My Billionaire, My Toy Boy

Chapter 2 The Past

Mia took a deep breath and spoke calmly, "Figure out a way to convince Grandpa to agree to our separation, and then we can talk about the rest."

Ryan’s face darkened instantly, his grip on her waist tightening slightly. "What are you up to now, Mia?"

She wanted to leave him?

He almost found it laughable.

Mia? The same Mia who confessed her feelings for him in front of everyone at his eighteenth birthday and had followed him around ever since?

The thought alone made him sick.

"I'm not up to anything," she said, her tone indifferent. "I just think you and Lila have it rough enough already. Staying tangled up like this doesn’t make sense. I wish you two a happy ending."

Her feelings for Ryan had started when she was young, the kind of innocent crush that quickly spiraled into something uncontrollable.

But after a year of marriage—a year where her husband never came home once, and his mistress was now pregnant and about to give birth—Mia had finally had enough.

She had gone through it all: anger, resentment, heartbreak, and even thoughts of revenge. But in the end, it all seemed pointless.

Now, Mia was done with it. She wasn't going to put herself through this any longer.

Ryan’s dark eyes locked onto hers, unflinching. "Let’s cut the nonsense, Mia. This isn’t about any sense of ‘meaninglessness.’ You just think Lila and her baby are in your way. Don’t forget, Mia—after you caused Lila to lose her sight, your only purpose for existing has been to make up for it."

The warmth that Ryan was known for disappeared entirely, replaced by something cold and harsh.

Mia lowered her gaze, exhaling quietly. She had tried explaining the truth behind Lila’s car accident countless times, but no one believed her.

She never hurt Lila. Not even once!

After a pause, she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and regained her composure. "If we can’t come to an agreement now, we’ll talk about it another time."

With that, she turned and walked into the Lucian estate.

Ryan scoffed behind her, his laugh carrying an edge of disdain.

Their marriage had been a mistake from the beginning, but oddly enough, her mention of ending it left him with a strange discomfort.

Still, Ryan was convinced that if it really came down to it, Mia wouldn’t dare leave him.

"Shameless," he muttered under his breath.

A few steps ahead, Mia’s hands clenched tightly.

She had thought she'd grown used to it, but no matter how many times she heard Ryan’s cutting words, her heart still twisted with pain.

Ryan had been a polite and charming young man growing up, but somehow, all his worst tendencies seemed to be reserved for her.

The first time Ryan had ever called her something as harsh as "shameless" was at his own eighteenth birthday party.

That night, she had gone all out, decorating an entire lawn with fresh flowers, balloons, and even fireworks. She was going to confess her feelings to him in front of everyone.

But before she could, she stumbled upon him kissing Lila. Worse yet, she overheard his dismissive words about her: "Mia? She’s just a servant’s daughter taken in by our family. Why would I ever like her?"

The words stunned her for three whole seconds before anger overcame her, and she rushed forward to break them apart.

At the time, she was sure that Lila was the one trying to come between them. There was no way her Ryan—the Ryan who had once been kind and protective—would say something like that on his own.

But Ryan had slapped her across the face without hesitation, ordering her to leave them alone.

That burning pain on her cheek? She still remembered it vividly.

Feelings, though, have a way of making people stupid. Even after all that, young Mia had convinced herself Ryan would come back to her one day, and she only worked harder to win him over.

After all, there had been happy times between them, once.

When Mia had first come to the Lucian household at six years old, lost and unfamiliar with everything, Ryan had been her safe harbor, the older brother who looked out for her.

Mia refused to believe he would abandon her.

So, she had spent the next seven years trying to win him over—from eighteen to twenty-five.

But she was wrong. Ryan had changed.

The two entered the estate, one after the other.

Inside, Mrs. Lucian immediately rushed past Mia and threw herself into her son’s arms, hugging him tightly.

Behind her, Mr. Lucian stood stiffly, shooting Mia a nod before storming over to Ryan and slapping him hard across the face.

"That mistress of yours—is she pregnant with our family’s child?" Mr. Lucian thundered, his voice filled with authority. Mia instinctively shook her head.

She had nothing to do with Lila.

But Ryan didn’t believe her. His eyes burned with anger and suspicion as he ignored the sting on his cheek, stepping toward Mia. "What’s going on? Did you say something?!"

Mr. Lucian, furious, snapped, "What kind of man bullies his own wife?"

Mrs. Lucian joined in, tearfully scolding, "Ryan, don’t act on impulse. This isn’t Mia’s fault. If she had the ability to stop your mistress, would that woman even still be here?"

Ryan, unwilling to hear anyone insult Lila, coldly defended her. "Lila is the woman I love. Stop badmouthing her."

He turned to Mia, his tone sharp. "I only married you to make Grandpa happy. You can be as jealous as you want, but I’ll never love you. Not in this life or the next!"

"You… How can you say such heartless things!" Ryan’s parents were livid.

"Enough!"

The commanding voice of the family patriarch, Grandpa Lucian, echoed through the room as he descended the staircase, banging his cane on the ground. "All of you, go home and reflect on your actions. When you’ve realized your mistakes, then you can come see me!"

Ryan immediately lost his earlier defiance in front of his grandfather, lowering his head to mutter an apology.

Tonight was a big Lucian family gathering, with over fifty people attending.

Ryan’s outburst had embarrassed his parents in front of everyone.

"Apologize to Grandpa right now," Mrs. Lucian whispered, tugging on his sleeve, her eyes red.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lucian turned to Mia. "Don’t worry, Mia. As far as we’re concerned, you’re the only daughter-in-law of this family. Whatever mistakes Ryan has made, he will take responsibility."

"Enough of your family drama," Grandpa Lucian cut them off, coughing twice before reaching out to Mia. With the whole family watching, he led her upstairs.

"Mia," he said softly once they were alone, his voice laced with worry. "Promise me you won’t divorce Ryan, okay?"