Sage's voice was ice. "What is she doing here, Ronin?"
Chapter 22
He opened his mouth, then closed it again.Like a fish out of water, Sage thought absently.
His face betrayed his panic at a situation slowly slipping out of his hands.
Amanda slowly stood, her tone honeyed and triumphant. "Sage, I thought... Well, since we're going to be family, I should—"
"Family?" The word snapped from Sage like glass shattering. Her gaze cut to Ronin.
He shook his head frantically. "It's not true, Sage. She barged in here. There's going to be a paternity test tomorrow." He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "But she's been harassing me. I didn't want to argue outside, not with the neighbours watching."
Sage's eyes burned, fury and disbelief flooding through her. "And what then, Ronin?" Her voice rose, shaking. "What—our neighbours would know what a fool I have been?"
The baby whimpered again, and the sound threaded through the silence like a cruel reiteration of his betrayal. Ronin stoodthere, cornered, while Amanda's smile faltered, just for a moment.
Sage's chest rose and fell, her hands clenched into fists. A rage like no other rose in her chest like a thousand-foot wave about to break. Her voice came out low, trembling with fury. "You lying witch," she spat at Amanda, who took a startled step back. "Do you think I don't know what you are? I sat across from you in that café, listened to your apologies and saw your tears. You told me you never meant for this to happen. You told me you were taking a job in France—that you wanted to start over, fix what you'd broken." Her laugh cracked, bitter. "And here you are, sitting inmyhouse, inmychair, spinning tales about how we are going to one, big happy family?"
Amanda's mouth opened, but Sage turned on Ronin, every muscle taut.
"Andyou. God, Ronin, do you think I don't see what's happening? She's playing you, and you're letting her in. You let her poison everything we had left. Do you know what it's been like, carrying this in my heart? To know you were with her while you had me? To know that our son kept your secret because you couldn't keep your trousers zipped?"
He flinched, but she pressed on, her words hot, jagged.
"You manipulative bastard. You waited for me to make the first move, every damn time. You apologise, but make it sound like it's my fault. And when I finally do leave, this...thisis what I come home to? Her, moving in, and you, looking at me like a boy who's been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Twenty years, Ronin.Twenty years, and this is what I've got to show for it."
Her voice stumbled over pain like a child learning to walk. She shoved at his chest, once, twice, then her fists struck out, hitting him hard, anywhere she could reach—his chest, his shoulders, his arms. He didn't block her, didn't push her away. He onlycaught her wrists and pulled her into him, crushing her against his chest.
"Don't cry, sweetheart," he whispered, tortured. His voice cracked. "Please, don't cry."
But she was sobbing now, the sound tearing out of her, years of silence and grief and betrayal spilling loose at last.
Over her head, he saw Amanda. For a fraction of a second, her expression flickered with satisfaction, lips curving in something almost like glee at Sage's pain. Then she wiped it away, schooling her face into wounded innocence. But Ronin had seen it, and the sight twisted the knife in deeper. It only confirmed everything he already knew.
And then...
"Mum?"
Sage stilled, lifting her head. At the doorway stood David, somehow looking taller and older now, his voice deeper than she remembered, his eyes wide and wet.
"My baby," she gasped, wrenching free of Ronin's hold. She rushed to him, arms wrapped tight around his tall frame. He bent down instinctively, even though he towered over her now, his chin brushing her hair as she clung to him. None of it mattered—he was still hers. At least she had him.
David's gaze shifted over her head, pinning Ronin with a glare that was sharp and full of something older than his years. A warning to tread carefully.
"Get rid of her," he said, jerking his chin towards Amanda. "You made this mess. You fix it."
Ronin swallowed hard, shame burning in his throat. He had no answers.
And then the doorbell rang yet again. This time, Ronin knew exactly who it would be.
He moved first, striding to the door and pulling it open. There was a murmur of conversation before Ronin came back, followedby a man. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his expression drawn and weary. His green eyes—clear, steady, and kind—took in the scene at once.
Chapter 23
"James," Amanda breathed, her voice strangled.
Devastation swept across his face when his gaze found her. "Amanda," he said quietly, stepping inside. "So, it's all true."
