Visit To The Parents

CHAPTER SIX

Scarlett's POV

I had barely closed my bedroom door when my phone rang.

For a second, I simply stared at the screen.

Ryan.

A strange feeling settled in my stomach. We had been living under the same roof since yesterday, yet he had never called me before. If he needed something, he could have simply knocked on my door.

I answered quickly. "Hello?"

"Get ready." His voice was calm as always, giving away nothing. "We're going out."

I frowned. "Where?"

"My parents' estate."

The words made me sit upright. "Your... parents?"

"They've heard the news."

I already knew what news he meant.

The headlines, the rumors, the stories claiming that Ryan Carter had finally found someone.

"They want to meet you," he continued. "I'll be downstairs in twenty minutes."

My mouth opened, but no words came out. Before I could ask another question, the call ended.

I lowered the phone slowly and stared at the blank screen.

Meet his parents? Why? The contract had nothing to do with them, this arrangement was supposed to solve one problem, not create ten more.

I climbed off the bed and walked toward the wardrobe, my thoughts racing faster than my hands.

What was I supposed to wear? Would they know about the contract? Would Ryan tell them? Or… Were we pretending to be a real couple?

The thought made my stomach twist.

I pulled out three different outfits before settling on the simplest one I owned. There was no point trying to compete with people who had probably spent more on a single dress than I had earned in months.

I stood in front of the mirror for a long moment.

The girl looking back at me seemed unfamiliar, just a few days ago, I had been fighting to keep my hockey career alive.

Now I was living in the Alpha's mansion, pretending to be his mate while secretly carrying a threat that could destroy both of us.

I closed my eyes. Coach's words echoed through my head. "Find his weakness."

My grip tightened around the edge of the dresser.

I hadn't even spoken to Ryan properly since signing the contract, how was I supposed to betray someone I barely knew?

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Miss Scarlett?"

One of the maids stood outside the door. "Alpha Ryan is waiting."

"I'll be right there." I took one last breath before following her downstairs.

Ryan was already standing near the entrance.

He wore a charcoal suit that somehow made him look even taller than usual.

He glanced at me once. "Ready?"

I nodded.

He opened the front passenger door of the car without another word.

The drive was quiet, neither of us seemed interested in breaking the silence.

Outside the window, the city slowly disappeared behind us, replaced by winding roads lined with towering trees.

The further we drove, the larger the estates became.

Each one looked more intimidating than the last. Finally, massive black iron gates came into view, two armed guards stood on either side.

The gates swung open the moment they recognized Ryan's car.

My breath caught, beyond them stood a mansion so enormous it barely looked real.

Fountains stretched across the entrance, perfectly trimmed gardens surrounded the estate.

Luxury cars lined the circular driveway, aa the car came to a stop, I realized we weren't the first to arrive, another sleek black vehicle was already parked outside.

Ryan followed my gaze. "They're here."

Something about the way he said it made my heart beat faster.

He stepped out first before walking around to my side.

When I climbed out, my legs suddenly felt much weaker than they had a moment ago.

Without thinking, I smoothed my dress.

Ryan noticed. "Relax."

Easy for him to say, this was his home, his family, his world.

I was the outsider, we hadn't even reached the front door when it opened.

An elegant woman stepped outside, followed by an older man whose presence alone commanded respect.

 Behind them stood a beautiful young woman dressed in an expensive cream-colored dress.

She smiled the moment she saw Ryan, then as her eyes shifted to me, the smile disappeared.

A maid quickly come to lead us to the dining.

The dining room was silent except for the soft clinking of silverware against porcelain plates. A long mahogany table stretched through the center of the room, polished so perfectly that the light from the crystal chandelier reflected across its surface. Every chair was occupied.

Ryan sat beside me, across from us sat his parents.

To his mother's right was Ava, dressed elegantly in a cream-colored dress that looked as though it had been made just for her. Beside her sat her parents, both carrying themselves with the quiet confidence of people who had spent their entire lives among power.

I suddenly became very aware that I did not belong here.

The servants moved around the table, pouring drinks before quietly disappearing, leaving us alone with an uncomfortable silence.

Ryan's father was the first to speak. "So, Scarlett."

I looked up immediately, so he has already told them my name, ."Yes, sir?"

He offered a small nod. "Ryan hasn't told us much about you."

