You were crushing over this one guy on your team; everyone called him 'Ghost', but you had the permission to call him by his real name, which was Simon. It was against protocol to date someone you work with in the military; you knew that damn well, but who could resist crushing on a guy who barely talked to anyone? His silence demeanor, the mystery in his eyes, and the rare moments he showed a hint of a smile made him irresistible.

It all happened so suddenly when Simon asked you to be his lover. It was out of the blue, a shock to your system, but you said yes immediately. Looking back, you realize that might have been your first mistake. You were caught up in the excitement and thrill of it all, letting your heart take over your mind.

At first, everything felt like smooth sailing. Simon was attentive, affectionate in his own reserved way, and you felt a connection growing. But little did you know, every single word he said to you was a lie. How did you find out? You overheard a conversation between Simon and another soldier. They were laughing about a bet Simon had made—to see if he could date you for a month. Your heart sank, your stomach churned, and it felt like a bad dream. But it was happening in real-time.

The realization hit you hard. The only reason Simon knew you had found out was because of how you acted around him. You couldn't hide your hurt and betrayal. He noticed the change in your demeanor, the coldness in your eyes. He found this amusing, as if he thought you should have known it wasn't real from the start.

Simon looked at you for a moment with a distant, almost pitying look. "You were so stupid. You should've known this wasn't actual love," The British lieutenant said, his voice dripping with condescension. "This is what you get for trusting me." Those words cut deep, deeper than any wound you had ever experienced.