Chapter 1303

Having made her decision, Madeline went to look for Ryan.

The man sat leisurely in the courtyard with a book in his hand and a cup of coffee.

The afternoon sun splashed against his back, adding a warm tint to his fair and handsome features.

Beneath his gentle and defined features was a completely different person, one that ran shivers down people’s spines.

Madeline curled her fingers into a fist but walked toward him anyway.

Ryan caught sight of her from the corners of his eyes and raised his bottomless eyes to look at her with interest. Madeline’s small and delicate features were reflected in his gaze.

The man seemed proud of his handiwork as his eyes fell on her refreshing new bob cut.

“How can I help you? Or perhaps, have you already decided?” Ryan closed the book as a confident smile graced the man’s gentlemanly features.

Madeline walked up to him. Faced with the man before her, she was surprised to find a sense of uneasiness sparking in her chest.

“Ryan.”

“Hmm?” The man hummed lazily as his eyes roamed across Madeline’s face. “You don’t have to beat around the bush.”

“Alright.” Madeline stopped hesitating and met the man’s dark, unclear gaze head-on. “Will you ever let go of my parents? Even if I listen to whatever you say and live as your puppet like you wish?”

“You’re wrong.” Ryan stood, his denial sparking hope in Madeline’s eyes.

Ryan smiled when he caught the newfound glimmer in Madeline’s eyes. “As long as you promise to listen and be obedient, not only will I stop targeting your parents, but I’ll even send them back to Glendale when the time comes. They’ll get to continue their carefree days.”

A smile graced Madeline’s features at his claim. “Really?”

Ryan nodded. “It all depends on your behavior.”

His following words hit Madeline like a bucket of cold water.

Her smile vanished. “So as long as I do what you want, you’ll really let my parents go? What about me?

Will you ever let me go?”

Madeline stared at Ryan and felt her heart grow colder when the man suddenly curled his lips into a smile.

“Never,” Ryan replied curtly, “I will never let you go.”

“…”

“Don’t even think about getting back with Jeremy. The only way that would possibly happen is if I were to die. Even then, I’d make sure to bring you with me. Jeremy must suffer the pain and regret of loss that he can never make up for.”

Madeline felt severely suffocated under Ryan’s dark gaze that bore straight into hers.

For a woman who did not fear even death at one point in her life, Madeline was terrified of what Ryan could do at that moment.

Ryan lifted his hand and placed it above Madeline’s head as she stood blankly in the same place. His tone and gaze turned gentle.

“So have you given it enough thought? Won’t you finally complete your duties as a wife to me, hmm?”

Madeline pinched her finger secretly and forced herself to meet Ryan’s gaze.

“Can you give me a little more time?”

“How long do you need?” he asked straightforwardly, “I don’t have a lot of patience to give.”

Madeline clenched her pink lips. The last line of defense in her eyes was close to being broken down.

“I don’t know. So let me get to know you starting from this moment onward.”

Ryan analyzed the look in Madeline’s eyes and approached her with a sly smile on his face. “I suggest you stop thinking of ways to trick me, Eveline. Since you’ll be the one suffering the consequences, after all.”

A disoriented look flashed through Madeline’s eyes.

Ryan caught the look, and his gaze took a dark, terrifying turn. “You never really learn, do you, Eveline?

“Why must you force me?” Ryan frowned. “Don’t blame me for being cruel when you’re the one with the stubborn will.”

Ryan grabbed Madeline by the wrist and proceeded to drag her inside.

“What are you doing, Ryan? Let go of me!”

Fear filled Madeline’s heart, suffocating her.

She had not felt so afraid even when Jeremy used to hurt her before.

However, Ryan himself was a petrifying man.

No matter how cruel Jeremy became, he still never went for anyone’s life.