Chapter 1

The night before the wedding, I'm about to share the news of my pregnancy with Chester Miller when I see Giselle Thorne sitting in his lap intimately.

I'm about to storm in and confront them when I notice a man standing beside them.

That man looks exactly like Chester, my boyfriend.

I freeze, holding my breath as their voices carry clearly through the room.

"Chester, this is ruthless. You actually proposed to her. From what I know, Miranda poured so much effort into this wedding," Giselle says.

Chester snorts. "Giselle, she ruins your work and costs you the chance to win. I can't wait to see her, all dressed in her wedding gown and beaming with joy, only to watch me walk down the aisle holding your hand. Just thinking about it gives me a thrill."

My eyes widen.

It's clearly Giselle who has threatened me to hand over my work, and when she fails, she tears up her own painting in fear of losing the competition.

Before I can react, the man who looks like Chester suddenly speaks. "Chester, who's walking down the aisle with her—you or me?"

Chester chuckles. "Of course I am. Felix, have you forgotten? Miranda belongs to you only at night."

In that instant, I finally understand why Chester Miller is cold by day and passionate by night. It turns out they aren't the same person at all. He and Felix are twin brothers.

I clutch the pregnancy report tightly, pressing it against the doorframe as I glare at the three of them through the crack.

"I won't let any of you get what you want," I vow silently.

Chapter 1

Chester Miller lit a cigarette and casually said, "Oh, yeah, Felix. I heard from the staff that you two never use protection. Be careful. Don't get her pregnant."

Giselle Thorne pouted, looking slightly unhappy. "Chester, if she really got pregnant, would you actually feel bad for her?"

Chester snorted. "Feel bad? I just don't want our family's bloodline mixed with someone that low."

"You're the only woman I would ever have a child with," he added, lifting her chin.

Giselle blushed and lightly smacked his chest before turning to Felix Miller, who had been quiet the whole time. "Felix, you've been sleeping with her for some time. How is she?"

"It was fine," Felix said casually. "She acts all classy during the day, but she is pretty wild in bed. She was game for anything I wanted. I even recorded a video. Do you want to see?"

My body froze. A video? When did he ever record that?

Before I could react, Giselle had already grabbed the phone and stared at the screen.

"Chester, slow down. It hurts."

In the video, Felix slammed into me, gripping my hand tightly. "Say it. Say you love me."

"I love you, Chester…"

My moans rang out, blending seamlessly with the laughter that never stopped.

Even Chester, who was usually cold and unreadable, smirked. "She really is shameless."

Giselle covered her mouth as she laughed. "Chester, what do you think about playing this at our wedding?"

Felix and Chester answered at the same time, "Great idea."

Felix grabbed his phone back and chuckled. "Too bad it won't last much longer. Once you marry her, Miranda and I are done for."

"What, you're not willing to give her up?" Chester asked, looking at him meaningfully.

"Miranda? Give me a break," Felix said with a smirk. "She was just a one-night fling, like any hostess at a club. I just can't help feeling a little jealous that you get to marry someone as hot as Giselle."

Chester's face darkened immediately.

"What was that? Mind your words," he said sharply. "Don't say stuff like that around Giselle. She's not a cheap woman like Miranda. She's the Thorne family's only daughter, my wife, and the future lady of the house."

Felix immediately went quiet.

Giselle tried to lighten the mood, but no matter what she did, it didn't help.

In the end, she leaned in and kissed his neck, and the tension ignited instantly. Chester wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her up, and carried her straight into the bedroom.

I hurriedly slipped to the corner of the hallway, clamping a hand over my mouth to stop myself from sobbing.

All of it was a lie, and I couldn't stomach any of it.

The only daughter of the Thorne family?

I laughed bitterly.

The only daughter of the Thorne family was obviously me.

After my parents died in a car accident, they left behind a massive inheritance for me alone. The housekeeper, Anne Coleman, suddenly offered to help manage it. When I refused, she held a knife to my throat.

She took everything from me and let her own daughter take my place as the family's young lady.

Giselle's real name was Giselle Holt. After pretending to be the heiress, she changed her surname.

She didn't just steal my identity. She bullied me constantly and kept a close watch on everything I did.

At school, she ripped up my homework and turned my classmates against me. Anyone who dared to treat me kindly became a target overnight.

Back then, I dreaded going to school. I was always being dragged into alleys and beaten—until one day, a man appeared out of nowhere at the entrance.

