Unexpected Marriage With Mr. Leighton: Rebirth of the Villain-Chapter 301: DEPRESSION (3)

"I tried to love her, but it was so difficult that I ended up doing the wrong thing that I couldn’t undo."

The night was rather chill, and the sky was gloomy as the conversation grew heavy. It was not hard for Greyson to admit his wrongdoings. He had to put aside his ego and do the right thing.

Ranon may not be able to see it now, but Greyson had been in his shoes decades ago. And even though their situation was not precisely the same, the premise was similar, and Ranon showed the same stage he had had so many years ago.

He might treat Ashlyn well now, but the resentment would only build as time went by, especially because Ashlyn resembled Hazel so much, and Hazel also died for her daughter.

The thought of ’what if’ would continue to haunt Ranon, lingering even in his waking moments.

"Give Ashlyn to me, and I will allow you to visit her as much as you please. This is the best decision that you can make for her, for you, and for all of us." Greyson was not being forceful; he was simply stating the facts.

Ranon reached into his pockets, looking for his cigarette, but forgot that he had quit and only found his Zippo there.

"No," Ranon replies curtly.

"I have been in your shoes before. I know how it feels, and I know what you will become." Greyson wiped his face roughly. "Hazel’s death hit all of us hard. Think about it again. I will ask you again in a week."

"The answer will be the same, Greyson." Ranon turned to look at the city view. This was Hazel’s favorite view. "Whether you will ask me again in a week or a month, I will not change my mind."

"Ranon, you are being selfish here."

Ranon really wished he had his cigarette. "I will allow you to visit her as much as you please," Ranon replied with the same words that Greyson used. "Drop it, Greyson. I don’t wish to talk about this matter again. Ashlyn will stay with me. There’s no question."

Greyson shook his head. "Your condition will not get better with her close to you. You will always remember Hazel and blame it on Ashlyn. I have been there and done that. You will turn into the hateful version of you, and when you regret it later on, it will be too late."

"Hazel and Ashlyn’s situation is almost similar." Ranon had a difficult time mentioning her name, but he continued with his words. "But you and I are not the same. I love my daughter, but you didn’t."

Greyson was pissed when Ranon said that. He gritted his teeth. "You don’t have a say in how I feel about my daughter. I loved her; even now I love her. I made a mistake, and I admitted that; but to say that I don’t love my daughter is too far-fetched."

"You don’t love Hazel, Greyson. All you have for her is regret, and now you want to atone for your sin by taking Ashlyn away so you can make amends for what you have done to Hazel. You may love your daughter, but your regret is bigger."

Ranon looked at Greyson sharply, as if he could see through his soul, and this made Greyson avert his eyes. He tried to find the right words to say so that he could snap back at Ranon, but he couldn’t find any.

Because the words Ranon said resonated with him to some degree.

And when Greyson had nothing else to say, Ranon walked away. He left Greyson with his own thoughts out there.

However, when Ranon stepped in, he saw Laurel eavesdropping on their conversation. She was not even ashamed when he caught her.

"What did he say? Did he try to take Ashlyn away again? You will not give Ashlyn to that old man, right? I am going to punch you, Ranon, if you do it. I will take her with me if you give her up to him." Laurel was furious. "I didn’t hear your whole conversation. You were talking too low."

Ranon frowned when he heard Laurel’s rambling, but she became even more upset when Ranon didn’t say anything.

"Say something!"

"I thought you wished I were mute."

Laurel slapped Ranon’s back in her annoyance. "Stop talking back to me; I am still your older sister."

Ranon’s frown deepened. Laurel was not playing when she smacked him. It seemed that she used all of her strength.

"He asked for Ashlyn."

"I knew it!" Laurel was furious. "Then, what did you say? I will strangle you this time if you say you will give her up!"

"I said no. Ashlyn will be with me." Ranon then looked at Laurel as she praised him for making a good decision. "Laurel."

"What?"

