The walls of Ryan’s office still vibrated faintly from the echo of his earlier words. He had expected his mother to storm out after his last statement, to toss her usual threats, slam the door, and disappear to lick her pride. But Leah Ashbrook wasn’t the kind of woman who left quietly.
She composed herself, fixing the crease of her blazer, her nails tapping against his desk in measured defiance. Her voice, when it came, was low, deliberate, and cutting.
“She’s back, Ryan,” she began, each syllable laced with authority. “You’ve done the press show, discredited Steven’s claims, and salvaged the family’s image. It’s time to end this charade. Divorce her and marry Luan. We’ll discuss a settlement later, she took ten million to come here; she’ll take whatever we give her to leave.”
Ryan f
