"About what happened last night…" she took her lower lip between her teeth. "I'll give you a chance to explain yourself but you and I are not sleeping in the—"
"I'm not asking for an option, Steph. I asked for a divorce and that's what I'm going to settle for," Ryan said. There are two reasons for which Stephanie has been keeping Ryan as her husband all these while. First one is obvious. Even with his lack of ambition, the guy knows how to cook, clean the house and make sure everything is in order. The second one… just thinking about it made her breath catch in her throat. Grandfather was the one who ordered that she marry Ryan. All those bitches and sons of bitches that were from her mother and father's family side only had to hear that she's divorced Ryan and they would cut her inheritance. She sighed and looked at Ryan. "Ryan, I can forgive you if—" "I already told you what I want," he said, an anger that Stephanie had never noticed before was on his face. "If you're thinking about money, you don't have to worry. I'm not going to collect any penny from you." Stephanie turned her back on him so that he wouldn't notice the frustration on her face. She's never lost in an argument to Ryan and she wouldn't start losing to him now. "Go and prepare breakfast. I will think about what you asked for and give you a reply this evening. Besides, I have a long day ahead —" "I don't care if you have all the files in the whole world on your table, I'm getting a divorce and that's final." She turned to look at him. "Stop being a stubborn fool and give me time to think. Or do you think I'd have come this far if I made hasty decisions like you?" "Meet me at the government agency by ten am," Ryan said and left. Long after he had left, Stephanie continued staring at the door. She ran her hand over her hair. What the hell is wrong with Ryan? Why is he getting worked up over an issue that made no sense at all? They could settle this without having to go through some divorce shit and get her inheritance in jeopardy. And, does he think it's that easy to provide for himself? She was sure Ryan had never worked all his life. He was brought from an orphanage to the Villa. Does he think anyone would hire him without any working experience? She hissed and turned back to her drawer. She glanced at his bed. If it were the other normal morning, Ryan would have gotten out of bed and he would be waking her right now with a cup of coffee. Used to making it for years now, he knew the exact taste she wanted. She swallowed hard and continued searching for the emergency contraceptives. It was only a matter of minutes before Ryan would come back on his knees, begging her. When Stephanie arrived at the waiting room of the government, Ryan went inside with her. He noticed people staring at him. Of course, he was wearing cheap clothes from Walmart, and it didn't compare in any way to the long, expensive gold dress Stephanie was wearing. He knew he must have looked like her chauffeur, but he didn't care if he looked worse. At the mention of any of the Hill family's presence in the office, workers in the office ran around to get the paperwork for the divorce. Within minutes, the divorce papers were ready. Since there were no assets they shared, the process was fairly simple. "Remember that there is no going back after we sign this paper," Stephanie told Ryan just as he was about to input his signature. Ryan didn't reply to her, he just signed what he had to sign and left the office. An expensive red car was parked in front of the building. Curiously, Ryan slowed down his pace to see the owner of the car. He noticed that other people seemed to do the same. A man in sunglasses and an expensive suit came out. Just his appearance would have made him every woman's dream. Stephanie ran toward the man and the man pulled her in a hug. That was when it hit Ryan. The man is Anderson. "My gosh. The weather suddenly seems hot," Ryan heard someone say. "They look perfect together," a woman said, watching Anderson and Stephanie as she walked past Ryan. "I wish my boyfriend would see this and register our marriage quickly," Ryan heard another person say. From where he was, Anderson could see Ryan's mouth hung open. He swore that if Ryan's heart was visible, he would see it breaking into a million pieces right now. To make matters worse, Anderson leaned into Stephanie and kissed her. "How did you know I was here?" Stephanie asked. Anderson raised his phone. "Your location." Looking at Ryan's hurt face, Anderson kissed Stephanie again. "Hop in the car. I'll drive you home but I've to see someone," Anderson said. Stephanie nodded and got into the car. She hissed when she caught sight of Ryan walking away. Finally, her