Chapter 1

I grew up with Muniz, but I've always maintained boundaries.

Every time he got into a relationship, I'd cut off contact on my own.

On his twenty-seventh birthday, he suddenly said to me, "Tucker, why don't we just settle for each other? I'm serious."

It was the first time Muniz crossed the line and reached out his hand to me.

I looked at him and thought for a few seconds.

"Muniz, if we become a couple and then break up, I won't be friends with you anymore."

He laughed carelessly. "We won't break up. I can't bear to lose you."

So I took his outstretched hand.

This "settling" lasted three years.

At the engagement party, Muniz was hiding on the balcony with a friend, smoking.

"Muniz, back then you were afraid your grandfather would go after Scott, so you asked Tucker to be a cover for her. But from what I saw today, Tucker seems genuinely sincere."

"Don't tell me you never told Tucker this was all an act?"

The hazy smoke obscured Muniz's face. His voice was cold and calm.

"I was too rushed that day. I forgot."

My footsteps stopped at the corner. I was still holding the cold medicine I'd brought for Muniz.

Ramon's voice shot up in shock. He cursed Muniz, calling him a bastard, then leaned in to ask more.

"So what's the situation between you and Tucker now? Real marriage or fake marriage?"

"I saw Scott post on Ins yesterday—you spent the night before your engagement at her place."

Muniz laughed.

"Scott is my girlfriend, of course."

"As for Tucker, she's just a marriage alliance partner. What's the difference between real or fake marriage?"

"I could tell ages ago that she likes me. Giving her a happy marriage and a title isn't exactly treating her badly."

The glass in my hand burned so hot it hurt my palm.

I looked down awkwardly and realized the cold medicine I'd brought for Muniz had already melted in my hand.

Even hotter was my face—the humiliation of having my secret crush exposed and mocked.

"You know what? Tucker is actually pretty stupid. I've been playing the field for years. Who holds hands with a marriage alliance partner and gets breathless and can't make eye contact?"

"She always pretends to be cool and indifferent, but she's actually super patient and really indulgent with me."

Muniz coughed softly twice, then bragged.

"Two days before the engagement, I lied and told her I had an emergency business trip. She didn't even suspect me. She even helped me pack."

"Last night, Scott and I got a little wild by the window. When I came home at dawn with a headache, the medicine at home had expired."

"She went out in the middle of the night in her pajamas with a down jacket over them to buy medicine, then coaxed me into taking it before going to sleep."

"Every half hour or so, she'd get up to feel my forehead, afraid I'd get a fever."

"She probably doesn't even know how much she likes me."

Ramon hissed through his teeth.

"Muniz, Tucker's been so good to you all these years. You're telling me you're not even a little bit moved?"

I stood outside the door feeling like a joke, my eyes stinging uncontrollably.

But I still didn't leave. I wanted to hear Muniz's answer.

Muniz didn't hesitate for a second. His tone was mocking.

"What a stupid question. Of course I don't like her."

"Tucker and I have known each other for thirty years. If we were going to be together, we would've gotten together ages ago. Why would I wait until I was twenty-seven?"

"I like the wild but innocent type. She's cold and hard—completely doesn't fit my dating criteria."

"Love is about that instant spark. I don't believe in growing feelings over time. Even if another thirty years passed, I still wouldn't like her."

He took another deep drag, completely self-righteous.

"But Tucker is my friend for life. She'll be my family in the future. Even if I don't love her, I definitely won't treat her badly."

"I want both her and Scott."

My heart ached, yet I couldn't help wanting to laugh.

What did Muniz think I was—some object for him to pick up and put down at will? Take it when he wants it, toss it aside when he doesn't.

How pathetic must I be for him to think that marrying me was some kind of favor to me?

On the rooftop, Ramon sighed and patted Muniz's shoulder.

"Let's go, Muniz. The party's about to start."

"Scott's pretending to be my cousin tonight, right?"

I turned and went downstairs first, rushing into the bathroom to dry heave.

Tears fell faster than I could wipe them, ruining my carefully applied makeup.

All these years of feelings were like a rancid swamp that suddenly submerged me, making me feel suffocated and disgusted.

My phone kept dinging with group messages.

[Engagement party! Where are our bride and groom?]

[Muniz and I will be right there. My cousin is coming tonight too.]

[Since when do you have a cousin? Where's Tucker? Not a peep from her.]

I found an empty room, washed my face clean, and reapplied light makeup.

All these years, every time Muniz got into a relationship, I'd cut off contact.

I wanted to see what Muniz's sweetheart actually looked like.

I used a cotton swab to wipe away tears that had fallen from the corner of my eye without me noticing, to keep from ruining my foundation.

Muniz probably thought that when I said we wouldn't be friends after breaking up, I was joking with him.

But I, Tucker, have never lacked friends.

And I don't want to keep company with someone who doesn't love me anymore.