29.“And this… here!” Amber dust off her hands with a smile as she placed the last book she had on the table. She looked around and smiled. Her room was in perfect order. Remembering snacks, she rushed downstairs to the fridge and picked out some biscuits and orange juice before heading back to her room.She took a seat on one of the chairs there and opened her math textbook, put a lollipop in her mouth as she flipped through the pages, waiting for Axel to come tutor her.He had returned from school and asked to shower first before they get on with it, and she was more than excited to see what he had in store. She thought she would escape math because she was a mass communication student, but she had no idea it would be given to them as one of their elective courses — she knew Math, but she hated it.Amber heard his door close and adjusted in her seat as she waited for him. When she didn’t hear a knock on her door, she raised a brow and stood to her feet.She opened the door, shocked
030.Amber took a seat on the bed, her face in her palms. Memories of their kiss flashed in her head again and she groaned, throwing one of her pillows across the room. Amber knew she was overreacting — Candice was his girlfriend and it was actually normal for her and Axel to kiss each other, but she couldn’t bring herself to accept it.Amber knew she shouldn’t lay claim on him just because she and Axel had one or two steamy moments together but still…"Get a grip, Amber," she muttered under her breath. "You're being ridiculous. So what if Axel and Candice kissed? It's not like you have any right to be jealous."But even as she tried to convince herself, she couldn't shake the feeling of hurt and betrayal that was creeping up on her. She thought she had something special with Axel, something real. But maybe she had just been fooling herself all along.Or was she?She grabbed another pillow and buried her face in it, letting out a muffled scream. Even though Axel had broken up with Ca
031.“Why didn’t you tell me?” Axel asked, covering his face with his palm.Amber sat up. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Besides, I’m an adult now, aren’t 1?” she asked, but Axel shook his head.“I can’t do this to you, Amber,” he got down from the bed. “I seriously can’t. I can’t sue your first time like that. I thought…” he paused and released a heavy breath. “I thought you’ve had flings, you know. Maybe in high school or anything. People do that, don’t they?”Amber lowered her head. “Yes, they do, and I had every opportunity to do that as well,” she got down from the bed and held his hand. “But I waited because of you. I already told you about the kiss, didn’t I? I wanted you to be the first to do everything to me, Axel.”Axel sighed and ruffled his hair. This wasn’t what he was expecting from her at all. How could he bring himself to sleep with her? She was a beautiful girl that every guy wanted and even though he and Cole sent them away from her back in high school, h
032.Cole’s gaze flickered between Axel and Amber as they ate dinner. It was rare… very rare for Amber and Axel not to have any conversations when they were having dinner together. And it was quite shocking that Amber didn’t pick up a fight with him as well. ‘Did they have an argument?’ he thought but quickly shook his head.That was impossible. Amber and Axel were like two peas in a pod. They hardly fight or have any arguments, making him wonder what might be going on with them.He glanced at Amber who was eating her food slowly, an unreadable expression on her face. Then at Axel, who just flipped the sausage in his plate back and forth. He hadn’t even touched his food. Cole sighed. He couldn’t take this anymore. He dropped his fork on the plate, making a clanging sound.His sudden action caused both Axel and Amber to look up at him with raised eyebrows, the tension in the air suddenly growing thicker. “What's up, man?” Axel asked, putting on a brave face despite the tension visi
033. “Amy, have you noticed that Axel isn’t quite himself today?” Melissa pointed to the basketball court and Amber’s gaze followed her hands to rest on Axel, who was on the bench with his face buried in his palms. Amber raised an eyebrow. ‘Did he get benched?’ she thought as she watched him ruffle his hair. “I don’t think he’s fine. You should go check on him.” she suggested. Amber huffed, her expression hardening as she recalled what had transpired between them. “Why must I be the one to check on him?” Melissa raised a brow, confusion dancing around her face. “What do you mean? Of course, you’re the one to check on him. Do I have any business with him besides being his Cat eyes best friend?” she asked, but Amber rolled her eyes. “He looks perfectly fine.” Amber waved it off. Melissa wasn’t having it. “Look at that face, Amy, does that look fine to you?” she asked. Amber looked up again to see him biting his lip. She knew Axel too well—she had probably watched him all her li
034. Amber sat at the cafeteria eating lunch with Melissa and Jack when Axel walked in. Their eyes met. He only gave her a short nod and took a seat with his basketball teammates. Amber lowered her head, her heart aching slightly. On a normal day, he would come sit with her. He never cared if his teammates were with him — he always had dinner with her but today? Today, he was with them. Amber sighed. He was definitely avoiding her. She couldn’t deny the fact that she wasn’t mad about what he did to her, but one part of her still wanted him to behave like he always did to her. She didn’t want him to distance himself or avoid her — it was hurting her. Melissa noticed her mood and nudged her with her leg. “Girl, what’s going on with you and Axel? You have refused to tell me anything, and you keep looking at him like he hurt her, and you still can’t get over him. Amber bit her lower lip. Melissa knew how to get to her. She had no idea how the lady does it, but she knew and could read
