Nora opened her mouth as if to say something, but thought better of it and bit back her words. She decided to let Ryan cling to his self-assurance—a little blind confidence never hurt anyone.

With a sly, knowing grin, she remarked, "Alright, I get it. That was my mistake. Clearly, Kailey's not the one for you. You're much better suited to the lady at your side."

She'd already picked up on Olivia's sly glances and subtle moves. To her, the pair made a perfect match: one over-confident, one cunning. Part of her couldn't help but wonder how Ryan would react once the truth came out.

The mere thought of that showdown brought a spark of anticipation.

With a bright smile, Nora turned to flag down a nearby assistant. "I have other things to handle, so I'll leave you two in good hands," she said politely to Ryan and Olivia.

As soon as the assistant appeared, Nora gave a few instructions, her expression unreadable. Then, slipping right back into her pleasant facade, she nodded with practiced grace and glided away.

Once she reached her office, she wasted no time in calling Kyson to share the latest developments.

"You know, I get the sense Kailey still has feelings for Ryan. Are you really sure you're prepared for that?"

Night had already fallen over Irilas. Kyson sat by his window, city lights shimmering in his thoughtful eyes, lost in the distant glow.

He pulled his long legs down from the edge of the desk, his voice low and steady. "I'll finish up here soon, then head out to pick her up myself."

"You certainly don't lack confidence, do you?" Nora arched an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sly smile. "I can't wait to see how this plays out."

The idea of what was coming next left her quietly amused.

She ended the call and moved on. Kyson lingered for a moment, spinning his phone between his fingers. Then he opened his messages and sent a note to the contact pinned at the top. "All done with your treatment?"

Kailey had just settled into the car when her phone buzzed.

She couldn't help but smile as she read his text.

"All done. Nora's massage was amazing—I didn't feel a thing the whole time. Thanks, Kyson!"

She added a cheerful emoji for good measure.

Kyson gave a small laugh as he read her reply. After a pause, he replied, "If it helps, you should keep going back. Nora's always got time for you. Think of it as helping her get more practice."

Seeing his response, Kailey's smile only grew. She felt even more at ease knowing how well the two got along.

"She said next time you come by, we should both visit together."

Kyson caught the "we" and his lips curled into a quiet smile, his eyes lighting up like a clear night sky.

Their conversation drifted on, filled with easy banter, until Kailey's phone flashed a low battery warning. She sent a final message to wind things down.

"I'll let you go for now. Need to get some rest and start packing a bit. Goodnight, Kyson."

The reality of moving to Aslesall with Kyson set in as she looked around her room. It was time to sort through her things and decide what to bring along.

As for everything else, she doubted Ryan or Olivia would care to see them again, so she'd have to figure out what to do with the leftovers first.

Afternoon sunlight was already fading when she finally made it home. She plugged in her phone, then got lost in sorting her belongings, the hours slipping by unnoticed.

Only when the housekeeper came upstairs to call her for dinner did she realize how dark it had grown outside.

Phone in hand, Kailey headed down the stairs with the housekeeper.

"Mr. Owen called a while ago. He said he won't be home for dinner tonight," the housekeeper said, studying her face with concern. "Kailey, why not just have a real conversation with him? He sounded upset on the phone, probably because you haven't answered his messages."

At that, Kailey glanced down at her phone. Sure enough, her screen was filled with missed calls and unread messages—all from Ryan.

Without a word, she cleared the notifications and replied quietly, "I must not have heard them."

The housekeeper, who had always treated Kailey like family, gave her a gentle, heartfelt warning. "You're still young. You'll meet so many more people as time goes on. Don't let yourself get weighed down by the past."

Kailey appreciated the concern and wrapped her arms around the woman's shoulders. "I'll be alright, I promise."

She had already made up her mind to leave the past behind. Whatever happened in Ryan's world from now on was no longer her concern.

After dinner, Kailey sat at her desk, found the number of a local charity library, and arranged to donate her entire collection of books.

Just as she finished, her phone lit up with a call from Julia Reed.

"Tomorrow's my little boy's one-month celebration. We're just inviting close friends for now. The big party will be at his christening. You better be there, Kailey!"

Julia was Ryan and Kailey's mutual friend. With such a personal invitation, Kailey knew she had to attend. But Ryan would certainly be there as well.

Kailey hesitated for a moment, then pushed the worry aside. Why let it matter? Ryan's presence didn't change her own worth. She had nothing to be ashamed of, and she'd never wronged anyone. There was no reason to hide.

The following morning, Kailey headed to the nearest shopping center, searching for a thoughtful present for Julia's baby.

The address Julia had given led her to a charming country manor.

By the time Kailey arrived, the living room was already buzzing with conversation.

