"We went to college here in Cloudvale. I honestly thought you'd stay here forever after graduation."
That had been the plan.
Alfred was a Cloudvale native. After college, my family called me back to Harbor City time and again to take over the family business, and I refused every single time.
I didn't want to leave Alfred. I was foolish enough to believe we had a future together.
But eight years of chasing him, three years of being his secret—none of it was enough to make Alfred forget Maud. None of it made him truly fall in love with me.
So I gave up.
And the reunion that had been organized specifically to welcome Maud back from overseas? I had zero interest in attending.
Three days later, though, Sophie showed up uninvited, taking a cab straight to my apartment building and physically dragging me out.
"Come on, Maria, just go! The more the merrier."
"It's been years since any of us have seen each other. When are you going to get another chance like this?"
She shoved me into the car before I could even protest. I had no room to refuse, so I gritted my teeth and went.
The reunion was packed. Loud. Everyone was in high spirits.
They were playing truth or dare.
I sat in the corner.
I watched as the crowd pushed Alfred and Maud together, cheering and whistling.
"You know, back in the day, these two were Cloudvale University's golden couple. And now, after all these years, here they are again—both single, right?"
The guy speaking shot knowing glances around the room, clearly angling to play matchmaker.
I lifted my gaze and watched Alfred quietly. He glanced at me, just once, his expression flat. Then he looked away.
"Cut it out."
Alfred held his glass up. "Whatever the punishment is, I'll down three drinks instead."
He raised the glass to his lips, but someone next to him grabbed his arm.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—no way. Just drinking? Where's the fun in that?"
The guy looked between the two of them with a sly grin.
"How about you two kiss? Then we'll call it even."
Alfred's eyes flicked instinctively toward Maud. She covered her face, laughing with exaggerated helplessness. "I knew it."
She took a deep breath, steeled herself, and stood.
"Fine. We're both single. Who's scared?"
Alfred didn't refuse. She rose on her tiptoes. He leaned down.
A quick, featherlight kiss.
The room erupted.
I kept my head down. My nails dug into my palms until crescent-shaped welts carved themselves deep into the skin.
A few more rounds passed before it was my turn.
Someone studied me with a thoughtful expression. "Maria, you're such a pretty girl. How come you've been single all these years?"
I smiled and shook my head. "I'm not."
"What?"
Alfred's entire body went rigid. His phone was in his hand instantly, a message firing off to me: "Don't forget what you promised me. Don't say anything stupid."
Then another: "And about what just happened—don't be jealous. I'll explain when we get home."
I let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
Every single time. He was always terrified I'd slip up in public, that I'd let our secret relationship spill out.
Especially when Maud was around.
That probably had him in a cold sweat right now.
Alfred assumed I was jealous over the kiss. But I couldn't have cared less.
I didn't look at his messages. I just smiled and swept my gaze across the room.
"I'm getting married next week. I just haven't had the chance to tell everyone yet."
Dead silence.
Alfred's hand froze mid-air. His head snapped toward me.
For the rest of the evening, his body stayed coiled tight, his gaze drifting to me again and again when he thought I wouldn't notice.
I laughed and chatted with other classmates like nothing had happened. When the reunion finally wound down and I stepped outside to call a cab—
A hand shot out and pulled me into the shadows.
I opened my mouth to scream, but then I caught it: that familiar scent of pine.
Alfred.
"Well, well. Our little Maria's learned how to lie."
His gaze swept over me, half-scrutinizing, half-amused.
"What, just because I haven't come to see you for a few days?"
"Is that really worth throwing a tantrum? Making up some story about marrying someone else, right to my face?"
He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "Or is this your way of telling me you want us to get married?"
So he didn't believe a word of it. He thought I was simply bluffing to get his attention.
I didn't bother explaining.
I lowered my head, reached into my bag, and pulled out a small gift box, no bigger than my palm. I held it out to him.
"I've been meaning to give you this."
"Consider it a belated birthday present. For your twenty-seventh."
"Just promise me you won't open it for three days."
