CHAPTER 7

Ryan's POV

"You're letting her win, Ryan." My mother's voice echoed in my study.

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to slam my fist on the mahogany table in front of me. "It's not about losing or wining, Mum."

"Them what is it about? Pride? Stubbornness? Because I'm telling you right now that letting your son grow outside your home is a disgrace, a stain to our name."

I dropped the pen I was holding loudly on the table. "Mum, she has made it clear that she doesn't want anything to do with me, I'm walking on thin ice. She's literally Blair's doctor, I've tried."

"Then try harder." She snapped. "Don't let outsiders dictate our legacy, that child is the heir to this our great bloodline and there's no way he would be properly taken care of outside."

I was exhausted, tired of the conversation and explaining to her that we couldn't do anything about it.

"What do you expect me to do mum? Force her to hand him over? Drag her to court and expose everything. She's not just Amanda, she's –" I stopped myself, the realization hitting me that she was no longer the person I used to know.

"She used to love you." My mother said quietly, but her voice carried something else, hatred, venom. "Use that."

I ran my hand all over my head in frustration. "That love died some years ago, she wouldn't even share the same space with me, I tried talking to her earlier today outside the hospital, she called security on me. It'll only take a war to let her allow me go close to him."

Her eyes narrowed "Then go to war, you have done worse for less, that child belongs here and I won't let you be stupid about it."

This was harder than I thought, seeing him gave me hope, I wanted to experience being his father but knowing Amanda, it wouldn't be that easy.

I honestly can't imagine my son growing up elsewhere, he deserves to enjoy everything that came with being my blood, the influence too but Amanda just wouldn't fold that easily.

"Mum, I can't provoke her into doing something reckless, what if she runs away with him with no trace?"

"If you sick back and do nothing, you'll regret it." She said, stepping towards the door. "And so will this family, mark my words, Ryan. Be the man you are, take control or lose everything we've built, don't let that nobody make mockery of me."

With that, she left the room, her words hanging in the air like smoke.

I sank into my chair, my eyes fixed on the wall but seeing none of it, Amanda's face swam into my mind, those fierce eyes, the way she looked at me the last time i tried talking to her, like i was a monster.

Maybe i am, just Maybe, all those years, i was a monster.

The door creaked open, pulling me out of my thought. Selene entered, shutting the door behind her as she catwalked to stand in front of my table.

"I saw your mother on her way out." She said. "She didn't look happy."

I didn't respond.

She walked slowly and stood beside me, her dress sweeping the floor, het face expressionless.

"She want you to bring that boy here, right?"

Still, i didn't respond.

She tilted her head to look at me directly in the face. "You want him here, right? You also want to bring him here?"

I turned to her "He's my son."

"How sure are you? Because of the features? You know how deceiving that can be, just wait until that boy gets older. Besides, you know how difficult Amanda can be, you think she'll just hand him over and disappear?"

"What are you saying?" I asked looking at her, my anger rising.

"I'm saying, why don't you just let sleeping dogs lie? Maybe it's better to leave things as they are. We've all move past her trouble, why are you trying to stir it up again?"

My stomach twisted "Because that boy is my child."

"And Amanda is his mother." She countered. "If you open that door for him, she's also going to walk right through it. Not just for her son but for you, have you thought about Blair in all of this. Do you know what this might to our daughter?"

This wasn't about Blair, it was about her, i could read through her fear and Jealousy.

But then, it was something i couldn't ignore, it scared me. That part of her returning scared me.

She stepped closer. "You have everything now. The company, your position, me and Blair, why would you risk it all for her? Someone who's already proven destroy you if given the chance?"

"I don't feel threatened." I said, avoiding her eyes.

"What?" She asked, looking at me like I had gone mad.

"I want my child and I'll get him at all cost, he deserves to grow up here and enjoy everything we're giving Blair."

"Ryan." She called, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Don't tell me you're doing what i feel it is?"

"I don’t know what you feel." I said cutting her off, "but I can't ignore my child for anything."

She remained silent, the room felt suddenly cold, the silence was however interrupted by the buzzing of my phone.

My pulse quickened as i checked the caller, it was Amanda, I had managed to steal her number from one of the nurses, i just didn't have what it took to cal her privately.

I watched as Selene's eyes locked on the screen.

"Amanda?" She asked, anger washing over her face. "You guys have been talking behind my back?"

"No, she has never called. This might be about our daughter."

I stared at the phone as it buzzed, a tight knot forming in my chest, i reached out and picked the call.

"Ryan." Her voice came."I need to see you right now, it's about Levi."