Chapter 3

Three days later, Ryder went to a reunion with his former computer science classmates from Westbridge University. He hadn't expected Mona to show up.

She was surrounded by their old classmates, but as soon as she spotted him, she came over and sat beside him.

The mood in the private room turned awkward as everyone watched them. Ryder knew it was because of him.

Their former classmates believed he'd only married Mona for her family's money and connections, and most of them looked down on him for it.

Ryder didn't care what they thought. He simply sat there, ignoring their judgmental looks.

The former class president, Jake Walsh, arrived late, carrying a large cardboard box.

"Hey, everyone! Thanks for coming. I thought it'd be nice for us all to catch up. Besides, remember those letters we wrote to our future selves five years ago? Well, today's the day we finally get to open them!"

Everyone crowded around the box, chatting excitedly.

"Hey, let's make this fun! How about we each pick a random letter and read it out loud?"

"Great idea! I'll go first!" One of the more outgoing guys in their class pushed his way through the crowd and grabbed an envelope.

With everyone urging him on, he tore it open, cleared his throat, and unfolded the letter. "Dear Ryder, how's life treating you five years from now? I'm sitting outside in the sunshine as I write this.

"I don't know where you'll be or how you'll feel when you read it, but I want you to remember what I'm feeling right now."

By the time he finished the first paragraph, the room had gone quiet. Everyone turned toward Ryder. Even Mona, who'd been looking at her phone, glanced up at him in surprise.

Ryder rarely showed much emotion, but his stomach sank as he remembered what he'd written.

The guy reading the letter shot him a sly grin before continuing. "You're 19, and you've just started your sophomore year. You've fallen for Mona Brent, but she doesn't know.

"Even if she did, it wouldn't make a difference. She's already in love with someone else, and you know you don't stand a chance."

"You might wonder why I haven't given up when I already know nothing will come of it. But I can't help admiring her. I love how confident she looks when she's dancing in front of a cheering crowd.

"I love how she stopped to pick up my books one evening, even though she barely knew me. I even love how she treats people with kindness and respect when turning down their confessions."

"I'm the one who gets a stiff neck from sneaking glances at her during our weekly morning assemblies. I'm the one who went out in a terrible storm to secretly leave medicine on her desk after hearing she'd hurt herself dancing.

"I'm the one who spent an entire night filling his journal with her name. She might never remember me, even if we cross paths again someday. But that's okay. Having a crush on someone can turn your whole world upside down, even when they have no idea."

By the time he finished reading, no one was saying a word. Mona sat frozen beside Ryder.

Her mind went back to that disastrous wedding, a day she'd tried so hard to forget.

She remembered the shocked looks on everyone's faces when Ryder stood up without hesitation and walked straight toward her.

Only now did she understand why he'd agreed to marry her. It wasn't because he wanted her family's wealth or status, as everyone had assumed.

He'd been secretly in love with her for years.

Her heart suddenly began to race, stirring feelings she hadn't experienced in a long time. She wanted to ask him about everything he'd kept to himself all those years.

But before she could get a word out, her phone rang. It was Kieran.

"Mona, I'm downstairs outside the club. Some guys I owe money to have cornered me..."

Mona's expression changed before he could finish. She jumped to her feet and rushed downstairs. As soon as she spotted the group of men surrounding Kieran, she ordered the people with her to attack.

She was furious, and her men didn't hold back. After just a few punches, the attackers were coughing up blood.

The rest of Mona's entourage quickly moved to shield Kieran.

Crying, Kieran told her that one of the men, a guy covered in tattoos, had touched his hand.

Mona immediately grabbed a metal rod lying nearby and brought it down on the man's hand. His scream of agony echoed through the area.

Ryder came rushing downstairs just in time to see what had happened. He stopped dead when he saw the man's right hand. It was covered in blood and so badly mangled that he might never be able to use it again.

Ryder instinctively looked toward Mona, but she was already helping Kieran away. Moments ago, she'd been ruthless. Now, she was speaking softly to Kieran, comforting him with a tenderness Ryder had never experienced from her.

He lowered his gaze, hiding the hurt in his eyes, and gave a bitter smile. Then he turned and went home alone.

Mona didn't come home until the early hours of the morning. When she found Ryder sitting quietly on the couch, she seemed to remember that she owed him an explanation.

"Ryder, about what happened earlier... Kieran and I grew up together. I couldn't just leave him there when he was in trouble."

Ryder didn't bother pointing out how weak her excuse was. He gave a quiet acknowledgment, picked up his pajamas, and headed into the bathroom.

Half an hour later, he came out, drying his hair with a towel.

Mona was holding his phone, looking puzzled. "Ryder, why did you book a flight?"