All Chapters of THE ROSE TATTOO, The Billionaire Secret Heir: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

RYDER’S POVI did not sleep. The bottle of whiskey on my desk sat half-empty, mocking me beneath the dim light of my study. The city stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, dark and silent, but my mind refused to follow its lead. Every time I closed my eyes, another problem surfaced. Dante. That bastard had somehow gotten involved in the acquisition of a hotel I had been pursuing for months. What should have been a straightforward purchase had turned into a bidding war fueled by ego, revenge, and old hatred. The bastard wasn't even interested in the company. He only wanted to beat me, just like he had wanted my wife.A bitter laugh escaped me. Five years had passed and somehow Dante still found new ways to be a pain in my ass.Then there was my grandfather. I glanced at my phone and immediately regretted it. Twenty-three missed calls, seven voice messages, and three texts. The old man was relentless.Get married. Have children. Settle down. Act like the future CEO.As if runn

RYDER’S POV“What baby were you talking about, Andrea?” I asked after a few seconds of silence. She crossed her arms and glared at me across the now-empty table. The restaurant hummed with low conversations and clinking silverware, but the tension between us felt louder than everything else combined. “You are unbelievable. You dragged me into your grandfather’s blind date setup and expected me to sit there like decoration. I saved your ass, and that is what you focus on?”I leaned back in my chair and studied her. The way she had taken control tonight impressed me more than I wanted to admit. She had spun that pregnancy story with perfect timing and raw emotion. Vanessa had practically fled the table. “You handled it like a pro. I did not expect you to go that far, but it worked efficiently and creatively. I appreciate it.” “Appreciate it?” Her eyes flashed with clear disappointment. “Mr. Santos, you asked your personal assistant to crash a dinner date and lie about being involved w

RYDER’S POVI stepped into my empty penthouse and loosened my tie. The city lights glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but the silence pressed in heavier than usual. Andrea’s face stayed burned into my mind. The way she had leaned against me in the car. The fear in her eyes when I offered to walk her inside. Something did not add up. My phone rang again. Grandfather. I answered this time.“You foolish boy!” His voice boomed through the speaker before I could speak. I pulled the phone away from my ear as he continued shouting. “What kind of game are you playing? Who was that woman you took to dinner? And why did I have to hear from Vanessa’s father that you have a pregnant girlfriend? Have you lost your goddamn mind completely?” I walked to the bar and poured myself a drink. “I was waiting for the right moment to tell you. Things have been complicated. I forgot to mention it earlier.” “Forgot?” He sounded ready to reach through the phone. “You embarrassed me in front of

ANDREA’S POVI sat on the edge of my bed long after midnight, the apartment wrapped in silence. Ryder’s words kept echoing in my head. He wanted to meet tomorrow for a proper talk about Lily. No excuses, no delays. I rubbed my temples and tried to breathe through the knot in my chest. Five years of careful walls, and they had crumbled in one afternoon because I forgot my wallet. Lily’s laughter from earlier still lingered in the air. She had drawn dragons and castles at the kitchen table while I pretended everything remained normal. I stood up quietly and walked to her room. The door stood slightly open. She lay curled under her blanket with her stuffed bear tucked against her chest, but her small lamp still glowed. A fresh drawing rested on her nightstand. I stepped inside and picked it up. Three stick figures stood together. A tall man with dark hair, a woman with long hair like mine, and a little girl in the middle holding both their hands. My throat tightened. She had drawn this

ANDREA’S POVI arrived at Ryder’s sprawling residence at exactly six in the morning, the sky still dark with the last traces of night. My hands trembled slightly as I gripped the steering wheel before stepping out. Everything had shifted since yesterday. He was no longer just my boss. He was Lily’s father. The man whose child I had hidden for five years. The thought made my stomach twist into knots. I needed this job more than ever, but facing him now felt like walking into a minefield. The front door opened before I could knock. Ryder stood there in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing strong forearms. His hair still looked slightly damp from a shower. He smiled that slow, dangerous smile that always unsettled me. “Good morning, Andrea. Come in.” I kept my expression professional and stepped past him into the marble foyer. “Good morning, Mr. Santos. I have your schedule ready. The first call is at seven thirty with the Tokyo team.” He closed the door behind me