Chapter 111 111
EMILY
I pulled away from Ryan immediately.
It felt like I had been caught doing something wrong, and the way my grandmother was staring at me made my chest tighten.
My face grew hot as I turned fully to face her.
She wasn’t smiling.
Not even a little.
“Who is he to you?” she asked again, her voice calm but sharp. “And why are you hugging him like that when your husband-to-be is standing right here?”
My heart skipped.
Husband-to-be?
So she was serious.
Completely serious.
I swallowed, trying to steady myself.
“I still have a relationship with Zara’s father… he is Zara’s father.” I said, my voice quieter than I intended.
Ryan stepped closer to me immediately.
I felt it, the silent support, the way he positioned himself just slightly in front of me like he was ready for whatever was coming.
It made my chest ache because I knew I hadn’t been giving him the same energy.
My grandmother scoffed.
The sound was low but filled with clear disapproval.
She turned her attention to the man beside her.
“Mario, did you hear that?” she asked.
Mario didn’t look surprised.
“I heard everything perfectly,” he said calmly. “And I understand.”
His tone was easy, almost too easy, like none of this bothered him.
“When Emily is ready,” he added, looking at me briefly, “she can come to me.”
My grandmother shook her head instantly.
“That’s not how life works,” she said firmly. “You are the man. You pursue her.”
That was it.
I frowned, stepping forward slightly.
“Excuse me?” I said. “You’re both talking about me like I’m not standing right here.”
They didn’t respond immediately.
That annoyed me even more.
“I would appreciate it if you actually faced me when you’re making decisions about my life,” I continued. “And why are you even saying all this in front of my daughter’s father?”
That caught her attention.
She turned back to me slowly.
Then she laughed.
It wasn’t a warm laugh.
It was sharp.
Mocking.
“And who is this?” she asked, gesturing lightly toward Ryan. “This… pauper.”
My stomach dropped.
“Where did he come from?” she continued. “And how exactly did he get into my party?”
Ryan stiffened beside me.
I felt it instantly.
“If he wants to see his daughter next time,” she added coldly, “he should book an appointment.”
That was it.
“Grandma—” I started.
“Guards,” she called out sharply.
Everything froze.
Two men moved toward us almost immediately.
My heart started racing again.
“No,” I said quickly, but my voice didn’t come out as strong as I wanted.
They got closer.
Too close.
One of them reached out.
Ryan stepped forward instantly.
“Don’t,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Don’t even try it.”
The guards hesitated.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
I stood there, frozen.
I should have said something.
I knew I should have.
But I didn’t.
And Ryan noticed.
I saw it in the way he looked at me.
Waiting.
Expecting me to say something.
To stop this.
To stand up for him.
But I stayed quiet.
My throat felt tight.
My thoughts were everywhere.
And I hated myself for it.
His expression changed.
Not anger.
Something worse.
Disappointment.
“Yeah,” he muttered softly.
That one word hit harder than anything else.
Then he stepped back.
And just like that—
He walked away.
No fight.
No resistance.
Just… gone.
My chest tightened painfully as I watched him leave.
“Ryan—” I started, but the word came out too late.
He didn’t turn back.
He didn’t stop.
He just kept walking.
And I let him.
The silence that followed felt heavy.
Too heavy.
I turned slowly to face my grandmother.
“Seriously?” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “I didn’t sign up for this.”
She looked completely unbothered.
“You did,” she replied calmly. “The moment you became a Cavendish.”
My stomach dropped.
“That’s not fair,” I said.
“Life is not fair,” she responded. “But as a Cavendish you need to understand the family structure.”
I shook my head.
“No,” I said. “This isn’t structure. This is control.”
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
“This is protection,” she corrected.
“From what?” I asked. “From him?”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation.
I let out a small, disbelieving laugh.
“He’s Zara’s father,” I said. “You don’t get to treat him like that.”
“I decide what happens around my granddaughter,” she replied. “And I will not have her tied to a man who cannot match this family when it comes to wealth.”
My chest tightened again.
“You don’t even know him,” I said.
“I know enough,” she said coldly.
Silence fell between us.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
I glanced in the direction Ryan had left.
He was gone.
Completely gone.
And something about that made my chest ache in a way I couldn’t ignore.
“This isn’t over,” I said quietly.
My grandmother didn’t react.
It was like she had already decided how everything would go.
And that scared me more than anything.
Because for the first time—
I wasn’t sure how to fight her.