My car crashed, and I ended up in the hospital. Suddenly, I had this idea to mess with my boyfriend. “Who are you?” Julian’s face froze. I was about to burst out laughing. But then Julian pointed at his best friend, Caleb. “I’m your boyfriend’s brother, and he’s your boyfriend, Caleb.” My expression stiffened. Caleb, however, stepped forward. “Yes, I’m your boyfriend.” I forced a smile. “Then take me home.” Caleb took me home. He said I’d always lived here. I looked at this place that bore absolutely no trace of my life, and nodded, playing along as if I were as blind as he was. I slept on his bed for a while, then went to get some water, but I heard a FaceTime conversation from the living room. “Caleb, do your brother a favor and pretend to be Sera’s boyfriend for a while.” “Aren’t you afraid she’ll suddenly regain her memory?” “If she gets angry when her memory comes back, I’ll just coax her into it. She loves me so much, she’d never truly leave me. It’s just… between her and me, it’s gotten a bit boring. This is a good chance for me to breathe, to have some fun outside the relationship.” “So you really hooked up with Chloe, huh? Just using this as an excuse to mess around with her.” “You know it. But I definitely love Sera more. Make sure you don’t touch Sera during this time she’s with you, alright? Though, among my buddies, you’re the one I trust most. And you always seemed to hate Sera, anyway.” My bare feet retreated. I made some noise at the door, then walked back towards the living room. Caleb quickly ended the call and stood up when he heard the noise. “The floor’s cold. Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” Caleb quickly scooped me up into his arms and set me down on the couch. “I’m thirsty.” I said, realizing I couldn’t find where the water was. “I’ll get it for you.” Caleb walked to the water cooler and brought me a glass of water. He sat beside me, looking at me, “Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?” I shook my head after drinking the water. He gently brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, then leaned in to kiss my forehead. My eyes widened slightly. I’d just heard Julian tell him not to touch me like that. I also thought Caleb hated me. Yet now… When his lips touched mine. I turned my head away. He calmly stroked my face. “You don’t remember, so we’ll take it slow. You’ll get to know me again.” Caleb, this man, seemed to be deceiving his own brother too. 2 When Caleb brought me to the private room, it was already lively. A bunch of privileged kids from the city’s elite circles fell into a strangely synchronized silence the moment they saw me, their gazes turning to Julian. “Oh, Sera’s here! Do you still remember me? I’m Chloe, your college roommate!” Chloe, sitting next to Julian, waved, calling out. Caleb led me to a seat. I looked at her and shook my head. “Sorry.” “It’s okay, we can all just get to know each other again.” Chloe said, linking her arm through Julian’s, leaning intimately against his shoulder. This former college roommate, then friend, now that she thought I had amnesia, leaned on Julian like she was subtly staking her claim, a smug satisfaction hidden in her smile. Julian, too, seemed to enjoy the perverse thrill of being intimate with another woman right in front of me. “Yeah, yeah, it’s great, isn’t it? Both of you best friends have boyfriends in this circle.” “You can always hang out together. Whether she has amnesia or not, it doesn’t really matter.” The other friends echoed similar remarks, a malicious glee apparent in their eyes, watching an unwitting victim get publicly humiliated. Everyone continued playing games. Julian and Chloe shared a single cookie, their mouths getting closer and closer with each bite. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” The shouts of encouragement. Julian and Chloe kissed in the charged atmosphere. Afterward, Chloe playfully buried her face in Julian’s chest, then subtly shot me a triumphant glance. Julian, too, looked pleased as he wrapped an arm around Chloe. Then, I lost the game and the penalty was to choose someone to kiss for thirty seconds. Everyone fell silent, looking at me. They were curious who I would pick. Would I instinctively pick Julian, like I used to? Julian seemed a little nervous, avoiding my gaze. He apparently didn’t want me to show any instinctive reaction so soon. Caleb, sitting next to me, also seemed tense. I smiled. “I’ll pick my boyfriend, of course.” 3 I said, then turned to Caleb. “Shall we?” I could distinctly feel Caleb relax. He gazed at me steadily, then leaned in. I proactively wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. “Whoa!” Another chorus of “Whoa!” erupted. These people might have seen Julian with other women, kissing other women, but they certainly hadn’t expected *me* to act this way with another man. So their surprised “Whoa!” was particularly novel, but then it suddenly died down. Caleb seemed to kiss me back fiercely, his lips hungry. Thirty seconds later, I pulled away, only to see Julian’s face was a thundercloud, which was why everyone else had suddenly fallen silent. How laughable. Caleb gently wiped a stray trace of moisture from the corner of my mouth. “What’s wrong, everyone? Didn’t I just complete my penalty?” I asked, feigning confusion at the