Life Is So Much Sweeter Without You

The day Noelle Rutherford finds out she's pregnant, she braves the rain to go to a club that Chester Gray frequents. She stands outside a private room and pats her soaked hair dry with some tissues, wanting to surprise him when his get-together ends. Through the ajar door, she hears laughter. "Chester, your wedding to Noelle is in a week. Is your surprise for her ready?" "Of course," Chester says, his usually cool voice laced with tipsiness. "I'll make it a memory she'll never forget." Noelle pauses, and her lips curve upward in a sweet smile. Throughout her three years with Chester, he has truly cherished her like a treasure and loved her with all his heart. "Ha! Do you think she'll have a meltdown and lose her mind on the big day when she finds out I've been toying with her while pretending to be you this whole time?" Someone laughed. "She'd never in her wildest dreams imagine that Chester has an identical twin brother! When she finds out her boyfriend's brother has been playing her for three years…" Chapter 1 On the day Noelle Rutherford found out she was pregnant, she braved the rain to head to a club that was one of Chester Gray's usual haunts. She stood outside a private room and dried her hair with some tissues, wanting to surprise him with the news of her pregnancy when he came out. She heard laughter through the ajar door. "Chester, you're supposed to be marrying Noelle in a week. You're gonna surprise her during the wedding, right? Is everything ready?" "Yeah," Chester said. His usually calm and composed voice was edged with a hint of drunkenness. "It'll be a day she'll never forget." Noelle paused and smiled sweetly. She and Chester had been together for three years, and he'd truly treated her like a precious treasure, doting on her endlessly. Someone snorted. "Wanna bet she'll have a meltdown when she finds out the truth? She'll lose her mind on the big day when she discovers I've been pretending to be you and playing her this whole time!" Someone else laughed. "She'd never imagine Chester having an identical twin! When she finds out he's the one who's been getting into her pants these past three years… She's always been so proud, hasn't she? I can already imagine the look on her face when she finds out her boyfriend's brother has toyed with her for three years." The men's malicious laughter made Noelle freeze in place. The blood drained from her face. She could hardly believe her ears. Her feet moved on their own, taking a step forward so she could peer into the room. The next second, she saw a man who looked exactly like Chester sitting beside him. He was Chester's carbon copy, from his features to his hairstyle. Even the tiny mole at the corner of his eye was identical! That man scoffed and leaned back lazily. "It's her fault for bullying Winona. Winona is Chester's darling. As punishment, he'll make her feel on top of the world before dropping her into the abyss. Gotta say that he's put in some serious work to achieve that." The men who usually treated Noelle with warmth started tossing out jabs. "You're the real MVP here, Simon. You did all the hard labor, after all!" Someone laughed. "If I didn't look so different from you two, I'd love to take over the job!" "Tell me about it. Man, Noelle's face and body… If she loses her mind after the wedding, how about you guys let us play with her first?" "Chester cooked up a plan like this for Winona, put on an act for three years, and still managed to keep himself untainted. He's a straight-up love saint!" Chester Gray, Simon Gray, and Winona Johnson. Noelle's mind buzzed, and her blood ran cold. She couldn't breathe. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and tears streamed down her widened eyes, which had turned bloodshot. The bliss she thought she'd found was nothing but a web of lies. It was a trap that had been set for her for the sake of Winona, her bully. Once upon a time, when she'd jolted awake from nightmares of being bullied by Winona, Chester had held her close and told her not to be scared. Once upon a time, she'd told him about the agony of being bullied. Chester had soothed her time and time again, even taking her to see therapists. Noelle didn't dare believe, nor did she want to. She couldn't understand it. The love she'd felt was so intense and vivid. How could it be fake? The voices in the private room continued. "Winona's coming back soon, so you won't need to keep flying to her, Chester. Honestly, I don't know how you're not worn out from taking a flight every week!" "And I can finally be myself after three years of roleplaying! I'm the one who's stuck with Noelle each time Chester goes abroad…" "Your voices are different, though. Hasn't she ever noticed anything?" Simon snorted. "She's too big an idiot. I lower my voice, tell her I have pharyngitis, and that's enough to make her fuss over me. She gets up before the sun rises to make me something to soothe my throat!" Everyone laughed. Chester cut them off. "That's enough. Once the wedding is over, I'll give her a hefty sum as compensation. It'll be enough to ensure she's comfortable for life." "My, my. Chester, you're not taking pity on her, are you?" Noelle's heart flew to her throat, and she held her breath as she stared doggedly at Chester. After a heartbeat, he scoffed. "As if." "What about you, Simon? Has three years of putting it in her made you catch feelings?" Chester turned to look at Simon, who shook