Chapter 2

The university gave graduates one week to clear out of the dorms.

The moment I stepped inside, my roommates swarmed me:

"How did it go, Rachel? Did Ethan finally give you the romantic proposal we've all been waiting for?"

Ethan was known for being extravagant.

For his club's anniversary, he paid for a group trip for all the members.

He pumped massive amounts of cash into club events without batting an eye.

Yet what made everyone desperate to be around him was the drone show he pulled off for Chloe's birthday—ten thousand drones lighting up the night sky.

When that happened, I was quietly preparing to confess to him for the second time. My heart had shattered into pieces.

The next morning in class, someone asked him:

"With a show that huge last night, are you in love with Chloe or what?"

Ethan had playfully punched the guy's arm and laughed loudly:

"What are you talking about? She's my bestie! If you were my best friend, I'd do the same for you!"

He was willing to give the world to his "platonic friend," but to me, the girl chasing after him, he couldn't even spare a single word of affection.

I forced a smile and replied to my roommates:

"What proposal? We aren't even officially together."

Yet my roommates had all been there the day Ethan handed me that letter.

They had hugged me with tears in their eyes, saying:

"Love really does pay off, Rachel! You finally got him!"

My roommates stopped asking.

I went into the bathroom to wash my face, feeling an overwhelming weight on my chest.

Through the door, their hushed whispers drifted in:

"Don't bring it up anymore. Chloe just posted a Snap Story—she's staying at Ethan's place tonight."

"What is wrong with him? He's making Rachel look like a complete idiot!"

I turned the doorknob, and they immediately fell dead silent.

I crawled into bed, shivering despite the blanket. It took all my courage to open the app.

Right on cue, a message from Chloe popped up:

"Sorry about tonight! Borrowing your boyfriend for a bit."

"He's honestly so sweet. I couldn't even stand up in the shower just now, so he waited outside the door the whole time. He almost came in to wash my hair for me!"

Her public story was a photo of her resting her head on Ethan's chest, looking sleepy and flushed:

"Lucky to have my bestie crash with when wasted, otherwise I'd be sleeping on the streets lol."

That penthouse downtown was gorgeous.

Chloe had been there countless times. I had never been invited once.

Once, a guy teased Ethan about it:

"You've got that luxury apartment sitting right there. Why do you never bring girls over?"

"It's my home, not a hotel. Nobody gets in except my future wife."

"Come on, Chloe's there all the time!"

Ethan understood the teasing, his cheeks turning red as he muttered:

"She's different!"

And now, Chloe was publicly claiming her "different" status for everyone to see.

Meanwhile, as his supposed girlfriend, I didn't even have the right to be angry.