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 sofa, 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, 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 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 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 off 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, he had already made up his mind to record Jessica's virginity.

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, his 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?"

Josie nodded. "Yes."

"No, no. Even though the Acker family is rich, their heir, Eric, has been overseas. People in the circle say he has a bad temper and is disfigured. If it weren't for the marriage being firmly arranged by my grandfather before he died, I would have... And you like my brother, Adam. Why did you suddenly volunteer to take my place in this marriage?"

She paused and looked intently at Josie's pale face. "Did my brother mistreat you? Is this about Jessica again? I'll confront him for you right now!"

Josie quickly grasped Sally's hand. "Sally, it's over between Adam and me. I don't like him anymore, and I want no ties with him in the future.

"I know you've been planning to escape the marriage and elope recently. You're scheduled to leave today, but you've been uncertain." Josie pulled out the plane tickets from her bag and handed them to Sally. "Go. Alex is waiting for you at the airport. The flight is at ten. You can still make it if you hurry."

Sally's eyes brimmed with tears instantly. "Then what about you?" she asked.

"I'll take your place and marry into the family at the wedding in two weeks," Josie replied, gently wiping away Sally's tears. "Between us, one of us deserves happiness."

Sally's lips quivered before she embraced Josie tightly. "Josie, I can never repay the debt I owe you in this lifetime."

Sally departed.

Josie stood by the expansive floor-to-ceiling window at the airport, watching as Sally's flight took off.

Sunlight poured over her pale face through the glass, reminding her of the day Adam confessed his wish to be with her. Standing on the library steps, he had reached out to her against the light, just like this.

Back then, she was so naive. She believed the spotlight was truly on her.

With a forced, sad smile, she left the airport and headed to the priciest bridal boutique in town.

The shop assistant welcomed her warmly, "Ma'am, which wedding dress are you interested in?"

Josie's eyes scanned the stunning white veils before settling on a simple satin mermaid gown.

"This one, please wrap it up for me."

The assistant was momentarily surprised. "Aren't you going to try it on?"

"No need," she replied, shaking her head. "It will fit."

After all, the wedding was just a transaction.

Johnson was gravely ill and anxious to witness his grandson's wedding. Yet, Eric, the Acker family heir, had a reputation for having a violent temper and was also disfigured. Having lived overseas for many years, he was shunned by the California social elite.

With no one willing to marry him, the Acker family recalled the arranged marriage agreement with the Deantt family.

Thus, Josie was set to marry into the Acker family in place of Sally, and the Ackers wouldn't object.

They merely needed a bride.

As for who the bride was, it didn't matter.

Once home, Josie placed the wedding dress into her suitcase and began packing other belongings.

She pulled out a thick stack of photos from the drawer, which captured memories with Adam.

She secretly took a side profile picture of him in high school, squeezed into a group photo during college just to be near him, and put on a radiant smile when he first took her to the beach after they started dating.

She ripped these photos apart, tossing the fragments into the trash.

She also unearthed the limited-edition bag he gifted her, the personalized necklace, and the handmade ceramic cup, discarding them all.

Finally, she picked up her phone and erased all the notes about his preferences and dislikes.

Just as she was about to set her phone down, the club manager called.

"Ms. Hacitt, you left a silk scarf at our club last time. Can you come to pick it up?"

Josie glanced at the time and replied, "Sure, I'll head over now."

The club was brightly lit and more lively than usual.

As Josie stepped inside, she was immediately met with a commotion.

"Mr. Deantt has launched the sky lantern! Jessica's virginity is his!"

She froze and quickly glanced upward.

There, in front of the glass window of the VIP box on the second floor, Adam stood confidently. He held a black card in his slender fingers and casually tossed it onto the auction stage.

Jessica, dressed in a white dress, was escorted onto the stage by bodyguards. Her eyes were red and vulnerable.

Her body quivered slightly as she recalled that Jessica's first night was set to be auctioned at the club that evening.

The crowd was buzzing with whispers.

"Doesn't Mr. Deantt have a girlfriend? Why is he bidding on his ex-girlfriend Jessica's first night?"

"You don't know? When she broke up with him, he nearly lost his mind!"

"Is he trying to get back at her, or is he hoping to reignite their relationship?"

"Look at how Mr. Deantt is gazing at Jessica. Does that seem like hate to you? He's clearly still in love with her!"

"And what about his current girlfriend? After all these years, he still hasn't fallen for her? It seems that when an ex sheds tears, the current partner inevitably suffers."

The conversations around her swelled like ocean waves. Even though she had known for a long time about Adam's feelings for Jessica, hearing those words left her mind blank. It felt as if a piece of her heart had been carved out, and the wind howled through the emptiness.

