Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

He was hurting too. Grant's moves were just as sharp as his own, maybe even more so. Those kicks of his, they might have seemed all show to anyone watching, but one of them landed right on Connor's chest. In that split second, it felt like he was hit by a freight train. He had stamina for days, always focusing more on defense than offense, wearing down his opponent. But when he decided to strike, it was with bone-rattling force. If he hadn't spotted that opening and ended it when he did, he'd be the one flat on his back right now. Isaac chimed in, "C'mon, let's get you to the hospital. My bad, I had no clue my sister would pop up here." He helped Connor hobble out, muttering, "But seriously, you're something else. My cousin looks like he took one hell of a beating. You've earned your stripes with me, no doubt."

Connor skipped the hospital trip. Instead, Isaac dropped him at the office in Sartori Tower. There, Connor sank into his chair and got straight to work. Isaac just gawked, thinking he must be some kind of superhuman.

"Dude, you don't have to bust your chops like this. Working this hard's gonna put you in an early grave."

"If there's nothing more, Mr. Shaw, kindly see yourself out," Connor replied, deadpan. Isaac could be a real chatterbox, and Connor had enough of it.

Isaac took the hint and left. Connor turned his chair to gaze out at the city lights. His chest still throbbed, a reminder of the fight, and he could still taste the metallic tang of blood.

He'd lost, plain and simple. And now,

in hindsight, he felt like an idiot.

Charging in there, fists flying,

โอนด้ว

thinking that maybe, just maybe, winning would make Chloe see him differently. Now it all seemed laughable. Chloe only cared about whether her friend was alright.

Grant's presence had rattled him, made him feel vulnerable. Even when Pax was chasing after Chloe he hadn't felt threatened. But Grant was a whole other story. Chloe admired him, you could see it in her eyes. A look he'd rarely gotten from her.

Their three-year relationship had its grooves, its patterns. Maybe she always saw him as the delicate Trophy Boy. He didn't want to hide who he really was anymore. But instead of changing things, it only

showed him how much Grant meant

to Chloe.

His phone buzzed on the desk. Chloe. He picked it up, hesitating for a beat before he answered. He stayed silent.

On the other end, Chloe spoke first, "How are you? Did you get hurt?" She'd seen Grant land some solid hits and had been worried. But watching Connor toss him over his shoulder, she figured he was okay.

Connor's response was frosty, "I'm fine. Just focus on your good buddy, alright?"

"Connor, can you stop with the random jealousy?" Chloe shot back.

Connor's face grew colder, though inside, his heart was racing. "Chloe, do you even care about how I feel anymore?"