Chapter 2

Did Sean mean that he still wanted to keep our arrangement?

I was baffled by his confidence. Given his ability, I would starve to death if he were two-timing.

"Leave me alone," I quickly said. "Just focus on the campus belle. We can remain as ordinary friends."

Truthfully, I had wanted to end things with Sean for a while. His performance had always left much to be desired. Still, because we'd been childhood friends, I couldn't bring myself to say it outright.

Another reason was that finding a hassle-free partner these days wasn't easy. That was why I had dragged this out for so long.

Hearing that he was about to get into a relationship was honestly a relief.

However, he seemed to have misunderstood.

"Nessa, are you playing hard to get now? That isn't like you. Have you forgotten how obsessed you are with me?

"Stop playing tricks. I don't have time to coax you right now. And remember, don't call me later. Rachel's different from you—she's really innocent. I don't want her to misunderstand."

With that, he hurried out the door.

"Hey!" I shouted after him. "Are you insane?"

The only reason I clung to him was that I was never fully satisfied whenever we hooked up, so I had no choice but to go for more rounds. I had even suggested he try being less vanilla, but that only offended him.

"Why are you always so troublesome?" he had complained back then.

Since we'd grown up together, I held my tongue to spare his fragile ego.

Who would've thought that the boy who once promised to marry me would grow into such a scumbag in college?

I couldn't believe the nerve he had, juggling two women at once when he was so utterly lacking.

Muttering curses under my breath, I figured that I had no choice but to pleasure myself. But just as my hand moved downward, a sound came from the door.

I was stunned. Did Sean come back?

I quickly threw on a silk nightrobe and went to answer the door. As I stepped out of the bedroom, the door opened. The first thing I saw was a pair of legs in gray sweatpants.

My gaze fell on a man in a white T-shirt, his expression cold and unreadable. It was Sean's housemate, Chad Huxley.

He stared at me as if I owed him money.

I had been to Sean's place countless times, yet Chad had never once greeted me warmly. I had no idea how I had offended him.

Still, I had no intention of tolerating his attitude. I couldn't even be bothered to greet him.

Just as I turned to leave, the comments appeared again.

"This is hilarious. The second male lead is practically burning with desire at the sight of the female lead in a nightrobe, yet he must pretend he feels nothing. He's like a grumpy little puppy!"

"The female lead should definitely shift her attention to the second male lead. Every time she goes over to her childhood sweetheart's place, the second male lead ends up taking a cold shower. Poor guy."

"The second male lead might struggle with his urges, but he's only attracted to the female lead. When she failed to win the main guy back and left, he was devastated and even fell into depression. The angst is killing me."

I stopped short.

So the comments said that Chad, who had always treated me with cold indifference, actually had a secret crush on me?

A guy who struggled with his urges...

Unbidden thoughts rushed in, and I swallowed hard. My eyes lit up as I studied Chad's chiseled features and long legs.

I wondered how well-equipped he was.

With that thought, I leaned against the doorframe and tilted forward slightly, letting my robe fall looser at the neckline. I was seducing him on purpose.

"Chad, does my nightrobe look good?"

He fell silent for a moment before looking away.

"No," he said flatly. "It's too revealing."