Chapter 19

Hannah sent an ellipsis. "Kane, Sophie did nothing wrong. Rejecting you was her right, but even if you couldn't be lovers, you could still be friends."

"So am I the one in the wrong? Choosing to move on is my right too, isn't it? I don't want to be friends with her."

"But why?"

Kane switched to typing with one hand. "She thinks the whole world should adore her, that everyone should cater to her whims. Whatever she says is law—if she orders you to go east, you wouldn't dare go west. I have neither the patience nor the energy to deal with a friend like that. It's exhausting. Really exhausting."

Hannah was silent for a moment. "I know Sophie can be a little proud, but isn't that part of her charm?"

"A little proud is fine. But she crosses the line. Like that day on Central Street—ordering me not to leave in front of everyone. Who does she think she is? We're not even friends, yet she thinks she can control me? Does she believe the whole world revolves around her?"

"You should just talk to her properly. Tell her to change."

Kane frowned. "Why should I waste my time on her? If a friend doesn't work out, you move on. What's the big deal?"

Hannah's reply was noticeably delayed. "It's not a big deal, but… are you sure you're not just saying this out of resentment?"

"I've made myself clear, yet you're all still thinking the same thing. Let me guess, Sophie thinks so too? That I'm just bitter about being rejected, so I'm playing hard to get?"

"No, no! That's not what I meant. Don't misunderstand, Kane!"

Kane continued typing. "Hannah, honestly, I don't even want to talk about this. The only reason I'm explaining so much is because it's you. Do you understand?"

Hannah softened instantly at his words. "Alright, I'll talk to her and tell her to leave you alone for now."

"Not just for now. Forever."

"Kane, saying it like that is too harsh. When she rejected you, she still left some wiggle room and even threw in some encouragement. Do you really have to be this heartless?"

"Oh, for f***'s sake, don't even get me started! 'Keep trying and you'll have hope'? Seriously? That's what you call encouragement? She never actually liked me. She was just bored, lonely, and I happened to be there to keep her company. The second she meets someone she truly likes, she wouldn't even remember I exist."

"…"

"Hannah, sometimes, words need to be harsh so that things can be cut off cleanly. Only then can both sides stop holding onto false hope."

Seeing this message, Hannah suddenly fell silent. Because at that moment, she remembered the conversation she had with Sophie Chase on Central Street.

"Sophie, what if you meet someone you truly like in the future?"

"Then, of course, I'd choose the one I like. I can't just pick Kane Brook just because he's been persistent, right?"

She knew Kane wasn't wrong, so she had no ground to argue back. In fact, she even vaguely felt like she was standing on his side.

"Alright, Kane, I know what to do now."

"Miss Warren, it was nice talking to you, but please don't ever come to me about her again. I don't want to ruin my day over this, okay?"

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. As long as it's clear now."

After ending the conversation, Hannah Warren let out a sigh, her gaze momentarily lost in thought.

So it was true. Kane Brook had completely let go of her best friend, without even a trace of hesitation—he had moved from indifference to outright rejection.

But what about Nancy Foster?

Was she really dating Kane?

She was a rich heiress, always chauffeured in a Bentley, the dream girl of countless boys at Southgate High. There were enough secret admirers of hers to form a line from Southgate High all the way to Trade Plaza. And yet, Kane was casually pinching her cheeks, while she acted spoiled and playful around him? Who would believe that?

Even Hannah herself wanted to ask—how was that fair?

Sure, Kane was good-looking, tall, and smart. But she still couldn't believe he had actually won over Nancy Foster.

At school, Nancy was famous for her cold demeanor. She barely spoke to anyone, carrying an air of aloof nobility that warned others to keep their distance.

Forget chasing after her—some guys couldn't even bring themselves to approach her. Just standing near her made them feel inferior, like they were ridiculously overestimating themselves.

It just didn't make sense!

Hannah Warren felt like Kane Brook was becoming more and more of a mystery. Then, inevitably, she thought of her best friend again.

Sophie Chase was still holding her head high, throwing tantrums, waiting for Kane to regret and apologize—completely oblivious to how much had changed in just the past two weeks.

Hannah picked up her phone again, found Sophie's QQ, and sent her a message.

"I just talked to Kane. He said his business has nothing to do with you anymore and that you shouldn't contact him again."

"That bastard! How could he say that? Did you at least curse him out for me?"

"Sophie, just let it go. You already rejected him. It's time to move on."

In a bedroom at Green Maple Residences, Sophie Chase sat in her pajamas, fuming. She grabbed the college application guide in her hand and hurled it at the wall, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Kane Brook—he was only acting like this because he resented her rejection! He was deliberately trying to piss her off!

Well, he succeeded. She was definitely pissed.

But hadn't it been painful for him to hold it in for so long? He was just being stubborn to save face!

In truth, Sophie had asked Hannah to check Kane's scores for a reason. She wanted to give him an out, a hint to stop being so petty with her.

Because lately, she had been growing increasingly frustrated, constantly staring at her phone, hoping—imagining—that Kane would send her a message: I was wrong.

This obsession was becoming her own personal demon.

She never used to care this much about Jiang Qin, yet now he was constantly on her mind, and she absolutely hated it. She loathed how she had lost control over her own emotions, and she despised this pathetic version of herself.

But she never expected Kane to be this ruthless. How ungrateful!

Fine! No contact? Then so be it! Whoever reaches out first is nothing but a damn dog!