Chapter 79 YOUR DREAMS, MY RUIN
Kelvin’s POV
I was just about to leave for work when I saw a taxi pull up in front of the house and drop Nancy off.
I watched as she paid the driver before slowly making her way toward the gate.
But even though I was standing right in front of her, she didn’t seem to notice me at all. She looked completely absent-minded, like her thoughts were somewhere far away.
“Nancy!” I called out.
But she didn’t react.
She kept walking as if she hadn’t heard me.
Frowning, I stepped forward and tapped her shoulder.
She jumped slightly and spun around to face me, looking startled.
“Oh my God, Kelvin. It’s just you,” she said, trying to catch her breath as if she had been expecting someone else.
“I’m sorry for startling you, but… are you okay?” I asked, already worried.
Ever since she came back from Chicago, she hadn’t been acting like herself. And ever since Jaxon appeared in her life again, things had only become stranger.
“Yeah, I’m good,” she said quickly, running her hands through her hair before forcing a small smile.
“Are you sure? Does it have something to do with the ranch?” I pressed carefully, watching her reaction.
But she simply shook her head, her gaze barely holding mine.
“Let’s talk later, Kelvin. I have to go get ready. I’ll be leaving for Renna’s school shortly,” she said hurriedly.
“Oh right. Today is Bring Your Parents to School Day. I almost forgot about that,” I replied.
She smiled faintly.
But something about the moment felt… off.
Since when had things become so awkward between us?
“Do you want me to come with you?” I asked. “You know Annabelle and I attended that of last season.”
She smiled again, finally meeting my gaze properly for the first time since I had stopped her.
“You don’t have to do that anymore, Kelvin. Renna is my responsibility, and I’m here now.”
Her voice was gentle—but firm.
There was no room for argument.
“But I really don’t mind being there for Renna,” I said quietly. “In fact, I kind of liked it when people thought I was Renna’s dad.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I couldn’t hide my feelings anymore.
But Nancy…
She was impossible to read.
I waited for her to react to my words, but she only smiled.
“Thank you, Kelvin. For always taking care of Renna—both when I’m around and when I’m not.”
“Does that mean I can come with you? Please?” I asked.
She hesitated for a brief moment before finally nodding with a small smile.
“Fine. You can tag along. I’m sure Renna will love having you around.”
That alone made me smile.
Knowing that she still trusted me with Renna meant more to me than she probably realized.
But the sadness in Nancy’s eyes remained.
She still looked… lost.
“You can head out first,” I told her. “I need to meet someone in town, and I’ll join you and Renna at the school afterward.”
She nodded before heading inside.
Pulling out my phone, I stared at the hotel address displayed on the screen.
I waited until my ride arrived before giving the Uber driver the address.
As the car pulled away, I let out a slow sigh.
She finally wanted to see me after all these years.
But knowing her too well, I knew she hadn’t suddenly flown into town just to see the son she had abandoned at an orphanage when he was only nine.
When the car finally stopped in front of the luxurious hotel, I stepped out and made my way inside.
Approaching the reception desk, I gave the receptionist my mother’s name.
After verifying it in her system, she handed me a swipe key card with the same room number my mother had sent me in her message.
“Why do I need a key if I’m only visiting her?” I asked, slightly confused.
“She instructed me to give that to you so you can let yourself in anytime you want during her stay,” the receptionist replied politely.
I gently pushed the key card back toward her.
“No need. I won’t be needing it,” I said, forcing a small smile.
Then I turned and took the elevator up to the sixth floor.
Walking down the quiet hallway, I stopped in front of the door labeled 348.
For a moment, I just stood there.
My heart pounded loudly in my chest.
Finally, I lifted my hand and rang the bell.
Seconds later, the door slowly opened.
And there she was.
The woman who had abandoned me at the door of that orphanage… just to chase a life she never had.
She hadn’t changed much.
The only difference I could see were the faint wrinkles on her face—silent proof of how many years had passed.
“Oh, my baby.”
Her voice trembled slightly as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my waist.
I just stood there, unsure of what to do.
I used to be the one who fit perfectly into her arms. Back then, I loved the warmth of her embrace.
But now…
It felt empty.
Like we were nothing more than two strangers pretending to know each other.
When she finally pulled away, she smiled widely before opening the door further.
“Well, come in,” she said excitedly.
I stepped inside nervously, taking in the luxurious space around me.
She led me to the living room, where she offered me a drink before sitting across from me with her legs crossed, casually sipping from her glass.
I only stared at her.
She was still the same when it came to masking her emotions.
Those smiles of hers…
They never reached her eyes.
Just like the day she promised she would come back for me years ago.
But instead, she kept moving me from place to place whenever she felt I had become a threat to her life.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” she suddenly asked. “You’ve just been staring at me blankly.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Aren’t you happy to see me after all these years? You used to blow up my phone with calls after I left you at the orphanage, begging to see me.”
The way she casually said those words—as if they were something to laugh about—made anger surge through me.
“Well, news flash,” I said coldly, grabbing the glass of wine sitting on the table and downing it in one gulp, “I’m no longer the nine-year-old you left behind to chase your dreams.”
My words stunned her.
But I didn’t care.
I had already realized something a long time ago.
She would never understand what those decisions did to me.
She would never understand what I had to go through just so I could stay hidden—just so her dreams could come true.
“I don’t understand,” she said, her voice growing sharper. “I left you at that orphanage because I wanted a better future for both of us. So don’t stand there sounding so ungrateful.”
The smile that had once been on her face disappeared instantly.
“You’re still the same, mother,” I replied bitterly. “Always blaming others and making excuses for your mistakes.”
I took a step closer.
“You ruined my childhood, and I’m not going to let you ruin anything else now.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“The only reason I came here today is to tell you to stay away from the Carter family ranch. I will not let you destroy something else that actually matters to me.”
I paused, my jaw tightening.
“That’s why I won’t stand in your way anymore.”
With that, I stood up, ready to leave.
Her face immediately turned cold.
But I didn’t care.
I walked toward the door without looking back.
But her next words stopped me in my tracks—and instantly shattered what little patience I had left.
“I don’t understand you,” she said sharply. “Why are you acting like this when we’re already so close to getting what we want?”
I turned around slowly, anger exploding inside me.
“You mean what you want,” I snapped.
I marched back toward her.
“Don’t stand there and feed me that crap. I never wanted any of this! But everything has always been about what you want—even if it means destroying someone else’s life!”
My voice echoed through the room.
“Don’t ever call my phone again,” I warned coldly. “And stay away from the Carter family ranch.”
I stared straight into her eyes.
“Or I swear I will destroy every single thing you’ve spent your life building.”
I stepped back toward the door.
“Now if you’ll excuse me… I have somewhere far more important to be.”