My Ex Tested Me Too Much, So I Chose His Billionaire Best Friend

My boyfriend's friends have all tried to get into my bed. They were all sent by my boyfriend himself. But every single time, I rejected them without hesitation. Every time I passed his "test," he would shower me with expensive gifts. Everyone praised me for being so deeply in love with him. Even he would look at me with guilt and say: "I'm sorry, babe. I just love you too much. I'm insecure, that's why I keep testing you." I didn't take his words to heart, because I knew his little games would never stop. Until he introduced me to his new friend. The man in front of me had a sharp jawline and a built, muscular frame. Looking at this mature, sexy, and stoically aloof man, my heart raced. I think I'm about to get a new boyfriend. While I was staring at his abs, a hand with well-defined knuckles reached out to me. His fingers were long and straight, with faint blue veins visible under his fair skin. What a sexy hand. I could already imagine it sliding over my body. The thought of those slightly calloused fingertips brushing against my skin made my breathing hitch. My knees actually felt a little weak. "I'm Dominic. Nice to meet you, Olivia." His deep, sexy voice sent a shiver down my spine. He lingered on my name, making it sound almost intimate. If he whispered that in my ear, I'd completely melt. I took a deep breath, suppressing my excitement, and replied with forced coldness. When we shook hands and let go, I felt his pinky finger gently stroke my palm. A tiny spark of electricity shot through me, making my skin tingle. Just like every other test in the past, I sat down next to my boyfriend. Dominic was sitting right across from me. I could feel his intense gaze on me, and the heat of it made me thrilled. Hunter introduced him to me: "Olivia, Dominic has a lot of connections abroad." "Isn't your design studio trying to go international? You should ask him for advice. Why don't you guys add each other on Snapchat?" I looked at Hunter. There was a hidden glimmer of anticipation in his eyes. I knew it. Another test had begun. But this time was different. The man across from me was Dominic Thorne. Even among the old-money elite, the Thorne family was at the very top. Dominic was the designated heir to the Thorne empire. A man like him usually wouldn't bother hanging out with Hunter and his crowd. Yet, he had actively joined Hunter's party tonight. Could I assume there was something—or someone—he was looking forward to seeing? A secret wave of excitement washed over me. I looked around, ignoring the mocking stares of the others. Only after Hunter nodded at me again did I lock eyes with Dominic. "Then I'll be in your care, Dominic." Since he was practically delivering himself to me, why would I refuse?The first time Hunter tested me was on our third day together. He was afraid I was only after his money, so he got one of his rich friends to approach me. The guy offered me a blank check to dump Hunter and sleep with him. Back then, I was caught off guard. But mostly, I was furious. I couldn't believe Hunter had such backstabbing friends. So, I told Hunter about it and warned him to stay away from that guy. Hunter just looked at me and smiled. Later, that friend apologized, saying he was just helping Hunter test my loyalty and meant no harm. "Olivia is the real deal!" He gave me a thumbs-up. "Man, I threw an eight-figure sum at her, and she didn't even blink. Hunter, you're one lucky bastard!" Hunter sat at the head of the table, looking incredibly smug. After that, he sent all kinds of men my way—guys who were hotter than him, ripped, charming, or funny. Every time a guy failed, Hunter would throw a party to "clear up the misunderstanding." Gradually, everyone in his circle knew that Olivia was madly in love with Hunter. No one in the world could steal his girl. Outsiders said I didn't care about money, power, or looks. They thought I just loved Hunter for who he was. As if. If I didn't want anything from him, why didn't I just get a dog? I wanted his money, and I liked his face. Of all the men I knew, he had the best package and fit my aesthetic perfectly. But not anymore. A much better option had just walked into my life.Dominic pulled out his phone. "Scan me. Let me know whenever you need anything." Clearly, Hunter had prepped him beforehand. I ran a high-end, custom fashion design studio. With Hunter's connections and my unique aesthetic, my studio quickly gained a reputation. After a few red-carpet collaborations with celebrities went viral, my brand blew up. Right now, I was the go-to independent designer for A-list celebrities. But my ambition didn't stop there. I wanted to build my own commercial brand and launch it internationally. "Olivia? Don't just stand there. Not everyone gets a chance to add Dominic on Snapchat." Hunter's voice snapped me back to reality. I blinked and saw Dominic holding his phone out to me, his QR code on display. His long, elegant fingers held the edge of the phone with effortless grace. I took out my phone and scanned it. *Ding.* Friend request accepted. His profile picture was plain black, and his display name was just "Dominic Thorne." There were no posts on his feed. Nothing. I put my phone away. When I looked up, I caught him staring directly at my lips. It was only for a second before he turned away. But I still caught the slight smirk on his face. Interesting. I looked away and took a sip from my glass. It was ice water. Suddenly, he spoke up. "Change it to something else." "Huh?" "Ice water isn't great for your stomach." He casually pushed a glass of warm water toward me. I took a sip, hiding my smile. When I pulled out my phone earlier, I had purposely let him see the tampons in my bag. I had to admit, so far, this man was passing with flying colors.After the party, I didn't reach out to Dominic first. Since he had agreed to test me for Hunter, he would definitely make the first move. I was right. He showed up directly at my studio. He claimed he had a meeting nearby, realized my studio was in the area, and decided to drop by to get a custom suit made. A customer is a customer. I had no reason to turn him down. "But getting a suit made requires taking measurements. Are you in a rush, Dominic?" "No, I have all day." I picked up my measuring tape and stepped closer. Dominic cooperated, taking off his suit jacket to reveal a crisp, high-quality white shirt. I measured his shoulders and arm length smoothly. Then, I wrapped the tape around his waist. Because of the angle, I