Chapter 1

Avery Whitlock was the ideal woman at Northbridge University that all the guys fantasized about.

However, her private photos were suddenly leaked onto the campus forum one day.

Her reputation was shredded overnight, and the university revoked her direct admission to the master's program. When she walked down the street, strangers jeered, "How much for a night?"

There could only be one person who had those photos—her boyfriend, Julian Mercer.

Avery ran to Julian's apartment to demand an explanation. She had one hand on the doorknob when voices traveled from the door.

"Julian, that was brutal," Ryan Kincaid said, laughing sharply. "You posted those photos, and Avery's finished. Her direct admission is gone. Let's see if she ever dares challenge Tessa again."

Logan Hart chimed in, "Come on! Julian has never liked Avery in the last two years and couldn't even stand to touch her. He sent his brother instead. Just imagine her face if she ever found out!"

The words detonated in Avery's head. She clapped a hand over her mouth to choke back the scream rising in her throat, and the color drained from her face.

Logan elbowed the man sitting beside Julian, who looked so much like him. "Hey, Jace, you slept with your brother's girlfriend for two years. How's that feel? We're dying to know."

Jace raised his glass, flashed a crooked grin, and said, "What else? She's a knockout. She has smooth skin, the sweetest moan, and she lets me do whatever I want to her. Why do you think I'm transferring to Northbridge? It's so I can make out with her whenever I want."

Julian finally spoke, his voice sounding cold and indifferent, with each word sharp as a blade. "You've got a few days. Do what you want now. Once Tessa's admission is secured, I'll cut Avery off and ask Tessa to be my girlfriend."

"Seriously? You're finally making a move on Tessa?" Ryan whooped. "You've been into her for years—spoiling her since you were kids. There's only one direct admission slot, and Tessa wanted it badly.

"As soon as you knew Avery was her biggest competition, you started dating Avery and worked out this scheme. Man, who could treat Tessa better than you?"

Every word hit Avery like a blow to the chest. She froze from the inside out. Even her blood felt cold.

So, this was the truth—vile and brutally cruel.

She couldn't stand there for another second. She turned and ran, stumbling down the stairs and into the alley until tears blurred the world.

Her parents were strict to the core, so she had never dated before Julian. She even believed romance was nothing but trouble and a waste of time.

That all changed freshman year, when she was crossing the outdoor courts with an armful of books and a basketball came flying at her face. She flinched, bracing for the hit, but it never came.

A tall, cool guy stepped in and caught the ball.

When she looked up, she met a pair of dark, indifferent eyes.

The setting sun cast gold across his shoulders, and sweat glistened at his temple. He looked carved rather than born, and her heart skipped off script in a way she couldn't explain.

Later, she learned his name—Julian Mercer, the heartthrob everyone at Northbridge admired.

He was born into wealth, and his family's name was stamped on several university buildings they had funded. He was obscenely handsome and coolly aloof about it.

Women across campus lined up to catch his eye, but he ignored them all except for Tessa Simpson, the rising star of the music department.

Avery knew from the start that she and Julian came from different worlds. So, she buried her crush and threw herself into her studies, taking first place in her year again and again.

Then, somehow, she kept running into Julian by coincidence. They crossed paths in the library, in lecture halls, and even in the cafeteria. He always seemed to be nearby.

One day, after cramming too hard, she dozed off at a study table. When she woke up, she found her head resting on Julian's shoulder.

She jerked upright, her cheeks burning, but he caught her wrist. "Avery, do you want to be my girlfriend?" he asked in a low voice.

Her mind went blank as a rush of joy flooded her, and she nodded almost dazedly.

Dating him felt "strange" from day one.

By day, he was distant, barely texting, and showing up for dates like he was checking a box.

But at night, he became someone else. Hungry, relentless, and always ready with his phone to snap pictures in bed.

The photos made her uneasy, but she brushed them all off. He had always been cool and aloof. He acted distant with her during the day because he was so busy. But at night, he couldn't hold back because he loved her.

She never imagined them to be actually two people. Julian spent the days with her, and Jace shared her bed at night.

To them, she was nothing more than a plaything and a tool for their own pleasure. All they really wanted was to strip away everything she had worked for and hand it to Tessa.

