The room she entered felt different from the rest of the house. It was smaller, almost forgotten, with dusty furniture and a faint musty smell. The walls were lined with shelves, cluttered with old books, trinkets, and photographs.

She froze when she thought she saw something move near her feet. She looked down, her heart racing. A shadow? A mouse?

Whatever it was, she instinctively stepped back, the movement causing a small creak in the floorboards.

That was when she heard a sharp intake of breath.

Her eyes snapped to the far corner of the room, where Ryan was standing. His broad shoulders were tense, his back slightly turned as he held something in his hands.

"Ryan?" she said softly, her voice breaking the silence.

He turned quickly, his expression startled, almost vulnerable. The sudden movement caused him to drop what he was holding-a picture frame.

The crash of glass shattering on the floor echoed in the stillness.

Ryan's eyes darted to the broken frame, then back to her. His face was a mix of emotions-anger, surprise, and something she couldn't quite place.

"Amelia," he said, his voice low and sharp.

She took a step back, her heart pounding as she tried to process what she'd just walked into.

Amelia felt her heart race as Ryan's sharp eyes bore into her. She had to get out of this room before things got even more awkward.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, glancing at the shattered picture frame on the floor. "I didn't mean to intrude. I... I have a class to attend."

Without waiting for a response, she placed the breakfast tray on a nearby table and bolted toward the door, her steps unsteady but swift. She could feel Ryan's gaze following her, but she didn't dare look back.

As soon as she was out of sight, she broke into a near run, heading straight for her room. The mansion's hallways blurred together as her pulse pounded in her ears. Once inside her room, she yanked her backpack off the desk, slung it over her shoulder, and hurried out. Her class didn't start until 8 a.m., but she couldn't bear to stay in the house a second longer.

The early morning air was crisp and cool as she stepped outside, walking briskly to her car. Her fingers fumbled as she unlocked it, and she slid into the driver's seat, letting out a shaky breath.

"Get a grip, Amelia," she muttered to herself as she started the engine and pulled out of the driveway.

By the time she arrived at campus, the tension in her chest had eased slightly. The university grounds were mostly empty this early, and the quiet gave her a moment to collect herself. She found a shaded bench near the lecture hall and sat down, trying to push the morning's events out of her mind.

But it was impossible.

Ryan's startled expression, the way he had been holding that picture frame so tightly, played on a loop in her head. Who was in that photo? she wondered.

Was it someone from his past? A lost love? A family member?

She shook her head, trying to banish the intrusive thoughts. It wasn't her business. She had no right to pry into his life, especially after barging into that room uninvited.

"You're a pain in the ass, girl," she muttered to herself, tapping her forehead lightly in frustration.

When the lecture hall doors opened, Amelia joined the trickle of students making their way inside. She found a seat near the middle, pulling out her notebook and trying to focus as the room filled.

By the time Mrs. Shawn, her psychology lecturer, arrived and began the session, the classroom was quiet and attentive.

But Amelia's mind wasn't.

Her thoughts drifted back to Ryan, to the intensity of his gaze and the mystery surrounding that picture. She doodled absentmindedly in her notebook, completely missing the first few minutes of the lecture.

She whispered to herself again, "Amelia," and added clearly, "you're a pain in the ass. Focus!" 

Her voice wasn't loud, but in the silence of the room, it carried just enough for everyone to hear.

The sound of giggles rippled through the class, and Amelia froze, her eyes wide with horror.

"Excuse me?" Mrs. Shawn said, looking directly at her.

Amelia's cheeks turned crimson as every pair of eyes in the room turned her way. "I-uh-" she stammered, struggling to form a coherent sentence.

"Did you just call me a pain in the ass?" Mrs. Shawn asked, raising an eyebrow in stunned disbelief.

"No! No, no, no!" Amelia said quickly, waving her hands in panic. "I was talking to myself. I swear!"

The room erupted in laughter, and Amelia wanted to melt into her seat.

Mrs. Shawn sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Let's keep the self-commentary to a minimum, shall we? Some of us are trying to learn."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm so sorry," Amelia mumbled, sinking lower into her chair.

The laughter subsided, and the class resumed, but Amelia couldn't focus. Her mind replayed the embarrassing moment over and over, along with the morning's encounter with Ryan.

Great. Now I've managed to make a fool of myself twice in one day, she thought bitterly.

She scribbled halfhearted notes in her notebook, hoping to at least look productive. But the weight of her curiosity about Ryan lingered. Who was he holding onto so tightly in that photograph?

The question gnawed at her, and despite her best efforts to concentrate, she couldn't shake it.

The rustle of chairs echoed through the room, signaling the end of the class, pulled Amelia out of her thoughts. She quickly gathered her things, eager to escape before anyone decided to bring up her earlier outburst. Her cheeks were still burning with embarrassment.

As she stepped out into the hallway, she took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering humiliation. She adjusted the strap of her bag and headed toward her next class, keeping her head low to avoid catching anyone's attention.

But she didn't make it far.

"Gotcha!" a familiar voice squealed.

Before Amelia could react, arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Stella," she said with a resigned smile, recognizing her best friend's signature energy immediately.

