Chapter 635 Barbara Must Stay!
The morning sun climbed higher in the sky as the Johnson family stood outside Ryder's villa, waiting for someone to answer their persistent knocks.
"Grandpa, this Ryder fellow is truly ungrateful!" Andy shifted impatiently. "We've been waiting forever."
Andy had always carried himself with pride bordering on arrogance, particularly when it came to Ryder.
Despite Maple Group's chairman now wielding unprecedented influence after the Young family's collapse, Andy still viewed him as nothing more than a country bumpkin who'd married into their family.
'If he hadn't married into the Johnson family,' Andy thought smugly, 'would he ever have become a CEO? Hardly.'
"Grandpa," he continued aloud, "you've been standing here all morning! Making us wait like this, he's really—"
"Silence!" Anthony cut him off sharply. "What's this? Are you feeling inconvenienced? You useless troublemaker! Remember, treat Ryder with the same respect you show me!"
"Yes, yes, of course," Andy mumbled, properly chastised.
He stood quietly by the door but inwardly seethed. Was he really expected to bow his head to Ryder? Andy had thought Anthony was a man of principle, not someone who chased power and influence.
"And stop making that face!" Anthony added sternly. "We're here to visit someone who might be injured."
"Fine, fine," Andy sighed, his internal frustration mounting as time ticked by slowly.
Finally, the door opened.
Ryder stood in the doorway, stifling a yawn. He had clearly just woken up.
In truth, he'd noticed the Johnson family gathering outside around eight o'clock but had been too exhausted to respond. He'd assumed they would eventually leave if no one answered.
After falling back asleep, he was surprised to find them still waiting when he finally rose.
With Anthony among them, he couldn't ignore the family any longer—one didn't keep elders waiting, regardless of circumstances.
The moment Ryder opened the door, something unexpected happened.
Sandra dropped to her knees before him.
"I was wrong!" she cried.
Then, to everyone's shock, she began slapping herself repeatedly. The sharp sounds of her self-inflicted punishment cut through the morning air like an alarm clock, instantly clearing the last traces of sleep from Ryder's mind.
What was this despicable woman up to now?
Ryder made no move to stop Sandra's performance. She was clearly only here because the Young family—her powerful ally—had fallen.
A classic fence-sitter who switched loyalties when convenient.
Such a woman, with her deplorable character, didn't deserve to be called a mother. This self-punishment seemed far too light for her offenses.
Kneeling on the ground, Sandra grew confused by Ryder's silence. She had humbled herself completely, yet he wouldn't even tell her to stop. Wasn't she his elder, after all?
"Ryder," she continued with a tearful voice, "I know I was wrong. My vision was limited, my judgment poor. I couldn't even distinguish between good and bad people. I've failed you all! Failed Barbara! I'm not a good mother!"
Ryder remained unmoved, not even glancing at her.
Sandra's lips twitched with frustration. If the Young family hadn't been so easily destroyed by Ryder, she wouldn't be in this humiliating position.
Moreover, Anthony had insisted she apologize today, to demonstrate the Johnson family's sincerity.
Gritting her teeth, Sandra bowed deeply toward Ryder.
"I was truly wrong, Ryder! Please forgive me! It's all my fault! I lost my mind—my sanity!"
Ryder sighed with exasperation. "Apologizing to me is pointless," he said. "Your daughter Barbara is the victim. She deserves your apology."
As if on cue, Barbara appeared behind Ryder with Sarah and Rex. Ryder stepped aside, creating a path between mother and daughter. Let them resolve their own issues.
Sandra immediately crawled toward Barbara. "Barbara, mommy was wrong. I should never have approached the Young family. They're truly devils—I was deceived."
Barbara regarded Sandra with cold detachment.
Was this woman truly her birth mother? Despite knowing Barbara had lost her memory, what had Sandra done?
She had tried to push her into marriage with Tyler, knowing what kind of monster he was—just like years ago, when she'd encouraged Barbara to accompany her stepfather.
"Am I truly your biological daughter?" Barbara asked coldly.
Sandra froze, then tears filled her eyes. "Barbara, mommy was wrong. I was deceived too."
She began slapping herself again, until blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Barbara, I truly understand my mistake now!" she cried. "But you must understand—your father died so young. Everything I've done was to prevent you from experiencing what I went through. I wanted you to marry into a good family, to live in comfort and luxury!"
Her voice broke as she continued, "I know you still resent me for what happened with your stepfather. But if I hadn't made you accompany him, he would have sold you to a gambling den!"
"And this time, though I knew Tyler wasn't a good man, do you know what I endured to secure your marriage into the Young family? How I had to please Constantine..."
In essence, Sandra claimed to have no selfish motives—everything was for her daughter's benefit. Her raw confession was difficult to disbelieve.
Both Barbara and Sarah's eyes filled with tears, clearly moved by Sandra's explanation.
Barbara especially was affected, throwing herself into her mother's arms. Mother and daughter embraced, both crying openly.
After their emotional reconciliation, Barbara decided to return to the Johnson family home with Sandra.
Last night's events had triggered disturbing flashes of memory—scenes of herself flirting with Ryder.
This troubled her deeply. Sarah's heart belonged completely to Ryder, and Barbara couldn't bear to disrupt their relationship. Being around them made her uncomfortable in a way she couldn't fully explain.
A voice inside told her this discomfort stemmed from her own attraction to Ryder—jealousy toward Sarah!
This realization horrified her. How could she have feelings for her friend's husband?
No, she needed to leave immediately—get as far from Ryder as possible!
"Sandra will never change her greedy, vicious nature," Ryder said bluntly. "Barbara, are you sure you want to go with her?"
Sandra's face paled at his words, but she dared not retort. "I swear," she said meekly, "if I ever hurt Barbara again, may I go straight to hell!"
"Enough!" Barbara snapped. "Ryder, thank you for saving me, but please respect my mother!"
She was leaving anyway—why was he trying to keep her here? Her unreasonable outburst was the easiest way to make a clean break.
Ryder said nothing more.
The tension dissipated as Ryder and Sarah invited Anthony to stay for coffee. They chatted amicably for nearly an hour before the Johnson family prepared to leave.
But just as they were departing, Rex's voice rang out, "The rest of you may go, but Barbara must stay!"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
