《Countdown to My Divorce》 Her Exit 1 Chapter 1 ¡°Ms. Lloyd, once you make this decision, you won¡¯t be able to return for at least five years, maybe even longer. We¡¯ll erase your identity from the public. Because of the sensitive nature of ourpany¡¯s research, no one will be able to find you during this time. I hope you understand this.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± M Rachel Lloyd hesitated for just a second before she lowered her head and signed her name at the bottom of the document. ¡°Alright. Everything must be finalized by October 20th. We¡¯ll contact you when the timees.¡± Rachel nced at her phone. Today was October 1st. That gave her 20 days. As she walked past a shopping mall, something on the big screen outside caught her eye. She stopped to watch footage from a press conference heldst week. William Lewis, the CEO of Lewis Enterprise, had spent three years designing a custom wedding dress for his wife. ording to him, the breathtaking, one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind dress, a gift for their uing anniversary, was meant to make up for the regret that she hadn¡¯t worn a wedding dress at their wedding ceremony. The moment that dress was revealed, it took the world by storm. Everyone admired Rachel for marrying so and deeply devoted as William. Girls walking by nced at the screen, their wide eyes full of envy. ne as wealthy ¡°Did you know? Their love story is like a fairytale. I heard Mr. Lewis remembers every little thing she likes. Even the tiniest details,¡± one girl whispered to another. ¡°Yeah, and didn¡¯t she get into a car ident a while back? The doctors said she might need a cornea transnt. Mr. Lewis signed the papers without a second thought. Luckily, she didn¡¯t end up needing it.¡± ¡°No matter how busy he is, he always gets her gifts on every holiday. That alone makes him better than ny¨Cnine percent of men,¡± the other girl added. Rachel¡¯s lips twisted into a bitter smile. How she wished she still couldn¡¯t hear. Everything she heard right now only disgusted her. A few years ago, William had gotten into trouble with some ssmates. When someone threw a chair during the incident, Rachel had stepped in front of him and taken the hit. As a result, she lost her hearing that day. Afterwards, everyone treated her like a freak. They excluded her from activities, mocked her, and called her names behind her back. ¡°Deaf girl.¡± They said it like a curse. But William hade to her like a ray of light in the darkness, holding her tight while she trembled in silence. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re not deaf. I¡¯ll be your ears. I¡¯ll never let anyone hurt you again. Anyone who tries¨CI¡¯ll tight them myself!¡± She thought their love wouldst forever. But now, it felt like fireworks¨Cbright for a moment, then gone. Just days ago, Rachel had been nning to tell William some good news, wanting to surprise him with the fact that she had regained her hearing. Instead, she found out that the woman he had fallen head over heels for hade back. Rachel¡¯s hands were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white Their love was over. It might still exist on paper, but in her heart, it was already dead. She wasn¡¯t going to beg, nor was she going to stay. She was ready topletely disappear from his life, Lowering her head, she carefully ced divorce papers into a small gift box she had prepared long ago. As she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye, she stepped out onto the curb and reached for her phone to call a ride. But before she could, a familiar ck car pulled up beside her. The man who stepped out of it looked as polished as always, dressed in a crisp shirt, tailored trousers, and shiny ck derby shoes. When he crossed one leg over the other, the crease in his pants didn¡¯t even fold. His sharp features were filled with worry as he walked toward her. ¡°Rachel, I told you to wait for me inside. It¡¯s freezing. What if you get sick?¡± he said, quickly signing with his hands as he spoke, a bit anxious. He reached for her hands and rubbed them gently between his palms, trying to warm her up. There was concern in his dark eyes as he guided her toward the car. Rachel gave a small, bitter smile. Her heart felt like it had been grabbed and twisted tight. It hurt so badly, she could barely breathe. Look at that. Turns out love can be faked too. William buckled her seatbelt for her. Just as he leaned back, his eyesnded on the small box in herp. He pointed at it, asking, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Rachel looked down, hiding the emotions swirling in her eyes. She replied softly, ¡°A gift for our anniversary.¡± William¡¯s eyes lit up as he smiled gently. He reached out with the intention of opening the box. However, Rachel quickly pressed his hand down. ¡°Open it on the day of our anniversary.¡± William looked curious, but when she spoke like that, he never pushed. He grinned, then reached out and yfully tapped the tip of her nose. ¡°We¡¯ll do it your way. But first, let¡¯s retake our wedding photos.¡± William wanted her to wear the custom wedding dress he had designed¨Csomething no one else in the world had. He wanted to take photos of it now, to be looked back on when they celebrated their 50th anniversary one day. Only Rachel knew the truth. There would be no fiftieth anniversary¨Cor any future for them. What would William¡¯s expression look like when he finally opened that box? Her Exit 2 When William and Rachel arrived at the bridal shop, an assistant greeted them warmly and led them to the dressing rooms. William went in to change first. When he stepped out, even the store staff froze for a moment. He was tall and lean, with not an ounce of extra weight on him, thanks to regr workouts. He looked like he¡¯d stepped straight out of a magazine, the kind of man who made anything he wore look better. Then, Rachel walked out in the dress William had designed. She saw him sitting on a bench, looking down at his phone. His tie was neatly knotted, his ck suit sharp and clean. As she stood silently behind him, she identally caught a glimpse of the text message on his screen. [William, my stomach hurts. Can youe pick me up?] Before he could reply, a second message came through. [Oh, you¡¯re doing wedding photos with Rachel today, right? Never mind. I¡¯ll just go home on my own.] Then, it disappeared. The sender had deleted it. Rachel sneered inwardly. Who waited a full minute to delete a sent message? That was no ident. William hesitated, his thumbs pausing over the screen before he finally typed: [I¡¯ll see how things go. Send me your location.] Rachel¡¯s hands tightened around the edge of her dress, her knuckles turning white. It felt like something was being ripped out of her chest, making it hard to breathe. She pressed a hand to her heart. So, William still couldn¡¯t say no to that woman. As Rachel slowly crouched down, William finally sensed that something was wrong. When he turned around and saw her pale face, he hurriedly stood. ¡°Rachel? What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling sick? I¡¯ll take you to the hospital right now.¡± She looked at his face, and couldn¡¯t help but inwardly sneer at how it was so full of worry, just like always. But was he really worried about her, or was he just waiting for an excuse to run back to that woman? Rachel forced herself to stay calm. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Just haven¡¯t been sleeping well the past few days. Can you take me home?¡± she said quietly. William nodded quickly. ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s go.¡± He turned to speak with the store staff, then gently helped her outside. Just as they stepped out, his phone buzzed again. He checked it quickly, frowning. Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he turned to Rachel and signed with quick, slightly urgent movements as he spoke. ¡°Rachel, an emergency came up at work. I might not be able to stay with you tonight. Is it okay if I just drop you off?¡± Rachel looked at his face¨Cstill warm, still pretending to care¨Cand her stomach turned. She forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I feel much better now. I¡¯ll take a cab home.¡± But William reached for her hand, holding it gently, like she was the only person in his world. ¡°Work can wait for a bit. Your health matters more.¡± She smiled faintly, lips pale. ¡°Really, it¡¯s fine. Go ahead. I¡¯m okay now.¡± William studied her for a moment. Her face wasn¡¯t as pale as before, and she seemed steadier. ¡°Alright. Get some rest. I¡¯ll try toe home early.¡± Rachel nodded and watched him drive away. As soon as his car disappeared around the corner, she raised her hand and hailed a cab. ¡°Follow that ck car,¡± she told the driver. By now, the sky had darkened. After a while, Rachel saw William¡¯s car pull over. When he stepped out, a beautiful woman rushed into his arms. Rachel leaned forward in her seat, eyes locked on the scene. When she saw the woman¡¯s face, her breath caught. It really was Samantha Judd, William¡¯s first love. Back in school, everyone talked about them. They were the kind of couple who turned heads in the hallways,pletely wrapped up in each other. But then one day, she left, going abroad for some reason. After that, they lost touch entirely. And now, she was back? Of course she was. Samantha¡¯s face was glowing, her big, dark eyes shining like she was on the verge of tears, but in the prettiest way possible. It was the kind of look that made men want to protect her. ¡°I knew you¡¯de, William. I¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± she said. William stepped back just enough to look her over from head to toe, his usually cold eyes full of concern. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your stomach hurt?¡± Samantha gave him a yful smile and tilted her head. ¡°It stopped hurting the second I saw you.¡± William¡¯s tense expression softened instantly. His deep¨Cset eyes and naturally sharp gaze gave him an intense look. But when he smiled, it was strangely captivating. ¡°You little liar. Don¡¯t do that again. You scared me,¡± he chided. Samantha pouted, grabbing his hand and swinging it lightly. Her voice turned soft, like she was about to cry again, but in a prettier way. ¡°Okay. I just missed you too much. I didn¡¯t mean to mess up your day with Rachel,¡± she said. William reached out and gently brushed her lips with his thumb. ¡°I better not happen again.¡± Samantha giggled. She tugged at his cor, eyes sparkling with mischief and something more. ¡°Come here¡­ I have a surprise for you.¡± Their fingersced together as they strolled down the beach toward a small wooden cabin near the water. Rachel stood frozen behind the trees, her body pressed against the bark. She didn¡¯t even notice the way her nails were digging into her palms as hot tears slid down her cheeks. She thought she could face this calmly, but the moment she saw them together, the pain cut so deep that it felt like her heart was being torn apart. From the beginning of their rtionship, William had loved Rachel with everything he had. He cared about how she felt, always making sure she felt safe and valued. Even when things got intimate between them, he would hold himself back with visible effort. She could feel how hard it was for him to restrain himself, and sometimes, her heart softened. But he would just hold her gently and whisper, ¡°I want our first time to be on our wedding night. For you, I can wait.¡± Even on their wedding night, he had been patient. He took his time and never rushed her. He had buried his face in her neck and murmured, ¡°Rachel, promise me you¡¯ll never leave. I love you.¡± +25 BONUS At that moment, she had truly believed I that even losing her r hearing for him had been worth
  1. it.
He was worth
  1. it.
the But now¡­ He had broken promise he made. He had fallen in love with someone else, and everything they to each other had swore t shattered. ww Chapter 3 Her Exit 3 Chapter 3 William didn¡¯te home that night, simply sending a single message at midnight. [I¡¯m workingte at the office. Take care of yourself.] Rachel stared at the message, her lips curling into a bitter smile. However, she wasn¡¯t going to waste more time thinking about him or Samantha. Before she left, she had something more important to do. And that was to fulfill her mother¡¯sst wish. When she arrived at the office, she noticed her colleagues giving her odd looks. ¡°I heard the Oasis Project was finalized already,¡± someone whispered behind a cubicle. ¡°But Ms. Lloyd isn¡¯t the lead anymore.¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s been her baby for months. If she finds out about this, it¡¯ll probably mean trouble.¡± ¡°Yeah, but word is the board voted this morning. They gave it to someone new. A transfer, I think.¡± As soon as they noticed Rachel at the door, everyone quickly looked away and hurried back to their desks. When she reached her office, she found that everything on her desk had been moved. Before she could say anything, a soft voice behind her called out, ¡°Rachel?¡± She turned slowly. There, in a snow¨Cwhite dress that made her look delicate and innocent, stood Samantha. Her long ck hair flowed over her shoulders, and her face was wless, her eyes wide and gentle. She had the kind of look that made men want to protect her without even knowing why. Rachel felt her whole body go cold. Samantha! Samantha smiled, lips tinted pink, her cheeks flushing as she sweetly said, ¡°It¡¯s been so long. I guess we¡¯ll be coworkers now. I¡¯m really looking forward to working with you.¡± She reached out her hand. Rachel didn¡¯t take it. Instead, she looked over at her own desk¨Cnowpletely cleared out- against the surface. apped her fingers lightly ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Samantha looked at her with wide, watery eyes, as if she had been hurt. Her fingers moved awkwardly in the air, making small gestures. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Rachel. William knows I¡¯m allergic to dust, so he let me use your office. But if it bothers you, we can switch back. I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll go talk to him right now.¡± Rachel smiled bitterly. What a joke. Allergic to dust? As if Rachel wasn¡¯t? She watched Samantha start to turn toward William¡¯s office. ¡°No need,¡± Rachel said tly. She didn¡¯t want fake kindness. His heart was no longer with her, so why bother acting like he cared? Samantha turned back, her eyes still soft, but now with a glint she couldn¡¯t quite hide. ¡°I knew you¡¯d understand. But please don¡¯t get the wrong idea. William only brought me into thepany because he sees how tired you¡¯ve been. He just wanted me to help take the pressure off you.¡± Rachel¡¯s fingers curled into her palm, then slowly rxed. How ¡°considerate¡± of William. He really did love her deeply¨Cso deeply, in fact, he invited his old me to help with her workload. ¡°If that¡¯s what Mr. Lewis decided, then I hope you won¡¯t let him down, Ms. Judd.¡± Having said that, Rachel stepped past Samantha without waiting for a reply and headed straight to William¡¯s office. When she pushed the door open and walked in, William heard the sound and looked up. Their eyes met for a few seconds before Rachel¡¯s gaze shifted to the papers on his desk. She reached out and picked them up. William stood up. There was a flicker of panic in his eyes. ¡°Rachel-¡± She didn¡¯t look at him. Her eyes were locked on the page. It was the final vote on the Oasis Project: Rachel had received ten votes, while Samantha had twelve. And William had given the most important vote in Samantha¡¯s favor. Hah! He actually gave the most important vote to Samantha. Maybe it was how calm Rachel looked that made William uneasy. He stepped closer and gently wrapped his warm hand around her arm. ¡°Rachel, it wasn¡¯t just my decision to let Samantha join thepany andpete for the project. The board made that call. Even as CEO, I can¡¯t override everything. I hope you understand the position I¡¯m in.¡± Rachel tasted bitterness on her tongue, and her lips had gone pale. However, she didn¡¯t shout or cry. She was too numb for that now. She forced a small, tired smile and looked up at William. The eyes that used to look at her like she was his whole world¡­ felt like a stranger¡¯s now. She drew a steady breath and asked, ¡°What if I insist on leading the Oasis Project?¡± William¡¯s brows lifted just slightly. He took her cold fingers in both hands and held them tig. us thumb gently brushing over her skin like he was trying to calm her down. ¡°I know this project means a lot to you. It was your mom¡¯s dream. But if it seeds, no matter who does it, she¡¯d be proud, right? She¡¯ll see it from heaven.¡± Rachel let out a lowugh. He used to give her anything she wanted without question. But now? Now, for another woman, he had excuse after excuse. It wasn¡¯t just his body that was no longer hers; his heart was gone too. Rachel sniffled, her voice hoarse as she said, ¡°If it¡¯s all the same to my mom up there, then why not let me do it? My proposal was just as strong as Samantha¡¯s. You know it was.¡± William¡¯s expression tightened, a trace of conflict flickering in his eyes. He didn¡¯t let go of Rachel¡¯s hand. Instead, he held it tighter, his warm thumb slowly rubbing the back of her hand in a quiet, soothing motion. ¡°Rachel, Samantha just got back to the country. Without something strong on her resume, she won¡¯t be able to find good work. Her parents are in poor health¨Cno one knows how much time they have left. She needs this win. Also, we attended the same school. I know you. You¡¯ve always been kind. You won¡¯t hold this against her, right?¡± Rachel almostughed at how noble and polished his excuse sounded. However, the bitterness on her tongue said otherwise. It wasn¡¯t funny. Not at all. Previously, Rachel had always thought that William¡¯s kindness was just for her. Now, she saw the truth¨Chis kindness could be given to anyone. He worried about Samantha¡¯s allergies, but had forgotten that Rachel herself could suffer from being around dust too. For her, it could even lead to breathing problems, and at its worst, could be life¨Cthreatening. When William saw how calm Rachel was, he felt even more uneasy After a moment of hesitation, he spoke gently. ¡°Rachel, how about we¡­¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± Rachel interrupted. ¡°You just got the promotion. You don¡¯t have full control yet. There are too many shareholders, and you can¡¯t make all the decisions alone.¡± She pretended to be understanding, gently pulling her hand out of his without making a fuss. Her voice carried a trace of weariness. When someone stopped loving a person, they would find a hundred excuses to convince themselves it was the right thing. Even if she stayed here, begging, she knew he wouldn¡¯t give her the project. And if that was the case¨Cwhy bother forcing it? Thinking he had calmed her down, Wiliam let out a relieved breath ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°Remember the auction? You were eyeing that ne, the Eternal Heart, right? It¡¯sing up in a few days. I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡± Rachel stiffened, but forced a small smile and met his eyes. ¡°Sure, but I heard it¡¯s pretty expensive.¡± She didn¡¯t need him, but money still had value. No one was foolish enough to turn down money. ¡°If you want it, no matter how expensive it is, it¡¯s worth it,¡± he assured, his eyes lighting up the moment she agreed. A smile yed at the corners of his mouth, and with a look full of affection, he reached out to gently pinch her cheek. Just as he began to lean in¡­ The office door swung open. Samantha stood in the doorway and hesitantly said in a soft voice, Mr. Lewis, the higher¨Cup asking for you toe up.¡± e waiting for you. They¡¯re In the blink of an eye, William¡¯s hand, which had been resting on Rachel¡¯s shoulder, quickly pulled away. ¡°Got it.¡± Samantha stepped forward timidly, her teeth gently biting her lower lip. Her eyes were red¨Crimmed in an instant, and she awkwardly used a few basic hand gestures as she spoke. ¡°Mr. Lewis, Rachel, are you two arguing about the Oasis Project? If Rachel really wants it, I don¡¯t mind giving it up. I can step aside.¡± Rachel frowned slightly at Samantha¡¯s words. She stared at her for a moment, then calmly replied, ¡°No need. I don¡¯t like taking things that belong to someone else. Since Mr. Lewis is considering your past connection, you should do your best with the Oasis Rroject, Ms. Judd.¡± At Rachel¡¯s words, Samantha¡¯s eyes grew even more teary. She reached out, gently tugging at William¡¯s shirt sleeve. ¡°Mr. Lewis, I think Rachel might have some misunderstandings about me. Could you exin it to her? If it¡¯s for Rachel, I¡¯m willing to give up the project.¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze fell on Samantha¡¯s hand, still holding William¡¯s sleeve. He had never liked anyone touching him. Samantha seemed to realize it too, quickly letting go as Rachel quietly turned her gaze away. Raising a fist to his lips, William cleared his throat. ¡°Rachel already agreed. She¡¯s not the type to hold grudges.¡± He turned to Rachel and signed as he said, ¡°After the meeting, I¡¯lle find you. Tonight, we¡¯ll go to that restaurant you love.¡± With that, he stepped past Rachel and followed Samantha to the meeting room. As soon as the office door shut behind them, Rachel picked up Samantha¡¯s project proposal on William¡¯s desk and nced at it. A bitterugh escaped her lips. Samantha hadn¡¯t even bothered to correct the typos. Her Exit 4 Chapter 4 Rachel walked back to her office, holding her project proposal, her face pale, Cecilia Young noticed right away and came over, using simple hand signs as she asked, ¡°Rachel, are you okay? Did that new hire really take the project?¡± Rachel grabbed Cecilia¡¯s wrist. ¡°Come with me.¡± The two of them went to the breakroom. Rachel¡¯s face was serious as she said, ¡°I need your help with something, important.¡± ¡°Of course, just tell me what you need,¡± ¡°I heard that LS Enterprise wanted to take the Oasis Project too. Since it hasn¡¯t started yet, if wee up with a better n, we can take control of the project. That way, it won¡¯t be up to thispany to decide how it moves forward.¡± Cecilia¡¯s face went pale. She quickly started to gesture in panic as she eximed, ¡°Are you crazy? If you get involved and someone finds out, it¡¯s like leakingpany secrets. Your career would be over!¡± She paused, looking at Rachel like she was crazy, then added, ¡°Also, I¡¯ve heard rumors about the owner of LS Enterprise. His background isplicated, and there isn¡¯t much information avable online about him. If you go near him, it¡¯s like walking straight into a trap. What if he uses it against you?¡± Rachel knew Cecilia was scared for her. But at this point, there was no turning back. ¡°This is my mom¡¯s dying wish. I have to finish it,¡± Rachel said firmly. She didn¡¯t have much time left. Cecilia had known Rachel since college, so she knew that once Rachel made up her mind, nothing could change it. After thinking for a moment, she sighed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m in. But be careful. If word gets out that the wife of Lewis Enterprise¡¯s CEO is helping their rivalpany, it¡¯s going to stir up a storm.¡± Rachel¡¯s grip tightened around Cecilia¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful. Thank you.¡± After leaving the breakroom, Rachel quietly packed up her things. As she was straightening up her desk, something fell and broke. Bending down to pick it up, she realized it was a picture of her and William¨Cone they had taken when they first started dating. Their heads were close together, smiling shyly. Back then, they had been so happy, like nothing could stand in their way as long as they had each other. Now, it all felt like a joke. Rachel picked up the broken frame and tossed it in the trash. As she finished tidying up, Cecilia sent a message. [I used all my connections and got you fifteen minutes.] Rachel texted back: [That¡¯s enough.] This was it. Whether she seeded or failed, it all came down to that moment. With her project proposal in hand, Rachel made her way to LS Enterprise. Cecilia gave her a quick pat on the shoulder. ¡°Use your skills to win him over. If that doesn¡¯t work, try using your charm!¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help butugh at her friend¡¯s.silly joke. ¡°What if he¡¯s into men?¡± she teased. Cecilia paused, unsure how to respond. After saying goodbye, Rachel entered the building. But once she got into the elevator, doubt started to creep in. She had heard that the owner of LS Enterprise was notoriously difficult to deal with. He was always hard to reach, but hispany¡¯s sess far outpaced Lewis Enterprise. Rumor had it that the founder, Tyler Hunt, had built thepany from scratch in just two or three years, turning it into an industry leader. Because of that, he had be a legendary figure. When Rachel arrived at the office door, she hesitated for a moment before knocking. A cold voice came from inside: ¡°Come in.¡± Rachel took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The moment she entered, she was met with the cold, monochrome tones of ck, white, and gray. The man inside had sharp features, giving him an intimidating look that made him seem distant and unapproachable. He was still talking to an employee, but once Rachel¡¯s eyes locked onto him, she couldn¡¯t look away. He had a presence that was impossible to ignore. Unlike the kind of coldness Wim had, Tyler had a more aggressive edge. His serious expression and strikingly sharp features made him look even more intense. Rachel hadn¡¯t expected anyone else to be in the room. She quietly sat down on the couch, watching Tyler. He was focused, his sharp gaze never flickering from the papers in front of him. He didn¡¯t notice her presence at all. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry, so she waited, letting the silence settle until his subordinate finished reporting. The man, still signing documents, spoke without looking up. ¡°Find out who let her in. Fire the person involved.¡± The subordinate froze for a second, ncing at Rachel sitting on the couch, then nodded. ¡°Understood, Mr. Hunt.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She had heard rumors that LS Enterprise¡¯s CEO was ruthless and quick to act when someone made a mistake. She could see that it was all true. In the time it took him to sign a contract, someone had been fired. Hoping to avoid getting thrown out, Rachel quickly stated her purpose. To her surprise, Tyler didn¡¯t even lift his head. Rachel knew he was listening, so she continued exining her n. Once she finished speaking, Tyler finally looked up from his papers. His gaze was sharp, almost too intense, his eyes giving off a pressure that made Rachel feel small under his scrutiny. For some reason, even though this was their first meeting, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she had seen him before. Ready to make her pitch, she cleared her throat and continued, saying, ¡°Mr. Hunt, if I can help yourpany secure the rights to the Oasis Project, over the next three years, yourpany will experience a major breakthrough. Plus, thend near Oasis gives you plenty of room to expand¡­¡± He interrupted her: ¡°Mrs. Lewis, did you get into a fight with your husband, or is this just yourpany¡¯s new strategy?¡± As he spoke, he ced the file aside, but his sharp gaze lingered on her. Rachel was caught off guard. She hadn¡¯t expected such a blunt response, but she held her ground. ¡°I know you might have doubts, but I genuinely want to help yourpany secure the rights. No one knows this project better than I do.¡± Tyler set down his pen and leaned back in his chair,zily raising an eyebrow. ¡°When gods fight, the mortals suffer?¡± Rachel pursed her lips, trying to exin herself by saying, ¡°I¡¯m not asking for any money, but I have one condition. If you secure the rights, I get the final say on the design.¡± His piercing gaze didn¡¯t leave her. He leaned slightly forward, his voice low and deliberate as he said, ¡°You should understand whating to me for negotiations means.¡± ¡°I do,¡± Rachel replied, meeting his eyes with steady resolve. ¡°It means I might end up making enemies on both sides. If this gets out, Lewis Enterprise will hold me ountable, and you¡¯ll have every reason to think I¡¯m a spy sent from them.¡± Tyler seemed amused. ¡°I¡¯m curious, though. Since the Oasis Project is already under yourpany, why are you here?¡± Rachel lowered her gaze, her voice quieter now as she said, ¡°Because of personal reasons that I can¡¯t discuss. However, this project is crucial for me.¡± Tyler tapped his finger on the desk. ¡°I heard you¡¯re not in charge of the project anymore. A new person was brought in.¡± He paused for a moment, letting the words settle before speaking again. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t concern me. I have no reason to wade through your personal drama,¡± he added, his tone cold and deliberate. Her Exit 5 Rachel walked downstairs, where Cecilia was still waiting for her. As soon as she appeared, Cecilia rushed t ¡°So, what happened?¡± she asked eagerly. ¡°It didn¡¯t work out. Just like the rumors say, he¡¯s impossible to get through to.¡± Not only that, but Rachel had almost exposed herself in the process dup to her. As she was about to leave his office, she had heard Tyler¡¯s deep voice behind her: ¡°I heard you went dead because of Mr. Lewis back then, Mrs. Lewis. Looks like you¡¯re all better now.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t sure if Tyler would keep her secret, but deep down, she felt that even if she asked him, he wouldn¡¯t help. Cecilia looked at her with guilt and said, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I couldn¡¯t help you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Actually, I think I¡¯ve caused trouble for you.¡± Rachel shivered as she remembered Tyler¡¯s words to his subordinate earlier. As she was about to speak again, the noticed Cecilia standing still, frozen in shock. Her eyes were wide open, and she seemed lost in thought. Rachel waved her hand in front of her. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you okay?¡± Cecilia slowly turned her head, her face full of disbelief. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t sign to you just now, but¡­ you could hear me?¡± Rachel quickly covered her mouth. ¡°Keep it down. Come here.¡± ¡®Once they were out of earshot, Rachel exined what had happened. Cecilia¡¯s reaction was pure excitement. ¡°That¡¯s amazing! Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? I was over here looking like a fool, clumsily signing to you.¡± Cecilia wasn¡¯t great at signnguage, but luckily, Rachel was smart. Even if the person Rachel was talking to wasn¡¯t fluent in signnguage, she could roughly tell what they were saying from the shape of their mouth. ¡°But you need to keep this secret for me. Not even William knows. And tell your friend who helped set this meeting that there¡¯s a good chance they might lose their job over it.¡± Rachel¡¯s voice grew softer as she repeated Tyler¡¯s words to Cecilia. Cecilia hung her head, clearly upset. ¡°This is bad. Tyler really is as ruthless as they say. It looks like your n is going to fall apart.¡± When Rachel got home, she sold the custom wedding dress William designed for her. She had finallye to a decision. Whether or not she got the Oasis Project, she needed money for the future. She wasn¡¯t the rich daughter of the Lloyd family anymore; she was just an ordinary person now, and to survive, she needed money. She thought it would take days for anyone to buy the dress, but to her surprise, within three minutes, someone paid an unbelievable price for it. Five million. She stared at the deposit notification on her phone, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. She was already thinking about what to do with the money. Just then, the door burst open. William walked in, sweat beading on his forehead. He knelt down in front of Rachel, looking desperate, his hands moving quickly as he signed. ¡°I saw you sold the wedding dress online. I designed that myself. Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?¡± Rachel could see nothing but worry in William¡¯s eyes. She had always believed she understood himpletely. From his go she could read him like an open book. But now, as she looked into those same eyes, all she saw was insincerity. She forced a smile, trying to sound calm as she replied, ¡°No, I just think the dress is a material item. Remember that orphanage I told you about? It¡¯s in really bad shape; I want to donate money to them.¡± William looked at her with doubt in his eyes. ¡°Really? It¡¯s not because you¡¯re mad that Samantha got the Oasis Project?¡± Rachel pretended to be unaffected, patting his hand lightly. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re all alumni of the same school. Helping each other is the right thing to do. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± After he heard that, William¡¯s tense face softened, his sharp features rxing into a smile. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I knew you weren¡¯t that petty. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure everything goes smoothly with the project. I won¡¯t let anything go wrong¡± Rachel almostughed out loud. In William¡¯s eyes, he was being generous enough by giving away the most important thing to him. She knew now that getting him to give her the project was impossible. Her only chance was with Tyler. Just as she was thinking that, William¡¯s phone rang. He nced at it quickly, about to ignore it, but Rachel had already seen the name on the screen. It was Samantha. A bright, radiant smile crossed Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°Who¡¯s calling? Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± William hesitated for a moment, then slipped the phone back into his pocket, forcing a smile. ¡°It¡¯s just thepany. But right now, I need to focus on you. You¡¯re much more important than work.¡± .He spoke softly, a trace of affection in his eyes as he gently pinched Rachel¡¯s cheek. However, she said, ¡°Go ahead, take the call. It might be something important.¡± William didn¡¯t want to answer, but Samantha kept calling. He ruffled Rachel¡¯s hair, nodding toward the door to let her know he needed to take the call. She quietly watched as he walked out, the light in her eyes dimming little by little. What she had once considered so important seemed to mean nothing to him, as it left his lips so casually. Had he forgotten what he had told her before? That as long as he was around, the project would be hers, no matter the cost? Now, he had casually handed it over to Samantha with just the excuse of it being the higher¨Cups¡® decision. The vibration of her phone pulled Rachel back to reality. It was a message from Cecilia. [I heard that Tyler will be attending the charity auction tonight. Not sure if he¡¯ll actually g events like this. You¡¯ll have to take a chance.] Lough. I heard he rarely attends Rachel wasn¡¯t sure if Tyler would actually be there, but she had to go. Maybe she would get lucky. She quickly typed a reply: [Thanks.] As soon as she sent the message, William came back into the room after his phone call. He crouched down in front of her, looking anxious. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve got to meet a business partner, so I might not be able to have dinner with you. But I¡¯lle back as soon as I can.¡± Rachel quickly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You go ahead. We can eat together another time.¡± She was actually d he wouldn¡¯t be around tonight. She wasn¡¯t sure how to turn him down if he insisted on taking her out. William couldn¡¯t help but kiss her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re the best. When I get back, I¡¯ll buy that bracelet you liked at the auction.¡± ¡°Alright. Go ahead,¡± Rachel replied, ying the part of the understanding wife. +25 BONUS She turned her head, avoiding his kiss. Just the thought of those hands, that mouth, having touched Samantha made her feel utterly disgusted. William didn¡¯t notice that something was off with Rachel. She could see how he was almost about to float off the ground with excitement. She knew she didn¡¯t want this forced rtionship anymore, and couldn¡¯t bring herself to care about a love that didn¡¯t feel real. Once William left, Rachel quickly grabbed some clothes from the closet and put on light makeup before rushing out the door. When she arrived at the charity auction, she took out the invitation. The brand had invited Lewis Enterprise, so it wouldn¡¯t be too hard to get in. Inside, she searched the room but couldn¡¯t find Tyler. Instead, she saw two familiar faces¨CWilliam and Samantha. Samantha was adjusting William¡¯s tie, looking at him with eyes full of affection. Rachel couldn¡¯t help but let out a bitterugh. This was his idea of meeting a business partner? But that wasn¡¯t the worst of it. What happened next left her stunned. A staff member came over and handed William a beautiful red velvet box. Slowly, he opened it, took out a bracelet, and gently ced it on Samantha¡¯s wrist. Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her legs felt heavy as she stood frozen. The bracelet meant so much to her¨Cit was the first piece of jewelry she ever designed. Back when her mother couldn¡¯t afford treatment, Rachel had sold it. William had promised he would buy it back once it was up for auction. But now, seeing this, she realized that his promises meant nothing. For a man, what he said one moment could mean nothing the next. He could be loving and caring, always saying he loved her, but then turn around and act the same way with another woman. Rachel bit her lip hard, trying to steady her breathing. She didn¡¯t even notice the small trickle of blood from where her teeth pierced her skin. She watched as Samantha smiled brightly and threw herself into William¡¯s arms. ¡°William, you¡¯re the best!¡± Then, with worry¨Cfilled eyes, she added, ¡°But if Rachel finds out, do you think she¡¯ll be upset?¡± Her Exit 6 ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s generous and not that petty. Think of it as a wee gift from me. Rachel is really good at what she does. If you work with her, you¡¯ll learn a lot,¡± William said, his voice full of concern for Samantha. From a distance, Rachel overheard his words, and her heart sank. Generous? In William¡¯s eyes, she could give up everything¨Cthe project, her design work, even her mother¡¯sst wish. And now, she was even giving up her husband. She could feel the weight of her own humiliation, even without looking in the mirror. ¡°Rachel Lloyd, how did you end up like this?¡± she asked herself quietly. Just then, a teasing voice interrupted her thoughts: ¡°I wondered why you suddenly wanted to work with me. Turns out, your husband has found someone new.¡± Rachel jumped back in shock. Her heel slipped, making her lose her bnce and start to fall backwards. Her mind raced, fearing the worst. But in the next moment, steady hands gripped her waist For a moment, she was relieved that Tyler at least seemed a bitpassionate. But then, she saw the mocking smile at the corner of his lips, and his hands suddenly left her waist. Rachel couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªhe was ying with her. In that split second, a burst of strength flowed through her. Just as she was about to hit the ground, she grabbed onto the edge of Tyler¡¯s suit jacket. His deep eyes showed a flicker of surprise before he reluctantly caught her again, pulling her back. She stumbled into his hard, firm chest. Looking up with a frown, she was met with his intense, unreadable gaze. ¡°Are you trying to use me as a cushion?