Chapter 1

My boyfriend, Ethan, went missing after a wilderness survival trip on a deserted island.

I spent every single penny of my savings, searching for him like crazy, but found absolutely nothing.

Until two months later, on my way to work, I saw him.

He was laughing and joking with his friends, bragging:

"Missing? Of course it was fake. My girlfriend was getting way too clingy. I had to teach her a lesson."

"I had Julian cover for me. She didn't suspect a thing."

Julian is his best friend.

I pretended I didn't hear a word.

When I got home, Julian hugged me gently from behind.

"Any news about Ethan today?"

"No."

I kissed Julian, pretending to be heartbroken, and said:

"He was probably eaten by wild beasts on that island. I'm done looking for him."

"Julian, let's make us official."

When I first saw Ethan on the street, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

I was about to walk over to get a closer look, but then I heard him bragging to his friends.

"Ethan, since you 'went missing,' even we barely get to see you."

"Can't help it,"

Ethan said, leaning back with a smug smirk.

"Chloe was getting too clingy, always trying to control me. I had to teach her a lesson."

"How did you even come up with the missing stunt?"

"I came up with it, obviously,"

The girl sitting next to Ethan said, raising her eyebrows proudly.

"With his brain, do you think he could think of something this brilliant? He has to rely on me."

"Yeah, yeah, you're the smartest,"

Ethan smiled at her dotingly.

I recognized that girl.

Sienna, the only girl in Ethan's tight-knit friend group.

"But still, playing this big of a prank... isn't Chloe going to get suspicious?"

"I had Julian cover for me. It's totally fine."

Everyone suddenly understood.

"No wonder. With Julian backing you up, who would ever doubt it?"

"Julian is always the reliable one."

Sienna let out a soft snort. "Honestly, it's just because Chloe is an idiot."

I waited for Ethan to defend me.

But instead, he just leaned in and coaxed her softly:

"Exactly. She's nowhere near as smart or beautiful as you."

The rest of the group started cheering and teasing them.

As if they were completely used to this.

"Ethan, why don't you just date Sienna already? Why even bother having a girlfriend?"

"I don't hook up within the inner circle."

"Get lost, I wouldn't want you anyway," Sienna replied.

They pretended to be disgusted with each other.

But under the table, their legs were playfully rubbing against each other.

Near the end of their chat, someone asked:

"You can't stay 'dead' forever, Ethan. When do you plan on going back?"

"I'm waiting,"

Ethan said with absolute confidence.

"I'll go back when Chloe is completely driven crazy by losing me."

I was actually on my way to the police station to file a Missing Persons Report today.

Now, I changed my mind.

I went to buy my favorite snacks.

Then, I treated myself to a luxurious spa day.

By the time I got home, it was already evening.

The lights in the apartment were off.

I thought Julian had already left.

Just as I stepped into my slippers, someone wrapped their arms around me from behind.

My body stiffened slightly. I asked, "Have you been drinking?"

Julian didn't answer directly.

"What did you do today? You didn't pick up my FaceTime calls."

"Sorry, I wasn't looking at my phone."

"Any news about Ethan?"

"Sigh, no," I said, my voice filled with fake disappointment.

Julian held me even tighter, his warm breath brushing against my neck.

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't dragged him to that island for the camping trip, he wouldn't have gone missing."

He sounded genuinely remorseful.

—If only his warm tongue hadn't just grazed my earlobe.

Julian is one of Ethan's best friends.

After Ethan "disappeared," they split the roles—one stayed in the shadows, the other in the light.

Julian was supposed to play the "guilt-ridden friend."

But Ethan probably didn't know.

His dear brother's...

Way of showing remorse... was a bit unconventional.