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My Junk Boyfriend, You won't get away with it!
NovelShort
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“Seven years of love, dreams, and promises—gone in an instant, like glass shattering beneath my feet.” Eliza Hawke thought she had everything: love, stability, a future. That illusion burns to a...
Chương (3)
第1章
I froze in front of the private dining suite at Le Meridien, my fingers trembling around the Ferrari keys I’d planned to give Nathaniel as a surprise. Seven years of love, trust, and shared dreams suddenly felt like fragile glass splintering under my feet.
“Seriously, man, how long are you planning to keep Eliza hanging?”
The voice beyond the door was low and sharp.
My breath caught at the sound of my name. The metal keys bit into my palm, anchoring me in place.
“Nathaniel, come on. Marissa’s been asking about you ever since she got back from Paris,” another man said, followed by the clinking of glasses and a round of laughter.
“Wait, you mean you’ve been dating Adrian’s sister this whole time?” someone else added with a snicker. “Does he even realize his best friend’s been sleeping with his runaway sibling?”
The mention of my brother’s name hit me like a blow. Adrian. My brother Adrian—whom Nathaniel had always claimed he’d met only by chance.
“Imagine Adrian’s reaction when he learns the truth,” another voice teased.
“He won’t,” Nathaniel replied, his tone cool and familiar. “Eliza was just… temporary. A substitute while Marissa was away.”
“Seven years sounds like a long temporary fix,” someone mocked, followed by a whistle.
“She made it easy,” Nathaniel said, a cruel amusement curling through his words. “The poor thing was starved for affection after all that drama with her family. I just had to play the patient, loyal boyfriend. She bought every word—about her brother, about our supposed honesty, about marriage.”
The keys slipped from my trembling hand, striking the marble floor with a sharp, echoing clatter.
The voices inside went still.
“Did you hear that?”
I didn’t wait. My body moved before my mind could catch up. I turned and ran—leaving behind the keys, the car I’d saved for years to buy, the man I thought loved me, and the future built entirely on lies.
…
By the time I reached home, tears had ruined my mascara, black streaks painting my cheeks as I collapsed face‑down on the bed. The silence in my room mirrored the hollow ache in my chest. Every shared moment, every whispered promise replayed like a cruel movie I couldn’t turn off.
The sound of the front door unlocking snapped me upright. I wiped my face on my sleeve, forcing calm as his footsteps drew near.
“Eliza?” Nathaniel’s voice carried that same warmth that had once melted me. The bedroom light came on. “You won’t believe the night I just had.”
I turned on my side, pretending to look relaxed. “Oh? How was dinner?”
He smiled as he loosened his tie. “Really great catching up. Funny thing though—security found a set of Ferrari keys outside the private room. Can you imagine someone dropping those?”
I swallowed hard. “That’s… odd.”
“Anyway,” he went on, sitting beside me, “tomorrow night’s all set. My old school friend Marissa’s throwing a little party—she just got back from Paris.”
The name scorched my throat. “Marissa? The one you told me about before?”
“Yeah, just an old classmate.” He gave an easy shrug, as though the word lie had never existed in his vocabulary. “You’ll come, right?”
I looked straight into his eyes, hoping to see guilt, regret—anything real. But all I saw was that charming, unshakable smile. The same one that once convinced me he was different from everyone else.
“Of course,” I whispered, forcing a nod. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Perfect,” he murmured, brushing his lips against my forehead. “Sleep well, babe.”
The bed dipped as he lay beside me, his breathing soon evening out. I stared at the ceiling until tears slid silently into my hair.
…
The next evening, Nathaniel guided me into Marissa’s penthouse, his hand resting on the small of my back. His touch burned through the fabric of my black dress—a brand of possession dressed up as affection.
“Try the champagne, Eliza,” he said cheerfully, pressing a glass into my hand and kissing my temple for show. Laughter filled the room as crystal flutes clinked.