Everywhere she looked, she spotted familiar faces—friends and acquaintances who all seemed to know about the recent rift between her and Ryan. As she stepped inside, she caught the glances, the quick whispers exchanged behind polite smiles.

Julia, ever the gracious host, hurried over and took Kailey's hand in hers. "Pay no attention to them, Kailey. People here love to gossip more than anything. Come on, I'll introduce you to my little one."

Kailey shrugged it off, her tone light. "It's alright. They're only saying what's true."

The rumors weren't exaggerated—her falling out with Ryan over another woman was hardly a secret.

Julia seemed to search her expression, then sighed. "I really thought he'd have feelings for you eventually."

From Julia's perspective, it was hard to believe Ryan could overlook a woman as sincere and sweet as Kailey, someone he'd cared for since she was small. It was difficult to tell if he truly loved Olivia or if he was just blind to what was in front of him.

Kailey offered a gentle smile. "Maybe things were never meant to work out that way. I'm done chasing after something that isn't mine. Let's not dwell on it. I brought a little present for your baby—I hope he'll like it."

Julia's eyes sparkled as she realized Kailey's good mood was genuine. With a playful flick to Kailey's nose, she teased, "I hope you'd meet someone wonderful soon."

For a fleeting second, Kyson's face popped into Kailey's mind, and her answer came with a soft, unintentional smile. "I already have."

Julia's curiosity was instantly piqued, but before she could ask, a familiar voice cut in. "What are you talking about?"

The sound sent a jolt through Kailey's chest. She turned and met Ryan's stormy gaze. Did he overhear what she said?

A sudden tension settled over the group, and Kailey's eyes drifted to Olivia, who stood close by Ryan's side.

Though Olivia remained silent, there was no mistaking the satisfaction in her gaze—she seemed to relish every bit of the uncomfortable moment.

Kailey pouted and answered softly, "It's nothing important. Julia just asked if I'd found an internship, and I told her I had."

Julia immediately picked up on the shift and hurried to smooth things over. "That's right. Kailey's about to finish school, and I thought she might join our company for a while."

Ryan's eyes lingered on Kailey for a while before responding, "She'll be starting her internship with one of Owen Group's subsidiaries. There's no need for anyone else to worry."

Olivia finally broke her silence, wearing a gentle smile. "I heard Kailey's been doing very well at university. She's bound to do great wherever she lands. Ryan, you really ought to respect her choices too."

Ryan, still in the habit of managing Kailey's affairs, replied without thinking, "She hasn't spent much time in the real world yet. How could she know what's best for herself?"

Kailey almost laughed. He always made choices for her.

She lowered her eyes and, with quiet resolve, replied, "I'm almost twenty-one. I can figure out what's good for me."

For a split second, something like surprise flashed in Ryan's eyes before they turned cold once more.

He assumed she was challenging him just for the sake of it, convinced her attitude was only getting worse.

He wanted to confront her on the spot, but remembered the celebration around them.

His tone was cold as he said, "You'd better figure it out. While you're here, don't wander off. You'll come back with me when this is over."

Once those words left his mouth, he walked away with Olivia, not giving Kailey so much as a backward glance.

Kailey had grown used to his cold shoulder over the past few days. If he wanted to ignore her, she'd let him. After all, her time here was nearly up. There was a strange comfort in the silence he left behind.

Julia, having seen the entire exchange, slipped an arm around Kailey's shoulders, her voice full of sympathy. "Honestly, I didn't expect Ryan to act this way. There's really nothing charming about someone so set in his ways. Let's just forget about him."

Kailey nodded, her agreement wholehearted. "He's not going to get under my skin anymore."

Thinking Kailey needed a distraction, Julia decided not to introduce her to the other guests. Instead, they wandered through the villa's grounds together.

Tucked between rolling hills and winding streams, the manor offered a kind of quiet beauty that eased Kailey's mind.

A flicker of guilt passed through her. "Julia, I hope I'm not keeping you from your other guests."

"Don't be silly. This place is meant for relaxing," Julia replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "If Ryan ever yells at you again, just chalk it up to a midlife crisis—men get cranky as they get older."

Kailey held back a laugh but kept her future plans to herself. It wouldn't matter much longer—there would be no next time.

The celebration stretched late into the evening, with guests doting over Julia's baby boy. As people began to say their goodbyes, a few tipsy voices broke out in teasing.

"Ryan, when's the big day for you and Olivia? You're not getting any younger. Don't keep us waiting! And when you finally have your own little one, we'll bring the best gifts to your celebration!"

The space fell into a sudden hush.

A few guests cast quick, sympathetic glances at Kailey, their expressions tinged with pity.

Olivia's smile never faltered. She acted as though she hadn't picked up on any of it and responded sweetly, "Of course, we'd love to have everyone there."

The tension slowly melted away, and after a few more rounds of banter, people drifted off into the night.

