Chapter 125
Sarah’s POV
I opened my mouth to protest, to say I had no idea what he was talking about, but his eyes flickered.
A warning.
A message to play along.
Then he turned to the woman.
Ryan’s mother and his ex.
And the look on his face was terrifying. The warmth vanished, as did the smile. In its place was something cold and hard and deadly. He let go of me and walked toward the woman.
Her face went pale.
He reached down and took Ryan from her arms. Ryan immediately clung to him, burying his face in Marcus’s neck, his little body still shaking with sobs.
Marcus held him close, one hand cradling his head.
“Stephanie,” Marcus said, his voice quiet. Ice cold. “Let me make something very clear. You will never ever address my fiancée like that again p>
Stephanie’s mouth dropped open. “Your… fiancée? Since when are you engaged p>
“Since I decided to marry the woman I love,” Marcus said flatly. “It’s none of your business p>
He took a step closer to her. Stephanie stepped back.
“You will stay away from my family,” Marcus continued, his voice dropping even lower. “Stay away from Ryan and Sarah. Stay away from my home. If I see you near them again, I will make your life a living hell. Do you understand me p>
Stephanie looked like she was going to explode. Her face was red, and her hands were clenched into fists, but she dared not say anything.
She just stared at Marcus, then at me, then back at Marcus.
“This isn’t over,” she finally hissed.
“Yes,” Marcus said. “It is p>
He turned away from her, dismissing her like she was nothing. He walked back to me with Ryan still in his arms.
His free hand slipped around my waist, pulling me close. He guided me toward the car, his grip firm and possessive.
I was in shock.
My legs moved, but I couldn’t feel them. My mind was spinning. What just happened? Fiancée? Love? What was happening?
Marcus opened the back door and gently placed Ryan in his car seat. He buckled him in, murmuring something soft that I couldn’t hear.
I slipped into the passenger’s seat.
He got in the driver’s seat and started the car, pulling away from the curb.
The car was silent.
Completely silent except for Ryan’s soft, hiccupping cries from the back seat. I wanted to turn around, to comfort him, but I couldn’t move.
I was frozen.
I could feel Marcus’s rage.
It filled the car like smoke be wasn’t even yelling or even looking at me, but I could feel it. Radiating off him in waves.
He was furious.
And it was my fault.
All my fault.
I shouldn’t have taken Ryan out. I broke the rules. I went behind Melinda’s back. I put Ryan in danger, and I caused this whole disaster.
I stared out the window, my heart pounding, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
As soon as we got home, Marcus got out, opened the back door, and lifted Ryan out.
Ryan was quiet, now exhausted from crying, his head resting on Marcus’s shoulder.
We went inside. Marcus handed Ryan to Melinda, who appeared out of nowhere. She took one look at Ryan’s tear-stained face and then looked at me with worried eyes.
“Get him cleaned up,” Marcus said to her, his voice still that cold, controlled tone. “Put him to bed. He’s had a long day p>
Melinda nodded and carried Ryan away.
Then Marcus turned to me.
His eyes were dark and unreadable.
“Follow me.” He ordered
My blood ran cold as I swallowed hard and followed him down the hall, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it.
I followed him down the hall, and my legs felt like they were made of jelly with each step that I took. My heart was pounding so loud it was almost screaming in my ears.
Marcus walked fast.
His back was straight with his hands fisted at his sides.
He didn’t look back at me or say a word. He just walked.
We stopped at a door in his home study, he pushed it open and stood aside, waiting for me to go in first.
His eyes were cold.
Hard.
I walked into his home office.
It was huge with Bookshelves covering one whole wall and a big desk in the middle, made of the same dark wood.
Leather chairs.
It smelled like his expensive cologne and old books.
I heard the door click shut behind me.
The sound was soft, but it felt loud.
Final.
Like a cage closing.
I turned around.
Marcus was standing in front of the door. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his jaw was tight.
His eyes… God, his eyes.
They were burning.
“You,” he said, his voice was low, deadly, and cold. “You took my son out of this house without permission and broke my rules p>
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
My lips were trembling.
I could feel it.
“Do you have any idea how stupid that was?” His voice rose, just a little, but it felt like a shout in the quiet room. “Any idea how dangerous? You took a five-year-old child to a public place without telling me, without telling Melinda, without telling anyone! He could have been taken! He could have been hurt! Anything could have happened! And he saw her p>