"Mr. Thornton～"
On the lounge chair by the beach,
a sweet, flirtatious woman lay in Calvin Thornton's arms,
softly protesting his distraction.
She leaned in, trying to kiss his lips.
But Calvin turned his head away to dodge.
He stared at the phone on the nearby table, which had remained silent. His brows furrowed tightly.
Josephine Waverly, call me one more time.
Just once more-and I'll believe you.
"You've checked your phone over twenty times in four hours. Is it really that serious?"
"If you're that worried, just go see her."
On the adjacent lounge chair, his friend Raphael Kingsley had seen everything and couldn't help but shake his head with a sigh:
"You're the one who swore to marry her back then and caught her heart."
"Then you grew up and flipped the script-acting like a heartless player who couldn't stand her clinginess and care."
"Over the years, you gained a reputation as a womanizer."
"Your mom's worried and wants to use the media to pressure you into settling down. It's only natural."
"It might not have been Josephine Waverly's idea at all."
"And let me remind you for the Nth time-people's hearts can grow cold."
"No one waits forever."
"Just how many times do you think you can overdraft on the promises you made as a teenager?"
"Don't wait until you really lose her and then regret it."
Calvin Thornton's fingers paused slightly.
He lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment, then gave a faint, cold scoff:
"I won't regret it."
"Tying myself to one person for life? How boring."
"I wish she'd just leave already."
"Stop clinging to me with those useless childhood feelings."
"I'm so, so done with her."
Raphael Kingsley frowned.
Just as he was about to speak again, Calvin clearly didn't want to hear it anymore.
He got up, popped open a bottle of champagne,
letting the foam spray into the beach crowd already lost in revelry.
Raphael pursed his lips, cursing under his breath:
"Stupid, self-destructive scumbag."
Suddenly, a shadow fell over him.
Raphael froze and looked up-Calvin Thornton had come back.
There was mockery in Raphael's gaze.
With a cold expression, Calvin picked up his phone.
Just as he unlocked the screen-
the ringtone rang.
"Mr. Thornton," said the caller-his assistant,
"Someone just had something express-delivered to the company."
"It's for you."
"The sender is Miss Waverly."
Calvin immediately scoffed, a sneer of disdain flashing in his eyes.
Suddenly, the fact that he had been worrying about Josephine Waverly felt utterly ridiculous.
"It's a ring," the assistant paused,
"Looks like the one Miss Waverly always wore."
Calvin Thornton's pupils contracted sharply.
"What did you say? Say that again-what?"
The assistant quickly sent over a photo of the ring.
Calvin Thornton took one glance and immediately recognized it.
It was the "engagement" ring he'd given her when he confessed his feelings at sixteen.
Josephine Waverly had always worn it like a treasured keepsake.
