When I realized that my childhood best friend was destined to fall for the poor transfer student and eventually kill me... To survive, I faked my own death. Before jumping into the ocean, I left him a single text message: [I saw her touch your hand today. It’s so dirty. I’m never seeing you again!] He was absolutely devastated. He threw himself into the sea multiple times just trying to find my remains. Meanwhile, I was already on a private jet flying out of the country. Five years later, I figured he and the transfer student had probably gotten their happily-ever-after, and it was time for me to return home and inherit my family's billions. I never expected that on the very night I returned, he would lock me up in a cliffside mansion. The man who was always so proud, aloof, and untouchable slowly peeled off his gloves. He dropped to his knees in front of me, almost pathologically obsessed, intertwining his fingers with mine and kissing my hands relentlessly. "Chloe, I'm not dirty. From now on, no one but you will ever touch me." 01. Asher Vance and I grew up together. Since I was a little girl, I firmly believed that we would get married when we grew up, and live happily ever after like a princess in a fairy tale. Unfortunately, fairy tales are just fairy tales, and I wasn't the princess. During our junior year of high school, a transfer student joined our class. She had jet-black hair, snow-white skin, and a gentle, radiant smile. She even talked to stray animals. Without a doubt, she was the real princess. I leaned against the windowsill, looking down at Mia Harper chatting with a bird in the courtyard. Asher stopped behind me, his tone slightly icy. "It's P.E. class. Why aren't you downstairs yet?" He had loved bossing me around since we were kids. From what I ate and wore, to my grades and my friends. Because of this, my parents absolutely adored him. After all, what parent wouldn't love a straight-A student who helped keep their own rebellious kid in line? I was used to his strictness, but sometimes I still pushed back. Like a rebellious teenager defying a parent. I pointed at Mia down below and asked, "Look at her. Don't you think she's interesting?" Asher followed my gaze and calmly delivered his verdict. "Lunatic." "But I think she's fascinating," I turned around, testing the waters. "What if I became friends with her?" "Idiot." He dropped those two words coldly and walked away. I knew that meant my proposal was rejected. 02. However, I never could have imagined that just one month later... He would be gripping my wrist, forcing me to apologize to Mia. His grip was so tight it left red marks. It hurt. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't shake him off. Mia was half-kneeling on the ground, her clothes dirty and her knees scraped. "What happened to you?" I asked. "You pushed me down the stairs, and now you're asking me what happened?" I glanced at the staircase behind me. "I did walk past here just now, but I didn't push anyone." "There are no security cameras here, so of course you can say whatever you want. You were the only one who walked by. If it wasn't you, did I just throw myself down the stairs?" "Why would I even push you?" "Who knows? Maybe you hate seeing me getting close to Asher." I frowned. I turned to look at Asher. Getting close to him? Didn't he say we only needed each other as best friends? Why did he forbid me from befriending her, yet he was getting close to her himself? Why was he forcing me to apologize when I hadn't done anything wrong? But those unasked questions were destined to remain unanswered. He just held me down, forcing me to say sorry. At that exact moment, a massive flood of information rushed into my brain. It was the "Plot." It told me that Asher and Mia were the male and female leads of a romance novel. Mia had fallen for Asher because he unintentionally scared off some thugs who were bothering her. Asher would slowly fall for her kindness and purity. And I? I was just the vicious, jealous villainess standing in the way of their love. I would eventually be despised and hated by Asher for bullying Mia. And finally, once the two leads got their happy ending, Asher would kill me. My first reaction was, naturally, utter disbelief. But a second later, the hand forcing my head down served as a harsh reality check. It hurt. My wrist hurt, and my neck hurt. In the past, if I got a mosquito bite, he would be the first to fuss over it. Now, he was viciously forcing me to my knees to apologize to someone else. I hadn't done it, yet he chose to believe a girl he had known for a month over me. And so, I recalled the ending of that "Plot" again. I... would be killed by Asher. Terrified by that thought, I ripped myself out of his grip and ran. I ran all the way home. 03. My mom