Chapter 29 Realization #2
I folded my arms. “Where’s Ma?”
“Off catering to the masses.” She shrugged.
“I see.” I looked around to see if I could spot her. “And Jonathan?”
“He’s…around. I just wanted to talk to you alone.”
I eyed her suspiciously but kept quiet. Eventually, I followed her to a room away from the party.
“What do you want?” I asked once inside.
She hesitated with a sigh. That’s when I really looked at her, and she looked poorly. Ryan was an attitude-filled smart mouth. But now, she was just…tired. Was Johnathan draining the life out of her?
“I just…” She glanced toward the door, then back at me. “I wanted to check in. We haven’t really talked. And I know today’s… a lot.”
“Yeah,” I said flatly. “It is.”
“I kept my distance because I didn’t want you to feel awkward around me.”
Too late for that.
“But I wanted to talk to you about something,” she added.
I tilted my head. “What is it?”
She took a breath, fiddling with the edge of her dress. “You remember how Daddy put you in charge of the house until I graduated?”
“Yes,” I said slowly. “Are you planning on going back to school?”
“Not exactly.”
I raised a brow but said nothing as she looked down.
“I’m pregnant.”
The air stalled between us.
“Oh. Um… okay.”
“Yeah,” she said quietly. “And I was wondering if you’d consider releasing the house to us—so we can sell it. We need the money.”
I stared at her. “Doesn’t Jonathan’s family have property they were gifting him when he got married?”
Her eyes dropped to the floor. “They took it back. When they realized what we had done.”
I nodded slowly, things clicking into place. His family hated embarrassment, almost as much as Ma.
“Look,” she said, her voice softening, “I’m not asking for too much. Daddy wanted me to have it eventually anyway, so it’s not fraud or anything. It shouldn’t be a big deal.”
“Daddy wanted you to have it after you graduate,” I said evenly.
“I can’t go back to school with a kid.”
“Jonathan can’t take care of his kid while his wife goes to class?”
She stiffened at that. “Are you going to do it or not?”
I took a step closer. “Did Jonathan put you up to this?”
So much for him changing.
“No,” she lied quickly. “This was my idea.”
“Ryan,” I said, my voice gentler than I intended. “He’s not a good man. It’s not too late to back out of this.”
Her posture stiffened after that, all the tiredness of before now shoved to the back of her appearance. “I want this, Ellie. I love him. I just need to get this settled so that we can start our life together. Despite how you feel about me, I still deserve happiness.”
“I’m not denying that. But you can’t cut corners to get it.”
She scoffed, “You did. It’s not like you worked hard to get where you are, Elliot. It was handed to you, like everything always is.”
There’s the Ryan I knew. Just as vicious as ever.
It was so fascinating how she could open her mouth and Ma’s voice comes flying out.
I didn’t say another word. I turned and walked, first out of the room, then past all the guests and out of the building, needing space before the heat in my chest rose any higher.
The air outside hit cooler than I expected, and my heels crunched softly against gravel as I stopped under an old oak.
A part of me hoped I could just disappear into the night, long enough to catch my breath.
But footsteps followed. Of course, they did.
“Ellie, wait.”
I didn’t turn around. “We’re not doing this here.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said from behind me. “I’m just trying to figure things out.”
“You’re always figuring things out at someone else’s expense,” I muttered. “First, with Jonathan. Now, Daddy’s house.”
“That’s not fair,” she snapped.
I turned to face her. “Isn’t it? You made your choices, Ryan. You chose that man. You chose this marriage. You chose not to follow Daddy’s instructions, and now you want me to clean it up?”
“I’m not asking you to clean anything. I just need help.”
“Well, I don’t have it to give.”
Before she could answer, another voice cut in.
“What’s going on out here?”
I tensed as he came into view, his tux jacket unbuttoned, tie askew. Was he drunk? He looked between us, then zeroed in on me.
“Is there a problem?” Jonathan asked.
“No,” I said flatly, I needed to find El. “I was just leaving.”
“Ellie,” Ryan started. “Let’s not make this into something dramatic.”
“Exactly, now is not the place.” Jonathan smirked, looking straight at me. “This is a family event, after all.”
“You ain’t my family.”
Ryan stepped between us. “Stop it. Both of you.”
But Jonathan’s eyes stayed on me. “Same old Elliot. You always loved to run when things got hard.”
“And you always loved to have what you couldn’t afford,” I shot back. “Guess we’re both consistent.”
