Chapter 8

Racheal watched from a distance as the Banks family talked to the police men. The noises had attracted them to the house as they were already somewhere nearby. And of course, her intended romantic dinner with Ryder was more than ruined.

It was cold outside, she felt chills run down her spine. Everything had been ruined by the good-for-nothing Aiden. It took some couple of minutes before Ryder walked up to her.

She looked up at him,” Hope there’s no much problem?”

“No. My dad has handled it” he paused for a moment “ I’m so sorry for what happened tonight.”

“Don’t say, it wasn’t your fault at all” she looked at his torn shirt,” When did all these start?”

“Walk with me.”

Racheal’s heart gave a happy jump as Ryder held her hand and led her towards the garden at the back. Racheal looked around, she remembered the tree house that was in that same garden many years ago.

“Everything feels the same”, she said when they stopped walking.

“Everything?” Ryder sounded unconvinced.

“For the most part”, Racheal said closing the distance between them.” I never stopped thinking about you “, she ran her fingers lazily on his chest through the tear Aiden had made.

Ryder caught her hand immediately,” Racheal. Please”

“You don’t love me anymore? I know it’s been a while but it’s been-“

“It’s been 6 years Racheal, 6!”

“I know and-“

“ I waited for you. I tried to reach you. I searched for you. I came to France!”

“ I didn’t to hurt you. The distance was killing me too. Trying would’ve pushed us further apart. I was scared.”

Ryder gave a bleak laugh,” That’s what you’ve got? That’s your explanation?”

He walked away from her and backed her for some minutes before he turned again,” 7 months after you left, I heard about your new found love. I didn’t want to believe it, it was everywhere. I saw it on almost every article related to you or your mom.”

“Ryder-“

“-I believed it was just paparazzi trying to cook up a story, just rumors “

“It was.”

“ No it wasn’t Racheal! Don’t lie to me!”, she bellowed,” I came to France. I searched for you, I found your school, where you stayed. I even went as much as getting to know the cafè you had coffee every morning.”

Racheal swallowed , clenching her sweaty palms.

Ryder continued,” I had been there for three days watching and waiting for you to come home after school. I thought you moved out to some other place so I decided to follow you after school and surprise you later in the day.”

“Ryder please-“, Racheal’s voice came in a broken whisper.

“I followed you after school. I watched you from a distance. I watched HIM kiss you immediately you got to the front door. You had moved in with another man”

“I’m so sorry “, Racheal’s voice came in a broken whisper,” I was trying to get my mind away from a lot of things, L.A, my parents, my new school-“

“-and me.”

“No, no”, she walked over to him and held his hand,” I thought about you always . All the time.”

Ryder yanked his hand away immediately ,” Don’t even say that.”

Ryder took a deep breath and looked at her, “ You don’t have to cry Racheal. It’s been six years. You did what you did and it’s long gone now. I don’t want us to have any bad energy that was why I agreed to have this dinner.”

Racheal wiped her eyes,” Your parents”

“What about them?”

“ They told my mom something about you needing a wife.”

Ryder gave a knowing laugh,” So that’s what this is all about? This dinner. Everything was a plan to set us up?”

“I didn’t say that Ryder. “

Ryder came forward as if to be very precise with his next words,” Look, Racheal. I know I said all was forgiven and what you did was long gone. But, it doesn’t mean it’s been forgotten or I want to start up whatever we had again. I only agreed to this dinner because my parents insisted that it was only proper we welcome you back home. We are cool, and we can remain friends if that’s what you want.”

“That’s not what I want. I still love you Ryder. I always have-“

“Well, the feeling is not mutual.” He paused for a moment,” I don’t want to be rude Racheal. Please respect my decision.” He turned to leave.

“There’s another woman”

Ryder stopped in his tracks.

Rachael continued,” I know there is. I saw you yesterday at the club.”

Ryder turned, a look of irritation on his face,” So what? You’re following me now?”

Rachael kept silent.

“What is it with you? You left the country,after promising that you were still mine you moved in with another man and made me believe that you were just occpied. I found out and had to live with that pain for many years before it went away. Now the first day you come back, you question my love life?” He gave a bleak laugh “ Unbelievable “

“ Is she your girlfriend?”

“ I will not entertain-“

“ -Is she?”

“ Well, if you must know. I haven’t had a girlfriend since you broke my heart. I will never love again! What you saw last night was simply a man trying to ease himself and get satisfaction!”

Racheal tried to hide her smile.

“You think this is funny?”

“No. I don’t think it’s funny, Ryder. It shows how much I mean to you.”

“The only thing it shows is how much damage you caused me which is why I can never marry you.”

“You will lose the company.”

“ I won’t lose the company my dad made a million sacrifices for. I must not marry to prove that I am able to handle it on my own and I’ll prove that!”

“I’m going to wait until you realize that you need me as much as I need you “, Racheal said seductively. She went behind Ryder and brushed his back slightly with her large breasts. On seeing he didn’t budge, she worked her hand from the back to his chest and caressed his exposed chest.

Ryder caught her hand and yanked it away immediately,”I do not need you Racheal, get that through your stubborn head.” With that, he stormed out of sight.

Rachael muffled a scream, clenching her fists and fuming as angrily as ever.