Chapter 157 157

Chapter 157 157
RYAN

By the time I pulled into the parking lot outside the café across from St. Matthew's Hospital, the anger that had threatened to consume me earlier had settled into something far more dangerous. 

I was no longer interested in shouting or demanding answers because those emotions belonged to the version of me who had spent months reacting to everyone else's lies. 

The man who stepped out of his car now wanted only one thing, and that was the truth, no matter how ugly it turned out to be.

The café overlooked the hospital entrance through a wall of glass windows, making it impossible to miss the steady stream of doctors, nurses, patients, and families moving in and out of the building. I had chosen this place deliberately. 

If Miranda had truly been pregnant, there would be no excuse for refusing to walk a few steps into the hospital with me. If she wasn't, then whatever game she had been playing was about to end.

She was already there when I walked in.

For a brief moment, I almost laughed at how perfectly she looked like someone preparing for a romantic evening instead of a confrontation. 

Her dark hair had been styled into soft waves that framed her face, her makeup was flawless, and the fitted cream-colored dress she wore had clearly been chosen to turn heads. Even from across the room, I could smell the expensive perfume that always seemed to announce her presence before she spoke.

She looked up the moment she saw me, and a slow smile spread across her lips.

"I was beginning to think you'd stood me up."

I pulled out the chair across from her but made no move to sit.

Instead, I looked her over once before saying, "I can see you're dressed for a date."

The smile on her face widened.

"I believe we're getting to know each other, Ryan," she replied, her voice carrying that familiar confidence she always seemed to wear. "I think we can call this a date."

"Well," I said calmly, "I'm glad you came."

She leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other.

"I knew you would come around eventually, BOSS."

I ignored what she said.

"Would you mind coming into the hospital with me?"

The smile disappeared almost instantly.

Her brows knitted together as she stared at me.

"Excuse me?"

"The hospital," I repeated, nodding toward the building visible through the café window. "It's only a short walk."

She laughed once, although there wasn't much humor behind it.

"Why on earth would I do that?"

I finally took the seat across from her, folding my hands together on the table as I met her eyes.

"Because I want this settled today."

She studied my face carefully, searching for something she clearly couldn't find.

"I don't understand."

"I think you do."

A flicker of uncertainty crossed her expression before disappearing just as quickly.

"I've spent the last few hours imagining every possible ending to this situation," I continued evenly. "Some of them involved arguments. Some involved you storming out. Some involved me believing whatever explanation you decided to give me."

She shifted uncomfortably.

"But today isn't going to end that way."

Her smile had vanished completely now.

"What are you talking about?"

I glanced toward the front entrance of the café where two large security officers stood talking quietly with the manager.

"They're here because I asked them to be."

Her eyes followed my gaze before returning to me.

"Ryan..."

"I'm not asking them to touch you," I said before she could jump to conclusions. "They're here to make sure neither of us causes a scene if emotions get out of control. That's all."

She stared at me without speaking.

"I've already arranged for a doctor inside the hospital to see us. If you're pregnant, we'll confirm it today. If you're telling the truth, then I'll apologize for doubting you, and we'll discuss what comes next like adults."

"And if I don't go?"

I held her gaze.

"Then I'll have my answer."

For several long seconds, neither of us spoke.

The confidence she had walked into the café with was beginning to crack.

"I don't appreciate being cornered like this," she finally said.

"I'm not cornering you."

"It certainly feels that way."

"No," I replied quietly. "Cornering someone is convincing them they're carrying your child when they have no way of proving otherwise."

Color drained from her face.

She reached for her handbag.

"I think this conversation is over."

She pushed back her chair and stood.

"I've had enough."

The two security officers glanced in our direction, not moving, simply observing exactly as I had asked them to.

Miranda noticed them immediately.

Her jaw tightened.

"This is insane."

"No," I said as I slowly rose to my feet. "Weeks of lies were insane."

She looked toward the exit again before squeezing her eyes shut for a brief second.

When she opened them, the fight I'd seen moments earlier had been replaced by something much closer to panic.

"I am not going into that hospital."

"Why?"

Silence.

"Miranda."

"I just..."

She swallowed hard.

"I don't want to."

"You don't want to," I repeated carefully, "or you can't?"

Her breathing became uneven.

People nearby had begun noticing the tension between us, although no one was close enough to hear the conversation.

"I asked you one simple question."

Still nothing.

I took one step closer, lowering my voice.

"If you're pregnant, proving it should be the easiest thing in the world."

She looked away.

"Miranda."

Another long silence stretched between us before she suddenly threw her hands into the air.

"I'm not pregnant!"

The words burst out louder than she intended, causing several people to turn toward us.

"I was never pregnant!"

For a moment, the entire café seemed to disappear around me.

I had expected it.

Prepared for it.

I closed my eyes briefly before exhaling.

"Good," I said quietly.

When I opened them again, my voice was steady.

"Thank you for finally telling the truth."

She stared at me, tears gathering in her eyes.

"You think this makes you the victim?"

"No."

"You threatened me."

"I asked you to verify a lie."

She shook her head frantically.

"You don't understand."

"Then help me understand."

Her breathing quickened.

"I'll be filing a report," I continued. "Attempting to deceive someone into believing they're the father of a nonexistent child is a serious matter, and everything you've admitted today has been documented."

Fear flashed across her face.

"No..."

"The police may contact you after I've spoken with my lawyer."

She looked completely shaken now.

"I didn't come up with this!"

I froze.

"What?"

"It wasn't my idea!"

Her voice cracked as tears finally spilled down her cheeks.

"I didn't even want to do it at first."

The air seemed to leave my lungs.

"Then whose idea was it?"

She stared at me for several agonizing seconds before finally breaking.

"It was your mother."

Everything inside me went still.

Miranda covered her face with trembling hands before whispering the words that shattered whatever hope remained.

"She told me to fake the pregnancy... because she said it was the only way you'd leave Emily."