Share

96

last update Last Updated: 2022-07-12 06:01:39

Aly sighed a soft sigh before sitting back down in her seat. I slowly turned my attention back to her, feeling a shocked smile cross my lips. She flipped her books open as our teacher finally made her presence known ten minutes after class was supposed to start. Aly leaned over, flipping open my own book to the page we needed to be on.

Then she looked up at me.

“What?”

I shook my head. “Thank you, Aly.”

She shrugged. “We’re all tired of their stuff.”

“Oh, now you say ‘stuff.’”

She smiled at me, and it caused me to chuckle. We muffled our laughter as the teacher started her lecture, rushing us through our homework so we could get to ‘the good stuff,’ as she called it. And while I loved my English class—mostly—this book we were reading could go kick rocks. It was the first book in all of high school I’d been forced to read that I didn’t enjoy one damn bit.

Catch-22 could suck my—

“I really don’t like this book.”

Aly’s murmur caught my ear and it made me grin.

“Me, neither. Don’t worry.”
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   97

    The therapist chuckled. “All right. Well, go ahead and stand up for me. I’m going to run you through a series of tests.”“You mean, more torture.”He grinned. “If you need a breather—”I held up my hand. “No, no. I got it. Just… let me finish my water.”I’d be damned if I’d let this fucking accident get the best of me. I’d been going at this physical therapy hard. Harder than ever before. I did all these exercises when I wasn’t in my therapy classes. Two, sometimes three times a fucking day. I refused to let it beat me. I refused to be crippled for the rest of my life. I refused to never feel the rumbling of a bike between my legs again. Or feel the wind wrapping around my body as I cruised down the highway.I mean, Dad and Cecilia weren’t on board for something like that yet. But I was trying.“All right, Doc. Hit me with it.”My therapist laughed. “Hold your arms out. I’m going to press down on them, and you fight back.”I grinned. “You mean I can punch you in the face?”“Not that k

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12
  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   98

    “Clint! Holy shit!”I bucked against him, freeing myself enough to wrap myself around his body. I hugged him close, burying my face into the crook of his neck. And as he held me tightly, our laughter filled the room. Tears of happiness rushed my eyes. Finally, this damn nightmare was over. Clint had been healed. He’d recuperated. And it seemed as if things were finally swaying back in our favor.I kissed his neck. “I’m so happy for you.”“Mm, keep doing that and I’ll show you just how happy you make me.”I kissed his skin again. “That a promise?”Softly, deftly, I planted kisses against his skin. He pulled me away from the wall, carrying me into the living room as he made his way for the couch. I kissed up his pulse point, nibbling against his earlobe as I let my hands wander underneath the collar of his shirt, feeling his muscles rolling underneath that taut skin of his. He held me closely, his hands cupping my thighs tightly. He was back. My Clint. The old Clint. The strong, dextero

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12
  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   99

    “Wow. I completely forgot I’d told you about my writing.”“Don’t worry. I won’t take offense this time.”She smiled up at me, and I felt my heart warm. It always felt warm with her. Whenever I was in her presence. I rubbed my hand up and down her arm, dancing my eyes between hers. She really was a beauty. A little button nose with wild hair framing her face. Deep pools of amber brown that gladly dragged me along their current. That was a river I’d happily drown myself in. The river of freckles that smattered themselves across her nose and her cheeks. The river of creaminess that dripped against her skin, accenting the dark features she possessed.Rae snickered. “What are you staring at?”The girl I love. “The most beautiful girl in the world.”The front door ripping open pulled us from our universe, and Rae immediately hopped back. I shot myself over to the other end of the couch, trying to look as natural as possible. With my legs spread and my hands settled against my thighs, I hook

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12
  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   100

