All Chapters of Losing Ryker: The Billionaire's Second Chance : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Zerah Disbelief and anger filled me at the way he claimed them. “You’re unbelievable.” I spat out, “and you have no right when you've only just met them.” “Ive already given you my conditions.” he said, ignoring my words. “whether the easy way or the hard way, they'll be with me.” “And what about their lives? Displacing them completely, pulling them away from their mother? Are you thinking of that when you make your threats?” I said, “ just hear yourself. You don't even sound like you care.” “And you do?” He laughed, cold and bitter, “Compared to you, I have more than enough wealth to give them any luxury they desire. The best of everything. With me they can be raised and trained as worthy heirs and inherit a business empire. They'll be raised far better than whatever the hell you've done with them.” Nausea welled up in my belly at his words. This time, I barely took offence to his claims on my parenting, but how he addressed them. So impersonal. My blood roiled. How he talked

Zerah When I opened the front door, the aroma of soup drifted through the air. Warm, savory and comforting. The house was unsurprisingly quiet. After the meeting night had long since fallen. By now, Ryan and Micah were in their rooms asleep, or at least nearing it. I shut the door quietly, not wanting to disturb the silence. Entering the living area, I found my mother. She stood at the kitchen island, stirring a pot. The faint sounds of her humming stopped, no doubt because she'd noticed my presence. “Welcome back home dear. You came just in time.” She said, still not looking at me, “ I had a feeling you may not have eaten but since it's a bit late I thought some warm chicken soup would be the best thing. It's almost done.” Staring at her frail back, my throat tightened. She had just been released from the hospital, yet still waited up for me. Something about seeing her in that state felt like the last straw. I moved forward in silence and gently hugged her from behind. Pres

Zerah This detail was actually true and was probably the only question I could think of that wouldn't be suspicious. I could still remember the weeks immediately after signing the marriage contract. Our marriage was supposed to be confidential but a person had caught wind of us leaving the registry. The news spread like wildfire, albeit still mostly rumors and gossip with no substantial evidence. In turn, Ryker had practically confined me into the mansion shortly after the contract and resolved to deal with the press. I could still remember the coldness in his eyes and the words he spoke. “Before the rumors are quelled, don't step out of this place and cause trouble for me. The last thing I want my name associated with is you.” That was the first time, despite my hopes of winning his heart that I had doubts. In the end it took little effort to work out in his favour. He managed to make the press believe that the marriage didn't exist and I remained as his hidden contract wife.

Ryker As the car engine stopped, I took a deep breath to compose myself. There laid a knot in my throat, a strange but present weight that always came when I was here. Every single damn time. I couldn't understand it. Sometimes I wondered if something was wrong with me. This was the place I'd been raised in, yet coming here often felt heavy. Almost unwilling. “Shut the hell up.” I whispered to myself. Nonsense. That was all it was. This was also my home and they were my family. For this, visiting them should never feel like a chore. But now, there was an even more important reason to brace myself, a reason to hide. Taking a deep breath , I stepped out. The Falloway mansion, technically still within the city yet remote from the public, was where I had been raised. Now, it was simply a retirement haven for them. It didn't take long to reach the door and even shorter for my presence to be known. Right before I could reach the door knob, the door opened to reveal Aunt Eleano

Ryker My hand, holding the porridge spoon, froze and my chest tightened. I knew EXACTLY who she was talking about. That damned face flashed into my mind. The one which remained synonymous with the boys. Most of those damned thoughts, no matter how I tried to stop them, always led straight to her. Zerah. “Really?” Uncle Richard's voice rang, “Nathan has rarely taken anyone seriously. Maybe you shouldn't get your hopes up.” “No. You don't understand. L” Aunt Reese said, “I haven't heard him speak that way about anyone. Plus he said he knew her for the past five years. She didn't even know his connection to us. Nathan's a good judge of character. She must be a good person.” My jaw tightened. Was that really true? It couldn't. Someone like her who had cornered me at the right moment, offering herself as a solution right at my moment of desperation back then wasn't a coincidence. She was cunning and calculating. A good person? It had to be a joke. Today made it a full week since tha