Love Game With The Rebel Billionaire

Mason and Haze had met Azrael during their junior high years. Ash had introduced him, and soon enough, Azrael became a regular in their outings and training sessions.

At first, Mason didn't care much-he wasn't overly selective about friends-but something about Azrael always rubbed him the wrong way.

Mason could sense Azrael had ulterior motives for being around them.

"Why don't you just transfer to Ash's school?" Haze teased Azrael one day as they played cards. "Can't afford the tuition?"

"Idiot," Azrael laughed, throwing a card that landed on Haze's cheek. "I have someone to keep an eye on here."

"A girl, huh?" Haze asked with a mischievous wiggle of his eyebrows.

Azrael just grinned in response. That grin gave Mason chills. It was one of the many suspicious things about him.

Why would a Coleman choose a public school when he could easily afford an international one?

After all, Azrael was Ash's cousin, a powerful member of the Coleman family.

The problem was, Azrael attended the same school as Sapphire. And Mason knew just how notorious Azrael was with women. A nagging fear clawed at him-what if Sapphire was the girl Azrael was referring to? Mason wasn't exaggerating when he said Sapphire could easily captivate anyone.

To ensure Azrael wouldn't harm her, Mason kept a close watch on him. He tolerated his presence, despite the discomfort it caused him.

"Not drinking, Mason?" Azrael asked him during a gathering at Ash's garden. "What a waste; I bought all this booze."

Mason grimaced as he glanced at Azrael, whose disheveled hair, half-unbuttoned shirt, kiss marks scattered across his neck, and flushed cheeks screamed indulgence. The table was littered with empty bottles. "Pass," Mason declined curtly, shaking his head.

He had other priorities-namely, checking on Sapphire to make sure she got home safely. Even though she hid it well, Mason knew she still carried trauma from her kidnapping by their father. Watching over her had become second nature.

Besides, he had no desire to drink, especially not with Azrael.

"You're such a killjoy," Azrael snapped, muttering curses under his breath while running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

Mason ignored him and focused on his phone.

"Haze, hey!" Azrael called, turning his attention to their other friend.

Haze, however, was preoccupied, kissing a girl in plain view. Neither Haze nor the girl seemed to care about their public display of affection, with her soft moans echoing as Haze trailed kisses down her neck. "Hey!" Azrael yelled again, louder this time.

Irritated, Haze paused just long enough to snap back, "What? I'm busy here!"

The girl whimpered in pleasure as Haze's hand roamed across her body. Azrael merely laughed, taking another swig from his drink.

"All about the girls, huh, Haze? Don't think you're the only one."

Mason had noticed a change in his friends since Azrael entered their lives. Both Haze and Ash had become more reckless, with an increasing desire for womanizing.

Mason wasn't a saint himself-none of them were, being heirs to powerful mafia organizations-but he believed there were limits to their actions.

Azrael, however, seemed to revel in crossing every line.

He was more than just a bad influence; he was dangerous. Mason couldn't shake the feeling that Azrael's presence would lead to ruin.

But Ash was blind to it, treating Azrael like the brother he never had. Azrael, in turn, exploited Ash's trust, manipulating him into compliance.

"Is he really your cousin?" Mason asked Ash one evening, suspicion lacing his voice.

Ash, absorbed in his phone, nodded without hesitation. Mason shrugged, but his unease remained.

If Azrael was truly a Coleman, he was undoubtedly the black sheep of the family.

"It doesn't seem like it. Every time he's around, it feels like he's plotting something."

Ash's eyes snapped up, glaring at Mason. His tone turned sharp.

"He's a good person. Don't judge him just because of what you see." Mason smirked but said nothing more.

'I'm not judging him for what I see. I'm judging him for what I feel.'

Azrael's devil-may-care attitude appealed to Haze, who admired his carefree nature. But Mason couldn't ignore Azrael's darker tendencies.

***

One night at a bar, Azrael groped a woman, laughing as the woman froze in shock.

Haze tried to intervene, only for Azrael to dismiss him with a smug grin.

"What did I do wrong? This is a bar. She should expect this, right? Why come here if she doesn't want to be touched?"

"This isn't right," Mason told Ash firmly.

But Ash only shrugged, taking another sip of his drink.

"What's wrong with that? He's right," Ash replied nonchalantly.

Mason clenched his fists, frustration boiling within him. He knew trying to argue was pointless.

'Your loyalty to your cousin will destroy you, Ash,' he thought grimly. 'It's only a matter of time.'

That was the last time Mason and Ash had a casual conversation.

After that, Mason distanced himself from everyone. He still joined the training when required.

It was to protect his friendship with the Coleman and Greensmith clans, but when it came to gatherings, he purposely avoided attending, especially if Azrael was present.

He protected his well-being by distancing himself from toxic people who could influence his mindset. Because of this, he focused more on looking after Sapphire.

At present, he was at a convenience store near Sapphire's school.

He was sitting on a chair, eating a hotdog on a stick, while Evangeline, the woman everyone thought was his real sister, was spraying alcohol everywhere. Luckily, they were seated outside and not inside the store.

"What a cleaning freak," Mason said and grimaced.

Evangeline only rolled her eyes at him. The only reason why she went there is because Mason told her that he'll introduce her his real sister.

"So... it's her? My cousin?" Evangeline asked, pointing at a girl with curly black hair walking out of the school. "The one who's been getting bullied?" Mason nodded. "Yeah."

"Oh my gosh." Evangeline rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Why is she so dumb? She's ruining the Parker clan's reputation." "Evangeline," Mason reprimanded, but she didn't stop insulting Sapphire.

"What? I'm just being honest! Look at her!"

She scanned Sapphire from head to toe, then suddenly her eyes widened, prompting Mason to follow her gaze curiously.

"Ooh, someone's hitting on her? Well, that runs in the blood," Evangeline said proudly, her irritation fading. "We do come from a beautiful lineage- Are you even listening to me?" Mason's attention had shifted to the man approaching Sapphire.

From her expression, it was clear Sapphire didn't like the man getting close to her. Mason clenched his fist, his eyes glued to the man.noveldrama

It was Azrael, smirking as he whispered something to Sapphire. Mason could see the color drain from Sapphire's face as Azrael's grin widened.

Azrael even tapped her shoulder before walking away.

'Why is he with her?'