By the Time My Boyfriend Said He Loved Me novel
The System stipulates that as long as he agrees to marry me before my 25th birthday, my mission is considered successful.
But he doesn't love me.
Caleb only sees me as a substitute for the woman he loves, Phoebe Hunter.
The position of wife in his heart is forever reserved for Phoebe.
I know the whole truth, so Im afraid of making him angry. I just casually mention marriage and dont dare say more.
Until my 25th birthday, this is my last chance.
I knelt on the ground covered with roses, trembling as I handed the ring to Caleb.
I begged him, "Caleb, will you marry me? Even if its fake, even if youre lying to me, please marry me."
"Im begging you. Otherwise, Ill die."
But Caleb just sneered, then picked up a bouquet nearby and slammed it to the ground.
He said, "Know your place! You're just a stand-in, how dare you have such thoughts?"
"Listen up. Phoebe is coming back today. Pack your things and get out of here."
"Even if you want to die, do it far away. Don't let me see it."
Watching Caleb's resolute departing figure, I slowly revealed a smile.
I thought, "Alright. Then I'll do as you wish."
The System anxiously said in my mind, "Host, hurry and chase after him. This is your last chance."
"If Caleb doesn't accept your proposal, you really will be erased."
But I just stood there numbly, staring at the door Caleb had slammed shut.
I smiled faintly and said in a hoarse voice, "Chase? What's the point of catching up?"
The System said, "But..."
I interrupted it, "No buts. He won't agree. From start to finish, his heart has only ever had Phoebe."
I know this all too well.
Caleb's phone wallpaper is a photo of Phoebe, and his lock screen is a picture of him with Phoebe.
All his passwords contain Phoebe's initials and birthday.
Sometimes, even in intimate moments, Caleb holds me and murmurs the name "Phoebe."
I, the official girlfriend, live completely like a shadow.
I bent down and picked up the ring buried under the rose petals.
The cold touch of the ring feels just like my heart right now.
Caleb must be on his way to pick up Phoebe right now.
Sure enough, not long after, my phone screen lit up with a breaking news alert: [Billionaire CEO Caleb spotted at the airport, intimately picking up his first love!]
Another headline read: [Caleb's romance revealed, the two share a kiss at the airport. Caleb openly admits, "She is the love of my life!"]
The news included a high-definition photo and a short video.
Caleb, dressed in a sharp suit, wore a gentle smile I had never seen before, tightly holding a woman with a great figure.
That woman was Phoebe.
Caleb openly admitted it in front of the reporters' cameras without any hesitation.
He said, "That's right, she is the woman I've loved for ten years."
"Years ago, we had to part ways due to reality. Now, I will never let go of her hand again."
Looking at their tightly held hands in the photo, the comment section completely exploded.
[They are such a perfect match! Only such an outstanding woman deserves Mr. Hamilton.]
[I heard Ms. Hunter is Mr. Hamilton's true love. He stayed unmarried for so many years because of her. After waiting so long, he's finally with her.]
Some questioned: [But, how do I remember there was a woman by Mr. Hamilton's side before, seemed like his girlfriend?]
Someone immediately refuted his statement: [What nonsense are you talking about? Everyone knows Mr. Hamilton is devoted and loyal. Even if there were women, they must have been the ones pestering him. They're disgusting.]
This skeptical comment was quickly deleted amid numerous rebuttals.
Looking at those harsh words and images, my heart ached deeply.
I remembered before, I had cautiously asked him, "Caleb, can we post something on Instagram to let others know we're together?"
Caleb immediately frowned, his tone full of irritation.
Caleb said, "Isabella, are you being childish? What's the point of posting this? My social circle doesn't need to know about these private matters." Isabella Ferguson is my name.
I tried to explain, "But..."
Caleb interrupted me, "Alright, stop. I don't like this. Don't bring it up again."
Turns out, it wasn't that he disliked making the relationship public; he just disliked the fact that the person was me.
Turns out, the difference between loving someone and not loving them can be so cruel, so obvious.
Caleb could stand in front of the camera without hesitation for Phoebe, declaring his love to the whole world.
But he wouldn't even spare me a tiny, insignificant corner.
The System is still trying to make a final effort.
