Zac Jesselton and I grew up together. From the time we were little, we never went more than three days without seeing each other.

Ever since I confessed my feelings to him, he started avoiding me. He even went as far as hiring bodyguards to monitor my every move.

“If Nancy ever shows up within half a mile, remind me to leave immediately.” That was the sentence he said most often to his bodyguards and friends.

I did as he wished and stopped chasing after him. I married someone my parents introduced me to. However, the same man who had once insisted on keeping his distance started clinging to me and refused to leave me alone.

"Mom, I'm free this weekend. I can go meet that guy you mentioned."

I finally made the call to my mother, Lara Sullivan.

Because of Zac Jesselton, I had delayed getting married for three years, making my parents wait.

Mom sounded overjoyed. "Really? Nancy, that's great! I'll set it up right away. I'll make sure he's tall and handsome. Once I confirm the address, I'll send you the location.

"I'm just so happy you've finally come around. You know your dad and I aren't getting any younger, and our health's not great. Our only wish now is to see you married and maybe help you raise our grandchild while we still can."

Her words brought tears to my eyes.

I had wasted three years chasing after Zac, letting down my parents' hopes for me. In the end, my stubbornness had amounted to nothing.

Ever since I confessed to Zac three years ago, he'd been avoiding me like the plague. Seeing him these days was harder than reaching the moon.

I hadn't seen him in thirteen days. The last time was only because our companies had a joint project. He'd had no choice but to show up.

"Nancy Sullivan! Didn't expect to see you here. Hasn't been long, but you've gotten even prettier!"

Zac always greeted me with those charming throwaway lines. But his actions were always distant and cold.

Because it was work, I held back the urge to run up and pour out how much I missed him. Once the business was wrapped up and the contract signed, I had stopped him as he tried to leave.

"Zac, we just closed a deal. How about grabbing dinner to celebrate?"

He had kept his eyes on his phone. He didn't even look up. "I've got plans," he muttered.

But I caught a glimpse of his screen. He was texting another woman: "Babe, the deal got signed today. Let's go somewhere nice for dinner."

"Babe, that's awesome! I'm starving. Let's have a feast."

"You can have whatever you want. You'll be my dessert."

The explicit messages had even made me blush. Still, I hadn't been able to stop myself from telling him what was going on at home.

"Zac, I'm not getting any younger. My family wants me to get married."

He didn't care. He had simply opened his car door without a flicker of emotion on his face.

"Then go get married."

"But the person I want to marry is you, Zac!"

I had nervously wrung my hands behind my back as I confessed my feelings once again, not noticing how his expression was darkening.

"We've known each other since we were kids. Our families wouldn't object." I kept rambling, not realizing I was digging deeper into my own humiliation.

He had cut me off coldly. "Nancy, I've always seen you as a sister. Nothing more. I've never, not once, thought about marrying you."

He had taken a long drag from his cigarette and exhaled right in my face.

I had started coughing, staggering back, and gasping for air. He knew I had asthma. He knew I couldn't handle smoke.

He had chosen the cruelest way to reject me.

"Nancy, just look at yourself. You're sickly and weak. What makes you think you're good enough for me? The last thing I want is to be in bed with someone who looks like they're about to pass out from a lack of oxygen."

-

"Miss Sullivan, we just reviewed the footage. Mr. Jesselton left the mall thirty minutes before you arrived."

My thoughts were interrupted by a mall employee.

I had come by hoping to say a final goodbye, but Zac had already left before I even showed up.

"Would you like us to continue tracking Mr. Jesselton's whereabouts?"

This time, I only hesitated for a second.

"There's no need. If he doesn't want to see me, so be it. When I get married, the invitation will find its way to him. He'll know eventually."

Since I'd already decided not to chase after Zac anymore, I returned to my apartment.

I started packing up and prepared to move back in with my parents. Three years ago, just because of an offhand comment Zac made, I had moved out and started living alone.

I had lived by myself for three years, and once they were up, I managed to track Zac down and ask if he still meant what he had said before.

"Zac, I've lived independently for three years, just like you asked. I've proven I can take care of myself and take care of you too. Do you still mean what you said three years ago?"

Zac didn't seem to remember what he had said. He had even asked me blankly, "What did I say three years ago?"

His question had left me speechless.

Still clinging to one last shred of hope, I had reminded him, "You said if I could live by myself for three years, you'd consider dating me."

At that, Zac finally seemed to remember. He just let out a lazy chuckle and waved his hand dismissively.

"There's nothing to consider. I'm saying no."

I had sighed internally. I had expected this answer, but it still hurt to hear it out loud.

I had quietly walked out of the room. Behind me, Zac hadn't bothered hiding his cruel sarcasm.

"A throwaway line from three years ago, and you actually took it seriously, Nancy. I can't even remember saying it, and you had the guts to ask me about it. What a joke."

The apartment wasn't big. It only took me half a day to pack everything.

Beside my suitcase was a black bag filled with jewelry and stuffed animals. They were gifts from Zac over the years.

I didn't want any of it anymore.

The doorbell rang, and a voice came through the intercom, "Hello, is Miss Sullivan home?"

