My Fake Boyfriend Is the School Bad Boy novel Chapter 213

Chapter 213 Trent Lawson Brings His Car

The sunrise broke over the East Side, painting the crumbling brick and peeling paint in a harsh, unforgiving light. I stood by the front door, my hand resting on the brass handle. I watched Ryder gather his things. He tossed a clean black t-shirt into his canvas bag, zipped it shut, and pulled it over his shoulder.

“You possess no obligation to do this,” I said, my voice barely audible in the quiet house. “My mother offered to share our groceries. You can stay here and help me study for the tribunal.”

Ryder stopped at the threshold. He looked back at me, his hazel eyes clear and determined. “I refuse to be a burden on your mother. I possess two hands and a work ethic. I know how to fix engines. I know how to clean steel. I will find a way to pay for my own meals.

He leaned in and pressed a brief, firm kiss to my forehead. The touch sent a spark through my skin, but he pulled away before I could anchor him. He stepped out onto the porch, leaving the warmth of our cramped sanctuary behind.

I walked to the kitchen window and watched him head toward the commercial district. He walked with a steady, purposeful stride, his shoulders broad against the gray morning sky. He sought the garages and workshops that lined the edge of the industrial sector. He looked like any other boy from the neighborhood, dressed in dark jeans and a worn t-shirt. No one would guess he owned a multi-billion dollar legacy twelve hours ago.

I turned away from the window and sat at the small formica table. I pulled my biology textbook from my bag. The upcoming tribunal haunted my every waking moment. The board scheduled the hearing for Friday. I had three days to prove I possessed the intellect to hold the Valedictorian rank, or my academic career would end in permanent expulsion.

I spent the morning reading and reciting cellular respiration formulas to the empty house. My mother left for her shift at the diner. The silence felt heavy, but I forced my mind to focus. I memorized every detail of the Krebs cycle. I visualized the electron transport chain. I

had to be perfect.

By mid-afternoon, the hunger hit. I stood up and stretched, my back stiff from hours of hunched posture. I decided to walk to the commercial district to find Ryder. I wanted to see if he succeeded in finding work.

The walk took twenty minutes. The commercial district featured rows of auto shops and small businesses. The smell of gasoline and oil hung thick in the air. I spotted the neon sign for a local garage, Miller’s Auto and Wash, blinking near the corner.

I approached the open bay doors. The sound of high-pressure water spray filled the space. I peered inside.

Ryder stood near the wash bay. He wore thick rubber gloves that reached his elbows. He held a high-pressure hose, spraying a layer of soap over a heavy-duty pickup truck. He moved with practiced efficiency. His hair stuck to his forehead, and his t-shirt clung to his back, but his face held a look of calm, productive focus. He looked more alive in this garage than he ever did in his father’s glass boardroom.

I smiled, my chest warming. He found a place for himself. He earned his own way.

I stepped into the garage, planning to call his name.

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13:58 Fri, Jul 10

Chapter 213 Trent Lawson Brings His Car

Then, the screech of tires echoed against the concrete floor.

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A sleek, silver sports car drifted around the corner and slowed to a crawl inside the garage. The vehicle cost more than the entire block of shops. It gleamed with a metallic finish that caught the dim overhead light. The driver’s side window slid down.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Trent Lawson sat behind the wheel. He wore a designer polo shirt, his blonde hair styled in a perfect, arrogant sweep. He looked at the

rows of workbenches, then spotted Ryder.

Trent’s smirk spread wide, sharp and mean. He tapped his fingers against the expensive leather steering wheel.

“Well, well, Trent shouted, his voice echoing off the concrete walls. “If it isn’t the disgraced prince. I heard you got cut off, Steinmann.

Did the billionaire daddy finally realize you were a parasite?”

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