Ch-7

The hum of the luxury car’s engine softened as the driver pulled up in front of the Lumière Grand Hotel, one of the most exclusive dining destinations in the city.

The sleek glass building towered in the night, its polished surface exuding quiet elegance and secrecy—the perfect setting for a private meeting.

At the backseat of the car, Eric turned to Adina, his fingers instinctively reaching for hers.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” His tone was gentle, but reluctance flickered in his eyes.  

“We don't have to do it all through as Grandma dictates…I mean…”

Adina squeezed his hand reassuringly, cutting him off his words “I’ve got this, Eric. You trust me, don’t you?”  

He sighed, brushing his thumb over the back of her hand. “Of course, I do. I just don’t like the idea of you there alone with him.”  

Although Eric had accepted Adina’s grandmother’s wish and reassured her of his support throughout the pregnancy, he still felt unease about Adina meeting Ryan alone.

He believed they could handle things differently, but with Adina insisting on following her grandmother’s wishes, he had no choice but to step back. It was frustrating, yet he was trying hard not to let it show.

Adina's lips curved into a soft smile. “It’s just a conversation. Ryan and I will discuss things like adults and figure out the best way forward. That’s all okay?”  

Eric studied her face for a while, searching for any trace of uncertainty. Finding none, he exhaled and nodded. “Alright. But at least let William stay and bring you back afterward while I get a cab.”  

She shook her head. “No need. Let me book a cab home.”  

An unsettled feeling twisted in his gut, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he reached up, tucking a stray curl of her red hair behind her ear before leaning in to kiss her on the lips.

It was slow and tender, a silent reassurance between them.  

“Call me if anything goes wrong,” he muttered as they pulled apart. "I love you."  

“Nothing will go wrong…,” she assured him before unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out of the car. "Love you too."

The evening air was crisp as she adjusted her coat and walked toward the grand entrance.

With every step she took, her confidence stayed steady, but her heartbeat picked up just a little. 

She drew in a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

Deep down, she knew this meeting wouldn’t be as straightforward as she had told Eric. 

——————————

A few minutes later, Adina sat stiffly across from Ryan, her hands resting on her lap as she stared at the untouched glass of water in front of her.  

The restaurant was eerily quiet, the absence of other diners making the tension between them even more pronounced.  

Ryan had gone to the extreme of booking out the entire place—classic. He always had a flair for privacy, and apparently, that hadn’t changed, especially now that he had all the money he could use to bend the world to his will.

Across from her, Ryan leaned back in his chair, casually swirling the whiskey in his glass. His gaze flickered to her, sharp and unreadable. 

“You look stunning for a woman in her early stage of pregnancy. I heard some find it troubling.” He said, trying to start a conversation.

Adina let out a slow breath, collecting her thoughts before speaking. "Cut the patronage, Ryan. What do you want?”

Ryan arched a brow, clearly not expecting that from her. It had been six years since they had last spoken to each other.

He had thought to ease the awkwardness this whole mix-up was causing on both sides by being a little friendly.  

After all, her grandmother had pleaded with him not to be too hard on her so their plan could go smoothly. But judging by her words, tone, and the scowl on her face, it was clear she had no interest in being friendly.

He took a slow sip of his drink before answering. “What do I want?” he echoed her question and smirked softly.  

“Yes… what do you want from me after six years? This ship has long sailed. I belong to another man now. Why would you want a baby with someone that’s another man's wife?”  

“...Because if I remember correctly, you avoided anything to do with me afterwards. Even when we crossed paths at events, you went out of your way to steer clear of me the entire time," Adina added.

Ryan tilted his head and his smirk slowly faded as he set the glass down carefully, his eyes now focused on her with unsettling intensity.  

"I didn’t avoid you, Adina. I just never saw you—I’ve been too busy to even notice you," he said, his voice low but sharp enough to slice through the tension between them.

Adina blinked, momentarily thrown off by his words. Her lips parted slightly, as if to speak, but nothing came out. She hadn’t expected that.

For a fleeting second, something flickered in her eyes—hurt, maybe—but she quickly masked it, straightening her posture as if bracing herself.

Her voice was softer now, more curious than confrontational.

"...So what changed? Are you less busy now?" she asked, her eyes searching his face, as if trying to catch a glimpse of the man she once knew beneath the cold exterior sitting before her.

Ryan fell silent for a moment before leaning forward, resting his elbows on the table. His eyes darkened. "Because my baby is growing inside you."

Adina let out a quiet scoff, shaking her head. "But you could have still walked away. This baby wouldn’t lack a mother and father’s lo—”

“Not when I’m alive will another man claim my blood!” His voice raised a little higher, cutting her off.

Adina flinched at his sudden outburst, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table as her eyes widened, startled.

Ryan's jaw clenched, as if struggling to rein in the storm raging inside him. Without saying anything, he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a sleek black folder, sliding it across the table—an attempt to reset his mind and guide his emotions. 