¡± he teased. Rachel couldn¡¯t stand this man, especially after the way he had yed with her. She pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance between them. She couldn¡¯t admit it was intentional, so she muttered, ¡°It was just a reflex. I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hunt.¡± If it weren¡¯t for him messing with her, this near¨Cdisaster wouldn¡¯t have happened. Rachel clenched her fists, trying to stay calm. She still needed him for the Oasis Project. For now, he was like her only lifeline! She took a deep breath, letting the tension leave her body, and forced a smile back onto her face. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you must believe me now, right? I¡¯m not a spy sent by Lewis Enterprise. I really want to work with you.¡± Tyler tucked his hands casually into his pockets as hezily replied, ¡°Who knows? Maybe you and your husband are just ying me.¡± Rachel pursed her lips tightly. This man had a trust issue the size of a mountain. She imagined any woman who married him might never even get a chance to talk to another man. She smiled wider, trying to stay patient. ¡°Why would I bother? Besides, we both know you could uncover the truth with one phone call. You¡¯ve got that kind of reach.¡± Everyone at Nevalis University knew about Samantha and William¡¯s past rtionship. After a moment, Tyler spoke again, his tone reluctantly serious. ¡°If you¡¯re determined to work with us, let me make one thing clear Once this project is under LS Enterprise, William will eventually find out about you. Once that gets out, it will cause a scandal for us at LS Enterprise. Who knows¡­¡± He paused, leaning slightly closer to her. His warm breath brushed against her ear as he whispered, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. ¡°People might say you and I are in this together. Do you think you can handle that kind of usation, Mrs. Lewis?¡± Rachel stiffened, the weight of his words hitting her hard. She understood exactly what he was saying. If she pushed too hard now, she could burn everything down. But as long as she could finish the project before leaving, the gossip wouldn¡¯t matter. Slowly, the tension in Rachel¡¯s face began to fade. She knew what she had to do. ¡°That¡¯s hardly your concern, Mr. Hunt. You¡¯re a businessman. As long as this project turns pure profit, nothing else should matter,¡± she said. She could tell Tyler wasn¡¯t the type to fear William¡¯s wrath. The man had an air of confidence that made him seem unafraid of anything or anyone. With a faint smirk, he dropped his scrutinizing gaze and slumped back into his signaturezy posture. ¡°Hey,¡± he called out to her. Rachel looked up at him. ¡°Yeah?¡± His eyes moved past her,nding on the other side of the room. His voice took on a yful tone as he added, ¡°Your husband seems to be staring right at us.¡± Rachel froze. She quickly turned her head, and sure enough, William was looking straight at her. The moment their eyes met, they both froze. William¡¯s face showed a flicker of surprise when he saw Rachel, but when his gazended on Tyler next to her, his expression darkened. Samanthapletely missed the odd look on William¡¯s face as she cheerfully came over to greet Rachel. ¡°Rachel, what a coincidence! If I had known you wereing, I wouldn¡¯t have joined William. Oh, but don¡¯t misunderstand. I just came along as a favor because he didn¡¯t have a plus¨Cone.¡± Samantha seemed a little flustered as she gestured toward Rachel, her face turning pink as she nervously stole a nce at her. Her eyes showed signs of difort, and Rachel couldn¡¯t help but feel like some kind of a wicked stepmother, as if she had been deliberately bullying Samantha. Just then, William seemed to snap out of his thoughts. He walked over and took Rachel¡¯s hand. ¡°I thought I told you to rest at home. Why did youe out on your own?¡± For a moment, Rachel couldn¡¯t tell if he was concerned or ming her. She kept her face neutral and said, ¡°Remember I told you about the bracelet I designed for my graduation project? I heard it¡¯s being auctioned off today. Since you¡¯re busy with work, I decided to just take a cab ande.¡± When Samantha heard that, she instinctively tried to hide her wrist. However, Rachel¡¯s eyesnded on her wrist ¡°Ms. Judd, how did you end up with that bracelet?¡± she eximed in surprise. Samantha tried to hide it, but Rachel grabbed her wrist, revealing the soft blue bracelet to everyone. Tyler had taken a seat when William and Samantha came over, He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, clearly enjoying the scene unfolding. The atmosphere grew tense. Rachel then looked directly at William, raising her voice as she said, ¡°I get it now. You secretly bought it and wanted to surprise me, right?¡± William was momentarily stunned, but then nodded along with her. ¡°Yeah, I thought I¡¯d swing by after my meeting and pick it up for you. That bracelet¡¯s been sitting around for so long, so I thought I¡¯d have Samantha try it on for you.¡± Rachel smiled widely, her eyes sparkling. ¡°I knew it! You really went through all that trouble, huh? But since I¡¯m right here, I can try it on myself.¡± Samantha¡¯s face turned pale with a mix of anger and embarrassment. Though she was clearly fuming inside, she couldn¡¯t say anything. Rachel extended her hand, and Samantha reluctantly removed the bracelet and gave it to her. Rachel put it on her wrist, making sure to unt it in front of William and Samantha. She shook her wrist slightly. ¡°How does it look?¡± ¡°It looks great,¡± William replied patiently, as he always did. Then, Samantha suddenly spoke up, her voice soft and sweet as she asked, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this man Mr. Hunt? How did you end up with him, Rachel? I thought ourpany wasn¡¯t working with LS Enterprise.¡± Her Exit 7 Chapter 7 Everything, had seemed to be going fine, but things had now take turn. Suddenly, the spotlight was on Rachel and Tyler, making Rachel¡¯s heart skip a beat. Everyone in the industry knew that Lewis Enterprise and LS Enterprise were rivals. In Yurelia City, only those twopanies had the strength topete head¨Cto¨Chead. Getting too close to thepetition was bound to raise suspicion. But as long as her acting was good enough, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Rachel kept her calm and smoothly replied, ¡°I identally stepped on Mr. Hunt¡¯s shoe earlier. I figured I should apologize. That¡¯s not too much, is it?¡± Tyler casually responded, ¡°That¡¯s right. Mrs. Lewis was about to apologize to me, but then you showed up, Mr. Lewis.¡± William red at Tyler, his brow furrowing in frustration as his expression darkened. ¡°You-¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis,¡± Tyler interrupted before William could continue. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, you apologize on your wife¡¯s behalf. I don¡¯t usually like to make things difficult for women.¡± Rachel stared at Tyler in disbelief. Did this man not have any shame? He nearly made her fall earlier, and now had the nerve to say he didn¡¯t like making things hard for women¨Cwith a straight face no less! William stayed silent, his expression dark. Rachel felt something was off with him tonight, especially after meeting Tyler. He seemed more restless than usual. A few momentster, Tyler rubbed his forehead and spoke again in a clearly impatient manner: ¡°I thought the rumors said you treat your wife like a precious treasure. Were those lies?¡± The words were casual, but the pressure in Tyler¡¯s voice was unmistakable. There was a time when Rachel would¡¯ve immediately stepped in to defend William. She hated seeing people push her loved ones around. People could mess with her, but she wouldn¡¯t let anyone mess with the ones she cared about. But tonight, she just wanted to see what William would do. She knew him well. He was an extremely prideful man who wouldn¡¯t just apologize to thepetition. Plus, there were so many people watching. If word got out, it would be all over the news by tomorrow. The tension in the air grew thicker. ¡°Mr. Hunt, it¡¯s not that big of a deal. It¡¯s just a pair of shoes, right? We can pay for the spoke up. you¡¯d like,¡® ¡°Samantha cautiously Tyler raised an eyebrow, a yful smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°Is this youngdy perhaps your next wife, Mr. Lewis?¡± The words stung, and Samantha¡¯s face turned pale. William quickly pulled her behind him. ¡°I forgot to introduce her to you, Mr. Hunt. This is our new colleague, Samantha Judd.¡± Tyler nced at Samantha briefly, then looked down at his watch with disinterest. ¡°I see. Never heard of her.¡± Samantha¡¯s eyes filled with hurt, her cheeks flushed red. She clutched William¡¯s jacket, her voice thick with emotion, calling out, ¡°William¡­¡± William¡¯s jaw tightened, his fists clenching and unclenching as he took a deep breath. ¡°My wife made a mistake. As her husband, I should be the one to take responsibility. What do you want, Mf. Hunt?¡± he finally said, his voice low and strained. Just then, a waiter passed by, and Tyler raised his hand to signal for him to stop. ¡°If you drink this bottle of champagne, I¡¯ll consider this matter settled.¡± Samantha quickly reached out to stop him. ¡°That won¡¯t do. Willian can¡¯t hold his liquor. I¡¯ll drink in his ce, Mr. Hunt.¡± As she spoke, she reached for the champagne, ready to down it. However, William snatched it away before it touched her lips, his brows furrowed tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! You¡¯re allergic to alcohol.¡± Rachel swayed where she stood, the words hitting her like a punch to the chest. She stumbled back two steps, her throat tightening. He remembered Samantha was allergic to alcohol, but forgot that Rachel was allergic to dust. Her fingers clutched the back of the nearest chair, knuckles turning white. William drank the champagne in one go, while Samantha¡¯s eyes were filled with concern, watching him with evident worry. Tyler looked like he was watching a show as he leaned casually against a nearby chair, his eyes never leaving William as he finished the bottle of champagne. Then, he pped slowly, as if impressed. ¡°You truly have a remarkable tolerance for alcohol, Mr. Lewis.¡± After saying that, Tyler waved a hand carelessly, slipped his hands back into his pockets, and walked out of the auction hall. William¡¯s stomach churned, the alcohol hitting him harder than he expected. However, he kept hisposure and looked at Rachel with a pale face. He staggered over to her, grabbing her hand and trying to steady himself as he raised his hand to sign to her. ¡°Tyler isn¡¯t someone who should be messed with. Stay away from him.¡± Noticing how unstable William was, Rachel instinctively reached out to hold his arm. ¡°You need to go home and take some .medicine for this.¡± He nodded slowly, then turned to Samantha. ¡°Take a cab home. Let me know when you arrive.¡± Samantha smiled sweetly and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Then, she turned to Rachel and signed awkwardly, saying, ¡°Rachel please take care of William. His stomach is usually sensitive after drinking, and he gets severe stomach pains the next day. Also can you make him some chicken soup?¡± Rachel¡¯s breath hitched at Samantha¡¯s words. She didn¡¯t respond directly but gave a pointed reminder instead. ¡°Be careful on your way back, Ms. Judd. And from now on, call him Mr. Lewis in public. If someone overhears and thinks you¡¯re¡­ something else, it could cause problems.¡± Without giving Samantha a chance to argue, Rachel guided William out of the room. tha stood there, staring at their retreating backs. She pursed her lips tightly together, eyes full of frustration. As Rachel helped William toward the exit, she caught a glimpse of Tyler in the distance, casually leaning against his Bugatti He had a cigarette between his lips, his head slightly lowered as he spoke into his phone. When he turned his head slightly, his cold, dark eyes met Rachel¡¯s Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away. As she opened the car door and helped William inside, Tyler¡¯s car drove past them, the two vehicles mere inches apart. As Rachel got into the backseat, a strange, ufortable sensation crept over her. It felt like needles pricking at her back, like someone was watching her. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling. She didn¡¯t understand why Tyler acted that way toward William. It was clear to anyone that it was a deliberate attack. William had been in the business world for so many years, and she had never seen him act so uneasy around anyone. It made her wonder if something had happened between William and Tyler that she wasn¡¯t aware of. William looked miserable. After downing an entire bottle of champagne, it was no surprise that he wasn¡¯t doing well. The strong smell of alcohol filled the car, making Rachel wrinkle her nose. She fought the urge to gag and rolled down the window to let the air circte, and the feeling of unease gradually subsided. When they got home, Rachel and Arsen Smith helped William to his room. Arsen noticed how drunk William was and said, ¡°Madam, I¡¯ll prepare some hangover remedy. You take care of Mr. Lewis.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Rachel replied, ncing at William. She saw how cracked and dry his lips were, and was about to get up to pour him some water when she heard him mumbling something. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­ Don¡¯t leave me¡­ Once I¡¯m rich, I¡¯ll marry you, Samantha¡­¡± Rachel felt her heart, which had been adrift all evening, plummet into an abyss. She had always believed that William¡¯s drive to inherit thepany, to earn his grandfather¡¯s approval, was for her. She thought he was working so hard to give her a better life, to make up for the pain she had suffered as a child. Through his toughest times, she had stayed by his side. She had been there through every all¨Cnighter, every brutal negotiation. Even that time shended in the hospital with alcohol poisoning after attending a social event with him, she hadn¡¯t voiced a singleint. But now, he was telling her that his true motivation had been Samantha. It had been that woman all along. Then, what about Rachel? What did that make her? Her Exit 8 Chapter 8 William had a terrible night. Unable to sleep well, he woke up with a pounding headache and a heavy, ufortable feeling all over his body. When he opened his eyes, his stomach was empty and aching. He turned over, but the space next to him was empty. He rubbed his temples, trying to ease the pressure in his head. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± he murmured softly. The door creaked open, revealing Arsen in the doorway. ¡°Mr. Lewis, you¡¯re awake.¡± William pushed the covers off and sat up. ¡°Where¡¯s Rachel?¡± ¡°She left early for the office, sir,¡± Arsen answered. William got out of bed, got dressed, and walked into the dining room. The table was set, but there was only some bread and milk served. ¡°Where¡¯s the chicken soup?¡± he asked with a frown. Arsen lowered his head. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Lewis, I don¡¯t know how to make chicken soup. Mrs. Lewis said she was busy with work and didn¡¯t have time to make it. She said you could just eat whatever¡¯s here.¡± William felt a wave of frustration he couldn¡¯t exin. Whenever he had a hangover, Rachel always made sure he had his favorite chicken soup. It didn¡¯t matter how busy she was, or even if it meant waking up at four or five in the morning to cook it for him. This was the first time he had woken up to find the table empty, without her there. His stomach hurt again, sharper this time. He hunched over, instinctively pressing his hand to his stomach. ¡°Get me my stomach medicine,¡± he said. Arsen began looking around, clearly flustered. ¡°Mr. Lewis, where do you keep your stomach medicine?¡± William realized suddenly that Rachel was always the one who ced the medicine on the table for him whenever he had stomach issues. He raised his hand. ¡°Text Rachel. Ask her where it is.¡± Arsen sent Rachel a message, but there was no reply. He tried several more times, bu moments, he put the phone down, unsure of what to do next. ¡°Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Lewis didn¡¯t reply,¡± Arsen said. re was still no response. After a few The pain in William¡¯s stomach only made his mood worse. Add to that the fact that the house felt cold and empty, and he couldn¡¯t shake off his growing irritation. ¡°Forget it. Just go out and get me some stomach medicine and chicken soup,¡± he snapped. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Arsen replied quickly. But the chicken soup from the restaurant was nothingpared to the one Rachel usually made for him. He wouldn¡¯t know, but she always considered his weak stomach. She would wake up at three in the morning to prepare it for him. It would simmer for hours, turning thick and fragrant, just the way he liked it. The chicken soup Arsen had bought was from the most expensive restaurant in Yurelia City, and was nothing like Rachel¡¯s. William took two sips, then put his spoon down in disgust. ¡°It¡¯s awful,¡± he muttered. 4 Meanwhile, Rachel was sitting calmly in a caf¨¦, sipping coffee and enjoying breakfast. When she saw the name shing on her phone screen, a cold smile tugged at her lips. Her love for William had alwayse with one condition¨Che had to be just as devoted to her. But clearly, that wasn¡¯t the case anymore. He wasn¡¯t just physically with someone else, his heart had left her a long time ago too. She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to keep holding on.- In less than ten days, she would finally be free from this broken rtionship. But she still had onest obstacle to ovee. She needed to convince Tyler, who was as tough as concrete. He didn¡¯t care about anything but results, and he never let personal feelings get in the way. The only way to get through to him was to offer terms be would find eptable. (1 No matter what, she couldn¡¯t give up until thest moment. Rachel checked her watch, finished her coffee, and stood up to head to the office. As soon as she walked in, she saw a crowd gathered around Samantha, all of them looking at her with admiration. ¡°Samantha, that ne is beautiful! I remember seeing it at the auction; it¡¯s one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind, right? Must be really expensive.¡± Samantha was smiling brightly, her clear, fair face glowing with happiness. Gone was the awkwardness on her face at the auction the night before. She was gently touching the ne around her neck, clearly proud of it ¡°You¡¯re right. My boyfriend bought it for me,¡± Samantha said. ¡°He said if others have it, his little princess should have it too.¡± The other women gasped, their eyes wide with admiration. ¡°Your boyfriend really loves you,¡± one of them said, a dreamy look on her face. Samantha¡¯s eyes lit up with a shy, girlish gleam. ¡°My boyfriend said that when I get pregnant, he¡¯ll get an even bigger gift for me.¡± Rachel, standing a little further away, froze. It felt like her whole body had gone stiff, like rust was creeping over her. A sharp¨Ceyed colleague spotted Rachel and quickly walked over with a slight sense of panic. ¡°Good morning, Ms. Lloyd¡± Rachel snapped back to reality, her expression neutral. ¡°Good morning.¡± One of the employees hurried over and started signing, saying, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, look at th gorgeous?¡± e on Samantha¡¯s neck. Isn¡¯t it Rachel¡¯s gaze followed,nding on the silver ne around Samantha¡¯s neck. A small, tight smile tugged at her lips. Wasn¡¯t that the Eternal Heart ne from the auction? William really was ying both sides, trying to please everyone. On top of managing theplex issues with Lewis Enterprise, how did he keep up? Rachel¡¯s voice was calm and measured as she replied, ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful. But I noticed that your boyfriend wasn¡¯t at the auction yesterday, Ms. Judd. Maybe next time, you can bring him along so we can meet him.¡± Samantha grinned brightly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce him to you when I get the chance, Rachel.¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on the ne, and she reached out to lightly run her fingers over the cool chain. ¡°This ne must¡¯ve cost quite a bit. I¡¯m guessing your boyfriend is someone well¨Cknown in the industry. Would it be afright to know hisst name? Maybe I know him.¡± The surrounding colleagues leaned in, their curiosity piqued. ¡°Yeah, if he¡¯s someone in the industry, Ms. Lloyd would definitely know him! Come on, tell us about him!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, tell us!¡± Samantha, who had been smiling just moments ago, felt her smile slowly fade when Rachel asked about her boyfriend¡¯s name. Rachel¡¯s sharp eyes watched closely as Samantha¡¯s face tightened, just a little. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Notfortable saying his name¡­ or is there something else going on?¡± Rachel¡¯s question was enough to make everyone pause. After all, if Samantha¡¯s boyfriend was so well¨Cknown, why would she be shy about mentioning his name? Unless, of course¡­ there was something she didn¡¯t want anyone to know. Nobody here was an idiot; it wasn¡¯t hard for them to guess what might be going on. Suddenly, a voice broke the tension from behind: ¡°Why are you all gathered here? Don¡¯t you have work to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Lewis!¡± Everyone quickly straightened up and returned to their seats. William¡¯s hands were in his pockets, and even though he still looked a little tired from the hangover, he couldn¡¯t hide the sharp, striking features of his face. His eyes were as intense as an eagle¡¯s gaze. He walked up to them, eyesnding on Rachel as he lifted his phone slightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you text me back?¡± Rachel instinctively nced at Samantha before responding, her voice calm. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice. We were just talking about the Eternal Heart ne Ms. Judd is wearing. She said it was a gift from her boyfriend. Do you know him?¡± Her Exit 9 William¡¯s gaze fell on the ne on Samantha¡¯s neck, and his eyes grew cold for a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t know him,¡± he said. Samantha¡¯s face tightened, clearly upset. Rachel caught the subtle changes in both their expressions, and a smallugh escaped her. ¡°Funny, just earlier, Ms. Judd said she¡¯d introduce us to her boyfriend. How about next week?¡± William¡¯s gaze darkened, and before Samantha could speak, he cut in, ¡°Other people¡¯s boyfriends aren¡¯t our concern. By the way, she¡¯s new here. If she needs help, you can show her the ropes. Also, the data for the Oasis Project needs to be checked. Take a look at it for her.¡± Rachel could barely hold back augh. He wasn¡¯t giving her the project to manage, but now he wanted her to help Samantha look good in front of the team. How did he even have the nerve to say that out loud? She swallowed her frustration, replying, ¡°I have other work to do. Samantha nervously bit her lip, ncing at Rachel before speaking in a soft voice: ¡°William, please don¡¯t make Rachel do it. It¡¯s my fault that I can¡¯t even handle something this simple.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. You¡¯ll get the hang of it. Rachel is very capable. If you follow her, you¡¯ll learn a lot,¡± William replied, his voice calm and encouraging. To anyone else, it would have sounded like a regrpliment. But Rachel knew better. William never tolerated mistakes at work. If anyone messed up, they were out¨Cno excuses. But with Samantha? He was incredibly patient, even going so far as to hand her off to Rachel for help. Samantha lifted her eyes to look at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, is that okay?¡± she asked, her voice soft and uncertain. Rachel shrugged. ¡°Whatever Mr. Lewis says.¡± William gave Rachel¡¯s shoulder a small pat, his gaze full of quiet approval. ¡°Show her the ropes. It¡¯ll be good for you to have another pair of hands to help out.¡± Rachel forced a tight smile. Was William trying to make Samantha her assistant, or was she being groomed to rece her? Rachel shook off the thought, focusing on Samantha who was standing there, clearly uneasy. ¡°Bring the data you worked on to my office.¡± ¡°Okay, Rachel.¡± Samantha obediently returned to her office to gather the data before following Rachel into her office. Rachel¡¯s desk was buried under piles of paperwork; she couldn¡¯t help but tiredly rub her forehead. Samantha ced thepleted data in front of Rachel, who scanned it quickly. The expression on her face darkened. Her long fingers pointed to a number on the third line. ¡°If the project starts based on your numbers, thepany is going to lose a lot of money.¡± Samantha leaned in, looking at the numbers with a panicked expression. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Rachel. I might have made a mistake because William asked me to apany him to the mall to buy some things for his parents. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Samantha had heard from William that Rachel could read lips, so there was no real need to sign. The gestures were just a courtesy¨Cnothing more. Rachel tightened her grip on the file, her voice cold as she said, ¡°Ms. Judd, this is work. Your personal matters have nothing to do with me. I only care about your work results.¡± Her words were direct, but Samantha acted like she had been terribly wronged. Her eyes were red¨Crimmed, and she looked like she was about to cry. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rachel, please don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯ll fix it right now. If there¡¯s anything else wrong, just point it out to me.¡± Rachel felt exhausted. She didn¡¯t have time to waste on Samantha¡¯s mistakes. But still, she took a closer look, marking every mistake with the data. Minutes passed, and soon, the page was covered in red circles. Rachel¡¯s lips tightened as she lifted her gaze to meet Samantha¡¯s. Did you actually check the data properly?¡± If she had, there was no way it could be this wrong. The numbers looked like they were made up. When Samantha saw Rachel¡¯s cold and serious face, she tensed up even more. Her hands fidgeted nervously as she tried to exin. ¡°I¡­ I heard you could pull the data directly from the existing files, so I just¡­¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. ¡°You have to know that data changes. Even yesterday¡¯s numbers might be different today,¡± she said sharply. Samantha¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯ll redo it right now,¡± she whispered, wringing her fingers together. ¡°The project is on a tight schedule,¡± Rachel reminded, trying to stay calm. ¡°Since you¡¯ve taken it on, I expect you to treat it seriously.¡± She was trying her best to keep her temper in check. If Samantha had been professional and responsible, Rachel would have had no issue. But the fact that Samantha couldn¡¯t get something so basic right was worrying. It was unfortunate the project wasn¡¯t under Rachel. If Samantha was this careless, Rachel couldn¡¯t imagine how badly things would go if the project actually moved forward. She didn¡¯t me Samantha directly. The problemy with William Rachel didn¡¯t believe that he didn¡¯t know about Samantha¡¯s abilities. He was fully aware, yet he still pushed forward, and that was what disgusted her the most. ¡°Go recheck everything. I want it before lunch,¡± Rachel instructed firmly, cing t ¡°Okay.¡± Samantha, eyes red, grabbed the file and left the office. As she walked through the office, their colleagues couldn¡¯t help but gossip in low voices. ¡°Did Ms. Lloyd really make her cry?¡± e back on the desk. ¡°Ms. Lloyd needs to change her attitude. Just because Mr. Lewis spoils her doesn¡¯t mean she can treat new colleagues like that.¡± ¡°Everyone knows how much Ms. Lloyd values the Oasis Project. Since she didn¡¯t get to manage it, she must be upset.¡± Another coworker had an epiphany: ¡°Oh, I get it. She¡¯s abusing her power and position.¡± The people around her didn¡¯t even realize that Rachel had heard every word of their conversation. But it didn¡¯t matter. Soon enough, she would be out of this ce, and none of it would matter anymore. By noon, Rachel had wrapped up most of the projects she was responsible for and was ready to head out for lunch. She opened the door, only to stop short when she saw William standing next to Samantha, whose face was all flushed and red- eyed, looking like she had been wronged. If Rachel didn¡¯t know better, she might¡¯ve felt bad for her too. But she saw right 23 through the act. ¡°William, you don¡¯t have to wait for me. You go ahead and eat. Rachel wants me to finish these numbers before lunch, or she¡¯ll get mad,¡± Samantha said in a soft, almost pleading voice, biting her lip. William frowned, his brow furrowing deeply. ¡°Did she scold you?¡± Samantha shook her head quickly, her lips trembling as she muttered, ¡°No¡­ no, she didn¡¯t. Rachel¡¯s a senior. It¡¯s fine. I deserve it.¡± William let out a quiet sigh, his hand reaching up to gently ruffle Samantha¡¯s hair. ¡°The project isn¡¯t going to get done in one day. Don¡¯t stress. Let¡¯s go eat first. It¡¯s alreadyte. I¡¯ll take you to your favorite ce, Moon & Barrel.¡± At the mention of the restaurant, Samantha¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Did you manage to get a reservation? I tried calling so many times but couldn¡¯t get through.¡± Rachel froze for a moment. Just the other day, she had told William she wanted to try the shrimp gratin at Moon & Barrel. He kept saying it was impossible to get a table, but promised to take her there as soon as he could get a reservation. But now, it seemed the real reason he hadn¡¯t taken her there yet was that he just didn¡¯t want to. William stood up and pulled Samantha to her feet. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Samantha hesitated. ¡°But¡­ what about Rachel?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Rachel might seem strict, but she¡¯s really easygoing. I¡¯ll exin it to her, and she won¡¯t be upset with you.¡± William quickly shut Samantha¡¯s notebook and was about to leave, but as he looked up, he spotted Rachel standing at the door. His dark eyes flickered with a brief moment of panic, but he quickly masked it with a calm expression. He made a quick sign for eating and asked, ¡°Rachel, you haven¡¯t gone to eat yet?¡± Her Exit 10 ¡°I¡¯ve just finished some work,¡± Rachel said, her voice calm. Samantha and William stood side by side, looking, like a couple. Anyone who didn¡¯t know them would have assumed they were married. Samantha nced nervously at Rachel, fumbling for an exnation. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m sorry. I was going to finish checking the data, but William said I should eat first. You haven¡¯t eaten yet either, so why don¡¯t youe with us?¡± Rachel smirked. Us, huh? It sounded like such a simple, friendly invitation. Noticing the shift in Rachel¡¯s mood, William stepped forward and gently ced a hand on her shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s just came back from overseas and isn¡¯t familiar with things yet. I happened to get a reservation at Moon & Barrel, your favorite ce. Come with us.¡± If Rachel hadn¡¯t already seen through him, she might have been touched by his effort. But she wasn¡¯t fooled. Looking up at the man she had loved for seven years, her eyes were cold. ¡°Really? Well, it¡¯s too bad. I have a meeting with a business partner this afternoon. You should take Ms. Judd instead. She wasn¡¯t about to sit and watch them y their little games behind closed doors, all while pretending to enjoy the delicious food at Moon & Barrel. William reached for her hand, his brows furrowed as he softly said, ¡°Work will always be there. Your health is more important Don¡¯t overdo it, okay?¡± Rachel smirked, then pulled her hand away from his. ¡°If Ms. Judd could improve her efficiency and take her work seriously, maybe I¡¯d have less to do.¡± Samantha stood quietly beside them, looking ufortable at Rachel¡¯s words. Rachel nced at her watch, then turned to leave. Once she was outside the office, she took a deep breath. It was hard to breathe in the office with the suffocating scent of Samantha¡¯s perfume lingering in the air. She found a nearby spot to grab a quick meal, trying to shake off the tension. As she was eating, William sent her a message. [Caleb just came back from abroad. There¡¯s a gathering tonight, soe with me, okay?] Rachel didn¡¯t really enjoy these kinds of gatherings, but always went to support Will around, the other guys acted differently¨Cmore stiff and awkward. It was clear they she usually kept to herself. But Caleb Spencer had always been kind to her, so she agreed to go this time. [Okay.] She knew that whenever she was t feelfortable with her there, so As the end of the day drew closer, Samantha still hadn¡¯t submitted the revised data. But Rachel didn¡¯t push. She knew that as long as she made some progress with Tyler, everything Samantha was doing now would eventually be overwritten. Rachel was packing up when Cecilia walked in with some documents for her to sign. As soon as the door opened, a sharp smell hit her, and she frowned, coughing a little. ¡°Rachel, you can¡¯t seriously want to stay in this ce forever, can you? It¡¯s bad for your health. You¡¯ve been coughing all day.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll be out working on projects more and not in the office so much,¡± Rachel replied. Cecilia pursed her lips, looking irritated. ¡°You saw Samantha, right? Did she finish the data she was supposed to give you? She¡¯s just over there putting on makeup. If you didn¡¯t know any better, you¡¯d think she was getting ready for a date tonight. ¡°She does that every time. When Mr. Lewis is around, she acts like she¡¯s working hard. When he leaves, she¡¯s either snacking or drinking coffee.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t surprised. With William backing, Samantha, she could sit around all day with her legs up and no one would dare say a word. She picked up the pen and signed her name with swift confidence. Just focus on doing our job right.¡° Cecilia pouted. She hadn¡¯t expected Rachel to stay this calm¨Canyone else would¡¯ve lost it by now. William was waiting for Rachel outside thepany, already by the car. As she opened the door, she saw him holding a bourget of red roses. ¡°Do you like them?¡± he asked, his voice soft. Rachel stared at the bright roses for a moment before reaching out to take them. Then, she unconsciously noticed a hint of pink on his white shirt, and her breath caught for a second. ¡°Yes, I like them,¡± she replied, her voice steady. William got into the car and started driving toward the gathering. While one hand was steady on the wheel, the other was casually signing to her. ¡°The Oasis Project¡¯s still in its early stages. Samantha¡¯s used to working overseas, where things move at a different pace. She¡¯s probably still adjusting. Don¡¯t be too hard on her.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You think asking her to research the Oasis Project and put together a data summary is being too strict?¡± Everyone knew that the first step in any project was to ensure the data gathered was correct. It didn¡¯t matter whether the work style was from overseas or not. Did William not realize how much he was favoring Samantha? William could hear the edge in Rachel¡¯s voice. He sighed and tried to exin, keeping his tone patient. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. She¡¯s new, that¡¯s all. Seeing her now¡­ reminds me of you when you first joined thepany- nervous, unsure, still figuring things out. I was busy with work back then and didn¡¯t have time to watch over you. You had to face a lot of unnecessary criticism; I¡¯ve always felt bad about it.¡± Rachel almost wanted to give William an award for ¡°Best Actor¡± when she left. Sh conversation. A man could always find endless excuses for being nice to another v ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± William said, pulling into the parking lot. ided not to continue with that in, no matter how far¨Cfetched. Rachel hadn¡¯t wanted to bring the flowers inside, but then figured it would be better than keeping them. At least this way, she could just give them to the staff when they left. As soon as William got out of the car, he came around to Rachel¡¯s side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She could smell Samantha¡¯s perfume on him. Frowning, she instinctively tried to pull away. Noticing her difort, William lowered his head and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, just let¡¯s keep it low¨Ckey,¡± Rachel replied, trying to brush it off. William leaned down and kissed her cheek, smiling. ¡°No, we¡¯re going to let them see just how much we care for each other.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t argue. She couldn¡¯t find a good reason to protest, so she just let him lead her inside. The moment they walked in, the group started teasing. ¡°Well, look who¡¯s brought his darling wife. Mr. Lewis, who used to act like a man with no interest in women. Look at him now, so whipped.¡± ¡°Yeah, we tried to get you toe out for drinks so many times, and every time you said you had to stay home with the missus.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Calebing back, I bet you¡¯d be hard to drag out tonight.¡± ¡°Even after all these years of marriage, William¡¯s still so romantic. He even bought flowers for his wife.¡± Williamughed, squeezing Rachel closer as they entered, tossing yfulment back to the group. ¡°Hey, move over for my princess. Don¡¯t you know how great it is to have a wife to take care of you? You single guys wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Laughter filled the air, and the teasing continued. ¡°Alright, we get it, you¡¯re happy. Just you and your wife.¡± William slid a small te of grapes in front of Rachel. They were her favorite kind, deep red and seedless. Every time they had them, he would pluck them off the stem, carefully remove the skin and feed them to her. This time was no different. ¡°Here, try one. I had them flown in. They¡¯re perfectly sweet this time of year.¡± She opened her mouth stiffly, letting him feed her. The grape burst with sweetness, but it only made the bitterness inside her worse. ¡°It¡¯s good,¡± she said, forcing a smile. William had always taken good care of her. In the past, he never joined in on drinking games at gatherings. He would stay by her side the whole time, always attentive to her needs. But tonight, Rachel feltpletely out of ce. The things William¡¯s friends said didn¡¯t make her feel cherished¨Cthey made her feel like a joke. She hadn¡¯t been sleeping well the past few days, and a dull ache had started building in her head. After sitting there for a while, she leaned over to William and said softly, ¡°You guys go ahead and have fun. I¡¯m not feeling great. I think I¡¯ll head home and rest.¡± Her Exit 11 William immediately put down his drink and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling sick? Is it because you haven¡¯t been resting well these past couple of days?¡± Rachel rubbed her nose, still feeling the effects of the smoke lingering in the air. The office had been dusty too, and she had been feeling off for a while now. She coughed a couple times, trying to clear her throat. Seeing her struggle, William turned toward the group, who were all smoking. His expression turned serious as he frowned and said, ¡°Rachel¡¯s allergic to smoke. Put those out, now.¡± ¡°Yeah,e on, quit it already,¡± someone else chimed in. ¡°Who started smoking in the first ce?¡± another person asked. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be, look at that. For his wife, the guy¡¯s even quitting smoking. How sweet,¡± one of the guys teased. ¡°Who said he¡¯s quit? I saw him smoking just the other day,¡± someone else retorted. Caleb gave Zane Nn a subtle signal, and thetter shrugged nonchntly. