All Chapters of Rejected by my team, Claimed by the Rival: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

AUTHOR'S POVFLASHBACK.The chill numbed her fingers, then crawled further into every fiber of her body, freezing the blood in her veins. The harsh fluorescent lights overhead buzzed with a relentless, mechanical hum, a sound louder than a dentist’s drill.Talia’s had to keep her brother tethered to reality before the public defender forced him into a catastrophic plea deal.Five years ago. The memory bled over the mahogany walls of Marcus Thorne’s office, dragging her violently back into the sterile, bleach-soaked visitation room.The heavy steel door clanked open.A guard shoved a young, rail-thin boy into the room. Sam wore a neon-orange jumpsuit the color of a traffic cone, the rough cotton swallowing his emaciated frame. His wrists were chained to a heavy leather belt at his waist. He shuffled toward the scratched metal table, dragging his feet across the stained linoleum."Sam." Talia stood up, the legs of her plastic chair scraping violently against the floor.He didn't look at

AUTHOR'S POVThe tires crunched heavily over the manicured white gravel of the circular driveway as I pulled in.Cutting the engine of the rental SUV, the sudden silence felt oppressive. The air outside tasted like dry exhaust and scorched eucalyptus leaves. Sweat trickled down my spine, soaking the cotton of my dark t-shirt.Pushing the heavy oak front door open, the blast of central air conditioning hit my skin like a wall of ice."Jeremiah."Maria stood in the grand foyer, holding a silver polishing cloth. The head housekeeper wore a crisp black uniform, smelling faintly of lavender and sharp chemical polish. Her dark eyes softened immediately."Where is she, Maria?""The conservatory, sir." Maria lowered the silver tray. "Your father left for the airfield at dawn. A business acquisition in Seattle. He will not return until Thursday."The tight, coiled knot in the center of my chest loosened by a fraction of an inch. "Good. Tell Hector to bring the adapted Porsche around to the fro

JEREMIAH Tailing my father’s black town car down the 110 freeway felt like a sick, twisted joke.For the past two hours, I sat in a booth at a ridiculously overpriced Beverly Hills steakhouse, hiding behind a menu. I fully expected to catch him slipping hotel keys or whispering garbage into his date's ear. To my massive disappointment, they genuinely just held a business meeting. They ate scallops, reviewed zoning permits, and talked about commercial real estate acquisitions. There wasn't a single lingering touch.But following them back to the downtown luxury hotel completely shifted the narrative.Parking two blocks away, I jogged through the humid Los Angeles night air. Slipping through the revolving glass doors, I kept my head down, a dark baseball cap pulled low over my eyes. I watched them walk straight past the reception desk and head directly for the VIP elevators.Spotting an abandoned housekeeping cart near the lobby restrooms, I swiped a master keycard sitting on top of a

JEREMIAHReleasing his throat, I stepped back.Arthur collapsed against the pillar, coughing violently. He dragged oxygen into his burning lungs, clutching his neck. He stared up at me, genuine terror finally replacing the corporate arrogance.He was completely beaten. The leverage held.Turning my back on him, I yanked the door of the Cayenne open."You are throwing away your inheritance for a girl!" Arthur croaked, sliding down the concrete pillar."Keep your blood money."Throwing my body into the leather seat, I slammed the door. The engine roared to life, a deafening, mechanical scream echoing through the garage. Dropping the transmission into reverse, the tires shrieked against the slick epoxy floor.I didn't look in the rearview mirror.Hitting the button for the massive garage doors, the metal groaned upward. I gunned the engine, tearing out into the blinding, freezing rain of the Los Angeles night.---Water cascaded across the windshield in thick, blinding sheets.The wiper

12 YEARS AGOJEREMIAH The rich, overwhelming scent of imported leather and conditioned air filled the massive cabin of the Bentley.Sunlight glared off the asphalt, bright enough to sear the retinas. My hands rested on the knees of my pressed school uniform."Pull over, Hector."The chauffeur’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. He wore a crisp black suit, his expression a mask of absolute, professional neutrality."Your father instructed me to bring you directly to the estate, Master Jeremiah.""Leo lives on the next block." I pointed a small, rigid finger toward the sprawling wrought-iron gates approaching on the right. "Drop him off first. It takes two minutes."Hector didn't argue. The heavy luxury car glided smoothly to the curb, the tires completely silent against the concrete.Leo scrambled out of the leather seat, hiking his backpack over his shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Jere.""Bye."The heavy door clicked shut. The quiet inside the vehicle immediately returned, heavy and