《Ryan Morgan: Love Contract》


 Chapter 1 - Choose One

    Bzzz, bzzz¡­


    It was already morning when a sudden buzzing resounded in one of the University dorm rooms. The place was small and tidy but the air was stale as if no one opened the window inside for days. The noise came from the phone that vibrated on a nightstand, annoying the only resident of that flat.


    ¡°Mhmm¡­¡±


    A young man, sleeping on the bed next to it, woke up in an instant but instead of standing up, he instinctively reached out with his arm and lazily turned off what sounded like an alarm. He went back to sleep right after, covering his face with one of the pillows to block the sunlight from the windows.


    His name was Ryan Morgan and he was twenty-three years old student of a fifth-year in University. Despite his handsome features, he was currently single from reasons even he couldn''t explain. His cute dimples and clear blue eyes could get the girls'' attention but his weird uncontrollable actions were enough to push them away.


    Laying down, he thought he can return to his dreamland when the phone vibrated once again, making him realize it was someone calling him instead.


    Ryan had no choice but to sit up and take the call, knowing only a few people would call him on this number.


    His mother was one.


    He fixed his messy brown hair by putting its long strands behind his ears and accepted the call, seeing it was her.


    ¡°Hi Mom¡­¡± he said weakly, his voice having morning hoarseness to it.


    Ryan didn''t know what to expect but out of instinct, he pulled the phone away at safe distance from his ear before his mom could even speak. It turned out to be a life-saving move.


    "How long do you plan to sleep! It''s past noon already!" His mom''s shout hit him like a hurricane and even with the distance, his ears itched from irritation.


    He wanted to respond but his mom shot words like bullets from a machine-gun, not giving him time to speak.


    "I don''t have time for your excuses! Check the email I sent you!"


    "Now...?" Ryan replied after a soundless yawn, knowing exactly what answer he would get.


    "Yes! Now!" His mother shouted back, living to his expectations.


    "Okay, okay, I am doing it now. Give me a second," Ryan calmed her down and put her on speaker as he quickly switched to his mailbox on the phone.


    He knew his ears would hate him for that later but he had no other choice. Ryan spotted his mom''s email as it was the most recent one he got and opened it with a tap. To his surprise, it was empty aside from three files attached to it.


    Each had a different female name as the title of the attachment: Emma, Jennie, and Lisa.


    He tapped on one of them and was shocked to see a picture of a beautiful girl with a whole big description of herself. With just one look he knew her measurements, what and where she studied or what she liked. Everything he would want to know about her was there.


    Before he questioned, he glanced at the other two and saw similar profiles. What they all had in common was how pretty all three were and finished the best schools in the country.


    "What are those¡­?" Ryan asked surprised, not really getting why she was showing them to him.


    "Did you check the files already? Perfect! Tell mommy which one you choose." His mom got excited.


    "Huh? Choose what?" Ryan asked confused only to open his mouth wide and pretend to be shocked. "Don''t tell me you joined mafia and I am helping you choose our next target?"


    His mother didn''t share his sense of humor and immediately scolded.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "Idiot, of course not! Just pick the one you like!"


    "Okay, tell me, is it kidnapping or a simple mobbing? I can''t blindly pick like that," Ryan continued to troll her, finding it fun.


    She didn''t take it well and immediately warned, "If you continue to spurt nonsense, I will drive over to your dorm and beat your ass! We are not kidnapping the girls! Those are your girlfriend candidates!"


    "Pfft! Hahaha!" Ryan momentarily burst out laughing from his mother''s joke to the point he would spill and choke on water if he was drinking any.


    "Girlfriend candidates?" He asked to confirm if he had hearing problems or not. It was the last thing he would expect his mother to say.


    He thought she will shout again but his mother called out to him in her fake sweet voice instead, "Yes, exactly. Your mother took care of everything as she knows you are struggling to find a girlfriend. You are welcome."


    All warning controls in his brain lit up, immediately realizing that something was wrong.


    His mom was never sweet to him before.


    "I can sense your scheme from a mile away. What are you planning? Who are those girls and why are you suddenly telling me to find a girlfriend?" Ryan questioned seriously before sending a warning. "If you don''t tell me, I will hang up the call."


    "Wait! Don''t!" his mom called out anxiously. "I was going to tell you anyway after your pick. Why are you so impatient?"


    "Tell me what''s going on? I am not going to pick anything until you spill the beans." Ryan placed a condition, giving his mom no choice.


    His mom had no choice but to give up and say the truth. "Alright. The truth is your grandma called yesterday. She said she will come back to our hometown next week on Valentine''s Day. She wanted to meet all her grandsons and their second halves."


    "The rich grandma who left ten years ago?" Ryan recalled the face of his grandma. "Let me guess. You told her that I have a girlfriend. Am I right?"


    He knew his mother''s well enough to know it was the truth. She also instantly admitted, "Of course I did! Karen already said both her boys have wives! How could I say you don''t even have a girlfriend after your grandma brought it up? I would rather jump off the building than admit Karen is better!"


    "Anyway, that''s not all. There is a reason why she is coming back. She wants to pass on the ownership of her company to one of her grandsons and the meeting next week will determine who gets it," his mom explained, hitting him with the explosive news.


    "Wait, what¡­? Really? But isn''t her company about make-up and fashion? I don''t think any of us would know how to lead it well," Ryan asked surprised.


    He studied Business and Management at University so he somehow knew how to manage a company but the fashion world was special. Being self-aware of his skills, Ryan knew the company wouldn''t do well in his or his two cousins'' hands.


    They led their own companies but in completely different markets. One had a car dealership and another was into real estate. They weren''t made for the fashion world.


    "That''s why your grandma wants to see your wives instead! She plans on choosing her successor from your lovers!" His mom finally revealed the main goal of her grandma.


    Hearing it, Ryan could only shrug. "Well, too bad. I don''t even have a girlfriend. Seems like I am out of the race," he muttered indifferently.


    His mom didn''t seem like an easy person to reject as she immediately added, "This is why I came to help you! We can''t let my ugly sister win! I already found you, three perfect candidates, you just need to pick one. It shouldn''t be that hard, right?"


    Ryan was happy that his mother wanted to help him but he already found the catch.


    "Won''t I need to be with that girl for the rest of my life afterward? Do you expect me to make such a decision in just a week? It''s not possible mom." Ryan would rather pass on this opportunity than be with someone he doesn¡¯t love.