Across the crowd stood Marissa, radiant in a scarlet gown that hugged every curve. Her gaze was locked on Nathaniel like a claim she’d never released.
…
I slipped away from the noise, desperate for air. The hallway leading to the restroom stretched empty—until a mocking voice followed.
“Well, if it isn’t the runaway sister.”
Marissa’s words were smooth, dangerous. She leaned lazily against the wall, the champagne glass dangling between her fingers.
“That must be nice,” she went on, eyes gleaming. “Living your best life while your brother was left to pick up the pieces. Ever think how selfish that makes you?”
I froze. She knew about Adrian. About the things I’d only ever confessed to Nathaniel—those late‑night talks when I’d bared my soul, believing he understood. He’d told her everything.
“What’s wrong, cat got your tongue?” Marissa stepped closer, her perfume thick and suffocating. “You really thought Nathaniel would forget me? We go way back. That kind of connection doesn’t fade just because a lonely girl plays house with him for a few years.”
I pressed my back to the wall, fighting the sting in my eyes.
“Here’s the truth, sweetheart,” she said, draining her glass. “Tonight, I’m taking him back. He’s always been mine—you just kept his side of the bed warm while I was in Paris.”
My breath came in shallow bursts as she leaned closer, her red‑painted lips twisting into a smirk.
“Want to know something fun?” she whispered, running a manicured finger down my arm. “Two days ago—Tuesday, right?—while you were at that photography workshop…”
A cold shiver climbed my spine. Tuesday.
“He came over first,” she said softly. “But then he decided he wanted something more exciting. Said he’d rather do it in your bed.”
I stared at her, horror rising like bile.
“Those silk sheets you adore?” Her voice dipped to a purr. “We made quite the mess.”
My knees nearly gave out. I gripped the wall, gasping for air.
She laughed, tossing her hair. “He said you were too… plain. Too safe. But with me? He said I bring out the animal in him.”
The memory of Tuesday night crashed over me—those same sheets, his familiar kiss, the warmth I’d mistaken for love.
Marissa leaned in until her breath brushed my ear. “He changed those sheets so fast afterward,” she murmured. “Didn’t want his sweet, innocent Eliza finding out. The fear of being caught made it even better.”
Her hand clamped around my wrist, her nails biting into my skin.
“And the best part?” she whispered, her smile wicked. “He told me you’d never have the courage to leave.”
第2章
Marissa’s heels clattered against the marble as she disappeared down the hallway, leaving me alone with the suffocating echo of her words. I gripped the edge of the counter until my knuckles turned pale, the cool stone biting into my palms. The dim light above the mirror painted my reflection in uneven shadows—hollow eyes, smeared makeup, a stranger wearing my face.
Seven years.
Seven years spent in that bed—laughing, dreaming, believing him. The first time he whispered he loved me. The countless Sunday mornings when sunlight filtered through our curtains and he traced lazy patterns along my skin. All of it shattered, poisoned, soiled.
My stomach twisted violently. Tuesday. While I’d been sitting in that photography workshop, learning about aperture and composition, thinking about capturing our future together, he’d been—
My body convulsed, and I lurched toward the toilet. Nothing came out—just harsh, empty heaves that scraped my throat raw.
When the shaking stopped, I pressed my forehead against the cool counter, breathing shallowly. I refused to cry. Not here. Not in her house. Not where anyone could see the ruin she’d caused and call it victory.
The same bed. Our bed. The sheets I’d worked overtime to afford because he once said he loved the feel of silk. He’d taken her there on purpose, destroying every memory stitched into that fabric.
My reflection blurred. The woman in the mirror looked broken—but she also looked done.
I straightened. Smoothed my dress. Pinned back my hair. My eyes still burned, but I blinked the tears away. They wouldn’t see me fall apart. Not tonight.
Seven years of love, erased in one act of betrayal.
