Silent Hearts: Operation Breaking His Ice Heart (Complete)

Chapter 45

Rhythm’s POV:

The drive home was silent.

I kept one hand on the wheel, the other clenched so tight my knuckles turned white. Ada’s face — the way he smiled at me after I’d said those words — kept flashing in my mind like a cruel replay. It wasn’t a happy smile. It was the kind that hurt more than anger ever could.

By the time I got to the mansion, I was exhausted, but not from work. From thinking. From being angry. From being unable to let go of the past.

As soon as I stepped inside, I could feel it.

The tension.

My mom was sitting at the head of the dining table, arms crossed, face unreadable — but her eyes, sharp and cold, were fixed on me. My dad was on the couch, quiet, fingers tapping against his chin like he was thinking about how to say something he didn’t want to say. And Ceidence? He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, scowling.

Great.

I was about to walk past them, maybe straight to my room, when Mom’s voice cut through the air.

"Rhythm Thompson."

That tone — I hadn’t heard it since I was a kid.

I turned slowly. "Yes, Mom?"

"Sit," she said, not leaving any room for argument.

I sat.

"Do you know what’s happening to the entire company right now?" Mom asked, his voice calm but laced with anger.

"I do," I said simply.

"Then you know how you’ve been running it like a military camp," she snapped. "You’ve turned what used to be a safe place into a battlefield. And I hear you’ve been punishing Ada every single day."

My jaw tightened. "It’s not punishment, Mom. It’s discipline. He—"

"—is one of the most hardworking people we’ve ever had in that company," she cut me off sharply. "Ada is where he is now because of his intelligence and determination, not because of pity. And certainly not because of you."

I felt my temper flare. "You’re defending him?"

"Yes, I am!" Mom slammed his hand against the table, making me flinch. "Because I saw the way you humiliated him today. Someone heard your argument in your office, Rhythm. Do you have any idea how humiliating that must have been for him — for a COO — to be talked to like that in front of others?"

I swallowed hard, but my pride wouldn’t let me back down. "He deserves to be called out if he’s making poor decisions."

Dad finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "Calling someone out is different from tearing them down, son."

Ceidence stepped in, his voice tight with anger. "Do you even realize what you’re doing? It’s been a week since Aiden visited the mansion. Treycie cries every night because her best friend won’t play with her. Ada doesn’t even answer my calls anymore, and I can’t blame him. If I were him, I wouldn’t want to face you either."

Something twisted in my chest at the mention of Aiden. I didn’t want to admit how much I missed that kid.

Mom wasn’t done. "You think you’re angry at Ada, but what you’re really doing is taking your anger at the past and throwing it at him every day. You’re hurting him, Rhythm. And now you’re hurting everyone around him."