Chapter 101 101
RYAN
“Ryan—wait!” Miranda called after me as I picked up my car keys from my bedside drawer and headed downstairs.
Her footsteps quicken behind me, but I didn’t slow down, didn’t turn, didn’t even acknowledge her voice.
“I’ve heard enough,” I snapped, gripping my car keys tightly as I headed for the stairs. My chest felt tight, my thoughts louder than they should be, all of them circling back to one person.
Emily.
I went down the stairs two at a time, my pace fast and controlled at the same time. Halfway down, voices stopped me—not calm ones, but sharp, raised, clashing.
“You should have told me!” my dad’s voice cut through the air. “That is not the point right now,” my mom shot back immediately, her tone controlled but strained.
“It is the point,” he argued, frustration clear in every word. I stepped down the remaining stairs slower now, my eyes fixed on both of them as I approached.
They didn’t notice me at first, too caught up in whatever was already happening. My dad stood rigid, his hands clenched, while my mom faced him with that same calm expression that always meant something was wrong.
I walked straight toward her without stopping. “What is wrong with you?” I asked, my voice cutting clean through their argument.
They both turned to me instantly, the tension shifting direction. My dad stepped forward immediately, his face tightening.
“Ryan,” he said sharply, “don’t talk to your mother like that.” I didn’t even look at him, my attention locked completely on her.
“Why are you messing with my life?” I demanded, my voice rising just enough to make the words hit harder. My mom sighed softly, like she had expected this.
“It’s fine,” she said, dismissing my dad with a small gesture before stepping closer to me. Her expression softened, like nothing had just happened.
“How are you feeling?” she asked gently, her voice careful. That single question was enough to snap whatever control I still had.
“Don’t do that,” I said, my tone dropping dangerously low. “Don’t stand there and act like everything is normal.”
Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes sharpened slightly. “Ryan—”
“No,” I cut in firmly, shaking my head. “You don’t get to say my name like that and pretend everything is fine.”
My dad shifted behind me, clearly uncomfortable now. “Ryan, calm down,” he said, trying to step in again.
“I am calm,” I replied, even though my voice said otherwise. “But you had no right, none whatsoever, to try and take my daughter.”
That got his full attention immediately. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his tone shifting completely.
I didn’t turn to him, didn’t even acknowledge the question. “Miranda told me everything,” I said, my eyes still locked on my mom.
For a split second, something flickered across her face. It was quick, almost gone before it showed, but I caught it.
“Ryan,” she started, her voice steady again. I didn’t let her finish.
“No, you don’t get to explain this away,” I said sharply. “That child is mine, do you understand me?”
My voice rose now, the anger pushing through fully. “She is mine as much as she is Emily’s.”
My mom’s lips pressed together tightly, her composure still intact but strained. “You’re not thinking clearly,” she said.
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “I’m not thinking clearly?” I repeated, shaking my head.
“In what world does this make sense to you?” I asked, stepping closer. “You think you can just decide to take her?”
“She is not safe where she is,” my mom replied firmly, her tone hardening now. “And you know that.”
“No,” I said immediately, my jaw tightening. “I don’t.”
“And even if she wasn’t,” I continued, my voice sharper now, “that still doesn’t give you the right to do this.”
“You don’t get to make that decision for me,” I added, holding her gaze. She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable.
“For you?” she echoed. “I’m trying to protect your child.”
“Then protect her the right way,” I shot back instantly. “Not like this.”
Silence settled between us again, thick and heavy. Then I spoke again, slower this time.
“If you try this again,” I said, my voice dropping lower, colder, “I will cut you off.”
My dad inhaled sharply behind me, clearly not expecting that. “Ryan—” he started, but I didn’t let him continue.
“I mean it,” I said firmly, not breaking eye contact with her. “I will walk away from this family.”
That landed, and I saw it in her eyes. It was small, but it was there.
My dad turned to her now, confusion written all over his face. “What is he talking about?” he demanded. “What is going on?”
I didn’t wait for her to answer, didn’t care what excuse she would give. I turned and headed straight for the door.
“Ryan!” My mom called after me, her voice sharper now. I ignored her completely and kept walking.
“Ryan, wait!” she called again, her footsteps quick behind me. Aaron’s voice followed right after.
“Bro, just hold on for a second,” he said, trying to catch up. I didn’t stop, didn’t slow, didn’t even look back.
I stepped outside and headed straight for my car, my movements quick and precise. My mom reached me just as I opened the door.
“Ryan, listen to me,” she said urgently. I got in without responding.
I shut the door hard and locked it immediately. The engine started before she could say anything else.
I drove off without looking back.
The road blurred slightly as I drove, my grip tight on the steering wheel. My thoughts were louder now, sharper, faster.
Emily.
Shit! I felt so bad for her.
I pulled into her driveway faster than I should have, stopping the car abruptly. I got out immediately, not bothering to shut the door properly.
For a second, I stood there, trying to steady my breathing. Then I walked straight to the door.
I knocked once, firm and loud. Then again, harder.
“Emily!”
No response.
I knocked again, louder this time, the urgency creeping in. “Emily, open the door!”
Still nothing.
My chest tightened slightly as I stepped back, glancing at the windows. Everything was quiet, too quiet.
I stepped forward again and knocked repeatedly, faster now. “Emily!”
Nothing.
“Damn it,” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair. I turned slightly, already thinking of going to the bakery.
Then I heard it.
A car pulling in behind me.
I froze and turned.
Morgan stepped out of her car, her expression shifting the moment she saw me. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“Thank God,” I said, walking toward her quickly. “I’ve been knocking, but she’s not answering.”
Morgan gave a small, stiff smile. “I can see that,” she said quietly.
I frowned slightly, something about her tone not sitting right. “You’re better,” she added, her eyes scanning me briefly.
“Yeah, I am,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Where is Emily?”
Morgan hesitated, just for a second, but it was enough. I stepped closer.
“Please,” I added, my voice lower now, more urgent. “Just tell me where she is.”
She exhaled slowly, her expression shifting. “She’s not here,” she said.
“I can see that,” I replied immediately. “Where is she?”
Morgan held my gaze for a moment, like she was deciding whether to say it. Then she spoke.
“She traveled," she said.
My brows pulled together. “What?”
“She left,” Morgan repeated. “Out of the country.”
Everything in me went still.
“Out of the country?” I asked slowly.
“Yes,” she said, her tone steady. “This morning.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
“Where?” I asked, my voice quieter now, controlled.
Morgan didn’t answer immediately, and that was enough to make my chest tighten. I stepped closer again.
“Where, Morgan?” I asked.
She looked at me for a long second, then said quietly, “Hong Kong.”