"He is Jessica''s ex-husband." Ryan understood what I meant and exined softly, "This time, it''s time for her to learn her lesson."
At his words, I understood.
Previously, due to my grandpa''s dislike, Jessica had relied on
brazenness to attend family banquets at the Frost family''s old mansion, so I had never met Jessica''s ex-husband.
Now, treating her the way she treated others, even if it caused a scene, others would only think they were having a lover''s spat.
I believed in the principle of not offending others unless provoked, but if she wished me dead, I wouldn''t show mercy either. Seeing me lost in thought, Ryan rubbed my head gently. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head. "No."
Thinking back to the scene in the room, I still felt a lingering fear, and my hands were trembling slightly.
Ryan''s eyes darkened, and unexpectedly, I sensed a tinge of concern from him.
He patiently held me, gently rubbing my back, softly reassuring, "It''s okay now. You''re safe, I''m here."
After a while, I finally calmed down, feeling some strength returning to my body, and moved to a nearby seat.
Somewhat surprised, I spoke up, "You actually believed me."
I didn''t expected that.
1 thought when that man threw out that misleading usation, Ryan
would doubt me again, just like he did before with Jack.
1915
Furrowing his brow, Ryan asked, "When have I not believed you?"
*Jack"
"He''s different "
His voice turned cold after saying that, and he instructed the driver to start the car.
After dropping me off at Jston Summit, surprisingly, he had no intention of leaving. Instead, he apanied me upstairs and into the house.
I frowned. "Ryan, this is my home."
"You look pale." Ryan sighed helplessly. "I''ll leave once you''re feeling better, okay?"
I lowered my eyes and didn''t refuse further, heading straight to the bathroom to take a shower.
Standing under the shower, images from the hotel kept reying in my mind. Eventually, I shook my head vigorously to clear my thoughts and focused on the present scene.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.
I was home.
No outsiders were here.
After a long while, a worried voice came from outside the door."
Charlotte?"
I sniffed and opened the bathroom door. "What''s wrong?"
Ryan''s voice was gentle. "I was worried about you."
"I''m fine."
I picked up the hairdryer and started drying my hair.
+79 BOR
But maybe due to the lingering effects of the drugs,bined with just having showered, even holding the hairdryer felt a bit challenging.
Unexpectedly, arge hand suddenly fell on top of my head, took the hairdryer from my hand, and awkwardly began to dry my hair for me.
Through the mirror, the gentleness of the man behind me reached my eyes. His voice was slightly raised over the noise of the dryer, "Is this temperature okay? Is it too hot?" "Mm... It''s fine."
This scene, I had hoped for it many, many times.
But it had never happened before.
The man''s slender fingers slid over my scalp, showing no signs of impatience.
Time seemed to slow down.
"Charlotte, I''m sorry."
Suddenly, the man spoke, his voice not intentionally loud, and I couldn''t quite catch it clearly.
I looked into the mirror, puzzled, "What did you say?"
The man''s hair-drying movements slowed down, and he looked down at me with lowered eyes. His lips lifted slightly, and despite the noise of the dryer, his voice was earnest and sincere.
"I didn''t know before that you liked me. I thought you just wanted gifts. So I never paid attention to our anniversaries, or your birthday. I always waited for you to ask, watching your efforts. Charlotte, I''m sorry. When you needed me most, I was never by your side. I took you for granted, never considering you might leave too. Charlotte, I''m sorry. I don''t dislike you, I just..."
Suddenly, he lifted his eyes, meeting mine through the mirror. His eyes were reddened by the hot air, direct and passionate.