Thirty Million Dollar Stand-In

Shes not my mom! Shes just our nanny! Ezra snapped at his classmate. My real mom is coming back soon!

For three years, I played the role of the perfect, obedient wife and mother in this house. All because my face held a faint resemblance to Bianca, Harrison's missing first love.

I tightened my grip on my designer bag, digging my nails into the leather to stop myself from grinning like a maniac. Perfect. Bianca was finally back.

My thirty-million-dollar final payout was about to clear. It was time to take the cash and vanish for good.

Chapter 1

It was Friday. Harrison was supposed to pick up the kid. It was their weekly father-son bonding time, usually spent at some overpriced family-friendly restaurant.

For three years, it had been like this. He never missed a single week.

But today, Harrison texted me last minute saying he had a sudden business trip and needed me to pick up Ezra. I rushed from the hospital straight to the preschool. The classroom was mostly empty, with only a handful of kids left waiting for their parents.

Ezra was the center of attention. The other kids crowded around him, staring in awe at the flashy, custom diamond necklace around his neck.

"Wow, Ezra, your necklace is so gorgeous!"

"Is that haute couture from a luxury brand? I'm totally telling my mom to buy me one too."

Ezra tipped his chin up, his face full of arrogant pride. "My mom designed this specifically for me. You can't buy it in stores."

"Wow, your mom is amazing."

"She bakes beautiful cupcakes and designs necklaces. I wish she was my mom."

"I want your mom too. She's so gentle. My mom is so mean."

Aside from Fridays and extreme emergencies, I was the one doing the preschool drop-offs and pick-ups. Ezra was much more mature than the average kid, and a bit of a loner. Afraid hed be isolated, I frequently baked little treats for him to share with his classmates.

As a result, Ezra was pretty popular at preschool. Everyone naturally assumed I was his mother, even though the kid had never called me "Mom" once.

Sure, I was the one who baked those cupcakes, but I definitely didn't design that necklace. I silently pulled back my right foot that was about to step into the classroom.

Ezra's voice cut through the room, heavy with disgust. "I'm not talking about her!"

"Shes not my mom. Shes just our nanny. My real mom is a jewelry designer, and shes incredible!"

The kids let out a collective gasp of awe, buzzing around Ezra, peppering him with questions about his amazing mother.

I stood by the back door, watching Ezra brag about his mother with his whole chest. I felt no sting at all. In a way, he wasn't wrong. He just lacked a filter.

Ever since I got together with Harrison, taking care of him and his son became my only job. Even though the workload was basically a nanny's, Harrison and I were legally married. If anything, I was a stepmother, not a damn nanny.

Ezra was Harrison's kid with Bianca, the genius designer. But Bianca vanished right after her postpartum recovery. They hadn't even been legally married.

As Ezra grew older, Harrison started to realize the family was incomplete. So, he started headhunting for a stepmother to give his kid a proper home.

Thanks to a face that vaguely resembled Bianca's, I crushed the competition. From the day I walked into their lives, Ezra knew I wasn't his real mother. And I never once planned on replacing her.

After all, Harrison and I were just a transaction. A three-year marriage contract.

For three years, he got a stand-in wife, Ezra got a stepmom, and I got a thirty-million-dollar payout. I had zero reason to refuse. I needed the cash, badly.

On the drive back, I played dumb. I asked him how his day was and what he wanted for dinner, just like always. I knew exactly where I stood. I was only here for the money, and anything beyond that wasn't my problem.

Ezra kept a straight face and rattled off a few dishes. I caught him secretly swallowing back his saliva, and it almost made me laugh. Say what you want, but my cooking was top-tier. Over the past three years, both Harrison and his son had definitely filled out.

Once we got home, Ezra immediately locked himself in his room. I ignored it and headed straight to the kitchen.

I set the expensive Tomahawk steak and pasta on the dining table, ready to call him down. But before I could push his door open, I heard laughter coming from inside.

Ezra was on a video call.

Chapter 2

The phone was on speaker, so I heard everything clearly.

Harrisons voice, and a womans. She called Ezra "baby," and Ezra called her "Mom."

Ezra excitedly told her how jealous his classmates were of his necklace. I had assumed the necklace was just another expensive toy Harrison bought to spoil him; it wouldn't be the first time.

Even though Bianca had been gone all these years, Harrison carefully maintained the illusion of her presence in Ezra's life. All so that when she finally returned, she could seamlessly step back into the role of his mother.