When she regained her senses, she found herself trailing Adam.

She observed as Adam took Jessica into the penthouse suite. In his haste, he hadn't shut the door properly, allowing the conversation inside to reach her clearly.

"Adam!" Jessica exclaimed accusingly. "Don't you utterly despise me? Didn't you demand 900 thousand dollars as compensation for ruining your girlfriend's dress? So why did you bid for my first night?

"You still love me... You love me, don't you..."

Adam scoffed. "Love you?"

He gripped her wrist tightly, his voice low and biting. "Jessica, you have some nerve. I bid for you. First, because I want to make you suffer. Second, because your first night was meant to be mine all along.

"Do you need me to remind you how you tempted me back then?"

His words dripped with hatred, yet his kiss was filled with love.

Josie stood outside the door, observing as Adam pushed Jessica onto the bed with a palpable urgency.

Their clothes were hastily removed, their breaths mingling together.

As he finally claimed her, a tear slipped from the corner of Adam's eye, landing on Jessica's collarbone.

"Adam, you're crying..." Jessica said, surprised.

He grasped her waist tightly, his voice rough. "Be quiet."

Josie trembled, her nails digging into her palms without feeling any pain.

She watched them entwined until the late hours, saw Adam desire Jessica repeatedly, witnessed Jessica faint from exhaustion, and observed Adam holding her tenderly as she slept, kissing her forehead and murmuring her name softly over and over.

At that moment, Josie finally broke down.

Stumbling out of the club in a daze, her vision faded in and out.

Suddenly, the glaring headlights of a car illuminated her.

Bang!

Unable to move out of the way in time, she was struck by the vehicle, and sharp pain surged through her body instantly.

Amidst the confusion, she faintly heard people shouting and someone making an emergency call.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital.

"Thank goodness, you're awake. Miss, you need surgery immediately. Please contact your family to sign the consent form as soon as possible," several nurses urged anxiously, holding the operation consent form.

With clouded thoughts, Josie instinctively opened her phone's contact list and called the first person listed.

When she placed the call, she realized she had accidentally dialed Adam's number.

She hesitated, about to hang up, but the call had already gone through. Jessica's shaky voice came on the line.

"Adam, your girlfriend's calling... It's late, there must be something important... Go see her, let me go... I can't handle this anymore..."

Then, Adam's icy voice followed.

"Ignore it.

"Jessica, I've spent the entire night with you. The night's not over. Try to escape if you dare," he continued.

After that, the phone was filled with the unmistakable, intimate sounds of kissing.

The call ended abruptly.

The nurse glanced at her uneasily. "Do you have any other relatives?"

Josie shut her eyes, shaking with emotion. Tears flowed down her cheeks, and it felt as though her heart had been torn apart. The cold air swept in, making her insides ache.

"I'll sign it myself... Whatever the outcome... I'll take the responsibility..."

With that, she picked up the pen with trembling hands and carefully signed her name.

Blood marked the consent form on her fingertips.

As she finished the final stroke, she passed out completely.

When Josie awoke, the sharp scent of disinfectant made her grimace.

As she opened her eyes, she noticed Adam sitting by her bed. His suit jacket was draped over the chair, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing his toned forearms.

"Josie!" he exclaimed, leaning forward when he saw she was awake. His warm hand gently touched her forehead. "Is it still painful?"

Instinctively, Josie turned her head away to avoid his touch.

Adam's hand paused mid-air, and he swallowed hard.

"I'm sorry," he said with a rough voice. "I had something important to handle last night and missed your call. I didn't know about the car accident... Can you forgive me, please?"

Something important?

Was he referring to the significant matter of being with Jessica?

Josie recalled the uncertain gasps from the other end of the line. A bitter smile crept across her lips as tears dotted the pristine white bedsheets.

Adam, believing she was in pain, promptly pressed the bell to summon the doctor.

After examining her, the attending physician said, "The surgical suture was very successful, but you require two weeks of calm rest."

He paused, giving Adam a significant look, and added, "It would be best if someone stayed with you closely."

Adam agreed, replying, "I'll be here with her."

And he meant it. In the days that followed, he rarely left her side.

He reserved the entire VIP ward to ensure she could recover undisturbed.

Whenever she wanted to go to the garden for fresh air, he carefully carried her downstairs, making sure she wouldn't get bumped or bruised.

When she craved porridge from the west side of the city late at night, he silently drove out to get it. By the time he returned, the porridge was still warm.

In the past, Josie might have been teary-eyed with emotion, but now she felt utterly hollow inside.

If she hadn't witnessed Adam's affection for Jessica firsthand, she might have believed otherwise.

On the day she was released from the hospital, Adam gently buckled her seat belt and whispered, "Josie, I have a surprise for you."

