Looking at Ryder, who treated me like the most precious thing in the world, a warmth bloomed in my chest. I knew someone was about to have a very bad day.
I understood all too well how fiercely protective Ryder was of me.
Even the faintest mark on my skin was enough for him to summon a healer to examine me from head to toe. If I ate even half a spoon less than usual, he’d be beside himself with worry.
But I didn’t mind his overprotectiveness. In fact, I loved it. I liked how much he fussed over me. It made his feelings crystal clear. Just then, the lights at the party suddenly dimmed, and the scattered gemstones on the floor began to shimmer brilliantly.
Darren instantly recognized them. They belonged to the bracelet I had been wearing.
He picked up one of the fallen stones. The large sapphire that had once been the centerpiece of “Timeless Love“.
Darren held the gemstone above his head and tugged at Ryder’s sleeve. “Daddy, isn’t this the gift you gave Mommy?”
Ryder took the stone from him, his gaze locking onto the back of it, where he had personally engraved my name. His eyes darkened, unreadable.
Gems were scattered on the floor, and blood was still oozing from my hand.
Rage wrapped around Ryder like a storm. He clenched his fist, and in an instant, the damaged gemstone was crushed into dust.
The dim lighting cloaked me in shadow. But Ryder’s eyes stayed locked on me, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
Then, without a word, he brought over a chair and firmly made me sit down. “Turn all the lights on. Now.”
The moment our eyes met, his pupils contracted. In a sudden motion, he cupped my slightly swollen facé. “Who hit you? Damn it! Someone actually dared to lay a hand on you!”
I shook my head gently. “I’m fine.
Still, I held his hand tightly.
“1
“Honey, I’m your mate. It’s my duty to protect you. There’s no excuse for you to be treated like this.”
Darren nodded in agreement. “We have to teach the people who bullied Mommy a lesson! They can’t get away with it.”
It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle on my own. But after being spoiled by Ryder for so long, I’d grown used to leaning on him. That overwhelming sense of safety wrapped around me, and the hurt I’d buried deep inside suddenly rushed to the surface.
My voice shook with tears as I allowed myself to break down in front of the one I trusted most, Ryder. “When you weren’t here… they all bullied me.”
