Yvette Wilson had a crush on her brother’s friend.

He was six years older, so she kept it to herself and stayed cautious.

One night, she could not hold back anymore. In the dim light, she leaned in and stole a kiss while he was drunk. She had just turned to run when she saw his eyes snap open.

He looked at her with a lazy expression. “You want me to teach you how to kiss? Too bad. I’m not into little girls.”

Her face turned red, but she still found the courage to speak. “So you think I’m too young? That’s fine. I’ll grow up.”

Henry Lawson paused for a moment and then smiled. “Alright. If you still like me when you turn twenty-two, I’ll think about it.”

At that moment, Yvette Wilson’s heart was pounding. From then on, she stayed by his side every day until she turned twenty-two.

She could not wait to see him and claim his promise. But at the door of the private room, she heard a baby crying.

She froze for a moment, then looked over carefully. Henry was holding a crying child and trying to calm the baby down.

The guys around him all covered their ears and looked completely tortured.

“Henry, that’s just too far! You brought a baby just to reject that girl and make her think you’re a dad?”

Yvette felt her heart go numb. Her mind went blank.

“What else was I supposed to do?” Henry said in his familiar lazy tone. “She turns twenty-two today. She’ll be here to claim that promise.”

“You really don’t like Yvette, do you? She’s actually very nice. She’s pretty, sweet, and completely smitten with you.”

“It’s not about whether I like her or not.” Henry’s voice grew serious. “You all know who has always been in my heart.”

The room went quiet for a moment, then everyone burst out laughing in understanding.

“Sophia! No wonder… You’re just overthinking. With a face like yours, who wouldn’t fall for you? How could Sophia say no? You just care too much.”

“I never knew how to say it all these years. I was afraid that if I told her my feelings, we would lose our friendship. And now with Yvette, it actually gave me a chance.”

Henry smiled as he said, “I told Sophia that there is a girl who keeps hanging around me, and I don’t know how to get rid of her. I want her to be my fake girlfriend for a while. Then, I’ll show up with her and the baby in front of Yvette and hold a wedding. That way, Yvette will give up, and Sophia and I can grow closer. When the fake wedding is over, I’ll confess to Sophia right then and there.”

When they heard Henry’s plan to kill two birds with one stone, everyone was impressed and started banging the table in approval.

Amid the laughter, no one noticed Yvette standing outside the private room.

The cake box slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a dull thud.

She no longer dared to open the door. Tears streamed down her face. She turned and ran away in a daze.

The rain was pouring heavily outside the club. Yvette ran as fast as she could. She let the water soak through the dress she had carefully chosen.

It turned out Henry had never liked her. It had all been one-sided.

She had fallen for him at first sight when she was fourteen.

That day after school, her brother, Yarden Wilson, had not come to pick her up, and a group of punks cornered her in the alley. Henry happened to pass by. He taught them a lesson and saved her.

She had cried until her eyes were swollen. Henry threw his coat over her shoulders and handed her two pieces of chocolate. He teased her with a faint smile.

“Little crybaby, look at you! Snot bubbles and all! Your brother’s still at basketball. Come on, I’ll take you home.”

That day, Yvette tasted the sweetest chocolate of her life and fell for someone for the first time.

Because of Yarden, she saw Henry almost every day. Her teenage crush grew wildly like summer vines.

She learned to make bento boxes and prepared a dozen for Yarden, just so Henry could eat her food.

She made an effort to learn his likes and dislikes, carefully picked out gifts, and always found a way to give them to him on holidays.

She gave up the opportunity to study abroad and stayed in Jamestown, all just to wait until she turned twenty-two.

She had waited for eight years. She thought she could finally be with him, and her wish would come true.

But today, Yvette realized that to Henry, her feelings were only a burden.

She did not know how far she had run before she finally calmed down. Her hands were shaking as she pulled out her phone and called Yarden.

“Yarden,” she said in a choked voice, “I’ve made up my mind. I want to study abroad. That friend you mentioned last time… I’m willing to meet him.”

Everyone in their circle knew that Yvette had been chasing Henry for years.

Every time Yarden saw her so eager, he always looked like he wanted to say something but could not.

He would hint at other guys and try to introduce them to her. He wanted her to completely give up on her feelings for Henry.

The friend abroad would be the eighteenth guy Yarden had tried to set her up with.

Yarden said this guy was tall, handsome and in no way worse off than Henry. Since she studied design, going abroad for a few years would be perfect.

Thinking back, Yarden had probably known all along that Henry’s heart belonged to someone else. He had only done this to help her stop before it hurt more.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “You… found out?”