strange atmosphere. “Even with her amnesia, Sera’s certainly not awkward with her boyfriend.” Chloe’s words were clearly mocking my ‘amnesia’ and calling me a fool. Julian’s face was even more displeased. I went to the restroom outside, but on my way back, I overheard a conversation from the staircase landing between the two men waiting for us. “Caleb, I told you not to mess with her. What you did just now was out of line.” Julian’s voice was cold. “It was just a game. She has amnesia. Is she supposed to look for her boyfriend or for you, who’s already with another woman? That’s not realistic, is it? And I’m her boyfriend, chosen by you.” Caleb replied with a smile. Julian was silent for a moment. “Fine, just be mindful of your boundaries. Even though I don’t believe you’d genuinely fall for Sera and get serious with her, you should still avoid overly intimate contact whenever possible. Otherwise, it would be unbearable for you, and I’d feel terrible about it, right?” “Ha, you really know me, don’t you?” 4 Back at Caleb’s villa, as I was about to enter my room, he grabbed my arm. Without a word, he lowered his head and kissed me. “Mmm—” I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter. After a long moment, he finally pulled back, stroking my cheek and murmuring. “We took a step forward today, didn’t we? We can get to know each other even better, gradually.” I looked up at him, stunned. He seemed to be doing the opposite of what he’d told his brother. I didn’t understand him. My family background and Julian’s were worlds apart. He worked tirelessly, step by step, to win me over. Later, I met some of his friends, a whole crowd of wealthy kids, especially Caleb. Caleb despised me, looked down on me, and that was a well-known fact within their circle. He always had sarcastic remarks about my relationship with Julian. In the past, I avoided him whenever possible. But after my ‘amnesia,’ and Julian forcing us into a couple, he’d repeatedly taken advantage of the situation to do things like this. Was he doing it to get back at Julian for making us a couple? As a designer, my work was pretty flexible, so I often worked from home. Caleb knocked and came in. “You’ve been working hard. There are fireworks tonight, let’s go watch them.” When we arrived at the lake where the fireworks were being set off, Julian and Chloe were already standing in the best spot, watching the magnificent display. Chloe, leaning against Julian, suddenly jumped up happily and gave Julian a quick kiss on the cheek, looking absolutely adorable. Julian smiled back at her, playfully tapped her nose. Then, he turned around and saw us. Julian saw me, and there was a flicker of stiff panic, but he quickly composed himself, acting as if nothing was amiss. Chloe also saw us. “Oh, you’re here!” “Sera, perfect timing! Help me take some photos with Julian!” Chloe called out, coming over and handing me her phone. Julian’s face faltered for a moment, then he glanced at me again. “I’m so happy today! These are the fireworks Julian set off just for me. I want to capture this moment forever.” Chloe walked back to Julian’s side, gazing at him with deep affection as she spoke. Julian’s expression softened, and he wrapped an arm around her. My hand, holding Chloe’s phone, faltered. So, this grand fireworks display was all for Chloe, arranged by Julian. 5 I watched the scene of them embracing in the camera’s frame. Julian gently held Chloe, and she nestled against his chest, a look of blissful satisfaction on her face. Behind them, the magnificent fireworks exploded, creating a picture of breathtaking romance. I quietly took their photos. Once, on my birthday, Julian had also set off fireworks, lighting up the entire lake just for me. Chloe had eagerly offered to take our photos then. I was probably as happy and blissful as Chloe was now. Chloe had even wistfully said, “I’m so jealous of you two. I truly hope one day I’ll have someone who treats me like that.” I had even comforted her, assuring her she would. Now, she certainly made it happen. Caleb took the phone from my hand. “Alright, you’re not here to be their personal photographer.” Caleb tossed the phone back. Julian caught it and handed it to Chloe. After the fireworks display, Chloe and I went to the restroom. The restroom was too crowded, so I decided not to bother. But on my way back, I again overheard the two of them waiting there for us. “Seems like you’re having a great time with Chloe, huh? You and Sera haven’t had this much fun in a long time, have you?” Caleb said. “Indeed. Lately, Chloe and I feel just like how things used to be between Sera and me. Chloe is more obedient, thoughtful, and considerate. She makes me feel comfortable and happy.” Julian replied. “Then why not just let things play out? Chloe does seem to suit you better. Sera… you said she can be stubborn sometimes, and that really frustrates you, didn’t you?” Caleb said. “Caleb, years of history with Sera isn’t something I can just throw away.” “Chloe even said she’s not looking for anything serious; as long as she can be happy for a while, she’ll be content. Such a sweet girl.” Julian remarked wistfully. “Heh.” 6 Back at the villa, Caleb suddenly wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. Then he pulled back slightly, looking at me intently. “Sera, you