Chapter 1

After 999th sex with Ethan Miller, he's still just as crazy as ever.

The next morning, Avery Collins woke up covered in hickeys, wincing at every move.

The room was filled with an air of tension. Ethan's arms wrapped around her, enjoying her warmth as he casually said, "Wear something proper tomorrow. Come to my parents' with me."

Avery looked up in shock, hope flooding her voice.

"So we're finally... going public?"

Ethan cocked an eyebrow with a smirk. "Public? What? No. I've got a date at my family's dinner party. Need you there to keep things from getting awkward."

His words hit like a truck.

Her heart stopped, mind blank. "A date? Then what the hell am I?"

Already dressing, Ethan gave her a lazy glance. "You? You're my buddy. Food buddy, gaming buddy... and fuck buddy."

A chill ran through Avery's body, all color draining from her face.

Seeing her expression, Ethan's smile faded as he leaned in. "Wait... Avery, don't tell me you thought I was your boyfriend all this time?"

His amused tone cut straight through her heart.

Fighting back tears, her voice cracked, "No!. I'm gonna shower."

Avery stumbled to the bathroom on shaky legs.

The second the door closed, she collapsed to the floor.

His words echoing, she stared at the marks all over her body. Tears poured down her face.

Twenty years of dating. Growing up together. Sharing everything.

Then that drunken night at eighteen when they first slept together.

Once became twice, became countless times...

Nights of passion, days filled with couple-like intimacy.

Holding hands in crowds, New Year's kisses with promises for the future, hour-long phone calls just because...

Avery always thought they were together—just keeping it secret.

Now Ethan was saying they were just friends?

The pain was unbearable. She cranked the shower to drown out her sobs.

Eventually, the tears stopped, and she pulled herself together. Ethan already dressed, was sitting on the couch, talking on the phone.

"A big private room, yeah,lots of people coming. She likes lighter food, so Continental works. Black Forest cake for dessert. Pink and white roses—send me pics of the setup. Oh, prepare a dozen or so black suits. Sophia only likes black."

That name froze Avery in place.

She glanced over to see a sweet smile on his lips.

Sophia? His blind date was Sophia Grant?

The light in her eyes faded.

If it was Sophia, everything made sense.

In high school, Ethan was obsessed with Sophia, constantly talking about her.

Before he could make a move, Sophia left the country.

He never mentioned her again after that.

When she and Ethan got closer, Avery thought he'd moved on.

She never realized his perfect girl remained unmentioned but never forgotten.

The pain surged back, making her drop her phone with a loud thud.

Ethan turned, smiling. "All done? you’re checking out later? I’ve already paid for the room."

Grabbing his jacket to leave, he turned back with a mocking smile.

"Avery, you're just my buddy. Drop the heartbroken look—it's making me think you've got the wrong idea."

"I know every little thing about you. One look and you read my mind. Boring, right? Dating would get old real fast."

His voice faded with his footsteps, but the words burrowed into Avery's heart.

She sat on the cold bed, laughing until her laughter turned to tears.

So that's how he'd seen her all these years.

She stayed until nightfall before checking out.

It was pouring, but she seemed oblivious to it, stumbling her way back home.

Her parents rushed over with towels, worried: "Jesus, why didn't you take an Uber?"

Avery looked at them with dead eyes, voice hoarse.

"Dad, Mom, you've been talking about moving Spain for work, right? Let's do it. Let's move and never come back."

After months of trying to convince her, they were shocked. " Are you sure? Did you break up with that boyfriend?"

Remembering Ethan's words, Avery breathed a bitter laugh.

"There was never a boyfriend. I made him up to get you off about dating."

Though suspicious, her parents were thrilled, rushing to prepare paperwork while telling her to pack.

Avery nodded and went to her room, trashing everything related to Ethan.

Photo albums kept for years, jewelry, clothes, handmade gifts...

All in the garbage.

"Miss? you're really throwing them away?" the housekeeper asked, looking shocked.

Avery nodded softly, her voice hollow.

