I stumbled upon a post online. [I've been chatting with my crush online for three months, only to find out I've actually been talking to his girlfriend the whole time.] I complained about it to my best friend, but her eyes nervously darted away. That very night, I caught her making out with Ezra. She told him: "Don't tell her we're dating. I don't want to break her heart." A group of wealthy heirs laughed and made a bet that I would willingly become his side piece. I pretended not to know anything. Dropping my usual conservative style, I publicly announced that I would confess to my crush in exactly one month. The game of hearts had officially begun. 1. "Babe, when are you going to confess to Ezra?" Chloe asked, resting her chin on her hand. Her bright red nails looked like snake tongues. I looked at the sexy black lingerie in her other hand, raised an eyebrow, and replied, "In a month. We'll talk about it after you get back from your trip abroad." Chloe grinned at me, hooking a finger under the lingerie strap. "You complimented this set last time, so I bought it. I'm going to try it on today. You better not run off with a man behind my back! I have to be there when you confess!" I nodded in agreement, my smile as gentle and mild as ever. Chloe didn't suspect a thing. In her eyes, I was never a threat. After all, I always listened to her. Back then, she had said, "Babe, you're so pretty. You don't even need makeup. You have that natural, 'girl-next-door' beauty. Ezra is definitely into your type!" So, I followed her advice. I straightened my gorgeous, wavy hair, wore thick, nerdy glasses, and dressed in baggy clothes that hid my figure. Like an ugly duckling, I played the perfect foil to her for three whole months. During those three months, I played the role of the clueless, plain friend perfectly, making her look like a blooming, exquisite rose by comparison. Chloe looked at my drab outfit, her eyes lingering on the faint, artificially darkened spots on my face. Her smile deepened as she pinched my earlobe. "There's a party tomorrow night, and Ezra will be there. There'll be a lot of people, and I know you're timid. If anything happens, just tell me." I obediently replied, "Okay." With a crisp click of the door, the scent of rose perfume and the click-clack of her heels faded away. Chloe was a fantastic actress. If I hadn't accidentally caught her straddling Ezra's lap, begging for a kiss, I probably would have genuinely believed she had my best interests at heart. I opened the video saved on my phone. The deafening club music assaulted my eardrums. Ezra hooked a finger under her slip dress strap. The look in his eyes was pure lust—a stark contrast to the aloof, untouchable persona he maintained at school. The burgundy dress hitched up, revealing a large expanse of pale skin. The crowd went wild, cheering and screaming. "Kiss! Kiss!" "If the little blockhead saw this, she'd be heartbroken." Laughter erupted from the crowd. "Why even bring her up? She's so boring. She's impossible to invite out, always acting so high and mighty. She's nothing compared to Chloe." The "little blockhead" they were talking about was me. I opened my phone and scrolled through my recent chat history with Ezra. Five minutes ago, he had taken a moment to send a cute cat sticker that said "Goodnight." I scrolled through our three months of messages, comparing their use of stickers and speech patterns, confirming one thing. All these flirtatious messages were sent by Chloe. Because Chloe liked breaking long sentences into multiple texts and always used stickers. When Ezra texted people, he preferred sending complete sentences with proper punctuation. Every single one of them knew the truth. They were all just hiding it from me. 2. I expressionlessly closed the video, sat at my desk, and started making a meticulous plan. I had spent the last few weeks intentionally making myself look ugly, using my "shy personality" as an excuse to avoid officially meeting them in person. I spent three months—treating it with the same intensity as the SATs—digging up every shred of information on these vicious rich kids, and I even took extra acting classes. The remaining month would be more than enough to deal with them. I held up a picture from the club and cross-referenced it with my database. Ezra had three close friends in his inner circle. They were all at the club last night. The guy who called me a "blockhead" was Elias, Ezra's younger brother. He was a hotheaded kid with no ex-girlfriends, making him the easiest to manipulate and use. But that was just his facade. Chloe had used him as a stepping stone to get to Ezra. She thought she had succeeded, but she was really just playing the clown. That night, Elias offered fake compliments to Chloe while constantly putting me down, calling me a blockhead at every turn. Chloe laughed wildly, completely missing the disdain in Elias's eyes. No one respects someone who stabs their own friend in the back. Chloe had lost from the very beginning. The guy making out with an influencer in the corner was Asher. He was Ezra's childhood friend, an extreme sports junkie with an endless rotation of bedmates but no actual girlfriends. He was the dirtiest of the bunch, always stirring up trouble. He was the one who had added me and invited me to the club last night. I sent him a voice message: "Sorry, I was already asleep by 11 last night. I didn't see your message." Then, I ignored his reply and tossed my phone aside. A guy like Asher didn't need a complex strategy; he