One year, one love by Aurora Miller

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

After work. Doris hadn’t expected to cross paths with Ryan and several CEOs from other companies dining at the hotel.

She instinctively averted her eyes, lowered her head, and tried to slip away unnoticed. But Ryan deliberately blocked her path in full view of her colleagues, who, knowing about their past relationship, eagerly observed the unfolding scene.

“Doris, I’m thirsty. Get me a glass of water, Ryan said, lounging on one of the plush sofas in the left corner of the hotel lobby.

Doris’s expression didn’t so much as flicker. “Sorry, Mr. Watson. I’m off duty. If you need assistance, feel free to ask another staff member.”

“Is that the level of service your hotel offers?” Ryan arched a brow, his tone carrying a note of condescension. “Doris, it’s just a glass of water. Or is that worth filing a complaint over?”

Clamping down the surge of irritation rising in her chest, Doris silently fetched a glass of water and placed it on the coffee table in front of him

But as she turned to leave, Ryan stretched his leg out just enough to trip her. Doris stumbled forward, landing awkward! near his feet, the scene unfolding as though she’d purposefully thrown herself at him.

She scoffed internally. So this is his game–making me look desperate, so my colleagues think I’m still not over him? Is this his way of forcing me to get back together with him?”

Ryan leaned down, using the moment to clasp her arm in a mock gesture of concern. “Doris, it’s been days. Have you missed

me?”

She jerked her arm free and straightened herself, fixing him with a glare. “Ryan, you’re engaged. You have a fiancée. Show some respect for yourself and for her

“Respect?” Ryan let out a low chuckle, his gaze tightening on her like a predator savoring its prey. “And what if I don’t feel like respecting boundaries?”

“This is a hotel, Ryan, Doris said, her voice dropping to an icy whisper. “What are you trying to do here? Can’t we just part ways peacefully?”

She knew exactly what the scene must look like to her colleagues–like she couldn’t let go, that she was clinging to Ryan in a pathetic attempt to win him back. No amount of explanation would clear her name from their judgmental whispers.

a sm

*Part ways?” Ryan’s lips curved into a smug grin. “Doris, I never agreed to break up. You don’t get to walk away from me.”

Her fingers curled into tight fists at her sides, barely holding back the urge to punch the self–satisfied smirk off his face. If not for the growing number of curious eyes around them, she might have done just that.

“What do you want, Ryan?” she hissed through gritted teeth, on the brink of losing her composure.

silky

a blade. “I’ve already

Then be ready for the surprise I’ve prepared for you,” With one last lingering look at her, he rose to his feet and strode

tension coiling

wasn’t already a disaster, her phone buzzed just as she stepped out of the

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Chapter 14

Jimmy barked

enraged bull. The fury on his face only grew as he tossed a document in her face. “Take a good

formal notice from Ryan’s lawyer, stating that Jimmy and Peyton owed him one million dollars. If they didn’t repay the amount within a month,

He said if we lose,

“I don’t care how you do it, but you have to convince Mr. Watson to drop the lawsuit. We’re your parents. And he’s your ex–boyfriend. This debt is yours

frozen in shock, unable to form a response. “Dad, back then, you took advantage of my relationship with Ryan, hoping to squeeze some benefits

with it?

bought Rupert a new house and had it renovated. Now he and Claudia are

could ever make in a lifetime. How can you put this on me? Have you

already knew the answer. Her father never thought about

squarely on her. “If you’d just agreed to stay with Mr. Watson, none of

is our youngest. He’s your little brother. As his sister, you’re supposed

a twisted version of reality. Their greed created

pleading, hoping Doris would sacrifice for their family. “Doris, think about Rupert and Claudia. They’re about to get married. We can’t afford

a million dollars, she might call off the wedding. You wouldn’t want that

me end up in jail at our age. Would you really be

for raising me. I’ll honor that debt by taking care of you. But I don’t owe Rupert anything, and I won’t pay a single cent

and Peyton had always coddled Rupert, enabling his every whim. But Doris was done with their favoritism and refused to indulge him any longer.

wheedling. “Yes, you don’t owe Rupert. But we’re your parents. For our sake–for the sake of the whole family–Doris, just find a way to get that million dollars and help us out

of disbelief. “Where on earth would I even get that kind of money?”

where this absurd expectation was coming from. ‘I don’t even know that

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Chapter 15

broke up with Mr. Watson, his mother gave you one million dollars” His tone

think! Yes, Mrs Watson did come to see me, but she didn’t give