Chapteri
Trapped in an alley by a group of guys, Lydia Rivers dialed Chase Rylan over thirty times.But Chase was preoccupied with the transfer student, offering what she called “treatment for her craving for touch.“.
He kissed her until she was breathless, so absorbed that his phone kept buzzing until it finally died on the couch.
Lydia fought with everything she had and managed to break free, only to be hit by a car.
When she woke, she was wrapped head to toe in bandages.
A video was already playing on her phone, Chase and Sienna Quinn tangled up in a kiss, a clip that lasted over three hours.
The caption on Instagram Stories read: “Shout–out to the star athlete for helping me out. At last, no suffering tonight”
Everyone knew Sienna’s so–called “touch–starvation” could only be eased by Chase.
She always had to be held, touched, leaning against him–even during homework. Even when she left bite marks on his collarbone, he only sighed and let it slide.
“Easy. I’ve got a game tomorrow.”
But they all forgot that Lydia was his real girlfriend, the girl he’d pursued for three years before declaring his love to her in front of the
entire school.
He once skipped class and snuck off campus just to bring her hot cocoa.
He stayed up three nights straight building her a handmade star projector for her birthday.
And when her family was about to move overseas, he stood in her living room, eyes red, and whispered.
“Lydia, if you leave, I’ll jump off the balcony of Old Hall.”
So she tore up her plane ticket, stayed behind, and applied to the same university–just to be with him.
Now, lying in the hospital, she calmly pulled out her IV and texted her mother.
“Mom, help me apply to schools in London.”
Chase Rylan, your patient still needs you.
As for me… I no longer need you.
Three days later, Lydia was discharged.
The Rivers Estate felt hollow and empty–her parents were clearly busy making arrangements after she’d suddenly changed her mind. about emigrating
She returned quietly to her room and began to pack.
Halfway through, the sound of the smart lock clicked at the front door.
At this hour, her parents shouldn’t be back yet. The only other person who could walk in uninvited was Chase.
He dropped by so much that her parents no longer minded. His fingerprint was even saved in the smart lock.
Once, she had honestly pictured a future with him–from high school jacket to wedding veil.
Her chest prickled with needle–sharp pain at the thought.
Sure enough, the door opened, and Chase stepped inside.
He wore a plain T–shirt under a black windbreaker, unzipped and casual, Gray sweatpants fit snugly on his long legs.
His hair was a little tousled, which only made him look more effortlessly attractive.
He noticed Lydia packing and paused, then smiled, striding toward her. He reached out, naturally, to wrap his arms around her from
behind.
“Babe, already getting ready? School doesn’t start for a while.”
Lydia instinctively moved aside.
His hands found only air. His smile faltered briefly before he smoothed it over, his tone still soft.
“Okay, okay. Packing early’s good–saves the chaos later.”
He hesitated, then as if just remembering, asked casually,
“Oh right—what was up the other day? You called me, what, thirty times?”
Lydia kept folding clothes, her voice steady and cool.
“It’s been three days. Don’t you think it’s a little late to be asking now?”
Chase leaned closer, his tone coaxing, deep and low.
“You’re mad, huh? My bad. That night Sienna had one of her episodes. And it was really bad. I couldn’t just leave. She hasn’t been well since, so I’ve been looking after her. I just… forgot to call you back. Don’t be upset, okay? I owe her, and the least I can do is help.”
Lydia finally lifted her gaze to his face, once so familiar, now strangely foreign.
ack in their first year of high school, she had been the acknowledged beauty of the school.
She’d heard plenty about Chase Rylan, the star athlete, the golden boy from the next class over, but they’d never actually crossed paths.
Until one debate competition, when she took the floor as the final speaker for the opposition. Chase, usually sharp and ruthless in debate, looked up at her and-
When Lydia finally stood to deliver her rebuttal that day, Chase Rylan–the boy with the sharpest tongue at Westbridge High- completely froze. He stumbled through his argument, lost the thread, and his team ended up losing the match.
Afterward, when people asked him what had happened, he didn’t even try to hide it. In front of everyone, he shrugged and said openly, “Couldn’t help it. I was too busy staring at Lydia Rivers.”
From then on, everyone knew: the golden boy of Westbridge High had his eyes on the school’s queen bee.
And Chase pursued her with everything he had–bold, relentless, impossible to ignore. Eventually, she gave in, and they became the couple everyone envied.
