<b>Chapter </b><b>548 </b>


    Wait, why should I feel guilty? He’s the one who set up the whole engagement thing and started talking about breaking up. If anyone should be feeling guilty, it’s him.


    “Back sote? Where’d you go?” Ryan asked, looking exhausted–he clearly hadn’t gotten much rest.


    I tossed my keys back into my bag, keeping my head down as I changed my shoes. “Just grabbed dinner with a friend,” I replied, trying to sound casual.


    “Which friend?” Ryan pressed.


    I almost blurted out the name, but caught myself. ‘No point saying it now. I’d rather let Ryan be the one to bring it up,‘ I thought.


    “Don’t you trust me?” I shot back, refusing to answer and taking control of the conversation. ‘No way I’m letting him corner me tonight.‘


    Ryan leaned in, wrapping his arms around me and resting his head on my shoulder. “Alright, I won’t ask anymore. Just don’t be mad, okay?”


    ‘How could I not be pissed? His fiancée said all those nasty things, making it sound like I was the one who screwed up,‘ I fumed inside.


    “Vic, let me help you freshen up, okay?” Ryan said, extra gentle and sweet tonight, almost like he was trying to make up for something.


    “No, I can handle it myself,” I said, pushing him away and heading into the master bedroom.


    Ryan followed me like a lost puppy, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “Vic, are you mad at me because I haven’t been around these past few days?”


    “I’m not some high–maintenance princess. I can handle being alone just fine,” I insisted, L. tone totally betrayed how annoyed I was.


    Ryan, ever the sensitive one, let out a low chuckle. “You say you’re not mad, but you so are.”


    I pushed him away. “Am I not allowed to be pissed? I told you, I’m not as gentle as you think.”


    Ryan blinked those deep, innocent eyes at me. “I’m sorry.”


    I didn’t need his apology, but honestly, when he acted all obedient and sweet like that, he was actually kind of cute.


    Thinking about Fiona’s little stunt, an evil idea popped into my head. I reached out, letting my fingers


    <b>και </b>ο περι


    82%


    y with the cor of Ryan’s shirt. “Weren’t you just offering to help me with my bath? Well,e on


    in.”


    Ryan’s smile got even bigger–he was practically beaming as he hurried after me into the bathroom.


    That’s one thing I really appreciate about Ryan–he always knows how to give me the emotional support I need, and he never tries to dominate me.


    The bathroom was filled with steam, the air warm and misty. Ryan tested the water. “Isn’t this a bit too hot? Do all you girls really like your baths this super hot?”


    “Excuse me?” I arched an eyebrow, giving him a queen–like re. “So besides me, there are other women who like their bathwater this hot too?”


    Ryan jumped, instantly realizing he’d put his foot in his mouth. He hurried to exin with a nervousugh, “No, no, don’t get the wrong idea. I just went to a hot spring with some female friends before, and they always went for the hottest pools.”


    Letting out a soft sigh, I gently caressed Ryan’s impossibly handsome face with my fair fingers.


    ‘Maybe after a few more times like this, it’ll really be goodbye,‘ I thought to myself.


    “What’s wrong?” Ryan leaned into my touch, nuzzling his cheek against my hand like a docile leopard.


    I wasn’t about to kill the mood with any downer talk. Right now, I just wanted to enjoy the moment.


    “Nothing,” I murmured, bowed my head and pressed my lips to his.


    Ryan was really going all out tonight.


    Sleepy and snuggled under the covers, I felt Ryan slide up behind me, his warm hand gently rubbing my stomach. “Vic, you were kind of different tonight.”


    “Different how?” I mumbled, my voicezy and soft.


    “I don’t know… just felt like you were a little more into it than usual,” Ryan teased, a yful smile in


    his voice.


    “What, you don’t like it when I take the lead for once?” I asked, my tone light and a little flirty.


    “No, I really like it,” Ryan murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my neck. “I’m really into you when you’re like this.”


    Even at a moment like this, he was still tossing out the word “like.” ‘Is he actually catching feelings, or does he just think I’m easy to fool?‘ I wondered.


    “Ryan…” I started, feeling like I couldn’t keep things bottled up anymore. For my own sanity, I needed to get some things off my chest.


    “Mm?” came his soft, sleepy reply from behind me.


    “Isabelle Lynn asked me out to dinner tonight. Fiona was there too,” I said, my vole steady but a little


    tense.