Celeste’s POV
“Oh, Celeste.” Damien simpered with condescension. “That you think you stand a chance against me in a custody battle is adorable, but hopelessly misguided.”
I gritted my teeth, refusing to back down.
“I’ve worked tirelessly to build a career and gain enough wealth to fight for my daughter.” I raised a mocking eyebrow. “Are you discouraging me because you’re afraid 11 win, Damien?”
He sneered with self importance. “Don’t let your five seconds of limelight deceive you. Rosemary is just a fad soon to be forgotten, unlike my company that has stood the test of time.”
“If my success is temporary, why are you so desperate to sign with me?” I asked, smirking
Damien glared. “Don’t mistake my charitable offers for need. I can easily afford to pay the exuberant tuition of Bonnie’s prestigious preschool. Can your meager earnings offer our daughter the same?”
“Are you sure you can afford her tuition with the mounting lawsuits against your company?”
He froze at my question. The color draining from his face filled me with glee.
“I warned you about plagiarizing the work of jewelry designers, Damien, but you shamelessly continued.” I tutted patronizingly. “A custody battle will bring your financial situation to the media’s attention.”
His silence made my pulse race. Had I finally gotten through this man’s thick skull?
“Handover custody of Bonnie, and preserve your precious reputation.” I said in a firm tone that belied none of my apprehension or hope.
But the stubborn set of Damien’s jaw as he turned to Bonnie told me he’d rather die than give in.
“Bon–Bon,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You can solve this minor problem right now.”
She gulped, eyes wide as saucers at being addressed in the middle of our argument.
“Leave her out of this-” I started, but he rudely held up a hand to silence me.
“Will you stay in this nag’s tiny apartment and move to a public school crawling with the degenerate offspring of the lower class?” He asked her, his nose wrinkled with disdain. “Or do you want to continue living the life of Daddy’s little princess?”
Bonnie’s eyebrows furrowed as she looked uneasily between Damien and I.
“Please, tell Daddy what you want, Bon–Bon.” There was a demanding undertone to his fatherly concern.
Ryan rested his glass on the tabe as he addressed Damien.
“Pressing her like this is emotional coercion, and would be detrimental to your case in court.” He said, eyes dancing with challenge.
Damien bristled, turning back to Bonnie.
“Daddy’s not pressuring you, Bon–Bon.” He said. “But the sooner you choose me, your life of luxury.”
the sooner you can go
back to
Bonnie clutched her stomach and moaned. “My tummy is sore.”
I looked her over and concern pulsed through me. Her face was pale, forehead feverish, and she held back tears. Damien pressed on. “Choose quickly, and then Daddy will buy you some painkillers.”
“For crying out loud, can you not see that our daughter is unwell?” I snapped, shooting daggers at the selfish jerk.
He shrugged. “She seems fine-”
His face morphed into horror as Bonnie retched violently, sending a stream of putrid vomit towards the table before him. Ryan pushed an empty ice bucket in front of her, catching the mess.
“Is she still fine?” I hissed, patting her back soothingly.
Damien filled a glass with water and held it to her mouth with jerky movements.
“She’s fine–just needs to stay hydrated.” He said confidently.
But Bonnie pushed at the glass weakly, sputtering.
“You’re choking her!” I yelled.
In a heartbeat, Ryan tore Damien away from Bonnie and leaned her forward.
“Cough, Bons.” He said in her ear, calm but firm.
She coughed, tears streaming down her face, and then drew in big lungfuls of air.
When she gagged again, Ryan laid her down in a side lying position with practiced ease, a bucket at her mouth just as she continued vomiting.
“Stop fooling around with my daughter’s life!” Damien bellowed, shoving at him roughly.
But Ryan didn’t budge an inch.
“This reaction is because of an excessive consumption of caviar.” He spoke with the biting edge of a sword. ” You’re the one who put her life in danger by ignoring my warnings. Stay out of my way, Damien, so you don’t harm her further.”
There was an authoritative air in Ryan’s tone that even Damien couldn’t disobey. He stood aside as my assistant took charge and soon enough Bonnie was sitting up, reassuring us she felt better.
I was filled with amazement. There was something so appealing in Ryan’s competence, so disarming in his reliability.
It felt like I could trust him with anything.
“Are you okay, Bon–Bon?” Damien asked, tilting Bonnie’s head up to look at him. “You need a comprehensive examination. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“No! I don’t wanna go to the hospital again.” She hugged herself. “No more shots.”
Damien began arguing with her, but I stepped between them, protective instincts in overdrive.
“You lack even basic first aid.” I said, eyes flashing coldly. “Bonnie is safer with us.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Us? Celeste, be serious. This lowlife isn’t half the man I am-”
Ryan’s double the man you are.” I cut him off vehemently. “Show him some respect, seeing as how he just saved Bonnie from your recklessness.”
He cleared his throat uncomfortably in response.
+25 BONUS
Chapter Seventy
I pointed towards the exit. “Go home, Damien, and prepare for a custody lawsuit.”
In a huff, he spun on his heel to leave and collided into a delivery robot carrying an assortment of colorful cocktails. Ryan snorted, and I stifled a laugh, earning us murderous glares from the sputtering man.
Damien muttered a string of curses as he stumbled out of the restaurant with all the elegance of a blind donkey.
