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.

fingers brushed against hers as he accepted the strawberries, sending a shock through

Kari just grinned.

plate high with mashed potatoes, secretly worried

herself with several

since Ronald had

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

her soup, her eyes squinting in satisfaction. "Mom, this

playfully tapped her daughter's nose.

leaving, Ronald noticed that the front door

single mother and her daughter could easily become

the nearby hardware store, purchasing the best lock

handed her the chain. "Make sure

"Okay."

visibly shaken upon realizing the lock

sive

stuffing his

Ronald found his mom, Calista, passed out

and

her youth,

the kitchen, preparing a hangover soup and a pot of plain

room, surrounded by books, he took a shower and

he was met with Calista's guilty gaze. "Ronald,

coolly. "Try to drink