My boyfriend Zane bet me and lost.

He casually said he was bored and handed me over to his illegitimate younger brother.

This time I didn't cry or make a fuss, I giggled and lay in the illegitimate brother's arms.

Zane even made a bet with his friends, betting on how long it would take for me to cry and come back to him.

Later, I posted a photo on my social media, and he finally couldn't sit still anymore and called me on his own.

"Stella Jeppesen, you've had enough fun outside, so hurry the hell back here," he said.

My cheeks were slightly flushed, my gaze was hazy, my voice was intermittent.

"Mmm... what did you say... ah..."

***

One day, Zane and I came to attend his friend's gathering.

When I came back from the bathroom, I happened to hear his friend teasing him about me.

"Zane, you brought your little darling out again today? Looks like you really fell for her!"

My heart contracted a bit, and I looked towards the tightly closed private room with some anticipation.

Zane's slightly contemptuous voice rang out, "It's just for fun, fell for her? Is she worthy?"

"A nanny's child, not worthy to be the daughter-in-law of the Franklin family."

"Most importantly, I'm getting a bit bored of her."

Although it was a sultry summer, I only felt a chill all over my body, and the knuckles of my hand gripping the doorknob turned pale white.

Zane and I were high school classmates, and he pursued me first too.

We've been together for five years.

Five years of feelings in his mouth were just for fun.

My heart throbbed with a slight pain, and just as I was about to push the door open, I heard him making a bet with his friend again.

"The illegitimate son will come later too, you guys say, if I give Stella to him, what will happen?"

"Judging by how Stella loves you to death, she'll definitely cry and say no."

"I think we shouldn't make such an extreme joke, Stella will get angry," said Hannah, Joseph's girlfriend.

Zane sneered coldly, "It's just a joke, why would she get angry?"

"You really have the heart to push Stella to that illegitimate son?"

"What's there to not have the heart for? Moreover, judging by Stella's temperament, she'll definitely cry, her weeping filled with a grace that makes her look like a fragile flower. Tsk tsk tsk, you guys don't know, how beautiful she looks like that, especially in bed."

The group sighed in disbelief, unable to believe that Zane would so openly share our intimate matters with them.

I only felt that chill instantly spread to my four limbs, freezing me into a shiver.

I didn't wait for him to finish speaking; I smiled and pushed the door open, instantly dropping the atmosphere in the private room to freezing point.

I picked up a glass of wine and obediently sat down beside Zane.

"What are you talking about? You all seem so happy."

Seeing my confused expression, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

They all raised their glasses to toast me, and I accepted them all.

I drank glass after glass, anxiously waiting for Zane to mention the bet he had talked about.

I don't know how long it had been when the door was pushed open again.

I slightly raised my gaze to see who had entered—it was Yale Smith.

Only then did I realize what it meant to be seen as a rare gem, a prince unlike any other.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses, had sharp features, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, exquisite down to the last hair.

Just as I was lost in thought, Zane patted my shoulder, his tone somewhat casual.

"Stella, my brother is here; go have a drink with him."

I tugged at his sleeve, still unwilling to give up, and asked, "Are you really sure you want me to drink with him?"

I emphasized the words "drink with him," but Zane seemed unfazed by my concern.

"What's the big deal? If the older brother has it, the younger brother can't have nothing, right?"

"Brother, this isn't right..."

Zane impatiently interrupted, "Brothers are like hands and feet; women are like clothes, just a woman!"

The phrase "just a woman" made all the girls present change their expressions.

I thought to myself, "You will regret this, Zane. Time will prove it."

I smiled sweetly and slowly stood up, throwing myself into Yale's arms, joking, "Let's do what your brother loves most."

"Your brother will be so happy."

The atmosphere in the private room froze instantly, everyone staring at me in shock.

Yale paused, his deep-set eyes flickering with an inscrutable light.

His large hand rested on my waist as he thanked Zane, "Thanks, brother; I will cherish her."

Zane's expression darkened, and he scoffed disdainfully.

We walked out of the room, and as we closed the door behind us, several loud crashes echoed from inside.

Zane angrily smashed several bottles of wine.

I heard someone trying to calm him down.

"It's okay; maybe Stella just wants to make you jealous; don't take it to heart."

"Exactly, why get so angry? She's probably still thinking about becoming a daughter-in-law of the Franklin family and will come back to apologize soon."

Zane seemed somewhat pleased, his voice cold, "A pretty girl and a bastard are a better match, aren't they?"

"If she wants to come back, let's see if I want her."

As we walked out of the bar, I felt a twinge of guilt and apologized to Yale.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess."

"You don't have to take what I said seriously," I said.

To my surprise, Yale reached out and touched my face, his tone soft and affectionate.

"Why are you crying?"

Then, lowering his voice, he whispered in my ear, "And I did take it seriously. What now, Stella?"

"I... I..." I was so shocked that I couldn't form a complete sentence, just staring at him with my red eyes.

"I'm your brother's woman. Aren't you... disgusted?"

He hesitated, biting his lip, "A son of a mistress like him thinks he can be my brother?"

I had heard about their family's feud; it was just about Zane's father climbing the social ladder while juggling two relationships.

His mother couldn't stand it and divorced his father, taking Yale with her.

Over time, Zane's mother spread rumors that Yale was an illegitimate child, and soon everyone believed it.

"I'm much older than you," I said, my voice growing colder.

"How will you know if you don't try?"

"Maybe after one experience, you'll want a second!"

A mischievous glint flashed in Yale's eyes as he continued with his suggestive remarks, making my face flush like a boiled shrimp.

Suddenly, I recalled Zane's words. I grabbed Yale's tie and pulled him closer, smiling sweetly.

"Alright, let's see how good your kissing skills are first."

With that, his kiss descended upon me, starting off tentative and quickly becoming passionate.

I had to admit, his kiss was intoxicating, leaving me breathless.

As I felt his hands wandering, I quickly stopped him, panting softly.

"Let's go... to my place."

Yale's eyes darkened, and he didn't respond at first.

Just when I thought he was silently rejecting me, he pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Okay."