Chapter 1Echoes of Us

Five years after our breakup.

Ethan Vance had become a billionaire, complete with a beautiful fiancée.

At a reunion, someone brought me up.

"Chloe Hastings never shows up to these reunions. What's her deal?"

"Heh, she's too busy gold-digging on airplanes."

"On airplanes?"

"Yeah. She's a flight attendant for some airline. I saw her once. You should have seen the fawning smile on her face when she served the rich passengers."

"Really? A flight attendant? I guess she's just as obsessed with money as she was back then."

Ethan, sitting in the center, narrowed his eyes slightly, his hand clenching into a fist.

"A flight attendant?"

"Yeah. Ethan, it's been so many years. Have you still not forgotten her?"

He took the hand of his fiancée sitting next to him.

The massive diamond ring on the girl's finger instantly blinded everyone.

"I forgot her a long time ago. My wedding is next month. Make sure you all come for a drink."

Everyone immediately offered their congratulations.

Only I, floating in the air, lowered my head.

* * *

One year after I died.

The class group chat organized a reunion.

Hearing that Ethan, whose net worth had skyrocketed, would also be there, the group chat became incredibly lively.

Over thirty active avatars.

Only my avatar was grayed out, silent at the very bottom.

Because I was already dead.

I couldn't use any communication devices anymore.

In my lonely room, the furnishings were exactly as I had left them when I was alive. My anti-cancer drugs still sat on the table.

The day of the reunion.

I floated to the venue.

A huge private room in a seven-star hotel.

I floated inside, looking left and right. Soon, everyone had arrived.

The last person to enter.

I held my breath. That tall, broad figure, those long legs—it was none other than Ethan Vance.

He was dressed in a niche, custom European brand. Incredibly low-key, yet exuding impeccable taste.

I stared, mesmerized.

The next second, a beautiful girl appeared in the doorway and hooked her arm through his.

"Ethan, are these all your classmates?"

My breath instantly hitched.

At the reunion, everyone talked loudly, ate, and drank, but without exception, they all tried to cozy up to Ethan.

Suddenly, someone glanced around the room.

"Is Chloe the only one who didn't show up?"

"Heh. In the five years since graduation, she's practically vanished. Who knows what she's doing?"

"A successful new-generation tech mogul like Ethan, we at least see him on TV occasionally. She's the most mysterious one. Probably married some rich guy and became a trophy wife."

Everyone chimed in, one after another.

Until the class social chair, who hadn't spoken, took a sip of red wine.

"What trophy wife? Serving rich businessmen and trophy wives is more like it. She's a flight attendant for some airline, spinning around like a top."

The girl speaking was Lily.

She was also very pretty.

She had married a moderately wealthy boss.

A year ago, I had served her and her husband on a flight.

"You've seen her?"

Everyone was instantly curious.

"Heh, a flight attendant? That's a shortcut to getting close to rich people. She's got a sharp mind."

"Which airline? How come I've never run into her?"

Lily spat out two words: "Skyward Airlines."

"That airline is famous for having beautiful stewardesses and handsome stewards."

"If I get the chance, I'll buy a ticket with them and try it out."

When the topic came up.

I silently looked at Ethan in the center. He didn't say a word, his face solemn.

The hand resting on the armrest was clenched so tight the veins popped.

The class president next to him glanced at his fist and immediately signaled everyone to stop talking.

The class president picked up his wine glass and toasted Ethan.

"Ethan, some people aren't worth it. They aren't worth thinking about."

Ethan didn't move.

He sat there, tall and imposing, as if frozen for a moment.

This was too abnormal.

Everyone didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.

Next to him, the beautiful girl looked a bit awkward and gently took his hand.

A few seconds later, he snapped back to reality.

He picked up his wine glass and lightly clinked it against the class president's.

"I forgot her a long time ago."

He took a sip of wine and, backhandedly, gripped the girl's hand tightly.

"I haven't shared the good news yet. Next month, I'm holding my wedding. You're all welcome to come for a drink."