HAPTER 0087
Meadow’s POV:
“Excuse me?” I nearly sputtered out my coffee.
Ingrid and I were only separated by the counter, and now she tapped her manicured burgundy nails against the counter top, the sneer on her face permanent.
My gaze narrowed as I tried to wrap my head around the fact that she just asked if ric and I were trying for a child.
“You heard me,” she said coldly. “I had hoped that would be the next step after your… sudden marriage. And considering what I walked in on earlier, I suppose I’m not in the wrong for asking, am I?”
‘Yes,’ I wanted to say. ‘Yes, you are so wrong for asking. And also, you’re such a fucking bitch.‘
But I didn’t say that.
“Speaking of…” I trailed off, looking away from her as I felt heat creep up my neck. “I’m sorry you had to
see that.”
Whether I hated ric’s mother or not, she did walk in on us fucking. And I knew that must not have been pleasant to see. However, the smirk on Ingrid’s face when my gaze drifted back to her told a
different story.
“Why apologize? I’m not sorry I saw it,” She drawled, leaning in and reducing her voice to a harsh whisper. “I’m only sorry I wasn’t here earlier, Would’ve been such a delight to interrupt your… coption.”
I froze, my mouth dropping open as I stared at her in disbelief.
She knew. Of course, she did. Of course, she had to have heard the sounds while she ascended the stairs and then interrupted us on purpose. Had she even sent ric a text like she imed?
I could tell that Ingrid was amused by my speechlessness. She let out a chuckle, her blue eyes shining with mischief. Her blond hair was pulled back into a knot like it was at the party. I suppose that was a
normal look for her.
Definitely matched her bitchy attitude.
Ingrid lifted her mug and took a sip of the coffee. “You know, I used to walk in on ric and rissa when they were just teenagers. Not on purpose, of course.”
I wentpletely still. My chest tightened and my ears started to ring.
That was not my business<b>. </b>It wasn’t. It was their <b>past</b>. <b>rissa’s </b>and ric’s. But why did it make my heart feel like it was about to be ripped out of my chest?
Ingrid watched me over the rim of the mug, her eyebrows arched perfectly. “ric used to sneak ry into the house a lot. And he would try to hide her. But I always knew. Always… heard them.”
I forced a smile and Ingrid took that as her cue to continue. “They were so in love with each other. I had never seen or experienced anything like that before–not even with his father. And there they were… teenagers, and they were already experiencing a love so strong, I thought it would never end.”
She sighed, shaking her head.
I didn’t realize how tight my grip was around the mug until Ingrid’s eyes dropped down. I exhaled, dropping the mug back on the counter.
“But then it did, didn’t it?” I didn’t know why, but all of a sudden, I was curious. I wanted to know why they broke up if things were so… good between them.
“Well…” she shrugged. “All good things muste to an end, as some people say. They broke up right after they were done with college because of a minor misunderstanding.”
My eyes narrowed. That was right around the same time that… tragedy befell my family. Our grandparents had died a few years earlier, so rissa agreed to step up before Juniper and I were ced in foster homes.
If rissa and ric loved each other like Ingrid said, then it would have taken a lot more than just a
minor misunderstanding for them to end it. Especially considering the fact that he could feel her.
What really happened between them?
Whose mistake was it?
“Nothing that can’t be fixed with a little matchmaking,” Ingrid added.
“What?”
She heaved a sigh, shaking her head at me like she pitied me. “You poor girl. You are so young, so naive. I
supposed I can’t me you for being hopeful.”
I swallowed. “Concerning what?”
Ingrid dropped her mug onto the counter, walking around it until she was right in front of me. She was a tall woman. And when she was near me, she <b>was </b>even more tall and intimidating. When she raised her hand, I flinched on instinct. But she <b>wasn’t </b>about to p me, she only ced her manicured hand on my
shoulder.
“My son and rissa have at least ten years on you, Meadow. They were each other’s first loves.” Sheughed. “You don’t think ric would ever love you the way he loved ry, do you?”