Now it was obviousBianca really did design that necklace. After six years, Harrison had finally tracked her down. Todays so-called "business trip" was nothing more than him rushing to his true love.

How romantic.

I had no intention of interrupting their little family reunion. I quietly sat back at the dining table and scrolled through my phone. Only after I made sure Ezra had hung up did I finally knock on his door for dinner.

After dinner, I started clearing the plates. Ezra was still sitting at the table, looking like he had something to say but swallowing it back.

Ezra was basically a carbon copy of Harrisonhandsome and arrogant. But Ezras eyes were prettier, probably because they were still innocent. They looked a lot like the eyes from my memory, though still not quite a match.

I leaned against the table and gave him a smile. "Something on your mind?"

Ezra pressed his lips into a thin line, then spun around and headed back to his room without a word.

I didn't care, nor did I have the energy to pry. My job was just to make sure he was fed, clothed, and alive. Anything beyond that wasn't my business, and I wasn't paid enough to care.

Later that night, I was curled up on the living room couch wrapped in a blanket, ugly-crying over a movie. When Harrison walked in, he found me with my face swollen from tears.

He froze in the doorway. I hastily wiped my cheeks, averting my gaze.

I quickly stood up, my voice thick with congestion. "Why are you back so soon?"

He walked over to me. His gaze was calm and unusually soft, his tone dropping an octave. "Why are you up so late?"

I pointed at the TV. "Watching a movie."

He stared at me for a moment, letting out a faint sigh. He reached out, his hand aiming for my hair. Before I could dodge him, his phone buzzed.

The caller ID flashed on the screen: Bianca.

He paced over to the balcony to answer it. I took the hint and slipped into the kitchen, waiting until he finished his call before stepping back out.

I slapped the three-year marriage contract on the coffee table. "Harrison, since she's back, bring your lawyer and let's finalize the divorce at 8 AM next Monday. Don't forget to wire the rest of the money into my account."

Bianca was back, and our contract was practically up anyway. I fully expected him to agree on the spot. After all, a body double like me had outlived her usefulness.

But Harrisons expression instantly iced over.

His jaw clenched. "You're that desperate for a divorce?" He shoved his hands into his pockets. "I'm busy next week."

Without another word, he brushed past me and went straight into Ezra's room.

I stood there, staring at the empty space he left behind. Harrison and I were married on paper, but it was really just a transaction. He paid, I worked.

Now that the contract was expiring and his true love was safely back in his arms, shouldn't he be thrilled to sever ties?

What the hell was his problem?

Harrison spent the entire weekend working overtime at the office, leaving early and coming back late. I didn't get a single chance to bring up the divorce again.

On Monday morning, he suddenly shoved a small velvet box into my hands, muttering something about a trinket he picked up at an auction. I was in a rush to drop Ezra off at school, so I just tossed it into my purse.

Like usual, I brought a fresh batch of homemade cookies to the preschool. The kids swarmed me, sweetly chirping, "Thank you, Miss Sage!"

Ezra just stared at me quietly for a second before pushing past the other kids and walking into the classroom.

After drop-off, I had the driver take me straight to the hospital.

When I got to the room, Chloe was standing by the window, doing some gentle yoga stretches. She turned and smiled when she saw me. "What kind of delicious food did you bring me today?"

Chapter 3

I shook the thermos in my hand. "Your favorite cream of chicken soup."

We sat on the edge of the bed, each holding a bowl. I pulled up some photos on my phone and handed it to her.

"This is our new house in Oregon. I've already had it professionally cleaned. After you're discharged next week, take Nolan there first."

"See if we need to buy anything else. Once I wrap things up here, I'll come meet you guys."

Chloe scrolled through the photos in silence and just nodded. Resting my bowl in my hands, I turned to look out the window.

"Sage, we've been such a burden to you."

I stared out the window and asked softly, "Chloe, do you think Nolan will like the yard?"

Chloe froze for a second. Then, her eyes softened with memory, and she smiled. "He will. He always loved the wind."

I smiled back. "Good."

Chloe didn't say anything else, just letting out a soft sigh. We sat together on the edge of the bed, watching the sun inch across the sky.

Down in the courtyard, the people on the bench changedfrom a mother and daughter, to a couple, to a solitary old man. Just like the transients in everyone's life, constantly coming and going.

I kept my voice low. "Chloe, don't ever talk about being a burden. Without you and Nolan, I wouldn't even exist in this world."

