Chapter 4. Wife By Hook Or Crook

<< Ryker's POV>>

—

—

The door slammed shut behind me, and the noise from the bar faded as I stepped out of the bar and into the night. I didn't get to enjoy the soothing breeze before my phone started to buzz inside my pants pocket.

My shoulders slumped slightly as I fished out the phone while walking towards the garage. I didn't need to look to know who was calling..

<< Dad >>

I swiped the answer button and placed the phone close to my ear, my brows knitting instinctively. "Yeah?"

My father's voice came in cold. "Ryker, do you still remember what's at stake?" He went straight to the point.

"Nice to hear from you too." I spat out.

"Where are you??"

"Out." I squeezed out while staring at the sidewalk.

"Ryker. I shouldn't have to remind you but two weeks is what's left. The deadline is approaching and you're yet to present a woman to the board."

Here we go again—the deadline.

I massaged my forehead to reduce the tension from folding there. "You're not reminding me. You're repeating yourself and mind you, I know the deadline."

"Then why haven't I seen a ring? Or a name? The board is nervous!"

"Let them be nervous. I'm handling it." I pulled open my car door and sat in the driver's seat.

My father continued with his usual sermon. "You said that last week but there's still no woman. They're already questioning your leadership and I'm running out of ways to keep them in line."

"The deadline is not up yet." I breathed.

"You make it sound like you've got a lot of time left. The board meets in fourteen days. If you don't have someone by your side by then, the position of CEO goes to your brother."

"Because he's married?"

"Because he looks stable, reliable and he's a family man. That's what they want."

I laughed but it came out flat. Everything sounded ridiculous. They were demanding too much from me. Just too much.

"I've worked for the company since I was twenty-two. I have devoted my life to bringing the group to its current level. Doesn't that count at all??"

"You’re single, Ryker. And to them, that means unpredictable." He added, irking me even more.

I was done with this topic. I was done being reminded that I was some National cake. I was sick of knowing that a bunch of old gizzards had a say in my life. "They can think all they want until they grow a double brain. I'm taking my time to set my plans in motion. But just for clarity's sake, I'll present a wife to you all. Soon."

With that said, I ended the call. The silence in the car wrapped around me and I didn't even realize I was gripping the steering wheel like it owed me something.

Everything felt like a slow-burning fuse inside of me.

I closed my eyes for a second and she came to mind. That woman from the bar.

I have seen a lot of women, been with a lot of women but there was just something different about this one.

I could get anyone, throw in some charms, sign a check, put on some performance. But this...

She was personal. She was the perfect key piece for my bigger game….the kind you don't find twice.

I was betting on her. Maybe it was foolish but I knew what I saw in her eyes. She wasn't done yet, she still wanted to fight for something.

And even if she didn't, I'd remind her how. One way or another, I was going to get her. Either by hook or by crook, she'll be mine.

•••

<< Vanessa's POV>>

—

—

Even with the splitting headache and numbing pain in my spine, I couldn't wash down the dread crawling up my throat as I stared at my luggage on the floor close to my feet.

That sickening feeling surfaced again as I raised my eyes, bringing them to the people in front of me.

Derek was standing there, his hand wrapped around Annie's waist, staring at me like I was a stain. A mistake. His regret.

Annie was grinning widely, looking all cozy, probably enjoying every look of pain that crossed my face.

And my parents?? They sat on the sofa, watching me like I was performing a crying scene out of a movie.

"Are you suddenly deaf, Vanessa?? I said, get out!" Derek spat out, reminding me that my time was up in this house and in his life.

Instead of crying—like I so wanted to— I chuckled, bitterly. "Aren't you too cheap, Derek? Annie came barely hours ago and now, you want a divorce. So soon?"

"I am cheap?? That's so rich coming from someone like you." He glared at me. "You never wasted time sliding into her place the moment she left. That's what you are—cheap, and a desperate whore ."

He condemned me all in one breath as if he had been itching to say all that to my face someday. As if he had been waiting for this day when he gets to slap all of my deeds on my face.

"Was it a crime??" My voice cracked, but I didn't look away. I couldn't give them even more satisfaction of seeing me crumble. "Was it a crime to try and save something?? I never forced Annie to run away."

"Don't blame me just because you jumped in to clean up my mess. No one asked you to play hero." Annie countered immediately. And I wondered how she did it, how she played her game so well but still had Derek wrapped around her finger.

And my father? He still didn't say a word. He didn't tell them that he had coaxed me into stepping in for Annie nor did he try to stop the unfair treatment that was meted out on me.

My eyes burned even more, that single tear slipped out but I wiped it off with the back of my sleeve. "I gave everything up. My modeling career, my years of hard work…all for what??"

Derek raised a brow at me. "Did I ever ask you to do any of that??"

His words stung like a slap. My heart...

God, I could feel every tear, every part of me shredding apart from the inside out.

He hugged Annie even more, his eyes turned chillier as he enunciated every word like a promise. "There's no space left for you here. Leave."

I stood there, my fingers curled on my sides as I let my eyes drift one last time—from Derek's angry face, to Annie's smug little smile, and to the blank stares on my father's and stepmother's faces.

Nobody moved, spoke, or even cared.

I nodded slowly, the realization finally sinking in as I bent down, grabbed the files, and signed the divorce papers.

Once done, I threw it across the room and it landed close to Derek's feet. My fingers shook as I picked up my luggage, the only thing I had left.

My knees felt weak but I managed to stand upright. Derek's eyes shifted from the signed papers to my face and I swore that I saw a slight frown envelope his face. Like he didn't expect me to actually sign those papers.

I surprised myself too by signing them. Maybe—just maybe—I had some thick skin left. Probably because I knew I was dying.

I had colon cancer. But no hope, no child, no family. Nothing left. And now, I lost Derek too.

Fair enough.

I turned around wordlessly, dragging my luggage as I stepped out of the house.

That house, that life, all of them were never really mine.

'Find me anytime you need me.'

I remembered him. His words had sounded ridiculous in that moment but now, it had become a small, dangerous glimmer of hope.

Maybe he was right after all. Maybe I wanted to give this a shot with him.

I fished the contact card out of my pocket, took a deep breath, and dialed the number.

My heart slammed against my chest at every ring, and my throat tightened as my anxiety increased.

'What the hell am I doing?'

'What am I even thinking?'

But then, he answered. His voice was deep and slow like he already knew who was calling.

"Hello, Little Lamb."

My breath caught. And just like that, my whole world shifted.