Giselle had always believed the inheritance was hers for the taking, but she was wrong.

Just three days ago, my grandmother, who lives overseas, contacted me. The real will was in her hands. I had thought it would serve as my security after marriage, but now it had become my means of protecting myself.

After contacting my grandmother's assistant, I leaned wearily against the headboard.

Suddenly, the door opened, and the doctor stepped in.

"Miss, you're pregnant," he announced.

"I know," I replied, lowering my head as I gently touched my slightly rounded belly. I looked up at him and added, "Could you please keep this a secret?"

"Why?"

The doctor paused, slightly surprised. "Mr. Miller would be thrilled to know!"

I gave a bitter smile, remembering what Chester had said earlier. "I know. That's why I want to tell him myself," I said.

The doctor agreed to keep my secret, prescribed some medication to protect the pregnancy, and warned me not to let myself get upset or stressed, or the baby could be at risk.

Nothing could shock me more than today's news.

I was still lost in thought when the door swung open and Chester appeared. His sharp, arrogant presence was unmistakable, and it struck me as absurd that I had never paid attention to it before.

"Why did you pass out again? Don't you realize how busy I am?" he scolded.

I avoided his gaze and murmured, "Sorry, but you didn't really need to come."

Chester snorted and stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Are you sulking with me, Miranda?"

I pushed his hand away and replied, "No, who in the world dares to get mad at you, Mr. Miller?"

Chester seemed to notice the tension in my voice and frowned. At that moment, his phone rang. After glancing at the caller ID, he turned and walked out without a word. Before leaving, he instructed the doctor, "Get her back in top shape. If she can't make the wedding in three days, you're done for."

The doctors envied Chester's devotion, but only I knew the truth. He simply didn't want to miss seeing me embarrassed and humiliated in front of everyone. And yet, I found myself anticipating the wedding even more than they did.

I arranged for my discharge that very day. That evening, Felix was taken aback when he saw me.

He threw himself at me with his usual enthusiasm. "Darling, you're discharged? How come?"

I smiled and teased him, "Weren't you the one who told me to leave the hospital? Don't you remember?"

Felix's smile faltered for a brief moment, but it quickly relaxed back into its usual warmth. "I was just joking. A healthy body needs a happy mind, too. Look, I just bought this pearl necklace for you. You'll look stunning wearing it on our wedding day."

He held up an elegant pearl necklace and draped it around my neck from behind. The faint scent of tobacco lingered on him as he pressed close, biting gently at my ear.

"Darling, why don't you wear this tonight? You'll look beautiful…" he murmured.

His touch drifted across my body as his lips left a path of gentle kisses from my neck all the way to my chest.

His breath was hot against my skin, yet I felt nothing.

I broke free from his hold at my waist. Felix's expression flickered with surprise, though he calmly said, "Mira, are you alright?"

"I'm not feeling well," I whispered.

He immediately straightened and rubbed my head.

"Right, you just got out of the hospital," he said with a regretful sigh. "Get some rest tonight. I'll take care of things in the bathroom myself."

Before leaving, he pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Mira, get better soon. I don't want to wait too long."

Words that once would have made me blush now churned my stomach with unease.

The moment Felix stepped into the bathroom, I yanked the necklace off my neck and prepared to toss it in the trash. But my hand froze midair.

I couldn't let them know I had noticed.

With a resigned sigh, I put the necklace back on.

When Felix returned, I was staring blankly at the pearls around my neck.

"Do you really like it that much?" he teased, looping an arm around my neck.

I nodded without expression.

He chuckled softly. "Then, I'll get you plenty more. You'll never run out of ways to wear them."

I had to admit he was much better at pretending than Chester. Even knowing that in three days we would part ways, he held me close that night and slept peacefully, while I remained awake the entire time.

"Mira, you're so good…"

Felix's sleepy whisper brushed against my ear, and the sound of my name made my heart jolt. Do people lie in their dreams? If he wasn't lying, then why did he keep treating me like a plaything?

I glanced at Felix, the man who had shared endless nights with me, and my eyes filled with tears. I couldn't sleep that night, and that was when I witnessed Felix and Chester's "shift change".

Chester glanced at me lying asleep on the bed and clicked his tongue. "I wish daylight didn't exist. I don't want to waste my time on her."

Felix patted his shoulder. "Chester, just hang in there for two more days. You'll be free soon."

Chester nodded. "Yeah, same for you. You don't have to force yourself through it anymore."

Felix froze for a moment, but Chester didn't even notice the former's expression.