know what? You’re the best Sera, and you don’t need to be compared to anyone.” I stared at him, stunned, as if he were responding directly to Julian’s comparison of me and Chloe. How… how could he know me so well? My little habits that even Julian had forgotten – what candy I liked, what dishes, what movies… He pushed the boundaries a little further than before. I didn’t object. He stared at me for a moment, then he scooped me up into his arms and carried me into his bedroom. Julian had always been the only man I’d been with. When Julian first pursued me, I was full of distrust. But his seriousness and determination, his respectful attitude towards my grandmother, and the discreet help he offered behind the scenes – they all moved me. Later, his parents disapproved and cut off his allowance. I thought that would be the moment he’d realize the gap between us. But he didn’t compromise; instead, he worked odd jobs while attending classes with me. Eventually, his parents’ hearts softened, and they relented. That’s when we truly settled into our relationship. When my grandmother, my only family, passed away, he held me close, comforting me and assuring me I still had him. He’d always be by my side. Such a deep connection, and now it was completely unrecognizable. If that’s how it was, then maybe it was time to learn to move on to another man. On Friday, a group of us went to a resort for the weekend. When we were assigning rooms at the resort, Julian’s face was displeased. He privately spoke to Caleb. “Are you two really planning to share a room? Get separate rooms.” “It’s just sharing a room. You know I hate her, so what are you worried about?” Caleb replied. I suddenly appeared, and Julian’s disgusted expression froze, the words he was about to say swallowed back down. The next morning, Julian, his face ashen, called Caleb away. I was on the balcony upstairs and heard their voices below. “Did you two… sleep together last night?” Julian demanded, full of anger. “You didn’t spend the night with your ‘sweet’ girlfriend, but came to listen in on our room instead? Julian, are you a pervert?” Caleb retorted. “Caleb! Are you messing with me?!” Julian fumed. “Enough! I don’t need you to pretend to be Sera’s boyfriend anymore!” 7 “Ha, and what exactly are you going to tell her? That you’re her boyfriend? That you wanted to mess around and hook up with her friend, so you lied and told her I was her boyfriend?” Caleb sneered. “Do you dare to say that?” “You!” Julian choked. “Besides, what about your new girlfriend? Don’t you like her a lot? She’s right there, you know.” Caleb said. “Chloe and I agreed from the start that it was just a temporary thing!” “I never intended to give up on Sera, and Sera loves me!” “She’ll regain her memory eventually, and I’ll apologize sincerely. I’ll propose to her, swear I’ll only ever have her, and she’ll forgive me. And you, ignoring the code of brotherhood, took advantage and slept with her?” Julian was furious. “Caleb, didn’t you say you hated her?” “Hmph, when did *I* ever say I hated her? Wasn’t that just what *you all* assumed?” Caleb scoffed. Julian clenched his fists, glaring at him. “I truly never expected that my best friend, you, would set such a huge trap for me! You’ve been harboring dirty intentions for Sera, and you used this opportunity to get your hands on her!” “Julian, you orchestrated all of this yourself. You’re the one who said I was her boyfriend.” Caleb said calmly. Julian’s face paled, filled with panic. “Since Sera and I have already… become intimate, and you also think Chloe is so great, just like I said last time, wouldn’t it be better to just let things play out like this?” “When Sera regains her memory, you won’t have to beg for forgiveness; I will. Wouldn’t that make everyone happy?” Caleb said. Julian looked at him, then let out a cold laugh. “I don’t care about what happened between you and Sera. Perhaps it’ll even make her more likely to forgive me. I’ll break up with Chloe immediately, and I’ll do everything to make amends. We’ll see who Sera’s heart ultimately chooses!” I was idly fiddling with the flowers in a pot on the balcony upstairs. But I saw Chloe, who had been hiding behind the wall, listening to their conversation. After hearing Julian’s words, she frantically ran off. 8 That afternoon, while the men were fishing, Chloe suddenly called out to me. “Sera, let’s go pick grapes! It looks like so much fun.” I gave her a meaningful look, then smiled and went with her. Inside the vineyard. Chloe suddenly handed me her phone. “Sera, I want to show you something.” I took it and looked. “There are a lot of pictures; you can take your time looking. I took these from Julian’s phone.” Chloe said with subtle mockery. On her phone, there were countless intimate photos of Julian and me: kissing photos, photos taken in bed – they were all there. I handed the phone back to her, looking at her. “What’s the meaning of this?” She flinched, then sneered. “What do I mean? Julian says you’re Caleb’s girlfriend, yet you have so many intimate photos with Julian, spanning from our college days until now. What do you think that means?” “Oh, but everyone says my boyfriend is Caleb.” I replied, my face utterly calm. “Sera, are you really that stupid? Can’t you see from these photos? Julian is lying to