My Bratty Wife
Chapter 171 - Hundred And Seventy One

Chapter 171: Chapter Hundred And Seventy One

Suzy’s expression turned serious, her eyes narrowing slightly. "How so?" she asked, her voice low and concerned.

Ryan sighed, his gaze drifting towards the darkened window. "The person who sent Doris to poison you is related to the murderer," he explained, his voice laced with a hint of frustration. "I’m sure of it."

"I’ve been investigating that person," Suzy revealed, her voice quiet.

Ryan looked at her, his eyes searching hers. "Is that why you’re doing research on my family?" he asked softly.

She became silent.

Ryan’s expression turned slightly pained. "You feel I’m one of the suspects," he said, his voice barely a whisper, "that’s why you didn’t inform..."

Suzy immediately reached out, covering his mouth with her hand, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and reassurance. "Don’t say that again," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I would never suspect you. You love me, and you would never do anything to harm me." She slowly removed her hand from his mouth. "I wanted to find something solid before letting you know. It’s your family, after all. I didn’t want to accuse anyone falsely."

Ryan nodded, his gaze softening. "I understand," he said, his voice filled with understanding. "But what made you take that direction?"

She smiled. " I’ll tell you in the morning."

He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her in a comforting embrace. He inhaled her sweet scent, the familiar aroma calming his frayed nerves. "I just want to stay this way forever," he murmured, his voice low and tender, "with you, of course."

A pang of guilt shot through Suzy, a sharp, unexpected pain. For the first time, she allowed herself to truly consider the possibility of staying, of abandoning her old life and building a new one with Ryan in this world. She thought about the life she had left behind, her family, the responsibilities and expectations that awaited her. But then she thought about Ryan, his love, his support, and the warmth of his embrace. The choice, she realized, was not as simple as she had once thought. She was torn between two worlds, two lives, and two loves.

* * *

Pitter...

Patter..

Pitter.

Patter

The gentle rhythm of raindrops against the windowpane filled the room, a soothing melody that mingled with the soft rustling of the curtains. The wind tugged at the fabric, causing it to billow and sway. The sounds, though gentle, were enough to rouse Suzy from her slumber. She stirred, her eyelids fluttering open, her senses slowly returning to her.

She sat up, her body still warm from the lingering embrace of sleep and Ryan’s body. She glanced around the room, her gaze settling on the window. The curtains were dancing in the wind, allowing the cool, damp air to seep into the room. She shivered slightly, a reminder of the chill outside.

She rose from the bed, her bare feet padding softly against the cool floor. She walked towards the window, her movements lazy and sluggish, the sound of the rain growing louder with each step.

Reaching the window, she saw that it was slightly ajar, the wind pushing the curtains back and forth. She reached out and pulled the window closed, the latch clicking softly as it secured the pane. The sound of the rain, though still audible, was now muffled, a gentle backdrop to the quiet room.

As she turned away from the window, her gaze fell upon something below. Something stood in the courtyard, their silhouette stark against the backdrop of the rain-soaked stones. Suzy paused, her brow furrowed slightly. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the lingering haze of sleep. She looked again, her gaze sharpening, but the figure remained, standing motionless, staring up at her window, looking like a person.

A sense of unease crept through her, a prickling sensation on her skin. She blinked, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. She rubbed her eyes again, harder this time, and looked once more. The figure was gone, replaced by a dark, rain-soaked trunk of a large tree. The wind rustled the leaves, creating an illusion of movement.

Suzy stared at the tree, her mind struggling to reconcile what she had seen. "I’ve started seeing things," she muttered to herself in disbelief, her voice almost a whisper. She shook her head, trying to dismiss the unsettling image. She was tired, she told herself, the darkness playing tricks on her eyes.

With a sigh, she pulled the curtains closed, blocking out the rain and the darkness. She turned away from the window, her movements slow and deliberate. She walked back to the bed, the soft mattress a welcome comfort. She slipped beneath the covers, wrapping Ryan’s arm around her body, pulling the covers up to her chin, her body seeking the warmth and security of his body. She closed her eyes, trying to banish the image of the figure from her mind. She must be tired, and she needed to sleep. She would deal with whatever she thought she saw in the morning. The gentle rhythm of the rain lulled her back to sleep, the unsettling image slowly fading from her consciousness.

——————

Morning arrived, but the rain persisted, a steady drumming against the windowpanes. The sky remained a gloomy gray, casting a soft, grey glow across the bedroom.

Suzy, still half-asleep, rolled over in bed, intending to reach for the edge of the bed, her arm flailing out instinctively. Unfortunately, her hand connected with Ryan’s chin, resulting in a sharp, unexpected slap.

"What the bloody hell?" Ryan exclaimed, his voice a mixture of surprise and mild pain. He instinctively clutched his chin, his eyes wide.

Suzy, startled by his outburst, sat bolt upright in bed, her own eyes widening in shock. She hadn’t meant to hit him, and the force of the slap had clearly taken him by surprise. They stared at each other for a moment, both equally stunned by the unexpected turn of events.

Suzy, her face flushed with embarrassment, began to stammer an apology. "I’m... I’m so sorry," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn’t know you would still be in bed. I thought you would be in your study by now." She reached out tentatively, her fingers hovering over the spot where she had slapped him. "Does it hurt?"

Ryan chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that eased the tension in the room. "I’ve received worse," he said, taking her hand in his and gently kissing her palm. "Don’t worry about it."

He reached out to touch her hair. "I’m staying here with you the whole day," he announced, a playful glint in his eyes. "Of course, I’ll be working," he added, gesturing towards the papers scattered on the bedside table, "but I won’t be for long. Because I have somewhere to show you later," he continued, his voice dropping to a sly whisper, "that’s if this rain decides to stop."

Suzy’s face lit up with happiness, a genuine smile spreading across her lips. She was delighted by the prospect of spending the day with him, even if it meant sharing his workspace.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door. "It’s Davis," a voice announced from the other side.