Everyone in the private room chimed in like they were backing Simon.
They all thought he was just being stubborn.
Only Amelia knew—he truly didn’t care.
He didn’t care if anyone kissed her or not.
What he did care about…was whether anyone dared to touch what he considered his.
Amelia let out a slow breath and forced herself to calm down.
The game went on.
This round, she wasn’t as lucky.
After how awkward Ethan Ross’s last dare got, Amelia went straight for truth this time.
Raymond clicked his tongue, then casually tossed out the question for her.
“Amelia, got a crush on anyone?
If so, how long has it been going on?”
The second he said it, all eyes immediately flew to Simon.
He raised a brow, clearly intrigued by the question too.
Amelia paused for a second.
“Yeah.”
Everyone perked up instantly.
Simon’s eyes narrowed just a little.
Raymond glanced at his older brother, half-smiling.
“So, how many years has it been?”
How many years?
Amelia couldn’t really remember anymore.
If she started counting from when they reconnected at seventeen…then probably…ten years.
“Ten.”
When Amelia finished speaking, the whole room burst into a chorus of surprised “Wows.”
Everyone—except Raymond—looked genuinely shocked.
Raymond, on the other hand, froze.
If his memory served him right, his brother only met Amelia three years ago.
And now she says she’s been in love with someone for ten years?
That definitely didn’t sound like Simon.
A chill crawled up Raymond’s spine.
Lately, it seemed like he and Amelia were just bad luck for each other.
Last time, because he hyped things up, she and Simon had their first real argument.
Now again, thanks to one of his dumb questions, it turned out the guy she liked…
wasn’t Simon?
Raymond wanted to cry for real.
Next time?
No way he was getting into this kind of game with Amelia again.
Simon sat beside them, barely any change to his face.
Amelia didn’t even look his way.
She’d already braced herself before she said it.
Whether the reaction was good or bad, praise or judgment…
she was ready.
Besides, she didn’t think Simon would care even in the slightest whether she held someone dear in her heart or not.
I mean, the guy didn’t do love or feelings.
Why would it matter to him who his hookup loved?
She was also pretty sure he hadn’t caught on to who she was talking about.
He’d completely forgotten.
Forgotten the childhood stuff.
Forgotten what happened when she was seventeen.
Forgotten all of it like it never existed.
To him, she was just someone on the outside—basically a stranger.
Three years had passed, and she still hadn’t found her way into his heart.
It was painfully obvious now—he was never going to love her.
“Still want to keep going?”
Right after she spoke, Simon stood up.
“We’re leaving.”
Once he said that, even the ones who weren’t ready to call it a night could only laugh awkwardly and nod.
“Yeah, it’s getting late anyway.
Let’s wrap it up.”
Nobody dared cross him.
Amelia followed silently as Simon headed out of the room.
The whole way out, he didn’t say a word.
Not until they reached the car.
Then Simon tossed her the keys.
She caught them without a word and got into the driver’s seat.
The ride was completely silent.
Simon leaned on his hand, staring out the window.
His side profile—flawless as ever—still made her heart skip.
She quickly looked away and let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
There was a time, not so long ago, when she actually believed he might fall for her.
But life has a way of knocking you down right when you’re most hopeful.
She took a deep breath and focused on driving.
Then Simon turned toward her, his eyes lingering on her face.
Amelia was stunning.
Simon had always known that.
Among Simon’s buddies, quite a few had shown interest in her.
It wasn’t just Anselme—Ethan Ross tonight too, maybe even more guys were in the mix.
She had that clean, innocent beauty, but there was also a subtle seductiveness that just drew people in.
In Simon’s eyes, a woman like Amelia was perfect as a lover.
She ticked every box a man could want.
Looks, body, attitude—everything right on point.
She knew her place, smart about where the line was.
To him, she was the ideal kind of woman to keep close, but not too close.
What surprised him was…
she actually had someone she liked.
And not just a passing crush—she’d liked someone for ten years.
That thought really got under his skin.
