Chapter 4 - Melissa’s smug smirk instantly evaporated
The words hung in the air, nasty and cruel.
If you were to freeze time in that exact fraction of a second—you would see the absolute climax of Ryan's unearned arrogance, mere moments before his total destruction.
In the foreground, Ryan is caught mid-laugh, his posture reeking of artificial superiority, pointing his finger mockingly at my face. I am standing completely unbothered in my navy dress, holding my clutch, staring at him with the cold detachment of a woman observing a fool. To Ryan's left, Melissa is wearing a smug, satisfied smirk.
But in the background, darting between the horrified onlookers in a tiny tailored suit, is a four-year-old boy.
"Mama!"
Leo’s voice pierced the tension like a silver bell.
He crashed into my legs, wrapping his arms around my waist, his Cardinals cap sitting crooked on his dark curls.
Melissa’s smug smirk instantly evaporated. The crystal wine glass slipped from her fingers.
Crash.
The red wine splattered across the beige carpet. Melissa’s face went completely, terrifyingly white. She stared at the child clinging to my dress as if the floor had just opened up and swallowed her reality whole.
"Mama?" Ryan echoed, the laugh dying in his throat, his pointing finger dropping to his side. He blinked stupidly, trying to process the existence of my son. "You... you have a kid?"
I gently rested my hand on Leo's head, smoothing his curls.
May you like
"I do," I said.
Before Ryan could ask another question, the heavy double doors of the ballroom swung open.
