Chapter 176

Serena's POV Ryan's eyes sparkled with amusement across the dinner table. "Feeling better now?" he asked, watching me finish the last bite of my chocolate dessert. "Much better," I admitted, licking the spoon clean. The tension from earlier had melted away during our impromptu dinner at this cozy restaurant Ryan had chosen. It was small, private, and somehow exactly what I needed after the stressful confrontation at LUXE Jewelry. "You know," Ryan said, his voice dropping lower, "you still haven't properly compensated me." I raised an eyebrow. "The dinner wasn't enough?" "Not even close." His gaze darkened slightly, sending a familiar warmth spreading through me. The waiter appeared to clear our plates. "Will there be anything else, Mr. Blackwood?" "Just the check, thank you." Ryan never took his eyes off me. The ride home was charged with electricity. Ryan's hand rested on my thigh, his thumb tracing small circles that sent shivers up my spine. I glanced at his profile, illuminated by