Chapter 4

I lay draped over the edge of the pool, my mind a tangled mess, but on my face, I had to pretend everything was fine.

Valerie swam over and poked my waist.

"Babe, what's wrong? You've been totally distracted all night."

"Nothing, just a little tired." I feigned nonchalance.

There was no way I could let her know that my sweet online boyfriend was actually her cousin.

If that got out, it would be social suicide.

I grabbed my phone from the poolside. The moment I unlocked it, message notifications exploded.

Holy smokes, 99+ unread messages, all from [Golden Retriever Boyfriend].

I tapped it open. The latest few messages were:

"Sis, please talk to me (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)"

"Sis, I was wrong, I was really wrong. Just one word, please, just one…"

Scrolling up further, there was a string of rambling apologies:

"Sis, tonight some lady bumped into me. I didn't mean to have physical contact with anyone else, you have to believe me, sis (╥﹏╥)"

"Sis, why aren't you replying to my messages? Do you think I'm dirty now?"

"Sis, I messed up, I swear I won't let anyone touch me ever again! I promise!"

"Sis, don't leave me!"

I stared at the messages, my feelings a swirl of conflicting emotions, like a messy palette. I was angry, speechless, and just a tiny bit soft-hearted.

Online, he was 'sis, sis,' all sweet and doting. In real life, it was 'Ma'am, have some self-respect'?

Okay, fine. Very well. Little punk, two different personalities online and off, huh? This "Ma'am" was about to teach him a lesson.

A mischievous, vengeful idea suddenly sparked in my mind.

I took a deep breath, then turned to Valerie, who was busy with her camera, getting ready to take my pool photos.

"Valerie, didn't you say you had one of those… really hot, super figure-hugging swimsuits?"

Valerie's eyes instantly lit up. "Oh yeah, I do, sis! Wait right here, I'll go grab it for you."

A moment later, she returned, holding a tiny scrap of fabric, presenting it like a treasure.

I gasped. It was a barely-there red bikini, incredibly daring in design, held together by just a few thin strings.

"Isn't this… a bit too much?" I hesitated.

"Too much for what, babe? It'd be a crime not to show off that body! You've got the chest, the waist, the legs! You've been hiding it all away, it's a tragedy! Come on, let me touch!"

She pounced, grabbed a quick feel of my chest, and exclaimed,

"Wow, the feel of this! Ugh, tomorrow, that lucky jerk is in for a treat!"

I gave a dry laugh, not responding. If only you knew who that jerk was, you wouldn't be saying that.

Under Valerie's expert photography skills, a set of sizzling, sexy poolside photos was fresh out of the camera.

Water droplets rolled down my skin, disappearing into alluring curves.

Under the lights, my skin glowed, every shot filled with temptation.

I picked out the sexiest one, cropping out my head.

With a sense of vengeful glee, I opened [Golden Retriever Boyfriend]'s chat, and hit send. I wondered what expression that cool, arrogant boy from earlier would have when he saw this photo.

I clutched my phone, my heart racing, a little excited at the thought of my prank succeeding.

However, time ticked by, and it just kept showing "Jaxon is typing...) but no message came through.

Just as I was wondering what was up, Valerie's phone rang.

She casually put it on speaker, "Hello? Mom, what's up? We're taking pictures…"

On the other end, Aunt Valerie's voice was frantic, almost tearful:

"Valerie! Come down quickly! Something terrible has happened!"

Valerie jumped. "What is it, Mom? Tell me slowly!"

"Your cousin, your cousin suddenly got a nosebleed! It's gushing, won't stop at all, we've gone through so many tissue packs, it's terrifying! Come see him, quick!"