"We're family. We have been for ten years."

That afternoon, after grocery shopping, I went to pick Ezra up from preschool. But his teacher told me he had been checked out that morning. She said Ezra left with his mom and dad.

Sitting back in my car, I debated for a second before deciding to call Harrison just to confirm. It was almost definitely him and Bianca who picked Ezra up, but when it came to the kid, I couldn't be too careful.

I was just about to dial when I noticed a notification badge on my Instagram feed. Harrison had posted a new update.

[ Posted 5 minutes ago. ]

It was a photo carousel. The center shot was a sickeningly happy family portrait of the three of them on a beach, all wearing matching outfits.

Ezra was practically glowing. In three years, I had never seen him smile that bright. It was also the first time I'd ever seen Harrison wear such bright colors.

Standing next to Bianca, all his usual stiffness had melted away. He looked relaxed.

A picture-perfect family.

Since Instagram already gave me my answer, there was no need to make the call.

With Harrison and his son out of town, I treated the next few days like a mini-vacation. Every day, I cooked, took the food to the hospital to eat with Chloe, and we'd spend the afternoons hanging out. It was peaceful.

Harrisons call came in the middle of the night. I was dead asleep when my ringtone jolted me awake.

His voice was rough with exhaustion, layered over the sound of Ezra screaming in the background.

"Sage, can you come to the children's hospital right now?"

Harrison explained that Ezra hadn't been sleeping well these past few days. Combined with the cold ocean wind, he spiked a high fever today. They were at the pediatric ER, but Ezra was throwing a massive tantrum and refusing to cooperate.

I glanced at the pitch-black sky outside, dragged myself out of bed, and started packing a bag.

Ezra always had terrible sleep quality. When I first moved in, he used to wake up screaming in the middle of the night and cry for hours. I spent countless nights pacing the floor, holding him and singing lullabies until he finally dozed off.

He had gotten a lot better over the last two years, but he was still incredibly picky about his bed. Anytime he had to sleep away from home, we had to pack his specific pillow, bedsheets, and pajamas, or he wouldn't sleep a wink.

Whenever Ezra traveled with his grandparents in the past, I would always pack everything in advance. Since I was the one handling it, Harrison had no idea about his kid's quirks.

Chapter 4

Even before I reached the room, I could hear Ezra screaming. His voice was hoarse. I fully expected Bianca to be there, but to my surprise, it was just Harrison and Ezra inside the hospital room.

Harrisons tense shoulders dropped the second he saw me. "You're here."

Ezra lay on the hospital bed, his small face flushed a deep crimsonwhether from the fever or the crying, I couldn't tell.

I motioned for Harrison to pick the kid up. I quickly stripped the hospital linens, replacing them with the sheets, duvet cover, and pillow I brought from home, then wrestled Ezra into his own pajamas. I took Ezra into my arms, lying on my side next to him, gently coaxing him until his screams faded into sniffles.

He curled into my chest, his tiny fists gripping the edge of my shirt. "Mommy," he whimpered.

I pressed my hand against his burning cheek. He was delirious from the fever. I wasn't his mom. I was just his nanny.

After a chaotic struggle, Ezra finally fell into a deep sleep. The nurse came in and administered his IV without a hitch, leaving Harrison and me to collapse onto the small sofa.

Harrison poured me a cup of water, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sorry for waking you up."

I shook my head, taking the cup. "It's fine. It's my job."

I took a sip. "Next time you guys take him on a trip, just remember to pack his pillow, pajamas, and his own bedsheets. He'll be fine."

Harrison stared at me for a long moment. "That little box I gave you the other day did you open it?"

"Not yet. Was it something important?" I pulled the velvet box from my purse on the other side of the sofa and popped it open.

Inside sat a massive diamond ring.

Harrison's hand suddenly clamped over mine. "Sage, let's not get a divorce. Please."

I had no idea what went down between Harrison and Bianca to make him abandon the woman he waited six years for just to propose to me. But I knew one thing for sureit wasn't out of some profound love. Harrison was terrifyingly disciplined and calculated. Every move he made was a carefully weighed, perfectly rational business decision.

But I had zero interest in analyzing his motives.

I stared coldly at this belated diamond ring. Without a second of hesitation, I yanked my hand out from under his and slammed the velvet box onto the coffee table. "Harrison, save the act."

