It's Time to Let Go

Charles froze. He asked, "How did you know that?"

I waved my phone at him. The screen showed the "Charles' Proposal Planning Committee" group chat. Clearly, I was in it.

"When… When did you join this chat?" Charles asked tremblingly.

"From the start," I answered, as calm as ever.

Charles paled. He seemed to remember what he had said in the group chat. When he spoke again, it was with a hint of panic. "Cindy, those people in the group chat were just spouting nonsense. I was joking with them. Don't worry. You've been with me for many years. I won't actually leave you.

"Since you're already in the group, there's no point in hiding this from you. Let's go together. I'll explain everything to you when we return."

Then, without giving me a chance to refuse, he grabbed my hand and brought me to the proposal venue.

The venue was beautiful. Flowers were strewn everywhere, making it look like heaven on earth. There were many people present to witness the event.

I spotted several familiar figures in the crowd. I stared in shock.

Weren't these the thugs who had harassed me all those years ago? What were they doing here?

I watched as Charles picked up a glass of wine and greeted them with a smile.

"Charles, that woman beside you. Isn't she that clingy little pest who kept following you around seven years ago? Is she still clinging to you now?"

"Yeah. She's so annoying. I can't get rid of her," Charles said smilingly.

The men exchanged glances. "Need us to teach her a lesson? If you hadn't suddenly told us to stop back then, we would've helped Yvonne get her revenge…"

I stood frozen on the spot, thunderstruck.

They were friends with Charles. It was Charles who had encouraged them to harass me all those years ago.

And all my love and devotion over the past seven years was nothing but a joke to them.

Charles thought that I was staring at the decor in the venue. He chuckled and came over.

"You like it, then?" he asked, wrapping his arms around me from behind and resting his chin on my shoulder. "If you like this, I'll throw one for you too. I won't be able to marry you, but there will always be a place for you by my side."

"There's no need for that," I coldly rejected him and pushed his hands away. His expression darkened slightly. He opened his mouth to say something, but a gentle voice cut him off.

"Charles, do I look beautiful today?"

Yvonne walked toward us, dressed in a white wedding dress, her face glowing with happiness.

When Charles saw her, he immediately let go of me and stepped forward. He took out a diamond ring from his pocket and got down on one knee. "Yvonne, will you marry me?"

As the crowd erupted into cheers, I suddenly grabbed the microphone from the emcee. "Congratulations, Charles Jansen. You and your beloved first love have finally gotten your happy ending. And now, it's time for me to leave.

"Charles, I don't love you anymore."