Chapter 1

The boy I had been secretly in love with for four years asked me to bring a box of Trojan ultra-thins to his hotel room.

Over the past four years, he and his first love broke up and got back together countless times. Every time they fought, he would come to me, crying and saying I was the only one who truly understood him.

But the moment they made up, he would instantly block me on Snapchat, leaving only one cold sentence: "Let's not talk anymore. Veronica gets jealous."

Until the day before graduation, he called me. "It's completely over between her and me. Let's be together."

Holding that box of condoms, I knocked on his hotel door, my palms sweating from nerves.

The door opened.

Veronica stepped out from behind him, laughing so hard she could barely stand straight. "You actually came?"

Ethan’s eyes darted away in guilt, but he instinctively blocked her behind his back.

I smiled and raised the plastic bag in my hand.

"How are you going to pay for the delivery fee?"

Ethan froze. Complete shock registered on his handsome face.

His mouth opened slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing as if something was lodged in his throat.

Veronica's laughter cut off mid-air. Her expression became complicated.

She tilted her head, sizing me up with a mix of scrutiny and a smugness she couldn't quite hide.

I knew that look all too well.

"Wow, Chloe Brooks..." Veronica dragged out her words, her voice sickeningly sweet. "You really are on call 24/7, aren't you?"

I stood my ground, lightly shaking the bag in my hand.

Ethan finally spoke, his voice raspy. "Chloe, it's not what you think."

"Oh? What is it then?" I smiled. "What did you think I thought?"

He looked down, his eyelashes trembling.

I had seen that guilty expression too many times. Every time he unblocked me on Snapchat, every time he said he was sorry, he looked exactly like this.

In the past, my heart would soften. I would make excuses for him, thinking he had his own struggles, feeling happy just to be needed.

But not anymore.

Veronica wrapped her arm around Ethan’s, leaning her entire body against him like a cat that had just stolen cream.

"Ethan just wanted to test how much you actually like him. I didn't expect you to actually show up, and with... that." Her eyes fell on the bag, her lips curling up. "Chloe, are you really that desperate to throw yourself at him?"

Some hotel guests passed by in the hallway, giving us curious glances.

I didn't get angry. Honestly, I found it a little funny.

Four years of humiliation suddenly felt so light at this moment. So light that I couldn't even remember a single line of the tearful speeches I used to rehearse.

"A test?" I rolled the words on my tongue. "So, you two were just bored and decided to play me for a fool?"

Ethan snapped his head up. "It wasn't a test! Chloe, let me explain—"

"Ethan, what are you doing?" Veronica pouted in annoyance. "Didn't you say it yourself? She’s just too clingy, and you needed to make her give up once and for all."

Those words were meant to be a knife to my heart. But strangely, I didn't feel any pain.

I looked at Ethan, waiting for him to say something.

True to form, he didn't deny Veronica's words. He just frowned, his eyes dodging mine as his lips parted. Finally, he muttered:

"Veronica, stop it."

"Why should I?" Veronica lifted her chin proudly. "Chloe, who do you think you are? Every time Ethan fought with me, he complained to you because he knew you were an easy target. Did you really think he liked you? He just felt sorry for you."

The warm yellow hallway lights illuminated Veronica's delicate, doll-like face.

Ethan stood beside her. His tall frame semi-shielded her—an instinctive gesture that hurt more than any words ever could.

He was protecting her. He was afraid I would hurt her.

But really, who could I hurt?

I was just a backup girl he had ordered around for four years.

"Done talking?" I raised the bag right in front of their faces. "That'll be fifty dollars for the delivery."

Ethan was stunned. He clearly hadn't expected me to be this calm.

His gaze fell on the bag, then drifted back to my face, as if searching for any crack in my composure.

Veronica sneered. "Are you seriously asking for money?"

"Why wouldn't I?" I tilted my head. "I just put on a show for you guys. If I don't charge, wouldn't I be losing out?"

Ethan’s face went pale. He reached out to grab my arm. "Chloe, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."

"Don't touch me." I stepped back. My voice wasn't loud, but it was freezing cold.

His hand froze in mid-air, a flash of hurt in his eyes.

I used to feel bad seeing him look like that. Now, it just made me sick.