Ryan's body suddenly shot up and lunged at Evelyn with a speed so fast it was almost imperceptible.

  His movement was lightning-quick, leaving only a fleeting afterimage that even Evelyn could barely catch, giving her no time to react.

  After all, the two had once both been Grand Magi, and now Ryan's magical rank had reached Ninth-tier Senior Mage.

  In contrast, Evelyn's magical rank was lower than Ryan's, leaving her no chance to dodge his sudden assault.

  Once Ryan closed in and entangled her, his overwhelming strength made it impossible for her to break free, not even leaving a moment to channel her magic.

  The sound of the chair tipping over and their fall echoed together, and the Edelweiss Frost scattered around the room seemed to sense their intense movements, instantly blooming with dazzling icy light that wove into a radiant display.

  The flickering glow appeared as if it were rejoicing in this reckless embrace.

  Evelyn's eyes widened as she stared at Ryan pressing down on her, yet no sound escaped her lips.

  Ryan's mouth had already covered hers, silencing every word she could have spoken.

  Startled, Evelyn let out a muffled whimper and instinctively tried to lift her hands to push him away.

  But Ryan seemed to have anticipated her every move. His broad hands swiftly grabbed her delicate wrists, pinning them to the cold floor, leaving her completely immobile.

  At this moment, Evelyn's hands were restrained above her head, her entire body firmly trapped beneath Ryan, with no room to struggle, she could only endure passively.

  She wanted to call out, but only muffled whimpers escaped, all words caught deep in her throat.

  At first, Ryan acted with reckless insistence. Yet as he felt Evelyn's continual resistance, the force of her rejection transmitted clearly through her struggles, causing his movements to gradually slow, and eventually come to a complete stop.

  Ryan lifted his head slightly, their lips still moist and red, especially Evelyn's, which had become all the more tender and alluring from the kiss.

  "Evelyn, I don't want to leave you." Ryan felt a scorching heat coursing through him as he gazed at her beneath him, his eyes bloodshot.

  The strength restraining her wrists unconsciously loosened a little, his voice carrying a subtle, unmasked heaviness.

  "Do you really want me to go? If I leave, we might never see each other again." His eyes locked tightly onto hers.

  His voice deepened, and the edges of his eyes glimmered with moisture, as if tears threatened to fall, yet stubbornly refused to drop.

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  Evelyn looked at this fragile yet stubborn side of Ryan, utterly stunned. Her thoughts became a chaotic mess, and her original resistance gradually faded, leaving only confusion and helplessness, unsure how to respond.

  At that moment, the Fate Bracelets on their wrists began to activate again. The intricate patterns on the Bracelets glowed faintly, and subtle waves of magic spread out, as if guiding their emotions.

  "Evelyn, I…" Ryan's voice was hoarse, still trying to speak further.

  They stared at each other for a long time, and time seemed to freeze in that instant, stretching as if a century had passed.

  Until Evelyn slowly closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as if making some kind of concession.

  Ryan stared blankly at her closed eyes, his heart pounding ever more violently.

  But in the next moment, he clearly felt that Evelyn's body remained tense, and her sense of aversion and resistance had not diminished in the slightest.

  Though the fire of desire in Ryan's eyes had not extinguished, he forcibly suppressed it to the extreme.

  Ryan was by no means a despicable man driven purely by desire.

  Since there was still resistance in Evelyn's heart, he would never force himself upon her. Forcing it would only make her feel disgusted, and that was a result he could never bear to see.

  He raised his hand and gently pinched Evelyn's flushed cheek. Then, with a heavy sense of disappointment, he slowly rose from her side.

  It was time to leave, Ryan thought with a quiet sigh.

  He stood up, straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, and let his gaze linger briefly on the Edelweiss Frost and the warm golden glow in the room. Finally, he resolutely stepped toward the door.

  The room's door was gently pushed open, and the icy wind and snow instantly rushed inside.

  Ryan turned around, a familiar, slightly mischievous smile spreading across his face. He chuckled softly twice and said,"Evelyn, I'm leaving."

  "Wait!"

  Just as one of Ryan's feet had already stepped out of the room, while the other remained inside, on the verge of turning completely to leave, Evelyn's voice suddenly rang out.

  Her call froze Ryan in place. He spun around sharply, his eyes filled with shock and a hidden trace of hope.

  "Come back first."

  Evelyn's cheeks glowed with an alluring blush. She still leaned weakly against the edge of the bed.

  Turning her head to look at Ryan at the door, she propped herself up with a slightly stiff movement and sat upright. Her voice was soft, like a gentle breeze, yet clear enough to reach Ryan's ears.

  Come back? Ryan's heart skipped a beat, an indescribable surge of emotion rising within him.

  He stared at Evelyn on the bed, utterly confused. What exactly did this sudden gesture of hers mean?

  "What's wrong? Didn't you say you wanted me to leave?" Ryan asked.

  "Take this. I am lifting the seal on your magic core," Evelyn said.

  The hope that had surged in him a moment ago was instantly doused like cold water. So she wasn't keeping him, it was just his imagination running wild.

  Being able to restore his magic core before leaving at least saved him some trouble. Ryan pushed down the disappointment in his heart and obediently returned to the bed, sitting down across from Evelyn and meeting her gaze.

  The next moment, two faint glows appeared in Evelyn's hands: a Spatial Storage Ring engraved with intricate runes, and a Mithril Pendant radiating a crisp, clear aura, both floating in the air.

  "What's this?" Ryan raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the items in her hands.

  "Don't ask, just take it," Evelyn said, unwilling to explain further. She placed the Spatial Storage Ring into Ryan's hand, then picked up the Mithril Pendant and gently pressed it against his forehead.

  "Don't move."

  Ryan instinctively wanted to pull away from the unfamiliar Mithril Pendant, but at Evelyn's warning, he froze in place.

  He felt a strange trust toward her. Evelyn had never stooped to underhanded tactics. If she truly wanted to harm him, she could have just drawn her ultimate ice sword and struck him, no need for such a complicated process.

  Besides, given the unspoken intimacy in their current relationship, he was willing to believe her.