Stella grinned, her bright blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "Don't 'Stella' me like that! You've been avoiding me."

Amelia sighed in defeat, letting Stella guide her off to the side of the hallway. "I haven't been avoiding you. I've just been... busy."

Stella narrowed her eyes. "Busy? That's your excuse? You missed my party, Amelia. The party I specifically asked you to come to."

Amelia offered a sheepish smile. "I know, I know. I'm sorry for not being there, but you know parties aren't really my thing."

Stella crossed her arms, glaring at her playfully. "That's a lame excuse, and you know it. You promised me you'd be there!"

Amelia rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically. "And that's why I'm apologizing. I'm truly sorry, okay? I'll make it up to you."

Stella frowned, studying her closely. "You don't look good, though. What's up?"

Amelia stiffened, her mind scrambling for an excuse. She quickly averted her gaze. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm just tired, that's all."

Stella tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "Tired? You look more than just tired, Amelia. Something's going on, and you're not telling me."

Amelia forced a laugh, hoping to deflect Stella's attention. "Really, it's nothing. Just late-night studying catching up with me."

Stella raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Hmm... if you say so. But you're acting weird. And you know I'll find out eventually, right?"

Amelia's stomach churned. She didn't want to lie to her best friend, but she couldn't bring herself to tell Stella about her new living situation. The last thing she needed was Stella insisting on visiting Ryan's mansion. Knowing Stella, she'd probably demand a full tour-and that was a disaster waiting to happen. She didn't even know if she'd get thrown out of Ryan's place or worse, report her to her father. 

Amelia adjusted the strap of her bag, her smile strained. "Seriously, it's nothing. Just give me some time to catch up on sleep, and I'll be back to normal."

Stella pursed her lips, clearly debating whether to push further. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. But don't think you're off the hook for missing the party. You owe me, big time."

Amelia nodded quickly, relieved to change the subject. "Deal. Whatever you want, I'll make it up to you."

Stella's grin returned, and she linked arms with Amelia. "Good. Now let's get to class before Mrs. Jenkins decides to lock the door on us again."

The two friends made their way to their next lecture, Stella chattering about everything she'd missed at the party. Amelia smiled and nodded along, doing her best to seem engaged, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

She couldn't stop thinking about Ryan and that shattered picture frame.

The lecture was a blur. Amelia spent most of it staring at her notebook, doodling absentmindedly as her thoughts spiraled. She couldn't shake the image of Ryan's startled face when she'd walked into that room.

The mystery of the photograph gnawed at her. Who could it have been? And why had Ryan looked so vulnerable in that moment?

Stella nudged her arm, pulling her out of her reverie. " Hey, are you okay? "

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," Amelia said quickly, straightening in her seat.

Stella gave her a skeptical look. "You've been spacing out the whole time. What's going on?"

"Nothing," Amelia said, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about the lecture."

Stella snorted. "Yeah, right. Like you've ever been that into psychology."

Amelia rolled her eyes, but before she could respond, the lecturer clapped her hands, signaling the end of class. The students began packing up, and Amelia couldn't have been more relieved.

As they walked out of the lecture hall, Stella looped her arm through Amelia's. "Okay, spill. What's really going on? You've been acting weird all morning."

"I told you, it's nothing," Amelia said, hoping Stella would let it drop.

But Stella wasn't one to give up easily. "Is it a boy? Oh my God, it's a boy, isn't it?"

Amelia's cheeks flushed. "What? No!"

Stella smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure. You're blushing, Amelia."

"I'm not!"

"You so are. Who is it? Tell me everything!"

Amelia groaned, pulling away from Stella. "There's no boy, okay? Just drop it."

Stella pouted. "Fine. But if there is a boy, you'd better tell me. Best friends don't keep secrets, you know."

Amelia offered a weak smile, guilt twisting in her stomach. "Of course."

They parted ways as Stella headed to her next class, and Amelia made her way toward the library. She needed some quiet time to clear her head and figure out how to deal with this mess.

Sitting in a secluded corner of the library, Amelia pulled out her notebook and pretended to study. But her mind kept drifting back to Ryan.

Why did he have to be so confusing? One minute, he was cold and distant, and the next, he was staring at that photograph like it was the most important thing in the world. He was strange.

Why do I even care? she thought, resting her head in her hands.

But she already knew the answer. There was something about Ryan that drew her in, no matter how hard she tried to resist.

Her phone buzzed, breaking her train of thought. She glanced at the screen and saw a text from her father.

Dad: "Hope you're settling in okay. Call me when you get a chance."

Amelia sighed, typing out a quick reply.

Me: "Everything's fine. Will call you later."

She put her phone away and leaned back in her chair, staring up at the ceiling.

Fine? she thought bitterly. Nothing about this situation was fine.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as Amelia made her way back to Ryan's mansion, her heart heavy with thoughts she couldn't seem to shake. The long, tree-lined driveway felt even more imposing than usual as she pulled in and parked her car. She sat behind the wheel for a few moments, gripping the steering wheel tightly and taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.

"This is your home now," she whispered to herself. "Just a house. Nothing to be scared of."

But her words didn't lessen the unease swirling in her chest.

