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…"

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!"

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.

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.