I glanced briefly at Ryan, he continued eating as though the conversation had nothing to do with him.

His mother smiled politely. "Perhaps you can tell us about yourself."

I placed my fork down carefully.."My name is Scarlett Hayes."

She smiled again. "We know your name, dear."

"I meant your family."

A strange feeling settled in my stomach.."My father passed away several years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thank you."

"And your mother?"

I hesitated.."I was raised by my stepmother."

She nodded thoughtfully before asking another question.."What pack are you from?"

I felt my fingers tighten beneath the table.

"I'm... not from a recognized pack."

For the first time, the smile on her face faded slightly.."I see."

Ryan's father leaned back in his chair.."And what position does your family hold?"

I lowered my eyes.."They don't hold one, we are a member/

The silence that followed was far louder than any answer I could have given.

No one reached for their food, no one spoke.

Even Ava's parents exchanged a brief glance.

I wished the floor would open beneath me.

Ryan's mother slowly folded her napkin before placing it neatly beside her plate.

Then she turned toward her son.."Ryan, I don't understand." Her voice remained calm, almost gentle. "You're an Alpha, you're one of the most celebrated hockey players in the country, and people like you don't simply choose a partner. Every woman who stands beside you becomes a reflection of your name."

She looked at me briefly before returning her attention to Ryan..“Marrying an ordinary girl with no pack, no title, and no influence will only bring you down."

The words struck me harder than I expected.

I kept my eyes on my plate, pretending to study the untouched food in front of me because looking at anyone now would only make the humiliation worse.

His mother continued as though she were simply stating an obvious fact.."If you truly want someone who will strengthen your position instead of weaken it, then choose Ava."

She smiled warmly at the young woman sitting across from us.."She is the Beta's daughter. She was raised within our traditions, she understands leadership, responsibility, and everything expected of a Luna. Standing beside you would allow both your reputation and this pack to grow even stronger."

Ava lowered her gaze modestly, though I couldn't miss the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Nobody spoke, nobody body disagreed with Ryan's mother.

The silence settled heavily over the table, pressing against my chest until it became difficult to breathe.

I stared down at my untouched food, wishing I could disappear.

Maybe she was right.

I wasn't the daughter of an Alpha, I wasn't the daughter of a Beta, I didn't belong to a powerful pack. I had no title, no o influence.

The only thing I had ever worked for was my hockey career, and even that had nearly been taken away from me.

I wasn't good enough.

A painful lump rose in my throat.

If Coach ever succeeded in forcing me to betray Ryan, his mother would only look at me and tell everyone she had been right all along.

Perhaps...She would be.

The soft sound of silverware being placed on a plate broke the silence.

I looked up. Ryan had calmly set down his knife and fork.

His expression was unreadable as he lifted his eyes to his mother.

"Are you finished?"

His mother's brows drew together slightly. "I'm only trying to make you see reason, Ryan."

"No," he replied evenly. "You're making assumptions about someone you've known for less than ten minutes."

She gave a small, humorless laugh. "I don't need ten minutes to understand reality."

"Reality?" Ryan repeated.

"Yes." She leaned forward slightly. "Everything I said is true."

Ryan held her gaze without the slightest hint of emotion. "No."

The single word hung in the air. "Everything you've said is based on her background, not her character."

Ryan's father finally spoke. "Character alone isn't enough to stand beside an Alpha."

Ryan turned to him. "It is enough for me."

The room fell silent. Even the servants standing quietly against the walls seemed to stop breathing.

His mother stared at him in disbelief.

"Ryan... are you seriously choosing this girl over your family's wishes?"

For a long moment, he didn't answer.

Instead, he turned his head toward me.

I froze.

His blue eyes met mine for only a second before he looked back at his parents.

"I've already made my decision."

His mother's expression hardened."And what decision is that?"

Ryan's voice remained calm."So whether you approve or not changes nothing."

He paused for only a heartbeat."I'm marrying Scarlett."

The words echoed through the dining room.

A sharp clatter shattered the silence.

Ava's fork slipped from her fingers and struck her plate before falling onto the floor.

I turned so quickly to look at Ryan that my chair nearly scraped across the floor.

He hadn't looked at me, he hadn't asked me.

He simply picked up his glass of water and took a slow sip, as though he hadn't just changed everything with a single sentence.

I could only stare at him, my mind completely blank, while the silence around the table grew heavier than ever before.