Life Is So Much Sweeter Without You

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.