Ryan led Amelia to his private study, closing the door behind them.
"Amelia, I need to tell you everything," Ryan said, his eyes intense.
"About your family?" Amelia asked, her curiosity piqued.
Ryan nodded, taking a deep breath.
"We're not just wealthy, Amelia. We're influential. Our family's business dealings are complex, with interests in politics, finance, and real estate."
Amelia's eyes widened.
"What kind of dealings?" Amelia pressed.
Ryan's expression darkened.
"Shady ones," Ryan admitted. "But it's all part of the game. My parents expect perfection from us - no scandals, no controversy."
Amelia's heart went out to Ryan.
"That must be suffocating," Amelia said.
Ryan nodded.
"It is. But with you, I feel free," Ryan said, his voice filled with emotion.
Their lips met in a passionate kiss.
As they broke apart, Amelia's eyes locked onto Ryan's.
"Your friends?" Amelia asked.
Ryan's smile twisted.
"Acquaintances, business associates. People who want something from us," Ryan replied.
Amelia's voice softened.
"You're trapped," Amelia said.
Ryan nodded.
"Until I met you," Ryan corrected.
Their lips met again.
Just as their kiss deepened, a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Ryan?" Charles's voice called out.
Ryan's eyes locked onto Amelia's.
"My father," Ryan whispered.
Amelia nodded.
Ryan opened the door.
"Father?" Ryan said.
Charles's expression stern.
"Ryan, we need to discuss the Harrison deal," Charles said.
Ryan's jaw clenched.
"Now?" Ryan asked.
Charles nodded.
"Yes, now," Charles replied.
Ryan's eyes met Amelia's.
"I'll be right back," Ryan said.
Amelia nodded.
As Ryan left with his father, Amelia's mind whirled.
What secrets lay hidden behind Ryan's family's wealth and influence?
Amelia stood alone in the study, her mind reeling from Ryan's revelations.
The door swung open, and Elizabeth walked in, her eyes flashing with disdain.
"Amelia," Elizabeth said, her voice dripping with condescension.
"Elizabeth," Amelia replied, her tone neutral.
Elizabeth's gaze swept the room.
"I see Ryan's been filling you in on our family's...affairs," Elizabeth said.
Amelia nodded.
"Yes, he has," Amelia said.
Elizabeth's smile twisted.
"I'm sure you think you're special, don't you?" Elizabeth said. "Ryan's little plaything from the wrong side of the tracks."
Amelia's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not just a plaything," Amelia said.
Elizabeth chuckled.
"Oh, dear, you really don't understand," Elizabeth said. "You're a temporary distraction, a fleeting amusement. You'll never be one of us."
Amelia's face burned.
"I don't want to be one of you," Amelia said.
Elizabeth's eyes widened.
"How quaint," Elizabeth said. "You think you're above our social circle? You're nothing but a nobody, Amelia. A mere speck on our radar."
Amelia's heart stung.
"I'm someone to Ryan," Amelia said.
Elizabeth's laughter cut deep.
"Ryan will tire of you," Elizabeth predicted. "He'll marry some suitable woman, someone with breeding and connections. You'll be nothing but a forgotten memory."
Amelia's eyes blazed.
"You're wrong," Amelia said.
Elizabeth's gaze turned glacial.
"We'll see about that," Elizabeth said.
With a swish of her skirt, Elizabeth exited the study, leaving Amelia shaken.
Amelia's doubts crept in.
Was Elizabeth right? Was she just a temporary distraction for Ryan?
As Amelia stood there, lost in thought, Ryan returned.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Ryan asked.
Amelia's eyes met his.
"Your mother," Amelia said.
Ryan's expression darkened.
"What did she say?" Ryan demanded.
Amelia's voice trembled.
"She said I'm a nobody," Amelia whispered.
Ryan's eyes blazed.
"You're everything to me," Ryan said.
Their lips met in a fierce kiss.