Sweeter Life Without You – Full Episode (ENGSUB) | Toxic Love, Betrayal Drama - Vidéo Dailymotion

Mini Drames

Noel Rutherford's life is turned upside down when she overhears a shocking revelation about her fiancé, Chester, and his identical twin. As she uncovers their cruel web of deception, Noel must come to terms with the devastating truth of a three-year relationship built on lies. Will she find the strength to break free from their twisted game, or will she become just another pawn in their dangerous love story?  #SweeterLifeWithoutYou #ToxicLove #Betrayal #RomanceDrama #LoveTriangle #Deception #RomanticThriller #ToxicRelationship #Drama #BetrayalAndRevenge #StrongFemaleLead #LoveAndLies

Transcript

00:00:00On the day Noelle Rutherford found out she was pregnant,

00:00:03she braved the rain to head to a club

00:00:05that was one of Chester Grey's usual haunts.

00:00:07She stood outside a private room

00:00:09and dried her hair with some tissues,

00:00:11wanting to surprise him

00:00:13with the news of her pregnancy when he came out.

00:00:15She heard laughter through the ajar door.

00:00:19Chester, you're supposed to be marrying Noelle in a week.

00:00:22You're gonna surprise her during the wedding, right?

00:00:24Is everything ready?

00:00:25Yeah, it'll be a day she'll never forget.

00:00:28Noelle paused and smiled sweetly.

00:00:31She and Chester had been together for three years

00:00:33and he'd truly treated her like a precious treasure,

00:00:37doting on her endlessly.

00:00:38Wanna bet she'll have a meltdown when she finds out the truth?

00:00:41She'll lose her mind on the big day

00:00:43when she discovers I've been pretending to be you

00:00:46and playing her this whole time.

00:00:48She'd never imagine Chester having an identical twin

00:00:51when she finds out he's the one

00:00:53who's been getting into her pants these past three years.

00:00:56She's always been so proud, hasn't she?

00:00:58I can already imagine the look on her face

00:01:00when she finds out her boyfriend's brother

00:01:02has toyed with her for three years.

00:01:04The men's malicious laughter made Noelle freeze in place.

00:01:08The blood drained from her face.

00:01:10She could hardly believe her ears.

00:01:12Her feet moved on their own,

00:01:14taking a step forward so she could peer into the room.

00:01:18The next second,

00:01:19she saw a man who looked exactly like Chester sitting beside him.

00:01:23He was Chester's carbon copy,

00:01:25from his features to his hairstyle.

00:01:28Even the tiny mole at the corner of his eye was identical.

00:01:31It's her fault for bullying Winona.

00:01:34Winona is Chester's darling.

00:01:36As punishment,

00:01:37he'll make her feel on top of the world

00:01:39before dropping her into the abyss.

00:01:41Gotta say that he's put in some serious work to achieve that.

00:01:44You're the real MVP here, Simon.

00:01:46You did all the hard labor after all.

00:01:48If I didn't look so different from you two,

00:01:51I'd love to take over the job.

00:01:53Tell me about it.

00:01:54Man, Noelle's face and body.

00:01:57If she loses her mind after the wedding,

00:01:59how about you guys let us play with her first?

00:02:02Chester cooked up a plan like this for Winona,

00:02:05put on an act for three years,

00:02:06and still managed to keep himself untainted.

00:02:09He's a straight-up love saint.

00:02:11Noelle's mind buzzed,

00:02:13and her blood ran cold.

00:02:15She couldn't breathe.

00:02:17Her body trembled uncontrollably,

00:02:19and tears streamed down her widened eyes,

00:02:22which had turned bloodshot.

00:02:24Once upon a time,

00:02:25when she jolted away from nightmares of being bullied by Winona,

00:02:29Chester had held her close

00:02:30and told her not to be scared.

00:02:32Once upon a time,

00:02:33she told him about the agony of being bullied.

00:02:36Chester had soothed her time and time again,

00:02:40even taking her to see therapists.

00:02:42Noelle didn't dare believe,

00:02:43nor did she want to.

00:02:44She couldn't understand it.

00:02:46The love she'd felt was so intense and vivid.

00:02:49How could it be safe?

00:02:50Winona's coming back soon,

00:02:51so you won't need to keep flying to her, Chester.

00:02:54Honestly,

00:02:55I don't know how you're not worn out

00:02:57from taking a flight every week.

00:02:58And I can finally be myself

00:03:00after three years of role-playing.

00:03:02I'm the one who stuck with Noelle

00:03:04each time Chester goes abroad.

00:03:06Your voices are different, though.

00:03:08Hasn't she ever noticed anything?

00:03:10She's too big an idiot.

00:03:13I lower my voice,

00:03:14tell her I have pharyngitis,

00:03:16and that's enough to make her fuss over me.

00:03:19She gets up before the sun rises

00:03:21to make me something to soothe my throat.

00:03:25That's enough.

00:03:26Once the wedding is over,

00:03:27I'll give her a hefty sum as compensation.

00:03:30It'll be enough to ensure she's comfortable for life.

00:03:33My life.

00:03:35Chester,

00:03:35you're not taking pity on her, are you?

00:03:38Noelle's heart flew to her throat,

00:03:39and she held her breath

00:03:41as she stared doggedly at Chester.

00:03:44As if.

00:03:45What about you, Simon?

00:03:46Has three years of putting it in her

00:03:48made you catch feelings?

00:03:49It's been three whole years

00:03:51I've long since gotten sick of her.

00:03:53You want to have her, Chester?

00:03:55She's too filthy.

00:03:56Anyway,

00:03:57she's the one who begged for this wedding.

00:03:59I'm just paying her off

00:04:00so she won't pester me.

00:04:02There's not much time left,

00:04:03so you guys need to help me.

00:04:05I'm going to propose to Winona

00:04:06in a week after revealing the truth.

00:04:12Noelle didn't know

00:04:12how she even left the club.

00:04:14Raindrops pelted her,

00:04:16but she felt nothing.

00:04:17All she could think about

00:04:18was the conversation

00:04:19from the private room,

00:04:20which replayed in her mind,

00:04:22Winona Johnson.

00:04:24Whenever that name came up,

00:04:26Noelle couldn't stop shaking.

00:04:28She couldn't understand.

00:04:30Winona had already gone abroad,

00:04:32so why wouldn't she let her go?

00:04:34Why was she hellbent on destroying her?

00:04:36All of this had happened

00:04:38over a meaningless Campus Bell title.

00:04:41Noelle's candid,

00:04:42bare-faced photo

00:04:43had beaten Winona's

00:04:44retouched contest entry,

00:04:46so Winona and her gang

00:04:47had dragged Noelle

00:04:48into the restroom

00:04:49to teach her a lesson.

00:04:50They'd used every cruel trick possible

00:04:53to torment her

00:04:54before shoving her head

00:04:55into a toilet.

00:04:56Noelle had refused

00:04:57to kneel and apologize,

00:04:58so they'd made the next

00:05:00three years of her life

00:05:01a living hell.

00:05:03They'd ganged up to beat her,

00:05:04stabbed her with needles,

00:05:06hidden thumbtacks in her shoes,

00:05:07rallied the entire class

00:05:09to isolate and bully her,

00:05:10wrecked her part-time jobs,

00:05:12and smeared her reputation.

00:05:14Winona had even arranged

00:05:15for a bunch of rich boys

00:05:16to pursue Noelle.

00:05:17Noelle had once overheard

00:05:19the plan Winona wanted

00:05:20her to be corrupted by money

00:05:21before having the rich boys

00:05:22dump her.

00:05:23Winona never fully succeeded,

00:05:25though.

00:05:25Even by junior year,

00:05:27when Winona had left

00:05:28to study abroad,

00:05:29she still hadn't

00:05:30broken Noelle completely.

00:05:32However, by then,

00:05:34Noelle was already

00:05:35deep in depression,

00:05:36with the severe urge

00:05:38to harm herself.

00:05:39That was when Chester appeared.

00:05:41Unlike those other rich boys

00:05:42who'd pursued her

00:05:43and eyed her

00:05:44the way men appraised goods,

00:05:45he hadn't flung credit cards

00:05:47at her and called it affection.

00:05:48He'd had a clear,

00:05:50righteous gaze.

00:05:51He'd taken time

00:05:52to understand her situation

00:05:53and listen to what she needed.

00:05:55When he learned

00:05:56that her grandmother,

00:05:57Marie Wakefield,

00:05:59needed long-term medication,

00:06:00he didn't look down on her.

00:06:02Instead, he'd done

00:06:03whatever he could,

00:06:04within the bounds

00:06:05of what she could accept,

00:06:07to improve her life.

00:06:09Chester had helped Noelle

00:06:10find internships

00:06:11and part-time jobs.

00:06:13When she rushed

00:06:13between gigs,

00:06:14he'd sit with her

00:06:15in a convenience store

00:06:16for dinner

00:06:16and gently pat her head.

00:06:18It must be tough, Elle.

00:06:19You're really amazing.

00:06:21Once,

00:06:21Marie had fallen ill

00:06:23while Noelle was out of town.

00:06:24It was Chester

00:06:25who'd brought her

00:06:26to the hospital

00:06:27and stayed by her side

00:06:28for a full day and night.

00:06:30The next day,

00:06:32when Noelle had made it back,

00:06:33he'd smiled and comforted her

00:06:35despite his exhaustion.

00:06:37Marie's fine,

00:06:38so don't worry.

00:06:39Don't wear yourself out.

00:06:40At the time,

00:06:41a voice inside her

00:06:42had said,

00:06:43this is it.

00:06:44Try to trust him.

00:06:45Whatever the ending,

00:06:46just cherish the present.

00:06:47And Chester really did

00:06:48keep treating her well.

00:06:49He'd even bravely defied

00:06:50his family

00:06:51for the sake

00:06:51of being with her.

00:06:53Simon's sneers

00:06:54echoed in Noelle's mind.

00:06:56She's so dumb.

00:06:57How could our family

00:06:59ever allow

00:06:59a nobody like her

00:07:00to marry it?

00:07:02All it took

00:07:02was hiring two people

00:07:04to play a part.

00:07:05Chester pretended

00:07:06to stand up

00:07:07to our parents

00:07:07and Noelle

00:07:08was moved to bits.

00:07:10What an idiot.

00:07:11She didn't notice anything

00:07:12for the past three years.

00:07:13She's stupid.

00:07:15Even now,

00:07:16she thinks Chester's

00:07:17devoted to her.

00:07:18She's dumb.

00:07:19She's stupid.

00:07:20She's a fool.

00:07:21Noelle collapsed in rain.

00:07:23Her tears spilled over

00:07:24and mixed with a downpour.

00:07:26She really was dumb.

00:07:28Much too dumb.

00:07:29She suddenly threw

00:07:30back her head

00:07:31and laughed,

00:07:31sounding wild

00:07:32and unhinged.

00:07:33She let the torrential rain

00:07:35pound her face

00:07:36without mercy.

00:07:37Just then,

00:07:38her phone rang.

00:07:39It was Marie's caregiver.

00:07:41Elle, come quick.

00:07:42Your grandmother's

00:07:43on the brink of death.

00:07:44Noelle's mind

00:07:45went blank

00:07:46and her ears buzzed.

00:07:47Her limbs

00:07:48turned to jelly.

00:07:50On instinct alone,

00:07:51she scrambled to her feet

00:07:52and rushed to the curb

00:07:53to hail a car.

00:07:55However,

00:07:56every breath

00:07:57in her face.

00:07:58Their lights flashing

00:07:59and horns glowing,

00:08:00refusing to stop.

00:08:02She was about to run

00:08:03to the hospital

00:08:04when a car pulled over.

00:08:05A tough-looking

00:08:06woman aspersions.

00:08:08Beyond caring about safety,

00:08:10she dove into the car.

00:08:17By the time Noelle

00:08:18reached the hospital,

00:08:19the doctor had already

00:08:21issued a critical notice.

00:08:23She has respiratory

00:08:24failure.

00:08:25There's no point

00:08:26in further resuscitation.

00:08:27You should spend

00:08:28these last moments

00:08:29with her.

00:08:30Noelle dropped

00:08:31to her knees

00:08:32with a thud,

00:08:33her hands trembling

00:08:34as she clasped Marie's.

00:08:37Marie forced a smile.

00:08:39Elle, don't cry.

00:08:41I'm sorry.

00:08:42I couldn't hold on

00:08:44long enough

00:08:44to see your wedding.

00:08:46Noelle shook

00:08:47her head hard.

00:08:48She couldn't get

00:08:49any words out,

00:08:50nor could she stop

00:08:51her low, aching sobs.

00:08:53Marie struggled

00:08:54to scan the room.

00:08:56Where's Chester?

00:08:56I want to see him.

00:08:58Okay.

00:08:59Noelle's voice

00:08:59was so hoarse

00:09:01it was barely there.

00:09:02She pulled out

00:09:03her phone

00:09:03and called Chester

00:09:04again and again.

00:09:06Each call

00:09:06was rejected,

00:09:07so she fired off

00:09:08messages in a hurry.

00:09:10Chester,

00:09:11Grandma has

00:09:12respiratory failure.

00:09:13She can't hold on

00:09:14anymore.

00:09:15Please come to the hospital.

00:09:16She wants to see you

00:09:17one last time.

00:09:19Chester,

00:09:19Grandma's waiting for you.

00:09:21It's just one meeting.

00:09:23Can you come?

00:09:25Chester,

00:09:26I'm begging you.

00:09:27At that moment,

00:09:28the lies and betrayal

00:09:29didn't matter.

