He Wanted My Bestie Reborn Me Said YES—So Why Regret Chapter 02
It was a couple’s challenge hosted by the local tourism board.
They cleared every obstacle with seamless coordination.
At the final round, the host announced, “Just kiss for three minutes, and the grand prize is yours.”
My fingers curled into my palm.
On the screen, Ethan and Jessica exchanged a laughing glance.
In the blink of an eye, they were kissing.
Tangled, close, lost in each other.
The crowd erupted in cheers. The host gushed, “This couple is just too perfect—they seem to be enjoying the moment even more than the prize!”
I slammed the TV off. The black screen reflected my ashen face.
When they got back and saw the TV had been turned on, Jessica stammered, “Meredith, that show was really physically demanding—we didn’t think you’d be up for it, so we didn’t call you.”
Ethan nodded like it was nothing. “You wouldn’t have gotten it anyway.”
He’d used that line on me a thousand times.
When I was left out of their three‑way conversations.
When they went off to do extreme sports together.
When they toasted each other after every work victory—just the two of them.
I’d never thought twice about it.
“Fine. Do whatever you want.” My voice was flat.
Ethan let out a resigned chuckle and pulled out a shell pendant.
“Don’t be mad. We entered the contest to win this for you.”
Jessica beamed at me. “Ethan and I both thought you’d love it!”
The polished shell was beautiful.
But it was just a tourist giveaway—the real prizes were a candlelit dinner and a couples’ resort getaway.
They mentioned neither.
Ethan’s fingers brushed through my hair as he fastened the pendant, then ruffled my head.
“I hope Meredith finds happiness and gets everything she deserves.”
His voice was as sincere as when we’d first gotten together.
Back then, he never thought I was clumsy. In his eyes, I was perfect.
He’d make silly crafts with me and seriously plan our future.
On his first birthday we celebrated, he’d polished a pearl necklace with his own hands and given it to me.
He even made a wish. “I’ll give Meredith a hundred gifts.”
Then he started asking Jessica what I’d like.
And slowly, every gift for me came with a matching one for her.
He said it was thanks. I didn’t see anything wrong with it.
Until our wedding day.
Jessica said she had a wedding gift for me too.
I waited eagerly and then came word that she’d gone scuba diving, unable to accept our marriage, and vanished.
From that day on, Ethan resented me.
I never received another gift.
But every year on Jessica’s birthday, he’d visit her grave with flowers.
Now, hearing him ask what else I wanted, I tore off the pendant.
“We’re done.”
Silence.
Jessica recovered first, her voice trembling. “Are you blaming me, Meredith? We really entered that contest by accident.”
I didn’t answer.
Ethan started to ask why, but Jessica burst into tears and ran out.
He hesitated, then chased after her.
I followed quietly.
Outside the door, he pulled her into an embrace, not caring that I might see.
She sobbed, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have dragged you into that contest. Meredith can’t handle it.”
He soothed her in a low voice. “It’s okay. I’ll smooth things over in a few days.”
“But what about later? When you get married?”
He paused, then said, “I’ll go through with the wedding. But I’ll only sign papers with you.”
“She’s low‑maintenance. She won’t take it to heart, and she won’t leave us.”
My breath stopped.
Suddenly, I understood why his friends had treated me that way.
