Yvonne, ever the sharp one, caught on immediately. She propped her chin on her hand and grinned. “Isn’t my mom super pretty?”

Ryan shot me a look, like he was silently begging for help.

I quickly walked over and said softly, “Yvonne, don’t say silly things.”

Yvonne just let out a little “Oh.”

Just then, the doorbell rang again. Yvonne hurried over to open it – this time, it was Quinn.

As soon as Quinn walked into the living room, her eyes went straight to Ryan.

Her face lit up, and she remembered teasing him last time, trying to get his name, but he totally ignored her.

Now, she gave me a suspicious look. “Why is he here? Is he still working for you?”

Clearly, Quinn had no clue about my connection with Ryan. If she’d ever bothered to ask Jared, she wouldn’t be asking that. “No, he quit. We’re just friends now,” I replied.

Quinn flashed a sweet, harmless smile and plopped down next to Ryan. “Hey, I’m Quinn. Last time, you didn’t tell me your name.”

“Aunt Quinn, that’s Ryan,” Yvonne piped up.

“Jennings is your last name?” Quinn raised her eyebrows in surprise, then grinned playfully. “Wait, don’t tell me you’re secretly loaded or something.”

Ryan looked a bit awkward and shrugged. “Nah, just a regular family.”

Quinn’s no fool. Seeing Ryan at my place, she was definitely running through all kinds of scenarios in her head.

“So, what’s going on between you two?” Quinn asked, not bothering to play nice now that she knew Ryan wasn’t some secret millionaire.

Ryan answered without hesitation, “I’m chasing her.”

Quinn’s face fell. She got up, walked into the kitchen, and quietly closed the door behind her.

She shot me a look, clearly annoyed. “Victoria, are you really picking up a boy toy now?”

I smirked. “What’s the big deal? Got a problem with that?”

“Of course I do! You should’ve known – he’s totally my type,” Quinn huffed, getting even more upset. “I liked him last time, so how could you just take him for yourself?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Well, looks like we have similar taste in men.”

“Victoria, you’ve got no shame! Using my brother’s money to keep another guy around – have you lost your mind?” Quinn was practically fuming.

I raised my hand to shut her up. “Let’s get one thing straight – Ryan’s just my friend. So stop barking like a mad dog in here.”

“He literally just said he’s chasing you!” Quinn snapped, her face flushed with anger. “If you weren’t leading him on, he wouldn’t dare say that!”

Honestly, Quinn was so clueless, totally missing the bigger picture.

“Do I even need to try? Just standing here is enough for him to fall for me.” Thinking about all the crap Quinn gave me in my previous life, I wasn’t about to play nice.

“You… I knew it! You’re just a natural-born vixen!” Quinn spat, her teeth clenched.

“Well, not everyone is born to be a vixen,” I retorted with a scoff.

Quinn was so mad she was practically speechless. Just then, Yvonne ran over and opened the kitchen door. “Aunt Quinn, are you arguing with my mom again?”

“Go on, kiddo, you don’t understand,” Quinn muttered, not daring to argue in front of Yvonne – she knew Jared would scold her if he found out.

I snuck a glance at Ryan sitting on the couch. He looked weighed down, his handsome face completely blank, lips pressed into a tight line.

I was so used to his carefree, easygoing vibe – seeing him suddenly so brooding and intense, it unsettled me a bit.

“Quinn, just take Yvonne home. Don’t make your mom worry,” I said, trying to hurry her along.

But Quinn wasn’t ready to leave. She walked over to the couch and leaned in toward Ryan. “Hey, Ryan, why don’t you try liking someone else?”

Ryan looked at her like she was crazy, his voice icy. “You mean you? Sorry, but I’m not into airheads.”

Quinn didn’t expect him to be so blunt. She stood there, stunned, for a long moment.

“If you’re blind, go see an eye doctor,” Quinn snapped, grabbing Yvonne and storming out.

Yvonne didn’t even get to say goodbye to us.

I saw them out to the door, listening as the elevator doors slid shut.

With a slight frown, I closed the door behind them. As I turned around, I nearly collided with Ryan, his cool, minty scent brushing past me.

I looked up, meeting his deep, smoldering gaze. The next second, without a word, he caught my chin and pulled me into a fierce, uninvited kiss.