04
The Silent Attraction
Ryan descended the stairs, dressed in a grey t-shirt and knee-length shorts, his hair slightly tousled, his features as effortlessly charming as ever. The scent of baked goods and fresh morning air filled the cozy home.
“Grams, good morning once again,” he greeted, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
Grams beamed. “Oh, my grandson! The sweetest of them all,” she said, patting his hand fondly.
Ryan’s eyes swept across the living room, subtle but searching.
“Who are you looking for?” Grams asked, noticing the way his gaze shifted around.
He cleared his throat, trying not to seem too obvious. “Erm... where are the kids?”
Grams wiped her hands on a towel and made her way toward the kitchen. “They’re in their house next door. But Tessy’s here. That’s actually why I called you.” She paused, then turned to face him. “Can you help her out in the garden? Bruno’s out today, and I don’t want her to handle it alone. She has a shift later at the café and I worry it’ll be too much on her.”
Ryan’s lips curved into a slow smile. “Of course. I’ll help.”
Grams smiled, relieved. “Thank you. I know your hands are a bit... rusty, but Tessy will guide you. I’m sure she’ll appreciate the company.” She disappeared into the store room and returned moments later with a pair of gardening gloves and shears.
Ryan chuckled as he took the tools from her. “She doesn’t look excited knowing me though.”
“No, no,” Grams replied firmly. “Tessy’s a sweet girl. You just haven’t had the chance to see her real side. You two started off on the wrong foot.”
“Maybe,” Ryan muttered, nodding. “I’ll go meet her.”
“I’ll make you snacks for later,” she called after him, disappearing again into the kitchen.
Ryan stepped outside through the back door, greeted by the bright morning sun and the soft rustling of leaves. Tessy was already in the garden, crouched down and focused as she trimmed the overgrown shrubs, her hair tied up in a messy bun. He stared at her side profile for a while before stepping forward to meet her.
“Hey,” he called out, setting the tools down beside her.
Tessy paused, turning her head slightly. “Hi.” Her voice was calm, polite but not cold. Their eyes met briefly, holding a flicker of something unspoken. Hesitation, maybe. A trace of yesterday’s tension still hung between them, but excitement , attraction swirled between them. Her expression softened.
“Do you know how to do this?” she asked, rising to her feet and brushing off her hands.
“Not really,” Ryan admitted, scratching the back of his neck. “But I’ve seen it done. Sometimes I help out when Margaret gets bored and drags me along.”
Tessy chuckled, the sound light and genuine. “As expected.”
She picked up the gardening shears and handed them to him. “Just follow my lead.”
Ryan nodded and crouched beside her, watching her work with careful precision. He tried to mimic her movements but quickly proved to be clumsy with the tools.
“Whoa, careful!” Tessy laughed as he nearly chopped off the head of a flower instead of trimming the weeds.
“Sorry,” he muttered, embarrassed. “Guess I can't replace Bruno after all.”
“You’re not. You can't replace him.” she agreed with a smirk, “but it’s okay. I can tell you don’t do this often.”
Ryan sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. “No, we have gardeners for this kind of thing. Except when Margaret wants to feel ‘earthy.’ Then I get roped in.”
“Margaret?” Tessy asked too quickly, then bit her bottom lip. “Your girlfriend?”
Ryan blinked, surprised by the question. A slow smile tugged at his lips. “No. Margaret is... kind of like a mom to me. She was my nanny growing up. Still is, in a way.”
Tessy’s shoulders relaxed as she nodded. “Oh.”
But she knew that doesn't mean he doesn't have a girlfriend. He is too good looking to be single.
They resumed their task in silence, but the mood had shifted. Easier. Warmer. She began asking questions, her curiosity piqued.
“Patricia and Bruno... are they your siblings?” Ryan glanced at her.
“Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering. You guys don’t look that far apart in age.”
“Yeah, we’re close. I’m seventeen. I and Bruno are seventeen while Patricia is twelve.”
“I’m eighteen,” Ryan said, smiling.
Ryan paused. “Wait... so are you and Bruno twins?”
Tessy froze for a second too long. “Mm... yes. Kind of,” she said quietly, eyes back on the soil.
Her tone dimmed, and the energy between them dipped. Ryan sensed something unspoken again, hesitation, maybe shame? But he chose not to pry further.
“Cool. I mean, I wouldn’t have guessed. You guys don’t really look alike.”
Tessy didn’t respond, just continued her trimming.
Sensing the weight of his question, Ryan quickly shifted the topic. “What grade are you in?”
“Senior year. I’m almost done, actually.”
“That’s great,” he replied. “You must be really smart.”
She gave a soft laugh. “I try.”
They continued talking about school, music, and the weather. Ryan cracked a joke that made her laugh out loud, and something inside him fluttered. It felt... good. Natural.
