Chapter 58 I Thought My Actions Had Made My…
“Denton, I need your help with something.”
The urgency in William’s voice sliced through the quiet as he phoned Denton right after stepping out of the hospital. The gravity in his tone made it evident that the
situation was both urgent and delicate.
Denton’s demeanor shifted instantly to one of deep concern. “What’s going on?” he prodded, his voice a mix of curiosity and worry.
William let out a weary sigh, the weight of his request evident in his pause. “I need you to stall Ryder from investigating the boy’s car accident.”
A frown creased Denton’s forehead, his confusion palpable. “Why?” He hesitated, the words tumbling out with a mix of disbelief and caution. “Even though you’re trying to win Renee back, isn’t this going too far? And the boy, he’s innocent in all this. Since when did you…”
Denton’s words trailed off, biting back the accusation on the tip of his tongue. “Since when did you become so unscrupulous, William?” he thought to himself instead.
The question hung unsaid, heavy in the air.
Meanwhile, William had slid into his car, his movements automatic as he lit a cigarette. He took a deep, steadying drag, exhaling slowly, his face shadowed and tense. If Denton could see him now, he’d instantly recognize the storm brewing in William’s expression.
The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, before William’s voice cut through, low and fraught with tension. “My mom hit the boy.”
The revelation hit Denton like a physical blow, leaving him momentarily lost for words. When he finally found his voice, it was shaky, disbelief coloring every syllable. “Y–your
mom? Did she even realize that he was…”
11
William seemed to read Denton’s mind and cut straight to the chase. “It was an accident. My mom didn’t know he was Renee’s son until we got to the hospital,” he
explained, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and concern.
Denton exhaled a long, slow sigh of relief. Knowing it wasn’t intentional somehow made the situation slightly less daunting.
Yet, Denton was well aware of Ryder’s temperament. Accidental or not, Ryder wasn’t the type to easily forgive an offense against his son.
While the Mitchells generally wouldn’t shy away from a confrontation, nobody wanted unnecessary conflicts, especially with someone like Ryder.
“If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t stand by my mom like this,” William admitted, his gaze steady and earnest.
“I know,” Denton replied, nodding.
Their years of friendship had given him deep insights into William’s character- unyieldingly honest, sometimes to a fault.
“But considering it’s Renee’s son…” William’s voice trailed off, heavy with implication.
Denton caught the unspoken worries hanging in the air. Renee already hated the Mitchells as she did, and if she connected Esme to the incident, any lingering goodwill would evaporate, possibly forever shutting the door on any reconciliation between William and her.
“Alright, I understand. I’ll handle it as discreetly as I can,” Denton assured his friend, his tone resolute.
“Just make sure my dad doesn’t find out,” William added quickly, a shadow of concern passing over his features.
Eric often matched, if not exceeded, William’s stubbornness.
Denton nodded, his voice a mix of understanding and curiosity. “I get that, but….. do you really want to win Renee back?”
Over the past three years, Denton had watched William’s tireless search for Renee, even though Sylvia remained loyally by his side. As rumors of William’s impending marriage to Sylvia circulated, he never stepped forward to clarify them, leading even his closest friend to assume a wedding was on the horizon.
“William, help me understand here. Who holds your heart–Sylvia or Renee?” Denton pressed, his voice tinged with frustration.
This question had echoed between them countless times, yet William had always dodged a straightforward answer, dismissing it with a casual, “Sylvia is just like a sister
to me.”
It was clear to everyone, though, that Sylvia harbored deeper feelings for him, feelings that definitely didn’t mirror those between siblings.
This time, however, William fell silent, his response delayed by a heavy pause. Eventually, he spoke with an unexpected clarity. “I thought my actions had made my feelings obvious.”
Denton paused, absorbing the shift in William’s tone.
Undeterred, William asked sharply, “Denton, do you see me as someone who succumbs to threats easily?”
Still in shock, Denton shook his head quietly. Realizing the limitations of their phone call, he quickly added, “No, I don’t think that at all.”
A self–deprecating smile played on William’s lips as he posed another question. “So, do you honestly believe I married Renee just because she threatened me?”
