Chapter 3The Hate-Love Game

While Adrian took a cold shower, I quietly opened another chat app.

I messaged X: [Hey, it's night... the photo...]

X was the white moonlight I'd been longing for over seven years, my first love.

Although it was just an online relationship, he saved me time and again.

When my stepmother beat me within an inch of my life, he called the police, saving me.

When I couldn't afford surgery and was desperate, he paid for it.

If not for that night with Adrian, maybe X and I...

A notification pulled me back.

X: [I'll take it in a bit.]

He suddenly asked: [Scarlett, who do you like more, me or him?]

I knew "him" meant Adrian.

I didn't hesitate: [Do you even need to ask? I like you, not Adrian. No matter how good he is, I'll never like him.]

Read, no reply.

I said I liked him, why is he mad again?

Men are so hard to understand.

The comments scrolled.

[Tsk tsk, X is jealous even of this?] [I always look forward to X's thirst traps. Is he not sending one today because he's mad? I'm gonna cry.] *[I ship the side character with the male lead, but her and X are cute too. Whatever, I'll ship anything. Besides, the male lead and X are both ***.] [Another spoiler alert taken away. RIP sister.]

Based on my extensive reading experience, the censored words were probably... sexual.

My brain spun.

Well-endowed?

Good in bed?

Or...

My cheeks burned, and I couldn't stop smiling.

Oh my, what could it be? So hard to guess.

Since X wasn't replying, I watched the comments to pass the time.

From the comments, I pieced together the plot of the novel.

I was in a melodramatic romance novel.

Adrian was the male lead, Sophia was the female lead, and I was just cannon fodder to push their relationship forward.

After the female lead returned from abroad, my hate turned to love for the male lead, and I tried everything to stop them from being together.

I humiliated the female lead, framed her for stealing company secrets, causing misunderstandings.

Eventually, the male lead discovered my evil deeds and had an epiphany.

His last bit of affection for me vanished, realizing he truly loved the female lead.

He sent me to prison, where I couldn't handle life and bashed my head against the wall, dying.

I stared at my death description for a few seconds.

This side character's fate was too pathetic, wasn't it?

[Side character, stop daydreaming! Look at your phone, X sent the photo.]

I snapped back and opened the photo.

My face went red instantly.

The photo was taken in a bathroom. The man wore only a loose towel around his waist.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, pecs and abs on full display. The veins on his lower abdomen were faintly visible in the mist, making my heart race.

The comments exploded.

[As expected of X, quality is always top-tier. Pant pant, licking the screen.] [Bro, sorry for what I did to your photo.] [The side character is eating good tonight!] [Thank you, side character. Just say the word, and we'll vote you as the new female lead.] [No need. With all the evil things she does later, making her the lead would be disgusting.] [But she's not following the plot now, is she?]