The Woman They Could Never Replace のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 8

I went to Delmora to study abroad when I was 18 and stayed there for nine years.Back then, everyone in Kensford knew how much Gabriel doted on me, and William, my childhood friend, was just as devoted.Before I left, they both swore they would wait for me."Noelle, make sure you video call us often.""We'll wait for you to come back. You'll always be our little princess."Watching William and Gabriel secretly wipe away tears, I couldn't help laughing. "Okay, okay, stop crying. You're embarrassing yourselves! Just wait until I come back with my PhD!"But that same year, they began sponsoring a poor local student as my replacement. After that, our chats grew quieter and quieter.They used to put so much thought into my birthday gifts every year. Eventually, all I got was a birthday wish by email.Every year when I came home, they covered their tracks so well that I never once found any sign of the woman they were keeping.For my 19th birthday, I came back early because I wanted

William moved into the basement apartment to punish himself, while Gabriel left home and stayed away.Gabriel had once been the golden boy of the Zeller family. After that, he stopped caring about the business and quit attending social events.Before he left, his last words to me were, "Noelle, I'll make you pay for this. I'll send you to join Rachel."The maids and drivers must have caught wind of what happened. They started giving me strange looks, and their attitude toward me wasn't exactly friendly either.I had already told Gina that I was allergic to shellfish. When she served lobster bisque for the third time, I finally had enough and told her to pack her things and leave.Gina's eyes reddened as she said through tears, "Ms. Zeller, why do you have to act like you're better than everyone else? People make mistakes. You're taking away my job! It's already hard enough for people like us to get by."Ms. Gilliam would never treat me like this. She used to cook with me in the k

When I brought William and Gabriel to the private room at the nightclub, they exchanged glances, but neither made a move to go in.I scoffed and pushed the door open.Rachel had done exactly what she had always said she would. She had hired a group of male escorts and was living it up.William stared at her in disbelief. His knees nearly buckled, and his voice shook. "Rachel... Rachel, you're alive... Why didn't you come find me? Do you have any idea what this past year has been like for me?"I missed you so much. Is this why you hired all these men? Are you trying to punish me? Are you trying to make me jealous? I was wrong. I know I was wrong."It wasn't until you left that I realized you were never anyone's replacement. You were always just you. Please come home with me."Rachel slowly rose from the middle of the group and walked over to William.She looked down at him. "Seriously? I put on a little act, and you actually caught feelings. Don't tell me you really thought I fel

William was sentenced to two years for assault.On top of that, the assets he had agreed to give Rachel under the gift agreement took a sizable chunk out of his wealth. Bernard and Helen were deeply disappointed in him.Before he was taken to prison, William had someone deliver a message to me."Noelle, you sent me to prison, but I don't blame you. I love you so much that even if this is your way of punishing me, I'll gladly take it."I asked the person who brought the message to pass along my reply."Get lost."Over the next two years, William's younger brother, Vernon Lloyd, officially took over the Lloyd family business.The Lloyd and Zeller families did a lot of business together, so Vernon and I saw each other often.I remembered Vernon as shy and so quiet he was easy to overlook. But once he took over the family business, he proved surprisingly capable, with sharp business instincts and a real talent for running things.At a business gala, he asked me to dance. On the da