The Stolen Identity

Nara’s blood ran cold the second she glanced down at the glowing screen. Her stomach dropped into a bottomless pit.

The caller ID flashed a single, terrifying name: Night-Physician.

A dangerous phantom from a past she had buried. Their grueling deal had supposedly ended five long years ago.

Without thinking, her hand dropped to her side. Her fingers brushed against the fabric of her shirt, tracing the phantom ache of the rib she had sacrificed to him. The memory of that dark transaction still hummed beneath her skin.

She declined the call and forced her voice into a steady, indifferent tone. "Spam. It is probably just another scammer trying their luck."

Kaelen glanced over. He nodded, buying her flimsy excuse without a second thought.

"Scam calls are getting through your filter now? Your number must have been leaked somewhere. I will have my assistant set you up with a new one first thing tomorrow."

Before she could even offer a response, his own phone erupted.

Nara recognized it instantly. It was the custom chime he had set exclusively for Shaya.

A flash of profound guilt crossed Kaelen’s handsome features. He fumbled with his device, rejecting the call in a blind panic. "That is my assistant following up on some urgent work. I need to take this in the living room."

He muttered the pathetic excuse and practically bolted out of the kitchen.

Nara stared at the empty doorway. Her gaze drifted back to her phone resting on the granite counter.

It was still synced to the smart speaker in the living room. Kaelen assumed the sleek device was just a standard Bluetooth speaker. He had no idea it housed a hidden camera.

Nara had never once used the Alexa app to spy on him. She had trusted him. But today, when that specific ringtone chimed, something deep and fragile within her finally snapped. She needed to see the truth. She had to know how he acted with Shaya when he thought nobody was watching.

She turned the media volume on her phone all the way down and pulled up the Alexa application.

Kaelen sat at the island bar. He held his phone to his ear, staring blankly out the window. He was unaware that the wind chime—the very symbol of their love—was missing from the balcony.

His voice filtered through the speaker. It dripped with a soft, gentle affection he had not shown Nara in months. "I will be back soon."

Shaya’s sugary, manipulative voice echoed back through the mic, clear as a bell.

"Kaelen, you are the sweetest man in the world. Listen, the new Kardos Global jewelry line is launching tomorrow. Can I please come with you? I heard the 'Devotion' series by Aura is being showcased. It fits our honeymoon vibe perfectly! You designed it, did you not? You are Aura, right?"

Kaelen blinked. The question caught him off guard.

"I am not the one who—"

"Oh, please stop. Do not lie to me. Back then, you stood out among all the Kardos heirs specifically because of that Heart of the Ocean piece. Nobody in the industry knows who Aura really is, but every single time Kardos Global needs a massive breakthrough, Aura drops a collection that matches the company's vision perfectly. Who else would care that much about your family business?"

Sitting in her dim room, Nara let out a bitter, silent laugh.

Every piece of Aura's groundbreaking work was born from her own blood and sweat. She remembered the endless all-nighters, the cut fingers from handling raw materials, and the countless discarded sketches. Everything she crafted was a loving tribute to Kaelen and his corporate milestones.

Kaelen stayed silent on the screen.

Shaya’s voice turned pitiful and pleading. "Kaelen… my ultimate dream has always been to be a renowned jewelry designer. But fate just refuses to give me the time to learn. Since we are married now… could you let me borrow Aura's identity? Just for one day? I just want to know what it feels like to be admired by everyone."

Nara’s grip on her phone tightened. Her knuckles turned stark white.

Did Shaya even comprehend the magnitude of what she was asking? She was demanding the physical manifestation of Nara's soul.

On the screen, Kaelen hesitated. He cast a long, guilty glance over his shoulder toward Nara's closed bedroom door.

Then, he whispered his fatal agreement into the receiver. "Okay. Tomorrow at the press conference, I will tell the media you are Aura."

"Oh my god! Kaelen, I love you so much!"

Shaya's giggles bubbled through the speaker.

Nara went ice-cold.

He knew she was Aura. He knew exactly how much she bled for those brilliant designs. Yet, for a few sweet words and a pathetic plea from Shaya, he was ready to casually hand over her identity. He did not even consider asking for her permission.

Suffocating under the crushing weight of his blatant favoritism, Nara severed the camera connection. Her chest rose and fell in sharp gasps.

If Kaelen was going to give her soul away to another woman, she would march straight into hell to take it back.

She navigated to her recent calls and dialed the international number.

The Night-Physician answered, his voice flat and laced with cruel amusement.

"Well, look who finally found a backbone. You hung up on me earlier. Do you want me to come over and take Kaelen's rib tonight instead?"

Nara cut straight through his bullshit. "I do not care what you want in return. Just secure my entry to the Kardos launch tomorrow. I will agree to any terms you set."

A heavy pause hung over the line. A low, mocking laugh scraped against her ear.

"Did you not swear you would die for love five years ago? What changed your mind?"

Nara's fingernails dug into the plastic case of her phone. "Cut the crap. Do we have a deal or not?"

For five years, Kaelen had been her anchor. He was her family and her supposed true love. Now, adrift and deeply betrayed, she had no one left. She was willing to pay any terrifying price to stop this blatant theft.

The sinister voice hissed through the receiver. "Deal."

Seconds later, Kaelen pushed the bedroom door open. He strode into the room, his eyes firmly fixed on the floor. He avoided her gaze.

His tone was cold and authoritative. "Nara. You are not allowed at tomorrow's launch."

She looked at the man she had loved for five years, feeling the last remaining shreds of her heart tear open. "Why not?"

"Aura's identity must remain a strict secret. You need to stay home. I will give you whatever you want after tomorrow is over." He delivered the command and walked away, shutting the door behind him.

Nara stood frozen. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She clenched her fists so tight her nails broke the skin of her palms, but she felt no pain.

A sharp chime from her phone broke the silence.

A message from the Night-Physician illuminated the screen, containing an official VIP invitation to the exclusive Kardos Global launch.

Shaya wanted the glory of Aura. Nara was going to see if the thief could handle the heavy crown.

Nara did not sleep a single wink that night.

The next morning, she arrived at the lavish venue. She was adorned in a breathtaking pearl-white gown that clung perfectly to her figure. Her hair was styled into cascading, soft waves that framed her sharp features.

She stepped through the grand entrance. The very first sight that greeted her made her stomach churn.

Shaya was plastered to Kaelen's arm, wearing a radiant smile. Kaelen looked down at his new wife with undeniable warmth. His eyes held a deep tenderness that he had not directed at Nara in years.

You cannot fake true love. The raw emotion was painfully obvious in his gaze.

Nara offered a quiet, mocking smile. She lifted her chin, squared her shoulders, and stepped directly into the brilliant venue lights.

Her cool, elegant presence instantly captivated the room. Heads turned. Conversations halted. The crowd parted as her breathtaking beauty commanded their undivided attention.

Kaelen turned his head instinctively to see the commotion.

The moment his eyes landed on her, his expression shattered. The warmth vanished, replaced by sheer panic and boiling rage.

He ripped his arm out of Shaya’s grip and stormed toward Nara with bloodshot eyes. He closed the distance in long, aggressive strides and seized her delicate wrist with a crushing grip. "Who told you to come here?"