I walked back into the dining room, each step feeling heavier than the last. Nathaniel and Marissa sat opposite each other, laughing softly over bowls of steaming soup. The perfect pair. My stomach clenched.
Sliding into the empty seat beside him, I felt the tension ripple through his body. His jaw tightened, his shoulders stiffened. The air was so thick it nearly hummed.
Marissa’s red lips twisted into that smug little smile, but as soon as Nathaniel glanced her way, her face transformed—wide-eyed, wounded, trembling like a porcelain doll. My hands curled into fists beneath the table.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Nathaniel’s words sliced through the chatter, cold and sharp.
I blinked. “What are you talking about?”
He slammed his hand down, rattling the silverware. “Don’t act clueless! How could you say something so cruel about Marissa’s mother? She just died, and you—what kind of person does that?”
The world tilted. “I… I didn’t say anything about—”
“Enough!” His voice cracked like thunder. “Marissa told me everything that happened in the bathroom. I didn’t want to believe it, but you’ve proven me wrong.”
My mouth went dry. I turned toward Marissa, who dabbed delicately at her eyes with a napkin, every motion rehearsed. And Nathaniel—Nathaniel looked at me like I was filth beneath his shoe.
The same man who had kissed my forehead last night and whispered he loved me now stared at me like I was the villain of his story. Seven years dissolved in the blink of an eye.
A hush fell over the table. Forks paused midair. Whispered murmurs floated around us, hot with judgment. My skin burned.
Marissa let out a small, trembling sigh. “No, Nathaniel, please. Don’t be angry with her.” Her voice shook, soft and syrupy. “She’s just hurting. We shouldn’t make a scene.”
Her words crawled under my skin. Every tear, every waver in her tone—a perfectly crafted performance.
“Enough!” I snapped, my voice raw. “Stop pretending! Stop your fake crying!”
The crack of his palm came before I even registered he’d moved.
The sound echoed, clean and cruel. My cheek burned. But the pain wasn’t what broke me—it was the look in his eyes. Disgust. Disappointment. Hate.
Marissa gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “Oh God… I need air,” she whispered, stumbling to her feet. Her tears glittered under the chandelier as she fled.
“Marissa, wait!” Nathaniel called, shoving his chair back so hard it toppled. He didn’t even glance my way as he ran after her, leaving me alone in a room full of staring faces.
…
I barely remembered leaving the penthouse. My legs carried me to the street, my pulse hammering in my ears. The cool night wind hit my cheek, soothing the throbbing spot where his hand had landed.
A cab rolled by, headlights sweeping across the pavement. I raised a trembling hand, and it stopped beside me.
“Where to, miss?” the driver asked.
I muttered my address and slumped into the backseat. The door clicked shut, muffling the noise of the city.
Outside, the neon lights smeared into color streaks through my tears. Each sob tore through me harder than the last until I was gasping, empty, exhausted.
Nine years ago, I’d sworn I’d never let anyone break me again. I’d run from raised voices and fists, from the house that suffocated me. Yet here I was—crying in the back of a taxi because I’d trusted another man to treat me better.
No more.
I swiped the tears from my face, rough and angry. I wasn’t going to be that girl again—the girl who begged for love that hurt her.
My phone felt cold in my palm as I scrolled through my contacts. There it was—the number I’d never had the courage to erase.
Adrian.
The name blurred through my tears. My brother. The one who’d tried to protect me from everything, who’d taken the blows so I could escape. The one I’d left behind.
My thumb hovered for a long moment. Then I pressed call.
One ring. Two.
The sound of my heartbeat filled the cab.
Then a click.
Silence hung heavy between us before a voice—deep, steady, and painfully familiar—broke through.
“…Eliza?”
第3章
“Adrian?” My voice wavered, fragile and raw. Just saying his name felt like opening a floodgate of memories I’d tried to lock away.
“How… how have you been?”
“I’m fine, Eliza.” A pause, just long enough to make me shiver. “But you… you don’t sound fine. Are you okay?”
