Chapter 2

Ryan froze for a moment, then a knowing, resigned smile appeared on his lips. He said, resigned, "Are you really mad at me over this? Why bother with labels? That's just lame."

It was always the same excuse.

He'd say that every time I caught him walking the popular girl back to her dorm, saw him out shopping with Chloe, or got stood up because he was with Chloe again.

Every time he said that, I'd just keep quiet. I didn't want to be the one ruining the mood.

But this time, I locked eyes with him, refusing to back down, my voice barely shaking. "I'm asking you for the last time. What are we, really?"

Ryan lowered his gaze, his lashes trembling, and didn't say a word.

After a moment of heavy silence, his phone suddenly buzzed.

Seeing Chloe's name pop up, he jumped up and headed to the balcony to answer, sounding super sweet. "Not feeling well? Okay, I'll come over and give you a tummy massage, alright? Chloe, don't be mad."

Once he hung up, Ryan turned to leave, and it wasn't until he reached the door that he seemed to remember I was even there.

He paused, glanced back at me, and smirked. "As I said, you'll meet someone better.

"Chloe's upset with me because of her cramps, so I need to go take care of her. After your IV's done, I'll call you a cab. I'll check in on you later, alright? Be a good girl."

I watched Ryan walk away, my face expressionless. When I reached up and touched my cheek, it was cold, numb, just like my heart.

When I unlocked my phone, there was a new friend request waiting for me.

The profile picture was just a moon.

As soon as I accepted, the guy instantly sent me a voice message.

The boy said, "Hey, it's me, the one who drove you to the hospital. Sorry, something came up, and I got delayed. Finished with your IV drip yet? I can drop you off at school, it's on my way."

I politely turned him down, but almost without thinking, I checked out his Instagram profile.

Then I saw a photo of him and Ryan together, and I just froze.

So the guy with a creepy mask was actually Ethan Pierce, the idol Ryan was always raving about.

Ethan had built his own empire while still young, was stupidly rich and ridiculously handsome, a living legend in our world.

We'd met a few times because we worked in the same field, but it was always just in passing.

To me, Ethan was the very picture of someone elite and out of reach.

A guy like him, playing the NPC in an escape room?

I shook my head and let it go.

Just as I was about to exit his profile, Ethan messaged me again. [Since I'm the reason you fainted, let me make it up to you. My treat, I'll drive you back.]

Ethan: [I'm waiting for you at the hospital entrance. Just step outside, you'll spot me right away.]

I thought about it for a second, then said yes.

Ethan wasn't at all like the cold, distant guy everyone made him out to be. He was surprisingly approachable and easygoing, and being around him just felt really comfortable.

I found myself letting my guard down, chatting and laughing with him. I felt relaxed the whole way, no awkwardness at all.

When we got to my dorm, he gave his phone a little shake, a warm smile softening his sharp features. "Text me when you get inside."

I nodded, watched him drive off, then headed back to my room.

As soon as I sat down, one of my roommates shoved her phone in my face, eyes wide. "Emily, what the hell? You're trending on the campus forum."

I froze for a second, then snatched the phone to see for myself.

Someone had snapped a photo of me getting out of Ethan's luxury car, leaning in and grinning at the guy inside.

It looked way too flirty.

The comments were blowing up.

[Isn't that the computer science queen? No wonder she's always so cold; turns out she's got a sugar daddy.]

[Didn't everyone say she was into Ryan? So who's this other guy? Is she two-timing now?]

[I'm Ryan's friend, so don't start rumors. Ryan already said he's not into Emily, alright?]

I quickly pulled myself together, fired up my laptop, copied the link, and ran a quick IP trace.

It turned out that the poster was someone from our school.

When I dug a little deeper, Chloe's passport suddenly flashed across my screen.

I printed it out and rushed to the club entrance.

As soon as I pushed the door open, all the laughter inside died instantly.

Ryan, who'd been scowling the whole time, suddenly looked over and gave me a cold, mocking smile. "So that's why you turned down my offer for a cab.

"Someone else was already giving you a ride, huh? Emily, you're really something."