Chapter 115
115
THE house was quiet that night, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the soft creaks that came from the wooden staircase whenever someone walked past. The twins had finally settled, tucked into their cribs after a long day. Hazel was asleep upstairs too, her laughter and chatter now replaced by the deep stillness of night.
Amelia sat curled on the sofa in the living room, a light blanket draped over her legs. The glow of her laptop bathed her face as she scrolled through Adrian’s proposal again. Numbers, projections, expansion strategies, they were all dazzling, all promising. Yet the name at the top of the file, Cole Holdings, made her chest tighten.
The quiet was broken when Ryan returned from the kitchen with two mugs of tea. He set one gently on the coffee table in front of her before sitting beside her, his presence steady and grounding. Amelia had insisted on him staying back, they had worked from the evening into the night.
“You are still staring at that proposal,” he said, his voice low, almost a whisper, so as not to disturb the the house.
peace
of
Amelia exhaled, rubbing her temple.
“Because I can’t ignore it, Ryan. It is… solid. Too solid. If it were anyone else, I would have signed a memorandum of understanding by now. But it is Adrian p>
Ryan leaned back, his arm resting along the sofa’s backrest, not too close enough to seep his warmth into her, but just a reasonable distance. His jaw tightened, and his eyes hardened with protectiveness.
“Exactly. Which is why you should be cautious. He is not here just for Satin & Sage. He is here for you. And you know it p>
She looked at him, her expression a mixture of defiance and uncertainty.
“You think I don’t know that? Bu
what if separating the man from the businessman is the only way forward? What if… this partnership is what Satin & Sage truly needs p>
Ryan shook his head, leaning forward now, his elbows resting on his knees.
“Ma’am, don’t let him entangle you again. He is already worming his way back, first the boutique, then the flower shop, the resort,
and now this. He is pushing into every corner of your life. Business is just the excuse he is using.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. She closed the laptop, shutting the folder with a soft click. For a long moment, she didn’t speak. Then she whispered, almost to herself, “But Ryan, what if he has changed p>
The words hung in the air, startling even her. She wasn’t expecting that sentence out of her mouth.
Ryan’s head snapped toward her, his eyes sharp.
“Changed? Amelia, people like Adrian don’t change overnight/You know what he did to you. To your trust. To your family. Don’t let yourself forget that because he is suddenly playing generous p>
Her chest ached at his words, yet she didn’t push back. Instead, she looked down at her hands, fingers twisting together.
“I don’t trust him. But I do trust myself. I can handle this p>
Ryan’s gaze softened, though his jaw remained tense.
“I know you are strong. Stronger than most. But even the strongest can get caught in the old wounds when they are reopened. And that man knows exactly where to cut p>
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Amelia looked up at him then, her eyes searching his face. In Ryan’s expression, she saw more than concern, she saw fear. But was it fear of losing her to the same man who had once broken her? Ryan was only trying to protect, that was what she knew.
She reached for her mug, taking a sip of tea, letting the warmth steady her.
“So what do you suggest? Turn down the proposal outright? Let Satin & Sage miss out on global expansion because of my personal history with him p>
Ryan leaned closer, his voice dropping into something almost raw.
“I suggest you protect yourself, Amelia. Protect what you have built. Protect your children. If you want to hear him out, fine. But don’t let him use business to walk back into your life. He doesn’t deserve that chance p>
Silence lingered, broken only by the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.
Finally, Amelia sighed, setting her mug down.
“I will take the proposal to the board. Let them decide. That way, it won’t be about me. It will be about Satin & Sage p>
Ryan nodded slowly, though the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease.
“Then I will be there. Every step of the way. Because if Adrian thinks he can win you over by playing the businessman, he is going to learn he is not the only one standing by your side p>
Amelia’s lips curved into a fa
smile, touched by his loyalty.
“You are too protective sometimes, Ryan. Be easy p>
“And you are too forgiving sometimes, so I don’t think I will be easy,” Ryan countered softly, though there was no malice in his tone.
For a moment, their eyes locked, and the unspoken stretched between them. Then Amelia looked away, pulling the blanket tighter around herself, trying to still the storm inside her.
The night stretched on, quiet but heavy. They didn’t return to the proposal again, but both knew it would haunt their thoughts until the board meeting arrived.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.