"I never knew what love was until I met you." I looked up. "Stop joking around like that." Theo's deep blue eyes bore into mine. "Who says I'm joking?" *** In the shadow of her prodigious twin brother and the periphery of neglectful parents, high school senior Cora Kinsley navigates her world alone. Her life takes a turn when Theodore Thorsen, a mysterious and wealthy new student, arrives at school.Constantly thrown together, Theodore's stoic demeanor clashes with Cora's reserved nature, sparking a complex love-hate dynamic between them. Amidst their turbulent relationship stands Jin, Cora's steadfast friend who offers support and challenges her perceptions of love and friendship. Is Theodore the key to helping Cora break free from her isolation? And what secrets lie behind his captivating exterior and enigmatic personality? And as Cora navigates these questions, will Jin's presence becomes crucial in shaping her choices and understanding of true connection?
View MoreEven after a week, the house still felt bigger than I imagined. Or maybe it just felt that way because it was mine—or at least, it was supposed to be. Each step I took echoed slightly, the sound of my own presence making me feel smaller somehow. The furniture was sleek but not flashy, the kind of understated elegance that whispered money. Theo's influence was everywhere, even in the smallest details.My eyes landed on a low shelf near the window, in what was supposed to be my study, and my heart stopped for a moment. Books. Not just any books—my books. The entire series I’d once mentioned offhandedly during one of our teasing arguments about taste in literature. Theo had remembered.I crouched to touch the spines, running my fingers over the titles. What did it mean, really? That he listened? That he cared? Or that he simply didn’t know how to set boundaries when it came to fixing things he thought were broken—like me.I sighed, trying to push the thoughts to the back of my mind, when
I stared at the address Theo had sent me, then back up at the sleek, understated house in front of me. The clean lines and large windows practically whispered sophistication. I had no idea what I was walking into, but with Theo, I’d learned to stop asking questions in advance.The door swung open before I even knocked. Theo stood there, dressed down in a fitted black t-shirt and jeans, his usual confident smirk in place."Right on time," he said, stepping aside to let me in.“What is this place?” I asked, walking in and taking in the minimalist interior. The open floor plan, the neutral tones, the way the sunlight poured in—it was beautiful in a way that didn’t try too hard.“Just a little project I’ve been working on,” Theo replied nonchalantly, his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the doorframe.“A real estate project?” I guessed, looking over my shoulder at him.He shrugged, the barest hint of a grin tugging at his lips. “Something like that.”I turned back to the space, t
Chapter 46I sat at my usual spot near the window in the library, a half-eaten sandwich and an untouched apple beside my notebook. The quiet hum of the overhead lights provided a thin blanket of comfort as I attempted to block out the world. It wasn’t working. Not when my mind kept circling back to Theo’s voice from the night before—raw, uncertain, nothing like the confident front he always wore.I’d just decided that my thoughts (and the assignment I was working on) were officially unproductive when I saw him heading my way. Theo Thorsen. Of all the places in the school, of all the tables in the library…“Hey,” he said, standing awkwardly by the chair opposite me. He was holding his history textbook like it was a shield. “Mind if I sit?”I glanced at him, then at the completely empty table a few feet away. My brows arched on instinct. “You’re asking?”His lips quirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Guess I am. So?”I sighed and waved a hand at the seat. “Go ahead.”Theo settle
The knock was soft, almost hesitant, but still enough to snap me out of my late-night haze. I glanced at the clock: 11:42 PM. Everyone else in the house should have been asleep by now.I pushed my chair back from my desk, crossing the room quietly to the door. Opening it, I found Theo standing there, dressed in a plain black T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair slightly mussed like he’d been running his hands through it—or tossing in bed.“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked, folding my arms and leaning against the doorframe.Theo shrugged, though his tense shoulders gave him away. “Not really. Mind if I come in?”I stepped aside, letting him in without a word. He looked... off. His usual confidence was nowhere to be found, replaced by a kind of restless energy. My eyes caught his hands, fingers fidgeting against each other.“Okay, what’s going on?” I asked, closing the door behind him. “And don’t say ‘nothing,’ because your fingernails are bleeding.”He glanced down at his hands, like he hadn’t eve
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the warmth. Not just the sun streaming through the cracks in the curtains, but the steady heat of Theo’s arm draped lazily across my waist. His breathing was soft, steady—almost too peaceful for someone like him.I turned my head slightly, careful not to wake him. His room was… different, seeing it in the morning light. Minimal, yes, but not cold. There were books stacked haphazardly on the desk next to his bed too (does he actually read a lot?), a pair of running shoes by the door, and a framed photo of him as a baby and his mom on the nightstand. It was the kind of place that felt like him, even without him in it.“Morning, snooper,” came Theo’s voice, low and rough with sleep. I jumped slightly as his eyes fluttered open, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.“Wasn’t snooping,” I mumbled, cheeks heating. “I was just… observing.”“Sure you were.” He stretched, the lazy grin still firmly in place. “How’d you sleep?”“Like a rock,” I admitted.
