All Chapters of A Story That Doesn’t Belong To You: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Ryan hadn’t realized how much tension he’d been carrying until Chris showed up at his door Now they were walking down a sunlit street toward the park, the kind of day that begged for open skies and long walks. Ryan squinted against the brightness, adjusting his sunglasses. “You know,” he said, “kidnapping people isn’t really your style.Chris smirked. “Oh, please. If I hadn’t shown up, you’d still be curled up in your room overthinking everything.”Ryan opened his mouth to argue but closed it again with a small laugh. He hated to admit Chris was right. The past week had been nothing but stress layered over stress. Maybe a break wasn’t such a bad idea.They stopped by a street vendor and bought ice cream cones. Ryan chose vanilla, while Chris predictably went for a double chocolate with sprinkles, because subtlety was never part of Chris’s vocabulary.“Want a bite?” Chris teased, holding his cone toward Ryan.“Pass,” Ryan said, wrinkling his nose. “I know you’d drop half of it on me j

The clinking of cutlery, low hum of background chatter, and soft jazz made the upscale restaurant feel casual, but the tension twisting inside Ryan’s stomach was anything but. He adjusted the collar of his shirt, eyes flicking toward the entrance for the hundredth time. Ella sat beside him, sipping her water slowly, amusement already dancing in her eyes.You’ve been checking that door like you’re waiting for a date,” she teased, bumping her elbow lightly into his. “Should I leave you two lovebirds alone when he arrives?Ryan flushed. “It’s not like that.“Uh-huh. That’s why you took ten minutes deciding between two shirts this morning.Ryan groaned just as a familiar figure stepped into the restaurant. Adrien.He looked stunning, in a charcoal grey suit that hugged his tall frame, no tie, shirt slightly unbuttoned to reveal the sharp lines of his collarbone. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on Ryan and then, a slow smirk curled on his lips.Ella sat upright. “Okay, maybe y

Ryan had barely settled into his desk when his phone buzzed with a message from Adrien.Adrien: Dinner tonight? Just us. My treat.He stared at the message, lips twitching slightly. After the lunch incident with Ella watching them like she was in the middle of a drama series, he wasn’t sure what Adrien was up to now. But a part of him one he was no longer trying so hard to ignore fluttered.He typed back:Ryan: Where?A few seconds later, Adrien responded:Adrien: The rooftop restaurant on Westview. 7 PM. Dress like you know you’re the most interesting person in the room.Ryan rolled his eyes but smiled to himself. He glanced up and caught Ella passing by with a coffee in hand. She paused, then doubled back with a raised brow.“You’re smiling at your phone again,” she said in a sing song tone.“It’s work,” Ryan lied.“You’re blushing. Work doesn’t make you blush unless you’re emailing a hot client“Why are you in my business?Ella leaned against his desk. “Because I live for the drama

Ryan stood in the kitchen, quietly sipping his coffee, trying to focus on the day ahead. But his thoughts kept drifting to Adrien’s soft voice, the way he’d smiled yesterday, that maddening smirk he always wore like armor. He wasn’t supposed to think about him not like this.He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the front door open until Ella’s voice rang out.“Ryan?” she called. “You up?“Kitchen!” he shouted back, quickly composing himself.Ella walked in, hair pulled into a messy bun, wearing oversized sunglasses and holding an iced latte. “You look like you didn’t sleep.Ryan rolled his eyes. “I slept. Just… not well.“Let me guess. Adrien.He groaned. “Why are you always right?“Because I know you. And because I was there yesterday, remember?” she teased, plopping down beside him. “The way you two were acting ugh. The tensionRyan flushed, fiddling with the rim of his mug. “I don’t know what’s going on. One minute he’s being cold, then suddenly he’s… flirting. L

Ryan couldn’t stop glancing at his phone.It had only been a few hours since Adrien had officially asked him out, and yet something in his chest already felt… different. Lighter, but heavier at the same time. Like the weight of something beautiful he wasn’t sure he deserved.He stood at the small kitchen counter in Ella’s apartment, nervously stirring a mug of tea he didn’t plan to drink. The memory of last night kept replaying in his head Adrien’s breath against his skin, the softness in his voice, the quiet gentleness of his touch.“I hope you won’t hurt me,” Ryan had whispered.And Adrien had replied, without missing a beat, “Never.The memory alone made Ryan’s stomach flutter.“Morning, boyfriend,” came a low, teasing voice from behind.Ryan jumped. He turned to see Adrien leaning against the doorframe, still a little sleepy, dressed down in a soft black hoodie and jeans. His hair was slightly tousled, like he’d just run his hands through it. It was unfair how good he looked witho