Ensnared by Mafia, Days and Nights
Chapter 9: Unexpectedly Dumped

It was Chase Carter-her first love.

He stood at the doorway, clad in a simple white T-shirt that barely contained his youthful swagger. He was exactly the kind of boy Giselle Lambert couldn't help but be drawn to. Giselle and Chase were in different majors, and she was puzzled about how he knew she was at school.

Behind him, the hallway was teeming with students, and Giselle found herself unexpectedly locking eyes with him. Her heart was immediately flooded with conflicting emotions. If Henry Jefferson hadn't come into her life, she and Chase would probably have been just another happy, ordinary couple on campus.

But Henry Jefferson was like a dark cloud over her heart!

Giselle let out a deep sigh, her fingernails nearly piercing her skin as she fought to control her surge of feelings.

After a long stare, the crowd thinned, and the area quieted down.

Chase was still there, patiently waiting for Giselle.

She gathered her bag, her steps laden with heaviness, and walked up to him.

"Fancy meeting you here," she said, her voice tinged with awkwardness and detachment.

Chase greeted her with a gentle smile. "Giselle, how have you been?"

He didn't reproach her for disappearing without a word; instead, his first concern was for her well-being.

Giselle nodded, avoiding his gaze, fearful of the longing and depth of emotion it might reveal.

By now... she was completely under Henry Jefferson's spell, and being with Chase was no longer an option.

"I bought your favorite milk," Chase said as he pulled two bottles from his bag and gestured towards the small garden, "Let's sit for a while."

"Okay." Giselle led the way silently, her heart shrouded in profound sadness.

They sat side by side on a bench in the garden.

"Where have you been all this time?" Chase asked tenderly, taking her hand and softly pressing it against his cheek.

Giselle withdrew her hand slightly. She stifled her sadness and said as calmly as she could, "Chase, we need to break up."

His pupils contracted, his face a picture of disbelief. "Why?"

"We're just not right for each other," she said quietly, her voice barely masking a trace of sorrow.

"Tell me what's wrong. I can change," Chase's voice began to break, "but please, don't leave me." I'm not leaving you because I want to, but because I don't deserve you, Giselle thought silently.

She gently patted Chase's shoulder, "You're wonderful. It's not you, it's me..."

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Before she could finish, a tear rolled down Chase's cheek. He suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Giselle, I can't live without you," he said, his voice rough with emotion.

Giselle felt both compassion and helplessness. She was about to comfort him when her phone started to ring insistently.

She pulled out her phone, her heartbeat skipping at the sight of the caller ID. She straightened up instinctively.

After calming herself, Giselle pressed the answer button, her voice shaking. "What's going on?"

"Where are you?"

The voice of Henry Jefferson came through, colder and more stern than usual.

"I'm at school, what's going on?" she replied vaguely.

"You've been out of class for twenty minutes, why are you still at school?"

"I was..." Giselle glanced nervously at Chase, quickly concocting an excuse, "I didn't understand something, so I was asking the teacher." "Today's class was taught by Professor Graham, who just greeted me," Henry coldly exposed her lie.

"You're at the school gate?"

Damn, she had forgotten Henry was supposed to pick her up.

"If I don't see you in five minutes, forget about ever going back to school."

His tone was icy, leaving no room for negotiation.

School was a precious opportunity for her!

Giselle grabbed her bag and ran, Chase catching her arm. "Giselle, what's the rush?"

His voice was low, but Henry could hear it clearly on the other end.

"Nothing, I'll just..."

Before she could explain further, she heard Henry say, "Four minutes and thirty seconds."

His voice was eerily calm, almost suffocating in its restraint.

The more composed he was, the more terrified Giselle became, feeling like she was facing a ticking bomb.

She brushed off Chase's hand and dashed out, "I'll explain next time."

She reached the school gate and saw a black Ford parked not far off, the driver's side window halfway down, revealing Henry Jefferson's proud and imposing profile.