The drive to school is quiet. Not uncomfortable, exactly—but quiet in a way that makes the silence heavy. Cole hums to himself at the wheel, occasionally drumming his fingers on the steering wheel to fill the space. I glance at Theo from the corner of my eye. He’s been tapping his knee in a steady rhythm, stealing glances at me when he thinks I won’t notice.It’s almost...cute. If I let myself think about it too much, my face might betray me, so I focus on the scenery passing by instead.The truth is, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. About everything. About leaving. About what comes next. About Theo. Mostly Theo.I’m not used to people looking out for me like he does. It’s new. Unfamiliar. It’s also not something I can depend on. I’ve been on my own for too long to let someone else shoulder my burdens.Still, every time I catch those soft glances of his, something inside me twists and warms in ways I can’t quite explain.“Here okay?” Cole’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. We’re
I stepped into my room, shutting the door behind myself with trembling hands. The air felt heavy, a stark contrast to the storm raging in my chest. My eyes darted around the familiar space, landing on the small trinkets and scattered notebooks that had once provided solace. Now, they felt meaningless, relics of a life I’d just shattered. My legs gave way, and I sank to the floor. The sobs came suddenly, raw and guttural, as I clutched my knees to my chest. Relief mingled with fear, creating a chaotic symphony in her mind. I was free. I was lost. My breath was uneven as the flood of emotions continued. The room seemed to close in on me, the walls echoing the words of betrayal and anger from earlier. A soft knock on the door broke through my haze. “Cora?” Hailey’s voice was hesitant but warm. The door creaked open, and Hailey stepped in, eyes widening as she took in the scene…well me. Without a word, she crossed the room and knelt beside me. Hailey placed a gentle hand on my
The cool evening air did little to soothe the fire burning inside me. I stood by the garden gate, hugging myself as if the weight of my own arms could hold me together. It didn’t. Not after what I’d just seen.Jin. And Catty.The memory played over and over in my mind, each repetition sharper than the last. The way he leaned in. The way their lips met. And the worst part—he knew I was there. He had to have known.I swallowed hard, forcing the lump in my throat back down where it belonged. Crying wasn’t an option. Not here, not now. Not over him.A sound behind me broke through my thoughts. When I turned, my breath caught. Jin was standing a few feet away, his face shadowed but unmistakably him.He didn’t speak at first, just stared at me with an expression I couldn’t place. Guilt? Regret? It didn’t matter.“Cora—”“Don’t.” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. I held up a hand to stop him. “Don’t try to explain. I don’t want to hear it.”But of course, he didn’t sto
Theo's POVThe house buzzed with the hum of preparation. Cole had taken the lead, barking out orders to the catering staff and fiddling with the sound system like his life depended on it. I'd let him work, hanging back by the bar and sipping a soda. It wasn’t that I wasn’t involved—I’d signed off on the guest list, approved the playlist, and even helped arrange the seating for the VIPs. But tonight, my mind was elsewhere.Or rather, on someone else.I leaned against the counter, staring at nothing in particular. Cora’s face had a way of forcing itself into my thoughts, no matter how much I tried to focus. The way her eyes glinted with defiance whenever she called me out, her small, careful smile when she thought no one was watching—it was maddening. She was maddening. I told myself it was because of the plan. He had to keep Catty close, learn her ‘secrets’. But that excuse rang hollow the more he repeated it.“Stop brooding and help me already,” Cole snapped, waving him over to adju
Chapter 1I walk into school and the hallway is even more crowded than usual. My boisterous school mates all seem to be whispering excitedly to the other making it seem like I'm the only one not in on some inside joke. Where are my manners? My name is Cora Kinsley and I'm a high school senior at Crestview Academy. I live with my parents and two siblings; an older brother and a younger one. Yep. I'm the middle child. Aaanyway. I make my way over to my locker to get the books I'll need for homeroom when I feel someone pull my bag from behind me, until my back is flush against them. "Good morning Cora!" A deep but cheerful voice greets me. "Would that if it were, Tony. And let go of my bag please.""No can do!" Tony replied, his voice still cheerful. I sigh. Seriously, how can anyone be so cheerful on a Monday morning? And I tell him so.Although out of sight, I imagine Tony's grinning. "Well, the thought of seeing you fuels me with energy, you know. That and a lot of coffee."I s...
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