39

Lauren Hart
To say I was shocked would be an understatement.
How could Sean’s parents be so insensitive? I always thought that my parents were worst at parenting but Sean’s were more than worse.
I could never feel the hurt Sean must have felt. He was fighting for Ryan…alone. I wanted to be with him; support him but apparently, he wanted to handle it alone. Honestly, I respected his decision; I knew he didn’t want Ryan and grandma to see the ugly argument. So, I had to bring them out of the room.
We were walking in the dimly lit corridor which would take us to the back of the mansion as grandma was very upset and wanted to be in the fresh air.
“Why were they shouting, Lauren?”
Ryan’s sob caused me to halt walking and look down at him. My heart clenched watching him cry. I immediately bent on my knees and gave him a soothing hug.
“Stop crying buddy, they were just talking, okay?” I mumbled, looking up at grandma who had tears in her eyes as well. I lightly shook my head at her asking her not to shed tears in front of Ryan.
“No, Lauren they were fighting.” Ryan pushed me gently and wiped his face. “She…she, I don’t know who she is…” He hiccupped. “She told me she’s my mom. But she is not good. I don’t like her. She is not like you.”
That bitch! She hadn’t even met him nicely and he was already crying because of her.
I cupped his face with one hand and wiped his tears with the other. I had to encourage him, to bring his smile back as he didn’t deserve all of this. “Hey, buddy. Don’t think too much about it and let your uncle deal with it. You just concentrate on yourself. Eat, play, and repeat.” I wore a toothy grin and winked at him, but I guess it wasn’t enough as his face didn’t lit up.
“I want to go with my uncle Sean.” He sniffed while looking down at his shoes, fiddling with his fingers. “I want to stay with him.” He whispered.
“And you will,” I said determinedly. His eyes instantly shot up. “I will talk to your uncle. I will not let you stay here anymore, okay?” I encouraged him.
I was not sure if Sean would listen to me or not but this kid needed a stress-free and joyous life, not quarrelsome life.
“Promise?” He asked, hope dripping from his innocent eyes.
“I promise. And I do not break my promise.” I said and he instantly embraced me, hiding his face in the crook of my neck. Grandma too tried to console him by rubbing his back soothingly.
Our mind was on Ryan when a shrill voice caused us to flinch in shock.
“Hey, you! Where do you think you are taking my son?!”
I didn’t get the time to register where the voice came from and in an instant, I was detached from Ryan and pushed away making me land flat on my butt. The impact of the push was so hard that a sharp groan escaped my throat. My eyes closed on their own.
“What did I tell you, huh?! Didn’t I tell you I AM YOUR MOTHER? Is it hard for you to fit this information into this tiny brain of yours!”
My eyes snapped open and what I saw boiled my blood at the highest temperature possible. That bitch had her filthy hand wrapped around Ryan’s arm and he was crying uncontrollably, struggling to snap out of her grip.
“No, leave me, please.” Ryan cried harder whereas grandma tried to push Samantha.
That’s it! My anger rose and my nostrils flared. How dare she push me and how dare she make Ryan cry!
“Leave him! You are scaring him!” I yelled as I hurled myself up with the help of my hands. As soon as I rose on my feet I harshly grabbed her wrist and brutally yanked her towards me. I gave her the deadliest glare ever.
My grip was so firm that she couldn’t escape even after fighting for it. “How dare you! Leave me!”
I had almost lashed at her but my eyes caught the sight of Ryan and grandma who were sticking to the wall in worry.
“Grandma, look after Ryan. I’ll be back.” With that, I dragged Samantha to the back of the mansion, and when we reached outside I spun her in front of me harshly, making her stumble on her high heels.
“Who the hell you think you are! How dare you!” She yelled as attempted to hurl on me but my quick reflexes didn’t let her do what she wanted. I grabbed her wrist again and twisted it behind her, causing her to hiss.
“I am someone you should be scared of! I am someone who has been dying to teach you a lesson. I am someone who has been dying to break every single bone of yours!” I said through gritted teeth as I gave a sharp twist to her wrist at her back which caused her to arch her back in pain.
“You bitch, leave my hand!” Her shrill scream passed through my ears and I didn’t want to but I had to let go of her hand to soothe my ears that almost oozed blood because of her scream. Thankfully, the area at the back was empty.
“You are no one! You getting me? No one. I am warning you…Don’t you dare to cross my path again!” She pointed her finger at me and that got me. I grasped her finger and glared at her.
