Chapter 2

It turned out I was the female lead in a romance novel, and Edward was the second male lead.

A heroine was always meant to end up with the male lead. Even if I had loved Edward at first, the author who controlled our lives would still push me toward Ryan.

How someone as fake and vicious as Ryan could be the male lead was beyond me. Maybe the author had grown tired of gentle, upright heroes and decided to write something different for a change.

Edward's eyes turned cold again as he walked ahead on his own, but his pace had clearly slowed.

I hurried after him, grabbed his hand, and made him turn to face me. "Edward. Believe it or not, I never meant what I said back then. I never once thought you were any different from anyone else."

[What's going on? Did the NPC just gain self-awareness?]

[Finally, Charlotte explained. We're saved.]

The moment I brought up the past, his eyes hardened. He slid his hand up to my neck and suddenly tightened. "Is this fun for you, Charlotte? Drop the act, or I swear I'll kill you."

Air left my lungs. Tears streamed down my face on instinct. He panicked and let go. "Stop following me."

[He can't let her go, but he just won't admit it.]

[Forget all the talking; just kiss him already—it works way better.]

[Come on, Edward's not whipped. He loves her, yeah, but he's not spineless.]

According to the comments, Edward still loved me. But I had hurt him for so long—who was I to beg for his forgiveness? He did love me; that much was true. But his hatred for me was just as deep.

Just then, my phone rang. The name "Ryan" flashing on the screen stabbed Edward right in the heart. He gave a mocking laugh and walked away without looking back.

I watched his back, and for some reason, my chest started to ache. I answered the call. "Ryan."

Ryan's voice came through cold and sharp. "Charlotte, you care that much about that bastard? It's this late and you still aren't home?"

In everyone's eyes, I was Ryan's fiancée. In reality, I was nothing more than a tool he used to disgust Edward.

The Reed family was on the back foot and survived by relying on the Grant family's goodwill. As the younger daughter of the Reeds, I had been born a bargaining chip—nothing more.

Ryan could be surrounded by women and still find time to call me. It wasn't because he cared—it was just to make sure Edward didn't get his way.

"The Reed Group just sent over a proposal," he said. "Whether we work together or not all comes down to you, Ms. Reed. If you're not here in ten minutes, tell the Reed Group to pack up and get out of Silverlake City."

I agreed without arguing. After hanging up, I flagged down a taxi by the roadside. "Sir, step on it. Starlight Lounge."

The driver snapped, "What, in a hurry to die? Ten minutes? Forget the bar—you might as well head straight to hell."

[The driver's roasting her hard.]

[Man, if I had a mouth like his, I wouldn't lose every argument.]

[Charlotte is seriously brain-dead. Is Ryan really that great? If she doesn't want her eyes, she might as well donate them.]

I closed my eyes and ignored the comments floating past. I wanted to live for myself just once, but I couldn't. I had to save the Reed family.

My mother was critically ill and still stuck in the ICU. If the Reed family fell, the hospital would throw her out. I could give up on anyone else—but never my mother.