Chapter 1

On the night my boyfriend confessed his love to me, he gave me a jar containing ninety-nine origami wishing stars.

He told me he had seen our future and wanted to make a promise.

"Look, El. I’ll trade these ninety-nine wishing stars for ninety-nine free passes. If I ever mess up, you have to forgive me. Deal?"

At that time, head over heels in love, I agreed without hesitation.

But later, he seemed to have forgotten all about it, too busy sleeping with his assistant.

Until there was only one wishing star left in the jar.

As my pen hovered over the divorce papers, a familiar voice echoed in my ears.

It was nineteen-year-old Ethan.

With a choked voice, he whispered, "El, you promised me, didn’t you? In the jar... there’s still one last star left, right?"

My phone buzzed with a Snapchat notification from Ethan’s assistant, Chloe.

*“Mrs. Vance, Ethan said he’d rather I accompany him to the charity gala tonight. You don’t mind, do you?”*

Attached below was a photo. Around Chloe’s neck was a brand-new version of the custom necklace Ethan had given me years ago—now encrusted with diamonds, sparkling brilliantly under the lights.

It was at this exact moment that I finally realized: the Ethan of today was no longer the Ethan I once loved.

We started with nothing. To fuel his startup dreams, I worked day and night, pouring every single penny I earned into his first project.

For seven years, I worked myself to exhaustion, falling asleep on the subway, surviving on cold coffee and energy drinks, and landing in the ER with stress-induced stomach ulcers.

That was how we finally built our company from scratch.

And Ethan finally succeeded in the business world, becoming the powerful Mr. Vance whom everyone feared and respected.

But the things we once dreamed of accomplishing together, he ultimately chose to do with his assistant.

I didn’t hesitate any longer. I drafted the divorce papers.

Just as the tip of my pen was about to touch the paper, a sudden, ghostly voice rang out next to me.

"El, please don’t... there’s still one star left in the jar. You promised to give me one last chance."

Hearing that familiar voice, my entire body trembled.

I turned my head. Nineteen-year-old Ethan was standing right beside me. His figure was faint, translucent, and he was wearing the simple white shirt I had bought him with my part-time tutoring money.

He looked exactly like he did in my most cherished memories.

I looked at him, and a bittersweet smile tugged at my lips.

"Okay. Just one last chance."

Suddenly, my phone rang.

"Eleanor! Chloe said the diamond necklace she was supposed to wear tonight suddenly went missing. You must have stolen it after the charity auction last time!"

"Bring your old one to the gala right now. I don't care how you do it, but I want to see that necklace around Chloe's neck in thirty minutes!"

I pressed the speakerphone, and Ethan’s cold, demanding voice echoed through the quiet room.

I looked at the nineteen-year-old Ethan beside me. His fists were clenched tight, his young body rigid with anger.

"How could he accuse you like that..."

But on the other end of the line, twenty-seven-year-old Ethan’s voice grew even colder.

"The gala starts at eight. Get moving now."

The nineteen-year-old Ethan reached out and swiped the screen, hanging up the phone.

I said softly, "That’s the ninety-ninth time, Ethan. The very last wishing star."

I drove to the luxury hotel where the gala was being held.

The grand ballroom was dazzling, filled with wealthy guests chatting and laughing. I spotted Ethan immediately—he was holding Chloe's waist, talking smoothly with several business tycoons.

Chloe was wearing a stunning burgundy gown, but her neck was bare.

I walked up to them. Ethan turned around, his brows instantly knitting together.

"Why are you dressed like that?" he whispered sharply, looking at my simple casual clothes with clear irritation.

Chloe said softly, "Ethan, don't blame Eleanor. She probably didn't have time to change into a gown..."

Ethan cut her off, looking directly at me. "Where is the necklace?"

I pulled the small velvet box from my bag.

A flash of smugness crossed Chloe’s eyes. She reached out to take it. "Thank you so much, Eleanor. I'm just borrowing it for tonight..."

Just as her fingers were about to touch the box, I let go.

The velvet box hit the ground. The necklace slid out, making a sharp clinking sound against the polished marble floor.

"Eleanor!" Ethan growled.

Several nearby guests turned to look at us.

Nineteen-year-old Ethan stood by my side, his eyes instantly turning red. "El, don’t... that’s the necklace I gave you..."

But twenty-seven-year-old Ethan barked, "Pick it up!"

I looked down at the necklace on the floor. It had rested against my heart for seven years, keeping me company through every dark, difficult night.

When Ethan made his first major profit, he had held this very necklace and told me: *“El, when I make it big, I’m going to buy you a diamond one.”*

He did buy one. But the diamond one was meant for Chloe’s neck—though it had "disappeared" tonight. What a coincidence.

"No need," I said, turning on my heel. "I don't want the one on the floor anymore."

"Eleanor!" Chloe whimpered behind me, her voice cracking. "Please don't be mad. It's all my fault..."

***