Chapter 4

Back at the office, I told my boss I was quitting and made sure to hand over all my tasks properly.

That afternoon, Lucas messaged me, saying he'd take me out to dinner tonight.

I wasn't really planning on going.

But then I thought, in just two days, I would be gone from this world anyway. Maybe this dinner would be the final chapter of our ten-year story.

When I got downstairs, Lucas's car was already waiting for me.

As I walked over and was about to open the door, I spotted someone else sitting in the front seat.

Alice was there, clutching a pillow and giving me a puppy-eyed look.

"Monica, I came today to apologize for being so clueless before. I was worried you wouldn't agree, so I had Lucas ask you out to dinner," Alice said.

Before I could say a word, Lucas, looking like he was terrified I'd blow up at Alice, quickly chimed in.

"Yeah, Monica, Alice knows she messed up before. She chose this place especially for you," Lucas said.

I withdrew my hand, opened the back door calmly, and slipped inside.

"Okay," I replied.

Lucas was stunned, clearly not expecting me to be so agreeable today.

Alice, who had been preparing to look aggrieved, was caught off guard as well.

Alice said, "Monica, should I let you take the front seat? After all, you're Lucas's girlfriend.

"I just get carsick, so it's fine."

I smiled at Alice's tentative tone.

"No worries, you should stay up front if you get carsick," I said.

Lucas looked a bit conflicted when he heard me, his gaze lingering on me.

Back then, whenever Alice was in the car, the front seat was always reserved for her.

I'd sit in the back, watching them get all cozy up front.

I confronted Lucas about it before, asking why, when I was his girlfriend, I always felt like just another passenger.

At first, Lucas would try to smooth things over, saying Alice was feeling unwell and needed the front seat.

But later, he thought I was being unreasonable, like I was making a big deal out of something as trivial as a seat.

Now, I was honestly a bit confused; things went his way, so why did Lucas look like he wanted to say something but kept holding back?

On the way, I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes for a bit.

Up front, Alice's sweet, playful voice kept coming every now and then.

Alice said, "Lucas, are you tired? Should I sing you something?

"Look at this little bunny sticker I stuck on. Now it'll keep you company every time you drive.

"Lucas, here, let me feed you a slice of orange. I peeled it myself."

Listening to all this, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

Alice didn't seem like she was here to apologize at all, more like she was staking her claim.

At this point, it really didn't matter to me.

I was leaving soon anyway, so I had no intention of getting mixed up in their drama.

To my surprise, Lucas actually turned Alice down.

"That's enough, Alice. You can eat it yourself," he said.

Lucas shot a quick glance at the rearview mirror.

"Monica, don't read too much into it. Alice just thinks of me as her brother," he added.

I caught a flash of resentment in Alice's eyes.

I shrugged, not really caring.

"I know, you don't have to explain yourself," I said.

Then I closed my eyes again, wishing this final dinner would be over already.

When we arrived at the restaurant, Alice took her place right next to Lucas without a second thought.

I paid no attention to Lucas's invitation to sit beside him and simply pulled out the chair across from them, seating myself on my own terms.

While we waited for our food, Alice kept chattering away.

I didn't say a word, just fiddled with my phone, waiting for the food to arrive.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Alice glancing my way.

The next second, she grabbed Lucas's hand and said in a sweet, playful voice, "Lucas, you said you would."

Lucas looked torn, struggling to find the words. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Alice gave his arm a little shake.

"Don't worry, Lucas. I'll keep my promise, too," Alice said.

Lucas took a few deep breaths, as if he was finally steeling himself, and then spoke to me.

"Monica, I agreed to have a wedding with Alice," Lucas said.

My hand froze, and I looked up at Lucas.

I thought after everything that happened in the past seven years, I had already been disappointed enough by Lucas.

But right now, I finally understood what it really felt like to be truly done with someone.

Ever since Alice came back, the three of us had been stuck in this drama for seven years.

Lucas and I tried to have a wedding ninety-nine times, but every single one ended in disaster because of her.

Now Lucas told me he was actually going to marry Alice.

He was marrying the same girl who wrecked our wedding plans ninety-nine times.

How laughable it was.

Maybe it was the way I looked at him, so calm, not even flinching, that made Lucas panic and try to explain himself.

"Alice promised me that if I just go through a wedding with her, she'll finally let me go. You..." Lucas stammered.

"I have no objections," I said, cutting Lucas off. "Set the wedding date for two days from now."