My club ran into some financial trouble, and when I went to review the accounts, I was surprised to see Courtney there.
In front of everyone, Courtney pointed at me and sneered, “Jordan, didn’t I tell you? You don’t belong in my circle. How did you even get in here?”
Her childhood friend Bradley Foster added with a smirk, “Oh, let him stay, Courtney. Maybe he’ll learn a thing or two. After all, someone like him will never have a chance to set foot in the The Light Vegas Club on his own.”
The others in their group gave me smug looks, their eyes dripping with disdain.
Courtney glanced at me with disgust. “Fine, stay if you want—but don’t speak. You’ll just embarrass me.”
——
Her words cut deeper than I expected, and I suddenly realized—I didn’t want to stay anymore.
I hadn’t come for her or any of them. I was there because of the club’s financial crisis. There was a tax issue, something major that needed to be dealt with urgently. But I hadn’t anticipated running into Courtney and her circle of friends.
Since college, I had been chasing after Courtney. Back then, she had countless admirers—most of them wealthy and well-connected—but somehow, she chose me to be her boyfriend.
I still remember how she used to say, “Jordan, look at all the people who are after me—rich, successful, and good-looking. But I didn’t choose material things; I chose love. That makes it worth your whole life to treat me right, doesn’t it?”
I have to admit, Courtney could easily rank among the top in terms of beauty. She had a bright, sunny personality and was incredibly considerate. Even in high school, she was already making a name for herself as a well-known columnist.
So, when she chose me, it felt like an unimaginable gift—one I wasn’t sure I deserved.
At first, I felt deeply insecure. Being with someone like her seemed almost too good to be true.
But Courtney always reassured me. She’d smile confidently and say, “Jordan, you’re the man I, Courtney Harris, chose. You will succeed. I know it.”
Eventually, I succeeded. The app I had developed during college took off, and I made my first pot of gold. From there, I began investing in various projects, and my business ventures expanded rapidly.
During that time, I was swamped with work. Weeks would pass without me seeing Courtney. I thought it was temporary—that I could make it up to her once things settled down.
But when I was finally ready to share my success, excited to tell her how far I’d come, her childhood sweetheart Bradley returned from abroad.
After that, Courtney became distant, almost indifferent, for the next three years. No matter how much I wanted to reconnect or tell her about the industries I had built, she seemed uninterested. The spark between us was gone.
At times, she would brush me off, saying, “Jordan, we’re just boyfriend and girlfriend. You don’t need to report to me how much you’ve achieved.”
Then she would grab her bag and leave. Every time, I’d ask where she was going, and she'd casually reply, “I’m just going out to hang with some friends.”
But I knew what that really meant. I often asked, “Are you going to see Bradley again?”
She’d shoot me a look of pure disgust before sneering, “Bradley and I grew up together. If something were going to happen between us, it would’ve happened long ago. What’s it got to do with you?”
Her words always struck me like a blow. It’s not that I didn’t believe in pure friendship between men and women, but there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed—and I could tell that line was starting to blur.
And let’s be honest, no man is ever comfortable with the idea of a so-called “male bestie” or a “childhood sweetheart” hanging around.
Whenever I suggested we go out together, she’d hit me with the same cold line, “Jordan, I’ve told you before—my circle isn’t one you can fit into. How did you even get in?”
I told myself that if I didn’t fit into her world, I’d choose to trust her and give her the freedom she wanted. That’s why, today, I was only there to handle the financial issues.
But the moment I stepped into the corridor, Courtney noticed me standing there. “What are you doing just standing around?” she snapped, pulling me inside with a look of disdain.
“The things in the The Light Vegas Club are expensive, so don’t touch anything,” she said coldly. “If you break something, you’ll have to pay for it, and knowing you, you'd be miserable about the money. I hate how stingy you are.”
Her words stung, but before I could respond, Bradley, acting as if I didn’t even exist, casually draped his arm around Courtney’s shoulders. “Relax, Courtney,” he said with a smirk. “None of us are short of money. Even if Jordan smashes the whole private room, we can cover it.”
Then he glanced at me, his eyes flicking to his arm resting on her, and added with a sly smile, “Hey, Jordan, don’t worry about it. We’ve known each other forever—like family. A shoulder bump is nothing. But if it bothers you, I’ll make sure to watch it next time.”
Before I could say anything, Courtney laughed and brushed him off. “Bradley, ignore him. He’s stingy with money and jealous when it comes to love!”
Courtney wrapped her arm around Bradley’s waist, her eyes locking onto mine with a provocative gleam. “Do you have any objections?” she asked, daring me to respond.
