Amelia stormed into Ryan’s office the next day, her face flushed with anger. She ignored his assistant’s attempt to stop her, pushing the door open with enough force to make it bang against the wall.
Ryan, seated at his desk, looked up from his laptop, startled. “Amelia?”
“How dare you?” she hissed, slamming the door behind her.
He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “How dare I what?” he asked, feigning ignorance.
“Don’t play dumb with me,” she snapped, her voice trembling with fury. “You sent that picture to James. You ruined something good—something I needed.”
Ryan stood, his expression hardening. “He needed to know the truth.”
“The truth?” she repeated, her voice breaking. “The truth is, you manipulated him. You sabotaged my happiness because you can’t stand to see me move on.”
His jaw tightened, and he stepped closer. “He wasn’t right for you, Amelia,” he said firmly. “You deserve someone who understands your history, your struggles—someone who’s willing to fight for you.”
“And you think that’s you?” she spat, tears streaming down her face. “You’ve done nothing but complicate my life, Ryan. Every step forward, you drag me two steps back.”
Ryan exhaled sharply, frustration etched across his face. “You needed to see that he couldn’t handle the reality of your life. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve never walked away. I’m still here, fighting for you and the kids.”
Amelia’s shoulders shook as she fought to regain her composure. “You’re not fighting for me, Ryan. You’re fighting to control me. And I won’t let you.”
Ryan opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat as she turned on her heel and stormed out. The sound of the door slamming echoed through the office, leaving Ryan standing alone.
________________