11 Chapter 11 – The Ex’s Scorn and the Grandson’s Knock
I stepped out of the restaurant into the crisp evening air, my hands still shaking with rage. My replacement shift at La Maison had ended, but my humiliation was far from over. The encounter with Nathaniel Ricardo had gone exactly as I’d expected–complete rejection. But it was what happened next that truly crushed my spirit.
“Juliana Johnson. What a surprise.”
That voice. Even after a year, it still made my stomach clench. I turned slowly to face Lam Ricardo, the man I’d once thought would be my future. He stood there in an impeccable suit, his handsome face twisted into a smirk I’d grown to hate.
“Liam,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I was just leaving”
He stepped closer, blocking my path. “Not running off to chase after my uncle again, are you? That was quite a spectacle you made in there,”
My checks burned. Of course he knew. News traveled fast in the Ricardo family, especially news: of someone making a fool of themselves.
“That’s none of your business,” I replied coldly. “Excuse me.”
His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. “Actually, it is my business when someone’s harassing my family.”
I yanked my arm away. “Don’t touch me
“You know,” he said, looking me up and down with disdain, “for four years I actually believed your were worth something. What a waste of time that was.”
The words stung more than I wanted to admit. Four years of my life, gone. Four years of believing his lies, his promises. Four years I could never get back.
“Is there a point to this conversation?” I asked, trying to move past him.
He chuckled. “Just curious about your angle. First me, now my uncle? Working your way through the Ricardo men, are you?”
“You’re disgusting,” I spat.
“No, what’s disgusting is pretending you’re something you’re not. His voice hardened. “Did you think I’d never find out? That you’d keep fooling me forever?”
I knew what was coming. The same cruel words he’d thrown at me the day he’d ended everything.
“You’re nothing but the daughter of a servant,” he hissed, eyes glinting with malice. “The bastard. child of an affair. Did you really think someone like me would marry someone like you?”
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Each word was like a knife twisting in my heart. The same pain, the same humiliation I felt on graduation day when held revealed why he was loving me for my sister.
“I 1
loved your I sat quieth. “That wasn’t a le
“Maybe 88,” be concoded with a shing “But it was certainly convenient, wasn’t it? Dating the be to the Bando fortune while hisling your true identity
“never båt anything from you. Largued, my voice rising. “You knew exactly who I was.”
“No, I knew who you pretended to be He leaned closer, his breath hot on my face, “Not the
legitimate daughter of a housemaid. Not someone so beneath me
My control snapped. The slap echoed in the quiet street, his head jerking sideways from the impact. My palm stung, but the momentary satisfaction was worth it.
His eyes darkened dangerously as he touched his reddening cheek. “You’re going to regret that
“The only thing I regret is wasting four years with you, I shot back.
Liam straightened his te, regaining his composure. “You know, I was going to offer you something. A proposition”
“Im not interested in anything you have to offer
“Not even becoming my mistress?” he asked with a cruel smile. “That’s the only role someone like you could ever have in my life. My wife will be Pectable, legitimate, worthy of the Ricardo name. But you… His eyes raked over me again. You could warm my bed. That’s all you’re good fort
The second slap was harder than the first. This time, he caught my wrist afterward, squeezing until I winced.
“Listen carefully, he growled, all pretense of civility gone. Tm marrying your sister in two months. And if you don’t stay the hell away from my family–including my uncle–I’ll make sure you never work in this city again. I’ll destroy every opportunity, every job prospect, every tiny business you’ve built. Do you understand?”
I wrenched my arm free again, rubbing my wrist where his fingers had dug in. “You don’t scare me. Liam”
“I should” he warned. “You have no idea what I’m capable of now.”
What neither of us realized was that we had an audience. Nathaniel Ricardo stood at the restaurant’s side entrance, his expression unreadable as he watched the entire exchange. His assistant, Raymond, stood beside him, looking uncomfortable.
“Sir. Raymond said quietly. “Shouldn’t we intervene?
Chapter 11- The Ex’s)
undsons
Nathaniel’s jaw tightened. “It’s not our concern.
“But that’s your nephew threatening someone, Raymond persisted. “And she’s clearly in
distress.
“She’s the same woman who’s been stalking me for days, Nathaniel replied coldly. “Whatever history she has with Liam is their business.
Raymond hesitated. “Sir, if Mr. Liam is blacklisting her professionally… that seems excessive.
“Liam has always been excessive. Nathaniel said dismissively. “And manipulative. For all we know, this is some scheme they’ve cooked up together.
“You think they’re working together? Raymond asked, confused.
“I think she’s cunning Nathaniel replied. “And I don’t trust either of them?
They watched as I finally pushed past Liam and hurried away, wiping angry tears from my eyes.
“She seemed genuinely upset, Raymond observed.
“She’s also the woman who’s been claiming to be my wife, Nathaniel reminded him sharply. “1 don’t have time for games or drama.”
With that, he turned and walked toward his waiting car, leaving Raymond looking troubled as he followed.
Hours later, I sat in my apartment, still shaking with anger and humiliation. I’d cried until my eves were swollen, then forced myself to shower and change, hoping to wash away the memory of Liam’s cruel words.
I checked the time–nearly midnight. My conversation with “Iron Will” earlier had been a brief bright spot in this horrible day. At least someone understoo me, even if it was a stranger on the internet who would never know my real identity.
I jumped when my phone buzzed with a notification.
Iron Will: “On my way to see my grandmother now. She’s been asking for me. Will update you later.”
I smiled weakly, typing back: “Hope it goes well. Sending positive thoughts.”
I set my phone down and curled up on the couch, wrapping myself in a blanket. Just as I was drifting off, a sharp knock on the door startled me awake.
Who would be visiting at this hour? A chill ran down my spine as I thought of Liam’s threats. Would he really follow me home?
Cautiously, I approached the door and looked through the peephole.
11 Chapter 11- The Ex’s Scorn and the Grandson’s Knock
My heart stopped.
Standing in the hallway, looking impatient and annoyed, was Nathaniel Ricardo.
What was he doing here? How did he find my address? Had Raymond tracked me down after the scene with Liam?
Another sharp knock. “I know you’re in there,” he called out. “Open up.”
I hesitated, my hand on the doorknob. Should I pretend I wasn’t home?
Before I could decide, a voice called out from the apartment across the hall–Mrs. Huang, my elderly neighbor.
“Young man, is that you? Your grandmother’s been waiting. She keeps asking for her grandson.”
I froze. Grandmother? Grandson?
The pieces suddenly clicked into horrifying place. The timing of his messages. The connection I’d felt. The coincidences.
“Iron Will” was Nathaniel Ricardo.
And I was “Need Iron.”
I had accidentally given Nathaniel Ricardo my real address.
My hand trembled as I slowly opened the door, coming face to face with the man who had dismissed me, rejected me, and who now stood on my doorstep believing he was meeting a medical professional–not the woman he thought was stalking him.
His expression when he saw me was worth a thousand words.
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