Just as she was about to reply, his phone rang.

"Adam, there's a class reunion tonight. Are you coming?" an old classmate joked on the line, adding, "But I bet you won't show up..."

The classmate continued, "Maybe it's best if you don't come since Jessica will be there too. I don't understand how she can be so shameless! Everyone remembers how she ditched you for a chance to study abroad. Our classmates can't stand someone so superficial, yet she still has the nerve to attend..."

Adam's fingers paused for a brief moment before he abruptly decided, "I'll be there."

The person on the other end of the line was taken aback. "What? You're going?"

"Yeah," he replied casually, glancing at Josie. "I'll bring my girlfriend along. She's been in the hospital lately, and this is a good opportunity for her to unwind."

His old classmate chuckled immediately. "Fantastic! This will definitely irk Jessica and remind her of what she's missing!"

After ending the call, Adam turned to Josie and gently said, "I'm taking you out to relax."

Josie lowered her gaze, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Relax?

He had mentioned earlier that he was planning a surprise for her.

Now, he didn't bring up the surprise anymore; "relaxing" was just an excuse.

He simply wanted to see Jessica.

But she didn't call him out on it. Instead, she just closed her eyes wearily.

The class reunion took place at an exclusive club. The dim, enchanting lights in the private suite set the mood as glasses clinked in celebration.

When Adam entered with his arm around Josie's waist, the room buzzed with excitement.

"Wow! Adam actually showed up!" someone exclaimed.

"And he's with his girlfriend! Isn't she the younger classmate who used to always trail after him and bring him water?"

Another voice chimed in loudly, "They make such a stunning pair. She's so gentle and lovely, far better than his vain ex!"

In a corner, Jessica's face lost all color, and her fingers trembled slightly around her wine glass.

Adam ignored her presence and focused entirely on Josie, showering her with attention.

He placed a cushion behind her as soon as she sat down.

When she sipped her wine, he quickly offered her a glass of warm water. "Your injury hasn't healed yet. You should drink less alcohol."

Someone remarked, "Mr. Deantt is so devoted to his girlfriend. He must truly love her."

Adam simply smiled and didn't reply, gently tousling Josie's hair instead.

But Josie noticed everything.

From the corner of his eye, Adam kept glancing at Jessica.

Eventually, Josie couldn't stay seated and headed to the restroom.

When she emerged, Jessica confronted her.

"You saw everything at the hotel entrance yesterday, didn't you?" Jessica said with a smug smile. "How does it feel seeing Adam with me? Josie, you really have a lot of patience."

Josie pressed her fingernails into her palm but maintained a calm demeanor. "I don't feel anything. Now, if you'll excuse me."

"Not feeling anything? Who are you trying to act indifferent with?" Jessica suddenly seized Josie's wrist. "Let me tell you something, Josie. If I hadn't made the wrong choice back then, Adam would have been mine. You're just an opportunist who took advantage of the situation. Honestly, I'm back to reclaim him!"

She leaned in closer, her red lips curling into a smug smile. "Do you know how much he used to adore me? In high school, when I casually mentioned wanting cake from the north side of town, he skipped class and waited in line for three hours. In college, when I had cramps, he knelt and massaged my stomach all night long. Even now..."

She lowered her voice, looking self-satisfied. "He claims to hate me, but last night, he couldn't get enough of me until dawn. He loves me deeply. How can you possibly compete with that?"

Josie's heart wavered slightly, and she slowly lifted her gaze to meet Jessica's.

In the past, she had quietly admired Adam and watched him shower Jessica with affection. She had never confronted Jessica directly.

So, even though Jessica had left Adam for money, Josie still believed Jessica might have had her reasons. Otherwise, why would Adam still remember Jessica so intensely?

Now, Josie finally realized the truth about Jessica—selfish, vain, and lacking any moral compass.

Yet, Adam was madly in love with her.

"Then I wish you success," Josie said, shaking off Jessica's hand and leaving without glancing backward.

When she returned to the private room, everyone was encouraging each other to play the game "I Have, You Don't." Seeing Josie back, they quickly pulled her in to join.

To ensure she understood, they explained the rules: each participant held up five fingers, taking turns to state something they had done. If the others hadn't done it, they had to lower a finger, and the first person to lower all five fingers would lose.

Jessica also entered the room, eager to play, but nobody paid her any attention.

"Josie, the game is starting. You go first!"

Josie lifted her finger and, recalling Jessica's recent taunt, a smile spread across her face.

There was no need for her to retaliate.

Thanks to Adam, she had already moved on from him.

In a gentle voice, she announced, "I'm getting married soon."

She added, "Lower one finger if you have not done that."