“I will come in your every path which leads you to Ryan! Because you don’t deserve to see him, let alone talk to him.” I snapped and slapped her finger away from my face.
Her gaze held venom and impatience of meeting Ryan so she could wash his mind but man, she was so wrong if she thought that because I would never let that happen.
“I am her mother. I have every right on him. You or anyone can’t separate me from him.”
I scoffed as I crossed my hands across my chest. My head tilted at her failed attempt to prove herself a lovely mother.
“Mother?!” I chuckled, adding full humor to it.
“What are you talking about? Do you even know what a mother is? Do you even know what a mother does? Did you, for one’s, think about being a mother when you were leaving your son behind?!” I snapped harshly.
“You-” She was cut off by me.
“No, you listen to me.” I took dangerous steps towards her. “A mother is someone that cares for her children and family. She does not just leave behind her responsibilities to fuck around.” I gritted my teeth.
“You ungrateful bitch!” She roared. I laughed.
“Bitch? Me? Hell yeah, I am!” I laughed mockingly. “I am a hella crazy bitch for women like you!” I then twisted my mouth and looked up, tapping my chin. “Well, I would give myself a credit for being a bitch with morals.” Then I faced her. “But… let’s face the reality.” I poked a finger in her shoulder.
“You are an immoral and disgusting bitch! You are a joke in the name of a mother. You are a selfish, egocentric, unpleasant, and terrible woman. You are a gold digger who just wants money and men to fuck around. You are a complete bitch package. Tell me, have you been giving classes to women like you on how to be a disgusting bitch?” I mocked her, blinking innocently.
“Say whatever you want, but this not going to stop me from taking my son back from you all.” She snapped.
“Do you really think I will let you do that?” I scoffed. “Ryan does not need a mother like you! He doesn’t know you and it would be better for him if he never gets to know you.”
“By what right are you saying this?” She sneered as she took a step near me, coming inches closer to me. “Fucking Sean does not give you rights to speak in my matters. You are not even a family member, you are just his new pastime who hasn’t yet been introduced to his parents.”
I clenched my hands in fists, drinking her every filthy word, but my patience was wearing off.
“I have every right over Ryan because I am the mother and you are nothing…nothing! And as far as Ryan is concerned, I will make my way in his heart. He is just a kid and will comply with what I will say to him. Brainwashing a kid isn’t hard…and when the kid is your own…he will succumb to whatever you say. He’s my key to luxury and I will have it, no matter what. I would like to see you stop me.”
With that, she walked past me but I wasn’t in the mood to let her walk over me. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her from taking another step but as soon as I swung her towards me- I felt a sharp sting on my face.
My jaw hung law and my hand went on my face in shock. Did she just slap me?! That’s it! I had had enough of her tantrums.
Without wasting another second, I flung my hand which landed sharply on her caked-up face. “Don’t you ever underestimate me, you getting me?” I muttered dangerously and gripped her hair harshly causing a scream to escape her throat. “Oh, it hurts, doesn’t it?” I yanked her hair again and inched closer to her. “I am not a woman to be taken lightly. If I can hurt someone just for laying hand on me…think about what I will do if they dare to cross my loved ones. I will not let you play with Ryan.”
“Leave me, you bitch!” She screamed, wiggling to escape my grip, but I was not in a mood to go easy on her. She tried to scratch my face but before she could do that I shoved and slapped her again.
She lunged onto me but I quick enough to tackle her on the ground. I kicked my legs to slip my heels off and sat on her stomach.
“I am gonna make you wish you never met me.” I was ready to break every single bone in her body but before I could start my mission I was lifted off from her by two strong arms.
“God, Lauren, leave her!” Sean pulled me against his chest in a strong grip. “This is not the right way, Lauren.” He muttered softly but I was seeing red.
“No, leave me! My hands are itching to break her bones. Leave me!” I screamed, struggling to escape his grip.
Sean Peterson
God, I love the feisty side of her. But she gets out of control when it comes to teaching someone a lesson. I had seen it at the Amusement park and there’s something common in both the fights; Ryan.
I was amazed to see how far she could go to protect the kid that doesn’t share blood with her. She was indeed an amazing- crazy woman.
She had been throwing her hands and legs furiously. Her face was red due to anger and I swear it was hard for me to calm her down. It was as though some supernatural being possessed her.
“Lauren, calm down. You got your chance to lay hands on her. Now, leave it to me.” I whispered in her ear. But did she give up? No!
