Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Ronan
Rose stood in the hallway, tears streaming down her face, trailing along her cheeks and dripping from her chin onto the carpet. She cried without a sound, but it made my chest ache. When she saw me, she ran forward.
"Ryan... where did she..." She looked up at me, voice breaking.
I scooped her up. She clutched my collar. Feeling her shake in my arms, regret crashed over me.
I'd been deliberately keeping my distance from Ryan.
I liked being around her—watching her with Rose, feeling her skin against mine in bed.
All of it. And that scared the hell out of me.
But every calculated move I'd made shattered the moment I heard she was in danger.
I'd wanted to comfort her. Instead, I'd lashed out.
I'd wanted her to stay. Instead, I'd watched her walk away.
Now Rose stood here asking where Ryan went, and I hated myself for it.
"Rose." My voice came out rougher than I meant. "Ryan, she—"
"She... doesn't want..."
"Baby, let's get you some breakfast first, okay?" I rubbed her back. "Daddy promises Ryan will come back."
Maybe it was my certainty, but Rose slowly loosened her grip on my collar, though tears still ran down her face. After Emily took Rose, I called Marco.
"Boss."
"Dustin Miller." I bit out the name. "Current address, financials, priors, anyone bankrolling him. And teach him a lesson. Done by noon."
"Got it."
I set the phone down and flipped through a contract, not reading a single word. When Declan walked in, I was turning to page three.
"That's last quarter's contract. You already signed it."
I tossed it aside. Declan dropped a fresh stack of files in front of me, studying me with an odd look.
"Say it."
"Marco's digging into the ex?"
I said nothing.
Declan shook his head and sat across from me. "You didn't sleep last night, did you?"
He'd guessed right.
"What she said last night." Declan pushed his glasses up. "Most of it was true."
"What?"
"Ronan, I know you too well. But Ryan isn't Natasha.
" Declan looked at me. "You think she can't be trusted, but we did a thorough background check.
We know the names of the kids her parents each have now.
I can guarantee she has zero connection to any family.
That's exactly why you felt safe having her around Rose, isn't it? "
"Yes." Declan always cut through my bullshit. "But—"
"No buts, Ronan." Declan shook his head. "You're used to everyone looking up to you. She's the exception."
"You're scared, and you're turning that fear into anger.
When you blew up at her in the study, what you really wanted was to storm into that alley and rip that guy's head off.
You couldn't stand that you didn't protect her, so you took it out on her instead.
Used Rose as an excuse. Textbook emotional processing, Ronan. "
"Are you done?" I stood and grabbed his collar. "What do you know? If she's another Natasha, you know damn well what that would mean for this family! I can't let that happen again! Rose has been hurt enough!"
"See? I'm right." Declan showed no fear, even smiled. "Still using Rose as your shield. If you care about her, just say so. Is that so hard?"
"Shut the hell up!" I swung, my fist connecting with his face. Anger flared in Declan's eyes. He shoved my hand away and stood.
"Ronan, take it out on me all you want, but think about Rose. Think about what you promised her. You want her to go back to shutting herself off from the world? Right now, you don't need to be pissed at me. You need to go apologize to Ryan!"
My anger cooled. I thought of Rose's red-rimmed eyes. I had to face facts—Declan was right. I needed Ryan back. Even if just for Rose.
"Fine. Get out."
"Great. This is how my good intentions are repaid." Declan rolled his eyes and rubbed his sore cheek. At the door, he stopped. "Oh, one more thing, when you go find her, bring Rose."
The massive study fell silent again. I sat in my chair, rubbing my throbbing temples, thinking through my next move.
I picked up my phone and called finance. Double Ryan's hourly rate, starting this month. And backpay the difference.
Marco delivered his report before noon. He walked into the study with sweat on his forehead and dark stains on his leather jacket sleeves. He placed a manila envelope on my desk, still sealed.
"Dustin Miller, twenty-eight, unemployed.