    But all she did was shrug.“You guys ready to go?”I nodded at Cecilia’s question, then felt her ease us out of the driveway. I wanted to press the questions. I wanted to pull out of her what was wrong. But I didn’t want to do it in front of my stepmother. Rae wasn’t okay, though. And I had a feeling it had something to do with last night.I watched as Rae gazed out the window. She watched the world pass us by as she sank heavier and heavier into the leather seats of the car. She didn’t speak. Not one fucking word. And I desperately wanted to ask her what the hell happened after I left last night. I called Cecilia to come get me around midnight, and D.J. was still there. Her mother and D.J. had still been downstairs, going back and forth at one another. It was like they never stopped. She’d say one thing and he’d clap back. He’d say something wrong and she’d chew him out for it. It made me sick, leaving Rae in that kind of environment last night. I almost had a mind to ask Cecilia if

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12
  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   101

    “Uh huh.”“Then, Clint drove off and they followed him. Pursued him, right?”I nodded. “Yep.”“And even though Clint tried shaking them, they kept following him. Until they ran him off the road.”I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”“In my eyes? The only thing Clint has accountability for is getting their focus off you. That was his fault, and it had good intentions. Good motives. Everything else was spurred on by those boys. From pulling up to you guys in the first place to chasing him down, no matter what. To me? The charge should be attempted murder.”And after a brief pause, I nodded.“You make a very good point about that.”Allison scoffed. “There’s no point about it. Drunk or not, those boys knew what they were doing. If they had enough sense to keep in control of that car long enough to be able to ram Clint over the edge of that bridge, then they had enough sense to choose not to.”I grinned. “You sure you don’t want to be a lawyer or something?”She giggled. “Nah. I’m just really good at

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12
  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   102

    I paused. “I’m not sure if that makes me feel any better.”Cecilia butted in. “You have to do something, Clint. They really did a number on you. Even if you simply sue them for the hospital bills or something—”Dad snickered. “Yeah. Pay me back some of that money.”“Howard!”I rolled my eyes. “Please excuse him.”“Did you just excuse me for someone else?”I looked over at my father. “I did. Because you’re acting absolutely insane right now and I’m tired of it.”His eyes lit up with fire as he stood up from his chair. His eyes panned toward the lawyer as he buttoned his suit coat. Cecilia got up quickly and followed him out of the room, trying to talk some sense into him. And as the door closed behind them, I cleared my throat.“I’m really sorry for that.”Omar shook his head. “Not your fault, Mr. Clarke.”I sighed. “So, if I wanted to press charges, what would we do?”“We’d gather evidence and serve each of their families with a formal subpoena. The boys are being held right now, so t

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12
  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   103

    I snickered. “Which is apparently not very good. I know something’s wrong. Do you want to talk about it?”Clint dropped his bag. “Just—that shit with the lawyer yesterday.”I nodded. “What happened?”He leaned against the brick wall of the school. “Dad’s back in town.”“Oh, no.”“Oh, yeah. I told Cecilia time and time again not to tell Dad about the fucking lawyer. And of course, she didn’t listen. She’s awesome, but she never fucking listens. It’s like she thinks Dad’s actually gonna be this decent-as-fuck person one of these days. Then she gets shocked and hurt and scared when he loses his shit. She’s been married to him for four years! The fuck is she thinking!?”I placed my hands against his chest. “Deep breaths. Come on, take them with me. There we go.”I walked Clint through some even breathing. He was shaking against my hands, and I needed him to settle down. That explained everything. With his father back in town, shit always popped off. I smoothed my hands over his torso, try

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12
  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   104

    “What? I mean, seriously. Come on. Your dad can’t actually think any of this was your fault. They almost killed you. They were drunk, from what I could gather from that night. They should be rotting away in jail. Or juvie. Or something.”I shrugged. “My father pretty much showed his ass in that office. Said things like I needed to be focusing on school instead of chasing down four guys I’d provoked.”Aly’s jaw dropped open. “What!?”“He also said I’d been a problem child my whole life. Essentially tried to paint me as some bad boy trying to get the one-up on someone before they got the one-up on me. He told the lawyer that he didn’t see those boys pressing assault charges on me when I started the fight. So why should I press attempted murder charges on them simply because they were seeking out revenge like most young boys do?”Mike’s face turned red. “Is it always like this with your father?”I sighed. “I mean, let’s just say I’ve talked a big game in the past with bruises I’ve come t

