The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart

Chapter 1232

Ronald had always been the cool type, a trait Kari had long since gotten used to.

Pointing at something in her textbook she didn't quite get, Ronald leaned in, his voice a whisper as he explained.

Two years her senior, Ronald at seventeen had quickly shed his boyish frame. Seemingly overnight, he had grown tall and lanky, now awkwardly folded onto a tiny couch that seemed too small for him. Kari sat cross-legged on the floor, pencil in hand, tracing Ronald's thought process step by step.

From his vantage point, Ronald could easily study her profile.

Kari was young, with fair skin that made her side profile strikingly beautiful.

Ronald shifted back, his voice taking on a huskier tone.

Oblivious, Kari continued, her slightly too-tight school uniform lifting to reveal a sliver of her delicate waist as she raised her arms.

It was blindingly white.

Ronald felt a jolt, quickly averting his gaze.

Just as he was about to speak, Willa emerged from the kitchen. "Kari, clear the coffee table, will ya? Dinner's almost ready."

"Got it," Kari replied quickly.

After finishing her homework and tidying up the coffee table, Kari noticed Ronald hadn't touched the strawberries. She picked a few and held them to his mouth. "Try these, they're really good." She loved strawberries.

The good ones were pricy, but Willa always bought the less perfect ones for cheaper. They tasted just the same.

strawberries, sending a shock through him, his

Kari just grinned.

Ronald's plate high with mashed

had outdone herself with several dishes tonight, the aroma filling

been months since Ronald had tasted

plate again. "Ronald, feel free to come over anytime. We might not have much, but there's always enough food." Suddenly, the

her eyes squinting in satisfaction. "Mom,

tapped her daughter's nose.

the front door seemed tampered

single mother and her daughter

a moment of thought, he headed to the nearby hardware store, purchasing the

lock and handed her the chain.

"Okay."

upon

sive

Ronald profusely, stuffing his

home, Ronald found his mom, Calista, passed out on the

gently picked her up and placed her back

had been beautiful in her youth, but the years had

a hangover soup and a pot of plain

by books,

met with Calista's guilty gaze. "Ronald, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to

"Try to drink