Chapter 1
Chapter 1:
Kailey Evans had picked out a thoughtful present for Ryan Owen’s birthday.
As she reached the private room where he was spending the evening with his friends, voices drifted through the door.
“Now that Olivia is back, you two can finally be together, Ryan. But Kailey’s got quite the stubborn streak. What if she causes trouble p>
Through the glass, the low lighting made it difficult to read Ryan’s face, but his tone was unmistakably cool. “She’s just a kid. Whatever she says doesn’t matter p>
“Kailey may be young, but everyone can see she’s got feelings for you. You mean to tell me you never once thought about her that way p>
у𝘰𝘶𝗋 𝘯𝗲x𝘁 𝗳a𝗏𝘰𝗋і𝘵𝗲 𝘳𝗲𝖺d і𝗌 𝗼ո
Vernon Clayton’s probing question sent Kailey’s pulse racing. She found herself straining to hear every word, desperate to know whether Ryan had ever harbored any romantic feelings for her.
Reclined at the center of the couch, Ryan carried himself with practiced confidence—unflappable and self-assured. After a measured pause, he answered, his tone cold and unyielding, “Guys, don’t encourage that kind of talk. Kailey is young and reckless. To me, she’s my niece. I could never see her in a romantic light p>
Those words landed with the force of a blade, cutting straight through Kailey’s chest.
Oblivious to her presence just outside the door, Vernon kept up his banter. “Alright, alright, we get it—Olivia’s the one who really matters to you. Kailey could never take her place p>
Ryan gave a slight nod. “Just be careful not to bring up Kailey around Olivia. I don’t want there to be any confusion p>
“Do we even have to mention her?” Vernon let out a heavy sigh, his tone loaded. “With Kailey’s personality, she’s never going to sit back and watch you end up with someone else p>
“Right,” another man added with a laugh, clearly enjoying himself. “She’s what, twenty now? Why not just date both Kailey and Olivia? Kailey’s got nowhere else to go, and she’s been hung up on you forever. She’d probably agree without hesitation p>
Ryan’s eyes turned sharp as ice, and the look he gave was enough to silence the room. “What kind of filth are you talking about? The only reason I had my brother adopt Kailey was because I pitied her. My heart has only ever belonged to Olivia. Don’t say things that make my skin crawl p>
Kailey’s fingers locked around the doorknob so tightly it hurt. For a moment, she could barely breathe.
So this was what her feelings meant to him. Something repulsive.
She had come prepared to step inside, maybe even to defend herself, but the strength drained out of her all at once. Without a word, she lowered her eyes, swallowed back the sting rising in her throat, and turned away.