My star athlete boyfriend, Liam, had a habit. After every intense, passionate night we spent together, he would take an intimate photo of me.

Tonight, he'd been an untamed beast in bed. Afterward, he cajoled me into posing for a particularly risqué photo.

After he was done, my cheeks were flushed, and I pushed him away with a playful reproach.

"Obsessed with that photo, huh? What's so fascinating about it?"

Liam replied with a smug grin, not even bothering to look up.

"Chloe's coming back tomorrow. The girl I've been obsessed with for seven years. This is probably our last time, so I had to make it memorable."

I froze. Staring at him, I asked blankly, "What do you mean?"

Liam just cocked his head, a look of mock surprise on his face.

"What else could it mean? The goddess is back, so of course I have to be all in with her. I can't be messing around with you anymore!"

"C'mon, Ava. We're just bros. Scratching an itch for each other is what we do. You haven't actually caught feelings after all this time, have you?"

With that, he tossed the torn lingerie at my face.

"Alright, drop the sad-puppy act. It's a total buzzkill. Don't worry, I'll keep your photos safe for you."

"And hey, if Chloe is ever busy, you're always welcome to come over for another round!"

An icy spike of pain shot through my heart. It finally hit me. Liam had never loved me.

I was just... the girl he treated like one of the guys.

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1

A tremor shot through me, my palms instantly cold and clammy. I looked up, my vision blurring through a film of tears.

"Liam, you're saying... I'm just your bro? After seven years, you never felt anything for me? Not even a little?"

If he didn't like me, then why was he so possessive, forbidding any other men from being around me?

Why did he cling to me day and night, and why did he coax me into taking one intimate photo after another?

I thought we were a couple. An unspoken one, but still... a couple!

His only reply was a scoff of impatience.

"Ava, I thought you were different from all those other clingy girls."

"You're easygoing, you don't overthink things. You even let me take those kinds of pictures. That's why I kept you around!"

"You know perfectly well how much I like Chloe. What's the point of acting like a victim now? Besides, I'm not exactly small down there. It's not like you haven't gotten yours these past seven years!"

The pain was so sharp, so absolute, that I couldn't even cry.

A wave of pure humiliation washed over me, and a low, miserable laugh escaped my lips.

Liam and I were childhood friends, having grown up together on the Upper East Side of New York City. I was introverted, while he had always been the dazzling ice hockey prince.

He was fearless, a force of nature, but with me, he was always gentle.

If someone bullied me, he would toss their gear into the locker room trash can.

Gradually, I grew accustomed to his blatant favoritism, but that all ended when Liam went to college and fell for the supermodel Chloe at first sight.

He once made a grand public declaration of his love for Chloe on the giant screens in Times Square.

Even after being rejected multiple times, he refused to give up, becoming so infatuated that his training suffered.

The day Chloe resolutely left the country for her career, Liam waited a whole night at JFK Airport, but he couldn't change her mind.

His despondency led to a career-threatening injury on the ice.

So I gave up my spot to study in Paris.

I found him the best doctors. I stayed by his side day and night, coaching him through rehab, taking care of his every need... until that care spilled over into the bedroom.

When I woke up that day, I saw an empty cigarette carton on Liam's nightstand.

He didn't say a word, but the cloud of despair around him had lifted, and his old gentleness toward me returned.

I thought he had finally let go.

I thought he had accepted me.

But it was only now that I understood it had been my own wishful thinking all along.

The one that got away... I guess they really do become a lifelong obsession.

Even after seven years, Liam still hadn't forgotten his dream girl, Chloe.

The moment she returned, he couldn't wait to draw a clear line between us.

He even made a point of stressing that I was just his... bro.

"Hah..."

The tears I had been holding back finally fell. I scrambled into my clothes, spun around, and slapped Liam hard across the face.

"Liam, consider the last seven years of my life a write-off. From now on, go chase your goddess, and don't you ever bother me again!"

"Ava, are you crazy! You—"

Behind me, I heard Liam start to yell, but I couldn't look at him for another second. I just ran.

