Life Is So Much Sweeter Without You

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.