Left with little choice, Kailey climbed into Ryan's car.

Olivia claimed the front seat, happily adjusting the air and queuing up her favorite playlist. She turned around and offered a stick of gum to Kailey. "Ryan brought these back from his last trip. They're impossible to find here—give one a try."

Kailey met Olivia's cheerful gaze with a blank stare. "No, thank you."

A quick glance in the rearview mirror caught Ryan's irritated expression.

Ignoring him, Kailey kept her eyes glued to her phone, feigning indifference.

After a beat, Olivia withdrew her hand and smiled awkwardly before turning to Ryan instead. "Kailey's not interested. You should have it."

For the rest of the ride, Kailey tuned out their conversation. Olivia chattered away about upcoming weddings, high-end bridal gowns, and every detail she'd dreamed up for her own big day.

Ryan replied to each comment, his tone a little too pointed, as if he wanted to make sure Kailey heard every word.

But Kailey wasn't listening. Her attention was fixed on her phone as she sent Kyson a message. "Julia's baby is adorable—huge cheeks you just want to pinch."

Kyson asked, "Only a month old?"

"Yep, today's his one-month party."

A moment later, her phone buzzed with an audio message.

Kailey, suspecting mischief, converted it to text.

It read, "You like babies that much? Let's have one together."

She knew he was teasing, but the idea made her laugh out loud.

Her smile faded when she noticed Ryan's eyes on her in the rearview mirror, his brow furrowed as he tried to read her expression.

From where she sat, Kailey caught a glimpse of Olivia's sour expression in the mirror.

She couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. Hadn't she kept to herself the whole drive?

Thinking back, she realized Olivia had been venting about the apartment's lousy maintenance—complaining that the management never fixed anything on time. Apparently, a burst pipe at home had left Olivia soaked and upset.

It dawned on Kailey that maybe they thought she was laughing at Olivia's story. That couldn't be further from the truth, but there was no point explaining.

No one spoke after that. The silence stretched until they pulled up to Olivia's place, bringing the tense drive to an end.

Ryan stepped out and circled the car to open the door for Olivia, his voice gentle. "Next time, don't try to deal with these things yourself. Just call me, alright?"

Olivia sniffled. "I know. I just don't want to trouble you."

"It's never a bother. If you need anything, you call me."

Kailey turned her gaze out the window, unwilling to witness their tender moment.

Soon after, Ryan slid back into the driver's seat, his eyes briefly meeting Kailey's with a look that promised a lecture was coming.

When they reached home, Kailey got out with measured calm.

No sooner had they stepped inside than Ryan rounded on her, his tone sharp. "Kailey, how many times have I told you—if you have a problem, say it to my face. What was that attitude in the car just now?"

"What attitude?" Kailey met his gaze, steady and unblinking. "I wasn't laughing at her."

"Then what was so funny?"

"I..." She hesitated. There was no way she could admit she'd been smiling at Kyson's playful message about having a baby. If Ryan heard that, he'd never let it go.

Her silence only made his expression colder. "Since you won't say it, let me be clear—I am your uncle, Kailey, and that's all I will ever be to you. Understand?"

She'd heard these words before, but each time still left a dull ache. This time, though, it barely stung—just left her numb.

Looking him straight in the eye, she answered with a cool detachment, "Don't worry. I know exactly where I stand, and I'll never step out of line again."

Those were the exact words Ryan had been expecting. Still, something about the steady calm in Kailey's eyes made emotion rise sharply in his chest, catching him off guard.

Ryan turned his head away. "Go rest. And stop causing trouble all the time."

Kailey stared after him, a mix of disbelief and amusement twisting inside her.

She had only attended a friend's celebration without telling him, and she had laughed when Olivia was complaining, yet somehow that alone was enough for him to label her causing trouble.

In the past, no matter how bold and reckless she appeared to others, she was always compliant and agreeable before him. If he told her to do something, she did it. If he wanted her to avoid someone, she obeyed without question. She never argued.

But that version of her was gone. From now on, she would live as herself.

After that tense ending, Kailey did not see Ryan again for several days. She stayed busy instead. Graduation had everyone preparing for their new jobs, and she spent time having farewell dinners with classmates before finally starting to pack her belongings.

After living in this house for so long, she had accumulated too much. Moving everything would be impossible. She decided she would keep only what she truly needed and donate the rest.

Soon enough, Olivia would probably move in, and the couple would not want any traces of her left in the house.

Kailey gathered boxes first, then spread her clothes across the bed before folding them carefully into her suitcase.

Soft music played in the background, and to her surprise, she felt lighter than she had in weeks.

She was almost finished when a familiar voice broke through the doorway. "Why are you packing?"

Kailey's hands paused, her good mood faltering slightly. After a moment, she answered, "I'm about to start work, so I wanted to visit Dad, Mom and Grandma while I still can."