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? She can¡¯t hear us anyway. Every time shees, everyone gets all stiff. Where¡¯s the fun in that?¡± Zane muttered. Samuel Lane joined in with aint of his own: ¡°Exactly. Only William treats her like she¡¯s made of gold. You can¡¯t even talk to her normally. Every time you speak, you have to use signnguage. So much work!¡± Caleb couldn¡¯t take it anymore and stepped in to defend Rachel. ¡°Zane, have some respect¨Cfor William, if not for Rachel.¡± Zane and Samuel both scoffed, but didn¡¯t say anything else. The atmosphere suddenly became a bit gloomy because of Rachel. Her expression remained cold as she put down the grape she was holding before standing up. ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but I¡¯m not feeling well. You all stay and enjoy yourselves. William will stay and keep youpany.¡± She turned and headed toward the private room¡¯s door. William quickly followed her, and as she opened the door, he grabbed her wrist and signed to her. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home,¡± he said. Rachel nced at the people inside, then calmly brushed off William¡¯s hand that was holding her wrist. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Today is Caleb¡¯s birthday. You should stay and have fun with them. I¡¯ll just take a taxi home.¡± She walked over and handed him the carefully wrapped gift. ¡°Happy birthday, Caleb.¡± Caleb stared at the beautifully wrapped box, his expression filled with mixed emotions. He raised his hand and signed as he said, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to stay and hang out a little longer? I¡¯m only here for a short time. I¡¯m leaving in a couple of days.¡± Rachel smiled gently. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Who knows, we might run into each other again someday. Enjoy yourself.¡± Caleb had always been kind to her, and Rachel appreciated him for it. Out of all of William¡¯s friends, he was the one she felt the least pressure from. William turned to Zane and the others. ¡°I¡¯ll go see her off. You guys carry on.¡± Even though Rachel had already told him to stay and enjoy the evening with his friends, William insisted on apanying her out. He also called her a taxi himself. ¡°No, I need to see you get in the car safely. And text me when you get home so I know you¡¯re okay,¡± he said, his voice filled with care. Rachel just nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She got into the taxi, and as it pulled away, she suddenly felt like she might have left too suddenly. After all, it was Calety¡¯s birthday. Maybe she should send a quick message to exin. But as she reached into her bag to grab her phone, the realized it wasn¡¯t there. She gasped, realizing she must have left it on the sofa back in the private room. ¡°Sir, can you turn around?¡± she asked quickly. She had the driver head back toward the bar. When she arrived, she was about to enter the private room when she saw through the crack in the door that William was sitting with Samantha. Her heart sank in an instant, feeling as though it had dropped into an endless void. So, he had personally seen her off just to prevent her from turning back, and then gone to pick up Samantha Inside, the group wasughing, clearly caught up in some game. ¡°He got it! He got it! Only William could pull that off,¡± someone cheered. Rachel¡¯s eyes locked onto the scene inside, her chest tightening with every passing second. Samantha had a card stuck to her lips, and William leaned in to bite it off. The way they looked at each other, the closeness¨Cit seemed like a kiss from where Rachel stood. Her heart twisted painfully. Every breath felt like a stab in her chest. The card slipped between the two of them and fell, signaling the end of the game. It seemed like William¡¯s team had lost. Zane raised his ss and teased, ¡°You guys lost, time for a penalty! Three shots each!¡± Samantha¡¯s face flushed bright red, her eyes full of embarrassment, the kind of look that made people want to protect her. She reached for the ss, but William gently stopped her. ¡°She¡¯s allergic to alcohol. I¡¯ll take her share,¡± he said without hesitation. With a quiet confidence, William downed all six shots that had been set aside for them. Samantha¡¯s face was full of worry as she reached for him, pulling on his sleeve. ¡°Zane, don¡¯t make it hard on him. I can drink,¡± she said. Zane clicked his tongue. ¡°What, it¡¯s only a few drinks, and you¡¯re already worried ab him?¡± William smiled at Samantha, his voice gentle. ¡°It¡¯s fine. If I get drunk, you can take care of me.¡± His words made Samantha blush even more. At the door, Rachel stood frozen, her fingers clenching tightly, then slowly loosening. Every second felt like it was tearing her apart. The scene before Rachel felt strangely familiar. It reminded her of the night after graduation, when everyone in the ss was facing their futures, unsure of where they were all headed. It was thest time they would be gathered together before stepping out into the world. That night, everyone released the pressure they had been holding in. Some confessed their hidden feelings to people they liked, while others made their final farewell to their school days. The ssmates toasted each other, their campus life that had passed. Since Rachel was the ss president, many of her ssmates clinked sses with her. Her alcohol tolerance had never been great, and after two drinks, she was already unsteady on her feet. However, she didn¡¯t want to ruin the atmosphere of the once¨Cin¨Ca¨Clifetime moment. At that time, William took every drink that came her way. He drank with ease, his face reddening and his stomach clearly protesting, but he still managed a smile and reassured her. Back then, he had his arm around Rachel, just like he did with Samantha now, his breath warm with the scent of alcohol as he whispered in her ear. 23 ¡°I¡¯ll be counting on you to get me home safe if I drink too much, Ms. ss President,¡± he had said, his voice yful. The back of Rachel¡¯s hand felt warm and wet as her tears dripped onto it, snapping her out of her thoughts. She took a deep breath, raising her hand to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes. William was nothing but a scumbag now. If Samantha wanted him she could have him. Rachel was done. She turned to leave but suddenly collided with a wall of muscle, followed by a mocking male voice. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Mrs. Lewis. It¡¯s pretty normal for men to be out partying, you know? You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± Then, as if realizing something, he added, ¡°Oh, I forgot you can¡¯t hear. My bad. I don¡¯t know signnguage.¡± Rachel¡¯s face hardened, the faintest trace of disgust shing across her features. ¡°Move,¡± she said coldly. But Howard Ziegler didn¡¯t. Instead, he gripped her delicate wrist, his words dripping with spite. ¡°Back in college, I chased after you like crazy, but you never even nced my way. And for what? For William. You were ready to throw your life away for him. Now that you see him with another woman, it must be driving you insane.¡± His grip tightened as he leaned in. ¡°Might as well give me a chance At least with me, you could get your revenge. How satisfying would that be?¡± Her Exit 12 Rachel¡¯s mood was already bad, and running into Howard made it worse. She could feel her frustration rising. Her usually calm eyes narrowed with irritation. ¡°Let go of me, or call for help.¡± ¡°Are you going to call your husband?¡± Howardughed mockingly as he tilted his head toward the room, his eyes following the scene inside. ¡°But he seems pretty busy.¡± His words cut deep. What seemed like a harmless joke felt like a knife twisting in Rachel¡¯s heart. She looked inside, her stomach tightening as she saw Samantha leaning against William¡¯s shoulder, her cheeks flushed. William, with a drink in his hand, wasughing and chatting with ane and the others,pletely rxed. It was a version of him Rachel had never seen before. No wonder Zane had said earlier that everything felt too stiff whenever she was around. He wanted to have fun but had to hold back because of her presence. Rachel¡¯s lips curled into a bitter smile. She really was a bother, wasn¡¯t she? Howard was a madman, and the patriarch of his family was a retired military officer. In Yurelia City, only the Lewis family could rival the Ziegler family in terms of power. Rachel had once been under William¡¯s protection, and while Howard still had some respect for him, things were different now. She had no choice but to outsmart him. Furrowing her brow, she asked, ¡°What do you want, exactly?¡± ¡°Nothing much. You embarrassed me back in college. How about you make it up to me with a drink? A little apology for all that humiliation.¡± Howard tried to mimic signnguage by making hand gestures to Rachel, but after a few moments of awkwardly iling his hands, he seemed frustrated. ¡°Damn, your ears are really a pain in the ass!¡± At that moment, a waiter passed by with a tray of drinks. Howard grabbed two sses, keeping one for himself. He raised the other toward Rachel, his eyes challenging. ¡°Drink this, and we¡¯ll call it even. How about it?¡± Rachel hesitated, but her only thought now was to leave. This ce, this situation¨Cshe just wanted to get away. Besides, the drinks had been brought over by a waiter, so Howard probably hadn¡¯t known Ra ould be here. She picked up the ss. ¡°I hope you keep your word.¡± 11 Howard¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Yeah, drink up and you can go.¡± Rachel downed the drink quickly, then set the empty ss back on the waiter¡¯s tray. ¡°I can leave now, right?¡± Howard smiled and moved aside, gesturing for her to pass. ¡°Of course.¡± Relieved, Rachel took a step forward, but before she could take another, her body suddenly felt weak. In that instant, panic surged through her. There had been something in the alcohol. Realizing this, she didn¡¯t hesitate. She turned and ran for the door desperate to get out. But before she could even make it, Howard grabbed her arm. His voice followed, dripping with smug satisfaction. ¡°You were careless. But don¡¯t worry. Soon, we¡¯ll be right across from William. He¡¯ll have his fun, and we¡¯ll have ours.¡± Rachel struggled to break free, but her body was like jellypletely powerless. She tried to scream, but the words barely left her lips. ¡°L¨Clet go of me!¡± Howard gave a cold, sinisterugh as he bent down, lifting Rachel to carry her into the private room opposite William¡¯s. In the moment he turned, Rachel caught sight of William, who was clinking sses with Samantha. Her ears were tinted pink and her face was radiant with a shy smile, looking truly happy. Despair flooded Rachel as she closed her eyes, her heart feeling as though it was being tightly squeezed, threatening to suffocate her. Hot tears slid down her cheeks. As the door to the private room opened, Howard turned to the waiter behind him and tossed out a casual warning. ¡°Keep your mouth shut.¡± The waiter nodded frantically. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Rachel opened her mouth to scream, but Howard mped a hand over her lips. He shoved her onto a leather couch as the door slowly swung shut behind them. Her desperate gaze locked onto that narrowing sliver of light¨Cherst hope¨Cuntil it vanished with a final click. Howard¡¯s eyes raked over her with predatory leisure. Rachel was the kind of woman who made people do a double¨Ctake when they saw her. It wasn¡¯t just the elegant symmetry of her features; every inch of her was calcted perfection, from the arch of her brows to the curve of her corbones. Howard had met all kinds of beautiful women, but none like her. She seemed cold and distant, like she didn¡¯t care about anything. Yet, there was something about her¨Csomething fierce underneath, like a quiet fire. Howard licked his lips, his eyes dark with hunger as he reached for Rachel¡¯s clothes. ¡°Tonight¡¯s gonna be fun,¡± he muttered. Howard was just unbuckling his belt when a cool, detached male voice cut through the air behind him: ¡°Have you really sunk so low as to force yourself on women, Mr. Ziegler?¡± Rachel could see Howard¡¯s face freeze momentarily before he turned with a thunderous expression. ¡°Tyler Hunt!¡± Howard spat. ¡°Since when did you be so fond of meddling in others¡® affairs?¡± ¡°Purely coincidental,¡± Tyler repliednguidly. ¡°This happens to be my private room. Can¡¯t afford a hotel room, Mr. Ziegler? Is this where you conduct your business now? In a ce like this?¡± Howard scoffed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°The hell¡¯s it to you?¡± He nce you want her for yourself? But then, what¡¯ll William say?¡± Rachel¡¯s pale face and sneered. ¡°Wait¡­. Tyler didn¡¯t react. He just strolled to the couch, lit a cigarette, and took a slow drag. ¡°You¡¯ve got one minute. Pull up your pants and get out.¡± ¡°You think you can threaten me? Who do you think you are?!¡± Howard snarled. Tyler blew out smoke, his voicezy but sharp. ¡°Touch her, and it¡¯ll be all over the headlines tomorrow. How do you think your grandfather will react?¡± As Tyler spoke, he put out his cigarette and raised his phone, camera lens aimed squarely at Howard. For a second, rage shed in Howard¡¯s eyes, but then he zipped his pants and grabbed his jacket. ¡°Getting cozy with him? Aren¡¯t you afraid the Lewis family will y you for this?¡± he hissed at Rachel. Rachel had no idea what he meant. What did Tyler have to do with the Lewis family? Howard could do nothing but let his prey go. Swallowing his rage, he yanked the door open and stormed out. Tyler rose and approached Rachel, looking down at her flushed face with a frown. 273 ¡°Where are your survival instincts?¡± he asked drily. ¡°The drink¡­ the waiter brought it.¡± She panted, her breathing uneven. ¡°I didn¡¯t think- ¡°1 Without another word, Tyler scooped her up and carried her out, taking her straight to the hotel next door. ¡°Howard¡¯s drugs work fast. It¡¯s toote to send you to the hospital. Cold shower. Now.¡± Rachel clenched her fists, her vision already going hazy. ¡°Yeah.¡± Steadying herself with trembling hands, she lowered herself into the bathtub and turned on the cold water. The icy shock against her skin should have helped, but it wasn¡¯t enough. The heat inside her only grew worse, crawling under her skin like a thousand ants. Her entire body burned, every nerve screaming with desperate need. Something primal wed at her insides, demanding release. Outside, Tyler took a slow drag of his cigarette, watching through the half¨Copen door. Her struggle told him everything ¡°Should I call William?¡± he asked. Rachel¡¯s fingers dug into the porcin edge of the bathtub, her knuckles turning white with strain. ¡°N¨Cno,¡± she forced out between gritted teeth. But she wasn¡¯t sure how much longer she could hold on. If she went to a hospital now, she might not make it in time. What if she lost control on the way there? Her Exit 13 Chapter 13 Rachel knew going to the hospital wasn¡¯t an option. What if the media caught sight of her like this¨Cdisheveled, drugged, with Tyler, William¡¯s biggest rival, of all people? The scandal would spread through their circles before midnight. It didn¡¯t matter that Howard had spiked her drink. That spoiled heir would twist the story, iming she had seduced him. And the Lewis family? They would dly throw her to the wolves rather than sh with the equally powerful Ziegler family. Slumped in the bathtub, Rachel shuddered. The icy water bit into her skin but did nothing to douse the fire raging inside her. If anything, it made it worse¨Cthe cold sharpening her awareness of every unbearable inch of heat. Her head spun; her body ached. She knew exactly how desperate her situation had be. If it were Howard, she would rather drag them both to hell than surrender. But if it was Tyler¡­ He was¡­ tolerable. Better than the headlines screaming ¡°Socialite Found Dead After Overdose¡°. Just the thought of that happening was terrifying. Two warring voices battled in her mind, one telling her to ask Tyler for help, while the other told her no. Tyler seemed impervious to women¨Call cold detachment and sharp suits. What if he really preferred men? Yet,pared to the other oues¡­ one night with him was the simplest solution. Rachel¡¯s marriage to William had been a hollow shell for years. She wasn¡¯t some blushing virgin clinging to virtue¨Cnot when he had shattered their vows first. After thinking it through, Rachel slowly turned towards Tyler, who was sitting on the sofa outside and looking at his phone. ¡°Mr. Hunt, could you help me?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t need a mirror to know how pathetic she looked right now. She was actually begging a man to sleep with her. Butpared to William or Howard, she would rather it be Tyler. At least he didn¡¯t seem like the type to cling to her afterward. For a split second, surprise flickered in his dark eyes. He paused, the cigarette in his fingers hovering near the table as the overhead light cast shadows over his sharp features. ¡°Help you with what?¡± he asked. Rachel met his gaze, embarrassed. Was a grown man like him really ying innocent? Her nails dug into her palms as she awkwardly said, ¡°You know¡­ help me with this.¡± Tyler rested his chin on his hand, watching her with dark, unreadable eyes. There she was¨Cflushed, desperate, barely holding herself together in the bathtub¨Cwhile he lookedpletely at ease, like a spectator enjoying the show. The contrast was almostughable. Then, as if he hadn¡¯t heard her clearly, he tilted his head and asked louder, ¡°Help you with what?¡± For a brief moment, Rachel wanted to p herself. Howard was vile, but Tyler wasn¡¯t any better. One was a spoiled heir who trampled over people because his family enabled him, while the other was an imprable fortress¨Ccold, calcting, and utterly controlled. The drug¡¯s effects kept growing stronger, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she fought to maintainposure. She refused topletely fall apart in front of Tyler. She was sure if that happened, he would only mock her. ! Finally, her pride won out, and her tense body rxed slightly. ¡°Never mind. Just lend me your phone. I¡¯ll call someone.¡± At this point, anyone would do. Instead of handing it over, Tyler raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Who? William? I doubt he has the strength to help you with this now.¡® ¡°No. I can ask Caleb for help.¡± Tyler let out a derisiveugh. ¡°Great n. Have William¡¯s best friend ¡®help¡® you, then watch them beat each other bloodyter. One dead, one hospitalized. Perfect.¡± Rachel frowned. Caleb wasn¡¯t like that at all. Unlike William¡¯s other friends, he actually respected her¨Cno ulterior motives, just genuine friendship. Caleb had connections. He could probably find her someone safe. She needed relief, yes, but she also needed to survive this night. If only Tyler wasn¡¯t being so difficult, she wouldn¡¯t need to be going through so much trouble. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the Lewis family causing problems, I¡­ I can pay you,¡± she said. Rachel understood his hesitation. After all, Tyler¡¯spany and William¡¯s were bitter rivals in the business world. If word of this got out, Rachel wasn¡¯t the only one who would be in trouble. The Lewis family would make Tyler their target and use this scandal against him. Tyler¡¯s expression darkened, his dominant presence filling the room until the air itself felt charged. Rachel tensed; she was poking a sleeping lion here. ¡°Fine,¡± he said abruptly. ¡°But my rates are quite high, Mrs. Lewis. Can you afford me?¡± Rachel mentally calcted her bank bnce before asking, ¡°What¡¯s your price?¡± A man like Tyler didn¡¯te cheap. If he ever sold his services, he would be the most expensive escort in the city. ¡°How much do you have?¡± he countered without hesitation. ¡°Two million?¡± She¡¯d recently sold the wedding dress William designed for her, which helped her recover a bit financially. For one night, two million was beyond generous. It was top¨Ctier escort pricing. Tyler¡¯s lips curled in amusement. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Rachel¡¯s mouth fell open slightly. What did he think he was made of? Solid gold? The effect of the drugs had reached their peak, making her thoughts turn murky and her body burn with need. Every nerve screamed for contact. Right now, she would probably react to any man like a beached fish finally reaching water. Too exhausted to keep negotiating, Rachel gripped the bathtub¡¯s edge and hauled herself up. If he wouldn¡¯t help, she would find someone else anyone. The hallway outside probably had someone; they would do. Her shaky hand barely turned the doorknob when an arm hooked around her waist, yanking her back. Tyler pulled her flush against his chest with one arm while stubbing out his cigarette with the other. His dark eyes scanned her flushed face as he said, ¡°We were in the middle of negotiating. Who taught you to quit before closing the deal?¡± Rachel barely processed his words. The moment their bodies touched, every nerve in her body lit up with desperate need. But what surprised her more was the heat radiating from him¨Ca raw, masculine energy that seemed to resonate with her own. She looked up at him in surprise. ¡°You¡­?¡± ¡°Congrattions. You win,¡± he said, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. Rachel¡¯s brows knitted together. ¡°I was just discussing prices. I wasn¡¯t seducing you.¡± His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. ¡°We¡¯ve agreed on the price. Why are you ying innocent now? Are you doing this on purpose?¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks burned. ¡°Your price¡­ was too high. I can¡¯t afford it,¡± she breathed, the words barely audible. The mixture of innocence and frustration in her voice amused him ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± Her eyes flickered with hope. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Depends on your performance,¡± he said, fingers already working open his shirt buttons. Rachel¡¯s gaze snagged on his throat, watching his sharp Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as he swallowed. Something about it was unbearably erotic. This was her first time being so close to a near¨Cstranger, and her nerves were firing wildly. Tyler¡¯s body was undeniably impressive. He had defined muscles and eight¨Cpack abs¨Ceverything about him radiated raw masculinity. But then, a sliver of doubt sliced through the haze of her mind. She opened her mouth to say she had changed her mind- Knock. Knock. Tyler¡¯s gaze darkened at the sound. Rachel was confused, then she heard someone shouting from outside. ¡°Rachel!¡± Her mind went nk with a sudden jolt¨Cthat voice¡­ It was William! Her Exit 14 Rachel¡¯s foggy mind snapped awake at the sound of William¡¯s voice. Her eyes flew to the door in panic. ¡°Why is William here?¡± ¡°Well, looks like our deal¡¯s off,¡± Tyler said with mock disappointment. Rachel frowned. Was he seriously not worried? He calmly buttoned his shirt and pulled the nket over her. When he moved toward the door, Rachel instinctively grabbed his sleeve. ¡°What are you doing?¡± If he opened that door now and let William see this scene, this wouldn¡¯t just blow up in her face. Tyler wouldn¡¯t walk away unscathed either. ¡°You think keeping quiet and hiding in here will stop him froming in?¡± Tyler asked tly, no trace of his earlier desire in his voice. He had a point. Hiding would only make them look guiltier. Tyler yanked the door open and cooly said, ¡°With all the racket you¡¯re causing, are you nning to announce to the entire hotel that your wife is in my room, Mr. Lewis?¡± William¡¯s face darkened when he saw the other man. ¡°Unc-¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Hunt,¡± Tyler cut in sharply. ¡°Mr. Hunt,¡± William immediately corrected himself. ¡°News about Howard sure travels fast, huh?¡± Tyler said dryly. ¡°She¡¯s inside. The doctor will be here in a few minutes.¡± With that, he strode past William and out of the room. William hurried in, finding Rachel bundled tightly in a nket. When he reached for her, she flinched away, snapping, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± William froze when Rachel recoiled from his touch. He assumed she was still shaken. After all, he knew exactly what Howard was capable of when he wanted something. Hands hovering awkwardly, he backed off. ¡°Okay, okay. I won¡¯t touch you.¡± Just then, a middle¨Caged man in a suit appeared at the door. ¡°Is Ms. Lloyd here? I¡¯m Yuvan Lane, the doctor Mr. Hunt called.¡± William nodded stiffly. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s in here.¡± Only then did Rachel realize that Tyler had already called for help. He had been toying with her the whole time. Heat flooded her cheeks. How could she ever face him again? Yuvan examined her and gave her a pill. ¡°This should take effect quickly.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Rachel murmured as she lowered her gaze.¡± As William walked Yuvan out, she overheard his hushed question: ¡°Were there any signs that my wife was assaulted?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there were no signs of that.¡± From her bed, Rachel saw William¡¯s shoulders rx. Her nails dug into her palms under the nket. Of course his first concern wasn¡¯t how she felt or how she had been drugged¨Cjust whether she had been ¡°tainted¡°. Meanwhile, where had he been when she needed him? ying drinking games with Samantha next door. She turned away, swallowing the lump in her throat. When William returned, he reached to tuck in her nket, only to find her clothes soaked. Just as he was about to ask, Rachel said, ¡°I heard that cold water suppresses the drug. It didn¡¯t work. Luckily, Mr. Hunt called a doctor.¡± She exined things about Tyler clearly and concisely in just a fewwords, making it obvious there was nothing between them, and at the same time, avoided giving William any reason to suspect that Tyler had any intentions toward her. Her Exit 15 William reached out and pulled Rachel into his arms, his strong face full of guilt. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Rachel. I should¡¯ve protected you better. Howard is an asshole. I¡¯ll talk to his father and get this straightened out!¡± ¡°I just want to sleep,¡± Rachel replied. She feltpletely drained, like the fire inside her had burned up all her energy. ¡°Okay,¡± he said softly. ¡°Let me dry you off. You can¡¯t sleep like this, or you¡¯ll catch a cold. I¡¯ll run to the storeter and get you some new clothes.¡± He helped her sit up against the headboard of the bed, but Rachel waved her hand. ¡°Just give me the towel. I can do it myself.¡± Just then, William¡¯s phone started buzzing. Rachel saw the name on the screen: Samantha. A mocking smile touched her lips. So, that woman couldn¡¯t even wait this long. Unfortunately for her, she would still have to endure a little longer. William turned his back and answered the call. ¡°I¡¯m with Rachel right now. Did you call an ambnce? Okay, don¡¯t cry. Just hang on¡­.¡± When he hung up, he looked back at Rachel and hesitantly signed as he exined, ¡°Samantha got into a car ident on her way home. It sounds serious, and she¡¯s really scared. You know she has no family here. Who else could she call?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t need him to finish. She could already guess what he was about to say. Just as William hoped, she forced a gracious smile and said, ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll be fine here.¡± The relief on his face was instant. He leaned down to kiss her forehead. ¡°Rest. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Rachel heard the door close behind William and let out a bitterugh, closing her eyes for a moment. Samantha getting into an ident had left him so panicked that he had even forgotten about getting his own wife some clean clothes. Samantha was scared? What about Rachel? She didn¡¯t have any family either. Rachel gritted her teeth and toweled off her damp body. As she reached for the bathrobe, she caught sight of a white garment bag on the side table. Inside, she found a pale yellow dress and even undergarments. There was also a small note tucked inside. [20,000 for the set. Scan the QR code.] There was no name, but just from the tone, she knew exactly who it was, Funny, really. Tyler was obviously rich, yet always acted like he was strapped for cash. Then again, he had built his empire to rival William¡¯s in just two years. Of course he had unique ways of turning a profit. Rachel slipped into the clothes, surprised at how perfectly everything fit¨Cboth the undergarments and the dress itself. It was impressive. If he hadn¡¯t dated a few women and had no experience it would be impossible to guess so urately. An inte meme shed through her mind: ¡°My eyes are the ruler.¡± The thought of Tyler mentally undressing her with that calcting gaze sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. But what puzzled her more was William¡¯s reaction. She had noticed it at the auction too¨Cthat flicker of unease around Tyler. Tonight confirmed it: something had happened between them. Yet, in her seven years with William, he had never once mentioned Tyler¡¯s name. Her Exit 16 After Yuvan left the house, he got into a sleek ck car. Tyler was already inside. He had his eyes closed, looking like he was just resting, and one leg crossed over the other. With his sharp features and expensive suit, he looked like someone you wouldn¡¯t want to mess with. ¡°How is she?¡± he asked, opening his dark eyes and fixing them on the other man. ¡°She¡¯s taken the medicine. Mr. Lewis is in the room, taking care of her.¡± When Tyler heard that, he scoffed. He recalled how William had rushed off earlier with his phone in hand. Most likely, Samantha had called. Again. ¡°Did you find out where that drug came from?¡± Tyler asked. ¡°Yeah. Overseas. Funny thing¨CSamantha lived there for a while. Makes you wonder¡­¡± Yuvan didn¡¯t finish the thought, but it was clear what he meant. Tylerzily raised an eyebrow. ¡°You think Samantha knows Howard?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say for sure. Could just be a weird coincidence. But Howard¡¯s gutsy, I¡¯ll give him that. He doubled the normal dosage. That was reckless. She could¡¯ve died.¡± Tyler¡¯s mind shed back to Rachel¡¯s charming expression, and how she had practically thrown herself onto him. But somehow, she held back in the final moment. He flicked ash out the window and muttered, ¡°She took that much and still kept her cool. I really underestimated her.¡± Thinking about the dosage, Yuvan knew that Rachel would¡¯ve acted out in some obvious way. He nced over at Tyler, asking, ¡°How¡¯d you hold it together? Should we get you checked out? If you¡¯re suffering from¡­ restraint damage, that could be serious.¡± ¡°Shut ¡°Tyler didn¡¯t even bother looking at him. up.¡± Yuvan smirked but dropped the joke. ¡°So¡­ what do we do about Howard?¡± Tyler propped his chin on his hand and casually replied, ¡°It¡¯s all Howard¡¯s fault. He chance because of it. He¡¯s going to pay for that.¡± her such a strong dose, and I missed my Yuvan gave a small nod. ¡°Got it.¡± He had followed Tyler for years and knew full well how ruthless he could be. Things never ended well for anyone who crossed him. This time, it was just bad luck for Howard¨Che had messed with the wrong man. By the time Rachel woke up, the sky outside had gonepletely dark. The worst of the drug effects had worn off, so she didn¡¯t feel nearly as awful as before. She sat up slowly, looking around the empty room. William had said he would be back soon. Sure. Real soon. It was already night and there was still no sign of him. She got up and went to ask the manager about her missing phone. Thankfully, they had found it. The first thing she did once it was back in her hands was transfer the 2,000 she owed Tyler. She stared at the payment QR code for a second and couldn¡¯t helpughing. Who even walked around with a QR code ready to go like that? Later that night, William still hadn¡¯t returned. Instead, Rachel got a message from Samantha that was filled with provocation. Samantha had joined her team a few days ago, thanks to William, and had taken the chance to add her on WhatsApp. [Rachel, I¡¯m so sorry. I got into a car ident and broke my leg. I told William to go back and stay with you, but he just couldn¡¯t leave me alone like this.] After Rachel read it, she didn¡¯t even bother replying. William had already shattered her heart early on, so there wasn¡¯t much left to hurt. Samantha probably thought that one message would set her off, but Rachel wasn¡¯t going to give her that satisfaction. She simply turned off her phone, set it aside, and went to bed. The next morning, just as Rachel was about to walk into the office someone tapped her lightly on the shoulder. ¡°Rachel.¡± She turned around and saw Samantha standing there, smiling like nothing was wrong. Her eyes dropped to thetter¡¯s leg. No cast. No crutches. 0 So, this was William¡¯s idea of a serious injury? Great. ¡°Can I help you?¡± Rachel asked tly. ¡°Oh, that project data,¡± Samantha said sweetly. ¡°I already finished it and sent it to your email. You don¡¯t have to worry this time ¨Cit¡¯s perfect. William helped me go over everythingst night at the hospital. He made sure it was all good.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression froze for just a second, then she said, ¡°With Mr. Lewis helping you behind the scenes, of course it¡¯s perfect now.¡± Her Exit 17 Rachel had no interest in ying games with Samantha. Without another word, she pushed open the office door. But Samantha wasn¡¯t done. ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± she added, just a little louder than before. ¡°Are you okay afterst night? I heard Howard drugged you William told me. You know how the Lewis family values reputation I mean, we believe you, of course, but still, you should be careful. Staying pure is very important for a woman.¡± Her voice rose just enough to make sure everyone nearby could hear. Rachel¡¯s hand tightened on the door handle, making the veins on the back of her hand stand out. Her brow furrowed. William had told Samantha about the drugging? He hadn¡¯t even tried to protect Rachel¡¯s dignity? Did he ever stop to think what would happen if people just believed whatever they heard? Like now¨CSamantha was already spreading rumors. How did he think the whole office would look at Rachel after that? And what if someone with bad intentions leaked it to the media? The headlines would write themselves: Mrs. Lewis drugged, suspected assault, reputation in ruins. She wouldn¡¯t be able to exin herself, no matter how many times she tried. No one would listen. The damage would be done. Was her name¨Cher dignity¨Cjust gossip fodder to keep Samantha entertained? Around her, the whispers were already starting. ¡°Wait, Ms. Lloyd got drugged? Was it that serious?¡± ¡°Wow. I heard that stuff can be intense. Once it kicks in, even God can¡¯t save you. Was she really¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, and what¡¯s Samantha¡¯s rtionship with Mr. Lewis? How did she even know about this? That seems a little private.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t hear? I heard Samantha and Mr. Lewis went to college together. She was his first love.¡± ¡°What?! That exins everything! I mean, Samantha just appeared out of nowhere and got ced here. Even Ms. Lloyd had to rely on her own strength to secure her position.¡± Just then, Cecilia walked over holding a folder. She gave Rachel a small nod. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, Mr. Lewis would like to see you in his offic Rachel let go of the door handle and didn¡¯t even nce at Samantha. She simply turned and walked toward William¡¯s office. Samantha¡¯s smile faltered for just a second as her expression darkened. Rachel pushed open William¡¯s office door. He had just finished signing thest contract and was setting the papers aside when she walked in. He stood up and met her halfway. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry aboutst night. The doctor said Samantha¡¯s leg injury was more serious than expected. She doesn¡¯t have any family or friends here, so I stayed with her at the hospital.¡± ¡°So, you stayed the night to take care of her. Helped her finish the project data. And while you were at it, you told her I was drugged by Howard?¡± Rachel replied, her voice calm but cold. William¡¯s brows lifted slightly. He stepped closer and gently rested his hands on her shoulders, as if trying to calm her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she won¡¯t tell anyone. And about the project data, I was just guiding her a little. She really wanted to get it done, even in that condition. She passed it all in one go, so that¡¯s less work for you.¡± Rachel almostughed. Every word out of his mouth sounded like he was doing her a favour. She smirked and coldly quipped, ¡°You really trust Samantha, don¡¯t you, Mr. Lewis?¡± William¡¯s jaw tensed. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m just trying to be fair.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why you shared something so personal and serious with her. Now, everyone out there knows I was drugged.¡± This wasn¡¯t about being angry anymore. Rachel had stopped expecting anything from William a long time ago. She just wished he wouldn¡¯t make it so obvious. At least let her keep pretending for a little while longer. The deadline hadn¡¯t arrived yet. William ran a tired hand through his hair and rubbed at his brow. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± Before he could finish, another voice cut in: ¡°Rachel, this isn¡¯t his fault. It was me. I spoke too loudly and got overheard. If you¡¯re angry, be angry at me. Yell at me. Just¡­ don¡¯t me him, okay?¡± Her Exit 18 Suddenly, the office door opened. Samantha limped in, her steps slow and dramatic. Her eyes were red as she walked up to Rachel. Her voice was soft and muffled, like she was trying not to cry. Rachel nced at William, then back at Samantha. Her throat felt dry. William quickly stepped forward and moved Samantha out from between them. ¡°Rachel didn¡¯t mean it like that. We were just talking about something else. It got a little loud, that¡¯s all,¡± he said. But Samantha didn¡¯t budge and stood stubbornly in front of Rachel Her body trembled as she signed with her hands, as if she were desperately trying to convey her meaning. The sight was bothical and heartbreakingly earnest. ¡°Rachel, I really didn¡¯t mean anything bad,¡± Samantha said. ¡°If I made you ufortable, I¡¯ll exin everything to the team right now.¡± She reached for the door, ready to go out. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Ms. Judd,¡± Rachel said calmly. Samantha paused, hand still on the door. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re really not mad at me?¡± she asked in that soft, fragile voice, like one wrong word would shatter herpletely. The kind of voice that made everyone feel bad for her¡­ even if she was the one stirring the pot. Rachel¡¯s voice stayed steady and quiet as she replied, ¡°This has nothing to do with you.¡± The truth was, the real problem wasn¡¯t Samantha at all. It was William, who couldn¡¯t even stay loyal with his heart, let alone his actions. William opened a drawer and took out a small, red velvet box. He gently ced it in Rachel¡¯s hand. ¡°Come on,¡± he said softly. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. You¡¯re older than her, and now you¡¯re her supervisor too. Just give her a little grace. She¡¯s still young and doesn¡¯t know much yet.¡± He smiled and added, ¡°I saw this bracelet at the mall the other day. Thought it would look good on you, so I got it.