All Chapters of My Online Boyfriend Chose My Roommate: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

When I didn't react, Leo pressed. "Any other conditions? Name them."He didn't hesitate, as if I were nothing compared to Vivian.I was still holding the ice cream I'd waited in line to buy. Matcha. His favorite.I'd thought he'd be happy to see me.Just like I'd been two months ago, when his message popped up on my phone.I'd secretly searched for that Instagram account countless times over the past six years. And suddenly, there it was.When his request finally appeared on my screen, I was over the moon.The boy I'd liked since high school liked me back.For two months, I thought I was living a dream.Then the dream shattered.It stung.For those two months, we only ever saw each other on video calls, but we talked late into the night about everything. We never ran out of things to say.We laughed together. We hurt together.Was that fake too? Apparently.But Leo didn't know who I really was.Vivian was the one he had wanted all along.All that attention had been meant for her.And n

Smack!My head snapped to the side as Vivian slapped me across the face.Pain exploded across my cheek.I pressed a hand to it and stared at her. She'd stormed into the dorm looking ready to kill someone. "Are you insane?""You have the nerve to ask me that?" Vivian shot back. "Zoe, I treated you like my best friend. And this is how you repay me? Why don't you tell everyone what you've been doing behind my back?"My stomach dropped.She knows. But what did I do wrong?Vivian's hands curled into fists."You won't say it, so I will! You're the one who used my name to date Leo online! And that wasn't enough for you. Now you've got his best friend chasing after you too!""I didn't—""Don't even try to deny it! If one of their friends hadn't gotten drunk and let it slip, I'd never have known. How long were you planning to keep this from me while you went after Leo behind my back? And I was stupid enough to have you answer my phone. I practically handed you the perfect chance! Now everyone's

Leo's check still hadn't arrived, and Grandma's medical bills kept piling up.I had no choice but to work more shifts.Outside of class, I spent nearly every waking hour working.Once the check arrived, I'd cut all ties with Leo. Then I wouldn't have to work myself to exhaustion anymore.I just never expected Ethan to deliver it."Surprised?" He got straight to the point.I nodded, then shook my head. Leo and Vivian were busy enjoying their new relationship. Of course he wouldn't come himself.Ethan smiled and pointed to a line on the document. "Sign here, and the money's yours."I knew what he wasn't saying.Once I signed, Leo and I would be even. Completely.I didn't hesitate.I signed my name with a steady hand.With every stroke of my pen, I left behind all the love and pain that had consumed me for years, sealing it all away with that cold check.A flicker of approval crossed Ethan's face. He handed the document to the lawyer nearby, then glanced at the flyers I was holding."I'll

It all started with that necklace.After that, Ethan and I began spending more time together.He often picked me up after work. We'd grab a late-night bite at a food truck and talk about anything that came to mind.When I started applying for internships, he studied with me at the library and even came with me whenever I had an interview.Little by little, I could feel myself opening up to him.As for Leo, I only heard about him through Vivian. I didn't see him at all.From everything Vivian said, the two of them were still going strong.That May was especially rainy.One day, I came back to the dorm, folded my umbrella, and heard Vivian complaining to Leo on the phone."Why won't it stop raining? We haven't seen each other in a week. Look at Ethan. He sees Zoe every day, rain or shine. Why can't you do that?"Leo was quiet for a moment. Then he said flatly, "I'll come see you when I'm done with what I'm working on."Two days later, the rain finally stopped.Suddenly, I heard people sh

That brief run-in with Leo was nothing more than a minor interruption.Once I was back in Phoenix, work kept me busy enough to put it out of my mind.I worked hard, and eventually my manager trusted me with a project of my own.On the day of my first meeting with the client, I arrived at their office ten minutes early. When the receptionist heard why I was there, she led me to the project lead's office.On the way, she casually mentioned, "You're lucky. This is the first project he's handled here. It isn't a big project, but he's young, handsome, and excellent at his job. Everyone here wants a place on his team."Young and easy to work with.I had a general idea of what to expect and thanked her.I straightened my jacket one last time and knocked on the door."Come in."That voice sounded strangely familiar.I didn't think much of it and opened the door."Hello, I'm Zoe Bennett from Meridian Group."The man had his back to me. The moment he heard my name, his hand jerked, nearly sendin