A Childhood Promise, A Cold Comeback Chapter 06

A Childhood Promise, A Cold Comeback Chapter 06

After the engagement celebrations, my family arranged for me to intern at our company in China.

My mom dreamed aloud about the future, “Once you and Silas are settled, you can focus on the family. Mrs. Tate and I will manage the business front.”

My dad added with a wry smile, “Keep an eye on your mother for me, will you? Make sure Mrs. Tate doesn’t completely steal her away.”

…Carrying these warm expectations, I boarded the flight home, a soft smile touching my lips.

When seeing me off at the airport, Silas took one small bell from the wind chime and placed it in my palm.

He’d always been reserved and polite around me, but in that moment, he couldn’t help but let the bell’s soft jingle speak for his longing.

Months had passed, and Senior Year Class A at Central High felt like a distant memory.

When my friend Lily back home sent me the graduation photo I’d missed, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disconnection, as if it belonged to another lifetime.

In the photo, Lucas and Coco stood side by side—they actually looked quite matched, in a way.

My eyes swept over their smiling faces, but the flutter of emotion I’d once felt was gone, replaced by calm indifference.

Lily typed angrily, “We were so sad when you left, but now I think it’s for the best.”

“You have no idea how arrogant Coco’s gotten, strutting around the class with Lucas’s protection.”

“Once you were gone, the rumor mill started grinding. She spread so many lies about you—we were playing whack-a-mole trying to shut them down.”

“And Lucas? That spineless wonder defends her blindly. I mean, come on—other people might not know better, but you two were friends for over a decade! How could he help her bully you like that?”

I sighed and typed back, “I’m afraid Lucas has already made up his mind that I’m the bad guy.”

I frowned slightly, adding, “Strange. I don’t remember Coco having this much… audacity before.”

Seizing the chance to vent, Lily sent over five or six photos, “See for yourself.”

They were all screenshots of Coco’s social media posts.

First post:

“So grateful for you. Because of you, my debutante ball wasn’t some pathetic, ordinary affair”

Two photos were attached.

One showed Lucas bending down, carefully putting a pair of high heels on her feet.

The other seemed like a group photo with classmates, but the corner accidentally captured me in the background, looking flushed and disheveled.

I thought back—oh right, that day I’d been in charge of hosting the event as a student council member.

It was impressive how much effort Coco had put into capturing my most unflattering moment.

Second post: “He apologized for not being able to get ‘the one’ for me before, but promised a new one soon. My love, I’d never hold someone else’s petty jealousy against you.”

The photo was of a familiar limited-edition teddy bear—without the exclusive gift box, of course.

Third post:

“His restraint is always his most charming trait. My boy, after the college entrance exam, don’t let the scented candle be my only companion at night anymore.”

The picture showed a corner of an indigo-scented candle.

I scrolled through them quickly, feeling speechless—until I reached the last one, and my finger froze mid-swipe.

The caption read: “Mine now.”

The attached image was a close-up of rumpled bedsheets, a rust-colored stain stark against the white.

Lily’s message popped up, “She’s been doing this passive-aggressive thing online for months, subtly framing you as the obsessed ex who couldn’t let go, making it seem like she and Lucas were the real couple all along.”

“Thank god you don’t care, haha.”

I smiled faintly. It wasn’t exactly a lie—Lucas had just wanted to enjoy the affection of both me and Coco at the same time.

“After graduation, she took it to another level—got him drunk or drugged, something. They woke up together.”

I was shocked, “She went that far?”

Lily’s tone was furious, “Yeah, the whole thing blew up. Now that they have an ‘official’ relationship, Coco’s arrogance has gone into overdrive.”

“To be honest, posting that bed sheet photo is so low-class. I bet Lucas regrets it now.”

I comforted her, “Thanks for helping me debunk the rumors. Don’t worry—if this happens again, I’ll get my lawyer involved directly.”

We chatted casually for a while, and Lily ended with, “I’m glad you’re really over him. Lucas doesn’t deserve you.”

I paused for a moment, then typed, “Me too.”

It was true—I felt nothing at all.

Lucas, the boy I’d loved so sincerely for years, was now just a name in a casual conversation.

Time, it seemed, was not just a healer—it was the ultimate clarifier.