I collapsed onto the couch, patting my chest to calm down.
After learning I was just a tragic supporting character, I stopped acting like the caring big sister I used to be before going abroad.
I couldn’t help but start pulling away from them.
I glanced out the floor–to–ceiling window at the night sky.
Because of me, they were caught up in some messy love–hate drama with the delicate Talia.
So maybe I should just step out of the picture.
If I just married a high–quality guy, wouldn’t that solve everything?
Besides…
I’d already planned to have a marriage of convenience before I went abroad. But back then, they were still reckless high schoolers. I didn’t even know how many of my blind dates they had crashed.
That’s why the whole thing got delayed.
But now that they had someone new, wouldn’t it be easy for me to go through with it?
I sighed and picked up my phone, scrolling through the photos my dad had sent me.
I picked out a few decent–looking guys.
But when I got to the last one, I froze.
“Eric? Why is he on the list? I thought he wasn’t into women and didn’t want to get married?”
I sent the message before realizing it was past midnight. My dad was probably fast asleep.
I pushed down my curiosity, got ready for bed, and flopped onto the mattress.
I opened up my Instagram for a quick scroll before sleep. The newest post was a group photo from Lucas.
I tapped to zoom in.
In the middle stood a petite, cute girl surrounded by four tall, handsome guys. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her eyes sparkled, and she wore a pale yellow skirt that showed off her long, fair legs.
On the table in front of them was a lineup of expensive drinks.
Other than Andy on the far left, I hadn’t seen the other three in a while.
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16:58
Chapter 4
Lucas, Hugo Wagner, and Calvin Moore.
They’d all grown up.
Even with smiles on their faces, there was still this weird pressure in the air.
Pressure?
Ugh, the stupid plot was messing with my head. I shouldn’t feel threatened by a bunch of little brats.
I let out a sigh, hit like, and kept scrolling.
I didn’t expect the post to disappear just a few minutes later.
Something about it felt strange.
Then my other phone blew up with messages.
Lucas was the first to message, “Holy crap, Alice liked my post.”
Hugo replied right away, “Wait, you still into her?”
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Lucas fired back, “Of course not! Do you think I’d do that to Talia? She’d probably cry herself unconscious. I’m not that fickle,”
Hugo didn’t sound convinced. “You never know.”
Lucas snapped again, “I’m warning you, Hugo. Don’t go playing the nice guy in front of Talia and stirring things up. I don’t have any feelings for Alice anymore.”
Calvin then jumped in, “So why did you delete it then?”
Lucas hesitated, then said, “I’m worried Alice might do something to Talia if she saw it! Talia’s broke and timid. Any- one could push her around.”
Was this the power of being the main character?
A few months ago, I was the “prettiest, kindest, most understanding” Alice in their eyes. Now, without doing any- thing, I was somehow the villain.
I was completely speechless.
Just let the world end already.
After a while, Lucas sent another message, “Seriously though, what if Alice comes back and loses it when she real- izes no one likes her anymore? If she dares touch Talia, I’ll make sure she pays.”
I stared at this message and laughed out loud in anger.
He thought the world revolved around him, huh?
Hugo added, “I’ll keep Talia safe.”
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Chapter 4
Lucas shot back, “What are you pretending for? I can protect her myself just fine!”
Calvin chimed in, “So, are we still throwing that welcome–back party for Alice?”
Lucas didn’t miss a beat. “Of course. I’m even bringing Talia along to show her off and back her up.”
I locked my phone numbly.
Lying in bed, my chest ached with a dull throb and a bit of confusion.
I obviously did nothing.
After a long while, I shot up and messaged my dad.
“Eric. I want to meet him for dinner tonight.”
Eric Jacobson was Lucas’s older brother.
Before I went abroad, I thought he’d be the perfect marriage partner.
But there were rumors he had zero interest in women, so I dropped it.
But if I could marry Eric…
Wouldn’t that finally let everyone else love the Talia in peace?
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