I went home and cried my heart out. It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that my emotions finally settled.

Without any more hesitation, I dialed my father's number.

"Dad, I'll do it. I'll agree to the business marriage with Ethan. You can arrange the wedding date. The sooner, the better. I've booked a flight to Paris for seven days from now."

But just as I hung up, my front door was thrown open.

Liam stood there, his face a thundercloud.

"Ava, what marriage?"

Hanging up, I calmly made up an excuse to brush him off. Thankfully, Liam didn't seem to overthink it, a mask of indifference on his face.

My expression was icy as I spoke.

"What are you doing at my house?"

Liam sprawled onto my sofa and crossed his legs as if he owned the place.

"I want to throw a welcome party for Chloe. I remember she loves the ocean, and this beach house of yours in the Hamptons would be perfect. Let me borrow it for a day?"

Liam said this with complete entitlement, then nudged my elbow.

"We're all buddies. You wouldn't refuse to help me win my girl over, would you?"

Friends. There it was again.

Liam managed to mention it every few sentences. Was he trying to warn me not to get any ideas?

Too bad for him. He was giving himself too much credit.

I was leaving soon anyway.

"Fine, do whatever you want."

I couldn't be bothered to waste another word on him and turned to go upstairs.

But behind me, I saw a flicker of surprise cross Liam's eyes.

The next day, as soon as I got out of bed, I saw the house was filled with champagne roses, a fairy-tale scene.

Liam had said he was planning to confess his undying love to Chloe here today. Naturally, he had to pull out all the stops.

But his words reminded me of something.

Romance should start with a bouquet of flowers.

Back when I thought Liam and I were a couple, I'd hinted that I wanted a bit of romance, maybe a bouquet of flowers.

But Liam's response had been a dismissive laugh.

"Ava, seriously? We've slept together countless times. What do you need flowers for? That's so cliché."

Now, smelling the rich fragrance of the flowers all around me, I finally understood.

It wasn't that Liam wasn't romantic; it was just that I wasn't the one he loved.

Two hours later, the welcome party began.

Our mutual friends arrived, along with Chloe.

After seven years, her every move was still so elegant and sexy.

Liam's gaze was practically glued to her, and he kept awkwardly trying to strike up conversations.

Finally, someone couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"Liam, aren't you and Ava a thing?"

Liam's expression soured, and he quickly snapped back.

"What are you talking about! Ava and I are purely platonic. We're best buds, okay? Don't spread rumors!"

"Besides, my type is a supermodel, like Chloe. Ava's got this nasty scar on her right hip. It's disgusting. Why would I ever be into that?"

My breath hitched, and my nails dug into my palms.

Five years ago, Liam had gotten drunk over Chloe and picked a fight with some guys from the university football team.

At the critical moment, I had thrown myself in front of him and taken a knife for him.

Ever since, a deep scar remained on my right hip.

At the time, Liam's eyes were so red they looked like they might bleed. He'd sworn that his life was mine from that day on.

He would spend the rest of his life protecting me, never letting me suffer the slightest grievance.

But now, just to distance himself from me in front of Chloe, he was exposing my scar to the world.

"Liam, Ava's a lady. You can't talk about her like that."

As a chill fell over the room, Chloe spoke up, her voice a soft balm.

Liam immediately "tsked."

"What 'lady'? Ava's got thick skin. She's tougher than any of us guys!"

"Don't worry, Chloe. We've known each other for years. Don't you think I know her?"

"Right, Ava?"

As he spoke, where no one could see, he gave my inner thigh a sharp pinch—a silent command to play along.

Disgusted, I slapped his hand away and said coldly, "Are you kidding me, Liam? Seven years ago, you were a whimpering puppy. The second she's back, you can't wait to start licking her boots again."

"You sure got over being ready to die for her pretty damn quick. When it comes to being tough, nobody beats you."

As soon as the words left my mouth, the entire room went silent.

Liam's face turned thunderous, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists. Then, he suddenly grabbed a wine bottle and smashed it on the floor!