It said, "Host, maybe there's still a chance."
I closed my eyes wearily.
Then I said, "Forget it. Let it be."
I thought, "I'm tired.
I'm really tired."
Caleb hosted a grand welcome dinner for Phoebe.
At night, fireworks lit up the entire city, almost painting half the sky red.
Next, a swarm of drones rose, forming a giant heart and the words "Phoebe, welcome back" in the sky.
I thought, "What a grand scene."
"For Phoebe, Caleb really spared no expense or effort."
I quietly looked away, then turned to the small, lonely birthday cake on the table.
I bought it, with a single "25" numeral candle on top.
I picked up a spoon, scooped a small piece, and put it in my mouth.
It tasted so sweet, overly sweet, so much that it left a bitter feeling in my heart.
The System said, "Host."
Its voice sounded somewhat weak.
I swallowed the bite of cake and stood up.
I said, "It's fine. I'm used to it."
I didn't want Caleb to feel I was in the way, so I quickly started packing.
Luckily, I don't have much stuff.
In this house, I've always felt like a temporary guest, afraid to leave too many traces of myself.
I didn't take anything Caleb bought for me, only packed a few old clothes I brought and some small items.
By the time I was almost done packing, the clock on the wall had passed midnight.
My twenty-fifth birthday had passed.
Almost at the same moment, an indescribable weakness suddenly overwhelmed me.
My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the cold floor.
Immediately after, a crushing pain erupted throughout my bones, as if they were being shattered.
The System's purge mechanism began.
It's a rare genetic collapse syndrome, lasting three days, with the pain intensifying each day until I finally succumb in utter agony.
I clenched my teeth, trying to prop myself up, but it was useless.
The pain engulfed me like a tide, and my vision began to blur.
At that moment, the sound of a key turning came from the door.
The next second, the door opened.
Phoebe walked in, arm in arm with Caleb, smiling.
Seeing me slumped on the ground, they both froze for a moment.
Phoebe slightly raised her eyebrows, her tone tinged with curiosity.
She asked, "Caleb, who is this?"
Caleb's smile instantly vanished, replaced by undisguised disgust and irritation.
He frowned deeply, his voice as cold as ice.
Caleb asked, "Isabella, why are you still here? Didn't I tell you to pack up and leave immediately?"
Before I could say anything, he immediately turned to Phoebe.
The coldness on his face melted instantly, and his tone became very gentle.
Caleb said, "It's nothing. She's just an ignorant servant. I'll have her leave right now."
Servant?
My heart felt like it was pierced by a knife, numbing even the pain in my body for a moment.
I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that I didn't stay on purpose. But the intense pain only let me make broken sounds.
Seeing me like this, Caleb seemed a bit puzzled. He asked, "What's wrong with you? Are you sick?"
Maybe because I had never been this miserable, Caleb looked at me with a hint of pity in his eyes.
He instinctively took half a step toward me. But the next second, Phoebe's sudden words interrupted his movement.
She said, "Are you feeling unwell and want to stay here to rest?"
"Caleb, she's feeling so awful, how can you kick her out?"
Just two sentences made Caleb change his mind, thinking all this was just an act for me to stay here.
He stepped back to his original spot, slowly revealing a mocking cold smile.
Caleb said, "I really underestimated you. Are you acting in front of me? Who are you pretending to be pitiful for?"
"You think this will make me soften and let you stay? Isabella, don't overestimate yourself."
"I'll count to three, and you leave willingly. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."
The intense pain left me unable to argue, not even having the strength to shake my head, only gasping in agony.
My silence and misery seemed to anger Caleb even more.
He completely lost his patience and directly took out his phone to call his driver.
Caleb said, "Come up here and clear out the trash in the guest room along with the person refusing to leave."
Soon, his driver came up.
He glanced at me and said, "Sorry, Ms. Ferguson."
Then, he propped up my nearly immobile body with one hand, grabbed my shabby-looking suitcase with the other, and almost dragged me out the door.
The suitcase landed by my feet. The door behind me slammed shut, cutting off the bright lights inside and the faint laughter of Caleb and Phoebe.
I took one last look at the place I once called "home."
Then, I humbly dragged my suitcase, limping into the dark night.
