Chapter 3: The Girl in the Rearview

I told my parents I was going overseas. They’d always wanted this for me, but thought it was sudden. Dad sent money for my expenses, and after a year, I returned the five million to that account—quietly, in small amounts. I didn’t want their dirty money, just a clean conscience. Five million meant nothing to the Suttons, but it made me feel a little better. At least the love we had was a little purer—though maybe I was just fooling myself.

When I first left, I got calls about Alex—mostly from Derek. He said Alex was in a bad state, begged me to come back, but I couldn’t. Sometimes Derek sent me photos from campus parties, hoping I’d smile. He never knew I saved every one like a scrap of my old life. I didn’t delete or block them—just spied on Alex’s world from afar. Over time, their messages stopped. We disappeared from each other’s lives.

According to the plot, by now Alex should have met the new female lead. He should have let her into his life, brought her to meet our old friends. I tried to start over, just like the system said. I graduated, started shining in my field, had plenty of suitors, but none felt right. My coworkers invited me out, sometimes I dated—dinners at bistros, walks along the Seine—but nothing ever lasted. I even tried dating a French-American law student, but after a week, I broke it off. He was sweet, romantic, but I never felt the spark. Maybe I only agreed to prove I could move on.

He said he understood American restraint, and maybe I only agreed because he wore me down. He apologized, said he’d wait until I truly loved him. I hugged him, said thank you, and cried for an hour when I got home.

Life settled into a rhythm. Mom visited every year. My parents were still busy, but healthy. I stopped needing their money, but every month, a big sum appeared in my account. Dad said to spend as I liked, that money was for giving Mom and me a good life. Sometimes I’d buy something nice—a pair of heels, a night at a jazz club—just to make his effort worth it.

Four years passed—not exactly hard, but when the system’s voice reappeared, it startled me. “Natalie, the main couple have finished the main plot, you can choose whether to return to the States.”

I can… go back. But should I? They’ve finished the main plot—what’s the point? Alex should have forgotten me by now. But… I’m still a bit unwilling. Going back isn’t without risk. The system once said that as long as I didn’t ruin the main couple’s love, I wouldn’t be punished. But could I trust myself—or Alex?

He watched me on surveillance, heard me say those awful things. He must hate me. So, should I risk everything for Alex? Bet my life and my parents’ happiness? I still loved him, but after weighing the risks, I decided to stay away.

But nothing ever goes as planned. Mrs. Sutton called. I hesitated before answering. Was it about the money? No, that was nothing to them. Or did she discover Alex’s new girlfriend looked like me? No, she wouldn’t care. “Miss Parker, do you still remember me?” Her voice was just like four years ago, only a little less energetic. I could hear the echo of loneliness in her tone, like too many evenings spent in a silent house.

“I remember, Mrs. Sutton. Four years ago, you gave me five million to leave Alex. But that’s all in the past. I did as you asked, broke up with him, never saw him again. Why are you calling?”

She paused. “No, no, Natalie, I trust you. The five million I got before—was that you? All these years, I wrongly blamed you. I feel very guilty. Do you… want to come back? I won’t stop you and Alex anymore.”

If this were a sitcom, the laugh track would’ve played. It was surreal—like the villain admitting she was wrong after the credits rolled. I was full of question marks. Was Mrs. Sutton possessed?

She sounded almost desperate. “Natalie, you’re a good match for Alex. Much better than that Lauren woman.”

I realized what she wanted: for me to come back and drive away Alex’s current girlfriend. “She’s not his girlfriend, believe me, come back and see for yourself.”

When I still refused, she offered, “If you come back, I’ll give you a third of my shares as a wedding gift.”

Money, always money. “Mrs. Sutton, I never cared about things that weren’t mine. If you’re really troubled, maybe try the same method you used on me with Lauren. I have work soon. Goodbye.” I hung up first.

Knowing the plot, I guessed why she was anxious. Alex had taken over the family business. Mrs. Sutton was just a rich lady with no power. The more she objected to Lauren, the more Alex rebelled—especially since Lauren looked like me. In short, the less power Alex had to stop me from leaving four years ago, the more ruthless he was now.

Still, I had no plans to return. But a week later, I had no choice—Mom was in a car accident. It wasn’t serious, but it wasn’t in the script. I felt uneasy.

