"This is all so sudden; I'm not ready yet."

"This moment in my life is crucial, and I honestly can't afford to worry about matters of your feelings!"

"I'm aware of how kind you've been to me, even kinder than my own family, and I hold all of that close to my heart."

"But..."

"Seb, can you give me just a bit more time, please..."

Inside the cozy booth of The Daily Grind Coffee Shop.

Sebastian looked across at the breathtakingly beautiful woman in front of him and suddenly felt as if her face was one he couldn't quite recognize.

The pair had been inseparable since childhood.

Ever since they first met in grade school and through over a decade of being together, they were more than friends but never officially crossed into lovers' territory.

Of course, Sebastian's feelings had long since deepened beyond mere friendship; he had quietly regarded her as his life partner.

Yet, year after year, his heartfelt declarations were met with the same plea for patience.

Just a little longer. Always just a little longer...

That had stretched into seventeen years. As this reality sank in, Sebastian's expression grew distant. How many seventeen-year blocks does one get to squander?

"There's something that I really need to say." Sebastian gazed at the woman whose beauty seemed to make the world around her pale in comparison.

With determination in his eyes, he said earnestly, "Charlotte, thank you for tolerating me all these years."

Yes. Tolerance. A global icon like her, dealing with my relentless pursuit, must be so exasperating, right? Should I feel grateful? In that moment, Sebastian's thoughts swirled with sarcasm and bitterness, as if something within him was about to erupt.

Yet, seeing that familiar face—the face he had adored and longed for every day for seventeen years—he felt a sudden release.

Had he not been genuinely caring and attentive, and instead harbored selfish intentions from the start, would things have turned out differently? Or what if it had been someone else?

In that moment of clarity, Sebastian realized that in all the years of only having eyes for her, he may have missed out on countless other beautiful opportunities.

That's right. Sebastian came from a good family, and he wasn't lacking in personal qualities.

Standing at six feet, with a lean physique, and a handsome face—not the delicate kind seen in showbiz, but with a scholarly air and a genteel demeanor from years of hitting the books.

In college, countless girls had swooned over him. But he had chosen to be her dependable guy. Is it true that sincerity can move hearts? No, Sebastian had a change of heart. This dependable guy... can take no more of denial!

"Seb, please don't talk like that." Charlotte's eyes were filled with complex emotions as she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

"You've been really good to me."

"I recognize all the kindness you've shown me."

"Please trust me."

"Seriously, this is the last time. Once this period is over, I will..."

"..."

"..."

"It's too late!"

"I don't love you anymore!" Sebastian stood up and spoke these heartfelt words with conviction. "From now on, let's stop meeting each other anymore."

With those words, Sebastian walked out of the coffee shop, ignoring the pleas that followed him. He was afraid that if he lingered any longer, he might waver.

Outside The Daily Grind. The sky was an expansive blue, dotted with pristine white clouds. As Sebastian stepped outside, he squinted against the warm sunlight that bathed him, feeling an unprecedented sense of lightness envelop his entire being.

"Sure enough, who needs love anyway?" Sebastian murmured to himself, a wry smile tracing his lips. Perhaps this was the so-called silver lining? After nearly a decade of fighting for his family's legacy, he had come to make a final stand with a confession.

But the outcome... The outcome no longer mattered. Years of hesitation had already spoken the truth. Is love, a concept that makes people lose their senses, worth such calculation? Though it seemed a bit immature, it was his most honest thought.

Of course, a man's maturity can change in an instant. Sebastian could hold on to this love for seventeen years, and just as easily, he could let it go. With his mind now clear of emotional entanglements, he thought only of the family business matters.

Among the five grandsons in the Vanderbilt family, the one who managed their business best would become the heir. Similarly, due to the old man's endorsement of a cutthroat culture, what had been close relationships between the cousins had turned into enmity over the years.

"Ha, grandpa's twisted sense of humor," Sebastian would muse with a trace of scorn whenever he thought about it.

And just yesterday, the decade-long competition had reached a fever pitch. Sebastian's media company was about to claim the ultimate victory, only to be shut down by a surprise raid from prosecutors right at the climax. And at such a pivotal moment...

Sebastian's thoughts raced as he strode across the street. Behind him, from the entrance of the coffee shop, a voice called out.

"Seb!" Sebastian didn't turn back but gave a slight sidestep and a casual wave, indicating she should leave. He walked with one hand in his pocket, a light smile on his face, the epitome of casual grace.

At the very least... The breakup should be graceful. His confident stride caught the attention of passersby, including a construction crew.

Then...

A construction worker shouted out a loud warning. "Move out of the way!"

"Dude, move!"

But... By the time Sebastian looked up, it was already too late. A large truck loaded with steel coils was barreling down the road towards him. Sebastian hadn't even processed what was happening before he was engulfed by the massive shadow. Simultaneously, the most critical warning reached his ears.

"The truck's brakes are out!"

"Crash!"

"..."

"Why was that important detail saved for last?"

"Damn!"

"..."

Some say that in the final moments before death, time slows down to a crawl, and life flashes before your eyes in vivid detail. It's the last clinging to life that humans have. Sebastian had always mocked such notions.

Now... He believed it. The world around him seemed to slow to a crawl, allowing him to see everything in sharp relief.

Like... The driver with a scar across his face wearing a cap.

Like... The logo of Oceanic Construction emblazoned on the truck's side!

And also... Charlotte running towards him.

"Crash!" Sebastian's body finally hit the ground. In the last second before his vision was consumed by blood, a bitter irony surged through Sebastian's mind.

Perhaps even the fates couldn't bear to watch his loyal devotion any longer.

Yes. In the final moment before his demise, Sebastian finally faced the truth he'd long avoided. If there was a next life, love... well, not even a dog would bother. Sebastian's consciousness plunged into darkness.

---------------------------

He couldn't tell how much time had passed...

"Seb?"

"Seb, are you alright?"

Sebastian's eyes flutters open again, gazing upon the fresh, youthful face before him with a flicker of bewilderment.

"Is this hell?"