was arranging flowers in the living room. Seeing me burst in, she quickly asked: "School isn't out yet. Why are you home? Where's Asher?" "Asher, Asher, Asher! That's all you care about! He's bullying me to death!" "Oh, sweetie, did you pick a fight with him again? You know he only does things for your own good." I knew I couldn't reason with her, so I ran upstairs to my room. I locked the door tight and hid under my blankets. I tossed and turned, thinking about the past and this supposed future. Night fell. Asher never came looking for me. Usually, whenever we fought, he was always the first to come coax me out of my mood. He didn't come this time. And I finally made up my mind. I was going to run. Far, far away. On the day of the autumn break, I had previously made plans to go to the beach with Asher. But right before we left, he brought Mia along. The car ride was suffocatingly quiet. Asher cleared his throat, and Mia immediately handed him a water bottle. When their fingertips brushed, Asher only frowned slightly. Asher was a severe germaphobe. He never let anyone touch him. Even when I wanted to touch him, I had to ask for permission first. Yet now, he didn't resist at all. This reminded me of the "special exceptions" mentioned in the Plot. It only cemented my resolve to leave. 04. The ocean breeze was gentle. On the picnic blanket that I had personally picked out, the two of them sat side by side. Asher still had his usual stoic expression, but occasionally, when Mia spoke to him, he would reply. I made one last phone call to confirm my arrangements. Then, I asked Asher to walk up the cliffside rocks with me. If he had looked closely, it wouldn't have been hard to notice how bulky my jacket was. Underneath it was a high-grade life vest. I just wanted to escape; I didn't want to actually die. Even with all the preparations, I was still terrified. If Asher had asked what was wrong, I would have told him. I didn't want to leave the home I had known my whole life, but I wanted to live. If he asked, it would mean he still cared about me. And maybe, just maybe, I could avoid that tragic ending. But we walked all the way to the top of the cliff, and he didn't say a single word. It was so obvious that something was wrong with me, yet he was completely blind to it. Forget it, then. If I couldn't change the Plot, I would just have to change my own destiny. "My parents really love you. Will you... take good care of them in the future?" Perhaps noticing the strange tone in my voice, he frowned slightly. He just kept his hands in his pockets and gave a vague, dismissive hum. "That's good." I smiled at him, though I desperately wanted to cry. We had made a promise that when we turned eighteen, he would take me skiing. I had never seen real snow. Once we got into college and moved out, we were going to get a pet. I had even picked out the breed. I was going to get a massive Alaskan Malamute. When winter came, I would force him to walk the dog. I wanted him to be so cold and exhausted that he wouldn't have the energy to boss me around anymore. But how could a person's heart change so quickly? 05. "I thought you were going to throw a tantrum forever." When he said that, his tone carried a sigh of relief, as if a burden had been lifted. I was moved by that tiny sliver of relief and turned to look at him. "I didn't push her. Mia framed me. Do you believe me?" He frowned again. "Chloe, refusing to admit when you're wrong—you'll never have any real friends acting like this." I gave a bitter laugh and didn't ask again. A gust of wind blew past. I said, "You go down first. I want to look at the ocean a little longer." "Come down with me. It's not safe up here." "Just for a minute. You go. I'll be right behind you." He stood stubbornly behind me. Until his phone rang. It was Mia. "Asher, can you come look? I think I got bitten by a bug." Asher hesitated for a second, then dropped a quick: "Hurry up and come down." Then he turned and left. I sat on the edge of the cliff, watching him walk briskly toward the beach. I let out a soft sigh. It felt like I had used up a lifetime's worth of sighs over these past few weeks. I pulled out my phone and typed one last message. [I saw her touch your hand today. It’s so dirty. I’m never seeing you again!] Once I saw 'Delivered,' I smashed the phone against a rock until it was shattered. I turned and leaped into the ocean. The freezing saltwater swallowed me whole. The life vest quickly pulled me back up. Right before breaking the surface, I swam under the overhang of the cliff. That was exactly why I had chosen this specific spot. It didn't take long for Asher's voice to echo from the beach above. "Chloe Sterling!" He had finally seen the text. I heard him tearing off his jacket, ready to jump in, but Mia