Stolen love: In love with my sister 's fiance-Chapter 31: will you be my girlfriend

Morning arrived with a new wave of whispers, but this time, Elaine was at the center of it. As she walked through the hallways, she noticed the lingering stares—some filled with curiosity, others with something unreadable. It wasn't the first time people had looked at her like this, but today felt different.

Confused, she made her way to class and sat beside Mary. Ryan and Mary were whispering about something, their expressions tense.

Elaine placed a hand on Mary's shoulder, causing her to jump. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Mary gasped, clutching her chest before exhaling dramatically.

Elaine raised a brow. "What's going on? Why is everyone staring at me this time?"

Mary exchanged a glance with Ryan before turning to Elaine. "You tell me. You didn't say anything about this."

Elaine frowned. "Say anything about what?"

Without a word, Mary pulled out her phone and showed her the screen. It was a picture—Elaine, standing in the dim light of the street, being hugged by a man holding a bouquet. The shot was taken from behind him, so his face wasn't visible, but hers was clear as day.

Elaine paled. She knew exactly who it was.

Her grip on the phone tightened as she whispered, "Who took this...?"

Mary studied her closely before asking the real question. "Who is he? The whole college is talking about this. Don't tell me it's Adrian."

Elaine was about to explain when a sudden commotion erupted in the hallway. Murmurs and excited whispers filled the air, and students rushed toward the source of the noise.

Mary and Ryan exchanged glances before getting up. "What's going on now?" Ryan muttered as they made their way outside, Elaine following behind.

The moment she stepped into the hallway, her breath hitched.

There, standing in the middle of the crowd, was Adrian—holding a bouquet of flowers. The same flowers.

A group of his classmates stood beside him, holding up a large banner that read in bold letters:

"WILL YOU BE MY GIRLFRIEND?"

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Elaine froze. The whispers grew louder, some excited, some skeptical. Her mind raced as she stared at Adrian, whose expression was unreadable, yet his eyes were locked onto hers.

Mary nudged her, whispering, "Okay, I was NOT expecting this. What the hell is going on?"

Ryan smirked. "Well, Elaine, looks like you have some explaining to do."

Elaine stood frozen, her mind unable to process what was happening. The crowd's voices blurred into background noise as Adrian stepped forward, determination in his gaze.

Then, in one smooth motion, he got down on one knee.

"Elaine," he said, his voice steady but filled with something deeper—something she couldn't quite grasp. "I know what happened last night wasn't to your liking. So today, I'm doing this properly. I'm asking you again—will you be my girlfriend?"

Gasps rippled through the students watching. The tension in the air was thick, everyone waiting for her answer. But Elaine—Elaine didn't know what to say. Her mouth opened, then closed. She wasn't sure how to react, wasn't sure if this was real.

The chanting began. "Say yes! Say yes!"

Mary, practically vibrating with excitement, took matters into her own hands. "Yes!" she shouted, answering for Elaine.

The crowd cheered.

Elaine, still in shock, felt Adrian take her hand, gently pressing the bouquet into it. She looked down at the flowers in her hands, feeling almost disconnected from reality.

She had no idea what was happening.

Like a robot, she accepted the bouquet, still too stunned to react. Meanwhile, Adrian only smiled up at her, as if he had all the time in the world to wait for her real answer.

As the crowd dispersed, Elaine didn't wait. Without hesitation, she grabbed Adrian's hand and pulled him away, her grip firm with determination.

Mary and Ryan exchanged amused glances, trailing behind them just long enough to tease. "Ooooh, someone's taking her new boyfriend away already!" Ryan chuckled.

"Be gentle with him, Elaine!" Mary added with a wink.

Elaine ignored them. Her mind was set—she needed answers.

She led Adrian into the nearest empty glass-walled classroom, shutting the door behind them. The noise from the hallway faded, leaving only the two of them in the quiet space.

She turned to face him, gripping the bouquet in her hands, her eyes burning with questions. "What the hell was that, Adrian?"

Adrian smiled gently, his eyes warm with understanding. "Elaine, as I said yesterday—use me. Use me to forget him."

Elaine's breath hitched, but he continued, his voice calm yet firm. "I know he was your first love, and first love never fades easily. But I can't stand by and watch you destroy yourself over this. And now with those photos circulating... If someone finds out the truth about you and Alex, a huge scandal will break out. People won't leave you alone. No one will question him—they'll only question you. I don't want that. I can't let that happen."

Elaine's eyes welled up with unshed tears. She clenched the bouquet tightly, her voice heavy with emotion. "Why, Adrian? Why are you helping me like this? Why are you trying to ruin yourself for me? Why would you want me to use you?"

Adrian took a step closer, his expression calm yet unwavering. "Because I like you, Elaine." He let out a soft chuckle. "No—'like' is too small a word. I care for you. I love you."

Elaine stood stunned, her heart pounding. She had always known Adrian cared for her—maybe as a best friend, maybe as someone who wanted to protect her—but love?

Oh, how wrong she had been.

The cold, distant boy who always seemed indifferent to the world had fallen for her.

Elaine's tears slipped down her cheeks as she looked at Adrian with sorrow in her eyes. "Adrian, you know I can't love anyone else. I love Alex. I know how painful one-sided love is, so why did you do this to yourself? Why would you ruin yourself for a love that will never be returned? It's not worth it. I can't love you, Adrian."

Adrian took her trembling hands in his, his touch gentle yet firm. He smiled, a bittersweet expression crossing his face. "You don't have to love me, Elaine. Loving you is enough for me. I never expected you to love me back."

Elaine's breath caught as his words settled deep within her heart.

"I just can't stand seeing the person I love in pain," Adrian continued softly. "If you end up with Alex, I will be happy for you. Because your happiness is what matters to me the most."

Adrian gently wiped away a tear from Elaine's cheek, his voice calm yet firm. "You say I'm ruining myself, but if you can't control your feelings for him, then how can I control mine for you?" He let out a small sigh before continuing, "So, will you be my girlfriend? Not real—just a fake one. At least until the rumors die down."

Elaine's breath hitched, her chest tightening at his words. He was offering her a way out, expecting nothing in return, sacrificing himself just to shield her from the world's judgment.

Her tears fell harder as she whispered, "How can you be so selfless, Adrian? How can you do all this for me without asking for anything in return?"

Adrian chuckled softly, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand. "Because love isn't about asking. It's about giving."

Adrian smirked playfully, squeezing Elaine's hand gently. "You know, I'll be the best boyfriend. Who knows? You might even fall for me." His tone was light, teasing, but there was something genuine in the way he looked at her.

Elaine let out a small, bittersweet smile at his words. If only it were that easy. "I wish I could, Adrian. I really do," she thought to herself. "But my heart already beats for Alex."

She didn't say it out loud, but the weight of that truth lingered between them. And yet, Adrian only smiled, as if he already knew.