Chapter 1

At the club gathering, my childhood friend Ryan Foster ignored my refusal and agreed to his junior, Chloe Hart's request.

"Then let's do an escape room. How thrilling," he said.

Just as I turned to walk away, he grabbed my arm, his brow furrowed, but his voice soft and coaxing. "I'm protecting you. Isn't that enough?"

"Honey, there are so many people watching. Don't make me embarrassed, okay? Be a good girl," he murmured.

Feeling all those expectant eyes on me, I reluctantly nodded.

But the moment the first creepy NPC appeared, everyone screamed and scattered.

Ryan, however, pulled Chloe into his arms, covered her eyes, and whispered gently, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

My heart pounded wildly; the pain hit so hard that I broke out in a cold sweat, frozen in place and holding up the group's progress.

Ryan ignored everyone's concern for me. His forehead veins bulged, and his face showed pure impatience.

"Enough with the fake scares. Why be so dramatic? It's such a buzzkill," he complained.

When I watched him walk away, arms wrapped around Chloe, my heart sank completely.

Ryan seemed to have forgotten that I had a congenital heart condition. I couldn't handle scares like that.

If that was how it was going to be, then fine. This was a big world. We would just stop ruining each other's fun.

The club members crowded around me, all worried. "Are you okay? Should we take you to the hospital?"

Chloe Hart snuggled up to Ryan Foster, a sly, taunting grin on her face. "Seriously, Emily? You can't handle a little scare? Are you just putting on a show?

"You just want Ryan to protect you, don't you? If that's what you want, just say it. He's all yours."

Everyone paused for a second, then nodded like they finally got it.

My face was very pale from the pain, curled up in the corner, clutching Ryan's shirt for dear life. "Ryan, it hurts," I whispered.

He knew I was born with a weak heart; even a little fright could mess me up.

The club had only been around for three months, and because Chloe was always chasing thrills, I, as vice president, kept getting roped into her wild plans.

Every single time, I'd get so freaked out that I nearly ended up in the hospital, and everyone believed Chloe's words, thinking I was just pretending.

After all, everyone knew I had a thing for Ryan even now.

But this time, Ryan didn't rush me to the hospital like he used to. Instead, he pulled away from my grip on his shirt.

Those beautiful eyes that once showed concern now only held impatience.

"Chloe's right. If you want me to protect you, just say it. Stop always trying to make yourself the center of attention. Can you stop being so dramatic? You're killing the vibe," he snapped.

With that, he turned and walked off with his arm around Chloe, not even glancing back at me.

Everyone else trailed after him, but not before shooting me looks and gossiping behind my back.

"Emily, for real, does she always have to show off like that? If she likes Ryan, why doesn't she just confess already?"

"She's too proud to make a move, but now that Chloe's here, she's sulking. Does she think she's some kind of queen?"

"Yeah, being pretty doesn't mean she can get away with anything. I'd be sick of her, too, if I were Ryan."

Their voices faded away, but every word still echoed in my ears, leaving my whole body cold and numb.

Ryan and I had been childhood friends for over ten years. We both knew what was in each other's hearts.

But right before college started, he suddenly backed out. "No need to rush into anything just because we graduated. There are better choices out there for you. Just wait a bit. There's no hurry."

Back then, I just nodded, clueless about what he really meant.

But now I got it. He just never wanted to be with me.

The pain kept getting worse, my whole body started tingling, and my breathing grew rapid and shallow.

My vision kept fading in and out, and then a warm breath filled the air, tickling my nose.

A guy wearing a mask carried me bridal style and strode out of the room, his voice cool and crisp.

"I'm taking you to the hospital," he said. He paused, then added with a little smile, "Don't worry. I'm human."

Just as I was about to thank him, I glanced up, and that creepy mask made my heart jump.

My heart seized up, everything went black, and I collapsed right then and there.

When I opened my eyes again, the guy in the creepy mask was gone.

Instead, Ryan was keeping watch by my bedside, looking pale.

When he saw me wake up, he let out a sigh of relief, his expression softening for a moment as he gave me a helpless smile.

"Honey, you really passed out from being scared? Can you stop making me worry?" he said, reaching out to smooth the stray hairs from my forehead.

But I instinctively turned my head away, dodging his touch.

Ryan's hand froze in mid-air, and it was like time stopped for a second.

This was the first time I'd ever refused to take his concern after the cold shoulder, but it sure wouldn't be the last.

I had been holding on for over a decade, and for the first time, I just felt tired.

I turned away and saw Ryan's handsome face tight with annoyance.

"I left Chloe behind and rushed over the moment I heard you were in the hospital, and you're still giving me the cold shoulder?" he snapped.

My hands clenched into fists under the blanket as I looked at him, calm but direct. "So, what are we now?"