Chapter 6
I smiled casually-
“Let me introduce you. This is Ryder Holt, general manager of Lin Phoenix Technology Group.”
I had barely finished when Ryder tapped the table.[]
“Your information is outdated. I’ve been promoted. I’m Executive Director now.“[]
Executive Director…]
Seeing my confusion, he quickly explained, “Liam went to Europe to expand the market. He’s been gone for six months.“]
So after I left, Liam went to Europe.
How times change…]
I smiled again and pointed to the young man. “This is my shop assistant, Jackson Pine.“]]
Ryder immediately burst out laughing. “Named after trees, little bro?”
Parents obsessed with water, big bro?” Jackson shot back.
These two hit it off immediately–just introducing themselves was all it took for them to click. Jackson was a natural people–person, and Ryder had that easy–going, upbeat personality.
After chatting for a while, they seemed to get along surprisingly well.[]
Ryder was enjoying himself so much he insisted on letting Jackson drive his Maybach.]
“Come on, forget about the shop for a while. Let’s all go.“]
Jackson was actually too nervous to drive far. After about three miles, he pulled over at a barbecue stand, insisting on treating Ryder to dinner as thanks.
While he went to order food, Ryder stretched lazily.[]
This kid…. reminds me of myself when I was younger.“]]
I couldn’t resist poking him. “He’s twenty–five, you’re thirty–two. You’re not that much older. Stop acting like some wise elder.“[]
Ryder opened a beer.
“He’s into you, right? Woman three years older, worth her weight in gold. You’re six years older–double gold.“[]
I waved dismissively.
“Don’t be ridiculous. He was just looking for work, and I happened to need help at the shop.“[
“Yeah, right,” he said, pointing at Jackson’s shoes. “Anyone who can afford those wouldn’t be working for the pittance you can afford to pay at a small flower shop.”
I forced a smile, then covered my belly. “Ryder, I don’t have the right to love anyone else.”
Ryder immediately fell silent.]
“You know, you haven’t mentioned Liam once this whole time.”
He poured himself a drink and murmured, “After your ‘death,‘ he was a mess for a month.“]]
“Brianna’s two accomplices were detained. She was initially exempt from jail because of her pregnancy. But I had the baby aborted.”
Sigh…
I gasped, staring at him in surprise. “Ryder, that was supposed to be Liam’s first child. He must have been furious with you.“]]
Ryder gave a helpless smile. “I wouldn’t have dared do it on my own.“]
He downed his drink in one gulp. “Liam asked me to do it.“]
“He had the DNA test verified by an independent lab–it was fake.
“After that, he just…. shut down.”
He ignored Brianna completely. She got desperate as her ball period was ending, and she needed that non prosecution agreement.
“she begged me to talk to Liam, and he told me to find a way to terminate her pregnancy.“]]
“I told her she could trade an abortion record for the agreement, plus a cash settlement if she promised to stay away from Liam forever.“]
“She agreed immediately and did the procedure at a hospital the company we invests in. I supervised it personally.“[]
“Afterward, I had the fetus tested.“]]
He poured himself another drink and laughed bitterly. “Sure enough, it wasn’t Liam’s.“[]
“Anyway, Brianna got sentenced to death with a two–year reprieve.”
Tl admit, that part was my doing. She wouldn’t have gotten such a heavy sentence, but I pulled some strings to upgrade the charges to armed robbery and attempted murder.
“Her accomplices got life.“]
Cane