dream man, Anderson, is here. To hell with Ryan. Ryan stopped walking when he saw Anderson in front of him. Anderson took off his sunglasses to look at him. "You look fifty," Anderson said. Ryan plastered a smile on his face, hoping it would do enough to hide his anger. He had thought Stephanie was more reasonable than this. Why would she call her boyfriend here? To witness the divorce? Obviously... "I would have suggested riding with us to the Villa so you can pack your stuff but..." Anderson assessed Ryan's clothes. "I've never had material less than a hundred dollars in my car before. I guess you'd understand." "I don't remember asking you for a ride." Ryan's lips curved in a smile, imitating Anderson's grin. "Of course. I'm just being considerate to the man who just lost his wife to a man better than him." He put his sunglasses back on. "I don't have small change, I'd have offered some money for a cab ride." Anderson pat Ryan on the shoulder. "Trek, dude. It won't hurt your ego. I mean, you never had one." With another grin, Anderson put on his sunglasses and walked to his car. Ryan found himself laughing after Anderson had left. He laughed so hard that people who were walking past cast him odd looks, seeming to ask if he was insane. Yes! He's insane. Who, if not an insane man, would have continued loving a woman that doesn't care if he even exists? "Ryan," he muttered to himself as he started walking again. "When did you become this man who's lost focus on what matters?" He had just reached the curb when a limited edition black Bentley limousine pulled up in front of him.The car door opened and a tall man who looked like he was in his late forties walked toward Ryan, about two bodyguards escorted him. The man was no other person than the family butler. He bowed slightly before Ryan. "Sir, your three-year period agreement with the master has ended and since you couldn't keep Miss Stephanie with you all these while, you should return to New York and inherit the family business according to your promise." Ryan was fifteen years old when he was abducted by people he couldn't recognize, and he had lost his memory since then. When he was at the orphanage home, he accidentally saved a man sprawled on the floor. The man turned out to be the master of Hill's family. He took Ryan to the Hill family and three years ago, Stephanie's grandfather, to show his appreciation to Ryan, asked that Ryan get married to Stephanie. Ryan had been under the impression that the Master of the Hill's family might have arranged the marriage for an extra purpose, but he ne
"Master said you don't have to return home now if you don't want to, but you have to manage the subsidiary of the conglomerate here in Atlanta," the butler said as Ryan read through the contract. "What if I don't manage the subsidiary and at the same time don't return home?" "I am afraid, Sir, Master would have to retaliate against the Hill family." Ryan glanced sharply at the butler. "What?" He asked, more shocked than surprised. "Dad told you that?" "Yes, Sir." Ryan shifted his weight on one leg. His father had him cornered. Before Stephanie's grandfather died, the man had made Ryan promise that he would take good care of the Hill family business. Even after what had happened between him and Stephanie in the past few hours, he couldn't bring himself to watch her family business get destroyed because of him. But wait a minute… He glanced at the butler who was waiting for his response. "Dad told you he would retaliate against the Hill family if I don't manage the subsi
Mrs Hill raised her chin in a haughty manner. She dressed in expensive clothes and wore one of her heel shoes that often made Ryan wonder how she found it convenient to walk in them. She was accompanied by some women wearing expensive clothes too. Each of them were carrying shopping bags, making it obvious that they had just gone on another show-off shopping, displaying how much money they had. Ryan's eyes moved back to Mrs Hill who was looking at him in total disdain. "What is wrong?" He asked. Mrs Hill was slightly caught off guard by the cold manner in which Ryan responded to her. If it were some other time, he would have bowed immediately he saw her. Is he sick? "What are you doing here? You are supposed to be home getting the breakfast ready for the family, you ungrateful idiot," She said in disdain. "Ungrateful idiot?" Ryan asked coldly. "What more do I have to do so that you can be satisfied?" He moved closer to her and looked her straight in the eyes. "Ever since I go
