Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan)

Chapter 74

LILY

Ryan is in deep shit. The news all over the media looks very serious and I fear it might land him in jail. Accusing him of stealing a design is a very big deal, and the fact that he hasn't been taking my calls but replying to my messages after many hours of being sent proves that he is indeed busy handling the messy situation.

I just hope his company comes out of this unscathed. Moving my gaze to my phone, I checked to confirm if he had returned the message I sent to him over four hours ago but hasn't replied just yet.

The intercom on my desk rang, pulling me out of my thoughts, and my gaze away from my phone. Sighing, I picked up the call. "What is it, Jessica?" I asked my secretary.

"Sorry to disturb you, ma'am, but Mrs. Sarah Williams is here and insists on seeing you without an appointment. Should I let her in?" Jessica's voice came through the intercom, interrupting my thoughts.

Ugh, what could Sarah want now? This isn't the time for confrontations. "Let her in," I replied wearily before ending the call.

A few minutes later, the door to my office creaked open, and Sarah sauntered in, her gaze sweeping over the room. "I see you've made yourself quite comfortable with the money you received from your divorce settlement with my son," she remarked, her tone dripping with disdain.

I couldn't believe she had the audacity to say that. Rising from my seat, I approached her, taking a seat beside her on the sofa. "Do you honestly believe this office was furnished with money from a divorce settlement?" I countered, incredulous. "You seem to have a rather inflated view of your son's wealth." Sitting back, I crossed my legs, steeling myself for whatever confrontation she had in store. "How may I help you?"

"I'm here to tell you to stay away from my son," Sarah retorted, her words causing my brows to shoot up in surprise.

"I beg your pardon?" I responded, taken aback by her audacity.

"You heard me the first time," she deadpanned, her expression stern. "My son is in this mess right now because he was too preoccupied running after you."

I blinked twice in disbelief. "And how exactly is that my fault?" I countered, feeling a surge of frustration building within me.

"Because you won't stay away from him!" Sarah exclaimed, her arms crossing defensively across her chest. "If you're not going to take him back, then leave him alone!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "So, let me get this straight. Your son is the one pursuing me, yet I'm the one being scolded?" I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "Fantastic." Leaning back in my seat, I crossed my legs, meeting her gaze squarely. "Listen to me, Sarah. I can't stay away from Ryan. He's the father of my kids."

"Then hand the kids over," Sarah snapped, her voice laced with frustration and anger. "I honestly don't even want you as a daughter-in-law again," she added, her tone dripping with disdain.

"Ditto," I responded, my tone cool and collected despite the tension in the room. Her words didn't faze me; if anything, they reinforced me to stand my ground. "I'm not ready to have you and your husband back as my in-laws."

Her lips curled in anger at my retort, "I see you no longer have fear and respect for me and my husband," she accused, her eyes sweeping across my office as if searching for evidence to support her claim. "Why? Because you've managed to build this for yourself?" she added, her voice tinged with bitterness.

I shook my head, dismissing her assumption with a wave of my hand. "This has nothing to do with my social status," I clarified, my tone firm. "It's about you," I continued, leaning forward to meet her gaze. "Respect is earned, Sarah, and you haven't earned mine. Not when I was married to Ryan, and certainly not now," I asserted.

"How dare you!" Sarah yelled, her face flushed with anger. "Where do you get the audacity?"

"From the fact that I no longer have to fear you," I replied calmly, refusing to back down. My patience with her was wearing thin. "I submitted to you years ago because I wanted to please Ryan. But now, the tables have turned," I explained, a sense of liberation washing over me. "Now, it's your son who's eager to please me."

Sarah's glare intensified, her eyes dark with fury. "What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded, her voice sharp with apprehension.

"It means that your son is now the one striving to make me happy," I clarified.