00:09:30As long as Chester came,

00:09:32as long as Marie

00:09:33could leave in peace,

00:09:34nothing else left.

00:09:36But Chester

00:09:36never replied.

00:09:38Noelle stopped

00:09:39and forced out

00:09:39an ugly smile.

00:09:41She squeezed

00:09:42Marie's hand

00:09:42and tried

00:09:43to comfort her.

00:09:45Grandma,

00:09:45I think Chester's

00:09:46tied up with something.

00:09:47Don't worry about us,

00:09:49alright?

00:09:49We're getting along fine

00:09:50and our wedding

00:09:51is next week.

00:09:52I'll be happy,

00:09:54so please don't worry.

00:09:56Suddenly,

00:09:57Marie's grip tightened.

00:09:58She fixed her eyes

00:09:59on Noelle

00:10:00and whispered,

00:10:01Elle,

00:10:02live well,

00:10:03be happy.

00:10:04Her hand loosened

00:10:06and went limp.

00:10:07In her final moments,

00:10:08there was still

00:10:09worry in her gaze.

00:10:11Noelle stared

00:10:11at their hands

00:10:12dazedly.

00:10:13Then,

00:10:14she broke down

00:10:15and collapsed

00:10:15on the floor,

00:10:16crying her heart out.

00:10:18That night,

00:10:19she numbly went

00:10:20through the process

00:10:21of dealing

00:10:21with Marie's affairs.

00:10:22Chester still

00:10:23didn't reply.

00:10:25While waiting,

00:10:25she unblocked

00:10:26Winona's social media

00:10:27and checked her posts.

00:10:29I was going to fly

00:10:30home early for a surprise,

00:10:32but I was the one surprised!

00:10:34The attached photo

00:10:35was taken at the airport.

00:10:36Chester wore a mascot

00:10:38costume and held flowers.

00:10:39His head was slick

00:10:41with sweat.

00:10:42But he wore a warm smile

00:10:44and his gaze was tender.

00:10:47There was another picture

00:10:48of him with Winona.

00:10:50She smiled sweetly

00:10:52while his head

00:10:53was turned to her,

00:10:54his gaze lingering

00:10:55and full of love.

00:10:57Noelle let out

00:10:57a bitter laugh

00:10:58and turned off

00:11:00the screen.

00:11:01The next day at noon,

00:11:02she returned to the hospital

00:11:04with Marie's urn

00:11:05in her arms.

00:11:06She did two things.

00:11:08First,

00:11:09she scheduled an abortion

00:11:10for three days later.

00:11:12Second,

00:11:13she submitted her application

00:11:14to join Doctors Without Borders.

00:11:17Her superior,

00:11:18Tanya Brown,

00:11:19was shocked.

00:11:21Weren't you getting married soon?

00:11:22Noelle went quiet

00:11:23for a moment.

00:11:24Not anymore.

00:11:25I want to leave,

00:11:26Dr. Brown.

00:11:27The faster,

00:11:28the better.

00:11:29Tanya didn't press

00:11:30for more information

00:11:31when she saw

00:11:32Noelle's bloodshot eyes

00:11:33and urgent expression.

00:11:35You just barely

00:11:36caught the application deadline.

00:11:37I'll give you

00:11:38the next few days off

00:11:39to prepare.

00:11:40Gather at the hospital

00:11:41to depart in a week.

00:11:42Got it.

00:11:43A week from now

00:11:44was exactly the day

00:11:45she was supposed

00:11:46to marry Chester.

00:11:47Not only would she leave

00:11:48on that day,

00:11:49but she would also

00:11:50send him,

00:11:51Simon,

00:11:52and Winona,

00:11:53a grand gift one

00:11:54they would never forget.

00:11:58Knowing she was heading

00:12:00somewhere dangerous,

00:12:01Noelle decided

00:12:02to give Marie

00:12:03a proper burial.

00:12:04She bought

00:12:05a cremation pendant,

00:12:06tucked a strand

00:12:07of Marie's hair

00:12:08and a pinch of ashes inside

00:12:10and buried the rest

00:12:11of the cemetery.

00:12:12Grandma,

00:12:13don't worry.

00:12:14I'm about to do

00:12:15what I've always

00:12:16wanted to do

00:12:17and I'll keep

00:12:19myself safe.

00:12:20By the time

00:12:20Noelle returned

00:12:21to the villa,

00:12:22it was already dusk.

00:12:24The moment

00:12:24she stepped inside,

00:12:26she heard laughter

00:12:27in the living room.

00:12:28Come on,

00:12:29let me introduce you

00:12:30to two friends.

00:12:31A man and a woman

00:12:33stood from the couch

00:12:34and turned

00:12:34to look at her,

00:12:35somewhat malicious mischief

00:12:37flickering in their eyes.

00:12:39It was Winona

00:12:40and Simon.

00:12:41Noelle couldn't stop

00:12:42the tremor

00:12:43that ran through her.

00:12:44It was her body's

00:12:45reflex whenever

00:12:46she faced Winona.

00:12:48Winona is a childhood

00:12:49friend and Simon

00:12:50is my twin brother.

00:12:51They just got back

00:12:52from studying abroad

00:12:53and happened to make

00:12:54it in time

00:12:54for our wedding.

00:12:55Elle and I know

00:12:56each other,

00:12:56we were roommates

00:12:57in college.

00:12:58Right, Elle?

00:12:59Every time

00:13:00Winona finished

00:13:01bullying her,

00:13:01she got only

00:13:02and murdered.

00:13:04It's just some fun

00:13:05between roommates.

00:13:07Right, Elle?

00:13:08Elle,

00:13:09you still don't like me.

00:13:11I just want

00:13:12to get alone

00:13:12with you.

00:13:13Both Chester's

00:13:14and Simon's

00:13:15expressions darkened.

00:13:17Chester,

00:13:18your fiancée's

00:13:18got quite the temper.

00:13:19She's not even

00:13:20part of our family yet

00:13:21and she's already

00:13:22so full of herself.

00:13:24Noelle,

00:13:24apologize.

00:13:25Noelle stared

00:13:26at the three of them,

00:13:28her hands balling

00:13:29into fists

00:13:29by her sides.

00:13:30She felt her heart

00:13:31tear open

00:13:32as she thought

00:13:33of what she'd overheard

00:13:34the night before,

00:13:35leaving a raw

00:13:36and jagged mood.

00:13:38The Grey family

00:13:38is a proper household

00:13:39with deep roots

00:13:41and manners

00:13:41are very important

00:13:42to us.

00:13:43You need to teach

00:13:44your fiancée

00:13:45a lesson, Chester.

00:13:46You're right.

00:13:47Elle,

00:13:47you're about to become

00:13:48the lady of the Grey

00:13:49household.

00:13:50You must watch

00:13:51your tongue

00:13:51and your behavior

00:13:52at all times.

00:13:54Reflect on what

00:13:55you did today.

00:13:57Oh!

00:13:59He dragged her

00:14:00down to the basement

00:14:01and shoved her

00:14:02into a room.

00:14:04Before she could react,

00:14:05the door slammed shut.

00:14:07The door was tightly sealed,

00:14:09shutting out

00:14:10every trace of light.

00:14:11Only then did Noelle realize

00:14:13it was a windowless,

00:14:15pitch black room.

00:14:16Her breathing sped up

00:14:18in the pure darkness

00:14:19and her panic surged.

00:14:21She pounded on the door,

00:14:23but no one answered.

00:14:24No matter how she shouted,

00:14:26terror swallowed her boy.

00:14:28In college,

00:14:29Renata had locked Noelle

00:14:30in a dark room

00:14:31for three days

00:14:32with no sound or light.

00:14:33Time had stretched

00:14:34into a torture

00:14:35that felt endless.

00:14:37Noelle had had

00:14:37a breakdown then.

00:14:39She'd feared darkness

00:14:40ever since.

00:14:41And claustrophobia

00:14:42had followed.

00:14:43For years now,

00:14:45she'd kept every light

00:14:46on at night,

00:14:47even sleeping that way.

00:14:49At first,

00:14:49Chester couldn't get used

00:14:51to it,

00:14:51but after learning

00:14:52what she'd been through,

00:14:53he'd held her

00:14:54and soothed her.

00:14:55It's okay.

00:14:56From now on,

00:14:57we'll sleep with the lights

00:14:58on at home.

00:14:59Don't be scared.

00:15:03She knew.

00:15:04They all knew.

00:15:06Yet they'd still chosen this

00:15:08as Noelle's punishment,

00:15:09and it was just because

00:15:11she'd pushed Winona.

00:15:13Noelle curled up in the corner,

00:15:15hugging herself

00:15:16as she trembled,

00:15:17a dull ache throbbing

00:15:18in her chest.

00:15:19Of course,

00:15:21the tenderness

00:15:22had always been an act.

00:15:23They'd staged it

00:15:24for her sake.

00:15:25Even this dark room

00:15:27was likely designed

00:15:28just for her.

00:15:33Two days later,

00:15:34Chester opened the door

00:15:35with a pleased smile.

00:15:37Winona's not mad at you

00:15:38for what happened anymore.

00:15:39Clean yourself up.

00:15:40We're gonna try on wedding dresses

00:15:41and pick out rings.

00:15:43Noelle was taken

00:15:44to a bridal boutique.

00:15:45As soon as she got out

00:15:46of the car,

00:15:46she saw Winona and Simon

00:15:48already waiting inside.

00:15:49Elle, you're here.

00:15:51I didn't get to congratulate

00:15:52you last time.

00:15:53Chester and I

00:15:54are best friends,

00:15:54so let me keep you company

00:15:56and help you choose

00:15:57the perfect rest today.

00:15:59She smiled,

00:16:00clearly waiting to see

00:16:01Noelle lose her composure.

00:16:02Thank you.

00:16:03I appreciate it.

00:16:07Then I'll try some on with you.

00:16:09I'm going to be a bride

00:16:10very soon myself.

00:16:12Congratulations.

00:16:13Winona's gaze

00:16:13turned frosty.

00:16:15From that moment on,

00:16:16any gown Noelle

00:16:17so much as glanced at,

00:16:19Winona would flag down

00:16:20a sales associate

00:16:21and rush to be

00:16:22the first to try it.

00:16:23Each time she came

00:16:24out of the changing room,

00:16:25she would grab

00:16:26Chester's hand.

00:16:27Chester,

00:16:27what do you think?

00:16:28Isn't it gorgeous?

00:16:30And each time,

00:16:31Chester would stare at her

00:16:32as if enchanting.

00:16:33He would shower her

00:16:34with praise.

00:16:35Simon hovered

00:16:36at Winona's side too.

00:16:37The two of them

00:16:38ignored Noelle completely.

00:16:39A sales associate

00:16:40sighed with envy.

00:16:42This bride is so lucky.

00:16:44Sorry, Ellie.

00:16:45You're the actual bride.

00:16:46You should have tried first.

00:16:51See anything you like?

00:16:52Noelle picked one

00:16:53at random

00:16:53and went to try it on.

00:16:54When she came out,

00:16:55the three of them

00:16:56were already gone.

00:16:57Miss Johnson said

00:16:58she was going to

00:16:59pick out rings, miss.

00:17:00The two gentlemen

00:17:01went with her.

00:17:02It's fine.

00:17:06Soon after,

00:17:07Winona updated

00:17:07her social media

00:17:08with a photo

00:17:09of a diamond ring

00:17:10embedded with

00:17:11pavé gemstones.

00:17:12Noelle glanced at it,

00:17:13locked her screen

00:17:14and went back to packing.

00:17:15Beyond clothes

00:17:16and daily essentials

00:17:17she needed to take with her,

00:17:19she gathered up

00:17:19everything else

00:17:20that belonged to her

00:17:21including the gifts

00:17:22she'd once given Chester

00:17:23and threw them away

00:17:24or destroyed them.

00:17:25As for anything

00:17:26Chester had given her,

00:17:28she didn't touch at all.

00:17:29She had just finished

00:17:31packing a suitcase

00:17:32and slid it into the closet

00:17:33when Chester walked in

00:17:35holding a blue velvet box.

00:17:37I bought you this ring

00:17:38at an auction.

00:17:39Noelle recognized it.

00:17:40It was a free gift

00:17:41that had come with the ring

00:17:42Winona had shared

00:17:43on her social media.

00:17:44She accepted it calmly

00:17:45and set it aside.

00:17:46His gaze drifted

00:17:47and landed on the trash can

00:17:49where he saw

00:17:49the couple's mugs

00:17:50she used to cherish.

00:17:52Why'd you throw

00:17:52the mugs away?

00:17:54Are you mad?

00:17:56No.

00:17:57Is it because of

00:17:58what happened

00:17:58at the bridal boutique?

00:17:59Winona's just a good

00:18:00friend of mine.

00:18:01We haven't seen

00:18:01each other in years

00:18:02so of course

00:18:03I paid her a little

00:18:04extra attention.

00:18:05There's no need

00:18:06to be jealous of her.

00:18:07If there was

00:18:07something between us,

00:18:09we would have gotten

00:18:10together long ago,

00:18:11right?

00:18:12You're my bride, Elle.

00:18:13Don't you understand

00:18:14how I feel about you?

00:18:15Hearing that,

00:18:16Noelle's fingers trembled.

00:18:18In that instant,

00:18:19she wanted to question him.

00:18:20She wanted to peel back

00:18:21the sincerity

00:18:22from his lies

00:18:23to know whether

00:18:23he'd harbor

00:18:24even a shred

00:18:25of genuine love

00:18:26for her

00:18:26in the past three years.

00:18:30Winona,

00:18:30I'll be right there.

