Chapter 120
Chapter 120:
A careful scan of the space brought her straight to her desk. She called out for the servant. “Did anyone come in here today p>
Looking honestly confused, the servant shook her head. “No, Miss Owen. I only dropped off that music score you asked for p>
The handwritten score still sat exactly where she’d left it, undisturbed. Yet something about the room still felt off. With nothing visibly missing, she let the servant go, but suspicion lingered in her mind.
If it wasn’t Paola poking around, then it had to be that troublemaker, Percy. What was he looking for in her room?
Not finding any answers, Rylie decided to let the matter rest for now. She took a quick shower, changed into clean clothes, grabbed her motorcycle keys, and set off for the research lab that Brad had secured for her — ready to pick up where Timothy’s work had left off.
Afternoon slid into evening, and Rylie was still deep in her research when her phone buzzed. Percy’s name flashed on the screen, his message an unexpected invitation to meet at a bar later.
A faint frown creased her brow as she stared at the text. Percy had never shown much interest in her before, and this out-of-the-blue invite seemed strange. She kept her reply simple, saying, “Okay.” Saving her latest results, she made up her mind to see what he was up to.
When darkness settled, Rylie zipped through city streets on her bike and parked outside the bar that Percy had named. Inside, thumping bass vibrated through her chest, shaking the floor as she made her way ln. It didn’t take long to spot Percy, lounging in a corner booth, a handful of sharply dressed friends gathered around him.
“Well, look who decided to grace us with her presence.” Percy lifted his glass in a mock salute, his voice thick with sarcasm. “Honestly, I figured you’d chicken out p>
Expression unreadable, Rylie slid into a seat across from him. “What’s this about p>
With a sly laugh, Percy gestured to his group. “Word got around that I had a cousin nobody had met. Everyone wanted a look, so here we are p>
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Around the table, designer jackets and sparkling dresses mixed with sly glances, his friends sizing Rylie up with smirks and curious eyes.
“Have you thought about what we should call her? Percy calls her Rylie, but maybe we should use Miss Kirk instead p>
“There’s also the option of addressing her as Miss Owen. What do you think p>
“But even after she came back to the Owen family, they never made an official announcement. And even if she’s an Owen, her personality is still so bad that she doesn’t look like a gentlewoman at all p>
Percy let out a loud snort. “Nobody in my family has the time for details like that. My cousins are tangled up in their own problems, and Grandfather is busy throwing a spring gala for my sister. It’s no surprise Rylie slipped through the cracks p>
Beneath these words was a clear message: Rylie barely mattered to them, just another invisible member tucked away in a house overflowing with money and secrets.
The truth was simpler than any of them realized — Rylie just wanted a quiet life, away from flashy events and gossip.
As for the spring gala, that was news to her. No one had ever mentioned it before.