"Hey, cut it out! You're making too much noise."

Chester leaned back casually, bathed in the warm glow of the sun.

No one at the school failed to recognize who he was. They immediately apologized, lowered their heads, and ran off.

I limped away as well, but he caught my wrist.

Before I could react, he scooped me up and carried me straight to the infirmary, treating my wounds himself. He seemed fierce, but his touch was unexpectedly soft.

From that day on, Chester became my shield at school. No one dared to bully me again.

After he asked me to lunch for the tenth time, I finally blurted out, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Without looking up, he said softly, "Because you're worth it."

With that, he grabbed my hand and pulled me into that dark alley. He pressed my head down and kissed me.

My face flushed instantly. When he pulled away, I met his eyes.

Chester wiped the corner of his mouth and said, "Miranda, be my girlfriend."

It wasn't really a question. He left no room for choice, and I nodded without a second thought.

After we got together, he started acting distant. Since Chester was always cold by nature, I didn't think much of it. When we were together at night, he was completely alive, whispering sweet words that always made me melt.

Who would have thought that the man who pinned me to the headboard and called me Mira was actually his twin brother, Felix?

The thought made my chest ache until I could barely breathe, and a sharp pain twisted in my stomach.

I struggled to keep walking, but in the end, I collapsed at the doorway.

As I slipped into unconsciousness, I saw Felix rushing toward me. He got me to the hospital but didn't stay for long.

"She's in your care now. I don't know when my brother will be back, so I need to leave before we run into him."

Felix looked down at me and muttered, "I told you to eat more. You probably passed out from anemia again. You really are a handful."

Even so, he still took a moment to fold the blanket neatly before leaving.

Only after the door clicked shut did I slowly open my eyes.

Thanks to Giselle, I usually had to survive on the scraps they left behind.

When Felix held me at night, he would sometimes grimace at how thin I was, complaining that I felt all bones in his arms.

Thinking back to those moments of care and warmth, my eyes burned with unshed tears.

I took a deep breath and dialed an overseas number.

"My wedding is in three days. I don't care what it takes. You need to be here. I want them to pay for what they've done."

Chapter 2

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".

Chapter 3

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."

Chapter 4

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?"

Chapter 5

"You must have misheard," Chester said firmly. "How could a woman like her possibly know about our plans? Even if she did, there's no way she could tell us apart."

Felix kept his head down, saying nothing. After a moment, he finally nodded.

Chester frowned at him. "Felix, make sure you know your place. A woman of her status isn't even fit to be a housekeeper for our family. Stay out of this."

Felix smiled and firmly said, "Of course, Chester."

Even so, Chester kept a wary eye on him. "Go back for now. I'll take care of things here. There are only two days left. If she stays calm over these two days, it will all be over."

…

When I woke up again, Chester was sitting beside my bed. By now, I could easily tell them apart. Chester was arrogant, while Felix was gentle and a little shy.

"You're so foolish. I could have handled everything," Chester said, showing a rare hint of warmth.

He even reached out to brush my hair, looking genuinely concerned, but I didn't accept it and pushed his hand away.

The fragile warmth he had shown vanished immediately. He snapped, "Miranda, you were ready to risk your life for me a moment ago! Why are you acting like this now?"

I stared at his angry face, then shifted my gaze to his perfectly unharmed right arm. He had acted so convincingly yet left such an obvious flaw. I didn't answer him and turned away. "You should go. I'm tired and need to rest."

Hearing my cold response, Chester snorted and slammed the door on his way out.

Before leaving, he commanded the doctor, "Give her the best treatment possible. I don't want to see a single scar on her at the wedding in two days."

Once the door closed behind him, I finally exhaled, feeling a small measure of relief. However, it didn't last long, as the Thorne family arrived shortly after.

Seeing my dark expression, Giselle snorted. "What's with that look? I came to visit you, and instead of being grateful, you actually have the nerve to glare at me?"

I let out a soft laugh. "Ms. Holt, you stole my identity from me. Why should I be grateful?"

"What did you say?"

Giselle's face flushed red with anger. She clearly hadn't expected someone as meek as me to talk back.

Suddenly, a sneer spread across her face as if a new thought had struck her. "Miranda, do you really think you can act so arrogant just because you're about to marry Mr. Miller? Let me make this clear—being Mrs. Miller isn't that easy. Someone as lowly as you will never rise above your station.

