Adopted by the Billionaire✔️

[37]

Ellie's POV
Ugh.
Boys.
I swear they are all the same.
Today was the day I decided I was finally going to clear things up with Aidan. Recess started, and Kyle was waiting nearby for Raevynn while I stood on the playground near the slides.
That's when I saw them.
Aidan and Evelyn.
Holding hands.
I almost gagged.
Kyle stood off to the side as Evelyn stopped in front of me, Aidan right beside her.
"Why did you call us here?" Aidan asked.
Okay. Time to act mature.
"Aidan... I want you to know I approve of you and Evelyn," I said softly. "I just didn't accept it before because I thought you wouldn't want to be my best friend anymore."
Aidan blinked.
Then he stepped forward.
"Ellie... I'm sorry. I guess you were just looking out for me."
That was not what I expected.
I hugged him.
Big mistake.
Evelyn shoved between us so fast she was suddenly right in my face.
"Stay away from my boyfriend!" she screeched. "I don't care if you're his best friend—you don't touch him!"
"You don't own him!" I snapped.
Then—
Smack.
The slap burned across my cheek, and before I could even react, she shoved me toward the slide.
Everything went dark.

---

That's how I ended up in the nurse's office.
The worst part wasn't the bruise. It was the way my chest felt tight, like something old had woken up inside me. Memories I didn't want. Feelings I couldn't name.
When Daddy rushed in, I couldn't even look at him.
I stared at my shoes while the nurse talked.
In the car, Daddy kept asking questions, but I didn't answer. I didn't know how to explain that what happened reminded me of Henry. I didn't want to say his name out loud.
When I finally told Daddy everything, he laughed.
Not because he thought I was funny.
But because he didn't understand.
That hurt worse than the slap.
I ran upstairs with my ice pack and cried into my pillow. I wanted Daddy to come in and apologize right away.
He didn't.
Hours passed.
I fell asleep hugging my stuffed animal.
Then I felt the bed dip.
"Je suis désolé, bonbon," Daddy whispered. I'm sorry, sweetie.
I sat up. "I don't understand why you laughed."
He sighed. "I laughed because the situation wasn't worth your pain. They aren't real friends, Ellie. And I should've taken you seriously right away."
I crawled into his lap.
"I forgive you," I whispered.
He held me close, and that made the world feel steady again.

---

A few days later, things changed.
Raevynn apologized.
Kyle stayed loyal.
Aidan... didn't matter as much anymore.
On Friday, I invited Raevynn and Kyle for a sleepover.
When Kyle saw Daddy, his jaw dropped.
"Dummy," I told him. "Flies might get in."
At home, we toured the mansion. The game room. The cinema. Everything.
"This is insane," Kyle said.
"I didn't tell people because they might use me," I shrugged.
We played games, watched movies, and fell asleep in the cozy corner together.
For the first time, I didn't feel lonely.
I had real friends.
And I knew something else too:
Even if I lost everything—
as long as I had Daddy,
I'd be okay.

---

Author's Note 💌
yeh... sorry about the short chapter...
(Actually it's a normal length 😭)
I usually write very long chapters when something big happens, so this one felt small in comparison.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who's been voting, commenting, and sticking with this story. Seeing your thoughts — whether it's praise, jokes, or even criticism — motivates me more than you know.
Seriously, even a simple comment makes my day 💜
And yes...
me reading criticism sometimes be like:
"what if I was sewer‑slidal this TikTok could've been my last straw"
— but then I remember why I started writing in the first place.
Thank you for being patient with me, for caring about Ellie, and for letting me grow as a writer alongside this story.
Lots of love,
_KYROS_❤️🕊💛