I had been secretly in love with my dream man for ten years, and when he finally confessed to me, I rejected him without hesitation.
Because in my previous life, I had said yes with overwhelming joy.
What I didn’t know then was that Daniel Foster only confessed to me out of spite, to provoke his adopted sister.
Three days after I accepted, she cried with red eyes, apologized sweetly, and Daniel’s heart softened. On a stormy night, he left me alone in a dark alley for three hours, where I was harassed by drunkards and couldn’t get help.
When I came back, clutching my torn clothes, I demanded an explanation. He only answered coldly with a few words:
“Let’s break up.”
Later, his adopted sister, Isabella Reed, discovered my presence and deliberately drove into me, leaving me half-paralyzed. I filed a lawsuit against her, but Daniel threatened me with chilling words:
“Drop the case, or the next thing you see will be your mother’s corpse.”
I didn’t believe he would truly cover up for a criminal at the cost of my mother’s life. Until one day, I saw my mother lying in a pool of blood at our doorstep, already lifeless. Only then did I understand this man was a true devil.
This time, I had no intention of being entangled with them again.
When I rejected him, everyone was shocked. Even Daniel looked at me in disbelief.
But I walked past him and turned to the boy behind him.
“Hey, handsome, want to be my boyfriend?”
Within an hour, the entire campus at Columbia University was buzzing with the news. Everyone knew how I had chased after Daniel for years, shamelessly devoted. Now, suddenly, I had a change of heart—
and set my eyes on the rebellious, charming campus king, Ethan Walker.
Realizing I was speaking to him, Ethan froze for a second, then raised an eyebrow and smirked as he twisted open a water bottle with one hand.
“You sure about that?”
In front of everyone, he pinned me against the wall.
“If you want to be my girlfriend, there can’t be another man in your heart.”
His gaze deliberately flicked toward Daniel.
Not only he knew, but the whole school knew I, Claire Thompson, was famous for being a lovesick fool, chasing Daniel for years.
I nodded. “I’m sure. From now on, I’ll only like you.”
Then I added softly:
“Even now, it’s only you.”
A flicker of shock flashed in Ethan’s eyes before quickly turning into something more complicated, almost playful.
“Alright then, I’ll believe you this once.”
He slipped the string of wooden beads off his own wrist and clasped it around mine.
“This is my family heirloom. Wearing it means you’re mine. No take-backs.”
The friends behind him stared, stunned.
“Ethan, what’s going on? You’ve always brushed her off.”
“This is Claire Thompson we’re talking about—didn’t you always give her the cold shoulder? How come…?”
Ethan shot them a sideways glance. “Shut up and go get me a ring and some flowers.”
Even his tone grew lighter when he spoke, as if he couldn’t help it.
I knew why he had always worn a scowl when he saw me before.
He couldn’t stand watching me chase after Daniel like a pathetic fool.
He had always liked me in silence. This time, I decided to give him—and myself—a chance.
Just as Ethan and I were about to walk away together, a voice called from behind.
“Claire!”
Daniel frowned, clearly not understanding what was happening.
“Claire, are you sure you’re awake?”
“You rejected my confession? Then why did you send me a love letter every day?”
“And the breakfasts you brought me every morning…”
Daniel looked baffled. He had always thought winning me over would be effortless. He never expected that I wouldn’t even spare him a glance now.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Those breakfasts? You always threw them straight into the trash.”