was frantically holding him back. From a distance, all I could hear were his desperate screams. ... Thanks to Mia stalling him, I had enough time. An unremarkable fishing boat passed by and slowly sailed away. By the time the rescue teams arrived, I was already long gone. 06. Our little childhood trio actually had three members. The third was Stella Monroe. Last year, she moved to Italy with her older brother and settled there. They say the most dangerous place is the safest place. I contacted her and begged for her help. She agreed immediately. When I told her about the insane "Novel Plot," she believed me without hesitation. The very next morning, she flew her family's private jet back to the States. We met in the security booth of my gated community. There were no cameras inside the booth, so Asher wouldn't be able to track me. Inside that tiny room, we hatched our master plan. Originally, I just wanted to sneak away while Asher wasn't looking. But Stella was the one who suggested faking my death. I thought about it and realized she was right. If I just ran away, Asher would have me dragged back within a week. But Stella said: "This is how all those 'groveling romance' novels work! The male lead betrays the female lead, so she punishes him with her death." I seriously suspect there's something toxic in the water of our neighborhood. How else did it produce three absolute weirdos like us? Regardless, I no longer believed in fairy tale princesses. The princess's story ends with the prince loving her. My prince didn't love me. From today onward, I was going to be the wicked witch, cursing all the bad princes to turn into toads. 07. My first year in Italy. I saw snow at the foot of the Alps. The first snowfall happened to land exactly on my birthday. Stella enthusiastically invited all her friends and threw a massive party at her villa. Right before midnight, Stella dragged me onto the dance floor. We danced from age 17 into age 18. She got completely wasted and leaned against my shoulder. She slurred that the female lead would eventually find her true happiness. I looked out the window at the falling snow and said, "I'm already very happy." I meant it from the bottom of my heart. Aside from the occasional moments when I thought of Asher, I was truly happy. My first birthday without him was loud, chaotic, and wonderful. Without him, I could live a great life too. 08. During the New Year, I finally called my parents. At first, they thought they were hallucinating. Once they realized it was really me, they screamed and scolded me mercilessly. I hadn't told them my plan because I was terrified they would snitch to Asher. Looking back, I don't know if that was the right choice. But listening to them yell at me, I didn't argue back. I reminded them not to tell Asher, and they reluctantly agreed. Finally, I couldn't help but ask how he was doing. They told me that for the first two days, he sat on the beach from dawn until dusk, staring at the police boats searching the water. It took over a month for him to somewhat calm down. On my birthday, he sat on that cliffside all day. He ignored everyone who tried to talk to him. Displayed on his phone screen was the last text I ever sent him. After that, Mia took my place, following him everywhere like a shadow. My parents felt sorry for me. They said if I hadn't left, Mia would never have had the chance. I didn't tell them that they were already practically glued together before I left. I updated them on my life. The Monroe family had a small chateau near the Alps. That was where Stella and I were staying. I had been taking language classes for a few months, and I planned to enroll at the University of Trento by the fall. Stella and her brother had arranged everything, and it had cost a fortune. I told my parents to make sure they paid the Monroes back. Without a second thought, my parents wired five million dollars to Stella's account. After months of living off my best friend, I was a rich heiress again. 09. I showed them the snow outside my window on the video call, and they promised to visit when they had time. Before hanging up, they couldn't help but drop subtle hints that Asher had become terrifyingly gloomy since I left, and that he truly cared about me. I explicitly warned them that if they breathed a word of this to Asher, I would disappear again, and this time, they would never find me. After ending the call, I thought for a long time. I had left while Asher still loved me. That was why he remembered me. A dead first love is the most unforgettable thing in the world. But if I had stayed, and waited until he completely fell for Mia... I would have gone from a cherished memory to an annoying stain on his life. If I left then, everyone would have just clapped and cheered. Since