00:18:32I've got something

00:18:33to take care of

00:18:33so don't wait up for me.

00:18:34You'll be the most

00:18:35beautiful bride

00:18:36in a few days.

00:18:40Noelle sat on the bed

00:18:41and swallowed back

00:18:42her tears.

00:18:43Two hours later,

00:18:44she finished washing up

00:18:45and got into bed

00:18:46to hit the head.

00:18:47Just as she was

00:18:48drifting off,

00:18:49the door slung open.

00:18:50Chester,

00:18:50who was supposed

00:18:51to be hosting a party

00:18:52at a bar with Winona,

00:18:53walked in.

00:18:54He smelled

00:18:55an alcohol.

00:18:56He carelessly

00:18:57ripped open his shirt,

00:18:58tossed back the covers,

00:18:59and pressed down

00:19:00on Noelle.

00:19:00As soon as the two

00:19:01made contact,

00:19:02Noelle's drowsiness vanished.

00:19:04She became acutely aware

00:19:05that the person

00:19:06pressing down on her

00:19:07was indeed Simon.

00:19:09Noelle's body went rigid

00:19:10and her face

00:19:11drained of all color.

00:19:12She threw all her strength

00:19:13into shoving Simon off her

00:19:15and curled up

00:19:15at the head of the bed.

00:19:16Are you still mad?

00:19:18He rubbed his temples,

00:19:18his mannerisms

00:19:19exactly like Chester's.

00:19:21Even his voice,

00:19:21soaked with alcohol,

00:19:22was indistinguishable.

00:19:23If Noelle hadn't heard

00:19:25that Chester had kept

00:19:25himself chaste for Winona,

00:19:27she wouldn't have been

00:19:28able to tell them apart.

00:19:29I already told you

00:19:30that if I had feelings

00:19:31for Winona,

00:19:32you and I would never

00:19:33be getting married.

00:19:34He moved to kiss her.

00:19:36Her eyes widened

00:19:37and she jerked aside,

00:19:38gagging.

00:19:38She retched

00:19:39until her eyes turned red.

00:19:41She couldn't stop.

00:19:42She shoved Simon away

00:19:43and ran for the bathroom.

00:19:45He watched her,

00:19:46his brows knitting

00:19:47and eyes glinting.

00:19:51You guys heard that, right?

00:19:52She's gagging.

00:19:53Don't tell me she's pregnant.

00:19:55Don't let this

00:19:56get out of hand, Simon.

00:19:57What if she clings to you

00:19:58after the truth is out?

00:20:00Noelle stiffened

00:20:01and her blood ran cold.

00:20:02It hit her that Simon's phone

00:20:03had been on a call

00:20:04the whole time.

00:20:05Chester,

00:20:06Simon,

00:20:06this is too much.

00:20:07Too much?

00:20:08She's been targeting you

00:20:09for ages.

00:20:10This is the punishment

00:20:11she deserves.

00:20:12But what if she really

00:20:13is pregnant?

00:20:14That's impossible.

00:20:16Even if she is,

00:20:17we'll make sure

00:20:17it's taken care of.

00:20:18Right, Simon?

00:20:19Oh, of course.

00:20:21For some reason,

00:20:21he felt a sudden,

00:20:23sharp twist in his chest.

00:20:24The next second,

00:20:25he saw Noelle

00:20:26open the door

00:20:27and stare at him,

00:20:28her face as white

00:20:29as a sheet.

00:20:30What's wrong, Elle?

00:20:31You look awful.

00:20:32Are you feeling okay?

00:20:33Are you pregnant?

00:20:35No,

00:20:36my stomach's just acting up.

00:20:38The following morning,

00:20:39Noelle went to the hospital

00:20:40for her scheduled abortion.

00:20:42Elle,

00:20:43the baby already

00:20:44has a heartbeat

00:20:44at seven weeks

00:20:45and all the indicators

00:20:46look good.

00:20:47Are you sure

00:20:48you want to terminate?

00:20:49I'm positive.

00:20:52It was noon

00:20:53by the time

00:20:54she left the hospital.

00:20:55Chester called

00:20:56and his car pulled up

00:20:57at the entrance

00:20:57moments later.

00:20:59Come on,

00:20:59I'm taking you to lunch.

00:21:01They rode in silence,

00:21:02a small smile

00:21:03playing on Chester's lips

00:21:04the whole time.

00:21:05It was also the one

00:21:06Noelle hated most.

00:21:08As soon as they reached

00:21:09the restaurant,

00:21:10they saw Winona

00:21:11and Simon

00:21:11already waiting for them.

00:21:13Elle,

00:21:13I crossed the line yesterday

00:21:15so I queued

00:21:16for this trending cake

00:21:17to apologize.

00:21:18You have to try it.

00:21:19During the meal,

00:21:20she kept reminiscing

00:21:21about her,

00:21:22Chester,

00:21:23and Simon as kids.

00:21:24Chester and Simon

00:21:25have always spoiled me.

00:21:26When we played house,

00:21:28they'd fight over

00:21:29who got to be my groom.

00:21:31In middle school,

00:21:32some boys cornered me

00:21:33and the two of them

00:21:34got hurt badly

00:21:35trying to protect me.

00:21:36They were in the hospital

00:21:37for ages.

00:21:38Once,

00:21:39I climbed a tree

00:21:40and couldn't get down.

00:21:41Chester sprawled on the ground

00:21:43to be my cushion.

00:21:44And Simon laughed along.

00:21:46The three of them

00:21:46chatted warmly

00:21:47while Noelle stayed silent.

00:21:48Elle,

00:21:49why aren't you saying anything?

00:21:51Do you have a problem with me?

00:21:53I know we had

00:21:54misunderstandings in college,

00:21:55but I hope we can be

00:21:56best friends

00:21:57now that you're

00:21:57marrying Chester.

00:21:58Noelle didn't move

00:21:59for a long moment

00:22:00or even look at her.

00:22:01She suddenly clutched

00:22:02the front of her blouse

00:22:03as her breath came in gasps.

00:22:05Angry red hives

00:22:06spread across her forearm,

00:22:07forming a shocking

00:22:08and raw sight.

00:22:09She fumbled

00:22:10for her bag.

00:22:11You're having

00:22:12an allergic reaction.

00:22:13Noelle had

00:22:14and a severe

00:22:14peanut allergy.

00:22:16She was usually

00:22:16careful,

00:22:17but in case of

00:22:17accidental exposure

00:22:18and no time

00:22:19to get help,

00:22:20she always kept

00:22:21an EpiPen

00:22:21in her bag.

00:22:22It was something

00:22:23that could save

00:22:23her life

00:22:24when seconds mattered.

00:22:25She'd already

00:22:26grabbed the EpiPen.

00:22:28Chester,

00:22:28I feel

00:22:32Winona.

00:22:32Chester,

00:22:33Winona looks like

00:22:33she's having

00:22:34an allergic reaction.

00:22:35Chester froze

00:22:36mid-strive,

00:22:37remembering that

00:22:37Noelle had ordered

00:22:38seafood broth

00:22:39during the meal.

00:22:40His expression

00:22:40went cold in an instant

00:22:41as he turned

00:22:42and stormed over

00:22:43to Noelle.

00:22:49You caused

00:22:49Winona to have

00:22:50an allergic reaction.

00:22:51She needs

00:22:52the medication first.

00:22:53With that,

00:22:54we marched

00:22:54straight to Winona

00:22:55and swiftly administered

00:22:56the injection

00:22:57without the slightest

00:22:58bit of hesitation.

00:22:59You're a doctor,

00:23:00Noelle.

00:23:00You should have

00:23:01other ways

00:23:01of saving yourself.

00:23:02Winona doesn't know

00:23:03anything she needs

00:23:04the EpiPen more.

00:23:06I'll get the car.

00:23:07Noelle collapsed

00:23:08to the floor,

00:23:09her bloodshot eyes

00:23:10locked on their

00:23:11retreating figures.

00:23:12From beginning to end,

00:23:14none of them

00:23:14looked back, doll.

00:23:17Miss,

00:23:17are you okay?

00:23:20Elle,

00:23:21you're finally awake.

00:23:22Are you feeling

00:23:23any discomfort?

00:23:24Elle,

00:23:25I know you're mad at me,

00:23:26but the Gray

00:23:26and Johnson families

00:23:27have deep ties.

00:23:28We can't let anything

00:23:29happen to Winona

00:23:30on our watch.

00:23:31I had no choice.

00:23:32You're about to become

00:23:33a member of the Gray family.

00:23:34We have shared interests.

00:23:36You should be more understanding.

00:23:37You know I love you most,

00:23:39don't you?

00:23:39Come on, Noelle.

00:23:41Chester had no choice.

00:23:42Affluent families like ours

00:23:44have our own problems.

00:23:45We have to put

00:23:45the bigger picture first.

00:23:46As your family,

00:23:47we can only ask you

00:23:48to bear with it for now.

00:23:49Noelle's hands

00:23:50balled into tight fists

00:23:52under the blanket.

00:23:52She opened her eyes

00:23:53and fixed her gaze

00:23:54on the two men

00:23:55as she sneered inwardly.

00:23:56They were leaving

00:23:57no stone unturned

00:23:58to sweet talk

00:23:59and brainwash her.

00:24:01I want to rest.

00:24:13Hello.

00:24:14Am I speaking

00:24:14to a live streaming company?

00:24:16I'd like to place an order.

00:24:20After hanging up,

00:24:21her hand moved on instinct

00:24:23to the pendant

00:24:24at her chest,

00:24:24only to grasp at nothing.

00:24:26The pendant containing

00:24:27Marie's hair and ashes

00:24:28was gone.

00:24:35She was about to go

00:24:36find a nurse

00:24:37when she received a text.

00:24:38Winona had sent

00:24:39a photo of her necklace.

00:24:41If you want it back,

00:24:42come now.

00:24:43Otherwise,

00:24:43I'll dump what's inside

00:24:45into the toilet.

00:24:47A crushing fury

00:24:48washed over Noelle,

00:24:50almost making her vision

00:24:51go dark.

00:24:52Her chest heaved

00:24:54with rage as she rushed

00:24:55to Winona's hospital room.

00:24:59Inside,

00:25:00Winona stood by the window,

00:25:02the necklace dangling

00:25:03from her fingertips.

00:25:04It swayed just outside

00:25:06the windowsill,

00:25:07ready to drop

00:25:08at any moment.

00:25:09Winona Johnson,

00:25:11give me back my necklace.

00:25:13You saw my social media

00:25:15updates, right?

00:25:17And here I thought

00:25:18you would keep putting on

00:25:19that holier-than-thou act.

00:25:21You wanted me dead

00:25:23so badly in the past

00:25:25yet here you are,

00:25:27putting up with anything

00:25:28just to marry

00:25:29into the Grey family.

00:25:30Give me back

00:25:31my necklace.

00:25:33Get on your knees

00:25:34and prostrate yourself

00:25:35before me

00:25:36if you want it.

00:25:37Admit you're

00:25:38a pathetic hypocrite.

00:25:41Never.

00:25:42Don't push me

00:25:44too far,

00:25:44Winona.

00:25:45Is this the first time

00:25:46you've realized

00:25:47just how far

00:25:47I can push?

00:25:48That stubborn attitude

00:25:49of yours

00:25:50and your refusal

00:25:51to bend to anyone's will

00:25:52is what I hate

00:25:53most about you.

00:25:54If you just

00:25:55kneeled to me

00:25:56back then,

00:25:56I wouldn't have

00:25:57kept targeting you

00:25:58for years.

00:25:59You've seen how much

00:26:00I mean to Chester.

00:26:02Here's the deal.

00:26:04Grovel at my feet

00:26:05and beg me for mercy.

00:26:06Not only will I return

00:26:08the necklace,

00:26:08but I'll also help you

00:26:09get a solid foothold

00:26:10in the Grey family.

00:26:12I won't kneel.

00:26:14You couldn't break me

00:26:15before and you never will.

00:26:18I will never bow

00:26:19out to someone

00:26:20as vile as you.

00:26:22You.

00:26:25Fine then.

00:26:26Since you don't

00:26:27want the necklace,

00:26:28let's just toss it.

00:26:33Give it back.

00:26:36She whirled

00:26:37to run downstairs,

00:26:39but Winona

00:26:39yanked tight

00:26:40on her clothes,

00:26:41holding her back.

00:26:43I'm sorry, Elle.

00:26:44I won't go

00:26:45near Chester again.

00:26:46Please don't

00:26:48push me off.

00:26:56Noelle Rutherford,

00:26:57what are you doing?

00:27:06Winona,

00:27:07are you okay?

00:27:08I'm sorry.

00:27:10It's all my fault.

00:27:14Chester,

00:27:14we should stop

00:27:16contacting each other

00:27:17from now on.

00:27:19What are you talking about?

00:27:22Don't worry.

00:27:23I won't let you

00:27:24suffer in silence.

00:27:26I can't believe

00:27:27you're still bullying

00:27:28Winona after all

00:27:29these years.

00:27:30Noelle.

00:27:31I didn't.

00:27:33She threw my necklace

00:27:35and I...

00:27:36That's enough.

00:27:38Even now,

00:27:39you're making excuses.

00:27:40Winona has always

00:27:42been gentle and timid.

00:27:44How could she

00:27:44ever bully anyone?

00:27:46You're the one

00:27:47who's at fault.

00:27:48Someone else bullied you,

00:27:49yet you took it out

00:27:50on her.

00:27:51I didn't.

00:27:52She's the one

00:27:53who's been bullying me.

00:27:55She's tormented me

00:27:56this whole time.

00:28:00You still won't see sense.

