Chapter 2

Outside, the driver had been waiting for a while. Once I got in the car, I realized I’d left my jacket with Serena.

I asked the driver to circle back. As we pulled up, a familiar face came into view.

It was Leo—the guy Serena had been seeing for the past six months.

He was dressed in a sharp dark suit, tall and good-looking, striding confidently into the restaurant.

I caught my breath, my chest tightening like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart.

He walked into the private room and slid right into the seat next to Serena, his arm casually draped over the back of her chair as he spoke with that clingy tone:

“You called, so I dropped everything. I’ve been missing you like crazy.”

As he spoke, he leaned in and gave Serena a soft, quick kiss on the lips.

Serena grinned, her eyes lighting up.

She reached up to the back of his neck and kissed him back, their affection on full display.

Their friends wolf-whistled and teased them.

“Serena’s living her best life—who wouldn’t fall for a guy like Leo?”

I stood outside the door, watching it all unfold calmly as my heart slowly sank into numbness.

So they all knew. They were all in on it, helping her keep it from me.

And there I was, trying so hard to fit into their group, desperate to belong. Now I just felt like a pathetic joke.

By the time I snapped out of it, Leo had already taken his seat. He raised his mocktail and toasted the table.

One friend joked, “Serena, you’ve got it made.”

“Thought you’d be the loyal type, sticking with Liam. Guess our ‘Monogamy Queen’ finally came down from her pedestal.”

At the sound of my name, Serena’s smile faded. Her eyes darkened a little, and there was a warning in her voice:

“I expect everyone to keep this under wraps. If Liam finds out, don’t even think about staying on my good side.”

The mood instantly soured.

One friend patted his chest reassuringly: “Relax, our lips are zipped. Liam’ll never find out.”

“Exactly—play your cards right, and he’ll never suspect a thing. Guys are so oblivious, they only see what’s right in front of ’em.”

A few others chimed in, and Serena’s expression softened a bit.

To lighten things up, Leo suggested a game of Truth or Dare.

They spun a bottle—whoever it landed on had to answer a question.

After a few rounds, the bottle pointed to Leo.

A friend grinned mischievously and asked, “When was the last time you two hooked up alone?”

Leo laughed, his tone dripping with innuendo: “Yesterday. In her office.”