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Chapter 5

Author: Eleven
"Penny?"

It took me a moment to register that Ryan was speaking to me. When I finally nodded, he bent down slightly, his gaze shifting toward the figure hiding behind me.

"And this must be little Eve?"

Eve peeked out from behind my legs, her wide eyes fixed on him.

"Daddy?"

I expected her to shy away, but to my surprise, she ran straight into his arms.

Ryan reacted swiftly, catching her with ease. A warm, easy smile spread across his face as he held her close.

I cleared my throat, feeling a flicker of awkwardness as I patted Eve.

"You've got it wrong, Eve. This isn't your daddy—he's your grandpa. He's your daddy's daddy. They look alike, that's all."

But no matter how many times I tried to correct her, Eve refused to let go of Ryan.

Ryan only chuckled softly, brushing aside my apologies with a wave of his hand as he carried Eve into the living room.

"I'm sorry," I said again, trailing after him. "She just… misses Roy too much."

The moment I mentioned Roy, something heavy settled in my chest, dragging my mood down with it.

Ryan's eyes flickered briefly to the papers scattered across the table—legal documents, passports, the pieces of a life being quietly dismantled. Understanding flashed in his expression.

"I'm the one who should apologize," he said. "My son has caused you a lot of pain. Roy's mother died shortly after he was born. I raised him alone, but I poured too much of myself into my work and too little into raising a child. Somewhere along the way, I failed to teach him how to love properly."

He continued, "After he came of age, Roy returned to the country. Our relationship became purely professional—whatever was left of us as father and son had faded by then. I didn't even know he'd married you until the wedding was over. He just sent a brief message, as if it were a minor detail. Later, I began to see photos on his social media—pictures of him, Sammy, and Linda. I assumed—"

He stopped mid-sentence, shaking his head faintly.

"I had a private investigator track you down," he admitted. "That's how I found this address. I wanted to understand the woman my son had left behind. And the more I learned, the more I saw how remarkable you are."

His words hung in the air, simple and sincere. I felt a flush creep up my neck, and I looked away, unsure how to respond.

Ryan seemed to sense my discomfort and shifted his focus back to Eve. From a suitcase, he produced a Barbie doll—custom-made, with delicate features that mirrored Eve's own.

"For our little princess," he said, offering the doll with a gentle smile.

Eve's face lit up in pure delight. Without hesitation, Ryan settled down beside her, helping her braid the doll's hair. The sight was almost surreal—the formidable CEO of the Reid Group sitting cross-legged on my living room floor, playing with Barbie dolls as if nothing in the world mattered more.

By the time Eve drifted off to sleep, Ryan had already tucked her into bed. He lingered by her side, watching as I pulled the blanket up to her chin and switched on the nightlight.

That night, we shared dinner at my kitchen table.

Ryan praised my homemade lasagna more times than I could count.

"It's nothing special," I said, brushing off the compliment. "I only learned how to make it because Roy liked it."

This was my signature dish, sure. But the CEO of Reid Group must've tasted countless tasty food across the globe.

However, Ryan's praise was too sincere to be mere politeness. There was something disarming about his warmth—an ease that made me lower my guard before I even realized it.

Maybe that's why, as the evening stretched on, I began to tell him everything.

I told him how I met Roy. How my father, desperate to secure a business deal, had forced Roy into my bed.

When I finished, I stole a glance at Ryan, expecting—what? Disgust, maybe. Judgment.

But all I saw was a faint press of his lips, as if he were weighing my words carefully. The silence stretched, making my pulse quicken with anxiety.

"I've already decided to divorce Roy," I blurted out, as if that would somehow erase the ugliness of the past. "I won't bring any trouble to the Reid Group."

For a moment, Ryan said nothing. Then, slowly, one brow arched in amusement.

"Relax, Penny," he said, a faint smile curling his lips. "Sacrificing yourself for love or family—it's all the same kind of courage. Though…" He paused, his eyes glinting with a touch of mischief. "If your father really wanted a deal, maybe he should've wrapped me up in a bow and sent me to your bed instead."

He leaned back, his voice lower—teasing but not unkind.

"But I'll warn you—I hold my liquor well. If I ever end up wrapped in a bow, you can be sure it's by choice."
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  • Guess What, Hubby? I'm Your Stepmom Now!   Chapter 12

    Ryan tightened his grip on my hand, his expression flickering with surprise. But as he took in my unwavering gaze, his lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. Then, he laughed happily and loudly."Penny, you really are a brave girl." He turned to Roy, his voice tinged with something like amusement. "Roy, do you see it now? Do you finally understand what you've lost? For five years, you had countless chances to receive all of Penny's love, but now—" He spread his hands as if presenting an undeniable truth. "—you've lost."With that, Ryan stepped forward and shut the door in Roy's face. Roy stood outside for a long time, unmoving, before finally disappearing into the night.Once he was gone, the house fell into an eerie silence. The adrenaline that had been propelling me forward drained away, replaced by a creeping sense of embarrassment. Heat rushed to my cheeks as my mind replayed what had just happened.What did I just say?I confessed to Ryan.I told Roy to call me his stepmoth