that was the case, it was better to stay a ghost in his heart. Once he fell in love with Mia, I would have made a graceful, dignified exit from his story. It was the best possible outcome. After completing a grueling series of courses and exams, I entered the Economics program at the University of Trento the following autumn. Four years later, having fast-tracked my credits, I earned my Master's degree in Economics. Five years after I left my hometown, Stella was called back to the States. I remembered that I also had a corporate empire waiting for me to inherit. Figuring that Asher and Mia's relationship was probably rock solid by now, I decided to hitch a ride on Stella's jet and return home. I hadn't even eaten dinner after landing before my mom shoved me into a gown and dragged me to a high-society business gala. At first, I hid in the corners, terrified of being recognized. Until I realized that absolutely no one in the room knew who I was. I had hated these glitzy events even back then, so I rarely attended. And after five years away, my face, my aura, and my style had completely changed. No one could recognize me. Relieved, I found a plush sofa and sat down comfortably. Half an hour into the gala, a massive commotion broke out near the entrance. Whispers spread that a "V.I.P." had arrived. Curious about who could make all these billionaires stand at attention, I cautiously poked my head out from the crowd. And locked eyes with Asher Vance in a tailored suit. 10. Asher wore a bespoke black suit, his posture impeccably straight, his facial features even sharper and more striking than they were five years ago. The moment he appeared, the air in the ballroom seemed to freeze. The corporate titans who normally looked down their noses at everyone were now tripping over themselves to flash him obsequious smiles. I shrank deep into the corner of the sofa, holding up a massive slice of Black Forest cake to hide my face, chanting internally: You can't see me, you can't see me. After all, my current look was entirely different from the arrogant, flashy heiress I used to be. I was wearing a low-key champagne gown, my hair pinned up in an elegant twist, and I even had a pair of gold-rimmed blue-light glasses on. It was a very 'intellectual scholar' vibe. But Murphy's Law is undefeated. Asher didn't spare a single glance at the sycophants surrounding him. Instead, like he had a built-in radar, his gaze pierced straight through the crowd and locked onto my corner. He lengthened his stride, walking directly toward me. The crowd automatically parted like the Red Sea. I swallowed hard, my fork nearly slipping from my hand. Run! That was the only word in my brain. I shot up from the sofa, grabbed the skirt of my gown, and bolted toward the side exit. I made it exactly two steps before a hand clamped onto my wrist like a vice. The grip was brutal, the heat radiating from his skin searing—exactly like that day five years ago when he forced me to apologize to Mia. My entire body went rigid. A chill ran down my scalp. "Chloe Sterling. Where exactly do you think you're running to?" His voice was low, raspy, vibrating with five years of suppressed madness and greed. It exploded right next to my ear. I took a deep breath, turned around, and forced the most polite, stranger-like smile I could muster. "Excuse me, sir, I think you have the wrong person. My name is Aria. I just flew in from Italy." Asher lowered his eyes, staring at me dead center, a chilling smirk curling on his lips. "Aria? Italy? Master's in Economics from Trento?" With every word he spoke, my heart sank an inch deeper. He knew everything! He didn't just know I was alive; he had investigated every single detail of my life! "Let go! You're hurting me!" I started to thrash, trying to pry his fingers off. The crowd around us collectively gasped. Clearly, no one ever dared to speak to Asher Vance like that. Instead of letting go, Asher tightened his grip and yanked me flush against his chest. The familiar, icy scent of cedarwood instantly enveloped me. "Does it hurt? When you threw yourself into the ocean, did you ever stop to think if I would hurt?" His eyes turned instantly red, his voice carrying a nearly imperceptible tremor. I froze. Before I could even process what was happening, he bent down, hoisted me over his shoulder, and stood up. "Asher! Are you insane?! Put me down! There are people everywhere!" I screamed in terror, pounding my fists against his back. "I went insane a long time ago. From the exact second you jumped into the sea, I lost my mind." Ignoring the utterly shocked stares of the elite crowd, he carried me straight out of the banquet hall and shoved me into the back of a black Maybach waiting at the entrance.
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