Love Game With The Rebel Billionaire

"Let's go, Ash," I said as I showed him my phone. "My mom's mad. She'll probably scold you later, so prepare your ears. Mason experienced it once."

Based on her text, my mom seemed furious. She practically wanted to drag me through the phone to where she was now... if that were even possible.

I was about to head out when a picture frame caught my eye. It showed a man with his back turned, his face slightly visible in profile. It was a side-angle shot, and he was far from the camera, so I couldn't make out his face clearly. It looked like a candid shot of him walking through a forest. He wore a blue long-sleeved polo shirt and black jeans... and he looked carefree.

For a moment, I thought he looked familiar. It was as if we were the same age in that photo.

I was about to approach it, but Ash suddenly took the picture frame and, with a frustrated motion, placed it inside one of the cabinets in Mason's living room.

I raised an eyebrow as I looked at him intently. His chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath.

He glanced at me briefly before looking away, avoiding my gaze. I was a bit taken aback.

Who was that man, and why didn't he want me to see it?

"It's not polite to mess with others' things. This is Mason's house, after all," he said.

But he was the one who handled the picture frame and put it in the cabinet without Mason's consent.

"Let's go," Ash added, and I obliged.

He held my hand and led me out of Mason's house. We went inside his new car.

"Seatbelt, baby," he told me as he put my seatbelt on himself, stealing a kiss after securing it.

However, my mind was still inside the house...

Who was that guy, and why did he seem so familiar?

"DO NOT come into the house," I told Ash when he parked outside my home.

I glanced outside at our house. It seemed quiet now, and there weren't any broken bottles.

I was curious about what happened last night, but no matter what I did, Ash wouldn't tell me.

He said it was for my own good, but that only made me more curious.

"Why not?" he asked, confused, as he took off his seatbelt. He did the same for me. "That's why I brought you here-to speak to your parents."

He took my hand and suddenly slipped a ring onto my finger.

"I want to marry you after graduation, like I said. And I want your parents' consent."

"Ash..."

I couldn't believe what he was saying. I felt my tears falling as I looked between him and the ring. It was a simple silver ring with no elaborate design.

There wasn't anything fancy about it, yet it was incredibly beautiful to me.

"I know it will be hard for you to trust me..." He brushed his hand over mine and kissed it gently. "But I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Just the thought of losing you drives me crazy." His eyes were so expressive. It felt like I was drowning in the emotions I saw in them.

"I don't ask you to trust me because I can't even trust myself. I've done bad things, and I know I can't promise not to hurt you..."

He kissed me on the lips, a quick yet loving kiss. It made me feel something I'd never experienced-a pure love from someone like him.

"But trust my love for you. That's all I want you to do."

I didn't answer with words. Instead, I answered with my lips, holding him by the nape and kissing him passionately. Only when we ran out of breath did I pull away from him.

"I love you, and I trust you," I said, showing him my genuine smile. "Let's get married, Ash."

This was the time for me to choose myself and the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I knew from the start that it was him, Ash Cassius Coleman.

But there was one big obstacle we had to face before we could do that.

My mother. I want her consent.

I walked into our house with my head held high, holding onto Ash's hand tightly. My hands were sweating from nerves.

"Relax, baby. Your mom won't bite you," Ash said, chuckling slightly.

"We don't know what will happen," I squeezed his hand.

I braced myself for the harsh words my mom would throw at me, as I knew she'd been opposed to my relationship with Ash from the start. But... this wasn't what I expected when I stepped into our house.

"Mom?"

I blinked twice as I stared at my mom and dad... hugging each other in our living room.

They immediately let go of each other and turned to face Ash and me. Dad scratched his head, making my frown deepen.

He didn't look like a man weighed down by the world today. He looked... relaxed, and happy. Just like my mom.

"You didn't even let us know you were coming." Mom gave me a disapproving look, but happiness was still evident in her eyes.

The last time I saw that kind of expression in her eyes was months ago. That was the day we had a heart-to-heart talk and reconciled. But today, she seemed even happier.

Was it because of my dad? Or was it just that I desperately wanted to see my mom happy to the point I was hallucinating?

Planning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading! "Ash," I called, seeing him smiling as he looked at my parents.

He even bowed to Mom, who returned the gesture with a smile. This only made me more suspicious of what was going on.

"Am I dreaming? Can you please pinch me?" I said seriously, but he only laughed at me.

"You're not dreaming, baby," he replied, messing my hair slightly.

He looked at Mom and Dad. "She's in shock. I hope you'll understand."

"Of course... son-in-law," Dad said, making my eyes go wide. "Have you eaten?"

"What the fuck?" I couldn't help but curse.

My mom and Ash's eyes widened as he quickly grabbed me by the shoulders, turning me to face him.

"Hey, watch your words, baby." He smiled, but it was clear he was surprised by my sudden outburst... right in front of my parents. "I apologize on her behalf."

"Ash, come on! I didn't do anything wrong!"

I was annoyed with him. It felt like he wasn't taking my side. I couldn't understand why he was apologizing when I hadn't meant to curse!

"Mom, can we talk?" I stormed over to her and pulled her toward the bedroom.

Ash sensed my mood, and as Dad tried to follow us, Ash blocked him.

"I don't think that's a good idea, sir," Ash said firmly yet concernedly before closing the door.

I'd been glaring at him for a while now, and if he hadn't done that, he would've borne the brunt of my anger.