“What’s this?” Adina asked, picking it up cautiously.  

“A co-parenting agreement,” Ryan said matter-of-factly. “Since we’re going to be raising this baby together, I figured we should lay down some ground rules.”  

Adina flipped through the pages, skimming the legal part—financial obligations, visitation schedules, decision-making rights. It was cold and calculated, but she expected nothing less. 

Adina continued to read through the pages of the agreement, then her eyes landed on one clause, and she froze.  

Her stomach tightened as she read it aloud, wanting to be certain she had read it correctly.

“The mother is prohibited from engaging in sexual activity with her husband for the duration of the pregnancy.” 

Adina’s head snapped up. “What the hell is this?”  

Ryan met Adina's glare without flinching. “A necessary precaution.”  

She let out a disbelieving laugh. “A precaution? What for, exactly?”  

Ryan leaned forward, his expression turning steely. “I don’t want my child polluted by your husband’s blood.”  

Adina’s jaw clenched. “This is ridiculous, Ryan.”  

"Is it?" He raised a brow. "You're carrying my child, Adina. The least you can do is ensure nothing interferes the baby's growth," he said, his tone crisp and unwavering.

Adina’s eyes narrowed, she slammed the folder shut on the table, pushing it back toward him. 

"This is insane… As a matter of fact you're insane! Who the hell do you think you are to think you can just dictate what happens in my marriage?”

Ryan cleared his throat, his tone cool yet edged with a hint of mocking. “I’m not interfering with your marriage. As a matter of fact that clause isn't just a deliberate act…”

“...It’s about protecting my child from any complications. I mean, look at it logically—if there’s another man’s influence in your system, it might affect the health of my child. Isn’t that worth considering?” He said, arching a brow, his gaze steady and unapologetic.

At that point, a sudden surge of anger crashed over Adina, hot and undeniable, like a dam finally giving way.

Her chest tightened, and a sharp heat crawled up her neck as the restraint she’d been clinging to snapped in an instant. She slammed her fist on the table

“Protecting my child, my foot!" Adina hissed, her voice no longer measured—it was laced with the raw frustration she could no longer hold back.. 

“Ryan Knight, I’m sorry but I'm not your surrogate. I’m your co-parent in this messy entanglement but all I can hear you saying is my child, my child, my child! This child is mine too!”

“Whatever is written in this folder isn’t about protecting any child —it’s about you trying to control every aspect of my body and my life…” 

“...The pregnancy isn’t a business arrangement and neither am I some backup plan or a maternity accessory for your glamorous life.”

“... I am Adina King! The Heiress to the King Group—not some low-rent concubine you can bankroll and dictate terms to!”

“...My agreement with my grandma to be here in the first place was to find a way for us to talk on how to co-parent with respect, not to be dictated to like some piece in your corporate takeover!” She scoffed, the words cutting through the tense air like a knife.

Her breath quickened, her hands trembling with a mix of fury and disbelief. For a moment, she just stared at the folder in front of her, trying to suppress the anger that threatened to boil over.

Then, without warning, she stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back with force. The sound of it scraping against the floor echoed in the otherwise quiet room.

“My lawyer will get back to you about this agreement. I refuse to be treated as anything less than a full partner in this process!” The words were clipped, final, as if declaring a boundary that would not be crossed.

She didn’t wait for a response. She picked up the folder and spun on her heel.

Ryan reached out instinctively, his hand a fleeting, desperate attempt to hold her back. 

“Adina, wait—” His voice cracked slightly, a mixture of disappointment and desperation lacing his tone. He hadn't expected this reaction from her.

Adina jerked her arm free with a swift, sharp motion. Her blue eyes were cold.

“Don’t! Just don’t.” She said angrily, her voice equally scary as she strode toward the exit with all the determination of someone reclaiming their dignity. 

For a while, the restaurant seemed to hold its breath. The murmurs of staff at distance and the soft music playing in the background—all of it faded into the distance as Ryan stood frozen, his gaze following her retreating figure. 

Though his face remained cool, the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed the storm brewing inside him. 

He exhaled sharply, a dry laugh escaping his lips in a futile attempt to mask his embarrassment.

Then, he reached up and ran a hand through his blonde hair, his smirk widening—but it wasn’t a look of victory. No, it was something else entirely.  

Then the amusement vanished in an instant.  

“As long as my child is inside you, Adina…” He said, his jaw tightened."…I’ll do as I please with you.” His words cut through the air like a blade. 

Cold, daring and absolute.

He then turned his back, walking toward the table, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. “

He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, watching it spin, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.  

Adina’s parting words echoed once more, a sharp contrast to the silence surrounding him.  

"I am Adina King, the Heiress to the King Group—not some low-rent concubine you can bankroll and dictate terms to!"  

He smirked to himself, but the edge in his eyes dulled, betraying the frustration he was trying to hide.

Adina had left in anger. But she had also left in control.  

And that? 

That was the last thing he had expected.

He needed to regain control before she began dictating the terms.