Four years had changed everything. I held a coconut latte in the airport coffee shop, waiting for Dad’s assistant. The airport felt colder than I remembered—all glass and echoes. I pulled my coat tighter, trying to look like I belonged, not like someone returning from exile.

Through the glass, I saw a man in a black suit in the smoking area—tall, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a half-burned cigarette. He looked out of place among the travelers—like a model in a GQ ad. Mysterious and magnetic. His hand, his build—they looked like Alex’s. But it couldn’t be. The Alex I remembered would never be so cold, so distant.

Alex was the kind of guy who was bright as the moon, gentle as spring—my white moonlight. Not this stranger.

A man who looked like an assistant approached him. He put out his cigarette, turned his head. I met his dark eyes. Alex.

The roar of a jet overhead faded, and for a second, it felt like the whole terminal was holding its breath. I sat there frozen, coffee cooling in my hands, while he looked right through me. I’d imagined this reunion a thousand ways, but not like this—his eyes empty, calm as a still lake, like I was a stranger.

The next time I saw him was two weeks later, at the hospital. Mom was being discharged. Hospitals always smell the same—antiseptic, recycled air, faint hints of coffee and stress. I wheeled Mom down the hallway, sunlight streaming through the windows, bracing myself.

A few days ago, my parents told me they didn’t want me to stay abroad. Dad’s business had grown. We’d moved to a bigger city. Mom joked about finally getting her kitchen island. I tried to act excited, but part of me was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I pushed Mom out of the ward, and saw Alex ahead. Not surprising—this was the best private hospital, and the Suttons owned half of it. He was completely different now. His hair was slicked back, his face deeper, more mature. When he looked over, his eyes were cold.

Standing next to him was Lauren Chen—a girl with my eyes and my smile, but none of my history. She stood beside him like a shy girl, looking up at him with adoration. In this script, she was the fragile flower: not highly educated or capable, but with a face that echoed mine. She’d met Alex while raising money for her sick mom. He paid her to be my stand-in, and she fell for him, even knowing she was just a substitute.

At first, she was submissive, but after being offered money by Mrs. Sutton and showing noble character, she contrasted sharply with me, who took the money and ran. Alex changed his view of her, and after some tests, he fell deeply in love.

Seeing them made my blood boil. I tried to keep my face neutral, but my hands tightened on Mom’s wheelchair. My palms were sweaty on the handles, and I kept my eyes fixed on the scuffed tile floor. Even if Alex didn’t love me anymore, even if I was unwilling, I didn’t want to be the stepping stone for their love.

Just as I considered slipping by, Dad came out with Mom’s bag. “Hey, Mr. Sutton,” he said cheerfully, waving. “Nat, come meet him.”

Dad was always good at making connections—probably thought this was another chance to network. “Nat… Mr. Sutton, nice to meet you.” Alex frowned, as if trying to place my dad’s name.

Refusing to go over would look odd, so I forced myself to cross the hallway. My heels felt like a hundred pounds.

“Nat, this is Mr. Sutton. Mr. Sutton, this is my daughter Natalie Parker, just back from overseas.”

I felt Alex’s cold gaze sweep over me. After a moment, he said, “Miss Natalie Parker, hello.”

I forced myself to stay calm. “Mr. Sutton, nice to meet you.”

Beside him, Lauren tugged at his sleeve, looking at me like I was about to steal her prom date.

Dad didn’t keep chatting. “We won’t bother you and your… girlfriend.”

Alex pursed his lips, frowning slightly, and nodded. I knew that look—he was probably a little angry. Angry we interrupted him and Lauren?

I was a little sad, but only a little…

On the way home, Dad talked up Alex: “Don’t let his age fool you. He’s a young man I admire.”

Mom glared. “You’re not thinking of marrying off our daughter for business, are you?”

“Of course not. People like that want to marry equals. The rich have their own rules.”

Mom snorted. At home, Dad’s always the target of teasing. Mom teases, he laughs, and as his little sweetheart, I have to defend him. “Dad started from scratch—he’s amazing too!” He looked like he might cry.

I ruffled his hair the way I did when I was little, and he pretended to be annoyed, but I caught him grinning in the rearview mirror.

“Hey, did you notice that girl with Mr. Sutton looked a bit like our Nat?”

“A bit, but our Nat is still better.”

“True. That girl only looked a little bit like me.”

Father-daughter mutual praise session: complete.