Chapter 43

Under the dim glow of the moonlight, Ryan couldn't help but study Clara. The soft light only seemed to make her features more striking. His throat tightened as he swallowed hard, a smile tugging at his lips. "You're barely steady on your feet," he said with a chuckle. "I didn't realize your tolerance was so low. If I had, I wouldn't have encouraged you to drink." Back when she was under Wren's watchful eye, Clara had rarely touched alcohol. He had strict rules about places like bars and even during holidays. She was only allowed a little red wine or fruit wine with low alcohol content. Tonight's two glasses of liquor had clearly been too much for her. But Clara wasn't interested in engaging further. "I'm fine. You should head back. I can manage on my own." She turned and began walking again, keeping her distance. Ryan's expression darkened briefly, his smile faltering for a second before he masked it again.As he closed the gap between them, Ryan intentionally nudged her f