Chapter 1

After coming back from a business trip, I spent a wild night with my boyfriend, or so I thought. Lying there afterward, I suddenly realized something about the man beside me just didn't add up.

My fingers suddenly clamped down on his wrist as he tried to push himself up, holding him firmly in place, not letting him move an inch.

"Don't move," I said coldly.

The room's atmosphere turned icy. Whatever warmth lingered from before evaporated, leaving only the harsh, heated sound of our uneven breathing, magnified in the silence.

He froze, his whole body stiff, arm trembling, his slender, inexperienced back taut and awkward.

His posture, the way he used his strength, none of it resembled Eric Linwood, my boyfriend of three years, who practically lived at the gym.

The next second, he turned his head, his eyes full of that wounded innocence only a young guy could have. His voice was hoarse and soft, clearly begging. "Nina, I really can't do it again tonight."

It was like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over me, the cold sinking deep into my bones, wiping out all the heat and passion from earlier.

"What did you just call me?" I asked coldly.

I locked my gaze on his face, not letting a single flicker of emotion slip past me.

*****

He was suddenly at a loss, his long lashes drooping in panic, ears burning bright red. His legs trembled, betraying his timidness.

"Nina," he whispered again, his voice full of pleading uncertainty.

"Seriously, cut me some slack. I've got a basketball game tonight, if we go again, my legs will turn to jelly. I won't be able to run, and my whole team will tear me apart."

My mind went completely blank, my ears were buzzing, and I was completely dumbfounded.

Did he just call me Nina?

Basketball game?

I'd been away for a week, counting down the days to see him again, and the guy I spent the whole night tangled up with wasn't even my boyfriend?

I sat up abruptly, ripping the covers away. Under the dim glow of the bedroom nightlight, I finally got a good look at the person beside me, his features were unmistakable.

He was skinny, with a fresh, youthful face, nothing like Eric Linwood's solid, muscular frame. And his left wrist? Completely bare, not even a hint of a watch.

My scalp prickled with shock.

Eric had always worn a black mechanical watch, three years, never once took it off. There was always a faint mark on his wrist, and that was my foolproof way of recognizing him.

But the guy lying next to me was Jamie Linwood.

Jamie, Eric's younger brother, had just graduated from college and was still on campus.

I was face-blind. I couldn't remember anyone's features. I always went by their build, vibe, and habits. But in the dim light, worn out from my trip, I ended up mistaking Jamie, my boyfriend's little brother, for the guy I'd been with for three years.

A cold sweat soaked through my pajamas, my back chilled to the bone. My fingers trembled as I gripped his wrist, my voice hoarse as I demanded, "Why are you in my house?"

Jamie hunched his shoulders, looking like a kid who'd just gotten caught doing something terrible.

His voice was nervous but honest. "Our dorm's under renovation, so I had nowhere to stay. Eric said I could crash here for a few days until I graduate and move out."

"Where's Eric?" I asked, my voice tight and shaky, my heart pounding out of my chest.

"He's stuck at work, pulling an all-nighter on a project," Jamie said, glancing at me quickly before dropping his gaze, too nervous to meet my eyes.

"He was supposed to pick you up at the train station, but he couldn't make it. So he asked me to stay home, turn on the AC, and warm up dinner for you."

All those absurd details finally clicked together, and the weight in my chest dropped like a stone, leaving me gasping for air, suffocated by the realization.

I dragged myself home after a long trip, my heart aching with anticipation to see Eric again. In the dim light, I couldn't tell who was standing there. Exhausted and emotional, I just stumbled right into Jamie's arms without a second thought.

The most devastating part? He never once pushed me away.