Chapter 174 Imitation Games

Chapter 174 Imitation Games
[Sera]

My breath caught in my throat as I got a good look at her. Her hair wasn't just brown—it was the exact shade as mine, styled in a similar way. She wore a white sundress remarkably like one I'd donated to the sale earlier (and had already sold), and even from across the table, I could see she had on the same brand of ballet flats I favored.

"Cassie," Ronan said, the flush in his cheeks deepening. "This is Sera. Barrett's wife."

"Oh!" Cassie's eyes lit up with an intensity that made me instinctively step back. "It's so wonderful to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you."

"Have you?" I asked, unable to hide my discomfort.

"Of course. Ronan talks about you constantly." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Your style is so... inspiring."

"I got these for you," Ronan said hastily, thrusting the packages toward Cassie, though his eyes remained fixed on me. "They reminded me of something Sera might wear."

Cassie's smile tightened. "How thoughtful. You always know exactly what I like."

As they walked away, I noticed Ronan glancing back at me repeatedly, his gaze intense and possessive. One of the security guards Barrett had stationed nearby shifted position slightly, his attention now focused on Ronan's retreating figure.

Wendy leaned in close. "Did you notice—"

"That she's basically cosplaying as me? Hard to miss," I whispered back.

"It gets weirder," Jolin said, joining our huddle. "Last week she asked her art history professor to call her 'Sera' because she 'identifies more with that name.'"

I shivered involuntarily. "That's... disturbing."

"And did you see how he was looking at you? Like you were the merchandise for sale," Wendy added.

Jolin squeezed my hand. "Well, at least we raised over five thousand dollars for disaster relief today. That's something positive to focus on."

I nodded, trying to shake the unsettled feeling that had settled over me. But as I continued wrapping items and making change, I couldn't help wondering if the mysterious love letter that had appeared in my bag might have come from someone much closer to home than I'd originally thought.

I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that clung to me like a second skin as I rode home from the charity sale. The image of Cassie—dressed like me, styled like me, wanting to be called by my name—kept replaying in my mind. And Ronan's eyes... that possessive, hungry stare that made me feel like merchandise on display rather than a person.

When the driver pulled up to Barrett's mansion, I thanked him and hurried inside, grateful to be back in a space where I felt safe. The house was quiet when I entered, but the light in Barrett's office told me he was still working despite the late hour.

I paused at his door, watching him for a moment. His brow was furrowed in concentration as he reviewed documents on his tablet, occasionally making notes. Even in this ordinary moment, there was something commanding about him—a presence that filled the room.

"Are you planning to stand there all night?" he asked without looking up, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Just admiring the view," I replied, stepping into the office.

Barrett finally looked up, his expression softening when he saw me. But then his eyes narrowed slightly. "What's wrong?"

I shrugged, trying to appear casual. "What makes you think something's wrong?"

"You're doing that thing with your hands," he said, gesturing to where I was unconsciously twisting my wedding ring. "You only do that when you're upset."

Sometimes I hated how easily he could read me. I sighed and dropped into the chair across from his desk. "Something weird happened at the charity sale today."

Barrett set his tablet aside, giving me his full attention. "Weird how?"

I recounted my encounter with Ronan and Cassie, describing her unsettling resemblance to me and Ronan's disturbing behavior. With each detail, Barrett's expression shifted from interest to mild amusement tinged with contempt.

"And Jolin said Cassie's been asking people to call her 'Sera' at school," I finished. "The whole thing gave me the creeps."

Barrett let out a short, derisive laugh. "That sounds exactly like something Ronan would do. The kid's always been pathetically desperate for attention."

"So you're not surprised?" I asked.

"Not in the slightest." Barrett shook his head, his expression more annoyed than concerned. "My nephew has always had a flair for the dramatic. He's been trying to copy me since he was a teenager—my clothes, my cars, my business strategies. All poorly executed, of course."

"But this isn't about copying you," I pointed out. "This is about... me."

"You're my wife," Barrett said simply, a hint of smug pride in his voice. "In his childish mind, that makes you another thing to covet. He can't have you, so he finds some poor girl to play dress-up." He rolled his eyes. "Frankly, I'm more concerned about your safety in those campus buildings than about Ronan's adolescent fantasies."

I was surprised by his dismissive attitude. "So you're not worried?"

Barrett came around the desk and perched on the edge, looking down at me with mild amusement. "About Ronan? Please. That boy couldn't intimidate a houseplant. He's all show and no substance, just like his father."

"He did seem pretty fixated," I insisted.

"Ronan gets fixated on something new every other month," Barrett replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Last year it was vintage watches. Before that, it was collecting first-edition books he never read. Now it's apparently you. He'll move on when the next shiny object catches his attention."

I relaxed a little at Barrett's casual attitude. "So I shouldn't worry about that love letter possibly being from him either?"

"That silly thing?" Barrett chuckled, though his eyes hardened slightly. "Could be from anyone with a romantic streak. Though if it turns out to be Ronan..." He trailed off, a dangerous glint appearing in his eyes. "Well, then my dear nephew is clearly itching for another lesson in boundaries. And I'd be more than happy to provide one."