his head vigorously. "It's been three whole years—I've long since gotten sick of her. You wanna have her, Chester?" Chester sneered. "She's too filthy. Anyway, she's the one who begged for this wedding. I'm just paying her off so she won't pester me. There's not much time left, so you guys need to help me. I'm going to propose to Winona in a week after revealing the truth!" Chapter 2 Noelle didn't know how she even left the club. Raindrops pelted her, but she felt nothing. All she could think about was the conversation from the private room, which replayed in her mind. Winona Johnson… Whenever that name came up, Noelle couldn't stop shaking. She couldn't understand. Winona had already gone abroad, so why wouldn't she let her go? Why was she hell-bent on destroying her? All of this had happened over a meaningless "campus belle" title. Noelle's candid, barefaced photo had beaten Winona's retouched contest entry, so Winona and her gang had dragged Noelle into the restroom to teach her a lesson. They'd used every cruel trick possible to torment her before shoving her head into a toilet. Noelle had refused to kneel and apologize, so they'd made the next three years of her life a living hell. They'd ganged up to beat her, stabbed her with needles, hidden thumbtacks in her shoes, rallied the entire class to isolate and bully her, wrecked her part-time jobs, and smeared her reputation. Winona had even arranged for a bunch of rich boys to pursue Noelle. Noelle had once overheard the plan—Winona wanted her to be corrupted by money before having the rich boys dump her. Winona never fully succeeded, though. Even by junior year, when Winona had left to study abroad, she still hadn't broken Noelle completely. However, by then, Noelle was already deep in depression with the severe urge to harm herself. That was when Chester appeared. Unlike those other rich boys who'd pursued her and eyed her the way men appraised goods, he hadn't flung credit cards at her and called it affection. He'd had a clear, righteous gaze. He'd taken time to understand her situation and listen to what she needed. When he learned that her grandmother, Marie Wakefield, needed long-term medication, he didn't look down on her. Instead, he'd done whatever he could, within the bounds of what she could accept, to improve her life. Chester had helped Noelle find internships and part-time jobs. When she rushed between gigs, he'd sit with her in a convenience store for dinner and gently pat her head. "It must be tough, Elle. You're really amazing." Once, Marie had fallen ill while Noelle was out of town. It was Chester who'd brought her to the hospital and stayed by her side for a full day and night. The next day, when Noelle had made it back, he'd smiled and comforted her despite his exhaustion. "Marie's fine, so don't worry. Don't wear yourself out." At the time, a voice inside her had said, "This is it. Try to trust him. Whatever the ending, just cherish the present." And Chester really did keep treating her well. He'd even bravely defied his family for the sake of being with her. Simon's sneers echoed in Noelle's mind. "She's so dumb. How could our family ever allow a nobody like her to marry in? All it took was hiring two people to play a part. Chester pretended to stand up to our 'parents', and Noelle was moved to bits. "What an idiot. She didn't notice anything for the past three years. "She's stupid. Even now, she thinks Chester's devoted to her. "She's dumb. She's stupid. She's a fool…" Noelle collapsed in the rain. Her tears spilled over and mixed with the downpour. She really was dumb. Much too dumb. She suddenly threw back her head and laughed, sounding wild and unhinged. She let the torrential rain pound her face without mercy. Just then, her phone rang. It was Marie's caregiver. "Elle, come quick. Your grandmother's on the brink of death!" Noelle's mind went blank, and her ears buzzed. Her limbs turned to jelly. On instinct alone, she scrambled to her feet and rushed to the curb to hail a car. However, every car flew past, their lights flashing and horns blaring, refusing to stop. She was about to run to the hospital when a car pulled over. A tough-looking man asked where she was heading. Beyond caring about safety, she dove into the car. By the time Noelle reached the hospital, the doctor had already issued a critical notice. "She has respiratory failure. There's no point in further resuscitation. You should spend these last moments with her." Noelle dropped to her knees with a thud, her hands trembling as she clasped Marie's. Marie forced a smile. "Elle, don't cry… I'm sorry… I couldn't hold on long enough to see your wedding…" Noelle shook her head hard. She couldn't get any words out, nor could she stop her low, aching sobs. Marie struggled to scan the room. "Where's Chester? I want to see him…" "Okay." Noelle's voice was so hoarse it was barely there. She pulled out her phone and called Chester again and again. Each call was rejected, so she fired off messages in a hurry. "Chester, Grandma has respiratory failure. She can't hold on anymore. Please come to the hospital. She wants to see you one last time. "Chester, Grandma's waiting for you. It's just one meeting. Can you come? "Chester, I'm begging you…" Her shaking fingers flew over the keyboard. Her tears fell onto the screen from her reddened eyes. At that moment, the lies and betrayal didn't matter. As long as Chester came—as long as Marie could leave in peace—nothing