Claimed By The Ruthless Mafia

Chapter 6. Weekend With Him

After a few minutes of driving, we arrived at the familiar sight of the Knight family mansion. The house was grand, with a stunning garden that contrasted against the sleek, modern interiors. As we pulled up to the entrance, I saw Ryder's parents waiting in the living area. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth and belonging every time I visited.

When we stepped out of the car, Mrs. Savannah Knight—Ryder’s mother—was the first to approach me. Her smile was genuine, and she enveloped me in a tight hug.

"Hey sweetheart, it's been a while since we last saw you," she said warmly.

I grinned as I hugged her back, feeling a rush of comfort in her embrace. "Yeah, Mrs. Knight, I've been busy with my assignments. But I missed you all," I replied, my smile widening. It was true—I really had missed them. They were more like family to me than just friends of my parents. Ryder’s family had always made me feel welcome, and that meant a lot to me.

After I pulled away from Mrs. Knight, I noticed Mr. Anthony Knight , Ryder’s father, stepped forward with a chuckle.

"How's Jonathan?" he asked about my father, his tone filled with casual interest but also a hint of familiarity.

"He's doing well, Mr. Knight," I replied, giving him an easy smile.

"When are they planning to come here and visit us?" Mr. Knight teased, his tone playful. "I feel like he's forgotten about me." He crossed his arms, giving a mock frown that had me stifling a laugh.

I chuckled at Mr. Knight’s teasing. "Oh no, he thinks about you every day, but he's busy with his job. Maybe he'll come to visit sooner," I replied, smiling at the family. I really did enjoy these moments, where I felt like I belonged here just as much as Ryder did.

As we sat down at the dining table, the conversation naturally flowed from work to life in general, everyone laughing and chatting easily. The food was absolutely delicious, and I savored every bite. I rarely got to enjoy homemade meals like this—takeout and cup noodles were my usual go-tos, so eating a home-cooked meal felt like a treat.

"My goodness, Bella, I really appreciate that you eat like a normal human being. Ryder's previous girlfriend seemed to survive on air," Mrs. Knight remarked with a playful smile, causing everyone to burst into laughter. I couldn’t help but laugh along, feeling right at home.

I glanced at Ryder and, with a teasing smile, replied, "Oh, Mrs. Knight, I love food. And luckily, I don't have a boyfriend who wants me to look like a model... right, Ryder?" I raised an eyebrow at him, knowing how he’d respond.

Ryder shot me an exasperated look, his lips curling into a small smile. "I never asked any girl to starve themselves to death. It's their choice," he retorted calmly. He had had many girlfriends in the past, all either supermodels or famous actresses.

"Oh, how I wish you were his girlfriend instead of those model-like girls," Mrs. Knight exclaimed, and my breath caught in my throat. The words hit me unexpectedly, and I felt my cheeks flush. It was sweet, but awkward all the same.

“Mom, you’re making Bella uncomfortable, right Bella?” he teased, mimicking my previous teasing tone.

I blinked, feeling my cheeks flare up in response.

"That's impossible, mom. Ryder thinks of her as a little sister," Zoe, Ryder’s sister-in-law, his brother's wife, said, rolling her eyes dramatically.

"She is not my sister, Zoe," Ryder snapped quickly, his voice laced with irritation. His expression showed clear frustration, and everyone glanced at him in shock.

Trying to steer the conversation in a less awkward direction, Damon, Ryder’s older brother, asked, "Anyway, Bella, what are your plans for the vacation? Would you like to join us as an intern?"

I smiled at the thought of it. "Well, I'm actually going to intern at a company during the vacation. It'll give me some valuable experience and a little bit of income," I replied, feeling proud of my independence. It wasn’t that I needed the money, but I liked the idea of earning it on my own terms.

"That's great! Ask Ryder to recommend some reputable companies. He'll guide you better since he cares about you the most," Damon suggested, his voice full of affection. He always treated me like a little sister, and I appreciated his kindness.

I smiled and nodded in agreement, grateful for the family’s support and encouragement.

"Why work for other companies?" Ryder said with authority, glancing up from his plate. "Work with me this vacation, and after college, you can join my company," he offered, and I was amazed at how easily he said it. Working with Ryder Knight was like a dream come true for anyone, but I wanted to earn this on my own merit, not because of his favoring me.

"No, Ryder, that's not necessary," I mumbled, feeling awkward.

He stared at me for a long moment with an unreadable expression before he declared, "You're joining my company, and that's final."

My mouth fell open at his shameless decision.

But before I could say anything, Mr. Knight interrupted, "And it will be the right thing, Bella. This way, we’ll know you're in safe hands. Why work elsewhere when your family’s company is ready for you to join at any time?"

My heart warmed at his kind words, but if only he knew I was far from being safe with Ryder. That was my biggest fear.