Page 134 of My Ruthless Husband

Chapter Thirty-Four

Past

The air is crisp and cool as I step outside the college building. I shiver slightly as I walk toward the curb, where I see the familiar black car with my father’s security chief, Derek, waiting for me.

Frowning, I approach him. “Derek,” I greet him, trying to keep my tone friendly despite my concern. “Is something wrong? I wasn’t expecting a ride.”

Derek’s expression is as composed as always. “Miss Gibson, your father has requested your presence at his office. I’m here to take you there.”

A pang of unease settles in my chest. “What happened? I’m worried—”

Derek simply opens the back door of the car for me and waits. I purse my lips. He won’t reveal a thing. I don’t have any other option but to go with him.

As I sink into the back seat, my mind drifts to the past month, overwhelmed by guilt. Ever since that disastrous dinner with Edward, where he not so subtly proposed marriage to advance our family’s business interests, I’ve been avoiding Dad’s calls.

It’s been a month since that evening. And the distance between us has grown with each passing day. I didn’t reach out, not because I didn’t want to, but because I was hurt and didn’t know how to bridge the gap that had suddenly widened between us.

I used to look forward to our talks, our shared moments, but now this impromptu meeting is filling me with dread. I knew I was being naïve by ignoring his calls. I anticipated that he would demand answers, given how abruptly I left that evening. But apart from few phone calls, he didn’t try to contact me. I hoped that by delaying this confrontation, Dad would somehow forget what happened that night. Clearly, I was wrong.

When we finally arrive, I walk through the busy lobby of Innovare Dynamics Group main building. I follow Derek to the elevator.

The elevator doors open to the top floor. I’m guided toward the conference room rather than his office even though both are connected through a mirrored wall. The change strikes me as odd but I keep my thoughts to myself.

Derek opens the door for me. When I step inside, a cold shiver runs down my spine. The sight that greets me is a shock to my system.

Edward is seated at the table with his arm in a sling, but it’s not just the sling that has me reeling. His face is marked by a series of faded but still evident bruises that make my stomach drop.

The sight of his battered face and broken arm sends waves of nausea through me. Edward’s father, Richard McAllister sits beside him, his face set in a rigid, unforgiving line. Dad sits at thehead of the table, his expression grim while William Thompson is seated across from him.

“Dad?” I manage to say, my voice wavering as I step into the room. “What’s going on?”

“Take a seat.” His gaze is piercing as he regards me. “We need to discuss your boyfriend. Damian Montgomery.”

The shock of hearing him mention Damian so openly makes me stumble over my words. “You—you know about him?”

“Yes,” he says, his voice laced with distaste. “I know everything about your secret relationship. The phone calls. The text messages. The secret dates. The mansion he bought for you and how you’ve been seeing him for over two months now.”

I try to speak, but my father cuts me off with a sharp gesture of his hand. “River, I’m deeply disappointed in you. I can’t accept this relationship. Not only is he a rival of mine with questionable morals, but he’s also a decade older than you. I’ve kept quiet, hoping you’d eventually come clean about it yourself.”

“Dad, I—”

“However, this meeting isn’t about your lies and secrecy,” he interrupts, his voice growing colder. “It’s about your boyfriend’s criminal behavior.”

I flinch. “Whatever you think of him, dad, I promise it’s a misunderstanding. Damian is nothing but an honest, hardworking, respectable—”

“Feared.” Edward interjects harshly.

“—businessman.” I ignore him and stare pleadingly at dad. “Just because he’s your competitor doesn’t mean he’s a criminal.” I stare at him imploringly, “If only you’d meet him, you’d see—”

Dad pushes to his feet. “I don’t need to meet him to know he’s dangerous.”

“How can you say that?” I ask, my voice filled with desperation.

“Because Edward’s injuries speak volumes about the brutality that man is capable of.” Dad’s expression hardens.

The words hit me like a sledgehammer. I can hardly breathe as I turn to Edward and examine his bruised face again.

“No,” I whisper, my voice trembling and barely audible. I mutter the same word over and over again, my voice rising in pitch as panic sets in. “No, that can’t be true. Damian would never—”

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