"I can't believe you're dating your best friend's ex-girlfriend."
Chelsea Blake's voice echoed across the private lounge of the Blake mansion.
Kelvin Blake didn't even flinch.
He sat comfortably on the long cream leather sofa, one ankle resting over his knee, scrolling through something on his tablet as though she had just commented on the weather.
"Yeah."
The reply was cool. Short. Effortless.
Exactly how he always was.
Chelsea's eyes widened.
"See? I don't want any of your short replies!"
Now she was genuinely irritated.
Kelvin slowly looked up at her.
She was standing right in front of him, arms crossed tightly against her chest, her expression a mix of disbelief and hurt.
"Why would you date Becca when she and Joshua just broke up?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"He is your best friend. That is not loyal."
There it was.
Loyalty.
Chelsea valued loyalty more than almost anything. It was something her mother had drilled into her from childhood. Something Kelvin himself had always embodied.
Family first.
Trust matters.
Never betray your circle.
So hearing that her brother — her calm, rational, disciplined brother — was suddenly dating his best friend's ex?
It didn't sit right with her.
It broke something.
Kelvin studied her carefully.
Chelsea wasn't tall, but she carried herself confidently. She was cute in an effortless way — soft features, expressive eyes. And whenever she got angry, her face turned slightly red, especially around her cheeks and ears.
Right now?
She was glowing crimson.
Kelvin suppressed a sigh.
He knew that look.
If she stayed upset for too long, she'd end up with one of her headaches later. She always did.
He placed his tablet down slowly.
"Chelsea," he began calmly.
She didn't answer. She was still glaring at him.
"Becca and Joshua weren't really dating."
Her expression flickered.
"What?"
"They're both public figures in the entertainment industry. There were… circumstances. A mutual agreement."
Kelvin's tone was steady, controlled.
"There were reasons that can't be disclosed. It was beneficial for both of them at the time."
Chelsea blinked.
"So… they weren't actually together?"
"No."
Kelvin leaned back again.
"It was contractual."
Silence filled the room.
"As a matter of fact," Kelvin continued, "Joshua already has a pen girlfriend."
Chelsea's shoulders dropped instantly.
"Oh."
She exhaled deeply.
Relief washed over her face so obviously that Kelvin almost smiled.
"So you didn't betray him."
"No."
She pressed her palm to her chest dramatically.
"Thank God. I was really about to start questioning everything."
Kelvin gave her a look.
Chelsea paused.
Then something clicked in her head.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Wait."
Kelvin raised one brow.
"A pen girlfriend?"
He looked at her suspiciously.
"Yes."
Chelsea tilted her head.
"What is that?"
Kelvin stared at her.
For a second, he genuinely thought she was joking.
"You're kidding."
"I'm not."
Before he could respond, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Jason walked in casually, hands tucked into his hoodie pockets.
"I'm not surprised," he said lazily. "After all, you don't even know what a situationship is."
Chelsea froze.
Then slowly covered her face.
"Oh my God."
Jason chuckled.
She hated when they did this.
She never really paid attention to modern dating culture. She didn't care about relationship labels, trends, or whatever confusing vocabulary people invented every year.
But in moments like this?
It made her look clueless.
Kelvin shook his head lightly.
"Chelsea."
She peeked at him through her fingers.
"A pen girlfriend," he explained patiently, "is basically someone you have an emotional connection with, but the relationship exists mainly through communication — messages, calls, letters, sometimes long distance. It's not public. It's private."
Jason nodded.
"Low commitment. High comfort."
Kelvin shot him a look.
Jason shrugged.
"It's true."
Chelsea lowered her hands slowly.
"So… it's not an official girlfriend?"
"No."
"And it's not fake either?"
"No."
"It's just… emotional?"
"Yes."
Chelsea blinked again.
"That sounds complicated."
"It is," Jason said instantly.
Kelvin ignored him.
Chelsea crossed her arms again, but this time not in anger — more in thought.
"So Joshua has someone he actually likes."
"Yes."
"And Becca was just for show."
"Yes."
"And you're now actually dating her?"
Kelvin paused for half a second.
"…Yes."
Chelsea squinted at him.
"Do you like her?"
Jason immediately looked interested.
Kelvin stood up smoothly, adjusting the cuffs of his suit.
"That's none of your business."
"That means yes," Jason said.
"That means maybe," Chelsea corrected.
Kelvin didn't answer.
But for the first time since the conversation started…
He didn't look entirely indifferent.
Chelsea noticed.
And something in her chest tightened slightly.
Because if Kelvin was serious about Becca…
Then things might get complicated.
Very complicated.
Especially in their world.
Where every relationship was watched.
Analyzed.
Used.
And Chelsea had a strange feeling…
That this wasn't as simple as Kelvin was making it seem.