Arrogant Billionaire: Love vs Hate

Chap. 18

"Don't make friends who are comfortable to be with. Make friends who will force you to lever yourself up."
- Thomas J. Watson
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I mentally cursed myself. Due to my carelessness, I was going to face the full wrath of my mom. I could already imagine her disappointed expression. She definitely wouldn't let me off the hook this time. My steps quickened as I hurried out of the reading room toward Mark's room, my mind already scrambling for excuses that wouldn't work.

Oh my heavens.

I stopped mid-step.

Completely.

My breath hitched as my eyes landed on Mark. For a second, my brain simply stopped functioning, and then I mentally slapped myself for staring like an idiot. He was standing near his cupboard, casually pulling out a towel, completely unaware of my presence. His back was turned toward me, bare and... unfairly perfect.

He was dressed only in gym trousers.

My gaze betrayed me.

It moved over his broad shoulders, down the defined muscles of his back. And when he turned slightly, that view shifted into an equally sinful sight—his toned chest, sharply defined abs, the kind that looked like they belonged in a fitness magazine.

My goodness.

Isn't he the hottest devil alive?

"You can close your mouth, you know."

His amused voice snapped me out of whatever trance I had fallen into.

Damn.

My mouth shut instantly and I turned my face away so fast it probably looked suspicious. Heat rushed to my cheeks, spreading like wildfire as embarrassment settled deep in my bones. I couldn't believe he caught me staring at him like that—open-mouthed, no less. God, I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

"I—I'm going," I stammered, grabbing my bag in a hurry, deliberately looking anywhere but at him.

Then I heard it.

His laughter.

Deep. Unrestrained.

For a moment, I froze again.

It was the first time I had ever heard him laugh like that. I was so used to his cold expressions, his sharp gaze, or those irritating smirks that this... this felt unfamiliar. And somehow, that made my embarrassment ten times worse.

God, I was going to die.

"You never fail to amuse me, nerd."

I forced myself to look at him just long enough to throw a sarcastic smile his way. "I'm glad I can amuse you, Mr. Winston."

Without waiting for his reply—or risking another humiliating moment—I turned and practically fled out of his room. My heart was still racing, my face still burning as I walked down the hallway.

Stupid jerk.

I was extremely nervous by the time I reached home. My fingers tightened around my bag as I mentally prepared myself for the inevitable storm. I opened the door slowly, almost cautiously, bracing myself.

But instead—

Laughter.

I blinked in confusion.

My baby brother's voice echoed from the living room, cheerful and animated. That was... unexpected. I had been fully prepared for tension, for silence, for disappointment hanging in the air.