Mr. Baron arrived at Kyle Wade's estate at exactly the time he was expected. A sleek black car pulled up to the circular driveway, and the house staff, already instructed to treat him with warmth, ushered him into the grand living room. Mike greeted him with a polite nod, guiding him toward the white-leather couch positioned across from the fireplace.
From the upper floor, Kyle had already seen the car through the glass. His eyes lingered on with dark emotions, Medley hasn't come out of her room after their misunderstanding the previous night, he sighed with hands in his pocket he headed towards her room, he knocked lightly before stepping in, he saw her standing by the giant mirror in her room adjusting the contents of her purse. Her hair was loosely tied back, and the soft floral dress she wore made her look ethereal like spring personified.
Kyle swallowed hard. He didn't want this moment to hurt her, plus she was already upset with him. Still, there was nothing he could do, this is about her father.
She turned toward him and froze at the intensity of his gaze. "What's wrong?" she asked softly.
He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"We have a guest," he said gently. "I know you're going to panic when you see him, but I promise, I won't let anything or anyone take you away from me. Ever."
Her brows knit with confusion. "Who is it?"
Kyle extended his hand. "Come with me."
The moment their fingers touched, her nerves eased, though she still fined annoyance, but she nodded, slipping her hand into his, and together they descended the stairs.
The second Mr. Baron saw them, Kyle with his arm around her waist, he stood up. His expression was unreadable, but there was a glint of regret in his eyes.
****
I froze halfway down the staircase.
"Dad?" I whispered, almost inaudibly.
Kyle felt my entire body stiffen beside him, and my hand gripped his arm like a lifeline.
"Mr. Wade," Stuart said, stepping forward and extending a hand.
Kyle didn't take it.
He simply guided me to the couch and sat beside me, letting me keep my hand tightly wrapped around his arm.
"What are you doing here?" I asked finally, my voice trembling slightly. My eyes darted across his face, searching for answers I wasn't ready for. This was the first time I'm seeing him in five years since he cut ties with me
Mr. Baron's throat bobbed. "Medley... I learnt you came to Mr Wade for shelter after what happened between you and Louis, I..I also know that I've wronged you in the past in ways I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have taken the action I took five years ago, I want to make things right. Come back home with me."
I blinked at him, stunned. "The audacity" I thought to myself
"Home?" my voice cracked, then rose in disbelief. "You mean the same home you threw me out of? The same home where my father cut ties with me and didn't even care enough to say goodbye? That home?"
Stuart's jaw clenched. "I was wrong, Medley. I let my pride ruin our relationship, and I'm sorry. I should never have let you go like that. Please, just come back with me. We can start over..."
I cut him off, standing up now, my voice firm and clear. "No!"
Stuart's brows furrowed. "No?"
Tears welled in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. "It's been over five years. Five years of pain, of struggling, of building my life without you. And now, when I finally have peace, love, and a home, you show up and expect me to walk back like nothing happened?"
Stuart opened his mouth but said "what do you mean home?" Stuart asked looking at me "this is not your home, weren't you here because you needed Mr Wade's help? Well if that's it you don't need to worry about it, I will pay back every dime Mr Wade has spent on you and then you can come back home with me and..."
"That home you speak of no longer exists to me. This is my home now," I said, my voice fierce. "Kyle is my husband. I am Mrs Wade now. I don't have any other home but this one." I said and showed him my customized black diamond ring
Stuart's eyes widened, flicking between them. "H-Husband?"
Kyle who hasn't said a word for a while stood now, his posture calm but protective. "That's right. She's my wife, Mr. Baron. We're married. Legally. In every way that counts."
"You married her?" Stuart asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Kyle nodded, pulling Medley gently to his side. "Yes. And she will not live under any other man's roof except mine. You had your chance to protect her, to care for her, but you abandoned her when she needed you the most."
"I thought..." Stuart looked down. "I was protecting her from the shadows plus I wanted her to learn that there's more to life than love"
Kyle narrowed his eyes. "By leaving her to the streets? That's not protection."
There was a long, heavy silence.
Then Kyle added, "You gave her up, Stuart. Cut her out like she didn't matter, you left her to suffer in the hands of that boy, you watched as everything was being taken away from her but you did nothing but watch"
"Mr Wade I did what I thought was the right thing to do and there's no way I'm approving of this marriage between my daughter and you" Stuart said
"Stuart I do not need your permission to live my life, I am no longer part of the Baron's family remember? So do not interfere with my private life from now on." I said and walked away
"I don't know what you promised my daughter but I do not approve of this marriage Mr Wade so you better do what is right and return her back to me" Kyle stood expressionless and watched as Stuart walked out on him