else mattered. But Chester never replied. Noelle stopped and forced out an ugly smile. She squeezed Marie's hand and tried to comfort her. She said, "Grandma, I think Chester's tied up with something. Don't worry about us, alright? We're getting along fine, and our wedding is next week. I'll be happy, so please don't worry…" Suddenly, Marie's grip tightened. She fixed her eyes on Noelle and whispered, "Elle, live well… Be happy…" Her hand loosened and went limp. In her final moments, there was still worry in her gaze. Noelle stared at their hands dazedly. Then, she broke down and collapsed on the floor, crying her heart out. That night, she numbly went through the process of dealing with Marie's affairs. Chester still didn't reply. While waiting, she unblocked Winona's social media and checked her posts. "I was going to fly home early for a surprise, but I was the one surprised!" The attached photo was taken at the airport. Chester wore a mascot costume and held flowers. His head was slick with sweat, but he wore a warm smile, and his gaze was tender. There was another picture of him with Winona. She smiled sweetly while his head was turned to her, his gaze lingering and full of love. Noelle let out a bitter laugh and turned off the screen. The next day at noon, she returned to the hospital with Marie's urn in her arms. She did two things. First, she scheduled an abortion for three days later. Second, she submitted her application to join Doctors Without Borders. Her superior, Tanya Brown, was shocked. "Weren't you getting married soon?" Noelle went quiet for a moment. "Not anymore. I want to leave, Dr. Brown. The faster, the better." Tanya didn't press for more information when she saw Noelle's bloodshot eyes and urgent expression. "You just barely caught the application deadline. I'll give you the next few days off to prepare. Gather at the hospital to depart in a week." "Got it." A week from now was exactly the day she was supposed to marry Chester. Not only would she leave on that day, but she would also send him, Simon, and Winona a grand gift—one they would never forget. Chapter 3 Knowing she was heading somewhere dangerous, Noelle decided to give Marie a proper burial. She bought a cremation pendant, tucked a strand of Marie's hair and a pinch of ashes inside, and buried the rest at the cemetery. She kneeled before the headstone, clutching the pendant at her chest. "Grandma, don't worry. I'm about to do what I've always wanted to do, and I'll keep myself safe." By the time Noelle returned to the villa, it was already dusk. The moment she stepped inside, she heard laughter in the living room. She froze, and Chester spotted her at once. He strode over and drew her in. "Come on, let me introduce you to two friends." A man and a woman stood from the couch and turned to look at her, somewhat malicious mischief flickering in their eyes. It was Winona and Simon. Noelle couldn't stop the tremor that ran through her. It was her body's reflex whenever she faced Winona. Chester sounded happy. "Winona is a childhood friend, and Simon is my twin brother. They just got back from studying abroad and happened to make it in time for our wedding." Winona waved and flashed a sweet smile. "Elle and I know each other—we were roommates in college." She bounced forward, slipped her arm through Noelle's, and whispered in her ear, "Right, Elle?" A flood of images crashed through Noelle's mind. Every time Winona finished bullying her, she would lean in and murmur, "It's just some fun between roommates. Right, Elle?" Noelle jolted like she'd been shocked and pushed Winona away. The latter landed on the floor, her face full of wounded innocence. "Elle, you still don't like me? I just want to get along with you." Both Chester's and Simon's expressions darkened. Chester hurried over to help Winona up, his gaze turning chilly. Meanwhile, Simon frowned in displeasure. "Chester, your fiancee's got quite the temper. She's not even part of our family yet, and she's already so full of herself." Chester sheltered Winona behind him, his tone angry and icy. "Noelle, apologize!" Noelle stared at the three of them, her hands balling into fists by her sides. She felt her heart tear open as she thought of what she'd overheard the night before, leaving a raw and jagged wound. She turned in silence to leave. She'd barely taken two steps when a hand clamped hard around her wrist and yanked, the force nearly making her stumble. She looked up into Chester's eyes, which boiled with rage. "Who said you could go?" Simon said coolly, "The Gray family is a proper household with deep roots, and manners are very important to us. You need to teach your fiancee a lesson, Chester." "You're right." Chester's gaze turned frosty. "Elle, you're about to become the lady of the Gray household. You must watch your tongue and your behavior at all times. Reflect on what you did today." He dragged her down to the basement and shoved her into a room there. Before she could react, the door slammed shut. The door was tightly sealed, shutting out every trace of light. Only then did Noelle realize it was a windowless, pitch-black room. Her breathing sped up in the pure darkness, and her panic surged. She pounded on the door, but no one answered, no matter how she shouted. Terror swallowed her whole. In college, Winona had locked Noelle in a dark room for three days with no sound or light. Time had stretched into a torture that felt endless. Noelle had