Chapter 3

Alex had always believed I was just a girl from an average family, but I was actually the daughter of Grandford's wealthiest family.

My parents had raised me to stay grounded and keep our wealth discreet, so I'd grown up living quietly.

To give this relationship a real shot, I had moved to his city all on my own, living as a regular office worker.

I had even planned to tell him the truth about my family after getting back from this business trip.

I never cared about his money; I only cared about him.

Now, I realized there was no point.

Putting down my phone, I glanced over at the entryway.

Framed photos of Alex and me covered the wall.

Every time we went on a date over the years, we'd snap a Polaroid to mark the occasion.

Each film sheet cost two dollars, and without fail, he'd send me a dollar for every picture taken.

I told him back then that it wasn't necessary.

"Feelings are feelings, and money is money," he'd insisted. "Keeping them separate is the only way to keep our relationship pure."

Alex had been to my rented apartment many times. We'd curl up on the couch to watch movies and play video games, or cook dinner together in the kitchen.

But he never stayed the night.

That was another one of his rules: we booked a hotel room once a week.

I covered the cost, and he provided the labor.

As he put it, "When it comes to this stuff, the guy handles the hard work, and the girl reaps the rewards."

I used to think he was just forward-thinking, but looking back now, it was simply laughable.

I pulled up a travel app on my phone and bought a ticket for the earliest flight to Bellmont the day after tomorrow.

It was time to cut my losses and move on.

I didn't sleep a wink that night.

The next morning, I went into the office to submit my resignation and hand over my work.

When my coworkers heard I was leaving tomorrow, one asked, "Emily, is there even enough time to get an expedited visa?"

I gave a faint smile. "I already have a green card."

My parents had been doing business in Westoria for years, and they had secured a green card for me before I even turned eighteen.

My coworker gasped. "My work bestie was a low-key heiress this whole time?!"

After packing up my desk at the end of the day, I was just about to hail a cab home when Alex called.

I answered, but Sophie's voice came through the line instead. "Emily, Alex drank way too much and keeps calling out your name. Hurry over and pick him up."

She texted me an address right after.

I didn't want to go, but I went anyway—if only to wrap things up with a bit of final decency before leaving.

When I pushed open the door to the package room at Luna Lounge, a loud cheer erupted from inside.

"Twenty-eight minutes and fifty-eight seconds! Alex, you're unbelievable! Emily really made it in under half an hour!"

I stood frozen at the entrance, completely lost.

Alex looked stone-cold sober, showing zero signs of being drunk.

Sophie walked over, took my hand, and pulled me down into a seat. "We were just playing a game. Alex bet that you were on call twenty-four/seven and would be here in under thirty minutes. Turns out he was right."

She raised her glass toward Alex. "A bet's a bet—I lose."

She knocked back three shots in a row, prompting whistles and cheers from the rest of the room.

"Take it easy, Ms. Lane! You just went on a blind date today—you don't have anyone at your beck and call yet!"

"Alex's girlfriend looks like such a good girl. Let's not scare her off."

Alex wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "My girl's the best. Not like certain people who run off to blind dates the second they get back from a breakup overseas."

Sophie balled up her hand and threatened to hit him again. "You meddle way too much. Why shouldn't I date and find a man in the prime of my youth? What else am I supposed to do, drink with you every single day?"

Alex's face tightened. "It's not like I don't have time to drink with you. Go on and delete that guy's contact right now."

Sophie picked up her glass and took another sip. "LALALA, I'm not listening—"

Before she could finish, Alex shoved me aside, grabbed her phone, and deleted the guy's contact himself.

"Give that back!" Sophie lunged to snatch it back. As they pushed and shoved, she lost her balance and fell directly into his lap.

Their lips collided.

The room fell dead silent for a second as I stared at them, stunned. Then the crowd exploded into raucous jeers.

Sophie shoved Alex away frantically, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Alex, what the hell... That was my first kiss today! I'm posting your baby pictures on Facebook for the whole world to see!"

Her manicured fingers flew across her screen.

Alex pulled out his own phone. "You want to play dirty? Fine, I'll post your embarrassing photos too."

My phone buzzed in my hand—a notification that a favorited contact had posted an update.

I looked down instinctively. Alex had posted a photo of a two-year-old girl's bare back.

The friends around us checked their feeds and couldn't help teasing them.

"You two have been at each other's throats for years. You really are frenemies."

"Alex, every time Sophie tries to get a boyfriend, you ruin it. Are you secretly in love with her or something?"