My jaw clenched. “Funny. I thought you were convinced that he paid me to be his wife.”
“I was. But now, I see the light.” Ingrid stepped closer, leaning in until her lips were right by my ear. I should’ve pushed her away, walked away from all this, because I knew that what she was about to say would feel like a stab to the chest.
But I stayed anyway. Because I’m such a fucking idiot.
“Don’t be delusional, sweetheart. ric is only with you because he’s desperate to feel something.”
My heart stuttered.
“I know that you are young, and you saw my son–rich, handsome, with his life all perfect and put together. Now I don’t know how you found out about his condition, but you should count yourself lucky. Enjoy this moment, the riches and perks thate with being an Ashford. But I don’t want you to hold on
to it.”
Something pricked behind my eyelids. Ingrid pulled away from me, a smirk on her face. “Because his one true love his back. And you might think you’re using him, but really, he’s using you. It’s all an act,
Meadow. Don’t forget that.”
My eyelids fluttered as I looked away.
Why did I want to cry? God. Why did I want to cry in front of this woman? She may not have known the true context, but she was right. It was all an act. ric wasn’t mine. He never was.
He was only with me because he could feel me. He said it himself–he wanted me to be his because he felt my touch. And now that someone he actually used to love was back in his life… was he just going to toss me aside even in spite of the contract?
I ran a hand through my hair, not sure what I wanted to say, but then ric stepped into the kitchen, dressed in a dark gray suit with an unknotted tie hanging around his neck.
His gaze lingered on me for a second before shifting to his mother. “Everything okay?”
“Yes!” Ingrid quipped. “I was just inviting her over for dinner at the house, like I said before. I think we could really use some bonding time.”
He scoffed, “Not a chance, Mutti. Want to help me with my tie, baby?”
I couldn’t read the expression on his face so I wasn’t sure if he suspected anything. But I shrugged, forcing a smile. “Um, oka-”
“I’ll help you with your tie, Mein Herz,” Ingrid cut in, stepping toward her son. Something thick clogged my throat and I tried to clear it, looking away.
I reached for the coffee mug with shaky hands, but it had already gone cold. I dropped it back, tapping my fingers against the counter anxiously. ric followed my every move with his eyes but he didn’t question it.
“So, you’re going to work, then?” I asked just to break the ice.
“Yes,” ric replied, turning to face his mother. “I’ll have West take you back.”
Ingrid shook her head. “No. I assumed you’d drop me on your way. And besides, I need <i>to </i>talk to you about something important.”
“And that is?”
“Your father.”
The moment Ingrid said that, the tension increased by a hundred percent. ric’s eyes shifted to me for just a brief second before he looked back at her. “Wait for me in the car,” he said.
And after Ingrid was gone, he stepped toward me, his eyes unreadable. “Is everything okay?” he asked me.
I nodded quickly. Too quickly. But then tried to y it off. “Um… I didn’t know your… father was alive,” I muttered. I’d just assumed that he was dead since his mother seemed to be the only person he mentioned.
But it looked like he-
“He’s not,” ric said coldly.
I swallowed, stuttering. “Oh… okay. I’m sorry. I just thought that since your mom said… sorry.”
What was wrong with me?
“Don’t be,” he murmured, pulling me closer. My heart thumped wildly in my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or anxiety or the fact that he was touching me. “Did my mother say anything to
you?”
My stomach twisted as I denied it. “No. No, she didn’t.”
“Are you sure?”
Was I? I mean, she didn’t say anything that wasn’t true, no matter how hurtful her words were.
I nodded, “Yeah. You shouldn’t keep her waiting, you know?”
His mouth twitched. “She can wait.” And then, grip tightening around my waist, he pulled me in for a kiss. It was short, but I melted against him anyway.
“See you when I get back, Doe.<i>” </i>
And then he was out.
God.
So much had happened and it wasn’t even close to noon yet. I heaved a sigh. I needed something
stronger than coffee if I was going to get through the day.
+15 E