had a breakdown then. She'd feared darkness ever since, and claustrophobia had followed. For years now, she'd kept every light on at night, even sleeping that way. At first, Chester couldn't get used to it. But after learning what she'd been through, he'd held her and soothed her. "It's okay. From now on, we'll sleep with the lights on at home. Don't be scared." He'd initially tossed and turned in his sleep, waking easily. But each time she offered to try turning the lights off, he'd refused. "Elle, don't force yourself to do anything. I can adapt." He knew. They all knew. Yet they'd still chosen this as Noelle's punishment, and it was just because she'd pushed Winona. Noelle curled up in the corner, hugging herself as she trembled, a dull ache throbbing in her chest. Of course. The tenderness had always been an act. They'd staged it for her sake. Even this dark room was likely designed just for her. Chapter 4 Two days later, Chester opened the door with a pleased smile. "Winona's not mad at you for what happened anymore. Clean yourself up—we're going to try on wedding dresses and pick out rings." Noelle was taken to a bridal boutique. As soon as she got out of the car, she saw Winona and Simon already waiting inside. Winona greeted her warmly. "Elle, you're here! I didn't get to congratulate you last time. Chester and I are best friends, so let me keep you company and help you choose the perfect dress today!" She smiled, clearly waiting to see Noelle lose her composure. But Noelle showed neither fear nor disgust. She smiled back and said, "Thank you. I appreciate it." Winona's expression darkened for a split second before she smiled again. Hooking her arms through Chester's and Simon's, she said cryptically, "Then I'll try some on with you. I'm going to be a bride very soon myself." Noelle offered a calm smile. "Congratulations." Winona's gaze turned frosty. From that moment on, any gown Noelle so much as glanced at, Winona would flag down a sales associate and rush to be the first to try it. Each time she came out of the changing room, she would grab Chester's hand. "Chester, what do you think? Isn't it gorgeous?" And each time, Chester would stare at her as if enchanted. He would shower her with praise. Simon hovered at Winona's side, too. The two of them ignored Noelle completely. A sales associate sighed with envy. "This bride is so lucky…" Winona let out a playful yelp and turned to Noelle, who stood off to the side like an outsider. "Sorry, Elle. You're the actual bride. You should've tried first." She thumped Chester's chest. "Chester, what's wrong with you? How can you leave your own bride standing around?" The sales associates looked embarrassed, and Simon's lips curved into a mocking smile. Only then did Chester look toward Noelle. "See anything you like?" Noelle picked one at random and went to try it on. When she came out, the three of them were already gone. A sales associate gave her a sympathetic look. "Ms. Johnson said she was going to pick out rings, miss. The two gentlemen went with her. You…" "It's fine." Noelle took off the dress, handed it back, and walked out. Soon after, Winona updated her social media with a photo of a diamond ring, embedded with pavé gemstones. "A ring Chester bought at an auction." Noelle glanced at it, locked her screen, and went back to packing. Beyond clothes and daily essentials she needed to take with her, she gathered up everything else that belonged to her—including the gifts she'd once given Chester—and threw them away or destroyed them. As for anything Chester had given her, she didn't touch at all. She had just finished packing a suitcase and slid it into the closet when Chester walked in, holding a blue velvet box. "I bought you this ring at an auction." Noelle recognized it—it was a free gift that had come with the ring Winona had shared on her social media. She accepted it calmly and set it aside. Her reaction was so cool that it made Chester frown. His gaze drifted and landed on the trash can, where he saw the couple's mugs she used to cherish. A flicker of unease crossed his heart, and he raised a brow. "Why'd you throw the mugs away? Are you mad?" She pressed her lips together. "No." That only seemed to confirm it for Chester. "Is it because of what happened at the bridal boutique? Winona's just a good friend of mine. We haven't seen each other in years, so of course I paid her a little extra attention." He wrapped his arms around Noelle. "There's no need to be jealous of her. If there was something between us, we would've gotten together long ago, right? You're my bride, Elle. Don't you understand how I feel about you?" At that, Noelle's heart lurched. She felt like a fist had clamped hard around it, making a sharp pain shoot through it. Her eyes reddened. Chester ruffled her hair when he noticed. "I'm sorry, Elle. I upset you." Hearing that, Noelle's fingers trembled. She curled them into fists, making her nails bite into her palms. In that instant, she wanted to question him. She wanted to peel back his sincerity from his lies, to know whether he'd harbored even a shred of genuine love for her in the past three years. But she swallowed the words when they were at the tip of her tongue. Chester's phone rang, and he immediately answered. "Winona? I'll be right there." After hanging up, he mussed Noelle's hair again. "I've got something to take care of, so don't wait up for me. You'll be the most beautiful bride in a few days." With