Chapter 3

3

Jace and I grew up in the same neighborhood.

We were childhood playmates until our parents both died in the line of duty during a mission.

After that, he went to live with his uncle, and I was sent to my grandmother’s house.

We lost contact for years.

It wasn't until college that we met again.

I was studying forensics, and he was at the police academy right next to my school.

He told me he recognized me the moment he saw me.

Reconnecting with a childhood friend in a strange city felt like fate.

We were incredibly close.

It didn't take long for him to tell me how he felt.

Jace was magnetic back then―cold, handsome, and the target of every girl’s affection.

I fell for him, too. It felt natural to become his girlfriend.

But then, Serena appeared.

She was different from the rest of us.

She came from a wealthy family and knew exactly how to use her fragility as a weapon.

Even worse, she had her sights set on my boyfriend.

The first sign of trouble was at a department party.

Jace wanted me to meet his friends.

Serena showed her hostility toward me immediately, dropping snide remarks throughout the night.

I wasn't the type to take her crap, and I shut her down every time she opened her mouth.

By the end of dinner, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

I didn't think much of it until Jace spoke up afterward.

“Serena is just young and spoiled. You should be more patient with her.

Why did you have to argue with her like that?”

He thought I was being paranoid and dramatic.

He saw nothing wrong with Serena’s behavior.

I was furious that my own boyfriend was taking someone else’s side.

That day, we had our first real fight.

It took three months for us to make up.

After that, we had countless cold wars because of her.

We almost broke up several times.

Things only got better when she finally moved abroad.