Lives in a basement unit in Jackson Heights, landlord says he's two months behind on rent.
Busted for drug possession last year, posted bail but didn't show up to court.
Got a misdemeanor on his record." Marco poured himself some water.
"Phone's registered under a fake name with a prepaid SIM.
No assets, bank account's got less than three hundred bucks.
Looking at his call log, the past two months, he's only contacted his dealer—and harassed Ryan. "
"What's he got on her?"
"Four videos on his phone." Marco set down his glass. "Recorded when they were together. Two of them are explicitly intimate. He's been using them to blackmail Ryan. I pulled the records from the carrier."
I closed the file. Pressed my fingers against the manila cover until the edge dug into my palm.
"Anyone backing him?"
"No." Marco's tone was certain. He shook his head. "He's just a junkie burnout extorting his ex for cash."
"Where is he now?"
"We destroyed all the videos—cloud storage, physical devices, everything's wiped. Beat the shit out of him. He was on his knees, crying with snot bubbles coming out of his nose, swearing he'd never go near Ryan again. Pissed himself before I left."
"Good work." I'd always trusted Marco's methods.
I decided to apologize. For Rose. That's what I told myself.
"Want to go see Ryan?"
I crouched in front of Rose. She clutched Luna, looking dazed, until I mentioned Ryan's name. Then she turned to me.
"Go... find Ryan, go!" Rose was clearly excited, managing a complete word.
I felt pleased—Rose had come this far thanks to Ryan.
Before I could move, Rose was already putting on her shoes.
She struggled to hold Luna, who'd grown quite a bit, while tugging me toward the door with her other hand, desperate to leave right away.
In just two months, they'd become this close.
We drove to Sunnyside. I'd had Declan confirm Ryan's location last night—the new rental she shared with Lulu. When we parked across the street, Lulu was by the door organizing her backpack. She looked up, saw my car, and her expression darkened.
"What are you doing here? You're not welcome! Please leave—"
She stopped mid-sentence when she spotted Rose getting out of the car. Rose's eyes were still red and swollen, and Luna clutched tight in her arms, looking at Lulu timidly. Lulu's lips pressed together. She glared at me.
"Wait here."
She went inside. Soon she came back out, still visibly unhappy, but relenting.
"Ryan agreed to see you. But only Rose."
Fine. But it was a start.
Lulu cracked the door open for Rose. Ryan sat on the floor watching TV in a plain gray cotton tee, her blonde curls loosely tied with an elastic, hanging over her shoulder.
She looked exhausted, dark circles under her eyes, lips dry.
At the sound of footsteps, she turned. Saw me first. Her brow furrowed. "I thought only Rose was—"
The next second, Rose had already run over. Luna jumped from her arms into Lulu's. Rose threw herself into Ryan's chest, pushing her back half an inch. Rose buried her face against Ryan, shoulders shaking.
"Ryan... don't like me... don't want me..."
Ryan's eyes instantly welled up. She held Rose tight, gently patting her back.
"I do want you." Her voice was soft, soothing. "I just took a day off. To rest."
Rose gradually calmed down. Ryan pulled out tissues to wipe her tears, then dragged Luna over until Rose was laughing through her tears.
I stood outside the door, watching the warm scene inside, then bit down and made my decision. I walked over to Ryan.
Ryan glanced up at me, expression cold, then looked back down to play with Rose and Luna, treating me like air. Fine. The one who screwed up should apologize first.
"About last night." I started. "I was rash."
Ryan looked up, surprised, but didn't respond.
"I shouldn't have blamed you before I knew the facts." I abandoned all the phrases Declan had coached me on.
She didn't answer. That's okay. Apologies don't happen in one shot. I had enough sincerity. I pulled out the new contract and set it on the coffee table.
"What's this?"
"New employment contract. Double the pay."
"You think throwing money at me will—"
"No." I softened my tone. "This isn't buying you back. It's just one way I could think of to show I'm sorry. You can sign it. Or not."
