Chapter 26

"Ryder," I breathe. My mouth drops.

I'm not dreaming, am I?!

He's standing in front of me, smiling!

Ryder grabs me and lifts me, kissing me passionately. He walks back into the bathroom, locking the door as he slams my body against it.

I don't want to stop kissing him! I rake my hands through his hair to make sure it's him. I inhale his vanilla scent. Oh, how I've missed it!

I stop and look down at him, out of breath.

It's him!

I kiss Ryder one more time to make sure I'm not dreaming. I smile as he puts me down gently.

"You look beautiful," he says, running his hand down my cheek and neck.

I wrap my arms around his waist and lay my cheek on his chest, hearing his rapid heartbeat.

"What happened?! What took you so long to find me?! It's been months!" I look up at him. "I thought something happened! Are we going back to New Jersey?! Please take me with you!" I wrap my arms around his neck. I am so happy he's here! Alive and well!

I feel like it's the first time in months that I can breathe again!

"I'm sorry it took me so long."

There's a sadness in his eyes. I run my hand down his face and neck. He happily sighs at my gesture.

I turn to unlock the door. "I forgive you a million times! I want to go back with you. I even bought you something for Christmas. Well, it's at home, but we can stop by my house and-"

"Sam, I was the one that brought you back home."

I feel like someone has just punched me in the stomach. Ryder locks the door again, grabs my arm, and turns me so I can face him.

"What?" I whisper as my mouth goes dry. "Why?!"

Ryder walks to the sink, looking at himself in the mirror, a look of sadness on his face. He then turns back to me.

"So much was going on, and I just wanted you to be safe. I know you missed your family, so I wanted you with them while I figured out my next move. I knew you wouldn't go willingly."

I feel rage grow inside me. These past months have been torture because of him!

I take a step towards him. "That was not your decision to make, Ryder! You knew I wanted to be with-!"

Words fail me, but I quickly find them.

"So you saying that you wanted to spend the day with me was a lie? The lunch and the amusement park? That was a lie, too, wasn't it?"

I start to take steps away from him. New tears slide down my cheeks. "I've shed so many tears thinking something happened to you, and you dumped me at the side on the side of a road?!"

I don't understand any of this!

I turn away from him, putting my hands on my face. "You never cared for me, did you?"

I feel Ryder's hands on my shoulders instantly. "Of course I do. That's why I'm here. I have to-"

"No!" I turn around and face him. Dread fills me when I realize something. He truly is a monster!

"I don't want to hear anything that comes out of your mouth! That means you were the one that drugged me, right? You had me walk into that alley, and you came up behind me with the cloth?! I was kicking and screaming, begging for you to come and save me! That was you?!" I begin to sob.

Ryder puts his head down. A look of defeat on his face. Something else suddenly dawns on me. I stop crying instantly.

"Oh my god! Did you kidnap Max and hurt him?" I shake my head as I step away from him. "I knew you were jealous, but I would've never thought in a million years you'd hurt-"

"I had nothing to do with that!" He growls.

"Really?! So it's just coincidence that you show up at my bridal shower?" I squint at him. I loath him right now.

Ryder looks around, confused. "Your...bridal shower?" He asks, barely audible.

"Yes! Mine! I'm marrying Max next week."

"No!" He yells, walking up to me and grabbing my arms. "You can't marry him, Samantha!"

I scoff, pushing him away. I turn to unlock the door. Ryder grabs me and spins me around, pinning me against the wall. He put his hands on both sides of my head and kisses me. I don't move a muscle. Not even my lips.

"Let me go, or I'll scream," I say angrily, though our lips are touching.

As soon as the anger comes, it disappears. I suddenly feel scared, but not of him. At the fact that I may forgive him.

His lips are now near my ear. "I won't let you go...not until you listen to me. Okay?"

I feel so stupid and used! What can he possibly tell me to justify any of this?!

"I'm all ears," I say, feeling defeated, looking down at the floor. More tears start rolling down my cheeks. How can he do this to me?

I was ready to throw my life, leave my own parents, for this man. To find out that he sent me away is the worst pain imaginable.

"It was Max. He put the hit out on you."

I snap my head at him!

What?!

I can not believe this! I know Ryder. I know how he thinks. Of course, he'll say anything to make sure I won't marry Max! Every move he makes is for his own gain.

