Chapter 1

Sixteen years of chasing him, yet his heart remained untouched. Then, one drunken night, I unexpectedly ended up in bed with my sworn enemy.

My rival, tracing the marks I'd left on him, cornered me. "Alex, are you really going to keep running from me for that coward?"

My childhood friend's eyes were red, his voice raw with desperation. "I messed up. Just give me one more chance."

I stood outside the private room at the club.

Clutching the carefully chosen gift, my heart hammered, threatening to burst out of my chest.

It was Liam’s birthday today. My childhood friend.

I'd planned this for an entire month, just to confess my feelings to him on this special day.

My hand had barely touched the doorknob when I heard Liam’s voice from inside.

"Alex? Don't joke around. I've always thought of him like a little brother."

My fingers froze instantly, glued to the doorknob.

"Really? But the way he looks at you is totally different."

Liam chuckled lightly:

"Just a fleeting crush, nothing serious. He’ll get over it eventually. Besides, we’re practically siblings; dating would be weird."

I took two steps back. It felt like my heart shattered into a million pieces inside my chest.

So, all the careful feelings I’d cherished for so many years were just a "fleeting crush" in his eyes?

…

Stepping out of the club, the cold wind hit me, and I realized my face was wet.

My phone vibrated. Liam had sent a message: "Alex, where are you? Everyone's waiting for you."

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then just switched my phone off.

Right then, all I wanted was to find a place to get blackout drunk.