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 . Chapter ) ERLIONAIRE CEO'S Dreame - Read Romance Stories Book Title Cheers to Comeuppance 4.4 FREE Installed Open 4.55 % 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 . Chapter ELICARE CEO'S Dreame - Read Romance Stories 4.4 FREE Installed Open Book Titta Cheats to 455 % " 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