Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Amber stared at the sparklers vacantly as tears welled up in her eyes. She clutched her fists, holding back her emotions.

"Cjoin me! Let's have sfun." Axel bounced up to her and handed her a sparkler with eyes that shone bright like the sun.

She accepted the sparkler with trembling fingers, knowing that he must have cprepared with them. It was impossible to get this stuff at the

remote location of the orphanage.

The light from her sparklers danced on her face. A smile appeared on her face. She took on a resemblance to the girl in the locket when she smiled.

"Do you like that massive fireworks show | put on for you the last time?" He glanced at her before asking.

Staring at the sparkler in her hand, she replied softly, "Yeah."

"Well, that doesn't mean anything. I'm not as rich as Landon Harper. Can't afford a showy performance worth tens of millions," Axel blurted out.

She flashed a faint smile at him, having been used to his blunt and outspoken manner—probably the reason he was single.

"No, this is good." She smiled gently, satisfied. "Anything that belongs tois the best in the world.”

to her name, she treasured every

last sparkler was about to go out, Axel tilted his head and whispered into her ear,

looked like before."

face him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and put a hand at the back of her

He added, "I'll remember how you

met, she felt all her blood rush to her head. She blushed, and her

might have gone out, but

from her phone. She coughed awkwardly before drawing away from

Carl's non the screen—a sight that hurt

"Hello?" she croaked.

host two guests from Tsulu," Carl informed

sportscar, fearing that Axel might overhear. "What guests? Are

partners?"

to keep them happy. You don't

appeared to have grown vigilant of her, refusing

emotions, fell silent before offering, "They are Mr. Schmidt's business partners. This deal is important to him,

the Tsulu market. Ms.

have crossed Mr. Schmidt a few times. Why don't you take this opportunity to regain