Chapter 328

I blinked, then squared my shoulders. No matter how perfect Ryan seemed, I couldn’t let myself be the weaker one in a relationship. If I gave him an inch, that would be trouble. “Lying about what?” I replied with a faint smile.

“You’re using this as an excuse to turn me down,” Ryan said, and was about to cry. “Just because I’m younger than you, you think I’m not good enough, right?”

Before I could even answer, Ryan continued, “Why won’t you just give me a chance? It’s not my fault I’m younger, and being young doesn’t mean I don’t know what love is.”

I looked at that stubborn look on his face, my mind suddenly a mess. Ryan’s feelings for me ran even deeper than I’d ever imagined.

I felt a wave of unease, but managed to keep my composure. “Ryan, I’ve been divorced. I’m not the right person for you. We shouldn’t get emotionally involved.”

Ryan froze for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and gave me a gentle hug, keeping a polite distance between us.

“Victoria, I know this might sound crazy, but I like how I feel when I’m with you,” Ryan said, on the verge of tears.

I gently pushed him away, meeting his gaze with a serious look. “Ryan, don’t be like this. We aren’t right for each other.”

Ryan looked completely crushed, staring at me in disbelief. “No, you’re gentle, wise, graceful, always smiling at people. I love the way you make me feel.”

I was honestly stunned. I never imagined that, in Ryan’s heart, I could be such an incredible woman.

Sure, those were my strengths in my previous life, but Jared never saw them that way and even left me because of them. I couldn’t believe Ryan would appreciate me.

My eyes grew misty. Sometimes, having someone’s firm love felt great, but other times, it was just too much to handle.

“You’ve got it wrong. All those good qualities you see in me are just a front,” I said, forcing myself to break Ryan’s fantasy.

“But you pull it off so well. If you keep it up, maybe one day you’ll be that gentle,” Ryan retorted.

I let out a soft laugh, then looked at him and asked, “Ryan, were you starved for love growing up?”

Ryan just nodded and asked, “How did you know?”

His honesty caught me off guard. “For motherly love?”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, that’s right.”

“That’s not real love, Ryan. Ever heard of imprinting? Sometimes, if you looked up to someone as a kid, you end up attracted to people like them when you’re older. But what you’re feeling is more like dependence or just trying to fill some void inside you. It’s not actually love.”

Ryan looked lost for a second, then replied coolly, “People love to put labels on love, but for me, there’s only one kind. If I like someone, that’s what I want to love.”

I felt helpless and didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t teach a mature child to distinguish between true and false love. “Ryan, just calm down,” I said, glancing at my watch. “I need to get to the hotel.”

“Victoria, you don’t have a boyfriend, right?” Ryan called out, trailing behind me.

“No, I do,” I said. I moved on from Jared, and Nathan was good for me. He would never be clingy or overbearing, just always there for me.

“Is it Nathan?” Ryan’s face went pale in a flash.