Chapter 3

News that I got together with Ethan spread faster than the news that I'd dumped Luke. The campus lit up with gossip.

"Oh God! Did Natasha lose her mind? Dumping Luke for Ethan?"

"Does she seriously think Ethan is the same kind of nice guy Luke was? Just wait—by day three, she'll be begging for mercy."

"I'm giving it a week before she comes crawling back to Luke in tears."

I was the hot topic of the week, and every single person was betting on when I'd go down. And Luke, the guy I had dumped without a shred of hesitation, finally lost it when he heard the news.

He stormed into my classroom, his eyes glassy, and he was seething. He questioned me in front of everyone. "Natasha, what the hell are you doing?"

He pointed straight at me, every word dripping with betrayal. "Did you break up with me just to be with Ethan? Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Before I could say anything, Sarah jumped in, looking absolutely heartbroken.

"Luke, calm down." She grabbed Luke's arm but turned on me, playing the know-it-all bestie.

She continued, "Nat, how could you be so stupid? You've got a great guy like Luke, and you dump him just to mess with Ethan? He's not even worth it!

"As your best friend, and even if you hate me for it, I'm not gonna stand here and watch you ruin yourself without saying something."

She played the part of the righteous friend, all conviction, like she was really looking out for me. The rest of our classmates around us started chiming in.

"Exactly, Natasha. Sarah is right. You should break up with Ethan."

"Luke's been nothing but good to you. Don't be stupid."

I took in the whole ridiculous scene and almost laughed. "Luke, it's over between us. Why can't I start a new life?"

Then, I turned to Sarah and gave her a look full of sarcasm. "And you, Sarah. Why are you so far up in my business?"

Sarah's face went pale. She hadn't expected me to call her out in front of everyone.

Luke was shaking, so angry he couldn't even speak. Then, a male's voice cut through the room. "Since when is it your job to lecture my girlfriend?"

Ethan leaned against the doorway with his hands in his pockets, cool as ever, as his gaze swept the room. He walked over at an unhurried pace, slipping in front of me like it was the most natural thing in the world to block me from view.

His gaze landed on Luke, and his first words were pure venom. "Losing to me isn't exactly shameful.

"Let's be real. Whether it's family background, looks, or anything else, you don't even come close. So instead of standing here barking like some sore loser, go ask yourself why you got dumped."

Luke's face went crimson from the humiliation. He shot me a glare sharp enough to cut glass before turning and storming out.

That was when I noticed Sarah's gaze was locked on Luke. It was more intense than they had ever been on Luke.

I smirked. Sarah had taken the bait.

From that day onwards, she stopped trying to push me back toward Luke. Instead, she started working to "help" my relationship with Ethan.

She fed him everything she thought she knew about me—my favorite colors, my tastes, even the type of guy I supposedly liked. And the wildest part was that Ethan actually listened to her. He molded himself into the perfect boyfriend.

It wasn't until a class dinner that Sarah finally made her move—locking Ethan and me in an empty private room after I'd had a little too much to drink.

Just before she shut the door, she glanced back at me with a smile full of hidden meaning.

She thought that after tonight, Ethan's feelings for me would hit their peak. Then, she could just sit back, bide her time, and steal every ounce of that love for herself.

She wasn't wrong. But what she didn't know was that I had been waiting for this moment, too.