Se connecterOn the third day of trying to win over Heidi Shilton, she confessed to me. But the affection score floating above her head was still zero. After we got together, she spoiled me nonstop. On our sixth anniversary, she pulled off this huge proposal. Tears burned my eyes. I was just about to say yes when comments suddenly flashed across my vision— [Heidi must be exhausted. Six years pretending to love Rowan just to protect the male lead.] [The stand-in for Andy seriously got too into the role. This is hilarious.] The blood in my veins turned ice-cold. No wonder that score hadn't changed in six years. Then a system alert slammed into my head— [Final stage activated. Mission countdown: 10 days. Failure will result in complete erasure.] Smiling, I pushed away Heidi's engagement ring and wiped my tears. "Sorry. I'm done playing this game."
Voir plusShe froze. "Game? What game are you—"I smiled faintly. "You don't need to know. Just know those six years felt like a dream to me. And now it's time to wake up."She stared at me, completely lost.The comments started counting down.[10][9][8][7]...I got up and walked to the railing.Ocean wind pushed through my hair.Out on the horizon, the sky slowly started turning pale.Sunrise was coming."Heidi," I said without looking back, "promise me something.""Anything.""If I die, don't give me a funeral. Scatter my ashes in the ocean. I want... to be free. Go wherever I want."Her voice shook. "Rowan—""Promise me.""...I promise."I smiled. "Thanks."The countdown hit zero.A notification rang through my mind.[Mission failed. Erasure protocol initiated.]I closed my eyes and waited for the end.But—Nothing happened.I opened my eyes.The sun was climbing over the horizon, gold light spilling across the ocean.Beautiful.And I was still here.Still al
She stepped forward like she wanted to grab my hand, but froze halfway."If... if I'd realized sooner—""There's no 'if,' Heidi." I cut her off. "Life isn't some stage play. No rehearsals. No second takes. We live with the choices we make. You chose Andy. You chose to hurt me. And I chose to leave. That's how this ends."She just looked at me while tears slipped down her face.For once, it wasn't fake."I'm sorry..." Her voice broke. "I'm really sorry..."I nodded once. "I accept the apology. But I don't forgive you. Some damage doesn't heal."Then I turned and disappeared into the night.The comments kept flying past my eyes.[She's crying][So she finally knows what pain feels like][Still not enough][I want her to regret this forever]I never looked back.Because I knew one thing now.From here on out, I was moving forward.Just keep walking.Until I reached a place where she didn't exist anymore.***The final day.I went to the coast.Rented a little cabin fa
Heidi didn't move.Right as I turned to leave, she finally spoke. "If... if I let you go? If I set you free, could you... give me one more chance?"I stopped but didn't look back. "Some wounds don't heal. Like the scar on my wrist. I'm stuck with it for life. Same with the damage you did to me. So don't talk about chances. We burned through those a long time ago."I walked away.I didn't bother checking if she was crying or still standing there.Didn't matter anymore.The countdown flashed in my head:[4 days 10 hours 33 minutes]Four days left.One last thing to do.***I went back to Borevia Film Academy.First time in six years.The campus barely changed. The sycamore tree still towered over the courtyard, voices spilling out of the rehearsal hall.I found my old mentor, Professor Godding. She was head of the acting department now.The second she saw me, she froze, her eyes quickly going red with anger."Rowan? Is that really you?""Prof. I'm back."She grabbed my
The day I got discharged, I went to the cemetery.I stopped in front of a headstone with a bouquet in my hands.The woman in the photo looked just like me. Same eyes. Same smile.My mom. Sylvia.She died from a heart attack during my sophomore year.Before she passed, she held my hand and said, "Rowan, live free. Don't spend your whole life trapped by other people like I was."But I still trapped myself.Trapped in Heidi's eyes.Trapped in that stupid game.I sat in front of the grave and set the flowers down."Mom, I came to see you. Sorry it took so long. I was too ashamed to come back."A breeze stirred through the pine trees.Even the comments had gone quiet. Like everyone could feel how heavy this place was."I might be staying with you soon." I brushed my fingers over the photo. "The doctor said I probably don't have much time left. But I'm not scared anymore. For the first time in years, I'm finally living for myself."I pulled an envelope from my bag.Inside was






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