Chapter 4

MARY'S POV

I pulled my scarf tighter as the freezing Chicago wind lashed against my face.

Vance Tower rose arrogantly above the city skyline, all black glass and steel, towering over everything around it like a silent threat.

Of course Ryder Vance lived here.

The Vance family owned half of Chicago. Ruthless businessmen. Predators in tailored suits. My father used to hate even hearing their name.

"Tyrants who would burn the world just to win a deal," he once told me.

Back then, Collins Group prided itself on doing business with honor. My father avoided the Vances like poison.

And now?

Here I was—standing in front of their empire, swallowing the last scraps of my pride just to beg help from the son of the man my father despised most.

The private elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

The penthouse was nothing like my old home. No gold chandeliers. No marble statues. No warmth.

Only black steel, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and cold city lights glittering beneath the dark sky.

Ruthless. Exactly like Ryder.

A man in a tailored suit immediately bowed his head the second I stepped inside.

"Miss Collins."

I blinked in surprise. He sounded like he had been expecting me all night.

"Where's Ryder?"

"Mr. Vance is taking an evening swim, Miss. He requested that you join him directly."

Requested.

The word alone irritated me.

I followed the man through a dim hallway guarded by several security personnel before stopping in front of massive glass doors.

Blue light rippled across the walls from the indoor pool beyond them.

"Please, have a seat."

But I stayed rooted in place.

Because Ryder Vance was in the water.

My breath caught slightly as his tall figure cut through the pool with effortless strength, broad shoulders slicing through the glowing blue water like a predator moving through darkness.

For a moment, I simply stared.

Then he stopped.

Water streamed down his face as he pushed his wet black hair back with one hand—and his dark eyes immediately locked onto mine.

Heat crawled uncomfortably up my neck.

He pulled himself out of the pool in one smooth motion.

And dear God.

He was wearing nothing except a pair of black boxer briefs clinging to every inch of his dripping body.

I immediately snapped my gaze toward a random plant in the corner.

A low chuckle echoed through the room.

"Enjoying the view, Princess?"

My cheeks burned instantly.

"I wasn't looking at you."

"Sure you weren't."

I heard amusement dripping from his voice.

I stiffly walked toward the sofa and sat down, refusing to glance his way again until I noticed from the corner of my eye that he'd already thrown on a dark bathrobe.

Ryder casually strolled toward the minibar, poured wine into a crystal glass, then held it out toward me.

"I don't drink."

A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Still Daddy's perfect little princess, huh?" he drawled lazily. "Too bad your daddy isn't here to forbid you tonight."

My fingers curled tightly against my lap.

Anger flared hot in my chest, but I forced it down.

I wasn't here to fight with him.

I wasn't here for my pride.

I was here because my mother was dying.

"I'm not here to play games with you, Ryder," I said coldly. "I just need to discuss one thing, then I'll leave."

"Why the rush?" He took a slow sip of wine, watching me over the rim of his glass. "I heard you're staying at Elena's tiny apartment now."

"You already know why I'm here." My throat tightened painfully. "My mother is in a coma. The hospital is threatening to remove her life support tomorrow morning."

The words nearly shattered me.

I gripped the hem of my sweater tightly before forcing myself to continue.

"So..." My voice weakened despite my efforts. "Can I borrow money from you?"

Silence filled the room instantly.

Ryder stared at me for several long seconds without speaking.

Then he finished his wine and set the glass down with a soft clink.

"You don't need to borrow it."

I blinked.

"What?"

"How much do you need?"

For a second, my chest loosened in relief so sharp it almost hurt.

"The bill is huge," I whispered quickly. "But I swear I'll pay you back somehow. Once I find my father, or get a job, or—"

"I'll pay the entire thing tonight."

The air left my lungs.

But before I could thank him, Ryder took one slow step closer.

"But I don't give people money for free."

Of course he didn't.

I should've known.

My stomach tightened.

"What do you want?"

Ryder's gaze locked onto mine.

"You're not leaving Kingsley."

I frowned.

"And you're moving in here."

My eyes widened.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"No." I stood abruptly. "Absolutely not."

Ryder barely reacted.

"You need a place to stay. Your mother needs someone watching over her full-time. Elena can quit her job and stay at the hospital while you stay here."

"And become what?" I snapped furiously. "Your maid?"

Ryder suddenly moved closer.

Too close.

His shadow swallowed me whole as he stopped directly in front of me.

"You think too little of yourself, Princess."

I hated the way my pulse stumbled at his voice.

"I'm serious!" I hissed. "Why are you doing this to me?"

His eyes darkened.

"I'm solving your problems."

"No—you’re controlling me."

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

"Same thing."

Bastard.

I stared up at him, trapped between fury and desperation.

And the worst part?

He knew I had no choice.

My mother would die tomorrow without him.

Ryder tilted his head slightly, studying me in silence before speaking again.

"Or would you rather watch the hospital pull the plug on your mother?"

The words hit like a knife straight to my chest.

I froze.

Because he had cornered me perfectly.

I hated him for it.

"You really enjoy this, don't you?" I laughed bitterly, blinking back tears. "Watching me throw away every last shred of dignity I have left."

Ryder didn't answer.

Which somehow made it worse.

I looked away first.

"Fine," I whispered hoarsely. "You win. I'll stay here. I'll work for you. But I'm never going back to Kingsley again."

I turned toward the door, ready to leave before he could see how badly my hands were shaking.

Then his voice stopped me cold.

"Who said anything about scrubbing floors?"

I slowly looked back.

Ryder was staring at me with an expression so sharp it made my stomach tighten.

"I have enough staff to clean this place," he said darkly, taking another deliberate step toward me. "I told you to move in because you're done hiding."

My breath caught.

"Henry threw you away," Ryder continued. "And now you're planning to disappear while he walks around campus with Scarlett like he won?"

His eyes burned into mine.

"The Mary Collins I remember would've burned the whole damn school down first."

Something hot twisted violently inside my chest.

Pain.

Humiliation.

Anger.

All the emotions I'd been choking down since Henry betrayed me suddenly ignited into something dangerous.

Ryder noticed it instantly.

A slow smirk spread across his face.

"My offer still stands, Princess."

He stopped directly in front of me again.

"Be my girlfriend."

My heartbeat slammed against my ribs.

"We'll walk back into Kingsley together," he murmured. "And we'll make Henry regret the day he lost you."

I stared at him silently.

At the boy I used to hate more than anyone.

The same reckless delinquent who ruined my Sweet Sixteen.

The same arrogant bastard currently manipulating me into a corner.

And somehow...

He was also the only person offering me a weapon instead of pity.

I slowly lifted my chin.

"If you play games with me, Ryder Vance..." I warned quietly.

His smile widened into something dark and victorious.

"Trust me, Princess," he murmured. "You'll enjoy every second of it."