As Ryan and Jenna walked towards the gate, he decided to have an important discussion with her before he left.
"Jenna," he began, his voice gentle but firm, "have you ever thought about living on your own?" She looked up, surprised. "What do you mean? I’m fine here." "I know," he replied, stepping closer. "But... you are smart and capable. It might be good for you to think about having your own place someday, maybe very soon, since you've gotten yourself a big job. It could give you some freedom and particularly a chance to really figure things out for yourself." She bit her lip, considering his words. "I don’t know... it is just so comfortable here with dad and the family." "I get it," he said, nodding. "But comfort is not everything. Sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow." She stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to read his intentions. Finally, she nodded. "I will think about it." "Good," he smiled. "That’s all I ask, and it is for your own good." He then exchanged goodbyes with her and stepped out into the cool night air. The walk home was quiet; the sound of his footsteps was the only thing breaking the silence. His visit to Lee's family replayed in his mind, especially his discussion with Jenna. He hoped she would take his advice seriously because he was certain that it would be a deal-breaker and the mark of a turning point for her and her family if she did. As he rounded a corner, a voice cut through the stillness. "Nice shirt." He looked up, surprised to see a woman leaning casually against a streetlamp. Her presence was immediately striking—tall, elegant, with an effortless grace that seemed out of place in this quiet part of town. It was Sarah. She lived in the same neighbourhood as Mr. Lee and was Ryder's former neighbour when he was living in the area. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as they flicked over his shirt. "Namibian blue diamond buttons, right? It must have cost you a few million." He froze. His hand instinctively went to his collar, brushing against the small, inconspicuous buttons. "Uh, it is just a shirt," he mumbled, trying to downplay it. She laughed softly. "Yes, just a shirt that only the wealthiest people in the world would own. Come on, you expect me to believe you are just some humble skewer seller?" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I sell skewers. That’s all." She had been suspicious of his identity ever since he helped her solve a difficult university-level mathematics equation. It was the exact reason he distanced himself away from her. She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Sure, and I am the queen of England." "I like nice things, but that does not mean I’m rolling in money," he replied. She tilted her head, studying him for a moment before giving a small nod. "Fair enough. Simplicity is nice." Her gaze softened slightly. "But it will be hard for someone who recognises you wearing something worth more than most people’s houses to consider you just a skewer seller, just like I am," she added. He shrugged. “Everyone knows me as the guy who sells skewers. I’ve been doing it for five years, so I don’t get why you've been so convinced I am something else.” “Alright,” she laughed. “If that is true, you might want to work on how you come across. Especially around women.” He arched his brows. "What do you mean?" "You know what I mean, Ryan. I don't need to spill out everything to you." She retorted. "I'm not trying to impress anyone or pretend to be someone I'm not, Sarah. I just like getting what I want, and that's it," he reminded her. She smiled. "But not every woman will find that appealing. Sometimes, you need to present yourself at the level to which you actually belong." "Okay, I will keep that in mind," he said, to end the conversation. He was relieved by how he handled the situation. "That will be better," she said with a wink. Then, without another word, she turned and started walking down the street, her figure gradually blending into the shadows. He watched her go, a swirl of emotions tugging at him. He was not sure what to make of the encounter. She saw right through him, and she didn't seem to buy his story. “That was close,” he muttered, hoping he could keep his real identity hidden for as long as he needed. He then continued his walk home, thinking about the new life that awaited him the next day.The constant knocking on the door dragged Ryan out of sleep the next morning.Groaning, he stumbled towards the door, still in his undershorts. Yesterday had been exhausting, and he had stayed up late. But when he opened the door, his eyes widened in surprise—it was Jane. She looked just as startled, clearly not expecting him to be so unprepared on their big day.“Have you forgotten the significance of today for us?” she asked, frustration edging her voice.He quickly apologised, promising he would be ready in just a few minutes. He invited her in and hurried off to get prepared.When he walked out of his small bedroom, she was taken aback by how good he looked.Even though he was just wearing a simple white shirt with black stripes and black trousers, he looked handsome enough to make any woman turn her head."No wonder he has a reputation for attracting women," she thought inwardly.Still, even though he was exactly her type, she did not feel any romantic interest in him."This i
The morning air was still cool when Ryan's phone buzzed. Groggy and annoyed, he answered it to hear Jane’s voice on the other end."I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to pick you up as promised. I’ve got an emergency meeting out of state," she said, her tone brisk."What about your driver? Can’t he come and pick me up?” He asked, his irritation seeping into his voice."No,” she responded sharply. "You will have to find your own way to my house.”Before he could protest, she hung up. A few moments later, his phone pinged again—this time, it was a text with the address and some money for transport.He stared at the credit alert, his annoyance growing. "She is such a rude asshole,” he muttered, pocketing his phone. Even though they had agreed to keep things strictly business, he had hoped she would show a bit of common courtesy. Instead, it felt like she was going out of her way to make things difficult.“I guess that is what I will have to deal with for the next three years,” he sighed
