I Almost Proposed, But He's Waiting for Another Bride

Alyssa’s POV

It was the third year since I had been trying to win over Casper Pennington, that aloof, untouchable guy.

Everyone in our circle said I was his one soft spot.

But when I walked in with a custom-made engagement ring, ready to propose to him…

I stopped outside the private room after hearing his buddies teasing him.

“Damn, the number-one beauty in Chicago really lives up to her name. Bro, she even got you to ditch work just to drown himself in love. People said you two were about to tie the knot. I didn’t believe it but looks like it’s actually true.”

“So, when’s the wedding? Don’t forget to send me an invite!”

The lively atmosphere inside suddenly froze.

Casper’s voice was laced with annoyance; he didn’t bother hiding it.

“Who even said that?” he asked. “She’s just a toy. Why would I marry her?”

Everyone inside sucked in a sharp breath.

“You don’t even like her, but you’ve been dating for three years? Then who do you wanna marry? Don’t tell me it’s…”

“It is. Other than her, I’ll never marry anyone else.”

“But she left the country already!”

Casper lowered his head and checked the date. For the first time, a hint of a smile showed in his eyes.

“She said she’d be gone for three years. Back then she broke up with me because she thought I was boring. I’ve learned how to make a girl happy now. She’ll be satisfied for sure.”

My mind went completely blank with a bang.

——

Inside, the conversation went on, his friends suddenly understanding everything.

“So the reason you picked Alyssa—the hardest woman to chase in the whole city—was just to gain experience?”

“All those expensive gifts you gave her, all those surprises… they were all steps in your ‘training plan’?”

“Holy shit, bro, you really are something! If you can conquer Alyssa, then that girl of yours is gonna be easy.”

Even Casper, who was always calm and unreadable, sounded almost like a nervous teenager.

“But she’s not like Alyssa. She’s not like any woman I’ve ever met.

“I just hope I don’t screw up this time.”

Someone cautiously asked, “And… what if you still can’t win her over? Are you seriously planning to wait for her your whole life?”

“Why not? I won’t settle. I don’t want to settle.”

“But I heard Alyssa is about to propose to you. If she finds out you’re actually—”

A startling bang suddenly reverberated.

The rest of the sentence was cut off by the sound of the door being pushed open.

I stood there, staring at Casper’s emotionless face.

The engagement ring in my hand suddenly felt scalding hot—hot enough to stop my heartbeat for a moment.

It took me a long time before I heard my own trembling voice.

“So everything you did for me these past three years… it was all fake?

“Casper, why did you have to destroy my happiness the moment I finally felt it was real?”

He was disturbingly calm, making me look like some unreasonable lunatic.

“I never promised you anything. It was all in your head,” he replied nonchalantly.

“We’re adults. I thought you understood that,” he added.

Tears blurred my vision as my voice cracked.

“If you were already acting, why couldn’t you just keep acting? You know I love you—”

“Love what? My status? My power? Or the way people admire you for ‘conquering’ me?

“Alyssa, you’re not built for pretending to be deep and devoted.”

He leaned back on the couch, casual and lazy.

“Cut the pitiful act. Before I approached you, I already did my research.

“You were abandoned by the Ateliers, so you wanted someone powerful to rely on. And I happened to fit your fantasy.

“Fill in whatever amount you want on this check. After today, we’re done. I don’t want to hear your name tied to mine ever again.”

When he finished, he threw the check on the table and walked off without giving me a second glance.

His friends looked at me with pity.