Chapter 1 · When True Love Feels Like a Lie

Jason Carter, the school's top dog, told me to seduce Alex Shepherd, the golden boy of our campus.

He wanted it to happen with everyone watching, so Alex's reputation would be completely trashed.

All to knock him off his pedestal and take away his shot at grad school.

All to clear the way for his childhood sweetheart, Lily Evans.

After a wild night, Jason asked me with red-rimmed eyes, "Did you really sleep with him?"

I shoved a stack of photos in his face. "Weren't you the one who made everyone watch?"

*****

"Seduce Alex. If you make it happen, you'll get 100 thousand dollars, and I'll get the best doctors for your mom. You know Lily needs that grad school spot. I'll have someone filming from a fixed angle. Just play along," Jason ordered.

So, in the classroom, I swallowed my humiliation and perched on Alex's lap, nervously clutching his sleeve.

Bathed in sunlight, his sharp, elegant profile and prominent brow bone caught the light. He looked down at me with a deep, almost intoxicating gaze, his long lashes fluttering like moth wings.

As I moved closer, I could feel his body tense up in an instant. "You sure you want to do this here?" Alex asked.

Lily was Jason's childhood friend. He'd rather drop 100 thousand dollars to have me, his own girlfriend, help Lily get ahead than lend me 100 grand to save my mom.

I swallowed the bitterness in my chest and pulled my shirt off my shoulder a bit. "Is that not okay?"

I could feel Alex's breathing get heavier and sensed his body responding to me. But he held onto me, restraining himself. "Are you really sure about this?"

I gave a soft "mhm" in response.

Alex didn't make a move right away. Instead, he took my hand and led me to the hotel across the street from campus.

I figured that was it. Jason's crew had probably already snapped the photos they needed.

But the moment the door clicked shut, everything changed.

Alex, who was always so calm and self-controlled, suddenly grabbed my wrist and pinned me against the wall.

His face was burning red as he pressed his lips to mine. He ripped open my clothes, leaving me no chance to change my mind.

In the chaos, I grabbed my phone and snapped a few photos, sending them to Jason to show I'd done my part.

I could clearly see Alex's profile and his shirtless chest in the shots. These were way more real than anything his crew could've gotten.

It was only a grad school spot, nothing more. Alex was born to succeed. He could get into his dream school without anyone's help.

By nightfall, everything had calmed down. Alex sat on the couch in his bathrobe. "Break up with him."

My head was still spinning. "What?"

"You want me to be the side piece?"

Of course, I didn't dare. Alex's family was a powerhouse in the capital.

But what scared me more than Alex's revenge was not being able to save my mom.

"We'll break up," I said. Ever since Jason told me to seduce another guy, I knew it was over between us.

Alex didn't press me. "You'd better keep your word. I'm giving you three days. Think it through, then come find me."

Before I had time to figure out what he meant, my phone lit up with a message from Jason: [Nice job.]

I felt a bitter irony. [Where are you?] I texted back.

[The usual spot.]

*****

The Loft was the go-to spot for their rich-kid crew. I made my way to the usual private room.

The second I opened the door, Lily was straddling Jason's lap, her back facing the door. Neon lights flashed overhead, and the room echoed with raucous jeers and teasing.

Jason's solid, muscular build and Lily's petite, supple form were practically melded together. The atmosphere had reached a fever pitch of intimacy.

Until someone in the crowd called out, "Hey, Jason's girl."

Lily jumped off Jason's lap like she'd been shocked. "Sorry, Iris, we were playing a game."

The others chimed in, "Yeah, it's truth or dare. You know Lily. She's been with us since we were kids, no secrets between us. She lost, so she had to pick dare."

Jason lounged on the couch, acting like none of this had anything to do with him. That was how he was, never bothered to explain himself.

I kept my voice steady. "It's fine. You guys go ahead."

The guys nearby looked at me like they'd seen a ghost.

Back then, I'd drown my sorrows alone, drinking until Jason had to yank the bottle out of my hands. Or I'd shove Lily out of the way.