just needed to be ignored. If he was interested, he would come crawling on his own. He was a playboy who had been with countless women. Looking for genuine feelings in his eyes was like looking for gold in a pile of shit. 3. [Ezra: Summer, I'll pick you up tomorrow.] My phone lit up with a new message. This message was sent by the real Ezra. It had only been half an hour since Chloe left my dorm. It seemed Chloe didn't get what she wanted from Ezra tonight. After all, Ezra was meeting me tomorrow. He naturally wouldn't sleep with another woman and risk ruining the "untouchable saint" image he had so carefully crafted for me. In the middle of the night, Chloe sent me a picture of herself in the black lingerie. I replied with a deadpan "Beautiful." During the time I had been talking to Ezra, I constantly praised him for being an unapproachable "snow lotus on a high peak." To maintain this image in front of me, he had to give up a lot of his social life and even change his style to match my preferences. When people are doing something terrible, they often exhibit extraordinary patience. Ezra had deliberately learned about my hobbies. After discovering I liked hand-woven bracelets, he bought one and claimed he made it himself. Unfortunately for him, the person who sold it to him was a close friend of mine. I called him out on the spot and deleted him without a second thought. Unwilling to lose the bet, Ezra actually went and learned the traditional weaving technique, making one with his own two hands. Because of that incident, I earned the nickname "blockhead" among his friends. But I didn't regret it. To them, money meant nothing; time was their most valuable asset. And that hand-woven bracelet was the anchor I threw him. After that, Ezra never half-assed anything I asked him to do. At least, until the bet was settled, he would force himself to patiently complete every task. From woven bracelets to fondant cakes, he learned everything from scratch. If I didn't know the truth, I might have actually been moved. After all, who wouldn't be touched by someone so wealthy putting so much time and effort into pursuing them? Plus, he faked his appearance and temper perfectly. I was currently wearing that very bracelet. It was sky blue, perfectly matching my outfit. I still hadn't replied to his message. I simply picked a plain white maxi dress from my closet. My initial persona was the pure, innocent "white lotus." For moral degenerates like them, this persona made it easiest for them to let their guard down. I took a picture of the dress and sent it to Ezra. After adjusting my voice a few times, I sent a sickeningly sweet voice memo: [What do you think of this dress?] [Ezra: Not bad.] Two quick, dismissive words. I knew those words were typed by someone with a face full of impatience. I didn't feel surprised or sad. I just kept playing the role of a girl utterly consumed by the whirlwind of love. [Then I'll wear this to see you tomorrow.] [Ezra: Okay.] Ezra's voice sounded casual. Like everything else about him, he didn't seem to care about anything. He deliberately lowered his voice, expertly creating an atmosphere of indulgence. He was a top-tier player. Chloe and I were just pawns in his romantic game. Asher had made a bet with him, betting 30 million dollars on how long it would take him to conquer the two new "sister beauties" at our school. He had already conquered Chloe. I was the only one left. Ezra felt this conquest game was too easy, so he upped the difficulty. He declared he would make one of us willingly become a side piece. And the woman he chose for that role was me. To properly focus on conquering me, he had already bought Chloe a plane ticket and sent her out of the country. He planned to use the next month to completely break me down. 4. I put on the seemingly ordinary dress and admired myself in the mirror. The exquisite tailoring perfectly accentuated my curves. I took off the nerdy glasses, revealing a pair of alluring, captivating eyes. I used waterproof eyeliner to draw a small beauty mark at the corner of my eye, adding a touch of seductive charm. Men are visual creatures. For our first official meeting, I naturally had to leave a deep, thrilling impression. Before heading out, I meticulously adjusted my dress, making sure every inch was perfectly smooth, without a single stray wrinkle. Wrinkles ruin the quality of an outfit, making you look sloppy and ruining the vibe. My ears weren't pierced, and I wore absolutely no jewelry. I looked completely plain, but every detail was calculated. My face in the mirror was flawless. I checked my angles repeatedly until I was certain there wasn't a single imperfection. I looked out the window. Ezra was already standing outside my dorm building, looking like a painting—cool tones, slightly vintage and faded. A hibiscus bush was blooming next to him. Some people are truly born at the top of the pyramid. No wonder he was so confident he could conquer an "ugly duckling" like me in just one month. A hint of sarcasm flashed in my eyes. Men should always pay a price for their arrogance. Chloe, terrified I would steal her man, rarely mentioned my family background to them. She only told them my family was drowning in debt. Because of this, everyone believed I was a poor, innocent girl. This was exactly what I wanted. It was the perfect cover for a wolf in sheep's clothing. 