I was stumped by his question. ‘Come on, some people just like to shower in the morning, okay? Is that even a real question?’
Feeling a bit guilty, my eyes darted away. Instead of answering, I shot back with a question of my own. “What are you doing here so early?”
Ryan’s gaze grew darker as he focused on my tightly wrapped shoulder. In the next moment, he reached out and took hold of my silk scarf.
I held my breath, staring at him in disbelief as he pulled the scarf away.
“What are you doing?” I asked, baffled.
I wasn’t even wearing a bra, and with my cover gone, he got an eyeful of my chest.
I tried to snatch the scarf back, but Ryan stepped closer, examining my pale neck and collarbone intently.
“Ryan, what the hell are you doing?” I pushed him away, not liking the way he was looking at me, like I was his property.
After checking, he handed the scarf back to me. “Put it back on.”
I quickly snatched the scarf and threw it back over my shoulders, tying a knot to cover myself up.
Before I could get another word out, Ryan suddenly fished my hairpin–snapped clean in two–out of his pocket. “Recognize this?”
The moment I saw that hairpin, my breath caught in my throat. I stared at him, completely stunned.
Ryan, in that slow, deliberate way of his, asked, “Did Uncle Ryan give you a hard time?”
I never thought Ryan would actually know everything. For a second, I was totally at a loss for words, just standing there like a deer in headlights.
“As long as you’re not hurt, that’s all that matters. I know Uncle Ryan doesn’t want us together,” Ryan said, flipping the situation and trying to comfort me instead.
That just made me feel even more guilty. ‘I’m really not even worthy of him. How could I ever deserve someone as good as Ryan?’ I thought, feeling like absolute trash.
“Ryan, I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I struck a deal with your uncle… I think we need to break up.”
Ryan’s eyes flickered with surprise, and for a few seconds, he just stood there, silent. Then he spoke, guilt heavy in his voice. “Don’t apologize. I’m the one who dragged you into a life you never asked for.”
I stared at him, completely taken aback. Damn, Ryan was just too good to me. He didn’t blame me for anything–instead, he was blaming himself. My eyes stung with tears.
“Why not just call me greedy? I asked your uncle for a bunch of outrageous demands just to get away from you. Ryan, you should hate me. I’m just that calculating and materialistic–money means more to me than people ever could,” I blurted out, my emotions a total mess.
People say the best thing is not to defend yourself when things happen, but Ryan’s just too good to me. I can’t even bring myself to make excuses anymore.
Ryan reached out and gently pulled me into his arms. His voice was rough as he whispered in my ear, “When you’re up against someone as domineering as my uncle, how could you ever have a say? I don’t hate you, and I don’t blame him either. You were both just looking out for yourselves in your own way.”
“Ryan, just how much do you know?” I couldn’t hide my shock. I’d always thought he was just an innocent guy.
But honestly, growing up in a place like his, how could he ever be naive?
With those dangerously good looks and that angelic face, you’d never guess he was a total fox at heart.
Ryan kissed my forehead, gave my back a gentle pat, then let go and walked over to the couch. “I know Uncle Ryan’s always got ways to split us up. He might find some random guy to fake-marry you, or try to buy you off so you’d leave me. These moves? Old news. I’ve seen it all.”
I just stood there, staring at him, realizing for the first time how unfathomable and intimidating Ryan really was.
“So you knew all along? Were you just sitting back, waiting to see what I’d do? Were you testing me this whole time?” I asked, unable to shake this strange sense of defeat.
It felt like I was just a lab rat, totally clueless about the danger surrounding me.