Elena had given her virginity to Chasel, the most popular boy in high school and the secret object of her affection for years. When she shyly brought it up to him afterward, Chasel claimed he had been drunk and didn't remember anything. He offered her a substantial sum of money to leave him alone. Elena's first time had been tainted by Chasel's humiliation, made worse by the fact that he was the first man she had ever truly loved. Elena thought college would be her escape, that her high school memories would fade into obscurity. Instead, Chasel somehow became the object of her college roommate's affections. Worse still, Elena found herself constantly crossing paths with Chasel, who seemed to treat her differently from everyone else... "One year later, we divorce, with no interference in each other's lives." The only reason Elena agreed to a fake marriage with Chasel was her absolute conviction that the perfect Chasel could never fall in love with someone like her. But after the wedding, their faked marriage turned all too real. One year later, divorce couldn't even be mentioned-she couldn't even leave the house. Facing Chasel's forced love, Elena escaped through a window, fleeing the prison their home had become.Just when she was congratulating herself on finally escaping his clutches, the very next day, everywhere she went, someone would bow respectfully and say, "Mrs. Anthony, Mr. Anthony is waiting for you over there."
Chapter 1 Will You Be My Boyfriend
"That night... was it you?"
Eighteen-year-old Elena had imagined a thousand-no, ten thousand-ways to confess to the boy she liked. Yet she never imagined that when she finally gathered all her courage to stand before him, her first words would be, "That man from that night... was it you?"
Chasel leaned against the telephone pole with casual grace, his gaze downcast. When Elena's question reached him, he didn't even bother to lift his eyelids. Only the slightest furrow of his brow and a nearly imperceptible trembling of his eyelashes betrayed him, before his clean, striking features returned to their usual impassive calm.
Had Elena not been carefully studying every flicker across his face, she might have thought he hadn't heard her at all. She stared at him intently, waiting in silence for a moment. Seeing no sign of response, she pressed her lips together before speaking again-this time with certainty edging her question, "It was you that night, wasn't it?"
After Elena's second attempt, Chasel finally lifted his head. He lazily swept his gaze over her, his dark eyes void of any emotion or feeling. Then he straightened up and, without any acknowledgment, simply turned and walked away.
Elena watched his retreating figure, unconsciously clenching her fists.
It had to be him that night. It couldn't be anyone else...
The way he had kissed her that night, so tenderly... she couldn't be mistaken...
Though she couldn't understand why his attitude tonight differed so drastically from that night, she had finally summoned the courage to approach him. She couldn't give up halfway-she feared she might never find this kind of courage and confidence again.
With this thought, Elena darted after Chasel, taking two quick steps in his direction. "I know it was you that night, I-"
Before Elena could finish, Chasel quickened his pace.
The distance between them grew wider.
Elena broke into a small run, closing the gap. "I-I noticed you long before... I-"
Chasel, now at the curb, raised his hand to hail a taxi.
Before he could open the car door, Elena's quick reflexes allowed her to reach out and grab his sleeve.
Chasel towered over Elena by quite a margin. When he turned to look at her, there was something condescending in his gaze.
Elena's words caught in her throat as she met his eyes. Nervously swallowing, she finally spoke with the resignation of someone facing certain doom, "I've always liked you, liked you for a long time. Do you..."
Chasel abruptly raised his hand, forcefully trying to pry Elena's small fingers from his shirt.
Elena increased the pressure of her fingertips to resist him while continuing, "...like me?"
Chasel's fingers, in the middle of prying hers loose, trembled slightly, his force suddenly halting.
His subtle moment of weakness made Elena feel as though she could hear flowers blooming in her heart.
He must have feelings for her-why else would he have touched her that night? Why else would he freeze when she confessed her feelings?
Elena tilted her head up, looking into Chasel's eyes with bright, hopeful anticipation. Holding her breath, with solemn determination, she spoke each word deliberately, "Will you be my boyfriend..."
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