The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart

Ronald stepped out of his house only to spot Kari, backpack slung over her shoulder, one hand clutching a bagel and the other gripping a cup of soy latte, savoring every bite and sip. Kari was something of a local legend at school.

Top grades, graceful in every move, and with a temper as mild as the first days of spring, she naturally drew a diverse crowd of friends and admirers. Ronald slowed his pace, his gaze lingering on Kari.

Both bearing the surname Malone, yet Ronald was the invisible one among them, a bastard child, living a life marked by tumult and hardship...

And yet, Kari and her mother showered him with kindness, an anomaly in his otherwise stark world.

Unaware of Ronald's observation, Kari, having satisfied her hunger and thirst, strolled toward the school, quietly reciting vocabulary under her breath.

Upon arriving in the classroom and settling down, Kari overheard classmates buzzing with rumors.

"Did you hear? Seems like there's this big family in Imperial City looking for their long-lost son!"

"???"

"Which young master has fallen to the common ranks?"

"A bastard, they say!"

"Heard he's been missing for years, and they've been searching all this time—"

"It just clicked! There was someone at the gate the other day, showing a photo around and asking questions. Could it be those family folks?"

Kari paused in her action of grabbing a book, a realization dawning upon her. Ronald was a bastard, a fact she was aware of.

Could those people be searching for Ronald?

And were their intentions good or bad?

With a heart heavy with concern, Kari found it hard to concentrate on the morning's lessons. Come lunchtime, she made her way to the ninth-grade building, hoping to find Ronald. Only to learn that Ronald had rushed off to his job right after class.

Calista, his mother, caught in the throes of alcoholism and without a steady job, left them scraping by. Ronald's job, known to all in class, was a necessity, not a choice. "Where does he work?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

The classmate Kari approached happened to know Ronald well and gave her the address of his workplace.

Thanking them, Kari left the school, only to find a group of bodyguards outside, showing a photo to passersby and asking questions.

She intended to walk past quickly.

But was stopped.

"Seen this person before?"

The photo they showed was unmistakably Calista.

Kari shook her head: "Don't know her."

The bodyguards didn't press further.

Hurrying away, Kari made her way to the garage where Ronald was known to work part-time.

"Hey there, young lady, who are you looking for?"

"I'm here for Ronald."

The man sized Kari up before disappearing into the shop. Moments later, Ronald emerged behind him. "Kari?"

In place

school uniform,

Ronald wore a grey-blue mechanic's shirt, stained with oil and c

"What brings you here?"

"Ronald."

Kari approached, signaling for him to follow her aside.

"What's up?"

"People at school are looking for you and your mom. Be careful."

Ronald

already aware, given the

On those people had d near the school. Ignorel nee

an option.

"You came all this way just to tell me that?"

Kari nodded, her concern evident: "I didn't want you or your mom to get into trouble." "Have you eaten?"

Kari shook her head, her mission having driven all thoughts of food from her mind.

Ronald then led her to a cozy diner, ordering two bowls of soup - oneza hearty bowl of vegetable broth for himself and one brimming with beef for Kari, who had a known penchant for meat and noodles alike.