00:28:02If you aren't taught

00:28:03a lesson now,

00:28:04who knows what you'll do?

00:28:05You'll push someone

00:28:06out a window today.

00:28:07So will you start

00:28:08committing murder tomorrow?

00:28:22What are you doing?

00:28:24No one answered.

00:28:26No matter how she fought,

00:28:28Chester and Simon

00:28:29just hauled her forward

00:28:30in silence,

00:28:31their tight jawlines

00:28:32carved with fury.

00:28:34In one last glance

00:28:36back at the hospital room,

00:28:37Noelle met Winona's eyes.

00:28:39They were smug,

00:28:40vicious,

00:28:41and triumphant.

00:28:46Noelle was led

00:28:47to a bungee platform

00:28:48at the mountaintop.

00:28:49The tower rose

00:28:50over 300 feet

00:28:51and the cliff

00:28:53yawned beneath her feet.

00:28:54The second she stepped

00:28:56onto it,

00:28:57her face went

00:28:58chalk white

00:28:58and her legs

00:28:59started to shake.

00:29:01Chester's and Simon's

00:29:02expressions remained icy.

00:29:05They took the safety

00:29:05locks from the staff

00:29:06and personally

00:29:07buckled them on her,

00:29:08forcing her to the edge

00:29:10of the jump platform.

00:29:12Noelle stared

00:29:13into the abyss below,

00:29:14her whole body

00:29:15going rigid.

00:29:16All she could hear

00:29:17was the thundering

00:29:18of her own heart gate.

00:29:20Chester,

00:29:21you know I'm terrified

00:29:22of heights.

00:29:24I know.

00:29:25Since you tried

00:29:25to push Winona

00:29:26out the window,

00:29:27I'll give you a taste

00:29:28of what it's like

00:29:28to fall.

00:29:29This is the punishment

00:29:30you deserve, Elle.

00:29:31The Lady of the Grey

00:29:32Household

00:29:33can't be a vicious woman.

00:29:34Learn your lesson today.

00:29:35If you're sincere

00:29:36about correcting your errors,

00:29:37we'll get married

00:29:38as planned.

00:29:39Don't be scared.

00:29:40You won't die.

00:29:42With that,

00:29:43they reached out

00:29:43and shoved her

00:29:44over the edge.

00:29:45The brutal drop

00:29:47seized her.

00:29:48Noelle's heartbeat

00:29:49stopped for a few seconds

00:29:51and her chest ached.

00:29:53Terror beyond words

00:29:54sealed her throat.

00:29:55She couldn't even scream.

00:29:57all that came out

00:29:59were strangled

00:30:00whimpers

00:30:00and tears

00:30:01that scattered

00:30:02in the wind.

00:30:03Her eyes held

00:30:04nothing but desolation

00:30:05and despair.

00:30:11She was left

00:30:12hanging upside down

00:30:13over the cliff

00:30:14for half an hour.

00:30:15Only when her breathing

00:30:16faltered

00:30:17and her consciousness

00:30:18began to fray

00:30:19did they haul her back up.

00:30:21Noelle collapsed

00:30:22on the platform,

00:30:23gasping for air,

00:30:24trying to ease

00:30:25the tingling in her limbs

00:30:26from lack of oxygen.

00:30:30Ms. Rutherford,

00:30:31before Mr. Chester

00:30:33and Mr. Simon left,

00:30:34they ordered you

00:30:35had to jump ten times

00:30:36before you can leave.

00:30:38Noelle hadn't even

00:30:39processed the words

00:30:40when she was pushed

00:30:41off again.

00:30:41Once,

00:30:42twice,

00:30:43thrice.

00:30:43Each time,

00:30:44she was left dangling

00:30:46over the cliff

00:30:46for half an hour.

00:30:47The brief breaks

00:30:48in between

00:30:49didn't ease

00:30:49the oxygen deprivation.

00:30:51As Noelle's mind

00:30:52grew fuzzier,

00:30:53the ten jumps

00:30:54were finally over.

00:30:55The sky was already

00:30:57pitch black.

00:30:58The platform's

00:30:58harsh white floodlights

00:31:00were all that held

00:31:01Noelle's last scraps

00:31:02of awareness.

00:31:09Take me

00:31:10to the hospital.

00:31:12I'm sorry,

00:31:13Mrs. Rutherford.

00:31:14Mr. Chester

00:31:15and Mr. Simon

00:31:15made it clear

00:31:16that no one

00:31:17is to help you.

00:31:18The Gray family

00:31:19owns this area

00:31:20and I don't want

00:31:21to lose my job.

00:31:22He left.

00:31:23The glare of the floodlight

00:31:25stung Noelle's eyes,

00:31:27making tears

00:31:27slip down her face.

00:31:29She rested there

00:31:31for a while

00:31:31before forcing herself

00:31:33to stand

00:31:34and make her way

00:31:35down the mountain.

00:31:36She was halfway

00:31:37down it

00:31:38when she came across

00:31:39a kind tourist

00:31:40who was also

00:31:42on the way back.

00:31:43They brought her

00:31:43back to the city.

00:31:45Noelle didn't go

00:31:46back to the villa.

00:31:47Instead,

00:31:48she went straight

00:31:49to the hospital

00:31:49and,

00:31:50with a flashlight,

00:31:52started searching

00:31:52the lawn

00:31:53beneath the inpatient

00:31:54department

00:31:54for the necklace.

00:31:56As time dragged on,

00:31:58she grew more frantic.

00:32:01Tears shimmered

00:32:02in her bloodshot eyes.

00:32:05Who are you?

00:32:06What do you think

00:32:07you're doing?

00:32:08It was a hospital

00:32:10security guard.

00:32:11With his help,

00:32:13she found the cleaner

00:32:14in charge of the lawn.

00:32:16Yeah,

00:32:17I did notice a necklace.

00:32:18I figured nobody

00:32:19wanted it

00:32:20and tossed it

00:32:20into the trash.

00:32:24Which trash can?

00:32:28It's already been cleared

00:32:29and sent to the dump.

00:32:31I'm afraid you won't

00:32:32be able to find it,

00:32:33even if you want it now.

00:32:40Which dump?

00:32:41That necklace

00:32:42is very important to me.

00:32:43I have to get it back.

00:32:47Noelle searched

00:32:48the junkyard

00:32:48for an entire day.

00:32:50The moment she found

00:32:51the necklace,

00:32:52the tears she'd been

00:32:52holding back

00:32:53finally fell.

00:32:55But the next second,

00:32:56she realized

00:32:57the pendant was empty.

00:32:58The hair and ashes

00:32:59she'd stored inside

00:33:00were gone.

00:33:01Her head buzzed

00:33:02and she ran

00:33:03for the hospital

00:33:04with the necklace

00:33:04clutched in her hand.

00:33:06Just as she reached

00:33:07the entrance,

00:33:08she ran into

00:33:09Winona,

00:33:09who had been discharged.

00:33:14which dumpster

00:33:16did this piece

00:33:16of garbage

00:33:17crawl out of?

00:33:19Where are the things

00:33:21that were in my pendant?

00:33:25You mean that

00:33:26filthy stuff.

00:33:28I dumped them

00:33:29in the toilet

00:33:29and flushed them away

00:33:31ages ago.

00:33:32Winona Johnson!

00:33:34Winona staggered

00:33:35backward,

00:33:36clutching her cheek.

00:33:37she fell into

00:33:38Chester's arms.

00:33:40You still haven't

00:33:42learned your lesson,

00:33:43Noelle.

00:33:44She flushed

00:33:45my grandma's ashes

00:33:46down the toilet.

00:33:48That's enough.

00:33:50I can't believe

00:33:51you're even cursing

00:33:52your own grandmother

00:33:53to hurt Winona.

00:33:54You make me sick.

00:33:56The next second,

00:33:57he seized her wrist

00:33:58and shoved her hard.

00:34:00The driver of a speeding

00:34:02cab blared the horn,

00:34:03unable to break in time.

00:34:05He slammed into Noelle.

00:34:06She was sent fly

00:34:07before landing

00:34:08the flower bed.

00:34:09Agonizing pain

00:34:10tore through her chest.

00:34:12Thick blood spilled

00:34:13from the corner

00:34:14of her mouth.

00:34:15She instinctively

00:34:16looked toward Chester,

00:34:17only to see him

00:34:18shielding Winona

00:34:19with heartache

00:34:20in his eyes.

00:34:21He ushered her

00:34:22into the car

00:34:22Simon had brought around.

00:34:24From beginning to end,

00:34:25he didn't spare Noelle

00:34:26a single glance.

00:34:27She blacked out.

00:34:29Noelle lay in the hospital

00:34:31for two days.

00:34:32Through Winona's

00:34:33social media updates,

00:34:34she saw Chester

00:34:35escorting her

00:34:36to banquets

00:34:37and public events.

00:34:38With the wedding

00:34:39so close,

00:34:40he couldn't hold back

00:34:41anymore.

00:34:42He didn't even bother

00:34:43putting on an act.

00:34:45Noelle made her own

00:34:46preparations

00:34:47for the wedding day.

00:34:49The afternoon

00:34:50before the wedding,

00:34:51Chester came to pick her up

00:34:52from the hospital.

00:34:53He brought her

00:34:53favorite bellflowers.

00:34:55I was too impulsive

00:34:56the other day,

00:34:57so this is my apology.

00:34:58But you need to stop

00:35:00targeting Winona, too.

00:35:01Tomorrow is our wedding.

00:35:02I've prepared a surprise

00:35:03for you.

00:35:07Perfect.

00:35:09I've prepared a surprise

00:35:10for you, too.

00:35:11Chester paused.

00:35:13A flicker of awkwardness

00:35:14flashed in his eyes

00:35:15before he smoothed it over.

00:35:17On the drive back

00:35:18to the villa,

00:35:19the weather turned

00:35:20and there was

00:35:20a torrential downfall.

00:35:22When thunder cracked,

00:35:23Chester grew restless

00:35:24and on edge.

00:35:26He kept one hand

00:35:27on the wheel

00:35:28while dialing Winona

00:35:29over and over again

00:35:30with the other.

00:35:31The calls went unanswered.

00:35:33He abruptly slammed

00:35:34on the brakes,

00:35:35pulled over,

00:35:36and grabbed an umbrella

00:35:38from the car.

00:35:39He handed it to Noelle.

00:35:40I've got something

00:35:41to deal with.

00:35:42You should grab a cab back.

00:35:44Noelle didn't take

00:35:45the umbrella.

00:35:45She simply gave Chester

00:35:47an unreadable look

00:35:48before stepping out

00:35:49without a backward glance

00:35:50and shutting the door.

00:35:51He hesitated

00:35:52and stared

00:35:52at the umbrella

00:35:53in his hand.

00:35:54An odd feeling

00:35:55flickered through him.

00:35:56But Winona's call

00:35:58came at that moment.

00:35:59She sounded like

00:36:00she was on the verge

00:36:01of tears.

00:36:03Chester,

00:36:03I'm scared.

00:36:05Hurry up

00:36:05and come to me.

00:36:07Chester blanched,

00:36:09his hand moved away

00:36:10from the door handle

00:36:10and he immediately

00:36:11drove off.

00:36:13Noelle stood there,

00:36:14only just realizing

00:36:15that she'd carried

00:36:16the bouquet Chester

00:36:17had given her

00:36:18out of the car.

00:36:19As she watched

00:36:19the taillights vanish

00:36:21into the rain,

00:36:22she set the flowers

00:36:23on a trash can

00:36:24and hailed it back.

00:36:25Back at the villa,

00:36:26she received a message

00:36:27from Chester.

00:36:28I've got some urgent matters

00:36:30to deal with,

00:36:30so I won't be home tonight.

00:36:32She didn't reply.

00:36:33Maybe it was because

00:36:34she'd been in the rain,

00:36:35but she ran a low fever

00:36:37that night,

00:36:37drifting in and out

00:36:38of dreams.

00:36:39One moment,

00:36:40she saw Winona

00:36:41beating her up

00:36:42until she couldn't stand.

00:36:43Then,

00:36:44she pressed a foot

00:36:45to her face

00:36:45to humiliate her.

00:36:47The next moment,

00:36:48she saw Chester

00:36:49soothing her,

00:36:50cooking for her,

00:36:51and watching movies

00:36:52with her.

00:36:53Lastly,

00:36:54she saw the first time

00:36:55they'd slept together

00:36:56and the countless times

00:36:57after.

00:36:58Tears slid from

00:36:59the corners of her eyes.

00:37:01When she woke,

00:37:02her gaze was nothing

00:37:03but ice.

00:37:04It was her and Chester's

00:37:06wedding day,

00:37:06which happened to fall

00:37:07a week after Marie's death.

00:37:09At first light,

00:37:11Noelle took her suitcase

00:37:12to the cemetery.

00:37:13After leaving the gravesite,

00:37:15she grabbed a cab

00:37:16to the hospital

00:37:17to join the group departure.

00:37:19On her way there,

00:37:20she checked her WhatsApp

00:37:22to confirm every detail

00:37:24and contingency

00:37:25for the wedding

00:37:25with the team.

00:37:27Then,

00:37:28she found a live stream channel

00:37:29she'd bookmarked

00:37:30and tapped in.

00:37:31On camera,

00:37:32a glamorous influencer

00:37:33greeted the audience.

00:37:35Hello, everyone.

00:37:37Today,

00:37:37by the bride's invitation,

00:37:39we're attending a wedding

00:37:40and broadcasting it live.

00:37:42Noelle stared

00:37:43at the phone screen,

00:37:44a cold,

00:37:45dark light

00:37:46glinting in her eyes.

