Yuki thought she had finally found someone she could trust. Liam had been the perfect boyfriend—attentive, funny, and always knowing how to make her laugh. After years of building walls around her heart, she let him in. For three blissful months, she thought she was safe.

That illusion shattered one afternoon.

She had dropped by yuji’s house, the one he shared with his older brother, megumi. But instead of finding him in the living room where he said he’d be, she heard muffled laughter upstairs. Her curiosity turned to horror as she opened the bedroom door to find yuji tangled with her best friend.

Her breath hitched. Neither of them even bothered to chase after her as she fled.

Yuki stormed down the stairs, tears blurring her vision. She reached the front door but nearly collided with megumi as he walked inside. Tall and broad-shouldered, with his ever-present stoic expression, megumi barely glanced at her before stepping aside.

“What’s your hurry?” he asked, his voice flat.

She hesitated, unsure if she should speak. “Your brother is a liar,” she spat, brushing past him.

Megumi turned, his sharp blue eyes narrowing. “What did he do this time?”

Yuki didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. The look on her face said enough.

For the next week, Yuki avoided yuji’s calls and texts, retreating into herself. She was sure no one cared—until megumi showed up at her door one evening.