SHARING EMMA [18+]

12. Mix of Emotions

|CARLOS|

I was stunned to see my son, Ryker, standing before me. It had been weeks since our last confrontation, when he left my mansion in anger. And now, he was standing in the apartment of the woman I had been seeing. I couldn't believe the coincidence. Ryker looked just as surprised as I felt, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open.

I struggled to find the right words to say, feeling a mix of emotions coursing through me. I didn't know how to react to this unexpected encounter. "Ryker," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?" I was hoping for an explanation, something that could make sense of this bizarre situation.

Ryker looked at me with a mix of disbelief and anger. "Well, isn't that a question of the century. I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing here?" Then, he glanced to his side, at Emma, who was still standing next to him with a tense and shocked expression on her face. "And how do you know her?" I could see the wheels of his head turning, before he snapped his head to glare back at me. "And how did you get in?"

I struggled to find the words to explain. Ryker had always been distant with me, and I didn't want to push him further away. "I...I came to see Emma. We have some business to discuss."

Ryker's expression hardened at my words. "Business? What kind of business do you have with her?" he asked skeptically.

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal to my son. "It's personal."

Ryker's jaw clenched as he took a step closer to me. "Personal? You've been fucking her, haven't you?" he spat out, his eyes blazing with anger.

I recoiled at Ryker's accusation, feeling like I had just been punched in the gut. "Ryker, it's not what you think," I tried to explain, but he cut me off.

"Don't even try to deny it. I saw the way she looked at you when we walked in. And now you're telling me it's personal? What kind of excuse is that?"

Emma, who had been standing silently next to Ryker, finally spoke up, confusion etched on her face. "Carl," she said for the first time. "Wait, is Ryker your son?" Then, realization dawned on her, and she gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Oh, my god!"

Ryker turned to Emma, his expression still hostile. "What's going on here, Emma? Why are you mixed up in this?"

Emma's face was a mixture of shock and confusion. "I...I had no idea. I didn't know you were Carlos' son, Ryker."

"Look, Ryker," I tried to redirect Ryker's attention away from Emma and back to the situation at hand. While Emma had looked stunned and confused upon learning of our relationship, I knew that she had no way of knowing that Ryker was my son. Our dynamic was complicated, to say the least, but I trusted Emma completely and believed that her intentions were pure.

However, Ryker's anger had clearly taken hold of him, and I knew that reasoning with him would be difficult at best. No matter how truthful my explanations might be, he was unlikely to listen while he was in such a heightened state.

"There's a lot we need to talk about." I said. "But let's do it somewhere more private. Emma, can you give us a moment?"

Emma nodded, still wearing a stunned expression. She turned to Ryker, but he was too angry to acknowledge her, it was as if he couldn't wait for her to leave us alone. Emma turned to her bedroom, and as she passed by me, she whispered. "I had no idea, Carlos. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Emma. Just go to your room and wait for us. I'll let you know when you can come out."

I watched Emma disappear into the bedroom, then turned back to face Ryker, who was now pacing back and forth across the living room floor. He looked like he was about to explode with anger, and I knew I had to tread carefully.

"Ryker, I know this is a lot to take in. But we need to talk about what happened between us."

"What happened?" Ryker spat back at me, his voice laced with venom. "You mean the fact that you left me and Mom alone while you went off and slept with some random women?"

"It's not like that, Ryker," I said, trying to keep my voice even. "Your mother and I had our issues, and I needed time to sort things out."

Ryker snorted. "So you just abandoned us? And now you expect me to believe that you have nothing to do with Emma? That you have not been fucking her? God, you're so disgusting," he paced the room, running a hand through his hair.

I felt a pang of guilt wash over me as I realized just how much I had hurt my son. I had been so caught up in my own problems and desires that I had neglected my responsibilities as a father. But I knew I couldn't change the past. All I could do now was try to make things right.

"I know I messed up," I said, my voice softening. "But I want to make things right. I want to be a part of your life again."

Ryker halted his pacing and glared at me, his demeanor defensive. "How am I supposed to trust you?" he challenged. "You were lying to me just moments ago. After everything you've said and done, how can I believe a single word that comes out of your mouth? No, Dad, I can't. I hate you more than ever now." Ryker's voice was filled with anger and disappointment. "I was starting to like Emma, but you had to ruin that too. You always have a way of ruining everything."

I could see the pain and anger in Ryker's eyes, and it broke my heart. I had messed up so many times, and it seemed like there was no way to fix it. But I had to try. I took a deep breath and tried to find the right words.

"I know I messed up." I said again. "I should have told you about Emma, and I'm sorry. But please, just hear me out. I want to make things right between us. I want to be a better father to you, and I want to earn your trust again."

Ryker scoffed. "You've been saying that for years, dad. But you always find a way to screw things up. I'm tired of giving you chances."

"I know I've said that before, but this time I mean it. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right between us. I understand that I've made mistakes in the past, but I'm ready to change and be the father you deserve."

Ryker shook his head in disbelief. "I don't know," he said, his frustration palpable. "I can't deal with this right now. It's too messed up." He ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. "I need to go. Don't call me, don't try to reach out to me. I need some space to process all of this."

With that, he turned around and stormed out of Emma's apartment, his anger like a raging storm. I stood there, feeling defeated and frustrated at myself, wondering if there was any way to fix what had just happened.

Emma came out the second the door slammed shut, a mix of sympathy and concern on her face. "I'm so sorry, Carlos," she said softly. "I had no idea he was your son. I feel terrible about this."

I shook my head. "It's not your fault," I said. "I should have been more upfront with you about my family situation."

Emma looked at me, her eyes full of understanding. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.

I sighed heavily. "I don't know," I said. "Right now, I just need to give Ryker some space. He's angry and hurt, and I don't blame him."

Emma nodded. "I understand."

Leaving Emma's apartment, a heavy weight settled in my chest. Guilt and regret consumed me as I realized how my actions had hurt the people I loved. I had been selfish and thoughtless, letting my own desires blind me to the consequences of my actions. But now, as I walked away, I knew that I had to make things right. I couldn't give up on being the father he deserved. It would be a tough and grueling journey, but I was determined to change and show Ryker that I was serious about it. There were no shortcuts, no easy solutions, just a long road ahead that I had to take.

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