5. I brushed my hair, which I had spent thousands of dollars treating until it looked like liquid silk, and offered a pure, innocent smile. "Ezra." I appeared with a bright smile. In the brief moment he was stunned, I grabbed his hand intimately. Ezra instinctively squeezed back, his eyelashes fluttering. "Summer?" It wasn't until he saw the familiar blue bracelet on my wrist that he called my name. I quickly caught the flash of awe in his eyes. Ezra was a master at setting the mood. He quickly recovered, a smile playing on his thin lips as he looked down at me. "Summer, you look beautiful today." His gaze lingered for a second on the short sliver of skin exposed at my waist, and he let out a soft laugh. "I'm not lying." I played along, blushing and tugging at his shirt. "Ezra, are you taking me to meet your friends today? What if they... don't like me?" "They will. Summer is so cute." Ezra's looks were very deceiving. He looked at me with such intimacy and affection, as if he were gazing at the love of his life. If he really cared about me, why would he bring someone who supposedly hated parties to a club filled with rich playboys? This was just another one of his tactics. The club was members-only, offering everything from a shooting range and race track to horseback riding and golf. Obviously, none of this was something someone with my "status" should be exposed to. Ezra was using PUA (Pickup Artist) tactics and control on me. First, he would make me feel the massive gap in our social classes, then he would swoop in like a hero to save the day, showcasing his power and making me fall for him. 6. Ezra placed a black card in my palm, not allowing me to refuse. "Summer, I have something to handle first. If you need anything, just give this card to the manager." I nodded. In this playboy club, luxury logos were everywhere. Dressed so plainly, I looked completely out of place. But precisely because I stood out so much, they spotted me immediately. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up." Asher was the first to speak, his tone incredibly frivolous. He walked over and looked me up and down. Scrutinizing, flirtatious, mocking. And finally, a hint of genuine interest. The gazes of the men and women around me kept landing on me. I was used to it; these kinds of looks were nothing new. "Looks like a seductress." Elias spoke next, his voice dripping with malice, loud enough for the whole room to hear. His tone was nasty, but his eyes never left my face. When his gaze met the tears welling up in my eyes, he quickly looked away. "I hate women who cry all the time." He muttered, crossing his arms in an extremely defensive posture. But I was absolutely certain Elias did not hate my face. No one knew that my main target today was actually him—Elias. They bet I would willingly become a side piece. Let's wait and see who loses their dignity in the end. 7. I adjusted my position. From an angle Elias could see, I stood awkwardly and nervously, looking incredibly helpless. My acting classes weren't for nothing. The instructor taught me exactly how to cry to evoke the most pity—let the tear hang like a dewdrop on a rose petal, crystal clear. Wait until everyone is watching, waiting for it to fall, and then let it drop like a pearl. I had practiced this in front of a mirror hundreds of times while watching videos. When Elias started walking toward me, I knew my acting had worked. But life isn't a script; there are always unexpected twists. Elias stopped in his tracks. Asher intercepted, grabbing my chin. Seeing my slightly teary eyes, a terrifying urge to destroy flashed in his gaze. A sharp pain shot through my chin, and I let out a soft whimper. Asher had a slight sadistic streak. My sound seemed to trigger something in him, and a bizarre excitement filled his eyes. "Nice voice." His thumb rubbed against my chin, and I felt nothing but pure disgust. I was certain that in this moment, Asher wanted to make me cry. Filthy dog! I cursed him in my head. The pressure on my chin increased. I silently counted down in my head, waiting until I saw Ezra approach with a cold expression out of the corner of my eye. Without hesitation, I punched Asher square in the nose. Like a baby bird returning to its nest, I threw myself into Ezra's arms, sobbing and calling his name: "Ezra." Asher didn't expect my reaction. He covered his nose with a grunt of pain, a burning heat flaring in his eyes. That intense, predatory stare followed me like a spotlight. I caught Elias hesitating halfway toward me out of the corner of my eye. I lowered my eyes, adjusting my expression, then gripped Ezra's sleeve tightly, playing the role of a terrified, trembling victim perfectly. Ezra looked down to comfort me. In the exact moment he lowered his head, I looked up. My lips accidentally brushed against his chin, a fleeting, accidental kiss. Ezra froze. I acted as if I didn't notice, consumed entirely by my fear. My hair, like black silk, slipped through his fingers. This performance was for Ezra's eyes only. Ezra crouched down, wiping my tears away one by one, then asked Asher coldly, "What did you just do to Summer?" Physical contact with other men was not part of Ezra's plan. When he saw the red mark on my chin, Ezra's eyes darkened. His gaze lingered for a long time, a flash of irritation appearing in his eyes, and he spoke faster than usual. This attitude wasn't love; it was just a man's possessiveness acting up. To seize and possess—that is the natural, inherent flaw of these so-called high-society elites. "Just playing a little joke." Asher was completely relaxed, playing with a strand of my hair he had just pulled out. To him, this overstepping meant nothing; after all, they were close enough to "date" the same girl. I touched my head, complaining like a child by tugging on Ezra's hand. Ezra's expression toward Asher grew even colder. He comfortingly patted my head. Elias, standing off to the side, suddenly spoke up: "Bro, give her to me in a month. She looks familiar." Ezra stopped moving. 