Chapter 1
Here is the translated and localized version of your short story, adhering to all your requirements:
After five years of marriage to Julian Vance, his long–dead childhood sweetheart miraculously came back to life. She moved into my home, kissed my husband, and even my child started calling her ‘Mom.‘ Julian said she had cancer, that he needed to make amends. He told me to be generous and kind. My son, Liam Vance, said, “You’re just not as gentle or pretty as she is. She doesn’t have any scars.”
I chose to grant their wish and faked my own death to escape. Finally, I found the peaceful life I yearned for. A decade and more passed in a blink. Then, Liam Vance enrolled at the very university where I taught. He found me, his eyes red–rimmed, demanding, “If you didn’t want me, why did you give birth to me?”
1
It was during a class break, the ground floor of the academic building bustling with students. Liam Vance ignored the curious glan- ces around us, gripping my sleeve tightly. His burning gaze made me feel as if I were being roasted over an open fire. I lowered my eyelids, forcing myself to appear calm.
“Student, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m unmarried and have no children.”
The young man’s voice remained level as he countered, “Are you? The exact same face, the same build, even the same name.” He paused, his grip tightening. “Did I make a mistake, or are you just afraid to admit the truth?”
it was truly a twist of fate. After faking my death and fleeing overseas, I encountered the Martin family, a couple who had recently lost their daughter. Seeing a resemblance between me and their deceased child, they asked me to assume her identity. Coinciden- tally, her name was also Cassidy. Sometimes, you just have to admit that there’s another ‘you‘ out there in the world.
I took Cassidy Martin’s place, completed my doctorate abroad, and became a university professor. Later, Mr. Martin passed away, and his dying wish was to return to his homeland. So, I brought Mrs. Martin back to the States. Not long ago, Mrs. Martin also pas- sed. In this vast, indifferent world, I was once again alone.
As for Liam Vance, the child I had long left behind, I never imagined I would see him again. His sudden appearance caught me completely off guard.
I had once imagined what he would look like grown up. But he seemed to resemble neither me nor Julian. I searched my mind, but his childhood appearance was already a blur. When I left the Vance family, I was utterly alone, walking away with resolute finality. All the cherished photographs I possessed had been consumed by fire.
My thoughts raced, chaotic. Liam’s grip tightened, as if he feared I would vanish if he loosened his hold even slightly.
A familiar colleague passed by on their way to class, pausing to ask about the situation. They stepped in to help. “Young Mr. Vance, you’ve truly made a mistake. People simply resemble each other sometimes. Don’t delay Professor Martin’s class.”
Liam’s expression wavered, and his grip slackened. Seizing the chance, I quickly pulled my hand free and ascended the stairs. At the landing, I glanced back at Liam, who looked lost and forlorn. He was as striking as Julian, always effortlessly noticeable in a crowd. He seemed heartbroken. But I felt no pang of sympathy. I merely told myself, Cassidy, you can look back, but never walk back.
