Chapter 39
Chapter 39:
At the far end of the second-floor hallway, the study glowed with muted lamplight, thin shadows stretching along the walls. Kailey lingered outside the door for several hesitant seconds before finally raising her knuckles to knock.
His calm voice drifted through from inside. “Come in p>
The door creaked open beneath her hand, and Kailey stepped inside to find Ryan already looking straight at her from behind the desk.
A quick flicker moved through her gaze before she looked aside. “Grandma asked me to bring you some soup p>
“Alright.” Immersed in a video meeting, Ryan offered the brief reply and returned his attention to the screen.
Seeing that he had nothing more to add, Kailey set the tray carefully on the polished surface and turned to slip out without a sound.
From the corner of his eye, Ryan caught the quiet movement. “Stay until I’m done. You can take the bowl back down with you p>
Mid-step, Kailey paused, weighed the request for a moment, and then lowered herself into a nearby chair.
𝖣о𝗇’𝘵 𝗺і𝗌ѕ 𝗇𝗲𝗐 r𝗲𝗹𝖾𝖺𝗌𝘦𝗌 оո ѕ.𝗰𝘰𝘮
He was busy with work. She had no desire to make conversation anyway.
Observing her unexpectedly compliant posture, Ryan’s brow lifted a fraction before he resumed the meeting as though nothing had been interrupted.
Half an hour passed after the two project reports concluded. The soup that had once released curling steam now sat lukewarm in the bowl. Kailey offered, “Would you like me to bring you a fresh bowl p>
Without lifting his gaze, Ryan replied flatly, “No need p>
He lifted the bowl and drank the cooled soup as if the temperature meant nothing, his expression revealing not the slightest ripple of discomfort.
Kailey simply accepted it. Once he finished, she gathered the empty bowl with quiet efficiency and turned toward the door.
Ryan glanced sideways and noticed that she never once looked back at him. An inexplicable tightening moved through his chest.
His voice cut through the stillness. “Kailey p>
She continued forward without pausing or answering.
Ryan crossed the room in a few quick strides and caught her wrist. Startled by the sudden grip, Kailey lost her footing, her body tipping forward until she collided squarely against his chest and fell into his arms.
For a heartbeat, both of them went completely still.
At that exact moment, the study door burst open and Olivia’s sharp, disbelieving voice rang out.
“What are you doing p>
Olivia’s voice sliced through the study, yanking Kailey and Ryan sharply back to their senses. Forcing herself upright, Kailey ignored the stabbing throb in her ankle and quickly stepped aside.
A heavy shadow lingered across Ryan’s features, his expression unreadable, betraying nothing of what moved beneath the surface.
Olivia rushed forward, wedging herself between them, her anxious gaze flicking back and forth as her voice wavered. “What were you two doing just now p>
Kailey had already smoothed her face into calm indifference. “I almost fell, and Uncle Ryan caught me p>
“Almost fell?” Olivia echoed, disbelief sharpening her tone. She curled her lips into a thin smile and said, her voice edged with sarcasm, “Funny how steady you looked for someone on the verge of collapsing. You didn’t even spill the tray. And Ryan just happened to be right there p>