¡± Rachel watched as he opened the box and took out a gold bracelet. It was elegant, s. ¡­andpletely meaningless now. Her eyesnded on the little engraving¨Ctwo tiny letters, her initial and his. She should¡¯ve been touched, but all she felt was bitter irony, and her stomach churned with nausea. Last night, when she needed him the most, he was with someone else. If it hadn¡¯t been for Tyler reserving that private room by chance, she didn¡¯t even dare imagine what might¡¯ve happened to her. William seemed to think that as long as nothing really bad happened, he could pretend the whole thing never took ce. Throw a bracelet at her, say a few soft words, and everything would magically be fine. Since there was no love left between them, then money would have to do. And it just so happened Rachel still hadn¡¯t figured out how to cover the 20,000 she gave Tyler. Rachel took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down and smile. ¡®Well, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll get going.¡± William stared at her for a moment, then cautiously said, ¡°By the way, I saw you get in the taxist night. Why did youe back?¡± Rachel met his gaze calmly and replied, ¡°I left my phone in the private room. I had to go back and get it. Didn¡¯t expect to run into Howard.¡± William¡¯s expression tightened. His jaw clenched as he stared at her face like he was trying to read between the lines. ¡°Where exactly did you run into him?¡± he asked. ¡°Right outside your room,¡± she replied without emotion. He paused, his breath catching for a second. A small frown formed between his brows. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe in, then?¡± Rachel looked down for a moment, hershes casting soft shadows over her eyes. ¡°Howard stopped me before I could.¡± If William had just looked outside once¨Cjust once¨Che might¡¯ve seen her there. He might¡¯ve stopped it all from happening. But no. His attention had been on Samantha the entire time. William didn¡¯t seem to catch the coldness in her voice. In fact, he almost looked relieved. Rachel stayed quiet for a few seconds, then spoke again, asking, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s Mom¡¯s death anniversary. Are youing to visit her grave with me?¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, regret set in. She quickly changed her mind. Her Exit 19 19 ¡°Forget it. You¡¯re so busy with work. I¡¯ll go alone,¡± Rachel said. What good would it do if he came with her? It her mother knew what was going on between them, she would be turning in her grave, angry and upset. But William, who had always respected Rachel¡¯s mother, firmly replied, ¡°No, it¡¯s her death anniversary. I¡¯ll make sure 120¡± ¡°Do whatever you want,¡± Rachel said tly, turning to leave. She was almost out the door when she nced at Samantha. Her eyebrow raised in silent question. ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving, Ms. Judd?¡± Samantha pointed to a file she had brought in. ¡°I still need to talk to William about the Oasis Project.¡± Rachel barely stifled a smile, the edge of her lips curling in a sarcastic twist. ¡°Oh, really? You two take your time.¡± Just as she was about to close the door, she heard Samantha¡¯s voice¨Cwhining, almost pleading ¡°William, you said that bracelet was for me. You promised it would have both our names on it. So, why does Rachel have one?¡± William¡¯s expression turned sharp as he waved his hand, signaling her to keep quiet. ¡°Keep your voice down.¡± Samantha didn¡¯t stop. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Rachel can¡¯t hear anyway. Why would you lie to me¡­¡± ¡°The Eternal Heart is around your neck, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s just a bracelet¨Clet her feel a little better, no need to be so petty, right?¡± William said. Samantha¡¯s shyugh drifted into Rachel¡¯s ears. ¡°Well, you¡¯re the one who spoiled me,¡± Samantha said. Rachel sneered. As the saying went, love wouldn¡¯t disappear¨Cit just shifted target. When she returned to her office, Cecilia quickly stepped in, looking anxious. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I overheard some things from the office¡­¡± Rachel didn¡¯t look up as she calmly stacked the files on her desk. One of them slipped out, and she bent down to pick it up. It was the file she had spentte nights working on, the one she had taken to Tyler¡¯spany for negotiations. Having poured her all into it, she felt confident about it. If Tyler really wanted to control the Oasis Project, he wouldn¡¯t find better proposal than this. Was she really going to break her promise to her mother? Rachel gripped the corner of the file tightly, feeling a wave of frustration. She couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Samantha, aplete rookie, being given the Oasis Project. The woman couldn¡¯t even handle the data correctly. How could she possibly manage such an important project? But Tyler was like a wall¡ªimpossible to break down. Rachel couldn¡¯t do anything about it.. Cecilia noticed Rachel wasn¡¯t saying anything and waved her hand in front of her face. ¡°What are you thinking about? What was everyone talking about?¡± Rachel sighed. ¡°Nothing. Just a small issue. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. Even if she hadn¡¯t run into Tyler yesterday, it didn¡¯t matter. She would rather break than bend. It Howard even dared to touch her, she would make sure he couldn¡¯t be a man for the rest of his life. Cecilia leaned in closer, lowering her voice as she said, ¡°You¡¯re really not going to do anything? The rumors about Mr. Lewis and Samantha are everywhere now. They¡¯re saying she¡¯s his first love, that there¡¯s a crack in your rtionship. And some people are even saying you¡¯re just her recement!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t seem bothered. She ced the proposal on the desk, tapping her fingers lightly on it. ¡°Instead of worrying about that, we should focus on how to win over Tyler.¡± Cecilia sighed, shaking her head. ¡°If you want to get to Tyler, you¡¯d have to get something on him. But he absolutely hates being threatened. I heard some woman once tried to ckmail him with some¡­ intimate photos, and he turned right around and sued her for harassment. Like,e on¨Cwhat¡¯s a woman harassing him for, right? Totally ridiculous.¡± Rachel rested her chin on her palm, staring at the proposal with a troubled look. Suddenly, a thought shed in her mind, and she jumped out of her chair. ¡°I know where I¡¯ve seen Tyler before!¡± Her Exit 20 Cecilia was startled by the strange look on Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°Hey! What¡¯s going on? You¡¯re scaring me.¡± Rachel quickly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need to go out for a bit.¡± Cecilia frowned and called out, ¡°But we still have a meeting with Trinity Enterprise¡­¡± Rachel didn¡¯t reply, just left the office. She took a cab to her mother¡¯s old house, which had been sitting empty for a long time. At one point, she had considered selling it. But William had said, ¡°We don¡¯t need the money. Just leave the house here. It¡¯ll be a way for you to hold onto your memories. Whenever youe back, you¡¯ll feel like your mom is still with you.¡± In her final days, her mother had trusted William with everything, and Rachel understood why. At that time, he treated her mother even better than she did. Neighbors praised him endlessly, and sometimes she even felt like she didn¡¯t measure up. But even the best people could change. Rachel unlocked the door and stepped inside her mother¡¯s room. She pulled down a box from the top of the wardrobe and opened it, going through it until she found an old photo album. Yes, this was where she had seen Tyler before. Rachel sat cross¨Clegged on the floor, flipping through the pages slowly until she finally found the photo on the second¨Ctost page. Tyler must have been about 16 or 17 at the time, but was already over six feet tall. His face still held a trace of youthful awkwardness, yet the lines were starting to sharpen. Even then, there was already a hint of coldness in his expression. His handsome face was set in a slight frown, and somehow, that subtle expression carried a quiet kind of pressure. So, even back then, there was something in his eyes that felt intense. No wonder every time Rachel saw him, she felt a bit intimidated. Standing next to Tyler in the photo was his mother. The picture had clearly been torn up and carefully put back together. But how could Rachel¡¯s mother know Tyler¡¯s mother? Now, everything made sense. That feeling of familiarity she always had when she s she needed to rely on this photo to get what she wanted. She quickly tucked the photo into her bag and rushed out to take a cab to LS Enterprise. Tyler¨Cit was finally clicking. But now, Just then, Samantha happened to step out of the building with her colleague, Helena York. Helena tugged at Samantha¡¯s sleeve and pointed. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ms. Lloyd?¡± Samantha stopped to look, then nodded. Confusion crossed her face. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that Mr. Hunt¡¯spany? What¡¯s Rachel doing there?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Helena replied. ¡°But LS Enterprise and Lewis Enterprise have beenpetitors for a while. Mr. Lewis and Mr. Hunt don¡¯t get along. Every time they meet, they can¡¯t stand each other. And for years, Lewis Enterprise was the toppany. ¡°But after Mr. Hunt built up LS Enterprise in just two years, they surpassed Lewis Enterprise. So, we¡¯re enemies with LS Enterprise. I wonder what Ms. Lloyd is doing there.¡± Samantha gasped and covered her mouth. ¡°Do you think Rachel might be nning to switchpanies?¡± Rachel arrived at the front desk of LS Enterprise and asked to meet Tyler, but the receptionist immediately refused. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we don¡¯t allow meetings without an appointment. Maybe you could try calling him?¡± Rachel checked the time. She still had half an hour before her next meeting with a business partner, but the Oasis Project was down to itsst three days. If she couldn¡¯t convince Tyler soon, there was no way to recover the money for the project. ¡°I don¡¯t have his phone number,¡± she said. The receptionist raised an eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t have Mr. Hunt¡¯s number? That¡¯s even more reason I can¡¯t let you go up, then.¡± Just as the receptionist was about to say more, the phone rang. pa Her Exit 21 Chapter 21 ¡®How can I help you, Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°Bring me tomorrow¡¯s schedule report.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the receptionist said, ready to hang up the phone. Rachel, feeling desperate, quickly grabbed the phone from her. ¡°Hello, Mr. Hunt, this is Rachel. Can I please meet with you?¡± The receptionist gave her a sharp look. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Rachel held the phone tighter and called out urgently, ¡°Tyler!¡± The receptionist rolled her eyes. Was this woman serious? Did she think she could call Tyler by name like that and get what she wanted? Unfortunately for her, that tactic wouldn¡¯t work! The receptionist grabbed the phone back and exined, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, Mr. Hunt. I was just about to call security.¡± ¡°Let here up.¡± The receptionist stared, speechless. She clicked the phone off and muttered, ¡°Fine, go up.¡± Rachel let out a breath she didn¡¯t realize she was holding. Her palms were sweaty, but she was determined. If she could just get Tyler to agree to secure the Oasis Project for her, she could finally walk away with peace of mind. She reached Tyler¡¯s office and was about to knock, but the door was already slightly open. She quietly pushed it open, and what she saw stopped her in her tracks. Tyler was sitting behind his desk, but he wasn¡¯t alone. A woman was leaning against the desk, her curves entuated by the cling of her red dress. Her voluminous chestnut curls cascaded over one shoulder, and she spoke in a low, sultry voice. She was clearly flirting with Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, why won¡¯t you look at me? It¡¯s been a few days, don¡¯t you miss me?¡± Tyler didn¡¯t even nce up from the contract he was signing. ¡°No, now move. You¡¯re blocking my light,¡± he replied coldly, without a hint of emotion. ¡°Pfft.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help it¨Caugh escaped her before she could stop it. Herugh was loud and sudden in the quiet office. As both Tyler and the woman turned to look at her, Rachel immediately realized how awkward she had just made the moment. ¡°Sorry, I¡­ the door was open. You can continue. I¡¯ll wait outside,¡± she quickly apologized. She tried to sneak out, but Tyler¡¯s voice stopped her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just ask if I missed you? She¡¯s the one I¡¯ve missed,¡± he said as he pointedzily toward the door, where Rachel stood. The woman¡¯s gaze immediately turned cold. She straightened up, her eyes scanning Rachel from head to toe, clearly unimpressed. ¡°Really? You like this¡­ in woman? What¡¯s so special about her? She¡¯s got a body like a stick, and her face is nothing to write home about.¡± Rachel furrowed her brow. What was going on? Why was Tyler using her like this? And what was up with the woman¡¯s attitude? Was she seriously looking at her like that? With disdain? Normally, Rachel wouldn¡¯t care, but something about the way this woman was looking at her stirred something inside her. She wasn¡¯t the most stunning woman in the world, but she didn¡¯t think she was ugly either. At least, she stood out in a crowd. Today, she wore a pink zer over a red silk mermaid skirt. Her makeup was simple but striking, giving her a cool, almost untouchable vibe. The gold earrings she wore sparkled in the ligh Rachel walked confidently over to the woman. Her presence was j types werepletely different. Rachel crossed her arms and tilted her chin up slightly. ¡°Yeah, In even spare you a second nce. Bet that doesn¡¯t sit well with you, untouchable vibe. The gold earrings she wore sparkled in the lightpleting the look. Rachel walked confidently over to the woman. Her presence was just as strong as the other woman¡¯s, even though their body types werepletely different. Rachel crossed her arms and tilted her chin up slightly. ¡°Yeah, I may look ordinary. But, look at you¨Cso beautiful, yet he doesn¡¯t even spare you a second nce. Bet that doesn¡¯t sit well with you, does it?¡± Her Exit 22 Tyler rested his chin on his hand, elbow propped on the table. He nced over at them as if he were just an observer,pletely uninterested in stepping in to help. The woman was clearly angry, her face turning bright red. ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky. He¡¯ll only be interested in you for a couple of days. He¡¯s been with more women than you¡¯ve had meals, so don¡¯t delude yourself into thinking he¡¯d ever waste real effort on you.¡± Rachel shrugged, unfazed. She wasn¡¯t trying to date Tyler. How many women he had been with didn¡¯t concern her. Besides, a powerful and attractive man like him was bound to attract attention. It wasn¡¯t surprising. ¡°It¡¯s fine. As long as his focus is on me now, that¡¯s all that matters Rachel quipped, smirking. Clearly taken aback by Rachel¡¯s calm response, the woman shot her onest re before storming out of the office. Rachel watched her leave, then quickly closed the door behind her. She checked the time¨Cshe still had a meeting with a client soon. Taking a deep breath, she got straight to the point: ¡°Mr. Hunt, the Oasis Project deadline is in three days. Are you really not going to reconsider?¡± If this hadn¡¯t been her mother¡¯s dying wish, she would¡¯ve given up after Tyler¡¯s initial refusal. There would have been no real reason to pester him repeatedly like this. And just thinking aboutst night¨Chow she actually offered him money to help with her situation¡­ She wished to never see him again for the rest of her life. When Tyler didn¡¯t speak, Rachel nced up in confusion, only to meet his sharp gaze. He usually had a cold expression, but seemed even more intimidating now, in his ck suit at the office. But when she looked at him, all she could think of wasst night. As memories flooded her mind, she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Her ears burned red, and she quickly turned her face away. Noticing her flushed cheeks, Tyler teased, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Not gonna call me by name anymore Rachel cleared her throat awkwardly. ¡°Sorry, I panicked just now. Also, I just found out that you knew my mom.¡± ¡°So? Are you trying to use that as a way to make a deal with me?¡± Tyler asked. His voice was cool, with a hint of something else. Rachel didn¡¯t even bother to tter him. She could tell this man wasn¡¯t the type to fall for that. ¡°I don¡¯t really have a choice. I know it might not seem ideal, but if it works, it works. And honestly, I¡¯m running out of time. Since you knew my mom, you must know that the Oasis Project was her dying wish.¡± Tyler leaned back, propping his legs up on the desk. ¡°And? You said it yourself¨Cit¡¯s your mother¡¯s wish. What does that have to do with me?¡± His tone waspletely cold, like he was made of ice. Rachel wasn¡¯t surprised. Tyler was well known for not caring about anyone unless he chose to. She bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to use my mother to get on your good side. But when I was going through her things, I found this. I think it might be important to you. 14 Rachel carefully pulled the torn¨Cup photo from her pocket, holding it out to him Though Tyler¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, his eyes flickered for a moment when he saw the photo. It was brief, bot Rachel caught it. He slowly stood up from his chair and walked over to her towering over her. There was a heavy, almost suffocating pressure in the way he looked down at her His dark eyes lingered on her face for a moment, and when he next spoke, his tone was casual, almost teasing. Her Exit 23 ¡°What, just because I helped you once yesterday, you¡¯re trying to cling to me now?¡± Rachel pursed her lips. She really couldn¡¯t argue with that¨Cher current behavior did look exactly like she was clinging to Tyler. Still, she should probably say something to clear this up. ¡°Last night was unexpected, but this photo¡­ even if I didn¡¯t need anything from you, I still nned to return it. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s important to you.¡± Rachel remembered her mom mentioning once that Tyler had a tough past, which made it hard for him to trust anyone. Some wounds from the past took a lifetime to heal. Rachel gently ced the photo on the desk, then turned around to leave, only to stop when Tyler said, ¡°This project means a lot to you, doesn¡¯t it? You¡¯re just going to walk away now?¡± She shrugged and smiled bitterly. ¡°I know you don¡¯t respond to threats, Mr. Hunt. I¡¯ve done everything I can for this project.¡± She pulled open the office door and walked out, her fingers clenched tight, heart pounding in her chest. She had thought Tyler might call her back¨Cat least because of that photo, because he used to know her mother. But even as the door clicked shut behind her, there was no sound from inside. No voice calling her name. The hope she¡¯d been holding onto dropped with a thud in her chest. It seemed she had miscalcted. Tyler wasn¡¯t someone whose mind could easily be guessed. He didn¡¯t y by anyone¡¯s rules. With a sigh of disappointment, Rachel left the building. As she reached the door, her phone buzzed with a call from Cecilia. What she heard next was thest thing she wanted to happen. ¡°My god, where are you? We¡¯ve got a huge problem! Samantha took the Trinity Project from us. And did you know she saw you at LS Enterprise today?¡± Rachel groaned, rubbing her forehead. ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°That little sneak went straight to Mr. Lewis and told him¡­¡± She switched her tone, imitating Samantha¡¯s voice in a mocking tone, making Rachel cringe. ¡°I saw Rachel at Mr. Hunt¡¯spany this morning. Doesn¡¯t she know LS Enterprise is ourpetitor? She can¡¯t just waltz in there like that. People are talking. William, you need to have a word with her.¡± Cecilia paused, then added, ¡°Or maybe Rachel wants to switchpanies now that she thinks I¡¯ve secured the Oasis Project. If she¡¯s thinking of leaving us, what about the project she¡¯s handling?¡± Cecilia groaned, then switched back to her normal voice as she continued, ¡°Next thing you know, everyone¡¯s whispering about you ditching us for LS Enterprise. When the team revolted against you leading the Trinity Project, Mr. Lewis gave it to Samantha. 11 Rachel¡¯s heart sank. Great, just great. She hadn¡¯t made any progress with Tyler, and now, not only had she failed to secure the Oasis Project, but her own work was at risk of being taken too. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back!¡± she said, hanging up the phone. She rushed back to the office, her mind racing. Inside, William stood at the center of the room, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone like an eagle scanning for prey. ¡°Has Ms. Lloyd returned yet?¡± he asked, his voice cold. One of the employees hesitantly spoke up: ¡°Cecilia¡¯s gone to get her.¡± As Rachel reached the door, she could immediately feel the tension in the room. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± she called out as she entered. William¡¯s face tightened. His eyes, once warm, now burned with irritation. This wasn¡¯t the same calm man she was used to. He was genuinely angry now, and didn¡¯t even bother to sign when he spoke to her. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, it¡¯s time for our meeting with Trinity Enterprise. What were you doing at LS Enterprise? nning to switchpanies?¡± he said sharply. Her Exit 24 Rachel took a deep breath. ¡°I had something to discuss with Mr. Hunt.¡± Helena rolled her eyes and muttered, ¡°LS Enterprise is ourpany¡¯s biggest rival. As the project director, it doesn¡¯t look good for you to be too close to Mr. Hunt. People will start questioning things.¡± ¡°What was it about?¡± William¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto Rachel ¡°This isn¡¯t just your personal matter anymore. It¡¯s about the whole team. You need to exin yourself.¡± Rachel¡¯s stomach dropped. The way William looked at her and questioned her made her feel like she was being interrogated. Because of a singlement from Samantha, he now assumed Rachel was thinking of switchingpanies. He was convinced she had gone to Tyler to discuss it. Rachel¡¯s expression stayed neutral. ¡°I can¡¯t answer that right now With the situation as messy as it was, any excuse she gave would sound wrong. Besides, the rtionship between Lewis Enterprise and LS Enterprise was delicate. Rachel hadn¡¯t asked William or Tyler about their past, but she could tell there was tension between them. The two obviously didn¡¯t get along. William¡¯s gaze grew more serious. ¡°This is your only chance to clear your name, Ms. Lloyd.¡± Rachel hesitated. She saw the warning in William¡¯s eyes. This was thest chance he was offering her to prove herself. Her eyshes fluttered as she finally said, ¡°Mr. Lewis, you believe Samantha when she says I¡¯m nning to leave, but why don¡¯t you believe me when I tell you otherwise?¡± William¡¯s brow furrowed deeper. ¡°This isn¡¯t about whether I believe you. This is about thepany¡¯s interests. It¡¯s not just an exnation to me, it¡¯s to the entirepany. It¡¯s about you being responsible for your role here.¡± Rachel¡¯sst bit of hope vanished with that sentence. So, in his heart, just a few words from Samantha were enough to destroy seven years of trust and love. She hade to her senses now. She took a deep breath, then nodded slowly before saying, ¡°I told you, it¡¯s personal. I¡¯m not ready to discuss it. As for the Trinity Project, I¡¯m not going to deny that I made a mistake.¡± Helena spoke up: ¡°It¡¯s not surprising you have the confidence to act like this, Ms. Lloyd. After all, you¡¯re Mr. Lewis¡® wife; no one can touch you. If anyone else acted like this, they¡¯d have been fired by now.¡± Rachel shut her eyes for a moment to collect herself, then opened them again and turned to face the group. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your boss will never y favorites,¡± she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. He was very fair indeed. So fair, in fact, that the scale in his heart had already tippedpletely toward Samantha. Just then, Samantha came rushing in from outside, slightly out of breath. ¡°William, we got the contract with Trinity Enterprise. Good thing made it in time!¡± she dered. A faint light flickered in William¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°You secured the contract?¡± ¡°Yep, here it is,¡± Samantha replied, handing it over. William¡¯s furrowed brow slowly rxed. ¡°Good work. Thank you.¡± That was when Samantha noticed Rachel standing there and walked over to her. ¡°Rachel, if something like thises up next time and you can¡¯t attend a meeting, just let me know in advance. I can help. But this is apany matter. If anything goes wrong, none of us can afford the responsibility. You¡¯ll drag William down with you,¡± she said, trying to sound like she was being helpful. ¡°Exactly. Because of your mistake today, we almost lost everything If the project falls through, we¡¯ll all have to take the fall for you,¡± Helena added, nodding in agreement. ¡°Even if you¡¯re Mr. Lewis¡® wife, you can¡¯t just do whatever you want. If it weren¡¯t for Samantha stepping in, I wonder how you would have exined this to thepany.¡± + Her Exit 25 Rachel wasn¡¯t the type to shy away from responsibility, but she also wasn¡¯t about to let someone falsely use her of something. She turned to look at Samantha. ¡°Ms. Judd, my timing wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. Based on the time I left LS Enterprise, I wouldn¡¯t have missed the meeting. The appointment with Trinity Enterprise was set for 3.30pm, and I left LS Enterprise at 3.10pm. It only takes about ten minutes to get to the meeting ce by taxi, so I had ten minutes to spare. Noticing the confusion on Samantha¡¯s face, Rachel gave a small smile and added, ¡°And if I¡¯m not mistaken, you probably waited at least twenty minutes, right?¡± Samantha¡¯s expression stiffened. She hadn¡¯t expected Rachel to be so precise with the timing. She even knew that Samantha had waited for twenty minutes after arriving at Trinity Enterprise. Rachel¡¯s smile grew slightly. ¡°I know because Trinity Enterprise¡¯s CEO had a video conference this afternoon. He sent me a message this morning, saying he would be ten minuteste.¡± Samantha stood frozen for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter, tinged with an almost pleading tone. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were too busy, and I just wanted to help. I didn¡¯t mean to make you think I was trying to take the credit from you. I promise, that¡¯s not what I was doing. The Trinity Project is yours; I¡¯ll have William change the name on the contract to yours. I¡¯ll make sure you get themission too.¡± Samantha¡¯s words, though seemingly innocent, put Rachel in a tough spot. The looks from the others in the room were heavy with judgment. ¡°Honestly, I can¡¯t believe Ms. Lloyd is acting this way. Samantha went out of her way to help her secure the project, and now ¡®she¡¯s just showing off, acting like she¡¯s got everything figured out.¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly. She was clearly nning to switch to LS Enterprise all along. On the surface, she acts like there¡¯s nothing between her and Samantha, but deep down, she already thought the Oasis Project was hers.¡± ¡°Of course she¡¯d hold a grudge. It¡¯s like having something snatched away from her.¡± Rachel heard the whispers around her loud and clear, but wasn¡¯t bothered by them. What mattered now was William¡¯s response. She turned her gaze back to him. ¡°Mr. Lewis, I¡¯ve exined everything. The meeting time was set, and it was my mistake for not arriving earlier. I take full responsibility for that.¡± She took responsibility where it was due, but the facts showed that she would never have beente to ti Samantha who decided to go on her own without consulting anyone. That was on her. eeting. It was William scanned the room, his eyes briefly lingering on Samantha. For just a moment, Rachel saw a flicker of something¨Cwas it sympathy? Her heart sank. She knew what wasing next. After a long pause, William¡¯s expression darkened, his voice cold and distant as he said, ¡°Given the situation just now, as well as Ms. Lloyd¡¯s personal matters, thepany has made the following decision: Her position will be suspended, along with all her current projects. Her director role will temporarily be taken over by Samantha, and once the investigation isplete, we will consider reinstating Ms. Lloyd¡¯s position.¡± His decision left the office inplete silence. The air was eerily still. But more than anything, the employees were more concerned about Rachel¡¯s expression. To be publicly dismissed by her husband and have him protect his first love in front of everyone felt like a cruel blow to Rachel¡¯s heart. In an instant, every colleague¡¯s gaze turned toward her. Her Exit 26 Chapter 26 Rachel¡¯s face remained calm, like it wasn¡¯t her getting dismissed he didn¡¯t even frown. Only she knew the truth¨Cthis was the numbness that came when rief had hollowed her outpletely. This wasn¡¯t the first time William had done this. The moment Samantha whispered that Rachel¡¯s LS Enterprise visit was a job- hunting attempt, and he believed it, the oue had been inevitable. Cecilia couldn¡¯t stay silent any longer. Furious, she interjected, ¡°Mr. Lewis, I can personally vouch for Ms. Lloyd. Her visit to LS Enterprise was purely personal. She never intended to jump ship.¡± How could Samantha twist the truth like this? Cecilia had always been a straightforward person, and couldn¡¯t stand the fact that Rachel had been targeted ever since Samantha came. She turned to Samantha. ¡°Ms. Judd, do you have any proof that Ms. Lloyd was trying to switch jobs? And if you¡¯re the one taking credit for contracts, maybe you should ask yourself how you got that position. You can¡¯t even handle basic data and documents, yet you¡¯re acting like a director. If people hear about this, they¡¯ll think we¡¯re a joke.¡± ¡°Cecilia!¡± Rachel called out sharply as she stepped forward and grabbed her friend¡¯s arm. She whispered urgently in her ear, ¡°Stop. Don¡¯t say anything else.¡± But Cecilia seemed to have grown a rebellious streak today and continued, ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I speak up? She can¡¯t even handle basic data analysis, yet she got parachuted into this position. I¡¯d love to know who arranged that.¡± A murmur rippled through the surrounding colleagues. ¡°Questioning Samantha right in front of Mr. Lewis? Cecilia¡¯s lost her mind.¡± ¡°Exactly. No matter how you look at it, Samantha was parachuted in. Someone powerful must be backing her. And let¡¯s be real, that someone is probably Mr. Lewis himself.¡± ¡°Even Ms. Lloyd, his own wife, got demoted. What¡¯s Cecilia trying to achieve by ying the hero here?¡± Rachel closed her eyes briefly. Cecilia had well and truly stirred the ho¡¯s nest. With William shielding Samantha so tantly, he would never allow this public challenge to slide. Besides, if even regr employees could see Samantha¡¯s ¡°powerful backing¡± was William¡­ Did he really not know? Of course he knew. He just chose to turn a blind eye. Samantha, who typically couldn¡¯t handle even the slightest criticism, was utterly unprepared for this public confrontation. ¡°Cecilia, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I didn¡¯t say anything bad about Rachel to Mr. Lewis. I was just worried that she might feel ufortable because I took the Oasis Project, or if she wants to change jobs because of it. I already told Mr. Lewis that Rachel has more experience and should take the project instead,¡± she exined. Cecilia wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°Then, why is the project still in your hands?¡± Before Samantha could answer, William¡¯s voice cut through the room: ¡°Enough!¡± His voice was so sharp, the office wentpletely silent. His dark brooding gaze swept past Cecilia before settling heavily on Rachel. Even when he signed to her, his gestures carried an icy edge. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, this is your subordinate. Who allowed her to speak like that to a colleague?¡± As the team leader, any mistakes made by subordinates naturally fell on Rachel¡¯s shoulders. She knew William¡¯s temperament all too well. He would never tolerate such insolence in his presence, especially when it involved Samantha. Rachel stepped forward, shielding Cecilia behind her. ¡°Mr. Lewis, ecilia spoke out of turn. I apologize on her behalf. Since Samantha is in charge of the Oasis Project, that alone proves her capability. I beg you to overlook this first offense.¡± She could ept losing her own position, but Cecilia had a five¨Cyear¨Cold child at home, sick and dependent on her meager sry to survive Her Exit 27 ¡°She publicly ndered and showed jealousy toward a new colleague, flouting all corporate protocols. If I let this slide, I lose all authority,¡± William said, his tone sharp and firm. His usual handsone features seemed even more distant and cold at this moment. Rachel frowned, realizing he wasn¡¯t going to back down. She took a deep breath. ¡°What do you want to do about it, Mr. Lewis?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll resign. Thepany will give her one month¡¯s sry aspensation,¡± William said decisively. Cecilia suddenly realized how serious the situation was. She hadn¡¯t expected that just speaking up for Rachel would lead to being fired. Rachel¡¯s face went pale. She turned to William, her voice gentle but firm as she protested, ¡°Mr. Lewis, it doesn¡¯t have to go that far. Cecilia was just trying to help me.¡± William¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°Cecilia¡¯s behavior in front of me is your fault. But since you¡¯ve already been punished, we¡¯ll consider it settled. If you ask me to go easy on her again, I¡¯ll hold you responsible as well.¡± His warning was clear. If she kept standing up for Cecilia, the consequences would fall on her too. Rachel couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. After seven years, William still didn¡¯t really understand her. She wasn¡¯t the type to abandon her friends. She straightened her back, her voice unwavering as she added, ¡°Since you put it that way, Mr. Lewis, then Cecilia¡¯s reckless behaviour is partly my responsibility too. Whether you want to fire me or anything else, I¡¯ll ept it.¡± At this point, the Oasis Project was already lost to her, and staying at thepany didn¡¯t matter anymore. Just then, Samantha stepped forward, looking guilty. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t know you felt that way about my abilities. I¡¯ve tried my best. You could¡¯ve just talked to me directly instead of talking to Cecilia behind my back.¡± As Samantha spoke, she suddenly looked away, embarrassed. Her cheeks turned bright red. Rachel¡¯s frustration turned into a sarcastic smile. Cecilia was furious. ¡°I saw all of this with my own eyes. It has nothing to do with Ms. Lloyd!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± William¡¯s voice cut through the room. ¡°This is apany, not a marketce. If you want to a The decision stands. Effective immediately.¡± ake it outside. Without waiting for anyone to respond, he walked out of the office. Rachel looked at Samantha, a coldness in her eyes. ¡°Tell me, exactly which part of Cecilia¡¯s usations was untrue?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Samantha hesitated, clearly caught off guard by Rachel¡¯s directness. Her ears turned pink with embarrassment. Rachel turned to Cecilia and said, ¡°Come with me to my office.¡± Once inside, Cecilia looked at Rachel, regret filling her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t think Mr. Lewis would¡­ would take your job away. You two are still married, right? He used to love you so much and now¡­¡± Rachel remained calm. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t want to work here anymore. It¡¯s been exhausting. Here¡¯s 100,000. Though it¡¯s not much, please give it to the person you asked to help mest time. And let them know I¡¯m sorry that I got them fired.¡± Cecilia¡¯s eyes widened, but Rachel didn¡¯t stop, adding, ¡°Also, here¡¯s 50,000 for you. I¡¯ll try to talk to William and see if he¡¯ll let you stay. If not, I¡¯ll help you find another job.¡± ??? T49 BUNUS Cecilia shook her head vehemently at the proffered card. ¡°No, I can¡¯t take your money, Besides, Mr. Lewis might¡¯ve just temporarily believed Samantha¡¯s nonsense. Don¡¯t be so upset. Why does this feel like you¡¯re saying goodbye forever?¡± An unspoken sense of finality hung between them, ufortably like a farewell. Her Exit 28 Chapter 28 Rachel raised an eyebrow, her tone light as she said, ¡°Whether I leave or not, you need to start protecting yourself. Don¡¯t overdo it, and especially don¡¯t argue with your boss in front of everyone.¡± She admired Cecilia for her boldness, even if it wasn¡¯t always what people wanted. Her team didn¡¯t need people like Samantha, who whispered behind everyone¡¯s backs. Cecilia¡¯s eyes started to water. ¡°I understand, Honestly, Rachel, why don¡¯t you just leave for LS Enterprise? Ever since Samantha came here, everything¡¯s been a mess.¡± Rachel quickly covered her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that. Pack up and wait for me to contact you. Right now, Mr. Lewis is upset. It¡¯s not the right time to bring it up.¡± Besides, there was no telling when Samantha might pop up again. Cecilia nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Later that afternoon, the HR department posted an announcement Samantha would be taking over Rachel¡¯s position as project director. Rachel was in the middle of transferring her projects when her phone buzzed. It was a message from William. [Rachel, you shouldn¡¯t have acted so impulsively earlier. I couldn¡¯t do anything with everyone watching. Please try to understand.] Rachel stared at the message, unable to stop herself fromughing Understand? Why was it always her who had to understand? Why wasn¡¯t Samantha asked to understand? Why was it always Rachel who had to take the me? Was she some kind of punching bag? This wasn¡¯t the man she knew. When Rachel first joined thepany, one of her superiors had treated her like a beast of burden, constantly forcing her to attend client drinking sessions and saddling her with the me whenever things went wrong. He would even take advantage of her hearing impairment to mutter vile remarks about her, knowing she couldn¡¯t hear. Back then, she had endured it all for William¡¯s sake, not wanting toplicate his position at thepany. She had never told him about these humiliations, yet somehow, he found out. The moment he heard, he stormed into her superior¡¯s office and erupted. That superior, emboldened by his ties to major shareholders and William¡¯s precarious position, stood his ground. Instead of backing down, he began hurling veiled insults at Rachel, the true target of his malice. No one expected what happened next. Blinded by fury, William kicked the man to the ground. Then, he loomed over him, finger pointed at the man¡¯s face. ¡°Say one more word about her. I dare you.¡± Gone was the poised, aristocratic demeanor of the Lewis family heir¨Cwhat stood there now was a man willing to burn everything to the ground. That was the day he nearly lost his job. But thanks to hister sess, he managed to stay on. Even now, when she thought about it, Rachel still got chills. ¡°You don¡¯t have to suffer for me. Seeing you hurt is worse than being stabbed by a knife,¡± William had said to her that day. But today, it was different. For another woman, he doubted her. He let her be ridiculed and criticized. He knew exactly how the office would talk about her, but still chose to do it. The door opened and Samantha walked in. Rachel snapped out of her thoughts and started going over the projects with her. ¡°I still have three more projects. Besides the Trinity Project you worked on today, the other three are with difficult clients. You¡¯ll need to know their preferences and what foods they¡¯re allergic to. for example, Mr. Zander from Lansail Group doesn¡¯t eat seafood or meat because of his religion. There¡¯s also¡­¡± Samantha interrupted, ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re saying so much. How can I remember everything? Just write it all down and email it to me.