Defiant Heir (The Heirs #3) - Michelle Heard Page 0,32

he comes to sit next to me on the bed. “You have to make a business plan.”

Adjusting after the surgery and catching up with the work I missed has become my new routine.

But life feels empty, and I know it’s because Fallon’s not here. Every second used to revolve around her. Seeing her smiles. Holding her hand. Just being with her even though we weren’t dating.

And now there’s nothing but work, eye drops, and praying my sight fully returns so I can get Fallon back.

I hate that she’s missing the Christmas Ball. She worked so hard on all the preparations. I find myself spacing out, my memories of Fallon carrying me back to happier times when we attended the welcome function a couple of months ago.

Fallon crosses the floor toward our table. Reaching us, she locks eyes with me, her chin held high.

My God, she looks like a goddess.

“Kao, will you please open the dance floor with me?”

Surprise ripples through me. I know it’s a huge deal who Fallon chooses to dance with, seeing as she’s from one of the founding families at Trinity Academy.

I rise to my feet, and placing my hand on Fallon’s lower back, I walk with her to the open space near the stage where the band is situated. As violin strings begin to fill the air, I capture her gaze, and I take her right hand in mine.

The song, along with having Fallon in my arms, feels very different from when I danced with her at her prom.

I know Fallon’s responsible for choosing the band and the music they’ll perform, and knowing she chose Secrets by One Republic for the opening song, makes me listen to every word.

Everyone in the hall fades away, and for the life of me, I can’t break eye contact with Fallon. It’s like she’s placing me under a spell.

The next song, Rewrite The Stars by Zac Efron and Zendaya, makes my heartbeat speed up, and anticipation begins to hum between our bodies.

It feels like Fallon’s trying to tell me how she feels through the music.

Moving my hand from her hip and up her back, I pull her closer to me until our chests touch.

There’s always been a special friendship between us, but right now, it’s more – it’s filled with the possibility of so much more.

As the song grows with intensity, my lips part, and I watch as emotions play over Fallon’s beautiful face.

My heart slams hard against my ribs as Fallon’s lips move, and she whispers the final lyrics of the song, ‘You know I want you. It’s not a secret I try to hide. But I can’t have you. We’re bound to break, and my hands are tied.’

Chapter 12

FALLON

I’m sitting out back on the veranda, looking at the storm clouds drifting closer.

I hear the door open, and glancing over my shoulder, I watch as Dad comes to take a seat next to me.

We sit in silence for a while, then Dad says, “Before I met your mother, my world felt black and white.”

I turn my eyes to him, and when he takes hold of my hand, I struggle to smile.

“I don’t think I would’ve made it through my last year at Trinity without her.”

Shock ripples through me from hearing Dad’s confession. He’s always been the strongest man I know, and to hear that he went through a rough time, makes him look more human in my eyes.

“I wasn’t in a good place with your Uncle Julian and grandfather. I only had your Uncle Mason and Uncle Lake to lean on.”

I turn my body toward Dad and lean my head against the high back chair. Wrapping both my hands around his, I wait for him to continue.

“But then your Mom burst into my life like a kaleidoscope of color. She changed everything. My relationship with Julian and my father. She… made me stronger.”

“And that’s why you call her your rainbow,” I murmur.

“Yes.” Dad nods, then turns his gaze to mine. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that things will get better. They always do.”

I suck in a deep breath and lower my eyes to our joined hands. “It doesn’t feel like it will get better,” I admit. “Things between Kao and me will never be what they were before the accident happened. And the scars…”

I’ll never feel like a woman again.

Dad gets up from the chair and comes to crouch in front of me. There’s an earnest expression darkening his eyes. “In four weeks, you’ll go for