Chapter 2

I'd been with Ivan for three years. Three whole years.

As his real girlfriend, I actually had to jump into a freezing river in the middle of winter to prove to everyone how much I loved Ivan, all so Leia would finally stop chasing after him. How pathetic and ridiculous was that?

Ivan reached out and pulled me out of the river. The wind on the shore was even colder, and my down jacket was soaked through. Every gust sent a chill straight into my bones.

But he didn't seem bothered by any of that. Instead, he just watched me, looking all smug and satisfied.

"Ashley, you're usually so quiet and calm, like you don't care about anything at all. But seeing you go this far just for me… it makes me happy," he said.

Oh, really? I looked up at Ivan, my face cold and distant. I wasn't feeling any of that happiness myself.

I tried to keep my voice steady as I asked, "Ivan, does your happiness really have to depend on me risking my life for you in the freezing cold?"

Ivan frowned, but before he could say anything, Leia jumped in.

Her eyes were red as she stepped in front of him. "Ashley, if you're mad, just take it out on me. I was the one who dragged Ivan into that bet. Don't fight with him because of me."

She lifted her chin slightly, eyes stubborn, looking like she was ready to be scolded or hit.

Ivan was about to say something, but switched gears and started blaming me instead. "Ashley, since when did you forget how to take a joke?"

His friends looked at me with open disdain.

"Sure, we placed a bet about you, but isn't it you who scored the biggest win out of all this?" One of them sneered.

"Leia's already quit chasing after Ivan. What else do you want?" another added.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Scored the biggest win? Anger surged in my chest, and I couldn't hold back anymore.

"Leia chased after a guy who already had a girlfriend. That's shameless and degrading all on its own. And now she's finally giving up. Am I actually supposed to thank her for not trying to be the homewrecker anymore?" I snapped.

No sooner had I finished speaking than Leia's tears began to fall.

She covered her face, totally crumbling under the embarrassment.

"Yeah, it's all my fault. I was the one who kept bothering Ivan. I'll leave now." Leia sobbed.

She ran off crying, and honestly, seeing her so hurt and wronged just made my chest tighten with discomfort.

I was about to turn and confront Ivan about whether he ever planned on giving Leia a shot. But suddenly, someone shoved me so hard I hit the ground.

I was already frozen stiff, and the jolt from that fall sent pain shooting through me. I was honestly this close to bursting into tears.

Ivan's friends towered over me, their voices ringing out in angry accusation.

"Ashley, how could you say something so cruel to Leia?"

"She's just a naive girl who likes Ivan. She's nowhere near as twisted as you make her out to be!"

"Ivan is with someone as spiteful as you? Seriously, I feel bad for Leia."

I bit back my tears, forcing myself not to cry as I looked up at Ivan. I wanted to ask him if he agreed with them.

But before I could speak, I saw his displeased expression.

He looked down at me, voice heavy with blame. "Ashley, you really crossed the line this time."

He continued, "You shouldn't have said those things about Leia. She's just a kid, you know? She didn't mean any harm. When we get back, just apologize to her, and let's be done with it."

So they made a bet on me, put me through all this crap, and somehow I was still the one to blame?

Bitterness curdled inside me as I struggled to my feet, my eyes locking hard on Ivan.

"Leia's just a kid, not mature yet. But what about you?" Ashley snapped back.

I stared at him, my voice was ice. "Did you really ever consider giving her a chance?"

When Leia dragged Ivan into that bet, she said that if I jumped in to save him, she'd back off and stop chasing after him.

But if I didn't, she'd try to get him to dump me, and Ivan would have to give her a shot.

Ivan agreed to all of it, so even knowing I'd jump in for him, it still felt like a thorn buried in my heart.

Ivan and I first started dating in college.

Back then, his buddies were all at different universities. Leia, being two years younger, wasn't in the picture yet.

Once, when I passed out in class because of low blood sugar, Ivan was the one who panicked and rushed me straight to the campus clinic.

Another time, some sketchy guys from outside tried hassling me, but Ivan stepped up and drove them off.

We were both taking our classes in the same major, and when we finally got together, everyone said we were meant to be together.

Everything changed once his childhood friend, Leia, enrolled at our university too.