"When we were kids, I could take your paintings and your inheritance. Now that we're adults, I can take your husband just as easily."

I stayed quiet, unmoved by her words. Instead, I smiled. "Chester will never be yours."

The second I finished, Giselle and Anne laughed, ridiculing my overconfidence.

I ignored them and kept the record button pressed on my phone beneath the blanket.

My calm only seemed to infuriate Giselle further. "I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?" she shouted, raising her hand as if to strike me.

However, I refused to submit any longer and grabbed her wrist midair.

"You dare fight back? The marriage isn't even official, and you're already acting like the lady of the house?" she snapped. "Very well. Miranda, do you really think I can't deal with you? Just wait. You'll be on your knees begging me to forgive you for what you did today."

That was the last thing she said before leaving.

I didn't take it to heart. Giselle had always been that arrogant.

Not long after, a doctor came to inform me that Chester had already completed my discharge paperwork.

I finally lost my patience and called him. "Chester, didn't you say you'd give me the best treatment? Why am I being discharged all of a sudden? Don't you realize my wound is still bleeding?"

He answered calmly, "There are doctors at home who can look after you. I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone in the hospital."

It was such an obvious lie, yet I didn't have the energy to argue. After a long silence, I hung up the phone.

The knife wound on my body suddenly throbbed, and blood seeped through the white bandage, glaring against the darkness.

Back in college, Chester had already been the heir to the Millers, making him completely out of place among his peers and leaving him with few social connections.

The only person he ever let close was me, but word got out to business rivals, who saw me as his weakness. Later, they even tried to abduct me, using my safety to control Chester.

I never imagined Chester would come for me. Back then, my grandmother hadn't found me, and the rest of the world treated me like I didn't exist. Yet Chester had kicked the door open and appeared at the entrance like a knight.

He bent down beside me, gently brushing the scars on my face and whispering, "I'm sorry I'm late."

Thinking of that, I couldn't help but reach up to touch my cheek. The scar had faded, but I could still feel it. The man who had tended to it so carefully was already dead on the night I learned the truth.

I realized the one who had actually saved me that day must have been Felix. Chester loved Giselle with all his heart and had never felt anything for me. Felix, on the other hand, truly cared for me, though his feelings were fragile, tangled with pretense and insecurity.

The memory faded as the bodyguards opened the door, leaving me no chance to refuse. However, they didn't take me home. Instead, the car headed toward the Thorne residence.

"Our heroine has finally arrived."

The moment the door opened, Giselle came toward me, holding a glass of champagne. "Miranda, welcome to my birthday party."

Chapter 6

Today wasn't Giselle's birthday—it was mine. Every piece of her personal information had been registered under my name. She was doing this on purpose to humiliate me.

Before I could even react, Chester stepped out from behind her. He frowned when he saw my plain short-sleeved outfit. "Why didn't you change her clothes before bringing her here?"

The bodyguard immediately explained, "Sorry, Mr. Miller. We left in a rush…"

"Don't blame them, Mr. Miller," Giselle said with a light laugh, covering her mouth. "This outfit actually suits Miranda. She probably isn't used to wearing evening gowns anyway."

The other guests didn't know me, but they laughed along with her.

Chester shot them a cold glance, and the laughter stopped at once.

"Come inside," he said, taking my hand. "It's chilly out here."

Giselle let out a soft sigh and said, "I really envy you, Miranda. You have such a wonderful boyfriend who is both powerful and handsome. Unlike me, I'm still single."

I ignored her thinly veiled mockery and looked at Chester. "My injuries haven't fully healed yet. Could you have the bodyguards take me home?"

Chester glanced at my hand wrapped in layers of gauze and flatly said, "It's just a birthday party. As my future wife, it's only natural for you to be there. Do you mean to tell me you don't want to be my wife anymore?"

It was a clear threat.

I let out a self-mocking smile, pushed past him, and walked into the banquet hall.

I wasn't about to give up being his wife. After all, I planned to personally destroy the two of them at the wedding.

When Chester saw me give in, he raised his brows in satisfaction and exchanged a look with Giselle.

Throughout the banquet, his eyes never left her. Every so often, he walked over to chat with her.

The socialites who had come over to me out of courtesy to Chester slowly drifted away, leaving my corner of the bustling banquet feeling unusually cold and empty.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chester grab Giselle's wine glass. "You've had enough for today. Stop drinking," he said, before finishing the rest himself.