His teeth gritted together. “Get the fuck out of here, Elliot. Now!”
“Gladly!” I yelled back.
That should’ve been the end of it. But footsteps—Christ, again?—heels this time.
“Enough.”
I closed my eyes as Ma appeared under the dim garden light, the judgment already radiating off her.
“What is all this nonsense?” she asked, eyes landing on me like I was the problem—as usual. “Is this what you came here for? You couldn’t let your sister have one day?”
I stared at her. “Trust. I’ve let her have plenty.”
Ma crossed her arms. “This is her wedding. Everything doesn’t have to be a fight.”
“Funny,” I said, voice low. “You only say that when it’s me doing the fighting back.”
Ryan stepped forward. “Ma, it’s fine. We were just talking—”
“No, it’s not fine,” Ma snapped. “Elliot always thinks she’s owed something. Like life has to pay her back for not going the way she planned.”
I took a breath. “I’m leaving now. Goodbye!”
“Finally! I don’t even know why you came!” Jonathan yelled, swaying. I looked at Ryan, who looked away like she didn’t invite me.
“I don’t either.” I scoffed.
Jonathan took Ryan’s hand like all of this wasn’t his fault. “Let’s go.”
Ryan looked at me then, really looked. “I didn’t come out here to fight you, Ellie.”
“No, you came to take more! All of you! But joke’s on you because I have nothing left to give you people.”
Silence fell like a heavy curtain as I made my exit. I moved around the side of the venue, each step quicker than the last, my heart pounding behind my ribs like it was trying to claw its way out. I needed air. I needed to find El and get out of here. I needed—
“Peanut.”
I stopped. El’s voice was filled with urgency. He stepped out from the side door, concern lining his face. “You okay? I could hear yelling from inside.”
Great.
“Did somebody touch you?”
“No.”
“Are you alright?”
I shook my head. “No. Not even close.”
He reached for my hand, fingers lacing with mine. “Come on. Let’s go before you start swinging.”
I let him guide me down the gravel path toward the parking lot, away from the chaos. The second we hit the grass, I exhaled, but it didn’t last long.
Footsteps. Again.
“You just had to show up with a new man, didn’t you?” Jonathan’s voice called from behind us. “What? You trying to make me jealous?”
El stopped walking.
I turned, already regretting it. Jonathan stood a few feet away, chest puffed, Ryan trailing behind him, looking like she wanted to be anywhere else. Ma wasn’t with her, thankfully.
“Don’t,” I warned. “Just don’t, Jonathan.”
“Don’t what? Call it like I see it? You never should’ve brought him here, Elliot. It’s messy as fuck.”
El dropped my hand slowly, turned, and stepped forward once—casual, but I knew him. Knew the tension building under his calm.
“I didn’t realize you owned the state of Texas,” El said, voice even. “Or your wife’s sister.”
“I’m trying to protect her.”
El tilted his head. “From what, exactly? You don’t know me.”
Jonathan’s jaw ticked. “I know your type. Old motherfuckers who’s ready to swoop in when young women are vulnerable. Then, as soon as they’re dependent on you, you start taking advantage. You think you’re better than me or something?”
“No. I know, I am.” El didn’t blink. “I’m everything you ain’t.
I’m better than you. Smarter than you. Richer than you.
I smell better. My house is bigger. I make her scream louder, and I last longer.
Don’t try to measure yourself against me, little boy.
You will be disappointed. And don’t ever address me like that again.
I’d hate to fuck you up on your wedding day. ”
Ryan stepped between them. “Okay, enough. This is stupid.”
But Jonathan’s pride had already caught fire. “Just because you’re older, you know more? You don’t know anything about her or what she’s been through. I was there when she took care of her daddy, I wiped her tears at the funeral. What do you know about Elliot?”
“I know not to yell at her like she’s a little kid.” El took a slow step forward, eyes narrowing. “You wanna try that with me and see what happens?”
“Stop it.” I moved between them, chest heaving. “Both of you. Stop it.”
But Jonathan wasn’t done.
“You’re gonna hit me over Ellie?” His face scrunched until his eyes fell on me, then it softened. “Look man, I get it. She tastes very sweet. But she makes you work so fucking hard for it. It’s damn near begging. Is it really worth all that?”
That was it.
El’s fist flew, fast and clean, and landed square against Jonathan’s jaw with a satisfying crack. He staggered back, holding his face, eyes wide in disbelief.