00:37:50At the wedding venue,

00:37:52Chester wore

00:37:53a groom's tuxedo

00:37:54while Simon and Winona

00:37:55were dressed

00:37:56as the best man

00:37:57and maid of honor.

00:37:58The ceremony

00:37:58was a simple

00:37:59garden one

00:38:00and the guests

00:38:01were all young

00:38:02and familiar faces.

00:38:03Every guest knew

00:38:04exactly what they were

00:38:06waiting for the show

00:38:06to begin.

00:38:07When the live stream crew

00:38:08walked in,

00:38:09Chester froze for a beat

00:38:10and stepped forward

00:38:11to ask what they were

00:38:12doing there.

00:38:13He frowned

00:38:13when he heard

00:38:14Noelle have hired them.

00:38:15I'm sorry,

00:38:16but it's inconvenient

00:38:17to live stream

00:38:18today's wedding.

00:38:19Please.

00:38:19Before he could finish,

00:38:21Winona came over

00:38:22and tugged on his sleeve.

00:38:23She said sweetly,

00:38:25Chester,

00:38:26since Elle invited them,

00:38:27we should respect

00:38:28her wishes.

00:38:29Hi everyone,

00:38:30I'm today's maid of honor

00:38:31and a childhood friend

00:38:32of both the groom

00:38:32and his best man.

00:38:34Noelle smiled mockingly

00:38:35as she watched things

00:38:36play out on her phone screen.

00:38:38It was time

00:38:39for the ceremony

00:38:40to start,

00:38:41yet the bride

00:38:42still hadn't arrived.

00:38:44Chester called Noelle

00:38:45again and again,

00:38:46only to be told

00:38:47each time

00:38:48that her phone

00:38:49was powered off.

00:38:50He furrowed his brows

00:38:51and turned to his assistant.

00:38:53Check the hospital,

00:38:54see whether Noelle

00:38:55is with her grandmother.

00:38:56He deliberately

00:38:57left Marie

00:38:58out of the ceremony

00:38:59that day,

00:39:00afraid that she would

00:39:01be upset

00:39:01or aggravated

00:39:02by what was about

00:39:03to happen.

00:39:04As he listened

00:39:05to the cool,

00:39:06robotic voice

00:39:07tell him that

00:39:07Noelle's phone was off,

00:39:09he grew increasingly anxious.

00:39:11Had she found

00:39:12something out?

00:39:12Just then,

00:39:13the massive screen

00:39:15behind them

00:39:15crackled to life

00:39:16with voices.

00:39:17Chester,

00:39:18will Noelle

00:39:19have a meltdown

00:39:19when she finds out

00:39:20I've been pretending

00:39:20to be you

00:39:21and playing her

00:39:22this whole time.

00:39:23Chester's

00:39:23and Simon's faces

00:39:24drained of color.

00:39:26Noelle had found out

00:39:27ahead of time.

00:39:28She'd never imagined

00:39:29Chester having

00:39:29an identical twin.

00:39:30When she finds out

00:39:31he's the one

00:39:32who's been getting

00:39:32into her pants

00:39:33these past three years,

00:39:34that's punishment.

00:39:35He'll make her feel

00:39:36on top of the world

00:39:37before dropping her

00:39:38into the abyss.

00:39:39Gotta say that

00:39:39he's put in some

00:39:40serious work

00:39:40to achieve that.

00:39:42Panic surged

00:39:42in both of them.

00:39:44Before they could react,

00:39:45the footage on the screen

00:39:46cut to a new scene.

00:39:47In the bathroom,

00:39:49Winona ordered

00:39:50a group of young women

00:39:51to strip Noelle

00:39:52and press lit cigarettes

00:39:53to her skin

00:39:54one by one

00:39:55to burn her.

00:39:56She also made them

00:39:57slap her across the face

00:39:58before finally shoving

00:39:59her head down

00:40:00into a toilet.

00:40:01The crowd fell silent.

00:40:02Only Noelle's screams

00:40:04echoed through the stillness.

00:40:05On the screen,

00:40:06Winona's flawlessly

00:40:07made up face

00:40:08twisted with venom

00:40:09and arrogance.

00:40:10Noelle,

00:40:11Brother Bird.

00:40:12You've got nerve.

00:40:13Seize my title

00:40:14as the campus bear.

00:40:15Get on your knees

00:40:16and drop left my feet now

00:40:18or I'll make the next

00:40:19two more years

00:40:19of your life

00:40:20a living head.

00:40:21Chester and Simon

00:40:22stood frozen in place

00:40:24as their blood ran cold.

00:40:25One scene after another

00:40:27showed Winona

00:40:28bullying well

00:40:29recessively.

00:40:30The video finally froze

00:40:31on Winona's cruel expression.

00:40:34Only then did the brothers

00:40:35snap to their senses

00:40:36and stiffly turn

00:40:37to look at Winona.

00:40:38She'd been lying to them

00:40:39all along.

00:40:43Winona screamed

00:40:44like she'd lost her mind.

00:40:46Turn it off.

00:40:47Shut it off.

00:40:48Right then,

00:40:50the massive scream

00:40:51started playing

00:40:52the bullying footage again.

00:40:53This time, however,

00:40:55Winona looked younger

00:40:56and the victim

00:40:57was someone else.

00:40:58A girl in a high school uniform.

00:41:00More clips popped up

00:41:01one after another

00:41:02and multiple videos

00:41:04played at once.

00:41:05Aside from Winona's

00:41:06frantic shrieks,

00:41:07there were all kinds

00:41:09of other screams.

00:41:16It was you!

00:41:17You drove my daughter

00:41:18to jump to her death!

00:41:19You destroyed my family

00:41:20and forced us to leave!

00:41:22All the staff

00:41:22who were supposed

00:41:23to be doing their jobs

00:41:24charged out,

00:41:25accusing her of her crimes

00:41:26and beating her.

00:41:27Every single one of them

00:41:29was either a victim

00:41:30or a victim's family.

00:41:32Winona had caused

00:41:33more than one person's death.

00:41:34But whenever these people

00:41:36had tried to ask

00:41:37the internet

00:41:37or the police for help,

00:41:38their efforts had been

00:41:39suppressed almost immediately.

00:41:41The victims had either

00:41:42died or begged for mercy

00:41:44until Winona was satisfied.

00:41:46Then,

00:41:46she'd moved on

00:41:47to the next target.

00:41:49Noelle was her

00:41:50longest-lasting victim.

00:41:51She was also the one

00:41:52Winona hated most.

00:41:54The more Noelle

00:41:54refused to break,

00:41:55the more Winona

00:41:56wanted to destroy her.

00:41:58At first,

00:41:58Noelle had exposed

00:42:00Winona online

00:42:00and tried going to the police,

00:42:02but nothing worked.

00:42:03Later,

00:42:04she'd spent a lot of time

00:42:05gathering evidence

00:42:06of Winona bullying others.

00:42:08She'd put in a lot of effort

00:42:09convincing these people

00:42:10to trust her

00:42:11and hand over their proof.

00:42:12She'd also persuaded them

00:42:14to side with her.

00:42:15Even during the years

00:42:16Winona was abroad,

00:42:17Noelle hadn't given up

00:42:19on her plan for revenge.

00:42:20From the moment

00:42:21she'd overheard the plot

00:42:22against her

00:42:22while standing outside

00:42:23that private room,

00:42:25she'd decided to use

00:42:26this wedding

00:42:26to broadcast

00:42:27Winona's crimes live

00:42:29for everyone to see.

00:42:30Only if there were

00:42:31enough victims,

00:42:32only if public outrage

00:42:34grew big enough

00:42:34would the Johnsons

00:42:35be unable to smother this.

00:42:37The venue fell into

00:42:38a dead hush,

00:42:39broken only by

00:42:40the victims' families'

00:42:41curses and punches.

00:42:42Chester, save me!

00:42:44Save me!

00:42:45Chester and Simon

00:42:45clenched their fists

00:42:46so tightly

00:42:47their bodies trembled.

00:42:48Their eyes turned

00:42:49bloodshot.

00:42:50The person they'd

00:42:51protected since childhood,

00:42:52someone they thought

00:42:53was gentle and timid,

00:42:54had turned out

00:42:55to be someone like this.

00:42:56For her,

00:42:57they'd set up a trap

00:42:58against Noelle.

00:42:58They'd fancied themselves

00:42:59righteous judges,

00:43:00but they were actually

00:43:02accomplices to evil.

00:43:04They charged ahead

00:43:04and pushed into the crowd.

00:43:06Winona struggled

00:43:07toward them

00:43:07when she saw them.

00:43:08Chester, Simon,

00:43:09save me!

00:43:10But the next second

00:43:11she met their

00:43:12bloodshot eyes

00:43:13that were cold

00:43:13and full of disgust.

00:43:15Chester grabbed her

00:43:16by the collar

00:43:17and hauled her up,

00:43:18his voice shaking

00:43:19with anger and pain

00:43:21as he roared,

00:43:22You've been lying to me

00:43:22all along, Winona.

00:43:24You egged me on

00:43:24to go after Noelle.

00:43:26He thought of all

00:43:26the years of deception

00:43:28and how Noelle

00:43:29already knew the truth.

00:43:30He thought about

00:43:31their confrontation

00:43:31in the hospital.

00:43:32She looked at him

00:43:33with disbelief and pain

00:43:35before the emotions

00:43:36had faded into

00:43:36dead hopelessness.

00:43:37He couldn't stop shaking

00:43:39as panic

00:43:39crawled up his chest.

00:43:40Meanwhile,

00:43:41Simon stood beside him,

00:43:43looking at Winona

00:43:43like he wanted

00:43:44to kill her.

00:43:45I...

00:43:45I didn't.

00:43:47That wretch Noelle

00:43:48set me up.

00:43:49The videos are fake.

00:43:51You're still lying.

00:43:52She reached for him,

00:43:53pleading.

00:43:54She picked on me first.

00:43:56I was just fighting back.

00:43:57Chester,

00:43:58you have to believe me.

00:43:59Simon kicked her

00:44:00square in the chest,

00:44:01sending her flying

00:44:02with a brutal thud.

00:44:03The crowd surged

00:44:04forward again,

00:44:05swarming her

00:44:06and bleeding her.

00:44:07Stop right there!

00:44:08The police officers

00:44:10stormed the government,

00:44:11taking Winona

00:44:11and the victims

00:44:12in for investigation.

00:44:13They collected

00:44:14all the evidence

00:44:15before her.

00:44:15By then,

00:44:16Noelle had already

00:44:17reached the airport.

00:44:18She exited the live stream

00:44:20and checked the news online.

00:44:22The internet had exploded.

00:44:23There were headlines

00:44:24everywhere about how

00:44:26Winona,

00:44:27the Johnson family's heiress,

00:44:29was a bully.

00:44:30Chester and Simon

00:44:31were also being

00:44:32cursed to hell

00:44:33and back

00:44:34for what they'd done.

00:44:35A faint smile

00:44:36tugged at Noelle's lips.

00:44:38She pulled her old phone

00:44:39out of her bag

00:44:40and turned it on.

00:44:41Then,

00:44:42she sent Chester and Simon

00:44:44some photos

00:44:44of her abortion procedure form

00:44:46and the images

00:44:46of the aborted embryo.

00:44:48Then,

00:44:48she removed the SIM card,

00:44:50snapped it in two

00:44:51and dropped the phone

00:44:52into an airport

00:44:54trash bin.

00:44:55She boarded her flight

00:44:56without another look back.

00:45:00As Winona was dragged

00:45:02past Chester,

00:45:03she fought back

00:45:04and grabbed his sleeve.

00:45:05The next second,

00:45:07she met a pair

00:45:07of bloodshot eyes

00:45:08that blazed with hatred.

00:45:10She froze,

00:45:11and he flung her off roughly.

00:45:13The venue fell silent,

00:45:15leaving only Chester

00:45:16and Simon behind,

00:45:17looking distraught.

00:45:18Chester's assistant,

00:45:19who'd gone to the hospital,

00:45:21returned.

00:45:25Mr. Chester,

00:45:27Ms. Rutherford

00:45:27isn't at the hospital.

00:45:28The nurse said

00:45:29her grandmother

00:45:30passed away a week ago.

00:45:31What?

00:45:32No way.

00:45:34Why didn't she say anything

00:45:36if her grandma died?

00:45:37The time of death

00:45:38was last Friday

00:45:40at 11 p.m.

00:45:42I double-checked.

00:45:43Last Friday,

00:45:44the night of their get-together

00:45:45in that private room,

00:45:46could it be that Noelle

00:45:47had overheard their conversation

00:45:48and chosen not to tell them

00:45:50about Marie's death?

00:45:51Chester suddenly remembered

00:45:52how Winona had taken his phone

00:45:54to check on him

00:45:54when they'd been at the airport.

00:45:56He pulled it out

00:45:57and saw dozens of missed calls

00:45:58wiped from the log,

00:46:00along with deleted text messages.

00:46:02Damn it!

00:46:03He bolted,

00:46:04and Simon hurried after them.

00:46:07They jumped into the car

00:46:08and sped toward the building.

00:46:10No one was there.

00:46:12There was a USB drive

00:46:13on the coffee table,

00:46:14and a note was pinned beneath it.

00:46:16Chester Gray,

00:46:17trusting you so easily

00:46:19is the thing I regret most.

00:46:21Chester's fingers trembled

00:46:22as he held the note,

00:46:23and his eyes reddened

00:46:24in an instant.

00:46:25Simon had already plugged

00:46:27the USB drive

00:46:28into the computer

00:46:29and opened the folder.

