MY ONLINE BOYFRIEND GOT THE WRONG GIRL

The scrolling comments said my clingy online boyfriend had mistaken me for another girl all along. Today, he was finally going to show his face on video.

Once he realized he'd let me train him like a puppy all this time because he'd mistaken me for someone else, he would never let me get away with it. He was too vindictive for that.

On the other end of the video call, he was still urging me on in that husky voice. “Baby, stop teasing.

Let me see you.” Chapter 1 Our video calls usually showed nothing above the neck. This was the first time I'd seen my online boyfriend's face.

As if that body and that voice weren't enough, he was so handsome it made my heart flutter. I stared for a moment, forgetting to answer. “Baby. Sweet baby. I'll behave.

Please, just let me see you.” The corners of his eyes were flushed, his cool gaze hazy with desire and full of longing.

He was probably responding to what I'd said at the start of this video call. “Paws up.

Let me see who's the best puppy in the whole world.” He'd gone quiet for a few seconds, then raised his hands with a pitiful look on his face.

He was so cute my knees went weak. “Um…” I kept my camera covered and tried to sound calm. “I've thought about it, and showing our faces feels a little too fast.

Let's forget it.” Afraid he'd ask questions, I ended the call before he could. The comments rolled past: [Nooo! You can't just cut a guy off like that, side character!

Cameron Sutton is the male lead, and he's in actual pain at this point.] [She already promised! Why is she backing out now?

After all that buildup, the plot has finally made some backward progress…] [Relax. Hiding her face will only buy her so much time.

Once the leads meet in person and compare notes, she's going to get exposed.] [I can't with this man. Isn't he supposed to be naturally detached?

He doesn't even acknowledge the female lead in person, so why is he such a needy, horny mess online? What a slut!] Cameron Sutton.

I caught my boyfriend's name among the scrolling words. It sounded familiar. Then again, every time I saw a hot guy, I felt like he'd been my husband in a past life.

Cameron was still sending voice messages through our social app. “Baby, what's worrying you?” “Is my face not your type?” “What do you like? Obedient? Rough? Cold? Or… slutty?

I can try any of them.” “Baby, talk to me.” He wouldn't let up, so I had to lie. [I've got other things to take care of.] He finally stopped. “Okay, baby.

Go do what you need to do.” Less than half an hour later— “Baby, it's been twenty minutes and seven seconds. I'm not rushing you, baby.

I just miss you a little.” “Baby, I saw you like that guy's ab video. Is that your other thing? Your finger slipped, right?” “That's indecent.

He shouldn't be subjecting your eyes to that. I reported him.” Exclamation points filled the comments. [Huh? Is our male lead perhaps a little emotionally detached?] [I'm dying.

He's still worked up after his cold shower. He's actually resorted to digging out his high school group photo.] Chapter 2 [Hehehe.

With the way our male lead is built, imagine when he finally meets the female lead in person. Sparks flying, all restraint gone, just devouring her.] [Ugh.

I just remembered the side character is in that photo too. Can't get rid of her.] I paused, then finally understood why he seemed so familiar.

In high school, Cameron Sutton had been the academic god in the accelerated class next door, and everyone's unofficial pick for the hottest boy in school.

Later, he'd earned the highest test score in the state and gotten into the elite university in the same city as mine.

If I hadn't started that game, I probably would have gone my whole life without crossing paths with a genius like Cameron.

The summer after high school graduation, I'd gone completely wild with gaming, muttering that I'd go to bed as soon as I won a match.

After an entire night of hard work, I'd managed to lose fifteen stars in ranked.

In my last ranked match, I'd finally pulled myself together and won—only to find I'd stumbled into a clique. They nitpicked everything and flamed me mercilessly.

Thoroughly ruffled, I was about to flounce off when the jungler, who hadn't said a word until then, turned on his mic. “Accept my friend request.” I had no idea why, but I did as I was told.

Somehow, he managed to track that group down, taking me along. He killed them on sight, wiping them out the instant they appeared.

After several humiliating defeats in a row, they finally broke and apologized, sounding close to tears. “Please, Summer.

Call off that rabid dog of a boyfriend.” I was about to explain that we weren't together, but Cameron took me out of the group without waiting and asked in the chat: [Is Summer your nickname?] [Yep.

My family likes calling me that, so I made it my screen name.] [It's pretty.] One thing led to another, and we added each other on social media.

Every day, he posted thirst traps that only I could see. Loose gray sweatpants, the ends of the drawstring hanging unevenly.

He even deliberately teased me in that low, husky voice. “That screenshot you sent last time?

I saw what you saved me as.” The picture clearly showed what I'd saved him as: [Six foot two, twenty, twenty, Big Bad Dog].

I was too embarrassed to say anything, so he started sending me money, each transfer bigger than the last.

I'd barely left the starter zone and already run into a seductive demon that dropped piles of gold.

Who could possibly resist… Once we made it official, he dropped the aloof act completely. Our video calls lasted at least half an hour each.

Sometimes, toward the end, he'd call me “Summer” in a tender, lingering voice.

I'd always thought he'd fallen for me at first sight, that the physical attraction was why his feelings ran so high. Instead, he'd mistaken me for his crush all along.

A sour ache spread through my chest. The comments rolled past: [Okay, but I have a question. The female lead and the side character don't even have similar personalities.

He hasn't noticed anything?] [Makes sense to me. He acts completely different online too. Besides, the female lead is actually named Summer.

The side character's real name isn't Summer, but it's her nickname. Easy mistake to make.] [But the person he's actually been talking to this whole time is the side character.

What if it's her personality he likes?] [That's even funnier than when someone said Cameron Sutton wanted a platonic relationship. Geniuses hate stupidity.