Avery stumbled into an empty alley and sank to the ground. Her tears slipped out in broken sobs that ached all the way to her bones.

Just then, her phone rang. It was her mother.

With trembling hands, Avery picked up.

Margaret Jones didn't waste a word and went straight into a shriek, "Avery, what are those filthy photos on the campus forum? The Student Affairs office already called me. Do you have any idea how much shame you've brought on this family?"

Her father, Thomas Whitlock, growled in the background, "We broke our backs for you, and this is how you repay us? You've disgraced us in front of the whole university! Shame on you!"

Avery couldn't get the words out. Her chest clenched until she couldn't breathe.

Her parents had always been exacting. The only time they ever smiled at her was when she took first place or came home with another award.

So, she studied like a machine, depriving herself of everything but excellence, hoping it might win a little more love from them.

Yet, in her worst moment, they offered no concern or trust—just scolding and contempt.

"You're always crying! Is that all you know? Your direct admission is gone! We've already bought you a ticket to Ardenia for the end of the month. You'll stay abroad for a few years until this is forgotten, and only then will you return," Margaret said coldly, leaving no room for refusal.

A chill seeped deep into her heart.

"Okay," she replied numbly.

She would go to Ardenia, but she was never coming back.

Chapter 2

Avery hung up and returned to the apartment she shared with Julian, feeling like an empty shell.

She started packing without feeling a thing. She tossed every gift Julian had given her over the past year into the trash—necklaces, bracelets, stuffed animals, and lipstick.

Everything that once felt like proof of love now seemed like a cruel joke.

She was dropping the last necklace into the bin when the lock clicked.

Julian... No, Jace walked in.

He mimicked Julian's cool tone but softened it with a practiced warmth. "Ave, what are you throwing away?"

Avery looked up with red and swollen eyes, glancing at the face which was so much like Julian's, only younger and more arrogant.

It felt like her chest had been ripped open from the inside. She was in so much pain that she could hardly breathe.

"You don't recognize any of it?" she asked, her voice ragged and icy.

Jace's smile faltered for a beat, then he pivoted, sounding smooth as ever. "Your eyes are swollen. Is it because of the photos on the forum? Don't be upset. I've handled it. The posts are gone, and no one's going to talk.

"So what if the direct admission's off the table? You're only a junior. You can try again next year, or just skip grad school. Come work at my company. I'll take care of you."

The words cut straight through her. She dug her fingers into her palms.

Jace and Julian could win an acting award for their show.

Avery opened her mouth, but Jace was already folding her into his arms. He tucked his chin against her hair. "Hey, don't cry. It kills me when you do, okay?"

The scent she knew so well closed in around her. His lips brushed her neck while his hands wandered over her body.

On any other night, she might've blushed and let herself be steered. But tonight, cold rolled through her, and her stomach turned.

She shoved him hard.

He was caught off guard. Surprise flashed in his eyes before he smoothed it away. "What's wrong? Not in the mood?"

"I don't feel well," she said, turning her face aside.

He studied her for a few seconds, then gave a short laugh. "Alright. I'll take a cold shower."

He didn't force her. He turned and walked into the bathroom.

Avery kept packing and erased every trace of them she could find. When she was finished, she lay down on the bed and turned her back to the bathroom door.

A few minutes later, Jace came out damp and slid in beside her. He held still for a while, then he couldn't help himself. He curled in behind her and kissed the soft spot below her ear and the line of her shoulder.

She stiffened and endured it, drifting on the edge of sleep, until she heard him murmur in a low, muffled voice as he moved against her.

"Tessa..."

The single name hit like an ice pick. Avery snapped awake, a cold ache spreading through her chest.

So, it wasn't only Julian who loved Tessa. Jace had thought of Tessa every time he touched Avery.

She shoved him off again. Her teeth clicked together before the words came out. "I told you. I don't feel well."

Her fierce reaction actually shook him. He sensed something was wrong with her and finally let out a long sigh. "Okay, okay. I won't force you. I'll just hold you, alright?"

He kept his word and only wrapped an arm around her from behind.

Avery lay stiff in the circle of his arm and cried into the pillow without a sound. Pain and disgust burned through her in waves until, sometime near dawn, sleep finally dragged her under.

When she woke, the other side of the bed was empty.