00:46:31Inside were three years' worth

00:46:33of evidence

00:46:34of Noelle being bullied.

00:46:36Just then,

00:46:37both their phones

00:46:38pinged at once.

00:46:39They saw the photos

00:46:40of the abortion procedure form

00:46:42and the images

00:46:43of the aborted embryo

00:46:45that Noelle had sent them.

00:46:46She'd also written a message.

00:46:48As you wished,

00:46:50the baby's been taken care of.

00:46:52Dead silence settled

00:46:54over the room.

00:46:55Noelle had gotten pregnant,

00:46:57and she'd terminated it.

00:46:58Chester and Simon shook

00:46:59as they held their phones.

00:47:01Jealousy and heartbreak

00:47:02tore through Chester,

00:47:04while Simon's eyes

00:47:05filled with tears.

00:47:07That was his baby.

00:47:08He remembered the look

00:47:10in Noelle's eyes

00:47:11when she'd come out

00:47:12of the bathroom

00:47:12that night.

00:47:13Suddenly.

00:47:15I told you to be careful.

00:47:20You're the real culprit here.

00:47:22They grafted

00:47:24and swung at each other,

00:47:25unleashing every ounce

00:47:27of pent-up resentment.

00:47:28Only when the blows

00:47:30landed on their bodies

00:47:31did they dull the guilt

00:47:32and regret

00:47:33that threatened

00:47:34to swallow them whole.

00:47:35They kept fighting

00:47:36until they were covered

00:47:37in bruises

00:47:38and too exhausted

00:47:39to throw another punch.

00:47:40They collapsed

00:47:41on the floor,

00:47:42gasping for breath.

00:47:44After a moment,

00:47:45Chester scrambled

00:47:46to his feet.

00:47:52I'm going to find her.

00:47:54Simon rushed after him.

00:47:57They drove straight

00:47:58to the hospital

00:47:58and made a beeline

00:48:00for the department

00:48:00where Noelle worked.

00:48:02Everyone there

00:48:03had seen the news online.

00:48:05Tanya looked at them,

00:48:07her expression cold,

00:48:08and full of contempt.

00:48:11Elle signed up

00:48:13for Doctors Without Borders.

00:48:14She left today.

00:48:15I don't know

00:48:16where exactly she's gone.

00:48:23Chester and Simon

00:48:24could hardly believe

00:48:25their ears.

00:48:26Doctors Without Borders?

00:48:27That's way too dangerous.

00:48:29Has she lost her mind?

00:48:30Chester was equally frantic.

00:48:33He shot Tanya

00:48:34an icy look

00:48:35before turning on his heel

00:48:36and leaving.

00:48:37Check Noelle's flight.

00:48:38I need to know

00:48:39where she went.

00:48:40Now.

00:48:41As soon as he hung up,

00:48:43he got a call

00:48:43from his family.

00:48:44You and Simon

00:48:45are to get the hell

00:48:46back here right now.

00:48:48Stanley Gray

00:48:48and Marjorie White

00:48:49were Chester

00:48:50and Simon's parents.

00:48:52They also had

00:48:52an older brother,

00:48:53Felix Gray.

00:48:54The three of them

00:48:55sat on the couch

00:48:56in the Gray residence

00:48:57and stared down

00:48:57at Chester and Simon.

00:48:59The tension in the room

00:49:00was palpable.

00:49:01Look what you two have done.

00:49:03Gray Corporation's stock

00:49:04is on the verge

00:49:05of a limit down,

00:49:06thanks to your stupidity.

00:49:07Have you forgotten

00:49:08your manners?

00:49:08Who gave you permission

00:49:09to treat a young woman

00:49:10like that?

00:49:11Chester,

00:49:12Simon,

00:49:12you went too far.

00:49:14This isn't just

00:49:14a devastating blow

00:49:15to that young woman,

00:49:16it's also a significant hit

00:49:17to Gray Corporation's

00:49:19public image.

00:49:19There's a public outcry

00:49:21against our family now.

00:49:22If we don't handle

00:49:23this properly,

00:49:24our reputation

00:49:25will suffer for a long time.

00:49:26The best move now

00:49:27is to apologize.

00:49:28Make sure it's sincere.

00:49:30You keep apologizing

00:49:31until she forgives you.

00:49:32At the same time,

00:49:33you pin the responsibility

00:49:34on Winona.

00:49:35The Johnsons

00:49:36are already in chaos.

00:49:37Winona isn't getting

00:49:38out of this.

00:49:39He narrowed his eyes

00:49:40dangerously at his brothers.

00:49:42You don't still have

00:49:44feelings for her,

00:49:45do you?

00:49:46Of course not.

00:49:47The thought that

00:49:47she's that vicious

00:49:48and that she's been

00:49:49playing us for years

00:49:50makes me want

00:49:51to wring her neck.

00:49:52We know we messed up.

00:49:54We'll cooperate

00:49:54fully on PR.

00:49:56Good.

00:49:56Our top priority now

00:49:58is earning that

00:49:58young woman's forgiveness.

00:50:00Ideally,

00:50:00get her to issue

00:50:01a joint statement with us.

00:50:03Noelle Rutherford, right?

00:50:04Where is she now?

00:50:05The living room

00:50:06fell silent.

00:50:07After a long beat,

00:50:08Chester slumped

00:50:09and said,

00:50:10She's gone.

00:50:11She joined

00:50:11Doctors Without Borders.

00:50:13We don't know

00:50:13her exact location.

00:50:15Oh?

00:50:16Interesting.

00:50:16She held her ground

00:50:17despite years of bullying

00:50:19and seized the moment

00:50:20to fight back

00:50:21after learning

00:50:21about your stunt.

00:50:22That's impressive.

00:50:23Indeed she is.

00:50:24If you can earn her forgiveness,

00:50:26I'll agree to let her

00:50:27marry into our family.

00:50:28Chester and Simon

00:50:29exchanged a look,

00:50:30both secretly thrilled.

00:50:32That's beside the point now.

00:50:33Even if she isn't here,

00:50:35you still need to apologize.

00:50:37Today,

00:50:38you'll work with PR

00:50:39to record an apology video,

00:50:41then issue a written statement.

00:50:43Once the public outrage dies down

00:50:45and we recoup the losses,

00:50:47whether you chase after her

00:50:48is your business.

00:50:49I won't interfere.

00:50:50I only have one condition.

00:50:51You two can't turn on each other

00:50:53over a woman.

00:50:54Two hours later,

00:50:55Grey Corporation's

00:50:56official apology statement

00:50:58climbed to the top

00:50:59of the trending list

00:51:00thanks to careful orchestration.

00:51:02Elle,

00:51:02I'm truly sorry.

00:51:04After three years together,

00:51:05you've genuinely moved me

00:51:07with all the goodness in you.

00:51:09I hesitated about following through

00:51:10with the plan,

00:51:11but after Winona's

00:51:12endless crying and accusations,

00:51:14I was tricked into believing her

00:51:15and decided to teach you

00:51:17a lesson at the wedding.

00:51:18I know I messed up,

00:51:19and I know you don't want

00:51:20to see me right now,

00:51:22but I'll find you

00:51:23and ask for your forgiveness

00:51:24in person.

00:51:25The public didn't buy it.

00:51:26Most of the online community

00:51:28stayed clear-headed

00:51:29and tore into the Grey Brothers

00:51:30without mercy.

00:51:31Seeing the backlash

00:51:32grow stronger,

00:51:34Grey Corporation

00:51:34issued another statement

00:51:36that Chester's and Simon's

00:51:37family shareholding

00:51:38would be reduced

00:51:39and their rights to inherit

00:51:40executive management

00:51:42were revoked.

00:51:45Late at night,

00:51:47inside a private room

00:51:48at a club,

00:51:49Chester and Simon

00:51:49kept plying themselves

00:51:51with liquor.

00:51:52A pile of empty bottles

00:51:53already lined the table.

00:51:55Their friends,

00:51:55who had once schemed

00:51:57and planned alongside them,

00:51:58sat in a circle around them.

00:52:00However,

00:52:00what had once been

00:52:01a rowdy, lively atmosphere

00:52:03had fallen into dead silence.

00:52:05Chester,

00:52:05stop drinking!

00:52:07Keith Miller

00:52:07snatched the glass

00:52:08from Chester

00:52:09and reached for Simon's next.

00:52:11Things have already

00:52:12turned out this way.

00:52:13Booze won't fix anything!

00:52:15Exactly.

00:52:16Why exactly

00:52:16are you drinking anyway?

00:52:17Is it for your inheritance,

00:52:18Winona or Noel?

00:52:20Tell us

00:52:20and we'll help you

00:52:21analyze the situation.

00:52:22Chester and Simon

00:52:23finally stirred

00:52:24from their drunken state

00:52:26at the mention

00:52:26of Noel's name.

00:52:28L.

00:52:28Before Winona's return,

00:52:30his heart

00:52:31had belonged to her.

00:52:32He'd convinced himself

00:52:33that anything with Noel

00:52:34was just an act.

00:52:36No real feelings

00:52:36were involved.

00:52:37Even though he'd always

00:52:38felt weird and off

00:52:39about her intimacy

00:52:40with Simon,

00:52:41he'd never dug into it.

00:52:42Now that Winona's

00:52:43true colors

00:52:43had been exposed,

00:52:44the guilt he felt

00:52:45toward Noel

00:52:46came crashing in

00:52:47and with it,

00:52:48resentment toward Simon.

00:52:49If he hadn't touched Noel

00:52:50and gotten her pregnant,

00:52:52maybe none of this

00:52:52would have happened.

00:52:55You jerk!

00:52:56Who said you could touch her?

00:52:58Who allowed you to touch her?

00:52:59She's mine!

00:53:00Fueled by alcohol,

00:53:02he let loose

00:53:02the jealousy

00:53:03and frustration

00:53:04he'd buried for years.

00:53:06Did he love Noel?

00:53:07He didn't know.

00:53:08All he knew

00:53:08was that with the truth out,

00:53:09she seemed more perfect

00:53:11and precious than ever.

00:53:12Simon fought back

00:53:13without mercy.

00:53:14Yours?

00:53:14You're the one

00:53:15who said you only

00:53:16loved Winona, Chester.

00:53:17You handed Noel over to me.

00:53:19She was mine

00:53:19for the past three years.

00:53:21Who the hell

00:53:21do you think you are?

00:53:22He was losing it too.

00:53:24Every time he thought

00:53:25about Noel's pale face

00:53:26and dead eyes

00:53:27when she'd walked

00:53:28out of the bathroom

00:53:29that night,

00:53:29his heart twisted

00:53:30like a knife

00:53:31was lodged in it.

00:53:32She really had been.

00:53:34She'd carried his child.

00:53:36She must have heard him

00:53:37say he wanted it gone.

00:53:38That was why she'd made

00:53:39the ruthless choice

00:53:40to terminate her own pregnancy.

00:53:42Simon had lied last week

00:53:44in the private room.

00:53:45He wasn't sick

00:53:45of sleeping with her at all.

00:53:47He just hadn't understood

00:53:48how he'd felt about her.

00:53:50He'd pegged her

00:53:50as malicious and cruel

00:53:52and because of that,

00:53:53he'd hurt her again

00:53:54and again.

00:53:55But now,

00:53:55he knew how catastrophically

00:53:57wrongly bid.

00:53:58She had to despise them both.

00:54:00After all the disgusting

00:54:01and vile things

00:54:02she'd heard

00:54:03and the hurt she'd suffered,

00:54:04there was no way

00:54:05she'd forgive them.

00:54:06Chester and Simon

00:54:07brawled like madmen

00:54:08as they saw red.

00:54:09No one could hold them back,

00:54:11no matter how hard

00:54:12they tried.

00:54:13I'm the one she loves, Simon.

00:54:15I'm the one she was

00:54:16going to marry.

00:54:17Who do you think you are?

00:54:18Thinking about

00:54:19Simon's entanglement

00:54:20with Noel,

00:54:21Chester grabbed a bottle

00:54:22from the table

00:54:23and smashed it hard

00:54:24on Simon's head.

00:54:25As the glass exploded,

00:54:27Simon grabbed another bottle

00:54:29and cracked it

00:54:30against Chester's skull

00:54:31in return.

00:54:32The room fell

00:54:33into a deathly silence.

00:54:35A beat later,

00:54:36blood streamed down

00:54:37both their foreheads

00:54:39and they collapsed

00:54:40in a heap.

00:54:48Chester and Simon

00:54:49found themselves

00:54:50in the hospital

00:54:51when they woke up.

00:54:53Why are you here?

00:54:55Chester,

00:54:57what is your apology

00:54:58statement supposed to mean?

00:55:00Didn't you say

00:55:00you've always loved me?

00:55:02We grew up together

00:55:03and I have no idea

00:55:04when you became like this.

00:55:06Or maybe you were

00:55:07always like this

00:55:08and you've been wearing

00:55:09a mask all along.

00:55:11Every extra second

00:55:13that I look at you

00:55:14now makes my skin crawl.

00:55:16Chester,

00:55:17how can you say that?

00:55:18I'm pregnant

00:55:19with your child.

00:55:21I was just bailed out.

00:55:23What did you say?

00:55:25When did we even...

00:55:27Remembering the trip

00:55:29he'd made a month ago

00:55:30to see her,

00:55:31he'd had too much

00:55:32to drink

00:55:32and had woken up

00:55:34to find them

00:55:34in the same bed.

00:55:36He couldn't remember

00:55:37whether anything

00:55:37actually happened

00:55:38and Winona had been coy,

00:55:41shy and evasive.

