Chapter 816

Once I was inside, I realized Ryan looked nothing like the guy I remembered. He’d gotten stronger, and his face carried the marks of hardship and experience – like he’d grown up all at once. I wasn’t sure if those changes happened overnight, but it was obvious the last two years had been a tough ride for him.

Ryan seemed to shy away from my gaze. Every time I tried to read his expression, he’d walk a little farther ahead, as if he didn’t want to meet my eyes – leaving me with nothing but the sight of his back.

I understood. Guys can’t stay kids forever. At a certain age, they have to step up, just like their old man, and learn to take on the whole family’s burden.

I couldn’t help but feel Ryan had become that kind of man, too. That’s why he’d changed so much.

“Why’d you come all the way out here?” Ryan asked, glancing back at me, his voice low and steady.

I said awkwardly, “I saw the news about your grandfather and just wanted to see how you were holding up. Since I remembered the way, I thought I’d just come over.”

Ryan gave me a skeptical look, like he wasn’t buying it.

“It was my guys who called you, wasn’t it?” he said, catching on right away.

I forced a smile. “Yeah, but don’t blame them. Honestly, even if they hadn’t reached out, I would’ve come to check on you regardless.”

Ryan didn’t say anything else and led me into the living room. On the table, a pot of wine sat cold, its mellow scent lingering quietly in the air.

He spoke softly, “This was my grandpa’s favorite drink.”

Then, without hesitation, Ryan set the wine aside, grabbed some coffee beans and tossed them into the coffee machine.

I watched him closely – so many traces of his old self had faded away, but there was still something about him that made him feel familiar to me.

“Uncle Ed’s back in town, too. If you want to see him…” Ryan said softly as he rinsed the coffee cups.

My chest tightened, and I blurted out, “Whatever was between us is ancient history now. Turns out, I’m really not the type who can hack it as a stepmom.”

Ryan glanced up at me, frowning in confusion. The way I said it sounded pretty awkward, and he could totally tell.

“Are you still mad that I used Nora to pressure you back then?” Ryan said, with a self-deprecating smile.

“No, this isn’t really about you,” I said, shaking my head. “After I met Nora, I realized the whole situation was just too tangled up – there’s no way I could juggle all that.”

Ryan just smiled and shook his head, letting it go without a word.

I instantly felt like I was rambling for no reason.

I really did want to ask what he’d been up to these past couple of years, but knowing it involved military missions, I figured it wasn’t something I should dig into.

“How have things been for you these last two years?” Ryan suddenly asked.

I nodded. “Pretty good, honestly. I did get into a tough spot once, but your people helped me out. Thank you, Ryan.”

Ryan just hummed. “Yeah, women definitely run into all sorts of trouble at work. And with someone as good-looking as you, well, a lot of men can be pretty scheming.”

I watched him as he quietly busied himself with the coffee, finally placing a cup in front of me.

He used to look fair and gentle, but these days, with that tan, he came across way more masculine than before.

Maybe it was because I hadn’t talked to anyone like him in so long, I suddenly had no clue how to even start a conversation.

I grabbed for the coffee he’d just handed over, but the heat stung my fingers.

As I reflexively let go, the cup nearly tumbled – but Ryan caught it without missing a beat. He shot me a regretful look. “Should’ve warned you to let it cool for a bit before drinking.”

I felt my face flush with embarrassment, glancing down at the growing coffee stain on my beige dress and hurriedly trying to blot it with my hands.

The mood between us turned even heavier, so tense it left me not knowing what to say or do next.

Ryan had gotten a lot quieter than before, so I got up and wandered over to study some of the paintings hanging around, just to give myself something to focus on.

There were a few landscape sketches hanging up, all hand-drawn.

I glanced back at Ryan, remembering how talented he used to be at art – he’d even given me one of his own drawings before. I figured these must be his, too.

“Ryan, do you still draw?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

He leaned back in his chair and shrugged, “Nah, I haven’t drawn in ages. My hand’s pretty out of practice now.”

I just let out a quiet “oh.”

I gazed at the paintings for a bit, suddenly feeling kind of fake. Back then, I always thought of him as a little brother, but now, it was like him getting older had just made me more cautious around him.

Trying to work up some courage, I turned to him and blurted out, “Ryan, have you gotten a girlfriend in the last couple years?”