After a while, he asked, “Grams says you’re working?”
“Yes,” Tessy replied, straightening up and dusting off her gloves. “Part-time at a café. My shift starts at one.”
Grams’ voice suddenly called out from inside the house. “Tessy, Ryan! You can leave the rest. Your shift’s coming up. Come in!”
Tessy turned to him. “Let’s go.” Together, they packed up the tools and stored them in the shed.
Back in the kitchen, the scent of warm cookies filled the air.
“What smells so good?” Tessy asked, grinning.
“No touching!” Grams wagged a playful finger. “These are for you to pack to work. Go clean up. Ryan, you too.”
Tessy gave Ryan one last glance, a silent nod of thanks, before disappearing down the hall. He watched her go, that same smile lingering.
He took his shower quickly, scrubbing off dirt and sweat, and dressed in another clean shirt and shorts. He descended the stairs with new energy, hoping to catch a glimpse of her again but only Grams sat at the table, a plate of cookies waiting.
“She’s gone already,” Grams said, reading his face. “Took her cookies and left.”
Ryan slumped into the chair beside her. “She’s... nice.”
Grams smiled knowingly. “I told you so.”
They sat in comfortable silence as Ryan munched on a cookie. But his mind was still buzzing with questions.
“Grams,” he said slowly. “Are Tessy and Bruno really twins? I mean... they don’t look alike.”
Grams raised a brow. “Did she tell you that?”
“Sort of,” he said. “It just feels... off. Like there’s more to it. And I’ve never seen their parents around.”
Grams sighed, folding her arms. “You’re too curious for your own good. Just like your father.”
Ryan looked hopeful.
“She didn’t tell me not to share anything,” Grams said, eyeing him. “But you didn’t hear it from me.”
“I swear.”
Grams leaned in. “Come closer.”
Ryan scooted toward her, grabbing another cookie.
“Seven years ago,” she began, “I found three kids, scrawny, scared, and desperate on the roadside. They didn’t ask for help, but they needed it. Tessy was ten, but she spoke like someone older. She protected the others. They were in an orphanage, but it was a hellhole. Abuse, neglect, you name it.” Grams face contorted in a frown.
Ryan’s expression turned serious.
“I couldn’t let them go back. So I brought them here. I leased the house next door for them. It was better that way. They’re practically mine now.”
“They’re not related?” he asked softly.
“No. But they chose to be siblings. And Tessy... She is their anchor.”
Ryan leaned back, the truth sinking in. “You could’ve just let them stay here though.” Ryan fantasized about them staying together in the same house. He will be seeing her everyday and will be much easier.
Grams went quiet, just for a beat. Then she smiled again. “It was better for them. Gave them space. Privacy.”
Ryan nodded, though he sensed there was more to the story. Something she didn’t want to say. He didn’t push.
“You can go over there sometimes,” Grams suggested. “Get to know them better. Patch things up with Bruno too. He’s not a bad boy.”
“We just... clashed,” Ryan muttered.
Grams raised an eyebrow. “You took after your father. That temper…”
“Margaret says the same thing,” he chuckled.
“Then maybe listen,” she said, patting his arm. “And maybe... open your heart a little. You’ll be surprised what you will find.”
Ryan smiles, finishing the last bite of his cookie, already imagining the next chance he’d get to see Tessy again.
But just as the thought settled, the front door banged open followed by an excited squeal.
“Ryan!”
He jolted, startled. His eyes darted toward the entrance, widening as a familiar figure dashed in, practically launching herself into his arms.
“Ronda?” he gasped as she clung to him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
“I missed you so much!” she said breathlessly, her perfume flooding his senses.
Ryan stood frozen, stunned by her sudden appearance. “Ronda, what are you doing here?”
She leaned back slightly, her grin wide and playful. “What? Aren’t you happy to see your baby?” Her arms remained locked around him, fingers toying with the ends of his hair.
“You smell nice as always,” she added, brushing her hand against his cheek.
Before Ryan could respond, another voice rang out from the living room.
“Grams?”
They both turned, and there stood Tessy, her eyes landing first on Ryan then quickly shifting to Ronda and the way she held him so intimately. Her expression faltered.
She looked away, swallowing hard. “Grams, I’m leaving now,” she said quickly, her voice tight. Without waiting for a reply, she turned and rushed out the door.
Ryan opened his mouth, instinctively stepping forward, but it was too late. She was gone.
He thought grams said she left, then what was she doing there?
Ronda tilted her head. “Who’s that?”
Ryan turned to her, still processing. “Tessy,” he said quietly.
Ronda wrinkled her nose. “Hmm. I don’t like her.”
