I Refuse this Late

As I limped back to town, I became a joke to the rich and the privileged.They all said the heir apparent the Sullivans had brought back—the one who'd been lost and wandering since childhood—wasn't much in terms of ability, but had a nasty temper. He actually dared to butt heads with the adopted son who was already working in the company, even went so far as to threaten their parents. And what did he get for it? He ran away from home with nothing to his name, so broke he had to borrow even a few thousand dollars.Some of the rich brats who used to humiliate me somehow caught wind of my situation. Bold as ever, they swaggered around me with a huge entourage and started snapping photos of me with their phones, not even pretending to be subtle.I didn't bother raising my hand to cover my face and save my dignity, as the loan sharks already took it all.Ever since I was forced to go down on my knees and slap myself, my heart had been dead calm.John Sullivan—the boy who had a chip on

The memories could stop my heart, and I got goosebumps on my arm where Stella touched me.It felt as if a serpent coiled around me—a cold creepiness that swelled in my heart, leaving me so sick and nauseated I could throw up right then.I knocked Stella's hand away as hard as I could and arched my back, holding myself against the front seat with one hand while I clasped the other over my mouth and retched violently.Although I hadn't eaten for days and there was nothing I could vomit, the pungent acid scent sent Stella scrambling for a tissue to stuff her nostrils, while snapping at me in disgust, "What are you doing?!"But I kept retching as I couldn't hear a thing, and only stopped when I no longer felt sick.Stella said nothing and kept glaring coolly at me, and I knew well enough to tell that she was on the verge of an outburst.While I usually would play dumb and ignore that, I didn't do so this time—just as I knew fully well I had no right to fight back, just as I was too e

Stella stood in her high heels, looking at once imposing yet bewitching.In the past, just seeing her like that would send me jumping toward her.But now, my heart didn't race at all.She never noticed, and walked closer, her heels clicking in her wake. "You've changed."I kept my head down so that I wasn't looking at her, and she continued with her holier-art-thou tone, "I know you liked that watch, but you caused so much trouble in just two weeks. Not getting it is your punishment."That said, you've been disciplined today and I'm so satisfied I can grant you one wish… As long as it's not too much."I looked up at her face, suddenly feeling nostalgic.The first time we had met was at a party—those rich brats from the city who were told by their parents to suck up to me, were instead mocking me because of my choice of clothing.I was too self-deprecating to fight back, let alone speak out loud.It was Stella who stepped up, slapping their ringleader across the face and callin

I retained a house far away from the city, which gave me peace and quiet so I could clear my thoughts.Whenever the food delivery man came, I waited until the sound of his footsteps faded into his distance, before breathing a long sigh and going outside to collect it.However, as I arched my back, my knees buckled from a pang of pain, and I dropped on the ground, sweating in agony.Even as I tried to push myself up, I found myself staring at a fair, dainty palm—obviously a girl's hand.I hesitated, but didn't take it, instead waiting for the pain to fade before pushing up."Thanks," I said quietly, but still wouldn't look up at the other person even as she withdrew her hand.All I wanted was to return inside…That was when the woman called out with a melodious voice. "John Simpson?" That was my former name.I looked up at her before I knew it.Caught off guard by the sudden eye contact, I didn't feel any nostalgia. Instead, I flinched like a startled bird.-When the loan

Even as Jolene took a moment to diss me in glee, she also quickly put on her coat to get something from the pharmacy downstairs.Soon after she left, the doorbell started to ring urgently.Thinking that it was Jolene leaving her phone behind—as she usually did, I chuckled as I opened the door, "You really should just keep your phone in your pocket all the time…"That was when I paused, as I found myself staring at Uriah instead of Jolene.He was immediately sizing me up, and even though I saw the bakery paper bag he was carrying, I sensed that his intentions were hostile.Frowning, I demanded, "Why do you know I was here?"He smirked at me. "Are you dumb? This was a Lewis Corp project. Hell, it's Stella who told me you're staying here."I clenched so hard on the doorknob that my knuckles turned pale.It just had to be Stella again! Now that I was staying away from her, she wanted to hound me?! Was that payback for hovering around her for years?! I tried to close the door,