Romancing the Cold CEO

I

t back to me, you bitch!" Mia White, my fost

ttering, "I don't know what you're talki

the start that you were jealous of me!" Mia

it, or someone else took it. I understand you're upset, but accus

ed, her voice dripping with venom. "You've taken everything from me before, and I won't let y

ou know Mother and Father would a

ak cry, easily swept away

!" Mia grabbed my hair, pulling it roughly

leaded desperately, tear

ung heavy in the air, threatening to shat

laps and blows, I replied, "I

ed at my heart. "I don't believe you! You're lying!" She tugged at my

something that belongs to you." The desperation

ulders and kicking my knees. " You'r

bedroom. My foster mother, Rebecca White, ca

ing here? Why i

trying to look pitiful. Sniffing, she turned to me and smirked

voice dripping with disdain. "How many times do I have to tell y

confused, "Mother! I didn't!

" Mother screamed as her hand lashed out without warning, str

She then tugged at my chin and fo

have no idea where it is." I

icion, refusing to believe me. "How could you do

lying!" But my pleas crashed against

to Mia, who was crying, and back to me with his ominou

I told you, Oliver, we shouldn't let that trash live in our house! Look at what

"What did you do this time, Lily? Did you hit my daughter

Mother. She pointed her shaky finger at me and

se believe me!" As the words of rejection rang in my ears, the fr

nds trembled as I reached into my pocket, pulling out a disk. "I hav

?" Mia said as she pulled herself away f

s with the ruby necklace in her hand. "Then what is

he sight of the neck

is ounce of patience with me. "How audacious of you to even

natched the disk from my trembling

elieve?" I pleaded, tear

I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I could never convince him of the truth. The lies

my cheeks. "And you're still lying even if Mia has alread

ehind me and yelled, "How dare you say that w

sh reality. My bones shook when my father's rough and hard fist hit me i

mily!" he growled, his every

ace of the dual onslaught. My vision blurred with the sting of unshed tears, but I forcef

ered, her voice oozing a toxic m

compared to Mia!" Mother advanced with predatory precision, her hand arcing through the air to

to my violent reality. Each vibration of my cheek echoed h

I—I didn't!" I cried out,

y sides, eliciting a gasp of pain that ripped through the charged silence. "Apolo

didn't do anything wrong! I can't

, and her voice filled with fury. "Don't you dare lie to us

g my face on the floor. With hands shaking, I

to learn the consequences of your actions," Mia declared, her vo

I begged, "Please! No! Please don't lock me in the basement! I swear, I'll be good again! I won't steal, and I'

ing fury. Mother's hand had barely left my hair when she lunged again. I fe

amed down my face as I curled instinctively into a

u thought we'd let you off easy, didn't you?

ce was a strangled whimper lost in the s

reached out, his fingers digging into the tender flesh

think there would be consequences?" Father's voice wa

feel my body weakening under his relentless grip. Desperation c

s everything and every single thing w

again!" Tears streamed down

ve come of age and already graduated, Lily. We're not obligated to let y

d, my heart sinking as I reali