Ryan's gaze lingered on the contract, but she didn't reach for it.
"You're doing all this for Rose?"
"I—" I clenched my fist at my side, then released it. "If this happens again... you can... tell me first."
"Why?" Lulu suddenly stepped between us. "Why should she tell you? Who are you to her?"
I was stumped. I couldn't answer that question. Because I didn't know myself. But I knew I needed Ryan back.
Ryan tugged Lulu's arm. She shot me one more resentful look and headed to the kitchen.
My eyes returned to Ryan. "Think it over. No rush to decide now."
"I'm not going back with you today."
"No rush." I stepped back toward the shoe rack. "Let me know when you've decided."
Rose looked up at that, glancing between me and Ryan.
I held out my hand to Rose. "Rose, we should go."
"No!" Rose immediately wrapped her arms around Ryan's neck, refusing to let go.
"Rose..."
Rose suddenly shoved Luna into Ryan's arms. "Luna, stay with Ryan." Rose pointed at Luna. "Tomorrow, pick up the cat."
That's my daughter—already found her excuse to come back tomorrow.
"Okay." Ryan stroked Rose's head. "I'll take good care of Luna."
I led a reluctant Rose away. Before getting in the car, I couldn't help looking back. Ryan stood by the window, Luna in her arms.
The next evening, Ryan walked into the manor holding Luna, leading Rose by the hand, Declan following behind.
I stood by a pillar in the entrance hall, a bit awkward. When Ryan looked up, her eyes swept past my face.
"Welcome back."
She shot me a look. "Only for Rose."
"I know."
Rose pulled Ryan's hand, excitedly running upstairs. I silently followed. Andrew and several servants carried things in—cat tree parts, a cat bed, and a box of cat toys.
Rose dragged Ryan to the cat tree, pointing at the parts, eager for Ryan to help assemble it.
"Princess, we need to eat dinner first, then bathe, and go to bed early. We'll build it tomorrow, okay?" Ryan coaxed softly.
Rose looked reluctant but nodded. Emily immediately took her to the bathroom.
"Where's the manual?" Ryan started searching.
"Still outside." I stood in the doorway. "I'll get it. Need a toolbox?"
"No toolbox. Just a screwdriver."
I checked what size was needed and went downstairs to the storage room. On my way back, I heard Victoria's voice coming from Rose's room.
"...gets fired and comes crawling back. Talk about shameless."
"Cats are full of bacteria; they shouldn't be kept in a child's room in the first place. Now you want to put some cat tree in the bedroom, too? Are you trying to make Rose sick?"
I quickened my pace. At the doorway, I saw Victoria with one hand on the frame, the other pointing at the cat tree parts on the floor.
Ryan was struggling with two bags of cat litter while dealing with Victoria's harassment.
I was about to step forward when Rose ran to Ryan and turned to face Victoria.
"Cat... mine." Her words were still broken, but her voice was loud. "I say... okay."
Victoria looked down at her. Rose stared back, not yielding an inch.
"Rose, darling, I'm doing this for your own good." Victoria bent down, softening her voice. "Ryan just left and just came back; she can't even figure out her own situation. How can she take care of you?"
"Ryan... very good..." Rose bit out the words with determination, back straight. Victoria's smile cracked. She looked at Ryan, chin raised. "Ryan, what spell did you cast on Rose? She never talked to family like this before. What have you been teaching her? Rose is already unstable—"
"You keep saying you're doing this for Rose." I couldn't take it anymore. I walked over. "Ryan came, and Rose started getting better. You've lived here all these years—what have you done?"
Victoria's face flushed red, then drained to white. Her lips moved, trying to say something, but she swallowed it back.
"Rose is the most important person in this manor." I pulled Rose close, gently patting her shoulder to comfort her. "Ryan is Rose's teacher. She's helping Rose get better. Whatever she wants to do, she can."