Zoe said to Ryan, âEven if you suck up to Bella, she will never have eyes for you. Youâll never have
her.â
âZoe Hoffman!â
Ryan hissed Zoeâs full name, scaring the latter to hide in her motherâs arms.
âEven if Bella doesnât become your sister-in-law, you shouldnât harm and insult her. I believe in Bellaâs
character. While she may not be an angel, she wouldnât harm anyone unless provoked. That means
you most likely started it with her.â
Zoe was livid.
âOne more thing. I would advise you to get over Justin. Anyone except
Justin can tell that Bella is the only woman for him.â Ryan scoffed.
Being best buddies, Ryan had a subtle way of mocking Justin.
Zoeâs face turned flushed.
âYou are coming with me to see Bella tomorrow. I expect you to admit your mistake and apologize to
her.â
Ryan then walked away.
âAre you mad, Ryan? Why should I apologize to Bella? I wonât!â Zoe was hysterical.
âIâll send you to Inalia tonight if you wonât. You wonât be allowed back in Savrow without my
permission.â
The intensity of Ryanâs resolve unnerved Mrs. Hoffman.
Mrs. Hoffman had heard things about her sonâs behavior, but the boy had never been so tough on his
only sister.
Was Ryan hard on Zoe because of Bella, Justinâs ex-wife?
âRyan⦠Come back, Ryan!â
Zoe cried at the top of her lungs in tears.
Ryan, who always doted on her, never once looked back.
:..
That night, Ryan drowned his sorrows in ACE at his private lounge.
His heart broke as his mind wandered back to Bethanyâs accusation of Zoe. The strong liquor burned
down his throat.
The door to the private lounge opened.
âDamn it. I donât need the company of women. Get out now!â
Irritated, Ryan raised the glass and smashed it to smithereens.
âMr. Hoffman, Mr. Salvador is here for you.â
Yasmin let out an awkward smile, as if embarrassed for her bc made her way into the room.
âApologies, Mr. Salvador. Mr. Ho isnât himself tonight. Please try to understand.â
âThatâs fine. Iâm used to it.â Justin carried a blank face.
âThis way, please.â
Justin nodded and stepped into the private lounge.
Yasmin nodded and closed the door before leaving to give them space.
âWhat has gotten into you now?â
Furrowing his brows, Justin went to Ryan and sat beside him. âSo
Bella turned you down. Must you act like your whole world has crumbled?â
âFuck me. Are you going to make fun of Bella dumping me forever?â Ryan heaved. Since he did not
have a glass anymore, he grabbed the alcohol and gulped straight from the bottle.
âDump? Ha,â Justin sneered.
He fished out a pack of cigarettes and lodged one between his lips. Bella has never accepted you. How
could she dump you? Youâre the rebound guy, always there but never the first choice.â
âTsk. At least Iâm still in the running while youâre out of the race.â
It suddenly occurred to Ryan that Zoe called Bella a slut. As his chest tightened, he smashed the
alcohol bottle with bloodshot eyes.
If Zoe was not his sister, Ryan would have slapped her for the insult to Bella.