“El!” I grabbed his arm, pulling him back before it escalated.
He didn’t move toward Jonathan again. He didn’t have to.
“I don’t give a fuck what you say about me. But if you ever speak about Elliot like that again,” El said, voice cold and clear, “I will kill you. Do you understand me?”
Jonathan wiped his mouth, blood on his thumb.
I turned to El, still clutching his arm, heart caught in my throat. “Let’s just go.”
We barely had a second to breathe before Ma came storming out from around the building. Her eyes swept over the group like a storm scanning for damage. A few people wondered out as well, looking for a chance to finally see the Sawyers lose their shit.
“What the hell is going on out here?” Ma demanded, her gaze finally landing on me. “What did you do?”
“Me? I didn’t—Jonathan followed me out here—”
“Christ! Did you hit him?” She cut me off.
El stepped forward. “No, I did. And I’d fucking do it again because he’s a bitch.” Then he addressed Ma. “Honestly lady, if this creep has been sniffing around your daughters for this long, you should be ashamed of yourself as a mother.”
My eyes widened but I kept quiet.
“Is this man with you, Elliot?” Ma asked through gritted teeth.
“Yes.”
Ma’s eyes snapped to El before looking back at me. “Are you hellbent on ruining our lives, Elliot? Ever since your father died, it’s like everywhere you go, drama follows. God. You couldn’t let us have one day? It’s Ryan’s wedding. She’s pregnant for goodness’ sake.”
“I didn’t do anything!” I snapped. “El’s right, Johnathan’s a creep. He came at—”
Ma crossed her arms. “Yes, blame everyone else. Let me guess—it’s Jonathan’s fault you don’t want to sign over your father’s house to Ryan also.”
I blinked, taken aback. Of course.
“Oh my God.” I swallowed. “It wasn’t Jonathan who put Ryan up to selling the house. It was you.”
She didn’t even flinch. “How else is she supposed to afford a baby, Elliot? How else are they gonna pay for this wedding?”
“She never should’ve even married that asshole.”
“She’s pregnant by him, so yes, she had to marry him. This family faced enough embarrassment with your last engagement. A bastard, too? Absolutely not.”
El took a step back, stunned. “Lady, you’re out of your goddamn mind.”
I turned to Ryan. Her mouth was pressed shut like she’d swallowed her voice years ago and forgotten how to find it. And that’s when it clicked. With me gone, Ma found herself a new punching bag.
“Ryan.” I moved closer, gentle now. “You don’t have to go through with this. Jonathan is not a good man. Ma can’t force you to stay with him.”
She blinked. When she finally spoke, her voice was flat, almost robotic. “I love him.”
My stomach churned so violently, I was afraid I’d throw up. He hadn’t changed. I could tell by the way she answered.
I grabbed her shoulders, searching her eyes. “Did he… did he hurt you?”
Ryan’s eyes flickered. For half a second, I saw it—something soft and scared flash behind the wall she’d built. “Elliot!” Ma barked. “Don’t be ridiculous. That’s the father of her child!”
But then it was gone. The wall slipped back into place.
I felt Elliot stiffen next to me but I didn’t break eye contact. “Did he?”
She pulled away. “Are you going to sign over the house or not?”
I stiffened, dropping my shoulders. “No.”
Her lips parted, just barely, like maybe she’d expected something different. Like maybe she didn’t want to go through with it. But she straightened. Cold again.
“Then there’s nothing left to talk about.”
Jonathan looked at Ryan, stunned, like he expected her to say something in defense of him. She didn’t.
“Let’s go,” she whispered, grabbing his wrist without looking at him. “Now.”
El leaned into my ear. “We should go too, baby. C’mon.”
I turned to Ma. “You can’t let her stay with him.”
But she didn’t hear me. Or maybe she just didn’t want to.
“Just go, Elliot. And take that man with you.”
“You ain’t gotta tell me twice.” El reached for my hand, lacing our fingers tightly. “Come on, Peanut. We’ve had enough of this fucking circus.”
“Ma,” I tried again, stepping forward with my heart in my throat.
“Go!” she shouted, her voice shrill now. “Get out of my sight. Both of you!”
Before anything else could be said, Elliot ushered me away. His firm, possessive hand on my back guided me toward the parking lot with a scary calm demeanor.
“I’m sorry,” he said, voice low.
I shook my head, swallowing hard. “Don’t be.”
He reached up, brushing his thumb beneath my eye, and only then did I realize I was crying. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”