Chapter 403

In that instant, I felt like prey being stared down by a tiger, pinned in place by the overwhelming pressure. Steadying myself, I offered Mr. Jennings a composed smile and raised my glass. “Mr. Jennings, let me toast you.”

Mr. Jennings didn’t put me on the spot in front of everyone. Instead, he said, “I’ll finish mine; you do as you please.” He drained his glass in one go.

“Mr. Jennings is already standing up for his nephew’s wife,” someone teased.

“Edward, looks like your uncle approves of you and Ms. Murphy,” another chimed in.

“Quiet type, but you sure know how to pick a stunner,” someone else added.

Teasing remarks filled the air, but they were all just for show.

My nerves were all over the place. I took a sip of my drink and looked over at Mr. Jennings.

Mr. Jennings set his glass down and turned to everyone. “I need to handle something upstairs. Have fun, everyone.”

As soon as Mr. Jennings left, the mood picked up again. Ryan had been drinking, and his fair, jade-like features were tinged with a rosy flush. He had that dangerous charm unique to someone his age—his gaze was captivating, burning with a fiery intensity.

Someone turned on the music, and in an instant, the air was thick with romance as a dreamy melody filled the room. A few couples nearby were already getting ready to dance.

Ryan lowered his gaze to me, and since I’d already accepted his invitation, it’d be awkward to refuse now. He reached out his hand, and I placed mine in his palm. He gave it a gentle squeeze, then slipped his other arm around my waist. I knew these basic dance steps by heart, and Ryan spun me gently around the floor, never rushing. The lights dimmed, making the atmosphere even more intimate. The chemistry between us was undeniable.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Isabelle Lynn lounging on the couch, chatting with a few girls. Every so often, her gaze would flick over to me. You could just feel that subtle tension between women—no need to guess, it was in the air.

It was obvious Isabelle wasn’t happy about me and Ryan being together. She probably thought I wasn’t worthy of Ryan, especially since she knew I’d been divorced. The look on her face screamed she was itching to play homewrecker.

“You stepped on my foot,” Ryan said with a teasing chuckle, his voice close to my ear.

It hit me that I’d been spacing out. I quickly apologized, “Sorry, I’ll pay more attention.”

Ryan’s smile grew even more mischievous. “So, what would it take to keep you from drifting off?”

Under his gaze, my heart felt like it was on fire, and my face grew warm. “I… I don’t know,” I mumbled.

Ryan was clearly getting flirty, his mind already wandering to more intimate thoughts. He leaned down and pressed a kiss just below my ear. “You have such cute earlobes,” he murmured.

The focus I’d worked so hard to keep nearly vanished. The moment his lips touched me, my steps went all over the place again.

“They’re like delicate little pearls,” he said, tilting his head and using his height to get a better look at my earlobe.

I shot him a playful glare. “Weren’t you the one who said we should focus? Why are you still sneaking glances?”

Ryan and I drifted off the dance floor, his arm around me as he led us further away from the crowd. Before I knew it, he grabbed my hand and made a quick escape to the side hall. My heart was pounding—I had no idea where he was taking me.

He led me down the corridor and out to a spot with a massive glass wall, behind which stretched a sprawling aquarium teeming with life. In the tranquil glow of the lights, the fish glided lazily through the water, blissfully unaware of the little world they called home.

“Wow…” I was completely blown away by the sight.

Ryan chuckled beside me. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

I was so caught up in the underwater world that I barely registered his question. I nodded, still staring in awe. “Your uncle sure has some serious resources.”