Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 333: I almost couldn’t hold back… What a shame

After Bella left the dining table, the atmosphere immediately became tense. Ryan’s eyes flickered, and he stared at the food in front of him, suddenly losing his appetite. Alice, too, sensed something was off, frowning slightly as she watched Bella’s retreating figure.

The braised beef and chocolate brownies were placed a little farther from Alice, and luckily, Ryan had noticed just in time. Thankfully, Miss Alice hadn’t eaten the key dishes.

Different foods can interact in strange ways, and mixing certain things together isn’t just about overeating—it can have more serious consequences. Ryan knew this all too well from personal experience.

Take beef and chocolate, or alcohol and cream, for example. Eating too much of these combinations could lead to discomfort.

While food poisoning isn’t as terrifying as some online stories make it out to be—where people claim mixing certain foods can be fatal—severe stomach cramps and a trip to the hospital are definitely possible.

Alice’s chefs were highly paid professionals, hired from top-tier restaurants. Ryan didn’t think they would make such a careless mistake with the food. Given Bella’s sudden departure, he had already drawn his own conclusions.

“Miss Alice, let’s head back to your room. You must be tired. How about I give you a massage?”

Alice wasn’t really in the mood to continue eating either. She had been a bit suspicious when Bella left, but Ryan’s offer of a massage hit the right note with her.

Ever since Ryan had given her a massage for the first time, she’d become hooked on the feeling of relaxation it brought. When Ryan wasn’t available, she’d even hired some of the best female therapists to help her unwind, but none of them could replicate the sensation she got from Ryan’s touch.

Once you’ve had a taste, it’s hard to forget. Physical contact can be addictive, and Alice’s mind was already in turmoil. So when Ryan suggested it, she didn’t hesitate and led him upstairs.

Ryan’s room was right next to Alice’s. She had hinted at him moving in with her, but she still respected his boundaries. Besides, there was someone else in the basement who wasn’t exactly welcome.

As they passed by the servants, Ryan rubbed his nose awkwardly and followed Alice into her room. He was used to the stares by now.

A young man and a beautiful woman alone in a room—it was bound to spark some rumors. Anyone would jump to conclusions in a situation like this, especially when the woman in question was as stunning as Alice.

If the servants’ glances were just filled with suspicion, Ryan could handle that. What really unsettled him was the sympathy he saw in their eyes. And it wasn’t sympathy for Alice—it was for him.

Alice went into the room first to change. By the time Ryan entered, she was already lying on the large princess bed, her delicate figure resting softly on the sheets.

Her silk nightgown clung to her body, highlighting her graceful curves. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but she didn’t seem to mind showing off her pale arms and ankles.

Her slender arm swayed gently, like a willow branch in the breeze, stirring something deep inside Ryan.

Ryan had expected Miss Alice to bring up some requests during the massage, maybe even talk about what had happened earlier in the day or subtly remind him about his relationship with Mia.

But Alice was genuinely tired. Her behavior surprised Ryan—she was unusually docile, whether it was during the massage or their conversation. She let him take the lead, showing a softer side of herself.

Ryan’s large hands gently kneaded Alice’s waist, and the sensation was so intoxicating that his thoughts began to blur.

As the massage went on, it was hard to tell whether it was Ryan’s skill or Alice’s complete trust in him, but she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Alice asleep and Alice awake were like two different people. When she was awake, no matter how much she tried to hide it, there was always a coldness about her, a sense of distance. But now, as she slept, her face relaxed, like a flower blooming without restraint, finally revealing her true beauty.

Ryan stopped his movements. From the peaceful expression on Alice’s face, it was clear she was going to have a good dream tonight.

Taking a deep breath, Ryan carefully shifted her body, gently pulling her soft arm out from under her. Even though he was just adjusting her sleeping position, his heart was racing like a thief caught in the act.

Whether it was her pale arms or her cute little feet, everything about Alice made Ryan’s pulse quicken.

A girl’s feet are often hidden, like the deepest of secrets. Unlike hands, toes lack the same dexterity, giving them a clumsy sort of charm. Under Ryan’s gaze, the sleeping girl seemed to sense something, her toes—white as jade—curled slightly and then retreated, as if shy.

Ryan had never really understood the saying, “A beautiful woman is the beginning of disaster,” until now. Watching the girl sleep, a nameless fire ignited in his chest, and he finally grasped the meaning.

She didn’t need to do anything seductive. Just lying there quietly was enough to stir something primal, like the strongest of potions, overwhelming his senses.

Was she soft or strong? Cold or warm?

His hands had already left her back and waist, but they instinctively reached out again, as if drawn to her.

He pondered this question. The girl before him had fooled almost everyone with her facade, even herself. People forgot that she was still just a young girl.

Unable to resist, Ryan reached out and touched her cheek. As he had imagined, his fingertip left a small, soft indentation on her skin.

Her smooth, delicate skin enveloped his fingers, and without any real reason—other than the sheer pleasure of the sensation—Ryan continued to trace his fingers across her cheek, eventually landing on her lips.

Her lips were soft and smooth, like the most precious of gems. The moment his fingers touched them, it felt like a jolt of electricity. He traced their shape, his willpower fading, unable to pull away.

If they had met at a different time, if their story wasn’t destined to end in tragedy, would there have been a chance for something between them?

Alice was gentle yet strong, seemingly invincible. But in her strength, she had lost a part of herself, and that was what worried Ryan the most.

The photo on the bedside table was still there. In it, a little girl wearing a straw hat smiled brightly. That was the real Alice, the one she had lost.

The distance between them closed rapidly. Their foreheads were only centimeters apart, and Ryan could feel the warmth of her breath as she slept.

Without realizing it, Ryan forgot what he was doing. His hand moved tentatively toward Alice’s chest, his breathing growing heavier.

“Mmm…”

A soft murmur escaped Alice’s lips, and Ryan’s wandering hand froze. It was only then that he snapped out of the strange trance he had fallen into, realizing what he had been doing.

His pupils trembled as he looked at Alice. If she woke up and caught him in the act, he could already imagine how his life would unravel.

But, fortunately, Alice only let out a couple of sleepy murmurs. Like a kitten, she nuzzled closer, resting her chin in Ryan’s palm before drifting back into a deep sleep.

Ryan broke out in a cold sweat. No matter how adorable Alice looked right now, he had no desire to stay any longer. He gently pulled his hand away and, as if fleeing, hurried out of her room.

The more he got to know Alice, the more he felt her allure. This wasn’t good. If things continued like this, he feared he might one day make a decision he’d regret for the rest of his life.

Ryan snuck out of Alice’s room, thinking he had left unnoticed. But what he didn’t know was that, the moment the door clicked shut, a pair of eyes opened in the darkness.

She reached up, gently touching her cheek and chest, her pale skin now flushed with a rosy hue, like the sky at sunset.

“I almost couldn’t hold back… What a shame.”

She whispered to herself, a hint of self-reproach in her voice. If she hadn’t let out that soft murmur earlier, Ryan might have succumbed to the temptation for a little longer.

But despite her words, she wasn’t discouraged. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and a playful smile tugged at her lips, as if she had just found a new, intriguing toy.

Her fingers brushed against her lips, tracing the spot where Ryan’s touch had lingered. Then, slowly, she brought her fingers to her mouth, gently sucking on them.