Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My best friend and my boyfriend never got along. They even had shouting matches that almost turned physical on multiple occasions.

I used to believe those online relationship tips saying having strict boundaries between your bestie and your man was healthy, so I never suspected a thing.

Until a weekend getaway, when I caught them making out passionately against a secluded hallway wall.

Whitney wrapped her arms around Logan's neck, giggling between kisses. "Hailey, that idiot, really thinks we hate each other. She has no idea how many motel rooms we've booked behind her back."

"Every time we fake a fight, she rushes over with expensive gifts to apologize to me. What a complete fool."

"Don't you dare break up with her yet, though. Where else am I going to get this kind of thrill?"

Listening to her ruthless mockery, a bone-chilling shiver ran down my spine. I quietly raised my phone and aimed the camera right at them.

If you two love making me part of your sick foreplay so much, fine.

Don't blame me for playing you right back.

The wet, messy sounds inside the room continued. My fingers trembled as my brain struggled to process the scene.

My best friend, Whitney, was sleeping with my boyfriend, Logan.

Weren't they like oil and water, ready to tear each other apart every time they met?

Yet their intimate whispers reminded me that this nightmare was entirely real.

"Relax. If I dump her now, who's going to secure your graduate fellowship recommendation?" Logan chuckled.

"She told me a couple of days ago that her research paper is almost finished. When the time comes, I'll steal the file for you so you can lock in that top scholarship."

Whitney's eyes lit up with delight, and she kissed him eagerly.

"Logan, you're the best! Hailey has such an amazing guy, yet she ignores you to live in the campus library. She really doesn't know what she has."

"Still... once she's done with finals, she'll have plenty of time for you. You won't dump me for her, right?"

"Her?" Logan scoffed as if he had just heard the dumbest joke on earth.

"I've been sick of her for months. We've been together for over a year, and she won't even let me sleep with her. Kissing her is like kissing a wooden board."

"A boring, prude girl like her can't compare to my sweet Whitney. If it weren't for your scholarship, I would have dumped her ass on the spot!"

He sounded genuinely indignant, which made Whitney giggle with delight.

Outside the door, the blood in my veins ran ice-cold.

How could this happen?

The sweet sisterhood and loving relationship I cherished were nothing more than a hilarious joke to them.

Everything had been a lie.

I fought the urge to barge in and confront them. Stumbling backward, I slipped quietly back to my room.

I didn't sleep a wink that night.

When I woke up the next morning, my eyes were swollen like walnuts, framed by heavy dark circles.

Whitney rushed over with fake concern the moment she saw me in the kitchen.

"Hailey, what happened to you? Didn't you sleep well?"

"I bet... Logan's snoring kept you awake, didn't it? I told you we shouldn't have brought him on this trip. It should have just been a girls' getaway, but you wouldn't listen!"

"Excuse me, Whitney, what's your problem?" Logan snapped, playing his role right on cue. "Hailey is my girlfriend. Of course I came along to look after her. You're the third wheel here, so why do you always stick your nose where it doesn't belong?"

Here they went again.

I couldn't even remember when their constant bickering had started.

At first, I thought they were just overly protective of me and both wanted one-on-one time. I used to feel touched by how much they seemed to care.

I had even planned trips like this one just to help them resolve their differences.

Now I knew the constant fighting was just a cover for their dirty affair.

The entire time, I was the clueless clown caught in the middle.

As their fake argument escalated, I stayed unusually quiet and didn't step in to mediate.

Logan was the first to act fed up, storming out of the cabin.

The moment he left, Whitney sat beside me and launched into her usual breakup speech.

"Hailey, look at his temper! A guy with anger issues like that will eventually get violent with you!"

"We're best friends. Would I ever steer you wrong? I just can't bear watching you walk into a disaster!"

The worry in her eyes looked so genuine. I used to fall for that act every single time, truly believing she was looking out for me.

Now that I knew the truth, every word coming out of her mouth made me want to throw up.

Seeing that I didn't respond, Whitney put on her usual disappointed expression.

"Seriously? You still don't want to break up? What kind of spell did Logan put on you?"

"Let me tell you right now, if you don't dump him this time, we're done as friends!"

She threw out the ultimatum with a huff and deliberately moved to the other couch to scroll through her phone.

Within minutes, she made sure a three-hundred-dollar designer skincare set popped up on her screen.

She kept glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, waiting for me to take the hint.

I almost laughed out loud from pure rage.

It was always the same routine. Every time she and Logan fought, she would casually show me something expensive she wanted.

Terrified of losing her friendship, I would buy whatever it was, begging her not to hold a grudge against Logan.

AirPods, designer clothes, high-end makeup―I had practically funded her entire lifestyle under that pretext.

This time, though, I just looked away and tapped "Not Interested" on my own feed.

I hadn't even figured out how to get back all the money those two scumbags had conned out of me. Did she really think I'd keep throwing cash at her?

Not a chance in hell.