Chapter 2

Within a week, Daniel landed a flood of brand deals. One of them was a well-known couples' jewelry brand that specifically requested Daniel and Evelyn for a two-person ad campaign.

The moment I saw the campaign proposal, I made it clear to Evelyn that I wasn't comfortable with it. "I don't care if you don't credit me, but at least make it clear on your account that you have a boyfriend."

Evelyn was adjusting her dress when she paused at my words and gave me a reproachful look. "It's just work. You know Daniel and I have known each other for ten years. How are you still getting jealous over something like this?"

Daniel happened to walk in at that moment. The second he heard me, his expression darkened. "Evan, if you clarify things now, the brand will think we're deliberately trying to stir up publicity. The deal will fall through."

He frowned at me. "My career is finally starting to take off. Do you really have to ruin it for me now?"

Evelyn immediately went to his side and quietly reassured him before turning to me with a cold look. "I'll do something about it once the hype dies down. You've been with me for four years. Do you really need some fake relationship status online to prove that I'm your boyfriend?"

I watched her defend Daniel and said nothing.

At that moment, I knew I didn't need any more proof of where her heart lay. It was already painfully obvious who she would choose.

On the day of the campaign shoot, Daniel specifically asked me to get behind the camera again. "Evan knows us better than anyone. He'll know how to capture the right chemistry," he said.

The ad was built around the two of them revisiting their college days, reenacting a love story that went from school uniforms to wedding attire.

Through my viewfinder, I watched Evelyn reach up to straighten Daniel's collar, looking at him with a tenderness that made my chest ache.

The crew around them immediately started cheering.

"That's so sweet! Real couples are the best!"

I kept my camera trained on them, watching as they embraced through the viewfinder. I could feel a dull ache spread through my chest.

Halfway through the shoot, I lowered my camera. "This has gone beyond a normal friendship-themed ad. You're crossing a line."

I looked at Evelyn. Her expression hardened immediately, especially with everyone watching. "Evan, there are people from the brand waiting on us. Don't bring your personal feelings into work."

Daniel hurried over, pretending to mediate. "Maybe we should just call it off. I don't want you two fighting because of me. I'll pay the cancellation fee if I have to."

The moment he said that, everyone on set started looking at me like I was the unreasonable one.

Evelyn gave me a cold look. "Are you going to shoot, or are you leaving?"

I didn't want to delay production or drag the innocent crew into our mess, so I raised my camera again.

When the shoot ended, a sudden downpour hit.

Evelyn quickly opened an umbrella and tilted it almost entirely toward Daniel, leaving half of her own body exposed to the rain as she shielded him beneath it.

Then she turned to me and said flatly, "There are too many pieces of equipment in the back seat. There's no room for you, so just get a cab home. If you stand out in the rain any longer, you'll get sick."

I stood beneath the awning and watched their car disappear down the road.

Suddenly, I remembered the winter of my sophomore year, when I had a 102-degree fever. Evelyn had told me over the phone, "You're an adult. You need to learn how to take care of yourself. Just visit a doctor."

But now, Daniel only had to sneeze once for her to forget everything she'd ever told me about taking care of myself.

When I got back to my dorm, I contacted the video platform's support team and submitted proof of copyright ownership, along with the original project files. I requested that all licensing for the footage and narration used in "The Friendship We Shared" be revoked.

As soon as I finished, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Evelyn.

"Daniel's hosting a celebration livestream tomorrow night. Get there early to set up the lights. Don't keep everyone waiting."

I stared at the message for a while. I didn't accuse her or argue. I simply replied with one word.

"Okay."