Chapter 1The Borrowed Boyfriend

Just before Christmas, my boyfriend of seven years suddenly told me he bought a Mercedes.

I was stunned. We didn't have much money. We had been scrimping and saving for years to afford a wedding.

And he spent it all in one go?

Later, I thought maybe he did it to save face when driving me back to my hometown for the holidays, so I reluctantly accepted it.

But just as I was about to put my luggage in the trunk, he looked at me blankly and said, "You should take the train. I have to pretend to be Julie’s boyfriend again this year. Taking you along would be inconvenient."

The next day, he posted on social media: "Finally got the Mercedes my future mother-in-law dreamed of. Just don't know when I can officially marry you into the family."

He got 99+ likes and blessings.

Meanwhile, because I couldn't get a train ticket, I had to take an illegal cab and got into a serious accident on the highway.

* * *

I lay in the hospital for three days. The first thing I did when I woke up was call my boss.

"Boss, does that offer to transfer me to the branch office still stand?"

"Of course, as long as you're willing to go."

My chest ached.

But I chose to leave without hesitation.

After hanging up, I realized Seth had called me twenty-nine times.

A sneer curled my lips.

It must have been hard for him.

It's the holidays; everyone is busy.

He had to accompany his fake mother-in-law, and his crush of over a decade.

Yet he still remembered to call me.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, Seth’s thirtieth call came through.

As soon as I answered, he started yelling.

"Sue, what kind of game are you playing not answering the phone? Do you know that three days ago, some scammer claiming to be a cop called me saying you were in a car accident and told me to go to the City Hospital?"

"If I weren't smart, I would have been tricked."

"Tell me, did you hire someone to trick me just to ruin my gig as Julie’s fake boyfriend? You're too much."

Thanks to his reminder, I realized I had been in a coma for three days.

The aftereffects of the accident hit me then. My head throbbed. I replied casually, "Oh, okay, I got it. If that's all, I'm hanging up."

I hung up.

But a second later, Seth called again.

"Sue, why did you hang up on me? Are you trying to be unreasonable again?"

"Do you have to ruin everyone's holiday?"

Listening to his accusations, my grip on the phone tightened.

I couldn't hold back. "Seth, I was in a car accident. My head hurts like hell right now, and I really don't want to argue with you. If you want to vent, wait until I'm discharged."

There was a suffocating silence on the other end.

Maybe Seth never thought the accident was real.

After all, in the seven years we dated, he pretended to be Julie’s boyfriend every Christmas.

Because of my jealousy, I argued and fought with him countless times.

He was used to thinking I was just causing drama during the holidays.

So if I didn't answer the phone, I must be giving him the silent treatment.

If the police called, it must be a scam I orchestrated.

While I was lost in thought, Seth’s voice finally sounded.

"Give me the hospital address. I'm coming over now."

He hung up hurriedly.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Seth, Julie, and I grew up in the same neighborhood complex. We were childhood friends.

During the years Seth chased after Julie, I chased after Seth.

Until seven years ago, after being rejected by Julie for the hundredth time, a disappointed Seth came to me.

"Sue, I can date you, but I have one condition. As long as Julie needs me to pretend to be her boyfriend, I won't marry you."

I agreed.

I thought as long as I could warm his heart, he would be mine sooner or later.

But in the seven years we dated, I tried everything to move him.

Yet Seth never once offered to take me home.

In the eyes of everyone in our complex, he and Julie were the couple.

And I, his girlfriend of seven years, was at best a childhood friend.

Even when I threatened him with the baby in my belly.

The next day, Seth handed me an abortion consent form.

"Sue, go to the hospital and get rid of it. My parents think my girlfriend is Julie. I can't marry you right now."

He was terrifyingly affectionate.

And I was in agonizing pain.

I actually didn't understand why I loved Seth so much.

Maybe because when I was little and my stepmother beat me, only he took me into his home, applied medicine to my wounds, and gave me food.

But until this life-threatening accident.

I suddenly realized.

Love that you have to beg for isn't love; it's just a scumbag.