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“I knohat you’re insinuating Ryan loves me,” I say

Why did I sound like a child right there? Instead of s in triumph, he frowns

“Do you really believe that?” he asks seriously

“I do,” I ansith conviction

He looks disappointed Why would he even care? I’m disappointed I care why he cares Slowly, he nods his head, as if he’s accepting so he just realized

“He’s good, I’ll give him that” When I frown, he clarifies, “He’s broken you so effortlessly, the pain hasn’t even hit you yet”

IT’S DATE NIGHT, AND I’ve just spent two hours getting ready I put on minimal makeup this ti I’ a royal blue satin dress, with silver pu almost unnatural I’m quite proud of the invention I’ve made out of myself

Ryan’s been sitting on the couch, iy through the walls He’s taking me to an elite restaurant tns over Reputation only Because only people with high social standing get in with a reservation Anyone off the streets are put on a list, and constantly o

vershadowed by the people of high importance

Ryan’s father is one of the best lawyers in the country Ryan is set to take over Matt’s law firh he’s only twenty-five No one would dare turn down the only person capable of getting you out of anything I don’t kno Matt’s carefree personality translates to a fierce lawyer, but so onto his morality

Ryan, not so much

I walk down the grand staircase, veins of black and gold in the pristine ant chandelier hanging above hi him shadows in the otherwise dark house When he sees me, his eyes slowly rake down my body A chill works its way down et that first whiff of fresh blood

“You look beautiful,” he says softly An eone too quickly before I can figure it out

There’s that word again Beautiful

Despite his word choice, est smile breaks out across rin and holds out a hand forHe squeezes my hand and leads me to the car