The house was eerily quiet when she stepped inside. The vast, open space of the entryway seemed to swallow her whole. She closed the door behind her with a soft click, her footsteps echoing on the marble floor as she made her way further in.

No sign of Ryan. The silence told her he wasn't back from work yet, and for a brief moment, she felt relieved. She wasn't ready to face him. Not yet.

As she wandered into the kitchen, the familiar scent of fresh herbs and spices greeted her. Maria, the housekeeper, stood at the counter, chopping vegetables with practiced precision. The older woman glanced up and smiled warmly when she saw Amelia.

"Ah, you're home," Maria said, wiping her hands on a towel. "How was your day?"

Amelia offered a small smile in return. "It was... interesting. Classes were fine, but it's been a long day."

Maria nodded knowingly. "College can be exhausting. Would you like some tea? It'll help you relax."

"Yes, please," Amelia said gratefully, pulling out a stool at the kitchen island and sitting down.

As Maria poured the tea, her dark eyes studied Amelia with a gentle curiosity. "You look like you have something on your mind, dear."

Amelia hesitated, unsure of how much to share. "Just... adjusting to everything here. It's all so different."

Maria handed her a steaming cup of tea and nodded. "I imagine it must be. This house is very big, and Mr. Ryan... well, he can be quite intimidating."

Amelia raised her eyebrows. "You think so?"

Maria chuckled softly. "Oh, yes. He's a good man, but he's guarded. Keeps to himself. A man like that has many secrets, and it's best not to pry into them."

Her words sent a shiver down Amelia's spine. "Secrets?"

Maria's expression softened. "I don't mean to frighten you, dear. Just a word of caution. Mr. Ryan is very private. It's best to give him space."

Amelia's stomach twisted with guilt. She thought back to that morning, to the picture frame he had dropped and the glass shattering at her feet. Her chest tightened with the weight of her mistake.

"Has he ever... been angry?" she asked hesitantly.

Maria's eyes darkened slightly. "I've seen him angry before. He's not cruel, but when he's hurt, he's dangerous in ways you wouldn't expect. He doesn't show his emotions like most people."

Amelia swallowed hard. The warning was clear, and her mind raced with memories of his piercing gaze and the tension that seemed to follow him like a shadow.

"Dangerous how?" she whispered.

Maria's smile returned, gentle but firm. "Just be careful, Amelia. That's all I'll say."

The older woman turned back to her work, humming a soft tune as if their conversation had never happened.

Amelia sat in silence, staring down at her tea, her mind swirling with questions and doubts. The more she thought about it, the more her heart raced. How was she supposed to face Ryan after this morning?

And more importantly... how was she going to apologize for invading his privacy without provoking his anger?

The fear settled in her chest like a heavy stone, and she knew one thing for certain-there was no turning back now. She strolled back to the large living room, her mind occupied with the thoughts of Ryan. 

**************

Her phone beeped, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Stella asking if she could come spend the night at Amelia's place because she fought her parents and was too annoyed to sleep in her room. 

Amelia panicked, thinking of what to say. Revealing her situation was a big No, so she she had to think of something else to say. 

Amelia: Oops. I'm not home at the moment.

Stella's response came almost immediately after. 

Stella: Where are you??

Amelia: A friend's place. Now bye.

She turned off her phone to avoid more questions from Stella. 

Sighing, she placed her phone beside her and closed her eyes to rest on the couch. A pair of piercing blue eyes invaded her thoughts and she wondered where the big, arrogant guy was, until she fell asleep. She wasn't sure how long she was asleep for, but she suddenly woke up when she felt a shadow moving above her. It was quite dark, she wasn't sure what time it was, but it was late and she was sure Maria would have gone home. So who was standing right above her?? She started to panic. 

A big hand reached out to... choke her?! She panicked even more, and without thinking twice, she kicked the guy where the sun didn't shine, her defensive instincts kicking in. And yes, she knew he was a guy by the shape of his head. There was more. She raised her hand swiftly and smacked him on the head. 

"What the hell?" The deep voice groaned in pain. 

The voice sounded familiar and Amelia's eyes widened in the dark as she realized it was Ryan. 

"Mr. Woods??! I'm so sorry, I..." She flew out of the couch and lost her balance but he caught her just in time before she landed on her butt. The room suddenly went bright and she saw the man she had been daydreaming about standing there in his full glory. His muscles were on display for her to see even though he was wearing a shirt. 

She looked down to where their bodies connected and gulped, feeling hot suddenly. They maintained eye contact and she licked her dry lips. Ryan probably misinterpreted that, because he glared at her. 

"What do you think you're doing?" He growled. 

It was as if a bucket of water had been poured on her, because her eyes cleared and she wriggled in his arms. 

"Let go of me," She said almost rudely. 

His glare intensified, "You should learn to be grateful. You could have landed on your pretty little ass if I hadn't grab you on time." Now Ryan, where did those words come from? He asked himself. 

She glared right back at him, forgetting that she was under his care. "I didn't ask for help yunno! And why did you creep on me like that?!"

Ryan released his hold on her and straightened, putting his hands in his pockets, "We need to talk, young lady."