    Seeing that didn¡¯t work, his mom changed her tactic, playing on his feelings instead.


    "So you are giving up and letting Karen win? Is that how you repay me for all the years I raised you? Can''t you just try to meet any of the girls I gave you? They are really nice. Maybe you will fall in love at first sight? You shouldn''t say no before you try to meet at least one of them. Please Ryan, do this for mom."


    "Sigh¡­ You and your competition with Auntie¡­¡± Ryan let go of the air in his lungs, collapsing on the bed. He couldn¡¯t reject his mom when she was begging him like that. ¡°Fine, I will at least give it a try. You won''t stop nagging me if I don''t. Just know that If I don¡¯t like any of them, we are done with this."


    His mother seemed to be satisfied with it as she quickly exclaimed, "Great! Pick one and we can meet her tomorrow! I am waiting for your phone-call then! If you win, we are going to be rich!"


    "Is that so?" Ryan already had a headache, regretting he agreed to it.


    "Of course! Your grandma''s brand is one of the best in the world! You wouldn''t understand even if I told you so just know you have to do your best to win. Call me when you have your choice!" His mom explained further and hang up on him right after, not giving him a chance to ask more.


    "Damn¡­ I always knew she is rich but she is on another level¡­¡± Ryan cursed, scared of what he actually signed up for.


    He barely remembered his grandma¡¯s face as it has been a long time she was gone. She left ten years ago with her small wealth and now she is coming back out of nowhere, planning to give her world-class company away. That wasn¡¯t a turn of events anyone in his family could imagine.


    ¡°I guess this week is going to be interesting.¡±

 Chapter 2 - Unexpected Encounter

    Standing up and giving his body a nice stretch, Ryan glanced at his phone where the girls¡¯ profiles were opened and after a second thought, he threw it on the bed. His brain needed some fresh air first. He walked towards the window and pulled on the curtains to let in more light inside the room.


    The sun rays fell on his naked chest, exposing his carved abs and fair skin to the world. Many girls envied his smooth and spotless skin but even if they asked, he also didn¡¯t know how it was possible. With all the junk food he ate on a daily basis, anyone would think he would get sick but he was perfectly fine.


    He opened the window and fresh air immediately blew on his face. With a big breath in, he emptied the stale air from his lungs. He felt much better after a couple of wafts but it was still not enough to feel refreshed.


    ¡°Maybe I should shower¡­?¡± Ryan muttered, brushing through his hair that turned a bit greasy already but decided to go for a quick run instead. His morning jog was the minimum exercise he did in his life and it seemed to be working well for him.


    It wasn¡¯t like he planned to talk to any girls on the way so he only put on his yesterday¡¯s outfit and a red hoodie to cover himself. He was used to walking in joggers almost everywhere so it was also his go-to fit for a run.


    He left his phone behind and locked the room, leaving the window slightly ajar to ventilate the room. It wasn¡¯t like he had anything expensive inside so even if a robber broke inside, he would leave disappointed. His phone was also old and cheap.


    Even though his Grandma seemed to be filthy rich, Ryan was struggling financially since he moved out to study at the University. He didn¡¯t ask for money from his parents and his grandma left the country ten years ago so he also got nothing from her. Even if she was sending some money to his parents, he didn¡¯t see any cent of it.


    ¡°Where should I run today¡­?¡± Ryan asked himself out loud, leaving his dorm. He could go for a run at the University Track but it was boring. He preferred to explore different parts of the city during his workout.


    He looked left and right, licked his fingers to check the direction of the wind only to choose the path at random. Stepping out of the campus area, he began running alongside the main street, somewhere he rarely went.


    Despite the day being a sunny Sunday, it was still a bit chilly outside in this early spring weather so there were very few people on the streets. It was a perfect day for his jog though. He ran past two intersections only to discover something interesting.


    ¡°Huh? This wasn¡¯t here before¡­¡±


    He saw a newly build a road, as clean as if it was finished just yesterday. The pavements barely had any dust on them. In the distance, on both sides of the road, a row of fancy villas were built with an automatic lawn mowers cutting the grass in their front yards.


    ¡®Is that the new residential area for rich people they talked in the news recently? Maybe some rich peeps already moved in there,¡¯ Ryan thought, his body instinctively turning to change his course. He was curious by nature.


    Passing only five or six properties, he couldn¡¯t help but get envious by the amount of greenery in the area. Every two or three villas, there was a small park for the residents to chill and rest amidst various colorful flowers and bird sounds.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t tired yet, he sat down on the bench inside one of the parks. He bent his body backwards and totally gave in to the relaxing songs of the hidden wildlife.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡®It must feel nice to be rich¡­ They can enjoy it everyday¡­¡¯ Ryan thought as he closed his eyes, giving up on continuing his run. He found the perfect place to relax and think about his future.


    He was placed in front of an unusual situation. He had to either find a perfect girlfriend for himself in the next week or choose one from his mom¡¯s candidates. Now that he thought about it deeper, if he actually won and inherited the company, wouldn¡¯t that mean he has to marry that girl?


    A person he knew for a week and he would be forced to spend the rest of the life with her. Even though getting so much money sounded nice, Ryan didn¡¯t think he would trade his happiness for any amount of money.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Ryan took a deep breath and finally decided what he will do.


    He didn¡¯t like the whole situation but he will at least try to meet the three girls. There was always a slight possibility that he will like at least one of them. After all, recalling their beauty from the pictures, all of them surpassed his minimum standards.


    The breeze was so refreshing that Ryan didn¡¯t was to move. There was literally no one in the area so he took off his hood as well to catch some wind on his face. His cursed luck struck him with perfect timing as at the same time, someone came out from the corner of the side street, running straight in his direction. To make matters worse, the person seemed to be a young woman as well which he guessed based on the skirt she wore.


    ¡®...¡¯ Ryan didn¡¯t know what to comment on that and reached towards his hood, planning on putting it back on but his hand halted mid-way.


    He realized something was wrong with the girl.


    She was sprinting with full speed as if she was running for her life while keeping her head down. In this position, she wouldn¡¯t be able to see where she was going and looking at her skinny build, he didn¡¯t think she would last long.


    ¡®Something must have happened¡­¡¯ Ryan went into his alert mode, glancing behind the girl to check if she was chased by someone but there was no one. He stood up, waiting for the girl to pass him so he can maybe ask if she was okay and coincidentally, she stopped right in front of his bench.