you! Your boyfriend has always been Julian! Never Caleb! Julian only lied because you had amnesia. He didn’t want to keep being your boyfriend, so he took the opportunity to trick you into thinking Caleb was your boyfriend, so he could go off and mess around!” “Caleb is also helping Julian deceive you. You’re being played for a fool, spun around in circles, and everyone’s laughing at you behind your back! As your friend, I couldn’t stand by and watch, so I’m telling you this out of kindness!” Chloe impatiently blurted out the entire truth. My face remained calm. She stared at my unchanging expression, stunned. I simply smiled. “So what? Is there anything wrong with my situation now? Is Caleb not treating me well? Or is he worse than Julian was?” Her eyes widened in disbelief, staring at me. “You… you knew all this and can still be so calm?” She seemed to realize something. “You… you weren’t faking amnesia, were you?” I picked at a grape in my hand. “Oh, you caught me. Well, as my ‘friend,’ you can’t tell anyone, right?” “You… you…” She stared at me, utterly shocked. “You never had amnesia, yet you’re still with Caleb like this!” “Sera, you’ve been hiding such a deep secret!” “I’m going to tell Julian, I’m going to tell Caleb! You were never actually amnesiac! You’ve been lying to them from the start!” 9 I popped a grape into my mouth, watching her with amusement. “Are you sure you want to rip everything open? Do you really think Julian will keep you around then?” She froze, her face flickering with panic, seeming to recall Julian’s words about ending their relationship from earlier that morning. Then she scoffed. “If I tell Julian you were faking amnesia, and he finds out you’ve been lying to him and even deliberately slept with Caleb, do you think he’d still want you? Won’t he just choose me instead?” “Oh, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you ruin the image I’ve carefully cultivated in front of them. I’ll simply say, with a heartbroken sigh, that Julian’s deception made me believe he didn’t want me anymore. I was so hurt that I fell into Caleb’s arms.” I smiled at her. “Do you think he’ll believe I deliberately lied to him, or that my heart was utterly broken? Do you think he’ll feel more guilt and pity for me, or will he abandon me?” Earlier, she had heard Julian say he didn’t care that Caleb and I slept together, right? Ha. Chloe looked at me like this, recoiling a step, staring at me in disbelief, as if she was seeing me for the first time. “Sera, I never thought… I never thought this was your true face! You’re nothing like you pretended to be…” “What was I like before?” I looked at her, amused. “Chloe, you went to such lengths to be my friend, to scheme your way closer to Julian – what do you think you were after? Why are you so obsessed with what I might be thinking?” Chloe’s face flushed. “I… I truly love Julian! And you, you’ve been faking it all along, and you knew exactly what was going on, yet you still went to bed with Caleb! You’re nothing like everyone always thought you were – strong, brave, kind, sincere, and deeply in love with Julian! You’re not like that at all! You don’t love Julian at all!” “Ha, who said I don’t love Julian?” I found it ironic. “If he hadn’t pushed me into Caleb’s arms, wouldn’t I still be loving Julian? Did I ever betray him the way he betrayed me?” 10 I looked at her strangely. “How can you be so self-righteous with me? If Julian had nothing, would you still be able to say you truly loved him? Ha.” Chloe’s face turned green, then white. “You… you… Sera, you’re terrifying!” “I’m terrifying? The man who pushed his girlfriend into another man’s arms isn’t terrifying, but I am? The man who cheated with his girlfriend’s friend isn’t terrifying, but I am?” I smiled at her. “Chloe, you should be glad that between Caleb and Julian, I’ll only keep one, and I have no intention of fighting you for anything else. Julian is tainted in my eyes now. If you want him, go ahead and keep him, if you’re capable. I won’t sabotage you, don’t worry.” Chloe trembled as she looked at me. “So, you, Sera, don’t love Julian, and you don’t love Caleb. You… you just want to bag a rich guy, whether it’s Julian or Caleb, as long as they can give you a good life, either one will do!” A flicker of impatience crossed my face. “I said I loved Julian, but what did I get? Why should I still love a man like that? Caleb also deceived me, so why should I give him my whole heart? It’s just that, compared to Julian, Caleb isn’t as tainted in my eyes. As long as he treats me well and gives me what I want, I’ll treat him well in return.” Chloe looked at me. “Are you so sure Caleb will be yours to control? He’s widely known as the most ruthless one among that group of friends.” I played with the grape in my hand. “You rely on your abilities, I’ll rely on mine. You and I both know what it’s like to live in poverty. What you choose to do, the decision is yours.” If Chloe didn’t do anything against me, I wouldn’t do anything to her. But if she was foolish enough to treat me as an enemy, like before… I suddenly felt a figure lurking as if eavesdropping outside the vineyard. I turned my head, but only saw the leaves rustle.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298989”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply