Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan)

Chapter 73

RYAN

I still left for lunch because I am human and I need to eat. It would do everyone no good if I ended up in the hospital.

Pulling over at the restaurant, I ignored a load of paparazzi and their questions. Steeping into the place, I chose a table furthest from the window, waved over the waitress, and ordered dinner.

A few minutes into my food, I was interrupted by someone I'd rather not meet. Rose sat down next to me with a serene expression. "You are in deep shit, you know that right?"

Leaning back, I folded my hands and watched her with an expression even more grave than hers. "and you think the press hasn't made it clear enough?"

She continued to stare in silence. The waitress served my food and Stephanie had the nerve to place her own order too. At this point, I had more things to worry about than her so I just let her be.

"Let me back in." she requested suddenly. Lifting my head, I blinked at her. "Let me back into your legal team and acknowledge the fact that I am carrying your baby and treat me with more regard and I will make this go away."

Taking my time to eat my food, I wiped my mouth with a napkin before addressing her. "I don't know what you are trying to request, but the answer is no," I replied flatly. "And for that baby, my secretary will send money to you every month for your upkeep until the baby is born and after it is born, a DNA test will be conducted to confirm if it is actually mine, and if it is, I am going to take up my paternal responsibilities."

She ran her gaze lazily through my form. "Do I look like someone who needs your money?" she asked and I ignored her.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Her food arrived but she made no move to pick up her fork. "If you didn't want to eat, why did you order?"

"To watch you eat and hopefully have a meaningful conversation with you." She responded and I shook my head. It seems she has refused to accept the fact that whatever happened between us is over. "Why won't you let me back into your team?" "Because I don't want you there." I deadpanned.

Stephe tilted her head. "You clearly need help Ryan, why are you being stubborn?"

Now she is getting on my damn nerves. Dropping my fork noisily, I didn't care about the glare and side-eyes from other diners due to the unnecessary noise from the fork. "What the fuck is your problem?" I snapped. "Yes, I need help Stephanie but I don't need your help. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

She opened her mouth to respond but I lifted my hand, shutting her up. "the only reason I am not issuing a restraining order against you is because there is a possibility that you might be carrying my child, but if you continue to get on my damn nerves, I might consider it." Her expression changed into anger. "Why can't we be friends even though our relationship didn't work? She snapped. "we are expecting a baby for goodness sake Ryan, will we continue to live like enemies when I have done nothing wrong?!"

"You consider your manipulative behavior as something not offensive?" I asked her and she continued to glare.

"When have I ever been manipulative towards you Ryan?" she rasped, "I have given you nothing but love ever since we started dating again."

"Going to my parents to announce your pregnancy yourself, keeping the news of our separation but sharing the news of your pregnancy the moment I introduce my kids to the public," I listed, "should I continue to list out your manipulative behavior?"

I am done with this food. Dropping the napkin noisily on the table, I pushed my seat backward and stood up. She looked at me and then back at my plate. "what?" she blurted out, "you aren't eating again?"

"I find it difficult to digest food when I am offended," I stated bluntly. "I rushed down here this afternoon because I haven't had decent food ever since this crazy problem started and when I finally made out time to eat and rushed down here with a huge appetite only for you to ruin it."

For a moment, she felt really bad. "fine, you can have a seat, I promise not to utter any other word."

I'd be demented to actually do that. Waving the waitress over to pay my bills, I waited for her to approach me.

"You are really not going to sit?" Stephanie asked. "fine," she stood up and grabbed her purse. "I will leave, you don't have to leave."

Ignoring her, I paid my bills and walked out of the restaurant, and of course, she raced after me. The paparazzi and tabloids eager to cook up more stories took pictures of us together.

******

Walking into the house that I didn't think I would be coming into anytime soon, I dropped my bag on the sofa, sat down, rested my head, and closed my eyes.

However, I was startled when I heard Angelo's voice next to me. My eyes snapped open. "what are you doing here?" I asked him with brows tucked together in a frown. "Shouldn't you be out there trying to find Sophia?"

He nodded before sitting down next to her. "there is more at play boss." He revealed and my frown deepened.

"What is that supposed to mean?" the fatigue in my brain disappeared at the sound of important information.

"I am inclined to believe that someone is hiding Sophia." He pulled out a picture and dropped it in the space between us. "this is a picture of Sophia the day she claimed to have left for Singapore she went past the checking-in but never got on that plane." Picking up the picture of the young lady in question, I stared at it. "Have you spoken to any of her family members?" I asked and he nodded.

"They believe she is in Singapore." He replied, "And I can swear with my life that she isn't there."

Returning the picture to him, I leaned back again and closed my eyes, trying to collect my thoughts. "And have they been communicating with her?"

"Who?" he asked dauntly and I remained silent. "they claimed to have been chatting with her but have not had an actual phone call with her."

Hmm. "Put a call across to Mr. Jasper, have him send his uniformed men to the airport, fake an investigation, and get the CCTV of the airport on that very day she left." There is only one entrance that people are allowed to get into the checking point, if she did come out, then she was most definitely captured by the camera.

"Yes sir."

"While having it checked out," I continued, "do not keep an eye out for Sophia." There is every possibility that she will disguise herself to avoid the camera. "keep an eye out for anyone who didn't walk through that door but walked out of it."

"Yes sir." He responded again.

Exhausted, I stood to my feet. "shut the door on your way out." A few steps away from him, he called out to me. I turned and faced him. "what is it?"

"Do you want to know what I think about the whole situation?"

Slipping my hands into my pocket, I nodded. "Go ahead."

"I think someone, particularly YAEW Group planted Sophia in our company and used her at the right time to their benefit."