Her Return, His Regret

"Sir, Miss Davis' tech team are trying to take down the news," Lawrence reported to Ryan.

Ryan looked up from where he sat at his desk in his office. He asked, "How much did the news spread? Is it trending?"

"The news about your possible affair with Miss Davis has gone viral. I think almost everyone has seen the news, sir," Lawrence replied.

Ryan smirked. That's just what he wanted. He was the driving force behind the trending news this time, wanting people to talk about him and Lora.

For some reason, he liked it when people said he and Lora were a good match. He wanted the news to keep spreading until all traces of Jason were removed.

However, since Lora wanted to take down the news, Ryan was worried she would find out about his involvement and get angry.

Looking at Lawrence, he instructed, "Take down the news. My plan has already worked."

Ryan didn't like how Lora's name was being constantly associated with Jason on the internet. However, now that no one was talking about them and talking about him and Lora instead, he felt a certain kind of joy. Lawrence smiled when he saw his boss smiling. He nodded and said, "I'll give them a go-ahead, sir."

Ryan was in a good mood. He sat back in his chair and continued to read the comments about him and Lora, a small smile crossing his lips.

However, his happiness was short-lived as he suddenly received unexpected visitors in his office.

"Ryan, it's been so long since you saw this old man. I had returned a few weeks ago but you never came to visit me. So, today, I dragged my daughter to bring me to you," the man who had just entered Ryan's office said.

Ryan furrowed his eyebrows. Did this family think this was their company and they could come whenever they pleased?

The man who had entered the office was Ivy's father, David Williams. He was accompanied by his wife, Celine Williams, who was pushing Ivy's wheelchair.

"Mr Williams, good to see you," Ryan responded. He got to his feet and led the family to the visitor's lounge in his office before adding, "I've been busy with work."

David scoffed. He spat, "Busy? Or that's just your excuse not to marry my daughter? Ryan, it's been years since my daughter has been by your side, do you plan to keep her without marrying her?"

Ryan was about to respond but Celine beat him to it. She remarked, "Ivy had been waiting for you all this while, Ryan. I think it's time you married her... this will also be good for our families. After all, you two are both from wealthy families. Imagine what your union will do to the stocks once you get married?"

Ryan clenched his hands into fists. The William couple was obviously there to pressure him into marrying Ivy.

At the same time, Ivy studied Ryan's expression. She looked at her

parents and said, "Mom, Dad, please

เวน:

don't put pressure on Ryan. He knows what he's doing. We will get married soon since he had

announced to make our

nov

engagement official. He has his own plan-"

"You're too good, Ivy. What do you mean he has his own plan? He hasn't made a move to marry you all this time, you still think he has his own plan? In my opinion, I think he's stalling and doesn't want to marry you at all," Celine remarked.

Anger flashed through David's eyes as he glared at Ryan. He questioned, "Is that true, Ryan? Are you just playing with my daughter and don't intend to marry her? Have you forgotten how she ended up in a wheelchair in the first place?" "Dad!" Ivy gasped, her eyes widening at her father's remark. "That's not necessary... I don't want Ryan to marry me because my legs got hurt when I saved him."

"Then, do you want him to leave you when you're like this? Who will marry you? He should take responsibility since he's the cause of all this!" David spat, his nostrils flaring.

Ryan fell silent at the reminder. He glanced at Ivy's legs and a complicated feeling crept into him.

Yes... Ivy's legs were like that because of him.

Years back, he was kidnapped by a business opponent. Although the memories were foggy and the place was pitch-black, he remembered being with a woman in the dark place.

She comforted him when he was being tortured and he could still remember her cries whenever those thugs beat him up.

The beatings became too much that he ended up slipping in and out of consciousness. However, one day, the woman suddenly flung her body at him when the thugs tried to break his legs.

When he woke up weeks later, he realised he had been rescued and Ivy was by his side. She was in a wheelchair and explained how she couldn't use her legs anymore since they had been crushed when she threw her body in front of him to save him.

When Ryan was discharged, Ivy

broke up with Ryan and left the

country to treat her legs. Ryan was devastated and ended up having a one-night stand with Larisa Bennet during a drunken night and since his grandfather was urging him to get married, he ended up marrying Larisa.

Unfortunately, Ivy returned with sad news three years later. Her legs couldn't be treated and there was a possibility that she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

Thus, Ryan was filled with guilt. Ivy had said she was going to meet him that day and ended up being kidnapped as well... if it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have lost the ability to use her legs.

He felt responsible for her because of this...

"Dad, I want Ryan to marry me because he loves me-"

"The engagement ceremony will go on as promised. In two weeks, we will make things official," Ryan interrupted coldly.