Chapter 152 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO: THE CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE.

Chapter 152 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO: THE CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE.
AIDEN
I am pacing the entrance to the main house, every step feeling like time is slipping through my fingers. I ran my hand over the outline of my lips and took deep breaths. 
I was monitoring Zara’s movement in real time, but even that didn't put me at ease. I wanted her to be by my side, in reach, so I knew Rylan was just bluffing. 
“Have men sweep through the house." 
Leo bowed and disappeared. The fear that Rylan could have somehow infiltrated a house I thought was secure was nerve-wracking. 
The armored SUV sped through the gates and stopped in front of me. I yanked the door open and helped Zara out. I pulled her into a hug, every movement pulsating through my bones. 
Her hand wrapped around me, and I could feel her fear; it left her trembling. She sniffed and pressed her face into my chest. 
“I was scared, Aiden. "It was one of the few times she admitted fear. “For us, for the baby, for our future if Rylan…” 
"Don't say that." I shook my head. I stroked the back of her head, hoping to stop the way she was shaking with fear. She pulled away from me and looked down at herself. 
“I couldn't stop thinking about it. What if I had put the baby in danger?” She held her stomach. 
Her assistant, who had gotten down after her, let out a gasp. She looked like she had stumbled into a secret that was going to cost her her death. 
“I just don't know what to do." 
I held her face. “He can't do anything to us," I said in a low whisper. “Not here." I pressed my hand over hers. I didn't know the right way to give her comfort, and I was hoping I was doing it right. 
"That's right," Alexander said, coming up from behind me. He was helped out by Silas. Who had come over to help run point on all details. 
“Father…” she breathed out. Her eyes were lined with tears. I rubbed her shoulders to stop her, but all the books had said being emotional, especially at the early stage of pregnancy, was perfectly normal. 
“Come here," Alexander beckoned to her. She moved and stood right by his side. “You have nothing to worry about," he said, taking her hand in his. 
“You and your baby are safe here. If Rylan tried to cross those walls, then it means he is courting death." 
Her shoulders finally relax. She took a deep breath. Nanny Maria came up from behind my father. She stood with her hands in front of her. 
“Go on in and get settled," he said, patting her hands. 
I had expected a different reaction when I was going to tell my father about the pregnancy. Rylan sure had a way of stealing the show. 
“Nanny Maria would take good care of you," I said, stepping up to her. I wrapped my hand around her shoulder. She was no longer trembling like before. “She has been with our family for so long, you dont have to…” 
She grabbed the hem of my shirt and pouted. “I want to stay with you." 
I took a deep breath. I wanted to be with her every moment of the day, but I knew better. There was no way I would be able to fight Ryan from inside. I had to go out and meet with him. 
“I will be right there before you can tell. " I rubbed the side of her face. “I promise." 
She blinked back the tears. I hugged her once again, my lips on her ear. “If you want to cry, go ahead and cry." 
“But your staff would laugh at me," she murmured in a shaky voice. She pouted. I couldn't believe she was worried about that right now. 
“They wouldn't dare. Anyone who dares would be fired instantly." 
She sniffed again and nodded on my chest. Nanny Maria helped her into the house. I watched until she disappeared with Zoey trailing behind them. I turned to Alex and Silas. We moved to the study without a word. 
“I will go to him," I declared as soon as the door was shut. I knew that if Zara got to know, she was going to cling to me and refuse. 
“You will bite." Alex shook his head. 
“Am I supposed to sit on my hand and wait for him to come?” I asked. “This is my family we are talking about. He knows about the baby, and he is getting really desperate." 
“I am coming with you." 
I shook my head at my father. “You are old, and you are just going to slow us down." 
“What am I supposed to tell Zara?” he asked.
“I will be very at ease if you stay here with her." He nodded. 
We mapped out a plan. Silas had his men tracking Rylan. I was not going to wait for him to come to us. I would go to him first and end this once and for all. He was stationed at a dock.
“Cousin. I didn't imagine you'd visit me." He waved off his men who were standing in our path.
“You sent me an invitation too many times. It would be wrong if I didn't," I retorted as I walked to him. 
I was holding a tablet that had a record of all his crimes. The ones that my father had seen and decided to ignore just because he was ‘family’ 
He cackled and tossed the cigarette butt to the ground before squishing it under his feet. “Cingrayulatons. I hear the Knight family gets a new hire." 
I wanted to charge at him, holding him by the collar and demanding how he got to know all of this. I pushed the thoughts away because that won't get me what I want. I hand the tablet over to him. 
“Open it," I murmured as I made myself comfortable in the chair opposite him. 
I tried not to get irked by the surroundings. The cold air from the bad window and the way the floors felt sticky even through shoes. 
“The password is your birthday." 
He cast me a look of disbelief before he opened it. He scrolled through and then scanned through it. The smug smile on his face from when we stepped in was replaced with a fear-ridden smile. 
“What is this?” 
I got up and clapped before pressing my fingers onto my beltline. “Father has always considered you family." 
"Considered me family?” he scoffed and got up as well. “If he considered me family, then I should have had equal opportunities as you did. It should have been a free and fair fight for the heir title."
“It was," I chimed in before he could play the pity card. “It always was. I was the only child of my father, yet because of your father, he allowed you opportunities, but what did you do?” I stopped pacing and shook my head. 
“You used my name, and even when I let you, you bullied others and pushed your luck. You embezzled money and even committed fraud. "I listed just a few of his offenses. 
I was not here to tell him that I knew what he had done. I was here to make sure he didn't get out this time. 
“I had to use your name. The name "Ryaln Knight" meant nothing. We are both knights, so is it fair that you get it all while I am forced to live like a pauper? If the terms were clear, I should be the chairman, not you.” 
He spat out bitterly and dragged a breath. “How can you ever compete with me?” 
“I am not here to compare…” I took a step back and smiled. "It's your day of reckoning." 
I turned back and began walking. "Aiden," he called, stopping me in my tracks. I turned to him, a gun pointed in my face. 
“If I am not walking out of here alive, then I am sending your cold body to Zara." He took off the safety from the gun and smiled eerily. 
“Say hello to the devil for me."