Ryan nodded in support, spotting a half smile. “Thank you, Serena” Ryan found himself saying. Serena’s attention was far away, as she gazed at the wall without interruption.“Your face…was it him?...”.She shifted her gaze back to Ryan.“I…I'll explain later. I have to leave now to put some things in place for Sarah's funeral” Serena responded, standing up. “My condolences” Ryan muttered.Serena nodded slowly, walking away quickly. Ryan rested his head on the table briefly, blaming himself for all that happened. When he raised his head back up, the guard was already behind his chair waiting to escort him back to his cell. He wished his time with Serena had been longer like his mother's. Most of all, he wished all the good people in his life did not suffer further because of him. …“Ms. Roberts” Tony called, startling Bethany. She had just returned from the Central prison and she wanted to get a few of her documents in order before Tony's arrival. Too late. Now she understoo
“Lupita Nell, do you swear to say the truth and nothing but the truth?” Serena asked, standing right in front of the witness stand. “Yes” Lupita answered, her eyes boring into the jury.Ryan gulped hard. What kind of evidence would Lupita have that would make Serena late to the most important thing in his life currently, and even more confident than she had being the last time he saw her?Moving forward, Serena engaged Lupita in a series of questions that didn't make much sense at first but gradually began to lean towards the ‘grand evidence’. However, the prosecution began to chip in, asking controversial questions about Lupita’s past relationships.“Objection my lord! Such questions have nothing to do with the current matter and are only to lure the witness into a sense of cowardice!” Serena charged. “Objection sustained!” The judge’s voice rang. The prosecuting lawyer returned to his space with a fuming expression and Serena resumed with the questions. By the end of the inter
Wham! A slap landed on Ryan's left cheek. "Are you crazy?! Why do you want to embarrass me in front of my friends ?" Vanessa screamed at him. Ryan caressed his cheek, still shaken from the slap. It was not the first time she had slapped him like that and he knew deep down that it would not be the last time. "But I am your husband Vanessa…". "And a worthless one! You want the world to know I married you? hell no! Are you trying to sabotage me or my family's name for God's sake?! Now be a sensible person and leave my sight. I'll call you when I actually need you" Vanessa snapped at him. She watched him make his way to the kitchen with a defeated facial expression. But she didn't care. He was not going to get away with almost making the mistake of letting her perfectly curated life expose its horrible undertones. "Hey guys! I'm back!" Vanessa announced, urging the five ladies who had spread out on her king-sized bed to return their gaze from their phones to her. "Who was that
“What's going on here?”. That was Vanessa. Everyone turned to the direction of her voice. She clutched a bunch of shopping bags in her hands, while trying to balance her purse under her armpit. “Where are you coming from Vanessa?” Flora asked, concerned for their image. “That's none of your business mom, I am a grown woman” she spat. Vanessa looked around to see everyone staring at them. Then she spotted Ryan and instantly knew nothing good had happened. “Ryan, let's go” she commanded, dumping all the shopping bags on him. Ryan followed after her, wondering why she had saved him from the situation. He sensed that it was not merely to hold her shopping bags. It was completely unlike her. “Put down the bags in my closet and come join me in bed” Vanessa instructed. Ryan paused. “Huh?” He asked, surprised. “Don't make me repeat myself Ryan” she answered, dragging her words. Ryan did as instructed and returned to see her laying down, her legs spread out across the large
Ryan put his few clothes into a bag in preparation for his new life wherever he would find himself. “Going for a trip?” Kale teased. Ryan stared at him with the deepest anger in his eyes. Kale couldn't care less. “This…isn't…over, Kale. I will pay you back for all you've done to me, I promise” Ryan threatened, fighting back the tears in his eyes. “You're not even man enough to be a husband to your wife, and you want to face me? Haha!” Kale laughed. Ryan's eyes widened. "You thought I wouldn't figure it out? Your presence here always seemed suspicious. Have a nice life, loser" Kale added, walking away. Ryan clenched his fists. "Ryan! Mr. Jordan wants to see you” the head servant mentioned. Ryan dropped his fists by his side and adjusted the bag on his shoulder. It was time for him to leave. “It's good that you're ready to leave. From today, you and Vanessa are no longer married. You can return to the streets where you truly belong” Hans exclaimed, smiling wide.
"I know you may have several questions and I assure Serena will be there to answer them all. That's all, Ryan. I need to go and lay down now. I love you my son, always have, always will" Bethany concluded. The video ended. Ryan's eyes remained widened. "And that's where I come in" Serena jumped in, shutting her laptop. Ryan remained speechless. "Look, I know you had a rough childhood and all and I sympathise with you. If it makes you feel any better, she always mentioned your name in her happy moments, talking about how she wished you were with her...". "What's your purpose?" Ryan cut in sharply, his face devoid of any emotion. "Pardon?". "Why are you here?" Ryan repeated. Serena was confused, opening her mouth but no words came out. "Is it to appeal to my sympathy or get me to buy into this little seeking redemption act that my mother came up with?" Ryan posed. "Wha...". "Save it! I don't need you, my mother's or my goddamn father's sympathy for that m
Ryan walked into the bar with confidence, adjusting his tie. He spotted a few people sipping their drinks and engaged in different conversations. All of a sudden, they paused to stare at him. Ryan was confused. He had never had such an effect on anyone. It had to be his makeover. Ryan took the opportunity to wink at one of the few ladies who were obviously ogling at him. He felt like a god at that moment. He was invincible… “Excuse me, are you here to order anything or look for someone?” A voice asked. Ryan turned and his eyes met the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. “Oh no, I'm actually here to apply for a job. Is your boss in?” Ryan asked. “Oh, that's a wild assumption. I'm definitely not the boss, but he's my brother. I'm not a worker here” She answered with a straight face. “Thank you. Your eyes are beautiful though” Ryan blurted, staring at her enchanting green eyes. He had always been a firm believer in genuine compliments even if he had not received a lot of th
A WEEK LATER Ryan sat behind the counter at Danny's Bar, his new workplace. He had quickly become a favorite in the bar as a result of his brushed-up bartending skills. His reformed look earned him a special spot as the eye-candy for the groups of female friends who usually came around the bar to hang out. His coworkers, the other servers who worked away from his designated spot, quickly fell in love with his wit and free personality and began to enjoy his company and show him the ropes around his new job. It was safe to say that his first week at Danny's Bar was great enough especially since he had been used to the hatred and disgusted looks he had gotten most of his life. Ryan's life was starting to look up a little. It was not the best fresh start but he was just thankful to be free. Everything was going well at the bar until Ryan saw HIM. The same man who he had seen appear with Vanessa on different television talk shows and interviews, the supposed father of her unbor