As Ryan drove back to the estate gate, he stopped as the security guard approached the car before opening the gate to let him out. Ryan rolled down the window, smirking as the guard's eyes widened in shock at the sight of him in the sleek car.Ryan scoffed, locking eyes with the guard. "What, you think I stole it because I’m too poor to own something this nice?"The guard struggled to find words, his mouth opening and closing uselessly."Open the gate and let me out of here, you lowlife," Ryan snapped.He chuckled as he watched the guard trudge back to the gatehouse."It’s always the ones with nothing who look down on others when they get a taste of the good life," he muttered to himself.Once the gate was open, he drove forward a bit and stopped in front of the gatehouse."Is there... is anything wrong, sir?" The guard drawled."Sir?" Ryan chuckled.He leaned closer, his voice dripping with mockery. “Don’t worry, I won’t report you to your employer. Your job is safe... for now.”A s
As the officer approached the scene, the young man ran to him."Mr. Jackson!" The officer recognised him instantly."Thank God you are here." The young man—Mr. Jackson said."You see that scumbag over there?" He pointed towards Ryan, who was still standing with the girl. "You won't believe he humiliated me. Me, of all people!" A smirk crossed his face as Ryder's gaze locked with his.The officer quickly apologised to Mr. Jackson, assuring him that he would handle the situation, and then approached Ryder.After asking Ryder what had happened, which Ryder explained in detail, the officer informed him that he would need to come down to the station on charges of intentionally causing traffic and assaulting Mr. Jackson.Ryan scoffed, already predicting how things would unfold. "Intentionally causing traffic? Did you even listen to what I said caused all of this? Since you're clearly choosing not to believe me, why don't you ask the witnesses around?"But to Ryan's surprise, no one spoke u
For a long, tense moment, neither Ryan nor Jane spoke. The silence between them was suffocating as each second stretched out like an eternity. His eyes locked onto hers, searching for answers she wasn’t ready to give. His fists tightened at his sides as he struggled to keep his anger in check. He exhaled quietly, deciding to break the silence. “Jane?” he whispered. "What’s this slap about? What did I do to deserve it?” She scoffed in disbelief, taking a step back. "How can you even ask me that after what you have done? You’re unbelievable.” “I honestly don’t know what you are talking about. I’m completely in the dark here,” he replied, his voice calm, though anger simmered beneath the surface. She shook her head, frustration clear in her eyes. “I thought you were different, someone who wouldn’t abuse their change in status. But I guess I was wrong. Maybe people are all the same after all.” But Ryan was still clueless. “I don’t understand what all this is for. Just e
"Shouldn't you at least tell me where we are headed?" Ryan asked Jane as they drove toward the destination she had mentioned earlier.He was sitting beside her. "You will find out when we get there," she replied sternly, without making an attempt to look at him. The drive continued in silence until Ryan's phone rang, breaking the quiet.It was Rose."I thought you were dead," she joked as soon as Ryan answered. "Yeah, your call brought me back to life," he replied, and they both laughed.For the first time since the trip began, Jane glanced at him, surprised and curious about who was on the other end of the line."I was really worried, Ryan. I thought you had been imprisoned, and I couldn't make it to the station because of what you told me." Her voice was filled with concern. "I'm sorry," Ryan apologised, explaining that he was released the same night."How? Where are you, anyway? Everyone is freaking out, even Mr. Lee. He said he has not been able to reach you, and you have not
Ryan was about to say, "I used to sell skewers on the street before I got into construction. I now own a construction company." He wanted to test if Jane's family, especially her grandmother, only cared about money and status. He figured dropping this information would show their true colors. "He is the CEO of a construction company." Jane cut in. "Will you shut up this instant?!How dare you speak on his behalf when he is here?! Can't he speak?" The grandmother growled. Jane apologised, and Ryan agreed with what she said, realising he didn't need to stick to his original plan anymore. The grandmother scoffed, "The CEO of a construction company? Who is your family?" He chuckled. "Actually, I'm an orphan. I don't have a family, and my adopted mother has passed away." "Besides the construction company, what other businesses do you own and run?" He already knew where the conversation was headed and confirmed that she was materialistic. He chuckled. "That is the only
As Ryan stepped out of the sleek, black Mercedes-Benz S-Class that Jane had granted him to use as his, heads turned. His Versace suit screamed wealth. The vendors barely recognised him, assuming he was just another wealthy customer until he removed his sunglasses, revealing his face."Ryan?" Someone muttered.A gasp rippled through the crowd. People immediately gathered around him, their surprise evident. Some whispered to each other in disbelief, while others simply stared. Ryan stood there, his eyes scanning the crowd with an air of superiority.Mr. Lee, the man who had known him the longest, pushed through the group. "Ryan, where have you been all this while?" His voice was laced with concern. "Do you know how worried everyone has been, not hearing from you?"Ryan smirked, his lips curling up mockingly. "Well, as you can see, I'm alive and healthy."Mr. Lee glanced at the car, the suit, and then back at Ryan. "What is going on? What is with the car and the clothes?""That is b