Chapter 1

Everyone knew my boyfriend and my best friend were sworn enemies.

Yet during our Thanksgiving camping trip, I saw my best friend straddling him, her lace underwear draped over his chest.

My boyfriend held her waist, thrusting into her so fiercely that neither of them noticed me standing just outside.

"If I settle down just for you, would you break up with her?"

"I would," he answered after a brief pause, his voice deadly serious.

A sharp sting tore through my chest.

All along, I had just been their cover.

My best friend, Chloe, was a notorious player who went through a dozen guys a month. My boyfriend, Julian, was known by everyone as devoted, loyal, and completely monogamous.

Because of that, they supposedly couldn’t stand being in the same room together.

Chloe always complained that Julian was boring, rigid, and lacked passion.

Julian claimed Chloe was loose and reckless, swearing she was the exact opposite of his type.

Every time they clashed, I was the one playing peacekeeper.

Turns out, the only idiot kept in the dark was me.

Fine. If that was what they wanted, I’d step aside and let them have each other.

And whatever success he had built on my back—I was taking it all back.

I didn’t burst in to ruin their fun. I just quietly pulled out my phone and recorded the scene.

When they finally finished, Julian stepped out and realized I had been sitting there the whole time.

He grabbed the windbreaker off the back of my chair and draped it over Chloe’s bare shoulders.

"Julian, I’m cold," I couldn't help saying.

"Chloe’s had a few drinks. She can't catch a chill. I’ll find you another blanket in a minute."

He didn't stop for me. He didn't even look back.

That windbreaker was the one he wore four years ago during our long-distance days, when he flew through a blizzard on multiple layovers just to surprise me.

I had a burning fever back then. He wrapped that very jacket around me and held me at the airport gate for hours.

He told me that no matter what happened in the future, he would always run toward me first.

Now, he was still moving just as fast.

Only his direction had changed.

"Chloe, what I said in there—I meant it."

Julian took her wrist.

"What I promised you, I'll take care of tomorrow."

Chloe glanced at me, tears clinging to her eyelashes as if she were wrestling with her conscience.

"Julian, what about..."

Julian finally looked back at me, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Clara is mature. She knows what to ask and what to leave alone."

The words I had swallowed caught in my throat.

Right in front of me, they casually plotted how to kick me out of their lives.

"Julian."

I stood up and called his name.

"Who are you planning to break up with tomorrow?"

His eyes flickered, and he took an instinctive half-step toward me.

"Clara, don't cause a scene here. Chloe just found out she’s pregnant. She can’t take any stress right now."

"Let me get her settled first. Then we’ll talk in private."

Pregnant.

The word dropped like lead, turning the four years I had cherished into a pathetic joke.

"Fine," I nodded. "Then let's break up right now—"

Suddenly, a deafening blast tore through the air behind us.

The propane grill exploded. Flames instantly devoured the neighboring tent.

Within seconds, nearby gas canisters caught the heat and detonated one after another. The sheer concussive blast left my ears ringing violently.

Screaming crowds surged toward the exit.

A flaming metal support beam snapped, falling directly toward me.

I turned to dodge, but the heavy beam slammed into my lower leg. The impact brought me down, driving my knees into the scorching dirt.

"Julian!"

Through the thick black smoke, his eyes locked onto mine.

His hand reached out. His fingers were inches from brushing my shoulder.

Then, right behind him, Chloe cried out, sobbing that her stomach hurt.

Julian snatched his hand back.

Without a second thought, he scooped Chloe up into his arms, shielding her as he pushed toward the narrow escape route.

"Get out of the way! She's pregnant!"

The panicked crowd shoved forward. I braced against the dirt to crawl away, but a heavy dress shoe came crashing down on my injured leg.

A sickening crunch echoed, instantly swallowed by the roar of the fire.

Julian used my broken leg as a stepping stone to vault over the collapsed fence. Chloe, safely cradled in his arms, didn’t catch a single stray ember.

He never looked back.

Half an hour later, the flames were finally put out.

My pant leg was soaked in blood, and cold sweat ran down my skin in sheets.

Only then did Julian wander back over to look for me.

When his eyes landed on my mangled leg, his steps faltered for a second, and he reached out a hand.

Before he could touch me, his phone rang.

Chloe was on the other end, crying hysterically, claiming her lower belly was cramping.

Julian pulled his hand back instantly.

"Everyone else had the sense to run. Why the hell did you just stand there?"

He frowned down at me.

"Chloe is showing signs of a miscarriage. I have to be there for her scans."

"You seem lucid enough. Just make sure to get yourself bandaged up."

I bit my lip so hard that the copper taste of blood filled my mouth. "You left me behind," I forced out.

"Clara, since when did you start pulling these pathetic guilt trips? Don't throw a tantrum now."

He tossed his car keys at my feet.

"Get it patched up and head over. Chloe’s traumatized. Say something nice and comfort her later—don’t make her overthink things."

I didn't pick up the keys, and I flinched away when he tried to reach for me again.

My little brother, Lucas, was still lying in the ICU, waiting on the experimental clinical trial drug that Julian was in charge of.

I couldn't blow everything up yet.

Dragging my broken leg, I climbed into the campsite ambulance alone.

As the doors swung shut, I saw Julian leaning over Chloe, gently zipping up her coat with the exact same tenderness he used to show me every time he walked me home.

Early the next morning, my leg in a fresh cast, I hobbled to the ICU outside Lucas's room.

Chloe was leaning against the doorframe, wearing Julian's oversized white dress shirt.

She tugged casually at the collar, a mocking smile on her lips.

"Clara, let's talk about when you're going to pack your bags and get lost."