035. Amber was seated in her room, her mind replaying the argument she had with Jack. He was damn right about some things he said — like Cole finding out and how it would affect his friendship with Axel, her heart getting broken and things not being the way they were supposed to be anymore, but she saw nothing wrong with one going after what he or she wanted. Like she earlier stated, there wasn’t a law that forbade people from dating their best friend’s sibling or a girl dating her brother’s best friend. She couldn’t wrap her head around how it had to be considered a taboo anyway. She ruffled her hair continuously, exhaling. Standing to her feet, she walked to where her study table was placed and stared out the window and into Axel’s room. He was seated there with his back turned to her and his head lowered. Amber had no idea what he was doing, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask him either. She recalled his mood in school and wondered if he was doing alright. A messaged popped
036. Amber sat in class the next day, twirling her pen in her hand, her thoughts filled with what transpired between her and Axel. She couldn't shake the feeling that she might have been too harsh, that maybe she should have tried to understand his perspective. After all, she knew he cared about her, and that his behavior was driven by concern but still… she felt lost and didn’t even know what to think of him anymore. “Hey, you okay?” Melissa asked, giving Amber a nudge. Amber snapped out of her reverie, glancing up at Melissa. “I'm…I'm not sure,” she said, her voice quiet. “Axel?” Melissa guessed, her eyebrows raised. Amber gave a small nod, her lips pursing. “I know he was only trying to protect me. But I can't help feeling like he's trying to control me, like he doesn't want me anymore and still won’t let me be with someone else.” Melissa leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “I can see why that would bother you, but try to look at it from his point of view. He doesn't want yo
120.Amber blinked. She couldn’t believe Cole would say such a thing to her. How on earth was she selfish? She was doing this for his own good. It was hurting to see her genius brother being fooled by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But now because she cared, Cole had to raise his voice on her for the first time. It broke her heart so much that her brother didn’t trust her enough to believe her. “We’ve never had a fight before, Cole,” Amber said, her eyes turning glassy as she looked up at her brother. “Are you going to allow your so-called girlfriend come between us? I’m your sister. I would never hurt you or put myself first before you.”“Stop making this about you, Amber,” Cole sighed, feeling conflicted. “When you and Axel got together, I wasn’t against it. Even when you two kept it away from me, I didn’t get mad.”“I and Axel are different!” Amber snapped. “And the reason you approved of the relationship was because you trusted Axel. You knew he was a good person. I don’t trust Jan
119.“Axel, I need your help with talking to Cole,” Amber said as they headed to the parking lot together.Axel stopped in his tracks, turning to face with a confused expression on his face. “Why? What happened?” he asked.Amber stopped walking as well, holding her books to her chest as she looked at Axel. “Because,” she paused, sucking on a long breath. “Janice doesn’t love him. She is lying to him and using him.”Axel blinked. “What?” he asked.Amber nodded, the annoyance she tried so hard to keep in coming back. “Today, Cole asked me to get him food from the cafeteria. On my way to deliver the food to him, I passed by a classroom where I overheard Janice speaking with her friend. She mentioned that once she gets what she wants from Cole, she’d dump him. At first, I thought it was about his grades, but when I confronted, and she was so mean to me, I realized there was something more, but I couldn’t find out what.”Axel stared at Amber for a while. “Are you sure about this?” he asked
118.“Spill what exactly?” Amber asked, folding her arms with a frown on her face.Janice scoffed. “Don’t try to act smart with me, baby girl. I know you overheard me and my friend talking. So tell me, what did you hear?” Amber snickered. “Is your conscience pricking you or are you scared I’m gonna tell my brother what you’re up to? Are you scared I’ll tell him that you are a liar, a deceiver and a bitchy person?” she asked and Janice clenched her fists.Janice watched Amber for a while, but then she realized something. There was no way Cole would believe Amber anyway. She knew how much Cole loved her, and Amber telling him would only make him feel Amber was selfish and unreadable. A smith found its way to her lips as she chuckled. “There’s nothing that’s gonna make Cole believe you anyway,” she said and Amber raised a brow.Janice began pacing the room, a victorious smile plastered on her face. “Need I remind you that you are dating Cole’s best friend,” she said?“So?”“And Cole did
