CHAPTER 412: THE PICNIC

The air felt tense as Ryan cracked the door open just a bit, his face scowling. Maddy stood there, her hand hovering in the air after knocking insistently. The carefree smile that usually graced her face was replaced with worry. "Maddy," he said shortly, his voice annoyed. "What is it?" There was no warmth in his welcome, which was very different from his usual easygoing manner. Maddy bit her lip, her stomach churning with nerves. "Can I come in, Ryan? Please?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Ryan hesitated momentarily, his eyes scanning her face as if searching for a hidden reason. Finally, with a sigh that spoke volumes, he stepped aside, letting her enter. The door shut behind her with a finality that made Maddy flinch. She stood awkwardly inside, her eyes falling on a half-finished model airplane on the coffee table, a forgotten casualty of his earlier frustration. The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Taking a deep breath, Maddy finally spoke. "Rya