Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 286: Or she will die

The sky had already darkened, and for some reason, the outside seemed unusually dim. Ryan found it a bit strange.

“With all their money, you’d think they could afford a few more lights,” he thought to himself.

He crossed his arms as laughter and chatter echoed from behind him, helping to dispel the slightly eerie atmosphere.

On his way to the restroom, he hadn’t seen a single person. Most of the guests were still gathered in the banquet hall, after all.

This place was different from Alice’s villa. It was like comparing night and day. The Langston family estate didn’t seem to have many bodyguards around.

“They sure are confident,” Ryan muttered under his breath, glancing around. Everything here piqued his curiosity.

Maybe it was because he’d run into Nella earlier. Ryan wasn’t sure what had happened over the past few years, and he didn’t know what kind of relationship Nella and Bella had.

But just thinking about the possibility of something between them made him pay more attention.

Back then, Bella had been adopted by a well-off family. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to study abroad. But that family was probably still a step down from the Langstons.

If the Langston family had adopted Bella, Ryan would’ve been even more worried.

Most people think that being part of a wealthy family means a better quality of life, but the kids in these families also carry pressures far beyond what their peers face.

Just look at Alice—she’s the perfect example.

The sounds from the banquet hall grew fainter as Ryan walked further away, glancing back more frequently.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching him. Was it just his imagination?

He didn’t know where the feeling came from, but one thing was certain—it was awful.

He was in danger. A lot of people at the banquet had recognized him earlier. Could it be that one of Alice’s enemies had set their sights on him?

Alice was still in the banquet hall, surrounded by people, so nothing would happen to her there. But maybe they were planning to take him out instead?

For the first time, Ryan thought that a house this big wasn’t such a good thing. The night was quiet, and the moonlight on his skin felt cool—not freezing, but cold enough to send a chill down his spine.

“No one’s here, right?” Ryan said with a forced smile, as if trying to reassure himself. He looked back again, but the dim light made it impossible to see anything clearly.

This was the perfect setting for someone to make a move. He’d been careless earlier—he shouldn’t have left Alice’s side.

His voice echoed through the courtyard, and for a moment, the trees in the distance seemed to stop swaying. Ryan took a deep breath, staring into the darkness behind him.

A dry, burning sensation crept up his throat, like he was stranded in the middle of a desert under the scorching sun. But there wasn’t even a hint of sunlight here.

His nerves were on edge. He was almost certain someone was following him.

But then, in the next second, the leaves resumed their rustling, and the music and dancing from the banquet hall continued. The golden glow of the hall seemed so close, yet so far away.

What now?

What should he do?

Ryan stared at the distant hall, thinking quietly. His hand slipped behind his back, and from his system’s inventory, he pulled out a small, stone-like object.

Knockout Gas. He’d gotten this item a long time ago, intending to use it in a moment of crisis for Alice. He’d been holding onto it, waiting for the perfect moment to maximize its value.

Maybe now was the time. Staying alive was the top priority.

The cool touch of the object in his palm gave him a bit of comfort. Staring into the darkness ahead, he forced himself to think calmly.

He’d walked about 650 feet from the hall, passing through a courtyard full of greenery. If he tried to run back, it would take him at least thirty seconds at his fastest pace.

If he shouted, Alice might hear him, but the noise could also provoke whoever was following him. In a panic, they might just slit his throat.

In short, forcing his way out wasn’t an option.

At this moment, Ryan was out in the open, while his pursuer remained hidden. He had no idea how many people were following him or what kind of weapons they might have. Even with the Knockout Gas in hand, turning back wasn’t an option.

No, he had to keep moving forward and wait for the right moment.

Ryan’s eyes flickered toward the restroom up ahead, just 60 feet away.

The restroom should have individual stalls with locks. At the very least, in a confined space, he’d only have to face one person at a time. If there were multiple attackers, heading to the restroom was clearly the best choice.

With his right hand gripping the Knockout Gas, Ryan reached into his pocket with his left hand to grab his phone. He’d managed to get it back before leaving the banquet hall.

Alice hadn’t been too keen on the idea, but since the two of them were practically inseparable, she could keep an eye on him, so she eventually agreed.

The phone Alice had given him had an emergency call function, specifically for situations like this.

Alright, first head to the restroom, keep the person following him at bay, and then find a chance to make the call.

With the plan set, Ryan turned around. But the moment he did, that creeping sense of unease came rushing back.

It felt like eyes in the darkness were piercing through him, like a monster’s tongue greedily licking every inch of his body. Ryan could almost taste the emotions behind it—jealousy, repression, and madness.

“FUCK!”

He cursed under his breath and started walking quickly toward the restroom. This time, he heightened his senses to the max, and sure enough, he could hear faint footsteps behind him.

He deliberately paused for a moment while walking, and the subtle footsteps became more obvious. But Ryan didn’t feel any satisfaction from this discovery—his sense of danger only intensified.

Whoever was following him had a sinister plan. Why else would they be so cautious in tailing him?

There weren’t any security cameras around either, making this the perfect spot for a crime. If Alice’s companion ended up dead at Mr. Langston’s banquet, Ryan could already imagine Alice going ballistic, tearing the entire city apart in her rage.

Would Alice really do that for him?

Maybe…

The restroom was getting closer, and the footsteps behind him had closed the gap from 60 feet to 30 feet… now 20 feet…

Ryan had originally planned to turn around and identify his stalker, but the closer he got to danger, the less he dared to look back. What if there were more than one person? What if they were armed?

He forced himself to act casual, walking as naturally as possible. Soon, he reached the restroom.

It was a high-end facility, with individual stalls and a design that screamed luxury—clearly meant for the estate’s esteemed guests.

After quickly identifying the men’s room, Ryan took a deep breath and walked inside, heading straight for the stall at the far end.

The Knockout Gas was clenched tightly in his hand, and with his left hand, he pulled out his phone and pressed the emergency call button. No exaggeration—his heart was practically in his throat.

He slipped into the stall, hurriedly shut the door, and locked it. The lock was solid. Once inside, no one would be able to force their way in.

The door slammed shut with a heavy thud. Everything had gone smoothly—almost too smoothly.

The call had already gone through, and Alice picked up immediately, her voice filled with concern as she asked what was going on.

But Ryan just stood there, frozen, staring at the empty space on the floor. It felt like his mind had been yanked out of his body by some invisible force.

The bottom of the stall was open, and right now, a piece of paper was slowly being slid under the door. Ryan caught a glimpse of a pale hand, but it quickly withdrew, leaving only the note on the floor.

“Ryan, talk to me! What’s happening?” Alice’s voice was frantic on the other end of the line.

“N-nothing… nothing’s wrong…” Ryan stammered, his voice distant as he stared at the note, unable to tear his eyes away.

The note read:

“Brother, did Bella do something wrong? Why did you say those things?”

“Don’t tell Alice what happened, or she will die.”