Chapter 1

Chapter 1

During a game of Truth or Dare, my boyfriend's childhood friend lost a round. Her penalty was to pick a guy in the room and date him for a month.

Without hesitation, she chose my boyfriend.

Zach didn't even flinch. He just smiled at me casually and said, "It is just a game, Hadley. Don't be a buzzkill."

The entire VIP room erupted in cheers.

"What is the first thing a new couple does?" someone shouted.

"Make out!"

"Kiss her!"

"At least five minutes!"

I didn't scream or make a scene. Instead, I quietly looked down at the new text on my phone.

"I got accepted into the same university as you."

"A bet is a bet. You have to be my girlfriend now."

I calmly typed back a single word: "Okay."

After sending the text, I looked up.

Zach and Brianna were already wrapped around each other.

Brianna grabbed Zach's collar boldly, pressing her lips against his without a trace of shame.

Zach didn't hold back either. He pulled her flush against his chest, his hands gripping her waist tightly.

They kissed like two starving lovers who couldn't bear to part.

Watching their heated French kiss, the party went wild.

"Holy crap! Zach is a beast!"

"Five minutes are on the clock! Don't stop, I'm watching the timer!"

"Wait, Hadley isn't even jealous? She is way too generous."

Someone sneered in response.

"Does she even dare get mad? If she pisses Zach off, she'll be the one begging on her knees for forgiveness!"

"Zach is truly the man. He has his girlfriend completely trained!"

I froze in place.

Even though I had already decided to walk away from Zach, witnessing this still sent a sharp ache through my chest.

Just at the start of senior year, Zach had made a promise to me under the starry sky.

"Hadley, we will go to the same college. As soon as we graduate, we'll get married, and I'll love you for the rest of my life."

Yet that sacred promise vanished the moment Brianna returned.

Brianna was Zach's childhood friend who had moved away years ago.

On the day she transferred back, she strutted straight up to Zach and threw her arm over his shoulder.

"Hey, puppy. Did you miss your owner?"

When Zach introduced me as his girlfriend, the girl in the micro-skirt gave me a dismissive once-over.

Then, she let out a strange smirk.

"Oh. So this is your type now?"

Her gaze made my skin crawl.

Brianna was undeniably gorgeous, and she knew how to dress.

In the dull routine of senior year, she was like a dazzling burst of sunshine, getting along with everyone.

She was loud, bold, and energetic.

At the school festival, Brianna performed a steamy dance routine that captivated the entire room.

She drew every single pair of eyes, including Zach's.

Back then, I desperately squeezed Zach's hand, trying to hold on to him.

To my shock, Zach pulled his hand away with a frown and walked straight onto the stage.

He wrapped his jacket tightly around Brianna's shoulders.

"You're a girl. What kind of outfit is this to wear in public?"

Brianna stuck out her tongue playfully.

"What is the big deal? I got used to this when I lived abroad."

She glanced at me with a smug grin.

"By the way, shouldn't you be giving your jacket to your girlfriend instead?"

My fingernails dug painfully into my palms.

That night, Zach and I had a massive fight.

I begged him to keep his distance from Brianna.

After all, I was his actual girlfriend.

Zach only looked at me with deep irritation.

"We grew up together. Why should I treat her like a stranger? You are being way too petty and insecure."

But Zach, did you really look at Brianna like she was just a friend?

Zach was usually impatient with everyone, yet he waited in line for three hours just because Brianna casually mentioned craving cake from across town.

To make Brianna happy, he sat in front of his computer for two hours straight just to snag concert tickets for her.

One day, Brianna posted a photo on her social media.

In the picture, Zach, who never even washed a dish at home, was cooking a meal for her in the kitchen.

Her caption read: "I just mentioned feeling a little under the weather, and the young master rushed straight over. Seriously!"

The comment section was filled with people praising their sweet bond.

We had another blowout fight over that post.

That fight led to an icy, month-long silent treatment.

It wasn't until my birthday that Zach finally reached out, saying he wanted to give me a surprise.

Clinging to my very last shred of hope, I showed up at the party.

Who would have thought that his surprise was agreeing to be Brianna's boyfriend for a month?