public wasn't buying it.
[No way this is AI. The finger movements are too natural.]
Angus's text arrived like a gut punch:
[Name your price. Take the blame—say it's you in the video.]
I stared at the message until my vision blurred. Take the fall? I'd be socially radioactive in Astrait forever.
Swallowing the bile in my throat, I replied: [So... is this your ninety-ninth wish?]
He agreed instantly—Hallie's reputation was all that mattered.
When Angus came for me, his first stop was a tattoo parlor. A technician inked an identical black mole on my neck.
"Hallie wants an entertainment career," he explained. "This scandal would destroy her."
As if. Since when did Hallie fancy herself a starlet?
Angus went nuclear—organizing a press conference to whitewash the scandal.
Standing under the blinding lights, I delivered my lines: "I'm the woman in that video. I apologize to Miss Hallie Palmer for any harm I've caused."
The crowd erupted. Curses rained down—whore, liar, disgrace. The humiliation was worse than anything I'd imagined. My legs nearly buckled as I stepped down.
Then, for the first time ever, Angus caught me. He draped his jacket over my shaking shoulders.
"You actually did it," he murmured, sounding almost impressed.
So he knew. He knew exactly how thoroughly this would wreck me.
End of The Replacement's Revenge Chapter 3. Continue reading Chapter 4 or return to The Replacement's Revenge book page.