Chapter 11
I had never been this nervous. It was ridiculous, really. Ryan and I started as a business arrangement, a contract to benefit both of us. I shouldn’t care what his family thought of me And yet, as we entered the grand estate of the Smith family, my hands felt clammy.
Ryan noticed. Without a word, he reached down and laced his fingers with mine, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. I exhaled, grounding myself in his warmth.
“Relax,” he murmured close to my ear, his breath tickling my skin. “You’re mine. That’s all tha matters. They would love you, okay?”
I nodded, forcing a small smile.
The dining hall was intimidating–an extravagant table lined with silver cutlery and crystal glasses. At the head sat Janno Smith, Ryan’s grandfather, his piercing gaze assessing me Beside him, Ryan’s father, James Smith, leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.
And then there was Jack Smith. Ryan’s older brother. His competition. The tension between them was so thick it could be cut with a knife. He sat with his fiancée, Yanna, who was visibly pregnant. She had a satisfied smirk on her lips, as if she already knew how this battle would end.
I straightened my back and lifted my chin, refusing to let them intimidate me.
Janno cleared his throat. “So this is the woman you’ve chosen, Ryan?”
Ryan didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
His grandfather hummed, observing me like a specimen under a microscope. “Interesting.”
The dinner continued, filled with polite yet veiled comments. Jack and Yanna were favored, of course. With her pregnancy, they had the upper hand in securing the inheritance.
Ryan remained unfazed. He simply nodded when Jack smirked at him. “Looks like I win this time, little brother.”
Ryan took a sip of his wine and smirked back. “We’ll see.”
His confidence made my chest tighten. It wasn’t about the inheritance anymore. I was starting to see how much I truly wanted this.
That night, back in our hotel room, I turned to Ryan.
‘If the inheritance means so much, we could just get married right away,” I suggested. “Even have a baby, so you could also get the same.”
Ryan arched a brow, amused. “Are you proposing to me?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m just saying-”
He cut me off with a slow shake of his head. “I don’t need the inheritance if it means rushing you into something you’re not ready for. I don’t want this to be about winning. Well, you should know since you already know my secret.”
I was stunned by his sincerity. I didn’t expect this. I mean, the fact that I was about to fall in love for the second time? It felt so good yet I was also scared it might not turn well. I hope that Ryan would never betray my trust.
3/3 33.3%
7:36 pm G D D D
DDD.
“You really like me, huh?” I teased.
He grinned. “I do.”
I laughed, shaking my head. But when he leaned in, brushing his lips against mine, the laughter died in my throat. Ryan kissed me like he meant it. No hesitation, no games–just raw, unspoken
emotions,
I didn’t know who moved first, but suddenly, I was in his arms, my back against the bed. His hands roamed my skin. Every touch sent shivers through me, lighting a fire deep in my core.
“Are you sure?” he murmured against my lips.
Instead of answering, I pulled him closer.
The night blurred into a fevered mix of tangled sheets, whispered names, and desperate touches. For the first time, I felt wanted–not as a possession, not as a pawn in someone’s game–but as me. And for the first time, I let myself believe that loving Ryan wasn’t a mistake.
The morning sun filtered through the curtains. I stirred awake, feeling the warmth of Ryan’s body next to mine. He was already awake, shirtless, sitting on the bed with a tray of breakfast.
“Morning, fiancée,” he said smoothly.
I blinked, groggy. “Huh?”
Ryan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. He flipped it open, revealing a stunning diamond ring.
“I don’t want this to be about business anymore,” he said softly. “I want you.”
My heart pounded. I had never expected this. Never expected to find something real in the mess of our lives.
Tears pricked my eyes. I took a shaky breath. “Yes.”
Ryan smiled, slipping the ring onto my finger before pulling me into a kiss.
I was happy. Truly happy.
When we returned to the city, the whirlwind of wedding preparations and work consumed us. I buried myself in my research project, determined to prove my worth beyond my engagement.
But peace never lasted long.
The moment we landed, my phone buzzed with notifications. The first message made my blood run cold.
Breaking News: Smith CEO’s Fiancée Involved in Forbidden Romance Scandal
I clicked the link, my breath catching.
Photos. Articles. Exposed secrets.
Me. Jayson. Our past plastered across every headline.
I felt the world spin.
People knew. Everyone knew.
My vision blurred. My hands trembled as I scrolled through the comments–accusations, disgust, judgment.
A sharp pain shot through my head. My breathing turned shallow.
7/2
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7:36 pm
The last thing I saw before everything went dark was Ryan’s panicked expression as I collapsed.
