Chapter 3: The Woman His Mother Chose
2184 Words
The following morning, Emma woke up with a smile.
She hadn't realized she was smiling until she caught her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
She stared at herself.
“What is wrong with me?”
She laughed quietly.
She had spent years telling herself that she didn't need a relationship.
Now one dinner with Ryan Anderson had completely disrupted her carefully organized life.
Her phone buzzed.
Emma picked it up.
Ryan: Good morning.
She smiled.
Emma: Good morning.
Three dots appeared.
Ryan: Did you sleep well?
Emma: Surprisingly, yes.
Ryan: Good. I was worried you'd stay awake thinking about me.
Emma rolled her eyes.
Emma: You're very confident.
Ryan: Only because I know you were thinking about me.
She laughed.
Emma: Keep dreaming.
Ryan: I'll take that as a yes.
Emma placed her phone against her chest.
She couldn't remember the last time someone had made her feel this light.
But happiness had a strange way of making people forget that life could change without warning.
Across the city, Ryan was sitting in his office when his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Mom.
He sighed before answering.
“Good morning, Mom.”
“Ryan, where are you?”
“At work.”
“You're coming home for dinner tonight.”
Ryan leaned back in his chair.
“Why?”
“Because I asked you to.”
“Mom—”
“I haven't seen you properly in weeks.”
Ryan rubbed his forehead.
“I'll come.”
“Good.”
She paused.
“And Ryan?”
“Yes?”
“Bring an appetite.”
He frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“You'll see.”
The call ended.
Ryan stared at the phone.
He knew his mother.
Something was happening.
And he suspected he wasn't going to like it.
---
That evening, Ryan arrived at the Anderson mansion.
The enormous house had belonged to his grandparents before his parents inherited it. It had always felt less like a home and more like a museum to Ryan.
Everything was perfect.
The furniture.
The paintings.
The garden.
Even the people were expected to behave perfectly.
Ryan entered the dining room.
His father, Richard Anderson, was already sitting at the table.
His mother stood near the fireplace.
And beside her was a woman Ryan immediately recognized.
“Ryan!”
The woman smiled.
He stopped.
“Claire?”
Claire Whitmore smiled warmly.
“It's been a while.”
Ryan forced a polite smile.
“Yeah. It has.”
Claire was the daughter of one of his father's closest business partners.
Their families had known each other for years.
Ryan had never dated her.
But his mother had always liked the idea.
Too much.
He looked at Victoria.
“What's going on?”
Victoria smiled.
“Nothing.”
Ryan stared at her.
“Mom.”
“Sit down.”
He reluctantly took his seat.
Claire sat across from him.
Dinner began.
For several minutes, everyone talked about business.
Then Victoria casually turned toward Claire.
“So, Claire, how was your trip to New York?”
“It was wonderful.”
Ryan listened quietly.
He already knew where this conversation was going.
His mother wasn't subtle.
She was trying to bring Claire back into his life.
“So you're staying in Chicago now?” Victoria asked.
“Yes.”
“That's wonderful.”
Victoria looked at Ryan.
“Don't you think so?”
Ryan put down his fork.
“Mom, can we please not do this?”
Claire looked uncomfortable.
Victoria frowned.
“Do what?”
“Whatever you're trying to do.”
Richard sighed.
“Ryan.”
“No, Dad. I'm serious.”
Victoria folded her arms.
“You haven't even given Claire a chance.”
“Because I'm not interested.”
Claire looked down.
Ryan immediately felt guilty.
He hadn't meant to embarrass her.
“Claire, I'm sorry.”
She smiled weakly.
“It's okay.”
Victoria's expression hardened.
“This is exactly what I'm talking about.”
“What?”
“You've changed.”
Ryan stared at her.
“Because I'm not interested in someone you chose for me?”
“Because you're making decisions based on emotions.”
Ryan's eyes narrowed.
“And what's wrong with that?”
“Everything.”
Silence filled the room.
Victoria took a breath.
“You're my son. I want what's best for you.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
She leaned forward.
“You don't understand what is at stake.”
Ryan shook his head.
“What exactly is at stake?”
Victoria looked at him.
“Our family.”
Ryan laughed bitterly.
“Our family will survive me dating someone you don't approve of.”
Victoria's expression changed.
“Someone?”
Ryan knew immediately that he had said too much.
Victoria noticed.
“Who is she?”
Ryan didn't answer.
“Ryan.”
“It's none of your business.”
“I am your mother.”
“And I'm an adult.”
Richard intervened.
“Enough.”
But Victoria wasn't finished.
“Is this about that girl?”
Ryan froze.
“What girl?”
Victoria stared at him.
“The woman you were with at the restaurant.”
Ryan's heart dropped.
“You followed me?”
“I saw you.”
“That doesn't make it better.”
“Who is she?”
Ryan stood.
“Her name is Emma.”
Victoria repeated the name slowly.
“Emma.”
“Yes.”
“Emma what?”
Ryan's expression hardened.
“Carter.”
Victoria nodded.
“I see.”
“You don't know anything about her.”
“I know enough.”
Ryan stared at his mother.
“You've already investigated her?”
Victoria didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Ryan shook his head.
“I can't believe you.”
He turned to leave.
“Ryan.”
He stopped.
Victoria's voice became colder.
“If you continue seeing this woman, you will regret it.”
Ryan turned around.
“That's my decision.”
“You're making a mistake.”
“Then I'll make it myself.”
He walked out.
Claire watched him leave.
Victoria sat silently.
Richard looked at his wife.
“You've gone too far.”
Victoria looked at him.
“No.”
She picked up her glass.
