CLAIMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE'S HEIR

ed and cling to my skin. My shoes are s

ick to my forehead and te

gasping for air, and press

and racing. I close my eyes and tip my

t dre

clean

n my closed eyelids

ys loved

es eve

ee the tears

clouds, and

ver things up; it's

outside, but it can't wash a

rase what

nce Liam had his hands on

ll fe

br

clos

ness in

to the door. I need to change out o

rooms than we really need. The three of us worked hard to make it feel like home. We planted an ora

mb as I punch in the

ng room has dark blue and beige couches. The bookshelves are dark blue too, adding a fe

he tall windows, I drag

ntil late. The more their comp

stay overnight

hem comes home, but

and I've always man

Kate. If I'm by myself or with friends, she calls constantly, eve

ieve I skip

re in class with Liam and a

d high no matter what anyone sa

ay

t stron

points, but I was too stu

I kno

I walk int

tle re

Aunt and Uncle, cal

filled with books about psychology and ancient Chinese war strategies, all neatly

re are posters of my favorite

lay on my iPad, and let Col

strip off my wet clothes

ver and over, until

e mirror, I barel

, my blue eyes. It'

mething em

hing

the shower when I no

d scar. Did Liam actua

oing throu

mirror and take the long

stille's Good Grief. I let the music fill the space as

he tears

up with

ks to my fac

m, and my hand is... restin

y, embarrassed, as

en remembe

p, the music playing. Bastille's Grip echoes in my

k reads

bed, trying to

my pajamas and pull my hair i

a mess, but nothing is going to

books and st

, I focus, but then my

nd my thoughts wander to

remembers. It remembers how Liam hel

that empty, car

have done if I

goes thr

says to understand your enemy

not under

on't deserve to

p to people like Liam. But he seems to k

he surp

ment of th

attl

me doubt

g his distance, I never t

ng to sort out

he had no right to take

elf even more

my door. I jump,

in," I

ason walk in, still i

arms a little longer than usual. She has a

I miss

life I don'

and hug Uncle Jason. He

e man with sandy brown h

as a slight belly from t

Aunt Kate says, studying me with that loo

in my bag,

hool. They said

lan for this. "I

filling his eyes. "Are you

ieve me. "I just had a headache and wa

smooths my hair back. "I stopped

cle Jason says gently

. sch

lying on top

but I can't drag Aunt

d have nothing to

fall apart any second. "Headaches can be a symptom o

ache," Uncle Jaso

bigger issues, Jason,"