Chapter 14
Chapter 14:
Kailey kept her expression neutral and replied softly, “It’s nothing important. Julia just asked if I’d found an internship, and I told her I had p>
Julia immediately picked up on the shift and moved to smooth things over. “That’s right. Kailey’s about to finish school, and I thought she might join our company for a bit p>
Ryan’s eyes lingered on Kailey before he responded. “She’ll be starting her internship with one of Owen Group’s subsidiaries. There’s no need for anyone else to worry about it p>
Olivia finally broke her silence, offering a gentle smile. “I’ve heard Kailey has done very well at university. She’s bound to thrive wherever she lands. Ryan, you really ought to respect her choices, too p>
Ryan, still in the habit of managing Kailey’s affairs, replied without thinking, “She hasn’t spent much time in the real world yet. How would she know what’s best for herself p>
Kailey almost laughed. He had always made choices for her.
She lowered her eyes and replied with quiet resolve, “I’m almost twenty-one. I can figure out what’s good for me p>
For a fraction of a second, something like surprise flickered in Ryan’s eyes before they turned cold again. He assumed she was pushing back just for the sake of it, convinced her attitude was only getting worse. He wanted to confront her on the spot, but the celebration around them held him back.
Nеw 𝗐𝘦𝗲𝗸l𝗒 с𝗵а𝗉𝗍е𝗿𝘴 𝘰n
His tone turned cool. “You’d better figure it out. While you’re here, don’t wander off. You’ll come back with me when this is over.” With that, he walked away with Olivia, not sparing Kailey a single backward glance.
She had grown used to his cold shoulder over the past few days. If he wanted to shut her out, she would let him. Her time here was nearly up anyway, and there was a strange comfort in the silence he left behind.
Julia, having witnessed the entire exchange, slipped an arm around Kailey’s shoulders, her voice soft with sympathy. “Honestly, I didn’t expect Ryan to act this way. There’s really nothing charming about someone so set in his ways. Let’s just forget about him p>
Kailey nodded, her agreement wholehearted. “He’s not going to get under my skin anymore p>
Sensing that Kailey needed a distraction, Julia decided to skip the introductions and instead led her through the villa’s grounds. Tucked between rolling hills and winding streams, the manor offered a quiet beauty that slowly eased the tension from Kailey’s shoulders.
A flicker of guilt passed through her. “Julia, I hope I’m not keeping you from your other guests p>
“Don’t be silly. This place is meant for relaxing,” Julia replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “If Ryan ever snaps at you again, just chalk it up to a midlife crisis—men only get crankier as they get older p>
Kailey bit back a laugh but kept her future plans to herself. It wouldn’t matter much longer. There would be no next time.
The celebration stretched late into the evening, guests taking turns fawning over Julia’s baby boy. As people began to say their goodbyes, a few lighthearted, slightly tipsy voices rang out.