Chapter 3: Three’s a Crowd

Marcus looked at me, voice low:

“She didn’t look like she wanted to break up with you.”

I shook my head. “Impossible.”

Everyone in the circle knows about me and Lillian Carter.

Back then, Lillian’s first love, Noah Greene, turned her down and left for overseas to chase his dreams. Didn’t even say goodbye.

She was depressed for ages. I couldn’t do anything but stay by her side, quietly keeping watch.

I never expected anything. But four years ago, Christmas morning, I gave her honey water to help her hangover—just like always.

Suddenly, she looked at me: “Caleb, do you like me?”

I blushed, stammering, “Yes… but don’t worry, I, I never thought…”

“Let’s be together.”

Four words. Four years.

I took Noah’s place and cherished her for four years. She was still cold, but at least she publicly admitted I was her boyfriend.

People in the circle all said I was the most successful stand-in in history.

I thought so too. I thought we’d spend our lives together.

But on our fourth anniversary, Noah came back. With just one sentence—“Lillian, I missed you”—he took her straight to the airport.

That day, I was at home, decorating with balloons, ready to propose. In the end, she never showed. All I got was a six-million-dollar breakup check.

“First love, lost and found—she couldn’t wait for me to leave. How could she not want to break up?”

I shrugged, pretending to be relaxed:

“Now, I just hope in this huge city, I never run into the two of them again…”

Marcus nodded in agreement:

“Yeah, everyone in the circle knows your story. It’d be way too awkward to meet again.”

My eyes narrowed. I looked past Marcus’s shoulder—Lillian Carter was walking in at the entrance.

She paused, then headed straight toward me.

I sighed. “Marcus, damn, your mouth is magic.”