Chapter 180: Rubbing His Penis
The main lights in the apartment were off. Only the Manhattan skyline glowing through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast long, stretching shadows across the room. Evelyn tossed her clutch aside. She didn't shower or change out of her clothes, even though they reeked of the cigar smoke from Marcus's office.
She pulled Ryan down to sit beside her.
"Marcus found me," Evelyn said. "He offered me five hundred million dollars to testify that you embezzled family assets. He also told me I’m the descendant of a Lawrence rebel—and that your interest in me was nothing but a calculated move. He said you’re using my bloodline to fight the elders and seize control of the family."
Ryan sat in the shadows. He didn't interrupt or rush to defend himself. He simply watched her.
"He said that once you’ve squeezed every bit of value out of me, you’ll toss me aside like trash, just like Damian did." Evelyn took a deep breath, her fingers curling slightly. "Ryan, I told him I didn't believe him."
The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Ryan didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned forward and reached out, his thumb gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek. His touch was incredibly tender.
"Marcus was half right."
Ryan’s voice was low and raspy, filled with a raw honesty. "Evelyn, I won’t lie to you. When I first discovered the connection between that ring and your identity, I didn't tell you immediately."
Evelyn’s breath hitched. Her heart felt a sharp, aching squeeze, but it was followed by a sense of relief. At least he wasn't lying.
"However," Ryan continued, his deep eyes locking onto hers, "the reason I kept it from you was that I wasn't sure if the truth would hurt you."
He took Evelyn’s cool hand and pressed it against his chest, right over his steady, powerful heartbeat.
"The family, the power... none of it matters as much as you do. I’ve always wanted you. I know you’re afraid of being hurt again. I’m in no rush, Evelyn."
"If it takes a lifetime, I’ll wait for you to lower your defenses. I want to prove that my obsession isn't about your talent or your bloodline. It’s because you are Evelyn."
Every word struck the most vulnerable part of her heart. She looked at the man before her—the titan who controlled half of New York’s business empire—who was now baring his soul to her like a devoted believer.
The doubts Marcus had planted withered away under Ryan's honest gaze. Evelyn’s eyes burned, and a lump formed in her throat. She didn't speak; her body reacted faster than her mind. She leaned in, pressing her forehead against his.
Their breaths mingled in the dim light as a heated, desperate tension grew between them.
"Don't let me lose, Ryan," Evelyn whispered, closing her eyes. "I can't afford to lose another bet."
"You will never lose."
Ryan murmured the words, pulling her into his arms with extreme care, as if she were the most precious treasure on earth. But the palms pressing against her waist were scorching hot. The long-suppressed desire beneath the surface was transmitted through her thin clothes.
His lips brushed against her ear, causing her to shiver. "Give me a chance to protect you and our son for the rest of my life, okay?"
Her cheeks flushed. She let out a soft breath and finally nodded. Moving with sudden boldness, she straddled his lap. She reached down, unbuckling his belt and pulling it low before sitting back down firmly against his groin. She began to grind her hips slowly against his hardening length.
"Then I need to see if you’ve improved... if you can actually protect us..."
The moment she responded, Ryan’s restrained breathing turned heavy. He slid one hand up her spine to grip the back of her neck, while his thumb pressed against her red lips, rubbing them firmly. He tilted his head back, his nose brushing hers.
Evelyn stared into his eyes, gripping the fabric of his shirt as she moved her lower body back and forth against him until her lace underwear was soaked through. She lifted her hips just enough to slide her panties off, then sat back down, pressing her wet heat directly against the bulge of his pants.
Ryan’s skin felt like it was on fire. He reached between them, finding her swollen center and massaging it through the friction.
Evelyn leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Faster, honey."
Ryan increased the pace of his hand. As her breathing grew ragged, he gave her a sharp, firm press. Evelyn shuddered against him, her body convulsing in a sudden climax. She lifted herself slightly to kiss him. "That felt so good..."
The moisture from her release left a dark, damp stain on his suit trousers. Ryan’s forehead rested against her face. "Let’s go to the bedroom. It’ll be more comfortable."
Evelyn nodded, but just as she went to stand up—
Buzz.
The phone on the coffee table vibrated violently. The bright white light of the screen cut through the intimacy of the room. The name on the display felt like a bucket of ice water.
Damian.
Evelyn’s body went rigid. She instinctively tried to push away from Ryan, but he held her shoulders. Ryan glanced at the screen, his expression darkening instantly, but he didn't stop her from checking it.
Evelyn picked up the phone and read the text.
[Evelyn, I know you don't want to see me. But I found someone named Harriet. She was a volunteer at the convent and your mother’s best friend. She has your mother’s diary. It records everything about the past.]
[If you want to know what the Fleur-de-lis ring really means, meet me tonight at 10 PM at Nightingale Bar in the Old District. Just me and her.]
[Don't bring Ryan. This is a Lawrence family taboo and your mother’s secret.]
Evelyn’s fingers gripped the phone. It was bait she couldn't ignore. Her origin, the mother who had supposedly abandoned her, the reason she ended up in an orphanage... the answers were finally within reach.
But the message was from Damian—the man who had pushed her into hell and was now acting like a madman to win her back.
Evelyn looked up at Ryan. His expression was unreadable. He had clearly seen the text. This was Lawrence family history that even Nova’s intelligence network hadn't fully uncovered.
It was an impossible choice. To go meant involving herself again with an ex-husband who was on a path of desperate redemption. To stay meant losing the best chance to find the truth before Marcus could get to the witness.
"It’s your decision," Ryan said, letting go of her and leaning back into the sofa. Although he was trying to remain calm, the flash of possessiveness and worry in his eyes betrayed him.
"I’m going," Evelyn said, her gaze turning firm. "Even if it’s a trap, I have to know."
Ryan didn't argue. He simply picked up his coat and draped it over her shoulders. "Vincent will have men outside. I’ll wait for you in the car." He kissed the top of her head. "Go. Find your peace."