Chapter 1
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At my best friend’s birthday party, I got wasted and crashed next to a gorgeous stranger. Platonically.
My so–called best friend, instead of looking out for me, snapped a perfectly angled photo and posted it to his Instagram story.
The caption: “That’s my boy Leo, ‘scoring‘ wherever he goes!”
The next morning, I was trending for all the wrong reasons.
During a media scrum, my two childhood friends, Bella and Zoe, who had always sworn they’d trust me unconditionally, didn’t just fail to defend me–they threw me under the bus.
“Leo’s always been a player, ever since we were kids. He loves the attention from women. What can we do?”
“I guess we’re just not as exciting as the girls he finds on the outside. But thank God we have Finn now!”
I let out a cold laugh. After deciding to quit the industry, I cornered the beautiful stranger from the party outside her hotel.
Hey. About last night. Aren’t you going to take responsibility?”
Her eyes, a stunning shade of amethyst, widened slightly. “How, exactly?”
“Marry me.”
When Bella and Zoe returned to our shared condo, I was staring blankly at the freshly printed marriage certificate in my hand. I was so out of it, I didn’t even notice them walk up.
“A marriage certificate? Whose?”
Bella snatched it from my grasp, flipped it open, and let out a derisive snort. “Leo, seriously? Your career is in the toilet, so you get a fake marriage license to shut people up? Pathetic.”
Zoe’s smile was more restrained, but her words were just as sharp. “A fake like this won’t fool anyone, Leo. When you’re exposed, it’ll only be more humiliating for you.”
I frowned, taking the certificate back. A bitter laugh almost escaped me. These were the girls who had professed their undying devotion to me, who swore to trust
me no matter what.
As I stood to go to my room, my eyes met those of the person standing behind them. Finn. I was surprised to see him.
“What are you doing here?”
Finn stepped forward, his face a mask of guilt, and before he even spoke, he slapped himself hard across the cheek.
“Leo, I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. You know I’m new to the industry. I had no idea a stupid Instagram story would blow up like this.”
He played the innocent victim to perfection. A damn shame he wasn’t an actor.
I crossed my arms, watching him with a detached curiosity. “Then why don’t you clear things up?”
He blinked, feigning confusion. “Clear what up?”
“The truth, Finn. That nothing happened.”
!
I couldn’t stand his act anymore, and my voice rose. He immediately flinched and ducked behind Bella, as if I were about to hit him.
“I… I can’t lie.”
“That’s enough.”
Bella and Zoe instantly jumped to his defense. One grabbed my arm, pulling me back, while the other stood between me and Finn.
“Leo, you’re the one who can’t keep it in your pants, and now you want Finn to lie for you?” Bella sneered. “You think everyone is like you, able to lie through their
teeth without a shred of conscience?”
“Honestly, you brought this all on yourself,” Zoe added, her voice laced with disappointment. “Finn is just too kind and naive. He felt so bad he insisted on coming to apologize in person, and this is how you treat him? By bullying him?”
“Bullying him? Me, with no self–control?” I was so angry I could only laugh.
Growing up, thanks to Bella and Zoe’s possessiveness, there hadn’t been a single other girl in my life. Even Finn, my one and only guy friend, had to get their stamp
of approval before I was “allowed” to hang out with him. I’d actually been happy to finally have a brother.
Chapter 1
13.35
Now, it seemed my joy had been tragically misplaced.
“I’m not arguing with you. You’re being completely irrational, as always,” Bella scoffed, taking Finn’s arm and leading him downstairs.
Zoe sighed. “Leo, you need to get your act together.”
She followed them down the stairs.
Staring at the empty stairwell, it suddenly hit me. If I was going to sell this place, I’d have to fix it first.
Years ago, I’d entered a TV talent show on a whim. I ended up getting a bit of a following and was signed by a label. After my first real paycheck, I bought this con- do. Bella and Zoe, not wanting to be separated from me, used the excuse of “protecting” me to get money from their parents and buy the unit directly below mine. Then, against all building regulations, they had a spiral staircase installed, connecting our two homes.
It meant they could come and go from my place as they pleased.
I’ll admit, that convenience had its perks. There was a time I fell into a lake during a variety show shoot and came down with a raging fever that night. They’d come
up with takeout, found me delirious, and rushed me to the hospital.
But I didn’t need that kind of “care” anymore.
