Chapter 1Not Just Friends

My childhood friend's girlfriend is a chronic doomscroller, obsessed with the latest TikTok trend. She pestered him to play along:

"Julian, you're a year older than me. Why didn't you come see me when I was born? Do you not love me?"

Julian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He casually played along, then turned to his serious, old-fashioned uncle who happened to be there:

"Uncle Adrian, how would you answer that?"

Adrian, usually a man of few words, said: "I did go see her."

"Not only did I see her, I even held her when she was a baby."

As he spoke, his gaze slowly landed on me.

* * *

Julian and I were childhood sweethearts. For the first twenty years of our lives, we were inseparable.

Not just me, but our parents and all our friends thought we were a match made in heaven.

When I was 18, my parents brought up the idea of a marriage alliance with the Sterling family and asked for my opinion.

I actually had feelings for Julian. If our families could unite, it would be a beautiful story.

We were too young then, so the engagement was put on hold, but we went to the same Ivy League university.

During those two years, our friendship was solid, but romance hadn't quite blossomed.

Everyone around us thought it was just a matter of time, and I allowed my feelings for Julian to deepen bit by bit.

Until the winter of our sophomore year, Julian excitedly told me: "Elara, I met a girl I like!"

It wasn't me.

He was so happy. Turns out, in the past twenty years, he never developed romantic feelings for me.

Those hand-holdings and hugs were just what best friends do in Julian's eyes.

Feelings can't be forced, and I wouldn't debase myself.

I took back my heart.

So, under the surprised gazes of everyone around us, Julian started dating a girl from an ordinary middle-class family.

The girl was pretty, a bit spoiled, clearly cherished by her parents.

He introduced his girlfriend to everyone in our circle.

My existence seemed a bit awkward.

But our mutual friends weren't optimistic about them. They always believed that once Julian's novelty wore off, he would realize that he and I were the true match.

Someone comforted me: "Elara, Julian is just looking for something fresh. He's never seen such a naive and innocent girl. He'll get tired of it after a while."

That didn't happen.

Julian dated her for two years.

For two years, he paraded his girlfriend around town. Not only me, but my parents and his parents heard about it.

My dad was so angry he wanted to go over and curse them out.

My mom stopped him: "If we don't become in-laws, we don't. Why make it ugly? Is our daughter worried about finding someone?"

"Is this about not becoming in-laws?" My dad was still angry.

When the two families discussed the engagement back then, Julian couldn't possibly have been unaware. He was an adult.

At the very least, his attitude was tacit consent.

Even though he and I were never officially together, we almost got engaged.

It was my mom who said we were too young and should spend more time together.

In terms of social etiquette, he embarrassed me and my family.

But he and I were still friends.

Our families had business dealings, and we had to maintain appearances.

But we could only be friends.

Tonight was Julian's birthday.

He booked a huge private room at a high-end club and invited quite a few people.

I was among them.

Of course, his girlfriend, Bella, was there too.