The Love That Ruined Me

Here it begins

Hudson pulled himself closer, turning his body fully toward me.

I leaned back slightly in my chair, letting out a heavy sigh as I tried to process everything he had just told me.

“What do you mean Father would force me to be with Ryan?” I snapped.

“Yes…” Hudson nodded slowly.

“Ryan eventually met his father while you both were still together,” he explained. “And his father decided to hand the company over to our own father, who had been struggling for years to obtain something like that.”

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes dropping briefly before continuing.

“So think about it, Scarlett. If you reject Ryan now, do you think his father will allow our family to keep that company? If Ryan wants it back, Father could lose everything, and our family's main source of income would disappear.”

My throat tightened.

I slowly curled my fingers into a fist beneath the table, my brows pulling together as his words echoed painfully inside my head.

Every sentence felt like it was burning through my thoughts, making my heart beat in a way I couldn't control.

“This is the reason why I supported him,” Hudson continued. His voice grew heavier with every word. “Not because I thought Ryan was useful to you, but because I wanted to protect the family. That is why I hope you can understand and cooperate.”

My expression hardened completely.

The frustration building inside me finally reached its limit.

I slammed my hand against the table and stared directly into his eyes.

“I have nothing to do with Ryan anymore, and that is final.” My voice came out sharp.

Hudson immediately reached forward and grabbed my hand.

“No, Scarlett,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “You have to.”

His grip tightened. “Don't make Father force you into this because he can destroy everything.”

I stared at him, refusing to look away.

“Even if he is ready to hurt anyone, I will still not choose Ryan,” I replied without hesitation. “Unless Father is ready to give up his only daughter.”

“But Scarlett…” Hudson stopped.

His eyes moved around my face, searching for something, but he couldn't bring himself to meet my gaze.

“Ryan truly loves you,” he finally said. “Maybe everything you heard was just a rumor created by people trying to destroy both of you.”

My brows lifted instantly.

For several seconds, I remained frozen, staring at him.

My fingers tightened.

A sudden urge to slap him rushed through me, but I forced myself to hold it back.

Instead, I slowly pulled my hand away and pushed my chair backward.

I stood up, keeping my eyes locked on his.

Hudson also stood.

The tension between us remained heavy until Dylan suddenly walked back into the restaurant.

His cheeks were slightly flushed, and a rare happiness was visible on his face as he approached us.

But the moment he noticed the silence between Hudson and me, he stopped immediately.

“I’m back,” Dylan said.

His voice broke through the uncomfortable atmosphere between us.

Despite Dylan was trying to hide it, I could still see the happiness he was carrying. My attention remained focused on him the moment he entered.

The three of us left the restaurant together.

I returned to my school apartment without saying a word.

Hudson left with Dylan, heading back home, while I remained alone with my thoughts.

---

Two days later, I left my apartment and took a taxi to school.

The moment I stepped inside the campus, something felt different.

The atmosphere was unusual.

Students were gathered in small groups, whispering constantly among themselves. Their voices followed me everywhere, much louder than before.

A strange feeling settled inside me. Something was wrong.

I continued walking until I reached my classroom.

The moment I entered, my entire body stopped.

Ryan was already there.

He sat in the middle seat that was always reserved for him, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

Students surrounded him from every side. Both boys and girls stood around him, trying to gain his attention and please him.

The second I stepped inside, the room fell silent.

Several students gasped, and others stared at me while murmuring among themselves.

My heart stopped for a moment and my legs refused to move.

I stood frozen at the entrance, my brows slowly tightening as I looked at him.

Ryan was already looking back at me. A smirk slowly formed on his lips.

After several seconds of silence, he stood up and walked toward me.

My breathing became faster.

I forced myself to calm down, but my nostrils flared slightly as I tried to control the anger rising inside me.

“You must have missed me, Scarlett,” Ryan said, his smile never leaving his face.

I stared directly into his eyes with a small smirk appearing on my lips.

I let out a quiet scoff beneath my breath and turned around, ready to leave.

