*Few days ago*
RYAN'S POV I sighed as I stared at the divorce document on my desk once again. *Divorce agreement between Yun Blake and Ryan Rivers.* My fingers caressed the part of the paper where her name was, while her words to me few days ago after I had signed the documents, reoccurred to me. "Ryan, it's important I leave. But as you've pleaded, I would stay a little while until you've accomplished the task you must carry out as your father's son. Afterwards, I would leave." Yun had said to me. We were married for six years, she was only twenty one at that time, and her career as an actress had only just began. We'd met at a gala seven years ago, fallen in love and had gotten married one year after. However, our relationship and marriage had been a private one only known to our close friends and family, because Yun wanted it that way. Because she was married to me, Yun had given up a part of her dream just to be with me. She had gotten pregnant few months after we were married, and because of the nature of her job and our relationship, she had to stay off set for a really long while. This broke her and for the remaining years we were married, after the birth of our kids, she suffered emotionally and although I tried to understand and be there for her, my efforts weren't really enough to heal her. What she wanted was to be back to the woman she was before she had gotten married to me. And although I loved her so much that it was difficult for me to come to terms with her leaving me, when she brought up the idea of us divorcing, I had to let her go so that she could be happy. However, at the moment, I needed to stay married at least for a couple of months until my father's desire had been granted. And Yun had been understanding enough to agree to my terms. 'Well, at least she's still around, I could still see her for a little while before she finally leaves.' I consoled myself mentally with this. "Mr. Rivers, there's an emergency." I raised my gaze to see Jose, my PA, rushing into my home study. Seeing the question in my eyes, he wasted no time in relaying the information that came as a bomb blast to my ears. "Ms. Blake, has disappeared." "What do you mean?!" I thundered, jumping off my seat immediately. My heart pounded furiously against my chest as I pushed the door to her room open. It was empty. No trace of her was left in sight, her important belongings were gone. Yun wouldn't do this to me, right? I retrieved my phone from my pocket and began calling her phone, but it wasn't going through. I never wanted to part with her this way. This wasn't what we talked about. What of our kids? How did she expect them to take the news of her disappearance? "Mr. Rivers, I think she left a note." Jose said, pointing towards her bedside drawer. I hurried over and retrieved it. *Ryan, I'm leaving. Please don't look for me. I'm sorry I did this in such a time when you need me. But there's no better time than now for me. Zach and Zara are in your care.* Tears pooled in my eyes as I walked out of the room, that was hers. "Jose, get someone to check the CCTV, confirm her disappearance from the footage and send it to me. Also, I'm leaving for now. Please make sure the nannies keep an eye on my kids," I paused on my hurried strides at the hallway and sent a glance in the direction of their rooms. "More than ever before." I added, continuing my exit afterwards. "Yes, Sir." If I should hurry down to the airport now, perhaps I would be able to catch up with her before her flight takes off. With this thought, I increased my steps.RYAN'S POV I knew it was a fact that she had questions. However, since she wouldn't ask more, it left me a bit confused. I wanted to know what she was thinking. "Ryan," I turned my gaze to look at her and found her staring at me with an endearing smile. "Now you understand why I've not been able to talk about my past with you even though I would love to. It's not as easy as it seems." She said and I swallowed.'...she would love to.' a part of me secretly celebrated. "I know." "I'm so sorry about your mother and grandfather," she paused, "and your brother too. I believe you'd find him one day." A brief silence passed by before she continued. "I'm really sorry, I suck at consoling people." Her gaze wandered off briefly before returning to me. "Don't be sorry, you did nothing wrong." I said to her. And she nodded. "So, you don't have to answer the questions just because I asked, even when you're not comfortable." She smiled again and my breath caught.Was she always
