Chapter Three

Ronan.

Ten years.

Ten years in Hell and the first words out of my mouth were: “Where is my wife?!”

“God, Ronan, it’s been ten years and the first thing you request for is for some woman?” Elena scoffed.

“I’m not going to say it again, Elena.” I snapped and I could have sworn I saw her flinch.

“Now we’re on first name basis. I birthed you Ronan, and I will—“

“No!”

I cut her off mid sentence, moving dangerously close to her, while the rest of the relatives with plastered smiles and a fake welcome moved a few steps away… visibly terrified. But she remained glued to the ground.

Dr Elena Vaughn, my mother stood her ground as I spoke. “You will do nothing, I promise you.” And for the first time, she faltered. I knew that face, because I had worn it for ten freaking years.

“I’ll tell you where she is but you have to hear me out, Ronan.”

I lifted my left hand to check the time on my watch, “Five minutes.”

The room emptied out within seconds, leaving just us in the rich leather smelling room.

“She got into an accident and lost her memory, she’s in a haze now.”

My expression instantly hardens, “You promised” I said quietly.

“Well, she grew and is now an adult capable of making choices herself. Did you expect me to monitor her every move?”

“If you had to!” I clenched my jaw tight as I paced around the room.

Two, five, seven. Two, five, seven. I said the numbers in my head. And when I finally got control over my raging emotions. I walked back over to her.

“I kept my promise, I was in that hole for ten years, and you promised.”

“It didn’t mean anything. I did it for you!” She cried out. She walked over to her expensive mahogany desk and poured herself a glass of whiskey.

My stomach turned immediately, the amber liquid pouring out from the decanter made my breath hitch.

My vision blurred and for a brief moment, I saw a whip being held out in front of me with black timbers walking towards me.

Two, five, seven. I said in my head as I shut my eyes, waiting for the stinging pain on my back. But this time, it didn’t come. Only the soft voice of my mother filled my ears.

“Ronan, dear. Are you perhaps having a jet lag?” She murmurs, bringing her hand close to my face.

“Don’t touch me.” I rasped, through clenched teeth. My pulse raced hard beneath my skin, she knew about the whiskey and whip. She knew every damn thing.

“Now would you sit and listen to me darling?”

I found myself walking over to the leather armchair in her office.

“Now, we’re going to have a proper conversation, like a mother and son who hasn’t seen or spoken for a decade.” She sets the glass back on the table, not even taking a sip and walks over to me, her heels clicking on the polished marble floor.

“Your wedding is being planned as we speak, in fact what do you think of this for Ivy’s dress. She opened her phone with a slide and showed me a series of white dresses, expensive designers—ones that Ivy would have hated.

My breathing was finally calming, I swallowed the lump in my throat. “She can pick whatever she wants. I just want to see her.” I calmly said.

“Todd would drive you, she’s in the estate.” The corners of her lips spread and it doesn’t touch her eyes. I wasn’t going to be fooled like those investors or my father.

“Now, you just act right, act like the heir that you are and the whole Vaughn empire belongs to you once the wedding is finalized…”

Her voice trailed off and all I could picture was Ivy, and the promise she made to me. And she didn’t stop, every first and last day of the year, the letters she sent—reminding me she was waiting. It gave me hope. So I endured, I persevered so I could get back to her.

“Are you listening?”

“I’ve heard you. Now can I meet her?”

“Todd will take you back to the estate and show you things around, and when you meet her, you can wed her immediately and resume as the head of the Vaughn empire by tomorrow” she shifted in her seat as her phone pinged.

“Oh look, Ivy is all ready for you.” She turns the screen at me. And there she was. It was a short video, Ivy was being glammed up, while a series of white dresses were lined up by her left, but it looked off, she didn’t seem like herself, it felt wrong but then, she turned towards the camera and smiled. I had longed for that. But now that I’m finally seeing her in that light, I felt nothing. Only desolation. It had clouded my mind heavily. I thought seeing her again would cure it but it seemed like I was irredeemable.

“The wedding could be canceled if you don’t want to today,” Elena cuts in sharply, gesturing with both hands apart. “She would be a little sad…”

“No, I’m ready.”

“Good, I have a suit ready. Todd will hand it to you at the estate.” She smiles again.

I got to my feet, and proceeded to walk out.

“And lastly,” Elena said. Stopping me in my tracks.

“I’m not your enemy, Ronan. I always want what’s best for you.”

I didn’t bother to acknowledge her, I simply stepped out.

As the elevators closed, my chest tightened… I would see her in a few minutes. The girl who promised to wait, but I feared, a lot has changed.

Would she also see me as a monster?