Unable to contain her rage, Sarah rose to her feet, her fists clenched at her sides. "Stay away from my son, Lily, or I'll be forced to fight back," she threatened, her words laced with venom. "I can shut this place down faster than you think." Her eyes scanned my office, her expression filled with malice.

Now she was really pushing my buttons. Stepping closer to her, I narrowed the distance between us. "For someone who spent all her years playing house, you think you have what it takes to shut this place down?" I challenged, my voice steady despite the rising tension between us. Did she even realize the caliber of investors backing this hospital? Did she truly believe they would stand idly by while she attempted to dismantle it?

This wouldn't be a battle between her and me; it would be between her and the entire board. And frankly, she stood a better chance of getting me off my seat than she did of closing down this hospital.

Her warning fell on deaf ears. "Do not push me, Lily," she cautioned. "Just stay away from my son while I'm still being civil."

I refused to be intimidated by her empty words.

"How about you don't test my patience," I challenged, meeting her gaze head-on. "Or I might just consider being your daughter-in-law again." Her eyes narrowed in disbelief, but I couldn't help but smirk slyly.

"All it would take is a few words, Sarah," I continued, my tone laced with confidence. "And if you try this nonsense again, I'll go straight to Ryan and say those words. I'll show up at every family dinner and function wearing his ring."

I could see the realization dawning in her eyes. She knew I had the upper hand, and she couldn't come up with a suitable retort. With a frustrated huff, she grabbed her purse and stormed out of my office, slamming the door behind her. Sighing in relief, I shrugged on my coat and made my way out of the office. I needed to do something to take my mind off the infuriating encounter I'd just had with Sarah.

***********

As I approached my car in the parking lot after work, I noticed Jake standing across the road, his eyes fixed on me. It seemed to be becoming a habit for him.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

Throwing my purse into the car, I crossed the street to confront him. "Do you realize you're starting to behave like a stalker?" I questioned, unable to mask my irritation.

He reached into his jacket nervously, offering a sheepish smile. "I missed you, but I didn't have the courage to approach you or talk to you," he admitted.

A few months ago, I might have been swayed by his words and forgiven him. But now, things were different. "Jake, you need to stop showing up around me. You're making me uncomfortable," I asserted firmly.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his tone filled with regret. "I know I messed up, Lily. I should have believed you and trusted in you. Nothing I say justifies the fact that I failed you, and I'm the reason our relationship collapsed," he confessed.

I blinked at him, silently observing as he attempted to manipulate me with his words.

"I know what I'm about to say might sound like I'm asking for too much, but I miss you, Lily. I miss the boys," he confessed, his words striking a nerve. The mention of my kids threatened to make me lose my composure, but I held myself together. "I really want you back, Lily. I want us back," he pleaded, desperation evident in his voice.

"Why?" I asked, still grappling with the betrayal I had endured at his hands. The realization that he had deceived me for over a year and almost led me to marry him left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Because I love you, Lily. I can't function effectively without you," he insisted, his words dripping with emotion.

But I saw through his facade. "I can't trust you to take my side in the future, Jake. I don't trust that I have your complete trust."

He took a step closer, his expression earnest. "You do now. I swear on everything I own, Lily. I trust you one hundred percent," he insisted, his voice filled with conviction.

I couldn't help but inwardly scoff. What did he even own? The degree wasn't his, the name wasn't his, the job wasn't his, the car wasn't his-nothing, absolutely nothing, belonged to him. He was nothing but a façade, a hollow shell of a man.

"If we get back together, Jake, you'll have to work hard to earn my trust again," I replied firmly, refusing to be swayed by his words.

"I'll do everything and anything to make sure that happens," he promised.

Putting on a facade of agreement, I forced a smile, though I knew it was impossible to look at him the same way I once did. "Fine. Let's give it another try," I conceded, knowing full well that I had my own game to play.

"But we'll start by keeping my kids away from you until I'm certain this will really work," I added, drawing a clear boundary to protect my children.

Two can play the game you bastard.