Chapter 4

I looked up, utterly disbelieving.

Julian looked back at me, a faint smile on his lips.

"I'll take good care of Ashley."

"With me around, Mr. and Mrs. Miller don't need to worry."

I was about to say something when Veronica sent a video of herself dancing with male models at a club.

Along with it came a voice message.

Feeling a little flustered, I quickly hit the "transcribe" button.

【Ashley Miller! Why are you still trying to confess to your stupid childhood friend?! Learn from me, use your body, not your heart!】

【Tonight, some rich dude asked me out, but that college guy totally wore me out, so I just came out to have some fun and feel some abs～】

【But thanks anyway for today, I'll give you a free extra class tomorrow, good girl!】

I stared down at my phone.

Like a student secretly playing with their phone in class.

I typed:

【Are you and that college guy... a couple?】

Perhaps my question was too abrupt, too out of context.

Veronica's "typing..." bubble showed for a long time before she replied with a "?".

I glanced at Julian across the table.

Suddenly, I felt a pang of guilt.

I was about to retract my message when Veronica's reply came through:

【Are you kidding? Me, fall for him?】

【Letting him be my hookup buddy is already a huge favor. If he wants a title, he'll have to ask the forty rich, handsome guys ahead of him in line if they're okay with it!】

For some reason, I let out a long sigh of relief.

After turning off my phone, I called out to a slightly tipsy Julian, smiling as I met his gaze.

"Happy birthday."