Chapter 1

Ava traced the line of Liam' s jaw.

They were in his dorm room, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows.

Northwood University was quiet, most students gone for an early weekend.

"That fellowship at Johns Hopkins," Liam murmured, his voice husky against her hair, "you're a shoo-in, Ava."

Ava smiled, a genuine, rare thing. "I hope so. It means everything."

He pulled back slightly, his blue eyes, usually so full of laughter, holding a strange intensity. "Everything? More than... us?"

A small knot tightened in Ava's stomach. "It's different, Liam. It's my future. My parents..."

"Right, the immigrant dream," he said, a little too lightly. He kissed her then, a deep, possessive kiss that left her breathless.

Later, as she was getting dressed, he said, "You know, if things got serious, really serious, maybe you wouldn't need to chase fellowships so hard. We could build something. You could slow down."

Ava paused, her hand on the doorknob. "Slow down?"

"Yeah," he said, stretching on the bed, all casual charm. "Focus on us. If something... happened. Like a baby. We'd figure it out. Maybe it' s a sign."

He'd said it so easily, but the words landed like ice chips on her skin. He hadn't used protection. She'd been caught up, trusted him. Panic, cold and sharp, pricked at her.

"I should go," she said, her voice thin. "Study group."

"Sure, Scholar Sharma," he grinned, already reaching for his phone. "Ace that test."

She didn't go to any study group.

She walked, fast, towards the older part of campus, near the lacrosse team's private clubhouse, a privilege of their perennial champion status and Liam' s family donations.

She needed air, needed to think.

His words echoed. If something happened.

As she passed the clubhouse, hidden by overgrown hedges, she heard voices. Loud, bragging voices. Liam's voice.

"Dude, she totally bought it," Chad, Liam's number one crony, was saying, his laugh obnoxious.

"Hook, line, and sinker," Brody chimed in.

Then Liam. "Another month, maybe two. Keep her distracted, a little stressed. Jessica will be so stoked when she gets that Hopkins spot."

Ava froze. Her blood turned to ice.

"What if Sharma actually gets pregnant, man?" Kyle asked, a hint of unease in his tone.

Liam laughed, a cold, ugly sound. "Then maybe she drops out altogether. Less competition for Jess. Win-win. And hey, a little drama for her perfect record? Might just torpedo her fellowship application anyway."

Jessica Hayes. Of course. His on-again, off-again, old-money girlfriend. Also pre-med. Also vying for that single Johns Hopkins fellowship.

The world tilted. The charming encounters, the surprise picnics, the serenades outside her dorm – all of it, a lie. A meticulously crafted performance.

Her chest ached. Betrayal, so complete and consuming, stole her breath.