The dim lighting of the living room cast long shadows as Brenda leaned against the fireplace, her glass of wine untouched. Ryan sat on the couch, shoulders slumped, staring at the amber liquid in his tumbler. The air between them was thick with tension, and Brenda seized the moment, her voice measured but insistent.
“Ryan,” she began, stepping closer, her heels clicking softly on the hardwood floor. “It’s time we faced reality. Caleb deserves more than this limbo we’re living in.”
Ryan exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the glass. “I’m doing everything for him. What more do you want from me, Brenda?”
Brenda placed her glass on the mantel and crossed the room to sit beside him. Her eyes bore into his, her tone softening to a coaxing whisper. “I want you to give him what he deserves—a stable, united family. A home where he can grow up loved and protected. You know I can give you that.”
Ryan shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “We’ve tried this before. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.”
“That was years ago,” Brenda countered, her hand resting lightly on his forearm. “We’ve both changed. Look at us now, Ryan. We have Caleb. We have a second chance to make this right.”
Her hand tightened slightly, her nails digging into his skin as her tone took on an edge. “And don’t think for a second that Amelia is waiting for you. She’s moved on.”
Ryan’s head snapped up, his brows furrowing. “What are you talking about?”
Brenda stood and walked to a drawer, pulling out her phone. She tapped a few times before holding it out to him. On the screen were photos of Amelia at a lavish restaurant with Robert Hale, smiling as she sipped champagne. Another photo showed her and Hale stepping into a sleek black car.
“She’s been seeing him,” Brenda said, her voice sharp. “The man who tried to ruin you. While you’re here, killing yourself trying to protect her and the twins, she’s cozying up to your worst enemy.”
Ryan stared at the images, his chest tightening. “That doesn’t mean anything,” he muttered, though the words felt hollow.
“Oh, it doesn’t?” Brenda pressed, her tone dripping with disdain. “Do you think she’s gathering information for you? Or is she finally tired of waiting for you to pick her over everyone else?”
Ryan’s silence was answer enough. Brenda moved closer, kneeling in front of him, her hands on his knees. “Forget her, Ryan. Like she forgot you. You have Caleb now. You have me. We can rebuild what we had—and better this time. Marry me.”
Ryan’s jaw clenched as he stood abruptly, pacing the room. “You think I can just erase everything? Amelia, the twins…”
“They’re not your future,” Brenda interrupted, her voice rising. “Caleb is. I am. You’re holding onto something that’s already gone, Ryan. Amelia doesn’t want you, and you know it. But I do.”
Her voice softened again, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Don’t make me do this alone. Caleb needs you. I need you.”
Ryan hesitated, his mind swirling with doubt, guilt, and a simmering anger he couldn’t fully place. He glanced at the photo of Caleb on the mantel, his innocent face a painful reminder of the stakes.
“I’ll think about it,” he said finally, his voice low and uncertain.
Brenda’s lips curled into a small, triumphant smile as she rose to her feet. “That’s all I’m asking,” she said sweetly. But as she walked away, a flicker of satisfaction gleamed in her eyes.