How dare he?!!

5

Susan's POV

As I stormed out of the building, my mind raced with frustration. How dare he invade my personal life and make such presumptions? I felt a wave of relief when I finally stepped outside, the cool night air hitting my face.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I had to stay focused on the task at hand—reclaiming what was rightfully mine and standing up to those who had wronged me. Ryan Ray’s unprofessionalism was just another obstacle to overcome.

As I walked briskly to where my car was, I could still feel the sting of Ryan’s invasive questions. But I pushed the feelings aside, channeling my anger into determination. I was not going to let anyone, not even someone as influential as Ryan Ray, derail my plans.

As I sank into the backseat of the car, my anger was palpable. My hands shook uncontrollably as I gripped my purse, the encounter with Ryan Ray replaying in my mind. His arrogance, his intrusion into my personal life—it all made me want to scream. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as my emotions churned.

The car’s interior felt like a small cage, the silence between me and the secretary growing heavier by the minute. I knew she could sense my frustration, but she remained quietly focused on driving. I appreciated her discretion, but it did little to ease the storm inside me.

When we finally arrived home, I stumbled out of the car, my legs feeling like lead. The thought of facing Mia and keeping up a brave front weighed heavily on me. I forced a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within as I fumbled with my keys.

“Mia, honey, I’m home!” I called as I stepped inside.

The house was quiet, and I could hear the faint sound of Mia’s voice coming from her room. As I approached, I noticed the soft glow of her tablet illuminating the hallway. I pushed open her door, my heart easing a bit at the sight of her smiling face on the screen.

“Mommy!” Mia exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she saw me. “I’m video chatting with Professor Stanford!”

A small smile tugged at my lips despite the turmoil inside. “That’s wonderful, sweetie. How’s it going?”

Mia’s excitement was infectious. “Professor Stanford is telling me all about her latest research. It’s so cool!” She turned her tablet toward me, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “You should see this, Mommy!”

I glanced at the screen, nodding absently. My mind was still tangled in thoughts of Ryan Ray and his insistent questions. But Mia’s bright energy was a welcome distraction. For a moment, I felt a flicker of normalcy.

Then, the doorbell rang, shattering the brief peace. I froze for a second before heading to the front door, hoping it wasn’t another complication. I opened it to find Sarah standing there, her face etched with concern.

“Sarah!” I said, my voice tired. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to check on you after that meeting,” Sarah said, her eyes searching mine for clues. “How did it go?”

I sighed heavily, stepping aside to let her in. “Not well,” I admitted, leading her into the living room. “Ryan Ray—he’s Mia’s father.”

Sarah’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Ryan Ray is Mia’s father? I had no idea.”

I sank into the couch, feeling the weight of the day’s events crashing down on me. “Neither did I. I was stunned when he mentioned it. And now, I feel like my whole world is falling apart. I’m terrified of what he might do. I can’t lose Mia to him.”

Sarah’s face softened with empathy. “Susan, it’s going to be okay. You’re strong, and you’ve overcome so much already. Ryan Ray may be influential, but that doesn’t mean he can take everything from you.”

I looked at Sarah, my eyes welling up with tears. “I just don’t know what to do. I’m scared, and I feel so overwhelmed. I was hoping for a fresh start, but now I’m caught in this mess.”

Sarah reached out and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Here, have some water,” she said gently, handing me a glass she had brought with her. “Take a deep breath. We’ll figure this out together.”

I took a sip, trying to calm the tremor in my hands. But as I did, I could no longer hold back the flood of emotions. My tears started to fall, and I leaned into Sarah’s shoulder, letting my frustration and fear spill out. I could feel her warmth and strength, and it was a small comfort in the midst of my distress.

“It’s just—” I choked out between sobs, “I don’t want Mia to be caught in this power struggle. She deserves stability, not this chaos.”

Sarah hugged me tighter. “You’re doing everything you can to protect her. We’ll get through this. Don’t lose hope.”

From behind the closed door, I heard Mia’s cheerful voice. She was talking animatedly to Professor Stanford, but her excitement seemed to have taken on a different tone. Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the door a crack, peeking in.

Mia had her tablet in her hands, her brows furrowed in concentration. “Professor Stanford,” she said, her voice filled with determination, “I think I might have found something about my dad.”

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. I wanted to call out to Mia, to stop her from getting involved in this tangled mess, but my voice caught in my throat.

Mia’s fingers moved quickly over the tablet screen as she typed furiously. “I want to find out more about Ryan Ray,” she said, her voice brimming with hope. “Maybe he’ll want

to help us. Maybe he’s the key to making things better.”