From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 62

Chapter 10

At Mom’s funeral, I just stood beside her casket with dead eyes, mechanically howing to each person who came to pay their respects.

Victoria and my father showed up too. The moment she saw me, she snarled:

Don’t you dare think you’re getting into the Winters family, you fucking curse! You killed your own mother–you want to destroy our family ne217

If you’d just kept your head down and stayed in your lane, that sickly mom of yours might’ve lived a few more years. But not She got stuck with a disaster like you. Your poor mother must’ve had the worst karma in the world.”

looked up sharply and stared Victoria down.

My hollow, dead–eyed stare made her jump back and scream:

What the hell is wrong with you?!”

seeing the fear on her face, I smiled–but my eyes stayed cold as ice.

My broken mind flashed through all the vicious comments and my leaked photos like a movie reel.

I remembered finding Mom’s phone after she collapsed, seeing all those anonymous messages someone had been sending her.

Everything your daughter has, she fucked her way to. You think she actually earned any of it?]

God knows how many guys have been inside her. She even got herself knocked up and doesn’t even know who the father is. Still acting all innocent though.]

But I guess you don’t care, right? Since you need her to keep whoring herself out to pay for your medical bills.]

Victoria’s handiwork, no doubt!

If it hadn’t been for those cruel texts, Mom never would have had that acute myocardial infarction!

All the rage I’d been holding back finally exploded past my breaking point.

I suddenly coughed up a massive amount of blood.

I couldn’t understand it. I’d never tried to take anything from them! So why wouldn’t they just leave me alone?!

Right before I lost consciousness completely, one thought crystallized in my mind:

Fine then.

‘ll take everything from them instead!

When I woke up, the room was pitch black except for the faint blue glow from a laptop on the chair beside my bed.

Ethan was sitting there, eyes focused on the screen, apparently working.

The light from his computer screen fell across his messy hair, making him look impossibly gentle.

“Are you hungry?”

When our eyes met in the darkness, I asked: “How did you get in here?”

“Sorry, I was worried about you, so I called a locksmith. If you’re uncomfortable with that, I can leave right now.”

He started to get up from the chair.

Chapter 10

As he passed by die bed, I suddenly grabbed his hand and yanked him toward me. He lost his bratance and fell toward the couch, but cxt birth are just before rishing low

I could see his hands shaking, where they gripped the cushions.

only his face still showed that careful control he’d maintained for years, locking all his feelings away behind his eyes

Ethan started to pull hack

But I grabbed his tie and pulled him right back down. The old couch created under our weight.

Our tongues tangled as I reached for his belt buckle, but he caught my hands and pinned them against the couch cushions.

All I could hear was our ragged breathing.

I don’t know how long that deep, drowning kiss lasted.

Just before I ran out of air, Ethan pulled back slightly, but still couldn’t bring himself to let go completely. He pressed soft kisses to the corner of my mouth.

Don’t you want to?”

I do.”

His voice was rough against my flushed ear: “But not like this.”

You know what I really want, Sage.”

I smiled bitterly. “This is all I can offer.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed twice against his pale throat. “All you need to do is decide if you’re willing. I’ll handle everything else.”

‘Don’t forget–I’m the heir to Cross Industries, and I founded Aurora Tech on my own. I don’t just rely on family.”

So trust me. I don’t care if you’re using me or stepping on me to get ahead. Whatever you want, I can give it to you.”

What if I want to get married?”

limbing social classes–easier said than done.

But right now, I only wanted to know what it felt like to be on top.

Deal.”