Chester was never one to interfere. At my graduation ceremony, I had been forced to drink again and again, and he had just sat there, watching me drink until I was vomiting nonstop.

I had thought his coldness was just part of his personality. Now, I realized it was simply because he didn't love me.

I smiled bitterly. Wasn't this something I had known all along?

Years of pain had dulled my once-burning heart, but for everyone else, seeing him treat Giselle with such care was a first, and they immediately started whispering, "Mr. Miller, won't your fiancee get jealous? She doesn't seem happy."

"Why marry her at all? Ms. Thorne would clearly be a better fit for you."

They thought they were whispering, but I heard it all.

Chester didn't respond. Instead, he instinctively wrapped an arm around Giselle's waist.

I looked away and quietly ate the dessert in front of me.

When I glanced up again, the two who had been chatting moments ago were gone.

I didn't think much of it, but on my way to the restroom, I overheard what was happening. In the study, Chester had Giselle on the desk, pressing kisses to her eagerly.

"I agreed to let her come to your birthday banquet, and this is what you give me? 'Single,' huh?"

His breaths came out heavy.

"Chester, I was wrong. I really was," Giselle said, attempting to push him away, though her body pressed closer anyway. "Don't leave any marks on me. Someone might see…"

"Let them see," he said calmly. "You'll be my wife soon enough. Even if Miranda saw us together, she'd still swallow her pride and marry me. Three years have passed, and with only two days left, there's no way she'd let herself lose now."

Not long after, faint moans came from the study.

I looked at their intertwined figures and thoughtfully closed the door for them.

About half an hour later, the two of them finally came out. The moment they stepped back into the banquet hall, Giselle walked straight toward me.

She deliberately revealed the red marks on her neck. "Oh? Do you know where Chester went? He was with me the whole time just now. Why did he suddenly disappear?"

When I stayed silent, she let out a light laugh. "Oh, I forgot. He never went to your side in the first place, so how would you know where he is? Sorry for asking you such a difficult question."

I lowered my head without a word and continued eating my cake.

Seeing that I was ignoring her, Giselle grew irritated and pressed a glass of champagne into my hand. "Future Mrs. Miller, you haven't even had a drink with me yet."

I placed the glass back on the table. "I can't drink."

"You can't drink?" She scoffed. "If I remember correctly, you were famous for holding your liquor back in college, and now you're saying you can't drink at all? Miranda, are you trying to make things difficult for me on purpose?"

I had no interest in arguing with her and turned to leave, only to see Chester walking toward me with a glass of wine in hand.

"Drink it. Do I really need to teach you even basic etiquette?"

I stared at the glass of red wine he held out, my fist tightening instantly. "I said I'm not drinking."

The tense atmosphere immediately drew everyone's attention.

"She won't even drink a single glass. They're not even married yet, and she already has such an attitude."

"I think she's just jealous that Mr. Miller has been spending all his time with Ms. Thorne. That's why she's throwing a fit."

"Today's Ms. Thorne's birthday, and she's letting her personal grudges ruin everything. Is this really how the future Mrs. Miller behaves?"

With every remark, Chester's expression darkened further. They were clearly criticizing me, yet it felt like every word was a slap to his face.

"Guards," he said, looking at the bodyguards. "Make sure Mrs. Miller finishes this glass."

I looked up in disbelief, but before I could protest, a strong stream of red wine was forced into my mouth.

The bodyguards gripped my arms as I fought back. The wine poured over my face, drenching me in utter humiliation.

"Chester, stop! I'm pregnant…" I tried to speak, but the burning wine made it impossible to form complete words, and the crowd's laughter drowned me out.

Overwhelmed with shame, I pushed the bodyguards away with all my strength.

I hadn't expected that shove to knock Giselle backward. She stumbled and crashed into the statue behind her.

"Giselle!"

Chester shoved me aside, and I crashed into a nearby table. Blood poured from the wounds as shattered dishes dug into my skin, and a searing pain ripped through my abdomen, forcing me to curl up tightly.

"It hurts. Take me to the hospital…" I begged, looking at Chester weakly.

All I could see was him clutching Giselle, panic written across his pale face like I had never seen before. "Giselle, are you alright? Don't scare me."

Even the always-calculated Chester appeared unguarded with Giselle, as if a crisis could strip away all pretense and reveal the heart beneath.

