Chapter 38--Confrontations
*Ryan*
I walk through the grand hallways of the mansion, my heart pounding in my chest, anxiety tightening its grip around my throat. Each step feels heavier than the last, my mind plagued with worries and fears. I have to find Amber. I figured the only way I could control the situation was to claim her as my fiancee.
Maybe I should have spoken to her about it first. That too, and her having to hear everything father said.
I hadn't known about her parents. Amber is about the most secretive person I know, keeping every truth to herself, refusing to share anything with me. I wonder what she thinks when she does that.
My heart still aches at the memory of the hurt in Amber’s eyes when she overheard that conversation. What must she think of me? Us? Father isn't always so upright, but I have Jasper to thank for this. All of this.
A thought snakes into my head, leaving me restless. What if she rejects all of this and leaves? The thought of her leaving, taking our child with her, strikes fear into the depths of my soul.
I navigate the maze-like corridors, my steps quickening with each passing second. I call out to her, hoping for a response.
The silence is deafening, and my panic intensifies. I rush up the grand staircase, my hands gripping the railing tightly. I enter room after room, searching for any sign of her presence, my heart pounding in my ears like a war drum.
As I hurry down the hallway, my focus solely on finding Amber, a figure suddenly appears before me. I collide with my brother Jasper, and we stumble backward, our eyes locking in a tense moment of recognition.
“Ryan,” Jasper says with a sly grin, his voice dripping with mockery. “On the hunt for Amber, are you? Cute."
My blood boils at his sarcastic tone, and anger flares within me. “I’m sure you told mother and father about Amber and our child. Did you also warn them about the ‘gold digger’ you think she is?”
Jasper’s eyes widen in surprise, but he quickly regains his composure, his face a mask of indifference. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Ryan,” he retorts, his voice cool and calculated. “You’re always so quick to jump to conclusions. Where’s your proof?”
The accusation hangs in the air, and frustration gnaws at my insides. I don’t have concrete evidence, just my gut feeling and the paranoia that has consumed me since Amber overheard our conversation. But the doubt is suffocating, threatening to tear apart everything I hold dear.
“You deserves better than Her,” Jasper continues, his words laced with disdain. “She can’t give you anything sustainable Ryan. All she does is take from you.”
I clench my fists at my sides, my lips parting to speak, but I am cut off by Jasper.
“Talking to you about this is pointless,” he scoffs and turns to take his leave.
But, I speak up. “If Amber isn’t good enough for me, then is she good enough for you? Or are you just looking for another conquest to add to your list?”
Jasper stops in his tracks, his back rigid, and slowly turns to face me. The air crackles with tension as our eyes lock once again, the unspoken rivalry between us reaching its peak. “You always were jealous, Ryan,” he says, his voice dripping with venom. “You couldn’t stand the fact that I had her before you did. But believe me, I had my fill and moved on. Maybe you should too.”
My temper reaches its breaking point. “She’s not a prize to be won, Jasper,” I growl, the words dripping with contempt. “And she sure isn’t a gold digger.”
Jasper’s eyes blaze with anger, his voice filled with icy disdain. “You’re the one who brought her into this mess, Ryan. You’re the one who dragged her into our family. Don’t blame me for the choices you’ve made.”
The resentment surges through me like a tidal wave, and I take a step closer, my voice laced with defiance. “You don’t know her like I do,” I retort. “You never did. You just used her, like you use everyone else. But mark my words, Jasper, she’s too good for the likes of you.”
A humorless laugh escapes Jasper’s lips, the sound grating against my nerves. “Oh, Ryan,” he says with a mocking smile. “You’re blinded by your own desperation. Amber is just like the rest of them—looking for a way out, looking for someone to take care of her. You’ll see.”
The anger pulses through my veins, threatening to consume me. “You’re wrong,” I seethe. “You’ve always been wrong about everything. Just stay out of my life and let me handle my own affairs.”
With those final words, I turn away from Jasper, my resolve strengthened. I refuse to let him poison my mind, to sow doubt where there should only be love and trust. I have to find Amber, mend what’s broken, and protect our future. And I won’t let anyone, especially not my own brother, stand in my way.
I continue my search for Amber, the words exchanged with Jasper still ringing in my ears. Anger and frustration pulse through my veins, but I push them aside, focusing on the single-minded determination to find her.
Room after room, I search, my heart pounding in my chest with each passing moment. The mansion feels vast and suffocating, as if mocking my efforts to reunite with the woman I love. But I refuse to give up.
And then, just as despair begins to creep in, I spot her. Amber stands at the end of a long corridor, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for something or someone. Our gazes lock, and time seems to stand still.
The anger that consumed me moments ago dissipates, replaced by a rush of relief and a surge of longing. We’ve found each other amidst the chaos, amidst the doubts and insecurities that threatened to tear us apart.
Her eyes, a mirror to her soul, reflect a mix of emotions—vulnerability, uncertainty, and a glimmer of hope. I take a step closer, unable to tear my gaze away from her, wanting to drown in the depths of her gaze, to find solace in her presence.
But before I can utter a word, before I can bridge the distance that separates us, I see her flinch ever so slightly. The wounds inflicted by my father’s words and no doubt, my secrecy on this matter, still raw. And I'm not sure what to say to her to make it any easier. Or better.