I Pretended to Obsess Over Her Until I Didn’t

Three years after my childhood sweetheart vanished, I finally caught a scent of her.

My assistant held the photo, his voice hesitant. Mr. Kingston, should we go now?

I paused, a foot already lifted, and slowly shook my head. No need.

My thoughts drifted back to the beginning. Not long after the hero appeared, my childhood sweetheart mysteriously disappeared by the ocean.

When I saw her again, she had lost all her memories, her world revolving solely around the man who had rescued her from the waves.

Jealousy gnawed at me. I subtly engineered his downfall, forcing him away, but never expected it would lead directly to a horrific car accident.

She became volatile, raging at me for my despicable tactics and dark heart, even declaring that even if her memories returned, she would never choose me.

Her revenge was relentless, driving my family's company to the brink of ruin.

"The debt you owe will be repaid with the entirety of Kingston Enterprises," she'd sneer.

"You got what was coming to you." Her words were like venom-tipped ice picks.

Ultimately, in a car crash caused by brake failure, we both plunged into the ocean, bringing it all to an end.

I gave up searching for Rose King.

But a year into this new timeline, she still returned.

Friends in our circle threw her a lavish welcome-back party.

I had just returned from a business trip, dragged along by a buddy who mysteriously promised me a surprise.

The moment I walked in, there she was, Rose King, surrounded by a crowd.

Due to her amnesia, she exuded an aura of coldness and detachment towards everyone around her.

Our eyes met, and someone excitedly pointed at me, asking her:

"Ellie, even if you've forgotten us, you must remember Felix, right?"

"You two grew up together, even promised to be together forever."

All eyes in the private room shifted to me.

Rose looked over, neither confirming nor denying, only repeating slowly after a brief silence:

"Felix."

Seeing her reaction, everyone probably guessed the truth and laughed to lighten the mood, consoling me:

"Felix, Ellie hit her head and forgot all of us."

"But the doctor said there's still a chance her memory could return Even if it doesn't, at least she's safe and sound, that's a blessing, isn't it?"

Their words were tactful, probably to spare my feelings.

Then, as if to bridge the gap between Rose and me, everyone started chattering about our past.

"When you disappeared at sea, Felix was the most devastated."

"He was the only one who believed you were still alive, searching everywhere for you."

"Man, you never know what life throws at you. If it wasn't for that accident, you two would be married by now."

He wasn't wrong.

Rose and I had been betrothed since childhood.

Before her disappearance, we had even set a wedding date.

Instead of a wedding, I got her silent disappearance into the vast ocean.

Her last words to me had been:

"Felix, I'm so excited for our wedding."

Years later, bringing it up again only brought a sense of melancholy.

Holding my drink, I played along with the reunion atmosphere, smiling at Rose.

"Welcome home."

But she looked at me and said:

"I didn't come back to honor an engagement."

"I have someone I love."

I knew.

I knew that a year ago when I found her.

She loved Liam Thorne.

Back then, after countless disappointments, it was the only time I had seen her alive and real.

The long-held sadness and a sudden burst of joy mingled, almost bringing tears to my eyes.

I rushed over, grabbing her arm, choking out her name:

"Rose King."

All I got was her shaking off my hand and an unfamiliar question:

"Do I know you?"

I tried to suppress the bitterness rising in my heart, patiently explaining that we were childhood sweethearts, betrothed since birth, and that she had fallen from a cruise ship three years ago.

Afraid she wouldn't believe me, I pulled out a photo I always carried C a picture of her celebrating my birthday with me.

I pleaded cautiously:

"Please, come back with me first. Let a doctor examine you, and then I'll slowly tell you everything, okay?"

"Your leg is injured, it needs treatment soon."

More than her amnesia, I was concerned about her slightly limping right leg due to the injury.

But before I could hear her answer, a man suddenly appeared, his voice trembling as he asked her:

"Are you going to leave me?"

The boy's shirt fluttered in the sea breeze, his short hair casually falling across his forehead, like a sea sprite.

This wasn't my first time on this island, nor my first time seeing him.

I had come here the day after Rose disappeared, going door-to-door with that same photo.

Back then, he had blocked me at the door, glanced at the photo, and said:

"Never seen her."

Only then did I realize I'd been deceived. Anger flared, and I couldn't help but accuse him:

"You lied to me."

He shook his head timidly, his tear-filled eyes turning to Rose.

"I didn't mean to. She was already hurt, and I was afraid you were a bad guy, going to hurt her again. I'm sorry"

Rose walked over, shielding him behind her, and casually tossed the photo at my feet.

"It's just a photo. Why should I believe you?"

The wind was strong by the sea, and I couldn't grab it in time, watching helplessly as it was swept away by the waves.

Rose's soft voice, reassuring him, carried on the wind:

"I won't leave you, ever."

So, the one who would be left was only me.

To persuade her to return, I had to stay on the island.

Every day, I tried to help her recall her past.

But she remained indifferent.

Driven by Liam's anxiety, she grew even more disgusted with me, warning:

"Take your made-up stories and get lost!"

