Karma Doesn’t Sleep The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 692

As soon as she spoke, Ryan stood up without hesitation. “Alright, Amelia and I will head out first.”

He turned to Francisco, who was standing by the door. “Stay here with Zoe. You don’t need to come with me today.”

That one sentence made everyone’s expressions shift just a little, even Francisco’s.

Francisco looked genuinely taken aback, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. “Mr. Packman, did you mean you want me to stay with Miss Zoe Lennon?”

Francisco was always by Ryan’s side, his right-hand man, basically glued to him. If he’d been told to look after Amelia, no one would’ve blinked. But Zoe?

Amelia kept her gaze down, looking calm, but the way she gripped her purse gave her away.

Nathan, who usually joked around, was surprisingly sharp about this stuff. He jumped in right away to break the tension. “Ryan, don’t mess with Francisco like that. Zoe’s the type who needs someone who can handle her wild side. She’s perfect for me!”

Ryan just kept that mild look on his face and didn’t respond. He glanced at Aaron. “Let’s go.”

With that, he took Amelia’s hand and led her out.

Francisco stayed where he was, looking awkward and not daring to follow.

Nathan frowned, suddenly looking serious. “What’s up with Ryan? Can’t he tell Amelia’s upset?” The way he’d always doted on her before, and now, when Nathan was basically giving him a way out, he just pushed it aside…

Aaron pushed up his glasses and stood. “I’ve got things to do. I’m heading out.” He looked at Zoe. “That antique painting your dad asked me to get is at your place now. Don’t forget it when you leave.”

Zoe nodded sweetly. “Okay.”

She’d known the Morris brothers since they were kids. With Nathan, she could joke around, but with Aaron, she always acted a little more careful.

As Aaron walked out, he caught Zoe dragging the dessert that Ryan had pushed away back in front of her, shoveling a big bite into her mouth, almost angrily. She looked more like she was venting than enjoying dessert.

Aaron looked away, suddenly understanding. He couldn’t help the tiny smirk that tugged at his lips.

Ryan really didn’t bother even pretending with any woman who wasn’t Amelia.

—

Ryan drove Amelia’s car back to Maplewood Garden. Amelia sat in the passenger seat, eyes glued to her phone, chatting with Diana the whole way.

At a red light, Ryan glanced over. Her screen was filled with endless green bubbles. Diana really could talk.

His mind wandered back to their college days, Diana always chattering away, eyes bright, voice animated—while Amelia would just listen quietly, every so often smiling at something Diana said…

His Amelia had family, she had friends…

Ryan looked at Amelia’s peaceful profile, unable to stop a soft smile from forming.

He was about to look away when Amelia turned and caught him.

“What are you smiling at?”

Ryan raised his eyebrows. “I’m just happy.”

He didn’t know how other people fell in love, but for him, just looking at Amelia was enough to make him feel lucky.

Amelia blinked at him. “First you boss Zoe around, now me?”

Ryan’s dark eyes narrowed, voice low. “Are you jealous? Zoe is just like a little sister to me…”

Even the stall owner jumped in. “Oh, come on. What’s with all the ‘brother and sister’ stuff? If you don’t have a real brother, you’ve at least got cousins! Who goes around picking up extra siblings? You’re too handsome for that—don’t be a heartbreaker!”

Ryan’s face darkened at the scolding, making Amelia burst out laughing.

“Blueberry, please,” she said to the owner.

Ryan couldn’t stop her, so he just paid for it.

Amelia took one bite before Ryan took the whole cup away. “A taste is enough.”

She studied his handsome face for a while, then reached out and pinched his cheek. “Ryan, has anyone ever told you that you’re a terrible actor? Like, really, really bad.”

His dark eyes flickered.

Amelia let out a soft sigh, her gaze filling with gentle concern. “If you want to make me jealous or mad, you actually have to care about the other person. If you really cared about Zoe and didn’t want her eating cold stuff, that dessert never would’ve ended up on the table.”

Just like now—he didn’t want her eating something cold, so he just took it away.

Ryan had always been the type to do more than he said.

Amelia looked at him, her nose stinging. “Ryan, I know what you’re doing. You’re worried about your health, worried you… might not have much time left. So you’re trying to push me away, aren’t you?”