    Hu¡­ Hu...


    The girl supported herself on her knees, breathing hurriedly. Ryan guessed she emptied her energy tank with that sprint. Just what he expected would happen.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ryan asked politely, checking her out. She wore an elegant short-sleeved white blouse and short blue skirt with a logo on it, probably from one of the private Universities he had no knowledge about. Just from her bodily proportions, he guessed she was around his age.


    Her long brown hair was all messy, falling down across her forehead which made it impossible to see her face.


    Sniff...


    The girl sobbed and reached out to wipe her face before standing straight, glancing in his direction. She was crying! Her eyes were all red and cheeks covered in tears. She looked at him with her blue eyes as if she needed help but didn¡¯t know how to ask for it.


    Ba-dum!


    Ryan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, stunned by her gaze. He was a person who hated to see women cry, especially if they were beautiful. She couldn¡¯t hide her beauty even with the messy state she was in.


    She opened her cherry-soft lips to speak but a sudden melody disturbed her. She looked down and it was her phone which vibrated in the pocket of her shirt. It had two small chains attached to it with cute bears at the end that jiggled each time she moved her chest.


    Instead of picking up, she grabbed onto the edge of her skirt and squeezed the material, waiting for the call to end. The phone stopped vibrating but in the next second, another call connected.


    It was after two more calls like that when Ryan finally spoke up. ¡°They won¡¯t stop calling unless you pick up. They might be worried about you,¡± Ryan said with a soft smile, sitting on the bench to see her face from below. Based on her state, he figured out she might have ran away from home after a fight with her parents.


    Surprisingly, the girl listened and pulled out her phone. She already calmed down a bit and tears stopped falling down her cheeks.


    ¡°What do you want¡­?¡± She asked as she accepted the call, her voice weak but pleasant.

 Chapter 3 - Rose

    Even though Ryan was far from her, he could still hear the caller on the other side of the phone.


    ¡°Rose! Where did you run off to! Please come back quickly!¡± A mature female voice called out worriedly.


    Rose, which seems to be the name of the girl, tightened her fist and firmly declined, ¡°No. I¡¯m not going back. You two will only start with your matchmaking again. I¡¯m tired of it.¡±


    ¡°Honey, we are doing it for your own good! Quickly tell me where you are. Dad is already searching for you,¡± her mother informed.


    Rose looked around to see if her dad was anywhere and he was nowhere to be found, she called out, ¡°I¡¯m going to meet my boyfriend right now. I don¡¯t want to see any of you.¡±


    Her mother quickly asked back, ¡°Rose, sweetie, what boyfriend are you talking about? Since when you have a boyfriend?¡±


    Stomping with her foot, Rose shouted into the phone, ¡°I told you guys many times that I have one but you never listen!¡± She looked both upset and angry.


    ¡°We will believe it once you bring him home,¡± her mom replied calmly. ¡°Right now you must come back home. It¡¯s cold outside yet you came out wearing summer clothes. You will catch a cold.¡±


    Rose seemed to be fed up with the talk and yelled into the phone, ¡°No! I¡¯m not going back! Don¡¯t call me anymore!¡± Immediately after, she ended the call and quickly turned off her phone. She breathed out deeply after she was done, keeping her phone away.


    Ryan didn¡¯t know how to react to such a situation, the scene looking like a drama show. Rose stood there with her head lowered, probably feeling the same way as he did, having an empty mind.


    He noticed her arms were shivering and he didn¡¯t hesitate to take off his hoodie. ¡°You can wear this. It¡¯s a bit chilly today,¡± Ryan proposed as he passed it to her.


    She didn¡¯t expect that and looked up at him, staring at the red hoodie with confusion. ¡°But we don¡¯t know each other,¡± Rose muttered, finding it weird he was so kind to her.


    ¡°And? Does it matter? I have a hoodie and you are cold. It¡¯s okay to share,¡± Ryan explained with a shrug.


    ¡°But won¡¯t you be cold then¡­?¡± Rose asked further, making Ryan roll his eyes.


    ¡®Gosh, it¡¯s so hard to be a gentleman in this world,¡¯ he lamented in his mind and stood up, walking up to her. He caught her by surprise when he grabbed her by the wrist and extended it forward only to place the hoodie on her palm.


    ¡°Here, take and wear it. I won¡¯t take no as an answer,¡± Ryan ordered and returned to his bench, wearing only his T-shirt. It was creased and sweaty but he didn¡¯t care much, knowing it was the right thing to do.


    Rose squeezed the material of the hoodie and hugged it into her chest. It was the first time Ryan saw her smile. It was gentle and innocent, like a lone field flower that broke through the layer of concrete to witness the world above.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Rose muttered sweetly and bowed politely, dazzling Ryan with her smile.


    He was out of words for a moment, thinking he could watch this smile for hours.


    ¡°You are welcome¡­¡± he replied softly, shamelessly staring back at her.


    She found it embarrassing so she turned around, wearing the hoodie to hide. It smoothly slid onto her body as it was a few sizes bigger than her. It reached up to her thighs, almost covering her skirt.


    Rose only turned around after a minute or so, showing herself to him. ¡°How do I look?¡± She asked with a cheerful smile, completely different than her previous crying self. Her eyes were still slightly red but as long as she didn¡¯t rub them anymore, she would regain her pretty face.


    ¡°It looks good on you. A bit big but that makes you even cuter,¡± Ryan replied honestly, not thinking much of it. She already had a boyfriend so he didn¡¯t try to hit on her.


    He didn¡¯t expect though that she would blush from his simple compliment. ¡°Mhmm¡­ It¡¯s warm¡­¡± she muttered quietly.


    ¡°If it¡¯s smelly, I¡¯m sorry. I was running earlier,¡± Ryan warned just in case but she shook her head. ¡°No, no. It¡¯s fine. I like this smell.¡±


    Only afterward did she realize what she just said, blushing even harder. There was no rewind button in real life.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Ryan found her quite amusing but he didn¡¯t tease her. He relaxed on the bench as if he didn¡¯t hear her response. It allowed Rose to recover after a few breaths. She seemed to be battling in her mind, thinking of what to do and finally decided to sit next to him.


    It would be awkward to just sit in silence so Ryan planned to start a conversation but she was first to open her mouth.