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12

Latest chapter

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   108

    Because I knew this meant taking another step for Clint and me.A step I felt we’d both been ready for.“You want to rehearse?”I peeked over at Michael. “What?”He snickered. “Rehearse. You know, what you’re going to say to him tonight.”I shrugged. “Nah. I’m good. I usually wing it with stuff like this.”“You’re going to wing it when it comes to telling Clint how you feel for the very first time>”“I mean, I usually wing it with my English speeches and I do just fine with those.”He paused. “You didn’t plan out that speech you gave last year?”I shook my head. “Nope.”“That massive speech you gave on 1984 sort of applying today.”“Are you not hearing me right? Clean out your ears, Michael.”He chuckled. “Holy shit, you’re amazing. You know that?”I smiled. “And I hope that’s one of Clint’s many reactions tonight.”“If it isn’t, I’ll kick his ass for you.”“Michael!”“What? Come on, Rae. I see how happy he makes you. I see how much this boy means to you. And if he doesn't love you o

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   107

    And I decided she would be. If she knew what was happening right now, she’d be proud. Possibly screaming at me like Cecilia currently was. But she’d be proud after the fact.Not today, Dad. You’re done with this shit today.The only thing I processed was the smell of alcohol. The only thing I felt was my father’s storm unleashing against me. He held so much anger within him. He had such fury in his fists. The only thing I saw were his angry eyes coming at me as I shoved him in his chest, listening as Cecilia screamed in the background.“Stop it! I’m calling the police if you don’t cut it out right now!”Her voice faded away. Fell into the background as I moved and ducked my father. Whatever this storm brewed from, I wasn’t going to be my father’s punching bag any longer. If he wanted a fight, a fight is what he’d get. And I’d make sure to repay him for every fist that ever connected with my face. I’d repay him for every bruise he ever wrung around my neck. I’d repay him for every knee

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   106

    I felt myself blush. “Okay, yes. We are officially together. So, yeah. We’re going to prom together.”“You still don’t sound too sure of that. Is everything going okay with his recuperation?”I shrugged. “I mean, he’s always struggling with his dad. Which I’m sure is affecting his recuperation efforts. But he’s okay. Far as I can tell.”“I’d like to get his dad in a room for a few minutes.”I scoffed. “Wouldn't we all.”“So, how are the two of you? You know, now that he’s on the mend?”I felt myself blush deeper. “I guess we’re good.”“You guess, huh?”“You’re a dick, you know that?”He chuckled. “Maybe a bit. Can I ask you something, though?”“Of course. I mean, you have to spit it out soon because I only have one more minute, but—”“Do you love him?”The question didn’t catch me as off-guard as I figured it would. In fact, it was easy to answer. I bit down onto the inside of my cheek as I turned to face Michael. And with a nod of my head, I answered his question.“Yeah. I really thi

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   105

    I stopped for one last breather a couple of blocks away from my house. I watched it looming in the distance, sparkling underneath the harshness of the sun. Sweat dripped down my back as I sighed. I watched the off-colored white glisten against the deep red shutters of the house. During the entirety of my childhood, I remembered that house in three distinct ways. Three different sets of colors that all popped more than the houses around it. Maybe it was the fresh coats of paint put on it every year that kept the house lively. Maybe it was the fact that it was the biggest house on the block. Or, maybe, it was the fact that we had the only house with a wrap-around porch as well as a wrought iron front gate that was barely utilized.Either way, it stood out.I picked up the pace. I went from standing still to walking. To speed walking. To jogging. I burst into a sprint, pumping air through my lungs and feeling them expand into my back. I felt the last pangs from my ribcage fall free, rele