I opened the door and handed the black bag to the man outside. He was the secondhand buyer I'd called earlier.

Back when we were younger, Zac had always gifted me luxury items worth a fortune. Since I no longer wanted them, I figured I might as well sell them.

Just then my best friend, Megan Powell, showed up.

She looked horrified when she saw what I was doing. Her eyes went wide in disbelief.

"These were your absolute favorites! Are you seriously selling them? Nancy, have you lost your mind?"

I turned around calmly, holding up my phone to show her the deposit notification. Over a million bucks had just hit my account.

"There's no point keeping them. This money is way more useful."

"But those were Zac's birthday gifts to you every single year. You've kept them for over twenty years! If Zac finds out you sold them–"

I suddenly hated hearing Zac's name. I grabbed Megan's hand, cut her off, and dragged her out the door with me.

"Enough. What's done is done. Don't bring him up again. He won't find out unless you plan to snitch and cozy up to that guy."

She reached up to feel my forehead, her jaw dropping like she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Holy crap. Did someone finally cure your love-crazed brain? Wait. Does this mean you've actually let Zac go?"

I gave her a bitter smile.

So what if I had? It was better to let go than keep hurting myself.

"Yeah. I've let go. Starting today, I'm a brand new Nancy. I've already agreed to meet someone my parents set me up with."

That left her completely stunned. Her jaw dropped. She couldn't even say a word.

"Come on," I said with a smile. "I just made some easy money today. Let me treat you to a fancy dinner."

I didn't expect to run into Zac again, especially not at a restaurant.

What was supposed to be a quiet dinner with just Megan and me turned into a full-blown group gathering from our old circle.

I sat calmly on the couch, no longer clinging to Zac like I used to.

There was a girl sitting next to him. The moment the two of them arrived, they tucked themselves away in a corner of the private room the group had booked. They were deep in conversation and laughing like no one else existed.

Everyone else kept steering the conversation toward Zac and me. After all, everyone knew I'd chased after Zac for over twenty years.

Truth be told, the whole reason for this gathering was so our friends could convince Zac to give me another chance.

No one had expected him to show up with another woman.

I coughed a couple of times without thinking. There was a faint smell of smoke in the air.

Everyone knew I had asthma. Usually, when I was around, they'd avoid smoking altogether. Everyone except Zac. He was puffing away and making out with the woman in his arms.

Megan finally snapped and shot him a glare. "Zac, you know Nancy has trouble breathing. Could you at least have some decency in a closed room like this?"

He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke straight into the girl's face and looked directly at me.

"If the smoke bothers her, maybe she should stay away. Wouldn't want her gasping for air and blaming me for it."

Megan looked like she was about to go off on him again, but I stopped her. I quietly asked a friend to switch seats with me and moved to the farthest corner from Zac.

Under the dim lights of the room, I noticed Zac's expression change for a moment.

"Sorry, Nancy," someone murmured beside me. "We really didn't think Zac would–"

"It's fine." I cut in with a smile. "It's been a while since I saw everyone. Who knows when the next time will be?"

We all started chatting about childhood memories, laughing and teasing like the old days.

At some point, Zac wandered over. He stubbed out his cigarette and leaned against the wall like he had all the time in the world.

"What's this about who knows when the next time will be? Are you moving abroad or something? Or just pretending we don't exist anymore?"

The room fell silent.

I paused before finally telling everyone I was preparing for an arranged date and likely marriage too.

I didn't want Zac to keep thinking I'd be chasing him around. I didn't want him believing, even for a second, that I still loved him.

Everyone exchanged stunned looks.

"Nancy, you're still so young. Why are you suddenly thinking about an arranged marriage?"

I held my cup with both hands and took a quiet sip. "I'm not that young. I'm turning thirty soon."

Zac, who had been standing beside me the whole time, suddenly looked furious. I could feel his gaze burning into me, even without looking up.

"Cheap trick," he muttered coldly. "Nancy, you really think I'm buying this? If you've got the guts, then go get married. Don't think some half-baked move like this is going to get my attention. You know me. I never fall for this kind of stunt. And honestly? It doesn't suit you."

I had no idea what was going through Zac's mind.

Ever since I confessed to him, he'd always kept me at arm's length. But tonight, he was oddly talkative. He was almost too talkative.

I stood up and met his gaze head-on.

"Zac, don't worry. I won't chase after you anymore, and I'm done trying to get your attention. If anything I've done before ever bothered you, then I apologize."

This time, Zac said nothing. His lips were pursed, and his brows furrowed. His expression was hard to read.

I picked up my purse and turned to the group with a smile.

"Sorry for ruining the vibe tonight. When I get married, you'd all better be there."

Then I walked out of the room.

Zac stayed frozen where he was.

Just as I stepped into the hallway, I heard his voice behind me.

"Tsk. What an act. She just wants me to chase after her now. Does she really think she's special? I don't fall for crap like that."

I shook my head and returned to my apartment. I grabbed my suitcase and went home.

When I shut the door behind me, I shut the door on every last bit of feeling I ever had for Zac.