    ¡°My name is Rose,¡± she introduced herself, reaching out with her hand for a handshake. The sleeves were too long so her hand was inside his hoodie. She realized her mistake and wanted to fix it but he already grasped her hand.


    ¡°I know, I heard by accident,¡± Ryan admitted as he shook her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Ryan.¡±


    He stared into her eyes as he introduced himself, catching her gaze for a second but she looked down to avoid it.


    ¡°Ryan¡­ I will remember. I¡¯m sorry you had to listen to the call,¡± Rose apologized. ¡°It¡¯s rarely like that¡­ Only recently they started acting weird.¡±


    ¡°Marriage proposals?¡± Ryan asked curiously, leaning casually against the bench while staring at the sky.


    She was quiet for a moment only to nod gently, ¡°Mhmm¡­¡±


    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Ryan couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Fate brought them together as both struggled with the same problem.


    Rose pouted and hit him on the arm angrily, ¡°What are you laughing at¡­ It¡¯s not funny! I¡¯m suffering here!¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m not laughing at you. I laugh cause I¡¯m in a similar situation. Fate can really play pranks at us,¡± Ryan explained, rubbing his arm where he received a hit.


    ¡°Oooh! Your parents also want you to marry?¡± Rose exclaimed, finding it hard to believe. ¡°Also, I¡¯m sorry for hitting you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Ryan waved with his hand and vaguely explained, feeling comfortable around her, ¡°I have three candidates to choose from and I learned about it today.¡±


    ¡°They gave me five¡­¡± Rose admitted, hugging her legs into her chest. ¡°They think finding love is like grocery shopping. They say pick one as if I¡¯m picking apples from the stand. I get sick when they mention it.¡±


    ¡°You will be fine. You have a boyfriend, right? Just explain it to your parents and they will understand,¡± Ryan advised, hoping at least she will be able to find her own true love.


    ¡°Boyfriend¡­ hmm¡­¡± Rose replied, putting her cheeks against her knees. She got quiet after that, not saying anything further. She looked sad and Ryan didn¡¯t know what to do to cheer her up.


    Out of nowhere, a sudden urge appeared inside his mind. He reached out with his hand and patted her on top of her head, giving her hair a soft rub.


    Rose¡¯s body froze and she suddenly pulled away from him, making a safe distance between them. His hand hovered in the air and he slowly retracted it.


    ¡®Damn¡­ I gave in to my urge once again¡­ Will I ever learn to resist it¡­?.¡¯ Ryan cursed in his mind.


    Just now, he just really wanted to cheer Rose up and couldn¡¯t help but to pat her. It has happened to him many times in the past where he would randomly show his affection to either his girlfriend or a friend. Seeing his girlfriend acting cute, he would often give in to his desires and kiss or hug her, not caring about the people around them.


    Because of that, he had some problems and ruined many relationships. In their culture, public display of affection was frown upon which made it hard for him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I saw you are sad and wanted to cheer you up¡­¡± Ryan apologized as he stood up. ¡°I guess it¡¯s best if I go now.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Rose quickly called out to stop him, knowing he thought she was offended. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I was just surprised¡­ Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    Unfortunately, even after she assured him, he didn¡¯t change his mind.


    ¡°I should still go. It¡¯s not your fault, it¡¯s my problem,¡± Ryan insisted. He didn¡¯t want to do something else by accident. She was just too cute at times which triggered his affection urges.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± She didn¡¯t argue with him and also stood up. ¡°Wait a moment, I will give your hoodie back¡­¡±


    She began taking it off when Ryan stopped her. ¡°No need, you can keep it. It¡¯s still cold outside. You will catch a cold. I live in the dorms nearby so I will be fine.¡±


    ¡°Then if we meet again, I will return it to you. I live nearby too,¡± Rose agreed without fighting, seeing he wouldn¡¯t budge on it even if she tried.


    ¡°Mhmm, if your boyfriend sees it, just say it¡¯s from a friend,¡± Ryan proposed and finally got moving. ¡°See you!¡±


    He made a few steps, preparing to run when a hand caught his shirt from behind.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Rose shouted.


    He turned around to look at her and saw she was looking down. ¡°Is there something else?¡± He asked, seeing she wanted to tell him something.


    Rose waited a moment before lifting her face, looking at him with guilt on her face and admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend¡­¡±


    Ryan didn¡¯t expect that. ¡°So you¡­¡± he asked, trying to establish some facts.


    ¡°I lied to my parents. I initially wanted to ask my friend to pretend to be my boyfriend but realized my parents know all my friends¡­¡± Rose confirmed his guess.


    Vroom!


    Just as she spoke, a sound of the incoming car reached them. When Rose glanced behind Ryan and saw the brand of the car, her eyes widened.


    ¡°My dad is coming!¡± She suddenly exclaimed in panic.


    Ryan wanted to turn around on instinct to check but she stopped him by holding his arms still. ¡°Please hug me!¡± Rose pleaded, looking closely into his blue orbs.


    ¡°You need to stay away¡­ If you come closer, I won¡¯t be able to hold back¡­¡± Ryan warned weakly, his heart beating like crazy. Her soft lips were at the arms length away from him, making his urges spike up.


    He could still control himself, but Rose didn¡¯t listen.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t hold back!¡± Rose implored and seeing the car was pulling up to them, she reached forward, hugging his chest tightly.


    Ba-dum!

 Chapter 4 - Desire

    Ryan¡¯s hands shivered and throat dried up. He swallowed his saliva instinctively but it didn¡¯t help him much. His mind was under control just a moment ago but a sudden urge began filling it completely, slowly stripping his leadership role.


    ¡®Hug her¡­ Hug her...¡¯ His own voice kept resounding in his mind like a devil luring him to perform bad deeds.


    Everything he felt intensified, teasing and seducing him into giving in to his desires. He couldn''t find words to describe it but her whole body was like an aphrodisiac.


    Her soft fingers that moved on his back, leaving burning traces which didn¡¯t go away.


    Her ample chest that pressed against his own, rubbing with each hurried breath she took.


    Her heart that pounded rapidly, matching his heartbeat as if they were a pair of horses galloping through the endless grasslands.


    Her sweet fragrance that entered his lungs with each waft of air he took, soothing and relaxing his body.


    How could he escape from the jail she set up for him? How could he resist giving in to his desire?


    Ryan couldn¡¯t answer those questions as his mind already entered another world, having only Rose and him as its center. He wanted to take her everything and finally broke, letting his desires lead him. His arms moved first, slowly closing in towards her bottom.


