Valid

Ryan's POV

Breathless, that was how I felt when I saw Nina. Gosh, she was always one to take my breath away but here and now, in that dress, she was doing that all over again and it just didn't feel right.

After trying so hard to get the bargain off my neck, I had finally done that and I had searched all over for her. Spent so much to get her to my side.

Everything was futile until I saw the news that her mother was handing over her company to her. I knew her mother wasn't in support of our relationship but I never knew her mother was this wealthy.

That she was the owner of the company, I didn't relent, I just couldn't. I didn't care about her mother's wealth or what she thought her mother would do, all I cared about was her. Her love and making sure that she came back to me with our kids.

Richard hadn't talked to me in years, I knew that my actions warranted it but staying all alone, without him or anyone else by my side was like torture. Pure one.

I still handled his company matters, I was still their legal advisor and I was still paid as handsomely as ever but I didn't report to him anymore.

I was made to report to the president who in turn gave him the report. Everyone knew something had gone wrong and he had done so for his family, but thinking back to it. I would have done the same.

When I saw the wedding invite, I had blown up, with everything in me. I had done everything in me not to come here but the thought of another man touching her, making love to her, being father to my kids didn't settle well with me so I had risked everything to come down here.

Her mother looked like she could escalate into a bolt of rage as she stared at me. I would have cowered in fear, should have but I didn't, I gazed back at her. My eyes piercing through hers, not withdrawing at all.

Nina looked like she could stab me all over again, until I was nothing but sand and lifeless, until she wouldn't be able to see me, my eyes went to the hand that held her shoving her behind him gently and rage slithered through me.

I had never wanted to slice anyone's hands like I wanted to do to him at that moment, to that man that was holding her. He didn't deserve anything more than my wrath.

Thinking back to the number of times he must have slided his dirty dick into her, I wanted to cut it off, and make love to her until my name was etched in her memory and her senses.

Until her voice was hoarse from screaming my name, over and over again. I wanted to make sure he felt pain for even walking close to her.

“ What are you doing here?” Richard demanded, as he stood upright, his voice dragging me out of my thoughts. My eyes went behind him to the kids he hid behind him, the ones that were mine and Nina's.

“My kids,”

Nina rushed off the altar. “ They aren't yours. They are not affiliated to you and would never be.”

All I gave was a rushing laughter, that mixed with the cold air.

“ You know that isn't true, you kept my kids away from me.” my hands went to my pocket as I closed the gap between us, waiting to take a glance at my children.

They kept staring at me. Richard held them properly, not wanting to let them go. I was supposed to raise hell at him and Reina for keeping them from me, keeping secrets but I knew that I deserved it.

The priest let out a cough.” Mr man, who are you? And what is your purpose here today?”

I straightened up, moving closer until I was at the pulpit, the little one they stood on and which had been makeshift for today's occasion.

“ Here,” I tendered the papers to him, our marriage certificate and our divorce paper which wasn't tendered.

I couldn't help but commend myself for my actions,a brave one that was what I had done. If I had tendered it, it would have broken off whatever we had together, and I was glad that I hadn't done that.

“ What do you want to do? Wed a lady who is already married? To me?” my voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Her mother's hands clenched and unclenched in anger and I knew she was already hyping loads of insults at me. I could take it, she was Nina's mother.

The priest peered at it, a little longer than he should have, and he kept flickering his eyes to Nina's mum who was practically pleading, I could hear it all the way there.

I gave Brian a smile, a hand tucked into my pocket as I did. “You don't look half as good as I am, but you don't pale either. It was nice being her suitor, wasn't it?”

His hands were wrapped around Nina protectively, like I was going to hurt her. I waited, silent for the priest to be done when I felt eyes staring at me and that was when I saw them properly. Our kids.

As though Nina knew where my eyes were, she stared at me, her eyes carrying a fleet of fear. “ They aren't yours. They are mine and I am not letting them go.”

I waved her off. “ Who said anything about taking them from you? All I want is for them to know I am their father and also, I want my fluffy bear back in my life.” I said to her,

I could feel Brian's arms bulging out already, he was barely keeping himself from punching me but he could try. I didn't mind if he wanted to play dirty, I would humor him.

The priest peered around. “They are still married, both in law and under the act.” he said loud enough for everyone to hear.

Nina shook her head. “ That isn't true. I signed the divorce papers. I did so, so I am free and I am not obligated to him, please you have to check, you have to do something. I can't….I can't…”

“ Which weren't tendered.” He explained. Nina's eyes dug daggers in me while she stared at her mother who held the kids and stomped off.

I didn't know what to do, if I was to rush after her, after our kids or stay and make sure this marriage didn't hold. I stood still, I will have to stay still. See to it that Nina didn't get married to this prick

Brian flickered his head to the priest. “ So what should we do? We are supposed to get married today, everything has been put in place. Every single thing and we have to see this through.”

The priest shook his head. “ I am sorry but I can't wed you both, neither can any other priest do that since they are both married. They have to tender the divorce papers first of all and then we can marry you both afterwards, until then I have to make sure this doesn't happen today.”

I beamed excitedly, spreading both hands to gaze at Nina.

“ You see, fluffy bear, I wasn't joking when I said I wanted you back and now, I have gotten you back. What exactly were you thinking going off like that, huh? You know how obsessed I was with you and the only thing you should have done was stay put.” I admonished.

Nina looked like she could tear me into pieces, like she could wreck me and nothing was going to happen.

“ I am sorry but I have to take my leave now” everyone watched as the priest left, his footsteps fading while I stood at the pulpit.

Brian tugged at Nina's wrist, pulling her away and I was going after them when Richard stood in front of me infuriated.

“ What. Exactly. Do. You. Think. You. Are. Doing?” He demanded an answer.

I scoffed at him. “This shouldn't be how you should be greeting an old friend, but I am going to let it slide.”

He held my collar, yanking me closer to him. “ You don't own any right to ask me any questions and don't ever talk about me acting up, why are you hellbent on making Nina suffer?”

I shoved him off, walking by briskly when he held my wrist, dragging me with him.

“ Don't you dare, Richard, I made a mistake and I am rectifying it, so don't talk to me about shit.” I warned.

With eyes squinted, he said. “ You broke her and you shouldn't be here, not when she is about to have another chance at life.”

An amused chuckle left my lips. “ You are one to speak, aren't you? After all that you did to Reina, do you think you should be…?”

The rest of my words trailed out when a palm connected against my cheek and Nina stood fuming. “Don’t you ever compare yourself to them. Don't you dare,” she warned.