That night was destined to be sleepless, but not because Alice had forced Ryan into anything after they got back.
On the contrary, even though Ryan had already agreed to Aliceâs request, he was unexpectedly granted a reprieve. Alice decided to give him a bit more time.
Itâs often said that those involved are blind to the truth, while outsiders see things clearly. Ever since Ryan saw Nella, it was like he had become a different person.
The way things unfolded afterward was so unusual that Ryanâs fearful expression naturally sparked Aliceâs deep suspicion.
Ryan had assumed Alice would sit him down for a long, drawn-out conversation, demanding he explain everything in detail.
But Aliceâs actions caught him off guard. After Ryan carried her upstairs, she firmly asked for a hug and then let him go.
Alice clearly had her own plans, but she didnât say a word about what had just happened.
âGo to the room next door. Itâs all set up, you can rest there.â
âDonât think about anything tonight. Weâll deal with it tomorrow.â
Ryan was a bit confused, but he didnât want to overthink it.
He was physically and mentally exhausted, and Aliceâs words were exactly what he needed to hear.
He desperately needed some rest, and more importantly, time to figure out how to handle everything.
The side mission was just the beginning. What really troubled him was that he finally remembered who Bella truly was.
Her sweet and gentle appearance was just a mask. The cruel things she had doneâthere were plenty.
Four years of running, and Bella had come back, this time with her sights set on him.
He had thought time would smooth things over, but Bella was just like she had been three years ago, maybe even worse. Ryan barely recognized her.
Before, he could still run away, sending her off under the guise of doing it for her own good, which also kept him safe.
But this time? Bellaâs status was far above his now, and his little tricks wouldnât work anymore.
If she wanted to do what she had done to him before, how much of a chance did he have to escape?
And this time, he couldnât run. Alice was involved now, and Ryan knew it was because of him that she was dragged into this.
Aliceâs safety was at risk, and he was the one who had put her in danger.
From a practical standpoint, neither of them was safe. Who knew what Bella might do if she snapped?
âMiss Alice, Iâ¦â
Ryan didnât leave right away after hearing Aliceâs words. He didnât understand why she suddenly seemed to trust him so much, but even if it was just for a moment, he didnât want to let her down.
âStay safe. If anything happens, Iâll be there to protect you. You can trust me a little more.â
Ryan had so much he wanted to say. He wanted to ask if Aliceâs trust in him was genuine or just part of some plan.
He also wanted to tell her about Bella and what had happened between them. Maybe if he got it off his chest, heâd feel a little better.
But when he opened his mouth, the only thing that came out was concern for Aliceâs safety.
âMm⦠I understand. Iâll rely on you a bit more.â
Alice looked at Ryanâs serious expression and nodded slightly, her suspicions deepening.
Ryan was acting way too strange. From his words, she could almost be certain that something bad had happened.
But she still didnât feel the need to confront him directly. The fact that Ryan was saying this to her showed that, in his heart, she held some importance.
If this had been before, she might have been anxious. But now, she could look at things more calmly.
Ryan had secrets, and because of them, he felt guilty toward her. Thatâs why he was so eager to explain himself.
By using that guilt, she might be able to get more out of him. So, maybe the truth wasnât all that important right now.
Sitting on the bed, Alice swung her legs, graceful and alluring. Ryan, however, deliberately avoided looking at her, pretending not to notice.
With a slight sigh, Aliceâs mood soured a little. She knew now wasnât the right time.
She had briefly considered asking Ryan to move in with her right then and there. She had almost gone through with it.
But in the end, she changed her mind. There was no point in rushing things now. Ryan, in his current state, definitely wouldnât take the initiative to deepen their relationship.
A temporary loss or gain didnât mean much to Aliceâthis was something life in the underworld had taught her. You had to think long-term.
So, she decided to take her time and play the long game. She didnât know exactly what was going on, but it was clear that Ryan was in troubleâsomething far more serious than just a media scandal.
She resolved to seize this opportunity and fully enter Ryanâs heart. If that meant making some sacrifices for now, so be it.
The clock had already struck midnight, signaling the end of yesterday. Alice yawned and waved Ryan off.
The mental strain from earlier had worn her out. Too much had happened today, and she needed a good rest as well.
âAlright, alright, go get some sleep.â
âYouâve got to go to the hospital tomorrow, right? The leadâs been tracked down. The girl youâre looking for is at St. Maryâs Hospital.â
Alice turned her back to him, not caring that Ryan was still standing there, and began unbuttoning her dress.
Her smooth, milky-white back was exposed, causing Ryanâs breath to quicken. Before he could be affected any further, he quickly turned and left.
Alice was referring to the crane operator incident. The operator had fallen from a great height, and Ryan had traced a lead to the fact that the man had a sick daughter.
If Ryan had heard this before, he wouldâve been shocked, because this was something he and Mia had investigated together. Alice shouldnât have known about it.
But by now, Ryan had grown used to Alice knowing things about him. Bellaâs return had already thrown his life into chaos, so he didnât bother questioning it anymore.
Compared to what Bella had done to him, Aliceâs obsession seemed almost⦠manageable.
âWill Nella be coming with us tomorrow?â
âShe will. Sheâs helping us handle this. As long as sheâs seen in public, things will be much easier to deal with.â
When Ryan mentioned Nella, Aliceâs tone noticeably stiffened, but she still answered his question.
Behind him, the sound of clothes rustling filled the room. Ryan, lost in thought, nodded absentmindedly. After saying goodnight to Alice, he practically fled from her room.
Heâd been to the second floor many times, but he had never stayed the night here.
The room Alice had prepared for him was right next doorâvery close. If anything happened to Ryan, Alice could be there in an instant, and vice versa.
As Ryan stepped out of the room, his eyes instinctively drifted downstairs. The maids were tidying up, and Bella was sitting on the couch, legs crossed, scrolling through her phone.
Who Bella used to be didnât seem to matter anymore. Right now, she was the third daughter of the Langston familyâwealthy and powerful.
Alice had deliberately put her in the basement, clearly as a power move. If Bella showed any displeasure, Alice wouldnât hesitate to make things difficult for her, especially at such a critical time.
But to everyoneâs surprise, Bella had accepted it without complaint.
Ryan squinted. From this angle, he could see Bella, but she couldnât see him.
He watched her for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. He stopped one of the maids who was cleaning Bellaâs room.
âMiss Nella agreed to stay downstairs? She didnât say anything about it?â
While the basement wasnât much different from the rooms upstairs, it was still a clear message. It was a subtle way of putting Bella in her place.
Bella had been butting heads with Alice earlier, so why had she suddenly accepted this so easily?
âAt first, Miss Nella didnât like the room downstairs.â
The maid bowed respectfully, sneaking a glance at Aliceâs door. She had just seen Ryan come out of Miss Aliceâs room, and now her attitude toward him was almost reverential.
After thinking for a moment, the maid decided to spill everything she knew.
âAt first, Miss Nella was very resistant. We couldnât handle it, so we called the head maid.â
âIâm not sure what happened after that, but it seems Miss Nella asked the head maid some questions about you, Mr. Ryan, and then her attitude suddenly changed.â
âNow, I donât think she has any complaintsâ¦â