Echo was taken aback. She never expected Ryan to get this angry. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him, repeatedly saying, “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have hidden that I was hurt. But I really was injured! If I hadn’t been quick on my feet, I wouldn’t have come out of that situation unscathed. I didn’t mean to keep it from you, I swear!”
Ryan’s eyes were filled with rage as he glared at her, noticing the sincerity in her clear gaze. He tightened his grip on her neck and shouted, “That guy named Michael dared to stand up for you! You stayed here to be with him? You treated my words like they meant nothing and even defied my orders?”
Echo felt his grip tightening around her neck. It wasn’t suffocating, but it was definitely uncomfortable.
Ryan was radiating fury, and the words spilling from his mouth were laced with icy anger. She had never seen him this mad before.
She shook her head repeatedly, insisting, “No, no! I just ran into Michael by chance! You heard that day-I almost got blown up too! There’s no way I’d disregard your orders to be with him; he’s nothing to me!”
Ryan’s expression hardened as he leaned closer, still gripping her neck. “Talk.”
Seeing the coldness in Ryan’s eyes, Echo felt the chill in the air between them. Even her breath didn’t seem to warm the space between them.
She held onto his arm tightly, understanding his intent, and quickly added, “I asked him to help me find Skye, which is why I was at his place. I really want to see Skye, I’m not lying! I didn’t take your words lightly!”
Ryan continued to stare coldly at her, and he could tell when Echo was being truthful. Listening to her explanation slowly calmed the raging anger inside him. It had come on strong but seemed to fade just as quickly.
He didn’t know what had gotten into him earlier. When Michael asked for Echo, he almost wanted to blow him off. If it weren’t for Michael’s status and the fact that he needed to discuss something with the Brown family, Ryan might have really lost it.
Hearing that Michael and Echo already knew each other, and that Michael wanted her freedom-talking about being her boyfriend and pursuing her-made Ryan uneasy. It was absolutely infuriating.
Echo was his. She belonged to him for life, and no one else was going to come between them.
Even if Echo wanted freedom, even though he had known that for a while, he wouldn’t give it to her. No one had the power to make him grant it. He wanted to clip her ‘wings’ and give her new ones-wings that would let her soar through the world with him, always together.
Ryan’s rage faded after just a few words from Echo. Looking down at her, he noticed she hadn’t even tried to struggle-she just wrapped her arms around his like it was the most natural thing in the world. Slowly, he loosened his grip on her neck, his fingers brushing over the faint red mark he’d left. Then, his gaze narrowed as he noticed the bite marks on her skin, and he lowered his head, pressing his mouth there again, softly biting and sucking.
Echo could feel the fury leaving him, and she let out a small breath of relief.
Ryan’s temper was so unpredictable; even when he got mad before, he’d never blown up over something this minor. She’d only hidden a tiny thing from him-barely worth getting worked up about. For a moment, she’d really thought he might choke her.
Feeling no pain in her throat, Echo knew he hadn’t actually used much force. Otherwise, it would’ve hurt like crazy by now.
She hadn’t forgotten his promise not to let her get hurt again, especially not by his own hand. Ryan’s word was his bond; she knew that much. So even when his anger had flared like that, she hadn’t truly felt scared. Oddly enough, she was certain he wouldn’t hurt her.
She felt a tickling, slightly painful sensation on her neck, and instinctively wrapped her arms around him, letting him continue. As long as he wasn’t angry, she didn’t mind.
“Remember this-you’re mine. Don’t get any ideas.” Ryan’s cold, possessive voice whispered near her ear.
Echo couldn’t help but smile a little. She felt a sudden sting on her neck-clearly, he’d gotten annoyed-so she nodded quickly. “I know! I’m your subordinate, right? I’ll be with you for life; you’ve already said that. I never said I wanted to leave. That was Michael’s idea, trying to trade me for some deal. It infuriated me! I’m not some bargaining chip.”
Ryan released her neck and lifted his head, giving her a long look. She met his gaze, her eyes bright with just a hint of amusement, and he frowned slightly.
Seeing his expression, Echo chuckled and said, “Boss, I’m really glad you didn’t trade me off, even though the offer was tempting.”
