Chapter 134 Shattered

Chapter 134 Shattered
Ryder's POV

"What do you mean?"

How did we even go from a very happy moment for Uriel and her parents rekindling, to my heart being put on the line.

As Benjamin took his time to sit, sharing looks with my mother, my head raced across different thoughts.

Could my father not be my real father?

Was my whole existence a lie now?

God, I would die if that was true

"Tell me, Benjamin. I'm listening,"

My mother, Eve, nodded at him to carry on. Benjamin turned to face me, his face serious.

"Your mother didn't leave your Father because she wanted to." Benjamin turned to face my mother, muttering, "your father made her leave,"

A sadistic, empty-hearted laughter left my lips. "What? Did she put you up to say this? Why, because she wants to the good parent?"

"No, no. Of course not," Eve shook her head, stretching her slender hand.

Uriel placed her hand on my thigh. Lol, look whose turn it was now.

"You can say anything to justify why you abandoned me but don't you ever lie on my father's head because he's dead and can't defend himself," I growled lowly, frowning at Benjamin and then Eve.

"How about you check this out then?" Benjamin aggressively tossed his phone on the desk. It slid in front of me.

My teeth gnashed together, the vein in my temple ticking like a bomb. I stared at his phone, my hand clenched beside me.

My heart raced a tattoo, fear gnawing deep into my vein. I feared what I was going to meet if I held that phone to my face.

One thing was certain - the thing in that phone was going to shatter everything I once believed.

"Do it!" Benjamin yelled.

"Just forget it, Benjamin." Eve said softly, wanting to take the phone.

I snatched it immediately, my hands trembling slightly.

"We've covered enough for Connell. You need him now, more than ever," I heard Benjamin say but my mind and heart was glued to the name that sat on the top of the screen

Connell Clarke

A dull ache shot across my chest, my heart constricting with pain.

My finger finally dropped on the screen, scrolling down to messages dated years back.

The last conversations between my father and Benjamin were arguments. My eyes pinned on one from my father, knocking out breaths from my lungs.

Connell: I know I can't stop cheating on my wife with other women but isn't she meant to understand? Maybe believe that I'll try to change?

Then my eyes dropped to another one dated days before his death.

Connell: The minute she doesn't go back with me, the Restraint Order against her will commence. I'll make sure I sever the tie between her and my son. I promise, and you can't stop me, Ben."

"Is...is this true?" My voice cracked, my eyes meeting that of my mother's and Benjamin.

"Confirm the number. You used to know his number, don't you?"

So I did so, my eyes tearing up. My mouth parted - it was the same number. It was my father's number.

"No!"

"This was the restraining order from his lawyer the next day," Eve pushed the paper to me. "He threatened to kill me and ruin my life if I went against him. That was what he said to me that day when I turned him down,"

I bent my head to the table, quiet. My blood boiled with rage.

All these while, I had been supporting the villain. I was supporting a man who only cared about his fucking self.

"Fuck!" I jumped up, the chair flying back.

"Ryder!" Uriel stood up at once, placing her hand on my chest. "Please calm down"

"How the fuck do you expect me to calm down when I'm just finding out that I've been on the wrong side! How?!"

"I didn't want you to find out this way but I have to be selfish," Eve stood up, her eyes teary as well.

"Tell me everything, Eve," I said, quietly sitting down.

She nodded, resuming her seat. "So, you were just born when I found out that he had other women he entertained. Imagine finding out as a new mother... It was heart breaking," she swallowed hard. "I kept praying. I called Benjamin and Benjamin said he was going to talk to him and that I was overthinking. He didn't want me to bother over it in that state,"

My eyes moved to Benjamin whose hands were folded.

"Then you got to seven years and it became too obvious. He kept staying out late, starting to take so many night calls, became too sensitive with his things, forgot your birthday, our anniversary and other important things." She covered her mouth, sobbing softly.

My stomach twisted, my hand curling into a fist.

I remembered those birthdays. She always covered for him, saying his work wouldn't let him.

"When you were Eleven, I saw him with a girl, kissing her by the side of the road. Shamelessly!" She clutched her chest, squeezing hard. "I confronted him and he... He -"

Gina pulled my mother to her chest, rubbing her shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, putting Eve in order.

Uriel placed her hand on my fist, brushing her thumb up and down. It didn't help my anger one bit but I was glad she was here.

"What did he do to you?"

My mother sat up properly, looking down as she spluttered, "he slapped me. He reigned insults on me, called me a cheap whore trying to tie him down."

My jaw clenched hard, my teeth almost pulled out.

"He didn't." I sneered under my breath

My eyes saw red.

My mother woke up every morning, showing up for the family. She would prepare breakfast for us all and did same at night, sleeping on the couch as she waited for my 'busy' dad.

How could he say that?

"So I told him I'd leave his house. He told me that i would be doing him a favour." Eve hiccuped. "I wanted to stay for you but my mental health was far too fucked. I just couldn't," she shook her head. "I'm sorry,"

"No." I looked at her through my blurry vision. "I am sorry for stabbing you in the back, siding with the monster that hurt you,"

"I would've come for you but I was in rehab. I wanted to get better first before coming." She brought out another paper. It was a hospital paper.

I picked it up, looking at all her activities during the years. She really spent it in rehab.

"Then I got diagnosed with cancer two years back and relapsed again," she pushed another paper to me. She had so much evidence.

My lips quivered.

I stood up, walking to her.

She stood up, tears streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.

Holding her two hands, I fell to my knees. "Forgive me, mother,"

She shook her head, falling to her knees too. She wrapped her arms around me, rocking me back and forth. "Shhh baby. It's not your fault. You never did anything wrong,"

"I fucking hurt you."

"No, you didn't. He did, not you," she trailed her hand down my hair. "I'm so proud you're nothing like him,"

We stayed like that, comforting each other. After a while, I stood up going to thank Benjamin for being a good father figure to me.

Uriel walked up to us, yelling. "Group hug!"

We all gathered around, smiling - our hearts lighter than how we all came.

"Hi, I'm Uriel."

"I'm sorry about last time, dear. Thank you for looking out for my son." Eve pecked Uriel's cheek.

Gina and I exchanged pleasantries and then we all sat down, trying to catch up with each other's life. Benjamin's fianceé joined us minutes later, happy to meet everyone.

"It's Ryder!!!" Uriel pointed at me, recounting an event

I was about defending myself when my phone pinged on the desk. Everyone went quiet, staring at me.

"Excuse me," I took permission, unlocking my phone. It was a message.

Swallowing hard, I opened it, reading slowly. My breath hitched, loud enough for everyone to hear. Clenching my jaw, I raised my head, staring only at Uriel.