The plan Ryan had in mind completely fell apart the moment he saw Alice. He never expected things to unfold like this.
Wasnât Alice supposed to pin him down and vent her anger? Why was she dressed in a way that seemed⦠a little seductive?
Aliceâs mood had just hit rock bottom, and her status had entered â???â, which usually meant things were about to get really bad.
But instead of freaking out, Alice had changed into an evening gown and suddenly announced they were going to a banquet. The shift in mood was way too drastic.
âDo I need to change?â Ryan asked, glancing down at his casual outfit. Standing next to Alice, he felt completely out of place.
He had already left his jacket in the living room, which meant the tracker wasnât on him anymore. Ryan asked, hinting at something.
âNo need. Just wear whatever feels comfortable,â Alice replied, not forcing him to put on a suit, even though she had already had clothes bought for him.
After a moment of hesitation, Ryan went to the coat rack in the living room and grabbed his jacket. Since he was going out with Alice, the tracker didnât really matter anymore. After all, what could be more intense than Aliceâs own watchful eye?
As they stepped outside, there were no bodyguards in sight. Instead, a line of maids stood on either side, bowing respectfully to Alice.
It seemed like Alice was deliberately avoiding the gaze of men. Even the driver had been swapped out for a woman. So far, Ryan was the only one who had seen this side of Alice.
Was this intentional on her part?
But why was she doing this⦠for him?
Everyone has a range of emotions, and when certain feelings take over, they can make a person act out of character.
Alice had been provoked by Mia and Anna, and now she was trying to show a different side of herself to Ryan. She was becoming someone she normally wasnât.
And Ryan? To him, Aliceâs behavior was a signal. He couldnât quite decipher it, but the mysterious and dangerous vibe was unmistakable.
Alice was undeniably attractive. Her natural beauty could easily rival that of any major celebrity, and now, with her carefully chosen outfit, she was practically irresistible to Ryan.
âA girl dresses up for someone she cares aboutâ¦â
Sitting in the car, Ryan still felt like this wasnât real. The thought popped into his head, and once it did, it spread like wildfire, burning in his mind.
Alice hadnât checked her favorability rating with Ryan in a while, but it had been holding steady at 75 points.
Anything above 70 meant their relationship had crossed the line from close friends to something more. Ryan wasnât sure what came next. Lovers? A couple?
After getting in the car, Alice took a moment to calm her nerves. The dress she was wearing stirred up conflicting emotions inside her.
She wanted Ryanâs eyes on her, but at the same time, she couldnât handle the intensity of his gaze. It felt like she was on fire.
âRyan, what are you thinking about?â
Ryan seemed distracted by Aliceâs question. It wasnât until she repeated herself that he snapped out of it.
âLikeâ¦â
âWhat did you say?â
Aliceâs heart was racing. She wasnât sure if she had really heard that word come out of Ryanâs mouth. He had spoken so quickly and unclearly. She pressed him for an answer, not realizing how excited she looked.
âN-nothing.â
âI was just asking if thereâs anything I should know about when we get there.â
Ryan rubbed his nose, trying to deflect. Aliceâs hands were already on his shoulders, gripping him so tightly it felt like she might crush his bones.
He quickly made up an excuse to dodge the situation. That thought had been growing in his mind, and just now, it had slipped out uncontrollably.
Ever since the whole tracker incident, Ryan had been confused and frustrated. He couldnât understand why Alice, with such a high favorability rating, would do something that showed such a lack of trust.
But what if Aliceâs strange feelings toward him were⦠love?
Could that be possible?
Now, it seemed like he was starting to understand something. He was beginning to see why Alice always seemed so conflicted around him.
But the realization was heavy and bizarre, and he wasnât ready to accept it just yet.
âTonight, thereâs no real plan. Just stick by my side, and youâll be fine.â
Ryan was clearly avoiding the topic. No matter how Alice pressed him, he wouldnât say anything more. Her eyes darkened slightly, but she quickly masked it perfectly.
She had heard that word. She was sure of it. Ryan had said it.
Even if he couldnât face it right now, the mere possibility of it was enough to give Alice hope. One day, she would get what she truly wanted.
And that day wasnât far off.
The atmosphere in the car grew quiet again. Both Alice and Ryan were lost in their own thoughts, neither of them speaking first. The faint, cool fragrance in the air seemed to silently push their relationship into a more delicate, subtle space.
Ryan stared out the window at the passing scenery, but the reflection in the glass showed Aliceâs graceful figure. At the same time, Alice was also watching his reflection.
âMiss Alice, I wasnât thinking clearly before. I wanted to apologize.â
Their eyes met through the glass, and Ryan, feeling a bit embarrassed under her gaze, lowered his head and spoke softly.
He wasnât sure what Alice truly felt about him. All he knew was that his head felt foggy at the moment.
At least he could manage to apologize properly. That was the whole reason he had gone upstairs earlier.
Ryanâs sudden apology caught Alice off guard. She furrowed her brows slightly, and after realizing what he was apologizing for, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Smiles were rare on Aliceâs face, but now, as she gently pinched the hem of her dress and gave a soft, restrained smile, she looked as beautiful as a blooming peach blossomâstunning beyond words.
Her smile overlapped with the image of her younger self in old photos. Perhaps she didnât even realize it, but the dark cloud that had been hanging over her heart had dissipated with Ryanâs simple apology.
She almost felt it was unfair to herself. As the boss of a mafia family, wasnât she a little too easy to please?
Suddenly, something seemed to cross her mind. Her eyes sparkled as she glanced up and down at Ryan, then she cleared her throat softly, dispersing the smile from her face and returning to a more serious expression.
âSo, you know you were wrong?â
âI doâ¦â
âBut just knowing isnât enough. You apologize, then make the same mistake again. That wonât work.â
âYou need to be punished, or maybe agree to a few conditions. I need to see your loyalty before I can trust you again.â
Though Alice was trying hard to maintain a serious demeanor, there was something different about her. She didnât seem as cold as she usually did. Ever since Ryan had complimented her appearance, it was as if she had become a different person.
Even now, the so-called âpunishmentâ felt more like an excuse for her to express her true feelings. Ryan didnât call her out on it. He just nodded, quietly letting things unfold.
The dangerous flower had already extended its vines, and for some reason, Ryan didnât refuse. He wanted to test his theory, and his heart had never raced like this before.
âKiss me. Now.â