Chapter 833

These past two years in business, I’ve met all sorts of shady characters. Whenever I start thinking love matters most, just mixing with those cutthroat, selfish types is a real wake-up call.

When Edward and I parted ways, he handed me a business card, told me that if I ever ran into trouble, I could count on someone for help.

There were a few times I ran into serious trouble and nearly reached out for help, but in the end, I wound up hustling on my own, throwing money at the problem, and never had the guts to ask Edward for help again.

Those two school buildings make things easier for the students to come. Edward’s generosity is really about laying the groundwork for the next generation.

I pulled my gaze back just as my phone buzzed with a call from Ryan. “Where are you? I just landed. Can I still make it to dinner?”

I quickly texted him the restaurant’s address. “Come on over. I’ll be waiting at the entrance.”

The wedding back home was packed with family–every aunt, cousin, you name it. Out of everyone there, I somehow ended up feeling the most pressure about the whole thing.

To these relatives, I was already doing well for myself. But in the eyes of the older generation, it didn’t matter how much a woman earned–if she wasn’t married, she was never really settled.

Right at the entrance, I got surrounded by a squad of female relatives, each trying to lecture me about my life. Someone offered to set me up with a boyfriend; when I refused, they all jumped on me, saying I must think their pick wasn’t good enough.

There was no way I could win against all of them talking at once. And since my parents still needed to keep things friendly with the family, I couldn’t just lose my temper and walk away.

Just then, a clear male voice rang out behind me. “Vic, were you waiting for me?”

I turned to see Ryan standing there in a sharp black trench coat–tall, good-looking, and his whole vibe just screamed quiet confidence.

One of my aunts leaned forward, curiosity all over her face. “Victoria, and who is this?”

Without hesitation, I stepped up and wrapped my arm around Ryan’s. “He’s my boyfriend.”

The whole group’s eyes went wide in shock. “So you really do have a boyfriend? No wonder you shot down all our matchmaking attempts earlier!”

Another aunt chimed in, “So what does your boyfriend do for a living?”

I smiled. “He’s a soldier.”

“A soldier, huh? So you’re gonna be an army wife? I hear that’s a tough gig. Sometimes your man’s gone for a year straight. You really think you can handle that?”

Ryan just stood there, looking speechless and kinda deadpan.

I just waved it off. “I can handle it.” Then I grabbed Ryan’s hand and led him upstairs.

Once we were in a private room upstairs, I motioned for Ryan to take a seat.

He gave me a quick once-over, then cracked a smile. “So, someone was trying to set you up with a boyfriend earlier?”

I let out a nervous laugh. “Nah, just some small talk.”

Ryan’s expression shifted, a hint of jealousy creeping in. “If I hadn’t shown up, were you really gonna go on a blind date?”

I raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “Not a chance. I’ve got you, and that’s more than enough for me.”

Ryan had always been easy to cheer up, and that one line from me instantly put his mind at ease.

The wedding was super lively–my brother finally got hitched, and my parents couldn’t stop grinning.

Jared originally planned to show up, but asked if I was okay with it. After I told him I’d already invited Ryan, he didn’t push–he just had someone bring Yvonne over instead.

When my parents saw Ryan, they could practically read my mind.

Ryan had a few drinks, so I suggested he head back to the hotel to get some rest. Meanwhile, I stayed behind to help my folks see our guests off.

My mom didn’t waste any time–she asked, “Isn’t that Ryan? Vic, are you still in touch with him?”

I nodded and said, “Mom, you’ve been asking if I’ve got a boyfriend lately, right? Well, I’m with him now.”

My mom broke into a smile. “He’s changed, hasn’t he? Last time he looked just like a student, but today he seems so much more mature.”

I nodded. “Yeah, he’s spent two years in the military–he’s matured a lot.” I remembered how my mom used to think Ryan was too young for me, but this time she didn’t bring it up at all.