She used to wonder why Julian never walked to campus with her. Now, she had the answer.

He wasn't the one in her bed at night. He had never wanted to be close to her.

Avery got up numbly, washed up, and prepared to go to the university to complete her withdrawal.

She had barely crossed the quad when a student sprinted up and blocked her path. "Avery! Thank god! Dr. Hale wants you in his office right now! He says it's urgent!"

A sinking feeling settled in her chest. Something bad was coming.

Avery reached the office door and knocked.

"Come in," Martin Hale said.

Avery stepped inside and saw Tessa already seated.

Tessa's eyes flickered with smug malice before she shifted her expression to appear fragile and wounded.

Martin's face was clouded over with anger. He slammed two printed theses onto his desk.

"Avery! Tessa! Explain this! Your papers are almost identical, right down to the typos! Academic misconduct is no small matter! Integrity comes first! If one of you copied, speak up now! The university will be more lenient if you're honest!"

Tessa cut in before Avery could speak, "Dr. Hale, I wrote my paper myself! I don't know why it looks like Avery's, but I didn't plagiarize!"

Avery looked down at the pages and felt her heart sink, but she kept her voice steady. "Dr. Hale, I wrote mine on my own. I didn't copy anyone."

Martin pressed a hand to his temple. "You both insist you didn't copy. So, where's the evidence?"

"I have a witness," Tessa said quickly.

Just then, the door opened again, and Julian walked in.

Chapter 3

Julian didn't even look at Avery. He spoke directly to Martin. "I watched Tessa pull an all-nighter to finish her paper. She didn't plagiarize. As for why the two papers look alike..."

He paused, then flicked his eyes toward Avery. "You might want to ask Avery."

Martin knew that Julian and Avery were a couple. But now, Julian had spoken up for Tessa. Considering Julian's family background, Martin began siding with Tessa.

"Avery," he snapped, pointing at her, "what else is there to say? We have a witness! I'm disappointed in you!"

Avery stared at Julian, stunned but no longer feeling confused.

If this had been before, she might have struggled to understand why he would do this to her. But now, she knew the truth.

He had dated her to use her. If he could leak her photos to ruin her, he could naturally pin Tessa's plagiarism on her.

Pain tore through her chest, but she knew nothing she said could stand against the weight of his words.

Martin dismissed Julian and Tessa, then turned on Avery. He voided her submission and told her the violation would go on her record.

Avery stumbled out of the office in a daze and found Julian leaning against the hallway wall, clearly waiting for her.

She stopped and looked at the man she had loved for two years—the one who had lied to her, used her, and hurt her. She rasped from a dry throat, "Julian, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

He finally looked up, his gaze as cold as ever. "Tessa accidentally deleted her draft last night, and the deadline was today. She asked to borrow yours as a reference."

Reference? She had copied it word for word, including the typos. How could that be called a reference?

The pain in Avery's heart was so sharp, stealing her breath.

Julian continued, his detached voice cutting like a blade, "Your direct admission is already gone. Tessa's still in the running, so the paper matters to her. It doesn't matter if you take the blame. You're already ruined."

It didn't matter?

Every word out of his mouth sided with Tessa. Not once did he think about how Avery felt or how much it hurt her.

The surge of emotions hit without warning. Grief and fury crashed over her, and she heard herself shout, sobs ripping through the words as all the humiliation and hurt she had swallowed finally broke free.

Julian had never seen Avery so shattered before. In the past, just a slight furrow of his brow was enough to make her give in. She would blame herself and even hand her work to Tessa if he asked.

What was different now?

"It's just a paper," he said, frowning as if she were being unreasonable.

He caught her wrist and said, "Enough. You've been asking me to have lunch together. I'm free today. Let's go."

Avery yanked her hand free from Julian's grip, the force carrying all the despair and fury she had held back for so long.

"I'm not going!" Her eyes burned as she glared at the man she had once loved to the bone. "I'm not that pathetic, Julian! If you don't want to have lunch with me, then don't!"

She turned on her heel and stormed off, desperate to escape before the place suffocated her.

Julian stayed where he was, watching her run off with a faint crease of confusion and annoyance on his brow.

Avery had always looked at him with a soft, shy glow in her eyes, eager to please and quick to yield. She never defied him.

