Page 21 of Big Billionaire

No answer.

I search room after room, but they all turn up empty.

And then the truth settles in my gut like a stone.

She’s gone.

Chapter Nine

Lena

I’m back home at my parents’ house. Away from the Academy and the stares and the rumors.

This place used to be my safe haven, but it doesn’t feel that way anymore. At least, not tonight. My parents are traveling for the weekend, and Abby’s not back yet from her follow-up visit at the hospital, so the house is quiet.

I’m curled up in my favorite spot by the window, knees tucked to my chest, fingers crossed painfully tight as I stare blankly out at the city lights. Hours have slipped by since I rushed here, but the heaviness in my chest hasn’t eased. If anything, it’s only grown.

It’s selfish, because I know she’s in pain and has her own problems to deal with, but I want my sister right now, want to tell her everything that’s happened and everything I’m feeling.

My mind keeps replaying everything moment of the past twenty-four hours—stumbling on the dance floor, Damien coming to the rescue, finding the threat in my locker, going to Damien’s house and everything that happened after…

It’s hard to believe it all happened in such a short time. More than that, it’s hard to believe that I’m trending in the news for the most scandalous thing ever. It’s ridiculous as much as it is scary.

Underneath all the thoughts whirling in my head, one question keeps gnawing at my subconscious:

How did I let myself get so tangled up in this mess?

Of course, I know the answer. It’s all my fault. I was the one who thought it was a good idea to date someone like Logan. I know he’s behind all of this, even though I have no evidence.

I never should have trusted him.

But even as guilt eats at me, there’s one thing I don’t regret.

Damien.

Just thinking his name makes my throat tighten. He’s the one good thing that came from all of this, and the very thought that it’s over between us makes my chest ache in ways I can’t put into words.

Maybe it has to be like this. Maybe he’ll decide I’m not worth the risk, that I’ll only drag him down. If he walks away, I wouldn’t even blame him. He’d only be protecting everything he’s worked so hard to build. His empire. His name.

I tell myself I can live with that.

But it’s a lie.

It’s only been a few hours, and I miss him so much it hurts. My fingers twitch toward my phone on the side table, dark and silent where I tossed it earlier. I turned it off after the fifth call, because the buzzing wouldn’t stop. Reporters, classmates, strangers…I didn’t want to talk to any of them.

But what if Damien tried to reach me? The thought coils around my chest like a vise. For a heartbeat, I hover, debating whether to turn it back on.

But what if he didn’t?

That would break me even more.

The sound of the front door creaking open pulls me back to the present. A moment later, Abby steps into the room.

She looks pale, her frame smaller than it should be, like the oversized sweater she’s wearing is swallowing her whole. Her braid has loosened, strands of dark hair falling around her face, and there’s a weariness in her green eyes that makes guilt punch me square in the gut.

“Abby…” I whisper, my voice cracking.

She smiles at me and says, “I’m glad you’re home. I was worried.”