00:55:42You remember,

00:55:43don't you?

00:55:44This is a grey

00:55:45family descendant.

00:55:47Chester,

00:55:47you have to take

00:55:48full responsibility.

00:55:49Chester pulled out

00:55:50a thick stack of documents

00:55:52and tossed them

00:55:53in her face.

00:55:54Right on top

00:55:54were photos of her

00:55:55with different men

00:55:56at different times.

00:55:57I've already looked

00:55:58into your years abroad.

00:56:00You're a hell of an actress,

00:56:01you know.

00:56:02Now that the Johnson family

00:56:03is on its way to ruin,

00:56:05you want to latch onto me

00:56:06and make me raise your child

00:56:08with another man.

00:56:09Do you really take me

00:56:10for an idiot?

00:56:11Winona's face turned ashen

00:56:13as she stared down

00:56:14at the papers.

00:56:15She shot to her feet,

00:56:17wanting to leave the room.

00:56:19However,

00:56:19Simon came in just then

00:56:21and clamped his fingers

00:56:22around her throat.

00:56:23He dragged her to the window

00:56:25in a brutal yank.

00:56:26You flushed Elle's grandmother's ashes

00:56:28down the toilet,

00:56:29then threw her necklace

00:56:30out the window

00:56:31and framed her

00:56:31for pushing you.

00:56:33That's enough.

00:56:34Or do you want to go

00:56:35to prison over her?

00:56:36Simon shot him

00:56:37a resentful look.

00:56:39Then,

00:56:39he lifted Winona

00:56:41and flung her aside.

00:56:43My baby,

00:56:45save my baby.

00:56:49This is your retribution,

00:56:51Winona.

00:56:51After Chester and Simon

00:56:53were discharged,

00:56:54they returned to the villa

00:56:55where Noelle had lived.

00:56:57The place still looked

00:56:58the same as before,

00:56:59but everything that belonged

00:57:01to her had vanished.

00:57:02None of her clothes

00:57:03were left in the closet

00:57:05and the gifts she'd given them

00:57:06had been cleared out completely,

00:57:08not even leaving a trace.

00:57:10The gifts they had given her,

00:57:12though,

00:57:12were still there.

00:57:14This was how she declared

00:57:16her resolve

00:57:16to sever herself from them.

00:57:18A memory of Noelle

00:57:19curled up in his arms

00:57:20with her arms around his waist

00:57:22appeared in his mind's eye.

00:57:23He really did like her.

00:57:26It was in that instant

00:57:28that Chester finally realized

00:57:30how he truly felt.

00:57:32When he was with Winona,

00:57:34he had to plan a lot.

00:57:36He needed to line up activities

00:57:37and prepare surprises

00:57:39just to feel like

00:57:40there really was

00:57:41anything between them.

00:57:43But when he was with Noelle,

00:57:44he didn't need any of that.

00:57:46He could just relax

00:57:47and lounge.

00:57:49It had calmed him,

00:57:51mind and soul.

00:57:52By the time he realized it,

00:57:54it was too late.

00:57:55On the other hand,

00:57:57Simon sat on the stool

00:57:58at the vanity,

00:57:59absently rubbing

00:58:00an empty photo frame.

00:58:02There used to be

00:58:03a picture in it,

00:58:04Noelle,

00:58:04in a nightgown

00:58:05with her long hair loose

00:58:06as she sat reading

00:58:07by the bay window.

00:58:09The morning light

00:58:10had been perfect that day.

00:58:11He'd shot the photo,

00:58:13had it printed,

00:58:14and kept it on the vanity

00:58:15ever since.

00:58:17Simon,

00:58:18when we find out,

00:58:20let's compete fairly.

00:58:21What's past is past.

00:58:22Let's start over.

00:58:24Simon was silent

00:58:25for a long time

00:58:26before answering raspally.

00:58:27Okay.

00:58:29We start over.

00:58:30We compete fairly.

00:58:34It had been half a month

00:58:36since Noelle's arrival

00:58:37at the war zone.

00:58:38Aside from the panic

00:58:39and confusion

00:58:40on the first day,

00:58:41she'd adapted quickly

00:58:42to life there.

00:58:43Every day,

00:58:44she treated countless wounded.

00:58:46People were injured

00:58:47from blades,

00:58:48stray bullets,

00:58:49and explosions.

00:58:50Some died the moment

00:58:51they reached the hospital,

00:58:52and most of those

00:58:53who survived

00:58:54would still face life

00:58:55with missing limbs.

00:58:56Here,

00:58:57she had no time

00:58:58to dwell on the bullying,

00:58:59the deceit,

00:59:00and the manipulation

00:59:00she'd suffered in the past.

00:59:02She didn't even have time

00:59:03to unlock her phone

00:59:04and check what was happening

00:59:05back home.

00:59:06In the face of so much death,

00:59:08the pain that once cut to the bone

00:59:09felt insignificant.

00:59:11To be alive

00:59:12and get all four limbs

00:59:13in the trap

00:59:14already without any force.

00:59:15The following day,

00:59:16the war alarm

00:59:17glared outside the hospital again.

00:59:19A civilian neighborhood

00:59:20had been blocked.

00:59:20The wounded were beyond capital,

00:59:22and they needed any first place.

00:59:23Noelle signed up immediately

00:59:24when we went out

00:59:25with the medical team.

00:59:26What caught Noelle's eye most

00:59:28were a few flashes of bullying.

00:59:29They belonged to a peacekeeping unit

00:59:31from Kadia.

00:59:32They were also assisting

00:59:33in the rescue.

00:59:34She merely glanced at them once

00:59:35before focusing fully

00:59:36on treating the country.

00:59:38Gunpowder sounded in the distance

00:59:39with help of us,

00:59:40and shells fell from the sky

00:59:42from time to time.

00:59:43As they worked,

00:59:44they had to stay alert,

00:59:45ready to duck for cover

00:59:46at any moment.

00:59:47Suddenly,

00:59:47a shell landed

00:59:48not a bar from Noelle.

00:59:50She instinctively scooped up

00:59:51the child she was killed.

00:59:53An instant later,

00:59:54the blast wave

00:59:54threw her off her feet.

00:59:56She rolled twice on the ground.

00:59:57Thankfully,

00:59:58she suffered only scrapes

00:59:59along her arm.

01:00:01Before she could apply the medicine,

01:00:02a stray bullet whistled from afar

01:00:04and hurtled straight toward her.

01:00:06At the last possible moment,

01:00:07a tall figure sprinted at her

01:00:09and dove,

01:00:10knocking her down.

01:00:11He was from Kadia's peacekeeping force.

01:00:14As she looked at him,

01:00:15he did the same.

01:00:16Their eyes met,

01:00:17and they both froze.

01:00:18It's you?

01:00:19The man who saved Noelle

01:00:20was the same one

01:00:21who'd driven her

01:00:22to see Marie one last time.

01:00:24Even though it had been

01:00:24raining cats and dogs that night,

01:00:26he'd rolled down his window

01:00:27to ask whether she was okay.

01:00:29Out of gratitude,

01:00:30Noelle had etched

01:00:31his strong,

01:00:32rugged face

01:00:32into her memory.

01:00:33She'd also left

01:00:34all the cash in her bag

01:00:35on his seat

01:00:36before getting out.

01:00:37Hi,

01:00:37I'm Gideon Quill.

01:00:39Hi,

01:00:39I'm Noelle Rutherford.

01:00:40Thanks for saving me.

01:00:42We actually met back in Kadia.

01:00:43You drove me to the hospital.

01:00:45Do you remember?

01:00:46I do.

01:00:47I didn't think

01:00:48we would cross paths again.

01:00:49He remembered Noelle vividly.

01:00:51He'd been on leave

01:00:52when he saw someone

01:00:53frantically trying

01:00:54to flag down a car

01:00:55by the side of the road.

01:00:56She'd been a mess,

01:00:57soaked,

01:00:57desperate,

01:00:58and right on the edge

01:00:58of breaking down.

01:00:59He'd taken her

01:01:00straight to the hospital,

01:01:01never expecting

01:01:02that she would leave

01:01:03a wad of cash

01:01:04behind in his car.

01:01:05Take care of yourself,

01:01:07he quickly added.

01:01:08Then,

01:01:08he went back

01:01:09to his mission.

01:01:10Noelle pulled her gaze away

01:01:11and returned

01:01:12to saving lives.

01:01:13As she worked,

01:01:14a cheer rose

01:01:15at the hospital's entrance.

01:01:16She vaguely heard

01:01:17that there was a convoy

01:01:18delivering medical supplies.

01:01:19Noelle ran out as well.

01:01:21She needed antibiotics.

01:01:22She pushed into the crowd

01:01:23just as a man

01:01:24jumped down

01:01:24from the back of a truck.

01:01:25She only saw his back,

01:01:27but something about him

01:01:27felt familiar.

01:01:28No way.

01:01:29She shut the thought down.

01:01:30There was no way

01:01:31he would be.

01:01:32But then the man turned

01:01:33and lifted another person

01:01:34down from the truck.

01:01:35As he turned,

01:01:36his features came

01:01:37into sharp focus.

01:01:38Noelle's eyes widened

01:01:39and she froze

01:01:40where she stood.

01:01:41Standing before her

01:01:42were Chester and Simon.

01:01:47A slightly hoarse voice

01:01:49pulled Noelle

01:01:50out of her reverie.

01:01:51Chester stood beside her.

01:01:53Elle,

01:01:54we came to Arbery

01:01:55just to look for you.

01:01:57We still owe you

01:01:58a proper apology.

01:01:59I'm sorry, Elle.

01:02:01Truly, I am.

01:02:03We only found out

01:02:04at the wedding

01:02:04that Winona

01:02:05was the one

01:02:06who bullied you.

01:02:07We were all deceived

01:02:08by her.

01:02:09We...

01:02:09Chester,

01:02:10the night Grandma passed,

01:02:12she wanted to see you

01:02:13one last time.

01:02:14I once thought

01:02:15that if you showed up

01:02:17and let her go in peace,

01:02:18then I could forgive everything.

01:02:21But where were you then?

01:02:25I...

01:02:26It was Winona.

01:02:28She took my phone.

01:02:29She deleted your messages

01:02:30to me

01:02:31and I didn't get your calls.

01:02:32If I'd known about

01:02:33Marie's condition,

01:02:34I would have rushed over.

01:02:35No,

01:02:36you wouldn't have.

01:02:37You would have chosen Winona.

01:02:40That's why

01:02:41I won't ever forgive you.

01:02:43Elle,

01:02:43don't treat me like this.

01:02:45I do care about you.

01:02:48Those three years

01:02:49weren't all an act.

01:02:51I genuinely love you.

01:02:53I only realized it

01:02:54after you left.

01:02:55I just made some mistakes.

01:02:57I...

01:02:58He abruptly stopped talking

01:03:00when he saw

01:03:00the cool indifference

01:03:01and mockery

01:03:02in Noelle's eyes.

01:03:04He had never imagined

01:03:06that those bright eyes

01:03:07could hold emotions like that.

01:03:10My rest time is precious

01:03:12and you're interrupting it.

01:03:14Chester felt like

01:03:15something was lodged

01:03:16in his throat.

01:03:16It felt so sore

01:03:18that he couldn't get

01:03:19any words out.

01:03:20After a long moment,

01:03:22he managed to squeeze out...

01:03:24Ellie,

01:03:25I'm sorry.

01:03:26Then,

01:03:27he fled.

01:03:29Chester had just left

01:03:31when Simon stepped out

01:03:32from the shadows

01:03:33behind the tent.

01:03:34He stopped

01:03:35in front of Noelle.

01:03:38Elle,

01:03:39I'm sorry.

01:03:40Got it.

01:03:41Please leave.

01:03:43No,

01:03:44you don't get it.

01:03:45Noelle,

01:03:47I've always liked you.

01:03:48I fell for you

01:03:49the moment I met you.

01:03:51But you were already

01:03:52Chester's girlfriend then,

01:03:53and I...

01:03:54So,

01:03:55you pretended to be Chester

01:03:57and slept with me?

01:03:59You toyed with me

01:04:00and hurt me?

01:04:01Is that it?

01:04:03Is that what you call

01:04:05liking someone?

01:04:06No,

01:04:07I...

01:04:07Simon faltered.

01:04:09He pressed his lips together,

01:04:10not knowing how

01:04:12to defend himself.

01:04:13He had no defense.

01:04:15I just...

01:04:17I kept suppressing

01:04:19what I really felt.

01:04:20I kept lying to myself.

01:04:23each time we slept together,

01:04:25I kept wondering

01:04:25who you thought I was.

01:04:27I...

01:04:28I thought you were Chester

01:04:29each time, Simon.

01:04:30Because to me,

01:04:32it's only ever been Chester.

01:04:35Who do you think you are?

01:04:37You're just the younger brother

01:04:39who came back

01:04:39from studying abroad

01:04:40a week before my wedding.

01:04:42Aren't you?

01:04:43Elle,

01:04:43I...

01:04:44Get lost.

01:04:45Save your fake apologies.

01:04:47I don't want them.

01:04:49Simon left.

01:04:52Noelle didn't linger.

01:04:53She got up

01:04:54and returned to her dorm.

01:04:56That night,

01:04:58Chester and Simon

01:04:59didn't sleep at all.

01:05:00Noelle's attitude

01:05:01left them feeling lost.

01:05:03For the first time,

01:05:05they felt there was no way

01:05:06to win her back.

01:05:08Noelle's mood

01:05:09dipped for a moment,

01:05:10but bone-deep exhaustion

01:05:12had her asleep

01:05:13the second her head

01:05:14hit the pillow.

