For the past few days, Ryan and Taylor had been practically inseparable—locked away in her sprawling Beverly Hills estate, wrapped in passion and luxury. Every inch of the mansion, from the private cinema to the marble kitchen counters, had become their battlefield.
Meanwhile, Detective David's investigation into Katherine's death had hit a wall.
There was an abundance of biological evidence—but no witnesses, no camera footage, and not a single match in any federal or global database. The killer had vanished like a ghost.
To make matters worse, political pressure was building.
The District Attorney's Office and the LGBT advocacy groups were breathing down LAPD's neck. Even David, the unflappable golden boy of the Detective Bureau, was beginning to question if the job was worth it anymore.
Back at the estate, Ryan's "reward" from the incident—a mere 100 Justice Points—confirmed what he'd suspected. Katherine wasn't innocent. She'd abused her LGBT identity to persecute others, all for her own gain.
But publicly? Ryan's assault on Katherine had been buried under a pile of red tape and "ongoing investigation" clauses. Even the top brass at Parker Center didn't want a public spat with the DA's office or LGBT political groups.
On the fifth day of his paid administrative leave, Ryan found the kitchen stacked with fresh produce, high-grade meats, and specialty spices—delivered by Taylor's favorite upscale grocery, Sam's Select.
"Babe," Taylor said sweetly, leaning against the fridge, "you promised you'd cook me an authentic Chinese dinner. Today's the day, okay?"
Ryan raised a brow, eyeing the absurd mountain of ingredients.
"Judging by this haul, are we feeding the entire SWAT team? Or are we having guests?"
Taylor smirked playfully. "Just one guest. But she's very… special. You better cook your best."
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew Taylor's tone—there was something behind it.
He had a hunch: a female celebrity.
"Alright then," he said, rolling up his sleeves. "Let's give her a dinner she'll never forget."
It was 3:00 p.m., the perfect time to start prepping a proper dinner for the golden hour sunset over the Pacific.
By sunset, the kitchen was filled with mouthwatering aromas:
Soy-braised sea bass
Spicy lamb shanks
Scallion beef stir-fry
Ham & chicken stew
Braised pork with abalone… and five more dishes, each more exquisite than the last.
Ryan cleaned up, then changed into a custom-tailored navy-blue tuxedo, stitched by a Savile Row master Taylor had on retainer. With his tall, chiseled frame and refined Eastern features, he looked like something out of a designer fragrance commercial.
Taylor's breath caught when she saw him.
"Dear God…" she whispered, eyes wide. "You're too handsome. I'm seriously regretting inviting her now."
In her form-fitting sapphire velvet gown, Taylor was stunning—but even she felt a twinge of jealousy.
Ryan smirked and kissed her deeply.
"So… mind telling me who this mysterious guest is?"
"You'll see," Taylor huffed, pouting like a sulking cat.
Right on cue, the sound of tires on gravel reached their ears.
They walked down together just as a Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up to the front entrance.
The driver stepped out, opened the door, and a vision in white stepped into view.
Elizabeth Olsen.
The Scarlet Witch herself.
"奥妹…" Ryan murmured, stunned.
She wore a white, deep-plunging evening dress with a slit that ran halfway up her thigh. It wasn't just elegant—it was downright lethal.
Taylor felt Ryan's gaze glue itself to their guest. Her expression turned sour in a heartbeat.
"I swear to God," she whispered, "if your eyes drop any lower, I'm revoking dessert privileges."
But Ryan couldn't look away. Elizabeth Olsen wasn't just beautiful—she was radiating that rare, almost vintage aura of grace and strength.
And Elizabeth? She saw Ryan's expression, saw the hunger in his gaze… and smiled.
She wasn't offended.
In fact, she'd been warned—Taylor had spent days messaging her, gushing about Ryan. His courage. His body. His cooking. His stamina. His looks. Her stories blurred the line between flirty and full-on recruitment campaign.
At first, Elizabeth brushed it off.
But after day four of Taylor's relentless hype? She couldn't help but wonder:Who the hell is this man?
So when Taylor casually invited her to dinner—to taste his cooking and "see for herself"—she'd accepted. And when she'd stood in front of her wardrobe, her hand moved without thinking… to that dress.
And now that she saw Ryan?
He was even more stunning in person.More than Hemsworth. More than Cavill. He had a quiet dominance behind that gentlemanly smile.
Taylor, still clinging to Ryan's arm, pouted dramatically.
"Well, babe? Do you like your surprise guest? Are you happy now?"
Ryan chuckled. His eyes were still on Elizabeth.
"I think I'm about to be very happy."