Chapter 1

At a dinner party with my boyfriend's frat brothers, his female best friend, Veronica, started talking loudly about sex toys in front of everyone.

"Every time Austin buys me a new toy, he always gets a duplicate one for Chloe. Honestly, those two are probably VIPs at the adult store by now."

Noticing the look on my face, one of Austin’s friends quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Oh, you mean that was for Veronica’s birthday last time, right? We all got her gifts. It was just a friendly gesture."

My face went cold, and I slammed my fork down onto the plate. "You guys gift that kind of stuff for birthdays?"

Veronica shrugged, looking completely unbothered.

"That model feels amazing. Austin and I tested it out together. Don't be so narrow-minded, Chloe. Women should embrace their bodies."

She smirked. "Besides, he only dared to buy it for you after testing it. It’s because he loves you."

Austin leaned in and whispered harshly in my ear, "Can you stop making a face? Be a little more open-minded. Everyone put this dinner together to celebrate our engagement."

I glared at him. "So your idea of 'open-minded' is messing around with someone else's boyfriend?"

Veronica glanced at Austin, her tone playful and teasing.

"Do we really have to explain such a tiny thing? You’re not even married yet, and she already has you on such a tight leash. If you actually get married, you won't have any freedom left."

"No way, how could he ever forget about you?" the guys around the table immediately chimed in, sharing knowing, dirty smiles. "That 'coming-of-age' gift you gave him back in college? No guy would ever forget that for the rest of his life."

I had known Austin’s circle of friends for a long time.

Yet, at every single party, they would always drown themselves in their shared past and inside jokes, completely shutting me out.

I had tried to join their conversations a few times before, but realized I could never fit in. Eventually, I just chose to sit quietly in the corner like a mute.

But this time, I couldn't hold back. "What gift? Why have I never heard about this?"

"Oh, that’s his private treasure. Of course he keeps it to himself," someone laughed and egged them on.

"It’s nothing. Just a regular silicone intimacy doll," Austin said, trying to brush it off with an easy smile.

Hearing this, Veronica reached over and pinched Austin’s inner thigh hard.

"Stop playing dumb. That doll was custom-made, a 1:1 replica of my exact body shape. If you don't want it, give it back to me."

"Damn! Everyone knows Veronica has a killer body. Austin, if you don't appreciate it, the rest of us are literally lining up for it," the guys' laughter became even more vulgar.

Austin grabbed the drink from Veronica’s hand and downed it in one gulp. "My bad. Let me make it up to you, okay?"

The alcohol spilled down Veronica’s arm. She frowned and whined, "Ugh, clean it up for me then. Don't leave me sticky." Austin glanced at me to check my reaction. I forced down my burning rage and warned him with my eyes.

As he hesitated, one of his bros mocked him. "Seriously, dude? A few years ago when your family went bankrupt and everyone cut you off, Veronica was the one who dragged you back into our circle. You're seriously going to let someone else dictate your life over something this small?"

A cold laugh bubbled up in my chest. These people didn't care about Veronica’s "favor."

They only accepted Austin back because his family's business had recently crawled its way back to the top.

Austin stopped looking at me entirely. He leaned down and gently licked the spilled drink off Veronica's arm. "You're still such a messy girl."

Veronica laughed, completely unfazed. "I've always been like this. Good thing I have you to take care of me."

She turned to me and winked.

"I’m just super chill. I'm not like other girls. All the guys treat me like one of the bros. You won't overthink this, right, Chloe?"

I smiled back at her. "Of course not."

Austin let out a sigh of relief. "Chloe didn't go to an elite prep school like us, so she's not from our world. But since she's been with me for so long, she's not as conservative or sensitive as you guys think."

I nodded in agreement, quietly filled my glass to the brim with red wine, then stood up and cleared my throat.

Once everyone’s eyes were on me, I spoke with a calm, sweet smile. "I totally get it. You guys are just in a very normal..." I paused, dragging out the words, "...friends-with-benefits relationship."

"I guess since I didn't go to your fancy prep school, I just don't know how to act as trashy as you guys." With that, I tipped my glass and poured the red wine straight over Austin’s head.

"This is my toast to you two. Cheers to the ultimate douchebag and his trashy hoe."

I turned and walked out of the VIP room. Austin rushed out after me and grabbed my arm. "Are you done yet? Did you really have to ruin everyone's night?"

I looked at him and suddenly laughed. "Do you really think I'm an idiot? Three years ago, you told me Veronica was just your 'bro' and there was absolutely nothing going on between you two. And I believed you."

"Now you guys are practically ready to crawl into bed together. Who are you trying to disgust with that lie?"

He groaned impatiently. "You saw her. That's just her personality. She acts like that with everyone. You're just overthinking."

I yanked my hand back. "If I did those things with another guy, what would you think?"

Austin opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Over the years, he had crossed the line countless times in the name of "friendship."

Every year on Veronica's birthday, he would make sure to text her right at midnight.

Even when I was burning up with a fever and woke up wanting a glass of water, he would shush me and whisper tenderly into his phone, "Happy birthday, Veronica."

And when I was stranded in the pouring rain, unable to get an Uber, and begged him to pick me up, his voice would crackle over the phone:

"The storm is too bad. I have to drive Veronica home first. Don't wait up for me for dinner."

Time after time, he used "friendship" and "bros" as excuses to enjoy his emotional affair with Veronica, while I tolerated it. My patience only resulted in him pushing my boundaries further and further.

I couldn't tell if I pitied my past self more, or if I hated the man standing in front of me more.

Through tears that blurred my vision, I told him, "I'm done, Austin. We're over."

Just as Austin was about to speak, Veronica walked out of the room.

She naturally wrapped her arm around Austin’s neck. "Can't calm your fiancée down? Want me to bail you out?"

I didn't give them another look. I got into my car and drove away.

That night, as I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Austin’s voice drifted in from the living room.

He was speaking in a gentle, almost begging tone. "Veronica, babe, don't be mad. I'll make Chloe apologize to you in a few days."

"You know that exclusive, members-only spa you couldn't get into? I'll go line up there personally tomorrow morning to secure you a spot. Just let me make it up to you, okay?"

Listening to his pathetic begging through the door, I couldn't take it anymore. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. "Cancel the wedding. Also, pull all of our family's investments out of the Miller Group."