Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"Ms. Altman, it's been a while. You still look as lovely as before," the man complimented Amber with a gentle smile.

Amber looked stoic and cold. She lowered her gaze and replied humbly, "Sir, thanks for the compliment."

"You're indeed a woman groomed by Mr. Schmidt. You're gentle, demure, and gracious. Sometimes, I feel that you're Alyssa Taylor herself. You're the best substitute I've ever seen."

Amber kept her silence, but she looked glum. By describing her as a substitute, all his prior compliments sounded sarcastic to her.

Jameson did not continue on that topic. Instead, he opened the box and revealed the antique vase to the man. "This is a Wiktorian-era pink frosted vase I got for you from a Yoarkley auction. It's nothing special. I hope you don't mind it."

Sheryl lifted a brow in amusement. She had been keeping an eye on the vase for her employer. In the end, an anonymous buyer won the bid with 50 million dollars. She had not expected the buyer to be Jameson.

She thought, "Mr. Schmidt is indeed a thoughtful lapdog."

very thoughtful of you. I'll need your help on

nodded at him. "Don't worry. I'll

left, silence fell on the

or Amber's that resembles Alyssa

thigh. She obediently walked over and kneeled in front of him. Then, she looked up at him

low-grade substitute that Jameson Schmidt created to satisfy his desire." The man leaned forward and placed a finger under her

are just you. You're a work of art I meticulously crafted. That boring substitute is no

omniscient deity who categorized the beings in the world into two—those who belonged to him and those who did not. She did not mind being

Sheryl started massaging his leg.

his sympathy. I'm

man chuckled. "No,

opined, "Now that Sophia Kirkman is done for, there's no reason to keep Betty Beckett in the family. Why don't you reveal the