c h a p t e r • 28

-goodnight.-

Lili's POV

"W-what?" I say, softly, thinking I heard him wrong.

"You heard me." He says.

"Ryder, I can't do that. It's not easy." I say, looking down.

He hugs me which I didn't expect.

"You can do it. I know you can. Whenever you need someone to talk to, I'm here." He says.

We pull away and he gives me a small smile before walking away.

"You can do it, too." I whisper.

I walked to the ladies room to freshen up a little.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

Can I really do this?

Again, I felt an evil presence when the Mad Heather came in.

She smirked my way.

"You shouldn't get so cozy with Ryder, you know." She says.

"And you care, why?" I retort.

"Because, he's basically engaged." She says, smugly.

-•-

After the newfound information from the Mad Heather, I ignored her and walked out.

When I walked back to the table, Ryder and his date seemed to be having fun together.

He was actually...smiling.

I felt my heart sting a little.

Why are you abusing me you heart?!

I shrugged it off and decided to ask him about his engagement later.

I sat next to Jayden, who was talking with Heather.

I didn't want to interrupt, so I sat there, quietly using my phone.

"Honey, you should go dance." My mom says from behind me with my dad's arms around her.

I smile at her. "I'll go later, mom."

"Have fun." She says before going to the dance floor with my dad, giggling.

I crave that type of love.

"Shall we?" Jayden hold out his hand for me to take.

I grin before putting my hand on his.

He pulls me to the dance floor, both of us giggling.

I put my hands on his shoulder and he puts his arms around my waist.

We sway slowly to the music.

"Do you like Ryder?" He asks.

This question took me by surprise.

"I don't know. Maybe?" I say, shrugging.

Liar.

Shut up.

"Right." He smirks.

I slap his shoulder in a teasing manner.

"Is he...engaged?" I ask, softly.

"So, you do like him!" He exclaims, loudly.

I cover his mouth with my hand.

"Shh!" My eyes widen. "Okay. Maybe I have a teensy little crush on him. Now tell me!"

"You see his date?" He nods towards Ryder and his date dancing.

I felt my heart sink.

"That's his fiancée?" I ask, looking down.

"Yeah. Her name is Jade. Jade Rose." He says.

Even her name is beautiful.

It's not fair.

"But her brother is a total douchebag." He snorts and I laugh.

"Is he here?" I ask.

"Oh, he's everywhere. Everywhere I tell you." He says and I chuckle. "I'm not kidding. Once, I was in my room toilet, brushing my teeth and he was literally in the bathtub and left like it wasn't a big deal."

I laugh out loud.

"He sounds more like a dumbass than a douchebag." I grin.

"News flash, he's both." He whispers. I laugh.

"May I have this dance?" An unknown human asks me.

"Speak of the devil." Jayden mutters.

I look at Jayden to see if he's okay with it.

He shakes his head aggressively.

I laugh at him and take the guy's hand.

We dance to the slow music.

"I'm Thomas. You can call me Tom." He says.

"I'm Lili." I say.

"May I just say, you look stunning." He compliments.

"I know." I say.

"So, you're Jade's brother?" I say.

"Yes. And you are Kyle's sister." He smirks.

"You know Kyle?" I ask.

"Of course. We met through Ryder. Then, I slept with his girlfriend or should I say ex girlfriend, and he hated me since." He says as if it's nothing.

I bet he hated you as soon as he met you.

His hands travel dangerously lower down my back and before I realised it, his hands were on my butt.

I pushed him away from me.

"Keep your hands to yourself. No one wants a pervert around here." I narrow my eyes at him.

I was wearing a damn gown, what the fuck would he even feel? The layers of sexy and firm fabric???

I walked away from him but I know he was following me.

Better settle this somewhere away from piercing eyes. Don't want to cause a scene.

I walked into what looked like a study.

I hear the door close from behind me.

"What do you want from me?" I ask, glaring at him.

"To get laid." He shrugs.

"I would but you're my brother's enemy, so maybe not." I say.

"Oh, come on. We'll just keep it a secret." He says coming closer.

"Don't come any closer." I glare at him.

He must be asking for a death wish because he didn't listen to me.

I took out my high heel pumps and hit his head using the back of the heels.

He immediately went unconscious.

Never doubt a lady's heels."

He isn't dead, is he?

I bent down to check his pulse and thankfully I didn't kill anyone.

The door opens and I snap my eyes towards it only to find Ryder.

"Hello, dear giraffe friend." I say walking around Thomas' unconscious body.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Don't worry about it. He's fine. Just a little drunk." I say putting my pumps back on.

"Did he touch you?" His jaw clenched together.

I thought about it for a second.

"Nah." I say and walk out the study.

He follows me and pulls me to the dance floor, taking me by surprise.

"Yes, you may have this dance." I say, sarcastically.

He pulls me closer by my waist and I hold on to his shoulder.

I didn't dare look up.

Get your shit together, bitch.

"How is it possible for someone to look so beautiful?" He mutters.

I look up at him and my breath hitches in my throat when his eyes looked as I they could stare right into my soul.

"I have a question." I say and he hums. "You're engaged to Jade, right?" I say.

His grip tightens a little.

"No." He says, sternly.

H

I raise an eyebrow at him.

"But Jayden-" He cuts me off.

"Jayden doesn't know anything." He emphasises his name.

"Ryder, tell me the truth." I say, looking down again. "Please."

He puts his finger on my chin and make me look him in the eye.

"I told you. I don't want anyone else, but you. I want to make you mine, Shortcake." He says, softly.

Stop making me feel like this, gorilla!

I was about to say something when a bullet flew across the room, missing my head by an inch.

I froze.

What the-

"Shit." Ryder mutters.

He pulls me somewhere.

More bullets were fired and everyone panicked.

"W-what's going on?" I say still in shock.

"We have to get you somewhere safe-" He got cut off when a bullet flew at us and just like that, I felt a mortifying pain, right below my ribs.

I scream in pain as I fell in the floor.

Ryder pulled me closer to him.

"Liana!" He holds me in his arms.

I wasn't able to respond.

Soon, my ears were ringing and I began feeling sleepy.

"Don't you dare close your eyes." He says, concern filled his eyes.

"But...I'm sleepy...and tired..." I trail off.

"No...no! Stay awake! Please!" His voice was so distant but I was too sleepy.

"Goodnight." I mutter before closing my eyes and going to sleep.

-•-

A/n: what do you think about Jade? Do you think they are actually engaged?

How about Lili? Poor Lili.

And Ryder? Hot as always. Lol

Love you guys!❤️