Chapter 3

"Oh, come on, Austin! Even Veronica isn't shy. Why are you acting like a prude?"

"Looking at you two, you should honestly just marry Veronica. Why bother with Chloe? Didn't you guys have a thing back in high school anyway?"

It was true. Austin and Veronica did date in high school. But after graduation, Veronica went abroad for college as planned, while Austin had to stay because his family's business was on the brink of bankruptcy.

They naturally drifted apart. That was the only reason I had believed Austin wouldn't go back to the girl who had abandoned him.

But I hadn't realized how pathetic he truly was.

Austin let go of Veronica and sighed. "You guys think I haven't thought about that?"

"On the night of my engagement to Chloe, I almost lost my mind."

"I actually went to Veronica and asked her if she would run away with me if I threw everything else away."

He shook his head and let out a bitter laugh. "But she told me she only saw me as a brother."

Austin raised his glass. "To our brotherhood."

I felt a wave of intense nausea hit me, like I had just swallowed a fly.

On our engagement night, Austin had come home incredibly drunk.

He had wrapped his arms around me, his stubble scratching my face, smelling heavily of alcohol. He had mumbled, "I promised I'd make you happy for the rest of your life. Do you believe me?"

I had laughed and tried to push him off, but he only held me tighter. "I do. Why else would I get engaged to you?"

"Then why won't you run away with me?" his voice had cracked with tears. "I don't care about anything else. I just want you, please."

My heart had ached for him back then. I ignored the smell of alcohol and held him close, promising him everything. I never could have guessed that the person he had wanted to run away with was actually Veronica.

Under the moonlight, Veronica’s eyes shined as she stared at Austin. "What if I say I'm willing now?"