Chapter 491 The Habits of Love

Diana stopped typing and edged closer to the gap in the greenery.

She wasn’t standing particularly close, but the area was so quiet that she could clearly see the two figures.

For some reason, the man didn’t answer the woman’s question. He seemed more interested in whatever was on his phone.

The woman looked a little displeased, but her teasing complaint remained playful.

“You promised you’d spend time with me. Is there really something on your phone you can’t put down?”

Only then did the man reach out and slip an arm around her waist, apparently trying to soothe her.

Diana watched them walk away, their backs gradually disappearing from view.

For some reason, she couldn’t seem to look away.

She remained there, lost in thought, until a voice interrupted her.

“What are you spacing out about?”

Rose had grown concerned when Diana didn’t return, so she’d come out to look for her. Seeing her standing there in a daze, she walked over and patted her shoulder.

“What is it? What are you looking at?”

Diana snapped out of her thoughts and smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“The scenery here is so beautiful that I lost track of time. Come on, let’s head back. It’s freezing out here.”

Rose glanced in the direction Diana had been watching.

There was nothing there now.

By the time they returned to the villa, their food had already arrived.

Diana’s eyes lit up.

She hurried over and waved Rose toward the table.

“With food this good, I’m going to eat until I can’t move!”

She popped a piece of dessert into her mouth, then called over her shoulder, “I’ll thank Mr. Knight later. I’m not the type to take advantage of free food without showing some appreciation.”

Rose frowned as she approached and patted Diana’s back.

“Slow down! You’re eating so fast you can barely swallow.”

Diana pouted. “I’ve been working all day. Of course I’m starving.”

“Liam’s going to lecture you again if he finds out.”

Rose shook her head. Liam certainly didn’t go easy on Diana when it came to taking care of herself.

Diana lowered her head and continued eating.

“He doesn’t know yet.”

“You haven’t told him? Did you even let him know you were coming here today?”

Diana reached for a napkin.

“Not yet.”

“Why don’t you tell him now? That way, he won’t worry if he can’t reach you.”

Diana waved a hand dismissively, her eyes half-closed in a carefree smile.

“There’s no need. He’s on a business trip, so he won’t be coming home tonight. He’s probably still busy. By the time he realizes I’m not home and asks about it, we’ll already be back.”

Rose studied her for a moment.

Diana had always been afraid of upsetting Liam, yet now she’d gone out for the day without even telling him.

In the past, she would have shared practically everything she did with him.

“Fine, do whatever you want,” Rose said at last. “As long as I’m here with you, it’s no big deal.”

“Are we going to the hot springs later?”

The door swung open, and Ryan walked in.

He’d just arrived, and the sharp chill of the spring evening seemed to follow him inside, sending a cold draft across Rose’s face.

His gaze settled on her.

Taking in the atmosphere between them, Diana speared a piece of cake with her fork and smiled knowingly.

“This is the kind of couples’ activity you two should be enjoying together. I’m not going to be a third wheel. I know when to give people some space.”

She was remarkably perceptive when it came to these things.

The closeness between Rose and Ryan was unmistakable. They had a natural intimacy about them now, the kind that made it obvious when someone else was intruding.

Diana had no intention of spoiling their time together.

Only then did Ryan glance casually at her.

“She came here to spend time with you today. I won’t get in the way. Enjoy yourselves, and I’ll take you both back to the city tomorrow.”

He glanced at his watch.

“There are plenty of activities here, and the hot springs are worth trying. I have an online meeting to attend, so you two go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”

Diana blinked.

Was he really handing Rose over to her for the day?

He was being surprisingly generous.

Besides, with Ryan occupied by a meeting, it would hardly make sense for Rose and Diana to spend the evening sitting around the villa.

“Okay, okay. Let me message Liam first.”

Diana lowered her eyes to her phone. Liam’s profile picture was pinned at the top of her WhatsApp chats, and she tapped on it.

