He Faked Broke, Now He Is

I just stood there, frozen.The same guy who used to whisper "Bella, you're amazing" now tossed around "sad little simp" like it was a joke.My chest caved. The loan papers slipped from my hands and smacked the floor.On the phone, his buddy cracked up. "Heard she's been frying food nonstop just to save cash for you?"Jack laughed. "Yup. Arms full of burns and still smiling like a clown. Simps are too easy."Then the guy dropped his voice. "So, she finally got the money? What now?""What's the rush? I'm not done messing with her yet. Way better than racing.""Dude, you're wild. She basically lives at that joint—why's she not there today? Gave up?""She's off handling the loan," Jack snorted. "Down payment's locked."The guy whistled. "So we're hitting the finale?"Jack laughed dark. "Nah, once the house's in my name, I'll throw in some fake old tenants, stage a squat, and fake a meltdown. You guys can keep watching the trainwreck."The other guy lost it. "You're insane! Frea

I shot up, yanked a wad of cash from my bag, and slapped it straight into Jack's face. "Ten grand. That cover the hospital bill?"The bills fluttered to the floor. Jack froze. "Bella, you—"I chucked another stack. "Another ten. That enough to shut your creep friend up?"Then came more—stack after stack.Jack's buddy just stood there, clutching his scorched hand, stunned.Jack's face shifted. "Are you insane? Fine, don't apologize, but this—this is overkill...""Overkill?" My voice cracked, burning with rage. "You lied to me for three years, Jack. Used me like an ATM. Made me a punchline. And THIS is what's too much?"Jack frowned. "What are you even talking about?""The call," I said, eyes locked on his. "I heard everything you and your buddy said."His face went rigid."Faking bankruptcy was a blast, huh?" I dumped the rest of the cash from my bag. "Watching me burn myself every night just to save money—you must've felt like a king."The bills scattered like confetti. Jack

Thirteen hours later, the plane landed.The second I stepped outside, a freezing gust smacked me in the face. I hugged myself tight.Then—bam—a warm coat landed on my shoulders."Bella."I looked up.Ronan Reid.Calm, steady, exactly how I remembered."Leo got pulled into a meeting. He sent me instead," he said. "Welcome home."That last word cracked something in me. My eyes burned, and the tears just came.Ronan didn't ask. Just wiped them away, his fingers warm, steady—not like Jack's grabby, calloused hands."Don't cry," he murmured. "I've got you."I nodded, lip trembling, but the floodgates were already open.Ronan let out a quiet sigh and pulled me in, his hand patting my back just like when we were kids and I'd wipe out on my bike."It's okay. It's over."His voice was barely above a whisper, but it steadied me.I clung to his coat and finally let go, sobbing into his chest.He brought me home.Not that dingy place I'd shared with Jack—this was the real deal. My

On a stormy night in Bexmoor, Jack stumbled into his busted-up rental.The place still smelled like old grease—Bella's ghost.He dropped onto the bed, fingers grazing the worn sheets. She used to be here."Bella..." His voice was wrecked, barely a whisper.An empty bottle clinked to the floor.He tipped back the last swallow of cheap liquor. It burned going down, but his chest still throbbed.For three months, Jack scoured every corner of Bexmoor.He hit up their old skewer joint—new name, new owner.Camped outside the bank, hoping to spot the girl who once saved every cent for him.Even crawled back to that nasty canal, knee-deep in muck, clawing for the silver ring he'd tossed like an idiot."I screwed up," he muttered, face in his hands, shoulders trembling. "God, I really screwed up..."Memories hit like a wave.Bella hustling behind the grill. Burn marks on her arms. That look in her eyes when she counted coins like they meant something.And that moment—her soaked in

I spotted Jack outside the Prescott Corp conference room.His face lit up like I was some miracle. He rushed over, grabbed my hand."Bella, you came back for me, didn't you? I knew you weren't that cold."Ronan stepped in, cool and steady. "Back off.""Move!" Jack shoved him.Ronan caught his wrist and twisted, easy.Jack winced but kept staring at me, all desperate. "It's just you now. I don't care about money or status. I just want you."I smirked. "Really, Jack? You think you still deserve me? You're exactly where I was—just sincerity and nothing else. What else you got?""I promise—""Jack." I cut him off and pulled a folder from my briefcase. "I'm here representing Beaumont Group. This is the takeover."His face went blank. "W-What?""My brother said," I said, smoothing the file, "a small acquisition like this is perfect practice."Jack backed up, face draining. "No way... Beaumont Group... you're—"Ronan slid an arm around my waist. "Let me introduce her properly. Th