"Thank you."

***

"Someone is here, Sir," Cam said through the phone while Ranon was playing with Ashlyn. They had returned to the penthouse for a week now, and Ashlyn was thrilled to get her room back.

However, she would sneak into Ranon’s bedroom to sleep with him, or she would stay in his study when he was still working.

Ashlyn was exceptionally clingy to Ranon, but still, she refused to say anything.

"It’s Lyle. Lyle McKenna," Cam said in a stern voice. He had a face-off with this man a long time ago when Ranon was hospitalized because of the car crash.

Ranon said nothing for a long moment before he told him that he would meet with him.

Lyle McKenna had been MIA for the last few weeks since the death of his sister, Olivia. Even his family didn’t know his whereabouts.

But now he appeared on Ranon’s doorstep. That was suspicious. His men could have shot him.

"I will go for a while, okay?" Ranon caressed Ashlyn’s head when she noticed he was going to leave his study and approached him.

The little girl jumped up and down, asking her father to pick her up while raising both of her arms.

"No, I can’t take you. Stay here with Renna."

Ashlyn shook her head and kept jumping up and down. Therefore, without any other choice, Ranon picked her up and brought her to the living room.

His study was now filled with her toys. Laurel didn’t help when she bought whatever she found cute in the store to give to Ashlyn.

Laurel was rather upset when she learned that Hazel had donated all of the toys that she had given Ashlyn when she was born.

It took Ranon more than fifteen minutes before he finally managed to convince Ashlyn that he would come soon.

And now, she was playing with Renna.

When Ranon entered the multipurpose room in the building, he saw that Lyle was being surrounded by three of his men; all of them pointed their guns at him, while Lyle was sitting calmly. He didn’t do anything to provoke these men into blowing his head off.

"What do you want?" Ranon asked.

"I have the information that you would like to hear," Lyle said. He stood up, and the three men who pointed guns at him immediately reacted. "Put your guns down; I am here to help."

"You wish," Cam grumbled. Mrs. Leighton had fought this man before, and he learned that he was dangerous.

"Put the guns down, and leave."

"But, Mr. Leighton."

"Leave," Ranon said sternly.

Cam looked hesitant when he gestured for his men to leave the room. He had checked on Lyle, and he didn’t have anything harmful with him; that was the only thing that could make him feel relieved. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

When it came to a fight, Ranon was not an easy opponent; Lyle would have been seeking death if he had really looked for a fight.

"What do you want?" Ranon asked when it was only the two of them.

"I can disclose all the secret places that Axel Duncan and my family have been using to avoid your men." Lyle didn’t beat around the bush. Upon closer look, he appeared very haggard. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was unkempt.

"And? What makes you think I will take your offer?" Ranon had also gathered the information on his part. Apparently, the McKennas had hundreds of properties under different names, which were difficult to track down.

"Because I am done with that family."

***

It took three hours of conversation with Lyle before Ranon could return. It was not as soon as he had promised Ashlyn.

But Ranon assumed his daughter was still awake and had her dinner.

But Cam told him something when he walked out of the room. "Mrs. Leighton is here."

Ranon stopped walking and looked at him with a frown, asking for an explanation. "Laurel?" If Laurel came over, there was no need for Cam to inform him.

"No, it’s Ema Leighton," Cam replied.

Ranon’s jaw clenched. "Next time, don’t call her Mrs. Leighton," he said sharply.

And when he walked in, Ranon saw Eilon there, playing house with Ashlyn in the living room, while someone was talking in the kitchen.

Ema had brought her son here.

When Ashlyn saw her father, she immediately rushed toward him and hugged his leg. Ranon then bent down to pick her up.

His daughter was still exceptionally heavy...

"Have you eaten?" Ranon wanted to take Ashlyn to her bedroom, but she shook her head. "No?" Ashlyn should have eaten by now.

And from the direction of the kitchen, Ema came with a big smile on her lips. "Dinner is ready."