Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 168

The Five Powerhouses Who Match the Unwilling Bride 

Chapter 168 Honest Confessions 

Finished 

Ava nodded. She watched him sit down on the stool, relaxed. One long leg rested on the floor. The other rested on the bar of the tall stool. His fingers moved lightly over the strings. A slow, gentle tune started to play. Then his voice followed. 

Ava listened quietly. She watched him with care. This was a side of Ryan she had never really seen before. He looked calm and at ease. He sang with complete focus. His eyes stayed on her the whole time. They were full of warmth and feeling. 

There was no doubt that his voice sounded great. She didn’t understand singing skills or vocal control. She only knew that it sounded good. 

The way he looked while singing felt very different from his usual self. His focus made it hard to look away. 

When the song ended, Ryan stopped and asked, “What do you think?” 

Ava smiled with her eyes curved. She spoke with real feeling. “It sounds really good. I don’t understand singing, but I feel like you were born for this. I don’t think the name K sounds childish now. K is you. You are K.” 

She added honestly, “I’m kind of looking forward to your concert.” 

Ryan didn’t expect such high praise from her. He froze for a moment. Then happiness hit him all at once. This was the person he cared about. He wanted her to stay in his life for a long time. 

Ryan understood his family background well. People talked a lot when he went into entertainment instead of business. He didn’t care. He didn’t need to take on the family’s responsibility. Ethan fit that role better. He only needed to live how he wanted. Other people’s opinions didn’t matter. 

Still, he cared deeply about what Ava thought of him. Even a slight hint of dislike from her felt heavy to 

him. 

“Ava, I really, really like you. I hope that in the near future, you will like me too,” Ryan said. His feelings came out before he could stop them. He didn’t want to hide them. He wanted her to know what he felt. 

He looked at her without looking away. Ava felt caught off guard by how open he was. She wasn’t made of stone. Still, his direct confession surprised her. 

She stayed quiet for a moment, and Ryan waited for her to speak. 

The light in his eyes slowly faded. He spoke in a softer voice. “I know you don’t like me yet. That’s okay. I like you, 

and that’s enough. As long as you don’t push me away, just let things stay like this. I’ll keep moving 

closer.” 

Ava let out a slow breath. She spoke gently. “Ryan, you are really good. You truly are. I just can’t open my heart fully right now. That’s my issue.” 

She paused. Then she looked into his eyes. “It’s not just you. I’m like this with everyone. Because of some reasons, I can’t get past this part of myself yet.” 

Ava lowered her eyes. Her mind and body both felt unwell. She hadn’t decided whether to tell him. 

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Chapter 168 Honest Confessions 

Finished 

Ryan only heard that she said he was good. That was enough to lift his mood again. He looked lighter right away. “That’s fine. We haven’t known each other for long anyway. You don’t know me well yet. It’s normal for a girl to be careful.” 

Then he kept singing for her. He sang seven or eight more songs. Ava finally said, “Okay, stop singing. Drink some water. I’ll go support you at your concert. Do your best.” 

Ryan smiled at her, clearly happy. “I’ll save you the front and center seat.” 

Just then, someone started a video call on his Holoband. He looked at it and cut it off. A few seconds later, it rang again. He was about to cut it again when Ava said, “Go ahead and take it. I won’t talk.” 

Ryan didn’t hang up this time. He answered with a face full of annoyance. “Say it fast. What’s going on?” 

Soren finally got through and spoke fast. “Ryan, you’ve been gone for way too long. It’s like you disappeared. Can you please come out and show up for work? I’m begging you.” 

He kept talking. “Even the company leaders came to me several times to ask about you. I’m so stressed my hair is turning white. I have to make excuses for you, too. Dolly said that if you don’t come back soon, she’s cutting my pay.” 

Soren sounded like he was about to cry. He worked so hard. He managed three stars. The other two were behaving. Ryan kept vanishing and ignored everything. 

Ryan frowned when he heard the complaints. “Didn’t I tell you before to move some of my work away? I want to free up some time this year.” 

Soren replied, “You make it sound easy. The sponsors only want you. That’s why they don’t go to someone else. Those jobs were agreed on long ago. Many are with old partners. You should think about past favors, too. Do you think investors are easy to offend?” 

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