I shook my head, keeping my expression calm despite the knot tightening in my chest. In a steady, measured tone, I replied, “No objections. And if you two are willing to keep the show going, I wouldn’t mind seeing something more… exciting.”
Chapter 2As I spoke, I took the lead and walked into the private room. But before I could fully step inside, Courtney suddenly shoved me from behind. When I turned around, she was glaring at me, her expression ice cold.
“Jordan, what did you mean by that just now?” she demanded.
Before I could answer, Bradley chimed in with a mocking grin. “Come on, Jordan, we’ve all been friends since childhood. You’re not seriously jealous, are you?”
One of Courtney’s friends laughed lightly, adding, “It’s not really his fault. He wasn’t raised in a big, influential family like us. He just doesn’t understand how we interact.”
Another voice echoed, laced with condescension, “It’s the class gap. Can’t blame him.”
They spoke with polite smiles, but every word dripped with superiority, treating me like an outsider—a lesser man unworthy of their world.
I didn’t bother responding to them. Instead, I turned to Courtney and, with a quiet calm, said, “It didn’t mean anything. Like you said, this is how your circle gets along. I don’t understand it, but I respect it.”
Courtney’s brows furrowed in frustration. “Jordan, we’re adults now. Can you stop causing trouble?”
I sighed, feeling a helplessness wash over me. “Alright, I won’t cause trouble anymore. I was wrong,” I replied, my voice soft with resignation.
It wasn’t that I was being a coward; it’s just that Courtney, in this state, couldn’t be reasoned with. She hadn’t always been like this. But ever since Bradley returned, she had become increasingly unreasonable, as if the person I once knew had slowly faded away.
Courtney’s expression softened slightly, as if she were doing me a favor. “Jordan, if I hadn’t brought you here, you’d probably never set foot in the The Light Vegas Club in your entire life.”
I sat down on the plush sofa, pretending to be genuinely curious. “Is it that expensive? I’ve made a bit of money over the years.”
Bradley, casually resting his hand on Courtney’s shoulder, looked at me with mock amusement. “Oh, it’s expensive, sure. But that’s not the point. You can’t just buy your way into the The Light Vegas Club. You need status—real status, like us.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “I’ve learned a lot today.”
Courtney’s eyes suddenly sharpened with realization, as if a question had just occurred to her. “Wait, how did you even get in here?”
Before I could respond, Bradley smirked and answered for me. “Do we really need to ask? He followed you in, of course. Probably dropped your name at the door to get past security.”
“Jordan is a role model in the world of gigolos, isn’t he?” someone quipped with a smirk.
Another chimed in, “Exactly. Most men who live off their women might get a bit of money, but Courtney? She’s given him status! It’s like a poor scholar catching the eye of a princess back in the day.”
“Oh, so Jordan’s a prince consort now?” The group burst into laughter, their mockery as cutting as it was casual.
Courtney glanced down at me, her tone dripping with condescension. “I’ve told you before, my world isn’t one you can fit into. If you keep following me, you’ll only get hurt.”
“You’re right,” I replied, smiling faintly.
In the past, a comment like that would have infuriated me, pushed me to prove myself. I would’ve fought to show Courtney and her circle that I could belong. But I had learned that no matter how much I tried, all I got in return was deeper ridicule, further disdain. These people carried a strange, almost delusional sense of superiority, as if they truly believed themselves to be royalty.
Courtney hadn’t always been this way. When we were still students, she had none of these airs. She was warm, grounded, without the arrogance that now seemed to seep into every word, every glance. But things had changed. She had changed.
And now? Now, I didn’t feel the urge to prove myself anymore. Not to her. Not to anyone in that room. Because as Courtney stood there, mocking me and allowing Bradley to flaunt their closeness in front of me, I realized something. I was tired.
Not just physically, but mentally—drained in a way that made everything feel distant, unreal. I still loved Courtney, that much I knew, but I didn’t want to love her anymore. It was as if I had been playing a game I used to enjoy, but exhaustion had finally set in. I was too worn out to care about winning or losing. I just wanted to put down the controller and walk away.
And that’s exactly how I felt now.
Chapter 3Once everyone settled in, they began ordering songs and singing, filling the room with lively energy. Soon, a wave of beautiful ladies and handsome men entered, each more glamorous than the last. The atmosphere turned electric as people skillfully picked their companions, laughter and chatter echoing around us.
Bradley leaned toward me with a teasing grin. “Dude, aren’t you going to choose a girl?”
