Those domineering words hit me hard. It was clear now-he just couldn’t ept being rejected. He couldn’t handle the thought of losing me.


    But I’d made it clear-I wasn’t going back, no matter how much he caused a scene.


    “If you don’t mind embarrassing yourself, feel free to keep making a scene,” I said, before hanging up.


    Just like before, this phone call drained every ounce of energy I had left. I felt weak and trembling, unable to even notice when Jasmine hade up behind me.


    She ced a cup of coffee in front of me and said, “That bastard Alvin. I didn’t expect him to be this pathetic once his true face came out.”


    I took a couple of sips from my coffee and said, Turns out, he was just pitying me all along.”


    Even though I had broken up with Alvin, the memories and the good times we shared still lingered in my heart. But today, his words hadpletely torn apart the fragile, pretty illusion I’d built around those memories.


    Jasmine’s hand gently squeezed my shoulder, and sheforted me, “It’s never toote to see him for what he really is.”


    I didn’t respond. Jasmine nudged me again. “Want to get back at him?”


    “Get back at him?” My mood had sunk to rock bottom.


    Alvin’s words had ripped open old wounds, reminding me of the darkest, most painful time of my life.


    He was right about one thing-when my parents died in that car ident, I had been utterly alone in the world.


    I didn’t even want to go home. There were times I thought about ending it all, so I could be with my parents again.


    But then Peter and Michelle appeared, took me in, and said I could live with them as their daughter. That’s when I stopped being afraid.


    At that moment, they had truly been my lifeline, and I grabbed onto them with everything I had. I even thought the whole world loved me.


    That’s why I misinterpreted Alvin’s smile when we first met. Now, I realized it wasn’t kindness, it was mockery. But I had mistaken it for the light in my life…


    “You’d better find someone to date or even get married already.” Jasmine said, spinning me around so I had to face her. “That way, Alvin will wake up and realize you’re not just ying around. You can walk away from him, and he’ll see that you, Zoe, aren’t some girl who can’t live without him.”


    She dug her fingers into my shoulder, her grip tight. It was clear she was angry, furious with Alvin.


    I just gave her a bitter smile. “You think it’s that easy? Just start a fake rtionship out of nowhere?”


    TV shows are based on real life, after all. That’s the only way you’ll be able to break free from Alvin’s grip, and really make him wake up,” Jasmine encouraged me.


    I lowered my gaze slightly, and Jasmine didn’t let up. “Josh-he’s the kind of man you need,” she added.


    “No way. He can’t be the one,” I shook my head immediately.


    J


    didn’t want to drag anyone else into this mess.


    ‘He’s the best choice, Jasmine disagreed.


    “Let me think about it,’ I murmured, feeling overwhelmed.


    But Jasmine waspletely fixated on the idea, insisting that it was the best n. Even after we’d had some drinks, she kept pushing, saying, “Just call Josh now, exin your terms—that it’s just a fake rtionship. If he’s not on board, then forget it.”


    “I don’t know… what if he takes it seriously?” I was still hesitant.


    Jasmine shot back, “Maybe he’d be willing to y along.”


    In the end, after a few too many drinks, I couldn’t resist Jasmine’s persistence and ended up dialing Josh’s number.


    “What’s up?” His voice was low, warm, and familiar.


    I swirled my drink in my hand, staring at the ss. “Josh, would you be willing to pretend to be my boyfriend? I mean… pretend, not real.”