We Were Just Bros After All

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.