that, he turned and left in a hurry. Noelle sat on the bed and swallowed back her tears. Two hours later, she finished washing up and got into bed to hit the hay. Just as she was drifting off, the door swung open. Chester, who was supposed to be hosting a party at a bar with Winona, walked in. He smelled of alcohol. He carelessly ripped open his shirt, tossed back the covers, and pressed down on Noelle. The instant their skin touched, Noelle's drowsiness was dispelled. She knew with blinding clarity that the man on top of her was Simon. Chapter 5 Noelle's body went rigid, and her face drained of all color. She threw all her strength into shoving Simon off her and curled up at the head of the bed. He frowned at her before lifting a brow. "Are you still mad?" He rubbed his temples, his mannerisms exactly like Chester's. Even his voice, soaked with alcohol, was indistinguishable. If Noelle hadn't heard that Chester had kept himself chaste for Winona, she wouldn't have been able to tell them apart. Simon leaned in again, caging her in with his arms on either side of her, their noses nearly touching. "I already told you that if I had feelings for Winona, you and I would never be getting married." He moved to kiss her. Her eyes widened, and she jerked aside, gagging. She retched until her eyes turned red; she couldn't stop. She shoved Simon away and ran for the bathroom. He watched her, his brows knitting and eyes glinting. In the bathroom, Noelle slid down the wall, ending up in a squat on the floor. Outside the door, Simon's voice cut in abruptly. "You guys heard that, right? She's gagging. Don't tell me she's pregnant." A burst of startled chatter followed. One of his buddies shouted, "Don't let this get out of hand, Simon! What if she clings to you after the truth is out?" Noelle stiffened, and her blood ran cold. It hit her that Simon's phone had been on a call the whole time. Winona's voice came through. "Chester, Simon, this is too much…" "Too much?" Chester's tone was icy. "She's been targeting you for ages. This is the punishment she deserves." Winona sounded worried. "But what if she really is pregnant?" After a beat of silence, Chester and Simon said in unison, "That's impossible!" Chester sounded merciless on the other end of the line. "Even if she is, we'll make sure it's taken care of. Right, Simon?" Simon's Adam's apple bobbed. "O-Of course." For some reason, he felt a sudden, sharp twist in his chest. The next second, he saw Noelle open the door and stare at him, her face as white as a sheet. His heart sank. He hurriedly hung up and stepped forward. "What's wrong, Elle? You look awful. Are you feeling okay? Are you… Pregnant?" Noelle held his gaze and curled her lip. "No. My stomach's just acting up." … The following morning, Noelle went to the hospital for her scheduled abortion. The attending doctor knew her and tried to persuade her otherwise before the procedure. "Elle, the baby already has a heartbeat at seven weeks, and all the indicators look good. Are you sure you want to terminate?" Noelle nodded, looking steady. "I'm positive." It was noon by the time she left the hospital. Chester called, and his car pulled up at the entrance moments later. He hopped out and guided her into the passenger seat. "Come on, I'm taking you to lunch." They rode in silence, a small smile playing on Chester's lips the whole time. The song playing in his car was Winona's favorite from their college days. It was also the one Noelle hated most. As soon as they reached the restaurant, they saw Winona and Simon already waiting for them. Winona pointed at the cake on the table. "Elle, I crossed the line yesterday, so I queued for this trending cake to apologize. You have to try it." During the meal, she kept reminiscing about her, Chester, and Simon as kids. "Chester and Simon have always spoiled me. When we played house, they'd fight over who got to be my groom! "Once, I climbed a tree and couldn't get down. Chester sprawled on the ground to be my cushion. "In middle school, some boys cornered me, and the two of them got hurt badly trying to protect me. They were in the hospital for ages." Chester and Simon laughed along. The three of them chatted warmly, while Noelle stayed silent. Winona suddenly turned to her. "Elle, why aren't you saying anything? Do you have a problem with me? I know we had misunderstandings in college, but I hope we can be best friends now that you're marrying Chester." She lifted her glass and smirked at Noelle. Noelle didn't move for a long moment or even look at her. She suddenly clutched the front of her blouse as her breath came in gasps. Angry red hives spread across her forearm, forming a shocking and raw sight. She fumbled for her bag. "You're having an allergic reaction!" Chester shot to his feet, reaching for her bag. Noelle had a severe peanut allergy. She was usually careful, but in case of accidental exposure and no time to get help, she always kept an EpiPen in her bag. It was something that could save her life when seconds mattered. She'd already grabbed the EpiPen when Winona said weakly, "Chester, I feel awful…" She also clawed at her chest, her face looking pale as she fell back. Chapter 6 "Winona!" Simon, who was beside Winona, caught her. "Chester, Winona looks like she's having an allergic reaction!" Chester froze mid-stride, remembering that Noelle had ordered seafood broth during the meal. His expression went cold in an instant as he turned and