Chapter 446
87%
38
Edward nodded. “Yeah, it's not about being a rebellious kid. It's about having a rebellious outlook on love and the
world.”
“So what kind of rebellion would make you like me?” Isabelle choked out, then broke down, burying her face in
her arms
and sobbing at the table.
Edward frowned slightly.
Ryan tried to cheer her up. “Hey, Isabelle, so you got rejected-no big deal. You know, the more setbacks you
face, the tougher you get. Trust me, I've been through it. Next time, I'll show you how to bounce back.”
Then Ryan turned towith a grin. “Vic, when I cried in front of you before, did | ever get on your nerves?”
| felt a bit embarrassed. Ryan really treatslike family, huh? Is it even okay to talk about this kind of thing out
loud?
“No, not at all. Good-looking people, guys or girls, always look pretty when they cry,” | said with a smile.
Edward suddenly glanced up at me, and my heart gave a little jolt. | couldn't help but remember that night on
his villa’s couch-how Id cried my heart out in my sleep, even ended up biting him. | wondered if he was about to
callout, maybe say I'd cried like a banshee that night.
Isabelle seemed to realize she probably didn’t look her best right now, so she quietly grabbed a tissue and
dabbed at her
tears.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
Just then, the food arrived, the whole table covered in mouthwatering dishes that looked and smelled incredible.
“Let's eat,” Ryan said. “Isabelle, don't let it get to you. Uncle Ryan didn’t mean to upset you.”
Isabelle nodded. “I know, Uncle Ryan. Sorry, | lost my
posure.”
Edward replied in a mild tone, “It’s fine. Speaking your mind is a good thing.”
Isabelle’s voice trembled with worry as she asked, “Uncle Ryan, will you
start avoidingnow?”
“I won't avoid you,” Edward said, then added pointedly, “But | do hope you'll find someone your own age to care
about. I'm just not into younger girls-1 prefer women who are a bit more mature.”
Isabelle was stunned for a moment, then suddenly fixed her gaze on me. “You mean someone like Ms. Murphy?
Someone who's more experienced and worldly?”
‘Wait, does “experienced” mean divorced?’ | thought, a little startled.
Edward glanced atand replied in a mild tone, “No, she doesn’t really seem like someone with much life
experience.”
| breathed a silent sigh of relief, then realized | was probably overthinking it. Edward's met every kind of woman
out there, but the ones who could actually make his heart skip a beat? Probably not many. if he wanted, he could
have a whole
harem.
Ryan burst out laughing, clearly agreeing with Edward. “Uncle Ryan, you're spot on. She just gives off that ‘seen
it all’ vibe, but honestly, she’s pretty naive.”
1/3
09:10 Fri, 29 Aug
Chapter 446
“I'm not that innocent,” I shot back right away.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Vic, sometimes being genuine is a real strength. A woman who understands how the
world works but doesn’t let it change her-that’s the most attractive kind.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” | asked, glancing at him.
Ryan grinned. “Of course it is.”
87%
38
Isabelle watched us from across the table, her gaze growing even more sorrowful. “Ryan, | used to think you two
weren't a good match, but now it seems like you really get along.”
Ryan nodded. “Pretty much. She’s got a great personality, and it’s just really easy being around her.”
| kept my head down, focusing on my food, but I couldn't help feeling a little pleased. Ryan always had my back
and said such nice things about me-it was honestly pretty nice to hear.
Edward, though, clearly disagreed. He let out a dry chuckle. “I've never met anyone as stubborn as her.”
| blinked in surprise and looked up at Edward. Ryan, curious, chimed in, “Uncle Ryan, you make things tough for
her and
still expect her to be nice to you?”
Edward shrugged. “I figured she’s an adult-she should get it by now.”
| shot back, “Honestly, plenty of people hit forty and still think like teenagers. Just because you're an adult
doesn’t mean you've got it all figured out-sometimes you just get older, not wiser.”
Edward suddenly laughed. “So you're saying you only got older, not smarter?”
Ryan froze for a second, then looked over at me, his gaze drifting over my body. For sreason, he actually
blushed a
little.
| was mortified and awkward all at once. That day in the bathroom-even though we didn’t go all the way, Ryan
had nearly strippedright there, and things got pretty heated.
Maybe I really do have a pretty great body,
“Ms. Murphy, what did you eat growing up? How did you end up with such a killer figure?” Isabelle suddenly
blurted out, totally out of nowhere.
| gave an awkward little smile. “Just regular food, | guess. | was just born this way.”
Ryan chuckled, “Maybe the goddess of creation spent a little extra ton her when she was making people.”
Under the table, | pinched his leg hard. Ryan let out a yelp, “Ow! Hey, that hurts-cut it out!”
Isabelle suddenly ducked under the table. “Letsee-where did you pinch him?”
I quickly pulled my hand back up to the table, absolutely mortified, Isabelle really was something else-she just
didn’t care what anyone thought.
2/3
09:10 Fri, 29 Aug
Chapter 446
Edward shota brooding look, then picked up his glass of red wine and took a sip.
Isabelle shot Ryan a mischievous grin. “Wow, Ryan, | never would've guessed-you're totally whipped!”