Chris, 21, was sentenced to 6 months of community labour and a year of domestic violence classes for assaulting Rihanna in February 2009.
'A year ago I was very confused,' says Rihanna.
'Because he was my best friend.
'All of a sudden, one night changed our whole lives - not only our friendship, but our lives.
'I wanted to wake up one day and just not have that pain anymore.
'I wanted to be with him again or get over him - it was either-or.'
Rihanna, 22, has now found a new man in baseball player Matt Kemp.
'I'm so happy, I feel really comfortable, and it's so easy,' she tells Elle.
'I have such a chaotic life, but at the end of the day, that is just my peace.
'It keeps me sane, really, talking to him and talking to my family
