Non-chalant.

Chapter Four

Ryan's POV

I wore my suit while I couldn't stop thinking about what happened yesterday. I was still finding it hard to believe that she was the one I saw yesterday.

Furthermore, I wasn't sure if the feelings were still there, but with the way I felt yesterday, it has been a while since I felt that way. I didn't like that feeling at all.

It made me feel guilty for breaking her heart that way. I had a reason why we broke up, but I didn't want her to know about it. The fact that she told me that she was even cheating on me during the period that we were dating.

I thought I had already moved on completely, but why did those words hurt me? When she told me about it the other time, it was so painful. She cheated on me three months before we broke up, and she got pregnant and gave birth now.

 

I haven't seen her child, but I wondered what her child was going to look like. Immediately after I was done dressing, I came out of my room, and then went to my mom's house to pick her up.

I reached my mom's house in no time, and they were done dressing already. She came out with a light peach maxi gown; it looked great on her, matching her skin color.

The maxi gown has a little slit, but she looked so simple and good at the same time.

Her son was not in her hands. My mom came out and caught up with her. "We will come and meet you guys soon. You two just have to stay in the same car, so my parents would not suspect anything." My mother told me.

 

Ari opened the front door, and sat right beside me. "You guys can go now; we're on our way." My mother told us while I ignited the car engine, and drove off.

I bet that she was so nervous; it was so obvious with the way she was positioned. His fingers were intertwined, and she wouldn't stop playing with them, either. I wondered what must be going on in her mind right now.

We got to the family's house in no time, and we were welcomed by the maids. We walked into the house and were then led to the dining room. My grandparents were right there with my aunts, uncles, and a few of my cousins.

We greeted them, while Ari sat right beside me at the dining table. "Woah! You brought a lady home. That is what we have been waiting for." My aunt said with a fake smile on her face.

I knew how heartbroken they must have been after they found out that I had brought a lady home. That was one thing that they didn't wish for; they knew that would be a good way for me to gain my grandparents' favor.

"What about your parents?" My grandfather questioned me. "They would be on their way; they needed to attend to something." I informed him. My eyes went to Ari, who was beside me; her face was so stiff without a smile. She was looking so confused, and lost.

She hasn't seen any of my family before, so it would be weird seeing them. We lived in a different state when we were still together, so I bet that everything just looks so weird to her right now.

"So, what is your name?" My grandmother questioned her. She looked up while she looked at everyone who was at the dining table. She needed to be confident; that was one of the ways they would get to like her.

"Her name is Arielle Davis." I answered their questions since it was taking too long for her to answer. She let out a fake smile while I rolled my eyes.

"What is your occupation? What do you do for a living?" My grandmother furthered the question. I didn't know what made me carry my hand to hers. I wanted to give her the assurance that there was nothing wrong, and she just needed to be calm.

It was right under the dining table. I just wanted to stop her from getting nervous, and that was the only thing that I could think of doing. "She isn't working for now. I told her not to work since she had been carrying my child for the past few months." I told the whole family, while I could see the shock on some of their faces.

My grandfather looked at her, and then at me. "I have a great-grandchild. Why are you just telling me now? When did this happen?" My grandfather questioned me. It looked as if he took it seriously. 

I heard my mom's voice; it turned out that she was around already. "It happened to be that way. Your great-grandchild is right in my house, and he took after his father." My mom said, and she sat right opposite us with my father.

"I am really happy for you." That was the first thing that my Uncle said to me ever since we were here.

"I think you are old enough to be able to take over the position of acting chairman and see what you are capable of." My grandfather said,. That was my parents' goal; that was what they wanted.

I saw the smile that crept onto my mom's face. "What do you think you are trying to do? Mother! You know that he is too young for this. Do you think that he would be able to be the acting chairman?" My uncle questioned me in pain.

I could sense the pain in his voice. The maids started brining in the food one by one until the dining table got full.

"What made you think that he was not the right person for the job? I have seen what my grandson is capable of doing—the way he handled some of the hotel I own and some of the estate as well. I just want to see how he would act just being in that position." My grandmother told my Uncle.

I saw the displeasure on my cousin's face. He stood up in anger, and walked out of the finding. Aaron hated me to the core because of the way I had been treated by my grandparents.

That wasn't my fault; I just happened to be very hardworking. My mom knew something like this was going to happen in the future, which was another reason why I loved her so much.

I thought she was punishing me back then, but it just turned out that she wanted to help me so that I would be able to take over the group in the future. "So, talking about your wife,. How did you meet her? Is she from a rich family? What if she was this kind of lady that only wants your money?" My aunt questioned me.

I let go of Ari's hand that was under my table. "Don't you think that you are crossing your boundary by trying to say something like that to my daughter-in-law? She is not like you, who went after my brother just because of the money that he has." My mother chipped in before I could get to talk.

That was another reason why I would continue to love my mother. I was so satisfied with the way she chipped in. "What do you mean by that? You should not get to talk to my wife." My uncle couldn't complete his statement either before she got interrupted by my grandmother or her frost hitting the table.

"You all are not kids. Let's start eating. Arielle, and Ryan, we will get to catch up later. I don't think this is the right time." My grandmother said this while she started eating her food, and we did the same thing to ours also.

*****

Immediately after we were done with the breakfast, we went out of the house. My grandmother watched us as we entered the car. I had to fake my affection by opening the car door, so she wouldn't get to suspect anything.

"I don't think I can do this. I cannot do this; I am so sorry." Arielle said it to me immediately, and I drove off. I pulled over without even thinking twice. Why would she say something like that? We just started.

I looked at her face, and she looked so serious about it.