¡± Rachel paused, then replied, ¡°I have other things to handle. Now that you¡¯re the project director, you should be able to remember the basics. Client preferences are a must.¡± Samantha shrugged. ¡°But I don¡¯t have time, Rachel. William wants me to go with him to buy gifts for clientster.¡± Her Exit 29 Chapter 29 Rachel¡¯s fingers twitched slightly against the documents she was reviewing. Samantha hurried to exin, ¡°Rachel, please don¡¯t misunderstand! It¡¯s just, given your current¡­ delicate position, William can¡¯t afford to show you favoritism. Imagine the gossip if people thought he gave you special treatment as his wife.¡± Rachel withdrew her gaze with a quiet, humorless smile. Right. Taking her along would raise eyebrows, but taking Samantha? Perfectly eptable. Rachel forced her thoughts back into order and said, ¡°Go ahead. I email you thepiled filester.¡± Samantha smiled brightly. ¡°I knew you¡¯d understand! I¡¯ll get William to bring you coffee when we¡¯re done.¡± With that, Samantha bounced out of the room, leaving Rachel to chuckle bitterly. It was amazing how fast someone¡¯s ¡°severe injury¡± could heal when they wanted it to. By the time Rachel finished organizing everything, it was already 10pm, and William hadn¡¯t called her once. She took a cab back alone. With only a few days left before her departure, it was time to pack and tie up loose ends. Upon returning home, Rachel¡¯s first act was to sell the ring William had given her, along with every luxury gift he had ever bought for her. All of it went up on a secondhand marketce. At this point, those items were just worth money to her. Nothing more. She carefully packed her favorite clothes into a suitcase, then nced at the photo on her desk. It was from college, back when they were together. She stood in front, with William behind her, looking at her with such love in his eyes. Even though it was just a picture, she could still feel the love he had for her. Yet, when standing face¨Cto¨Cface with the living man himself now, she couldn¡¯t feel any of that. All she saw was emptiness and fake smiles. When William came back, he noticed the suitcase right away. His face shifted, and he hurried into the room. Rachel had just finished selling the items William had given her, and the money was already being transferred to her ount. He sat down beside her, his expression softer now, no longer the coldness from earlier in the day. He gently squeezed her arm, a touch that felt strangely out of ce. ¡°What¡¯s all this? Are you nning to go somewhere?¡± he asked. Rachel nced at her phone, watching the transfer notification pop up. The amount was 800,000. She cou the things she had sold weren¡¯t just material objects; it was as though she was selling away her love too. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just some old clothes I don¡¯t need anymore,¡± she calmly replied. help but feel like William didn¡¯t ask any more questions and instead grabbed the paper bag next to him. ¡°I saw your favorite pastry and coffee when I was out buying gifts for the business partners. Samantha promised she¡¯d bring your coffee today, so I got two cups.¡± Rachel fought back a bitterugh. In the past, William would never have let her drink coffee at night because of her bad sleep habits. She gently pushed the bag away. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, 1 don¡¯t want the coffee.¡± ¡°Just take a sip,¡± William insisted. But before Rachel could respond, William¡¯s phone buzzed, and a video call from Samantha popped up. To Rachel¡¯s surprise, he answered it right in front of her. Samantha appeared on the screen, waving her hand with excitement. ¡°William! Did Rachel drink the coffee? You¡¯ve got to tell her that we waited for two hours to get it! At least have her try a sip¡± Rachel had never seen someone so insistent about watching her enabling this absurdity made it even more infuriating. She bit back her irritation and deflected, ¡°I¡¯ll drink itter.¡± But Samantha¡¯s face changed immediately. She frowned and her ¡°William, does Rachel think I asked too much of her this afterno mean to make things hard for her. I feel really bad about her losi Rachel had never seen someone so insistent about watching her dink in real time, and the fact that William was actively enabling this absurdity made it even more infuriating. She bit back her irritation and deflected, ¡°I¡¯ll drink itter.¡± But Samantha¡¯s face changed immediately. She frowned and her voice softened, almost as if she were on the verge of tears. ¡°William, does Rachel think I asked too much of her this afternoon? Did I upset her? If she¡¯s angry, she can just tell me. I didn¡¯t mean to make things hard for her. I feel really bad about her losing her position¡­ Could you exin to her, William?¡± Her Exit 30 Chapter 30 ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Samantha. Rachel was just busy earlier. She said shell drink itter,¡± said William, quickly trying to calm her down. Samantha¡¯s voice immediately softened, turning yful as she replied, ¡°You¡¯re just saying that. I didn¡¯t see Rachel drink it! William, you¡¯ve got to help me exin. I can be a bit awkward sometimes and might upset people without meaning to.¡± Rachel¡¯s skin crawled at Samantha¡¯s sweet, almost flirtatious tone. At this moment, she almost wished her hearing had never returned, if only to spare herself from listening to Samantha flirting with William. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel won¡¯t be mad. She¡¯s not the type to hold a grudge. I know her well,¡± Williamn replied. ¡°Then, make her drink the coffee!¡± Samantha¡¯s voice was so bright and cheerful, like a little girl asking for something, making it hard to resist. William held the coffee out in front of Rachel and leaned it closer to her lips. ¡°You heard her¨Cshe¡¯s apologizing sincerely. Surely you won¡¯t hold a grudge against a youngdy who queued for two hours despite her injured leg?¡± Rachel¡¯s brow furrowed. She had no desire to prolong this farce with Samantha. Through gritted teeth, she hissed, ¡°I said my stomach hurts.¡± ¡°She waited in line for two hours. This is her sincere gesture. If you refuse, she¡¯ll overthink it and lose sleep from guilt tonight.¡± William¡¯s grip on the coffee cup didn¡¯t waver, still hovering at her lips. His stance was Rachel suddenly felt as if he was rubbing salt into her wounds. But it didn¡¯t unmistakably clear. even hurt anymore; she was just numb. Her lips pressed into a tight line as she shot William a frigid re. Then, in one swift motion, she snatched the coffee from his hand and drained it in front of them both. ¡°Happy now?¡± William reached out to pat her head in that infuriatingly cating way. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. Next time, if you don¡¯t want it, I won¡¯t humor Samantha a little?¡± let her bring it to you. But you¡¯re the wife of Lewis Enterprise¡¯s boss, after all. Can¡¯t Rachel¡¯s breath caught, but she didn¡¯t argue. She turned and climbed into bed, pulling the covers around her. ¡°I¡¯m tired; I want to rest. Can you close the door behind you?¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll be back after my video conference,¡± William replied. He had already ended the video call with Samantha. d too Rachel¡¯s grip tightened around the nket. Her shoulders shook as she fought to hold it together. The coffee had v well. Her stomach burned, a sharp, fiery pain spreading through her. But it wasn¡¯t just the coffee that hurt. It was that William knew about her sensitive stomach, knew coffee would make her feel and still made her drink it. All because of Samantha¡¯s two¨Chour wait for it. If Rachel didn¡¯t drink it, it would¡¯ve been treated like some unforgivable sin. To make matters worse, her stomach medicine had run out. She had no choice but to endure the pain, only finding slight relief by 5am, when exhaustion finally dragged her into a fitful sleep.. Yet the moment she drifted off, William, freshly finished with work, slid close. His cold hand pressed against her waist as he leaned in, lips brushing her ear. ¡°Rachel¡­ can we?¡± The icy touch sent a shudder through her, reigniting the difort she had just barely pushed down. She shoved him away, her body instinctively curling in on itself. But William was oblivious to her distress. He only dipped his head lower, nipping at her earlobe. Her Exit 31 Chapter 31 ¡°We haven¡¯t done it in a while,¡± William said. ¡°Just go to bed,¡± Rachel murmured ufortably, ¡°I¡¯m really tired.¡± She didn¡¯t tell William how she was feeling physically. Some expectations, she thought, no longer mattered. The desire in William¡¯s eyes faded at her words, reced by the usual coldness in his tone. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go have a smoke.¡± With that, he grabbed his cup and walked out onto the balcony. Rachel didn¡¯t have the energy to care about him anymore. anything around her. turned on her side and drifted back to sleep, barely aware of The next day, Rachel didn¡¯t wake up until past ten. By then, William was already up and dressed. He must have heard the noise behind him, because he nced back at her. He fastened thest button of his shirt and raised his hand to sign. Rachel realized he was telling her to make him some chicken soup. He said he had been meeting people frequentlytely, and his stomach wasn¡¯t feeling right. Suddenly, she remembered how he insisted on making her drink that coffeest night. It had made her stomach hurt all through the night, but he hadn¡¯t noticed at all. A bitter smile tugged at her lips. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte already, and we still need to visit Mom¡¯s grave. You can just grab some chicken soup on the way.¡± William raised an eyebrow, his expression showing clear disdain. ¡°But they put thickeners in the ones outside. It doesn¡¯t taste as good as yours. We still have some time, and I took the afternoon off. If you start now, it¡¯ll be ready in time.¡® Rachel wasn¡¯t foolish. A man who didn¡¯t ¡± Care about her health, but still wanted her to make food for him? William didn¡¯t deserve that privilegee. She didn¡¯t refuse outright and instead nced at the clock. ¡°But I still have to go to the office this morning. Even though I¡¯m not the director anymore, I have more things to handle now. Ms. Judd is our boss, and if she makes a mistake, all of us will get punished. Plus, didn¡¯t you say she¡¯s still getting used to thepany? It¡¯s only natural that I have to help her out more.¡± Rachel¡¯s words were sharp and calcted. She Of course, she was following orders. What just doing what William had told her¨Cto help Samantha more. the problem? Her response left William speechless, and he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. ¡°Fine, you go to the office.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m leaving then.¡± Rachel quickly got ready, not even bothering to put on makeup. She figured she could do that once she got to the office. She hoped to get out of there quickly¨Cshe was tired of staying around where William would probably ask her to do something else. However, she didn¡¯t actually go to the office. She had already applied for a day off with HR. Every year, she made it a point not to go to work on this day. Feeling off from her stomach, she stopped by the pharmacy first to get some medicine. After taking it, her stomach felt much better. After picking up some lilies for the grave, she arrived at the cemetery to find that William hadn¡¯t made it yet. So, she sent him a message. This would be theirst time visiting her mother. William replied, [I¡¯ll be there soon.] Rachel typed a quick reply, [Okay, I¡¯m here waiting for you.) She put her phone away and began talking to her mother, Mnie ¡°Mom, I have something to tell you. I might be leaving Yurelia City soon, and maybe I¡¯ll nevere back. Also, I¡¯m going to divorce William. I really didn¡¯t want to say this, but I have to¨Cyou were wrong about him¡­¡± Chapter 32 Her Exit 32 Rachel poured out all the hurt she had been holding inside to her mother. By the time she was finished, she was crying uncontrobly. As she sat before the grave, she gently traced her hand over the cold stone- was still with her, just in a different way. -as if doing so would make her feel like her mother ¡°Mom, I wish you were still here. At least I¡¯d have someone to talk to. You¡¯d be on my side, wouldn¡¯t you? I don¡¯t understand. He used to love me so much¡­ How did it turn into this? Can love really change?¡± At this point, Rachel didn¡¯t even want to think a Samantha. or William had seen her as nothing more than a stand¨Cin for But it didn¡¯t matter anymore. The love between them had deteriorated so much, it was now unbearable. After Rachel finally let out all her emotions, she realized that an hour and a half had passed. William, who had promised to be here soon, still hadn¡¯t shown up. To be honest, she didn¡¯t expect much from him anymore. Whether he came or not didn¡¯t matter. She was about to get up and leave when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Cecilia. [I gave the money to the person who helped you before. She says thank you.] Rachel replied, [No problem. We were the ones who caused trouble for her.] Rachel knew that anyone who could get close to Tyler had to be a high¨Clevel professional. Tyler¡¯s investigation would surely shake up their careers; whether they would be able to stay in the industry was uncertain now. Asking someone for help in this way was like cutting off part of their future. On her way back, Rachel happened to see that Samantha had posted something on social media. Curiosity got the better of her, and she clicked on the post. There was a photo of a pot of chicken soup being boiled, followed by a second photo of someone sitting across from a table, drinking from a bowl. Though the person¡¯s face wasn¡¯t visible, Rachel recognized the hand. It was William¡¯s. Samantha had added a caption to the post. [I hope to make breakfast for the one I love every morning. He really enjoys it.] The third picture showed Samantha pointing at William¡¯s bowl. Rachel remained calm, but veins popped up on the back of her hand. So, they couldn¡¯t even wait for thest few days? Was William already nning to let Samantha take ice? Rachel didn¡¯t have the time to make him chicken soup this morning, so he called Samantha to the house to make it for him. She didn¡¯t even need to imagine it¨Cshe could already picture the scene in her mind. Samantha, in Rachel¡¯s apron and slippers, standing in the very spot Rachel had stood so many times before, happily making chicken soup for William. He would be standing behind Samantha, his arms wrapped around her waist, their faces pressed close together. Those moments had been Rachel¡¯s and William¡¯s¨Cmemories Rachel could still see clearly, but now, there was someone else by his side. The happiness was still there, but it wasn¡¯t hers anymore. Rachel picked up her phone. After a moment of hesitation, she dia you still not here?¡± Samantha¡¯s voice quickly answered, ¡°William, do you like how th beautiful.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I buy you plenty of dresses before?¡± ¡°I know, but I think Rachel¡¯s are prettier. Hers are new, but she ha with meaning. ¡°Be good, okay? If you really like it, I¡¯ll buy you new ones. But if y ¡°Well, can I try it on? You can buy me one like itter.¡® ¡°Okay, but be careful. When you¡¯re done, put it back where you for Rachel picked up her phone. After a moment of hesitation, she dialed William¡¯s number. When he picked up, she asked, ¡°Are you still not here?¡± Samantha¡¯s voice quickly answered, ¡°William, do you like how this dress looks on me? I think all of Rachel¡¯s dresses are so beautiful.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I buy you plenty of dresses before?¡± ¡°I know, but I think Rachel¡¯s are prettier. Hers are new, but she hasn¡¯t even worn them yet.¡± Samantha¡¯s words were loaded with meaning. ¡°Be good, okay? If you really like it, I¡¯ll buy you new ones. But if you take Rachel¡¯s, what do I tell her when she asks?¡± ¡°Well, can I try it on? You can buy me one like itter.¡± ¡°Okay, but be careful. When you¡¯re done, put it back where you found it.¡± Her Exit 33 Rachel immediately decided to throw out all those dresses once she got home. Just the thought of Samantha possibly wearing one of her clothes while getting it on with William made her stomach turn with disgust. For some reason, the call was mysteriously disconnected shortly after. Rachelughed coldly, her eyes sharp with realization. It was likely that Samantha or William had identally answered the call. If they looked at the call timeter, they would probably be relieved that Rachel was still deaf. Otherwise, she would have caught on to their affair. As expected, less than two minutester, William sent her a message. [Did you call just now?] Rachel looked at the message and couldn¡¯t help but sneer. She almost wanted to rmend William pursue acting¨Csuch a waste of his talent. Her fingers trembled slightly as she typed her reply. [Are you stilling?] [Of course. I wouldn¡¯t miss Mom¡¯s anniversary. But I still have some work to finish. The head of Dynafort Enterprise wants me for a discussion about the previous coboration. It¡¯ll probably take about another hour.] A cold sh flickered in Rachel¡¯s eyes. [It¡¯s okay. I brought something for Mom on your behalf. Since you¡¯re so busy, just focus on your work.] [Oh, okay. Well, tell Mom I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll talk to her next year, I promise.] Rachel didn¡¯t respond. She kept telling herself that it didn¡¯t matter that it wouldn¡¯t be long before she didn¡¯t have to y this game with William anymore. She put her phone away, ready to leave. But as she looked up, she found herself staring into a pair of deep, dark eyes. At first, she thought she was imagining things- but then she realized it was Tyler. The man stood tall andposed, dressed in a perfectly tailored ck suit that made him look even more serious and cold than usual. There was an unmistakable air of detachment around him, as if he were miles away from everyone else. Tyler was holding a bouquet of carnations. Rachel didn¡¯t immediately understand who he was here for. It wasn¡¯t until the moment hit her that she remembered. Every year, Rachel would always see a bouquet of carnations in front of Mnie¡¯s tombstone. It would always be there, either just before or after Mnie¡¯s death anniversary. But Mnie hadn¡¯t known many people during her life. Aside from family, no one else had evere to visit. Could it be¡­? Rachel¡¯s suspicions were soon confirmed when Tyler walked past her, stepping over the spot where she stood, and bent down to ce the flowers at Mnie¡¯s grave. His deep voice held a touch of amusement as he said, ¡°Looks like your daughter didn¡¯t inherit your good genes at all¨Cshe¡¯s a real idiot.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but frown at his teasing. It seemed like this man couldn¡¯t go a moment without poking fun at her. But right now, she had more important things to ask him. She stepped closer to him and asked, ¡°So, the carnations from previous years¡ªwas that from you?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see the writing on it?¡± ¡°What writing?¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t really paid attention. Tyler gave her an almost condescending look, as if she were a moron. He lifted the bouquet, revealing a card tucked inside. On it, the letters ¡°TH¡± were clearly written. Rachel rolled her eyes. ¡°How could anyone possibly guess that¡¯s you from this?¡± Two letters. Was she supposed to deduce his full name from just two letters? Tyler chuckled mockingly. ¡°Weren¡¯t you nning to use our little connection to get a business deal? Come on, Ms. Lloyd. If you can¡¯t even guess my name, you don¡¯t seem all that sincere.¡± Her Exit 34 Chapter 34 Tyler¡¯s words left Rachel speechless, and she couldn¡¯t think of anything to say. She didn¡¯t have much of an impression of Tyler, since he had interacted more with Mnie. Back then, Mnie wanted Rachel to be solely focused on her studies, and she hadn¡¯t paid much attention to anything else. Even if Tyler had disyed the card with his name before this, Rachel wouldn¡¯t have been able to guess or remember. Embarrassed, Rachel muttered, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Hunt.¡± It was her fault. She hadn¡¯t held on to this important connection when she should have. Tyler adjusted his trousers and sat down on the steps. The sun was especially warm that day, and it seemed to lift some of the gloom from Rachel¡¯s heart. Tyler squinted against the light and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. But then, he seemed to remember that smoking wasn¡¯t allowed here and slipped the cigarette back into the pack. ¡°Where¡¯s William?¡± he asked. Rachel¡¯s lips curled with a hint of mockery. ¡°He¡¯s probably still at home, enjoying his breakfast with his lover.¡± Tyler casually flicked his wrist and adjusted his watch, then said thoughtfully, ¡°I heard William took away your position as the director and gave it to Samantha?¡± Rachel took a deep breath. ¡°Yes, but it doesn¡¯t matter. I can¡¯t be involved in Project Oasis either way, so whether I¡¯m the director or not doesn¡¯t change anything.¡± She propped her elbow on her chin, staring up at the blue sky. Her thoughts drifted to what her mother had said before she passed. Mnie said she wasn¡¯t leaving Rachel. She would always be with her, just in a different way. Maybe right now, she was watching over Rachel from above. ¡°Project Oasis was something my mother worked on for years. She even named it herself. But just when it started to take shape, she passed away. Before she left, I promised her that I would finish the project in my hands. I want her to see that happen from wherever she is now.¡± However, Rachel never expected that Samantha¡¯s arrival would throw all her ns into chaos. Tyler leaned back slightly, resting his elbows on the sides of the steps, his posture rxed andzy. ¡°Making a move on me won¡¯t help. The problem was never me from the start.¡± Rachel let out a soft scoff. Her smile, usually bright and bold, seemed lonely now. ¡°Mr. Hunt, do you really think I can convince William to give me the project? You¡¯re a man, too. You should know that once a man¡¯s heart changes, not even an ox can drag him back.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s hard to say. Have you tried it?¡± Tyler delivered the joke with deadpan seriousness, his tone so convincing that one would think he genuinely wanted her to try it. Rachel rolled her eyes. ¡°Even if I could get him back, I wouldn¡¯t want him.¡± She was the type of person who loved fully and without hesitation. But once betrayed, she would walk away just as quickly. Tyler let out a low, roughugh from his throat. ¡°You¡¯re pretty clear¨Cheaded.¡± ¡°So, about the project¡ªif you don¡¯t take control of the rights, William won¡¯t let me anywhere near it with how things are now, And with Samantha in the picture, it¡¯ll cause nothing but trouble if try to force my way in.¡± Rachel had seen it clearly over the past few weeks. Whether she was at fault or not, Samantha¡¯s tears and tantrums would always +25 BONUS make William side with Samantha without question. And then, Rachel would be left silently suffering. Tyler narrowed his eyes at her, then suddenly exhaled, as if a weight had been lifted. ¡°I can do what you want, but have you thought about the consequences? William will find out the moment I take the rights from him, and you¡¯ll be caught in the crossfire.¡± The consequences would be far more severe than Rachel realized. Rachel wasn¡¯t surprised by his warning. Her gaze was steady as she looked at him. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes. You don¡¯t need to worry about anything else, Mr. Hunt. Just secure the rights.¡± Chapter 35 Her Exit 35 Chapter 35 Rachel figured that once she had set everything in motion, she would just leave and let them deal with the fallout. Whatever they said afterward was their problem, not hers. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll agree,¡± Tyler said, ¡°but only because of your mom.¡± He stood from the steps. Rachel watched his back. ¡°I¡¯lle by tomorrow to discuss the details.¡± Tyler paused, his hands in his pockets, and nced at her over his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re really eager to start a rumor with me, aren¡¯t you? Should invite the press tomorrow, hold a little press conference, and have Williame by to see how his wife teamed up with hitspetitor to trap him?¡± Rachel¡¯s forehead creased. How many women had chased after him for him to be so full of himself? She had no choice but to y along with him. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your call. You can set the time and ce.¡± Tyler smiled, clearly pleased with her response. ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. He could have just told her what he wanted instead of making it sound so dramatic. It wasn¡¯t like him to be so roundabout. Still, the situation had taken an unexpected turn. She had thought it was a lost cause, especially since Tyler hadn¡¯t stopped her when she left LS Enterprise yesterday. Thank goodness this was the only project they were working on together. Once it was over, they would never have to see each other again¡ªbecause if they did, Rachel was fairly sure Tyler would drive her mad, what with him stringing her along like a puppet. They left the cemetery. Rachel tried to call a cab, but her phone didn¡¯t respond for a long time. At this time, it was a bit difficult to get a ride from the cemetery. Usually, William would¡¯ve been with her, but this was the first time she hade alone, and it waste. No driver wanted toe to such a remote ce. Rachel hesitated, wondering if she should ask Tyler for help. Any other guy might have been a gentleman and offered her a ride, but Tyler didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. She clenched her fingers, deciding she would have to take matters into her own hands. ¡°Mr. Hunt, could I catch a ride with you? I can¡¯t get a cab right now! Tyler¡¯s fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel as he leaned back in his seat, looking at her with a teasing smile. ¡°You want me to be your chauffeur, princess?¡± Rachel¡¯s head throbbed. This guy was impossible to deal with! He called her a princess, but she felt he was acting like one. But she needed his help, so she had to keep it together. She forced a smile, trying to keep things civil. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you.¡± Tyler rested his elbowzily on the window, propping up his head. Are you really that rich?¡± Rachel furrowed her brows. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Last time, you said you wanted to sleep with me. Just as generous today, huh?¡± Tyler¡¯s tone was yful, a mix of teasing and mischief. The mention of their previous conversation embarrassed Rachel deeply. She bit her lip, and the tips of her ears quickly turned red. 1/2 ¡°That was a desperate situation,¡± she whispered. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate if you just forget it.¡± ¡°Or maybe you could give me some hush money?¡± Tyler pulled out cigarette from his pack, his gaze lingering on her flushed face as he smirked. Rachel took a deep breath. ¡°Mr. Hunt, are you really that desperate for money?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m so broke,¡± he said, dragging out his words, clearly unconcerned about how he looked. Rachel struggled to keep up with his banter. A little irritated, she sapped back, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to give me a ride, you can just say so. No need for all the games.¡± She turned to walk away, but Tyler grabbed her wrist and held her in ce. ¡°Don¡¯t be so stingy. I¡¯m just joking around. I really don¡¯t know how that blockhead William managed to win you over.¡± Rachel froze, instinctively turning to him. ¡°Are you close with William?¡± Her Exit 36 ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a guess?¡± Tyler was back to ying games with her. Rachel knew that even if there was something between him and William, Tyler wouldn¡¯t just hand over the details. Anyway, she was about to leave William and Yurelia City soon. Everything here would no longer matter to her. ¡°Forget it, I don¡¯t really want to know.¡± Tyler nced at his watch, clearly ready to get back to business. ¡°Get in the car. The fare¡¯s covered by a favor. Next time, when I need help, you¡¯re on call.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know what problems Tyler couldn¡¯t solve on lits own. After all, he was a big shot. It didn¡¯t seem like he would need help from someone like her. Later, she would realize just how little she truly understood him. Calling him shameless would be an understatement. She was about to open the passenger door when she noticed it was locked. Furrowing her brows, she realized he had tricked her again. She was about to snap, but then Tyler¡¯s voice stopped her. ¡°This car is automatic. You need to give it amand.¡± He looked irritated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world Rachel gave the sleek, streamlined car a once¨Cover before realising it was the newest model¨Conly two of them existed in the world. One of them was owned by Howard. Rumour had it that to get the car for Howard, his grandfather nearly called in every favour he had ever owed in his life¡­and still almost didn¡¯t get it. Howard was definitely spoiled. If he wanted something, even the stars in the sky probably weren¡¯t off¨Climits for his family. William had been keen on the car too, but when he tried to get it, he found out that it had already been taken. It was probably the same car Tyler was driving. Rachel cleared her throat. ¡°So, what am I supposed to say?¡± Tyler straightened up and cleared his throat, looking at her with apletely serious expression. ¡°You need to say, ¡®Honey, please open the door.¡°¡± Rachel blinked,pletely speechless. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. Hurry up and say it. I¡¯ve got a meeting, and I¡¯m runningte,¡± Tyler urged her. Rachel looked around. Thankfully, there weren¡¯t many people around, or her face would¡¯ve turned as red as a tomato. With no choice left, she steeled herself and said, ¡°Honey, please open the door.¡± She tugged on the door handle, but nothing happened. Confused, she turned to Tyler. Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why are you saying that while looking at me? You should be looking at the car.¡± Rachel clenched her fingers and took a deep breath. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she couldn¡¯t get a cab, she wouldn¡¯t want to sit in this car even if someone begged her. She lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment, and repeated, ¡°Honey, please open the door.¡± Ding, ding! The sound of the car unlocking echoed twice. Rachel let out a relieved sigh and opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat without even noticing Tyler¡¯s hand retreating from the unlock button. The car headed toward the city center. Rachel, still curious, asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you unlock this car manually? Do you always have to say that every time you open the door? Or is there something you like about that?¡± Tyler couldn¡¯t seriously be into this, could he? She suddenly remembered thest time she was in his office. That woman¡¯s figure was perfect¨Ceven she, as a woman, had felt a bit envious¨Cbut Tyler hadn¡¯t even blinked. Either he had seen so many women that he had be immune, or maybe¡­he liked men. Tyler noticed the thoughts flickering across Rachel¡¯s face. With a smirk, he flicked her forehead. Rachel instinctively covered her head. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± ¡°Pack up those dirty thoughts of yours. I¡¯m not interested in men Rachel froze, instinctively looking at him. She was shocked to realize that he could read her mind so effortlessly. Her Exit 37 It was terrifying how Tyler seemed to know exactly what Rachel was thinking. The awkward silence lingered for a moment, but Rachel couldn¡¯t help herself and said anyway, ¡°Last time, thatdy had such a great figure. I thought she was amazing¨Cwhy didn¡¯t you want her¡± Tyler shot her a cold nce. ¡°By your logic, if any woman throws herself at me, should I just take her? I¡¯m not a trash can.¡± ¡°I thought she was great,¡± Rachel blurted out. ¡°If you didn¡¯t want her, then what kind of woman do you like?¡± Tyler nced at her briefly, his tone casually mocking. ¡°So, now you¡¯re trying to figure out what I like? Do you want to date me?¡± Rachel quickly looked away. ¡°Forget I asked.¡± The car pulled up in front of Lewis Enterprise, and Rachel gave Tyler a polite thank you. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Hunt.¡± Tylerzily waved at her as the car drove off, barely missing her feet.. Rachel headed inside and waited for the elevator. While she waited she scrolled through the headlines, and one caught her attention. [Howard Ziegler¡¯s brush with death¨Cdrugged, locked in a dark room, and left for dead¨CMr. Ziegler narrowly escaped sterilization, with doctors warning that a few minutester could have cost him his fertility. Whispers now point to William Lewis as the mastermind.] Rachel clicked the article and realized the description of the drug sounded simr to what Howard had used on her before. She highly doubted William was behind it. If Samantha had been the one poisoned, however, then maybe he wouldn¡¯t hold back. But when she thought about it, aside from William, who else in Yurelia City could possibly challenge Howard like that? Suddenly, Tyler¡¯s face shed in her mind. However, Rachel pushed the thought away just as quickly as it crossed her mind. Tyler and Howard didn¡¯t have any issues with each other. There was no way he would help her. The elevator doors opened; as Rachel was about to step in, someone tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She turned around to see Samantha, smiling brightly and signing at her. ¡°Rachel, what a coincidence! William and I just got back too!¡± William noticed the situation and quickly raised his hands to sign, trying to exin. ¡°We were out meeting with clients. Did you juste from the cemetery?¡± Rachel kept her face nk and nodded. ¡°Yeah, just came back.¡± The three of them stepped into the elevator, and Rachel pressed the button for her floor. The atmosphere in the tight space felt unusually heavy. Standing in front of William and Samantha, Rachel could see in the reflection of the elevator buttons that Samantha was subtly holding William¡¯s hand. William, probably afraid Rachel would notice, instinctively tried to pull away. ¡°Stop it,¡± he muttered. Samantha pouted and looked at him with her big, sparkling eye¨Cthe kind that made it hard for anyone to say no. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel can¡¯t hear us.¡® ¡°Alright, behave.¡± William finally caved. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you shopping. Didn¡¯t you want the dresses Rachel has?¡± Samantha, satisfied, loosened her grip on his hand. ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it. I wear nice things to show off to you, after all.¡± Rachel pressed a hand to her chest, suddenly finding it heavy. She couldn¡¯t believe how blinded she had been back then, to the point she didn¡¯t even listen to her instincts about William. At least her hearing was back now, or she might¡¯ve pped herself in frustration. As they stepped out of the elevator, Samantha suddenly pointed at the car outside. ¡°Rachel, I saw you get out of that Bugatti just now. That¡¯s a global limited edition. I remember one belongs to Howard, and the other one is Mr. Hunt¡¯s.¡± Her Exit 38 It was terrifying how Tyler seemed to know exactly what Rachel was thinking. The awkward silence lingered for a moment, but Rachel couldn¡¯t help herself and said anyway, ¡°Last time, thatdy had such a great figure. I thought she was amazing¨Cwhy didn¡¯t you want her¡± Tyler shot her a cold nce. ¡°By your logic, if any woman throws herself at me, should I just take her? I¡¯m not a trash can.¡± ¡°I thought she was great,¡± Rachel blurted out. ¡°If you didn¡¯t want her, then what kind of woman do you like?¡± Tyler nced at her briefly, his tone casually mocking. ¡°So, now you¡¯re trying to figure out what I like? Do you want to date me?¡± Rachel quickly looked away. ¡°Forget I asked.¡± The car pulled up in front of Lewis Enterprise, and Rachel gave Tyler a polite thank you. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Hunt.¡± Tylerzily waved at her as the car drove off, barely missing her feet.. Rachel headed inside and waited for the elevator. While she waited she scrolled through the headlines, and one caught her attention. [Howard Ziegler¡¯s brush with death¨Cdrugged, locked in a dark room, and left for dead¨CMr. Ziegler narrowly escaped sterilization, with doctors warning that a few minutester could have cost him his fertility. Whispers now point to William Lewis as the mastermind.] Rachel clicked the article and realized the description of the drug sounded simr to what Howard had used on her before. She highly doubted William was behind it. If Samantha had been the one poisoned, however, then maybe he wouldn¡¯t hold back. But when she thought about it, aside from William, who else in Yurelia City could possibly challenge Howard like that? Suddenly, Tyler¡¯s face shed in her mind. However, Rachel pushed the thought away just as quickly as it crossed her mind. Tyler and Howard didn¡¯t have any issues with each other. There was no way he would help her. The elevator doors opened; as Rachel was about to step in, someone tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She turned around to see Samantha, smiling brightly and signing at her. ¡°Rachel, what a coincidence! William and I just got back too!¡± William noticed the situation and quickly raised his hands to sign, trying to exin. ¡°We were out meeting with clients. Did you juste from the cemetery?¡± Rachel kept her face nk and nodded. ¡°Yeah, just came back.¡± The three of them stepped into the elevator, and Rachel pressed the button for her floor. The atmosphere in the tight space felt unusually heavy. Standing in front of William and Samantha, Rachel could see in the reflection of the elevator buttons that Samantha was subtly holding William¡¯s hand. William, probably afraid Rachel would notice, instinctively tried to pull away. ¡°Stop it,¡± he muttered. Samantha pouted and looked at him with her big, sparkling eye¨Cthe kind that made it hard for anyone to say no. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel can¡¯t hear us.¡® ¡°Alright, behave.¡± William finally caved. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you shopping. Didn¡¯t you want the dresses Rachel has?¡± Samantha, satisfied, loosened her grip on his hand. ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it. I wear nice things to show off to you, after all.¡± Rachel pressed a hand to her chest, suddenly finding it heavy. She couldn¡¯t believe how blinded she had been back then, to the point she didn¡¯t even listen to her instincts about William. At least her hearing was back now, or she might¡¯ve pped herself in frustration. As they stepped out of the elevator, Samantha suddenly pointed at the car outside. ¡°Rachel, I saw you get out of that Bugatti just now. That¡¯s a global limited edition. I remember one belongs to Howard, and the other one is Mr. Hunt¡¯s.