Who the hell could be so special that she’d hold on for a whole decade?
Ten years.
She was only twenty-seven now.
Which meant, since she was seventeen, she’s been stuck on that guy?
And maybe, just maybe, even when they were together in bed, the guy she was thinking of wasn’t him.
The more Simon sat with that, the more irritated he got.
“Ten years?
So you started liking him when you were seventeen?” he asked, voice tinged with disbelief.
Amelia’s shoulders tensed for a second, but she quickly pulled herself back together.
“Yeah.”
“Then why didn’t you end up with him?”
There was a pause from her.
“He didn’t feel the same.”
Simon let out a quiet, scornful laugh.
“So that’s it.”
“What if one day he does?”
Amelia gave a light laugh.
“Nah, he’s already into someone else.”
Simon glanced sideways at her.
“Wow, our Miss Clarke really knows how to stay loyal.
You still like him even though he’s taken?”
She smiled faintly.
“Yeah.
Feelings aren’t something you can just turn on and off.”
“Stop the car,” he said abruptly.
Amelia quickly turned the wheel and pulled over.
“Is something wrong, Mr.
Johnson?”
Before she could get an answer, Simon grabbed her chin and kissed her.
Amelia froze, completely caught off guard, and instinctively tried to push him away.
That tiny movement immediately fanned Simon’s anger like fuel on a fire.
“What, can’t even stand me kissing you now?”
Amelia clamped her mouth shut.
His hand stayed firm on her chin, his eyes practically burning into her.
“But you didn’t seem to mind when Ethan kissed you earlier today, did you?”
That made her blink.
She hadn’t expected him to bring that up again.
“It was just a party game.
I was just following the rules.”
Simon let out a short, humorless laugh.
“Right, how could I forget—our Miss Clarke is all about professionalism.”
Amelia’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“Besides, you didn’t seem to care at the time either, did you?”
Simon let out a cold chuckle.
“I don’t care, but Amelia, you’d better know your place.
It’s fine to mess around, just don’t dirty yourself—because if you do, I’ll only feel disgusted.”
Amelia’s face froze for a second.
“Don’t worry, Mr.
Johnson.
I won’t.”
Simon’s smile was sharp.
“You falling for someone else isn’t the issue.
Just remember who’s the one keeping you afloat right now.”
Amelia’s chest tightened painfully.
“I’ve never forgotten.”
Simon shook her off without hesitation.
“Let’s go.”
Amelia turned her face away and restarted the car.
That night, Simon didn’t touch her.
Amelia figured, yeah, he was probably still pissed.
She sometimes wondered—what is it about men and their possessiveness?
He clearly didn’t care about her, yet acted like she was his most prized possession.
…
The incident where Amelia slapped Vivian spread through the office like wildfire.
The second she stepped into the building the next morning, she could feel the gossip in the air.
Inside the restroom, she listened to the whispers outside.
“Do you think there’s really something going on between her and Mr.
Johnson?”
“Who knows?
But seriously, she’s been by his side for years.
No way she’s innocent.”
“Right?
Otherwise, why would Vivian always single her out and ignore the rest?”
“Just watch.
The drama’s only getting started.”
“Heh, I just want to see her get kicked out.
Vivian is the official first love—come on, who can compete with that?”
…
Amelia stood silently inside the stall, not a flicker of emotion on her face as she listened to their gossip.
She kept that same calm expression as she walked out.
The moment the two women saw her, their faces dropped like they’d seen a ghost.
“Miss Clarke.”
Amelia gave them a small nod.
The two of them quickly exchanged a panicked glance and started heading for the exit.
Amelia turned on the faucet, washing her hands slowly.
Her tone was even as she spoke, “If you’re gonna gossip about someone, maybe pick a spot a little less obvious.
It’s awkward for both sides when you get caught red-handed, don’t you think?”
They froze.
“Sorry.”
Then the two bolted like their lives depended on it.
Once they were gone, Amelia gripped the edge of the sink, her knuckles white.
Fake confidence.
Even she found herself ridiculous.