Chapter 1
My boyfriend, Adrian Pierce, and I had another fight.
Adrian, just to spite me, stood by and let his childhood friend, Joanna Winters, who'd been head over heels for him forever, throw herself into his arms and kiss him.
My face went deathly pale, and my eyes burned with unshed tears.
Adrian watched me, savoring every moment of my pain.
He smirked and said, "I've got no shortage of admirers. If someone doesn't appreciate me and pisses me off, I can swap her out in a second."
Mocking laughter echoed around me as everyone pushed me to go and win him back.
But this time, I took a deep breath.
I said, "Go ahead. Get yourself a new one.
"Adrian, I'm done putting up with you."
The room went dead silent.
As soon as I said it, Adrian dropped his hold on Joanna, his eyes narrowing.
He said, "What did you just say? Say it again."
I stared back at him, eyes red and shining with unshed tears. My lips pressed tight since I was terrified that if I said a word, the tears would spill over.
We stood there in awkward silence for a few minutes, neither of us willing to back down.
Joanna swaggered over, casually slinging her elbow across Adrian's shoulder.
She said, "Alright, alright, go cheer up your girlfriend. Look at her, she's so upset that her tears are about to fall."
She smoothed things over, and the tense atmosphere in the room finally started to loosen up.
Everyone started talking at once, all trying to convince me.
One said, "It's not a big deal, Claire. We're just playing a game. Why take it so seriously?"
Another one chimed in, "Yeah, we're all friends here. Joanna and Adrian grew up together. What's the harm in a little cheek kiss? If they were actually a thing, you wouldn't even stand a chance."
Someone said, "Alright, alright. Guys like Adrian—good-looking, smart, and a total trust fund baby—don't come around often. You'd better go patch things up before someone else snatches him up."
Adrian's friends all knew I loved him with zero self-respect.
No matter how angry he got, I'd always humble myself and try to make up with him.
So this time was no different. They were all waiting for me to swallow my pride and patch things up. And so was Adrian.
He stood there with his arms crossed, chin lifted, silently watching me.
I was all too familiar with that posture.
Whenever Adrian was mad, he'd just stand there with his arms crossed, face cold and unreadable, waiting for me to come crawling back and apologize.
But this time, even after the tears faded from my eyes, I didn't budge.
Adrian was always getting mad and giving me the silent treatment.
He'd ignore my messages and vanish. I could never find him anywhere.
I was so tired of always having to chase after him.
I looked away and was about to say something when Joanna came over with a drink in hand.
She fixed her gaze on me with a sly look in her eyes.
She said, "Come on, it's just jealousy, right? Here, let me apologize.
"Just drink this and forgive me, okay? Then go make up with Adrian. He looks so mad."
Adrian scoffed. "What's there to be mad about?
"Is it really worth getting pissed at someone who's not only clueless and broke, but all she ever does is study?"
Joanna couldn't help herself, laughing right in my face. She gave Adrian a teasing glare.
Then she said, "Come on, why say that? Claire's family is not rich. What else can she do but hit the books? But she's got you, and you're loaded.
"If she ends up marrying you, she'll hit the jackpot. No more worries for the rest of her life. You'll support her forever."
I clutched the hem of my dress, feeling humiliated.
Ever since I borrowed money from Adrian once when my grandma got sick, something about his attitude toward me had shifted.
His friends started treating me differently, too.
Among them, Joanna was the most hostile.
Amid the mocking laughter, Adrian's voice cut through, cold and detached. "Marry me? As if.
"What's so great about Claire? You really think I'd ever marry her?"
Joanna's eyes sparkled, her smile sly and fox-like. She never let a single chance slip by to embarrass me.
"Seriously? You're not joking, right?" she asked.
"Of course I'm not," Adrian replied.
The two of them bantered back and forth, making a show of my dignity, mocking me without a care.
I felt like I was being put on trial, completely exposed and powerless in front of everyone.
The sting of humiliation burned hot. It seared through me, from the tips of my toes all the way to my heart.
"Enough!" I finally shouted, unable to hold back any longer. I grabbed the glass from Joanna.
Staring straight at Adrian, I refused to look away.
I said, "Once I drink this, we're over. Is that okay with you?"