Chapter 159 A Chaotic Morning
As dawn broke, Renee was gently roused from her slumber by the distant murmur of voices downstairs.
It certainly wasn’t Felix; the tone of the voice suggested the nanny, but the conversation involved someone else–a voice not belonging to Ryder.
Curiosity piqued, Renee freshened up and made her way to investigate. Descending the stairs, the dialogue sharpened into clarity.
Now, Ryder’s voice filled the air, tinged with a hint of provocation.
“Wow, Mr. Mitchell, you’re quite free these days. Shouldn’t you be at work?”
Frozen midway, Renee’s heart skipped a beat. Who else could it be? It was William. She had rejected Ryder just the previous evening, and now, fate had thrown him into William’s path.
A tense undercurrent seemed to charge the atmosphere of the living room below, almost palpable in its intensity.
“No one really cares where I go I’m the boss anyway. But you, Mr. Chadwick, abandoning your duty and traveling all the way from Stotta to Tofral–that’s got to be pretty inconvenient, don’t you think?”
It was the simple distinction between holding authority and answering to
- it.
Apprehensive about the tension escalating into an outright confrontation, Renee quickened her pace.
Her arrival didn’t go unnoticed; Ryder rose from the sofa, his expression shifting to concern as he noticed her. “Good morning, Renee. How about
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some breakfast? We’ve got some toast and bacon, but if you’d prefer something else, just let me know and I’ll whip it up for you.”
“Anything’s good with me, as long as it’s a light breakfast,” Renee said with a casual shrug.
Refusing to be left behind, William rose from his chair, his eyes locking intensely with Renee’s.
The moment Renee glanced his way, William spoke up, his voice growing gentle. “Remember how you mentioned I should spend more time with Felix? How about we all go out together today?”
“I…”
“No way,” Ryder cut in sharply, the word slicing through the air,
Renee’s eyes widened in surprise.
William’s face clouded over, his icy stare piercing Ryder.
“What do you mean by that, Mr. Chadwick?”
With a composed demeanor and an unshaken smile, Ryder calmly explained, “Sorry to say, Mr. Mitchell, but considering Felix had a fever yesterday and it’s quite cold outside today, it’s not the best idea for him to
go out.
With those few, careful words, Ryder had subtly asserted his claim over
both Felix and Renee.
Renee chimed in, her voice tinged with discomfort, “Right, it slipped my mind that Felix was sick yesterday. He should definitely rest at home today.”
William nodded, masking his disappointment. “No problem. We can still have a great day with him indoors.”
The tension at the breakfast table was palpable. Renee could swear it was the most uncomfortable meal she had ever experienced.
Across from her, Ryder and William sat with rigid postures, each man’s body language screaming of a brewing storm, leaving her feeling like she was treading on thin ice.
Luckily, Felix wasn’t the type to sleep late. He came down early, and the moment he spotted William in the living room, he lit up with joy and
dashed down the stairs.
“Mr. Mitchell! What brings you here?” Felix’s voice was a blend of surprise and delight.
As Felix leapt into his arms, William swept him up in a quick, warm embrace. “I’ve come to spend the day with you, buddy. How does that sound?”
“Yay! Yay!” Felix’s excitement was unmistakable as he clapped his hands, his face beaming with happiness.
“Felix, come here,” Ryder called, his voice steady yet warm.
The moment Felix heard Ryder’s voice, he squirmed free from William’s arms and whipped his head toward him.
Ryder had been a constant in his life, watching over his growth with a paternal affection that Felix deeply cherished.
“Daddy! Daddy!” Felix sprinted towards Ryder, his young voice echoing
through the room.
William’s heart sank at the title, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within
him as he watched Felix embrace Ryder.
Ryder, however, felt a surge of pride. In the end, he was the one Felix chose.
“Come on, let’s kick off the day with some breakfast. We’ll eat first, and then play. Sound good?”
“Sure!” Felix agreed eagerly.
Meanwhile, Renee had quietly slipped away to the kitchen, hoping to avoid
any brewing tension. As long as the peace was kept, she was content. However, her brief respite was interrupted by Ryder’s sudden, anxious call from the living room.
“Felix, what’s the matter? Don’t scratch it. Come over here and let me
check.”