“Lauren, for Ryan’s sake, just calm down! What would he think of you if he saw you like this?” I said a bit loudly, and to my surprise, she stilled. Thank heaven for that.
I saw Levi rushed to Samantha and helped her stand on her feet. “I will go to the cops and file a case of assault against you all.” She shouted, balancing herself on her feet with the help of Levi.
“Do that. I will see who wins.” I said determinedly without being affected by her threat. She would dig a deeper grave for herself by going to the cops.
Levi examined her face and then shot a glare at us-or rather at Lauren. “You!” He pointed a finger at Lauren. “Next time, keep your hands to yourself or you’ll regret it.”
I quickly grasped Lauren’s wrist who almost pounced on Levi and held her back. “Don’t you dare to talk to my girlfriend like that!” I warned him.
“Uncle Sean! Lauren!” I whipped my head in the direction of the voice only to meet with Ryan’s teary-eyed face who was clutching grandma.
I approached him and lifted him in my arms, and he didn’t waste a second to nuzzled his face in my neck. “I am scared, Uncle Sean.” He sobbed.
“No need to worry, champ. I am here with you; I am not leaving you alone.” I mumbled while patting his back soothingly.
“Ryan, baby, look at me, it’s your mamma,” Samantha spoke and made her way to me with fake concern in her eyes.
“Don’t!” I raised my finger. Ryan didn’t even listen to her. “If you don’t want to end up in prison right now, don’t you dare take a damn step forward.”
And she stopped, gritting her teeth.
“Lauren, let’s go! We are leaving.” I announced, glaring at Levi and Samantha daring them to stop me. Levi held Samantha from taking a step to stop me ’cause he knew what I could do. I then turned to grandma.
“Let’s go, grandma; I am not leaving you here.”
She wiped the moisture from her eyes and patted my face. “No dear, I have to stay here. If I don’t then who will fill you with what’s happening here? Just take Ryan with you and keep him safe.” She smiled sadly. I wanted to argue but I knew she wouldn’t agree so I nodded my head in understanding. She walked us to the car to see us off.
“Are we going to your house, Uncle Sean?” Ryan asked, raising his head to look at me.
“Yes, champ. I promised you, didn’t I?” I smiled and ruffled his hair before settling him in the back seat of the car.
“You are brave, Lauren.” I heard grandma say. I looked at her to find her looking at Lauren with admiration. “After what I saw tonight, I can trust you with my boys. Keep them safe and be safe, dear.” She patted her shoulder before engulfing her in a hug.
Lauren came to me and hugged me and it didn’t take long for me to wrap my arms around her. I pulled away and kissed her forehead but frowned when my eyes landed on her red cheek.
“Did she-?” I gritted my teeth. She nodded her head.
“I am not going to leave her for doing this to you.” I snapped and was about to march leave but Lauren stopped me.
“Hey, I took my revenge, okay? And I would have satisfied my itch to beat her more but you pulled me away.” She scowled as she crossed her arms across her chest. “You always do that to me. You stop me from releasing my anger.”
A smile approached my lips. I pulled her closer and pecked her bruised area. “I have to stop you my hulk, otherwise the beast inside you will end up killing someone.”
A blush graced her face as she laughed at my comment. She then settled on the back seat with Ryan. We reached my place in complete silence and when we entered my house, Ryan mumbled sleepily in my arms. “I want to sleep with Lauren.”
We agreed and I took him into the room that belonged to Lauren when she stayed at my place and placed him on the bed. Lauren settled herself beside him on the bed and snuggled closer to him.
I watched her kiss Ryan’s hair repeatedly, assuring her she was there for him; with him. And Ryan, in response, wrapped his arms around her waist. It was surprising to see how much he trusted her. And I loved that. I loved how he felt secure around her and I loved how she loved her.
I sat beside Ryan and rubbed his back soothingly. I couldn’t help but think about what to do next. This time I had to do something; I couldn’t take the matter lightly anymore. Ryan didn’t deserve to come in between the brutal feud.
But what could I do to keep him away from them? I felt a sharp ache in my head when I couldn’t come up with anything to keep him safe from the cruel world.
I was angry at myself for letting things go worse. Huffing, I stood up and left the room to go to my room. I walked straight to the balcony and gripping the railing with my hands I groaned in frustration.
I slumped on a chair and held my face in my palms, running my brain to come up with something for Ryan.