The Billionaire's Silent Wife (Ryan and Eve) novel Chapter 187

Chapter 187 The Mansion and the Arrest

The Ashbrook mansion looked the same as it always had, too perfect, too bright, too untouchable.

Even with police vehicles lining the driveway, even with officers moving through the gates and up the steps, the building kept its arrogance. Marble that had never known hardship. Glass that reflected the world without letting it in. A house built to look like nothing could stain it.

Ryan stood at the front of the line, jaw clenched, body rigid with the kind of restraint that felt like it might crack. Tevin hovered to his left, expression sharp, scanning the windows. Maxwell stood to Ryan’s right, silent and solid, a presence that dared anyone to mistake this for a bluff.

Chief Claude stepped forward and knocked.

The sound echoed.

A beat passed.

Then another.

The door opened.

Jonathan Ashbrook appeared like a man dragged out of his sleep and instantly furious about it. His hair was dishevelled, his shirt half-buttoned, and his eyes, normally controlled, polished, were burning with

outrage.

He took one look at the police and then his gaze snapped to Ryan.

“You bastard,” Jonathan spat.

Ryan didn’t flinch.

Jonathan’s voice rose, filling the entryway. “You good-for-nothing,” he stepped forward, face twisting with contempt, “, teaming up with an outsider against your own family.”

Ryan’s mouth tightened. “Outsider.”

Jonathan jabbed a finger toward Steven, who stood a little back, eyes red and wild. “Him. The snake who’s been poisoning our family for years.”

Steven’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. His attention was too fixed on the doorway, too desperate for Alissa and Eve to be alive for pride to matter.

Ryan’s voice was low, controlled. “My wife is missing.”

Jonathan scoffed. “Your wife,”

“My wife is pregnant,” Ryan cut in, cold. “And she’s missing.”

Jonathan’s face twisted. “And you think your mother,

“Yes,” Ryan said, the word flat. “I do.”

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Chapter 187 The Mansion and the Arrest

Jonathan’s eyes widened slightly, then hardened. “You’re insane.”

Ryan’s gaze didn’t waver. “Leah took Eve.”

Jonathan’s mouth curled. “You would accuse your own mother because your little wife ran off,”

“If I must choose between my mother and my wife and child,” Ryan said, voice cutting clean through, “the

choice is easy.”

The words landed like a slap.

Jonathan froze.

Tevin’s eyes narrowed, impressed despite the horror of the moment. Maxwell’s posture didn’t change, but

the air around him sharpened.

Jonathan’s lips trembled with rage. “How dare you.”

Ryan stepped closer. “How dare she.”

Chief Claude raised a hand slightly, calm and firm. “Mr. Ashbrook, we’re here to speak with Mrs. Leah

Ashbrook.”

Jonathan’s laugh was bitter. “Speak? You’re dragging police into my home because of a rumour.”

Chief Claude’s gaze stayed steady. “It’s not a rumour.”

Jonathan’s eyes flicked to the officers behind the chief, then back to Ryan. “You did this.”

Ryan didn’t deny it. “Yes.”

Jonathan’s face contorted. “You,”

Footsteps sounded from inside the mansion.

Soft. Slow.

Then Leah appeared at the top of the staircase.

She was dressed in a sleeping robe, cream silk, belted neatly, hair loose as if she’d just woken up in perfect elegance. Her eyes were red, but Ryan could see the performance even in the tears. Leah cried the way she did everything: with control.

She paused on the landing, one hand to her chest like she was startled by the sight of police in her home.

“Oh my

God…” Leah whispered, voice shaking. “Jonathan, what is,

Her gaze slid down, found Ryan, and widened with deliberate hurt.

“Ryan,” she breathed, like she couldn’t believe her son would do this to her.

Ryan felt something cold twist inside him.

He didn’t call her Mum.

Chapter 187 The Mansion and the Arrest

He didn’t soften.

He stepped forward into the foyer, eyes locked on her. “Where is Eve.”

Leah’s lips parted. “What?”

Ryan’s voice tightened. “Where is my wife.”

Leah blinked, tears spilling in a way that looked too perfect to be real. “Ryan, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ryan took another step, and Tevin moved subtly, ready to grab him if he lunged.

“Don’t lie to me,” Ryan said, voice low and lethal.

Leah’s expression crumpled. “Lie?” Her voice shook. “Ryan, why would I,”

“Because you were at the tower,” Ryan cut in.

Leah froze for half a second.

It was small. A flicker. But it was there.

Then she recovered, tears thickening. “Tower? What tower? Ryan, you’re scaring me.”

“Good,” Ryan said, and his voice held no sympathy. “Because I’m done being scared of you.”

Jonathan took a step toward the staircase, voice rising. “Leah, don’t listen to him. He’s, he’s lost his mind.”

Leah looked down at Jonathan, trembling as if she needed him. “Why would Ryan say something like this?

Ryan’s jaw clenched. “Because my wife is missing and your brooch was found at the abandoned tower.”

Leah’s eyes widened in theatrical shock. “My brooch?”

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