<b>Chapter </b><b>398 </b>


    The thought of these real, tangible benefits made my chest tighten, and the next moment, my heart was pounding like a drum.


    Other men just feed women empty promises, but with Edward, there’s no need for talk–he actually puts the feast right in front of


    you.


    Mr. Wright was noticeably more polite to me, even asking if there were any other ways we could work together in the future.


    Some of my senior staff shot me surprised looks, all assuming Jared must’ve pulled some strings behind the scenes for Mr. Wright to be so agreeable.


    I didn’t bother exining anything. I just gathered my team and left the golf course.


    It was Wednesday when I called Yvonne to let her know I’d be back in Hachester on Friday. I asked her if there was anything she wanted as a present–whatever it was, I’d bring it for her.


    Yvonne used to be obsessed with getting new gifts, but her excitement would onlyst three days. She’d y with her new toy while eating, sleeping, even at school, and then, just like that, she’d move on to the next thing.


    But now, when I asked her what she wanted, all she said was, “I just want you, Mom. If youe home and y with me for a couple of days, I’ll be really happy.”


    A bittersweet feeling washed over me. When a mom isn’t around, she ends up bing the one thing her child wants most.


    I promised her I’de back early on Friday and pick her up from school myself.


    It was a little after six when I grabbed dinner with a client at a pretty upscale restaurant. By the time we finished, it was past eight, and that’s when Ryan called.


    Seeing his name pop up on my phone, I instantly tensed.


    Before, picking up Ryan’s calls was never stressful. I always thought of him as a mature, obedient little brother–easy to manage, always respectful, knew his boundaries, and never crossed the line.


    But after that warning from Edward, I didn’t dare answer Ryan’s calls so casually anymore.


    When I didn’t answer, Ryan shot me a text: “Just got off the ne. Where are you? I want to see you.”


    I couldn’t y dumb anymore, so I sent him a quick reply, telling him I was having dinner with a client and had my phone on silent, then shared my location.


    Around nine, just as the dinner was breaking up, Ryan appeared right in front of me.


    Outside the restaurant, the street was still bustling with people. After seeing my client off, I turned around and spotted Ryan, wearing a medical mask.


    With the weather turning cooler, everyone’s outfits had changed, and Ryan had ditched his usual boyish style.


    Tonight, he was in aid–back iron–gray suit with a ck shirt underneath. His hair was styled up, showing off his clean hairline and attractive forehead.


    There was something almost artistic about his features–striking and wlessly handsome. And if you looked closely, <b>you </b><b>could </b><b>see </b>


    he’d gained a touch of maturity.


    “…” For a moment, I wasn’t sure how to greet him.


    “Come on, let’s get in the car,” Ryan said, taking my hand and leading me straight to the SUV parked nearby.


    “Wait, I actually drove here myself…” I blurted out.


    “No worries, I’ll drive you to work tomorrow,” Ryan said with a yful smile.


    His smile was like a breath of fresh air–totally uplifting, making it impossible <i>not </i>to feel good around him.


    “So, where are you taking me?” I asked, curiosity written all over my face.


    Ryan just shed a mysterious grin. “Why don’t you take a guess?”


    “Not even a hint? You expect me to guess out of thin air? That’s just cruel,” I said, giving him a helpless look.


    Ryan gave me a hint. “Today’s a really important day for me.”


    “Your birthday?” I blurted out, surprised.


    Ryan grinned, his eyes lighting up. “That’s right, it’s my birthday. I want to celebrate with you–let’s go have some cake.”


    “Just the two of us? You literally justnded, right?” I stared at him in disbelief. ‘Did Ryan really rush all the way back to Shaville to spend his birthday with me? Is he for real?‘


    “Yeah, I had dinner with my grandpa around five, then didn’t waste a second–came straight here just to see you,” Ryan replied, his eyes shining with that kind of warmth that made my heart flutter.


    I suddenly got nervous and grabbed his arm. “Hold on–where exactly are you having your birthday tonight?”


    “Uncle Ryan set up a ce for me, and I invited a few friends,” Ryan replied with azy grin.


    “Wait, Uncle Ryan’s gonna be there too?” I was already looking for an excuse to escape.


    But Ryan quickly tried to put me at ease. “Don’t worry. Uncle Ryan might seem strict, but he’s actually really kind–especially to me. He’s more like a dad than just an uncle.”


    “Ryan, I… I had a few drinks earlier, and now my head’s spinning and it kind of hurts. Can I…” I mumbled, searching for an excuse to get out of this.


    “Vic, I just want to spend my birthday with you,” Ryan suddenly blurted out, calling me by a nickname I’d never heard from him before. ‘Wait, did he just call me that? When did we get so close?‘ I thought, a little flustered by his unexpected affection.


    Ryan reached <i>out </i>and pinched my cheek, grinning. “You really did have a few drinks–your skin’s all fair and rosy.”


    I wasn’t in the mood for any more banter. I tried to push him away, but Ryan seized the moment, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me right into his arms.


    Before I could react, he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I’m never going to forget tonight. It’s the first time you’ve <b><i>ever </i></b><b>spent </b>my birthday with me.”