The black Mercedes GLE glided smoothly through the evening traffic as Ryan drove them away from the hospital.
Inside the car, silence filled the space between them.
Hazel sat beside him, still staring out the window, trying to calm the strange embarrassment burning on her cheeks.
She could still feel the warmth of the place where Ryan had kissed her.
Her fingers slowly touched her cheek.
Why did he do that…?
Ryan noticed the small movement but said nothing.
A faint, unreadable expression rested on his face as he focused on the road.
After a while, Hazel finally spoke.
"About earlier…"
Ryan glanced at her briefly.
"Yes?"
Hazel hesitated.
"I didn't mean to say… that you were mine."
Ryan's lips curved slightly.
"But you did."
Hazel looked down immediately.
"That was embarrassing."
Ryan didn't respond, but the faint smile remained.
The car soon pulled into the large gates of Ryan's mansion.
Security guards immediately opened the entrance.
As they stepped out of the car, Bella and Sera were already waiting near the entrance.
Bella grinned the moment she saw Hazel.
"Well, well…"
Sera crossed her arms, clearly amused.
"Word travels fast."
Hazel frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Bella pulled out her phone and waved it.
"There were people filming at the hospital."
Hazel's eyes widened.
"What?"
Sera smirked.
"Apparently someone recorded the moment you declared Ryan as yours."
Hazel froze.
"And the kiss," Bella added casually.
Hazel's face turned bright red.
"Oh no…"
Bella laughed.
"Relax. It's not everywhere yet. Just a few social circles."
Hazel groaned softly.
"This is so embarrassing."
Ryan walked past them calmly as if none of this concerned him.
Bella glanced at him.
"You're awfully quiet about this."
Ryan stopped briefly.
"It was harmless."
Sera chuckled.
"Tell that to the girls who were staring at you."
Ryan didn't respond and continued inside.
Later that evening, Ryan attended a private dinner meeting with several influential businessmen at an exclusive restaurant in the city.
The atmosphere inside the private room was elegant and quiet.
Wine glasses clinked softly as the conversation shifted between business deals and city rumors.
One of the younger businessmen suddenly leaned forward.
"Mr. Smith… I heard an interesting story today."
Ryan looked at him calmly.
"Oh?"
The man smirked slightly.
"Something about Kyle Malone's former fiancée now following you around."
The table grew slightly quiet.
Ryan's gaze remained steady.
The man continued, his tone slightly mocking.
"Honestly, I don't understand the fascination."
He shrugged.
"She's just a woman Kyle discarded."
The moment the words left his mouth, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Ryan slowly placed his glass down.
His dark eyes locked onto the man.
"You should be careful with your words."
The man laughed nervously.
"I was only joking."
Ryan leaned back slightly.
"But I'm not."
The calm tone in his voice carried a quiet threat.
No one else at the table spoke.
Ryan continued.
"Hazel is under my protection."
His gaze remained cold.
"And anyone who disrespects her…"
He paused briefly.
"…will regret it."
The man's face turned pale.
"I understand."
The dinner ended shortly afterward.
Later that night, Liam entered Ryan's office.
"I heard about the dinner."
Ryan didn't look up from his laptop.
"News travels fast."
Liam smirked.
"You just destroyed that man's business connections."
Ryan finally looked up.
"He crossed a line."
Liam studied him carefully.
"You're getting protective."
Ryan said nothing.
Liam chuckled softly.
"Careful, Ryan."
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
Liam's smile widened slightly.
"You might actually be falling for her."