The billionaire who couldn't steal my heart

Annabelle’s POV I hate the sound from the coffee machine because it drives me crazy. But today it is the only sound that is keeping me awake. I have been working for 3 days non-stop all because I want to gather the money for my mother's treatment. “You look terrible, Anna.” Says Sofia, she joined me over the counter. “You look like death warmed over.” she added while wiping the counter beside me. “When was the last time you left here and went home to have a sound sleep?” I sighed before replying to her. “I think it was two nights ago.” I scratch my head while brewing the coffee machine. My hands were shaking as I filled the cup while spilling half of the coffee. “My mother needs new treatment, the doctor told me this morning but the insurance company is proving to be difficult in approving it.” “How difficult is it?” Sofia asked, as she paused, wiping the counter and giving me the expression that she always does whenever she's about to get angry on my behalf. “I don't know but i

Ronan's POV (Six months earlier)I sat on the chair in the expensive funeral parlor that smelled of expensive flowers trying to stench away this smell of death. But I am here pretending to moan the man who never showed an ounce of affection towards me.My father's casket was surrounded by expensive lilies, but all I can think of was how my father looked me in the eyes when he was about to die 3 days ago. He didn't look at me with a human warmth, not with pride or even love. He looked at me with disappointment that I wasn't more like him.“You are fidgeting my son,” says my mother who held my trembling hand, “people are watching us.”Of course people are watching us to see any weakness in us, half the businessmen in the entire country are here, knowing that the death of Harrison was just an opportunity that would benefit their companies. While the other half businessmen stood and watched like vultures waiting to see if the Blackthorn industries would collapse without him.“I am fine, m

Annabelle's POVThe subway ride into Manhattan gives me time to think about what Mom was trying to tell me before she died. A billionaire father whose name starts with B. Someone who threw us away but might have left me something in his will. It sounds like something out of a movie, but the desperation in Mom's voice was real.Marcello's is exactly as elegant as I expected, with white tablecloths and candles flickering in glass holders. The hostess looks at my dress with barely concealed judgment, but her expression changes completely when she realizes I'm meeting Ronan."Right this way, Miss. Mr. Thompson is already seated at your table."Thompson? I thought his name was Ronan something else, but maybe I misheard him at the café. The hostess leads me to a corner table where he's waiting with a glass of red wine and a smile that makes my heart skip beats."You look absolutely stunning," he says as he stands to pull out my chair. "That dress is perfect on you.""Thank you. This place i

Ronan's POVI sit at the table for twenty minutes after Annabelle runs out. The waiter keeps hovering nearby, probably wondering if I'm going to pay the bill or cause another scene. I signal for the check and leave enough cash to cover dinner plus a generous tip for the drama.My phone is already buzzing before I make it to the car. Marcus calling for the third time tonight."What?" I answer, sliding into the back seat."How did it go?" Marcus sounds cautious, like he's expecting bad news."About as well as you'd imagine." I lean my head back against the leather seat and close my eyes. "She knows everything. The inheritance, Harrison being her father, all of it.""And?""And she ran out of the restaurant like I was trying to murder her." The memory of her face, the horror and betrayal in her eyes, makes my stomach twist. "She thinks I've been playing her this whole time.""Haven't you been?" Marcus asks quietly.The question pisses me off more than it should. "I didn't know who she wa

Sofia's POVI knew something was wrong when Annabelle didn't show up for her opening shift this morning. She's never late, never calls in sick, never misses work without at least texting me first. So when seven o'clock comes and goes with no Annabelle and no message, I start calling her phone.It goes straight to voicemail every time.By eight thirty I'm worried enough to tell our manager I need to leave early. I make up something about a family emergency, which isn't really a lie because Annabelle is basically family at this point. We've been working together for two years and she's the closest thing to a sister I've ever had.The subway to her apartment takes forever. I keep trying her phone between stops but it's still going to voicemail. My mind is racing through possibilities, each one worse than the last. What if something happened at the hospital? What if Elena died and Annabelle is somewhere having a complete breakdown?Her building looks even more depressing than usual in the