Save Myself From Desperation novel Chapter 172

Only taking one glance at Miranda's pained and sorrowful expression, Ashley felt a pang of heartache.

Ashley quickly approached her. "Did Ryan do anything to you?"

No. Miranda's lips turned white as she struggled to hold back tears. "I just talked to Ryan, and we decided never to contact each other again. We're... We're going to act like we never knew each other."

"Miranda, you know, actually..." Ashley felt uneasy. She reached out and gently wiped away the tears in the corner of Miranda's eyes. "If you still have feelings for him..."

"No," Miranda interrupted, gripping Ashley's hand tightly in hers.

Tears shimmered in Miranda's eyes as she looked earnestly at Ashley, saying, "Ashley, even though I had feelings for Bradley... Ryan has done so many hurtful things to you in the past. You're my good friend. If I had to choose between the Ramos family and you, I would definitely choose you."

Upon hearing this, Ashley's heart ached terribly, and she couldn't resist pulling Miranda into her arm. "Miranda..."

Miranda hugged Ashley back, and her arms trembled slightly. As she buried her forehead in Ashley's shoulder, her tears began to flow uncontrollably. "I just never thought that I had already met him two years ago..."

Ryan had just said that regardless of whether Miranda despised him or not, he would never forget that snowy Christmas night.

He would always remember the young lady who gave him a red apple.

Ryan even said he had been looking for Miranda for two whole years.

However, there was something Miranda couldn't comprehend. She mused, 'Ryan can care so much about me, a stranger, so why couldn't he be kinder to Ashley, his own sister? Why does he treat a stranger better than his own family? If only Ryan had treated Ashley well, I wouldn't have been so repulsed by him...'

Meanwhile, Ryan, watching Ashley and Miranda embracing, furrowed his brows deeply.

He wondered when Ashley had become interested in car racing.

Ryan pondered, 'If it weren't for Ashley wanting to watch the race, I could have continued pretending to be Bradley and be with Miranda much longer. Now that Miranda knows I'm Ryan, she's decisively chosen Ashley's side and no longer wants to have anything to do with me. If I start treating Ashley well now, will Miranda stop despising me? No, why should I be nice to Ashley? She's the reason Miranda dislikes me so much!'

Soon after, Ashley led Miranda back to their seats.

Joseph, noticing their return, raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What happened? Why does Miranda look like she's been crying?"

"I wasn't," Miranda denied, though her eyes were still slightly red.

"Still denying, huh? Your eyes are all red like a little rabbit," Joseph commented, lounging with his legs crossed, teasingly looking at Ashley. "She didn't just have a breakup, did she?"

Ashley was at a loss for words, thinking, 'Joseph really knows how to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.'

Miranda pressed her lips together. "I haven't even dated yet. How could it be heartbreak?"

"Breakups are no big deal," Joseph confidently said and snapped his fingers. "There are plenty of handsome men out there. I'll introduce someone to you later!"

"You? Introducing someone?" Jaden couldn't help but retort, "Come on, knowing you, you'd introduce another playboy like yourself. Don't go ruining young girls' lives."

Joseph immediately got defensive. "How am I a playboy? I've never done anything immoral like cheating or meddling in others' relationships! Bryce, back me up here!"

Bryce glanced at Joseph and smirked. "Maybe it was last year? I happened to see you being quite chatty and touchy with a few girls, Mr. Fox..."

"Damn it, stop slandering me!" Joseph snapped, wishing he could tape Bryce's mouth shut.

"Alright, enough, quiet down for a bit," Ashley said, rubbing her temples in frustration, wondering why the conversation had shifted to introducing boyfriends.

Clinging to Ashley's arm, Miranda whispered, "Let's forget about introducing men."

For Miranda, men were never as important as her sisterhood.