Ryan's mind was slipping. Most of what he did now was just instinct.

And I knew better than anyone how to calm him down.

I bent down and kissed his cool lips gently. "I'll never leave you. I'm just gonna get the door."

For a second, I saw something flashing in his eyes. Then, after hesitating, he let go of my hand.

-

When I opened the door for Vanessa, I was on the phone with a doctor from the hospital downtown.

The lock was seconds from being busted open, but I stayed calm and swung the door wide.

Vanessa stood there holding a fire extinguisher, ready to smash it down. I raised a hand, signalling her to stop, and she froze.

"Yes, we're at the Grandview Hotel. He's got food poisoning. You'll have an ambulance here in ten minutes? Good. I'll bring the patient downstairs."

I hung up, then gave Vanessa a sincere look. "Are you Ryan's friend? He ate something bad and got poisoned. Could you help me carry him to the lobby? The ambulance is almost here."

Her expression shifted, as if she didn't understand what was happening. This wasn't how she thought it would go. But she couldn't figure out what had changed.

In the hotel lobby, Ryan leaned against me. His lips were pressed tightly, his long lashes trembling. The little knot between his brows made him look fragile.

The book always described him as an almost unreal kind of handsome—someone even the hottest celebrities couldn't beat.

Before, I'd gotten used to Ryan. I thought he'd always look like this. But now that I was awakened, my heart pounded like a drum as I looked at him lying quietly in my arms.

Damn. He was fine. Anyone who said otherwise was blind.

Ryan, barely conscious, started to lean onto Vanessa, his head dipping toward her. I quickly pulled him back, flashing her a smile that basically said, "Sorry about that. My man's not at his best today."

It was a little teasing and smug.

Vanessa's eyes turned colder.

The thrill I got from fighting the heroine for a man was like nothing else.

When the ambulance arrived, the EMTs loaded Ryan onto a stretcher, and I followed him inside. Vanessa tried to climb in as well, but I stopped her politely.

"Thanks for your help, but there's no room for you. I'll take it from here."

She opened her mouth, clearly confused.

She probably thought I was supposed to be Melvin's simp and couldn't understand why I suddenly cared so much about Ryan.

But I didn't care to explain. And I definitely didn't care if she was upset.

I shut the door right in her face.

At the hospital, I explained Ryan's condition to the doctors and told them he had drunk something unknown.

They diagnosed him with poisoning and rushed him to get his stomach pumped.

Half an hour later, Ryan was wheeled back to his room, still asleep.

I went down to the shop and bought clean towels and water, planning to wipe his face.

But when I came back, I froze.

Vanessa was standing at his bedside, slowly leaning down, looking as if she was about to kiss him.

"Ryan!" I yelled.

She shot up instantly, her face burning with embarrassment.

I stormed over to the bed, frowning hard at his lips. I wasn't sure whether she had kissed him already.

That was when Ryan finally woke up.

Before I could accuse Vanessa, she shoved me aside and leaned in close, worry dripping from her voice.

"Ryan, are you okay? When you called me, I tried my best to rush over." She gave me a sharp look. "But Ms. Cobbett got there before I could."

There was something weird about her gaze, as if she knew Ryan's poisoning was all my fault.

I froze.

Hold up. Vanessa knew Ryan?

But that was impossible. In the book, the poisoning was supposed to be the first time they met.

So why…

Ryan's cool, steady voice cut through my spinning thoughts. "I'm fine now. Thanks, Vanessa. I really appreciate it."

"It's nothing. I'm glad you're okay." She gave him a soft smile.

The scene looked warm and perfect. My chest tightened. Did that mean the story was still pushing forward on its set path, no matter what I tried?

Even though I had stopped Vanessa from saving Ryan with her body, I still couldn't stop them from meeting.

And the fact that Ryan called her first when he was in danger meant he trusted her more than anyone.

I hated admitting it, but I was jealous.

"So, Ryan, you two know each other?"

"Yeah," Ryan said. His gaze shifted to me, deep and unreadable. "She's my business partner."

I froze. The story was moving ahead earlier than it should.

In the novel, Vanessa was supposed to join Ryan's company later, and that was when their feelings started heating up. Soon after, she'd even move into our house, and my parents would start treating her like their future daughter-in-law.

Meanwhile, I'd keep making mistakes, ruining everything, until I got kicked out of the house, while Vanessa flourished like the heroine she was.

I was terrified. Was I really doomed to lose everything and die miserably?

No. Not if I stopped making trouble, not if I played it right this time.

"Ryan," I whispered, clutching his hand, nervous but determined. "What happened with the poisoning was just a mistake. From now on, I'll take care of you, and I'll do whatever you say."

"Okay."

Ryan's eyes stayed on me, unreadable. I wasn't sure if he actually believed me or was just acknowledging me.

Then he asked Vanessa to leave and told me to help check him out of the hospital.

All the way home, he stayed calm, almost too calm. There was no blaming or anger.

That only heightened my unease.

Ryan wasn't the kind of guy to let things slide. He was obsessive by nature. If I hurt him, he would never just let it go.

That night, I was the one who broke first.

Normally, Ryan cooked all our meals. But when he was upset, he wouldn't cook at all. Which made sense—but it also left me starving.

So I caved. I slipped out to the street and picked up some takeout barbecue—ribs, barbecue chicken, and cornbread.

The smell was so good that I was tempted to gobble them up on the walk home.

I came home, ready to tear into it, when suddenly, the living room lights went out.

I jumped, the bag in my hand falling to the floor. Just like that, my food was gone.

Before I could even mourn it, a tall figure stepped out of the dark, pressing me back against the door.

It was Ryan.

The faint scent of laundry soap clung to him. I bought it, so I recognized it instantly.

And now, he was so close that I could barely breathe.

He wrapped his arm around my waist, then reached back and locked the door.

My mind spun.

What was this? Some kind of role playing?

Wild thoughts crashed through my head, and I swallowed hard. "Ryan—"

He cut me off, his voice low with anger.

"Where were you? You went to Melvin again, didn't you? You still won't listen."

He pulled off his belt and held my wrists.

Ryan had finally given in to that possessiveness, the one he always tried to hide.

And honestly? That was exactly what I wanted.

"Ryan," I said softly, lifting my hands toward him. "Are you trying to tie me up?"