Chapter 3The Woman They Could Never Replace

Whispers spread through the reception hall.

"Wait, this is really Ms. Zeller's wedding? I thought her brother and fiancé doted on her."

"This is so humiliating. If I were her, I'd jump off a building."

"That's hilarious. That's what she gets for always throwing her weight around."

I called William and Gabriel, but they only gave me a few rushed explanations before hanging up.

"I'm sorry, Noelle. Let's call off the wedding."

"It took us until now to realize that Rachel was never anyone's replacement. She's her own person."

"This is your fault. It's all your fault. None of this would've happened if you hadn't come back."

I simply turned to Dad. "Dad, does your promise still stand?"

He nodded.

I took a deep breath, smiled, and made the rounds alone, raising my glass at every table.

William and Gabriel were right about one thing.

I had changed. Nine years away had toughened me up. I was no longer the pampered Zeller heiress I used to be.

Mom always said I was the most capable of the Zeller children. I was smarter and more decisive than Gabriel or any of Dad's illegitimate children. Soon enough, I'd be the one to take over Zeller Group.

My marriage to William had been arranged between the Lloyd and Zeller families years ago, and Dad had made me a promise. Once William and I had been married for a year, he would transfer 30% of Zeller Group's shares to me.

With the 21% I already owned, I would have a controlling stake in Zeller Group. Once that happened, I could leave William and kick Gabriel out while I was at it.

William came back late that night, smelling strongly of antiseptic. He lay down beside me.

I felt the mattress dip under his weight and turned toward him, meeting his dazed, devastated eyes.

"Noelle, Rachel is dead."

Then he started crying, and there was nothing fake about his grief.

"Noelle, I hate you. You disgust me. How could you be so cruel? What did Rachel ever do to deserve this? Gabriel and I didn't even get to see her one last time.

"She was always so afraid of pain, and neither of us was there. Do you know how scared she must've been? Her friend said she kept calling my name at the end.

"She said she hated me, that she'd never forgive me, and that she hoped I'd go to hell. And she was pregnant with my child. How could you do this?"

Once he was done crying, William grabbed my wrist and pinned me to the bed, leaning in close.

The smell of antiseptic and alcohol filled the space between us.

"Do you want to marry me that badly? I heard what happened. Gabriel and I walked out, and you still went ahead with the wedding. Are you that desperate? You'd throw away every last bit of your pride just to be with me?"

I didn't understand where this was coming from. I almost told him about the share transfer, but stopped myself before the words came out.

Some plans only worked if they stayed secret, and one careless word could ruin everything. Until I actually had a controlling stake in the company, I couldn't risk everything just for a moment of satisfaction.

William kept going. "But you still have to pay for what you did. I'll go through with the marriage, and we can live like any other rich couple. But you have to agree to one condition."

I glanced at him. "What condition?"

"You'll be Rachel's replacement."

William twirled a strand of my hair around his finger.

"Go get your hair straightened tomorrow, Noelle. Rachel didn't like curly hair. I used to make her copy everything about you. Your makeup, your hairstyle, even the little things you did. I was wrong to do that to her."

His eyes reddened, and a tear slipped down his cheek.

"You're not saying anything, so I'll take that as a yes."

Moonlight spilled into the room as William kissed my forehead and reached behind me, undoing the clasp.

"I can sleep with you tonight, but Noelle, I'm sorry. If I accidentally call you the wrong name, please forgive me."

I almost laughed and gave him a flat look.

"Did keeping a woman on the side fry your brain? If you want a replacement who'll quietly put up with whatever you do, go pay for one somewhere else. Don't come here looking for trouble with me."

After that night, William never spent another night at home.

He had a huge portrait of Rachel made and hung it in the most prominent spot in the house. He even kept a memorial plaque for her in our bedroom.

He wanted me to look at it every day and remember the crime he believed I'd committed.

Vincent told me William had bought the basement apartment where Rachel used to live and moved in. He was punishing himself too.

I didn't object.

All I had to do was put up with looking at her photo every day, and I wouldn't have to deal with a man who couldn't control his emotions.

If living like this for a year was enough to secure my inheritance, I couldn't think of an easier way to get what I wanted.