That night, I tossed and turned in pain on the bed of a cheap motel, unable to sleep.
Finally, I made it to dawn and practically crawled out to hail a taxi, heading straight to the hospital.
However, the medical level of this world couldn't identify the cause of genetic collapse syndrome, let alone treat it.
The doctor could only prescribe me some painkillers to ease the symptoms.
I carried the medicine bag to complete the hospitalization procedures. Every step felt like walking on a knife's edge, and I looked utterly miserable.
Suddenly, a mocking voice came through. "Isn't this Ms. Ferguson?"
I turned around and saw two former colleagues exchange a glance before walking toward me.
I remembered them. They were two employees from the neighboring department, always holding a grudge against me.
One of them asked hypocritically, "Why are you at the hospital alone? Where's Mr. Hamilton? Didn't he come with you?"
The other sneered and said, "With her? What are you thinking? Haven't you seen the news? Mr. Hamilton's lover is back. Who would care about this impostor?"
The first person added, "Exactly. She used connections to get into the company before. Now that her support is gone, shouldn't she get lost?"
I clenched the medicine bag in my hand, my nails almost digging into my palm.
When I joined the company, I worked tirelessly to prove my abilities, and everyone could see the results I achieved.
But in their eyes, I will always just be someone who "relied on a man to climb up."
On top of that, Caleb never publicly acknowledged me, which only reinforced my "unrecognized" status in their eyes.
Before, out of respect for Caleb, these people only dared to talk about me behind my back.
Now, they openly insult me to my face without hesitation.
But the intense pain made it hard for me to even stand straight, let alone argue back.
I could only lower my head and try to walk around them.
One of them said, "Why aren't you talking? Did we hit the mark?"
The two of them deliberately blocked my way, speaking in an even harsher tone.
The other said, "Without Mr. Hamilton, what are you? Did you really think you were somebody?"
"Does she need to report to you?" Suddenly, a cold male voice interrupted.
The three of us were stunned at the same time.
Turning my head, I saw Caleb standing not far away, frowning tightly with a very unpleasant expression.
The two colleagues instantly changed their expressions and didnt dare to speak anymore.
Caleb walked over, his gaze coldly sweeping over the two of them.
He said, "Is the company's project finished? Youre so free to come to the hospital and gossip about others? Do you need me to call your supervisor for a chat?"
The two turned pale with fright, and one of them quickly said, "No need, Mr. Hamilton, well leave right away."
Immediately, they almost fled.
Caleb's gaze returned to me.
However, his gaze showed no hint of softness, instead filled with even more impatience.
Caleb asked me, "Isabella, was I not clear enough yesterday? I told you to get lost and not appear in front of me again. What do you mean by this now?"
I wanted to explain that this was just a coincidence, but my throat was so dry I couldn't make a clear sound.
His gaze shifted downward. When he caught sight of the medicine bag in my hand, he frowned deeply.
Caleb asked, "What medicine are you holding? Are you really sick?"
In that moment, I almost had an absurd illusion.
Maybe he still cared about me a little.
I struggled to lift my hand, wanting to pass him some of the painkillers I was holding.
But my movement was interrupted by an urgent voice. "Caleb."
Phoebe walked out of the nearby consultation room, her face slightly pale.
She was holding her chest with one hand, coughing softly twice.
Seeing this, Caleb's attention was instantly drawn completely to her.
He immediately turned to her and asked with concern, "Phoebe, how are you? What did the doctor say? Are you still feeling unwell?"
Phoebe said weakly, "It's nothing. I just caught a bit of a cold."
As she spoke, she coughed weakly a few more times.
However, her gaze passed over Caleb's shoulder and landed precisely on me.
Phoebe smiled ever so faintly.
It was a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile, filled with extreme mockery and smugness.
She seemed to be saying, "See? The one he cares about will always be me."
Caleb said with concern, "You're coughing and still saying you're fine? Come on. I'll take you to the ward to rest first."
After saying that, he hurriedly left with Phoebe, without looking back at me or asking me anything.
Once again, I was completely left behind, like a ridiculous backdrop.
Even though I already knew what choice Caleb would make, I couldn't help but hold onto hope every time.
In the end, I deserve it.
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