Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan) novel Chapter 154

RYAN

I decided to head to the office early this morning because I had a plan in mind—to head back to Canada by the weekend. I wanted to be with my family, and there was something unsettling about a new man who seemed to be spending too much time around my wife. I couldn’t just sit by idly. I had to protect them and, more importantly, remind Lily of my love for her, to ensure she wasn’t influenced or distracted by anyone else.

As I was settling into work, I heard a soft knock on my office door. Before I could respond, my secretary stepped in, placing a document on my desk.

“Here are the papers that need your signature, sir,” she said calmly.

It was impressive how quickly Palmer had adapted to her responsibilities around here. “Did you review them, Palmer?” I asked while glancing over the top sheet.

She nodded. “Yes, I went through everything.”

“I’ll take a look myself before getting back to you,” I said, acknowledging her thoroughness but preferring to double-check the details. “Give me a little time.”

“Of course, sir.” I assumed she’d leave after that, but she lingered for a moment.

“There’s someone here to see you, sir,” she added cautiously.

I shifted my focus entirely from the documents and looked at her. “Who is it?”

“It’s Ms. Maya,” she said softly.

What does she want? I nodded towards my secretary. “Let her in.”

Palmer gave me a quick nod and slipped out of the room, her shoes barely making a sound as they retreated down the hall. A few seconds later, the door creaked open, and in walked Maya, moving with confidence like she owned the place. She always had that audacious walk.

“Good morning, brother,” she greeted, her voice dripping with a forced sweetness.

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms and staring her down, fully aware that she thought she could play some twisted game with me. “What are you doing here, Maya?” My tone was sharp, cutting through the pleasantries. “More properties under your name, is that it?”

She shrugged nonchalantly and slid into the seat across from me, crossing her legs. “I’m not greedy, dear brother, but I get angry when someone pushes me against the wall.”

I arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. “You’re not making any sense,” I said flatly, not trying to mask the irritation rising within me.

She leaned back in the chair, her smirk widening as if she held some invisible cards in her hand. “I know you sent someone to my room to take a sample of my hair,” she said, her voice low but biting.

My expression didn’t falter, though inside, I was taken aback. How in the world did she find out about that? Keeping my face blank, I tilted my head slightly and spoke with as much disdain as I could muster. “You came all the way to my office to spout this nonsense?”

I wasn’t about to let her know she’d rattled me.

Maya smirked, clearly enjoying this little power play. “You’re not denying it,” she said, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“I’m not accepting it either,” I replied coolly, keeping my expression unreadable. This earned a chuckle from her. I leaned forward slightly, my patience thinning. “Listen to me, Maya. Not everyone is as idle as you are.” I gestured toward the pile of documents on my desk, a clear sign that I had more pressing matters than her theatrics. “I have a lot of work to get done, and I can’t do that with you hovering around, wasting my time.”

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t flinch. “Since you’re so busy, I’ll get straight to the point.” Uncrossing her legs, she leaned forward, her demeanor shifting from playful to serious. “When the DNA results come in—and trust me, they’ll be positive—I want my share of our father’s properties. And I want to be recognized as part of the family. That is your punishment for doubting the fact that I’m your sister and calling me a liar.”

Her boldness, especially regarding the DNA test, unsettled me. She was far too confident about the outcome, and it made me uneasy. But I wasn’t about to let her see that.

“The will hasn’t been read yet, and I’m telling you now, if you’re not mentioned in it, you won’t get a damn thing from me.”

Maya poked her tongue into her cheek, flipping her hair with arrogance. “I heard the will reading is tomorrow,” she said, clearly fishing for a reaction. I refused to give her one, blinking slowly in response, making it clear I wasn’t going to rise to her bait.

“I want to be there,” she added, her voice sharp.

How did she even get that information? It was supposed to be private. “You won’t be allowed on the property,” I said coldly, “even if you scream at the top of your lungs that you’re the result of my father’s affair.”

Her expression hardened. “I don’t trust you not to lie to me,” she shot back. “You look like someone who would do anything to keep me from my inheritance.”

Her inheritance? The absurdity of it makes my blood boil. This was beyond pathetic. “I am not a thief,” I gritted out. “And these are legal documents—they’re binding by law. There’s nothing I could do to change the outcome, even if I wanted to.”

I took a breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “The only compromise I’m willing to make is involving you in the will reading through a phone call. You’ll be able to hear everything, word for word, as it’s read.”

Maya’s eyes narrowed, clearly displeased with the offer, but it was the best she was going to get.