Unexpected Love

chapter 9: past trauma.

Hi everyone!
This chapter took over 1 hour to write because I thought about ryder's past on the spot. Trigger warning: drug use, alcohol. Lmk your thoughts. This is my first time writing something like this so there might be some mistakes but I'm loving what I'm writing so far. Next chapter will be a cute moment between Loren and Ryder. So stay tuned.

Ryder

I slowly walked up the stairs of my dad's house where he lived with his wife. I don't like to call her my stepmom and i never will be able to. Charles Rothwell CEO of Rothwell planners was stern to his business since forever. He married my mom Dr Layla Rose who was also a psychologist and she worked her life to provide us the life we have right now. While my dad worked at home mostly through phone calls my mom worked hours in the hospital until one day she couldn't.

Before Sierra the only person i was close with was my mom. She was everything to me. I lost her to cancer when I was just 15. After her death, the only person to give me hope, strength and support was my dad but i never received that from his side.

My dad got addicted to drugs when I was a teenager. His father and my grandfather ditched my dad when he was around the same age as I am rn that is 24. My grandfather never took care of my dad in all his years he was always outside the country doing movies. He was rarely at home and when he was, he was never with family. That's when one day, he actually abandoned us leaving just a note saying he can't manage both family and work together and that he needs to choose one. Leaving the note to us we already knew what he had chose.

History is repeating itself. My grandfather ditched my dad and my dad Ditched me. I plan to end this with me. Why can't we just save our children from these trauma? Why can't we be the better version of our parents that we never had? People are selfish and that was the truth.

I finally reached the penthouse that was on 5th floor. I was scared to knock. My dad called me this morning i didn't wanna pick up. So then he sent me text saying he needed to talk with me and here I was. I was scared of what he was gonna say. I carefully knocked the door. The door opened quite quickly like someone was waiting near the door. I entered the house and it was huge. I hadn't been this house since my mom died. It brought back memories, memories that I wanted to push back deep inside my brain that those would be nothing but dust.

My dad was sitting on the table with his arms crossed and so was my stepmom Katherine. They had a relaxed face with no expression on their face. Just aloof. I wanted to get over with this as quickly as possible so I sat down the chair and cleared my throat.

"No greetings?" My dad asked me by tilting his neck. If he was here for small talk i swear to god-

"Why am I here?"

"Not an answer to my question." I sighed loudly when Katherine finally spoke and said "we need to talk to you."

"Yeah no shit that's why I'm here."

My dad raised his voice "you. do. Not. Speak. To. Her. Like. That."

I didn't react on his shouting not even flinch cuz I was so used to it. Katherine however jumped a little.

Katherine said in a shaky voice "Ryder i know you don't like me but I think it's because we haven't given time to know eachother. We can do that if you can just move into this house for the quarter-"

"No." I said without hesitation. There's no way in hell I'm staying with my dad.

Then I took a deep breath and finally said "I'm sorry Katherine, I can't move in here with you guys. As you maybe familiar with i still haven't recovered from my mom's death and I would appreciate if you guys leave me alone." I said that and left as quickly as i could. I can't believe the audacity my dad had to ask me this question after what he did.

Bro fucking cheated on mom when she had cancer. I was there with mom in hospital, doing my homework on one side and holding mom's hand on another. Apparently dad had too much work in office but instead he was hooking up with girls instead. I am so fucking ashamed.

My vision blurred up while I was tryna go down the stairs. I wiped my tears because these were not worth it for him because the person who should be crying wasn't.

                               🎀

I was lying in my bed scrolling mindlessly. It's been 3 hours from my disaster meeting with dad. Sierra and Aaron were at my house as well. They were making some kind of tiktok. I honestly don't even know what they're doing half of the time.

Sierra finally called my name and said "Ryder, why you in a mood?"

They both sat down beside me curious to hear what I would say.

Sierra then said in a low voice "is it because of last night?"

I wrinkled my eyebrows and scrunched my nose trying to remember what happened last night and oh. Oh. OH.

YEAH. "You mean When Darren and Loren were flirting with each other? "
"Mhm hm"
"Well good for them. They actually look good together. She deserves someone who's like her. Someone who'll make her happy."
"Then why do you sound so sad?" Sierra made a knowing smile.

I re thinked what I was saying I was happy for her. I don't even know how I got from her being not my type to being jealous for her.

"Because Sierra i am drunk and when I'm drunk i talk about sad things. Things i wouldn't normally say if I were sober. I
My eyes were slowing drifting close and I fell asleep but I think I heard quaint words from Sierra saying "that makes a lot of sense."