was practically pressed against his chest. The clean, woody scent of a mature man instantly wrapped around me. He looked down, his warm breath brushing against my ear. Suddenly, his lips grazed my earlobe. I stepped back as if shocked by electricity. He lowered his gaze. "Sorry. I couldn't help myself." I smirked. "Hunter asked you to test me, didn't he?" "Yes," he admitted smoothly, showing no panic at being caught. "But what if I've actually fallen for you? What should I do then?" "Oh, really?" I looked into his deep eyes and slowly smiled. "Then you'd better try harder." We stared at each other. Some things don't need to be said. People on the same wavelength just know. Before he could say anything else, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and answered it right in front of me. "Don't worry, she hasn't messaged me at all." "If you don't believe me, I'll send you a screenshot." Hunter was still talking on the other end. Dominic glanced at me and accidentally hit the volume button. In the quiet studio, Hunter's voice was crystal clear. "Bro, please help me out. Be more aggressive. See how she reacts. If even you can't seduce her, then I can finally relax." Dominic scoffed. "How many times have you tested her already?" "This time is different. You know guys in our circle have to marry for business. She's brought up marriage a few times, and I've brushed it off. But my parents are pushing me to go on blind dates with heiresses lately, and I don't want to break up with Olivia yet." "So you have to help me. Once I'm sure she's absolutely obsessed with me, I can go on those blind dates with peace of mind." Dominic looked at me. "If you're going to marry someone else, just let her go. Keeping her in the dark is messed up." "You don't get it, Dominic. I really love her. If she loves me back, she won't care about a stupid marriage certificate." "Aren't you afraid..." Dominic's eyes darkened, "...that I'll actually steal her from you?" Hunter laughed loudly on the phone. "Come on, Dominic. You've seen the most gorgeous women in the world. How could you ever fall for her?" "Anyway, if she passes this final test, I'll reward her with a wedding ceremony. Just a small one for our close friends. That'll keep her happy for the rest of her life." "But if she fails, you help me humiliate her. I'll make sure she regrets it for the rest of her life." Dominic hung up the phone. We stood there in silence.Honestly, I wasn't even that heartbroken. I had thought about marrying Hunter before. But after he brushed it off several times, I saw right through him. Staying with him was just a way to use his connections. To me, he had long become a tasteless dish. Dominic, on the other hand, looked delicious. I wanted him, but not just yet. I threw myself into my work, confident that he would eventually be my prey. Knowing how much I valued my career, Dominic constantly offered his help. And I accepted every single resource he threw my way. He used his connections to help restructure my company, headhunted top talent for me, connected me with the best factories, and got me high-end fabrics at insanely low prices. He even secured a slot for my studio at next year's Milan Fashion Week. Since he was pouring so much into me, I didn't mind giving him a little taste of what he wanted. Just a taste, though. I allowed him to touch me, and I enjoyed his large hands tracing my body. But every time he tried to take it further, I would stop him. I admit I was acting like a bit of a tease, soaking up his benefits while keeping him at arm's length. But he never complained. Whenever things got heated and he was left frustrated, he would say with a sigh: "I feel like you have me wrapped around your finger. How can you be so cruel?" In truth, I was highly attracted to him too. Using the excuse of fitting his clothes, I would touch him back. Through his thin shirt, I would trace the hard contours of his muscles, imagining what it would feel like to ride him. Stopping right before he lost control was my favorite game. We were shamelessly flirting, and Hunter had no idea. In fact, Hunter thought Dominic was just doing a great job of laying down the bait. Even his friends thought the same. During their parties, they would whisper about me: "Hunter really knows how to train his woman. Even a guy like Dominic Thorne can't tempt her. I bet she'd die for Hunter if he asked." "Olivia acts so cold and classy, but she probably begs for Hunter's attention behind closed doors." "When she finds out Hunter is marrying someone else, do you think she'll cry her eyes out?" "Who cares? She can't leave Hunter anyway." "Hahaha..." Dominic recorded these conversations and sent them to me. "Olivia, I wasn't going to show you this because I didn't want to hurt your feelings. But I think you deserve to know what he's really like behind your back." "I have no ulterior motive. I'm just worried about you." "If I were lucky enough to be your man, I would never hang out with people who disrespect you like this." "Are you refusing to commit to me because you still love Hunter?" I didn't reply. I was just used to securing my benefits first. Since he was already on my plate, there was no rush to eat him.The day Dominic's sample suit was finished, I decided to deliver it to his office myself. Dominic's office occupied an entire floor. His assistant let me straight in. Dominic had given strict orders that I never needed an appointment. As luck would have it, I heard Hunter's voice coming from his office. "Dominic, you're really going all out to help me. You actually gave her all those resources?" "Women don't need to work anyway. I can provide for her. Aren't those resources wasted on her?" I had always known Hunter never took my career seriously. When he initially supported my studio, he just wanted me to have a little hobby. His rich friends could buy a piece or two to keep me entertained. When I actually succeeded, his bragging was more like showing off a prettier trophy than everyone else's. Dominic didn't take the bait. He just said coldly, "I don't do charity." "Of course, I know you're only doing this as a favor to me." "But seriously, has she really not shown any interest in you?" Dominic raised an eyebrow. "Do you want her to?" "That's not what I mean," Hunter waved his hand quickly. "I've met with Charlotte Montgomery, the heiress my parents chose. We both like each other, and the news will leak soon. I need a definitive answer before then." He leaned in closer and lowered his voice: "Dominic, I need you to pull out the big guns."