All Chapters of My Ex's Best Friend Is My Fake Boyfriend: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The next morning, walking through the school gates felt strangely unfamiliar. After everything that had happened, I had almost forgotten what an ordinary school morning was supposed to feel like. Students crowded the entrance, laughing and arguing about homework, while others hurried toward their classrooms with books pressed against their chests. For a few seconds, I simply stood there and watched them, wondering how everyone else could move through life so normally when mine felt like it had been turned upside down.Then I saw Jake.He was leaning against the wall near the entrance, his backpack hanging from one shoulder. The moment his eyes found mine, his expression softened into the smile I had missed more than I wanted to admit.“Morning,” he said when I approached.“Morning.”His eyes searched my face. “Did you sleep?”“Barely.”“I figured.”“How?”“You have that look.”I raised an eyebrow. “What look?”“The one that says you've spent the whole night overthinking.”I laughed s

I barely slept after the dance.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the figure in the black hoodie standing near the entrance, watching Jake and me from the shadows. The message was even worse.Tomorrow, you'll learn why Jake was chosen.Chosen.The word kept bothering me.Why would anyone choose Jake?And what did that have to do with me?By the time morning came, I was exhausted.I walked into school with Mia, trying to act normal, but she noticed immediately.“You look terrible.”“Thank you.”“You know what I mean.”I sighed.“I couldn't sleep.”“Because of the person at the dance?”I nodded.“Jake thinks we should tell someone.”“Maybe you should.”“I know.”Before I could say anything else, I saw Jake standing by our classroom door.The moment his eyes met mine, he smiled.I walked toward him.“Good Morning.”“Good Morning.”He looked at my face.“You didn't sleep.”“Neither did you.”He smiled faintly.“Not really.”Mia looked between us.“I'm going to class before you two start

The next morning, I couldn't stop thinking about the building.It had been sitting somewhere near my grandmother's old house for years, holding memories I couldn't remember and secrets my parents had apparently spent my entire childhood trying to hide.By lunch, I had made up my mind.I was going.“Are you sure about this?” Jake asked as we stood behind the school building.“Yes.”He looked at me carefully.“You know we could tell an adult.”“Who?”He didn't answer.“Everyone we've told so far either doesn't know anything or is hiding something.”Jake sighed.“You have a point.”“I knew you would agree.”“I didn't say that.”I smiled.“You're still coming.”“Unfortunately.”I laughed.For a few seconds, things felt normal again.Then Jake pulled a small key from his pocket.I stared at it.“What's that?”“My father gave it to me years ago.”“What does it open?”“I don't know.”“Then why do you have it?”“I found it in my old room last night.”I took it from him.There was a tiny symbo

Jake's words stayed with me long after we left the abandoned center.My father took you away.I couldn't understand what he meant.We drove back in silence, the photograph sitting between us like evidence of a life none of us could remember.When we finally reached my house, Jake walked me to the front door.“You don't have to come inside,” I said.“I know.”He hesitated.“But I want to make sure you're okay.”I looked at him.“Are you?”He gave a small laugh.“Not really.”I couldn't blame him.Everything we had believed about our childhood had been turned upside down in a single afternoon.We stepped inside.My mother was sitting in the living room, and the moment she saw our faces, she stood.“What happened?”I placed the photograph on the table.Her eyes widened.“Where did you get this?”“The Aster Center.”She looked at Jake.“You went there?”“Yes.”My mother's face became pale.“Emma, I told you to stay away from that place.”“You knew about it.”She didn't answer.“You knew.”

For several seconds, none of us moved.Ethan's words hung between us.I was.I stared at him.“You were holding the camera?”He nodded slowly.“I think so.”“What do you mean you think so?”“Because I don't remember everything clearly.”Jake stepped closer.“Then tell us what you do remember.”Ethan looked toward the empty basketball court.“I remember hiding.”“From who?” I asked.“Everyone.”He rubbed his forehead.“I remember my father telling me not to leave the room. But I was scared, so I left.”“Where did you go?”“Down a hallway.”He closed his eyes.“There was a small room with a table and some equipment. I saw a camera.”My heart raced.“You picked it up?”“I think I did.”“Why?”“Because I wanted to see what it was recording.”Jake looked at him.“And?”Ethan swallowed.“I saw the people in the meeting.”“Your father?”“Yes.”“Michael Parker?”“Yes.”“And my father?”Ethan nodded.“All three of them were there.”I felt a strange pressure in my chest.“What were they arguing