Ryan stood before the door, his heart pounding, his mind racing at a million miles an hour. In his hand was a folder containing legal documents filled with proof of his secret court wedding with Anne.
He knew what was inside that folder could shatter his mother's expectations and was of the heartbreaking consequence if she goes through it. It might forever alter his relationship with his mother.
He clenched it tightly, trying to gain strength from its firm, undeniable proof. Today, he was going to confess his secret to his mom -he had married Anne in a court, and was now a happily married wedded man.
He wasn't sure how his motherwould react; their relationship had always been tumultuous and strained. She had done everything in her power to govern him from a young age, moulding him into her version of 'the perfect son'. Since he could recall, he had always been trying his best to be the dutiful son to her.
However, Ryan had reached the end of his tether -and Anne had proven to be the catalyst for his rebellion. His love for her had opened his eyes to the strings that bound him, and he was determined to break free.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan knocked on the door, waiting anxiously for his mother to answer. It did not take long, and she seemed to be waiting for him, eagle-eyed, for his arrival.
For the past few days, she lost track of his movement because she decided not to keep an eye on him like she always does. At first, she thought he absconded due to the fact she asked him to provide Ciara but considering how obsessed he is to fame, she realized he couldn't.
If he does, he is aware of he's going to lose everything he toiled day and night for, so patiently, she waited his arrival -and here he is, paying her a visit out of the blues.
"Ah, you eventually arrived..."She stated simply, hervoice was dripping with self-righteous disappointment. "You left for days without thinking of the position your mother would be?"
Ryan was unfazed by her words as he braced himself for her scolding, but he was not going to go into reverse this time. As he walked into the living room, Ryan saw her sitting regally in her usual armchair, the acquainted vanity and expectation plastered onto her face.
The sunlight streaming in from the window forged a glow around her, almost like a halo. At that moment, she looked like a famous villains in tales with the type of charisma surrounding her, it was enough to send chills down anyone's spine.
Knowing he couldn't waste any more time, he took another deep breath and addressed her directly.
"Mom, I have something to inform you." He commenced slowly, staring into her cold eyes even a few feet away from her, but he was unable to stand her eyes and ended up looking away. "It's very essential, and I hope you will try to pay attention with an open mind."
Her eyes narrowed, she finds his phrases unusual. "Very well, I'm listening." She said, though her body language betrayed her lack of curiosity -she was never the curious type, like she already saw the whole thing coming.
Feeling his courage grow, Ryan continued. "As you know, I've been seeing Anne's for a while now. What you failed to know is that we got married in a court." He confessed as he strutted closer to her, holding forth the document as evidence.
Ryan's mother stared at him in shock, her eyes welling with tears. "You displeased me again, Ryan." She spat, certainly struggling to contain her rising anger. "But I'll maintain an open mind and listen to what you have to say." She took a deep breath and waited for him to continue, hoping that he had a good reason for taking such a step without her knowledge.
He did not care whatever way she determined to take his confession. He is absolutely conscious she's eagerly awaiting a reason for his act, does he need to have one before taking a choice for himself?
"I did it for myself..."He said simply yet firmly, and willed himself to look his mother in the eye he's been avoiding. "I'm tired of living my life continually trying to please you. I'm an adult, and I can make my own decisions. I genuinely love Anne, and I want to spend my life with her, even if that means letting go of your expectations and disapproval."
The room was so silent that Ryan could hear the ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the hallway. His mother stared at him for what seemed like an eternity, before admitting defeat in her anger.
Her voice cold indignant and barely struggling for control, she threatened him, "If you go through with this, you won't have my support anymore. I'll disown you in case you keep on following this path."
Her words, though harsh and painful, only served to bolster Ryan's resolve. He was glad she in no way threatened to take the companies away from him like she always does -that, he was by no means geared up to let go.
He looked at the framed photos on the mantelpiece, including one of him as a child, and was struck by a sudden realization; though his mom had always wanted the best for him, her inflexible expectations had never granted him any freedom to truly explore whom to be.
And now, standing at this crossroads in his life, he had never been more certain of what he believed in, and whom he loved.
His eyes never leaving his mother's, he replied quietly but with emphasis, "I don't care if you disown me, or you do not, I love Anne and she loves me. We're going to make a life together, irrespective of your opinion. Don't consider this to be your failure that I married out of your choice. Instead, consider it as my first in reality independent decision as an adult, something to be proud of."
"Who told you, you can make choices for yourself, Ryan?" She asked, almost thundering, her eyes spitting invincible fire.
"I spent my whole life trying to mould you into what you are today and in return, you think this is the best way to repay me?"
"I told you, mother, you in no way moulded me to be the best model of myself. You've been using me since I was a kid, just for your own personal interest and benefit." He blurted out in a sharp tone. "I'm done being your puppet, mother."
His words were sharp enough to slice through her solid and cold stoned heart, but as usual, she masked the rigors in her eyes, building cold glaciers in them -she can't show weakness, not even before her son.
"How dare you, Ryan?" Her voice was steered with anger that was starting to cloud her hurting heart. "How dare you think this about me? Have you gone out of your senses, eh?"
He snorted, unmoved by her words, the glaciers in her eyes or the anger that was eating her up -he's done being blackmailed by all ofthis. "I wanted to talk things out with you, but it seems like you are not ready to let go of your pride yet, mom."
"What do you mean, eh?" She questioned demandingly. She had never for once, thought her son would rebel against her this much to the extent of hurting her this deep.
This was only happening because of Anne, she knew from the start that Anne was no good to her son. She tried separating her son from such a despicable woman like her, but it seems like all her effort has just been washed down the drain.
He muttered in reply. "Till you decide to drop your pride and reconcile with your used to be perfect son, I'm out of here."
With that, he turned his back on her and began making his way toward the door. His mother called after him, a touch of pure desperation in her voice, "You'll regret this decision, Ryan!"
But Ryan did not look back. He was walking, for the first time, on a path that he had chosen for himself. One leading to a life filled with love, passion, and finally liberation.
After this day, his relationship with his mother would never be the same again. But even as Ryan closed the door to his old life, the sheer joy of knowing that he had broken free far outweighed any raw emotion that welled inside of him.
He had made his stand, and there was no going back now. For the first time in his life, Ryan felt like he had control, like he had the power to forge his destiny.
It was daunting, no doubt about that, but it was also unbelievably exhilarating -the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had taken what was arguably the most significant step of his life, and it was one he knew he would never regret.
As he made his way back home, taking the route that brought back memories of his walk to his mother's, Ryan embraced the true weight of his decision.
He knew it would, for better or worse, shape the rest of his life. And perhaps it would not be easy, facing new challenges and barriers behind his mother's guidance or influence.
However, he also knew that he had a partner in Anne, a loving, understanding partner, who would support him every step of the way.
In the end, he realized it wasn't just about choosing Anne or defying his mother's wishes, it was about seizing control of his destiny and boldly entering into the unknown.
And as he reached home, he felt in his heart a sense of peace that could only come from embracing love, freedom and, in the long run, one's true self.