Ryan could not help the smile that came on his face as he listened to the woman who used to be his mother-in-law threatening him with divorce. "Ma'am, I already divorced your daughter. Save yourself the bother," Ryan said. The confusion on her face and the way her veins appeared because of her tight grip on the phone amused Ryan. He has never thought he would be able to get any reaction from her other than disdain and mockery. The call connected and Mrs Hill heard Stephanie's voice at the other end. She wondered if what Ryan just said was true but if it was, then it is a dream come true. Stephanie deserved to be married to a wealthy man. "Stephanie, I can't put up with your husband's attitude anymore. I can't! He is getting more rebellious every second." Mrs Hill saw Ryan sneer and walk away. "Ryan…?" Stephanie asked at the other end. "He disrespected me in front of the society women just because I asked him why he isn't home to cook breakfast. As if that is not enough, he wa
"I see you are new here, call me if you ever feel stuck. I will be at your service even if it is in the middle of the night," the cab man said. Ryan looked from the cab man to the card. He wanted to ask the man why he thought he would need his service again but he collected it. Inside the car, the cab man had made him two different men, maybe there would be another rumour that would make him a man with three contrasting identities if he spent more time with the cab man. Outside the Villa, Ryan stared at the building for a long time. He's spent six years in this place. He let out a deep breath and went inside, deliberately using the steps instead of the elevator to go inside the room he used to share with Stephanie. He had only taken two steps when he saw a man climbing down the staircase. The man Stephanie had moaned his name. Ryan felt a bile rising in his throat as his eyes met with Anderson's eyes. Anderson grinned at him. Deciding to ignore Anderson, Ryan continued c
"I am not saying you shouldn't call the police if you want, but you should take a look at this first so that you will know who to get arrested," Ryan said. Stephanie glanced from the papers Ryan was holding to him. She wondered what he was up to. She grabbed the papers from him and opened it. Inside was the details of the debts that Anderson owed and something else… she scanned through the evidence She had been drugged the night before. She let out a gasp as she realized who had planned the whole thing. Anderson! There were pictures that had been taken from the CCTV camera of the bar where she had been last night. The bar man had added something to her drink after he was seen with Anderson. "What…?" Her lips quivered. The papers fell from her. She slowly looked at Anderson. "What's wrong?" Anderson scrambled from the floor. He ran up the stairs to where she was and picked the papers from the floor. His eyes scanned through the page. He ran his hand through his ha
After Ryan left, his words seemed to hang on and cause an uncomfortable silence in the room. Stephanie remained where she was, staring at Anderson. But Anderson needed no one to tell him that even though she was staring at him, her mind was faraway. Anderson finally decided to move closer to her. He took a step toward her, but she took two steps backward. "Babe—" "Stop. Don't come closer." She raised her hand to accompany how well she meant what she said. "I am sorry, babe. I didn't do it for my own selfish interest. I did it for you," Anderson said. Noticing Stephanie's puzzled face, he continued talking, adding his excuses together. "I wanted to help you escape this miserable life quickly. Even if you had come to me last night, nothing would have happened between us. I swear. You mean a lot more to me than you can ever imagine," Anderson said. His lies seemed to have some effects on her as her face slowly began to lit up. "Can't you see the freedom you have now? Tha
She hissed, rolled her eyes on Ryan before she looked back at the laptop to continue watching the movie she had been secretly watching. If not for the movie, she would sleep throughout all the time of her shift since nothing happens here except watching very rich people come in and go out."Call the general manager directly and —"The receptionist hit her fist on her desk, interrupting Ryan."Do you have any difficulty in locating the door leading outside?" She asked. Irritation evident on her round face.Ryan frowned. He looked her straight in the eye, waiting for her to do what he asked.When she saw how determined the man dressed in Walmart clothes was, the receptionist picked the phone. She couldn't wait to see him thrown out by the security men. After all these days, maybe she could watch a live drama in the company. She rolled her eyes on the man in disdain again and snorted. He has a real gut. Does he think he is special or something coming here without an appointment?"Ma'am.