stormed over to Noelle. She'd already hitched up her skirt and was about to inject herself. Suddenly, a hand clamped down on her wrist without warning and yanked the EpiPen out of her grip. She looked up in disbelief and met Chester's icy gaze. "You caused Winona to have an allergic reaction. She needs the medication first!" With that, he marched straight to Winona and swiftly administered the injection without the slightest bit of hesitation. Sensing Noelle's stare, Simon said coolly, "You're a doctor, Noelle. You should have other ways of saving yourself. Winona doesn't know anything—she needs the EpiPen more." Chester finished the injection, scooped Winona into his arms, and rushed out. Simon chased after them. "I'll get the car!" Noelle collapsed to the floor, her bloodshot eyes locked on their retreating figures. From beginning to end, none of them looked back. As her consciousness blurred, she saw a waiter rush in. "Miss, are you okay?" … Noelle was unconscious for a full day. When she woke, Chester was seated at her bedside. He took her hand, his voice soft with concern. "Elle, you're finally awake. Are you feeling any discomfort?" She pulled her hand free and closed her eyes. Chester didn't get mad. He brushed a stray lock from her temple. "Elle, I know you're mad at me, but the Gray and Johnson families have deep ties. We can't let anything happen to Winona on our watch. "I had no choice. You're about to become a member of the Gray family—we have shared interests. You should be more understanding. You know I love you most, don't you?" Simon appeared in the doorway. "Come on, Noelle. Chester had no choice. Affluent families like ours have our own problems; we have to put the bigger picture first. As your family, we can only ask you to bear with it for now." Noelle's hands balled into tight fists under the blanket. She opened her eyes and fixed her gaze on the two men as she sneered inwardly. They were leaving no stone unturned to sweet-talk and brainwash her. She didn't want to argue with them, so she shut her eyes again. "I want to rest." Only when their footsteps faded did she open her eyes. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. "Hello, am I speaking to a live-streaming company? I'd like to place an order…" After hanging up, her hand moved on instinct to the pendant at her chest, only to grasp at nothing. The pendant containing Marie's hair and ashes was gone! Panic surged. Noelle hurriedly searched the area around the hospital bed to no avail. She was about to go find a nurse when she received a text. Winona had sent a photo of her necklace. "If you want it back, come now. Otherwise, I'll dump what's inside into the toilet." A crushing fury washed over Noelle, almost making her vision go dark. Her chest heaved with rage as she rushed to Winona's hospital room. Inside, Winona stood by the window, the necklace dangling from her fingertips. It swayed just outside the windowsill, ready to drop at any moment. "Winona Johnson, give me back my necklace!" Chapter 7 Winona's lips curled into a nasty smile. "You saw my social media updates, right? And here I thought you would keep putting on that holier-than-thou act. You wanted me dead so badly in the past, yet here you are, putting up with anything just to marry into the Gray family." Noelle kept her gaze on the necklace dangling from Winona's hand. She dug her nails into her palm and snarled, "Give me back my necklace!" Winona shifted it a bit further past the windowsill. "Get on your knees and prostrate yourself before me if you want it. Admit you're a pathetic hypocrite." "Never!" Noelle shook with rage. "Don't push me too far, Winona!" Winona laughed meanly. "Is this the first time you've realized just how far I can push? That stubborn attitude of yours and your refusal to bend to anyone's will is what I hate most about you. If you'd just kneeled to me back then, I wouldn't have kept targeting you for years. "You've seen how much I mean to Chester. Here's the deal—grovel at my feet and beg me for mercy. Not only will I return the necklace, but I'll also help you get a solid foothold in the Gray family." "I won't kneel!" Noelle clenched her fists tightly and stalked toward Winona, one measured step at a time. "You couldn't break me before, and you never will! I will never bow to someone as vile as you!" "You—" Winona barked out an irritated laugh. "Fine, then. Since you don't want the necklace, let's just toss it." Her fingers flicked down. Silver flashed, and the necklace slipped, dropping fast. "Give it back!" Noelle screamed, lunging to catch it. But she was too late. The necklace fell from more than ten floors up as she watched. Her eyes turned bloodshot. She whirled to run downstairs, but Winona yanked tight on her clothes, holding her back. She sounded like she was about to cry as she pleaded, "I'm sorry, Elle. I won't go near Chester again. Please don't push me off…" At the same time, a chorus of furious voices erupted behind them. "Noelle Rutherford! What are you doing?" A hand clamped down on Noelle's wrist, squeezing hard enough to crush bone. The next second, she was flung aside. Her tailbone slammed into the floor. Her face went white from the pain, and sweat poured down her back. Chester and Simon rushed to Winona, scanning her anxiously. "Winona, are you okay?" She wept delicately. