The Unstoppable Rylan Daystar

CHAPTER 2

“Shit!” Rylan yelled as he sat before his MacBook.

Eve Daystar rushed out of the kitchen to see what was going on. She found Rylan, her husband looking distraught as he rubbed his head facing his MacBook. There was a glass of scotch beside him as he sat on the dining table which was just outside the kitchen. It was a strange setup they both seemed comfortable with. Eve walked up to him and caressed his back. Rylan had a white T-shirt on and his dark brown hair looked disheveled as they covered his forehead.

“What is it, honey?” She asked.

Rylan sighed and pushed the MacBook into her view.

“My application letter has been declined,” he said. “I didn’t get the job.”

Eve placed a kiss on his cheek. Rylan was feeling down. He reached for his glass of scotch and took a sip from it.

“Don’t worry baby,” she said, trying to console him. “Just keep trying, you’ll get there soon.”

Rylan ran his fingers through his disheveled hair in frustration. He was thinking about his next move. The job had demanded him to move to New York and it had been brilliant. It meant that he wouldn’t have to see Eve’s parents every day of the week and there would be no more occasional family dinners. Last night he had been at one of those family dinners, and he had been humiliated once more by Frederick and Karen. The whole family had been present. This job had been his last resort. He wondered what next was going to happen to him. With his wife secretly running out of patience unlike her family who were quite vocal about it, he had to get a good job to be able to calm the storm that seemed to be brewing behind the scenes.

“I don’t know about that,” Rylan said. “I was sure about this one.”

Eve chuckled at his words.

“Don’t beat yourself,” she said. “They don’t know what they have missed out on.”

Deep down, Eve was unsure how long she would have to keep this up. She wondered if Rylan would be able to get back on his feet. Maybe it was time she let him go.

Rylan smiled at her words. She always had something to say whenever he was down to soothe him. She was a miracle in his life and he was glad that he had found her very early. He wondered what his life would be if he hadn’t met Eve. It would have been bland. Rylan shuddered in irritation at the thought of that.

Suddenly, the front door swung open and a figure stepped into the house. Eve and Rylan turned sharply to see what was happening. It was Frederick McCullough and he had a grim look on his face.

Here we go again, Rylan said to himself as Frederick approached them.

Rylan rose from the stool and walked towards him. At the door, another figure stepped in. It was Karen, and she had a sinister smile on her face. Her black hair was pulled back neatly into a ponytail and her flower dress stunned in the light that gushed into the house through the front door. Eve furrowed her brows as she watched her step into the house. Whatever was going to happen, she knew it was going to be catastrophic.

“Why are you still here?” Frederick demanded.

“Excuse me?” Rylan asked, confused.

Frederick turned to his daughter.

“Why is he still here, Eve?” He asked.

Eve was lost. She was trying her best to fathom what was happening around her, but she just couldn’t. She was confused.

“Get your things and leave!” Frederick ordered. “You are no longer welcome here!”

Rylan cranked his eyebrow in confusion.

“What?” He asked.

Frederick stood before him and Rylan could vividly see the rage in his eyes. It was then he realized that Frederick wasn’t kidding. He wanted him gone.

“Dad. Stop this now!” Eve ordered.

Frederick turned to his daughter and glared at her.

“Don’t you ever raise your voice at me!” He yelled at her. “I’m doing what is best for you.”

Eve clenched her jaws as she heard that. She could feel the rage accumulating in her chest.

“You don’t know what is best for me!” She yelled back.

Frederick made a step towards her but halted and turned back to Rylan who was still looking confused. Karen on the other hand sat on the couch and sipped her cappuccino as she watched the drama unfold before her. She was the one who had told Frederick to kick Rylan out of the house. Frederick had been worried yesterday about Eve, and she had brought the idea up. This was certain to break Rylan. He would run back to wherever he came from and never show his face again. This was to show him that he couldn’t mess with the McCulloughs. There was no way he was going to steal their wealth while she was still alive. Her father had worked hard for that. All Karen had to do was say the right words and Frederick yielded immediately. She smiled in satisfaction at Eve’s face which was livid with rage.

“Don’t make me repeat myself!” Frederick barked at Rylan.

Rylan was fed up by this. He couldn’t take this anymore. He was tired of the humiliation he was getting from Frederick. Frederick had made him feel completely useless. He was going to lose his mind if this kept on. It was time he left.

“I’m done having to put up with this shit!” Rylan yelled back. “I’m tired of you having to ruin my life with every single chance you have. I’m done!”

His tone surprised Frederick while to Karen it was exhilarating. Eve was stunned by this. Rylan turned to her with rage in his eyes.

“Eve! Get your things! We are leaving this instant!” He ordered.

“Eve isn’t going anywhere with you,” Frederick said.

Rylan who was making his way towards the stairs halted and turned to him.

“Huh?” He asked.

“She is staring right here, where she would be properly taken care of,” Frederick said.

“There’s no way I’m letting my sister suffer with you,” Karen called from the couch.

Rylan had barely noticed her. His eyes went to Eve who was looking confused and feeble. It looked like they had finally gotten to her. It was over.

“Eve. Are you coming or not?” He asked.

Eve’s eyes went to Frederick's who was glaring at her. It was now she saw everything. She was breaking away from her family. This was her worst nightmare. She couldn’t leave them to stay with a family she wasn’t sure existed. It was time she opened her eyes and saw things for what they were.

“I’m sorry, Rylan,” she replied.

Rylan’s eyes lit up in horror. He couldn’t believe it. It had finally happened. His worst fear was coming alive before him. Eve had neglected him. This was the end for him.

“Fine,” he said and walked upstairs.

Frederick walked up to his daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You did the right thing,” he said.

***

Lightning struck the clouds as the rain fell heavily. Rylan was completely soaked as he stood before the door in a strange hallway. He had his luggage in his hand which was also wet. The door swung open, finally revealing a chubby-looking man with a pair of Harry Potter glasses on the bridge of his nose. The man smiled as he recognized Rylan.

“Rylan Daystar!” He exclaimed in excitement.

“Hey, Tristan,” Rylan began.

“I need a favor.”