Ryan shuffled back to the living room, rummaging through drawers until he finally stumbled upon a set of keys. Standing outside ra''s makeshift prison, a pang of unease washed over him-he felt a bit too easily swayed.


    ra had already caught his approaching footsteps, and called out impatiently, "Come on, open the door! What''s the holdup?"


    "Promise me, ra, you won''t p me again," Ryan pleaded, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.


    ra rolled her eyes but relented with a half-hearted, "Alright, I promise I won''t p you."


    With that assurance, Ryan unlocked the door and involuntarily stepped back when ra stormed past him, making a beeline for the exit. The air in the house had be stifling for her, and she couldn''t bear another moment of it.


    Ryan trailed her closely, his voice tinged with urgency. "Are you really leaving now? Can''t you at least fix me a meal first? Is this just a hit-and-run?"


    ra paused at the doorway, her face a mask of indifference. Ryan felt a sting in his chest, a heavy weight settling in as he averted his gaze. "Fine, go ahead. It''s not like I''m desperate for your cooking. I always knew you didn''t care much about me."


    He watched, feeling adrift, as ra got into her car and drove away. Once, he could sense her care, but now it felt like an echo of a memory.


    He wanted to call her back, but years of being the bossy brother held him back. So he stood there, rooted, as she disappeared from view.


    Ryan lingered in the yard, lost in thought until Naomi and others returned from their dinner out. Quinn was in a buoyant mood and ready to confront ra, but the room that should''ve held her was empty.


    Back in the living room, Quinn didn''t waste time, pinning Ryan with a sharp look. "Did you let her go?"


    Ryan, now aware of how he''d been yed, felt deted. Quinn''s using tone only deepened his difort. "What else could I do? That room''s meant for the maid. ra''s not staff, is she?"


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat. Her brother, once her staunch ally, had let ra go on his own. His loyalties were shifting, and it unnerved her.


    Her expression turned icy as she clenched her hands at her sides. She needed to banish ra from the Bradford family for good.


    Feigning innocence, her eyes welled with tears. "Ryan, why do you sound so


    harsh? Do you see me as the bad guy now?"


    Ryan''s resolve melted at her pitiful disy. "Quinn, I didn''t mean it like that. I''m on your side."


    Without a word, Quinn retreated


    upstairs, leaving Ryan feeling worse.


    Naomi gently nudged him. "How


    could you speak to your sister like that? She''s pregnant-give her a break."


    Feeling remorseful, Ryan hurried to apologize to Quinn. She was inside her room and didn''t answer the door, her face a mask of spite. As she touched her belly, a cunning n began to form.


    ra had nned to keep a low profile until Simon and Quinn''s wedding. Lately, she was extra cautious about her safety and wary of Quinn''s potential schemes. She hadn''t yet figured out how to counter her.


    Unfortunately, while at work, she entered the CEO''s office and ran into Simon. Standing next to Dn, Simon seemed awkward, but couldn''t resist taking a jab as she walked in.


    "Did you sense my presence, ra? Are you that keen on me?"


    His eyes twinkled with smug satisfaction, a smirk dancing on his lips. ra resisted the urge to p it away.


    She ced her documents on Dn''s desk, and as he reached for them, their fingers brushed identally. She remembered Shelly''s incident and quickly pulled her hand back.