Diana: [Are you done with work? What did you eat today? Have you made it back to your room yet?]

Liam replied a short while later.

Liam: [Not yet. I’ll head back to my room later. I’ll order something to eat and let you know.]

Liam: [Did you go home? I made egg rolls for you and put them in an airtight container in the fridge. Just heat them up. Don’t go to bed hungry.]

Diana stared at his messages for a long time.

Then she replied simply:

Diana: [Got it.]

After Rose and Diana left, Ryan walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

He gazed at the layered mountain peaks in the distance, his slightly upturned eyes revealing nothing of what he was thinking.

His phone lay on the small round table beside him.

“Mr. Knight, I’ve sent the guest list to your phone. Please take a look.”

“Mm. Got it.”

Ryan turned, picked up his phone, and opened the list of guests invited to the resort.

His gaze drifted toward the hot spring pools where Rose and Diana had gone. He tapped his slender fingers against the phone, lost in thought.

******

A little over an hour later, Rose and Diana returned from the hot springs.

Diana complained that she was exhausted, so Rose sent her back to her room to get some sleep before heading to Ryan’s.

When Rose pushed open the door, Ryan had already showered. He wore only the expensive silk robe the resort had prepared for him, its price running into five figures.

He sat behind the desk, wearing special glasses to compensate for his vision, which still hadn’t fully recovered.

Even with the glasses, he couldn’t see as clearly as someone with normal eyesight. They were only enough to restore his basic visual function.

Rose paused in the doorway, studying the rimless frames perched on his nose.

Through the thin lenses, his beautiful eyes—which had always seemed indifferent to everything—now carried a subtle, enigmatic charm. He looked like a cultured gentleman with a hint of roguishness beneath the surface.

“Am I that entertaining to look at?”

Ryan didn’t seem to mind her openly admiring him.

Rose appreciated beautiful things, and he knew perfectly well that his looks were among his greatest assets. He had no intention of letting them go to waste.

“Of course,” Rose replied, clearing her throat as she walked over. “Your friend’s resort is definitely going to make a fortune.”

“Don’t strain your eyes. Take a break from looking at the screen.”

“All right. I’ll listen to you.”

Ryan immediately wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulled her onto his lap, and lowered his head to nuzzle her neck.

“Have you talked to Diana yet?”

The tickling sensation made Rose try to pull away, but he caught her hand and held it still. His other hand wandered along her side, making it difficult for her to concentrate.

“You told me not to bring it up directly yet,” she said. “I haven’t said anything outright. Besides, I still don’t know how to approach the subject. If I say the wrong thing, I could make a complete mess of everything.”

“Mm. You’re right not to say anything yet.”

Ryan shifted her around until she was sitting astride his lap, facing him.

Rose immediately realized what he was doing. She planted her hands against his chest and leaned back, trying to keep some distance between them.

“Diana is so carefree, and the two of them have always been so close. If nobody points anything out, they might just keep convincing themselves everything is fine, day after day…”

Ryan raised his eyebrows slightly.

His broad hand settled against her lower back, drawing her closer before easing away.

“Not necessarily.”

“…W-what?”

Rose tipped her head back, her voice trembling.

This man was simply too good at—

Ryan offered no further explanation. Instead, he lifted a hand, removed his glasses, and placed them on the table.

Rose’s thoughts instantly dissolved into chaos.

*****

Meanwhile, Diana had just climbed into bed when she checked the time. It was almost eleven.

She picked up her phone.

Liam still hadn’t replied.

Diana: [What did you have for dinner tonight?]

About ten minutes later, Liam sent her a photo.

It showed a meal laid out on a table.

Diana looked at it but didn’t respond.

Then another message appeared.

Liam: [I’ll call you in a little while, okay?]

Only then did Diana come back to herself.

She and Liam really were an affectionate couple.

Somewhere along the way, they’d developed a habit of staying on voice calls all night, even when they were apart.

Liam was used to talking her to sleep.