Soon, the ambulance arrived. Chester immediately lifted Giselle into one of the vehicles.

He instinctively went to follow, but Giselle deliberately stopped him. "Mr. Miller, you should stay with your future wife. She looks like she's hurt worse than I am."

Chester frowned as he looked down at me lying on the floor. "She was the one who pushed you and ruined your birthday. I have to take responsibility for her actions, so I'll stay with you, Ms. Thorne," he said coldly. "As for her, let the bodyguards take her to the hospital."

When the car door slammed shut, it completely severed the last thread of hope I had been clinging to.

My stomach hurt terribly. I didn't know if it was from the fall or the alcohol.

I closed my eyes in despair and slipped into darkness. When I woke up again, the heartbeat inside my belly was gone.

It hadn't survived.

Even though I had already decided not to keep this child, the real loss still hurt like a knife.

Exhausted, I leaned against the wall as I walked toward the door, but I caught the nurses' conversation at the corner.

"I've been a doctor for years, and I've never seen anything like this. They made a pregnant patient donate blood during emergency treatment. We did everything we could to save the baby, but it was lost because of the donation."

I froze, gripping their hands in shock. "What did you just say?"

Chapter 7

"I'm sorry, Ms. Thorne. There was nothing we could do. Mr. Miller signed the blood donation consent as her fiance. Besides, you know who he is. We simply couldn't afford to offend him."

"Did you tell him I was pregnant?" I nearly shouted.

The nurse was taken aback. She stammered, "W-We did, but Mr. Miller didn't believe us. He insisted it was just an excuse we made up to avoid violating regulations. He even said that if we refused, he would shut the hospital down. We showed him the medical report, but he didn't care at all."

I couldn't remember how I made it back to my hospital room that day. I only knew that less than 30 feet felt endlessly long.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Chester sitting by the bed with a grim look on his face. "Get changed later and apologize to Giselle. You ruined her birthday."

I let out a soft laugh, as if I had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Fine. I'll apologize."

This time, Chester looked genuinely surprised. He glanced at me in disbelief. "Since you are going to be my wife, the two families still need to get along."

I struggled out of my hospital gown. When he saw the scars covering my body, Chester froze.

After all, he had never touched me, nor had he ever seen my body, which Giselle had beaten until it was covered in wounds.

On the way to Giselle's room, he actually supported me for once, but the moment the door opened, he immediately let go.

Clutching my aching stomach, I apologized to Giselle again and again.

I would never forget her face, alight with laughter and smug triumph as I lifted my head, nor the message she sent after I left.

"I poured all your blood down the drain. I would never let filthy blood like yours flow in my veins."

I lingered on the message for a long moment before taking a screenshot and saving it.

If Chester knew that the woman he cherished not only toyed with me but also made a fool of him, how would he react?

If Felix knew that his child had been killed by his own brother, what would he feel?

I was starting to look forward to the wedding.

A notification popped up on my phone. It was a message from my grandmother's assistant, saying they would arrive at the wedding on time.

"Ms. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne Senior insisted on coming with us. She said she wouldn't rest unless she personally stood up for you."

The message eased the tension in my chest. I smiled and headed back to my room, where Felix was standing at the door, gasping for breath.

I froze in place. Felix ran up to me and gripped my hand tightly. "Miranda, I'm so relieved to see you're okay."

His hair was damp with sweat. He must have run all the way here. In that instant, my emotions were difficult to put into words.

Forcing down the bitterness rising in my chest, I pulled my hand free and said calmly, "Didn't we just see each other? What could have happened to me?"

Felix stared blankly at his empty hand.

I could not help reminding him, "You stormed off angrily just now, remember?"

He stiffened, then smiled bitterly. "Yes, but I have thought it through now. I was worried about you."

At that moment, I thought that if he could admit everything and apologize to me, maybe I would soften and forgive him.

"Chester, you should go back first," I said. "I want to be alone tonight. We will meet at the wedding."

Felix looked at me deeply, then lowered his head and kissed me.

This kiss was no longer gentle or lingering. It was fierce and burning, as though he wanted to devour me whole.

In the end, he reluctantly pulled away and turned to leave.

I could tell he was holding back, but it no longer concerned me. After all, the last thing tying me to him had already died because of Chester.

…

On the day of the wedding, Chester came to my room early in the morning. For someone who was always so cold, he personally zipped up my wedding dress.