    Rose seemed prepared for any of his actions but when his hands covered her butt, gently grasping it, her eyelids trembled. She clenched her fingers on his shirt as if a sign of her disapproval and he lifted his hands, making her think he stopped.


    In reality, he never stopped from the beginning.


    Step by step, his palms skimmed upwards from her butt as if he was savoring the perfect shape and firmness of her body. Even though Rose wore a hoodie, she couldn¡¯t hide the tenderness of her belly as he glided his thumbs on her sides, tickling her in the process.


    Ryan was in his own wonderland, letting his desires lead him but Rose was panicking internally. She didn¡¯t expect her spontaneous decision would lead to such an outcome.


    ¡®Ahh¡­ Why does he touch all over¡­ Just simply hug me¡­¡¯ Rose cried out to herself, hiding her flushed face by laying her head on his shoulder.


    She could hear her dad already stopping the car next to them so she had no other choice, forced to hide in his embrace. No other man touched her this way, her most intimate moment so far being a normal hug.


    His big and warm hands crept upwards, seizing her whole upper body as if it was his to caress and explore. She didn¡¯t know from where did he get the confidence to treat her like this but then she recalled her own last words.


    ¡®Please, don¡¯t hold back¡­ Aaah! Why did I say it?!¡¯ Rose lamented, not expecting he would take her this directly. ¡®Should I stop now¡­?¡¯


    Ryan¡¯s hands were already around her chest area and his thumbs would soon reach her breasts. Knowing what happened with her butt where she could still feel his touch, she would rather avoid it entirely. She wasn¡¯t used to such sensation, not fully decided if she liked it or not.


    Her idea from the start was to convince her parents that Ryan was her boyfriend and she didn¡¯t lie but for some reason, his dad acted weird. She expected him to come out of the car in an instant and break them apart but he didn¡¯t make any moves yet.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    She recalled the pictures of multiple men her mother placed in front of her earlier and made her decision.


    ¡®Just a bit more¡­ I can¡¯t give up now¡­¡¯ Rose thought, taking the future in her hands. ¡®I won¡¯t let them control my life¡­ Never...¡¯


    Ryan couldn¡¯t hear her thoughts and continued the journey around her body, sliding his thumbs on her side-boobs before embracing her, rubbing her back with both hands. His face buried in her hair and he finally calmed down.


    They have been hugging for more than a minute in such a position and Rose realized something.


    She didn¡¯t dislike it.


    The was no discomfort throughout her body despite the long hug. She felt warm, cozy and safe, the last one being a surprise for her. Ryan was after all a stranger.


    ¡®Since when am I this shameless¡­?¡¯ Rose asked herself, knowing her old self would never lead to such a situation.


    She didn¡¯t know how many minutes passed when her mind completely relaxed. She stopped thinking about her dad waiting in the car or all of her problems. After this whole time, she could finally say she enjoyed this long hug.


    Just when she realized it, something in Ryan changed. He turned around while holding her, facing the car with his back and started entwining his left hand into her hair. At the same time, he leaned over and kissed her earlobe, slowly pulling her away from his neck.


    They eventually switched their places as his lips found their way onto her neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses behind. He was so gentle and delicate that only after his second love bite did she awaken from her dreams.


    He was kissing her neck!


    Before she could react, Ryan attacked her once again, being more aggressive in his third kiss. He moved his hand onto her neck, holding onto it on one side while strongly kissing the other, pulling on her skin as he sucked on it.


    Ah¡­


    A soft, uncontrollable moan left her mouth as she dug her nails into his back. She immediately blushed, surprised by her own reaction. She didn¡¯t think of pushing him away but instead moaned, enjoying it.


    During her confusion, Ryan kissed her neck once again, repeating his actions. She finally wanted to act and stop him when she suddenly froze, hearing the sound of a car window being opened.


    ¡®My Dad!¡¯ She exclaimed, recalling that her dad was still in the car, waiting for her this whole time. She didn¡¯t hesitate and pulled her hands to the front, sliding them in between Ryan and her with the intention to separate them. Ryan was still holding her tightly, kissing and sucking on her neck despite an obvious danger.


    ¡°Rose,¡± a solemn voice reached them from the car. ¡°Are you done?¡±


    Hearing it, Rose panicked, pushing Ryan away. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t that easy as she thought. She only separated them enough to see his face and wanted to push more to get away from him but halted when their gazes interlocked.


    She has never seen such a strong desire in anyone¡¯s eyes like his at that time.


    Ryan¡¯s lips were trembling from excitement and his eyes looked at her as if he wanted to swallow her whole, like a wolf holding his prey by the neck right before eating it.


    Just as fear began filling her body, Ryan blinked a few times as if he just woke up and the never-ending desire in his eyes disappeared. It got quickly replaced by helplessness.


    ¡°I warned you¡­ I can¡¯t control it¡­¡± Ryan muttered as he let her free, staring at her with guilt. His kind and gentle gaze was back which let her breathe again but she was left with many questions that bothered her.


    ¡°Rose?¡± her dad¡¯s voice reached them once again, stopping her from questioning him on the spot.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± She called out across Ryan¡¯s shoulder and ordered while poking him on the chest with her finger, ¡°Stay here, don¡¯t move anywhere.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t let him go this easily after what he did to her.


    Covering her neck with a part of her hood, she ran up to the black limousine parked on the side of the road and saw the face of her dad at the backseat window, looking sternly at her. Despite being above fifty years old, he had lush long black hair that even she envied him. Rose expected him to scold her but he stared at her calmly.


    ¡°Is that your boyfriend you talked about¡­?¡± Her dad asked after a moment of silence. He spoke quietly enough so Ryan couldn¡¯t hear him.


    Rose glanced behind at Ryan, wondering what she should say but in the end, she nodded, knowing her dad would go mental if she said he wasn¡¯t. There was no return from the path she chose.


    Her dad only glanced at Ryan and didn¡¯t question her further. Instead, he suggested something else.


    ¡°How about you invite him for dinner? I will talk to your mother about this.¡±

 Chapter 5 - Pretend

    ¡®Damn¡­ I did it again¡­ This time I¡¯m not getting out of it easily¡­¡¯ Ryan cursed in his mind, watching Rose¡¯s back as she leaned against the limousine. He could still feel the warmth of her body on his fingers and her sweet smell lingering on his shirt.