I wipe my tears away and push him away from me.

"That's a new low! Even for you. You'd have me believe that when Max has been by my side. Even after I was in bed with you, keeping the boogeyman away! This is the very man that I handed my fortune to, and he gave it back. I'm supposed to believe he wants me dead?"

Ryder looks confused and then angry. "I don't know what the hell you are talking about, but you have to believe me!"

"Before I was kidnapped, I signed over my inheritance to Max. If anything were to happen to me, he'd get it all. Every penny! Do you know what he did, Ryder, while you had me locked in your fortress?!"

Ryder shakes his head.

"He fixed my will! He made sure the inheritance would go to Mom and Dad! All he wanted was the flower shop! Explain to me why he'd want to have me dead? Huh?! He wouldn't have gotten anything back!"

Ryder looks dumbfounded. "I don't know, but I'm telling you the truth! Please, Sam! I'm begging you! Don't marry him! He's after something. Something only you can give him! I don't know what it is but-"

I slap him!

Hard!

He doesn't move an inch, which doesn't surprise me.

"I don't want you anywhere near me or my fiancé, whom I know you hate. Stay away from me, or I will tell the police everything, making it impossible for you to come anywhere near me!"

I turn and unlock the door. I turn one last time. Ryder is still facing the wall with his head down.

Walking into my home, I slam the door behind me. I kick off my shoes and head straight to my bedroom.

My cell phone rings.

"Honey, where are you?! I've been looking all over for you. You scared me!" Mom sounds so scared.

I didn't mean just to leave, but I couldn't stay there, especially knowing Ryder's there.

"I'm so sorry, Mom! It's just that I started getting flashbacks, and I just needed to leave."

"Oh, sweetheart! You have nothing to apologize for. Did the chauffeur take you back home?"

"No. I called an Uber," I say, throwing myself onto the bed.

"All right, get some rest. I'll be by in the morning. And don't you worry. I'll let everyone know you weren't feeling well."

"Thanks, Mom," I say, deeply exhaling.

"Get some rest, okay?"

I agree and tell her how much I love her. I hang up.

I'm about to walk into my closet when my phone rings again. Looking at my phone, I see it's Max. I really don't want to talk to him, but I answer. "Hey, Max! What's up?"

"I'm sorry! I know this is your night with the girls, but I just wanted to check up on you guys. How's my mom?"

I guess Mom hadn't gotten around to calling him, which surprises me.

"Well, I'm actually home right now," I say, sitting up and unzipping my dress.

"Oh?" He sounds surprised.

"Yeah, I wasn't feeling well. So I left."

"Everything okay?" He asks worriedly.

No, it's not. The love of my life just told me he got rid of me and is now blaming you for everything.

"Yeah! I'm just going to relax before heading to bed. What are you doing?"

"Well, I was going to meet my old buddy Ben. However, I'd rather see you! I'll be there in a few. And don't tell me, no! I know you hide a spare key under the mat."

I forgot all about that key.

"All right. Hey! When you come in, bring that key in, please. I don't want anyone being able to get in."

Ryder, more importantly.

I go downstairs to the kitchen and pour myself some wine before heading back upstairs. Max will be here soon, so I decide to take a quick shower.

I get in the shower and place my cup on a corner shelf. Standing there, I let the hot water rinse away every tear I shed today. Going forward, it has to be about Max and me. No one else!

Ryder betrayed me.

I love him, but he shouldn't be forgiven. You don't lie or hurt the ones you love. He will never change. Ryder will always be a monster.

I hear a knock on the bathroom door, and it opens. I jump.

"It's just me, baby! Letting you know I got in," Max says as he shuts the door.

For a split second, I wish it's Ryder.

Why can't I get him out of my mind?! Especially when he made that crazy accusation of Max wanting me dead.

"No," I whisper to myself. "I need to forget all about him."

I grab my body wash and loofa. I need to hurry up and get out. Standing here alone with my thoughts is not be a good combination. I will continue to think of him.

There is a knock on the shower door.

I turn and see Max through the glass.

He's naked!

I instantly stopped breathing. I've been with him for two years and we've never been intimate. Not one time did we see each other naked.

I can't even bring myself to look away.

Max opens the shower door and examines me slowly. A smile creeps on his face. "May I join you?"