Chapter 01
Everything was taken from me.
“No matter how similar twins are, do you really think I wouldn’t recognize my own wife? Do you think you can fool me with such a ridiculous lie? How absurd.”
My husband, Cedric Drake, didn’t recognize his own wife.
“The Duchess of Ernst’s belongings have all been loaded onto the carriage. You may leave as soon as your medical check-up is complete.”
The servants who had been with me for three years had already prepared to throw me out of the mansion.
“Gloria, don’t you have any shame? I know losing your husband was hard, but how could you… with mine? Leave my house immediately. I don’t want to see you for a while.”
Even my twin sister, Gloria Ernst, shamelessly pretended to be me—Marieanne Drake.
My husband, my people, my status—everything was no longer mine.
“Enough of this nonsense. I won’t play along with this ridiculous act.”
I forced myself to stay calm, biting my trembling lips.
“Why would you call me Gloria? I’m not Gloria, I am—”
I never imagined I’d be in a situation where I had to prove who I was. But now, I had no idea how to even do that.
“I am the real Marieanne Drake! The lady of this house!”
“Oh, Ria… please.”
Gloria—no, the woman pretending to be me—clung to my husband, acting as if she were about to faint.
She was my twin sister, and the mastermind behind this nightmare.
“How long do you plan to keep up this pathetic act? Please, don’t disappoint me any further.”
Gloria buried herself in Cedric’s arms, looking sorrowful. Her sheer audacity made me want to scream.
“Gloria, that’s enough. I won’t forgive you any longer.”
I tried to hold back my rising fury, but…
“Dear, Ria must have hit her head really hard. What should we do? My poor Gloria…”
With fake tears, Gloria Ernst handed me her name, her identity—my life.
“Mari, don’t cry. It’s not your fault.”
Cedric wrapped his arms around Gloria and comforted her with such tenderness.
And I finally understood why I was so furious. Because he had been holding her like this long before I ever saw it.
Just like that night, when they shamelessly lay together in my own house.
“How is it not my fault? I should have taken better care of Ria when she was struggling.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Gloria knew how much I had cared for her. And yet, she had the nerve to say that?
She crushed the last bit of mercy I had left for her. I had turned a blind eye to their affair for the sake of our family’s honor. But now, all my efforts had been for nothing.
“So you really intend to betray me to the very end.”
I held my throbbing head and slowly walked toward Cedric. Too many people were watching. I needed to put an end to this madness, fast.
“You know the truth. You know who your real wife is. So put an end to this before it’s too late.”
“What are you talking about? Stop saying such nonsense—”
“Cedric!”
I lost control and took a step closer, reaching out to grab his arm.
Smack.
“How dare you touch me?!”
Cedric shoved me away.
I stumbled, grabbing onto a pillar for support. The sharp thorns of the climbing roses dug into my palm.
But compared to the pain of this nightmare, the sting in my hand was nothing.
“…..”
Cedric’s eyes flickered when he saw my bleeding hand, but his expression quickly hardened again.
“This is enough, Duchess of Ernst.”
That was the moment I knew.
This wasn’t some misunderstanding or mistake. Cedric truly intended to replace me with Gloria.
Perhaps, deep down, he had always wished for it.
“Do you really think this lie will last forever?”
Cedric let out a short laugh, as if I had said something ridiculous.
“A lie? I wonder… who do you think people will believe is lying right now?”
I glanced around.
Gloria and Cedric. The servants.
Everyone was looking at me with disgust.
Not a single person was on my side.
For a brief moment, I even doubted myself.
Was I really Marieanne Drake?
Was I actually Gloria Ernst, suffering from some delusion after an accident?
‘That’s ridiculous.’
Even if everyone denied me, I knew who I was.
My memories were proof.
I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift. The sight of butterflies among the roses, the warmth of the sun, the breeze, Ria’s cheerful voice.
Everything was just like always.
Except for one thing—today was my wedding anniversary.
“Congratulations, Mari. It’s already been three years.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
I accepted the congratulations with a dull voice.
After all, this was a marriage worth celebrating.
It wasn’t based on love, but on wealth and status. And for the past three years, we had maintained this transaction successfully.
That’s why I never complained, even when I found out Cedric had an old lover.
‘Of course, I was disappointed. But most arranged marriages are like this.’
As long as Cedric didn’t bring his bastard child into our home or let his mistress threaten my position, I was willing to overlook his affairs.
After all, Cedric was obsessed with maintaining his reputation as a devoted husband.
“You should be proud, Mari. You and Cedric are the perfect couple.”
And in the eyes of the world, we were.
Cedric played the role of a faithful husband well enough, and in some ways, he did respect me.
‘And I have fulfilled my role as his wife.’
Over time, I had grown attached to my position.
Working alongside Cedric, helping him build our family’s legacy—it gave me a sense of purpose.
That was enough to make this marriage valuable.
‘My husband doesn’t gamble. He doesn’t beat me. He consults me on family matters.’
Yes, that was enough.
“Do you think Cedric will come home early today? He wouldn’t have forgotten what day it is, right?”
Gloria’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. There was something mocking about her tone.
Was I imagining things?
Lately, too many strange things had been happening.
“Why is Gloria’s glove here…?”
I had found an all-too-familiar lace glove in Cedric’s coat pocket.
And then—
“Did you receive the gift I sent, Madam?”
“Gift?”
“Yes, a small garnet brooch. I gave it to Count Drake last week to deliver to you. I hope you liked it.”
“Ah, yes… Thank you.”
I had never received such a gift from Cedric.
But I had seen the very same brooch… in Gloria’s jewelry box.
It was too much of a coincidence. Too absurd to believe.
But I forced myself to ignore it.
Because I couldn’t bear the thought that Cedric’s mistress might actually be—
“Let’s not think about it.”
I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.
“Cedric had an important matter to attend to. But he promised to return as soon as possible.”
“As soon as possible? When?”
“By dinner, at the latest.”
“Oh, then we can all have dinner together!”
Gloria smiled at the idea of joining us for our anniversary dinner.
Why did that suddenly bother me?
Just then—
“Madam!”
A servant ran into the garden, breathless.
But his eyes were focused not on me, but on Gloria.