My chest tightened. Even after all these years, he could still read me perfectly. “I’m…” The lie fell apart mid-word. “No. I’m not okay.”
“What’s happened?”
I clutched the phone tighter, my knuckles pressing into the leather of the cab seat. Outside, the city lights streaked past, blurred and cold. “Life here… it’s nothing like I imagined. I tried to make it work, but—” A tear slid down my cheek. “I need to come back, Adrian.”
“Come home.” His voice was calm, unwavering, carrying all the weight of comfort in those two simple words. “I’ll send you the address. Wait there until we figure out the next steps.”
Two hours later, I perched on the edge of a crisp, immaculately made hotel bed. My hands twisted nervously in my lap as soft footsteps approached from the hallway.
The knock made my heart leap into my throat. Every part of me tensed, expecting—dreading—Nathaniel to be on the other side.
But when I opened the door, I was met with a stranger. Tall, dark-haired, striking green eyes that seemed to pierce right through me. A leather jacket clung to his broad shoulders, and the faint shadow of stubble added a rough edge to his strong jaw.
“Eliza?” His voice was low, tinged with a quiet roughness. “I’m Sebastian. Adrian sent me to check on you.”
I hesitated, scrutinizing him. There was an effortless confidence in the way he moved, but it wasn’t threatening. His gaze was firm, yet kind.
“May I come in?”
I stepped aside, letting him enter. Immediately, the room felt smaller, charged, as though his presence filled it. Yet he moved with a natural ease that never seemed imposing.
“How are you holding up?” His eyes flicked to my hastily packed bag.
“I’m… okay.” I crossed my arms, trying to stop the nervous flutter in my fingers. “Just… trying to process everything.”
“Completely understandable.” He leaned casually against the wall, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket.
“So… how long have you known my brother?”
A faint smile curved his lips. “Some time now.”
“That’s vague.”
“I tend to be vague.” His tone hinted at humor, though it revealed nothing more.
I pressed further. “What exactly do you do?”
“I work with Adrian.” He glanced at his watch. “The limo will be here in ten minutes. We’ll swing by your place first to grab what you need, then head straight to the airport.”
“A limo?” I blinked. “Isn’t that… a little much?”
“Standard procedure.”
“For what?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
He merely smiled, enigmatic, half-hidden, saying nothing. “Your brother likes to handle things properly.”
The casual mention of a limo, the upscale hotel room, this man who looked like he belonged in a movie—none of it matched the Adrian I remembered. He had always been driven, ambitious even, but this level of luxury? Who had he become in these nine years?
“You look surprised,” Sebastian remarked.
“I… didn’t expect all of this. The hotel, the limo…” I waved vaguely. “Who are you, really, Sebastian?”
“Just someone your brother trusts.” He straightened, checking his phone. “The limo’s early. Ready to go?”
I slid into the plush leather seat, running my fingers along the smooth upholstery. The car smelled faintly of new leather and polished wood.
“This is…” I shook my head, letting out a breath. “I didn’t expect this.”
Sebastian sat down beside me, filling the space with quiet assurance. “Not what you imagined?”
“No. Nathaniel’s rich, yes, but this…” I gestured around the opulent interior. “It’s different. Refined. Expensive… I don’t even know how to describe it.”
“Different in what way?”
“More… sophisticated? Luxurious?” I traced the stitching on the seat. “I can’t explain it.”
The drive to my apartment blurred past in streaks of city light. Questions whirled in my mind, unspoken. Sebastian remained calm, watching me with quiet, careful attention.
The limo stopped at my building. “I’ll wait here,” Sebastian said. “Grab what you need, and we’ll go.”
I nodded, fingers shaking as I clutched my keys. The elevator ride seemed endless. Each floor stretched out, carrying the weight of what I was about to leave behind.
The apartment door opened silently. I stepped inside—and my world fractured all over again.