Even though Kailey grew up beside Ryan, his brother and sister-in-law—Sawyer Owen and Aleena Owen—were the ones who had legally adopted her. They had treated her with warmth and care like true family.

This trip to Aslesall might not be temporary. She did not even know if she would come back. If she was leaving, then she owed them a proper goodbye.

Ryan had panicked for a brief moment earlier, but once he heard her reason, the tension in him eased. "So when are you leaving? I can drive you there."

The Owen family's roots were not actually in Jucridge. Their beginnings traced back to the nearby city of Douxledo.

Kailey gave a small shake of her head. "That's not necessary. I can manage on my own."

Ryan did not respond right away.

She lifted her eyes and caught the faint confusion in his gaze.

Of course, she understood it well. He was never used to her refusing him, because she almost never did.

After a brief pause, she added, "You should keep Olivia company. I'm not a kid anymore. I can handle a trip by myself."

The moment Olivia's name came up, Ryan's expression shifted sharply. His voice turned cold. "Olivia just came back. Naturally, I need to be there while she gets settled. Fine, go alone then, but do not say anything unnecessary to your parents. Kailey, you know me. Do not try any pointless tricks."

Kailey watched him walk away, his indifference carved into every step. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she lowered her gaze. Did he truly think she was going back just to complain? Thankfully, she had moved on. If it were in the past, those words would have cut deeply.

Kailey inhaled, steadied herself, and finished packing what was left.

When she finally sat down, Kyson sent a message asking how things were going.

Kailey responded, "Still sorting out a few things. I'm planning to visit my parents and grandma."

Kyson replied soon after, "Alright. Tell me if you need help with anything."

Not long later, another message came through. He suggested she stop by Nora's place and have her waist checked again.

Before she could refuse, Kyson sent a voice message, his tone serious. "Nora told me about your injury. If you ignore it, it could cause problems for a long time. Are you really willing to risk that?"

Just imagining it made Kailey shiver. She had no desire to carry pain like that into the future.

After ending the call with Kyson, she grabbed her things and went outside to hail a taxi.

About thirty minutes later, she arrived at her destination.

The receptionist clearly knew who Kailey was and greeted her with a polite smile. "Nora's tied up at the moment. Would you mind waiting for a bit?"

Kailey gave a small nod and let herself be guided toward the waiting area.

After some time passed, the door to a nearby room opened, and Olivia stepped out.

She was dressed in something sleek and expensive, her long hair braided neatly over one shoulder, looking every bit like someone carefully put together.

Olivia noticed Kailey immediately. She hesitated for a second, then walked over with a practiced smile. "Kailey, I didn't expect to see you here."

Kailey had no interest in chatting, so she only nodded and took another slow sip of water.

A slight change crossed Olivia's face, and her lips tightened. "Kailey, I honestly don't think I've done anything to you, so why the hostility?"

"You are imagining things," Kailey replied simply. She felt nothing at all for Olivia.

That indifference irritated Olivia more than anger ever would, as though Kailey found her unworthy of attention.

Olivia forced another smile. "If there's no issue between us, then as Ryan's girlfriend, shouldn't I be someone you try to get along with? Maybe we should spend time together."

Kailey looked genuinely confused. "You are dating Ryan, not me. Why would I need to spend time with you?"

Olivia froze, then her voice turned wounded. "How can you say something like that?"

"Then what would you prefer I say?" Kailey set her glass down, her gaze steady and straightforward. "Olivia, whatever you and Ryan are doing is your choice. Just don't involve me in it."

Kailey was not foolish. Olivia's endless little questions were not about kindness. They were only meant to confirm one thing—that she and Ryan truly had nothing between them.

Kailey only found it laughable. Ryan had already made his rejection obvious, so what else was Olivia still trying to dig for?

At last, Olivia's smile slipped. "Can you really claim you do not feel anything for Ryan?"

"I once did," Kailey answered plainly, her eyes steady. "But not anymore. Not now, and not ever again. You do not like me, and I have no interest in you either. Let's stop pretending we need to be friendly. We should remain strangers."

Olivia had clearly come prepared to scold her, but Kailey's bluntness left her with nothing to throw back at first.

After a pause, Olivia sneered, "You sound so righteous, but you have no shame at all. You're a grown woman, yet you're still living under the same roof as a man who isn't even related to you by blood. Doesn't that embarrass you?"

When Kailey first left for college, she had wanted to move out. But Ryan had refused, insisting she could not manage alone. Now Olivia was using it like a weapon.

Kailey's hands curled into tight fists. "I am leaving soon."

Olivia did not let up. "Soon? When exactly?"

Kailey opened her mouth, but before she could answer, a calm voice cut in, "Does your boyfriend know you are cornering his niece like this?"