10. Demanding more money

Ryder turned to Vicky and Lily, his expression cold and unreadable.

"Go back to your rooms," he said, his voice carrying a weight of authority.

Lily hesitated, glancing at Silver's closed door, but Vicky grabbed her wrist and pulled her away. "Let's go," he muttered. He wasn't about to argue with Ryder right now.

Cici, on the other hand, stood frozen, clenching her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

What the hell?

Why was Ryder suddenly acting so distant?

She had spent years making sure Silver remained beneath her, that Ryder never saw her as more than an annoying obligation. But now, things were changing, and she didn't like it one bit.

Swallowing her anger, she forced a small smile.

"I'll go back to my room," she said sweetly.

Ryder didn't even spare her a glance.

That only made her rage boil over.

The moment she stepped into her room, she choked on her anger, gripping the edges of her dresser until her knuckles turned white.

Silver.

It was always Silver.

Cici wouldn't allow this.

Not now. Not ever.

––––––––––

Ryder didn't waste any more time.

He went straight up the stairs, his steps quick, determined. The irritation simmering beneath his skin was uncontrollable.

The moment he reached Silver's room, he knocked.

No answer.

He knocked again.

Still, nothing.

A frown tugged at his lips, and without thinking, he grabbed the doorknob.

Surprisingly, it wasn't locked.

He pushed the door open.

The room was dark, and for a moment, his gaze swept over the silhouette lying on the bed.

Silver was sleeping peacefully.

His frown deepened.

How the hell did she fall asleep so quickly?

He took a step closer, his jaw tightening. There was something about the way she looked—so unaffected, so unbothered—that made his irritation flare even more.

He scoffed under his breath, running a hand through his hair.

Just then, her phone vibrated on the nightstand.

His eyes flickered toward the screen.

A message from Noah.

Noah.

His mood soured instantly.

[Noah: Are you okay? The Coopers aren't giving you trouble, are they?]

Ryder clenched his jaw, his fingers itching to crush the damn phone.

Of course, Noah would check on her.

Of course, he was still hovering around.

With a cold sneer, Ryder reached out and turned off the phone, shoving it back onto the nightstand.

Then, without another glance at Silver, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then, Silver's eyes fluttered open.

She had been awake the entire time.

She had heard the way his voice dripped with irritation, the way his frustration grew the second he saw Noah's message.

And it amused her.

A slow, knowing smirk stretched across her lips.

Finally, finally, she wasn't the one suffering.

With that thought, she closed her eyes again.

And this time, sleep truly came.

––––––––––

The sharp knock on her door dragged her out of sleep.

Silver groaned, rolling over and burying her face into the pillow.

What time was it?

She reached for her phone.

7 AM.

She cursed under her breath.

Who the hell was knocking at this hour?

Dragging herself up, she stumbled to the door and yanked it open.

Butler Cole stood there, looking perfectly composed.

Silver glared at him.

"What?" she snapped.

Cole, unfazed by her irritation, gave a slight bow. "Young Master Ryder has instructed that you remain home today. You are to accompany him to the family gathering this evening."

Silver didn't even let him finish.

She slammed the door in his face.

Cole sighed but said nothing as he turned and walked away.

Silver ran a hand through her hair, annoyance prickling her skin.

A family gathering?

Like hell.

She wasn't about to waste her time sitting through pointless conversations with Ryder's family, pretending everything was fine when it wasn't.

Her phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Abraham.

Silver sighed and picked it up.

"Are you coming to work today?" Abraham asked.

"Yes," she muttered. "But I'll be late. I still want to sleep more."

Abraham chuckled. "Take your time. No rush."

Silver smirked. At least someone wasn't annoying her today.

She ended the call and flopped back onto her bed.

Staring at the ceiling, she exhaled deeply.

Ryder was starting to notice her distance, and it bothered him.

Good.

Let him feel it.

Let him simmer in it.

It was his turn to suffer now.

Just as Silver was about to close her eyes to sleep, Ryder called. With a gloomy expression, she picked up the call. " Yes?"

" Remember not to go the company today, and you will follow me to the family's gathering tonight. I don't want you coming back home late and having you coming back very late for it"

Silver smiled wickedly. " Did you remember the rules, I placed days ago? *Attending family dinners – $10,000,000*."

Ryder said, "If you're rich and a billionaire of your own, then why are you hell-bent on charging over everything?"

She then said, "When I did it for free, you never appreciated my effort. Rather, you always belittled me as some pest. I won't let anything like that happen again. And if I remember correctly, you always carried Cici to all the family gatherings. Why disturb me now?"

Ryder was lost for words.

Silver said, "If you don't have anything else to tell me, then end the call."

" Fine I will send the money to your account, and the family need to see you, as they said it's been a while since they last saw you" Ryder replied, nonchalantly.

" They never wanted to see me, it's because they've found out that am not on the same ledge, with them" Silver harshly before ending the call, and turning to the other side of the bed to rest.