The Hidden Heir

In the year Ryan loved me most, I took his mother's $500,000. got rid of our baby, and betrayed him. He knelt outside the procedure room. crying as he begged me not to be so cruel. He said he would hate me for the rest of his life. When I saw him again six years later, he already had a beautiful girlfriend and was about to get married. But I came back to him in a mess, only wanting to borrow a little money. He forced me to attend his wedding and watch him bring another woman home as his wife. Do you regret it? What he did not know was that I had raised our child alone, and our child was sick. He was dying. Six years after our breakup, I ran into Ryan again at the lowest point of my life. That day was our college reunion, and no one had expected him to come. Ryan Whitmalls never comes to these things. What changed this year? Don't tell me it's because Clara came. Are you still thinking about her? I sat in the corner; my back went stiff when I looked up. Ryan was standing across the room with a cigarette between his lips. Ryan was the youngest son of the Whitmore family. He had money, status. And a bright future everyone envied, but he fell for me at first sight. That year, he cut ties with his family and gave up everything just to stay with me. We lived in a tiny rented apartment. At night, Ryan held my hand under the blanket and promised we would never let go. Then I got pregnant. His mother gave me $500,000; she wanted me to get rid of the baby and leave Ryan. That day, Ryan knelt outside the clinic room and slammed his fists against the door. I'll work harder, I'll make money, I'll take care of you and the baby. I. lay on the procedure table and bit my lip until I tasted blood. I did not let myself make a sound. There was only one thin door between us, and through that door, I heard Ryan say he would hate me for the rest of his life.

Come on Ryan, you used to love Clara like you couldn't live without her. How did you ever let her go? The room broke into cheers. Everyone wanted to see us get back together. They didn't know how ugly my breakup with Ryan had been. What kind of woman can Ryan Whitworth not have? Clara Hayes is nothing. Why would he still be thinking about her? There had been another woman by Ryan's side for three years. She was softer and prettier than Clara. They were getting married soon. He tossed an invitation across the table; it hit my chest and fell into my lap. That lucky girl was Vivian Shaw, and even that sounded gentle. She must be better than me, sweet enough to stop hurting Ryan after six years apart. Knowing Ryan was doing well had to be enough. Congratulations! Clara, don't come to the wedding; my wife won't be happy if she sees you, and when she's unhappy, I feel bad. Okay.

That year was the poorest year of my life. I worked myself half to death for Noah's medicine. For money, I went to the reunion to borrow from old classmates. I also worked nights at a private club, drank with men until my stomach bled. I thought the reunion would be the last time Ryan and I ever saw each other, but a few days later, Vivian Shaw came looking for me. So you're Clara Hayes, Ryan Whitfield's first love. Are you ordering drinks or not? If you're not, don't waste my time. What kind of attitude is that? I'm talking to you. Fine, Clara, you like money, right? Finish this whole bottle and I'll give you $20,000. We only came to see her; we weren't going to make things hard for Clara. People keep telling me she knows how to seduce men. They told me to be careful around her. Even Ryan says I'm too innocent; he's afraid she'll bully me. I understood what she wanted me to knowRyan loved her, and Ryan hated me. But I'm fine, really. So if I finish this bottle, you'll give me $20,000. right? I picked up the bottle and poured it into my mouth. Everyone froze. None of them thought I would really risk my life for money.

That day, everyone said Ryan must have truly stopped loving me. No one had expected us to end like this. Back then, we loved each other so deeply. I knew Ryan did not want to see me again, so I left the reunion early. On my way home, a friend sent me a photo of Vivian. Clara, don't you think Vivian looks like you when she smiles? Do you think Ryan still loves you? Are you two really over? It doesn't matter. I don't care anymore. I did not want to be tangled up with Ryan again and he would never know I had lied to everyone, I did not get rid of the baby, I secretly gave birth to our child, our son was sick and he was dying.

Watching Ryan protect Vivian, I remembered how he had once protected me. Vivian hides in Ryan's arms and smiles where he cannot see. I looked at the cut on her leg, then I picked up a shard of glass from the floor. I dragged it hard across my own skin. Blood ran down my arm. "Give me the 20,000. " Ryan stared at me; his eyes suddenly went red. Vivian saw his face, and her smile froze. "Clara, I'm giving you this money today not because I owe you anything. I just don't want to become like you, making yourself this ugly over a little money. " I was too tired to watch her act noble. I took the card and turned to leave. But Ryan grabbed my wrist. Clara Hayes, does it not hurt? Are you going to die without money? I've always been a woman who loves money, Ryan. Didn't you know that? Mind your own business and keep your woman away from me.

Clara, how can you ruin yourself like this for money? As women, we should still have some shame. I didn't want to say this, but Ryan hates women like where's the money. What Ryan likes or hates has nothing to do with me. I only want the 20,000 you promised. To be honest, 20. 000 is nothing to me; I could give it to anyone. But I can't give it to you. You can blame me, but I'm doing this for your own good. I can't watch you keep falling like this. I was messing with you. I'm not giving you a cent. What can you do? I stared at her, then laughed too. The next second, I smashed the bottle against the table; a sharp piece cut across Vivian's leg. Vivian burst into tears. The women who had been laughing went silent. Then the private room door opened. I froze. I did not dare look at him. I never wanted Ryan to see me in heavy makeup, drinking with men for money and forcing cheap smiles. I was not afraid of other people looking down on me, but I never wanted Ryan to see me fall this low. Ryan walked to Vivian. He pulled her into his arms and wiped her tears. Clara, You want money, fine, apologize first.