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.
Once 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.