Chapter 2

Even now, Sienna could still vividly remember the first time she'd met Tristan.

It was her first day of high school after moving from a small town to the city.

She was on the bus when she searched through her pockets and realized her wallet had been stolen.

The driver snapped impatiently, “If you can't pay, get off!”

The other passengers stared at her, whispering and pointing.

Sienna's face burned with embarrassment. She had no idea what to do when someone behind her suddenly held out a coin.

“I'll pay for her.”

Sienna turned around.

A boy stood behind her.

He was tall and handsome, with deep-set eyes and a straight nose. There was something cool and effortlessly sophisticated about him that set him apart from everyone else.

She hurriedly thanked him.

He merely glanced at her and said, “No problem.”

Then he walked to the back of the bus, put on his headphones, and gazed out the window.

It had been only a fleeting encounter.

But for Sienna, that single moment was enough to brighten an otherwise lonely adolescence.

She later learned that he was Tristan Lawrence, one of the most popular boys at their school.

He had excellent grades, came from a wealthy family, and was incredibly handsome.

Countless girls had crushes on him.

But there was already someone just as dazzling by his side.

Willa Bennett.

She was the prettiest and most popular girl in school.

Together, Tristan and Willa were the school's golden couple. Everyone knew they were deeply in love.

Sienna had no choice but to bury her newly blossoming feelings, turning them into a long, silent crush.

She watched Tristan shower Willa with affection.

And she watched Willa take his love for granted, growing increasingly demanding and careless with his feelings.

After graduation, Willa decided to study abroad.

She wasn't interested in a long-distance relationship, so she broke up with Tristan.

No matter how desperately he tried to convince her to stay, even lowering himself to beg, Willa refused to change her mind.

In the end, she wheeled her suitcase through airport security without looking back.

Tristan stood outside the airport all night, motionless as a statue that had lost its soul.

Not long afterward, Tristan approached Sienna.

They were on the rooftop of one of the school buildings.

Leaning against the railing, he asked in a hoarse voice, “Sienna, would you want to be my girlfriend?”

Sienna's heart pounded so violently that she thought it might burst out of her chest.

But she wasn't stupid.

She knew exactly why Tristan had chosen her.

Because out of everyone at their high school, Sienna was the person Willa hated most.

Willa had always been the prettiest girl in school.

That changed during the senior-year talent showcase.

Sienna had finally taken off her thick black-framed glasses and cut the bangs that had hidden half her face.

For the first time, everyone saw just how beautiful she really was.

She instantly stole Willa's spotlight and became the school's new beauty queen.

Willa had never forgiven her for it.

For an entire semester, she'd gone out of her way to make Sienna's life miserable.

So when Tristan asked Sienna out, she knew it wasn't because he loved her.

He was trying to get back at Willa.

By dating the girl Willa hated most, he hoped to make her jealous enough to return home.

Sienna knew all of that.

But she still said yes.

They stayed together for eight years.

Throughout those years, Sienna poured everything she had into loving Tristan.

Meanwhile, Willa never came back.

As the years passed, Tristan gradually seemed to accept that Willa was gone for good.

He finally began returning Sienna's affection.

He remembered her favorite foods.

He stayed by her side when she was sick.

He sent her flowers whenever she performed onstage.

Sienna believed things were finally getting better.

A month ago, she'd even discovered a diamond ring in Tristan's jacket pocket.

Her name was engraved inside the band.

Her heart skipped a beat before racing wildly.

An overwhelming wave of happiness and excitement swept through her.

He was going to propose!

She carefully put the ring back where she'd found it and pretended she knew nothing.

But for the rest of the day, she could barely concentrate on anything.

She couldn't stop smiling.

Sure enough, Tristan came home unusually early that evening.

He even cooked a candlelit dinner himself.

It hadn't turned out particularly well, but Sienna couldn't have cared less.

The atmosphere was romantic, and after a few glasses of wine, they found themselves wrapped in each other's arms, falling onto the bed.

But just as they were making love, at the height of their intimacy, Tristan's phone vibrated.

He glanced at the screen.

And at the very moment he climaxed, a name escaped his lips.

“Willa.”

Sienna went rigid.

She picked up his phone.

The screen was still lit, displaying a text message from Willa Bennett.

Just two words.

I'm back.

In that instant, Sienna felt as though her entire world had shattered around her.

She held up his phone, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

“After all this time, you still haven't gotten over her?”

Tristan said nothing.

He reached for the pack of cigarettes on the nightstand, took one out, and lit it.

The glowing tip flickered in the darkness, illuminating his expressionless profile.

His silence was crueler than any answer.

“Tristan!” Sienna raised her voice. “Answer me!”

He took several irritated drags and exhaled a cloud of pale smoke.

Then he looked at her through the haze.

“Enough, Sienna! Didn't you know I was in love with Willa before you agreed to date me?”

Sienna froze.

Tristan got out of bed, dressed, and turned to leave.

But when he reached the doorway, he stopped.

He pulled the diamond ring out of his pocket and glanced at it.

Then he tossed it into the trash.

Clink!

The sharp sound echoed through the room.

Sienna watched the ring disappear beneath the garbage.

It felt as though someone had driven a knife straight through her heart.

So Willa had always been the one.

The woman he'd never spoken about, yet never truly forgotten.

One text from her was enough to make him call out his ex-girlfriend's name while making love to his current girlfriend.

And two simple words, I'm back, were enough to make him abandon his plans to propose.

In that moment, Sienna finally gave up on him.

That very night, she applied to join her theater company's international tour.

But the next day, Tristan returned with expensive gifts.

He explained that he'd had too much to drink, lost control of his emotions, and said things he hadn't meant.

He apologized and told her not to take his words to heart.

But looking at him, Sienna found the whole thing laughable.

She knew he hadn't come back because he felt guilty.

He'd returned because his pride wouldn't allow him to humble himself before Willa and beg her to come back, the way he had eight years ago.

So he needed Sienna to remain his girlfriend.

She was a bargaining chip, a tool he could use in his silent battle with Willa, hoping to force her to be the first one to give in.

But Sienna wasn't anyone's backup plan.

And she certainly wasn't a tool.

She'd been foolish enough to fall for it once.

Once was more than enough.