Chapter 15

"Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns." -Leigh Bardugo "Ryan, your dad-" "Good afternoon to you too mum." He greeted her, his mother, who was fidgeting with her black gloves and the small handbag gripped tightly in her hands. As usual Mirena Thorpe was looking as exquisite as ever in a black skirt suit and black kitten heels. Black stockings covered the entirety of her legs, from her knees, down her calves to the toes that were peeking out from the little openings at the front of her open-toed pumps. Her blonde hair was short, cropped, and as yellow as the blonde locks on her son's head and beneath the bangs were a pair of startling blues that Ryan must have inherited. "I wish we had the luxury of that, but your father-" "I know mum." Ryan cut her off. "He plans on cutting me off and to be honest, I do not care." "Don't talk like that! With Lennita in Veterum, you are our only heir and I can't afford to lose you too." "That would have to be your choice mum. Tell me, do y