Chapter 26

Ryan sat at his desk in his office, the chaos of his father's phone call still ringing in his ears. As always, his dad had launched into an unending rant, fueled by his disapproval over the recently published article. Ryan's heart sank at the thought of disappointing his father yet again. He couldn't believe that his dad's main issue was him spending time with Adrienne, a girl who wasn't his supposed fiancée, Annabelle. But that wasn't the only thing that bothered Ryan. His dad had also warned him against proceeding with the collaboration he had been eagerly pursuing, a collaboration that Ryan had no intention of giving up on.

Determined to sort out his thoughts, Ryan quickly texted Juliette, asking her to meet him at his house once she finished her work for the day. He let her know he was leaving the office and stepped into his car, embarking on the drive home. The weight of the day's conversation pressed on his shoulders, intensifying his need for a moment of solace.

Upon arriving at