Chapter 16

Ryder

I'm propped against the wall like some kind of decorative statue as I scan the ballroom. The laughter and clinking glasses are just background noise to the simmering annoyance brewing in my chest. Everyone here is wrapped up in their own little world.

My mind's stuck on Jayden – her green eyes that sparkle even brighter than these damn chandeliers, her fiery hair that I can't get out of my head. She should be here, laughing and having a good night, not alone because of me.

"Ryder, you really should try to enjoy yourself," Mom says, appearing beside me with a glass of champagne. Her words are soft, but they scrape against my insides like sandpaper.

"Enjoy myself?" I scoff, cracking my knuckles out of habit. "How can I when Jayden’s out there somewhere thinking I don’t give a damn?"

"Darling, she's just a girl, and this..." She gestures around the room, "...is your future."

"Fuck the future if it doesn't have Jayden in it," I growl.

Mom's eyes widen, but I don't care. Not anymore. It hits me – I love Jayden.

I need her, more than I've ever needed anything in this godforsaken charade of a life. Every fiber of my being screams for her smile, her laugh, her everything.

"I’m out of here," I state, already turning away from the ball.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mom's voice follows me, but I'm already out the door. The only place I think Jayden would be is at her apartment, probably curled up on her couch without a clue how much she means to me.

Well, that's about to change.

The realization of what loving Jayden truly means for me is barreling through my mind. I shove a hand through my hair. What does it mean—loving her? For a guy who thought he had his life all mapped out, this is uncharted territory. One thing is damn clear: I can't and won’t ignore what Jayden and I can be.

Mom's threats of cutting ties, of disinheritance—they're just background noise. She’ll try to control, to manipulate, but I’m done being a pawn in someone else’s game. Jayden's worth everything. She is all I need and nothing more

I reach my jeep and peel out of the parking garage, and I don’t stop until I’m standing in front of Jayden's apartment door with my fists hammering against it.

"Jayden!" My voice feels foreign as it bounces off the walls. My knuckles sting from the force of my pounding.

Silence is the only thing that greets me. I lean forward, pressing my forehead against the cool wood of the door. "Damn it, Jayden," I mutter as I consider the possibility that she's not here—that she's out there somewhere, slipping further away from me with each second that ticks by.

No, that’s not the case because I saw her car in the parking lot when I raced up here.

"I know you’re in there!" I yell. "I see your car in the parking lot."

The silence stretches on, and true fear of losing her is starting to set in.

"Please, Jayden," I say, my voice softer now. "Open the door."

The doorknob jiggles, and the door slowly opens. There she is. Her bright green eyes narrow with concern.

"Why aren't you at the ball?" She tilts her head, one hand on the jamb.

"Didn't have a date," I grumble, shoving my hands into the pockets of my slacks. "She left." My voice sounds hollow, even to my own ears, but there's no point in sugarcoating it. "But the ball doesn't matter."

Her lips part slightly. I can see the wheels turning in her head. It's not just about the ball, and we both know it.

"Can I come in?" I ask, leaning forward. There's more at stake here than pride or ego.

Jayden hesitates, the door still ajar, her gaze searching mine. Then she takes a step back to let me in.

I step into her apartment as the door clicks shut behind me. She retreats to the couch.

"Ryder, what are you doing here?" She says and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You could lose everything."

"Maybe," I admit as my eyes scan her face. "None of that means a damn thing without you."

Her breath catches. "You're serious?"

"Damn right, I am." I move forward until I'm close enough to see the flecks of gold in her green eyes. "I've got more money than I know what to do with, but not a single penny brings me the peace you do, Jayden."

She rises from the couch, closing the gap between us. "Risking even your relationship with your family... for me?" Her hand reaches up, hesitating just shy of my cheek before making contact.

"Nothing's worth having if it means losing you," I say, voice barely above a whisper.

"Ryder..." She pauses, her gaze locking onto mine. "I love you. I didn't want to admit it, scared you'd run. But damn it, I do."

Hearing those words from her lips, it breaks something loose within me—a dam holding back years of fear and self-preservation. It's a rush of emotion that leaves no room for doubt or regret.

"I love you too, Jayden," I confess. "More than I thought possible."