I gave a faint smile as I watched the clock's pendulum swing steadily back and forth.

It was 10:00 am. They would be here any moment.

Chapter 8

Chester had booked the wedding at a remote chapel. Even through the thick doors, I could feel the lively excitement inside.

"Miss, you may enter now."

The bells rang, and I lifted my skirt, ready to step inside.

The moment the doors opened, every guest turned to look at me in shock.

At the front, Chester was half-kneeling, placing a ring on Giselle's finger with a look of pure adoration. Beside him stood Felix, looking just like him.

Seeing my stunned expression, Chester raised Giselle's hand as if to stake his claim. "Today is my wedding with Giselle. I don't know why this lady has to appear here in a wedding dress."

I remained expressionless. "Isn't today my wedding?"

The guests frowned, staring at me as if I were insane.

Giselle let out a light laugh and flung a wedding invitation at my face. "Look carefully! Mr. Miller's bride is me!"

The sharp paper scraped against my temple, but I felt nothing. I knew exactly why—I had been living through days worse than death.

As I remained silent, Giselle assumed I was overcome with sorrow, and her eyes gleamed with even more triumph. She stepped closer and said, "Miranda, do you really think someone as lowly as you could ever earn true love?

"I'll tell you. If it weren't for helping me get revenge, you would never even get near Mr. Miller in your whole life."

She nudged Chester's arm. "Am I right, darling?"

Chester slid his arm around her waist and cast a cold glance at me. "Exactly. I only approached you to take revenge for Giselle. Who would have thought someone as vile as you would have the nerve to ruin her artwork! Every second I spent with you made me feel sick, but…"

He shifted his gaze to Felix. "Fortunately, my brother shared the burden. I didn't have to touch your filthy, cheap body, or I wouldn't have lasted this long."

Felix stood in the shadows, unable to look at me.

I cast him a glance and let out a quiet, almost amused laugh. "Is that so?"

Giselle frowned at my composure.

"Why are you staring at Felix? Don't fool yourself—he would never take your side!" she snapped, "Do you really think a filthy, treacherous woman like you could ever become the future Mrs. Miller? Keep dreaming."

All eyes in the chapel were on me.

Giselle beamed with satisfaction and shouted, "Today, everyone will see what kind of woman you really are!"

She turned to the large screen behind her. "Play it!"

Felix lunged forward, grabbing Giselle's hand. "Are you really going to play it? You said it was just a joke!"

Before he could finish, Chester grabbed his collar. "How dare you lay a hand on Giselle! Felix, I suggest you think carefully about the consequences."

He shot me a glance. "Do you want this lowly woman, or do you want the position of the Miller family's second son?"

With a tight frown, Felix's features revealed the battle raging within him.

Finally, he clenched his teeth and muttered, "I was wrong."

Chester released him abruptly and turned to the staff. "Play the video."

The guests all looked up curiously at the screen, and Giselle slowly turned with a smug smile to watch.

The screen flickered, and a brief static crackle sounded, but nothing played.

Giselle lifted her skirt and strode forward, impatiently brushing the staff aside. "Hurry up! If this drags on, you'll kill everyone's excitement!"

She slammed the button. The static vanished instantly, and the chapel speakers carried a woman's voice.

"Let me make this clear—being Mrs. Miller isn't that easy. Someone as lowly as you will never rise above your station. When we were kids, I could take your paintings and your inheritance. Now that we're adults, I can take your husband just as easily."

Giselle's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at me.

Chester froze as his eyes landed on Giselle, who stormed at me and slapped me hard. "No wonder you looked so calm earlier—you've been scheming the whole time! How dare you fake an audio to frame me!"

She put on a pitiful expression and turned to Chester. "Chester, can't you see how ruthless she is? She ruined my career, and now she's trying to ruin our wedding too!"

Despite the blatant holes in her story, Chester believed her without a second thought and clamped his hand around my neck.

"Miranda, how dare you twist the truth and spew such nonsense?" he snarled. "You picked the wrong person to cross. I could pretend to love you for years for Giselle's sake, and I can just as easily destroy you for her now."

My face burned as his grip on my neck tightened. "Grandma…"

I cast a quick glance toward the chapel doors not far away. Chester's frown deepened as he followed my gaze.

Suddenly, a razor-sharp knife spun through the air like a streak of silver and slammed into his wrist. A piercing scream tore through the chapel, freezing everyone in place.