Chapter 953:
It had been a rush, one that sent her pulse racing, and she couldn’t say she disliked that kind of danger.
Brad’s expression remained composed as he simply murmured, “All right,” and took his seat. Yet beneath that calm exterior, a faint shadow of disappointment lingered.
Dinner carried a quiet strain beneath its surface. The long table gleamed under the lights, laden with the dishes Rylie had painstakingly prepared, their rich aromas curling through the air. Across from her, the Owen brothers exchanged sidelong looks at her and Brad, their eyes bright with curiosity and silent amusement.
Brad, though less talkative than usual, kept his characteristic ease. Every so often, he reached out to serve Rylie another helping, his movements smooth and unbothered—as if the scandalous web pages from earlier had never existed.
Kendrick and Felix sensed something was off, but neither wanted to pry. Instead, they focused on the food, praising Rylie’s cooking with sincere enthusiasm.
When the servants began clearing the plates, Rylie picked up the laptop resting on the sofa and turned to the others, who were trying—and failing—not to stare. “I need to make a video call,” she announced.
“Can’t you make the call from here?” Felix asked, his tone edged with curiosity.
Rylie hesitated, recalling Tommy’s peculiar habits, then gave a small shake of her head. “No. Enjoy your TV and coffee. I’ll be right back.”
As she headed upstairs, Brad—who had been sitting quietly on the sofa—stood and followed without a word.
Deandre noticed and called after him with a frown. “Where are you going?”
“Me?” Brad gave a low, derisive laugh. “I’m about to find out firsthand what being passionate and bold really means.”
Lucilla’s eyes lit up as she sprang to her feet. “I want to come too!”
Marcus quickly reached out and caught her by the arm. He slipped a candy into her hand and said gently, “Lucilla, that’s something for the adults. Best not to get involved. Why don’t you come learn piano with me instead?”
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s﹒c𝗈m has it all
Lucilla tapped her nose and flashed a mischievous grin. “I’m an adult too, you silly,” she teased.
Marcus laughed, clearly amused. “All right, all right. Come on—let’s play piano then.”
Kendrick, still utterly confused, asked, “What are you talking about? What’s ‘passionate and bold’?”
Deandre cut in smoothly. “Trust me, you’re better off not knowing.”
Meanwhile, Rylie stepped into the bedroom with a notebook tucked under her arm. She sat on the edge of the bed and opened the laptop to return Tommy’s call. But before she could connect, her eyes landed on the two lingering shopping tabs still open on the screen. The contents made her blink in disbelief.
She reached to close them, but the soft creak of the door made her freeze. A moment later, it shut firmly behind her. Brad had entered, and the quiet click of the lock echoed through the room.
Rylie’s instincts flared. She snapped the laptop shut—not because she had anything to hide, but because being watched made her uneasy.
Brad, however, read the gesture differently. To him, it looked like shyness.
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.
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