<b>Chapter </b><b>446 </b>


    87%


    38


    Edward nodded. “Yeah, it’s not about being a rebellious kid. It’s about having a rebellious outlook on love and the world.”


    “So what kind of rebellion would make you like me?” Isabelle choked out, then broke down, burying her face in her arms


    and sobbing at the table.


    Edward frowned slightly.


    Ryan tried to cheer her up. “Hey, Isabelle, so you got rejected–no big deal. You know, the more setbacks you face, the tougher you get. Trust me, I’ve been through it. Next time, I’ll show you how to bounce back.”


    Then Ryan turned to me with a grin. “Vic, when I cried in front of you before, did I ever get on your nerves?”


    I felt a bit embarrassed. Ryan really treats me like family, huh? Is it even okay to talk about this kind of thing out loud?


    “No, not at all. Good–looking people, guys or girls, always look pretty when they cry,” I said with a smile.


    Edward suddenly nced up at me, and my heart gave a little jolt. I couldn’t help but remember that night on his vi’s couch–how I’d cried my heart out in my sleep, even ended up biting him. I wondered if he was about to call me out, maybe say I’d cried like a banshee that night.


    Isabelle seemed to realize she probably didn’t look her best right now, so she quietly grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her


    tears.


    Just then, the food arrived, the whole table covered in mouthwatering dishes that looked and smelled incredible.


    “Let’s eat,” Ryan said. “Isabelle, don’t let it get to you. Uncle Ryan didn’t mean to upset you.”


    Isabelle nodded. “I know, Uncle Ryan. Sorry, I lost my


    posure.”


    Edward replied in a mild tone, “It’s fine. Speaking your mind is a good thing.”


    Isabelle’s voice trembled with worry as she asked, “Uncle Ryan, will you


    start avoiding me now?”


    “I won’t avoid you,” Edward said, then added pointedly, “But I do hope you’ll find someone your own age to care about. I’m just not into younger girls–I prefer women who are a bit more mature.”


    Isabelle was stunned for a moment, then suddenly fixed her gaze on me. “You mean someone like Ms. Murphy? Someone who’s more experienced and worldly?”


    ‘Wait, does “experienced” mean divorced?‘ I thought, a little startled.


    Edward nced at me and replied in a mild tone, “No, she doesn’t really seem like someone with much life experience.”


    I breathed a silent sigh of relief, then realized I was probably overthinking it. Edward’s met every kind of woman out there, but the ones who could actually make his heart skip a beat? Probably not many. if he wanted, he could have a whole


    harem.


    Ryan burst outughing, clearly agreeing with Edward. “Uncle Ryan, you’re spot on. She just gives off that ‘seen it all‘ vibe, but honestly, she’s pretty naive.”


    09:10 Fri, 29 Aug


    “I’m not that innocent,” I shot back right away.


    Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Vic, sometimes being genuine is a real strength. A woman who understands how the world works but doesn’t let it change her–that’s the most attractive kind.”


    “Is that supposed to be apliment?” I asked, ncing at him.


    Ryan grinned. “Of course it is.”


    87%


    38


    Isabelle watched us from across the table, her gaze growing even more sorrowful. “Ryan, I used to think you two weren’t a good match, but now it seems like you really get along.”


    Ryan nodded. “Pretty much. She’s got a great personality, and it’s just really easy being around her.”


    I kept my head down, focusing on my food, but I couldn’t help feeling a little pleased. Ryan always had my back and said such nice things about me–it was honestly pretty nice to hear.


    Edward, though, clearly disagreed. He let out a dry chuckle. “I’ve never met anyone as stubborn as her.”


    I blinked in surprise and looked up at Edward. Ryan, curious, chimed in, “Uncle Ryan, you make things tough for her and


    still expect her to be nice to you?”


    Edward shrugged. “I figured she’s an adult–she should get it by now.”


    I shot back, “Honestly, plenty of people hit forty and still think like teenagers. Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you’ve got it all figured out–sometimes you just get older, not wiser.”


    Edward suddenlyughed. “So you’re saying you only got older, not smarter?”


    Ryan froze for a second, then looked over at me, his gaze drifting over my body. For some reason, he actually blushed a


    little.


    I was mortified and awkward all at once. That day in the bathroom–even though we didn’t go all the way, Ryan had nearly stripped me right there, and things got pretty heated.


    Maybe I really do have a pretty great body,


    “Ms. Murphy, what did you eat growing up? How did you end up with such a killer figure?” Isabelle suddenly blurted out, totally out of nowhere.


    I gave an awkward little smile. “Just regr food, I guess. I was just born this way.”


    Ryan chuckled, “Maybe the goddess of creation spent a little extra time on her when she was making people.”


    Under the table, I pinched his leg hard. Ryan let out a yelp, “Ow! Hey, that hurts–cut it out!”


    Isabelle suddenly ducked under the table. “Let me see–where did you pinch him?”


    I quickly pulled my hand back up to the table, absolutely mortified, Isabelle really was something else–she just didn’t care what anyone thought.


    09:10 Fri, 29 Aug


    Edward shot me a brooding look, then picked up his ss of red wine and took a sip.


    Isabelle shot Ryan a mischievous grin. “Wow, Ryan, I never would’ve guessed–you’re totally whipped!”