I could hear voices in the living room. Jake had brought his friends over, even after I told him we needed time together to celebrate our anniversary. We'd been together since high school, through thick and thin. Even when everyone doubted his love for me, he proved them wrong by staying by my side. We were the power couple.
I could have gone in, but his two friends, Mark and Lucas, never seemed to like me, even after eight years of dating their friend. To them, I was still just a gold digger trying to drain his wallet.
I adjusted my outfit, catching a whiff of the new vanilla-scented perfume I'd put on. The black gown I was wearing would definitely drive Jake crazy. I'd made a promise to myself to only give my virginity to the man I'd marry, and Jake had proven to be that person… So why wait?
My phone dinged—a message from my only friend, Klint Morgan.
My race is by 6 p.m. Miss it and I'll kill you.
I smiled and slipped the phone back into my pocket. He really would kill me if I missed it.
I raised my hand to knock, but voices drifted out from inside. I hadn't planned to eavesdrop until I heard my name.
"I can't believe Lavina has managed to keep you out of her pants for eight whole years," Lucas hissed. "She's so dumb. She hasn't even realized you're only using her for her business ideas."
Mark laughed. "A free assistant, rewarded with kisses and hugs."
I froze at their brutal words. I may not come from a privileged family, but I loved Jake with everything in me. I had shaped my entire world around him. Acting had always been my passion, but I set it aside so business could become my second language—just for him.
Jake doesn't even bother to defend me. I don't blame him. It's exhausting, having to do the same thing over and over again. I'm going to be his wife someday, whether his two useless friends approve or not.
I pushed the door open, but I froze when Jake spoke.
"She's not even that appealing. The smell of the slums clings to her, and it turns me off every single time. Once my dad hands the company over to me in a few months, I'm dumping her," he spat, his voice dripping with bitterness. "It's embarrassing having to deal with her. She doesn't even know the difference between real brands and knock offs."
Cold sweat breaks across my forehead and my fingers go numb. My grip on the bag loosens, sending it crashing to the floor. Eight years. Eight years of moulding myself into this person worthy being a match to Jake Sinclair.
What a joke. He's been disgusted by me all along.
"Lavina."Jake calls, startled. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough," I whisper. "Long enough to realize you were only acting, Jake." I glance at his friends with a shaky breath. "They never pretended to like me. But you… I truly thought you loved me."
It all suddenly made sense. All these years, the reason he never took me to any of their events was because I was an embarrassment. I bite my lip. Grooming myself to be a "worthy match" to the Sinclair heir… what a joke.
"Lavina… come on. When we were together, I thought you knew it was just a fling. You started talking about marriage and getting too attached, and I… I let it happen, thinking you'd eventually see it for what it was."
I blinked, trying to make sense of his words. My heart pounded violently in my chest. "What… are you saying?"
"I never loved you. You were hot back then, but so nonchalant around boys. No one could get you to date them, but when I gave you a little attention, you curled around me like some needy cat. Annoying as hell."
I stumbled back, watching the face I adore spew rubbish. So this is it. A game. An attraction based solely on my nonchalant attitude. Everything we had… it was nothing but an experiment.
"You said you loved me! I sacrificed everything for you! We were going to get married on an island, have children… how could you forget all that?"
"I never asked you to. I've never asked you to. Let's break up, Lavina," he spat.
He never asked me to… but I did. I gave it all, and it meant nothing.
His two friends smirked alongside him. They had known all along—I was the fool. But all this time, if he never loved me… then why did he stay? Laugh with me? Never flirt with anyone but me?
I bite my lip, blinking away the tears. He's right. I'm clingy—that pushes people away. Too available. Jake taught me that, but I never realized it applied to us too. I've sacrificed too much to let go now. He loves me… he just needs to see it.
I can play this game too. I can make him love me.
"I don't care. I stopped loving you a long time ago."
His smirk falters.
I take a deep breath, just enough courage to lie. "I just didn't want to be the girl who breaks things off simply because she fell out of love."
"No." His tone is sharp. "You're too obsessed with me to even have time for anything else."
He was right. I just won't let him know that.
"I wish that were true. Remember all those times I ditched you? I was spending them with my lover."
He chuckled. "Like I'd ever believe you, Lavina. Your life begins with J and ends with E." He leans in slightly, his voice low and mocking. "Don't try to rile me up. Maybe kneel… crawl… beg with tears, and I might consider extending our relationship a few more months."
Mark and Lucas burst into laughter, mockery and disbelief clear in their eyes.
He takes a step back and picks up a file from the couch.
"This is the research you did… the deal you closed. My old man was really impressed. Turns out you're actually good for something after all."
I stare at the file. I worked endlessly on the Grey Hospital deal just to make things easier for him—using my one wish with Klint to seal it.
I force a smile. He won't see me break. Dating Jake taught me one thing—smile through everything in public, then fall apart where no one can see.
"My lover helped me. The moment I mentioned the Grey deal, he took it upon himself to make it mine. Anything to make me happy."
Jake stood from the couch, his eyes blazing with annoyance, running his fingers through his hair. Memories of his head resting on my thighs as I played with his hair made my stomach twist. I fought back the urge to cry as he closed in on me.
"Are you serious, Lavina?"
Something twisted inside me—a strange urge to laugh, to tell him it was all a ploy to make him jealous. But I swallowed it down.
I met his stare, hoping my eyes weren't swollen from unshed tears.
"I am. We both know it takes more than competence to close that business deal, and you know better than anyone—I'm just a girl from the slums. Who could I possibly know?"
Before I could stop myself, I blurted, "You know him. You talk about him all the time. Klint Morgan is my lover."
Jake's eyes widened so much I feared they might pop out. Then he laughed. Mark and Lucas joined in, chuckling hard behind him.
"You're so stuck in a fantasy, Lavina." He shook his head, pitifully.
"The sensational racer whose autograph could lift your entire generation out of poverty… is your lover. Stop being so delusional."
It shouldn't hurt, yet it did. For years, I sacrificed my nights, my freedom, everything, to make the Sinclair heir fit for the throne. He blocked every social tie I tried to have, and I went along, believing it was jealousy… protective instincts. What a lie.
He kept going. "If someone like you has ever even met Klint Morgan, then I might as well jump off a building and die."