    Just based on the car her father used, Ryan could guess Rose lived in one of the nearby luxurious villas while being one of the rich young misses. Even if her dad couldn¡¯t put him to jail for his action, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to create problems for him if he wanted.


    Sigh¡­


    ¡®If only she resisted earlier¡­ I would be able to stop myself before anything happened¡­¡¯ Ryan lamented as he breathed out deeply.


    It was the only reason why Ryan still didn¡¯t think of himself as a bad person. Each time his urges spiked up, he couldn''t control himself but he was conscious of his actions nonetheless. His mind was cloudy and filled with desires but the moment he feels any resistance from a woman, all of his urges magically disappear as if he was never under its influence.


    The scene from a moment ago could be an example of this phenomenon. Once Rose pushed him away and showed a sign of fear in her eyes, his movements halted. In just a few seconds he returned back to normal as if a part of him was always controlling the situation, only pushing forward if the other partner wished for it.


    If there was nothing that could hold him back, Ryan would rather prefer to stay locked up just in case. He would hate himself if he ever hurt anyone.


    Vroom!


    The sound of the car engine snapped him out of his thoughts. The car window lifted with Rose still being outside of the vehicle and drove away, leaving the two alone. She slowly turned around and just as he expected, she started glaring at him.


    Rose walked up to him step by step and poked him on the chest upon reaching him. ¡°Do you have any idea what you just did?¡± She asked sternly and began recounting, stabbing her nail into his skin for each offense he did.


    ¡°You groped my butt, touched me all over my stomach and felt my breasts. You didn¡¯t finish at that but also started kissing my neck. You did all that in front of my father who watched from the car. Do you know how embarrassing it was¡­?¡±


    She watched his face closely as she spoke, checking what reaction he would have and he showed nothing but a guilty and helpless expression. He wasn¡¯t in a position to justify his actions.


    Her cheeks were still flushed so he imagined the embarrassment she felt, being a pure girl she was.


    ¡°Do you have anything for your defense?¡± Rose asked much softer this time, suddenly looking down with her long brown hair covering her face. ¡°I know you warned me before I hugged you but I still think you went too far¡­¡±


    Ryan resisted an urge to pat her head by stepping away from her and admitted how he felt, ¡°There is no question that I¡¯m guilty. Even though you said I don¡¯t need to hold back, I indeed went too far for which I apologize. I will take any punishment you have as long as you can forgive me.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    This couldn¡¯t be solved differently other than asking Rose for forgiveness.


    Rose finally looked up at him as if she heard the words she wanted to hear and smiled gently. She opened her mouth to speak when Ryan suddenly realized something.


    ¡°Wait¡­ Why did you hug me in the first place¡­?¡± He asked confused, recalling all the events. Nothing would happen if she didn¡¯t hug him out of nowhere.


    He stared at her and saw panic in her eyes. Her expression looked as if she got caught at stealing candy from the forbidden drawer after she was told not to.


    It was his time for questioning but Rose cut it short as she grabbed his wrist and called out, ¡°Come with me!¡± She pulled him without saying anything and he didn¡¯t resist, speechless.


    He finally understood why she did it after recalling her words just before her father¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Rose¡­ Don¡¯t tell me you¡ª¡± Ryan tried to confirm his guess but she interrupted him midway, crying out without turning back, ¡°Because I didn¡¯t have a choice!¡±


    She continued to pull him by the wrist as she continued, ¡°I could avoid blind dates my mom set up by pretending I have a boyfriend this whole time. If she learns that I never had a boyfriend in the first place, she will attack me with full force. She doesn¡¯t believe me anymore so today she prepared five profiles for me to look at. When I threw them into the trash, she said that she already contacted one of them. She told him to come to our home today.¡±


    Describing the situation, she finally turned around to face him, back to her calm self. She didn¡¯t let go of Ryan¡¯s wrist as if scared he will escape.


    ¡°So this was the reason you ran away from home I assume?¡± Ryan questioned and seeing her firm nod, he asked curiously, ¡°Can¡¯t you just say no? Your mom can¡¯t force you to marry against your will. They need your signature after all.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ My mom is sneaky¡­¡± Rose replied quietly. ¡°Each time I reject, she starts crying which makes me feel bad¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Emotional blackmail. My mom is also experienced in many tactics like those.¡± Ryan knew this unfair method really well.


    ¡°Anyway, we don¡¯t have much time. Will you help me?¡± Rose asked straightforwardly. ¡°Just pretend you are my boyfriend for a week and then you will be free. I will forgive you for everything you did¡­¡±


    She mentioned his deeds, hoping he will agree but Ryan didn¡¯t have a choice but to reject her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t. Didn¡¯t I tell you? My mom also pushes me to find a girlfriend and prepared candidates for me. I have a certain reason why I need to have one by the end of this week. If I don¡¯t, my mom will probably disown me,¡± Ryan explained, letting out a deep sigh but to his surprise, it made Rose¡¯s blue eyes shine.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that perfect!?¡± Rose exclaimed, grabbing onto his hand with excitement. ¡°I can pretend to be your girlfriend and you can act as my boyfriend. We will both settle our matters and then we will quietly walk away. We are really lucky that fate brought us together.¡±


    She didn¡¯t give him the time to agree or reject and began running, pulling him together with her. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my house! Father invited you for dinner and I said you will come.¡± Rose called out excitedly, holding onto his palm tightly.


    ¡°Rose, wait! I didn¡¯t agree to anything yet!¡± Ryan shouted, trying to stop her from making a mistake she didn¡¯t want. His situation was more serious than she thought.


    Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t listen. She showed him a bright smile while turning into one of the parks as a shortcut and suddenly informed, ¡°We don¡¯t have a chance anyway. If my dad learns the truth, he will probably kill you. He wouldn¡¯t allow a stranger touch me like that so only by being my boyfriend you are safe.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ What?!¡±

 Chapter 6 - The Game

    ¡°Rose, stop! We need to talk!¡± Ryan called out, confusion written all over his face. Rose continued to pull him through the park without stopping until she reached another road on the other side of the neighborhood.


    She didn¡¯t stop because she wanted to but because her lungs couldn¡¯t keep up to provide enough air for her body. Her physical condition was poor so any short-run was enough to tire her out.


    Despite hurried breathing, she still pushed forward, dragging her legs step by step on the sidewalk.


    It wasn¡¯t what he asked for but at least it was easier to talk while walking.