After getting a talking-to from Ryan, she’d learned to be honest with him-no lying or hiding things.
A glint of possessiveness flickered in Ryan’s eyes. He stroked her neck and said coldly, “You’re mine, and no one else decides that. You’re not allowed to be with anyone but me.”
Echo knew how possessive he was, so she just smiled and didn’t argue with him.
Watching her smile, Ryan’s expression darkened. “You found it tempting?”
As he stroked her neck, she felt a ticklish warmth and pushed herself against his chest. She looked up and said, “Freedom-that’s what I want more than anything. Of course, I’d be tempted. If you gave it to me, I’d be thrilled.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous intensity radiating from him. His gaze was sharp, like an eagle eyeing its prey, full of warning. Echo shivered.
Ryan gripped her chin, his voice low and tense. “You want to leave?”
Echo looked into Ryan’s eyes, seeing the anger and threat plainly written there. The anger that had just settled down was starting to smolder again, a fire slowly spreading through his gaze. But deeper within, there was an intensity she’d never seen before-something serious.
She knew he was genuinely asking, not threatening or trying to scare her. He really wanted to know how she felt.
Even though Ryan felt a bit off tonight, Echo took a moment, thinking carefully. Finally, she looked back up at him. The fire in his eyes was blazing now, and strangely, she found it beautiful, not frightening. It didn’t feel like a storm coming; instead, she felt calm and at ease.
“I used to want to leave. Now…not so much,” she said, tilting her head and speaking earnestly.
A flash of light crossed Ryan’s eyes. He gripped her chin, lifting her face to meet his intense stare. “Are you serious?”
Ryan was never one to consider anyone’s feelings before. In this cutthroat world, it was all survival of the fittest. Consideration didn’t matter, only strength. But after the pyramid incident, he’d found himself wanting to hear Echo’s true feelings. That moment in the pyramid, when she clung to him, crying her heart out, it was a warmth he’d never known before. He’d become addicted to it, to this feeling only she seemed able to give. So now, he actually cared about her real feelings-he wanted that warmth back.
Echo sensed Ryan’s strange happiness, a feeling she’d never seen from him before. She nodded and said, “Yeah, I mean it. The world’s just the way it is. Following you, being your subordinate…I can still be free.”
Ryan looked down at her, a faint smile curving his lips. Leaning closer to her face, he said in a low, possessive voice, “Even if you wanted to leave, I wouldn’t let you go.”
Then, he lowered his head and pressed a fierce kiss to her lips.
He didn’t know exactly what he was feeling. Maybe it was happiness or something else he couldn’t name-he only knew he wanted to be close to her, to express this feeling that felt warm, joyful, and a little overwhelming.
Echo froze for a second, realizing how genuinely happy Ryan seemed. Beneath his tough, cold exterior, there was a hint of gentleness. It was strange yet familiar. She didn’t mind it; she didn’t push him away. Maybe she’d grown used to his closeness, or maybe it was something more.
The kiss was free of any desire, but it was full of his usual possessiveness and fierce energy, softened by a warmth that reached right into her.
When she looked up at him, she saw happiness and depth in his gaze. Raising her eyebrows slightly, she teased, “Boss, you’re taking advantage of me.”
Ryan let out a possessive smile, lying beside her and pulling her close just like always. Holding her tightly, he murmured, “Whenever I feel like it.”
Such a domineering tone, such a bold claim. Echo couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow-this guy really was impossible.
But it wasn’t worth arguing over. It was a small thing, and she was too tired to bother. She hadn’t slept well the past few nights, and back in the warmth and strength of his arms, drowsiness hit her fast. Her eyelids grew heavy.
Forget it. She’d just go to sleep.
Echo pushed aside the feelings she didn’t quite understand-following her usual rule of “if you can’t figure it out, just let it go.” She settled into a comfortable spot in Ryan’s arms and drifted off to sleep.
Ryan didn’t say anything else, just held her close, breathed in the scent of her hair, and closed his eyes.
The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft, silvery glow over the two sleeping in each other’s arms. The light held a warmth, gentle and soothing, making the room feel peaceful and cozy rather than cold and distant.