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Chester, we should stop contacting each other from now on…" "What are you talking about?" Chester pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry. I won't let you suffer in silence." With that, he turned to Noelle, glaring at her with white-hot fury. "I can't believe you're still bullying Winona after all these years, Noelle!" Noelle's face was ashen with pain. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her voice shook as she protested, "I didn't… She threw my necklace, and I—" "That's enough!" Chester cut her off with a roar. He stared at her, disappointment clouding his eyes. "Even now, you're making excuses. Winona has always been gentle and timid—how could she ever bully anyone? You're the one who's at fault! Someone else bullied you, yet you took it out on her!" Noelle's eyes widened. At last, everything snapped into place. "I didn't! She's the one who's been bullying me! She's tormented me this whole time—" A brutal slap cracked across her face before she could finish. Her right cheek went numb, and the metallic taste of blood flooded her mouth. "You still won't see sense!" Rage and disgust burned in Chester's sharp eyes. "If you aren't taught a lesson now, who knows what you'll do? You'll push someone out a window today, so will you start committing murder tomorrow?" He and Simon grabbed her by the wrists, one on either side, and dragged her out of the room. "What are you doing?" Intense panic surged up inside Noelle. Her face turned white as she struggled. No one answered. No matter how she fought, Chester and Simon just hauled her forward in silence, their tight jawlines carved with fury. In one last glance back at the hospital room, Noelle met Winona's eyes. They were smug, vicious, and triumphant. Chapter 8 Noelle was led to a bungee platform at the mountaintop. The tower rose over 300 feet, and the cliff yawned beneath her feet. The second she stepped onto it, her face went chalk-white, and her legs started to shake. Chester's and Simon's expressions remained icy. They took the safety locks from the staff and personally buckled them on her, forcing her to the edge of the jump platform. Noelle stared into the abyss below, her whole body going rigid. All she could hear was the thundering of her own heartbeat. Her voice trembled. "Chester, you know I'm terrified of heights…" "I know." He looked at her without a flicker of emotion. "Since you tried to push Winona out the window, I'll give you a taste of what it's like to fall. This is the punishment you deserve, Elle. The lady of the Gray household can't be a vicious woman. Learn your lesson today. If you're sincere about correcting your errors, we'll get married as planned." Simon pressed his lips into a hard line, his gaze clouded over. "Don't be scared. You won't die." With that, they reached out and shoved her over the edge. The brutal drop seized her. Noelle's heartbeat stopped for a few seconds, and her chest ached. Terror beyond words sealed her throat; she couldn't even scream. All that came out were strangled whimpers and tears that scattered in the wind. Her eyes held nothing but desolation and despair. She was left hanging upside down over the cliff for half an hour. Only when her breathing faltered and her consciousness began to fray did they haul her back up. Noelle collapsed on the platform, gasping for air, trying to ease the tingling in her limbs from lack of oxygen. The next second, a staff member stepped forward. "Ms. Rutherford, before Mr. Chester and Mr. Simon left, they ordered that you had to jump ten times before you could leave." Noelle hadn't even processed the words when she was pushed off again. Once, twice, thrice… Each time, she was left dangling over the cliff for half an hour. The brief breaks in between didn't ease the oxygen deprivation. As Noelle's mind grew fuzzier, the ten jumps were finally over. The sky was already pitch-black. The platform's harsh white floodlights were all that held Noelle's last scraps of awareness. Only one staff member remained on-site. He unfastened her safety rope. As he turned to leave, his pant leg was grabbed. "Take me… to the hospital…" Noelle's voice was barely more than a whisper. It spent the last drop of her strength. The staff member shook his head. "I'm sorry, Ms. Rutherford. Mr. Chester and Mr. Simon made it clear that no one is to help you. The Gray family owns this area, and I don't want to lose my job." He left. The glare of the floodlights stung Noelle's eyes, making tears slip down her face. She rested there for a while before forcing herself to stand and make her way down the mountain. She was halfway down it when she came across a kind tourist who was also on the way back. They brought her back to the city. Noelle didn't go back to the villa. Instead, she went straight to the hospital and, with a flashlight, started searching the lawn beneath the inpatient department for the necklace. The branches in the hedges scraped her skin, and mosquitoes bit her until she was covered in welts. However, she didn't seem to notice. She combed the grass inch by inch. As time dragged on, she grew more frantic. Tears shimmered in her bloodshot eyes. Suddenly, a shout came from behind her. "Who are you? What do you think you're doing?" It was a hospital security guard. With his help, she found the cleaner in charge of the lawn. "Yeah, I did notice a necklace. I figured nobody wanted it and tossed it into the trash." Noelle pressed, "Which trash can?" The cleaner shook his head. "It's already been cleared and sent to the