บททั้งหมดของ My Ex's Best Friend Is My Fake Boyfriend: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.Someone had threatened Ethan.Because of me.I stared at him, waiting for him to say it was some terrible joke.He didn't.“Who?” I asked again.Ethan looked away.“I can't.”My heart sank.“You brought me here to tell me the truth, and now you're saying you can't?”“It's not that simple.”“Then make it simple.”Jake stepped forward.“Ethan, you need to tell her.”Ethan looked at him.“You don't understand what you're asking me to do.”“Yes, I do.”“No, you don't.”Jake's jaw tightened.“I've been carrying this secret too.”I looked between them.“Both of you knew?”Neither answered.That hurt more than anything.I stepped back.“You both knew someone threatened me, and neither of you told me?”“Emma—” Jake started.“No.”I held up my hand.“I don't want excuses.”Ethan looked ashamed.“I was trying to protect you.”“Everyone keeps saying that.”My voice cracked.“But nobody actually thinks I'm strong enough to know the truth.”Jake moved close

The next morning, I almost didn't go to school.I stood in front of my mirror, staring at my reflection.For the first time in weeks, I didn't recognize the girl looking back at me.My hair was messy.My eyes were tired.And there was a knot in my stomach that wouldn't disappear.The envelope from last night was still sitting on my desk.I hadn't opened it.After Jake told me to leave it alone, I'd shoved it into my drawer and locked it.I didn't want another secret.I already had enough.My phone buzzed.Jake: Good morning. Are you ready?I stared at the message.Me: Not really.His reply came quickly.Jake: I'll come with you.I smiled faintly.Then another notification appeared.This time, it was from the school gossip page.My smile disappeared.There was a new post.THE TRUTH ABOUT EMMA AND JAKE.My hands went cold.I opened it.The post said:Apparently, Emma planned the entire fake relationship just to make Ethan jealous. Jake was only part of her revenge plan.Underneath were

By Monday morning, everyone knew.Jake and I were officially together.Not fake.Not for Ethan.Not to make anyone jealous.Just us.And somehow, that made everything feel more frightening.Before, I could always hide behind the excuse that none of it was real.Now I couldn't.When Jake met me at the school entrance, he smiled and reached for my hand.I took it.Immediately, I heard whispers.“There they are.”“They're actually together now.”“Do you think they'll last?”I tried to ignore them.Jake leaned closer.“Don't listen.”“I’m trying.”“You're doing fine.”I smiled.“Thanks.”We walked toward the lockers together.Then someone called my name.“Emma.”I turned.Ryan stood behind us, holding a basketball under one arm.“Hey.”He smiled.“Are you coming to the game Friday?”I hesitated.“I don't know.”“You should.”Jake's hand tightened slightly around mine.Ryan noticed.He smiled.“Unless your boyfriend doesn't allow it.”Jake raised an eyebrow.“She can go wherever she wants.

I stared at Jake.“Chloe delivered the threat?”He nodded slowly.My mind struggled to process what I'd just heard.“The threat that made Ethan break up with me?”“Yes.”“Why?”“I don't know.”“You don't know?”Jake shook his head.“Not completely.”I stood from the table.“So let me understand this. Chloe dated you, she wanted you back, and she was somehow involved in Ethan breaking up with me?”“Yes.”“And you knew?”“I suspected.”My chest tightened.“You suspected?”“I didn't have proof.”I looked away.There were too many secrets.Too many things people had kept from me.“I hate this.”Jake stood.“Emma—”“No.”I shook my head.“Every time I think I finally understand what happened, there's another secret.”“I know.”“Do you?”He didn't answer.I grabbed my bag.“I need to go.”“Emma, wait.”I stopped but didn't turn around.“I'm not angry at you.”“You should be.”I looked back.“I am angry that you keep trying to protect me by hiding things from me.”His expression softened.“I

The bell rang, but none of us moved.I couldn't stop thinking about what Ethan had said.The party.The night I first met Jake.I had always remembered it as an ordinary night.Now I wasn't so sure.“Where do we start?” I asked.Ethan looked at Jake.“You remember the house?”Jake nodded.“Ryan's place.”“Then let's go there.”I frowned.“Now?”“It might help us remember what happened.”Jake looked at me.“Are you sure?”“No.”I took a breath.“But I need answers.”After school, the three of us walked to Ryan's house.It was only a few streets away.When we arrived, Ryan was outside shooting basketball.He stopped when he saw us.“What's going on?”Ethan stepped forward.“We need to ask you about the party last year.”Ryan frowned.“Which party?”“The one in October.”His eyes widened.“Oh.”I looked at him.“What?”He lowered the basketball.“That party?”“Yes.”“Why?”I glanced at Jake.“I'm trying to remember something.”Ryan looked confused.“About what?”“The night I met Jake.”R