  • Guess What, Hubby? I'm Your Stepmom Now!   Chapter 11

    I never thought I would see Roy again.I had no idea how he found me, but there he was, standing in front of Eve and me, looking like a man who had traveled through storms to reach us."Penny, Eve, I was wrong."Months had passed since we last met, and time had worn him down. His face carried a weight I had never seen before.His eyes clung to me, filled with regret. He kept apologizing, inching closer, trying to hold me. I dodged him again and again.Eve, who had been hiding behind me all this time, suddenly rushed forward, her small hands pounding against him."Let go of my mom! Let go! I'll call my daddy to come and beat you up!"Roy turned to her, his voice soft. "Eve, I am your daddy."Eve shook her head. "No, you're not. I already told Mommy—I don't want you anymore. You're Linda's daddy."Roy shut his eyes in pain, as if the words had carved into his soul."Back then, I was angry. I let that anger twist my judgment. I pushed you away, but the truth is, Penny, from the

  • Guess What, Hubby? I'm Your Stepmom Now!   Chapter 10

    When I began my new life, I had no idea that Roy was already losing his mind back home.At first, he was just angry. He assumed my departure was another one of my games, a ploy to draw him back. He figured if he ignored me for a week, I would come crawling back, tail between my legs.So, he returned to Sammy.But after that news report, no matter where he and Sammy went, people whispered."Look, the domineering CEO and his wife. What a perfect couple."Words he had once dismissed now grated on him in a way he couldn't ignore.A week passed. Still no word from me. His irritation turned into unease. He reached out first, sending me a message.No response.He thought of asking my friends about my whereabouts, only to realize I had no friends in the country.I had lived in a world that consisted solely of him and our daughter.And now, he had lost me.In the end, he went to Eve's school."I'm here to pick up Eve," he said to the teacher at the front desk.The teacher frowned.

  • Guess What, Hubby? I'm Your Stepmom Now!   Chapter 9

    I had no idea what was happening back in the country I had just left.As soon as Eve and I landed, we went straight to my father's house. I rang the doorbell, and both of us hid behind the door, ready to jump out and surprise him the moment he opened it.The door swung open, and I sprang forward. "Dad!" I called out, a triumphant smile on my face, arms wide open, expecting his familiar embrace.But instead of his usual hearty laughter, I found myself wrapped tightly in someone else's arms—a warm, solid embrace that carried the familiar scent of cedarwood. A voice, smooth and teasing, drifted down from above my head."I suppose it wouldn't be too wrong if you called me Dad," it said.The voice was unmistakable. My breath hitched as I pulled back slightly."Ryan?" I blurted out, still dumbfounded."It's me. Long time no see, Penny," he said, flashing a lazy smile. "When I saw you with your arms wide open, it seemed a shame not to give you a hug."Before I could respond, Eve spo

  • Guess What, Hubby? I'm Your Stepmom Now!   Chapter 8

    Linda's hand was shattered—a comminuted fracture. Surgery was necessary.When Roy heard the operation had been successful and wouldn't affect her future mobility, he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. For two days, Sammy had been consumed by worry, but now, finally, she had fallen asleep.Roy instinctively reached for his phone. The emptiness in his chest spread to his fingertips.Since that day—after hanging up on my call—he had turned off his phone. When he powered it back on, he had braced himself for the flood of missed calls and messages from me. Instead, the screen remained stubbornly blank.Not a single call.He tried dialing my number and even sent me messages, but every attempt vanished into the void. A strange unease swelled in his chest, heavy and oppressive. He decided to go home and find me—but just as he turned to leave, he overheard two nurses chatting nearby."Did you hear? A couple of days ago, someone flew in a specialist by helicopter from th

  • Guess What, Hubby? I'm Your Stepmom Now!   Chapter 7

    Roy had followed us all the way and had been waiting at the door for two hours.At his feet, a pile of cigarette butts hinted at his restlessness."It's nothing. My documents expired—I just needed to renew them. Are you that free today? I heard Sammy's eyeing two properties in the neighborhood. She could probably use your help."Roy stared at me, his gaze sharp, searching for cracks in my facade.For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Then, with a cold laugh, he said, "Penny, this is a first for me—seeing a woman push her own husband toward another woman. Remember, you're the one who said it. As you wish."Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, not once looking back."Mommy, what's wrong with Roy?" Eve clung to my leg, her voice soft with curiosity."Nothing, honey. He's just busy," I said, brushing her hair gently, avoiding any discussion about how she addressed him.After all, in five days, Eve and I would be leaving. I hadn't expected that the very next

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