Chapter 4

Gregory's POV

Winter's expression shifted several times before she finally spat out, "Gregory, how long are you going to keep this nonsense up?"

I didn't answer. I wasn't keeping anything up. I had simply stopped pretending.

"Nothing to keep up," I said. "I just don't like you anymore, so I'd rather keep my distance. It'll avoid all unnecessary misunderstandings."

Winter's hand froze midair. She stared at me in disbelief, as if she had never imagined such words could come out of my mouth.

"You'd better think twice, Gregory," Simon said quickly. "You two are so close. Everyone says you're childhood sweethearts. They're all jealous of you. You two… are definitely going to end up together someday!"

"Says who?" Winter let out a cold laugh and cut Simon off, her eyes fixed on me. "I never had those kinds of feelings for him, anyway."

She turned toward him, her expression going soft and shy. "I'm into someone else."

A long breath slipped out of me. She finally said it. At last, she had shed the burden of that years-long debt and the obligation that bound her.

For some reason, her eyes never left me. She was clearly confessing her feelings to Simon, not me.

"Congrats," I muttered. "I wish you two a long, happy relationship."

The moment I turned around, I thought I caught a flash of anger in Winter's eyes, but I didn't look back. I just walked away.

Since then, Winter and I had barely seen each other. However, her relationship with Simon quickly became the hottest topic among our friends. Every day, there was something new being talked about.

One day, someone said they saw him taking her to an amusement park; the next, there were photos of them kissing under a tree.

Simon kept texting me nonstop, insisting Winter had only confessed to him to provoke me, and that he was just a pawn in our game.

I knew better. It wasn't like that at all. Even if it started as acting, she was bound to fall for him sooner or later.

A month passed quickly.

On the night before I left home, Winter announced at the dinner table that she was in a relationship. Mr. and Mrs. Andersen's eyes landed on me, utterly speechless.

Meanwhile, my gaze settled on Winter's neck. On her collar was a necklace Simon had woven for her.

I had made her countless similar ones over the years, yet she hadn't worn a single one. She always said she didn't like being flashy and would casually toss them into a drawer to gather dust.

"Yeah. They look pretty good together—and in love, too," I said to Mr. and Mrs. Andersen with a smile. "I'm happy for her, truly."

Winter clenched her fists under the table, biting her lip hard enough to leave a mark. She said nothing.

After dinner, she came into my room. I was sitting on the floor, packing my luggage, when she stood behind me and asked, "Where's your bracelet?"

I paused, then looked at my bare right wrist. "I gave it back to Mr. and Mrs. Andersen. If you want to give it to someone else, you'll have to ask them."

The only answer I got was a heavy slam of the door. I sighed.

Once I finished packing, I walked into Mr. and Mrs. Andersen's room.

Yesterday, I had told them everything. Winter thought I would be going to college with her tomorrow for orientation—she had no idea that I was leaving for the airport tonight.

"Once you're there, remember to give us a call. Okay?"

Mrs. Andersen sighed. "We know we can't force something that isn't there. As long as you're happy, I'm sure your parents will be at peace, too."

I hugged them tightly, smiling as I said goodbye. Then I picked up my suitcase and quietly walked out of the house.

Before boarding the plane, I sent one last message to Future Winter. "Now, you won't miss those four years with him anymore."

As for me, I wouldn't miss the great life that was supposed to belong to me either.

Little did I know, the moment I sent the message, the account vanished without a trace.

Seven hours later, Winter barged into my bedroom. She looked at the empty room and stumbled back a step. "No way… No way!"

Mr. and Mrs. Andersen tried to explain, but she simply didn't have the capacity to listen. She wanted to leave for the airport and chase after me.

Then, in that split second, a sharp pain exploded in her mind. Memories that didn't belong to her came flooding in…