Chapter 3
My fingers trembled as I dialed Camille Grandelle's number.
The phone rang over a dozen times before she answered.
Her voice came through, hoarse and breathless:
"Ethan?"
I choked out the words:
"Camille, let's get married."
"I don't need a dowry."
"I'll work hard to support you."
"Come back now."
"We'll go get the marriage license right away."
"Please?"
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.
I knew how pathetic I sounded at that moment.
But love makes you lose all reason.
If only she would come back.
I could forgive everything.
Camille was silent for a moment.
Then she chuckled softly:
"Silly, why are you crying?"
"I never said I wouldn't marry you."
Her voice was as gentle as if she were soothing a child:
"Mom is still in the hospital."
"I'm not in the mood for marriage right now."
"I can't let you bear all the burden alone."
"When she gets better, I'll earn more money."
"We'll buy a house and a car."
"Then I'll marry you in style."
"Just wait a little longer for me."
Suddenly, there was a muffled groan on the other end.
She spoke hurriedly:
"I have a part-time job that will keep me busy late."
"I won't be coming back."
"Remember to lock the door."
"I'll bring you something nice to eat."
The call ended abruptly.
The sounds from the bedroom became increasingly unbearable.
I numbly put down the phone.
Letting the tears soak my shirt.
On the way back, a torrential rain poured down.
The rain mixed with my tears blurred my vision.
My head grew heavier.
My steps became slower.
The last thought before I lost consciousnessโ
Camille, I won't wait for you anymore.
I woke up in the hospital.
The nurse said a kind stranger had brought me in.
Three days had passed.
There were no messages from Camille on my phone.
She used to say goodnight no matter how busy she was.
And remind me to eat breakfast.
The nurses' chatter drifted into my ears:
"The Grandelle heiress is getting engaged!"
"To the Valentine family's young master."
"She bought all the fireworks in the city for the proposal last night."
"And there was a drone show!"
"Thousands of drones formed a heart!"
"So romantic..."
I listened in a daze.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
It was my part-time manager:
"Ethan, there's a bachelor party tonight that needs a mascot performance."
"The pay is good."
"I specifically recommended you."
"Don't let me down."
I wanted to refuse.
But the manager had always been kind to me.
So I agreed.
I wouldn't use Camille's check.
I had given her all my savings.
But I still needed to survive.
I used the money from my escape room part-time job to pay the medical bills.
For the first time in three years, I spent money on myself.
After all, she didn't need this small amount anymore.
A bitter smile formed on my lips.
Camille's "experience of ordinary life" was over.
It was time for her to return to her prince.
They were truly a match made in heaven.
We were never from the same world.
These three years were just a dream.
Now that the dream was over.
We would each return to our rightful places.