Chapter 152 Conflict Over
Love
“Mr. Mitchell, there’s no need to strong–arm her,” Ryder said, stepping forward, his presence looming behind William.
“Step aside, Mr. Mitchell,” he continued, his tone even but laced with quiet authority. “Renee’s with me, and she needs to leave with me.”
Renee felt a wave of pressure crash over her. She couldn’t let William stay kneeling like that–it was too much. With a sigh, she reached out, gently pulling him to his feet.
“Stand up. We can talk this through.”
William obeyed, but he seized the moment to clasp her hand, his grip firm and unwavering.
When she instinctively tried to pull away, he tightened his fingers around hers, interlocking them as if letting go was not an option.
“Mr. Mitchell, know your place. Show her the respect she deserves. I’m taking her with me.” Ryder’s voice was calm, but his eyes burned with something far more dangerous.
William met his gaze without flinching. Instead, he pulled Renee behind him, shielding her as he faced Ryder head–on.
“You may not know this, Mr. Chadwick,” William said coolly, “but Renee is still my wife. We haven’t finalized our divorce, which means, like it or not…
she is still mine.”
A slow, almost amused smile curved Ryder’s lips, but there was nothing warm about it. Without hesitation, he drew a gun, leveling it at William.
“Then maybe my gun should have the final say.”
“No!” Renee gasped, her heart hammering as she yanked William back and stepped in front of him.
She knew Ryder too well–he wasn’t the type to brandish a weapon for show. If he pulled a gun, it meant he was prepared to use it.
She wasn’t about to let things spiral into something irreversible.
Whatever had happened between her and William, it wasn’t about right or wrong–it was just love, messy and complicated.
“Renee.” Ryder’s voice was laced with irritation.
His eyes flicked down to where Renee’s fingers were still laced with William’s, and for a moment, the fire in his gaze dimmed. With an almost imperceptible sigh, he let his arm drop, lowering the gun as if it had suddenly become too heavy.
“Mr. Chadwick,” Renee said softly, watching him carefully, “I’ll come back once I’ve settled everything with William.”
Ryder held her gaze, something unreadable swirling in his eyes. But he never forced her hand. That wasn’t his way. If this was her choice, he would respect it.
Without another word, Ryder turned, walked to the car Renee had just been in, and pulled the door open. Before sliding inside, he looked at her one last time and said, “Felix and I will be waiting for you at home.”
This time, Ryder had come back for one reason–Renee’s sudden disappearance.
Then, with the low rumble of engines, the convoy of vehicles pulled away, disappearing into the night.
William, still gripping Renee’s hand, gently tugged her toward his car.
Seated in the passenger seat, Renee felt like her thoughts were tangled in
a thousand knots. The image of William chasing after her car, the raw desperation in his voice, and the final words Ryder had spoken before leaving–everything clashed in her mind, leaving her restless.
“Shall we go home?” William’s voice pulled Renee from her reverie.
Renee turned to face him, studying his features in the dim glow of the dashboard lights.
After a long pause, she murmured, “William, do you really think… we can go back to how things were?”
“No,” William admitted without hesitation.
Renee’s brows knitted together slightly.
“And that’s why I want to start fresh with you,” William added, his voice steady, his eyes unwavering. A long time ago, those words would have sent Renee’s heart soaring. But now… after everything…
Could she trust him again?
“I have Felix now,” Renee said carefully, searching William’s expression. “Does that not bother you?”
For a fleeting second, something in William’s eyes twisted–like a knife sinking into an old wound. But then he forced a smile, swallowing whatever pain he felt. “Felix is a reminder of how much I hurt you,” he said quietly. “So, no… it does not bother me. If anything, he only makes me want to be a better man for you.”
Something inside Renee softened. A part of her even wanted to blurt out the truth–that Felix was his son. But just as the words teetered on the tip of her tongue… she held them back.