117.Amber huffed and began walking away. “Amber!” Amber stopped in her tracks, her fists clenched. She turned with a frown on her face, annoyance coloring her features as she stared at Janice. Janice’s eyes darted to the bag in Amber’s hand and instantly knew it was the food she had asked Cole to get her. “Hey, are you going to meet Cole?” she asked, beaming at Amber who didn’t return a smile of her own. “Why are you asking? Do you want to use him for something else?” Amber asked, trying to keep the accusation out of her voice, but it wasn’t working.She was literally boiling with rage, and it annoyed her to the core that Janice was acting all innocent in front of her when she just talked down on her brother a few minutes ago. Don’t people have shame these days?Janice raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?” she asked, wondering if Amber had overheard her conversation with her friend. She forced a smile and held Amber’s arm. “Don’t be too cocky, Amy. I know you’re mad th
Author’s note: Sorry for the inconveniences dear readers. I just found out that the current chapters 112, 113 and 114 are having errors. I do apologize for that. The chapters will be fixed and will return to the original by next week Monday or Tuesday. I’d advise you to stop reading for now. All you have to do to be able to read again is to take the book away from your library and add it back. The real chapters will show then. I’ll keep you informed, so please, kindly wait as the chapters and this current one are being fixed. Thanks for understanding. ***** “Do you really love my brother or you’re just using him to get good grades?” Amber asked Janice, her eyes holding nothing but annoyance towards the young lady. Janice smiled sweetly, annoying Amber to the core. “Are you trying to act like a good sister or you’re just plain stupid?” she asked. Amber clenched her teeth, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She hated that smile of Janice’s—that saccharine, condescending g
115.Author’s note: Sorry for the inconveniences dear readers. I just found out that the current chapters 112, 113 and 114 are having errors. I do apologize for that. The chapters will be fixed and will return to the original by next week Monday or Tuesday. All you have to do to be able to read again is to take the book away from your library and add it back. The real chapters will show then.I’ll keep you informed, so please, kindly wait as the chapters and this current one are being fixed.Thanks for understanding.*****“Do you really love my brother or you’re just using him to get good grades?” Amber asked Janice, her eyes holding nothing but annoyance towards the young lady.Janice smiled sweetly, annoying Amber to the core. “Are you trying to act like a good sister or you’re just plain stupid?” she asked.Amber clenched her teeth, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She hated that smile of Janice’s—that saccharine, condescending grin that made her seem like she was in on
Bianca paced to and forth in the living room as she waited for her father's arrival. She had been waiting to tell him about what Aiden said and also make sure he explained things to her, but he hadn't been around.He had told her he was coming home today and she had been anxiously waiting. She heard the sound of the door and quickly rushed to get it.“Dad, welcome.” she greeted him and he nodded.He walked into the house and took a seat. She took a seat facing him, dabbing her fingers together as she stared at him.“I want to hear good news, Bianca. Were you able to secure the deal with Aiden?” he asked curtly.Bianca's face fell, and she shook her head. “No, Dad. He refused to work with us.” she answered with a frustrated sigh.Mr. Sullivan's expression turned dark. “What did he say?”Bianca took a deep breath before recounting her conversation with Aiden. Mr. Sullivan's face grew angrier with each passing moment.“When I asked him why, he said it was because of your business practic
“Apologize to her now, Mia. I will not repeat myself again!”Aiden's voice was firm and commanding, leaving no room for argument. Mia's eyes flashed with anger, but she knew better than to cross Aiden when he was in this mood. She took a deep breath and turned to Samantha.“I apologize,” she said stiffly, her words dripping with insincerity.“Say it like you mean it, Mia.” Aiden ordered and Mia sighed, lowering her head.“I'm sorry, Samantha. I shouldn't have said all those words. Please forgive me.” she sounded sincere this time around, but her heart meant something entirely different.Samantha looked at her, her expression unreadable. “It's fine,” she said curtly, her voice barely above a whisper.Aiden's eyes narrowed at Mia. “I mean it, Mia. No more of this. Samantha is going to be my wife, and I won't have you disrespecting her like this.”Mia's eyes widened in shock, but she knew better than to push Aiden further. She nodded, her face pale.“I understand,” she said, her voice ba
112. “Jack, you’re only making yourself feel worse by watching this video.” Gideon said, his expression a mixture of annoyance and worry. Jack had spent all evening in the dorm, his gaze fixed on the video the students took of Amber and Axel kissing in the cafeteria. He had been going through his social media feed when it popped up and since then, he couldn’t get his eyes off it, no matter how hurtful it was. Gideon, who had been watching him was only getting pissed with each passing moment that Jack stared at his phone. “Bro, you said you were over it and would try to be happy for her!” he snapped. “It’s not that easy!” Jack snapped back. “I’ve been trying to, okay? But it’s not fucking easy to watch the woman I love kiss another man—” “That she loves,” Gideon interjected, his gaze fixed on Jack’s angry face. “She loves Axel, Jack. And as her friend, you should look out for her. I thought we’ve been over this. If you can’t handle it, give her a little space until you know you ar