They studied together, ate together, and swore they’d get into the same university.
But when her family was about to move abroad, Chase pulled her aside behind Old Hall, eyes red, arms locked tightly around her.
“Lydia, don’t go. If you leave, I swear I’ll die…”
Those words shattered her resolve. She tore up her plane ticket, fought with her parents, and stayed–just for him.
Until Sienna Quinn appeared.
The new girl said she had a strange condition, something she called “touch–starvation,” and only Chase could make it better.
At first, Chase hated her clinginess. He told her straight to her face to back off.
Then came the fire.
As the others stampeded out, Sienna fought her way back into the smoke–choked classroom.
People thought she was insane, until she staggered out, face gray with ash, holding a dented tin box she pressed into Chase’s hands.
It was his grandmother’s locket the only thing she’d left behind.
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From that moment, the way he looked at Sienna changed.
He no longer stopped her from pulling at his sleeve, from clinging to his arm.
“Lydia,” he explained softly, “Sienna risked her life to bring back Grandma’s locket. I can’t turn my back on her. She’s sick, and I’m the only one she has. Please just bear with it–once she recovers, things will be like before.”
At first, Lydia believed him. She endured it.
But as time went on, their touches grew bolder, their closeness more blatant.
Until that video, three hours and twenty–seven minutes of them kissing–struck her like a cruel wake–up call.
“I’m not mad,” Lydia whispered, lowering her eyes. “I understand.”
Chase exhaled in relief, a smile spreading across his face.
“I knew you’d understand, Lydia. Hey, remember how you always wanted to see your favorite singer live? I pulled some strings and got us two front–row tickets for tonight. Let me take you, cheer you up, okay?”
Lydia wanted to refuse, but Chase didn’t give her the chance. Half coaxing, half dragging, he swept her out the door.
The Crown Arena seats were incredible–front row, perfect view of the stage.
But no sooner had they sat down than a familiar voice rang out.
“Chase! Lydia! You finally made it!”
Sienna Quinn bounded over, grinning ear to ear, with three drinks in her hands.
“I’ve been waiting forever! Look, I bought vanilla milkshakes for us!”
Lydia’s eyes flicked instantly to Chase.
His smile faltered. “Sienna’s a fan too. When I bought the tickets, I… got an extra for her.”
Lydia said nothing. She only sat down quietly.
The concert began. Chase leaned close, trying to make it up to her–asking if she was thirsty, if she was tired.
But Sienna kept tugging at his sleeve, faking a stumble in the crowd just to lean against him.
After the third time, Chase’s patience snapped. He pushed her away, frowning.
“Sit still and watch the show. Stop squirming.”
Sienna pouted, her lips trembling, but she settled, at least for a bit.
Then suddenly–all the lights in the arena went out. Darkness swallowed the space.
The crowd erupted in panic.
A voice crackled over the speakers, announcing a power outage.
The concert was suspended. “Please stay calm and exit in an orderly fashion.”
The audience surged toward the exits. Lydia was swept along with the crowd, until someone shoved her hard from behind.
She stumbled, shrieked, and went down.
And then the trampling began. Feet slammed onto her arm, her back, her leg. Agonizing pain shot through her body, tears spilling as she struggled to crawl up, but she couldn’t.
Chase realized she was gone almost instantly. He spun around, panic in his eyes, forcing his way back through the crowd. He was so close less than a yard away–when Sienna suddenly collapsed against him with a whimper.
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“Chase… I can’t… my touch–starvation. It’s hitting me again… Please… kiss me, I can’t take it…”
Chase froze. He tried to push her off.
“Hold on! I need to find Lydia!”
“No… I’m begging you… just once… kiss me…” Sienna’s voice broke into desperate sobs.
יד
In the dim emergency glow, Lydia lay crumpled on the ground, staring wide–eyed as Chase hesitated.
For just a few seconds.
Then he grabbed Sienna, pulled her into a quieter corner, and pressed his lips hard against hers.
A beat later, the emergency lights flickered on–dim but clear enough.
And Lydia saw everything.
Chase Rylan and Sienna Quinn, locked in each other’s arms,
kissing a
as if the rest of the world had vanished.
Her hand slid into his jacket, clinging tight.
And Lydia Rivers, broken on the arena floor, finally understood what “replaceable” meant.
Chapter1
