Chapter 2 AFTERMATH
He pushed the door open.
It was what he feared. Jace was on top of Lisa sweating even though the room is well ventilated, clearly having sex. Lisa leaned against Jace, her fair breast exposed, nipples hardened from the intense lovemaking. Jace wrapped his arm possessively around her waist, acting like he wasn't present. Their closeness, the way she leaned into him… it made something in Ryan boil.
“Ah… Ryan. You came,” Lisa said, smirking with visible annoyance.
Ryan’s hand shook, still gripping the lilies. “Lisa…….Jace…..why?”
“Relax,” she said, shrugging. “We’re just… having fun. Don’t look so serious. Cheer up mate. Wanna join? It would be fun”
He opened his mouth, but no words came. His throat burned. “Fun?” he croaked.
Jace leaned back, chuckling. “Dear brother. Don’t be a sore loser, do join us ”
Lisa crossed her arms, looking bored.
“Don’t act so shocked. I couldn't resist your brother. He is all a woman would want, You are quite great too, just that you are…you know incomplete….I don't know how to put it—”
“A bastard,” Ryan said before she could finish. His voice was low, trembling.
She tilted her head, smiling arrogantly.
“Not quite the word but kinda…….. illegitimate. Always the shadow of someone else. And look at you now… standing there with flowers in your hand, gosh you look stupid .”
Ryan’s stomach sank. The lilies slipped from his hand, petals scattering across the floor. His chest felt like it was being crushed. He wanted to scream, to throw the flowers, to strike them both. But he didn’t. He couldn’t.
“Ain’t it funny?” Lisa continued, stepping closer to Jace. “You really believed you were special, didn’t you? That someone like me could actually love someone like you?, I only go for the best, Your brother is the best.
Ryan’s voice cracked. “I… I loved you!”
“Oh, you loved me?” Lisa’s laugh was sharp, cutting. “Love? Don’t be ridiculous. I don't freaking care about love, especially yours. I am in love though” she snuggled up to Jace.” I love your brother, we are both obsessed with ourselves. You… you’re nothing but a shadow. A bastard who will always come second.”
Jace’s laugh was soft, but mocking. “You really believed she’d ever take you serious when I am in the picture”
Ryan felt his knees go weak. The room spun. Every humiliation he had ever suffered came flooding back, every sneer, every whispered insult, every cold shoulder at home.
But none of it compared to this. Lisa… the one thing he thought was his, now taunting him in this way.
He didn’t speak. He didn’t argue. He just turned, letting the door swing closed behind him, leaving them laughing and whispering. Every step down the stairs felt like he was carrying the weight of the world.
The streets were dark as he walked, mind numb. He passed his car. The city lights blurred, and every sound seemed to echo in his skull. He didn’t know where he was going, didn’t care. His hand rubbed over his eyes, trying to wipe away tears he refused to let fall.
He ended up at a bar on the edge of the city, one of those quiet and loud places where no one knew his name. He slid onto a stool and ordered a drink. Then another. Then another upon another.
The drinks helped, warm fire in his chest and numbness in his head. He downed them one after another, hoping to erase the image of Lisa, the smirk, Jace’s laugh.
Hours passed. His hand trembled as he held the glass, empty now, and he stared at the dark liquid. Why her? He had never asked for much. Just one person to love him. But they had taken that, crushed it, and mocked him.
A shadow fell over him. “Ryan?”. He barely lifted his head. It was Marie.
“ How did you know I was here”
“ Someone saw you, you have a presentation tomorrow, you shouldn't be drinking heavily”
“Go away….”
“You shouldn’t be here. Let's go.”
“I can’t,” he whispered, voice hoarse. “Not yet…”
“Yes, you can,” she said softly, but with authority. “You’ll regret it if you don’t get out of here. Come on.”
He resisted at first, letting his head drop again. She sighed and pressed gently but firmly, lifting him up, she guided him out of the bar. The cool night air bit at his skin, but he barely noticed. He staggered nearly pulling her down with him.
They walked up to his car that he passed earlier and she drove him home.
When they reached his apartment, Marie helped him inside, making sure he got to the couch safely. “You need sleep,” she said simply. “You can deal with the world tomorrow, it's late so I would sleep on the couch”
Ryan didn’t protest. He barely acknowledged her.
It was already afternoon, sunlight stabbed through the blinds. Ryan groaned, head pounding, throat dry. He lifted his arm to shield his eyes.
His phone buzzed endlessly. Missed calls. Emails. Messages.
He froze. The investors meeting. He had missed the investors meeting.
Before he could think of a plan, his phone rang. His father’s voice was sharp, commanding, full of irritation.
“Ryan! Where are you? You missed the meeting. Jace handled it in your place. How do you explain that?”
Oh interesting, Jace
Ryan rubbed his face, voice tight. “I… I couldn’t make it…”
“You couldn’t make it?” His father’s tone rose. “Jace is reliable, competent. Why must you always be useless? I will be with you shortly. You have got some explaining to do “
Ryan swallowed, chest tight. “There’s something else… I need to tell you—”
***************************†
“ Can't believe you missed this meeting because of a woman. A loose one at that”
Chairman Mark said, prancing around.
“I loved her dad, is that all you can say”
“Who cares…”
“ Why would Jace do this to me? We are brothers right?”
“Women are objects, Ryan,” his father interrupted, dismissive. “Not worth crying over. Don’t waste my time with their nonsense. Focus on business. That’s the only thing that matters. Now get your head straight.”
Ryan’s hands curled into fists, knuckles cracking. He wanted to scream, shout, or throw something. But he didn’t.
He clenched his teeth, silencing himself.
His father went on, talked about the meeting,
praising Jace as if Ryan didn’t exist. Ryan listened, silent, his mind working, plotting. Something dark already growing in him.