    ¡°Rose¡­ you do realize you put me in danger with your actions then? And what do you mean by he will kill me?'' Don¡¯t tell me your father is a mafia boss?¡± Ryan asked multiple questions, slowly getting anxious.


    If what she said was true, he would be forced to accept her conditions and to top it off, there was a huge possibility she would become his future wife. Ryan wasn¡¯t stupid. He knew that if Rose wins his grandma¡¯s selection by any chance, the two of them would be stuck forever.


    It wasn¡¯t a matter that should be decided by one random encounter.


    ¡°Hu... What do you want me to tell you? That I¡¯m sorry?¡± Rose asked back, taking a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s not going to change anything. It was my impulsive decision that led to such a situation and I¡¯m trying my best to fix it now.¡±


    ¡°About my father¡­¡± Rose continued. ¡°I don¡¯t really know what he does but he provides different services for many influential people. He just said his job is dangerous and didn¡¯t want to tell me any details. They want me to focus on my studies instead.¡±


    ¡°Uhm¡­ Then maybe it shouldn¡¯t be that bad, right?¡± Ryan suggested what he secretly hoped was the truth but Rose shook her head.


    She looked at his face as they walked side by side now and admitted with a serious expression, ¡°I asked my dad if he ever killed before and he confirmed.¡±


    Cough...


    Ryan almost choked when he heard it. ¡°Is this something you should be telling me¡­?¡± he asked awkwardly, not knowing how to react. Internally, he already started to panic, thinking her father was some kind of hitman.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it fine?¡± Rose shot back with a smile, finding his reaction amusing. ¡°You are already my boyfriend. You are not going to call the cops on us, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Ryan stared at her speechlessly, almost knocking to the ground over his own legs. His face paled, feeling genuinely scared. Being a boyfriend of a hitman¡¯s daughter wouldn¡¯t even cross his mind in his dreams.


    Thankfully, he was just being played.


    ¡°Hahaha, look at your face! You are so scared and even your hands turned cold. I was obviously joking,¡± Rose admitted as she laughed, grabbing his hands with both of hers as if trying to warm them up. Ryan has never had a bigger up and down moment than at that time.


    His hands were still cold even after she rubbed them so she stopped their walk and put both of them into her hoodie pouch. She let him lean against the fence made of flat white rock and shared her warmth, smiling playfully at him. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Rose asked after a moment, watching his expressions from up close. She acted much bolder compared to before.


    ¡°I¡¯m better¡­¡± Ryan replied while keeping her on a distance with his hands. She was risking once again by nearing her soft lips this close to his face. This wasn¡¯t the time for losing control.


    Sigh...


    ¡°Do you want me to get a panic attack?¡± He scolded after a deep sigh. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t joke like that.¡±


    ¡°Well, I only lied about the cops as they would be useless. My father was in the army before so he knows everyone in the Police Department,¡± Rose replied with a shrug.


    ¡°So he killed as a soldier then? Couldn¡¯t you say that from the start¡­?¡± Ryan asked helplessly, not expecting an answer to that question and said seriously, ¡°We need to talk about my case. You don¡¯t know what you are getting into.¡±


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Rose replied casually, pulling his hands out of her hoodie and let go of him, walking slowly alongside the fence. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice anyway. We can only be free if we mutually help each other. There is no other way. How about you tell me about it after dinner? I said we will arrive shortly.¡±


    She turned back to him and added from the distance, showing a glistening set of teeth, ¡°Shall we go?¡±


    He started at her for a moment and realized she was right. They barely had options in the current situation. He was now trapped with Rose as his only choice.


    ''I guess I will have to wait a bit longer. She will probably give up once she learns the possible outcomes.'' Ryan thought and couldn¡¯t help but smile back. ¡®Though, it wouldn¡¯t be as bad to have such a pretty girl as a girlfriend¡­¡¯


    Ryan couldn''t deny that he was really attracted to her from the moment he saw her. If he wanted to find someone outside of his mother''s candidates, wouldn''t she be like Rose?


    Kind and gentle but also cheerful with a little bit of playfulness. If he wasn''t troubled by this selection, Ryan wouldn''t hesitate to agree, even if they were only meant to pretend.


    "Alright," Ryan finally decided, walking up to her and grabbed her extended hand. "You can lead the way."


    "Great!" Rose exclaimed as she squeezed his hand. "Let''s go!"


    They walked next to the white fence for a short moment before stopping about fifty meters away, right in front of the entrance gate. It turned out they were right outside her home this whole time.


    They went inside and Ryan got immediately captivated by the beautiful flowery garden that stretched throughout the property. The villa looked like a medium-sized house compared to how far the garden stretched.


    "Oh no, my mom is waiting¡­" Rose suddenly muttered as they approached the villa and saw a lady standing by the entrance.


    She was like a mature version of Rose with the only difference being her stern gaze. She wore a kitchen apron as if they stopped her in the middle of cooking and observed Ryan from afar. She didn''t look really happy about his arrival.


    "Let me do the talking," Rose decided as her hand tightened around his own and called out to her mother with a smile, "Mom, we are back."


    Her mother didn''t spare a glance at her, staring into Ryan''s eyes the whole time and asked calmly, "What''s your name boy?"


    Rose didn''t mind being ignored and hugged into Ryan''s arm, introducing him, "His name is Ryan. He is my boyfriend that I always talked about. I told him to come today as I couldn''t stand your actions anymore."


    "I heard from your father. You two seem quite intimate with each other," her mother commented before asking out of nowhere, "Did you have sex already?"


    Rose couldn''t help but blush and cried out, "Mom! What are you even saying!?"


    She wasn''t prepared for such a question and fell victim to trickery.


    "I guess you didn''t yet," her mother deduced from her reaction and sighed in relief. "You two can go to your room. Dinner will be in an hour."


    Rose immediately pouted and pulled on Ryan''s hand, running into the house while dragging him inside.


    As they passed next to Rose''s mother, he noticed a smirk on her face which he swore he recognized. His mother had the same type of smirk on her face whenever she schemed something and it could be translated into one sentence.


    "The game has only just begun."

 Chapter 7 - Promise

    Ryan expected a luxurious interior but to his surprise, just as he entered the villa, he was welcomed with a cozy but elegant living room. The whole base floor was open to view right from the entrance, with kitchen and living area connected. If he didn¡¯t see the outside of the house with fancy cars parked next to a garage he would think he visited a slightly more wealthy, middle-class family.