Two weeks later, I stormed onto her fishing boat, somewhat losing control as I yelled at her:

"Even if you don't care about yourself, what about your grandmother?"

"Do you know she had a heart attack from worry after you disappeared at sea?"

"She's still in the ICU, waiting for you to come home!"

Rose's hand, holding the fishing net, froze. Her tone was flat:

"What does that have to do with me?"

"All I know is, now Liam is my only family and my love."

Just then, a wave surged, and the small boat rocked violently.

Rose instinctively gripped Liam's wrist, then watched me fall from the boat, swallowed by the waves.

Seawater rushed in, and every organ ached.

Combined with days of exhaustion, I fell into a three-day coma.

When I woke, my assistant rushed to tell me:

"Mr. Kingston, Ms. King and that boy left by boat."

"The bodyguards you asked me to arrange are ready. We can still catch them if we leave now."

I stared blankly out at the clear blue sky, remembering the nightmare of being engulfed by the waves.

Influenced by my parents, I had learned the art of persuasion and coercion from a young age.

Since reasoning with Rose was futile, I had already planned to have bodyguards forcibly bring her back.

In the previous life, I had indeed done so.

Even amidst Rose's fierce resistance, I had agreed to bring Liam back with her.

Unfortunately, she still didn't get to see her grandmother one last time.

Doctors said her amnesia was due to a head injury and they couldn't determine when her memory would return.

But her right leg received treatment and slowly recovered.

During Rose's three-year disappearance, the position of King Group heir had fallen to her half-sister.

The ability to reclaim it was likely due to my steadfast commitment to the engagement, holding her place for her.

Weighing the pros and cons, they naturally didn't want to give up the opportunity for a strong alliance with the Kingston family.

After that, I accompanied her, helping her refamiliarize herself with company affairs, naively believing we could return to how things were.

Until I saw her and Liam kissing.

I had to face the facts I had deliberately ignored.

The photos my assistant sent were all of them in intimate moments.

Watching fireworks together, shopping, holding hands on walks

I tortured myself by looking through every single one, then, like any villainous male lead in a romance story, I secretly found Liam, without Rose knowing, and threatened him:

"I hear your father's surgery was a great success. You wouldn't want her to know her son is playing the role of a homewrecker, would you?"

"Of course, you saved Rose's life, and we're all very grateful."

I pushed a check across the table to him, smiling.

"Savior or homewrecker, the choice of identity is up to you."

Liam looked at me, pale, then suddenly laughed:

"Felix, you're just clinging to that engagement, aren't you?"

Yes, I was clinging to that engagement.

Rose and I were childhood sweethearts, well-matched, and had promised to be together forever since we were kids.

Why should he be able to come in later and take my place?

I was convinced Rose would love me once her memories returned.

But I never expected Liam to get into a car accident with that check.

He was severely injured and lost the baby.

When I rushed to the hospital, I happened to overhear him, his eyes swimming with tears, apologizing to Rose:

"Ellie, I'm so sorry I know you've remembered that I was the one who caused your head injury and amnesia"

"It's okay if you don't forgive me. It was all my fault, consider it my karma."

I stood outside the door, unsure at that moment which revelation hit me harder.

That Rose had regained her memory long ago.

Or that her amnesia was actually caused by Liam.

The check smacked against my face, pulling me back to reality.

All my emotions eventually coalesced into a single, bewildered sound:

"Rose?"

Her eyes, full of malice, stared at me, her voice mocking as she accused:

"Happy now? Because of your disgusting 'love,' you almost cost someone their life!"

"Do you think I'll like you now that I've regained my memory? I'm telling you, Felix, I won't."

"I'll only be more aware than anyone of your dirty tricks and malicious heart."

A life lost. It erased the rift between her and Liam; the cause of her amnesia was forgiven.

And our childhood friendship completely shattered; I became the killer.

She said Liam had grown up on the island, pure and kind.

Unlike me, who grew up in the cutthroat world of business, full of schemes.

Rose scoffed:

"What makes you think I'd ever like someone like you?"

So, she conspired with rivals to set up Kingston Enterprises, using every dirty trick to bankrupt my family and plunge us into massive debt.

It was to break off the engagement, clearing the path for Liam.

And also to get her revenge on me.

Rose, arm around Liam, condemned me with the tone of a judge:

"Felix, you deserve this."

It was probably like all happy endings in love storiesthe hero and heroine living blissfully, while the villainous male lead loses everything.

Until, finally, he loses his life too.

Due to brake failure, Rose and I both perished in the sea.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day she and Liam were escaping by boat to get away from me.

My assistant tapped on the tablet, looking at the location, and seeing me suddenly freeze, cautiously asked:

"What's wrong, Mr. Kingston? Are we still going after them?"

I shook my head.

"No, we're not."

After Rose fell into the sea, the search and rescue team looked for her for seven days and seven nights.

Everyone believed she was dead.

Only I refused to give up, searching for three more years.

Then I discarded the files and left the island.

To this day, I hadn't told anyone I found her.

