Ryan stood, towering over Ray, and for a brief moment, Ray felt like a cornered beauty at the mercy of a bad man. His cheeks flamed even redder, feeling helpless and exposed. The whole situation made him want to shout in frustration—so he did. "Ah!" he cried out, burying his face in his hands as if trying to hide from this ridiculous and humiliating moment.
Meanwhile, Esme was just outside in the hall, calmly tending to her work. Hearing Ray's frustrated shout echo through the house, she gave a knowing sigh. It seemed Ryan was finishing his "duties." She calmly closed her laptop, picked up her bag, and without a trace of concern, made her way out of the house. She knew all too well how Ryan handled things.
Once seated in the car, she leaned back against the headrest, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. Ray may be mortified, but in Esme's mind, everything had gone according to plan. After all, Ryan's methods, though unconventional, always got results.
....
