Chapter 410

Besty had just stepped into the dimly lit parking lot when Ryland suddenly emerged from behind a pillar.

Startled, she let out a soft gasp, and her car keys slipped from her fingers, clattering against the concrete floor.

Her hand instinctively flew to her chest,steadying her racing heartbeat before she turned a sharp glare on him. "What's wrong with you?" she demanded,words rolling out of her tongue with annoyance.

Ryland bent down quickly, scooping up the keys with a sycophantic grin.

Holding them out with a hand like a peace offering,he responded hurriedly, "I'm sorry. I just wanted to surprise you."

From behind his back, he revealed a large bouquet of crimson roses in the other hand, their fragrance instantly filling the air.

"Besty, you've seen the news, right? Nolan explained everything. So-" His voice softened with hope."When do you think we can reconcile?" Besty accepted the flowers with little enthusiasm,her lips curving into a mocking smile. "Mind your words,Ryland. Eleanor and Nolan are a couple. When they argue and patch things up, that's reconciliation."

Her eyes met his, sharp and unwavering. "But us?What exactly do we have? A one-night stand?"

The words stung even as she said them. In truth, these past few days, she hadn't been able to completely shut out the faint spark of interest Ryland had ignited in her.

But clarity anchored her heart.

Between them, there was nothing more than that reckless, unexpected night-certainly not enough to build anything real.

And beyond that night, there was also the undeniable gap between them. Ryland came from an impeccable family, with wealth and accomplishments that made him shine in any crowd.

Besty,by comparison, was merely a store director at Enigma-an employee in the grand scheme of things.

They were worlds apart.

She lacked the confidence-or the courage-to step into his world, let alone claim a place in it. Ryland seemed to notice the distance clouding her gaze, but he couldn't quite understand its depth.

After a long pause, his face suddenly lit with a misguided realization. "Besty, if you're upset about that one-night stand, then... we can just have more of them,right?"

Her eyes widened in disbelief. What kind of nonsense was that?

Whatever faint melancholy had been lingering in her chest evaporated in an instant, replaced by sheer exasperation.

She must have been utterly crazy to even toy with the idea of giving this rich fool a chance!

Without hesitation, she thrust the bouquet back into his arms, petals crumpling under the sudden force, and gave him a hard shove.

"Move aside," she snapped.

But Ryland wasn't ready to let go. He grabbed her wrist firmly. "No. I won't," he responded stubbornly.

Fury blazed through Besty's veins. Her patience snapped. With a sharp movement, she lifted her leg and drove her heel hard into his shin.

"Argh!" Ryland doubled over in pain, his grip loosening as he instinctively crouched down.

By the time he managed to straighten up again, the roar of Besty's engine echoed through the parking lot.

Ryland scrambled after her, pounding on the car window as if his persistence could change her mind."Besty! Just... think about it, okay?" he pleaded.

But the only reply he got was the rumble of the engine and a burst of exhaust as her car sped away.

He stood rooted in the parking lot, staring at the shrinking taillights until they vanished completely into the distance.

An uneasy restlessness gnawed at him. Besty was slipping further from his grasp, and he had no idea how to stop it.

In his desperation, only one thought came to him-he should seek Nolan's advice. Without wasting a moment, he drove straight to Regal Heights, only to be told Nolan was still at the company.

Frustration pressed at his chest, but he didn't stop.He headed to the Stewart Group without wasting a beat.When he finally pushed into Nolan's office, he couldn't hold back.

"Why are you buried in work instead of fighting to win Eleanor back?" Ryland blurted out. At his interruption, Nolan slowly lifted his head, his expression calm and deliberate. "Eleanor isn't like other women," he replied evenly. "If I want to win her over, I can't just throw words at her. I have to approach her through business."

He went on to explain how he had staged the pretense of acquiring a batch of rare fabric to draw Eleanor to the factory.

Ryland's eyes widened in amazement.

He shook his head in disbelief, unable to stop himself from admiring Nolan's cunning. "You're something else," he muttered.

Then, frowning, he asked, "But aren't you wvorried that if you fail to deliver the fabric, she'll be even angrier with you?"

Nolan leaned back in his chair, confidence radiating from the measured way he crossed his hands on the desk. "That won't happen," he said with certainty. "I did my homework. The fabric does exist in Zerovia.I've already arranged for it to be flown in overnight-it'll arrive the day after tomorrow at the latest."

A flicker of satisfaction passed through his eyes. He was meeting Eleanor the morning after tomorrow.Everything would be ready by then.

Ryland couldn't help but feel a pang of inadequacy as he watched Nolan's confidence.

Hoping for guidance, he leaned forward eagerly and repeated, word for word, his awkward exchange with Besty.

Nolan listened in silence, his expression gradually shifting until it resembled someone watching a fool make a spectacle of himself.

After a long pause, he exhaled slowly and said, each word dripping with disdain, "Do me a favor-don't ever tell anyone you're my friend."

Without sparing Ryland another glance, Nolan rose to his feet and strode toward the door. "I'm leaving," he tossed over his shoulder. "Remember to close the door when you go."

Bewildered,Ryland hurried after him. "Hey, you're just going to leave? You haven't even told me what to do yet!"

Nolan's voice floated back coolly, already fading into the hallway. "Start by getting your brain examined."