…

When I opened my eyes again, Chester was perched at the edge of the bed, casually sipping his coffee.

"Time to get up. Don't you remember? We're trying on wedding dresses today."

I mechanically threw back the covers, quickly washed up, and followed him to the car.

The ride was silent. Chester seemed a little surprised. After all, I used to cling to him and make a fuss nonstop.

At the bridal shop, I wandered through the dresses absentmindedly, while Chester ignored me entirely, absorbed in his chat screen.

"Let's go with this one," I said, pointing randomly at a dress.

Just as the sales assistant was about to wrap the dress, a familiar voice cut through the air. "I like this one, too!"

The moment Giselle appeared, Chester's eyes snapped to her.

All the years of humiliation and resentment surged at the sight of her. I turned to the assistant. "Wrap it for me."

The assistants glanced at each other nervously. I threw my card onto the counter and pressed, "I said wrap it up. I saw this dress first."

Giselle said nothing. She just crossed her arms and watched Chester on the couch.

He put down his newspaper and approached me, pressing his hand onto mine. "It's only a wedding dress. If you don't have the patience for something this trivial, you're not worthy of being the lady of the Miller family," he said coldly.

The assistants had hesitated at first because they feared the Miller family's power. When they saw Chester siding with Giselle, they immediately smiled and handed her the wrapped wedding dress.

Just as she was about to pay, Chester stepped forward, snatched my card, and handed it to the assistant. "I'll take care of her wedding dress."

I stared at him in disbelief.

If it were the past, I would have broken down, unable to understand why he would side with someone who humiliated me.

Now, it was all perfectly clear.

After years of calculated closeness and endless lies spanning days and nights, giving up a single wedding dress meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I walked toward the door.

Suddenly, Giselle grabbed my hand and dropped the wrapped dress at my feet.

She looked down at me with a smug smile. "Looks like you really wanted this dress, so I'll be generous and give it to you. Stop crying. Men hate it when women just sit there and bawl. Am I right, Mr. Miller?"

Chester didn't respond. He simply instructed the assistant to pick up the dress bag and hand it to me. "Let's go. Don't make a scene out here."

That was it. I lost control and flung the dress bag straight at him.

Both Chester and Giselle froze in shock.

Chester was the first to recover. He ran after me. "Miranda, what are you doing? It's just a dress!"

I shrugged off his hand and stared at him through tear-filled eyes. "Just a wedding dress? Chester, ask yourself—was it really just a wedding dress?

"If you think I'm embarrassing myself, if you think I'm overreacting, then let's not get married! I don't need a wedding dress anymore. Fine by me, fine by you!"

Chester had never seen me like this. In the past, a single frown from him would make me immediately submit.

For the first time, panic flickered across his usually stoic face. He reached out and grabbed my shoulder. "Calm down!"

I shrugged his hand off.

"Miranda!"

Frustration laced his voice, but I didn't look back, leaving him only with the sight of my resolute back.

Having lost my parents early, I had always been starved for love, and Chester was the first person to give it to me. He mattered to me, even more than myself.

I had always obeyed him. Even when he asked me to do things I didn't like—like the strange games he liked in bed—I went along with them, just to make him happy.

It was clear now—Chester and Felix had always expected me to follow their every command. I wasn't going to do it anymore.

Chester's frown deepened. "Didn't they say she was dutiful? Looks like she's not exactly obedient."

Giselle linked her arm with his and said softly, "Chester, I know you love me, but it's clear you don't like her. Just put up with it for a couple of days for my sake."

Chester nodded slightly and turned his gaze away. "I'll handle it. We'll stick to the plan."

I had been running for a long time and was just about to call my grandmother when I realized I had left my bag at the bridal shop.

I deliberately waited at the bus stop for an hour before taking a cab back to the store, only to find Chester and Giselle still there.

He was picking out a wedding dress for her. He didn't lounge on the couch reading a newspaper like usual. Instead, he went through each dress carefully.

I had never seen Chester so focused and gentle, not even the first time we met when he had tended to my injury.

I let out a self-mocking laugh, wondering if that was what it truly felt like to love someone.

They spent another hour in the shop, and I watched from a nearby gazebo the entire time. Finally, they left together, carrying their selections. On the rain-soaked street, they kissed in the car.

I lowered my head and walked into the shop to grab my bag, just in time to hear the staff whispering.

"Oh, my God, I always thought Mr. Miller was all tough and intimidating, but he's shockingly gentle."

