บททั้งหมดของ First Love Bound: บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 30

Back in his office, Ryan's still holding onto Eudora's hand. He sees her looking at him, and a little smile plays on his lips. There's a kind of warmth in his eyes.“What are you staring at?” he asks.Eudora snaps out of it. She blushes and looks away. “Nothing... nothing,” she mumbles.After a beat, she says, “About what happened... thanks. I mean, firing Vivian like that... was that really necessary? She's actually really good at her job.”Ryan raises an eyebrow. He leans in a little and says, “You're trying to get me to take her back?”Eudora hesitates. She shakes her head slowly. Vivian's been a real pain in the neck for a long time. Eudora's pretty good at taking things, but she's not stupid. She's not going to let Vivian walk all over her. Still, she reminds Ryan,“Look, I just want you to see the whole picture. That way, if you end up regretting this, you can't blame me.”He raises an eyebrow, giving her a smirk that isn't quite a smile. “And who else would it be but you?

Bonnie is fuming. The busy tone on the phone is driving her nuts. She's the baby of the family, the apple of her dad's eye, always getting her way. But today, everything is going wrong, and her dad isn't even on her side. It feels like the world is against her. She's so frustrated and upset, she just needs to throw a tantrum at someone.Right now, a random number pops up on her phone. After a second thought, she picks up.A young woman's voice comes through,“Hey, you're Ryan's fiancée, right?” Bonnie doesn't know why, but instead of saying no, she just mumbles, “Uh-huh.”“I'm an old friend of Ryan's. I know something about him that you might want to hear.”Bonnie raises an eyebrow, intrigued but not buying it. “Who are you, and why should I believe you?”There's a pause on the other end, like the caller is thinking it over. Finally, she says, “My name is Clenda Lynne, and I used to be close with Ryan. I know he's not going to marry you. He's still hung up on someone else.”Bonnie's

The night has passed. Eudora is still in a daze, her mind replaying Ryan's insults.She doesn't know whether to hate him or be grateful. Every time she feels herself getting lost in his fake sweetness, he crushes her fantasies with cold hard facts, pulling her back to reality, reminding her that she is just a cheap hooker, trading her body for money.Ryan is incredibly possessive. Could he really be willing to trade her to another man? If so, after tonight, will he just abandon her again, like he did seven years ago? Worse, will she become some kind of object he constantly passes around to others?With his cold and distant attitude, she can't bring herself to ask if his words were just a moment of anger or the truth. And what about… her daughter's surgery money?Ryan, of course, notices Eudora's anxiety, but he doesn't care and keeps assigning her tasks as usual.Around three in the afternoon, as Eudora is about to be consumed by her jumbled thoughts, Ryan approaches her, breaking the

The sun blazes high in the sky, but Eudora is still waking up. It takes her a few moments to focus, the aches in her body slowly pulling her back from the fog of sleep. She remembers the night before, tangled with Ryan's business partner until the early hours. Even though the alcohol muddled her memories, the bits and pieces that remain are enough to make her want to disappear.In the past, Eudora could have convinced herself, and others, that it was just Ryan all along. It wouldn't have changed anything, but the thought could have salvaged her pride, sparing her the torment of feeling like a cheap hooker, sleeping with anyone for money. But now, the last scraps of her self-respect are gone. Shame and humiliation choke her, making her chest feel like it's about to explode.She looks up at the sky, trying to hold back the tears. What's the point? This was her choice, right from the start! All she wants now is to get the money and help her daughter get well. She hopes her little girl w

“Bang!”The door bursts open, revealing a towering figure with a face etched with fury. Behind him, a dozen black-suited bodyguards, all imposing and agile, move with a quiet intensity. The hotel manager, who has just opened the door, pales and shrinks back, his eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and fear. He has no idea what is unfolding inside, but prays for the best. Anything else would not only damage the hotel's reputation, but also threaten his own position.Ryan steps into the room and sees Eudora lying on the bed, clad only in lingerie, surrounded by four strange men and Bonnie, who is holding a video camera. His eyes narrow, burning with a rage that threatens to consume him. He wants nothing more than to send them all straight to hell.He signals for his bodyguards to move in and take them down, while he quickly sheds his jacket and drapes it over Eudora.He gently helps her sit up. “Eudora, are you okay?” he asks, his voice laced with urgency.“Y