<b>Chapter </b><b>553 </b>


    I rolled down the car window, letting the cold wind rush in, clearing my head.


    Edward’s voice,ced with danger, drifted over. I turned to look at him.


    Our eyes met–his gaze was deep and impossible to read.


    The wind whipped my hair around, the cold biting through me, and I quickly rolled the window back <ol><li>up. </li></ol>


    “Are you that scared?” Edward asked, his voice softening as he noticed the panic on my face<i>. </i>


    “Between the Chambeins and the Jennings, who holds more power?” I asked, my mind clearing.


    Edward chuckled softly, looking at me with amusement. “Worried I can’t keep you safe?”


    I didn’t try to act tough. I nodded. “I’m just seeing Ryan. The Chambeins have no reason toe


    after me.”


    Edward looked out the window, his voice low. “Fairness is only for a select few. You don’t actually believe it applies to you, do you?”


    My heart clenched painfully. I really was too naive after all.


    “Was the engagement between Ryan and Miss Chambein set up before I showed up, or did this juste up recently?” I asked, my nerves getting the better of me.


    Edward didn’t hide anything. “They never brought it up before–just talked about it a few days ago. But Fiona’s always had a crush on Ryan. She’s hinted at it more than once.”


    Hearing that, I felt a weight lift off my chest. As long as Ryan didn’t know, I couldn’t really me him.


    If he knew about the engagement and still came after me, then it’d be on him.


    “Don’t worry. The Chambeins aren’t as strong as the Jennings, but they’ve got a new up–and-er who’s starting to make waves. The Jennings family needs to back someone fresh, and Ryan’s the one they’re putting their money on,” Edward said, breaking it down for me.


    I blinked, thinking, ‘So Ryan’s really headed down a pretty unusual path.’


    “So, what kind of person do you think Ryan is?” Edward asked, his voice cutting through my silence.


    Scenes from my time with Ryan shed in my mind. He’s gotyers–sometimes he’s so pure and naive, his eyes clear as day, and other times<b>, </b>he’s all scheming and deep, like a whole gxy <b>hidden </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    inside.


    “He’s pretty easy to get along with,” I replied.


    “That’s just because he likes you,” Edward snorted. “He’s not like that with other girls.”


    I was taken aback, remembering his birthday when Isabelle went after me—Ryan suddenly snapped, and Isabelle was so upset she burst into tears. Later, she even came over to apologize to me.


    “Does he actually like Miss Chambein?” I asked, a little confused.


    Edward shook his head. “Nope.”


    “You really think so?” My eyes brightened.


    Edward caught the look on my face and shut down my rising hope. “Not liking her doesn’t mean they won’t end up married.”


    I lowered my head in defeat, my voice heavy with disappointment. “I never expected there’d be a


    future for us.”


    “Yeah, right,” Edward sneered.


    I gave him a look that said ‘believe it or not, I don’t care,‘ tucking my hair behind my ear as my thoughts grew even more tangled.


    The car fell silent. Edward seemed lost in thought, his mood sour, lips pressed into a thin line.


    I was wondering if maybe it was time to leave Braylin and start over somewhere new.


    I wasn’t trying to run away–I just wanted to escape all the mess and finally have some peace.


    Now that I actually had some money, I had choices for once.


    I could quit my job, go on vacation, work on my inner peace–maybe even try meditation–or just do


    nothing at all and be there for my parents as they got older.


    Thinking about all this, I really started to consider just walking away from it all.


    “What are you thinking about?” Edward suddenly asked.


    He must’ve been watching me zone out for a while before he finally spoke up.


    I shook my head. “Nothing.”


    “Still thinking about how you and Ryan could start over?” Edward asked, his tone softly mocking.


    16:22 Sun, 7 Sept O


    <b>43</b><b>% </b>


    +25


    I knew he was just trying to provoke me, so I didn’t take the bait. “I’m not that desperate for a guy. I’m not about to walk straight into trouble just because I know it’s there.”


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