Chapter 4

William was independent, never letting the world change him. He had talent but never flaunted it.

He chased his own dreams and goals, while I was just a clown, always going along with whatever everyone else said.

In his very last letter, he finally admitted he liked me.

He said he hoped we could go to the same college, and when that day came, he'd finally tell me what was in his heart.

I was so happy I could barely breathe. Love felt real to me again.

But when I got to college, he never showed up. Instead, I ended up meeting Benjamin.

Benjamin was the son of my dad's close friend, Charlie, so we'd known each other since we were kids. To me, he was just like a regular big brother.

One day, he confessed his feelings to me.

My best friend told me she'd seen him slipping letters into my desk before.

I'd seen Benjamin's handwriting before, and it matched the handwriting on those letters.

I asked Benjamin, "Did you really write those hundred letters?"

He hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

But I still had my doubts. My gut told me he was lying.

He wasn't really an educated guy. Thanks to his dad always pampering him, Benjamin was basically an overgrown kid.

His confession wasn't about feelings, it was just to boost his ego.

After all, with my looks, I was basically the campus queen.

But I just couldn't turn him down.

Ever since my parents passed away, Charlie has been managing our family business.

I wasn't sure if Benjamin's confession was really his own, or if Charlie had something to do with it.

I didn't say yes, but I didn't say no either.

After that, I cut my hair short.

I avoided any physical contact with him, always keeping my distance. Still, whenever he needed the prettiest girl on campus by his side, I'd be there for him.

But I found that I had forgotten how to smile.

Whenever I got the chance to talk to Benjamin, I kept dropping hints about the letters.

But every time, he'd just play it off like it was nothing, acting like he didn't get what I meant at all.

One day, I happened to hear some rumors about William.

He'd changed. He wasn't closed off in his own little world anymore. He was becoming more outgoing.

I heard he was getting involved in all sorts of activities.

Apparently, the game he developed even won a major award.

A young girl who worked on the game with him even confessed her feelings to him.

I secretly went to see her. Her high ponytail bounced with every step, and her bright, gentle smile was so warm.

Honestly, they looked perfect together.

For the first time in my twenty years, I really felt worthless.

I had no home, no smile, and the company that was supposed to be mine was now in someone else's hands. My life was just a mess, like I was sinking in quicksand.

There was no reason to think I'd ever be happy again.

I had a huge fight with Benjamin.

Things blew up and we wound up in front of his dad. When he heard about Benjamin confessing to me, he went white with rage and immediately decided to ship him off abroad.

Charlie shouted, "You damn fool. Sophie is Finlay White's daughter.

"If Finlay were still around, I wouldn't care if you and Sophie liked each other or not. But now that he's gone, I'm left managing his company.

"You pull this crap. How do you think outsiders will see the Clarke family? And what do you think Sophie will think of us?"

He said all this right in front of me.

But even after all that, I just couldn't trust Charlie anymore.

When Benjamin was about to leave, I wanted to confront him and finally get some answers, but he dodged me and slipped away without saying a word.

I hated him to my core.

After graduation, I joined the company. Thanks to all the hard work I put in during college and Charlie's help, I got promoted pretty quickly.

But I just couldn't find the drive to keep going anymore.

I had no idea what I was supposed to do with my life to ever get that fairy-tale happiness I used to dream about.

Walking down the street, I was lost in my thoughts, feeling so overwhelmed that I finally just broke down and crouched by the curb, sobbing uncontrollably.

I never expected to bump into him again.

He was a whole different person now, he carried himself with so much pride and confidence.

He told me he was here for a job interview at a major game company, applying to be a game designer.

I knew that company, and I knew that with his talent, he'd make a name for himself there in no time.

If that was the case, it probably meant I'd be out of his life for good.

Because honestly, he had no reason to keep me around.

So I blurted out, "Let's get married.

"But there's a price. You can't have a job."

It was insanely selfish. I was the one who cut off his shining future with my own hands.

To make him believe me, I came up with a lame excuse.

No matter if I got married or not, Charlie would give the company back to me when I turned twenty-three.