"We are nothing but a transaction on a piece of paper. The clock ran out, and I'm taking my money and walking away. There is zero room in my world for your delayed affection."

He sat frozen beside me. It was like he hadn't processed a single word I said. Instead, he just plowed ahead with his own defense.

"Sage, if this is about Bianca, you don't have to worry." He leaned in closer. "She and I are done."

"This trip only happened because she said she wanted to see Ezra. We won't be in contact anymore."

His gaze locked onto mine. "Having you around these past few years it's given me peace of mind. Ezra depends on you. Can't we just keep living like this?"

I looked Harrison dead in the eye, my face a mask of calm. "No."

I stood up. "I don't know what happened between you and Bianca, and I don't care. But there is no 'us'."

The only reason I signed that marriage contract in the first place was to pay for Chloes medical treatments. Now that Chloe was fully recovered, we had our own lives to live. We were going to settle down in a house where the wind blew freely.

Harrison clearly didn't expect such a ruthless rejection. A flicker of wounded pride crossed his eyes. "Sage, do you really feel nothing for me?"

I let out a dry laugh. "Of course I do. I have a lot of gratitude for a very generous employer."

I meant every word. If it hadn't been for his thirty million dollars, Chloe and I would have been dead a long time ago. That was why I busted my ass taking care of him and his son for three years, at their beck and call 24/7. But that was exactly where the line was drawn.

I figured I couldn't have made it any clearer, but Harrison's brain simply refused to compute the rejection.

"You don't have to answer me right now. I'm not in a rush." He stood up, smoothing his jacket.

"It's late. I'll have the driver take you home to get some rest. I've got it from here."

Ezra's prolonged fever had triggered a mild case of pneumonia. He was staying.

Chapter 5

Harrison moved his entire workspace into the hospital room, staying by Ezra's side around the clock. Bianca didn't show up once. Every day, I cooked at home and delivered the meals to the hospital.

I was spoon-feeding Ezra when my phone rang. The hospital.

Chloe had suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage. They were resuscitating her.

The bowl slipped from my numb fingers.

It shattered against the floor tiles. The sharp crash made Ezra jump.

Harrison walked in just as the bowl broke. He crossed the room in three strides, asking what was wrong.

My hands shook uncontrollably. The world turned to static. I gasped, but the air felt solid.

How? I had just seen her yesterday. She was perfectly fine.

She was supposed to be discharged tomorrow. Everything was finally getting better. How?

I grabbed a fistful of Harrison's sleeve. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. It took every ounce of oxygen left in my body to force out a single sentence.

"Take me to the general hospital."

Harrison half-carried me out the door. He flagged down two nurses to watch Ezra and called his parents to come cover for him. He floored the gas pedal the entire way, getting me to the ER in record time.

The doctor told me Chloe had collapsed mid-step while walking in the courtyard. The hemorrhage was in a fatal spot. He told me to prepare for the worst.

After eight hours in emergency surgery, Chloe was gone.

The only two beams of light that had ever pierced my life had both flickered and died.

I handled her funeral arrangements with mechanical precision. Harrison tried to intervene; I shut him out.

The sun was blindingly bright on the day of Chloes cremation. I stood on the edge of the sidewalk, my arms wrapped tight around her urn. Passersby muttered about how nice it was that the long stretch of gloomy weather had finally broken. A beautiful day.

I tilted my head up, staring blankly into the glare of the sun. It was strange. The light was so harsh, yet my skin was freezing. I didn't know how long I stood there.

My feet were cemented to the pavement. Every single person rushing past me on this street had a destination.

I had none.

I never knew where I came from, and now, I had nowhere to go.

"Let's go home."

I didn't know when Harrison arrived. He pulled me into his car.

Once we got back, I collapsed into bed. I drifted through endless, feverish dreams, blurring the line between nightmares and reality.

In the suffocating darkness, I jolted awake. I snatched the wrist of the hand reaching for my forehead, my grip bone-crushing. In the sliver of light from the cracked door, I made out Harrison's face. I stared dead into his eyesthe same eyes that had once fed me a pathetic illusion.

He twisted his wrist, trapping my hand in his. His voice was a flat, unreadable hum in the dark.

"Do I look like him?"

The haze vanished. Complete clarity snapped back. I yanked my hand, but his fingers clamped down like a vise, the heat of his skin burning into mine.

"Sage, if you want," his breath ghosted across the space between us, "you can treat me like him."

"Whatever Nolan did for you, I can do it too