"I don't need them anymore."

Not just those things, but this relationship and Ethan—she didn’t want any of it.

Chapter 2

The next day, Avery woke up to her phone blowing up with texts from Ethan.

He'd sent like fifty messages asking when she was coming over.

Her heart twisted. Wow, Ethan, could you be any more of a jerk?

With trembling hands, she texted back: "Feeling like crap. Not coming."

Minutes later, her parents were banging on her door.

"Avery, even if you're mad at Ethan, this is NOT the time! Hurry up and change, go to his place. You have no idea how important this date is to him. He’s had a thing for Sophia for years. When he heard she was back in New York, he asked your dad to help set it up right away."

"Yeah. Sophia took piano lessons from me, and I personally made this happen. The gifts, the dinner—it's all super fancy. He wants you there to keep things from getting awkward. Having another girl around will make Sophia comfortable. Ethan's totally serious about her this time. You guys are besties—how can you bail on him?"

So Ethan actually called her parents when she said no? Unbelievable.

Listening to them going on and on, Avery choked back tears as she got ready and headed downstairs.

Their houses were close. Ten minutes later, she stood at the Millers' front door, opening the shoe cabinet.

Completely empty—her bunny slippers nowhere in sight.

After searching everywhere, she finally spotted them in the trash can outside.

Not just the slippers—her cup, toothbrush, towel, pajamas... everything that was hers.

"Miss Avery, Mr.Miller threw those away. Here, use these shoe covers instead."

Staring at the trash can, Avery went silent.

Their families had been tight for generations, so she visited almost daily, often crashing there.

Ethan had given her a whole bedroom, buying all these little things with her favorite bunny pattern.

He'd always said "Feel free like your home" .

They'd sneak embraces and kisses by the doorway, hold hands under the dinner table, cuddle in the study—all behind their parents' backs.

Now Sophia was here, and he was scared his crush might get the wrong idea.

So he'd tossed every single trace of her existence.

It took Avery forever to pull herself together before putting on the shoe covers.

The moment she walked in, she saw Ethan peeling fruit for Sophia, both of them laughing.

He sat on the couch in a custom satin suit, hair perfectly styled, wearing cologne, giving off total hot-rich-guy vibes.

Back in school, Avery had heard girls say he was so hot he could make a garbage bag look good—and if he ever actually dressed up, he'd put Hollywood stars to shame.

But normally Ethan was chill, just wearing T-shirts and jeans, never giving a crap about fashion.

So he did dress up for someone he actually liked, huh?

The guy who had sex with me yesterday now barely acknowledged her, glancing once before focusing entirely on Sophia.

From hobbies to weather, work to jewelry brands, childhood stories to school memories.

Watching Ethan desperately keeping the conversation going, Avery bit back a bitter laugh.

So he could actually make an effort with someone he cared about.

"It's funny—in high school, you were a year ahead, different building and everything, but we kept running into each other. What are the odds?" Sophia said with a smile.

Seeing Ethan's ears turn red, Avery silently snickered.

Odds? Yeah right.

Those were all "coincidences" Ethan had engineered.

Back then, Avery had followed him around, watching him pull out all the stops for his crush, feeling like crap.

Later when Sophia went abroad, she thought she'd finally gotten her wish.

But now it seemed Ethan was the one getting what he wanted all along.

Lost in thought, Avery suddenly heard her name.

"In high school, I heard you had this super close childhood friend. That must be you, right?" Sophia asked.

Avery froze, looking up to see Sophia's curious gaze.

Before she could answer, Ethan's parents jumped in.

"Oh yeah, they were attached at the hip growing up! We even joked about arranging a marriage—"

Halfway through, Ethan's face darkened as he cut them off.

"Mom, Dad, stop. I would never, ever date Avery. Like, ever."

Avery lowered her eyes to hide the pain, forcing a smile. "Same. I'd date literally anyone else but Ethan."

At her words, Ethan's expression froze for a split second before he quickly recovered.