But before I could take another step, Ryan grabbed my hand.

My brows pulled together immediately. Slowly, I turned my head toward him.

Without saying a word, I forcefully pulled my hand away from his grip and continued walking.

But Ryan moved again and stopped directly in front of me.

My chest began pounding. Every heartbeat felt like a heavy strike against my ribs.

Then a voice suddenly came from the back of the classroom.

“You don't have to stress her when she doesn't want to play along.”

Everyone turned.

To my surprise, it was Derek.

He stepped forward, walking toward us.

My throat tightened and I swallowed quickly.

I couldn't imagine what would happen next between Ryan and Derek, but my entire body felt tense as I stood there.

Before anything else could happen, my phone suddenly rang in my hand.

I looked down and It was Dylan calling to pick me up.

Since that day marked the beginning of our school holiday, I had to leave.

Part of me wanted to stay, because I wanted to see what would happen between Ryan and Derek.

But I ignored the curiosity.

I took several steps backward and quickly rushed outside.

I saw the parked car waiting outside and immediately walked toward it.

I opened the door and entered without hesitation.

Once I settled into the seat, I rested my head against the backrest and released a long breath.

But Dylan remained silent and didn't look at me.

The quietness between us felt heavier than usual.

I sighed and leaned forward slightly.

“Where is Hudson?” I asked.

Dylan kept his eyes on the road ahead.

“Where are we heading?” he replied in a serious tone. “Your brother's workplace or straight home?”

I stared at him for a moment, noticing the unusual heaviness in his voice.

“Before we move on, your brother asked me to tell you something,” he continued.

My attention immediately shifted completely toward him.

I didn't blink but watched his lips carefully as I waited for the words that were about to come.

“He asked me to tell you to do everything possible to get back with Ryan,” Dylan said.

His voice remained steady. “For the sake of the family.”

The moment those words reached my ears, my expression changed.

My face twisted slightly, and irritation immediately began rising inside me.

“I won't,” I replied without hesitation.

Dylan's brows lowered slightly as he glanced at me.

“Do you even understand what that means?” I continued. “Are they using me as a way to merge their companies?”

Dylan looked away from me and returned his attention to the road. He reached for the keys and prepared to start the car.

“Do you know who Ryan really is?” I asked.

My voice softened slightly, but the frustration remained.

“Do you know how much I dislike him, but…” I stopped myself and released a breath.

Dylan didn't turn back.

“It's fine,” he said calmly. “I don't have to know that. Don't be casual with me. I'm only delivering the message your brother asked me to tell you.”

I kept staring at him. Not once did his eyes move toward me.

But before he could start the engine, he suddenly looked at me.

A small smile appeared on his face.

“Anyways, thank you for your support,” he said. His voice became warmer.

“My mother has started breathing again. She is still unconscious, but there is hope now. I believe I can see her wake up someday.”

A smile escaped my lips before I even realized it.

A strange warmth filled my chest, and happiness quietly spread through me. But curiosity still remained.

“But what really happened to your mother?” I asked. “How did she end up in that condition? What kind of accident was it?”

The smile on Dylan's face disappeared instantly. His expression became distant.

“You don't have to know that,” he replied.

Without waiting for another question, he started the engine and drove away.

That day, I returned straight home. I completely buried my emotions.

I couldn't smile.

I couldn't talk.

I simply walked into my room, lay down on my bed, and eventually fell asleep.

The next morning, sunlight slipped through my bedroom window and touched my face.

Slowly, I opened my eyes. But I remained lying there, staring at the ceiling.

My thoughts returned to the moment I saw Dylan's mother.

Somehow, I felt my heart slowly becoming trapped by him.

I didn't understand why.

I couldn't find a reason for it.

Yet the more I questioned myself, the more confusing my feelings became.

Eventually, I forced myself out of bed.

I walked out of my room and headed toward the living room.

But the moment I stepped inside…

I froze completely.

My entire body refused to move and my eyes remained wide open, unable to blink.

I stood there, staring at what was in front of me.

And for several seconds…

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.