The Royal Contract

Was it possible that the father of her child was his friend?

He quickly pulled out of Bianca’s embrace as if her touch burned him. Then, he turned to face the woman, who also had a shocked expression. It seemed from the stunned look on her face she also did not expect to see him. However, the young boy had a different reaction.

“Zachy, you are here.” The boy pulled his hand out of his mother’s grip and ran to him. The boy, of course, was unaware of the growing tension in the room. “Zachy!” Innocently called to him again as he tried to catch his attention.

“Hey, buddy. How are you doing?” Zach finally shifted his eyes to him, smiling at the young boy. “What are you doing here?” He asked, wanting to make sense of the situation.

“I met my Daddy.” Edison pointed to the man behind them. “Daddy, my friend, Zachy.” He introduced him to the man, who now loomed over him.

It was finally clear to him. Ryan was the bastard that left Ria and Edison to fend off for themselves. He was not surprised by that, knowing that his friend was irresponsible and a total asshole most of the time.

However, he could not figure out what Ria and Edison were doing with him. He thought that Ria hated his guts. Then, why did Ryan say that they were getting married?

“Edison, I know, Zach. He is my bestfriend. And that is Bianca. She is his girl...” With a slight pause. “...friend.” Ryan held the child by the shoulder. “Zach, Bianca...” Ryan looked at them. “This is my son, Edison, and the mother of my child, Ria.”

.....

Ria remained frozen in her place as she probably processed the current situation. He might understand how she felt since he was also confused, nervous, furious, and had several more emotions he could not fathom.

“Ryan, what is this?” He finally felt like only his friend could explain it to him. Was this all a coincidence? But his instinct was flashing red flags in his mind. He did not feel right about the whole scenario.

“I told you.” He sat on the lone chair, pulling Edison into his lap. “I want you to meet my fiance and my son. What do you think of your room, Edison? Did you sleep well last night?”

“Yeah! It is big.” Edison cheerfully replied. “I want Teddy.” The boy said, looking sad that he probably missed his favorite stuffed toy.

“And who is Teddy?” Bianca joined in the conversion, appearing unaware of the tension.

“He is my friend,” Edison answered her. “I left him at home.”

“Don’t worry, Edison. We will buy another Teddy.” Ryan answered as the two conversed like they were bonding.

Zach shifted his eyes to the woman who stood by the door, unable to say anything. If Edison slept here last night, did it mean she spent the night here when she was supposed to be out with her friends? Did she lie to him?

“But I am surprised that you two know each other. Ria, do you know Zach and Bianca?” Ryan turned to her. “You have to forgive Ria. It seems that she barely slept a wink last night.”

“If you know what I mean.” His friend whispered in his direction, winking his eyes at him.

He believed he had heard enough. “Ria, what is the meaning of this?” He finally stood up and stared at her. “What is going on here?” He walked toward her, unable to stand her silence.

“Is Ryan the father of your child?” He narrowed his eyes at her, wanting some answers.

“Yes,” She seemed to snap out of her trance as her eyes gazed at him.

“What are you doing with him?” He seemed to have lost it as he expressed his frustration. He ran his fingers through his hair, unable to comprehend why she would want to return to the bastard that left her.

“Let me explain.” Ria seemed to be lost as she stammered in her words.

“What could be a good reason behind you sleeping with him again after what he did to you?” He felt like his world was crumbling down after he had put two and two together and found his answer.

“Wait!” Her eyes suddenly lit up, like she was on fire, as color returned to her face. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” Ria answered as her brows frowned at him. “And before you accuse me of anything, why don’t you look at yourself first.”

“What does that suppose to mean?” He questioned, not understanding what she accused him of when all he had done was to love her.

“Aren’t you sleeping with your ex too?” She finally said what was going through her mind. “I saw you last night with her at the restaurant. I gathered that you are back together.”

Damn! What was going on in here?

“You know what...” Ria pulled her hands up and waved them in the air, appearing like she had given up. “Why don’t you go back to her? Make out with her. I don’t care. Sleep with her all you want.” She rattled on as she pushed him out of her way.

“What are...” Zach was about to say something when she turned her back on him, deciding not to hear what else he had to say.

There was nothing to talk about between them if he trusted Ryan and believed what he had said. She was better off being alone and raising her son on her own.

Maybe they were friends because they came from the same clothes. She should have known better than to give her faith in man. They were liars and unworthy of her time and love.

She walked with determination, only stopping when she reached her son. She pulled Edison out of Ryan’s lap and set him on her side. “And you?” Ria pointed to the man, who had a smirk on his face,

“You can shove your proposal up your ass. Nothing you say will frighten me anymore. I have enough of you.” Ria continued like a machine gun that did not run out of bullets. “And you all could rot in hell because I think you deserve each other.”

She bent to her child and spoke to him. “No, Edison. He is not your father. And you never have to call him Daddy ever again.”

Then, she shifted her attention to Bianca and focused on her. “And as for you, you can have him if you want.”

Then, she pulled her son away from them, striding toward the door. But she stopped by the table and grabbed her bag and phone before she turned to them again.

“Ria, you can’t take my son away from me,” Ryan said as he stood up, looking indignant that the mother of his child was walking away from him.

“Watch me.” Ria determinedly stated with a firm voice. She did not look angry but resolute. “I will see you in court.” She said as she pulled the door open and pulled her son out of the room.

“Ria, stop!” Ryan shouted, but it fell on deaf ears as she continued, slamming the door behind her.

Ryan was about to follow her, but he acted quickly, blocking his friend’s path. “Get out of the way. She is taking my son.” His friend shouted at him, but he continued to stop him from leaving and going after them.

“No, you are going to answer my questions.” Zach pushed his friend back to his seat.

“I guess I am not needed in here anymore.” Bianca stood up, probably sensing the conflict in the air.

“No. you will stay because I also have questions for you.” Zach shouted at both of them, assuring they understood that he was not kidding around.

He knew there was something with the picture since yesterday. He could sense it but could not determine what it was. But now, these two clowns would finally give him answers, even if he had to pry them out of their mouths.

“What is this has to do with me?” Bianca mumbled as she attempted to lie her way out of this.

“I think you have participated in this, so who is the mastermind of this?” He knew that seeing her could not be a coincidence, all their chance meeting.

It was too much of a coincidence. Then, Ryan suddenly appeared again in Ria’s life after all this time, just in time for Bianca to accidentally bump into him. He could not believe that was fate.

Meeting Ria and their chance encounter, he believed that was destiny.

But this.

This situation was a lie concocted by two selfish people who could only think of themselves. Therefore, he would not leave this place until he heard and discovered the truth.