“I haven't gone far enough.”
---
Ryan drove away from the mansion feeling frustrated.
He wanted to call Emma.
He wanted to hear her voice.
But he hesitated.
He didn't want his family drama to become her problem.
Eventually, he called.
Emma answered after the second ring.
“Hi.”
Just hearing her voice made his anger fade slightly.
“Hey.”
“You sound tired.”
“Long day.”
“Everything okay?”
Ryan hesitated.
“My mother knows about you.”
Emma went silent.
“Oh.”
“She saw us at the restaurant.”
“Oh.”
Ryan smiled despite himself.
“You say 'oh' a lot when you're nervous.”
“I'm not nervous.”
“You are.”
“Maybe a little.”
Ryan sighed.
“She doesn't approve.”
Emma's stomach tightened.
“You barely know me.”
“I know.”
“Then why doesn't she approve?”
Ryan was quiet.
“Because she's already decided what she thinks.”
Emma looked down.
That familiar insecurity began creeping back into her mind.
“What does she think?”
Ryan didn't answer immediately.
“She thinks you aren't right for me.”
Emma's heart sank.
She tried to sound unaffected.
“And do you agree?”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
Emma closed her eyes.
“Ryan…”
“I chose you.”
“You've known me for a very short time.”
“I know enough.”
She didn't know whether to smile or worry.
“What if she's right?”
Ryan frowned.
“About what?”
“What if I'm not the kind of woman your family wants?”
“I don't care what they want.”
“But you might someday.”
“Emma.”
His voice softened.
“Look at me.”
She laughed quietly.
“You're not here.”
“I know. Just pretend.”
She smiled.
“Okay.”
“I'm not dating my mother.”
Emma laughed.
“That's true.”
“I'm dating you.”
Her heart fluttered.
“Okay.”
“I don't want you worrying about my family.”
“But I already am.”
“Then let me worry about them.”
Emma smiled.
“All right.”
They talked for another thirty minutes.
By the time the call ended, Emma felt better.
But she couldn't completely silence the thought in her mind.
What if Ryan eventually chooses his family over her?
She hated that she was already thinking that way.
She had promised herself she wouldn't become insecure.
Yet somehow, one conversation with Ryan's mother had made her question everything.
---
The next afternoon, Emma met Sophia for lunch.
Sophia immediately noticed that something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Emma stirred her drink.
“Ryan's mother doesn't like me.”
Sophia's eyes widened.
“Already?”
“She saw us together.”
“What did she say?”
“That I'm not right for him.”
Sophia reached across the table.
“Emma, don't listen to her.”
Emma smiled.
“I'm trying not to.”
“You can't let some rich woman make you feel like you're not good enough.”
Emma looked down.
“Maybe she has a reason.”
Sophia frowned.
“What reason?”
“I don't know.”
Sophia watched her carefully.
“You're overthinking.”
“Maybe.”
Sophia squeezed her hand.
“Ryan chose you.”
Emma smiled.
“Thank you.”
Sophia smiled back.
But when Emma looked away, Sophia's expression changed.
She wasn't thinking about Victoria.
She was thinking about Ryan.
And about the way Emma had been glowing since meeting him.
Sophia hated that feeling.
She hated seeing how happy her friend was.
And she hated herself for feeling jealous.
Then her phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
A message from an unknown number.
I need to speak with you about Ryan Anderson.
Sophia frowned.
She typed:
Who is this?
The reply came almost immediately.
Someone who knows something about him that Emma doesn't.
Sophia stared at the message.
Her heart began beating faster.
She looked across the table.
Emma was smiling at something on her phone.
Probably Ryan.
Sophia's fingers tightened around her phone.
She should have deleted the message.
She should have told Emma.
Instead, she typed:
What do you know?
---
That evening, Ryan arrived outside Emma's apartment with flowers.
Emma opened the door and stared at him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you.”
She smiled.
“You could have called.”
“I did.”
“My phone was on silent.”
Ryan held out the flowers.
“For you.”
Emma took them.
“They're beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
She laughed.
“You really know how to flatter someone.”
“I try.”
They walked toward a nearby park.
The evening air was cool.
For a while, they simply walked together.
Then Emma stopped.
“Ryan?”
“Yes?”
“Are you sure about me?”
He looked confused.
“What kind of question is that?”
“I mean your family.”
He stepped closer.
“My family doesn't decide who I love.”
Emma looked at him.
“Love?”
Ryan realized what he had said.
Neither spoke.
Emma's heart raced.
Ryan smiled.
“I didn't mean to say that yet.”
“Yet?”
He laughed.
“You heard that.”
Emma smiled.
“I did.”
Ryan took her hand.
“I don't want to rush you.”
Emma looked into his eyes.
“I don't want to rush either.”
“Then we'll take our time.”
She nodded.
For that moment, everything felt perfect.
But neither of them knew that while they were walking beneath the evening sky, Sophia was sitting across town in a quiet restaurant.
Across from her sat Victoria Anderson.
Sophia stared at her in disbelief.
“You wanted to meet me?”
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Victoria placed an envelope on the table.
Sophia looked at it.
“What's inside?”
“Information about Ryan.”
Sophia didn't touch it.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Victoria leaned closer.
“You're Emma's best friend.”
Sophia swallowed.
“Yes.”
“And you want her to be happy.”
“Of course.”
Victoria smiled.
“Then you should know the truth before it's too late.”
Sophia stared at the envelope.
She knew she should walk away.
She knew she shouldn't listen.
But curiosity won.
And as she opened the envelope, she had no idea that the decision would change her friendship with Emma forever.
She slowly reached for it.
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