dump. I'm afraid you won't be able to find it, even if you want it now." Noelle's tears fell at once. "Which dump? That necklace is very important to me. I have to get it back!" Chapter 9 Noelle searched the junkyard for an entire day. The moment she found the necklace, the tears she'd been holding back finally fell. But the next second, she realized the pendant was empty. The hair and ashes she'd stored inside were gone. Her head buzzed, and she ran for the hospital with the necklace clutched in her hand. Just as she reached the entrance, she ran into Winona, who had been discharged. Winona covered her nose and stepped back with exaggerated disgust. "Which dumpster did this piece of garbage crawl out of?" Noelle stared her down. "Where are the things that were in my pendant?" Winona glanced at the necklace in Noelle's hand and suddenly laughed. "You mean that filthy stuff? I dumped them in the toilet and flushed them away ages ago." "Winona Johnson!" Noelle shook with fury. Her ears buzzed, and her eyes blazed with hatred. She lunged forward, grabbed Winona by the collar, and slapped her hard across the face with all her strength. Winona staggered backward, clutching her cheek. She fell into Chester's arms. Noelle looked up, meeting his icy, murderous gaze. "You still haven't learned your lesson, Noelle." Her eyes were bloodshot, and her voice trembled as she said, "She flushed my grandma's ashes down the toilet—" "That's enough!" Chester's disgust deepened. "I can't believe you're even cursing your own grandmother to hurt Winona. You make me sick." The next second, he seized her wrist and shoved her hard. The driver of a speeding cab blared the horn, unable to brake in time. He slammed into Noelle. She was sent flying before landing in the flowerbed. Agonizing pain tore through her chest; thick blood spilled from the corner of her mouth. She instinctively looked toward Chester, only to see him shielding Winona with heartache in his eyes. He ushered her into the car Simon had brought around. From beginning to end, he didn't spare Noelle a single glance. She blacked out. … Noelle lay in the hospital for two days. Through Winona's social media updates, she saw Chester escorting her to banquets and public events. With the wedding so close, he couldn't hold back anymore. He didn't even bother putting on an act. Noelle made her own preparations for the wedding day. The afternoon before the wedding, Chester came to pick her up from the hospital. He brought her favorite bellflowers. "I was too impulsive the other day, so this is my apology. But you need to stop targeting Winona, too. Tomorrow is our wedding. I've prepared a surprise for you." Noelle looked at him quietly for a few seconds. Then, she suddenly smiled and took the bouquet from him. "Perfect. I've prepared a surprise for you, too." Chester paused. A flicker of awkwardness flashed in his eyes before he smoothed it over. On the drive back to the villa, the weather turned, and there was a torrential downpour. When thunder cracked, Chester grew restless and on edge. He kept one hand on the wheel while dialing Winona over and over again with the other. The calls went unanswered. He abruptly slammed on the brakes, pulled over, and grabbed an umbrella from the car. He handed it to Noelle. "I've got something to deal with. You should grab a cab back." With that, he unfastened her seatbelt and leaned over to open her door. Noelle didn't take the umbrella. She simply gave Chester an unreadable look before stepping out without a backward glance and shutting the door. He hesitated and stared at the umbrella in his hand. An odd feeling flickered through him. He moved to open the door again to bring Noelle the umbrella, but Winona's call came at that moment. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. "Chester, I'm scared… Hurry up and come to me…" Chester blanched. His hand moved away from the door handle, and he immediately drove off. Noelle stood there, only just realizing that she'd carried the bouquet Chester had given her out of the car. As she watched the taillights vanish into the rain, she set the flowers on a trash can and hailed a cab. Back at the villa, she received a message from Chester. "I've got some urgent matters to deal with, so I won't be home tonight." She didn't reply. Maybe it was because she'd been in the rain, but she ran a low fever that night, drifting in and out of dreams. One moment, she saw Winona beating her up until she couldn't stand. Then, she pressed a foot to her face to humiliate her. The next moment, she saw Chester soothing her, cooking for her, and watching movies with her. Lastly, she saw the first time they'd slept together and the countless times after. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes. When she woke, her gaze was nothing but ice. It was her and Chester's wedding day, which happened to fall a week after Marie's death. At first light, Noelle took her suitcase to the cemetery. After leaving the gravesite, she grabbed a cab to the hospital to join the group departure. On her way there, she checked her WhatsApp to confirm every detail and contingency for the wedding with the team. Then, she found a livestream channel she'd bookmarked and tapped in. On camera, a glamorous influencer greeted the audience. "Hello, everyone! Today, by the bride's invitation, we're attending a wedding and broadcasting it live…" Noelle stared at the phone screen, a cold, dark light glinting in her eyes.