If he frowned, she would immediately wonder what she had done wrong and soften her voice to soothe him.

But now, the glow in her eyes had vanished. In its place was something distant and unreadable.

Was she seriously upset about a paper? How childish.

Julian didn't bother chasing her. To him, it was nothing serious. If Tessa were upset, he would bend over backwards to comfort her. But with Avery, he didn't need to. She would always come back to him in the end.

He turned his gaze away and walked off.

Chapter 4

Avery sat alone in the cafeteria, swallowed a few tasteless bites, then went straight to the registrar's office to withdraw.

When the registrar clerk heard that Avery's reason for withdrawing was to study overseas, she looked regretful but only nodded without saying anything more.

With the photo scandal and the plagiarism mess still buzzing across campus, she didn't try to talk Avery out of it.

"Your withdrawal will take a few days to process," she said flatly. "Attend classes as usual until you receive confirmation."

"Thank you," Avery said quietly, her face unreadable.

Avery moved through the rest of the day like an empty shell, sitting through lectures without taking in a word.

When the bell rang, she gathered her books and drifted out with the crowd. She passed the campus garden and saw students rushing by excitedly.

"Hurry up! There's a fight up ahead!"

"Oh my god, it's Julian! I've never seen him this mad!"

"He's standing up for Tessa! He's fighting for her!"

Avery stopped in her tracks, pain pricking at her chest. Almost against her will, she followed them and found a ring of students packed tightly around the lawn.

In the middle of it all, Julian was fighting another student. He was usually composed and reserved, but now, he looked like someone had struck a nerve. His fists landed brutally, rage twisting his striking features.

Snatches of commentary floated over the noise.

"I heard that guy grabbed Tessa after she turned him down."

"Julian is always so calm and collected. I never thought I'd see him throw punches."

"Wait, I thought his girlfriend was Avery. So, why's he going all out for Tessa?"

"Come on! After those photos leaked, do you really think he still cares about Avery? He's done with her."

Each word cut like grit caught under raw skin. She thought she was numb, but the ache still found her.

Just then, Tessa pushed through the crowd like a startled deer, threw her arms around Julian's waist from behind, and cried out, "Julian, please stop! I'm scared... Please don't!"

Julian finally stopped, releasing the bloodied student to stumble aside, then turned to Tessa. His rage dissolved at once, giving way to a gentleness that looked almost clumsy.

He brushed her tears with careful fingers, and his voice was gentle enough to make her melt. "Don't be scared. I'm done. Did I scare you?"

That softness cut through Avery like an icy blade, shattering the last bit of hope in her.

He had never looked at her or spoken to her that way. He hadn't wanted her in his bed at all. He had passed her off to his brother instead.

How blind had she been to ever believe he loved her?

Julian's gaze swept the crowd and met hers. He actually flinched, startled to see her. Something complicated flickered in his eyes, then disappeared before even he could name it.

His lips parted, as if he might say something.

But Avery turned away. She gave him the cold, distant look she would give a stranger, then walked off without a word.

Julian watched her leave so decisively, a deeper crease forming between his brows.

"What is it?" Tessa asked softly against his chest.

"Nothing." Julian put the moment away, let his voice fill with warmth again, and yet the odd feeling wouldn't leave.

He pulled out his phone and texted Jace that he'd argued with Avery and gotten into a fight over Tessa, then told him to coax Avery later that night.

Jace replied almost immediately, "Why bother? Just dump her."

Julian stared at the screen for a moment.

Yeah. Why bother? He didn't even know the reason.

After a short pause, he typed the excuse that made the most sense to him. "Tessa's admission isn't secured yet. We have to keep up appearances. Avery is emotional and unstable. If she causes a scene that implicates Tessa, it'll be troublesome."

Jace replied, "Got it. I'll handle it tonight."

…

That night, Avery returned to the apartment exhausted and crawled into bed early.

Not long after, the door opened, and Jace came in.

"Ave, turning in already?" he murmured, leaning over her with the same easy, careless affection as always.

"I'm just tired," she said flatly, turning her back to him.

He sensed the indifference in her tone and slipped an arm around her, weaving excuses about the paper and the fight.