I returned his smile, trying to keep the mood light. “I’ve been on a vegetarian diet lately—staying away from women.”
Courtney shot me a cold glance. “You’re free to choose if you want. I won’t stop you.”
I chose to remain silent, feeling the weight of her words. In truth, their private room was the lowest tier in the The Light Vegas Club, and the people here were the least significant in the grand hierarchy of the elite. As the conversation turned to their circle, they discussed rumors about a prominent figure in the Bailey Family set for a promotion and a member of the Roberts Family expected to become a provincial governor.
After a brief pause, Bradley turned to me again, his tone somewhat condescending. “Dude, do you even understand what we’re talking about?”
“I don’t,” I replied flatly, feeling increasingly out of place.
I simply shook my head. I had actually seen most of the people they were discussing at various social events, including the prominent figure from the Roberts Family, who once asked me to introduce him to someone of a higher standing. But sharing that seemed pointless, so I kept quiet.
Soon, they decided to play a game of truth or dare, and Courtney insisted that I join in. I wasn’t particularly good at these games, and it felt like the dice were always against me, causing me to lose more often than not.
With a hint of dissatisfaction, Courtney looked at me and said, “Why don’t you know anything?”
I smiled, trying to keep it light. “I don’t play much, so I guess I’m just out of practice.”
She sat across from me, cozy next to Bradley, looking like the perfect couple.
“Do you choose truth or dare?” Courtney asked, her tone challenging.
I pondered for a moment. “Truth or dare.”
To be honest, I found the whole game rather dull.
Bradley immediately asked, “Bradley, tell me the truth. Are you jealous when you see me and Courtney together again?”
I thought about it seriously and shook my head. “No.”
Their expressions shifted to one of contempt, including Courtney’s.
“Come on, everyone knows men get jealous, especially when they refuse to admit it.”
“Exactly! Jordan, it’s no secret that every time Courtney spends time with Bradley, you two end up arguing.”
“If you won’t be honest, what’s the point of this game?” They began to criticize me again.
I sighed in frustration. “I’m really not jealous. Believe it or not.”
Suddenly, Courtney slammed her hand on the table, pointing at me. “Jordan, what’s with your attitude? Is this how you talk to my friends?”
I smiled bitterly. “Okay, fine. I’m jealous.”
Let’s be honest: this game is boring. Even if I tell the truth, they won’t believe me. These people are so narrow-minded; they only accept what they think is right and disregard the actual truth.
Courtney, seemingly satisfied, said, “Continue.”
It was time for another round, and I didn’t lose this time since I knew the game’s rules. It was Courtney who ended up losing.
“I choose the big adventure,” she declared.
Bradley grinned, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Courtney, kiss the person you love most in your life.”
Everyone’s gaze shifted to me, their expressions filled with malice. Part of me wondered if I should play along, feigning a nervous reaction.
Courtney looked at me, hesitation crossing her face. But in that moment, her uncertainty revealed the answer.
I felt a pang of discomfort in my heart, but I tried to accept it.
Bradley pointed to his own face. “Come on, Courtney. I know you want to kiss me.”
Then, he turned to me, his look almost taunting.
Courtney looked at me, her silence speaking volumes as if she were seeking my approval. I decided to be generous. “Don’t keep Bradley waiting. Kiss him quickly.”
“Are you sick?” Courtney shot back, suddenly standing. “I love my mother the most. She isn’t here, so I’ll drink.” With that, she downed a glass of wine.
She glared at me fiercely, as if I were the one who had done something wrong. I was her boyfriend, seated opposite her, but her hesitation revealed my low status in her heart. So why direct her anger at me?
Bradley broke the tension, saying, “The boss of this The Light Vegas Club is a mysterious big shot, with connections and resources. Jordan, I’ll introduce you to him when the chance arises. Maybe he can help you with some decent business.”
Introduce me to myself? I nearly laughed out loud but managed to suppress it, nodding in thanks instead.
Courtney added coldly, “Jordan, while you may not fit into my circle, the connections and resources I have are still available to you.”
It seemed I had never used her family's resources in my business endeavors, but I was too tired to argue. They wouldn’t believe anything I said anyway.
Just then, a striking woman entered, clad in a black professional suit, her long hair framing her capable demeanor.
“Savannah?” Bradley said, rising quickly. “What brings you here?”
Savannah Powell nodded and smiled at him before walking straight to me. She bowed slightly and said, “Mr. Sanders, the property issue has been resolved, and the tax has been paid. You don’t need to worry anymore.”