Chapter 76
The servant nodded quickly, relief flashing across her face at having a directive to follow. I was already turning to leave when I added, almost as an afterthought, “As for where to take him, whether it’s a hospital or a graveyard, I don’t care.”
Without sparing him another glance, I walked away, the sound of my heels hitting the wet ground. blending with the rhythm of the rain. I didn’t notice how Ryan’s body seemed to shrink in on itself, his eyelashes trembling slightly as if some part of him had cracked, perhaps beyond repair.
The next morning, as I made my way through the school gates, I couldn’t ignore the subtle tension in the air. The school buzzed with whispers as students stood in small clusters, their eyes darting from person to person as if waiting for something significant to happen.
But I was used to that; they always seemed to talk when I was around.
Entering the classroom, I was surprised to see Ryan already at his desk. He was slumped over, head down, his usual icy expression back in place as though nothing had happened the night before.
However, something was different. A dark bruise marred the corner of his mouth, stark against the paleness of his skin..
I paused for a moment before speaking, my curiosity getting the better of me. “What happened to your face?” My voice was level, but inside I wondered if the servants I’d sent had been a little too rough. It couldn’t be that, right?
Ryan lifted his head slowly, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a mixture of anger and disdain. His lips curled into a bitter smile. “What, you want to help me again?”
His voice dripped with sarcasm. “Fine! Give me a few million! My mum owes a lot of gambling, debts! How about you give me a few million, and I’ll fall in love with you?”
His words stung, though not in the way he probably intended. His mocking eyes pierced through me, but I held my ground. “I just asked a casual question,” I said calmly, “and here you are asking for
millions.
As if falling in love with me is worth that much.” I shrugged, pretending his words didn’t affect me.
Ryan’s expression hardened. He looked away, lowering his head once more, sinking into that
familiar darkness I had come to associate with him.
Linda, who had been watching the exchange from across the room, approached with a concerned
Chapter to
fook on her face. She sat on the edge of Ryan’s desk, her eyes soft with worry. “Ryan, what happened? How did you hurt your face?” she asked, her voice gentle. “Are you okay?”
Ryan didn’t even bother to look at her. His voice was as cold as ice. “Pretty good,” he muttered, dismissing her concern without a second thought.
Linda seemed flustered, her voice lowering into a nervous whisper. “It doesn’t matter if you lost the game yesterday,” she said, trying to bridge the gap between them. “I’m not like Sophia. I don’t pretend to be better than anyone…”
I could tell from the way she spoke that she was trying to gauge his feelings. She was probably worried that Ryan and I had spent time together the previous night. Her jealousy was thinly veiled, but she kept her tone light.
Ryan remained silent, his eyes fixed on the desk in front of him. I could sense his mood darkening. by the second. He must still be upset about what happened with his mother. That much was clear.
Linda’s expression shifted, a flicker of vulnerability passing over her face. Her voice was shaky now. “Ryan… If… if you want to be with Sophia, I’ll understand. I support you no matter what.”
Ryan finally lifted his gaze to meet hers, his lips curling into a cold smile. “You’re overthinking it,” he said sharply. “I have no interest in Sophia, and I’m not going to be with her.” His voice was louder than usual, almost as if he wanted everyone in the classroom to hear him.
Whispers erupted around us. People glanced in my direction, expecting to see some kind of reaction. They must’ve thought I would be upset by Ryan’s words, but I didn’t give them the satisfaction. I remained calm, indifferent even, as though his declaration meant nothing to me..
At that moment, Lirian walked into the classroom. He sat down beside me, his presence warm and comforting in contrast to the chilly atmosphere. “Hey,” he greeted me with a smile, and I found myself smiling back, unable to help it.
The murmurs around us grew louder. “Now that Sophia has Lirian, it’s only natural that she doesn’t care about Ryan anymore,” someone whispered.
I saw Ryan stiffen a little at the comment, but the gossip didn’t stop.