"Ava!"

I glared right back at him, refusing to back down.

Seeing this, everyone quickly tried to smooth things over, suggesting a game of "Truth or Dare" to break the tension.

As if to get back at me, whenever Liam drew a risqué dare, he would always choose Chloe.

But if he drew a truth, the subject was always me.

"Who in this room grosses you out the most? Ava, obviously. She's getting on in years and still single. It's not like guys are lining up for her. I thought she had a decent personality, but it turns out she's got some kind of rage disorder!"

"What if you had to marry the person you hate the most? Hah, I wouldn't marry Ava even if it were the end of the world. And if I did, I'd be out partying every night. I mean, having to face someone you don't love every day would be actual torture!"

"In all these years, have you ever been physically aroused by Ava?"

At this question, an insulted expression contorted Liam's face.

"Seriously, who came up with such a disgusting question? What's the difference between a woman like Ava and a man? Aroused? I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole. The thought of it makes my skin crawl."

I couldn't take it anymore. Using the chaos from the broken bottle as my excuse, I muttered something about the bathroom and escaped.

The cold water from the sink splashed on my face. I realized I wasn't even sad anymore. More than anything, I was disgusted.

After a few moments of trying to calm my racing heart, I pushed open the door to leave.

But as I passed the terrace, I overheard Liam talking to one of his teammates.

"Liam, you were way too harsh just now. I mean, you've slept with Ava so many times. You really don't have any feelings for her at all?"

Liam irritably lit a cigarette.

"How many times do I have to say it? I sleep with Ava for two reasons. One, she does whatever I want, no questions asked. And two, she's free. Why wouldn't I take a free ride, you get me?"

"I really just see her as a bro. Not a single romantic feeling between us!"

I froze mid-step. My heart, already in pieces, was ground into dust.

Even though I already knew the truth, hearing him admit it felt like death by a thousand cuts.

"Liam."

I suddenly spoke, stepping onto the terrace.

Liam froze, clearly not expecting me. He stammered.

"You... you heard all that?"

I didn't respond. As the atmosphere grew increasingly strange, his teammate quickly made an excuse and left.

It was Liam who finally broke the silence. He stubbed out his cigarette with a smirk and walked toward me.

"What, you're angry?"

"No need for that, Ava. Everything I just said was the truth. The stuff in bed, that was always consensual, right? If you didn't agree, I couldn't have forced you."

"Alright, stop with the long face. You're making it look like I bullied you."

With that, he lifted my chin and actually tried to kiss me!

I shoved him away reflexively, then slapped him hard across the face!

"Don't touch me! You disgust me!"

Liam's anger flared, but he froze when he saw my tear-filled eyes.

"Liam, yes, I admit it. I like you."

"But that doesn't give you the right to trample all over my heart! I'm not a toy you can just pick up whenever you're bored!"

"If you don't like me, you could have just said so. I'm not the type to cling!"

"From now on, I wish you and Chloe a long and happy life together. And please, stop harassing me!"

After saying my piece, I turned and left without a second glance.

From the living room, I could hear Chloe's delicate laughter as she was surrounded by the other guests.

But Liam seemed deaf to the sound, his eyes fixed on my retreating back. For some reason, an unexpected knot of panic tightened in his chest.

It was as if he was about to lose something very, very important.

In the end, however, Liam didn't dwell on it.

He let out a short, derisive laugh and walked toward Chloe.

He knew Ava. In a few days, she'd come crawling back, begging for his forgiveness.

...

After the party ended, I called a cleaning service to deal with the mess.

That night, I collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a message and a video from Chloe.

【Ava, I think Liam is drunk...】

I opened the video and saw a shirtless Liam, drunkenly murmuring Chloe's name.

Over and over, he begged her not to leave.

My hand tightened on my phone, but a moment later, I deleted Chloe's contact.

From now on, they were all just irrelevant people.

However, I never could have imagined.

That when I woke up the next day, I would find my private photos plastered all over a gossip website.