8. Elias said that sentence in French. I looked at Elias and blinked. Asher sneered, looking at Elias sarcastically. "What a garbage excuse. If you want her, just say you want her. 'Looks familiar'... tsk." After mocking Elias, Asher turned to Ezra. "It's rare to find someone like this. Why don't we cancel the bet? You step out, and your brother and I will play with her. Besides, aren't you getting pretty serious with Chloe lately?" Elias's sharp eyebrows furrowed, a hint of coldness in his eyes. He cursed directly in French, "Play with my ass. Last time, it was your stupid idea that got Ezra deleted by the blockhead when he used my burner account." Asher's face darkened. "How is that my fault? Who knew she was so difficult? Deleting someone over a bracelet. Don't you hate girls who look like her? Why are you getting involved?" Elias tugged at his collar, not saying another word. He just stared at me intently, his eyes dark and probing. Asher let out a short laugh, mocking Elias without mercy: "Elias, you better be careful. What if you get scammed by the same type again? Once bitten, twice shy. Why don't you give this little kitten to me so I can train her?" Seeing them fighting over me, Ezra's face turned dark. His arm around my waist tightened abruptly, and he swore: "What the hell is wrong with you two?" No one knew that pure, innocent "white lotus" girls were actually Elias's exact type. Everyone just heard the rumor that in high school, Elias had an online relationship with a girl in a white dress, only to get scammed out of millions before even meeting her. Since then, the rumor was that Elias despised innocent-looking girls. No girl ever dared to wear a white dress around him. Even Chloe specifically avoided that style. But how can someone escape what they're biologically attracted to? Coincidentally, Elias had been my main target from the very beginning. Ezra wanted me to be his side piece. Coincidentally, I had the exact same thought. After all, the more, the merrier. I met Elias's gaze and offered a shy, bashful smile. Elias's eyes grew even darker. As for the fact that the account Ezra used to chat with me was actually Elias's burner account, I knew that perfectly well. To be precise, I knew they were lying even before Chloe did. Because, unluckily for them, the girl from the rumor who scammed Elias out of millions—was me. 9. In middle school, Elias and I were in the same class. He sat right behind me. Every class, he would either shove his desk into my back or pull my hair. Relying on his family's wealth, no one dared to cross him, and he did whatever he wanted all day. I complained to the teachers, but they just tried to smooth things over. I had a bad temper back then. I got into a fight with him, and he pushed me down the stairs. My leg was injured, leaving lasting damage. From then on, I could never study the dance I loved so much. His arrogant family wanted to settle it with money. Faced with the massive compensation, my family quickly agreed. No one cares about the personal grudges of children. Adults make choices based on their own interests. I was furious and fought with my mother. "If my dad were here, he wouldn't do this to me! I don't want the money! I just want Elias to apologize! You've always demanded I be number one in everything! Why are you making me transfer schools now?!" I slammed the door and left home, refusing to answer my mother's calls. The last thing I received was a text: "Mom might not be able to stay with you much longer. There's 800,000 on the card, it's what Mom saved up over the years. Go find your father." I only realized later that she agreed to take the money because she didn't have much time left, and she wanted to save one last sum for me. But after my mother died, the Sterling family never sent the money they promised. I went to find the father I had never met. Relying on my innate acting skills, I quickly won his pity and the meager fatherly love he had to offer. I hid my true personality, carefully trying to please everyone, observing every single person. When I realized my stepmother didn't actually like me as much as she pretended to, I proactively asked my father to send me abroad, wanting to escape the tension. By pure coincidence, in my first year abroad, I ran into Elias and recognized him. I always felt he was the root of all my misfortune. So, the moment I recognized him as an adult, I spent over a year setting a trap for him. What a twisted fate. Both these brothers wanted to ruin me. What was even more ridiculous was that my former bully actually fell head over heels for me. During the years I unilaterally cut off contact, Elias constantly switched accounts, sending emails to my inbox. To this day, I have over a thousand unread emails from him. He would send emails and unsend them, constantly testing to see if someone was reading them. Young love is always so passionate and direct. But who would cherish the love of a terrible person? If I hadn't prepared a safety net for myself, my life would have been ruined because of him.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "391754", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel