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Chapter_46
The slap echoed through the air, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake. Sadie stood there, heart racing, as she watched Leah’s face contort with shock and anger. She had never seen Ronan act like this before—his usual calm demeanor replaced by a sharp edge.
Leah stumbled back, her hand still pressed to her cheek, eyes wide with disbelief. “You… you actually hit me?” Her voice trembled, a mix of outrage and hurt. “For her? After everything I’ve done for you?”
Ronan didn’t speak immediately. His jaw was clenched, the intensity of his emotions barely contained. “Leah, you need to stop. This is enough. You’ve been acting like this for too long.” His voice was cold, his tone final. “Sadie is not the problem here, and if you can’t see that, then I can’t keep making excuses for your behavior.”
Sadie felt a pang of discomfort at the situation. She had never wanted to be caught in the middle of a confrontation like this, especially one so public. But the way Ronan had spoken—protective, yet firm—left her conflicted. Part of her was grateful for his defense, but another part of her couldn’t help but wonder what it all meant. The last thing she wanted was to be the cause of tension between a family.
Leah, still in shock from the slap, took a step back, her eyes narrowed as she assessed Ronan. “I’ve had enough of this,” she hissed. “You think I don’t know what’s going on? You think I don’t see how you two look at each other? You think I’m blind?”
Ronan didn’t flinch. “It’s not like that, Leah. But if you keep attacking Sadie, we’re done. You’ve crossed a line today.”
Sadie stood awkwardly, her mind racing. The air between them was thick with unresolved tension, and she couldn’t help but feel like an intruder in a deeply personal moment. She had never expected things to escalate so quickly. “Ronan, maybe we should go inside,” she said, trying to defuse the situation.
But Leah wasn’t done yet. She turned toward Sadie with venom in her voice. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Always playing the innocent one while you steal everything from me. First my husband, now my son’s education… What’s next? Taking my life?”
Sadie’s heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her composure. “I’m not here to steal anything from you, Leah. I never wanted this. I just want to make sure everything’s okay with the kids.”
Ronan stepped forward, placing a protective hand on Sadie’s shoulder, signaling his resolve to shield her from Leah’s accusations. “Enough, Leah,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “You need to calm down. Your outbursts aren’t helping anyone. Especially not you.”
Leah’s lips trembled with a mix of frustration and disbelief. “You always defend her,” she spat. “You don’t even care about me anymore, do you?”
Ronan didn’t respond immediately, his eyes meeting Leah’s with a quiet but unwavering certainty. “I care about what’s right,” he said, his voice steady. “And right now, that’s making sure no one else gets hurt because of your actions. Including you.”
Sadie watched the exchange silently, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion and discomfort. She had no desire to get entangled in this mess, but it was becoming increasingly clear that Ronan’s world was far more complicated than she had first thought. And, whether she liked it or not, she was a part of it now.
Finally, Leah turned on her heel, her steps sharp and angry as she stormed off, muttering curses under her breath. “You’ll regret this,” she called back. “All of you.”
Sadie let out a quiet breath, her body tensing as the tension from the confrontation lingered in the air. Ronan didn’t speak right away, but the weight of the moment pressed heavily on both of them. The silence between them felt heavy, suffocating almost, but neither of them seemed to know what to say next.
Ronan’s gaze softened slightly as he turned to Sadie. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” he said quietly, his voice laced with exhaustion. “She’s been like this for a while. It’s… complicated.”
Sadie nodded slowly, still trying to process the events. “I can see that.”
They stood in silence for a moment longer before Ronan finally sighed, his usual grace returning. “Let’s get inside. You’ve already had enough of a day.”
Sadie nodded, relieved for the change in subject. She wanted to forget the heated confrontation as much as possible, but the words Leah had thrown at her—about stealing things, about taking Ronan’s life—kept echoing in her mind.
As they walked toward the hospital entrance, Sadie couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to become much more complicated. She had always tried to keep things simple, but her connection to Ronan, his strained relationship with Leah, and now the tension between them—it was clear that this was just the beginning.