Yvette closed her eyes. Rain mixed with her tears slid down her cheeks. “Does he really like Sophia that much?”

“Yes…”

“Then, I hope he gets what he wants.” She wiped her face. “I’ll do as he wishes. I’ll stop liking him.”

Back at home, Yvette opened her suitcase and started packing her clothes without thinking.

Her phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a message from Henry.

[Why aren’t you here yet?]

She stared at it for a long time. Then, a second message appeared.

[Yvette, I have a girlfriend now. We even have a child. I’m about to get married. Please stop chasing after me.]

Then, he sent two photos.

One showed a tiny baby’s foot. The other was an elegant wedding invitation.

Yvette stared at the screen for a long time. Finally, she typed her reply.

[Okay.]

After sending the message, she tossed her phone onto the bed. She pulled a metal box from deep in a drawer.

It was full of movie stubs, amusement park tickets, the basketball jersey she had secretly kept, and the stuffed toys he had given her.

All of these were memories from the past eight years. They were all tied to Henry.

She held the box, walked outside, and threw everything into the trash without hesitation.

Meanwhile, inside the private room at the upscale club, Henry stared at his phone with a deep frown.

He had expected Yvette to cry or throw a tantrum. He never imagined she would react so calmly.

“What did she reply?” A friend leaned over. His eyes widened. “Just… just a word? ‘Okay’?”

“That’s not right…” Another friend rubbed his chin. “With how obsessed she is with you, she shouldn’t be this calm.”

The group looked confused for a moment. Then, someone suddenly realized something.

“Wait! Could it be that she came by earlier and overheard our conversation at the door? Maybe she already knows the baby and the wedding are fake. That’s why she’s acting so indifferent.”

Henry’s frown grew even deeper as he listened to their speculations.

Given Yvette’s personality, after waiting for so many years, she would have made a scene if she knew he liked someone else and had a child.

Her calmness had to mean she knew the truth. She was playing her usual push-and-pull game.

His friends immediately agreed. They quickly started suggesting some ideas.

“Then, Henry, you should keep playing along with Sophia. This is a rare chance to strengthen your relationship. She definitely hasn’t given up yet. Once you two are really together, she’ll have no choice but to let go.”

“Exactly! Yvette’s attitude doesn’t matter. What matters is that you take advantage of the moment and win over the one you love. Once it’s done, all the problems will be solved.”

The group chatted excitedly when Yarden pushed open the door. His gaze landed on Henry.

“Henry, come out. I need to talk to you about Yvette.”

‘Did she go to her brother to complain?’ he thought.

Henry lazily raised his eyes. He was about to speak when his phone rang.

“Henry? Are you free now? Weren’t we supposed to play along for your friend’s sister? I want you to help me pick out some baby supplies. That will make it look even more realistic.”

Hearing Sophia Sinclair’s gentle voice, Henry agreed without hesitation.

He got up and left immediately. Before leaving, he said to Yarden, “We’ll talk later. I have something to do today.”

“Just a few minutes…”

Seeing how he was in a rush, Yarden tried calling him back, but a few of his friends held him back.

“Forget it, Yarden. Henry is in a hurry to be with the one he likes. Don’t try to stop him.”

“Yeah. You know he likes Sophia. After waiting for so many years, he finally has a chance to confess. You should stop trying to set your sister up with him.”

Yarden frowned.

“That’s not what I meant.”

He wanted to tell Henry that Yvette had made up her mind and planned to study abroad. She would not bother him anymore.

After resting for the night, Yvette went out to apply for her visa.

The staff told her it could be approved in as little as two weeks.

After spending a few days at home, Yarden’s birthday arrived.

He liked lively celebrations. He held a banquet every year. Yvette changed into a formal dress and went to the party.

The hall was full of guests and bustling with energy. His group of friends was there as well.

Yvette did not want to run into them, so she made sure to avoid them.

Soon, Henry appeared. He held Sophia in one arm and the baby in the other.

Everyone saw him looking proud and triumphant. They felt envious and began talking excitedly among themselves.

“Who would have thought Henry would be the first to settle down? I heard he has liked Sophia for more than ten years! Now, he has a wife and a child. He’s winning in life!”

“It’s such a shame for all the girls who liked him. Their hearts must be broken. Hahaha!”

Yvette listened in indifference.

A moment later, Henry walked over with Sophia. He called out to her.

“Yvette, I haven’t introduced you yet. This is my wife and my child.”

All eyes in the hall immediately turned to them.

Yvette’s face did not change. She forced out a small smile. “Hello, Sophia.”

