Chapter 1
For the 999th time being intimate with her best friend’s brother, Josie straddled Adam Deantt. They’d been at it for nearly an hour.
Sweat trickled down his forehead, yet he still struggled to regain his composure.
“Want me to… use my hand instead?” she suggested softly, cheeks flushed with concern.
Adam gently patted her head and replied, “It’s fine. I’ll deal with it myself. Go shower.”
Steam curled around her as hot water streamed down–then she suddenly remembered she’d forgotten her pajamas.
Just as she opened the bathroom door, she heard a deep panting from the living room.
“Jessica…”
Josie’s body went rigid. Through the partially open door, she saw Adam leaning against the sofà, pleasuring himself with Jessica’s photo in hand!
His eyes were closed, his throat moved, and his voice was unbelievably hoarse as he murmured. “Jessica… Babe…”
Although they had shared a room countless times, true satisfaction had always eluded him with Josie. But now, by invoking Jessica’s name and gazing at her picture, he found a fleeting moment of happiness.
Witnessing this firsthand, Josie felt as if she had plunged into an icy abyss.
Suddenly, the phone rang sharply. Adam gathered himself before answering.
On the other end, Samuel Kenide’s voice rang with disbelief.
“Adam, are you really planning to film Jessica’s first night tomorrow?” he asked.
“Have you forgotten how she dumped you? When you went bankrupt, n you went bankrupt, she ditched you for the school administrator’s son just to get a study abroad opportunity. Now that you’ve bounced back, she’s cozying up to you again. What kind of woman is that…”
Adam closed his eyes, speaking softly, “I know she’s vain, selfish, and hypocritical.”
He halted and let out a bitter chuckle, “But I just can’t help loving her.”
He added. “Thinking about her has been driving me crazy for years.”
Luca’s breathing quickened, “What about Josie? She’s your girlfriend now. How do you see her?”
Adam rubbed his forehead, “I’ve tried, but I just can’t feel anything for
her.”
He explained, “When you meet someone special, everyone else feels like a compromise.”
He continued, “Josie’s nice, but for me, being with her has always been settling.”
Luca sighed. “I don’t know what kind of hold Jessica has on you! If you treat Josie this way and she finds out, she might leave you, and you’ll definitely regret it!”
There was a trace of exhaustion in Adam’s voice. “If she wants to leave,
let her.
“We’ve been together for so long, and I can’t bring myself to end it.
“If she mentions breaking up, it might actually be a relief for me.”
Noticing Adam was about to hang up and enter, Josie’s face went ashen, and she shook as she hurried back to the bathroom.
The shower water cascaded over her quivering body, bringing back memories of when she first met Adam.
The first–year senior high school opening ceremony was underway, and he, the Student Union president, was on stage delivering a speech.
Clad in a white shirt, he appeared as cool as a pine tree. His long legs were encased in black trousers, and his entire presence exuded a natural elegance. His remarkably handsome face was the most striking one. As he lifted his gaze, every girl in the auditorium gasped in awe.
Josie stood among the crowd, observing as his well–defined fingers. lightly held the microphone and his throat moved subtly as he spoke.
At that instant, she thought she could hear her own heartbeat..
“Hey, are you mesmerized?” her best friend, Sally Deantt, nudged her with an elbow. “That’s my older brother. He’s hot, right?”
Later on, she discovered there was a popular saying at the affiliated middle school. It’s forgivable not to know the principal, but it’s
Chapter 1
unforgivable not to know Adam, the school heartthrob.
All the girls were infatuated with him, yet he always turned down their advances with a polite reserve. Over time, people assumed he was uninterested in women.
Josie only dared to sneak a few glances at him when visiting Sally’s house.
Then, Jessica transferred to their school.
She was like a fiery force, persistently and passionately pursuing Adam.
Everyone expected her to be rejected like the others. But three months. later, Adam surprised everyone by agreeing to be with her.
