Chapter 1

After seven years of practically worshipping Julian, he finally agreed to be with me.

Everyone said Julian only kept me around to kill time, a mere distraction.

Even he believed it.

So, when he abandoned me again to face three drunk men, rushing off to meet the one who truly held his heart, something inside me snapped. I was done chasing him.

His voice was a dark, menacing growl as he warned me, "Don't play games with me. I hate women who do that."

He was so sure I’d never leave him.

But that arrogant heir to a powerful family, he knelt before me, time and again, crying and begging me not to leave when I was about to go abroad.

Our first kiss happened one night when he was drowning himself in booze.

The proud scion was absolutely hammered, sitting alone in a private room at a bar.

I heard him call out Serena’s name, asking why she had left him.

Julian, Serena, and I had practically grown up together, but I was always the one everyone overlooked.

Outsiders always whispered that Julian and Serena were childhood sweethearts, practically inseparable. I was just a perpetual third wheel to their perfect story.

Julian had burst into my orphanage when I was a child, saving me just as the abusive director was about to lay hands on me. After that, the Preston family adopted me, and I’d always been incredibly grateful for their kindness.

At the tender age of first love, meeting the boy who once saved me inevitably sparked something. Like any heroine in a teenage romance novel, I fantasized that Julian was the lead in my world.

But when I saw Serena, I finally understood. I was nothing but an ugly duckling; Julian’s true leading lady was someone else entirely.

I forced myself to bury my feelings for Julian, doubling down on my efforts to be good to him, hoping to repay their kindness.

Three years ago, Serena went to study abroad, leaving just Julian and me from our trio. We started spending more time together, getting closer.

But I always knew that a part of his heart would forever belong to Serena.

Just like now, even drunk, he still called out her name. Silently, I helped him up, spoon-feeding him a special hangover remedy I’d brought.

After a while, Julian seemed to improve, stirring awake from his stupor.

He watched me clean up without a word, sitting quietly like a child who had done something wrong.

“Cassie,” he suddenly said, “will you ever leave me?”

I didn't know how to answer, so I stayed silent.

Julian suddenly reached out, pulling me into his arms. He stared at me intently, his eyes holding an emotion I couldn't quite decipher.

I finally managed to speak, “If I could, I hope we never have to be apart.”