Chapter 25. Longing Unveiled.

Silence enveloped the room, but Rio was prepared for it. With a teasing smile, he asked, "What?" He watched as Ryan chuckled nervously, the tension palpable between them.

"Shocked that I like men?" Rio prodded, waiting for a response.

"No, it's just that you don't strike me as someone who would be interested in men. You seem like the epitome of every lady's dream," Ryan replied, causing Rio to burst into genuine laughter. It had been a while since he had laughed so freely and openly. The laughter died down, and silence once again filled the space between them.

"We first met when I was ten, and he was two years younger. Our fathers were business partners, which brought us together," Rio began, his gaze fixed on Ryan.

"My dad made it clear that I had to look after him, that he was my responsibility," Rio continued, his voice filled with a mixture of reminiscence and intensity. "But maybe I misunderstood and ended up making him the center of my world. I realized that my whole life revolv