Chapter 77 Finally, A Lead!
“Oh? Are you saying you want to date me?” Ryan casually draped his jacket over the chair and rolled up the sleeves of his crisp white shirt, revealing his toned forearms.
I couldn’t help but sneak a glance, marveling at how someone could look so effortlessly perfect.
Remembering his teasing tone, my face heated up, and I shot him a sharp look, “As if I’d dare to date Mr. Hudson! Everyone knows you’ve got your eye on someone–and you’ve got a thing for married
women too.”
Ryan paused for a moment, seemingly caught off guard.
After a while, he chuckled softly. “You’ve got a point there.”
I pulled out a chair and sat down, throwing out a casual joke, “I think I saw someone proposing here earlier. You’ve really outdone yourself picking a spot.”
“You don’t like it?” His gaze swept across the room’s decor. “I specifically booked a pink–themed room. I heard most girls like pink.”
I froze for a moment.
‘Did he choose this place just for me? God, doesn’t he know saying stuff like that can lead to misunderstandings?‘
“I thought you just picked a random place-” I said hesitantly, my heart doing an odd little flip.
“I didn’t realize this was a couples‘ restaurant,” he admitted. “I just heard the food and atmosphere were top–notch, so I picked a private room. Figured it’d help you unwind.”
“Weren’t we supposed to discuss developments in Toby’s disappearance?” I asked, tilting my head.
“Can’t we mix a little pleasure with business? You’ve been wound up too tight lately.” He smiled and slid the the menu across the table toward me.
Taking the menu, I hesitated, staring into his calm, steady eyes. I suddenly wanted to ask him why he was being so nice to me.
But I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
Noticing my hesitation, he added, “You’re about to start working at Oracle Attorneys. As the boss, it’s my job to take care of my employees so they can do their best. Don’t you agree?”
“Fair enough.” I shrugged. “Mr. Hudson is really a great boss.”
“Order whatever you want, my little assistant.” Ryan teased, flashing a grin.
“Since you’re paying, you decide,” I replied with a smirk, sliding the menu back to him.
“How about lasagna, braised veal, Florentine steak, Caprese salad, and a few desserts? You’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t you?” Ryan asked, closing the menu like it was already settled.
“How do you know what I like?” My eyes widened in surprise.
Vincent didn’t even know my preferences after six years of marriage!
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< Chapter 77 Finally, A Lead!
But Ryan did-
“Just a lucky guess,” he said with an easy smile, “Most girls can’t resist desserts, right?”
That made sense, so I nodded, though a strange feeling lingered.
“Let’s add tiramisu and cannoli to the order,” he decided, setting the menu aside.
While we waited for the food, Ryan handed me a file.
“I just got this. Take a look,” he said, his tone suddenly serious.
I opened it to find detailed records of Brandon’s activities on the day Toby disappeared.
# Manu
My heart raced as I skimmed through it. Reading the lines again, I muttered, “So Brandon might have taken Toby to the beach that day?”
“Exactly.” Ryan’s expression darkened, “I had someone dig into Brandon’s movements for the month leading up to his death. The last place he went on the day Toby disappeared was Starlight Bay–a quiet, underdeveloped coastal area with a resort project underway.”
“And here’s another strange thing: all of Brandon’s immediate family members have vanished. It’s like they disappeared without a trace.”
“Then–what was he planning to do with Toby at the beach?” I exclaimed, horror creeping into my
voice.
< The Forbidden Uncle
Chapter 78 Would They Kill Toby?
