All Chapters of Billionaire Bonds: Arranged in Love: Chapter 11 - Chapter 18

Lunch had never felt this long.Ethan sat, silently chewing his food as Lily and Miles continued talking opposite him. Every now and then, Lily would call his name, trying to include him in the conversation as she recounted stories from their childhood to Miles. He responded with one-word answers.He aggressively sipped his orange drink, but it was tasteless when it entered his mouth.His grip on the carton tightened slightly as Miles leaned in to brush something off Lily’s hair.The sound of the bell put their conversation to an end. Finally.They packed up their bags and headed to class.Ethan let out a breath of relief and fell into step behind Lily as they walked back to their class.But just as he entered the class someone bumped into him–Miles.Ethan’s hands clenched into fists beside him.Why was he here?He had assumed Miles was just another one of Lily’s art classmates— someone she’d only hang out with during class and sometimes during lunch. But now he was also here. In t

The morning was crisp as Ethan, Lily, Chloe, and Miles walked through the school gates together. They made their way through the morning crowd, rushing to class before the bell rang.Lily and Chloe were deep in conversation about a newly released edition of their favorite magazine, their voices animated as they flipped through the pages.“I still think the spring collection was better,” Chloe said, pointing at a page. “Red and green isn’t a summer color. It’s like going out as a Christmas tree. ”“Come on. It’s not that bad. If you pair it with yellow boots instead of brown, it would be better. ”Miles, walking beside them, glanced over at the magazine with mild interest. “Hmm, she really does look like a Christmas tree,” he mused.“You both don’t know style.” Lily pouted. “See,” Chloe smirked. “He gets it, truly the soul of an artist.”Ethan walked slightly behind them with his hands in his pockets, mostly listening, though he threw in an occasional remark whenever they asked his op

The smell of flowers and green grass after the rain filled the air in Lily’s garden.SAT prep books lay open on on the table before them. Ethan, Lily, Chloe, and Miles sat on the wooden chairs around the table, answering the questions, the occasional rustle of paper breaking the silence.“Time up,” Ethan announced, tapping on the table. “Hand over your papers.”“Five more minutes?” Chloe asked hopefully.Ethan shot her a look.They passed their papers across the table, Ethan started to mark using the answer guide at the back. “Have you decided on the colleges you would be applying to?” Chloe asked, playing with a flower branch. “The Academy of Art University.” Lily looked up with a smile, a dreamy look in her eyes. “The campus is so beautiful.”Chloe grinned. “That’s why we’re best friends. We think alike.”“You also want to go there?” Miles asked, lifting his head up from his sketchpad.“Of course,” Chloe said. “Henry Asencio went there. He’s my idol.”“I know him,” Miles quipped

Ethan’s mind was blank during the funeral, he had lost his only relative.Though he didn’t like his father, not after what he had done— in fact, he hated him— he didn’t want him to die.Now, he had no immediate family left.Unlike during his mother’s funeral, when it was rainy and muddy, soft sunlight filtered through the branches. The day was bright, a sharp contrast to the darkness in his heart. His stepmother sobbed throughout the ceremony— she played the grieving wife well. His stepbrother stood stiffly beside her with reddened eyes. But Ethan’s eyes were dry. He hadn’t cried.Not when he heard the news.Not even now.The truck that hit his father came out of nowhere when his father stopped at a red light. There was no chance to dodge. The driver of the truck had died on impact, while his father only held on for a night.He didn’t even get the chance to see him for the last time. While he was preparing for the competition, his father was fighting for his life. How could he just