With You Nevermore

Eight years later, I met Liana Corn again at a class reunion.

After working nonstop on some case files, I was so tired that my head was spinning. I didn't even bother to freshen up and just went straight to the gathering.

In the crowd, Liana and Serge Gibson stood hand in hand in the center, soaking up everyone's attention.

"Liana, you're incredible! You haven't even been abroad that long, and you're already a top investor. You're the pride of Apex City!"

"Of course! I heard many rich folks overseas are lining up just to have dinner with her, but they can't even get on her schedule. She makes hundreds of thousands in appearance fees alone. That's more than we make in years!"

"Liana, I've got some extra cash. Can you help an old classmate out and let me earn a little too?"

"Liana," someone else called out from the crowd, "you and Serge look so happy together. Are you two getting engaged?"

Liana's cheeks turned red as she gazed at Serge with soft eyes. "That's right. Our engagement is on February 25th."

As soon as she said that, everyone started congratulating them.

Then, another classmate asked, "You used to be head over heels for Ryan. Do you two still keep in touch? Back then, wasn't your first dance for Ryan?"

The moment she heard my name, Liana's smile froze. She pursed her lips together.

Serge, gracious as ever, just held her hand tighter and replied, "We're about to get engaged, so how can you think she hasn't moved on? Puppy love can't compare to the bond we have when we grow up together."

Everyone burst out laughing and went right back to praising them.

But I remembered the so-called first dance. Back then, Liana had worked so hard choreographing a routine just to confess her feelings to me.

In my last life, Liana and I fell for each other at first sight. We had a wild, passionate romance while we were still students. She used to look up to me, eyes full of adoration.

"Ryan, look into my eyes. Eyes never lie. I really like you!" she once declared passionately.

I believed her. I gave her everything.

But as it turned out, she had been lying to me the whole time.

I kept my face calm as I walked into the hall. An eagle-eyed classmate spotted me right away.

"Ryan, you finally showed up! You know you're late, right?"

"Wow, man. This is a formal occasion. Why aren't you in a suit? Why did you come in casual clothes? Can't you afford something nicer?"

"Don't tell me you just got off work? Where are you slaving away right now? We've got celebrities here today. You should toast them and see if they can help you land an easy job."