Love Game With The Rebel Billionaire
Chapter 40: Missing Piece of The Puzzle

"It's okay," he said with assurance as he caressed my head, calming me down. "You're already safe, okay? Don't cry too much. But if you really want to, drink water first." Even though I was crying, I couldn't help but smile at what he said. He was the same guy four years ago-A brother willing to protect his little gem from the cruelness of the world. In fact, he really is my brother.

"Mason..."

I pulled away from the hug and stared at him. His eyes were full of love and care-like this the first time he came to the student council to tell me to stay away from Ash.

I was blinded by my annoyance back then. I even dragged Haze and Mason into my anger at Ash.

I never noticed that Mason was one of the missing pieces in my puzzle.

"Is there a problem? Did my father do something to you? Did he say anything bad?" He messed up his hair in frustration. "Sorry I was late. If Evangeline hadn't noticed..."

He shouldn't blame himself, though. It was his father who took me, not him.

"Mason... My brother..." was all I could say as I held his hand. "Sorry..." I bit my lower lip to stop myself from sobbing.

I promised that someday I would replace him, but I couldn't do that because I didn't remember him. It even took four years for me to remember the painful past and him at the same time. "You... know?" There was a mix of surprise and joy in his voice. The same emotions were reflected in his eyes.

I nodded.

"You never told me before, but I accidentally overheard it." I smiled genuinely as I said that. "I also just understood why Evangeline was so kind and mean to me at the same time. I never thought she was also my sister. Did she know about it?"

"No. Evangeline's our cousin. She wasn't related to the Parker Clan."

"What?" My voice was a bit louder when I asked that, but I couldn't help myself. "I thought she was your sister too?"

He was about to answer me, but we both looked at the door when someone burst in angrily.

"Who dared to mess up with my girl?" someone asked in an intimidating voice.

It was Ash with his infamous stare. He was wearing a leather jacket, a white t-shirt, and faded jeans. There were wounds on some parts of his face, so my attention was focused on that. "Stop overreacting, Ash," Mason intervened. "I'm already here."

He gave Mason a death glare before he turned his gaze on me. He didn't seem pleased to see me with Mason now, but at the same time, I heard him sigh in relief.

I could see a hint of worry in his eyes. Maybe it was because my cheeks were still soaked with tears.

"I'm glad that you're fine," he said softly as he grabbed Mason's collar. "What the fuck did your father do to my girl, huh?"

"Ash!" I shouted as I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen.

I was bothered by his wounds. Where did he come from, and why is his face full of bruises? I'm starting to worry that his wounds might get worse, but with the way he looks now, I can't speak. He looks like he could kill Mason any second.

"He's my-"

"I like Sapphire, and I'll be the one to protect her. Do you understand?" Mason suddenly spoke, surprising both Ash and me.

Ash involuntarily let go of Mason's collar. He was as shocked as I was. We both couldn't speak.

"This is the reason why you don't like me..." I heard a hint of pain in Ash's voice as he said that.

Even his eyes screamed despair. I don't know how I could maintain eye contact with him now while seeing him hurt.

I don't know, but when his worried eyes turned cold, it felt like my heart was also ripped into pieces.

"Fuck," that was the last thing he said before he stormed out of the classroom.

I turned my gaze to Mason when Ash closed the door. He slammed it so hard that it made a loud noise throughout the place.

"Are you ashamed of me? Why didn't you tell me you were my brother?" I asked Mason, the sadness evident in my voice.

"I am so proud of you being my sister, Sapphire. Always remember that." He leaned his head onto me. "But of all people, Ash is the only one who shouldn't know your real identity."

"IS YOUR mother really like this?" Mason asked me as he came out of our house, leaving my mom inside. "I couldn't live with this environment. I prefer having my nights in peace."

He was still cleaning his right ear with his pinky, as if a bit of my mom's lecture was left there. Whatever they talked about inside, I don't know.

I do, too. If only he knew.

"I told you that you don't need to drive me home," I said to him, but he just smiled back before messing up my hair. "Stop, brother!" I pushed his hand away.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

I ended up frowning while he seemed to enjoy seeing me in that state.

But eventually, his face became serious as he stared at me, as if he was deep in thought.

"You shouldn't call me like that when we're in school," he said authoritatively. "I wasn't planning to tell you the truth, but it turns out you already know. Just don't let the news spread," he added. "Also, they think that Evangeline is my sister. Your life will be even more complicated if they replace out that..."

There's an illegitimate child in the Parker family.

I completed what Mason was saying in my mind.

Turns out, Mason and I share the same father. He was born a year before me, and the reason we're in the same batch is that I was accelerated by a year.

Mason didn't answer my question about how my mom and his dad ended up together. I never thought my mother would be a mistress, and not just to anyone, but to someone influential like the Parkers.

I didn't even imagine how they met. And every time I asked Mason about their past, he only answered one thing.

"Ask your mom."

So in the end, I stopped asking.

"By the way, why did Evangeline pretend to be your sister?" My mind was again filled with curiosity after asking that. "And how did you convince her to do that? It doesn't seem like she likes me."

He chuckled slightly, but immediately cleared his throat when he saw how serious I was. "She likes you, but she doesn't like you at the same time."

"Pardon?" Instead of clarifying things, I became even more confused.

"She likes Ash, but Ash likes you. Anyone would be annoyed by that."