Reincarnated As The Billionaire's Bride

Chapter 5: Emotions

Ryan’s POV

Her eyes locked on mine from across the table, wide, pleading.

“Ashley,” I said again, each syllable clipped, sharp. “Who are you really?”

For a second, she looked ready to shatter. Then, instead of words, tears brimmed, slipping down her cheeks.

“I’ve been threatened since the hospital,” she whispered. Her voice trembled, but the confession had weight. “Emails. Pictures. Someone is watching me, watching Lily.”

That name again. Lily.

My chest tightened, but I kept my face cold. “Why didn’t you tell me? You should have told me.”

“I couldn’t,” she shot back, her voice breaking. “You don’t trust me. You’ve made it very clear you hate me. I just couldn’t bring myself to say anything to you.”

Her words were raw, jagged, more honest than anything I’d heard from her. And damn me, it cut deeper than it should have.

I leaned in, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “You think I’d let someone hurt you? You think I’d stand by while anyone threatens what’s mine?”

Her chest rose and fell quickly. My hand moved before I could stop it, brushing away tears. Warmth surged through me, unwanted but undeniable. The fragile softness of her skin against my thumb set fire to my already racing heart, something I thought was long dead.

Her lips parted. For one dangerous moment, it felt like she might lean closer, like we might cross a line we couldn’t come back from.

And just as we drew closer, Daniel walked back to the table. I cleared my throat as I looked away from Laurel.

The next morning, I found her curled on the couch in her room, a photo album open on her lap. When she saw me, she slammed it shut too late. I snatched it from her.

The images hit like a punch: Daniel.Katherine.Laurel. All smiles, too close, like a twisted little family.

“What is this, Laurel?” I growled.

Her voice cracked. “I do not understand any of it myself. I…I need help, Ryan.”

The way she softly called my name as her eyes welled up, she seemed so vulnerable, fragile, like she could break any minute.

My hands were already patting down her back before I became aware of it. I looked down at her, her brown eyes intoxicating my soul. “Have I always felt this way about her? Since when did I start feeling this way?” I asked myself.

“Mr Lockwood. Mr Blackwood is here,” the butler’s voice cut through the tension.

The air instantly turned toxic.

I knew before he stepped in, Laurel’s father. The man who’d destroyed mine, I hadn’t seen him in 8 years since he left the country.

Laurel and I walked into the Study to meet him. He had his legs crossed on the study table as he flipped through a magazine. He wore the same smug arrogance he’d worn when he left my family in ruins. Silver hair, sharp suit, poisonous smile.

“Ryan,” he said smoothly, like greeting an old friend. “Still holding grudges?”

I took a step forward, fists clenched. “How dare you come here? You stole everything from us. My father drank himself to death because of you.”

His smirk deepened. “Business, my boy. Only the strongest survive. Your family wasn’t strong enough.”

Laurel stood beside me, her face pale. She held onto a small bit of my sleeve, and a deep frown furrowed her brow. She hadn’t said a word since her father walked in. She looked at him with wide eyes, unsure of what to do or say.

“My Sweetie, come to daddy.” he spread out his arms, but Laurel remained glued to my side. His forehead lifted in surprise, his brows jumped up, forehead stretching in disbelief.

“She remembers nothing ever since the accident.” I calmly said.

“You have managed to turn my daughter against me…” he looked sternly at me. “…and does she know all of this is a lie, and you only agreed to her persistence for revenge?” he chuckled darkly.

The words hit harder than they should have. I looked at Laurel, her trembling hands, the fear she hid behind a stubborn pale. And damn me, I knew the truth.

I wasn’t using her anymore. I wanted her, at least this version of Laurel, whom I have grown so fond of. I had always thought of the many ways I could ruin the Blackwood family, and fate brought Laurel to me on one of the many events I attended.

Ever since, she had been persistent in wanting to be with me, and knowing I could ruin her family, I didn’t hesitate to propose to her.

I took her hand in mine and looked to her father. “She is mine now. And none of this is a lie.”

Her lips parted, eyes shining bright with something that made my chest ache. Hope.

Her father’s face hardened. “You’ve always loved beautiful toys, haven’t you?” he said to her, then turned to me. “I await to see how long this lasts. Know this, you can’t get to me by using my daughter.”

Before either of us could say more, the butler rushed back in, pale, breathless.

“Sir…police are at the gate. They’ve come for Miss Blackwood.”

Laurel spun, terror in her eyes.

The butler’s voice cracked as he delivered the final blow.

“They are saying Miss Blackwood is wanted… for murder.”