Josie could never erase that day from her memory. She stood at the corner of the teaching building, watching as Adam pressed Jessica against the wall and kissed her.
His slender fingers tangled in her hair, and his typically cold eyes were alight with passion. This was a side of Adam she had never witnessed
before.
Josie just stood by as he lost control over and over again for Jessica.
He waited in line all night to buy her a limited edition item, fought for her, and even skipped classes to accompany her to a concert.
It wasn’t until their third year of university that the Deantt family went bankrupt.
Jessica immediately dumped him and went abroad with the school. administrator’s son. Before leaving, she said, “Adam, you can’t give me
Chapter 1
what I want.”
Despite his pride, Adam chased Jessica’s car for two entire streets, pleading repeatedly, but she never looked back.
Following that, Adam spent the entire day in a daze, with Josie secretly trailing him out of concern until he noticed her presence.
“Why are you always following me?” Adam asked when he turned to face her.
She stuttered, unable to find the words.
“Do you like me?” he bluntly asked. “Then let’s be together.”
Once they started dating, Josie realized that Adam had agreed to be with her merely to move past his painful breakup.
Nonetheless, she willingly embraced the relationship, behaving well and treating him kindly in hopes of warming his heart.
Over time, it seemed he began to genuinely care for her.
He remembered her birthday, made brown sugar water for her during her period, and when it thundered, he’d smile and hold her close, reassuring her, “Don’t be afraid, my dear.”
After he successfully revived the Acker family on his own, he showered her with extreme affection..
Up until two weeks ago, they encountered Jessica, who was employed as a waitress at a club.
Jessica accidentally stained her dress, prompting Adam to mock her and demand compensation of 900 thousand dollars.
With tears in her eyes, Jessica said. “I don’t have the money, but I’m still a virgin. I’ll auction ofl‘ my virginity and pay you as soon as I can. Would that be acceptable?”
Adam gripped her chin and replied icily, “Alright. I expect the money within three days.”
That night, Josie lay on their large bed, observing as Adam spent two hours in the study. When he emerged, the strong scent of cigarettes clung to him.
He lay down with his back to her and remained awake for the entire night.
At that moment. virginity.
he had already made up his mind to record Jessica’s
Beneath his intense animosity lay a torrent of emotions and love.
Throughout the years they shared a bed, his inability to truly connect stemmed from her not being his true desire, but rather a compromise.
Josie gazed at her own reflection, noticing her pallor, and suddenly burst into laughter, tears flowing down her cheeks.
Josie realized she had the strength to love and also to let go.
If he didn’t love her, he could have simply told her.
She wouldn’t have clung to him.
Turning off the shower, she grabbed her phone and sent a message.
The following morning, as Adam finished his breakfast and was ready to leave, Josie appeared, neatly dressed.
“Why are you up so early? Why not sleep a bit longer?” he asked.
Josie looked down and replied, “I have some errands to run today.”
Adam offered a kind smile and said, “I’ll give you a ride.”
Once in the car, just as he was about to ask where she was headed, hist phone rang
His assistant’s voice came through, “Mr. Deantt, Ms. Meane’s auction is scheduled for tonight. Will you be attending in person?”
Adam’s expression changed, and he responded, “I’ll be there.”
After a brief pause, he added, “Actually, I’ll head over now.”
After ending the call, he turned to Josie and was about to explain, but she pressed her lips together.
He was anxious about the possibility of someone else winning Jessica’s first auction.
Before he could say anything, she said, “If you have things to do, go ahead. I can manage on my own.”
Adam didn’t dwell on it and was eager to depart.
“Alright. Josie. Take care.”
Josie didn’t reply. She exited the car, flagged down another taxi, and headed to the coffee shop where she had arranged to meet her best friend. Sally.
The moment she stepped inside, Sally hurried over and clasped her hand, her eyes teary.
“Josie, did you mean what you said in your message yesterday? Are you truly planning to marry into the Acker family for my sake?”