Sophia, clearly a skilled actress, extended her hand with a gentle smile. “You must be Yvette! Henry mentioned you so many times. You’re young and still learning about love. Now that Henry has our baby and me, you can put all those feelings behind you. We’re planning our wedding next month. You must come!”

Yvette lowered her gaze. “I understand, Sophia. I crossed the line before. From now on, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen. I wish you both happiness.”

Hearing her, the friends around quickly started teasing her.

“What are you talking about? The time you called Henry in the middle of the night and made him come pick you up? Or when you got drunk and said in public that you would only marry him? Or when you went to the Lawson family villa and asked the servants about his type?”

“Yvette, Henry has a family now! If you keep hanging around him like this, it’ll embarrass you and the Wilson family. You need to be sensible. Don’t let your actions ruin the friendship between Yarden and Henry just because of you.”

Each teasing remark felt like salt on Yvette’s wounded heart.

She subconsciously looked at Henry. He stood only a few steps away. His expression was indifferent.

For a moment, she felt as if he had become a completely different person. He was no longer the Henry she remembered. He was not the same person who always cared for her.

When she thought about it, she realized he had always been cold toward other admirers. He never gave them any hope.

It seemed that his past tolerance of her pursuit had only been out of respect for Yarden. He did not want to make things awkward.

Since he was with the one he truly loved, he was drawing a clear line between them.

After all, in his heart, Sophia was more important than anything else.

Thinking this, a sharp, bitter ache washed over Yvette. She nodded slightly and turned to leave.

The birthday banquet had just begun. Yarden arrived late and busied himself greeting the guests. He did not notice Yvette at all.

Henry, on the other hand, wasted no time. He openly introduced Sophia as his wife to everyone.

He held back toasts meant for her, fed her the tastiest treats, straightened her messy dress, and massaged her sore shoulders.

Everyone praised him for how much he spoiled his wife. They said Sophia was lucky to have him and called them a perfect couple.

Yvette watched from a distance. Her mouth tasted bitter. She forced herself to look away.

She sat alone in a corner. Sophia walked over with a glass of wine and broke the silence.

“It’s Yarden’s birthday, and you’re sitting here without saying a word. Are you upset?”

Yvette had not expected her to come. She stepped back a little instinctively.

“I’m not upset, Sophia. I have let go of all my feelings for Henry.”

Sophia paused for a moment. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of emotions.

“But Henry told me that you have been pursuing him for many years. You were determined to be with him.”

“That was before. Once I realized he liked you and had done so for many years, I gave up. I wish you both happiness.”

After that, Yvette stood up to leave. Sophia grabbed her hand.

“You said Henry has liked me for many years? Where did you hear that? Did he tell you that himself?”

Yvette did not want to continue the conversation. “Everyone says so. You can ask him yourself. I don’t know.”

Sophia refused to let her go. She wanted a clear answer.

As they pulled at each other, the chandelier above suddenly came loose and began to fall.

Looking up, Yvette froze as she saw it hurtling toward them.

Before she could react, Henry’s face changed instantly. He rushed forward and dragged Sophia out of the way.

The chandelier, weighing more than 50 pounds, crashed down on Yvette. She crashed to the floor with a loud thud.

She bled profusely. Her limbs and bones felt as if they were breaking, and pain tore through her with every movement.

She lay in a pool of blood. She shook with fear. Screams filled the air around her.

The world grew blurry. Just before she lost consciousness, the last thing she saw was Henry holding Sophia and comforting her.

Yvette did not know how long she had been unconscious. When she opened her eyes, Yarden was by her bed. His eyes were red with concern.

“I’m sorry, Yvette. I should have protected you. This wouldn’t have happened if I had tried to protect you.”

Yvette shook her head. Her voice was weak and hoarse.

“It’s not your fault, Yarden. Everything happened so fast. You were too far away to help me.”

Hearing this, Yarden thought about the accident again and felt even more guilty.

“I couldn’t reach you in time, but Henry was so close. He could have helped! If Sophia hadn’t distracted you, you might have avoided this.”

Yvette shook her head and softly said, “Yarden, he saved the person he cares about most. That was instinct, and he did nothing wrong. I used to be obsessed, but after this, I have truly let go.”

“All right. As long as you have let go, I’ll support any decision you make.”

Yarden held her hand tightly and nodded firmly.

Yvette forced a small smile and slowly calmed herself.

Her condition stabilized. After several days of watching over her without rest, Yarden finally allowed himself to sleep.

The hospital room grew quiet. Yvette took out her phone and booked a flight for ten days later.

The airline called to confirm the reservation. She listened carefully and did not notice the footsteps at the door.

“The earliest flight to Amerika is on the 19th. First class.”

“First class?”