Part 1The Price of Happily Ever After

I am the female lead's best friend.

In the original ending, the female lead paired me off with the wealthy second male lead, Ethan Cole.

Ethan said, "If Chloe wants me to marry you, then I will grant her wish."

"But when Chloe changes her mind, we will divorce."

I swallowed the words on the tip of my tongue.

I didn't tell him that I had actually been secretly in love with him for many years.

Nor did I tell him that the second male lead can ascend to the main role.

We lived a lifetime of respectful distance.

But unexpectedly.

Long after the original ending, the female lead truly regretted her choice.

She came back to Ethan: "I got divorced. Will you marry me?"

* * *

When I awakened, the story was nearing its end.

Chloe Vance, the adopted daughter of the wealthy Vance family, overcame all odds to marry the auto mechanic, Liam Ryder.

At the same time, the Vance family discovered Ethan Cole's feelings for Chloe and urged him to find someone to marry immediately.

So, Chloe introduced Ethan to me.

She told me, "Don't look at how fierce my brother seems; he's actually very kind."

Chloe arranged for us to go to an amusement park, then found an excuse to run off.

Before leaving, she mischievously pushed me forward.

The moment I almost bumped into Ethan, he took a step back.

I nearly fell.

The moment Chloe disappeared.

Ethan's gentle smile vanished instantly.

His rimless glasses reflected his cold expression.

To be fair, he was the most handsome man I had ever seen.

Refined, stoic, very "Daddy."

Unfortunately, Ethan and I were not a match.

I was the plain female supporting character meant to highlight the female lead, while he was the wealthy, handsome second male lead with perfect specs.

Everything about him was top-tier.

Facing him, I didn't even have the courage to confess.

But I didn't expect Ethan to nod.

Without even looking at me, he said calmly, "Miss Summers, I can marry you."

I froze in place, my heart racing.

I knew it was impossible.

But people are always dazzled by meager hope.

Fortunately, he quickly cleared up my confusion—

"To me, if it's not Chloe, it doesn't matter who I marry."

"Since she wants me to marry you, then I will grant her wish."

Wow.

So deeply affectionate.