Chapter 1

For our graduation trip, my boyfriend Jake chose South Korea, the country where Chloe, his first love, the one he always looked up to, was studying.

I had my reservations, obviously.

He just shrugged it off. “I’m just dropping by to say goodbye to her.”

But once we landed, he completely abandoned me, sick and miserable from the foreign climate.

He rushed off to deal with some “mistake” Chloe made at her part-time job.

And then, he brought her back to our hotel.

“Chloe is so amazing, and just because of a small mistake—using the wrong medicine on a client—her salon is firing her,” he explained, totally oblivious.

“She can’t deal with that kind of injustice. So, Lily, you’ll just have to put up with finding another hotel for tonight.”

I grabbed my luggage and walked.

He had no idea.

This trip was my way of saying goodbye to him too.

Because when it came down to just love, the chasm between his community college and my Ivy League aspirations was simply too vast to cross.

After Jake told me to find another place to stay, Chloe Price, clearly afraid I’d object, bit her lip and chimed in, “Lily and I are different. I’m not some delicate girl who can’t handle hardship.”

“It’s just that I can’t go back to the salon’s staff dorm right now, and it’s too late for the university’s international student dorms, they have a curfew. I literally have nowhere to go.”

“And it’s peak vacation season, hotels are so hard to find. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother you guys.”

I was about to say there was an empty room right next door.

A couple had just checked out.

But before I could even open my mouth, Jake, looking annoyed, cut me off.

“Enough! Stop making things difficult for her. She’s all alone here!”

“Her parents passed away years ago, her family background wasn’t as fortunate as yours.”

“Now she’s having trouble in a foreign country, and I’m all she has left to rely on.”

Chloe seemed deeply touched by his words.

She turned away, secretly wiping tears from her eyes.

Jake looked at her, his eyes filled with such heartache.

So, having a happy family background was a crime now? What else could I possibly say?

Besides, from the moment we landed this evening until now, since Jake had ditched me and rushed off to play the hero, I’d thrown up multiple times due to the change in environment.

Now I was freezing, dizzy, and utterly drained.

I just didn’t have the energy to argue with them.

I packed my bag, pulled my suitcase, and started to leave.

Jake must have sensed my mood.

He took two quick steps, grabbed my arm, and sighed deeply.

“It was just a moment of emotion getting the best of me.”

“When I think about Chloe, and how she, like me, suffered from outsiders’ cold stares because of a tough family, I just lose it a little.”

“You’ll understand, right?”

All I wanted was to end this conversation and find a bed.

So, I just nodded vaguely.

His expression softened.

“Okay, then you go find a new place. Chloe’s pretty shaken up, so I’ll stay and comfort her for a bit.”

“Oh, and leave the spare medicine kit we brought.

“Some unreasonable client splashed water on Chloe, and I’m worried she might catch a cold tonight.”

I frowned, annoyance bubbling up. “Did you forget I’m the one who’s sick from the trip? I need those meds.”

Just then, Chloe let out a very deliberate sneeze.

“Jake, it’s fine, really.”

“Like you, I’m not some delicate, pampered person. A little cold or fever is nothing.”

Her words precisely hit Jake’s ego.

His face turned cold. He yanked my suitcase open, rummaging through it until he found the medicine kit.

“It’s just a few pills. Why are you being so petty?”

“You already took your medicine, didn’t you? I’ll buy you new ones when I come find you later.”

Watching his rough actions, I remembered something my mom once told me.

She said, “You and Jake are from completely different worlds.”

“You’re a confident, sunny rich girl, and he’s a dark, insecure poor kid.”

“And extreme insecurity can make a person incredibly rude.”