How does someone at the bottom of the class even compare to the female lead?] [Please.

If she weren't riding the female lead's coattails, he wouldn't have said a word to her in his life, never mind played puppy for her.] [If I were her, I'd just come clean.

Maybe he'd soften up and let her off.] Chapter 3 I thought about it for a while. That comment had a point.

If the secret was going to come out anyway, I might as well admit it myself. He was the one who'd mistaken me for somebody else. I hadn't done it on purpose.

And he'd volunteered for the puppy thing… I'd only made the same mistake any girl would make.

The next day, I kept reassuring myself all the way to the elite university next door and forced myself to walk onto campus.

In my daze, I remembered being on student council duty in high school. I'd gone to check that the accelerated class was behaving.

A pretty girl had been sitting beside Cameron, chattering away about something.

When she caught sight of me out of the corner of her eye, she explained without a trace of embarrassment, “Don't get the wrong idea.

We're not dating.” Cameron stared straight at my face. “What class are you in?” he blurted. It was a strange question, but for some reason, I answered. “The regular track.

Class twentyfive.” He frowned. “Were you sick on the day of the placement test?” I was offended, but too much of a coward to show it. “I got a twentyfive in math,” I muttered.

Unable to bear his look of disbelief, I hurried away. The next thing I heard about him was that he'd bombed an exam and nearly been dropped from the accelerated program.

Then someone else left the program, freeing a seat, and Cameron managed to stay above the placement cutoff.

Everyone around me said the pretty girl, Summer Douglas, had finally made our academic god fall for someone. That was why his grades had plummeted.

Thinking about it now, the signs had all been there.

After drifting around his campus like a lost soul for ages, I finally realized I had no idea what department he was in, or which class he belonged to.

Luckily, Cameron had a habit of telling me what he was up to. He sent a photo through our social app. “Baby, you forgot my goodmorning kiss. I wasn't crying.

My voice is just hoarse. Don't worry. You don't need to comfort me.” [A catface sticker sending kisses.] I recognized the campus entrance in his photo and hurried that way.

The voice messages kept coming. “Baby, it's okay if you don't like my face. I can cover it.” “Can we video call? I'll do anything you want to see.” He sent another video.

Cameron was kneeling on the floor. A fine, glittering body chain traced the powerful lines of his muscles. He was as perfect as a work of art.

With his face hidden beneath a black mask, he looked dangerously unhinged in a way I couldn't quite describe. My face went scarlet.

I put my phone away, and a short walk later, I spotted a familiar figure by the campus entrance. Cameron, dressed head to toe in designer clothes, lifted his eyes casually.

How was he that tempting with clothes on and off? Had he been some kind of seduction demon in a past life? “Caroline Kelly?” he said first. He actually remembered me!

I pretended we barely knew each other and stumbled through a greeting. “You're Cameron Sutton, right? Long time no see…” His face was impassive. “Really?

Long time no see,” he repeated coolly. The comments rolled past: [Look at the nerve on her! Pretending to be the female lead online wasn't enough?

Now she's trying to steal her man in person too?] [Has she figured out he thinks she's Summer Douglas?

Did she get scared and come to tell him the truth?] [She's made him humiliate himself for her. Does she seriously think confessing will make him go easy on her? We lied.

He'll just get his revenge sooner.] Wait. Since when were these comments so twofaced? I swallowed and changed course. “You're probably busy.

We can catch up another time…” Chapter 4 “I'm not busy. I was just heading home. Want to come over for a bit?” Before I could react, he took my wrist gently.

His skin felt so hot against mine that I tugged hard to pull away. Maybe I imagined it, but Cameron frowned, as though he was unhappy with my reaction.

Maybe he just looked too fierce when he wasn't smiling. Maybe I was too spineless. Somehow, I ended up following him home to his mansion.

The body chain he'd worn lay on the living room table, a stark contrast to the cool, restrained man standing before me.

I actually wondered whether I'd been dating his younger twin brother online. “What would you like to drink? Is sweetened milk okay?” His voice sounded suddenly behind me.

I turned and almost walked into his arms, close enough to catch the faint scent at his collar. “Please, don't trouble yourself.” We were far too close.

My heart raced absurdly fast as I waved my hands nervously and backed away. I missed the flash of disappointment and menace in his eyes. “Caroline Kelly.

Am I that frightening?” There was something oppressive about his mood. I nodded instinctively, then quickly shook my head. “No.

You're very friendly.” The comments rolled past: [Oh, sure. Murderously friendly. What is that look? He seems like he wants to tear her apart.] [Something's off.

There's a vibe between these two. Help, I'm starting to ship them.] [You'd better be joking. She's an interloper.

All he feels for her is disgust and anger.] [But from his point of view, why invite some nobody from high school into his home? He's obsessive about cleanliness.] [He's smart.

He must have noticed her acting strange and gotten suspicious. He brought her home to test her.] Their analysis made me more and more nervous.

I stood to leave. “Thanks for having me. I've got class soon, so I should go…” I'd barely cracked the door open when Cameron strode over and shut it again.

His tall figure cast a shadow over me. I felt my back touch the cold door and shivered all over. “Running into each other today wasn't a coincidence, was it?” he asked.

I stumbled over my words until my phone rang at the worst possible moment. In my fumbling, I accidentally hit speaker, and my mother's loud voice came through. “Summer!

Why didn't you tell your mother you were dating? Your younger cousin said he thought he saw you gaming with some guy…” I hung up immediately.

Cameron watched me as if I were prey. “Summer?” I tried to sound composed. “It's my nickname. Nobody knows it except my parents. And I don't even play games.

My cousin must have mistaken someone else for me