Chapter 296: We’ll deal with it tomorrow

Chapter 296: We’ll deal with it tomorrow

Chapter 296: We’ll deal with it tomorrow

That night was destined to be sleepless, but not because Alice had forced Ryan into anything after they got back.

On the contrary, even though Ryan had already agreed to Alice’s request, he was unexpectedly granted a reprieve. Alice decided to give him a bit more time.

It’s often said that those involved are blind to the truth, while outsiders see things clearly. Ever since Ryan saw Nella, it was like he had become a different person.

The way things unfolded afterward was so unusual that Ryan’s fearful expression naturally sparked Alice’s deep suspicion.

Ryan had assumed Alice would sit him down for a long, drawn-out conversation, demanding he explain everything in detail.

But Alice’s actions caught him off guard. After Ryan carried her upstairs, she firmly asked for a hug and then let him go.

Alice clearly had her own plans, but she didn’t say a word about what had just happened.

“Go to the room next door. It’s all set up, you can rest there.”

“Don’t think about anything tonight. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

Ryan was a bit confused, but he didn’t want to overthink it.

He was physically and mentally exhausted, and Alice’s words were exactly what he needed to hear.

He desperately needed some rest, and more importantly, time to figure out how to handle everything.

The side mission was just the beginning. What really troubled him was that he finally remembered who Bella truly was.

Her sweet and gentle appearance was just a mask. The cruel things she had done—there were plenty.

Four years of running, and Bella had come back, this time with her sights set on him.

He had thought time would smooth things over, but Bella was just like she had been three years ago, maybe even worse. Ryan barely recognized her.

Before, he could still run away, sending her off under the guise of doing it for her own good, which also kept him safe.

But this time? Bella’s status was far above his now, and his little tricks wouldn’t work anymore.

If she wanted to do what she had done to him before, how much of a chance did he have to escape?

And this time, he couldn’t run. Alice was involved now, and Ryan knew it was because of him that she was dragged into this.

Alice’s safety was at risk, and he was the one who had put her in danger.

From a practical standpoint, neither of them was safe. Who knew what Bella might do if she snapped?

“Miss Alice, I...”

Ryan didn’t leave right away after hearing Alice’s words. He didn’t understand why she suddenly seemed to trust him so much, but even if it was just for a moment, he didn’t want to let her down.

If Ryan had heard this before, he would’ve been shocked, because this was something he and Mia had investigated together. Alice shouldn’t have known about it.

But by now, Ryan had grown used to Alice knowing things about him. Bella’s return had already thrown his life into chaos, so he didn’t bother questioning it anymore.

Compared to what Bella had done to him, Alice’s obsession seemed almost... manageable.

“Will Nella be coming with us tomorrow?”

“She will. She’s helping us handle this. As long as she’s seen in public, things will be much easier to deal with.”

When Ryan mentioned Nella, Alice’s tone noticeably stiffened, but she still answered his question.

Behind him, the sound of clothes rustling filled the room. Ryan, lost in thought, nodded absentmindedly. After saying goodnight to Alice, he practically fled from her room.

He’d been to the second floor many times, but he had never stayed the night here.

The room Alice had prepared for him was right next door—very close. If anything happened to Ryan, Alice could be there in an instant, and vice versa.

As Ryan stepped out of the room, his eyes instinctively drifted downstairs. The maids were tidying up, and Bella was sitting on the couch, legs crossed, scrolling through her phone.

Who Bella used to be didn’t seem to matter anymore. Right now, she was the third daughter of the Langston family—wealthy and powerful.

Alice had deliberately put her in the basement, clearly as a power move. If Bella showed any displeasure, Alice wouldn’t hesitate to make things difficult for her, especially at such a critical time.

But to everyone’s surprise, Bella had accepted it without complaint.

Ryan squinted. From this angle, he could see Bella, but she couldn’t see him.

He watched her for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. He stopped one of the maids who was cleaning Bella’s room.

“Miss Nella agreed to stay downstairs? She didn’t say anything about it?”

While the basement wasn’t much different from the rooms upstairs, it was still a clear message. It was a subtle way of putting Bella in her place.

Bella had been butting heads with Alice earlier, so why had she suddenly accepted this so easily?

“At first, Miss Nella didn’t like the room downstairs.”

The maid bowed respectfully, sneaking a glance at Alice’s door. She had just seen Ryan come out of Miss Alice’s room, and now her attitude toward him was almost reverential.

After thinking for a moment, the maid decided to spill everything she knew.

“At first, Miss Nella was very resistant. We couldn’t handle it, so we called the head maid.”

“I’m not sure what happened after that, but it seems Miss Nella asked the head maid some questions about you, Mr. Ryan, and then her attitude suddenly changed.”

“Now, I don’t think she has any complaints...”