01:05:15She thought Chester

01:05:17and Simon would soon leave,

01:05:19but to her surprise,

01:05:20they stayed

01:05:21and helped at the hospital.

01:05:23They carried supplies,

01:05:25lifted patients,

01:05:26soothed the injured.

01:05:28They did whatever they could.

01:05:31Noelle's stance

01:05:32remained crystal clear.

01:05:34No matter what they said

01:05:36or did,

01:05:36she wanted no more ties

01:05:38with them at all.

01:05:43A year later,

01:05:44a plane touched down

01:05:45in Justin Katya.

01:05:46A woman with short hair,

01:05:48a lean frame,

01:05:49and sun-tanned skin

01:05:50strode out of the airport.

01:05:52She walked with purpose,

01:05:53and her eyes sparkled.

01:05:54It was Noelle.

01:05:55Her one-year contract

01:05:56with Doctors Without Borders

01:05:58was over,

01:05:58and she was back.

01:06:00Chester and Simon trailed

01:06:01not far behind her.

01:06:02They'd also changed

01:06:03compared to a year ago.

01:06:04After witnessing life,

01:06:05death, and faith up close,

01:06:06they'd found their own

01:06:07direction and goals.

01:06:08The one thing

01:06:08that hadn't changed

01:06:09was their love for Noelle.

01:06:11Even though she'd treated them

01:06:12like strangers

01:06:13for the past year,

01:06:14she was even more

01:06:15distant with them

01:06:16than she was

01:06:16with her co-workers.

01:06:17Their respect for her

01:06:18had only deepened,

01:06:19as had their love.

01:06:21The Grey family

01:06:21had pushed them

01:06:22countless times

01:06:22to come home

01:06:23in the past year,

01:06:24but they'd chosen

01:06:25to stay by Noelle's side,

01:06:26guarding a hopeless love.

01:06:27Noelle booked a hotel room,

01:06:29then went straight

01:06:29to Marie's grave.

01:06:31She bought flowers,

01:06:32a drink,

01:06:33and all sorts of fruits.

01:06:34She stood before the tombstone

01:06:36and told Marie

01:06:37about what she'd experienced.

01:06:38Grandma,

01:06:39I finally did

01:06:40what I've always wanted to do.

01:06:42I'm doing well now.

01:06:43My heart feels full.

01:06:44I've found the courage

01:06:46to face anything,

01:06:47and I finally understand

01:06:48what you meant

01:06:49when you said

01:06:50that all suffering

01:06:51is temporary.

01:06:52I promise I'll find happiness,

01:06:54so don't worry about me.

01:06:56She stayed until dusk

01:06:57before leaving the cemetery

01:06:58and catching a cab

01:07:00back to the hotel.

01:07:01She went to the hospital.

01:07:02When Tanya saw her again,

01:07:04she smiled with relief,

01:07:05and her eyes reddened slightly.

01:07:07She patted Noelle's shoulder.

01:07:08It's good that you're back.

01:07:10We've all been waiting for you.

01:07:11I'll give you a week to rest up

01:07:13before coming back to work.

01:07:14As Noelle turned to leave,

01:07:15she saw her colleagues

01:07:17gathered at the doorway,

01:07:18beaming at her.

01:07:19A few of her closest co-workers

01:07:21had tears glimmering

01:07:23in their eyes.

01:07:24They rushed forward

01:07:25and hugged her tightly.

01:07:26Elle,

01:07:27we were so worried about you.

01:07:29Warmth bloomed in Noelle's chest,

01:07:31and she gave them

01:07:32a genuine smile.

01:07:33She picked up her luggage

01:07:34from the hotel

01:07:35and headed home.

01:07:36It was a two-bedroom apartment

01:07:37in an old complex.

01:07:38It was small,

01:07:39but it was where Marie

01:07:40had lived for decades.

01:07:41She put her things

01:07:42back in her room

01:07:43and started cleaning the place,

01:07:44working straight through

01:07:45until evening.

01:07:46Then,

01:07:46she drove to the supermarket

01:07:48to stock up.

01:07:48The kitchen was bare,

01:07:49so she filled an entire

01:07:51shopping cart with groceries.

01:07:52It was piled so high

01:07:54that her view was blocked

01:07:55when she lifted everything

01:07:56into her arms.

01:07:58Just as she reached

01:07:58the entrance,

01:07:59an unruly kid came

01:08:00barreling out

01:08:01and slammed into her.

01:08:03Everything in her arms

01:08:04crashed to the ground

01:08:05and she lost her balance.

01:08:06She toppled toward the floor.

01:08:11A warm,

01:08:12strong hand

01:08:13grabbed Noelle's arm

01:08:14and pulled her back.

01:08:15You okay?

01:08:16The voice was familiar.

01:08:18Noelle's head snapped up

01:08:19and she met a pair

01:08:20of twinkling eyes.

01:08:22Gideon?

01:08:22You're back too.

01:08:24She broke into

01:08:25a genuine smile,

01:08:26feeling pleasantly surprised.

01:08:28She and Gideon

01:08:29had crossed paths

01:08:30plenty over the past

01:08:31year in Arbery.

01:08:32They'd grown much closer.

01:08:33Yeah.

01:08:34The peacekeeping mission

01:08:35was for a year

01:08:36and I'm done now.

01:08:37I'll be based in Justin

01:08:38from now on.

01:08:39What about you?

01:08:40I'm heading back to work

01:08:41at Justin Prime Hospital.

01:08:42Noelle gathered the things.

01:08:43She was about to scoop them up

01:08:45when Gideon got everything.

01:08:47He said,

01:08:47I've got this.

01:08:49You lead the way.

01:08:50After they put everything away,

01:08:52she offered,

01:08:53let me treat you to a meal.

01:08:55He didn't object

01:08:56and they settled on a restaurant

01:08:58after a quick discussion.

01:08:59Though they'd known each other

01:09:00for a year,

01:09:01this was their first

01:09:02proper meal together.

01:09:03The conversation started

01:09:05with Arbery

01:09:05and there was never

01:09:06an awkward lull.

01:09:08As they delved deeper,

01:09:09the atmosphere

01:09:10grew more comfortable.

01:09:11Dinner ended on a high note

01:09:12and they parted ways

01:09:13to head home.

01:09:14On the way back,

01:09:15Gideon couldn't keep

01:09:16the smile off his face.

01:09:18As for Noelle,

01:09:19the loneliness

01:09:19she'd been carrying

01:09:20seemed to have been

01:09:21swept away,

01:09:22at least a little.

01:09:23The next day,

01:09:24Noelle went back

01:09:25to her old high school

01:09:26and visited her

01:09:27homeroom teacher.

01:09:28When work came up,

01:09:29she talked about

01:09:30her year away.

01:09:31No sooner had the words

01:09:32left her mouth

01:09:33than a familiar voice

01:09:34rang out from the left.

01:09:35Miss Burton,

01:09:36long time no see.

01:09:38Noelle turned

01:09:39and there was Gideon

01:09:40standing not far away.

01:09:42He wore the same

01:09:43surprised expression

01:09:44she had.

01:09:45but after that day,

01:09:47they started talking

01:09:47more often.

01:09:48There was an unspoken

01:09:49intimacy between them.

01:09:51Three days later,

01:09:52Noelle returned

01:09:53to the hospital for work

01:09:54and Gideon's break ended.

01:09:56Dr. Rutherfield,

01:09:57someone sent you flowers.

01:09:59The front desk nurse

01:10:00came bustling over

01:10:01with a massive bouquet

01:10:02of roses.

01:10:03Noelle's first thought

01:10:04was Gideon,

01:10:05but her expression

01:10:06cooled when she saw

01:10:07the card that came

01:10:08with the bouquet.

01:10:09It was from Chester.

01:10:10Before she could

01:10:11say anything,

01:10:12another nurse came over

01:10:13with a second bouquet.

01:10:14This one

01:10:15was from Simon.

01:10:16Her irritation

01:10:18welled up

01:10:18and she pressed

01:10:19her lips together.

01:10:21Throw them out.

01:10:22Every day after that,

01:10:23Chester and Simon

01:10:24sent flowers

01:10:25to the hospital.

01:10:26They never showed up

01:10:26in person,

01:10:27but their presence

01:10:28was loud enough

01:10:29to be exhausting.

01:10:30On her 27th birthday,

01:10:32as Noelle stepped

01:10:33out of the hospital,

01:10:34Chester and Simon

01:10:35walked to her

01:10:36with flowers and gifts.

01:10:37Elle,

01:10:38happy birthday!

01:10:39Chester,

01:10:40Simon,

01:10:41stop sending me flowers

01:10:42and stop harassing me.

01:10:44Elle,

01:10:45can you at least

01:10:46give me a chance

01:10:47to pursue you?

01:10:48Elle,

01:10:49I want to start

01:10:50over with you.

01:10:51I've made myself

01:10:52perfectly clear.

01:10:54Keep this up

01:10:54and I'll...

01:10:55Go to hell,

01:10:56you bitch!

01:10:57A kitchen knife

01:10:58came hurtling

01:10:58toward Noelle

01:10:59from the left.

01:11:00Across from her,

01:11:01Chester's and Simon's eyes

01:11:02bulged in terror

01:11:03as they lunged

01:11:04toward her.

01:11:04Elle,

01:11:05at the same time,

01:11:06Gideon,

01:11:07who'd just arrived

01:11:08at the hospital,

01:11:08pushed through the crowd

01:11:09and charged toward her.

01:11:14Noelle reacted fast.

01:11:15The moment she heard

01:11:16Winona's voice,

01:11:17she saw the flash of silver

01:11:19that flickered to her left.

01:11:20She stepped back

01:11:21and leaned away,

01:11:22narrowly dodging

01:11:23the kitchen knife.

01:11:24Having missed

01:11:24on the first swing,

01:11:25Winona quickly

01:11:26raised the knife

01:11:27and went for a second.

01:11:28That was when Simon

01:11:28rushed forward.

01:11:29As the blade came down,

01:11:31he yanked Noelle

01:11:32toward him and turned,

01:11:33shielding her with his body.

01:11:34In an instant,

01:11:35the knife sliced open

01:11:36the flesh on his back.

01:11:37Chester lunged

01:11:38to grab Winona.

01:11:39You should go to hell too.

01:11:40When she saw him,

01:11:42she didn't hesitate.

01:11:42She could have leveraged

01:11:43her pregnancy

01:11:44to get a one-year bail,

01:11:45during which her family

01:11:46would have pulled strings

01:11:47to work something out.

01:11:48But Chester and Simon

01:11:49had made her miscarry,

01:11:51forcing her to serve time.

01:11:52For a whole year,

01:11:53once word of her crimes

01:11:54got around,

01:11:55the other inmates

01:11:56had tormented her relentlessly.

01:11:58Everyone had targeted her,

01:11:59making her life

01:12:00a living hell.

01:12:01When a hand clamped

01:12:02around her wrist,

01:12:03the knife was ripped away

01:12:04in a heartbeat.

01:12:05Then,

01:12:05a powerful force

01:12:06slammed her to the ground,

01:12:08twisting her arms

01:12:09behind her.

01:12:14Gideon had arrived.

01:12:15The crowd had scattered.

01:12:16Medical staff burst out

01:12:18with gurneys

01:12:18and rushed Chester

01:12:19and Simon inside.

01:12:20Neither had passed out.

01:12:22As they were lifted

01:12:22onto the beds,

01:12:23they kept their eyes

01:12:24locked on Noelle.

01:12:25They were desperate

01:12:26to catch a flicker of mercy,

01:12:28any sign of her softening,

01:12:29or even heartache for them.

01:12:31But there was nothing.

01:12:32Noelle looked at Gideon

01:12:33and walked straight to him

01:12:34without a backward glance.

01:12:36Are you okay?

01:12:38Yeah.

01:12:40Thank God you're fine.

01:12:41I was worried about you, Elle.

01:12:43Noelle was taken aback.

01:12:45Then,

01:12:45her eyes prickled.

01:12:47She raised her arms

01:12:48and wrapped them around him.

01:12:49Gideon accompanied Noelle

01:12:51to the police station

01:12:52to have her statement taken.

01:12:53His eyes reddened

01:12:54from heartache

01:12:55when he learned

01:12:55about how she'd been bullied.

01:12:56It was past 8 p.m.

01:12:58when they stepped out

01:12:59of the police station.

01:13:00He took her to a popular restaurant

01:13:02that was surprisingly empty.

01:13:03It was decorated

01:13:04with flowers and balloons,

01:13:06and a formally dressed pianist

01:13:08played for them.

01:13:09Noelle's heart

01:13:09raced

01:13:10when she saw

01:13:11all of this.

01:13:12After dinner,

01:13:12Gideon took out a bracelet

01:13:13and officially confessed.

01:13:15Elle,

01:13:16I started developing feelings

01:13:17for you

01:13:18when we were in Arbery.

01:13:19Spending time together

01:13:21since we both got back

01:13:22has only made me

01:13:23more certain

01:13:24that you're the partner

01:13:25I've been searching for.

01:13:26I really like you.

01:13:28Will you be my girlfriend

01:13:29with marriage

01:13:30as our endgame?

01:13:31Noelle smiled.

01:13:32I will.

01:13:33He clasped

01:13:33the bracelet,

01:13:34glittering with

01:13:35pave diamonds

01:13:36around her wrist.

01:13:38With it,

01:13:39he also clasped

01:13:40her heart.

01:13:41the bracelet.

01:13:42The cru nósased

Sweeter Life Without You – Full Episode (ENGSUB) | Toxic Love, Betrayal Drama

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