Chapter 1

A flippant male voice came from the private room, edged with amusement. "Come on, Rebecca. You've been playing the broke college student for five years, and you still aren't tired of it?

"And all this for a bet? Just to see if you could land Sebastian, the so-called business prodigy. I've got to hand it to you."

I stopped short, as if struck by lightning.

Right then, another man spoke up. It was Tobias Wright, Rebecca Milton's childhood friend.

"The Grants are on the brink of collapsing. I heard Sebastian even fell out with his family because of you. Poor guy," he commented with a hint of glee.

Then, Tobias changed the subject.

"You're not actually planning to marry him, are you?" he asked tentatively.

The room fell silent at once.

Moments later, my girlfriend, Rebecca, said, "Marry him? Don't be ridiculous. I'm just waiting for him to propose. Then, I'll expose the truth about the bet right there. The look on his face will be priceless."

A chill settled over me as my heart sank.

Tobias let out a soft chuckle. "You've been together for five years, and you're telling me you never felt anything for him?"

"I was just toying with him." Rebecca scoffed. "If he took it seriously, that's his loss. Tobias, you should know who I really love, shouldn't you?"

Her voice softened at the end, full of undisguised affection.

I couldn't feel my limbs as I turned and walked back to the car. Each of my steps was heavier than the last.

…

Neon lights flickered outside the window, but none of it reached me.

Right then, memories came rushing back like a rising tide.

Five years ago, I met Rebecca in a bar. She had been a broke college student working there. After accidentally spilling a drink on a customer, she'd been cornered by a group that started giving her a hard time.

She pressed her lips together stubbornly, defiance written across her face. However, the embarrassment in her eyes gave her away.

I'd just been passing by and stepped in to help her out. From that moment on, she latched onto me.

Rebecca said she had no way to repay me, so she might as well give herself to me.

I had taken it as a joke and never expected her to actually start checking on me constantly. She was attentive in every little way.

When I worked late, she'd wait up with a homemade meal. When I got sick, she'd cross half the city in the pouring rain just to bring me some seafood bisque from my favorite place.

"Seb, you deserve the very best in the world," Rebecca had said.

Even the strongest man couldn't resist that kind of persistence, especially when she was young, beautiful, and so thoughtful.

Before I knew it, I had fallen for her, and we started dating. She was four years younger than me.

I thought we felt the same way about each other. However, in the end, it had all been one-sided from the very beginning.

…

Suddenly, the car door was yanked open. The smell of alcohol, laced with her familiar perfume, flooded in.

Rebecca, who was a little tipsy, slid into the passenger seat and leaned against my shoulder like she always did. She nuzzled closer, soft and affectionate. "Seb, what took you so long? I've been waiting forever."

There was an intimate note of reproach in her voice as she added, "Why didn't you call me when you got here? You had me worried."

I swallowed the storm raging inside me and forced a smile. "I just arrived. Didn't want to interrupt you."

Rebecca didn't notice anything amiss. With a contented sigh, she kissed my cheek. Then, her head tilted, and she fell asleep against my shoulder.

"Tobias… T-Tobias, don't be mad…" she mumbled incoherently.

I smiled. However, the tears came anyway, burning as they slid down my cheeks.