Suddenly, guilt struck Ryan. He realized how harsh his words had been earlier. His throat tightened with remorse. Yes, this was Carrie''s way of showing her love.


    He had only seen it as ordinary pastries and focused on her injury,pletely overlooking her heartfelt effort.


    As her soon-to-be husband, he was failing miserably.


    "It wasn''t that good anyway. If it''s ruined, then it''s ruined." Then, Carrie''s smile suddenly brightened like a clear sky after a storm, though it still carried a hint of reluctance. "Next time, I''ll make it for you again." Before she could finish speaking, Ryan began picking up the shattered pastries from the floor, eating them piece by piece without hesitation, savoring them meticulously.


    "Yum! It tastes so good! I''m at a loss for words... Your cooking is amazing, honey!"


    Despite his mouth being full, Ryan found room to praise her. "Honey, will I be lucky enough to eat this every day? Oh, no, that''d be too much work for you. I''ll be satisfied with just an asional treat!" "They fell on the floor. They''re dirty. Don''t eat them!" Carrie blushed in panic, wanting to reach into his mouth and take the food out.


    "Nah, it''s not dirty at all."


    Ryan hurriedly stuffed thest piece of the shattered panda pastry into his mouth, swallowing it all before narrowing his eyes with satisfaction. "Honey, I want more. Do we have any left?" Carrie''s eyshes fluttered slightly. "There''s no more. I only made these..."


    "But I didn''t get enough of it. What do we do then?"


    Ryan''srge hand suddenly encircled her slim waist, pulling her into his embrace with a domineering grip. His voice was husky and alluring. "Then, why don''t you let me have a full meal in bed tonight?" Carrie leaned against his solid chest, lightly biting her soft lips and nodding shyly.


    After bandaging Carrie''s wound, Ryan called Yasmin to the study.


    "Did you notice that Carrie seemed a bit off?"


    Ryan leaned back on t


    Sis gaze somber. His s


    picked up a ss


    "Yeah, she probably overheard our conversation. But... I don''t know how much she heard."


    Yasmin''s brow furrowed with concern. "Mr. Hoffman, don''t you think Ms. Carrie is especially afraid of Zoe?"


    As Ryan recalled how that wretched


    girl had bullied Carrie when he was not home, he nearly ground his mrs to dust. "That incident likely left a psychological trauma on Carrie She has autism and is timid. How could she endure that kind of torment? Now that Zoe is back, you must be extra vignt when I''m not around. Do not let her get near Carrie. Alright?"


    Yasmin could not shake off the feeling that something was off between Carrie and Zoe.


    She could not pinpoint it exactly, but her strong intuition told her there was more to the story between Carrie and Zoe.


    "Tsk, why is it so hot in here? Is the air conditioning off?"


    Ryan started panting heavily, his long neck gradually turning red. "I''m feeling so restless all over..."


    Suddenly, Yasmin remembered something and quickly nced at the wall clock.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    The timing was just about right.


    "Yasmin!" Ryan felt a zing fire igniting in his lower abdomen, immediately bing suspicious. He red at her.


    Seeing the man''s increasingly


    peculiar and watery gaze, Yasmin


    quickly backed away and


    stammered, "M-Maybe... You had


    too many oysters. I still have a lot of work to do. So, I''m leaving now!"


    Ryan''s breath was heavy. He clenched his teeth as he alternated between frustration and amusement.