Unbroken bond

Chapter 3; The Dinner Disaster

*RYAN'S POV*

The Ryden Estate at 7 PM looks like a magazine cover. Long driveway, lights everywhere, my mother Brittany's roses that she treats better than her own children.

Ariana is clutching my hand so tight I might lose circulation.

"Ryan, I look terrible," she whispers for the tenth time.

"Baby, you look amazing," I whisper back for the eleventh time. And she does. Simple black dress, hair down, my favorite lip gloss. My cheesy billionaire heart is doing summersaults.

"Your mother hates me already, I can feel it," she says.

"My mother hates everyone at first. She hated my father for the first two years of marriage. It's her love language."

She doesn't laugh. She's too nervous.

We walk in. The dining room is set for five. Candles. Fancy plates that no one is allowed to actually use except when Brittany wants to show off. My father Eddie is already at the head of the table with a glass of whiskey, looking like he'd rather be in a board meeting.

My mother Brittany appears — perfect, elegant, terrifying. The kind of woman who can smile at you while judging your entire life choices.

And behind her... Bella. Already seated. Already comfortable. Already pouring water like she lives here.

"Ryan! Darling!" Brittany kisses my cheek, then turns to Ariana and just... stares.

Ariana freezes.

Then Brittany smiles. A real, warm smile.

"And you must be Ariana," she says, and pulls her into a hug. "Oh, finally! He never stops talking about you. 'Ariana this, Ariana that.' I'm Brittany. It's so lovely to finally meet the girl who made my son smile again."

Ariana blinks. Shocked. "You... you know about me?"

"Know about you? My dear, Ryan has your photo as his lock screen. The entire staff knows about you. Even Eddie knows, and Eddie doesn't know anyone's name."

Eddie nods from the table. "She's right. I'm Eddie. Nice to meet you, kiddo."

Bella chokes on her water.

This is not going according to Bella's plan. I can see it in her face.

We all sit. Bella made sure to sit right next to me. Ariana is on my other side. I'm in the middle of a war zone.

Dinner starts. Brittany serves roast chicken. Bella immediately starts her performance.

"Brittany, this roast is amazing, just like last time. Remember last Thanksgiving when I helped you make it?" Bella says sweetly.

Brittany smiles politely. "Oh, yes, dear. That was a while ago, wasn't it?"

"Three years ago," Bella says quickly. "When Ryan and I were... you know."

Ariana looks down at her plate.

I squeeze Ariana's knee under the table.

"So, Ariana," Eddie says suddenly, cutting through the awkwardness, "Ryan tells us you work in design?"

Ariana lights up. "Yes! I do interior design for small apartments. I love making small spaces feel big."

"That's wonderful!" Brittany says, genuinely interested. "Our guest house needs help! It's been empty for years. Ryan, you should have her look at it."

"She will," I say, grinning like an i***t. "She's brilliant. She once made my tiny office closet look like a Pinterest board. She's magic."

Ariana blushes. "Stop, you're being cheesy again."

"I am a cheesy billionaire. It's my brand," I say loudly, kissing her hand in front of everyone.

Bella's fork clatters against her plate.

"Ariana," Bella says, voice tight, "Have you ever thought about... kids? Family?"

The table goes silent.

Ariana frowns. "Um... someday, yes. Why?"

Bella sighs dramatically, hand on her stomach. "It's just... it's hard for some of us. Some of us can't have that dream anymore. Because of choices other people made for us."

Oh no. Here it comes.

Brittany frowns. "Bella, what are you talking about?"

Bella looks at me, tears instantly in her eyes. On cue. "I just... I haven't been able to move on, Brittany. Since the... since I lost my ability to be a mother. After what happened between Ryan and I. I thought... I thought if Ryan knew how much I'm still hurting—"

"Bella," I cut her off. My voice is low. "Stop."

But Brittany is not stupid. Brittany raised a billionaire.

She looks at Bella, then at me, then at Ariana.

"Bella, dear," Brittany says slowly, "Are you saying you can't have children?"

Bella nods, crying now. "Yes. The doctor said—"

"What doctor?" Eddie asks bluntly.

Bella freezes. "What?"

"What doctor told you that? What's his name? Which hospital?" Eddie is a businessman. He loves receipts.

"I... I don't remember... it was a long time ago... in college..."

Brittany narrows her eyes. "Bella, you told me this happened three years ago. You were in college. Which hospital in town does an abortion that leaves you infertile and doesn't give you any paperwork?"

Silence.

Ariana looks at me, confused. "Wait, what's happening?"

Bella stands up. "You don't believe me? Ryan! Tell them! Tell them what you did!"

And I stand up too. Guilt is gone. For the first time in three years, I'm angry.

"Enough, Bella," I say. "I gave you money because I was 18 and scared. You told me you had an abortion. You told me you couldn't have kids after. I believed you for three years. I carried that guilt. I paid for everything you asked for because I felt responsible. But you never showed me a single medical report. Not one."

Bella's face crumples. "I... I..."

Brittany stands up too. And when Brittany stands up, everyone listens.

"Bella," she says, voice ice-cold, "If you ever lie about my son again, or try to trap him with a fake medical story, you will never step foot in this house again. Do you understand?"

Eddie nods. "And I'll have my lawyers check that hospital story. Very thoroughly."

Ariana grabs my hand. Her hands are shaking.

Bella looks around the room — no allies. No sympathy. Just a table of people staring at her.

She grabs her purse and runs. Out the door. Heels clicking. The estate door slams.

Silence.

Then Brittany sighs, sits back down, and cuts her chicken.

"Well," she says, looking at Ariana, "Now that that's over... Ariana, dear, would you like more roast?"

Ariana bursts out laughing. Nervous, shocked laughter.

I pull her close and whisper in her ear, "See? I told you my mom would love you more."

And this time, she actually believes me.

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