Chapter 3

Red wine slides down her throat, but Alyssa feels bitter.

"Bang!

A loud noise interrupted Alyssa's thoughts. She looked back and saw a large man surrounded by a group of people in the corner of the ballroom.

"What's going on? "Alyssa asked the waiter next to her.

The waiter lowered his voice. "I think someone accidentally broke Mr. Custer's favorite antique vase."

"Mr. Custer?" Alyssa gasped, then realized she was talking about Ryan.

She walked quickly over to see Ryan in the crowd, his face heavy and his body exuding a powerful sense of oppression. A young waiter was on his knees, shaking and kowtowing repeatedly: "I'm sorry, Mr. Custer, I didn't mean to, please forgive me..."

Lane didn't say anything, just looked at him coldly.

The people around him were afraid to show their faces for fear of getting into trouble.

Alissa's heart was in her mouth. She knew Ryan's temper. The waiter was going to be in trouble.

"That's enough," she said. "Alyssa began, not very loudly, but clearly in everyone's ears.

All eyes were on her.

Ryan looked at her with a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Alyssa walked over to the waiter and helped him to his feet. "Are you okay?"

The waiter looked at her gratefully. "Thank you, thank you, miss."

Alyssa turned to Ryan. "Mr. Custer, he apologized. He has to be treated kindly."

Ryan looked at Alyssa with a mixed look. "Are you pleading for him?"

"I just don't think it's necessary to ruin a man over a vase." Alyssa looked straight at Lane.

Ryan was silent for a moment, then broke into a smile. "Okay, I'll give you that."

He waved and motioned for the waiter to leave.

The waiter rolled and crawled away as if he had been given amnesty.

As the crowd dispersed, Ryan walked up to Alyssa. "You were always so kind."

"I just did what I thought was right." "Alyssa said flatly.

"It's not nice to be kind." Lane's voice is low.

"At least, it's better than being cold and heartless." Alyssa is not backing down.

Lane gave her a deep look and said no more.

The next day, when Alyssa arrived at work, she received a huge bouquet of red roses.

"Wow, Alyssa, another one from your suitor?" Colleagues crowded around, admiring.

Alyssa knew who the card was from without having to read it.

She sighed helplessly and set the flowers aside.

Over the next few days, Alyssa's life was completely enveloped by Lane.

Each day brings a different surprise: flowers, gifts, a fancy lunch...

Even, Lane would be waiting in front of the office in her limited edition sports car at the end of her shift.

"Alyssa, get in the car." Ryan rolled down his window and gave her a charming smile.

Alyssa has said no many times, but Ryan has a way of making it impossible.

"Alyssa, you can't keep doing this," Ryan said. My best friend Anna couldn't stand it. "You've got to give him a hard time."

"How?" "Alissa asked miserably.

'Refuse him! Refuse him completely! ' 'Anna said firmly.' Let him know you're not something he can get easily. '

Alyssa hesitated. "But..."

"No buts!" 'Anna interrupted.' You can't keep being passive. You have to take control. '

Alyssa is persuaded by Anna and decides that the next time Ryan approaches her, she must reject him explicitly.

However, plans can't catch up with change.

One day, Alyssa is in trouble at work.

A project she was working on was in trouble because her partner suddenly pulled out.

"Alyssa, if this project isn't completed on time, you could be fired." The manager's words made Alyssa's heart sink to the bottom.

Her heart sank and she tried all kinds of things, but she could not find a solution.

Just when she was on the verge of despair, Lane appeared.

"Need some help? "Ryan stood in front of her with a confident grin.

Alyssa looked at him as if she saw a savior.

"You... Can you help me? ' "She asked uncertainly.

"Absolutely." Ryan says, with understatement, "To me, it's a small thing."

"He made a phone call, and within minutes, the problem was resolved.

A new investor came along and the project was resurrected.

Alyssa looked at Ryan with gratitude: "Thank you, Ryan."

"You're welcome." Lane looked at her with a soft eye. "I told you, I'll fix everything for you."

Alyssa's heart, again, wavers.

In the evening, Ryan takes Alyssa to a fancy restaurant.

"Alyssa, be my girlfriend." Lane holds her hand and looks at her lovingly.

Alyssa's heart raced as she looked at Ryan, her mind blank.

"I..." "She didn't know how to respond.

"I know you're still undecided." Lane didn't push her, "but I'm sure you'll come around to me one day."

Alyssa doesn't speak, looking down at her plate in front of her, her mind in turmoil.

When dinner was over, Lane walked Alyssa home.

The car was parked below Alyssa's house, and Ryan did not leave immediately.

"Alyssa." "He said suddenly.

"Huh? "Alyssa turned to look at him.

Ryan looked at her with a strange glint in his eyes.

He suddenly reached out and pulled Alyssa into his arms.

Before she knew it, he was hugging her tightly.

"Ryan, you..." "She struggled to push him away.

"Don't move." Lane's voice was low and raspy, "Let me hold it for a minute."

"His embrace was warm, with a reassuring power.

Alyssa's body, slowly relaxing.

She leaned into Ryan's arms and listened to his heartbeat, a strange emotion welling up in her.

Suddenly, Ryan looked down and kissed her on the lips.

Alyssa's eyes widened and she tried to push Ryan away, only to find herself limp.

Ryan's kiss, overbearing and passionate, made her irresistible.

Her mind went blank and she had to let him kiss her.

After an unknown amount of time, Lane finally let go of her.

Alyssa's cheeks were flushed and her breathing was short.

"Alyssa, I love you." Lane looks at her with deep affection.

Alyssa's heart, beating violently.

She looked at Ryan, not sure what to say.

"I'll wait for you." Ryan said, kissed her lightly on the forehead and turned to walk away.

Alyssa stood where she was, watching his back for a long time without moving.

A gust of wind blew and she felt a chill.

She reached out and touched her lips, which seemed to still have a whiff of Lane.

Suddenly, she saw something on the ground, glinting in the light of a street lamp.

She went to it and picked it up. It was a ring.

It was a strange shaped ring, set with a blood-red stone.

Elisa's heart sank suddenly.

She recognized the ring. It was Lane's ring.

He wore it all the time. He never wore it.

Why did it end up here?

Alyssa held the ring and felt a strong sense of unease.

She looked up in the direction Lane had left, out of the night, empty.