CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 161: WOMEN’S CIGARETTES

Although Sheila Yardley said that, she actually still hoped for this ceremony in her heart.

But she was afraid of bothering Ryder Griffin, so she never dared to mention it.

Shannon Quinn also didn’t know if Ryder wasn’t paying attention to these things, or if he had other thoughts in his mind.

Anyway, she always felt that Ryder seemed somewhat absent-minded, as if he wasn’t really listening to them.

"I have something to do later," Ryder whispered to Sheila, as if urging her to leave.

Sheila nodded, apologizing to Shannon, "Shannon, he has work later, I’ll go back with him to get some things, and come to accompany you tomorrow when I’m free."

Shannon nodded, "Alright, be safe on the way."

Sheila waved her hand, gently closed the hospital room door, and walked into the elevator holding Ryder’s hand.

Seeing him with his phone, seemingly texting someone, Sheila asked, "Do you have a lot of work recently? I remember you didn’t have so many messages before?"

Ryder put away his phone, glanced at Sheila, and softly said, "There’s quite a bit to do."

Sheila pursed her lips and nodded, not doubting anything, but feeling a bit guilty for not being able to help him, so she just said, "Take care of yourself too, don’t get too tired."

Ryder smiled as a response but said nothing.

Sheila could feel that some things were different from before, it seemed there was a bit of distance between them.

"Ryder..."

"Hmm?"

"Is there something on your mind? You’ve seemed a bit cold lately, are you still mad at me?"

Ryder looked down at Sheila’s cautious and aggrieved demeanor, feeling a bit chaotic inside, and gently touched her head, saying softly, "No, don’t overthink it, I’ve just been busy recently, I’ll spend time with you properly once things settle down."

Sheila held onto his hand, intertwining their fingers tightly as if it could bring her some peace.

As the elevator doors opened, he subtly released her hand and said, "Wait for me by the door; I’ll go get the car."

Sheila nodded, watching him leave, then looking at her now-empty hand, feeling as if something had been taken from her heart when he let go.

On his way to get the car, Ryder called Lynn Kendall: "Clean up the house, pack your things, wait for me downstairs at the restaurant, Sheila is coming back to get some things, once she leaves, I’ll come directly to the restaurant to find you."

...

On the way back, both were worried, hardly speaking, leaving the car in silence.

Sheila wanted to say something but didn’t know how to start the conversation with him.

She couldn’t understand how things had become like this between them.

He said he wasn’t mad anymore, but it seemed as if his entire personality had changed.

Though he was still nice to her, she couldn’t find that previous uninhibited reliance on him anymore.

When they returned home, it was somewhat messy, unlike his usual habits; every time before, the house was always neat and tidy.

The air was filled with the smell of smoke and alcohol, and Sheila looked around but didn’t find any bottles.

She only saw Ryder silently walking to the balcony to open the window for ventilation.

"Ryder... have you been drinking a lot lately?"

Ryder paused for a moment and then said, "Sometimes I drink a bit at night."

Sheila was a bit puzzled, knowing that he usually wouldn’t drink unless it was necessary for work or when gathering with friends, and he rarely smoked.

"You sit for a while, I’ll go to the study to find it for you."

Sheila nodded but didn’t sit in the living room, instead following Ryder to the study.

The study was just as clean and tidy as usual and didn’t have that strong smell.

Ryder looked around on the bookshelf, took out the books Sheila needed, and patted the dust off them, saying, "See if this is it."

"Yes, but this one is missing the second volume, could you see if there’s another?"

Ryder searched the bookshelf again, while Sheila thought of going out to find a bag to pack the books. In the process, her gaze fell on the ashtray on the coffee table.

The ashtray seemed like it hadn’t been cleaned for days, filled with ash and cigarette butts, and there were two types of butts.

She couldn’t recognize the cigarette brands, but it was clear that there were two different types, one thick and one thin, seemingly lady’s cigarettes.

There weren’t just one or two; almost half were this kind of butt, indicating they hadn’t just been casually smoked by a visitor but seemed like the habit of someone staying here long-term.

Sheila’s heart immediately panicked, but she didn’t dare to speak up, not even to confront Ryder, afraid of hearing the result she didn’t want, yet unable to find a reasonable explanation to deceive herself.

She looked around the living room, apart from being messier than usual, without finding any other anomalies.

Sheila placed the books on the coffee table, walked over to fold the thin blanket on the sofa, and tidied up some scattered items beside the sofa.

Ryder came out noticing her tidying up, glanced around the room without seeing anything inappropriate, but felt guilty, worrying Sheila might discover something, so he said, "I’ve found the books, no need to tidy up, I’ll find time to handle it tomorrow, it’s getting late, let me drive you back."

Sheila pursed her lips, quickly glanced at the ashtray on the coffee table, then looked away, walked over, and took the books from Ryder’s hand, giving a forced smile: "Then I’ll head back first."

"I’ll drive you."

At the elevator entrance, Sheila said, "No need, you go back and rest early, I’ll just take a taxi; you don’t need to run back and forth."

Ryder entered the elevator with her, pressed the floor button saying, "I’ll see you to the car."

Sheila didn’t stop him, and they went downstairs to the roadside.

He flagged down an empty taxi and opened the door for her.

As Sheila was about to get in, she froze, uneasily looking up at him.

"What’s wrong?" Ryder asked, puzzled.

Sheila tried hard to control her emotions, but her eyes still became moist, trying not to let her tears fall, her voice trembling: "Ryder... we will get married, right?"

Ryder hesitated, then smiled and touched her head, saying, "Of course, now get in, we can’t stay here for too long."

Sheila bit her lip as if she had many words to say but swallowed them all down.

She got into the car, and he closed the door, watching her leave.

In the rearview mirror, his figure stood there but was quickly engulfed and disappeared by the passing cars, pedestrians, and increasing distance...

She had never imagined other women would appear around him, always confidently staying by his side.

Thinking back now, could this recent change in him be related to the owner of those lady’s cigarette butts?

Were they living together? Or was it just a work friend coming to his place to discuss business?

She didn’t know if she was deceiving herself, but she was truly afraid to uncover some truths.