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   104

    “What? I mean, seriously. Come on. Your dad can’t actually think any of this was your fault. They almost killed you. They were drunk, from what I could gather from that night. They should be rotting away in jail. Or juvie. Or something.”I shrugged. “My father pretty much showed his ass in that office. Said things like I needed to be focusing on school instead of chasing down four guys I’d provoked.”Aly’s jaw dropped open. “What!?”“He also said I’d been a problem child my whole life. Essentially tried to paint me as some bad boy trying to get the one-up on someone before they got the one-up on me. He told the lawyer that he didn’t see those boys pressing assault charges on me when I started the fight. So why should I press attempted murder charges on them simply because they were seeking out revenge like most young boys do?”Mike’s face turned red. “Is it always like this with your father?”I sighed. “I mean, let’s just say I’ve talked a big game in the past with bruises I’ve come t

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   103

    I snickered. “Which is apparently not very good. I know something’s wrong. Do you want to talk about it?”Clint dropped his bag. “Just—that shit with the lawyer yesterday.”I nodded. “What happened?”He leaned against the brick wall of the school. “Dad’s back in town.”“Oh, no.”“Oh, yeah. I told Cecilia time and time again not to tell Dad about the fucking lawyer. And of course, she didn’t listen. She’s awesome, but she never fucking listens. It’s like she thinks Dad’s actually gonna be this decent-as-fuck person one of these days. Then she gets shocked and hurt and scared when he loses his shit. She’s been married to him for four years! The fuck is she thinking!?”I placed my hands against his chest. “Deep breaths. Come on, take them with me. There we go.”I walked Clint through some even breathing. He was shaking against my hands, and I needed him to settle down. That explained everything. With his father back in town, shit always popped off. I smoothed my hands over his torso, try

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   102

    I paused. “I’m not sure if that makes me feel any better.”Cecilia butted in. “You have to do something, Clint. They really did a number on you. Even if you simply sue them for the hospital bills or something—”Dad snickered. “Yeah. Pay me back some of that money.”“Howard!”I rolled my eyes. “Please excuse him.”“Did you just excuse me for someone else?”I looked over at my father. “I did. Because you’re acting absolutely insane right now and I’m tired of it.”His eyes lit up with fire as he stood up from his chair. His eyes panned toward the lawyer as he buttoned his suit coat. Cecilia got up quickly and followed him out of the room, trying to talk some sense into him. And as the door closed behind them, I cleared my throat.“I’m really sorry for that.”Omar shook his head. “Not your fault, Mr. Clarke.”I sighed. “So, if I wanted to press charges, what would we do?”“We’d gather evidence and serve each of their families with a formal subpoena. The boys are being held right now, so t

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   101

    “Uh huh.”“Then, Clint drove off and they followed him. Pursued him, right?”I nodded. “Yep.”“And even though Clint tried shaking them, they kept following him. Until they ran him off the road.”I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”“In my eyes? The only thing Clint has accountability for is getting their focus off you. That was his fault, and it had good intentions. Good motives. Everything else was spurred on by those boys. From pulling up to you guys in the first place to chasing him down, no matter what. To me? The charge should be attempted murder.”And after a brief pause, I nodded.“You make a very good point about that.”Allison scoffed. “There’s no point about it. Drunk or not, those boys knew what they were doing. If they had enough sense to keep in control of that car long enough to be able to ram Clint over the edge of that bridge, then they had enough sense to choose not to.”I grinned. “You sure you don’t want to be a lawyer or something?”She giggled. “Nah. I’m just really good at

  • I Stole The Billionaire's Heart   100

    But all she did was shrug.“You guys ready to go?”I nodded at Cecilia’s question, then felt her ease us out of the driveway. I wanted to press the questions. I wanted to pull out of her what was wrong. But I didn’t want to do it in front of my stepmother. Rae wasn’t okay, though. And I had a feeling it had something to do with last night.I watched as Rae gazed out the window. She watched the world pass us by as she sank heavier and heavier into the leather seats of the car. She didn’t speak. Not one fucking word. And I desperately wanted to ask her what the hell happened after I left last night. I called Cecilia to come get me around midnight, and D.J. was still there. Her mother and D.J. had still been downstairs, going back and forth at one another. It was like they never stopped. She’d say one thing and he’d clap back. He’d say something wrong and she’d chew him out for it. It made me sick, leaving Rae in that kind of environment last night. I almost had a mind to ask Cecilia if

DMCA.com Protection Status