We fought over her countless times, and every single time, it was me who had to swallow my pride and patch things up with Jason.

Everyone thought I was head over heels for Jason. Truth is, I really was.

Chapter 1

Jason Carter, the school's top dog, told me to seduce Alex Shepherd, the golden boy of our campus.

He wanted it to happen with everyone watching, so Alex's reputation would be completely trashed.

All to knock him off his pedestal and take away his shot at grad school.

All to clear the way for his childhood sweetheart, Lily Evans.

After a wild night, Jason asked me with red-rimmed eyes, "Did you really sleep with him?"

I shoved a stack of photos in his face. "Weren't you the one who made everyone watch?"

*****

So, in the classroom, I swallowed my humiliation and perched on Alex's lap, nervously clutching his sleeve.

Bathed in sunlight, his sharp, elegant profile and prominent brow bone caught the light. He looked down at me with a deep, almost intoxicating gaze, his long lashes fluttering like moth wings.

As I moved closer, I could feel his body tense up in an instant. "You sure you want to do this here?" Alex asked.

Lily was Jason's childhood friend. He'd rather drop 100 thousand dollars to have me, his own girlfriend, help Lily get ahead than lend me 100 grand to save my mom.

I swallowed the bitterness in my chest and pulled my shirt off my shoulder a bit. "Is that not okay?"

I could feel Alex's breathing get heavier and sensed his body responding to me. But he held onto me, restraining himself. "Are you really sure about this?"

I gave a soft "mhm" in response.

Alex didn't make a move right away. Instead, he took my hand and led me to the hotel across the street from campus.

I figured that was it. Jason's crew had probably already snapped the photos they needed.

But the moment the door clicked shut, everything changed.

Alex, who was always so calm and self-controlled, suddenly grabbed my wrist and pinned me against the wall.

His face was burning red as he pressed his lips to mine. He ripped open my clothes, leaving me no chance to change my mind.

In the chaos, I grabbed my phone and snapped a few photos, sending them to Jason to show I'd done my part.

I could clearly see Alex's profile and his shirtless chest in the shots. These were way more real than anything his crew could've gotten.

It was only a grad school spot, nothing more. Alex was born to succeed. He could get into his dream school without anyone's help.

By nightfall, everything had calmed down. Alex sat on the couch in his bathrobe. "Break up with him."

My head was still spinning. "What?"

"You want me to be the side piece?"

Of course, I didn't dare. Alex's family was a powerhouse in the capital.

But what scared me more than Alex's revenge was not being able to save my mom.

"We'll break up," I said. Ever since Jason told me to seduce another guy, I knew it was over between us.

Alex didn't press me. "You'd better keep your word. I'm giving you three days. Think it through, then come find me."

Before I had time to figure out what he meant, my phone lit up with a message from Jason: [Nice job.]

I felt a bitter irony. [Where are you?] I texted back.

[The usual spot.]

*****

The Loft was the go-to spot for their rich-kid crew. I made my way to the usual private room.

The second I opened the door, Lily was straddling Jason's lap, her back facing the door. Neon lights flashed overhead, and the room echoed with raucous jeers and teasing.

Jason's solid, muscular build and Lily's petite, supple form were practically melded together. The atmosphere had reached a fever pitch of intimacy.

Until someone in the crowd called out, "Hey, Jason's girl."

Lily jumped off Jason's lap like she'd been shocked. "Sorry, Iris, we were playing a game."

The others chimed in, "Yeah, it's truth or dare. You know Lily. She's been with us since we were kids, no secrets between us. She lost, so she had to pick dare."

Jason lounged on the couch, acting like none of this had anything to do with him. That was how he was, never bothered to explain himself.

I kept my voice steady. "It's fine. You guys go ahead."

The guys nearby looked at me like they'd seen a ghost.

Back then, I'd drown my sorrows alone, drinking until Jason had to yank the bottle out of my hands. Or I'd shove Lily out of the way.

We fought over her countless times, and every single time, it was me who had to swallow my pride and patch things up with Jason.

Everyone thought I was head over heels for Jason. Truth is, I really was.