Chapter 4: Everyone Will Know
1252 Words
Isabel didn’t appreciate his controlling behavior.
She looked up at him and let out a cold laugh.
“Ryan Sullivan, you don’t get to make demands of me anymore.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Why are you so lonely? Planning to steal your nephew’s fiancée?”
They had only dated for three months, but Isabel knew exactly how to push his buttons.
To her surprise, Ryan laughed.
The sound was low and dangerous as he leaned closer, his voice brushing against her ear.
“Sounds pretty exciting, doesn’t it?”
As if rules only applied to other people.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Beneath that refined exterior was a possessiveness that bordered on obsession.
Sure enough, the smile in Ryan’s eyes only deepened.
Apparently, he enjoyed being called out.
Lowering his head, he brushed his forehead lightly against her cheek.
“Isabel, can we stop fighting like this?”
His voice softened.
“Let’s get back together.”
Isabel pushed against his chest.
“Get this straight—I’m your nephew’s fiancée.”
Even if their engagement was only for show, everyone knew about it.
So what exactly was he doing, cornering her like this?
At the mention of Derek, Ryan’s expression darkened instantly.
The smile vanished from his face.
“Babe, every time you remind me that you’re with him, it just makes me want to kill him even more.”
Derek Mercer was nothing.
The fact that he dared to pursue Isabel was enough to drive Ryan crazy.
Isabel knew he wasn’t joking.
A man willing to beat his own nephew half to death in front of a room full of people wasn’t afraid of crossing the line.
She shrugged.
“If you want to kill him, I won’t stop you.”
Her lips curved slightly.
“As long as it doesn’t affect my project.”
If Ryan wanted to deal with Derek, she’d gladly watch.
But she couldn’t let it interfere with her company’s partnership with the Mercer family.
Something bright flickered across Ryan’s face.
“So you don’t like him.”
His mood visibly improved.
“Then again, after being with me, there’s no way your standards dropped that far.”
Isabel raised a hand and poked him in the chest through his shirt.
Once.
Then again.
“Don’t forget.”
A mocking smile tugged at her lips.
“You’re hardly a catch yourself.”
Instead of dodging her finger, Ryan caught her hand and pulled her closer.
A crooked smile tugged at Ryan's lips.
"Babe, you know exactly what kind of person I am."
"I might not be a good man."
His gaze stayed fixed on hers.
"But for you, I'd do anything."
Something tightened unexpectedly in Isabel’s chest.
She quickly pulled her hand away.
“Stop calling me babe.”
Now that they were broken up, he seemed even more shameless than before.
Ryan studied her face intently.
A faint blush had spread across her cheeks.
Her brows were drawn together, her eyes fixed entirely on him.
Her lips moved as she scolded him, but he barely heard a word.
All he could think about was kissing her.
“You know what?”
His voice dropped lower.
“I like seeing you like this.”
At least now she wasn’t looking at him with cold indifference.
Angry, yes.
But alive.
He loved it.
Isabel almost laughed out of frustration.
She hated how easily he could stir her emotions.
As though every reaction she had was proof that he still mattered.
Ryan lowered his voice.
“I know getting back together will take time.”
His gaze softened.
“I won’t push you.”
He paused.
“But don’t push me, either.”
“Break up with him.”
Otherwise, he wasn’t sure what he’d do when jealousy took over.
Isabel met his gaze.
“I’ll break up with him eventually.”
Her tone was calm and serious.
“But not because of you.”
Their engagement had always been about mutual benefit.
And Derek’s recent behavior had disgusted her more than enough.
The day she reached her limit, she’d walk away without hesitation.
Unfortunately for her, Ryan only heard the first half of what she said.
I’ll break up with him.
His eyes lit up instantly.
The sharpness in his expression melted away.
Like a dog finally getting the attention it wanted.
He leaned closer, all of yesterday’s arrogance gone.
“Your heart was racing just now, babe.”
His eyes searched hers.
“You still feel something for me, don’t you?”
Before Isabel could answer, his phone rang.
Ryan frowned.
He clearly had no intention of answering it, but the caller refused to give up.
With obvious irritation, he pulled out his phone and answered it.
He still stood directly in front of Isabel, as though afraid she might run away.
A smug voice came through the speaker.
It was Chris Sawyer.
“Ryan! You’re really back?”
Chris laughed.
“Hey, remember Isabel Quinn? Your ex-girlfriend?”
“She’s dating your nephew now. You two are definitely going to run into each other.”
He whistled.
“She still looks exactly the same. You’d better keep yourself under control and not go stealing your nephew’s girl.”
Ryan: “…”
Isabel silently added in her head:
Too late. He’s already trying.
Chris continued.
“Back then, you acted like the breakup didn’t bother you at all.”
He laughed loudly.
“You even said, ‘A breakup’s a breakup. Whoever asks to get back together is a dog.’”
“What a legend.”
Ryan said nothing.
The silence stretched long enough for even Chris to notice.
“Ryan?”
No response.
“Hello? You still there?”
By then, Isabel had already shoved Ryan’s hand away and walked off without looking back.
Ryan stared at his now-empty hand.
His jaw tightened.
“Shut the hell up.”
Before Chris could respond, the call ended.
On the other end of the line, Chris lowered his phone and frowned.
What had he said wrong?
Ryan pressed two fingers against his brow, fighting back a surge of frustration.
His voice was low and irritated.
“I just got her to soften up a little.”
He exhaled sharply.
“D*mn it.”
By the time Isabel stepped out of Empire Club, she was still thinking about what Chris had said.
No regrets.
Fine.
She didn’t regret it either.
She stood by the curb waiting for a ride.
It was rush hour, and the rideshare app showed more than a hundred people ahead of her.
Up ahead, a passenger stepped out of a taxi.
Just as Isabel headed toward it, a silver-gray Aeris Valkyrie rolled to a stop directly in her path.
She paused for only a second.
But when she looked back, someone else had already claimed the taxi.
She stopped in her tracks.
The window of the supercar rolled down.
Ryan rested one hand on the steering wheel and turned to look at her.
“Get in.”
Isabel didn’t move.
The sleek, limited-edition supercar parked outside Empire Club was impossible to ignore.
Ryan made no move to leave.
Every time Isabel took a step forward, the car rolled forward with her.
More and more people gathered around.
Some had already pulled out their phones.
Ryan lowered his voice, coaxing her gently.
"Babe, if you don't get in the car soon, people are going to start wondering what exactly our relationship is."
- Writer
