I'd made plans to spend New Year's Eve with my fiancee, Sophie Bennett.

I'd even rushed home with a custom cake I picked up just for us.

However, my smile slipped the second I walked in.

A photo of Sophie and me that was hanging on the wall was being used as a dartboard.

Her guy best friend, Sean Hewitt, had one arm wrapped around her waist while casually throwing darts at it.

"Oh, hey, you're back?" he said with a grin. "Perfect timing. We're playing Truth or Dare."

The words had barely left his mouth when another dart hit the photo—right in my face.

My chest tightened as I parted my lips to call him out.

Yet, Sean only laughed. "Wow, hit you again? Guess even fate thinks you two aren't meant to be."

Then, he added, all fake innocence, "Don't get the wrong idea, alright? It's just a game. Sophie and I are basically bros. You're not seriously bothered by this, are you?"

I stood there, completely still.

As I stared at that photo completely riddled with holes, I couldn't help but think it looked a lot like my heart at that moment.

Sophie gave him a half-hearted scolding. "Alright, cut it out."

But Sean just put on a wounded look and kept his arm around her waist.

Sophie only smiled helplessly before turning to me with clear impatience. "Sean's just messing around. Don't stand there with that look on your face and kill the mood. It's just a photo. We can print another one tomorrow. Stop being so petty."

Clearing Out the Trash

Sophie Bennett shot me a warning look, threatening me that I'd be the one making a scene if I dared to say one more word.

I ignored her and stared at the wreckage in the living room instead.

The home I had carefully built was destroyed. Empty beer cans were scattered on the floor, and the sharp smell in the air made me feel sick.

Sean Hewitt saw the cake in my hands and grinned smugly. "Hey, Max, Sophie said she doesn't even like sweets. That cake is too rich. I've already ordered a barbecue, so you don't need to bother."

Before he even finished speaking, he reached for the cake like he had every right to take it.

I stepped aside, the anger rising in my chest turning into a cold smile.

"Oh? Sophie doesn't like sweets?" I responded. "Then, what about all those desserts I made for her in the past? Did they all go straight into a dog's stomach?"

Sean's face changed instantly. "Who the hell are you calling a dog?"

The way he snapped told me everything I needed to know. 'So that's it. Every dessert I make for Sophie ends up in Sean's grubby hands.'

"Max, do you really have to talk like that?" Sophie frowned. "I really don't like sweets. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to hurt your feelings."

I nearly burst out laughing out of sheer anger.

Anyone hearing that would've thought she was talking to some clingy admirer she couldn't shake off.

What a joke.

To think that all my sincerity was wasted on people like them.

The other three friends in the room clearly sensed the tension and tried to smooth things over.

One of the girls, Zoe Farell, spoke first. "Um... since Max is back, maybe we should head out? We'll let you two enjoy your New Year's together."

Another guy nodded and reached for his bag. "Yeah, it's getting late anyway. We should probably find somewhere else to do the countdown."

"Oh, come on, why leave now?" Sean grabbed him and raised his voice. "The more people here, the better. Max shouldn't be spending New Year's alone in silence. Plus, Sophie already promised to spend it with me. Won't I seem like the bad guy if you guys leave just like that?"

Then, he turned to me with all his fake innocence and added, "Come on, Max. Sophie and I are just close friends. What's wrong with us having a little fun together? You're not seriously bothered by that, are you?"

Before I could even answer, Sophie beat me to it. "That's enough. Nobody's leaving. Max is not that petty. He knows how to act like an adult."

I glanced at Sean's smug face and then at Sophie's self-righteous expression.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

Perhaps this was the first lesson the new year was offering me.

It was time for me to get rid of the clutter.

The cold look on my face faded, replaced by a calm, relaxed smile.

"Of course, I don't mind. You guys shouldn't leave. Honestly, just throwing darts at a photo is dull. If we're going to play, let's actually make it fun."

Pure Friendship? Let's Test That

Sophie looked a little surprised by how laidback I was behaving. She paused for a second before letting out a cold scoff.

She probably thought I was just playing games.

On the other hand, Sean did not even bother hiding the contempt in his eyes.

To him, I might have been the only son of the Preston family in Kingsford, but I was a useless twat who couldn't keep his girlfriend in line when it came to romance.

In the past, I had always chosen to let things slide no matter how hard he toed the line.

"Oh?" Sean drawled, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "You want in, too?"

He smirked. "Sure, we can include you. But remember, we're playing Truth or Dare. You'll be punished if you lose. So, it'll be pretty pathetic if you end up crying because you can't handle the heat."

Sophie's voice dropped. "Max, stop causing a scene. With your coordination, what are you even going to do with darts? Don't lose it and take it out on me again."

I just smiled and ignored the jab.

I walked over to the dartboard, pulled down the shredded photo of us that was beyond recognition, and tossed it into the trash.

Broken photos, like rotten people, belonged in the garbage.

Then, I connected my phone to the nearby printer and printed out a group photo of the three of us.

It was from Sophie's birthday the year before.

Sean was standing between us. with his arm around her. Frankly, he looked more like her boyfriend than I ever had.

"Let's use this one instead," I suggested, pinning it to the board. "Ten darts each, and the two people with the worst aim..."

I paused as a faint smile tugged at my mouth. "They will spend the night in the master bedroom together. None of them will be coming out until morning."

The room erupted instantly.