RYAN'S POV Of all the questions to ask, I never imagined Anita would be asking about this one. There's a reason I hadn't really specified to her from the onset about the reason I have to stay married. Because I knew telling her would make me more vulnerable to answer other questions that might arise from my response. My jaw clenched and I eased my body into relaxing. I was giving away too much reaction which might make her more curious. All evening, she had asked private questions about me which I've surprised myself by answering sincerely. But this one question... She was right, I don't know if I want to answer that at all. I was opening up to her too quickly, more than I ought to. But strangely, I couldn't help it. I actually liked the feeling that came with sharing details of my personal life with her. Maybe because, a huge part of me also wanted her to be free enough with me to the extent she would be able to talk about her past with me. It wasn't so cool a
ANITA'S POV Seconds stretched into what could be considered eternity, as we remained in that position, seemingly lost in each other's eyes. Slowly, I let my gaze wandered from his eyes, his entire face and finally settled at the fullness of his lips. I blinked back several times and unconsciously bit on my lower lips out of habit. "Should I kiss you again?" He suddenly whispered, somehow tossing the ball away and reaching for my face in a matter of seconds. "Don't you know doing that consistently would warrant you getting several unexpected kisses from me." I blinked and swallowed simultaneously, my eyes reverting back to his immediately. A teasing smile danced in his eyes and just before his fingers could caress my face, I instantly fled from his body. "You... D-don't dream too much." I stuttered with a startled, strange voice. "Why?" He raised a teasing brow. "Even the children don't seem to mind us kissing. Remember? They're such cute little fans of..." "Shu
ANITA'S POV Finally regaining my composure after several seconds of staring in stunned silence at Ryan, I swatted his hand away. "And what if I don't want to play?" "Then we can just sit here and talk." He gave an indifferent shrug. "Talk about what?" I raised a brow at him. "Talk about you, me, the kids, anything." He casually said. I stood up and walked back to the basketball court, Ryan quietly followed behind. We got to the court in no time and I picked up a ball and bounced. "Have you forgotten our deal, Mr. Rivers?" "The one about keeping everything I knew about you a secret and never asking you anything about it?" He asked, and I said nothing. Ryan rolled up his sleeves and aimed towards me, going for the ball. Soon it was in his possession again. And he bounced it several times, dodging from my reach while I struggled to get it back. And for a couple seconds, his gaze locked against mine. "Of course, I didn't forget." He reached out his arms high and thre
ANITA'S POV "Anita, are you crazy?" Kristen's sharp tone hit me with a painful sting. Taylor was her only brother and the thought that I had hurt him must have gotten her worried. She had gone to get groceries after dropping me off at Taylor's private studio and had returned to meet us in that horrible situation. Was I going to get Taylor hospitalized? A gasp left my lips instantly. "Oh my God! T!" I ran to his side immediately. He coughed weakly, his mouth bloodied as he tried to smile. "Indeed Ani, you didn't hold back. As your mentor, I'm very proud of you." "Stop talking, will you? Jeez! You're hurt. I'm very sorry. Kristen, I'm sorry I didn't... I really didn't mean to..." "Well, damn it with you two. There's always bound to be drama and several bruises each time I leave you both alone." She sighed. "However, this was the first time you've really gone beyond the usual, Anita. What were you thinking? Is it because of the news?" "I am just crazy, that's a
ANITA'S POV Only two days after my return from Eden's Orphanage and my unpleasant encounter with the Walters from DC, the answer to the questions that's bothered me in the last forty eight hours, was already trending all over the internet. *The CEO of Walter Groups and Co. Dean Walter, and his beautiful Influencer wife, Brianne McKinney Walter stuns in photos as they adopt a baby from Eden's Orphanage in New York.* Adopt? I scoffed mentally. I never cared why the bastard needed to adopt a child but he must be very delusional if he really dreamed he could answer the title of 'father' after what he did to me, to our baby... I had just returned from an emergency shoot earlier in the day and was about to alight from Kristen's car while absentmindedly scrolling on my phone when the news about Dean Walter adopting a child had popped up on my feed, ruining my mood entirely. My fury was so great it made me sick internally but I had refused to allow myself experience another t