Love Game With The Rebel Billionaire

"Let's settle this by the law," Ash said as he showed off his phone. "My lawyer is on the way. He'll handle everything, including the charges against her." He pointed at the older woman, whose eyes and mouth widened. "If you need anything from my girl, talk to my lawyer. May I take my girlfriend now?" "Yes, Mr. Coleman," one of the police officers replied before bowing to him like he was a prince.

My brows furrowed in confusion. Do they know him? Maybe they were staring at him earlier not just because of his looks, but because they recognized him. The only one I knew who was famous among the three of them was Haze, whose parents are both politicians, but I never thought Ash was so easily recognized too. Ash was about to pull me out of the police station when the old woman grabbed his arm. She looked so tough earlier, but now she was like a timid puppy. I wonder what she fears the most.

"C-Coleman?" She sounded hesitant to ask, but she still did.

"If you're thinking about the Coleman Corporation, you're right. I'm part of it," Ash answered, his voice dangerously low.. "And you're fired." Ash pulled me out of the station.

I was walking back to the hospital to check on my mom, but I didn't expect Ash to follow me, leaving his car behind.

"You're not going to give me my phone, so stop following me. Don't add to my already overwhelming problems," I pleaded with him, exhausted.

I was grateful that Ash helped me. The more I thought about it, the more it broke my heart.

Ash just kept messing with my mind, even though I already knew everything-that I was nothing but a bet.

"Here," he said, holding my shoulder and showing me my phone.

I just raised an eyebrow at him. I didn't even move my hand to take it from him.

"I don't have time to play."

"Who said I'm playing with you?" he asked, raising a brow. He took my hand and placed my phone on it. "I'm sorry if I offended you. You just look cute when you're pissed."

"Oh, is that why you and Haze made a bet on me?" I said in a threatening tone, but it wasn't enough to wipe off his infuriating smirk.

Ash was taken aback. Seconds later, he clenched his jaw and ran his fingers through his hair. "It was the video, I suppose."

He seemed stressed, which confused me. Does he have the nerve to be stressed over me? It should be the other way around, right? He's the one who keeps showing up when I don't even look for him. "That idiot Haze," he added, almost whispering, but loud enough for me to hear.

"Do you want me to break your bones like I did to him?" I cracked my knuckles.

They have the same hobbies and personalities, so maybe it wouldn't be bad if they received the same punishment.

"It wasn't a bet," he explained, which made me raise an eyebrow and grin.

Did he really think I'd believe him just like that? Especially when Mason had a video as evidence?

"Haze didn't want to make a bet about it. He said he would lose immediately."

"Oh, so he thought I was really easy to get," I murmured in a cold tone.

Just the thought made me want to break his other arm. I shouldn't have hesitated back in the library. I should've broken every bone in Haze's body.

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Who cares if he likes me? I don't like him anyway.

"But I never knew I'd fall in love with you without even realizing it."

Once again, Ash messed up his already messy hair. It seemed like he didn't know what to do, but he was already caught up in the situation.

I looked away. Even with such a simple action, my heart started pounding uncontrollably, and I didn't know how to calm it down.

"Someday, you'll feel how sincere I am in pursuing you," he said as he reached for my hand.

He intertwined our fingers a little as he pulled me inside the hospital, but we stopped in the entrance. With everything on my mind, I hadn't even noticed we had arrived. "I'll come back soon," he said with certainty as he left the hospital.

I shook my head before walking toward the elevator. Even though I didn't want to think about him, he was the only person running through my mind every second.

ANOTHER WEEK had passed, and my mother was already fixing herself.

"Mom, what are you doing?" I asked as I sat beside her.

"I'm fine now. I can go home," my mom insisted.

I shook my head. "Mom, you still need to recover fully, and the doctor hasn't recommended discharge yet, so please don't be stubborn, okay?"

"But we don't have any more money,," she complained, looking at me as she lay back on the couch. "We'll be buried in debt if I stay here any longer."

I smiled sadly. It was true, but still, I'm glad that she's feeling better than before. The doctors only needed to observe her for possible complications.

So far, they hadn't found anything, and I prayed it would stay that way.

I had just come from school and was still wearing my uniform. Even though it was hard to balance hospital visits and studying, I had to manage. I was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.

Before coming to my mom's room, I had cried a lot in the restroom. I didn't know why I suddenly broke down in places I didn't expect. Problems kept coming in cycles, and it felt like it would never be enough. It was like a punishment-a severe one.

I couldn't even cry about the exams I took. I didn't care if I passed or not. All I wanted was for my mom to be okay. All my efforts and hardships would be wasted if I lost her.

"Don't worry about the money, Mom. Just focus on getting better. Money is easy to find, but you're not," I said, giving her a faint smile.

It was a weak smile. I was tired of acting like I'm fine.

But the only reason I could still smile, even in pain, was because of her.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," my mom said.

The door opened, revealing Ash holding a basket of fruit. He was wearing a white tank top and black pants, which was his usual outfit because it enhanced his body. Strangely, he wasn't wearing his usual piercings today, making him look clean.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," he greeted my mom politely before kissing her hand and placing the fruit basket on the side table.

He waved at me slightly, smiling, but I just glared at him and crossed my arms, which made him laugh.

"I'm courting your daughter, and I also wanted to check if you're okay. The woman who hurt you was a former employee of our company, so we feel responsible," he said softly, then stood up straight and dusted off his pants.