"She's pregnant?" Riley said in shock, her voice rising as she walked toward Tryson, disbelief written all over her face.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched him, noticing how eerily calm he remained.
He simply continued his conversation with the staff, as though her words had no effect on him. The tension in the room grew thicker with each passing moment.
Riley stood there for a few seconds, waiting for a response, but Tryson just gestured for the staff to continue with their duties, his demeanor unchanged. This only fueled Riley's anger and confusion.
"Tryson, I'm talking to you!" Riley exclaimed, her frustration clear as she advanced toward him, a sharp tone cutting through the air.
Tryson's gaze finally shifted toward her, his expression hardening as he met her challenge. "And what if she's pregnant, Riley?" His words were harsh, his eyes dark and filled with a sense of dread, as though he couldn't care less about the situation.
Riley opened her mouth, stunned by his response, her lips trembling slightly. She was at a loss for words.
For a long moment, a tense silence hung between them before Riley scoffed, pretending to brush off the weight of the situation.
"You can't be serious, Tryson. You're engaged to me, and yet you haven't even controlled your desires long enough to prevent getting that woman pregnant?" Her voice was filled with deep disappointment, like a betrayal that ran to her very core.
Tryson didn't flinch.
He simply lowered his gaze, avoiding her words, as if they were meaningless. The way he looked at her now made Riley feel invisible.
"I'll speak to you later," Tryson said flatly, his tone calm but cutting.
He turned to leave, and the finality in his movement left Riley in stunned silence.
But Riley wasn't about to let him go that easily. She quickly took a step forward, her voice filled with an icy resolve.
"Tryson, you have to know that I won't let you leave without facing the consequences. My father is going to hear about this. You'll regret it."
Tryson paused, and for a fleeting moment, Riley thought she had struck a chord. But instead of turning to face her, he merely glanced over his shoulder with cold detachment.
"I told you to leave the house, didn't I? I want you gone before I am." His words pierced through the air, dismissing her threats as if they meant nothing.
Riley stood frozen, her heart pounding, not just from the shock of the situation, but from the realization that the man she once thought she knew, the man she had once trusted, was no longer the same.
She stared at him, unable to comprehend how everything had changed so quickly.
When had Tryson become the man who was indifferent to her pain, who seemed so lost in his own world? The person she thought she loved now felt like a stranger.
Tryson stepped into the room to find Angel hunched over the toilet, the staff surrounding her, doing their best to tend to her with concern.
She held her stomach weakly, her face pale as she continued to groan in discomfort. Her body seemed fragile, and it was clear that she was on the verge of collapse.
"Angel," Tryson called, his voice filled with genuine concern as he quickly approached, gently guiding the staff members away to take her into his arms.
She weakly stretched out a hand toward him, her body too exhausted to resist as she let out a soft growl of pain.
"Just leave me alone," she whispered, but her voice lacked strength.
Tryson's heart clenched at her words, yet he couldn't bear to let her suffer alone. He gently wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, offering the warmth and support she so desperately needed.
Angel's body trembled in his arms as she curled against him, her pain evident in every movement. Tryson felt helpless, his mind racing with worry as he carefully helped her to the bed. As he touched her forehead, his brow furrowed with concern—she was burning up.
"Karina, bring the meal from the dining room," Tryson instructed, his voice gentle yet firm as he tried to ensure Angel's comfort.
"I don't want anything from that meal," Angel growled weakly, her voice filled with suspicion. "What if your girlfriend tries to harm me?" Her words were laced with distrust, and Tryson couldn't blame her for it.
"Okay then. What if Karina makes a new meal? Would you accept that?" Tryson suggested, trying to ease her fears.
Angel fell silent, her eyes half-closed as she struggled to find the energy to respond. Her silence lingered, and Tryson took it as a reluctant agreement. He turned his gaze to Karina, silently ordering her to prepare a fresh meal for Angel, hoping it would help.
For a moment, it was just the two of them, the silence between them deafening.
Angel, exhausted and drained, still refused to speak. She didn't want to look at the man who was the source of her confusion and turmoil.
"Tryson, leave the room," Angel said softly, the words almost a plea despite their calm tone.
"I'm not going anywhere, Angel. You need me right now. Do you think leaving you alone would make anything better?" Tryson's voice was thick with emotion, his concern for her clear, but Angel wasn't having it.
"You're just trying to get me into trouble, aren't you?" Angel's voice broke slightly, a note of pain slipping through her controlled façade. "Just because I didn't speak up while your sister and your so-called fiancée were berating me doesn't mean I don't have words to say in return."
Tryson's jaw tightened, the weight of her words landing hard on him. He had tried to protect her, but he hadn't realized the impact his silence had caused.
"You could've spoken back to them if you wanted," Tryson said, his frustration creeping into his voice. "So what was the use of keeping silent?"
Angel's eyes closed, her pain evident as she responded softly, "The fact that Riley has rights over you, Tryson. She has proof. Evidence that she's your fiancée, and you're just... what? Trying to protect me? I don't have a place in your world. I never did. So what's the use of fighting for something that's never going to be mine?"
Her words hit him like a slap.
Tryson wanted to argue, to convince her otherwise, but deep down, he knew she was right.
What could he offer her? A title?
She didn't have a ring, no proof of anything. All she had was his word—and words meant nothing now.
The silence between them stretched on, and Tryson could only look at her, the truth sinking in deeper with each passing second.
"What if I do everything necessary to make sure you have the rights you deserve?" Tryson said, his voice strained, as if the idea of righting the wrongs was a desperate plea.