Adopted by the Billionaire✔️

[36]

Ellie's POV
School felt different now.
Daddy being gone for a week had changed things. People noticed me more. Some were nicer. Some were worse.
Skyla and I walked in together that morning. Edmen waved from the gate.
"Freak, you don't deserve to hang out with Eliana," a boy sneered at Skyla.
I stopped walking.
"Hey," I snapped. "You don't get to be a bully."
I grabbed Skyla's hand and pulled her inside.
Raevynn had been especially awful lately. She kept saying things like your dad left you or he's not coming back. I hated how those words made my chest hurt.
When I saw her heading toward us, I whispered, "Skyla, go," and she peeled off toward her class.
I spotted Aidan by the windows.
"Ellie!" he waved, still the same silly Aidan.
That made things better—at least for a while.

---

Recess
"Aidan, monkey bars!" I said, climbing up.
While I hung upside down, I asked, "Is it true you like Evelyn?"
He rambled about how she was pretty and smart. I didn't get it. She hung out with Raevynn, which told me everything I needed to know.
"What about Daisy?" I said. "She likes you."
"I think I'll ask Evelyn," he replied.
That hurt more than I expected.
Before I could say anything else, Evelyn showed up.
"Hey, Addie," she said, flipping her hair.
My stomach dropped.
I didn't even get to call him that.
They acted like I wasn't there. When Aidan wrapped his arm around her, I felt stupid for caring.
Kyle—Aidan's best friend—found me afterward.
"Did he ditch you?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Aidan's an idiot," Kyle said. "Wanna hang out?"
I shrugged. "Sure."

---

Lunch & the Plan
Raevynn came up to me at lunch.
She wasn't mean.
That confused me more than when she was.
"I don't like that Evelyn stole my best friend," she said. "Want to break them up?"
I hesitated.
"That sounds like rumors," I said.
"What if we make them see things themselves?" I suggested instead.
Kyle joined us.
Soon we had a plan.
It sounded smart at first.
It wasn't.

---

The Backfire
Everything fell apart.
Instead of breaking up, Aidan and Evelyn kissed.
Right in front of us.
"This backfired," I muttered.
"No kidding," Kyle said.
I felt embarrassed. Angry. Sad.
I didn't lose just one friend—I lost my place.

---

Pickup
At pickup, I saw Daddy waiting by his car.
He looked tired.
"Hey, baby," he said.
"I made friends with Raevynn," I said carefully.
He raised an eyebrow but didn't argue.
"Daddy," I asked in the car, "what would you do if your best friend liked your enemy?"
He glanced at me. "Did something happen with Aidan?"
I sighed. "Yeah."
He listened. Really listened.
That helped more than anything.

---

Night
I went to bed early.
But I dreamed something bad.
Someone told me Daddy didn't love me. That he believed them instead.
I woke up shaking.
I marched straight into Daddy's room.
"Move over," I said, climbing onto his bed.
"Baby?" he asked, confused.
"I'm sleeping here."
He didn't argue.
He kissed my head, and I finally fell asleep again.

---

Antonio's POV
Kids these days.
Enemies became allies over shared targets. I didn't fully understand it—but Ellie explained it with surprising logic.
Dinner was calm. She talked about school. About Miss Poppy being disappointed I hadn't walked her in.
Later that night, she stormed into my room like she was ready to declare war.
I almost laughed—until I realized she was hurt.
Morning came fast.
Over breakfast, I asked what happened.
She told me about the dream.
"Bambina," I said firmly, "I will never stop loving you."
Her scowl melted into a grin.
"You scared Daddy," I admitted.
She looked proud.

---

The Call
At the office, I was buried in contracts when the school called.
"There's been an incident involving Eliana."
I didn't ask questions. I ran.
When I saw her bruised cheek, something inside me snapped.
"She hugged Aidan," she cried. "Evelyn pushed me."
I tried not to laugh.
I failed.
That was my mistake.
She ran upstairs furious, and I let her cool off.
Later, I understood: this wasn't about Aidan.
It was about trust.
Safety.
Belonging.
And next time, I'd handle it better

revision: 3.10.26