Meeting her again now wasn't entirely unexpected.

After all, according to the timeline, Liam's father should be gravely ill around now.

Whether it was medical resources or surgical expenses, she would have to recall the identity I had once told her.

So Rose's return truly wasn't about honoring an engagement.

A few seconds of silence filled the private room. Everyone exchanged glances, then slowly realized.

The person she loved was Liam Thorne, her savior.

After a brief lull, the room buzzed with chatter again. Someone joked:

"Makes sense, a life debt should be repaid in marriage, right?"

"Speaking of which, that kid's got guts, just hauling some strange grown woman home."

I listened calmly to their teasing, suddenly remembering that in the previous life, after my family went bankrupt, Liam had actually sought me out.

He was still dressed in white, his short hair neat and clean, smiling cheerfully at me.

"When Rose was washed ashore, she wasn't suffering from amnesia at all. She even asked me to borrow my phone to call her fianc."

"Unfortunately, some cargo happened to fall from a nearby freighter. She pulled me out of the way, but got hit herself. When she woke up, she had amnesia. I told her I saved her."

"Oh, and when you came looking for me with that photo, she was lying right there in my house."

He laughed, his expression innocent.

"Felix, you and her were childhood sweethearts, and you had a well-matched engagement. This was a chance given to you by fate."

"Then her injury and amnesia, that was a chance given to me by fate."

And Rose, whether before or after regaining her memory, chose Liam.

Just like now, she frowned slightly in dissatisfaction:

"I chose to stay myself."

My friend paused, then explained with a smile:

"We all understand what you mean, you don't need to worry about the engagement."

"Everyone thought you were gone back then, and it's been four years now."

"Your engagement with Felix was canceled long ago."

It was canceled the moment she was presumed dead.

I had just stubbornly dragged it on for three years.

But unlike the previous life, this time I hadn't forcibly brought her back from the island.

The private room was still lively.

Holding my drink, I met Rose's inexplicably probing gaze, curving my lips slightly, and calmly told her:

"Yes, the engagement is off."

"Rose King, you're free."

A few days after the welcome-back party, I went to King Group for a collaboration meeting.

As I stepped out of the elevator, I saw her half-sister snatch a document from Rose's hand, saying casually:

"Sis, your leg isn't healed yet. You should go to the hospital and rest. I've got things covered at the company."

"If Grandma saw you like this, she'd be heartbroken. She was waiting for you until her last breath."

Her tone held a hint of regret, yet also a subtle smile, as she said each word:

"Sis, you came back too late."

Rose's gaze was cold, and she scoffed:

"What? Afraid I'll come back and snatch your position?"

Her sister shrugged indifferently, spreading her hands:

"The position is right here. Whoever can grab it, gets it."

In truth, both women were equally capable.

But since childhood, Grandmother King had doted on Rose the most; while she was alive, Rose was the undisputed heir.

Now, however, she was gone, and Rose had been missing for four years.

Times had changed, and anything was possible.

I passed by them, remaining uninvolved, my gaze casually sweeping over Rose's slightly limping right leg.

In the previous life, after I forcibly brought her back, I spared no expense, consulting experts domestically and abroad, to cure her leg.

The doctor had said then:

"Any later, and bone necrosis would have been difficult to treat."

Now, she was standing here a year later. I wondered if it was too late.

After finishing the meeting, as I left, I saw Rose downstairs.

Her gaze fell directly on me; she was clearly waiting.

"You knew all along?"

I stopped, turned my head to look at her, and smiled frankly. "Yes, I knew all along."

"But I told you, Rose."

A year ago, when I found her on the island, I had repeated it many times.

Her grandmother was critically ill, her sister would steal her rightful place, everyone was waiting for her to come home.

But at the time, she had said to me, uncaring:

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Liam is the only one I care about."

Back then, she wouldn't come back because she wanted to be with Liam.

Now, she had returned, but it was to save Liam's mother.

I felt a little perplexed, wondering why she was now asking me with an accusing tone, so I gently reminded her:

"Rose, you said it yourself, you didn't care."

In the silent confrontation, she suddenly scoffed mockingly:

"When you found me back then, you spoke of our feelings as if they were so profound, and now, barely a year later"

"Ha, Felix, your 'love' isn't all that much either."

No sooner had she spoken than someone nearby suddenly called out:

"Rose!"

It was Liam.

He jogged over to Rose's side, looking at me somewhat nervously, then happily wrapped his arm around her, smiling:

"My dad's woken up! He said he's really grateful to you."

Rose's expression softened. Her gaze flickered over me, then she looked down at Liam, saying:

"It was the least I could do, and besides, you saved me once too."

"I'll go with you to the hospital to check on him again."

Liam's smile abruptly stiffened.

The evening sun was fading, and I had no interest in watching their display of profound affection.

Before leaving, I simply threw out one last sentence, a reply to her:

"Times change, and so do hearts."

My love wasn't all that much.

Then I wished them well.

Liam's father has already had his surgery and woken up.

So, it won't be long until her memories return