Zoe stared at me wide-eyed. "Uh... isn't that a little much? A guy and a girl spending the night alone in a room? That's not exactly appropriate."

Another friend looked just as uncomfortable. "Maybe pick a different punishment? I mean, sure, they're close, but Sean's still a guy. Locking them in a room together is kind of—"

"What's wrong with that?" I cut in, my tone tinged with amusement. "Why does it matter if they share a room overnight if they really are just friends? Or are you suggesting that their friendship isn't as innocent as it appears?"

Sean's face changed instantly.

He had always prided himself on being open and straightforward. He claimed he was the kind of guy who hated petty suspicion.

Now that I had cornered him like this, his decision to back down would mean that he was slapping himself in the face.

"Who says there's anything impure about us?" he snapped, lifting his chin.

"Sophie and I grew up together. We're closer than family. Nothing would happen between us even if we spent the night in the same room or even slept in the same bed. Don't twist it into something dirty just because your mind works that way."

Now, Sophie was getting annoyed as well. She retorted, "Max, what the hell is wrong with you? Do you really think this joke is okay?"

"Why are you so afraid if your friendship is beyond suspicion?" I asked lightly. "Or are you worried you wouldn't be able to control yourself?"

That shut her up for a second.

Her face turned red. "What are you even talking about? I've never done anything wrong."

"Then, accept the bet." I slowly rolled a dart between my fingers, keeping my tone relaxed and cool. "If nothing occurs after you two stay in that room all night, I swear I won't argue about Sean's presence again. In fact, I'll apologize to him publicly and admit I'm the petty one."

Sean's eyes lit up the second I said those words.

There was no way he would pass up a chance like that.

After all, this was a perfect opportunity to humiliate me and get Sophie alone in a room without anyone questioning his intentions.

Plus, he was certain I could not win.

In his eyes, I was just some polished rich kid, and there was no way I could beat someone like him. That was because he was someone who had grown up messing around in bars, arcades, and every kind of entertainment spot.

"Fine," Sean said, raising his chin with complete confidence. "You asked for this. Don't try to back out once you lose."

Sophie looked at me, a complex flicker in her eyes. "If this is the game you want to play, then fine. I'll play. However, you don't get to make a big deal out of Sean and me ever again after this."

I only smiled.

What they did not know was that I had been captain of the archery team back in college. When it came to precision and control, nobody there came close.

Bullseye

Sean went first.

He put on quite a show of it, even tossing Sophie a flirtatious look before he threw.

His first dart landed on the blank edge of the photo.

One could barely count that as a hit at all.

…

By the time he finished all 10 throws, only three had actually landed within the figures.

Sean tried to play it off as he laughed awkwardly. "These darts feel off. That round doesn't count. I hadn't warmed up."

Sophie smiled at him indulgently. "It's fine. We're just playing around."

Then, it was Sophie's turn.

She was better than Sean, but not by much.

Only five hit the target area out of her 10 darts.

She turned to me, her eyes full of thinly veiled contempt. "If you admit defeat now, we can forget the bet. I'd hate to watch you embarrass yourself."

The words made my stomach turn.

I had not seen a trace of hesitation from her when Sean had driven his darts into my face on the picture I tacked on, yet she was trying to play the caring girlfriend after that? Please.

So, I ignored her and picked up the darts.

The first one landed dead center.

The room went silent.

Sean's smile froze while Sophie's eyes widened in disbelief.

A faint trace of mockery tugged at my lips as I threw the next one.

Then, the next.

All 10 darts landed in the bullseye.

I dusted off my hands, turned around, and smiled at the stunned faces staring back at me. "I dabbled in this during college," I remarked lightly. "It looks like Sophie and Sean will be squeezing into the master bedroom tonight."

Sean's face turned ugly. "That... that's impossible! You had to have cheated! How could you possibly be that good?"

I looked at him and laughed. "The darts were yours. Everyone here was watching us play. How exactly was I supposed to cheat?"

Sophie's expression darkened even further. "Max, since when did you know how to do that? Why didn't I know?"

"You never asked," I replied. "You were never interested in knowing me."

Our "relationship" had been an arranged match between two families.

I had always been the one who cared more about our relationship. Sophie never wanted it, so she had always treated our engagement like an outdated arrangement imposed on her by our parents.

Anger flickered across her face at my retort. She let out a cold snort and said nothing more.

Then, Sean appeared to realize something. Sure enough, a flash of joy lit up his face.

He put on a casual front as he sauntered over to Sophie and spoke loudly. "Sophie and I are like family. We even bathed in the same tub when we were kids. What's the big deal about spending one night in the same room?"

I looked at them with a half-smile and said, "Then, by all means. The master bedroom's over there. I changed the sheets this morning, so make yourselves at home."

"Fine. We'll go," Sophie shot back at once. "Max, don't regret this. Just wait. You'll be apologizing to Sean tomorrow."

With that, she grabbed Sean by the hand and strode toward the master bedroom.

As Sean passed by me, he lifted a brow in smug triumph.

The three people left in the living room exchanged uneasy glances.

"Uh... Max, we should probably get going," Zoe stated with a dry laugh as she blindly grabbed her coat.

The other two hurried to catch up.

As they left, they glanced at me with awkward sympathy. They looked as if they wanted to say something, but eventually decided against it.

In the end, one of them only sighed and murmured wanly, "Get some rest, Max."