Seeing me staring at him, Ryder’s eyes flickered, a hint of guilt there. But thinking of Brittany behind him, he straightened his back. “Brittany has lived in poverty her whole life. This school gala is very important to her. Do you have no sympathy at all? Do you really
want her to be humiliated before you’re satisfied?”
My lip twitched, finding it absurd. But Ryder, seeing me not speak, thought he had made his point and became even more smug.
10.46 D
them.
Brittany, hearing this, looked at him with tears welling in her eyes. “Mr. Ryder, don’t force yourself to marry Miss Scarlett just to help me. I know you don’t love her. It’s all my fault, please don’t compromise yourself.”
I sighed, exasperated. “Ryder, when did I ever say I was going to marry you?”
Ryder looked at me, confused. After all, these past few years, I had never interfered with their shenanigans. Especially with Ryder, I had been almost completely compliant. This had given them the false impression that I was deeply, madly in love with him.
Then I rolled my eyes and turned to leave.
Suddenly, Brittany rushed to my feet, and just like years ago, she started crying and slapping herself. “Miss Scarlett, it’s all my fault.
I shouldn’t have worn your gown without permission, but Ryder is innocent. He just to help me.”
“After all these years, you’ve ordered him around like a servant. Ryder is human too, he gets upset, so please don’t blame him, I beg
you.”
As she spoke, she used both hands, the sound of her slaps echoing through the villa. This Brittany Miller really was ruthless. In bar-
ely ten slaps, she managed to draw blood from her own face.
Ryder, seeing this, finally reacted and quickly stopped her. He looked at her swollen, red face with pained sympathy, then turned to
me, his gaze full of revulsion.
“Scarlett Thorne! You’re going too far! It’s just a dress!”
“I said I would marry you, and I will. How long are you going to keep throwing these childish tantrums?”
Watching their synchronized act, I laughed, infuriated. “Are you deaf? I never said I was going to marry you!”
But Ryder just sighed, looking at me as if I were a spoiled doll. “I know you can’t live without me, that you love me to death, but you
can’t turn into a jealous woman.”
