Chapter 4

"Alright. Think about it carefully."

With that, Beckett went towards Lily.

"Oh right, we're going out for dinner after swimming. Remember to book the restaurant."

I didn't move, watching as Beckett took out a bag of water bottles, giving the only uniquely packaged one to Lily.

The ones he gave to others were all the same.

Lily looked a bit shy, and everyone else teased them.

I suddenly remembered that when we were kids playing house, Beckett did the same thing. He bought a bunch of lollipops, giving the only special one to the prettiest girl, asking her to play his wife, while distributing the identical ones to the rest of us.

He won our hearts while achieving his goal.

Everyone ate their lollipops on the spot, but I kept mine, hiding it away, too precious to eat.

Because it was the first time I had gotten a snack that was just for me.

Later, when Beckett found out, he bought me a few similar ones, but never gave me that special one again.

I couldn't help but laugh.

Even though I knew he was just using the most common way to win people over, I was the one he had won over most successfully,

Without any complaints.

I was never his special treatment,

Just one of the willing victims in his wide net.

On the way to dinner, I carried bags for Beckett and his group as usual, walking a bit slower.

By the time Beckett reached the private room I had booked, he messaged me saying they had already ordered,

While I was still halfway there.

Maybe because I had been following behind Beckett since I was little, I was used to him walking in front, with me slowly following behind alone.

When I reached the door of the private room, I could hear Lily's voice from inside,

"Beckett, can you really make Zoe apologize to me? She's known as the ice queen, doesn't care about anyone."

"Don't worry. You saw just now, I asked her to carry our bags and she didn't say anything. Just an apology, what's the big deal?

She's been following me like a dog since she was little, give her a little treat and she'll come along. Besides, apart from me, she has no one else she can trust."

A few guys were also flattering him, putting me down.

My hand that was about to knock on the door paused. I put down the bags and quietly listened at the door.

"Beckett is really something! But Beckett, what kind of love potion did you give Zoe to make her so devoted to you?"

"Yeah, yeah! Beckett is so lucky, with Zoe on one side and Lily on the other."

I heard Beckett sneer,

"What love potion? She's just too starved for love. Show her a little kindness and she'll be willing to die for you. Don't talk nonsense, I only like Lily. As for Zoe... she's too eager, a bit cheap."

There was laughter inside.

Strangely, I felt nothing in my heart. I even found it a bit boring, as if I had locked myself in a room, quietly waiting for it to crumble and collapse into ruins.

Slowly, I finally saw the light of day again.

I put down the bags and went to eat a bowl of noodles by myself, then bought some pastries I liked. My whole body felt warm and cozy.

Then I took some time to block and delete all of Beckett's contact information,

And found a campus errand runner to return all the gifts Beckett had given me, including that silver bracelet.

Actually, that bracelet wasn't even pure silver, let alone gold. I knew as soon as I put it on.

I'm not an idiot, I just used to be willing to play along with Beckett's act, deceiving myself.