My Bossy CEO Husband

"Yes."Wendy nodded, not noticing the change of Ryan's expression.

"I lived there for almost five years.My mother died when I was six.Ruben made sure to sell everything my mother had left us, everything she had inherited from her father.He took the money for himself.He sent Reese and me to our grandmother in Spring County, as he had no intention of taking care of us himself."

Wendy wrapped her arms around her knees in an attempt to protect herself from all those painful memories.

"Ruben truly is a bastard! He had never mentioned grandma before he sent us there.We had thought that she was dead.We didn't even know what she looked like.When she came to pick us up from the station, we didn't know what to expect.Would she be kind to us? But it turned out we were really lucky.Grandma was the best, sweet and affectionate she cared about me and Reese very much.She would always cook us our favorite meals, even when money were tight.Sometimes she could afford just enough for us children and she didn't eat at all herself." Ryan listened intently.

Wendy suddenly looked up and turned to face him.

"You've heard of Spring County, right? It's not that big, but its population is pretty high.But all the young, able men left to find work, so those that stayed behind are either old or women and children.But people there are always kind, helping and caring for each other.When someone cooks, it's not unusual to share it with their neighbors.It's so peaceful there."

Ryan couldn't help but smile at that.

"I remember there was a huge orchard.Reese, grandma and I helped the owner with the harvest every year.The money may have not been much, but we got a bag of apples on our days off.So, apples were the fruit we ate the most as children."

Ryan thought back to how skillfully she had peeled an apple for him back in the hospital.

"The years I spent in Spring County were the best of my life.Carefree and full of love.But then my grandmother passed away.I was eleven."

Ryan took her hand and squeezed it.

was there for

my sister.It's not like we missed him, though.Our friends and neighbors helped us with Grandma's funeral.Reese was seventeen then, so we came up with a plan.She would find work in another city, just like most people from our village did.Then she would have enough money to pay for my education.But a few friends from the village decided to take matters into their own hands.They found Ruben and threatened him.They told him that if he didn't take us in until we reached adulthood, they would report

your sister

it would be that simple! Ruben was mean.He didn't like us, of course he didn't want to raise us up.At some point though, he had to come to our village.A good look at Reese and he suddenly changed his mind, agreeing to take us with

that day and he took us shopping.He bought us a lot of beautiful clothes and like a couple of idiots we were moved, thinking he had really changed.But we soon found out the truth.Later I realized that it was not the case at all.After we returned to Ywood, he registered for school for me, but

a while, looking

a glass of red wine and put it

"Then what happened?"

I would have

wine and Ryan hurriedly told her, "Hey,

"Noted!"

put the glass back on the

then.I was happy.And

froze at the spot.Luke's investigation had revealed that at the age of sixteen, Wendy

most important man?' He grumbled

vice-like and he

alumni.Every girl saw him as a true prince charming.He was gentle and really elegant.We wouldn't have been surprised he arrived on a white horse.He was every girl's dream.Just perfect!" Ryan's

the room was

Wendy didn't