He threw his arm around her shoulders like she was one of the guys, totally casual. "Exactly! We're just bros. Purely platonic."

The whole living room seemed to relax.

Avery smiled along, faintly catching Ethan's relieved whisper.

"Nice save. Thanks."

She said nothing, just quietly moved a few steps away from him.

Save? No.

Everything she'd said was the absolute truth.

Chapter 3

As evening approached, the Miller family arranged cars to take everyone to the restaurant.

Ethan, Sophia and Avery sat in one car.

During the entire ride, Ethan sat in the middle and kept his attention on Sophia.

He adjusted the AC, gave her blankets, and opened water bottles for her.

Avery was on the left, watched them chatting away before silently turning to stare out the window.

Halfway there, it suddenly started pouring rain.

The road was dimly lit, and the car in front switched on its high beams. The driver was blinded as they went downhill, unable to make the turn and crashing straight into the guardrail.

In that split second of danger, Ethan instinctively pulled Sophia into his arms.

BANG—

The window glass shattered. Avery sat against the door with blood covering her.

Pain spread through her entire body. She felt like she was falling apart.

She was half-conscious when the right door swung open.

Ethan rushed out with Sophia in his arms, frantically calling hospitals while gently comforting her.

He seemed to completely forget there was another person in the car.

When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics recommended helping the more severely injured victim first.

Faced with the choice between Avery lying in a pool of blood and Sophia trembling in shock, Ethan hesitated only seconds before choosing to take Sophia to the hospital first.

Watching their car disappear in the distance, Avery's vision blurred as tears finally spilled over.

Oh, Ethan...

Twenty years, and it still couldn't compete with one look from her.

Her eyelids grew heavier as the pain slowly faded.

She couldn't wait for the next ambulance. Everything went black as she passed out completely.

Avery had no idea how much time had passed. She heard the sound of chaotic voices.

She opened her eyes and saw her mother with her hand on her chest, her voice filled with both worry and relief.

"Oh thank God you're awake, sweetie! The ambulance got you here just in time, or you'd have bled out—they almost drained the entire blood bank! You were all in the same car, so how did Sophia just get a scratch while you’re hurt so badly?"

Her father sighed with relief, taking a sip of water.

"Well, obviously Ethan was protecting her. True love shows in times of hardship, right? Sophia was super touched. I just visited their room, and Ethan was feeding her soup. The way they were looking at each other—I'd bet they're officially a thing now."

Avery listened quietly and, after they finished gossiping, spoke in a hoarse voice.

"How long was I out? Is the immigration paperwork done?"

"Two whole days! You scared us to death!!"

"Don't worry about the paperwork. It'll be ready in three weeks. You just focus on healing."

Hearing they only had less than a month left, she felt a strange sense of relief.

Over the next few days, Avery kept hearing from the nurses about all the things Ethan was doing for Sophia.

He never left her room, even rushing to get hot water in the middle of the night when he heard her cough.

He tested the temperature of every medicine and prepared candies to take away the bitter taste.

Fearing she might get bored, he brought all kinds of games and toys to cheer her up.

Avery just listened silently.

When a nurse pushed her wheelchair for a checkup, she heard a commotion in the hallway.

As she passed the next room, she saw Ethan holding a huge bouquet of roses, confessing to Sophia.

"Sophia, I fell in love when I saw you eight years ago. All those 'coincidences' were me trying to get close to you. I remember all your likes, your dreams. I never got to tell you how I felt back then. Will you give me a chance now?"

Hearing the hope and nervousness in his voice, Avery remembered how Ethan had been preparing this confession a month before Sophia went abroad.

Though things didn't work out then, it was just delayed by a few years.

When she heard Sophia say "Yes," Avery gave a small smile and continued toward the exam room.

As she turned away, the crowd of onlookers burst into applause.

Ethan turned at the sound, catching sight of Avery's lonely figure.

The smile froze on his face, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.

The discomfort lasted only a moment before being drowned in a wave of happiness.

He reached out with pride, pulling Sophia into his arms.