¡± Her Exit 39 Chapter 39 William¡¯s expression slowly turned cold. Even the way he signed grew stiff and sharp. ¡°You really want to make things hard for me, just for Cecilia?¡± But only Rachel knew that it wasn¡¯t just for Cecilia. It was also for herself. She wanted to see for herself¨Cif she stood firm like this and refused to back down, would William still choose to protect Samantha? Rachel¡¯s gaze stayed steady and clear as she looked at him. ¡°All these years, I¡¯ve never asked you for anything. Just this one time¨Cfor Cecilia. If you say yes, I¡¯ll pass my current project to her. We¡¯re signing the contract tomorrow. I¡¯ll bring her with me, and her name can go on the agreement. That way, it won¡¯t make things too hard for you.¡± William didn¡¯t say a word. His eyes were dark, his gaze resting on Rachel like the distant, shadowy surface of a deep sea¨Ccalm, with no sign of waves. Just then, Arsen pushed open the door. ¡°Mr. Lewis, here¡¯s a document-¡± ¡°Get out!¡± William suddenly shouted toward the door. Arsen quickly backed out. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The door closed again with a soft thud. Rachel¡¯s heart trembled hard. Since she had been with William, he had never lost his temper like that in front of her. Her fingers curled tight around the hem of her shirt, and her whole body went stiff. William walked over again. The anger on his face had faded, and his expression softened. He knelt beside her, looked into her eyes, and gently took her cold hand in his. ¡°Rachel¡­ You know how thepany works. It¡¯s not just my call. Sure, I¡¯ve got some say right now, but I haven¡¯t fully secured this position. I told you before¨Cmy uncle is still out there. He¡¯s way more capable than me. He runs his ownpany, yeah, but who knows? If my dad ever thinks I¡¯m not good enough, he could swap me out in a second.¡± William rubbed his brow and continued, ¡°There are a few shareholders who are loyal to my uncle. If they hear that I¡¯m making personal decisions like this at work, who knows what they¡¯ll say? Just¡­try to understand where I¡¯ming from.¡± Rachel let out a short, coldugh. ¡°But you had no problem parachuting Samantha into thepany¡± she said. ¡°Do those shareholders know that she can¡¯t even run a single data report without your help? Aren¡¯t you worried that it will reach your dad¡¯s ears and hurt your standing?¡± In the end, it wasn¡¯t about what was right or wrong. It was about Rachel not being worth the trouble. If Cecilia came back, Samantha would definitely make a scene in front of William. To put it inly, he was just afraid that his precious little darling would throw a tantrum, and that he would have to work hard to calm her down. Rachel wasn¡¯t like that. She kept things to herself and never made a fuss. No matter how upset she was, she always handled it alone. It was just like the saying¨Cthe child who cried got the candy. William sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°That¡¯s different. Samantha still struggles with data, sure, but she has the credentials. She¡¯s from Arden University. With some patience and the right training, she won¡¯t stay behind for long.¡± Rachel tasted bitterness in her mouth. So he had patience¨Cfor Samantha. But Cecilia? She was just a regr employee. Not worth the risk of the hassle. Rachel looked him in the eye and asked onest time, ¡°So you¡¯re saying that even if I give my project to Cecilia, you still won¡¯t let here back?¡± William¡¯s answer didn¡¯t change. He gave a quick wave of his hand. It¡¯s not a good idea.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Rachel said quietly. She didn¡¯t argue anymore. She stood from the chair, ready to leave¨Cwhen William suddenly grabbed her shoulder. He turned to look at her, and she caught the chill in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Tyler?¡± he demanded. Cate Her Exit 40 Chapter 40 Rachel¡¯s heart sank. She saw the flicker of anger, doubt, and displeasure in William¡¯s dark eyes. She narrowed her eyes. He was suspicious¨Cof her and Tyler. What right did he have? After a beat, Rachel smiled casually and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We just bump into each other sometimes and say hi.¡± As she finished, she patted William¡¯s shoulder lightly as he had done to her. William¡¯s long fingers moved quickly in the air as he signed. ¡°Rachel, the rtionship between the Lewis family and Tyler isplicated. Just the fact that his office is right across from Lewis Enterprise shows you how calcting he is. Don¡¯t get too close to him, okay? There are already rumors in thepany about you and Tyler. How do you expect me, as your husband, to deal with that?¡± Rachel raised her brows, then let out a brightugh. Her voice was yful, almost teasing. ¡°Oh? So you do remember you¡¯re married. You spend all day with Samantha¨Chave you ever thought about what people are saying about the two of you? One¡¯s your first love, and the other¡¯s your wife. Tough choice, huh?¡± William didn¡¯t look surprised. He actuallyughed and, like always reached out to tap her nose fondly. ¡°You jealous little thing! I was wondering why you¡¯ve been acting off these past two days. So it was jealousy. I did date Samantha once, bute on¨Cit was just some childish fling. It didn¡¯t mean anything.¡± Rachel covered her mouth andughed. ¡°If Samantha happened to be standing outside the door right now and heard that, she¡¯d probably be heartbroken.¡± Just as she said that, she caught William ncing¨Cbriefly and almost subconsciously¨Ctoward the door before looking back. ¡°You really are jealous, huh? It¡¯s all in the past. You¡¯re my wife now. No need topare yourself to some girl.¡± Rachel¡¯s tone stayed calm. ¡°I was justmenting. Don¡¯t read too much into it. I have some things to take care of at home. I¡¯ll head out¨Cyou get back to work.¡± She knew saying anything more would only mean hearing more carefully crafted lies. William was probably afraid she would be upset about his past with Samantha. Maybe that was why he tried so hard to make it sound like it didn¡¯t matter. But just as Rachel reached for the doorknob, ready to leave, William suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist from behind. He leaned in close to her face and made a small motion, like he was about to bite. ¡°I¡¯ll make you your favorite steak tonight.¡± William raised one hand slightly to sign. ¡°Think of it as an apology for not being able to go with you to your mom¡¯s memorial today.¡± Rachel forced a small smile. Her tone was light, almost breezy, as she replied, ¡°No need. I told Cecilia I¡¯d try talking to you again. But since that didn¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll just take her out to dinner. That can be my way of saying sorry to her. After all, she got into trouble with Samantha because of me. If it weren¡¯t for that, none of this would¡¯ve happened to her.¡± As she finished, she reached down and pried his hand from her waist. There was a faint trace of mockery in her eyes. Maybe it was better that he hadn¡¯t gone. At least her mother¡¯s resting ce wouldn¡¯t be tainted by his presence. Rachel left the office and immediately called Cecilia. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I think I overestimated how much I mean to William. I¡¯ll try to think of another way to help with your job.¡± Cecilia sounded stunned. ¡°So it¡¯s really that bad? Mr. Lewis won¡¯t even do it for you?¡± Rachel knew all too well¨Cif other people lost their jobs, they just had to tighten their belts. But if Cecilia had no job and no money, it could ruin her life. Sure, Rachel could help support her for a while, but that wasn¡¯t a real solution. Cecilia needed a job¨Ca stable one. Rachel had made up her mind. Before she left, she would make sure Cecilia had something to fall back on. Once she was gone, Cecilia wouldn¡¯t have anyone else to rely on. At the end of the day, it was Rachel¡¯s fault that all this happened in the first ce. ¡°Give me a little time,¡± she told Cecilia. After hanging up, she quickly dialed the assistant to Trinity Enterprise¡¯s CEO. Rachel had her own way ofnding every deal¨Cshe made a habit of winning over the assistants first. That was how she got insider info others didn¡¯t. The call went through, and she said quickly, ¡°Hi, Jenny. It¡¯s me. Do you remember a few days ago, when one of our new employees closed a deal with your boss?¡± ¡°Is that you, Ms. Lloyd?¡± Jenny Harper sounded surprised. ¡°You can hear me?¡± Her Exit 41 ¡°Yes, I can hear you now,¡± Rachel replied. There were only a few days left. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t even worried anymore if William found out that her hearing had recovered. ¡°Well,¡± Jenny said, ¡°just a few days ago, someone came and said she was the new director at Lewis Enterprise. Said you were tied up, and she was sent in your ce to discuss the deal.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Samantha calling herself the new director¨Cwas that just something she made up, or had William told her to say that? If William had secretly put her up to it, then Cecilia had only ever been a scapegoat. A convenient excuse to clear the path. No matter what happened that day¨Cwhether or not Cecilia had offended Samantha¨CCecilia¡¯s job was already lost. Rachel suddenly remembered something William had said before. Samantha had just moved to Yurelia City, and many of the shareholders were unhappy with how she had been parachuted into thepany. If she couldn¡¯t show results soon, her position would be at risk. If William really had helped Samanthand this project behind the scenes¡­then Rachel must¡¯ve been truly blind. She had been nothing more than a stepping stone for Samantha. Rachel snapped out of her thoughts and asked Jenny, ¡°So, the proposal she brought¨Cwas your boss satisfied with it?¡± ¡°It was the same proposal you showed himst time,¡± Jenny answered. For a moment, Rachel felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff¨Cand someone had just shoved her off. It was like someone had reached into her chest and twisted her heart so hard, she could barely breathe. She remembered that herptop had broken down before, and she had sent it for repairs. She had no choice but to use William¡¯s temporarily. She had copied the proposal onto hisputer and forgotten to delete it afterward. Never had Rachel imagined that William would actually give her proposal to Samantha, and allow Samantha to present it to Trinity Enterprise¨Cwithout saying a word. What a way to take credit for someone else¡¯s efforts! William had so many chances to exin it to Rachel, so many opportunities toe clean. Yet, he didn¡¯t say a thing. He used her work, her ideas¨Cand never even told her. Was she just not worth telling? ¡°That¡¯s all. Thanks,¡± Rachel said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± She ended the call distractedly, her mind elsewhere. For a few seconds, she stood frozen; then, she finally decided to go look for Samantha. Samantha was at her desk, surrounded by a stack of documents. She lookedpletely swamped, barely staying afloat as a colleague came over to ask her for some data. Without even looking up, Samantha frowned sharply, her expression cold¨Cnothing like the sweet, obedient face she usually wore in front of William. ¡°Can¡¯t you pull the data yourself? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m busy?¡± she snapped. ¡°But when Ms. Lloyd was here,¡± the woman replied carefully, ¡°she said she kept all the data ready. We could just ask her directly. It saved us from repeating steps.¡± Samantha paused for a few seconds, then set down her papers and let out a dryugh. ¡°Ms. Lloyd sure spoiled you all. Didn¡¯t even make you do the basic work. But now I¡¯m the department director, and what I say 1/2 goes. From now on, you pull your own data. Thepany didn¡¯t hire you to sit around and be pampered.¡± She looked up sharply. ¡°If you¡¯re toozy to pull the data, maybe Ms. Lloyd should¡¯ve just done the whole project for you.¡± The woman looked stunned. It was probably the first time she had seen Samantha, who usually acted like a harmless little bunny, being this harsh. Her expression cycled between pale and ashen, taken aback by the sudden shift. Samantha nced to the side and noticed the woman was still starling there. Her voice rose sharply. ¡°What are you still doing here? Go pull the gata!¡± The woman turned in a panic and rushed toward the door¨Conly to stop dead in her tracks when she saw Rachel standing there. ¡°Ms. Lloyd¡­¡± Her voice trembled, almost on the verge of tears. Realising Rachel was no longer the department director, she quickly corrected herself. ¡°I mean¡­ R¨CRachel, I should get back to work.¡± Rachel gently took her arm and leaned in to whisper, ¡°I have the data for that project. Come see meter.¡± The woman whispered back, ¡°Thank you, Rachel.¡± Then, she quickly slipped out, closing the door behind her. As soon as she was gone, Samantha stood up and immediately switched into her usual sweet, agreeable act. Her hands moved awkwardly as she tried to sign. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry you had to see that, Rachel. These team members are just toozy! They don¡¯t even bother checking the data for their own projects. Instead, they expect me to do it. If everyone acted like thatdy, I might as well be the team¡¯s personal data assistant, don¡¯t you think?¡± AN Her Exit 42 Rachel watched Samantha struggle with the hand gestures, and couldn¡¯t help but smille mockingly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through all that trouble, Ms. Judd,¡± she said I can read lips. As long as what you¡¯re saying isn¡¯t tooplicated, I can understand.¡± Watching Samantha fumble around with awkward, clumsy motto was almost funny. She didn¡¯t seem tired from all that iling, but Rachel got tired just watching her. Samantha stopped mid¨Csign and asked, ¡°If you can read lips, then why does William always use hand signs with you?¡± Rachel raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide the dry look on her face. ¡°You want to know?¡± Samantha shoved her hands into her coat pockets and shrugged. Just curious,¡± ¡®Well,¡® Rachel mused, ¡®you asked.¡® ¡°When I lost my hearing because of him, he went and learned signnguage. But just because he was willing to do that, doesn¡¯t mean everyone else around me has to. Over time, I got used to reading lips and picked it up myself. But he was worried that I might struggle with lip¨Creading, and since signing was quicker and easier for me, he just keptmunicating with it.¡± Samantha¡¯s expression flickered between shades of anger and shock, and she dropped the topic quickly. ¡°So, why are you here?¡± ¡°I wanted to talk about Cecilia.¡± Samantha slowly stood from her chair, her face full of hesitation. ¡°Rachel, you really should be talking to William about that, not me. Besides,¡± she added, sounding innocent at first¨Cuntil she leaned in closer, her tone turning half¨Cjoking. ¡°Cecilia saying those things to my face in front of William¡­ That wasn¡¯t your idea, was it?¡± Rachel met Samantha¡¯s eyes. For a second, the cool calm in her expression turned sharp. Then she let out a soft, amusedugh. ¡°Of course not. Mr. Lewis personally brought you into thepany. Everyone knows how capable you are. Cecilia¡¯s just an employee¨Cshe can be blunt sometimes, but she doesn¡¯t mean harm.¡± Rachel continued calmly, ¡°This all started because of you, so I think you should end it. I¡¯m asking you to let Cecilia off the hook. I can promise you she won¡¯t say anything like that again.¡± Samantha frowned slightly, then blinked her big, innocent eyes and gave Rachel a yful wink. ¡°Oh, Rachel! You¡¯ve been with William for so many years¨Cyou should know how he is. Once he¡¯s made up his mind, not even you, his wife, can change it. What makes you think I, his former ssmate, could?¡± Rachel gave a small sneer of annoyance, but it only shed for a moment before her usual cool expression returned. ¡°You¡¯re underestimating yourself, Ms. Judd. If you said something. I believe Mr. Lewis would listen.¡± Samantha covered her mouth in mock surprise. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re giving me too much credit! Are you saying I have more influence over William than you do?¡± She leaned against the desk, waiting for Rachel¡¯s reply with a half¨Csmile. Rachel knew exactly what Samantha was getting at. The woman just couldn¡¯t help butpete¡ªshe had to win, even in this kind of conversation. Rachel didn¡¯t mind. Pride wasn¡¯t worth much to her, and besides, Samantha wasn¡¯t wrong. She had to adinit that right now, William probably did care more about Samantha. ¡°Yes,¡± Rachel said without flinching. ¡°Mr. Lewis values you. That¡¯s why you¡¯re in a better position to help. So I¡¯m asking you¡ª please talk to him for Cecilia. She hasn¡¯t signed anything yet. There¡¯s still time to turn this around.¡± Samantha looked pleased with the answer, but she still wasn¡¯t willing to help. She lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment, then looked back up at Rachel with wide, innocent eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to do you a favor,¡± she said sweetly, ¡°but Cecilia said those things about me in front of everyone. If 1 go and ask William to let her stay, won¡¯t that just make me look weak? I just started this job¡­and honestly.¡± +25 BONUS Chapter 43 Her Exit 43 Chapter 43 Rachel got the message loud and clear¨CSamantha wasn¡¯t going to help Cecilia. Samantha had just started this new position, and like every new leader, she needed to make a statement. By using Cecilia as an example, she had shown the wholepany that she wasn¡¯t just a figurehead. She wanted people to respect her¡ªand fear her a little, too. Still, Rachel didn¡¯t get angry. She simply nodded, calm andposed. ¡°I understand it¡¯s difficult for you, Ms. Judd. But you see, I happened to hear something interesting today about the Trinity Enterprise project. You closed the deal, but it was my proposal you used. If word got out, people in thepany might start to question your ability.¡± She gave a small smile. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to bring Cecilia back? That would make you look generous and confident, not someone who holds grudges.¡± Rachel had even handed Samantha the perfect excuse. If she still refused, she would be a fool. The smugness on Samantha¡¯s face from earlier vanished. Her ears flushed red, and her eyes lowered. She looked like she had been caught off guard. Amoment passed, then she finally gave in. ¡°Well, since you came to ask me in person, I can¡¯t really turn you down. But I can¡¯t promise anything with William. I¡¯ll try, but that¡¯s all I can say.¡± 4 Rachel smiled, satisfied. ¡°Then I¡¯ll thank you on Cecilia¡¯s behalf, Ms. Judd.¡± With that, she pulled open the office door and walked out. Samantha stood behind her desk, jaw clenched. Then, in a sh of frustration, she swept the files off her desk with a loud crash. Meanwhile, Rachel had already sent the project data to the colleague from earlier. The woman was overwhelmed with gratitude sending message after message saying thank you. Rachel left thepany and sat in the backseat of the car, heading home. On the way, she called Cecilia to share the good news. ¡°If nothing goes wrong, you should be able to return to work in a couple of days.¡± Cecilia was stunned. ¡°Wait¨Cwhat? Are you serious? Can I reallye back? Mr. Lewis agreed? But didn¡¯t you say earlier it didn¡¯t work when you talked to him?¡± Cecilia had worked at thepany long enough to understand William¡¯s personality. He wasn¡¯t the kind of man to change his mind once he made a decision. Rachel didn¡¯t hide the truth, either¨Cafter all, Samantha was going to be Cecilia¡¯s direct superior now. ¡°I talked to Samantha,¡± Rachel said. ¡°She used my proposal to close the Trinity Enterprise deal.¡± ¡°What?! That¡¯s not even giarism anymore¨Cthat¡¯s just straight¨Cup copying!¡± Cecilia eximed. She fumed. ¡°I knew something was off! How could shend that deal? She always needed Mr. Lewis to help with the data. There¡¯s no way she pulled it off on her own. So she just took your proposal and used it? Aren¡¯t you pissed? If it were me, I¡¯d be flipping tables and going straight to Mr. Lewis to blow the whole thing up!¡± Rachel let out a coldugh. ¡°And what if William was the one who told her to use it?¡± ¡°No way. You¡¯re not saying¡­ Those two¡­¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t finish, but her thoughts were obvious. +25 BONUS ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Rachel said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that Just get yourself ready toe back to work in a couple of days. And remember, Samantha¡¯s the director now. You¡¯d better be careful around her.¡± That was Rachel¡¯s way of saying she couldn¡¯t protect Cecilia anymore. But Cecilia didn¡¯t care about that right now. As long as she had a job and could earn money, that was all that mattered. ¡°Got it.¡± Right after Rachel hung up, a WhatsApp message popped up from Tyler. After she had transferred him twenty grandst time, he had sent her a friend request. That was how they had ended up connected. He sent her a location pin, and his message was short and direct. [Come here.] Her Exit 44 Rachel nced at the time. What was Tyler doing calling her at th hour? She tapped on the location he sent It was a private vi. Rachel was always a little wary of Tyler. There was something about him¨Csometimes tre seemed deep and thoughtful, but other times he just liked messing with people. She had fallen for it more than once. Just to be safe, she sent him a message. [Is this about the operating rights for Project Oasis?) He replied quickly, but the answer made her frown. [What else? Do you think I asked you here for a date?] Rachel rolled her eyes. She didn¡¯t even try to hide her annoyance Tyler wasn¡¯t there to see it anyway. That man really couldn¡¯t go two sentences without teasing her. She called a cab and gave the driver the address, then leaned back in her seat. It took half an hour to get there¨Cthe ce was way out in the suburbs. If she hadn¡¯t known Tyler was close to her mom, she might¡¯ve seriously wondered if he was trying to kidnap her. The ce was so remote¨Cno shops, no neighbors in sight. But honestly, a quiet ce like this did feel like Tyler. It was secluded and peaceful, with no one to bother him. Rachel walked up to the living room. Suddenly, a huge shepherd dog bolted out from inside. Frightened, she let out a short scream and dropped straight to the ground. The dog circled her, eyes sharp and alert as it gave her a long once¨Cover. Then it leaned in and sniffed her carefully. Rachel went stiff. She grabbed the hem of her shirt and froze, not daring to move an inch. That was when Tyler walked out from inside. He was dressed in loose loungewear, and his hair was still wet¨Cprobably just out of the shower. The rxed look took a little of the usual edge off his vibe. When Rachel saw him, it felt like spotting a life raft. ¡°Mr. Hunt!¡± she blurted. She wasn¡¯t usually that afraid of dogs, but this one? This was one of those big, dangerous wolf¨Clike dogs. Just looking at its strong, muscr body, she felt like it could tear her apart. Tyler walked over, casually running his fingers through his damp hair. His voice waszy and rxed. ¡°Come here.¡± Rachel quickly tried to get up from the floor. With Tyler around, the dog probably wouldn¡¯t attack her. Just as she lifted her foot, she heard him ¡°I meant the dog.¡± Rachel was speechless. say- The huge dog obeyed Tyler¡¯smand right away, walking away from her and sitting obediently by his side like a well¨Ctrained show dog. It was hard to believe this was the same beast that nearly scared her to death a second ago. Once the dog was out of the way, Rachel finally stood and walked over. Tyler nced at her, then said, ¡°Sit.¡± Rachel hesitated. Was he talking to her or the dog again? Tyler noticed the look on her face and gave a low chuckle. ¡°I mean you. Sit.¡® ¡°Oh.¡± Rachel suddenly thought maybe being deaf wouldn¡¯t be so bad. If she hadn¡¯t heard him, she could¡¯ve avoided this whole awkward moment. She sat on the couch. The dog settled across from her on the floor, ongue out and panting. However, its sharp eyes never left her. It stared her down like it was sizing her up¨Cand not in a friendly way. Rachel¡¯s skin crawled. She had a feeling that the dog could pounce on her at any second. She tried to reassure herself. It just looked mean; it was probably really expensive and well¨Cbred. Fancy dogs like that didn¡¯t just bite people. And Tyler was the controlling type¨Cle would never let a pet get out of hand. Right¡­? Then again, Tyler was kind of a jerk. Maybe his dog took after him They locked eyes for a few tense seconds. Finally, Rachel broke first. She started to look away, only for the dog to suddenly move and head over. It nudged her skirt gently with its big head. Her Exit 45 The feeling of soft fur brushing against her made all the hairs on Rachel¡¯s arms stand up. She jumped off the couch in shock and, without thinking, reached out to grab the hem of Tyler¡¯s shirt. ¡°Mr. Hunt¡­¡± Why couldn¡¯t Tyler control his dog?! Tyler barely lifted his eyes, his tonezy. ¡°He just wants you to pet him.¡± Rachel looked at him, doubtful. ¡°Are you sure he doesn¡¯t want to eat me?¡± She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the dog might leap at her any second. Tyler took a sip of his coffee, then leaned back on the couch. ¡°He does want to eat meat.¡± That one sentence had Rachel shrinking back into the cushions, her whole body tense. Tyler nced at her and added, ¡°He doesn¡¯t eat people, so why are you freaking out?¡± Rachel knew Tyler liked to mess with people, but still, the dog was huge. It was hard not to be at least a little scared. She just wanted to get this over with and leave. ¡°Mr. Hunt, maybe we should talk about Project Oasis,¡± she said, trying to keep her voice steady. ¡°That proposal fromst time- what did you think?¡± ¡°The proposal¡¯s fine,¡± Tyler said, ¡°but are you sure William won¡¯t figure it out?¡± He rubbed his forehead, looking tired. Rachel took a deep breath, then said calmly, ¡°Even if he does, it doesn¡¯t matter. The moment you secure the management rights, I¡¯ll resign from Lewis Enterprise.¡± Tyler gave her a quick look. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you prepared?¡± Rachel had already thought everything through. ¡°So, there¡¯s no need for you to worry. I¡¯ll take full responsibility for whatever happens.¡± ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re ready toe clean with William,¡± Tyler said. He realized now that he might have underestimated her. At first, he thought she was only doing this because of her mother¡¯s final wish, not because she had truly thought it all through. But now¡­ This little princess seemed more thoughtful andposed than she ever was as a child. And that only proved one thing¨CWilliam hadn¡¯t treated her all that well. The light in her eyes was gone. What was left I was calmness and control. Rachel didn¡¯t want to get into personal matters with Tyler. The man was too sharp. Sometimes, he didn¡¯t even need the full story ¨Che could just follow the clues and figure things out on his own. No one knew Rachel nned to leave Yurelia City, not even Cecilia Rachel wanted to disappear¨Cso that William would never find her. ¡°If there¡¯s no issue with the proposal, I hope you can talk to William about it soon.¡± ¡°I can,¡± Tyler replied, ¡°but there¡¯s still one small issue with your n that needs fixing.¡± ¡°Which part?¡± Rachel asked, genuinely surprised. She had gone through the proposal again and again, making sure everything was covered. Yet, Tyler still spotted something? He sat there like azy king, not even pretending he was going to move. Instead, he casually pointed upstairs. ¡°Third room on the left. There¡¯s a file on the desk. Do me a favor and bring it down.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t even shocked anymore. Tyler was such a strange guy, and nothing he did really surprised her at this point. Still, letting someone go into his private rooms the first time they paid a visit? That was a little unexpected. ¡°You¡¯re not worried I might steal something from you?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow. Tyler¡¯s lips curled, his eyes full ofzy arrogance. ¡°If you¡¯re going to steal something, you might as well steal me. I¡¯m the most valuable thing in this house.¡± Her Exit 46 Huh? Rachel¡¯s jaw hit the floor. This was her first time hearing someone ask to be stolen. Even the way it was phrased sounded strange. Rachel knew she couldn¡¯t outwit Tyler. The gears in his brain turned in apletely different way, and he always had a cutting remark at the tip of his tongue. ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs to get it,¡± she said. Tyler watched Rachel¡¯s back as she disappeared, his dog following suit. At Lewis Enterprise, William and Samantha were out meeting a client after talking about Cecilia. On the way, they bumped into Howard. Somehow, he didn¡¯t look his usual arrogant self; he seemed less rough around the edges. William remembered how Howard called him to inform him that Rachel was with Tyler, and that he didn¡¯t have time to settle scores with him before. William opened the door and hopped out of the car, making a beeline for Howard. He grabbed Howard¡¯s cor, shooting thetter a vicious re. ¡°Howard, I¡¯m warning you. Touch Rachel one more time, and don¡¯t me me for being nasty!¡± Howard had been spoiled rotten by his family since childhood. No matter what trouble he got himself into, he could always count on his family to bail him out. That was precisely what led to His arrogant and despotic behavior. William¡¯s threat struck no fear in Howard¡¯s heart. On the contrary, his usual arrogance reappeared on his face. ¡°So what? Shouldn¡¯t you thank me? If it weren¡¯t for me, you¡¯d still be in the dark about your wife and Tyler. How were things in there? Did Tyler have a good roll in the hay with Rachel?¡± Howard¡¯s words were bold; he showed no signs of restraint, the wicked smile on his face widening. The fire in William¡¯s heart burned. He pursed his lips, his usual calm andposed demeanor all but gone. The veins on his forehead popped, and he exuded a menacing air about him. He tightened his grip over Howard¡¯s cor and bit out angrily, ¡°Say that again!¡± William wanted nothing more than to give Howard a good beating Howard looked at himzily, unperturbed. ¡°William, here¡¯s a gentle reminder. Our families are currently business partners. Lay a finger on me, and I¡¯ll pull out all our funds from yourpany. When that happens, I¡¯ll see how you answer to your grandfather.¡± William was about to pull a punch, but immediately held back at Howard¡¯s threat. ¡°You don¡¯t have the guts Tyler has,¡± Howard sneered. Tyler had the guts to get someone to drug him. Howard couldn¡¯t quite confirm that, though, because he had drugged Rachel in the first ce. William and Tyler had always been at loggerheads with each other, and would never fail to sh head¨Con whenever they crossed paths. Noticing the disdain in William¡¯s eyes, Howard slowly pried William¡¯s fingers away from his cor. ¡°Instead of spending your time on me, you should spend more time paying attention to Tyler and your wife. On second thought, perhaps it doesn¡¯t matter. The goods are still kept within the family, anyway.¡± Howard smoothed out his cor and smirked. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d be more alert and watch my wife, lest I end up being made a cuckold.¡± With that, he stuck his hands in his pockets, looking immensely pleased at taking a jab at William. William gritted his teeth, his face icy. He thought back on the day Samantha saw Rachel stepping into Tyler¡¯s office and getting out of his car. William knew very well that it was Tyler¡¯s precious car, of which there were only two in this world. Given how aloof and haughty no one deserved to sit in his car, not even the king. Tyler was, he wouldn¡¯t care who it was- Unless, of course, it was someone he approved of. Was there really something between Rachel and Tyler? The thought alone hit William like a brick, and his breath caught in his throat. Her Exit 47 Chapter 47 Meanwhile, Tyler sipped on some coffee as he sat on the couch, discussing the issues he spotted in Rachel¡¯s proposal. He pointed at the data and remarked, ¡°If you submit these figures to upper management, they might find it too costly. If you want to seize the rights to manage the project, you¡¯ll have to propose a price lower than that of Lewis Enterprise. Businessmen care only about profits.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve gone through many rounds of calctions, and this is the lowest I can go,¡± Rachel said with furrowed brows. ¡°How are you going to thank me if I manage to drop the figure?¡± Tyler spun a pen with his fingers, the sight captivating Rachel. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡± She couldn¡¯t afford anything more than that. What an unscrupulous businessman he was! She had already given him her entire proposal in exchange for nothing more than just her involvement in the design of Project Oasis. She didn¡¯t even want the dividends¨Cthis was a deal that was pure profit for Tyler. Tyler leaned back; he put his hands behind his head, crossed his legs, and rested his feet on the coffee table. ¡°Fine. I want to go to Moon & Barrel.¡± Moon & Barrel! Ameal at that restaurant would set Rachel back by a five¨Cfigure sum. Tyler certainly didn¡¯t shy away from making such a bold request. If it weren¡¯t for his reputation, Rachel would have serious doubts about whether he was truly poor. Why else would he keep trying to take advantage of her? Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Tyler said with an arched brow, ¡°What? Can¡¯t bear to part with your money?¡± Thinking how Tyler might piss off William by snatching Project Oasis from under his nose, Rachel bit the bullet and agreed to the request. ¡°Sure, how about within the week?¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow and asked teasingly, ¡°So eager to treat me to a meal?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him. ¡°I might be busy and won¡¯t have time for a meal after that.¡± ¡°Sure. Wait for my update, then.¡± Seeing that it was gettingte, Rachel urged him, ¡°Hurry up and tell me how I can lower the cost.¡± Overly high figures may hike up the future price per unit. Who wouldn¡¯t want higher earnings? Tyler hooked a finger at Rachel, as if he were signaling to a dog. ¡°Come here.¡± Rachel stiffened at Tyler¡¯s cue, but she decided to let it slide. Just as she was about to move, another figure beat her to it. ¡°Woof, woof!¡± The dog ran faster than her and sat before Tyler, sticking its tongue out and wagging its tail, thinking that Tyler was going to reward it with a snack. Rachel looked at how eager the dog was and, at that moment, saw a hint of herself in its eyes. Suddenly, she realized there was something wrong with Tyler¡¯s cue¡­ ¡°Go away. I didn¡¯t call for you.¡°. Tyler¡¯s gaze swept past the dog, and it shrank back in fright. Rachel kept reminding herself not to be as eager as a dog, but she just couldn¡¯t shake that feeling away. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯ll just watch you from here.¡± +25 BONUS Tyler wrote down some figures with his pen, and Rachel paid close attention to his exnation. She didn¡¯t expect him to really manage to drop the figures. Rachel was still wondering at which step the figures started dropping, when the dog started barking at the entrance. She instinctively looked at the door, and her eyes widened in shock. Wasn¡¯t that William¡¯s car? By the time she recovered from her shock, William¡¯s car was parked at the entrance. He stepped out, trudging toward the house. Rachel¡¯s heart started racing. ¡°Why is William here?¡± Tyler, on the other hand, remained as cool as a cucumber. He crossed his legs and swung them leisurely. ¡°Are you afraid of him?¡± Her Exit 48 ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of him, I just don¡¯t want trouble. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being misunderstood, Mr. Hunt?¡± Rachel started finding a corner to hide in and nced upstairs. ¡°I¡¯ll head upstairs to avoid him.¡± Without waiting for Tyler¡¯s agreement, she made a beeline for the stairs and headed up. Tyler didn¡¯t stop her, his lips curling into a smile. ¡°You¡¯re making it look like we¡¯re having an affair.¡± Rachel stopped dead in her tracks. He was right. She had no choice, however. William was already suspicious of their rtionship. If he found her at Tyler¡¯s house, it would only deepen his suspicions. When Tyler walked in, he saw a figure dash into a room and shut the door. It moved too fast and he couldn¡¯t see clearly who it was, but he was certain it was a woman. Was Tyler in a rtionship? So what? What was the point of hiding it? Tyler¡¯s brows were furrowed, seemingly upset at William¡¯s appearance. He bent over and poured himself a cup of coffee. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The anger etched on William¡¯s face faded the moment he saw Tyler¡¯s menacing expression. The man was clearly in a more dour mood than he was. He covered his mouth and let out a cough. ¡°I heard that Howard drugged Rachel, and you were the one who saved her. Why didn¡¯t you send her straight to the hospital?¡± Tyler¡¯s hand, holding the coffee sk, froze in mid¨Cair. He shot William a cold, incisive look. ¡°Are you questioning me?¡± William trembled under Tyler¡¯s gaze, but he had to get to the bottom of the matter. ¡°Rumors are raging, and I have to find out for myself. That night, when Rachel was drugged by Howard, did you two¡­¡± Tyler put the sk back on the table, the sound clear and crisp, echoing unfalteringly in the room. All of a sudden, the atmosphere seemed to turn dark and gloomy. With a raised eyebrow, Tyler tantly voiced the words William was too embarrassed to say. ¡°You want to ask whether I slept with Rachel, or if I took advantage of her, right?¡± William¡¯s silence was an implicit agreement to Tyler¡¯s words. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to things between Tyler and Rachel at that time. Everything had happened so quickly, what with Rachel in critical condition and requiring immediate care. However, Rachel and Tyler had been getting too close forfort when they didn¡¯t even know each other to begin with. Tyler pulled out a cigarette from a case, tilted his head, and lit it. The angle of his jawline looked even sharper as he stared coldly at William through the smoke. ¡°William, isn¡¯t it better for you to ask Rachel directly about such matters?¡± William¡¯s seemingly calm eyes could barely hide the storm brewing from within. ¡°Rachel has her pride and dignity. She¡¯ll get angry if I ask her that.¡± Tyler looked up and let out a low chuckle, ¡°You already suspect that she¡¯s having an affair, and now you¡¯re trying to y the role of a dedicated, loving husband? Quit being disgusting.¡± William gritted his teeth, his lips pursed with irritation. ¡°You know very well that Rachel is my wife.¡± Tyler nodded pensively, amused. Yet, the cold aura he exudedmanded attention. ¡°I hear you. I can¡¯ty a finger on your wife, but Howard can. You already knew he drugged your wife when he called you to tip you off. Why didn¡¯t you kick up a fuss about that?¡± His voice turned dark,ced with menacing undertones. Suddenly, he rose from the couch and approached William. They were of simr build, but his aura dominated William¡¯s with ease. ¡°William Lewis, how the hell did your family raise a wuss like you? A man wanted to bed your wife, but you didn¡¯t dare to stand up to him. Yet here you are, interrogating me? Scram!¡± Her Exit 49 William clenched his fist, his feet rooted to the ground as a chill seled over his brows. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you know our rtionship. You can¡¯t touch Rachel.¡± ¡°Settle scores with Howard before talking to me, and solve your dann problems before I go to your grandfather about it!¡± Tyler roared. Smoke billowed from his lips, circling him, veiling the frustration on his face. Given Tyler¡¯s temperament, William knew that pestering him further would only make things worse. He had said everything there was to say. Just as he turned to leave, Tyler¡¯s voice rang in the air once more. ¡°William, don¡¯t assume that everyone is as vile as you are. I won¡¯t have anything to do with married women. That¡¯s my baseline. At that, William¡¯s tense shoulders finally rxed. He trusted Tyler¡¯s words. The fact that Tyler rified that meant that he truly was innocent. Very soon, William left in his car. Tyler shot William ast look of disdain before ncing at the door upstairs that was ¡°Come on out.¡± still tightly shut. Rachel pulled the door open and stood right there, her face pale as a ghost. She walked stiffly down the stairs. Tyler noticed her expression. ¡°Heard everything?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Rachel nodded mechanically. Irritation grew in Tyler¡¯s chest when he saw the vast difference in her attitude. Just minutes ago, she had been so eager and full of spirit. Yet now, she looked so defeated and despondent. ¡°I¡¯d prefer it if you had remained deaf.¡± That way, she could hear no evil. Rachel didn¡¯t expect William toe knocking on Tyler¡¯s door to question him about what had happened that night. Tyler¡¯s words hit the nail on the head, piercing her heart and leaving it bleeding. Howard must have said something to William to make hime running here. Yet, instead of settling the scores with Howard, William chose toe looking for Tyler. Shouldn¡¯t William be making Howard pay the price for what he did? Howard was the one who drugged her, not Tyler. Would William just let things slide if Samantha had been drugged instead of Rachel? Certainly not! Rachel smiled bitterly to herself. She looked like she had fallen into a pit of despair; although the initial shock had faded, her heart was heavy with disappointment. She simply found itughable how she was suddenly seeing so many sides of William that she had never seen before. Snapping back to reality, Rachel looked at Tyler and said calmly, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hunt. I¡¯ll amend the proposal ording to what you said, but I need to trouble you for one more thing.¡± Tylerbed his fingers through his hair irritably. ¡°Why do you have so many demands? Let me make myself clear. This isn¡¯t something that just one meal can make up for. Make it two.¡± Chapter 40. +25 BONUS That feigned calctive look on his face amused Rachel. ¡°You¡¯re the CEO of LS Enterprise, for goodness¡® sake. Why do you keep trying to fleece me out of a meal? It¡¯s not like you can¡¯t afford it.¡± Given Tyler¡¯s status, he was probably tired of all sorts of exotic delicacies and luxurious feasts. Tyler stubbed his cigarette out and stuck his hands in his pockets, devil¨Cmay¨Ccare attitude reflected in his cynical eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Food tastes better when someone else pays for it.¡± Conversely, Rachel could understand where he wasing from. wa treat. that food tastes better when it¡¯s someone else¡¯s She agreed to it readily. ¡°Count on me, but I¡¯m relying on you to resolve this as soon as you can. Ideally, within three days.¡± Tyler shook his head with a chuckle and tutted. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk! It¡¯s Rachel shrugged at his quip and chuckled bitterly. ¡°What else do you expect? That I¡¯d be like other women, running home crying and questioning him as to why he doesn¡¯t trust me even after being together for seven years?¡± That would be way too embarrassing. Her Exit 50 Tyler gave Rachel a thumbs up and said with feigned seriousness,Very good. Don¡¯t ever be a pick¨Cme girl.¡± Rachel thought he said it in all seriousness, but the deep chuckle he couldn¡¯t suppress dumbfounded her. Was he praising her or insulting her? She couldn¡¯t be sure. With feigned casualness, she waved her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯m heading back.¡± Rachel took a step forward, but suddenly felt something tugging her back. For a while, she stood stunned. She tried to take another step forward, but the tugging sensation remained. When she looked around to see what was going on, she found the dog biting Rachel looked at Tyler doubtfully. ¡°What does he want?¡± on ¡°Perhaps¡­ he can¡¯t bear to see you leave?¡± Tyler said with a smirk the dog was the hem of her dress. very sensible indeed. glistening with tender affection. Rachel noticed that the dog¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t as fierce as before. Rather, they were She didn¡¯t have the guts to sh head¨Con with a beast. She tried many times to pull away, only for her efforts to be in vain. In the end, she had no choice but to ask Tyler for help. ¡°Can you please pull him away?¡± Tyler crossed his arms across his chest and stood at the side, with no intention whatsoever to interfere. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± he said helplessly. ¡°He has a rebellious streak. The more you force him to let go, the tighter he¡¯ll bite it. You have to negotiate with him.¡± ¡°Negotiate with him¡­¡± Rachel froze for a second before snapping back to attention. ¡°What on earth is there to negotiate over with a dog?¡± ¡°Tell him to let you go, and that you¡¯ll bring some snacks next time,¡± Tyler advised, patiently teaching her how to coax a dog. Rachel knew clearly that this was her first andst timeing to Tyler¡¯s ce. How could there be a next time, and for her to bring snacks for the dog at that? In truth, Tyler was the dog he was talking about. To leave this ce as soon as she could, Rachel reluctantly bent over and started to negotiate with the dog. ¡°Can you please let me go? I¡¯ll bring some meat for you next time. Pork, or grilled sausages, okay?¡± She wasn¡¯t sure if the dog understood her or not, but it wagged its tail and peered at her with glistening eyes. At that moment, Rachel had a feeling that the dog didn¡¯t actually care about food, but treated her as food instead. She received no response from the dog, and it continued biting her dress. She started doubting whether her words had any effect on it. Rachel instinctively turned to Tyler. ¡°He¡¯s not responding.¡± ¡°Perhaps he thinks you¡¯re just making empty promises.¡± Rachel was taken aback. ¡°Seriously? How can he tell?¡± Tyler suddenly called out to the dog, ¡°Ray, let her go.¡± The dog immediately released Rachel¡¯s dress. Rachel¡¯s brows knitted when realization hit her. She stood, looking somewhat annoyed. ¡°Tyler Hunt¡­¡± Tyler patted the space next to him, and Ray the dog hopped onto the couch and sat down obediently. Rachel¡¯s flushed cheeks made her look more adorable than usual. ¡°You have no clue. I¡¯m treating him with courtesy before resorting to aggression,¡± Tyler said casually. Rachel clenched her fists and took a deep breath to calm herself down. It was fine¨Cshe was going to leave very soon, and she wouldn¡¯t have any interactions with Tyler anymore. He was born with a wicked streak, and it wasn¡¯t targeted at anyone in particr. He treated everyone around him equally. When Rachel finally managed topose herself, she slowly unclenched her fists and forced a smile on her face. ¡°What did you call the dog?¡± ¡°Ray.¡± ¡°Ray¡­¡± Rachel was rendered speechless once more¨Cthat sounded like her name. In disbelief, she asked, ¡°Your dog is really called Ray?¡± ¡°Yeah. Ray, pull Rachel over.¡± The dog obedientlytched onto the hem of Rachel¡¯s dress again and pulled her in Tyler¡¯s direction. Unable to resist the strength of such a huge dog, Rachel was forced to move toward Tyler. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± she said helplessly, ¡°call it Ray if you like. Tyler probably didn¡¯t name the dog Ray on the spot just to tease her. It was probably just a coincidence¨Cthat was Her Exit 51 Given Tyler¡¯s character, shouldn¡¯t he give his dog a more manly name like Lightning or something? Rachel found it odd. Tyler nced at his wristwatch. ¡°You¡¯re headed downtown, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I need to pick up a document in my office. I can begrudgingly give you a ride.¡± Tyler made it sound as though she was begging to sit in his car. However, his condominium was located in a very secluded ce if the suburbs. It was convenient for Rachel toe here by bus from the city, but to do the same from here to the city wasn¡¯t that straightforward. As the saying goes, a wise man submits to his circumstances. Rachel forced a smile and bit out, ¡°Thank you very much, Mr. Hunt¡± Tyler picked up his car key on the coffee table, hooked it on his finger, and brushed past Rachel, sayingzily, ¡°Next time, don¡¯t smile if you don¡¯t feel like it. That smile was way too ugly.¡± Rachel stood stunned for a moment before raising her brow awkwardly. She didn¡¯t want to smile, but it didn¡¯t seem appropriate for her not to smile while thanking him. The eventual result was that fake smile she gave him. Tyler truly had a nasty mouth. Who would so tantly call someone else¡¯s smile ugly? She was beginning to understand why he was still single at his age. His girlfriend would need a very strong heart to tolerate his nonsense. When they got into the car, Rachel¡¯s phone started vibrating. She nced at her screen and saw a text from William. [Where are you?] She hesitated for a moment before texting a reply, worried that William might get suspicious and start to track her down. He would be able to find out that she went to Tyler¡¯s condominium in no time. She wasn¡¯t sure whether William saw her darting into the room upstairs just now. [I¡¯m out. Heading home right now.] William didn¡¯t reply. Tyler drove rather quickly, perhaps because he was rushing for time. His car threaded through the traffic, and Rachel subconsciously gripped the armrest tightly. She snuck a nce at the man next to her; he was so focused on driving, he seemed to have forgotten about the woman seated next to him. Shouldn¡¯t he be driving at a slower speed with a passenger in the car? Come to think of it, a man like Tyler wouldn¡¯t know anything about being chivalrous. Since he knew nothing about that, how could she expect him to be chivalrous? Rachel tried her best to bear with it, but the speed of the car made her heart race and her toes curl up against the floor. Her hair was all tousled by the wind. ¡°Mr. Hunt, can you please slow down? I know you¡¯re in a rush, but driving at this speed is dangerous.¡± She didn¡¯t want to die just yet! ¡°If you want Howard to catch up with us, I don¡¯t mind that.¡± Chapter 61 *** +25 BONUS Rachel looked at the rearview mirror at Tyler¡¯s words and realized hat another car, Identical to Tyler¡¯s, was hot on their heels. Who else but Howard would be in that car? Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Is he crazy? What¡¯s he doing, chasing after us?¡± Tyler smirked as he nced at her. ¡°What do you think?¡± Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°He wants to tell William that I¡¯m in your car. But I¡¯m just hitching a ride with you. Does he have a screw loose?¡± Tyler kept up his speed as he nimbly dodged the cars around them He looked in full control of everything on the highway as he moved freely along it. Rachel¡¯s heart thumped even faster. Tyler was already driving at a dangerously high speed, but Howard was pursuing him relentlessly, all caution thrown to the wind. A car suddenly switchednes right in front of them, and Tyler immediately hit the brakes. Howard caught up to them, and the front of his car crashed into the back of Tyler¡¯s. Rachel, feeling the huge impact from the crash, lurched forward. Everything happened in a sh, leaving her with no time to respond. Howard seized the chance to switchnes and was almost nose¨Cto nose with Tyler. When Howard saw Rachel at the front passenger seat, he cackled wickedly. ¡°Wow, Tyler! You really do have the hots for her!¡± Her Exit 52 Tyler couldn¡¯t even be bothered to look at Howard, who pounded steering wheel when he saw Tyler tantly ignoring him. ¡°Hey, Tyler! Since you have the guts, let¡¯s see how long you can act all cocky!¡± Howard roared. He stepped hard on the elerator and continued racing Tyler, not caring about putting i own life on the line. Rachel, seeing the crazed look on Howard¡¯s face, felt a chill down her spine. ¡°Does he want to die?¡± Howard¡¯s car was beginning to show signs of losing stability. Although the car was state¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cart, going past its speed capacity would make it tilt. There was no sign of anxiety in ¡®Tyler¡¯s deep, dark eyes as he looked indifferently at Howard. ¡°Just a bit more.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know what Tyler meant by that, but she had a feeling that this man wouldn¡¯t let this race with Howard go on for too long. Getting involved in a car chase was something someone as reckless and brainless as Howard would do, not a shrewd and prudent man like Tyler. He wouldn¡¯t put his life on the line just to spite Howard. Very soon, Rachel realized what Tyler was nning. There was a change inne up ahead, but she still couldn¡¯t figure out how Tyler was nning to shake Howard off. Howard was so obsessed with the pursuit, his car kept elerating and showed no signs of stopping. Tyler suddenly said to Rachel, ¡°Hold on tight.¡± Rachel instinctively tightened her grip on the armrest and asked anxiously, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Tyler suddenly hit the brakes; the car slowed down, although it was still zipping down the highway at a high speed. Suddenly, right as Howard¡¯s car came next to his, Tyler swerved to the left. There was no time for Howard to react. Tyler¡¯s car hit Howard¡¯s nted car body, which rammed against the guardrails by the road. ¡°Damn it!¡± Howard mmed on the brakes, but it was toote. Tyler shifted gears and drove back on thene, stepping on the elerator in one swift move. Howard was left in the dust and could only watch Tyler disappear in the distance. Tyler¡¯slowed his car down and stopped it by the roadside. Rachel immediately unbuckled her seatbelt, hurled herself out of the car, and started vomiting. If she hadn¡¯t been so nervous, she probably would have puked all over Tyler¡¯s car just now. For a brief moment, she thought she was going to see her great¨Cgrandmother in theherworld. Her mindpletely nked out with the threat of impending doom looming above her head. All she could do was stare straight ahead, fearing that a serious car ident might happen if Tyler failed to dodge the cars on the road. Given the speed he was racing at, she would be killed in an instant if a car cut into theirne, or if their car hit something else. By the time Rachel recovered, she realized that her knees had gone all weak. She turned around only to see Tyler leaning against his car, taking a long, leisurely drag of his cigarette and lookingpletely unperturbed. At that moment, she found Tyler truly frightening, with his ability to remain unmoved even in the face of death. A man like him was not one to be trifled with. Howard, on the other hand, was reckless and brainless. He was bound to learn a harsh lesson when he eventually got himself in such hot soup; even his own family wouldn¡¯t be able to bail him ou Tyler was different. His astonishing level of control, indifference toward matters of life and death, and strong heart weren¡¯t something any ordinary person had. She slowly approached him and asked with curiosity, ¡°Is there a luge grudge between you and Howard?¡± Her Exit 53 Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s pursuing me?¡± Rachel looked confused. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he?¡± She realized something was wrong the moment the words left her Ups. ¡°No, to be more urate, he was pursuing both of us.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know why seeing her with Tyler drove Howard mad. What exactly did he want? Tyler dusted the ash from his cigarette with his fingers. ¡°You can say that Howard is interested in you. He sees me as an enemy he wants dead. The rtionship between the three of us has be rather delicate. He¡¯s getting a little too excited.¡± Rachel said worriedly, ¡°You should know that his grandfather treats him like a precious treasure. No one in Yurelia City dares toy a finger on him. That collision seemed pretty serious. Will he get you in trouble?¡± ¡°He started it first. I was fighting a potential criminal. His grandfather should be thanking me for stopping his spoiled brat of a grandson from getting into even bigger trouble, which might drag their entire family down.¡± Tyler spoke in a leisurely and rxed tone, as if the car chase with Howard just now was nothing but a harmless game. Rachel recalled a news report a few days ago¨Cabout Howard drugged and locked up in a small, dark room, almost to the point of losing his life. Having heard William earlier, it was clear that he didn¡¯t have the guts toy a finger on Howard. The only one who could be behind it was this man before her, who didn¡¯t give a damn about anyone. ¡°Whatever it is, you¡¯d better watch out,¡± Rachel advised. Tyler burst outughing; he flung the cigarette on the ground and stubbed it out with the toe of his custom¨Cmade leather shoe. ¡°Why are you being such a busybody about other people¡¯s affairs? Take care of yourself first.¡± Rachel looked at him doubtfully. ¡°What do you mean by that? Would he make mepensate him for his car?¡± She clearly couldn¡¯t afford it. With only two such cars in the world, she wouldn¡¯t be able to pay for the damages even if she sold herself. Tyler bent over and whispered in a deliberately mystifying tone, ¡°Worse than that.¡± The solemn look on his face made Rachel¡¯s heart tighten in fear. ¡°Would Howard ask his grandfather to silence me?¡± She knew that the Ziegler family¡¯s influence stretched beyond the country. Would offending Howard affect her future ns to move abroad? Tyler noticed the tense look on Rachel¡¯s face, her brows knitted together so tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you really have no other way out, you can work for me.¡± Rachel looked at him doubtfully. ¡°What can I do?¡± ¡°Be my dog¡¯s nanny. Take care of his food and daily life. y with him, take him for walks, and coax him to sleep at night. This shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡± Tyler¡¯s gazended on her slightly pale face. Rachel gritted her teeth and rejected him without hesitation. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Hunt. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m up for the job. You¡¯ll have to find someone better.¡± Chapter 58. **** +25 BONUS Tyler sighed helplessly. ¡°What a pity. You just missed a great opportunity for further development.¡± Rachel could almost feel her chest imploding as the veins on her forehead popped. How was being a dog¡¯s nanny a great opportunity for further development? Just then, Tyler¡¯s phone started buzzing. He retracted his gaze and pulled his phone out from his pocket. When he saw the name on the screen, his brows furrowed. He turned around and answered the call, his voice cold and indifferent. ¡°What is it?¡± he snapped. ¡°Come back right now!¡± Her Exit 54 Chapter 54 Despite having his back toward her, Rachel could hear an old man volce; even over Tyler¡¯s phone, it exuded incredible authority. Rachel had thought that no one in this world could overpower Tyler, given his character. ¡°I¡¯ll go back soon,¡± Tyler replied in a low voice. ¡°I said,¡± the old man snapped irritably, e back right now!¡± Tyler hung up. To prevent things from getting awkward between them, Rachel piped up, ¡°Mr. Hunt, I can go back in a taxi by myself.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tyler nodded before opening the door and driving off, leaving her in the dust. Rachel stood stunned for a moment. She had thought he would at least help her call for a cab, but how could she expect someone like him to be chivalrous? A die¨Chard clueless man, that¡¯s him! She called for a cab with her phone and only realized that there was a huge, ck mark on her dress on her way back. When she finally arrived home, she went straight to her room and opened her wardrobe to pick a new outfit. When she pulled out a shirt, she could smell a whiff of perfume. She suddenly remembered the day she called William and overheard Samantha talking about liking her clothes and wanting him to buy the same thing. Even if Rachel didn¡¯t hate Samantha, the thought of someone else wearing her clothes disgusted her. Rachel had no idea which outfit Samantha touched, so she decided to dump them all into a bag. She was on her way out to throw them into the donation box when she bumped into William, who had just returned. Seeing the huge bag she was dragging, William pointed at it suspiciously and asked, ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± ¡°Clothes that I don¡¯t want anymore,¡± Rachel replied indifferently. William didn¡¯t ask more. It was normal for women to discard clothes they didn¡¯t want anymore. Rachel pressed the elevator button. William returned to his room to get changed. When he opened the wardrobe, he realized that all of Rachel¡¯s clothes were gone. His brows furrowed. He had handpicked all of her clothes for her. She didn¡¯t bear to wear them unless it was for a special asion. How could she possibly throw them all away? When Rachel came back, William approached her; he pulled her hand and stared at her. ¡°Those were clothes I bought for you. How could you throw them away?¡± ¡°I just thought they were outdated. No one wears them nowadays. Though Rachel felt her hands in William¡¯s, she could smell the pungent perfume on his clothes. She knew the scent belonged to Samantha¨Cit was the exact scent she had noticed upon entering Samantha¡¯s office today. Her lips drew into a sardonic smirk. These two didn¡¯t even bother to cover up their tracks properly. TAJ DUNUD However, Rachel knew that asking them about it would be pointless. William would only im that he was talking business with Samantha, and that her perfume identally got on his clothes. William didn¡¯t look too suspicious. He rubbed Rachel¡¯s hair affectionately and signed to her, ¡°Take my card and buy something you like at the mall tomorrow. Also, do tell me if you feel upset or ufortable in any way. We need to talk more to each other. Don¡¯t just keep things to yourself.¡± Rachel tried to suppress herughter. Tell him if she felt upset? Was there a point in doing so? She kept pleading for Project Oasis, yet he insisted on giving it to Samantha. He knew full well that she had weak lungs and couldn¡¯t work in dusty ces, yet he insisted on giving Samantha her office. What was he doing on her mother¡¯s death anniversary, which was so important to her? Watching Samantha cook him soup in their home, that¡¯s what. Was her cooking that delicious? In the end, Rachel simply nodded. Her Exit 55 Chapter 55 ¡°I¡¯ll go get changed,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Oh, yes,¡± William said. ¡°I thought through your suggestion today and I agree that there¡¯s no need to fire Cecilia. She¡¯s a long- time employee, and firing her over something so trivial might discourage the rest.¡± Rachel almost burst outughing. That was a pretty good excuse! It seemed Samantha didn¡¯t tell him about Rachel approaching her earlier today. Without a hitch in her voice, she said, ¡°Thank you, on Cecilia¡¯s behalf.¡± William bent over and drew close to Rachel, breathing hot air against her skin. ¡°Why so polite? I know you¡¯re close to Cecilia, and she always stands up for you. I don¡¯t want to see you upset.¡± Rachel looked calmly at him as he said those words, her heart cold and unaffected. She didn¡¯t expose him for rejecting her so tantly at his office. ¡°Okay, got it.¡® William¡¯s expression suddenly turned somber. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you exin why you went looking for Tyler? Is there something you two are hiding from me?¡± Rachel¡¯s back stiffened, and her face froze. However, she feigned ignorance. ¡°What did you say just now? I didn¡¯t quite understand.¡± William tightened his arm around her waist. His face was achingly familiar, but the fierceness glinting in the depths of his eyes sent a chill down Rachel¡¯s spine. William did strike fear in some;pared to Tyler¡¯s aura, he was capable of making one¡¯s heart go cold. It wasn¡¯t something one could easily control. Although he was smiling, there was a hint of viciousness in the way his lips curled. ¡°I asked what was going on between you and Tyler. You¡¯re aware of our rtionship with LS Enterprise. As the wife of Lewis Enterprise¡¯s CEO, you should know that if you get too close to Tyler, I¡¯ll be the butt of everyone¡¯s jokes in themercial world. ¡°My position in thepany isn¡¯t guaranteed. If I don¡¯t do well, there is every possibility that my grandfather might hand my position over to my uncle. I can¡¯t afford for anything to go wrong. Do you understand me?¡± Rachel had never seen such a look in his eyes¨Cso hideous, ambitious, and vicious. He looked as though he were on the verge of doing something to her, especially if she dared to allow a scandal between her and Tyler to break out and affect his position in thepany. Rachel stared at William for a few seconds¨Cthen bloomed into a bright smile and patted him reassuringly on his shoulders. ¡°Just listen to you! What could ever happen between Tyler and me? We simply crossed paths thest time, and he saved me when Howard drugged me. I had to express my gratitude, you know.¡± William looked at her doubtfully. ¡°So you met him to thank him?¡± ¡°What else? You¡¯ve known Tyler longer than me. He¡¯s reclusive and evasive. It¡¯s practically impossible to get to know him on a deeper level.¡± Rachel had made herself clear; she was a married woman, clearly not Tyler¡¯s type. There was no need for William to worry at all. Rachel¡¯s words finally eased the tension between William¡¯s brows Just then, his phone rang and he answered it right in front of her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis, bad news¡­! Her Exit 56 ¡°Someone snatched the right to manage Project Oasis!¡± ¡°What?!¡± William was bewildered to hear the news, and his face darkened. Rachel¡¯s heart started racing. Tyler made his move so swiftly. He just had a car chase with Howard, and two hours had barely passed¨Cand yet, he already got hold of Project Oasis? This man was frightening indeed! Many were vying for the rights to manage Project Oasis, but all of them failed. William never expected to lose the rights to manage Project Oasis so easily. He had urged Samantha to nail down the details and begin execution as soon as she could, lest something bad happen Project Oasis, being a public welfare project, was therefore not bound by many terms and conditions. Anyone could fight for the management rights. If the people in charge were satisfied, they would sign the contract. The only thing affected would be the allocation of work. ¡°Whichpany was it?¡± William asked. Arsen hesitated, then stammered, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s Mr. Hunt of LS Enterprise.¡± ¡°Tyler Hunt?!¡± William roared. ¡°I¡¯ll head over right now! Gather everyone for an emergency meeting!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± After hanging up, William signed anxiously to Rachel. ¡°Bad news! Tyler seized the rights to manage Project Oasis. I¡¯ve got to rush back to the office right now.¡± William hurriedly put on his shoes. ¡°Come with me.¡± Rachel readily agreed. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll see if there¡¯s anything I can help with.¡± Both of them rushed to Lewis Enterprise. When they arrived, all their colleagues had gathered in a room, abuzz with hushed discussions. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t we talk aboutunching Project Oasis just two days ago? How did someone else snatch the management rights for it? The media¡¯s probably all over the news right now. We¡¯ll certainly be in the headlines tomorrow for getting the project snatched right under our noses!¡± ¡°This is all a big joke!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be so embarrassed to say that I¡¯m working for LS Enterprise. We¡¯ll be the butt of everyone¡¯s jokes for making such a blunder!¡± ¡°Who do you think will have to take responsibility for this?¡± ¡°Who else but the person¨Cin¨Ccharge? Whoever is overseeing the project will have to shoulder the responsibility.¡± ¡°What bad luck for Ms. Judd. She barely became the director for two days, and something so rotten happened. I wonder if she¡¯ll be able to hold on to her position.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. She¡¯s Mr. Lewis¡® first love, the woman of his dreams. How could he allow anything to happen to her? Rachel subconsciously nced at William. His sharp, handsome features had an icy, impersonal vell over them. His lips were pursed, and he clearly looked upset Rachel couldn¡¯t be sure if he was upset because Tyler had seized the management rights of Project Oasis from him, or because people were gossiping about Samantha. What William did next gave her the answer she was looking for. He stepped forward, his incisive gaze sweeping across the room as he snapped icily, ¡°Is it your ce to be talking about your superior like this?¡± Everyone fell silent and returned to their seats. The atmosphere in the room was so tense, you could cut it with a knife. From the fierce look in William¡¯s eyes, anyone could tell that he was at the peak of his anger. ¡°Anyone who dares gossip about their superior will be fired immediately!¡± Rachel looked impassively at William defending Samantha so fiercely, tantly protecting his first love just because he thought Rachel couldn¡¯t hear him. Her Exit 57 Chapter 57 Cecilia, on the other hand, was fired just because she tried speaking up for Rachel. The bias was so tant. William retracted his gaze, turned around, and pointed at the meeting room. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said to Rachel. Rachel was in disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m no longer a director of thepany. Is it appropriate for me to attend such an important meeting?¡± ¡°No matter. No one will dare say a word with me around.¡± Just like before, William¡¯s words somehow managed to put her mind at ease. Yet, there was something inexplicably different. Based on what Rachel knew of the shareholders, they would never allow such a major oversight to happen to a project under anyone¡¯s hands. Rachel wanted to see the look on William¡¯s face when he found out that the proposal for the rights to manage the project actually came from her. Would he regret not giving her oversight of Project Oasis? Had it been in her hands, such a blunder would never have happened. After entering the meeting room with William, Rachel realized that Samantha was already inside. However, the shareholders were shooting her looks that could kill. Samantha was probably aware that she was in trouble and kept her head hung low. She was wringing her hands, like a child who knew she had made a mistake. The shareholders greeted William when they saw him enter the room. ¡°Mr. Lewis.¡± Samantha heard their greetings and looked up. The moment her gazended on William, it was as though she saw her savior. Even the pitch of her voice turned up a notch. ¡°William¡­¡± Rachel coughed softly as a reminder to Samantha. ¡°Ms. Judd, we¡¯re in a meeting room, and the shareholders are around. It¡¯s more appropriate for you to call him Mr. Lewis instead.¡± Samantha pouted indignantly, looking like a frightened rabbit. She turned her reddened, pleading eyes to William, as if waiting for him to speak up for her. William tilted his head and said tepidly, ¡°She¡¯s just a youngdy who¡¯s new around here. She might not be used to a meeting of such scale. It¡¯s fine, let her be.¡± Rachel fell silent, but a look of derision shed past her eyes. Just then, one of the shareholders spoke up. ¡°Mr. Lewis, Ms. Lloyd isn¡¯t wrong to say that. Even as your wife, she doesn¡¯t call you by name in the office.¡± ¡°Yes. At work, rules are rules. If everyone starts addressing each other in any way they please, chaos will ensue.¡± ¡°We know you were schoolmates with Ms. Judd, Mr. Lewis, but this is work and there are rules to abide by. If everyone in thepany were to follow suit, it¡¯ll mess things up.¡± Samantha¡¯s face paled as she stared at William in a daze. William pursed his lips and relented, ¡°Call me Mr. Lewis from noon.¡± Samantha pouted once more, but said reluctantly, ¡°Oh, alright, ME Lewis.¡± William coughed before announcing, ¡°Let¡¯s get the meeting started.¡± After everyone took their seats, they began discussing the rights to manage Project Oasis. ¡°How did Tyler Hunt draw up a proposal to score the management rights so quickly?¡± ¡°Why are you bothered about that now? Shouldn¡¯t you be thinking about how we allowed him to stick his hands in our pie when the project was scheduled to start two days ago?¡± ¡°What else? Ask our new director Ms. Judd what in the world she¡¯s been busy with the past few days!¡± Her Exit 58 Samantha¡¯s face burned as she pursed her lips, and she cast William a cautious look. ¡°Mr. Lewis, I had intended to start work today. I didn¡¯t know how things turned out this way¡­ You said Rachel would help me out.¡± With that, Samantha turned to look piteously at Rachel, signing indignantly at her. ¡°Rachel, I know you started on Project Oasis earlier. Why didn¡¯t you tell me about it? Or are you still angry at me? I already said that if you want the project, I can let you have it. In fact, I can let you have it right now.¡± Rachel was tickled pink by the act that Samantha was putting on. ¡°Ms. Judd, you earned this project by merit. I take my defeats in stride, so don¡¯t worry about that. Do a good job on this project, and it¡¯ll be beneficial for your performance review, too. Don¡¯t let Mr. Lewis down.¡± Rachel¡¯s gazended on William as she spoke, and his face turned stormy. William¡¯s gaze swept across the shareholders in the room. ¡°There¡¯s no point in finding out who¡¯s responsible. What¡¯s more important now is to find a solution. LS Enterprise has gotten hold of the rights to manage Project Oasis, which means we need to work with them. Dragging this project out isn¡¯t going to do ourpany any good.¡± To that, the shareholders sneered. ¡°Mr. Lewis, you¡¯re oversimplifying things. You know clearly our rtionship with LS Enterprise over the past few years. We¡¯ve been at loggerheads with each other, for goodness¡® sake!¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt has been on a roll, snagging major deals non¨Cstop and taking away even projects that we were supposed to have in the bag. We barely managed to score Project Oasis. If even this deal falls apart, we¡¯ll have nothing left.¡± ¡°Exactly, Mr. Lewis. Come up with a solution for this. If it weren¡¯t for Ms. Judd dying the start of the project, this wouldn¡¯t have happened. I already said that her proposal was no match for Ms. Lloyd¡¯s. We can see for ourselves the good work Ms. Lloyd has done for thepany over the years.¡± ¡°How could you hand such an important project over to a new director? Ridiculous!¡± Rachel remained as calm as a cucumber, but she could feel her nails digging into the flesh of her palm. As it turned out, the shareholders did not approve of Samantha¡¯s proposal for Project Oasis. William had been the sole decision maker. William, for his part, had thought that the project would proceed with no hup. He had never expected something like this to happen. Despite all his calctions and nning, he never imagined Tyler would seize the management rights of Project Oasis right under his nose. Samantha gripped the edge of the table tightly, looking just like a convicted criminal. Once again, she turned to look at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯ve been getting very close with Mr. Hunt as ofte. Didn¡¯t you notice that he had his eyes on Project Oasis?¡± The shareholders immediately turned their attention to Rachel. ¡°What? Ms. Lloyd has been getting close to Mr. Hunt of LS Enterprise? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis, do you know about that?¡± The shareholders¡® questions stunned William, who remained silent. The tables have turned. Everyone¡¯s attention was on Rachel, waiting for an answer from her. Samantha¡¯s words had pushed Rachel to the edge. Everyone knew that Lewis Enterprise and LS Enterprise were fierce rivals. Any employee getting too close to someone from LS Enterprise would immediately be under suspicion, not to mention the CEO¡¯s wife. 2/2 Her Exit 59 Chapter 59 If word were to spread, this would be ludicrous. Rachel smirked inwardly and nced at Samantha, who was still ting as pitiful and innocent as amb. The woman looked nothing like the wicked schemer she truly was. Her words and actions reininded everyone that something was going on between Rachel and Tyler. The shareholders started discussing the matter. ¡°Think about it! Ever since Ms. Judd joined thepany, all of Ms Lloyd¡¯s projects were stolen from her. Even the project with Trinity Enterprise was signed under Ms. Judd¡¯s name, and Ms. Lloyd lost her position as director. She¡¯s the wife of the CEO of Lewis Enterprise, for goodness¡® sake! If I were her, I wouldn¡¯t stay thispany. If LS Enterprise offered me better terms, why would I stay here?¡± ¡°But if she were to do that, people would start gossiping about Mr.ewis, and how his wife and his rival¡­ Well, it¡¯ll be a huge scandal if word spreads.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but be in awe of Samantha. From now on, she would give anyone who dared to im that Samantha wasn¡¯t cunning at all a huge p. ? ???? A simple word from Samantha was sufficient to stir up a storm. After some discussion, the shareholders finally raised their reques ¡°Mr. Lewis, I think we shouldn¡¯t let Ms. Lloyd participate in this project for the time being, mainly because of her being too close to Mr. Hunt of LS Enterprise.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t trust her, but we think we should exercise more caution. This project is very important to ourpany, after all.¡± William rubbed his temple in frustration. This issue was getting thornier by the moment. Rachel didn¡¯t try exining herself and simply looked at William. She wanted to know what he thought. Did he, like everyone, assume that she was colluding with Tyler? William, however, remained silent. On the other hand, Samantha spoke up with fierce indignation. ¡°Go ahead and pin the me on me for the blunder, but how could you suspect Rachel? You know very well how much she did for thepany! Even if it looks like she¡¯s been getting close to Mr. Hunt, I trust that it¡¯s nothing out of the ordinary. I saw with my own eyes Rachel leaving Mr. Hunt¡¯s car. They were behaving perfectly normally!¡± Rachel almost rolled her eyes in front of everyone. Samantha was just making things worse, and she knew it. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about Mr. Hunt¡¯s car. Not just anyone can sit in it. I heard only his family or people he holds in high regard are allowed in it.¡± ¡°Indeed. I heard someone say that a woman wanted to sit in his car but before her butt managed to touch the seat, Mr. Hunt threw her out.¡± Rachel knew that things were working against her favor. No one told her how important that car was to Tyler. Had she known, she would have walked home rather than sit in that car. ¡°Mr. Lewis, there is a solution. Right now, we¡­¡± she began. ¡°Rachel, perhaps you should keep a low profile for now.