Avery listened without reacting. Julian caused the mess, and Jace cleaned it up. What a neat little act.

She closed her eyes, refusing to waste a single word on him.

As she stayed silent, Jace did what he always did. He nuzzled the curve of her neck, his hands starting to move over her.

Chapter 5

Avery shoved Jace off and said, her voice thin with exhaustion and disgust, "I told you I was tired. I don't want to."

Jace had been brushed off twice in two nights, and his expression tightened. He looked at her pale face, swallowed whatever he wanted to say, and chose the easy out. "Fine. Get some sleep."

When Avery woke the next morning, she was surprised to find Jace still here instead of vanishing at dawn like he usually did.

"Why were you still here?" she asked.

"Where else would I be?" he replied with an easy smile, then leaned in to hug her. "I made you upset yesterday, so I took the day off to make it up to you. How about that?"

Avery understood at once. Julian couldn't be bothered, so he had sent Jace to soothe her instead.

The thought pricked like a thorn. She opened her mouth to say it wasn't necessary, but Jace was already tugging her to her feet. "You've been talking about that list of one hundred things every couple has to do. Today, we're checking boxes!"

He didn't leave room for a refusal. He took her through a day that seemed romantic. They saw a movie, rode the amusement park, and stopped for dessert. By evening, he steered her into an upscale lounge.

"Have a drink and relax," he said, settling her on a leather couch in a private room. "I'll order and come right back."

He walked out, leaving the room in silence. Avery leaned back, wishing the day would just end.

Suddenly, the door burst open. The reek of whiskey hit first, then three men staggered into the room. They saw her and grinned.

"Well, look what we've got here!"

"Come have a drink with us. How much for the night?"

"I'm not..." Avery lurched to her feet, the color draining from her face.

"Cut the act! We all know what these rooms are for!"

They locked the door and closed in, their faces twisted into leering smiles.

Avery backed away, panic thudding in her throat. She fought and shouted for help, but their drunken weight pressed her down. Hands clawed at her sleeves, and terror rose over her like cold water.

Right then, the door blew open with a kick that rattled the hinges. Jace stormed inside, his eyes going bloodshot at the sight.

He floored the first man with a brutal punch, slammed his knee into the second, and tore through them like a raging leopard.

The room echoed with the heavy thud of fists.

But there were too many of them. One of the men grabbed an empty bottle and swung it at Avery.

"Watch out!" Jace shouted. He lunged and covered her with his body.

The bottle smashed against the back of his head. Glass shattered, and blood ran down his neck.

Jace grunted, then whirled and kicked the man hard enough to send him sprawling.

The lounge security and manager finally showed up and got the situation under control.

Jace swayed, his strength gone, and collapsed into Avery's arms. She stared at the blood streaming from his hairline, her mind going blank. Her hands trembled as she called for an ambulance.

Avery stayed by his bed all night at the hospital.

The next morning, a nurse urged Avery to go home. "He's stable, and he'll wake up soon. You should go home and get some rest."

Avery could barely keep her eyes open. She nodded and stepped into the corridor, then realized she had forgotten her jacket and turned back.

She reached the door just as Jace's voice drifted through the gap. He was on the phone, sounding almost amused. "I'm fine. I'm not dying."

Whoever was on the other end said something that made him snort. "What did you expect? If I didn't put on an act to save her, how else was I supposed to get her back in my bed?

"She's damn good at it. Her skin is soft, and her waist is slim. The best part is how she almost sounds like Tessa when she moans. I just imagine that I'm with Tessa instead."

There was a pause, then he laughed softly. "Do I like Tessa? Of course I do. But Julian likes her too. What am I supposed to do?"

He paused again. "Steal her from Julian? What for? She likes him, and they're perfect together. I'll just stay out of it."

He lowered his voice, sounding almost conspiratorial. "Before Julian dumps Avery for good, I'll sleep with her as much as I want."

The words struck Avery like an electric shock, a cold rush sweeping through her until she went numb.

So everything from last night had been staged. He played the hero just to make it easier to sleep with her, using her body as a stand-in for the woman he couldn't have.

She had wanted to believe his protection meant he cared, but he didn't. It was worse than Julian's indifference, because it disguised cruelty as tenderness.

Avery clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a sound, then turned and ran from the hospital.