"Yeah, but he seemed a bit cold to his fiancee just now. At times, I almost thought Ms. Thorne was the one he really cared about."

"That makes sense. Ms. Thorne does come from a prominent family. I heard the fiancee today is just the daughter of one of the Thorne family's household staff."

"Are you serious? She's barely of any standing and still throws a fit, and Mr. Miller doesn't even bat an eye? He's way too patient."

I stood in the doorway, glaring at them. "Are you done yet?"

Their chatter died instantly. I snorted, grabbed my bag from the couch, and walked out. As I stepped outside, someone muttered under their breath, "She's so arrogant. No wonder her husband doesn't even care about her."

I swallowed the anger roaring in my chest and walked away. At that moment, I had never felt so utterly drained.

Why did my parents have to die so young, leaving me to be mistreated by everyone?

My clothes were soaked, and the cold wind cut through me painfully. I walked all the way home that night and only arrived home very late.

Along the way, Felix called me several times. Even though the caller ID still said Chester, I knew it had to be Felix.

Chester would never call that many times. He was always far colder than Felix. Just seeing the two of them now made my skin crawl.

Suddenly, a blinding white light cut through the darkness, and a familiar figure ran toward me. It was Felix. Only he would run toward me like that.

Seeing me soaked, he immediately took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.

"Why are you soaking wet again? You just got out of the hospital. Do you even know how to take care of yourself?"

He looked a little angry, but I couldn't understand what right he had to be mad.

Since I didn't respond, he added gently, "What happened at the bridal shop today was my mistake, but the Thornes are a powerful family. I made the decision after weighing everything carefully."

They must have shared information ahead of time. His words sounded carefully prepared.

I let out a self-mocking laugh. To pull off this act, they really had put in a lot of effort. I had thought Felix might be sincere, but it turned out he was just better at pretending than Chester.

I got into the car with a cold expression. Felix froze for a moment, then followed quickly. I had to admit, his patience was far better than Chester's. He called me "darling" the whole way and nuzzled my neck affectionately.

I stared quietly out the window, completely unmoved.

Chester and Felix were worlds apart, yet I had never questioned it before. Maybe I had underestimated just how cruel people could be. Normal people couldn't behave like this.

I was lost in thought when the car suddenly screeched to a halt, and a loud commotion erupted outside.

"Mira! Watch out!" Felix shouted, pressing my head down.

The sounds of a chaotic fight reached my ears. I shivered, hugging my stomach tightly.

"Damn it! Could this be the rival family because of that business deal?" Felix muttered under his breath.

Suddenly, someone lurked from the side, yanked open the car door, and pulled me out.

Panic surged in Felix's eyes as he lunged toward me, only to be stopped in his tracks by a knife pressed sharply against my neck.

He froze, dropping the gun he always carried and raising both hands.

"Let her go! Do whatever you want to me…"

His eyes were bloodshot.

I froze, wondering if all of this was also part of the act.

"Felix…" I whispered his name softly.

The man guarding me grinned and gave a signal for the others to go after Felix.

In an instant, I bit down hard on the man's hand, and he let go with a sharp yelp of pain.

Felix's reflexes were lightning-fast as he grabbed his gun, but he was a moment too late. A knife plunged deep into my shoulder.

…

At the hospital, Felix stayed by my side all night. His right arm was bandaged, clearly injured as well, and he sat with his head down, lost in thought.

Footsteps echoed in the distance as Chester walked toward us.

"You're a real mess," he said with a soft chuckle.

Felix clenched his fists. "Why didn't you warn me in advance?"

"This was a show you staged yourself," Chester said. "If you had seen the script beforehand, how could you have played your part so perfectly? Look at the result. After this, she won't just forgive you—she will love you even more.

"At first, I was worried Miranda might actually want to break up. After today, I see I underestimated her. Her loyalty is relentless, and she would risk everything for me without hesitation.

"Felix, you got hurt protecting her. Are you really starting to care about her?"

"No way!" Felix said immediately, looking slightly annoyed. "How could I like a housekeeper's daughter? I saved her for you and Giselle! If she died, how would you even pull off your revenge plan?"

Chester raised his eyebrows in surprise but quickly smiled again. "Good. If you had fallen for her, it would have been a betrayal of Giselle, me, and the Millers."

Felix hummed in acknowledgment and said no more.

Just as Chester turned to leave, Felix called out to him, saying, "Chester, there's something I need to tell you…"

He frowned. "During that accident just now, Miranda seemed to call my name."

Chester froze in place and turned to look at him. "What did you say?"