That night was destined to be sleepless, but not because Alice had forced Ryan into anything after they got back.
On the contrary, even though Ryan had already agreed to Alice’s request, he was unexpectedly granted a reprieve. Alice decided to give him a bit more ti.
It’s often said that those involved are blind to the truth, while outsiders see things clearly. Ever since Ryan saw Nella, it was like he had beco a different person.
The way things unfolded afterward was so unusual that Ryan’s fearful expression naturally sparked Alice’s deep suspicion.
Ryan had assud Alice would sit him down for a long, drawn-out conversation, demanding he explain everything in detail.
But Alice’s actions caught him off guard. After Ryan carried her upstairs, she firmly asked for a hug and then let him go.
Alice clearly had her own plans, but she didn’t say a word about what had just happened.
“Go to the room next door. It’s all set up, you can rest there.”
“Don’t think about anything tonight. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
Ryan was a bit confused, but he didn’t want to overthink it.
He was physically and ntally exhausted, and Alice’s words were exactly what he needed to hear.
He desperately needed so rest, and more importantly, ti to figure out how to handle everything.
The side mission was just the beginning. What really troubled him was that he finally rembered who Bella truly was.
Her sweet and gentle appearance was just a mask. The cruel things she had done—there were plenty.
Four years of running, and Bella had co back, this ti with her sights set on him.
He had thought ti would smooth things over, but Bella was just like she had been three years ago, maybe even worse. Ryan barely recognized her.
Before, he could still run away, sending her off under the guise of doing it for her own good, which also kept him safe.
But this ti? Bella’s status was far above his now, and his little tricks wouldn’t work anymore.
If she wanted to do what she had done to him before, how much of a chance did he have to escape?
And this ti, he couldn’t run. Alice was involved now, and Ryan knew it was because of him that she was dragged into this.
Alice’s safety was at risk, and he was the one who had put her in danger.
From a practical standpoint, neither of them was safe. Who knew what Bella might do if she snapped?
“Miss Alice, I…”
Ryan didn’t leave right away after hearing Alice’s words. He didn’t understand why she suddenly seed to trust him so much, but even if it was just for a mont, he didn’t want to let her down.
“Stay safe. If anything happens, I’ll be there to protect you. You can trust a little more.”
Ryan had so much he wanted to say. He wanted to ask if Alice’s trust in him was genuine or just part of so plan.
He also wanted to tell her about Bella and what had happened between them. Maybe if he got it off his chest, he’d feel a little better.
But when he opened his mouth, the only thing that ca out was concern for Alice’s safety.
“Mm… I understand. I’ll rely on you a bit more.”
Alice looked at Ryan’s serious expression and nodded slightly, her suspicions deepening.
Ryan was acting way too strange. From his words, she could almost be certain that sothing bad had happened.
But she still didn’t feel the need to confront him directly. The fact that Ryan was saying this to her showed that, in his heart, she held so importance.
If this had been before, she might have been anxious. But now, she could look at things more calmly.
Ryan had secrets, and because of them, he felt guilty toward her. That’s why he was so eager to explain himself.
By using that guilt, she might be able to get more out of him. So, maybe the truth wasn’t all that important right now.
Sitting on the bed, Alice swung her legs, graceful and alluring. Ryan, however, deliberately avoided looking at her, pretending not to notice.
With a slight sigh, Alice’s mood soured a little. She knew now wasn’t the right ti.
She had briefly considered asking Ryan to move in with her right then and there. She had almost gone through with it.
But in the end, she changed her mind. There was no point in rushing things now. Ryan, in his current state, definitely wouldn’t take the initiative to deepen their relationship.
A temporary loss or gain didn’t an much to Alice—this was sothing life in the underworld had taught her. You had to think long-term.
So, she decided to take her ti and play the long ga. She didn’t know exactly what was going on, but it was clear that Ryan was in trouble—sothing far more serious than just a dia scandal.
She resolved to seize this opportunity and fully enter Ryan’s heart. If that ant making so sacrifices for now, so be it.
The clock had already struck midnight, signaling the end of yesterday. Alice yawned and waved Ryan off.
The ntal strain from earlier had worn her out. Too much had happened today, and she needed a good rest as well.
“Alright, alright, go get so sleep.”
“You’ve got to go to the hospital tomorrow, right? The lead’s been tracked down. The girl you’re looking for is at St. Mary’s Hospital.”
Alice turned her back to him, not caring that Ryan was still standing there, and began unbuttoning her dress.
Her smooth, milky-white back was exposed, causing Ryan’s breath to quicken. Before he could be affected any further, he quickly turned and left.
Alice was referring to the crane operator incident. The operator had fallen from a great height, and Ryan had traced a lead to the fact that the man had a sick daughter.
If Ryan had heard this before, he would’ve been shocked, because this was sothing he and Mia had investigated together. Alice shouldn’t have known about it.
But by now, Ryan had grown used to Alice knowing things about him. Bella’s return had already thrown his life into chaos, so he didn’t bother questioning it anymore.
Compared to what Bella had done to him, Alice’s obsession seed almost… manageable.
“Will Nella be coming with us tomorrow?”
“She will. She’s helping us handle this. As long as she’s seen in public, things will be much easier to deal with.”
When Ryan ntioned Nella, Alice’s tone noticeably stiffened, but she still answered his question.
Behind him, the sound of clothes rustling filled the room. Ryan, lost in thought, nodded absentmindedly. After saying goodnight to Alice, he practically fled from her room.
He’d been to the second floor many tis, but he had never stayed the night here.
The room Alice had prepared for him was right next door—very close. If anything happened to Ryan, Alice could be there in an instant, and vice versa.
As Ryan stepped out of the room, his eyes instinctively drifted downstairs. The maids were tidying up, and Bella was sitting on the couch, legs crossed, scrolling through her phone.
Who Bella used to be didn’t seem to matter anymore. Right now, she was the third daughter of the Langston family—wealthy and powerful.
Alice had deliberately put her in the basent, clearly as a power move. If Bella showed any displeasure, Alice wouldn’t hesitate to make things difficult for her, especially at such a critical ti.
But to everyone’s surprise, Bella had accepted it without complaint.
Ryan squinted. From this angle, he could see Bella, but she couldn’t see him.
He watched her for a mont, then let out a deep sigh. He stopped one of the maids who was cleaning Bella’s room.
“Miss Nella agreed to stay downstairs? She didn’t say anything about it?”
While the basent wasn’t much different from the rooms upstairs, it was still a clear ssage. It was a subtle way of putting Bella in her place.
Bella had been butting heads with Alice earlier, so why had she suddenly accepted this so easily?
“At first, Miss Nella didn’t like the room downstairs.”
The maid bowed respectfully, sneaking a glance at Alice’s door. She had just seen Ryan co out of Miss Alice’s room, and now her attitude toward him was almost reverential.
After thinking for a mont, the maid decided to spill everything she knew.
“At first, Miss Nella was very resistant. We couldn’t handle it, so we called the head maid.”
“I’m not sure what happened after that, but it seems Miss Nella asked the head maid so questions about you, Mr. Ryan, and then her attitude suddenly changed.”
“Now, I don’t think she has any complaints…”
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