30Behind Closed Doors Ryan pushed through the crowded club, one hand buried in his pocket. Heads turned instantly, whispers rippled, eyes widened. Women drifted toward him, hungry hands reaching, but he swatted them off with sharp claps of irritation. His glare froze them in place, yet their eyes still glittered with excitement.They knew his reputation. If luck was on their side and his mood aligned, he’d pick one, fuck her senseless, and send her back with a story that made the rest ache for their turn. That was enough to keep them circling.But tonight, Ryan wasn’t in a mood. His thoughts were a storm.He made his way to the private lounge reserved for him, his friends, and the occasional client. Dropping into the leather chair, he sprawled his legs wide, jacket unbuttoned, shirt clinging like a second skin. His head tipped back, jaw tense, and eyes closed.A waitress in uniform approached, biting her lip as her gaze devoured him. She smoothed her skirt, cleared her throat softly
29The Weight of a NameRyan strode into Smith Corporation, his secretary and personal assistant trailing closely behind. Conversations hushed the moment he stepped through. Heads dipped in respect as the employees parted to let him pass. His face was a mask, cold, unreadable, except for the faint trace of irritation that clung to him like a shadow.Inside the elevator, silence reigned. When the doors slid open on the top floor, Ryan stepped out without hesitation, his stride confident, unyielding.The women in the lobby lifted their eyes, their gazes lingering on him. Admiration burned in their stares, though none dared approach. They wished he would look at them, just once. They wished he would choose them, even if only for a night. The fantasy of being with Ryan Smith was enough to drive them into desperate measures, plunging necklines, short skirts, perfume strong enough to choke the air. All for a fleeting glance.They envied Ronda. They despised her for being close to him. She w
28A Choice to Stay“The young master is at the table. You can go serve his food,” Lilly informed Tessy.Tessy picked up the last dish and walked into the dining area. Her eyes met Ryan’s briefly, he looked dangerously handsome, his shirt clinging to him, the jacket tossed carelessly over a nearby chair.She snapped her gaze away immediately and moved to his side, dishing his food with practiced ease. When her hand brushed against his arm, sparks flared through her skin. His warmth seeped into her, a cruel reminder against the cold air of the mansion.Tessy jerked her hand back at once, forcing herself to stay composed. Her face remained tight and unreadable, her eyes never daring to meet his. She finished serving, then stepped aside, standing at a respectful distance where she could see him clearly.Ryan began eating reluctantly, his jaw set and his movements stiff. Tessy fixed her gaze on the floor, lost in her thoughts, wondering if she had truly made the right choice being here.A
27The Young Master's Fury When Ryan first opened his eyes and saw Tessy, he thought it was another dream. He sighed, frustration nipping at him. Tessy haunted him day and night, even in sleep. Strange, really, the power she still had over him, even after she had shattered him with her words and left when he needed her most.He had drowned himself in drinking, clubbing, and fleeting pleasures. Even Ronda, annoying as she was, became a distraction he clung to, because at least she was there.But Tessy? Tessy never left him alone. She tormented him in visions, in memories, in the way he spiraled every time he thought of her. Margaret had tried to pull him out of it, and though he cut back, the habits never fully left. The girls, the liquor, the reckless nights, they only grew worse. At least, to keep Margaret’s scolding at bay, he stopped bringing women into the mansion.Groaning, he rolled onto his back, glaring at the ceiling. “Get out of my head,” he muttered. His voice was rough, t
26The Young MasterTessy lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind a storm of thoughts. The time read 5:45 a.m. She was supposed to be up by six, but she had already been awake since four, tossing and turning, replaying everything.How had she gotten here? And what was she going to do now?Should she run? Should she slip out before anyone noticed, vanish back into the city, and pretend this never happened?But where would she go? She had no place to stay. Maybe she could use some of her savings to rent a tiny room and find another job. But in Haven City, jobs were scarce, and without connections… her chances were slim.And she couldn’t go back to the town either. What would she do there? Spin in the same endless cycle, no growth, no future.No. She had to make this work.Last night, after calling Grams over and over with no answer, she had finally given up and called Patty and Bruno. They had talked for hours, and she hadn’t breathed a word of what she had gotten herself into.
25The Return Trap Haven City was beautiful, nothing like the small town Tessy had grown up in. Yet as her eyes swept over its glittering streets, only bad memories rose to the surface. Memories that should have been buried long ago. Memories of her childhood, of the orphanage, of pain she never wanted to relive.She had always dreaded coming back here. But maybe this time, she needed to. Maybe coming back would help her understand something. Haven City was vast, and her scars came from only one part of it. As long as she never set foot near the orphanage, she told herself, she should be fine.By the time her train pulled in, the evening sun was already sinking, casting a golden-orange glow across the city. Dragging her small rolling luggage behind her, Tessy stepped out of the station and toward the roadside. Grams had promised someone would be waiting to pick her up, but she had also given Tessy a number in case they were running late.Well… rich people always had more important th