Page 14 of Entwined with My Best Friend's Brother

But this time, Ryan inquires, "What do you mean? I was responsible for security at that event. Nothing major happened there."

Charles scoffs, "Well, nothing happened at the event you guys were responsible for. But it was a disguise, a cover-up for the real charity event that happened behind the scenes."

Curious, I ask Charles, "So? Why are you bringing this up?"

Charles looks guilty as he looks at me and says, "I noticed that the black car that followed yours was similar to the one I had seen at the Armani event. They could probably be personal guards for the personal event."

Ryan continues questioning Charles, "Tell me one thing. Why would they be following Jen, not you, who took the picture?"

Confused, Charles replies, "I don't know. Maybe they thought we were accomplices since we came to the event together..."

Ryan says, "Jen, listen to me. Whatever we have been discussing till now, they are only theories. Charles told us they could be Armanis' people, but it's not confirmed. I wasn't lying to you; I was..."

Before I finish my sentence, I interrupt, "...not worried? So, you were only here to confirm if it was a hoax? Well, you've confirmed it, so you can leave now."

I know my words stunned Ryan.

Ryan grabs my hand and pulls me closer, with frustration evident in his voice, "You are the most unbelievable woman I have ever met. Why can't you wait for me to finish speaking before you make up your mind about me, about how much of an asshole I can be?"

I scoff, "Well, aren't you?"

Ryan leans into me, grabs my waist, and asserts dominance. I try to push him out, but he whispers, "Get ready to live with an asshole. Because I'm not letting you go anymore."

Chapter Nine - Jenna

Themomenthesaysthose words, the bastard suddenly leaves me in the kitchen. I think he knows how crazy he sounded, so he disappeared right after, but when I hear him go upstairs, I go after him, feeling uneasy.

The moment he says those words, the bastard suddenly leaves me in the kitchen. I think to myself that he knows how crazy he sounds, so he disappears right after. But when I hear him go upstairs, I go after him, feeling uneasy.

But the situation seriously makes me question the guy's sanity once I get there. "What are you doing?" I mutter, staring at Ryan as he suddenly throws my clothes from my closet onto the bed. Maybe he has gone mad – going from angry one moment to quietly collecting a stranger's clothes the next moment like it is nothing.

I shriek at him, embarrassed when he goes for my lingerie, "What do you think you are doing?"

Yet he ignores me and picks up my underwear as if it is no big deal. He pauses as if looking for something when his gaze lands somewhere, and I follow his eye to find my old gym bag, which I rarely use anymore.

Taking it out, he throws in the clothes, and I finally understand what the bastard is trying to do. Is he going to make me live with him? This damn freak.

I grab my clothes back from the gym bag when he pulls open my crossed arms, letting my clothes fall to the ground in the distance between us. His angry dark gaze makes me still when Cale's tiny voice says, "Mom…?"

While Ryan and I stand riveted to the spot, looking at the door, Cale stands behind the door, holding his coloring book with trembling hands as he stares at Ryan with a frightened gaze.

I realize how this situation will look – confusing and scary to a five-year-old – and can probably traumatize him, which scares me.

I turn to face Ryan to tell him to 'let me go' when unexpectedly, Ryan lets go of me and goes down on one knee in front of Cale.

His expression is so bright and friendly that no one can ever think he was angry just seconds ago, "Cale, your mother and I are going on a vacation. You want to come with us too, right? I have a pool you can swim in."

I almost scoff at him, thinking, 'No way my son will get fooled by that.'

When Cale replies with an excited expression, "Really, Ryan? I want to go. I want to swim. Mom, can we go swimming in Ryan's pool?"

I stare at my son, stupefied. It irritates me. Despite having just witnessed his mother being mishandled by this stranger, my son is easily bought off by the same man? Unbelievable!

How are Bethany and Hanna even teaching this child for him to become so trusting of strangers? It can't be a trait he inherited from me.

I curse myself when I remember that I invited the guy, barely having known him myself.

I almost refuse when Ryan interrupts, "Of course, you can, little man. Let's go pack up a bag for you."

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