The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée

Thejeersfollowedherlikeapersistentshadow.“Murderer!”thecrowdscreamed,theirfacescontortedinagrotesqueparodyoftheadorationsheoncecommanded.Justmonthsago,theyhadscreamedhername,theirvoicesadeafeningroarassheshimmiedacrossthestage,abeaconoflightandpopperfection.Now,theircheershadmorphedintovenomoushisses,theireyesburningwithahatredthatchilledhertothebone.Noelleclutchedherlawyer'sarm,hisfaceamaskofgrimdetermination.Thecamerasflashed,capturinghereverymove,everytremoroffear.Theheadlinesscreamed:“PopPrincessPlummets:NoelleAccusedofMurder.”Theironywasn'tlostonher.Herlife,onceacarefullyconstructedfairytaleoffameandfortune,hadbecomeagrotesquetragedy.Thetrialwasacircus.Thewhispers,thesneers,therelentlessscrutiny–itwasaconstantassaultonhersenses.Heronceloyalfans,theoneswho'dplasteredherfaceontheirbedroomwalls,nowreveledinherdownfall.Theydevouredeverysalaciousdetail,everywhisperedaccusation,everytearshedaredtoshed.Theverdictwasaforegoneconclusion.Guilty.Noellewatchedthejudgepronouncethesentence,hermindawhirlwindofdisbeliefanddespair.Deathbylethalinjection.‘Atleasttheydidnotgivemetheelectricchair’shethoughttoherselfinapoorattemptathumor.Monthslater,asolitaryfigurekneltathergrave,thewindwhippingathishair.Rainlasheddown,mirroringthetearsthatstreameddownhisface.“I'msorry,Areum,”hesobbed,hisvoicehoarsewithgrief.“I'msosorryIwastoolate.”Heclutchedasingle,wiltedrose,itspetalsstainedcrimson,apoignantreminderofthelifethathadbeenbrutallyextinguished.Noelleisabrightstarwhohastheworldatherfeet,shefeelsnoguiltaboutbeingtheotherwomancomingbetweenahusbandandhiswife.Afterall,Evanhadbeeninlovewithhersincetheywereteenagers.TheonlyreasonhemarriedMa-Riwasbecausehisfamilydemandedit,ifhehadachoicehewouldsurelyhavepickedher…WhenshegetswrongfullyaccusedofmurderingMa-Ri,sheloseseverythingandissentencedtodeath,everyoneincludingEvanturnagainstherandsheislefttodieamiserabledeath.Sheisrebornandthistimeshefacesthehumiliationofbeingthewomanwhoisbeingcheatedon.Sheisdeterminedtoendthecycleandnotletthefutureshehadseencometopass,shedecidestostepoutofthepictureandfocusonhercareer.Indoingso,everythingchanges,Evanclingstoherandrefusestolethergo,amysteriousstrangerwhohasbeenstudyingheralsostepsinanddecidestofightforachancetobewithher.