    He immediately felt more like at home and the awkwardness he expected to feel didn¡¯t come.


    Rose was still upset, her cheeks puffed but she didn¡¯t forget the years of her habits. As much as she wanted to rush towards her room, she still stopped in the lobby. ¡°Take off your shoes and follow me,¡± Rose ordered.


    ¡°Mhmm,¡± Ryan nodded casually, seeing creamy carpet covering the whole living area. He found it strange but when he stepped on it, Ryan understood why. It was so soft to the touch that he could feel it even through his socks.


    Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t enjoy it for long as Rose finally removed her white sneakers and grabbed his hand. She pulled him towards the curved stairs that led to the first floor without saying anything.


    Halfway there, Ryan spotted some movement to his right and realized it was Rose¡¯s dad, watching TV in the living room. It would be fine if he didn¡¯t spot him but once he did, Ryan felt some responsibility.


    Ryan stopped Rose in place and whispered, ¡°Wait a second. I will greet your dad.¡± Knowing her dad was dangerous, his best chances of survival laid in befriending him.


    She wanted to leave quickly but giving it some thought, his idea wasn¡¯t that bad. ¡°Okay, but be quick,¡± Rose whispered back, deciding to wait for him next to the stairs.


    Although the space on the base floor was connected, it was still quite large so her father couldn¡¯t hear them.


    Ryan approached, slowly closing in to the sofa Rose¡¯s father sat at only to freeze, realizing what he was watching.


    It was a basketball match!


    What¡¯s more, it even featured one of his favorite teams, Red Bulls, which made him panic.


    ¡°Impossible¡­ There is no way I would forget there was a Red Bulls¡¯ match today¡­¡± Ryan muttered as he ran next to the sofa to see the TV better.


    Rose¡¯s father heard him coming and turned to look at him with his eyebrow raised. ¡°Boy, you like basketball?¡± He asked curiously, skipping any formalities.


    ¡°You kidding me?¡± Ryan asked with a smile before calling excitedly, ¡°I love basketball! I have been Red Bulls¡¯ fan since I was a kid! If I could, I would go on every match they played!¡±


    His gaze went back to the screen and Ryan continued to talk as if the two were buddies, ¡°How come there is a match today?¡±


    Rose¡¯s dad didn¡¯t actually mind that and explained while taking a sip of his wine, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s a recording. I missed one match a few weeks ago and decided to watch it today as I was free.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that explains it.¡± Ryan let out a sigh of relief. ¡°For a second I thought they moved the game from Wednesday to today but realized it would be weird as there were barely any matches on Mondays.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Seeing the man continued to watch, he bowed and said apologetically, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m sorry for disturbing. I just wanted to offer my greetings. Please enjoy the game.¡± Even though he acted calmly, Ryan was really anxious internally, realizing he talked too casually with him.


    Rose¡¯s dad didn¡¯t reply anything, making him feel awkward so Ryan decided to leave first. His heartbeat was already calming down, thinking that her dad wasn¡¯t that bad only to hammer once again when a strong hand caught his hand. A shiver run down his spine when a bone-chilling voice reached him from behind.


    ¡°My daughter seems to like you. If you hurt her, I will kill you.¡±


    Rose saw this act from the distance and cried out, ¡°Dad! What are you doing?!¡± She immediately ran up to them but Ryan was already released.


    She pulled Ryan away defensively and asked him while checking on his wrist, ¡°What happened?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but turn a little pale as not every day people threatened to kill him while having a genuine ability to do so.


    ¡°Nothing, really,¡± Ryan lied, forcing a smile. ¡°Your dad just told me to take good care of you. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Rose naturally didn¡¯t believe him and questioned her father, ¡°Dad! What did you tell him?¡±


    ¡°Exactly what your boyfriend said,¡± her father replied and stood up, turning the TV off. ¡°I will help your mom with dinner. You two can wait in your room.¡± He patted Ryan on the back with a friendly smile and walked away.


    Rose figured that Ryan wouldn¡¯t be able to say anything in front of her father so she grabbed his hand and led him upstairs to her room. She sat him up on her bed and glared at him with questioning gaze.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. I¡¯m fine,¡± Ryan assured her once again, deciding to keep this between the men and suggested seriously, ¡°It¡¯s best if we forget about it.¡±


    She wanted to ask more, opening her mouth to speak but he covered her lips with his finger and shook his head, forcing her to give up on the questioning.


    The least she could do was check if he was alright so she crouched down and grabbed his hand that already reddened around his wrist. She was shocked to discover that it was even colder than before.


    She squeezed it tightly, feeling helpless. Rose regretted she pulled him into her messy situation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she apologized quietly, before looking with determination into his eyes. ¡°No matter what it is, I will help you with your case. I promise. That¡¯s the least I can do to thank you.¡±


    ¡°Well, you said it. Don¡¯t regret it later,¡± Ryan said with a guilty smile but she shook her head, ¡°I won¡¯t, don¡¯t worry. I never break my promises.¡±


    She finally stood up, feeling better after her oath and ordered, ¡°Come. You need to take a bath to warm up else you will get sick. You were outside the whole time wearing only a shirt.¡±


    Sniffing his shirt, Rose added, ¡°You also stink. You need to be fresh for the dinner with my parents.¡±


    He didn¡¯t argue with her as he really needed one.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Downstairs, in the kitchen, Rose¡¯s parents were preparing dinner together, treating it more like bonding ritual rather than the chore. Normally Rose would be joining them but today was special with Ryan appearing out of nowhere.


    ¡°What do you think about him?¡± Rose¡¯s mother asked curiously, having sceptical tone to her voice.


    ¡°Not sure yet. We will see if he rat me out to Rose or not. She can¡¯t hide her feelings well,¡± Rose¡¯s father commented honestly, finished tying his hair. ¡°He likes basketball so he got extra points for me.¡±


    ¡°Tch, of course. You and your basketball,¡± Rose¡¯s mother snickered, rolling her eyes at her husband before asking more seriously. ¡°What about Miller Family? They were pretty upset when I cancelled our dinner today.¡±


    ¡°I will handle them,¡± Rose father replied firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t focus about them. Figure out what to do with the boy first. You know our situation.¡±


    Chop.


    Rose¡¯s mother smiled as she cut a carrot in half.


    ¡°I already have a plan. Don¡¯t worry.¡±