Chapter 8

When Alexis stepped through the front door, she was greeted by the warm glow of the foyer chandelier and the faint aroma of lavender from the diffusers her mother adored.

Despite the familiar comforts of home, her heart was heavy, and her mind raced with thoughts of Julian, Ryan, and everything that had unfolded.

Before she could slip quietly upstairs, her mother’s voice called out from the living room.

“Alexis? Is that you?”

She froze mid step, closing her eyes briefly before turning toward the source of the voice. “Yes, Mom. I’m home.”

Her mother, a poised woman with an impeccable sense of style, emerged from the living room, her silk blouse as unwrinkled as her calm exterior. But the look in her eyes betrayed her concern.

“Where have you been?” her mother asked, her tone sharp but laced with worry. “You left the charity event early, and no one could reach you. I called at least ten times.”

Alexis sighed, setting her clutch down on the console table by the stairs. “I just needed some air. I’m sorry if I worried you.”

Her mother stepped closer, her brows knitting together. “Some air? Alexis, you’ve been gone for hours. What happened?”

Alexis avoided her mother’s gaze, suddenly feeling the weight of her actions from the night before.

She wasn’t sure how much to share or how her mother would react to hearing about the confrontation with Ryan and Sophia.

“I ran into someone,” Alexis said vaguely. “And then... things got complicated.”

“Complicated how?” Her mother’s tone softened, but her curiosity remained unyielding.

Alexis hesitated, but she knew her mother wouldn’t drop it. “Ryan was there. With Sophia.”

The sharp intake of breath from her mother confirmed that the news had landed like a stone. “Ryan? What was he doing there with Sophia?”

“Exactly what you’d think,” Alexis replied bitterly, crossing her arms over her chest. “They’ve been seeing each other behind my back. I confronted them. It got ugly.”

Her mother’s face fell, a mix of sadness and indignation flashing across her features. “Oh, Alexis... I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“Neither did I,” Alexis admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother reached out, placing a gentle hand on her arm. “Are you all right? What did you do?”

Alexis lifted her chin, her voice gaining strength. “I broke up with him. For good.”

Her mother blinked, clearly surprised by her daughter’s resolve. “You broke up with Ryan?”

“Yes, Mom. It’s over. And honestly, it should’ve been over a long time ago.”

There was a long pause as her mother processed the information. Finally, she sighed, her hand dropping to her side. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but I understand. No one deserves to be treated like that.”

“Thanks, I guess,” Alexis said, her tone softening.

“But, Alexis,” her mother continued cautiously, “this is going to cause... complications. You know how connected our families are. People will talk.”

“Let them talk,” Alexis said firmly. “I’m done pretending for the sake of appearances. Ryan betrayed me, and I’m not going to sweep it under the rug to protect his reputation or anyone else’s.”

Her mother’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded slowly. “If this is what you want, I’ll support you. Just be prepared for the fallout.”

Alexis gave her a small, grateful smile. “I appreciate that, Mom. Really.”

Her mother glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed again. “You should get some rest then. We can talk more about this later.”

Alexis nodded, exhaustion suddenly washing over her. “Alright Mom.”

As Alexis ascended the grand staircase, her mother stood at the base, a storm of emotions swirling in her eyes.

She watched her daughter’s retreating figure, the way her shoulders slumped ever so slightly despite Alexis trying to maintain an air of composure.

The pain was evident, her confident, radiant daughter was hurting, and she knew exactly why.

When Alexis disappeared from sight, her mother turned toward the sitting room where her husband sat, engrossed in the evening news.

“Harrison,” she began, her tone urgent yet measured.

Harrison Montgomery, a man who commanded respect with just a glance, looked up from his leather armchair.

His piercing gray eyes immediately locked onto his wife, sensing her distress.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, setting his glass of bourbon down on the side table.

“It’s Alexis,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “She and Ryan… they’ve broken up.”

For a moment, there was silence.

Harrison’s expression didn’t shift, but a faint twitch of his jaw betrayed his reaction.

He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers under his chin as his mind worked through her words.

“She broke up with him?” he asked finally, his tone sharp and direct.

“Yes,” his wife replied. “From what I could gather, it wasn’t just a spat. It’s over, Harrison.”

The firelight flickered across Harrison’s face, casting sharp shadows that only heightened the intensity of his expression.

He slowly stood, his towering figure cutting an imposing silhouette in the lavish room.

“My daughter,” he said, his voice a low rumble, “has been humiliated and heartbroken because of that boy?”

His wife nodded, her eyes brimming with concern. “She hasn’t said much, but from what I know, Ryan betrayed her trust.”

Harrison let out a growl of frustration, pacing the room like a caged lion. “That ungrateful bastard,” he hissed. “I welcomed him into our home, gave him my blessing, and this is how he repays me?”

His wife stepped closer, placing a calming hand on his arm. “Harrison, please. Alexis is already hurting. She doesn’t need you storming off to confront Ryan. She needs us to support her.”

“Support her?” he barked, though his anger wasn’t directed at her. “Of course I’ll support her. She’s my princess. She’s never known pain like this before. She shouldn’t have to.”

The fire in his voice softened slightly as he stopped pacing and looked toward the staircase.

For all his wealth and power, for all the influence he wielded as the country’s richest man, Harrison Montgomery felt utterly helpless in the face of his daughter’s heartbreak.

“She’s always been so strong, so determined,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “But she’s still my little girl. No man should ever have the power to make her feel like this.”

His wife nodded, understanding his protective instincts all too well. “We’ll help her through this, Harrison. But we need to let her take the lead. She’s not a child anymore.”

Harrison’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “She’ll always be my child,” he said firmly. “But you’re right. She needs time to heal.”

He took a deep breath, his shoulders straightening as he regained his composure. “But make no mistake,” he added, his voice cold and resolute. “Ryan will regret ever hurting Alexis. I’ll make sure of it.”

His wife sighed, knowing there was no stopping him once he set his mind on something. “Just don’t do anything too drastic,” she said, though she doubted he’d heed her warning.

Harrison Montgomery may have been a titan in the business world, but when it came to his daughter, he was simply a father who would do whatever it took to protect her.

And if that meant making Ryan Pierce's life a living hell, so be it.