Chapter 964

Ryan looked even more rugged and dashing with the cigar in his hand, silhouetted against the orange sky outside. Eloise hated the smell of cigars, but something stirred inside her, prompting her to say, "In that case, I'll take a puff, Ryan!" Her voice was soft as she finally spoke, and the golden sunlight highlighted the sharp contours of her face. Ryan smiled and approached her. Her pants were slightly short, revealing her ankles as she sat down. "Here," he said, handing her the cigar. She accepted it, hesitantly placing it between her lips. Before she could take a proper puff, she choked, coughing violently. The harshness overwhelmed her, and Ryan suddenly remembered how Freya once fainted because of the cigar. He wondered if Eloise might suffer the same fate. "How are you feeling?" he asked, gently patting her back with a tenderness that suggested she might crumble if he applied any more pressure. Eloise looked dazed, almost as if she were intoxicated. "Ryan, I suddenly ha