Chapter 31
Chapter 31:
Relief washed over Olivia. The heavy hospital air was wearing on her, and while she wanted to press her point further, she had no desire to spend another day in that room.
Since her back still needed attention, Ryan planned to bring her back to the villa. They had barely settled into the car when his phone rang with a call from his mother. Shirley Owen’s voice came through the line, sharp and full of energy. “Kailey’s home, and you’re nowhere to be found. Do I have to be on my deathbed before you show up p>
Ryan stiffened. Kailey was already there?
“Mom, I’m tied up with something right now,” he replied, doing his best to keep his tone even.
“Tied up?” Shirley snapped. “You’d think you were running the country. I don’t care what’s going on. Get back here immediately p>
The call ended before he could respond.
Ryan pressed a hand to his temple, the echo of his mother’s ultimatum already building into a headache.
𝖲𝗵𝘢𝗿𝘦 у𝗼𝘶𝘳 𝘵h𝘰𝗎𝘨ht𝘀 o𝘯
Olivia had heard every word. After a brief pause, she asked gently, “I haven’t met your mother yet. Why don’t I come with you p>
After a short hour-long train ride, Kailey finally reached the Owen estate. She went straight upstairs, took a shower, and had no idea Shirley had already called Ryan.
When she came down, Shirley greeted her with an easy smile and motioned her closer. “Kailey, where is Ryan? Why didn’t you bring him home with you p>
Kailey kept her expression calm and answered lightly, “He’s been buried in work. He’ll visit when he gets a chance p>
Ryan had been born late in his parents’ lives, and because of that, the gap between him and Sawyer had always been noticeable. Growing up, he had been the difficult one—always stirring up trouble and giving the family plenty of reasons to worry.
Shirley narrowed her eyes, amusement flickering across her face. “So… did the two of you have a fight p>
Kailey faltered for just a second. Was she really that easy to read?
Shirley gave a sharp little huff. “Before, if I so much as scolded him, you’d rush in like a knight defending a king. Since when did you start sounding so detached when you talk about him p>
Kailey understood every personality in the Owen family. She knew how to play along, how to keep things light. The fact that she was being so guarded today could only mean one thing—something had happened.
With a small smile, Kailey said, “Grandma, weren’t you the one who told me I should be more respectful toward Uncle Ryan and stop acting immature p>
Shirley snapped, “I told you to respect him in your heart, not to sound like you’re reading from a rulebook every time you open your mouth p>
Kailey had no interest in arguing against that kind of twisted logic. Things between her and Ryan were different now. Whatever had happened before, it was over. From this point on, he was simply her uncle.
She changed the subject quickly. “The weather is really nice today. Why don’t I take you outside for some fresh air and sunshine p>