Chapter 1

I didn’t go straight home.

If I went back now, my parents would start asking why I had turned in my papers so early.

And if my dad found out that Jason Turner had held onto my exam ticket and ID outside the hall, he would have marched straight to the Turner house demanding an explanation.

Too much trouble either way.

Besides, I had already secured an Early Admission spot at Harvard University. Today’s college entrance exam was just a formality.

Since Jason could calculate even our eighteen-year-long friendship for Summer, I realized that today I had finally seen his true colors.

I turned and walked into a café across from the exam hall, planning to sit there for a while.

I’d head home after the exam ended, pretending I had taken it like everyone else.

About fifteen minutes before the last subject was scheduled, two familiar figures emerged from the school gate.

Jason and Summer had already turned in their papers.

Hand in hand, they looked completely at ease, smiling as if nothing could touch them.

Reporters waiting outside immediately raised their microphones.

“You two submitted early. Confident about the exam? Do you have a dream college in mind?”

Jason glanced at Summer, his gaze soft enough to melt steel.

“The questions weren’t hard. We agreed that we’d both get into Cornell.”

Summer blushed and nodded lightly, leaning slightly against him, like a little bird perched on a branch.

I bit my straw and stared at the perfect couple on the screen, a strange ache settling in my chest.

Eighteen years. My childhood friend.

I had always believed that even if he grew close to Summer, the class beauty, and even developed feelings for her in high school, our place in each other’s hearts would remain special.

In sophomore year, some jealous girls had spread rumors that I was obsessively chasing him, trying to come between him and Summer.

When Jason found out, he kicked over a desk in front of the whole class.

Pointing at the girls, he shouted,

“Emily is my childhood friend. If anyone dares to spread lies about her again, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

At the time, I was certain I had a place in his heart.

But now it seemed that had only been an act to maintain his image as loyal and sentimental.

The café doorbell jingled.

I snapped out of my thoughts and met Jason’s gaze. He had finished the interview.

Jason paused, then curled his lips into a mocking smile.

“I thought you’d fail and run home crying to your parents.

“What, hiding out here? Afraid of getting scolded?”

Summer tugged gently at his sleeve and spoke softly,

“Jason, don’t say that to Emily. She’s probably upset right now.”

Watching them move in perfect harmony, a wave of nausea hit me.

“Upset?” I leaned back in my chair, coldly staring at him.

“Why would I be upset over people like you?”