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Chapter 1
Anastasia Fleming was the mute girl the Copeland family adopted from an orphanage, who later married her so–called brother Edward Copeland.
Everyone in Houston knew Edward adored Anastasia.
He defied his family, ignored the backlash, and gave her a lavish wedding.
People envied her luck. Envied how she’d gone from nothing to everything.
He loved her so much that she was willing to shield him from the knife when he was kidnapped.
In the end, her hands were ruined. She could never play the violin again.
But she didn’t regret it. As long as he loved her, it was worth it.
One day, after a rehab session, she didn’t see him waiting.
She searched the halls and finally spotted him.
Then she heard what he was saying to their son, Thomas Copeland, and froze.
“Relax. I told the kidnappers, like you asked. Just hurt Mommy’s hands. It won’t affect Priscilla’s competition.”
Those words made Anastasia’s mind buzz. She froze, like lightning had struck her.
Priscilla Marlow was the girl he had loved at 18 and never gotten over.
She stood there, numb, while Edward kept talking. “Well, Anastasia’s so good at the violin. If she had competed, Priscilla wouldn’t have won. None of us wanted to see her upset.”
Each word drained the color from Anastasia’s face. By the end, she was shaking uncontrollably
She wanted to scream, to ask him why he was doing this to her.
But all the pain, all the love, only turned into tears.
She had loved him with all her heart.
She had struggled through the years to raise her son
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And now, they were the ones who’d broken her dreams and ruined her life.
Anastasia didn’t know how she walked out of the hospital or how she got into the car.
All she knew was that her chest tightened until she could barely breathe.
The woman driving recognized her, not noticing her gloom. She spoke with envy. “Mrs. Copeland, you know, every woman in Houston envies you. Your love story with Mr. Copeland could be a fairy tale.”
Everyone knew Edward adored his wife.
But no one knew it was him who ruined her hands.
Years ago, twelve–year–old Edward had taken her from the orphanage.
She had clutched her washed–out dress and treated him as a brother.
He told her stories to put her to sleep, played hide–and–seek, ripped up boys‘ love letters, and chased off punks who mocked her for being mute.
Anastasia fell helplessly into his warmth, in love with her so–called brother.
But she was only the Copeland family’s foster daughter. And she knew he had someone in his heart. So she buried her feelings, never told a soul.
Until that day, when Edward, drunk and red–eyed, pulled her into his arms. “Do you love me?” he asked.
He tilted her chin, forcing her to look at him, coaxing softly. “Anna, I know you’ve always cared for me. Truth is, I feel the same.”
Before she could answer, Edward’s smile deepened. He lowered his head and kissed her lips, tender and lingering.
After that, he treated her like she was his world. Like he’d pluck the stars for her.
But it all ended the day Priscilla returned
She told Anastasia that when Edward had agreed to be with her, she had just rejected him.
She said all the love Edward had now was actually hers.
She said all the love Anastasia had from Edward was really meant for her
At first, Anastasia laughed it off
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But now, she believed it. All of it.
She was nothing but Priscilla’s stand–in, Edward’s outlet.
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Her eyes
blurred with tears. She wanted to cry, but no sound came. Her heart felt like it was being crushed, leaving her gasping.
Just then, her doctor texted.
“Ms. Fleming, there’s a research center abroad. They have advanced treatment for your congenital aphasia and nerve damage. Are you sure you don’t want to try?”
This time, Anastasia didn’t hesitate. She wiped her tears and replied. “Okay. I’ll go. But don’t tell anyone. Especially Edward.”
The reply came almost instantly. “Got it. I’ll send you the address now.”
She booked a ticket for two weeks later. Staring out the window, tears streaming, she whispered to herself, “Edward, never again.”
