The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart novel (Brittany and Isaac)

After being turned down a few times, Keira stopped trying to get close to Ronald and instead started dating the school's notorious bad boy, causing quite the stir. Many speculated that Keira must have been heartbroken to "go off the rails" like that.

Even Keira's friends confronted Ronald: "Ronald, Keira's a mess because of you. Are you really just going to watch her fall apart?"

"Come on, Keira's been into you for ages. How could you not feel the same?"

Ronald, drenched in their metaphorical blood, kept his cool, frowning, "Guys, as far as I'm aware, Keira and I are just classmates. Nothing more."

"Who she likes or who she's with is her business. How does that involve me?"

"Keira's an adult. She's responsible for her actions."

It was Keira who was clinging to him.

Not the other way around.

Ronald was a straight-A student, with a knack for logic, quickly silencing them. After a moment, one managed to say, "But Keira likes you so much, and you're just letting her down-"

"If Keira and I had something more, or if I had wronged her, you'd have the right to blame me." Ronald lost his patience: "But I've never led Keira on, nor have I hurt her." But they wouldn't give up.

"My brother already said it, he doesn't like Keira. Why are you attacking him?" Kari jumped in, defending Ronald, "It's Keira's choice to be with someone else. What's wrong with my brother?" "Just because Keira likes my brother, does he have to like her back? Is that some sort of rule?"

Kari, usually so gentle, was now visibly upset, her protective instinct flaring up like a hedgehog's spines: "You're guilt-tripping him. Maybe that works on others, but not on my brother!" The group exchanged looks.

Kari grabbed Ronald, "Bro, let's go."

Walking away, Kari was still fuming, "What's with Keira dragging you into her drama?"

Ronald hadn't done anything wrong. Why should he be slandered?

Ronald found her frustration amusing, affectionately saying, "Alright, how about some fried chicken to calm down? You love it."

He appreciated Kari getting worked up on his behalf, even if she treated him more like a real brother than anything else.

Kari huffed, "Bro, after all that, how can you think about fried chicken?"

Ronald led her to a fried chicken joint, "That's their problem, not ours. No point in getting mad."

Kari, still pouting, accused, "Keira's just trying to manipulate you."

"I'm not falling for it."

After indulging in fried chicken, they returned home to find Willa already there.

""Mom, you're home early?"

It was rare for Willa, who was usually swamped with work, to be home so soon.

Willa's eyes were slightly red, her movements frantic, "I thought, with Ronald's exams coming up, I'd take some time off work, spend it with you guys."

Kari was unsuspecting, "Awesome, I want beef stew tomorrow!"

Ronald sensed something was off but didn't voice his concern in front of Kari.

Willa headed to the kitchen, and Kari took to her homework. Ronald joined Willa, "Are you really just taking a break?"

"Yes, your exams are more

important than work." Willa was prepping dumplings, a favorite of bas, planning to make the

most of her time off.

Seeing her act normal, Ronald didn't press further and offered to help.

"Go study. That's more important."

Kicked out of the kitchen, Ronald saw Willa chopping with tears dropping silently. Her body shook slightly.

After finishing his homework, Ronald, still worried about Willa, decided to let it be for now.

Willa, in many ways, was an extraordinarily kind person, enduring much on her own.

She raised Kari and took care of him without ever letting him feel the burden of financial stress.

But the provision of food and shelter was all on her, and whenever he tried to contribute, Willa refused, insisting she had it covered

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Her stress was palpable, making Ronald wonder why she suddenly needed to take a break from work.