Chapter 2
My heart felt like it was tearing apart, but outwardly nothing changed.
Something inside me surged, ripped free, and vanished.
The System was taking everything.
The pain nearly dropped me. Then it stopped, and my body relaxed completely.
When I looked at Charlotte and Lucas together now, I felt nothing.
I absently brushed away a tear I hadn't noticed falling.
Standing numbly in the crowd, I watched as Lucas and Charlotte glanced at me—their grins faltering the moment our eyes met.
Lucas walked up, awkward. "Look, I'm sorry. Charlotte and I lost so many years. I'm not wasting this chance.
"Here's to you. Just hope you can let this go."
He downed his drink, then stared pointedly at mine.
I set my glass down slowly and asked calmly, "Why are you apologizing?"
He just got the girl—what was he sorry for?
But to Charlotte, it sounded like I was targeting Lucas.
She looked guilty as she rushed to explain, "Ethan, we're engaged, not married, right? Lucas and I are really in love. He couldn't help proposing. Please understand."
"Really in love?" I asked.
They exchanged glances, and suddenly Charlotte took a breath, looking straight at me.
"I'm sorry. When Lucas came back, I realized he's the only one I can actually see a future with. Thanks for everything these years. You'll always be an important friend to me."
Her eyes were clear. Her words left no room for argument.
Honestly, I didn't get what she wanted from me.
Shouldn't a successful proposal be a happy occasion? So why were they both apologizing to me?
I stood there, silent, while our old classmates whispered.
Charlotte, embarrassed, pressed on. "You'll give us your blessing at the wedding, right?"
She looked near tears, like I was the villain for hesitating.
I raised my glass. "Congrats. Wish you two long and happy years together."
Charlotte and Lucas both froze, clearly shocked.
Like that was the last thing they expected.
In some melodramatic webnovel, I'd be losing it and making a scene right now.
At the very least, I'd be punching Lucas, then demanding and begging Charlotte to stay.
Too bad the System already took my emotions.
These two were no different from anyone else here.
Politeness was the best I could offer.
I checked my watch. This gathering had gone on long enough.
I finished my drink and left.
On the drive back, memories of Charlotte flooded through my mind like a highlight reel.
All through high school, the System kept reminding me my target was right there beside me.
But I never got a real shot at getting close to her.
Charlotte and Lucas were a couple back then—everyone talked about how crazy they were for each other.
They posted screenshots of identical college lists. The whole school knew about it.
But then Lucas decided his career mattered more and left to study abroad—just like that, he dumped her.
At the graduation dinner, clutching her acceptance letter, Charlotte drank herself into a complete meltdown, with all the talk of suicide.
I found her on the rooftop, pulled her back, and held her as she cried into my shoulder, soaking my shirt with tears.
When she finally sobered up, her face flushed with embarrassment. "What's your name? Thanks for tonight."
"Ethan Sterling," I replied.
I was 18. It was the first time she actually knew who I was.
Later, at college orientation, we ran into each other again. Her face lit up as she waved me over.
"Wait—you got in here too?"
"Yeah, small world," I said, smiling.
She had no idea I'd planned the whole thing. And she didn't need to know.
For four years, rain or shine, I walked her from class to her dorm every single day.
Getting her water, picking up lunch—that was nothing. When guys tried to hit on her, I scared them off.
Her friends loved to joke that I'd make the perfect boyfriend.
She just laughed. "Ethan's a really important friend."
Friend. That was all I ever was to her.