¡± Rachel was about to say that she had a way to resolve the issue, but William beat her to it and told her to keep a low profile. Chapter 59 Where Samantha was concerned, he dismissed the shareholders¡® attempts to hold her ountable for the dyed start to the project. He quickly jumped to the next topic, making his attempts to defend her very clear. When their target shitted to Rachel instead, he didn¡¯t even bother saying a word in her favor and simply told her to keep a low profile. Very well! Her Exit 60 Chapter 60 Rachel stood where she was, her feet rooted to the ground. She didn¡¯t move an inch She took a deep breath. Even doing that felt painful. ¡°I¡¯ve already exined about Tyler. They don¡¯t believe me, but you too?¡± William remained unmoved in his seat. His brows furrowed, and he said in a low, irritable voice, ¡°So what if I believe you? We¡¯re talking about work, and thepany¡¯s interestse first. Don¡¯t put me on the spot.¡± Rachel realized that William didn¡¯t even bother signing to her before everyone. At the moment, Samantha spoke up for Rachel. ¡°Mr. Lewis, there¡¯s probably a misunderstanding somewhere. How could Rachel have anything to do with Mr. Hunt? I think there must be something; we¡¯re missing here.¡± William remained resolute. ¡°I don¡¯t care even if there¡¯s a misunderstanding! I¡¯m taking responsibility for the project on behalf of thepany and our employees.¡± Even the shareholders felt embarrassed for Rachel. Her project was taken away, and the new colleague in charge of it wasn¡¯t even half as capable as her. She had to give up her position as director, too. Even her husband refused to stand up for her. If they were Rachel, they would resign immediately. Rachel, on the other hand, didn¡¯t blow her top as the shareholders expected she would. Her eyes were deadly calm. She took another deep breath and asked William, ¡°Mr. Lewis, are you sure you want me to leave?¡± William sighed helplessly, the determination in his eyes unwavering. With a shrug, Rachel said disdainfully, ¡°I¡¯ll leave. Have a good discussion. I¡¯m sure thepany will benefit greatly from Project Oasis under Mr. Lewis and Ms. Judd¡¯s leadership.¡± With that, Rachel stepped out of the room, her heels cking on the floor. She stood ramrod straight; not a trace of awkwardness from being chased out could be seen in her eyes, which shone with dazzling vigor. William retracted his gaze andmanded, ¡°Let¡¯s go on.¡± In the office, word spread like wildfire. The moment Rachel sat back down at her seat, she heard her colleagues gossiping in hushed whispers. ¡°Why was she chased out right after she stepped in?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with her. Ever since Samantha joined us, Mr. Lewis seemed to havepletely neglected her.¡± ¡°Who is his wife, seriously?¡± ¡°What do you know? Mr. Lewis is being impartial. If he were to defend Rachel all the time, tongues might wag.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. For all you know, they might be all lovey¨Cdovey back at home. We wouldn¡¯t have a clue.¡± Rachel remained unperturbed amidst their gossip. She had long gotten used to it, and had even be numb to it. What that colleague said about them being lovey¨Cdovey, however, made her chuckle. She couldn¡¯t hide the mockery in her eyes, no matter how hard she tried. Lovey¨Cdovey at hoine. Yeah, right! William was lovey¨Cdovey at home, true¨Cnot at their home, but Samantha¡¯s. Once a man¡¯s heart drifted away, even ten bulls wouldn¡¯t be able to pull him back. William¡¯s heart, even his entire being, had drifted away to Samantha. Rachel had be the butt of everyone¡¯s jokes in thepany. Just then, Cecilia returned to her workstation. When she saw Rachel back in the office, she hurried over. Compassion for Rachel overwhelmed her. ¡°Rachel, are you alright? Why don¡¯t you try talking to Mr. Lewis? He can¡¯t possibly just throw your seven¨Cyear¨Clong rtionship out the window!¡± Cecilia had been around since the founding of thepany. She saw with her own eyes how William stood up for Rachel when her superiors and shareholders bullied her at the start. Her Exit 61 Chapter 61 Yet now, William was treating another woman the same way he used to treat Rachel. It was truly¡­ Rachel simply sat in her chair, amending another proposal without a twitch on her face. ¡°My signature isn¡¯t on the proposal for Project Oasis. It¡¯s also not under my care. I shouldn¡¯t be inside in the first ce.¡± Cecilia pursed her lips indignantly, finding it unfair for Rachel. ¡°In that case, Mr. Lewis shouldn¡¯t have let you in. What¡¯s the meaning of chasing you out in the middle of the meeting? It looks so bad for you, and our colleagues might gossip.¡± ¡°Cecilia, can you do me a favor?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t one to sit around andin about matters. The first thing she always did whenever she encountered a problem was to solve it. Her time here was drawing to a close. She had to finish up all the projects at hand before she could leave in peace. Cecilia naturally had no idea what Rachel was nning to do, but was very d to help when needed. ¡°Just speak your mind. There¡¯s no need to stand on ceremony with me. If it weren¡¯t for you, I couldn¡¯t havee back to work.¡± ¡°Go into the meeting room and suggest to William to personally give Mr. Hunt a call. Tell him to say that he wishes for bothpanies to organize a team bonding session¨Cfor the sake of the project and to silence the people. That will serve to propel Project Oasis forward.¡± Cecilia felt slightly intimidated. ¡°Uh¡­ Rachel, are you sending me into the lion¡¯s den? How could an ordinary employee go to him with such a suggestion? You know very well the rtionship between Mr. Lewis and Mr. Hunt over the years. They hate each other¡¯s guts!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, William isn¡¯t one to act on impulse. Give him that suggestion and he¡¯ll take it up. It¡¯s for the sake of improving the rtionship between the twopanies. Continuing to fight is only going to be detrimental to thepany. He knows that very well.¡± Rachel spoke calmly, and her words reflected her rity of mind. Cecilia couldn¡¯t help but admire her for it. Any other woman would have blown their top, yet Rachel managed to figure out a solution at a time like this. Cecilia had pledged her allegiance to the right person, after all. She bit the bullet and said, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t you worry. I¡¯m on it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hear from you, then.¡± Mustering all the courage she had, Cecilia opened the door of Rachel¡¯s office and headed straight to the meeting room. Rachel was about to turn around when she felt a dull ache in her chest. She hacked away violently, stood up, and walked out before she felt better. The air in the office was badly ventted. Over the past few days, she ended up coughing so badly at night that she could hardly catch her breath. She didn¡¯t know if William heard her coughing, but until now, he showed not an iota of concern for her. It wasn¡¯t like she was hoping for it, anyway. Rachel nced at the calendar and decided to visit her old home. Although she really didn¡¯t want to step in there, she thought it was the right thing to do. It would be thest time, anyway. When Cecilia came out of the meeting room, her face was deathly pale, and she could hardly walk. Chapter Rachel thought Ceci was going to slump to her knees, and hurrielly reached out to hold her steady. ¡°Did he say no?¡± Cecilia said with trembling lips, ¡°I¡­ Can you¡­please¡­give me a sip of water? I need some time.¡± Rachel was tickled pink by Cecilia¡¯s plight. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll pour you some water. But you have to tell me what happened after that. It¡¯s very important to me.¡± If William didn¡¯t take on Cecilia¡¯s suggestion, that meant t only dy the progress of Project Oasis. the rivalry between him and Tyler was bound to continue. That would Rachel didn¡¯t have much time to waste. Her Exit 62 Chapter 62 Rachel poured a ss of water for Ceci and helped her into a chat. After Cecilia calmed down, she said to Rachel, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Lewis took my suggestion. The shareholders agreed to it.¡± Rachel heaved a long sigh of relief. She knew clearly that William had been forced to a corner; given how antagonistic he was with Tyler, he wouldn¡¯t have made such apromise so easily otherwise. William also knew that while Tyler could afford having the project dyed, the same couldn¡¯t be said for him. Most of the profitable projects in the market in the first half of the year were signed under Tyler¡¯spany. The projects Lewis Enterprise managed to clinch didn¡¯t offer much they were only sufficient for thepany to break even. There were also the two projects Rachel clinched, but they were probably snatched from under Tyler¡¯s nose. She just didn¡¯t! know about it. ¡°Great. I need to take a day off work and go home tomorrow,¡± Rachel said. Cecilia¡¯s face changed. ¡°Back to your old home? But why? You haven¡¯t gone for so many years. Your stepmother is so fierce, and so is your grandfather. They only favor your sister.¡± Cecilia knew full well the situation in Rachel¡¯s family. Only Rachel¡¯s mother loved her. Her father, under pressure from her stepmother, didn¡¯t treat her well. Her grandfather was even worse. So much time had passed since that incident. That old man should have let go of things a long time ago. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t even Rachel¡¯s fault. She was still too young and knew nothing at that time. Rachel naturally didn¡¯t tell Cecilia that she was intending to leave. She merely patted Cecilia gently on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just visiting them. It¡¯s also my father¡¯s birthday tomorrow.¡± ¡°Do you want Mr. Lewis to apany you?¡± Cecilia asked. ¡°With him around, your family might be less harsh to you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. He¡¯s going to be fully upied with Project Oasis. I won¡¯t bother him.¡± William¡¯s attention had been fully on Samantha recently, resulting in the huge oversight in the project. No matter how much he wanted to defend Samantha, it seemed ludicrous. Cecilia held Rachel¡¯s hand. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re so nice. Mr. Lewis is fortunate to have found you.¡± Rachel smirked. ¡°Is that so?¡± Clearly, William didn¡¯t share the sentiment. By the end of the meeting, the shareholders requested that William punish Samantha for her blunders. Project Oasis was a priority for thepany. They couldn¡¯t allow a neer to mess around with it. They had initially wanted Rachel to assist Samantha, until Samantha imed that Rachel sat in Tyler¡¯s car¨Chis precious Bugatti, no less. Aside from his family, anyone who managed to sit in his car must be someone pretty important to him. Since the shareholders¡® suspicions of Rachel couldn¡¯t be cleared, they didn¡¯t dare to allow her participation in the project. Eventually, management concluded that Rachel and Samantha were to negotiate with Tyler and get him to agree to a team- building session between bothpanies. Through that, the bond between theirpanies could be strengthened, and nasty rumors could be quelled. Although the solution sounded straightforward enough, everyone knew that Tyler was a tough nut to crack. The aim of the n was also to clear Rachel of suspicion and prove that she had nothing to do with the management rights of Project Oasis. After all, she wasn¡¯t the one who tipped Tyler off. In other words, the shareholders had no trust in Samantha¡¯s abilities orck thereof and wanted Rachel back as director. When Rachel read the announcement, she was resistant to the n. She really didn¡¯t want any further interactions with Tyler. When William and Samantha came looking for her, she rejected them immediately. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Lewis. I can¡¯t do it. You¡¯ll do better leaving this formidable task in Ms. Judd¡¯s hands.¡± Her Exit 63 Chapter 63 William was exhausted from the mental battle with the old foxes in the meeting room earlier. He didn¡¯t expect to have to deal with Rachel after all that. Usually, Rachel wouldn¡¯t pass up a chance to help him at work. He held her shoulders and signed to her patiently, ¡°Rachel, I was just putting on an act for the shareholders just now. Don¡¯t take it to heart. You know them. If I hadn¡¯t done that, they would have said something nasty.¡± Rachel remained silent. William crouched and looked straight into her eyes. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree to it, the shareholders will issue a warning. If that goes on our official website, it would affect Samantha¡¯s career prospects.¡± Rachel looked coldly at William. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± Her words caused the air around them to freeze. William¡¯s face darkened with displeasure. Samantha looked upset, too. She always looked bright¨Ceyed and full of spirit, but whenever she felt indignant, she resembled a frightened rabbit, and it struck sympathy in others. ¡°Rachel, I know I said something ng wrong earlier and caused a huge misunderstanding. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re angry at me for it,¡± she began. However, Rachel remained unperturbed and didn¡¯t bother looking at Samantha. ¡°Ms. Judd, you¡¯re overthinking. I¡¯m not agreeing to it because you¡¯re in charge of the project. There¡¯s no need for me to take credit for it. Moreover, I¡¯ve been feeling unwell recently. I probably need to take some time off from work to see a doctor. I really don¡¯t want to dy things further.¡± Upon hearing that Rachel was feeling unwell, William started signing anxiously. ¡°What? Where do you feel unwell? I¡¯ll take you to the hospital for a checkup.¡± ¡°I feel rather out of breath recently,¡± Rachel answered honestly. ¡°Really? You feel out of breath?¡± ¡°Yes, I do. It might be a lung issue. You know that this ce is too dusty.¡± Rachel gestured around the room before coughing twice. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯ve been so busy, I forgot that you¡¯re allergic to dust I¡¯ll transfer you to another office. It¡¯s my oversight.¡± The look in William¡¯s eyes was so tender, a world of difference from when he spoke to Rachel earlier in the meeting room. Yet, she remained indifferent from start to end. All she could see was the cold, brutal heartlessness on his face in the meeting room with the shareholders just now. She nodded. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lewis.¡± f ¡°The announcement will be issued tomorrow. You¡¯ll go to LS Enterprise with Samantha tomorrow and discuss matters with Mr. Hunt.¡± William said it as an imperative, and not as a question. In the past, Rachel would have put her work aside and prioritized William. William wouldn¡¯t just throw her amand; he Chapter 631 would seek her opinion first. Unknowingly, he had lost his patience with her and didn¡¯t even bother hiding it. Rachel shook her head and said honestly, ¡°I¡¯m going back tomorrow. It¡¯s my father¡¯s birthday.¡± William looked at the calendar on his phone, and realization dawned upon him. ¡°Oh, yes, your father¡¯s birthday is , her family wouldn¡¯t be too nasty. It would also be herst time seeing them, and she didn¡¯t want things to turn sour. ¡°Sure,¡± she said. ¡°Ms. Judd, please go ahead and make an appointment with Mr. Hunt. Just tell me when it is.¡± Her Exit 64 At Rachel¡¯s words, Samantha¡¯s face fell. She looked at Rachel with a pitiful expression and pleaded, ¡°Rache, don¡¯t you know Mr. Hunt? For you, it¡¯s just a matter of a phone call. How am I supposed to secure an appointment with him?¡± Samantha tugged on the hem of William¡¯s jacket, the same piteous look still on her face. ¡°William, talk to Rachel. Don¡¯t you always say that she¡¯s the nicest¡± William looked at Samantha¡¯s red¨Crimmed eyes andforted her tenderly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know Rachel best. She wouldn¡¯t decline to help. Forget helping you, she even gives money to the homeless on the streets!¡± Samantha heaved a sigh of relief and patted her chest. ¡°That¡¯s great! I knew Rachel wasn¡¯t such a heartless person.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed. William turned around and said to her, ¡°Rachel, you know Mr. Hunt. He even helped you before. Just find an excuse to ask him out for a meal. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Again, it wasn¡¯t a question but a deration. Rachel¡¯s eyes were filled with cold disdain. Did William forget what he reminded her of earlier? He demanded she not get too close to Tyler, iming that Tyler was temperamental and elusive. Yet now, for Samantha¡¯s sake, he wanted her to ask Tyler out. Hah! This was the man she loved for seven years. Before finding out about Samantha, Rachel had intended to have his baby in one or two years. She had been an utter fool. However, she calmed her raging emotions down and agreed without an ounce of displeasure on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Samantha grabbed Rachel¡¯s hand agitatedly. She had on a little makeup, and the light blush on her cheeks made her look even more likable. ¡°Thank you so much, Rachel! If you couldnd a meeting with Mr. Hunt, William and I will treat you to a meal.¡± The smile on Rachel¡¯s face froze. Rachel wasn¡¯t sure if Samantha spoke too quickly and without restraint because she was too happy, or if this woman had done it on purpose. Samantha was deliberately hinting that she and William were on the same side, while Rachel was merely an outsider. William, sensing something was wrong with Samantha¡¯s words, coughed lightly. He signed to Rachel, ¡°I¡¯ll have Arsen help you move your things to the new office.¡± ¡°No need. I can do it myself. I don¡¯t have that many things.¡± Rachel originally thought that she could bear with it for just a few more days, but she recently had serious breathing problems affecting daily life and work. It was certainly better for her to be in another room. William didn¡¯t push further. He nced at his watch. ¡°I need to go for a meeting.¡± With that, Samantha left with him. 1/2 achel had a habit of settling issues once they were presented to her. She would never drag her feet if she could help it. dence William wanted her to contact Tyler, she immediately texted him the moment she settled into her seat. (Mr. Hunt, is it convenient for us to meet? I¡¯d like to talk to you.] Tyler¡¯s reply was immediate. [Not so convenient these days.] Rachel¡¯s heart fell. Not convenient? What was he busy with? Rachel wouldn¡¯t insist on meeting him, but things were critical right now. She had to reach an agreement with Tyler, and he had to sign an agreement with LS Enterprise for her to take over Project Oasis. Only after the design waspleted would she be able to leave with peace of mind. The situation right now, with things hanging in the air without a clear¨Ccut conclusion, was most tormenting. Rachel¡¯s fingers flew across the screen on her phone. Her Exit 65 All of a sudden, Rachel didn¡¯t know what to say to Tyler. She wasn that close to him, and couldn¡¯t just ask him what he was busy with. She hesitated for a moment before typing a few words. [I have something important to discuss with you.] After looking at the text over and over again and checking that there were no issues with it, Rachel sent it. Yet, she didn¡¯t hear from him afterward. She didn¡¯t want to ask him again. If he really was busy and she kept texting him, it would only annoy him. After all, Tyler wasn¡¯t a kind man. Rachel had no choice but to leave things be and focus on shifting her belongings to her new workstation. Samantha kept herself busy in thepany the entire day, probably due to pressure from the shareholders and the fact that she had made a huge blunder. Rachel was done moving and arranging her belongings when she saw Samantha rush back to her workstation, cheeks flushed and brows furrowed. It was clear for all to see that things had been tough for her. Seeing Rachel, Samantha immediately approached her and looked at her like she was her savior. Grabbing her hand, Samantha asked sweetly, ¡°Rachel, have you called Mr. Hunt? Did he say yes? ¡°No, he didn¡¯t reply to me.¡± Samantha let go of Rachel¡¯s hand. A look of disappointment settled on her face, and she pouted. ¡°Rachel, do you not want to help me?¡± Rachel stared at Samantha, confused. ¡°What do you mean by that? ¡°Are you still upset about William giving me the position of director and your workstation? If you prefer your previous workstation, I can let you have it. I don¡¯t like to beat around the bush and y games at work. If I¡¯ve offended you with my words, please don¡¯t take it to heart. I don¡¯t mean any harm.¡± Samantha kept lowering her head, looking apologetic. Colleagues around them started throwing curious nces in their way. It looked as though Rachel was bullying Samantha, abusing her status as the CEO¡¯s wife. ¡°Ms. Judd,¡± Rachel retorted, ¡°you don¡¯t need to apologize to me. Mr. Lewis isn¡¯t around, and you need to do your work. I only agreed to help you contact Mr. Hunt, nothing more. Also, there¡¯s nothing between me and Mr. Hunt. We¡¯re not even friends. Please stop shooting your mouth off.¡± Rachel stared grimly at Samantha, her eyes indifferent. She was all business¨Clike, with nary a hint of emotion. Samantha lowered her head, her voice filled with remorse andplex emotions. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rachel. I¡¯m getting too anxious. If I don¡¯t solve this problem, the shareholders will surely call William to task.¡± Rachel looked unbothered by the possibility. ¡°That¡¯s your problem. I¡¯m just going to do what I¡¯m tasked to. I¡¯ll let you know when I receive a reply from Mr. Hunt. Since I can¡¯t seem to secure an appointment with him, you should start finding alternatives.¡± Rachel brushed past Samantha and left the office. It was time to knock off. Everyone else was taken aback, and began to murmur among themselves. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Rachel recently? She used to be a workaholic, but she¡¯s been totally cking off these days.¡± ¡°She had her title of director removed and was chased out of the meeting room by the shareholders. Ms. Judd is the one in charge now. Would you continue giving your all if it were you?¡± Chapter 66 Her Exit 66 Chapter 66 After Rachel left, she headed to the mall. She remembered that William said he wanted to apany her to the mall to buy her father a gift. Out of basic courtesy, she texted him. [Do you have time now? If not, I can go alone.] William replied to her rather quickly. [Rachel, I¡¯m still in a meeting. Head over first and use my card. Take it as a gift from me to our father.] Rachel knew William way too well to understand that his words meant he didn¡¯t have the time toe over. She kept her phone, looking cid. She didn¡¯t have her hopes up, anyway. Rachel didn¡¯t have a good rtionship with her family. Aside from her father, who treated her slightly better, everyone saw her as a jinx¡ªshe was a pariah in the house. At the thought of this being theirst meeting, Rachel figured that just one gift for her father might not be sufficient. She decided to buy one for everyone. By the time she was done, William hadn¡¯t texted her at all. Since she had time, she bought some outfits for herself and paid for them with William¡¯s card. She was practically forced to do it, since William¡¯s dream woman liked all of her clothes. She considered herself a clean freak and refused to touch something someone else had put their hands on. Very soon, William received a text. He was busy consoling Samantha, who was like a cat on hot bricks because she couldn¡¯t secure an appointment with Tyler. Her eyes were red and bloodshot from all the crying as she looked piteously at William. ¡°William, think of a solution for me! Rachel still hasn¡¯t managed to secure an appointment. How could she fail? She could get in Mr. Hunt¡¯s car, so she should be quite close to him.¡± William¡¯s brows were tightly knitted, and he didn¡¯t even hear what Samantha was saying. He thought he must have made a mistake, but after checking it twice, he confirmed that the figure was indeed 500,000. Samantha was still hanging on his arm, whining in a coquettish tone she was confident would melt William¡¯s heart. ¡°William¡­¡± ¡°Hang on, I need to send a text.¡± William¡¯s fingers flew across his screen as he typed a few words and sent them to Rachel. [Rachel, did you use my card to buy stuff?] Rachel couldn¡¯t suppress a coldugh when she saw William¡¯s text. As she had expected, no man could ignore anything to do with money. Regardless of how busy they were, money matters wouldmand their attention without fail. She typed a reply in the gentlest of tones she could manage. [Yeah. Since it has been such a long time since I visited them, I thought that one gift for our father didn¡¯t seem genuine enough, so I bought a gift for everyone, too: I threw away all my clothes before and have to buy some new ones. Otherwise, how would I be able to attend gatherings with you?] Rachel¡¯s reply was impable, leaving no room for William to find any fault with it. Before he could send her a reply, she followed up with another text [Can¡¯t bear to part with your money?] [No. It¡¯s just that when I saw the sum, I thought someone stole my card. Go ahead and buy anything you want.] As William put his phone aside, Samantha caught a glimpse of his text. ¡°Is Rachel out shopping?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s out shopping for clothes and things for her family.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Rachel have enough outfits in her wardrobe?¡± ¡°She threw away many of them before, saying that they were out of style,¡± William said casually as he bowed his head to peruse the details of the Project Oasis proposal. Samantha sniffed and said gloomily, ¡°William, could Rachel have found out about me trying on her clothes? Maybe she threw out all of them in a fit of anger?¡± William¡¯s hand froze in mid¨Cair as he flipped a page, his eyes darkening. ¡°Probably not. What¡¯s more, Rachel isn¡¯t the type to throw her clothes away just because someone else tried them on.¡± ¡°I must be overthinking. I was worried she might be upset that I went to your house and deliberately threw her clothes away out of spite,¡± Samantha muttered. Her Exit 67 Samantha¡¯s face was glum. William pursed his lips when he heard that, his eyes turning darker A thought suddenly came to Samantha. ¡°William, myptop has been crashing on me recently. Could you lend me your notebook, please?¡± William hesitated. ¡°I have a lot of documents saved on myptop.m sure you¡¯ll need it for more than a day or two. Since yourptop keeps crashing, why don¡¯t you just buy a new one?¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t received my sry for the month.¡± Samantha lowered her head and wrung her hands anxiously. William put away his documents. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. Tell me the model and brand you want, and I¡¯ll buy it for you. Take it as an encouragement for the work you¡¯ve done.¡± ¡°Really? But William, theptop I¡¯m looking at is a little expensive. It costs a few thousand dors,¡± Samantha said coyly. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to the mall right now and check it out.¡± William stood up, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, and left the office with Samantha. When Rachel was about to take the esctor down and head back, she spotted two familiar figures. The man was tall and decked out in a gray suit; he stood next to a woman, a clear height difference between them. The woman had on a white pleated skirt with an ordinary short¨Csleeved shirt, looking youthful and smiling brightly at him. Everyone loves a cheerful and lively woman, including William. Rachel stood near the top of the esctor, watching them. It seemed like William had brought Samantha here to buy aptop. He had the time to apany Samantha to buy aptop, but none to apany Rachel to buy gifts for their elders. As Samantha was choosing the color of herptop, she could feel a gaze on her. She looked around and saw Rachel standing right next to the top of the elevator on the second floor. She stood stunned for a moment before shing Rachel a bright smile. Rachel saw Samantha tugging the hem of William¡¯s shirt. She was probably telling William that she saw Rachel. William instinctively nced in Rachel¡¯s direction; a look of fright sent ripples across his usual calm and collected demeanor. But it was only for an instant, and he recovered very quickly. Since they had seen each other, Rachel thought she should at least go over to say hi. She took the esctor down and approached William and Samantha. William took a step toward Rachel, and took all the bags in her hands. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me so I coulde over and fetch you? You¡¯re carrying so many things, you must be tired.¡± Rachel shook her head, the corners of her lips curling slightly. ¡°Here to buy aputer, Ms. Judd?¡± Samantha nodded, seemingly in a good mood, ¡°Yep. Myptop keeps giving me problems. Since I¡¯m not very tech¨Csavvy, I asked William toe with me to help me choose a new model.¡± Rachel nodded pensively, the small smile still on her face. ¡°I see you did your homework, though. Thisptop is thetest model on the market and is selling at a retail price of 7,000 dors. You¡¯re very willing to spend on something for work, I see. Samantha looked coyly at William, unable to hold back a bright sile, ¡°No, Rachel. William is buying it for me.¡± The smile on Rachel¡¯s face froze. hapter 68 +25 BONUS Chapter 68 Her Exit 68 +25 BONUS Chapter 68 The air suddenly turned tense. Rachel fell silent for a while. Then, she said to William, ¡°Mr. Lewis is so thoughtful toward his subordinate. Not only does he apany his subordinate on a shopping trip, but he¡¯s even giving her aptop as a gift.¡± William was unperturbed; his tone was mild as he replied in a voice barely above a whisper, ¡°Samantha¡¯s new, you know. I¡¯ve got to encourage her. As a director, she had to go out to negotiate contracts with otherpanies. If she goes out for meetings with aptop that might crash anytime, others mightugh at the fact that a director of Lewis Enterprise doesn¡¯t even have a decentptop to use. This is for the sake of thepany¡¯s reputation, you see.¡± Rachel looked down, masking the gleam in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been using myptop for a while now. Since Ms. Judd is buying herptop today, why don¡¯t you buy one for me too? For all you know, there might be a discount for two.¡± She turned to look at the saledy. ¡°Are there discounts for twoptops?¡± Selling one suchptop at such an exorbitant price was very tough to begin with. The saledy couldn¡¯t believe that someone was buying two in one go! She nodded profusely. ¡°Yes, of course there¡¯s a discount! What colors do you want?¡± Rachel looked at the pinkptop in front of Samantha, a style that certainly appealed to young girls. She pointed at the right¨Cmost model. ¡°I want the white one. Pack them together. He will foot the bill.¡± The saledy subconsciously turned her attention to William and looked at him with a probing gaze, curiosity evident in her eyes. Many working people knew about the ways of navigating rtionships between men and women. While they might not be in a rtionship themselves, they had certainly seen others in one and know a thing or two. These three before her certainly seemed to be in aplicated rtionship! That didn¡¯t stop the saledy from wrapping up the twoptops with a gleeful smile, though. When William went to pay with his card, Samantha and Rachel stood on both his sides. Rachel nced at William with a concerned look. ¡°William, you don¡¯t look too good. Do you feel unwell?¡± William looked dazed, but replied to her expressionlessly, ¡°Nothing, I just feel a little tired from all the meetings.¡± ¡°I thought you felt the pinch from Samantha and me buying oneptop each. Honestly speaking, I¡¯m just an ordinary employee right now. There really is no need to buy me such an expensiveptop,¡± Rachel said in a voice filled with guilt; she looked almost remorseful and broken. William took his card back from the cashier and kept it in his wallet. ¡°We can buy whatever you want, as long as it makes you happy. I wanted to buy one for you just now, actually.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back the smirk on her face. She turned to William with a deep gaze. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course, but it¡¯s better that you choose one for yourself. Alright let¡¯s head back.¡± William left the shop with Rachel and Samantha. Rachel noticed that his brows were tightly knit all the way. Hadn¡¯t he always wanted to be a two¨Ctimer? Why did he look so upset? Wasn¡¯t this what every man in the world desired? Rachel was about to open the door to the front passenger seat of William¡¯s car when William pointed to the back row instead. ¡°Let Samantha sit in front. She gets carsick easily in the back row, Rachel tightened her grip on the handle of the car door, suddenly feeling suffocated. Samantha stood by her side, her petite, fair face blushing so radiantly. Her eyes were glistening with a look of innocence. ¡°Pardon me, Rachel. You won¡¯t mind, will you?¡± Before Rachel could muster a reply, William beat her to it. ¡°Rachel wouldn¡¯t mind. She never gets carsick. Come on, get in.¡± Her Exit 69 Chapter 69 William didn¡¯t seem to have much patience or time left to waste here. Samantha nced at Rachel and gave her a slight nod before opening the door to the front passenger seat and settling down in
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Rachel stood where she was as her heart fell. She took a while to recover, then opened the car door and sat in the back row. For some reason, she suddenly felt a dull pain in her chest and became slightly out of breath. Just then, Samantha asked William, ¡°ble you to send me to the airport? My mother is here to visit. I wanted to call a cab, but I didn¡¯t expect you to to buy myptop.¡± ¡°No problem, it¡¯s on the way,¡± the Said offhandedly. Rachel clenched her fists so hard, turned white. Even her lips turned pale. William didn¡¯t ask for her opinion. He didn¡¯t even bother asking her if she had anything onter. She was in his car, but it was as though she were invisible. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m so sorry. My mother is here to see me. I probably won¡¯t be in time to hail a cab over. If it¡¯s convenient for you, can you take a cab back?¡± Rachel naturally didn¡¯t want to be in the same space as them. She said to William, ¡°Drop me off at the junction right ahead. I feel slightly unwell, so I¡¯ll hail a cab and head to the nearest hospital. I¡¯ll leave my things in your car. William looked up at the rearview mirror, through which he could see Rachel not looking too good. ¡°Where do you feel unwell? Why don¡¯t you wait for me toe find you after fetching her mother? Just find a cafe and wait for me there.¡± Yet, Rachel told him that she couldn¡¯t wait. A dull pain throbbed in her chest, and she had difficulty breathing. She was suffocating from within, and her heartbeat felt abnormal. She might be in danger of dying right there and then if she didn¡¯t go to a hospital immediately. She gripped her chest, her voice quavering. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just hail a cab and go to the hospital right now. You cane and find meter.¡± ¡°That works, too.¡± Pain continued to throb in Rachel¡¯s chest. In the past, William would immediately send her to the hospital the moment sheined of any difort, regardless of how bad it was. Yet now, her health was nothingpared to fetching Samantha¡¯s mother. William simply dropped Rachel off at the junction up ahead. Coincidentally, Rachel found herself caught in the evening rush hour and couldn¡¯t find a cab even after a long time. The suffocating feeling in her chest felt so intense, she started feeling weak all over until she eventually copsed on the floor. Suddenly, a familiar¨Clooking white car stopped by her side. Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Was William back for her? She struggled to look up¨Cwhen she saw Tyler, the light in her eyes dimmed. Tyler noticed the subtle change in Rachel¡¯s eyes. He scoffed, the tone in his voice chilling as usual. ??? ¡°What? You look disappointed to see the. Thought I was William, who came running back with his conscience pricked after heartlessly leaving with his lover?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know why she always bumped into Tyler when she was down in the dumps. They probably had an unresolved grudge in their past lives. She said self¨Cderisively, ¡°People sometimes really have no self¨Crespect in imagining things that could never happen.¡± Tyler crossed his arms with feigned disappointment. ¡°You¡¯re so rigid. Shouldn¡¯t you be impressed by how romantic I am to wait here specifically for you?¡± he saidzily. Her Exit 70 Another woman would have been charmed silly by Tyler¡¯s flirtatious and deep, sensuous voice, but that would never happen with Rachel. She knew him too well. If she were to fall into his trap, he would certainly mock her. Tyler had a mean streak, and normal people couldn¡¯t afford to mess with him. Rachel recalled his reply to her today. She held herself up as best as she could and forced a smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯re busy?¡± Tyler pulled out a cigarette from his case and put it to his lips. ¡°I am busy. I came out to do something and ended up bumping into a pitiful worm.¡± Rachel was still having difficulties breathing. Her face was pale, and even her lips had turned white. She smiled self¨Cderisively. ¡°I might need to trouble you to do me a favor and send me to the hospital, Mr. Hunt. Or you could call an ambnce for me. You can just leave me be, even if I lose consciousness.¡± She sounded surprisingly calm and collected. Tyler cast her a casual look. ¡°Are you trying to make me fall into a trap and end up being a target of cyber bullies?¡± Rachel pressed her lips together tightly. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± She was in such a pathetic state, she couldn¡¯t plot against Tyler. He was such a smart man, too¨Cshe would never be able to make him fall into her trap. Before she knew it, her knees had turned weak, and her body slumped to the ground. Tyler quickly wrapped an arm around her waist and stopped her from copsing to the ground. Rachel struggled to open her eyes and look at Tyler¡¯s chiseled features. He had on a ck outdoor jacket, which added an aggressive edge to him. Tyler smirked. ¡°Remember, you owe me again.¡± He hauled Rachel in his arms, about to put her in the front passenger seat of his car, when Rachel suddenly asked, ¡°Mr. Hunt, I heard that not just anyone can sit in your car?¡± Tyler burst outughing. ¡°Yes. What of it? No guts to sit in it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Rachel admitted it honestly. Whether as the employee of Lewis Enterprise or as the wife of William Lewis, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to get too involved with Tyler. If rumors were to fly, the Lewis family might cause her trouble. Tyler went ahead and put Rachel in the front passenger seat, and buckled the seat belt for her. ¡°I¡¯ll have it retrofitted into an ambnce.¡± Rachel thought she was on the verge of death, but she couldn¡¯t hold back herughter when she heard Tyler¡¯s joke. Rachel knew how fast he was capable of driving and wasn¡¯t surprised when he made it to the hospital in a matter of mere minutes. She was diagnosed with a lung infection due to long¨Cterm exposure to polluted air, either at work or in her daily life. The doctor couldn¡¯t stop shaking his head at Rachel¡¯s X¨Cray. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, youngdy? Don¡¯t you know your body?¡± Rachel nodded awkwardly. ¡°I do. Thank you, doctor.¡± 1/2 ¡°You do, but you were so careless. Work is nothingpared to your life. This is probably a congenital lung condition. Don¡¯t do this to yourself again next time. It¡¯s too risky.¡± The doctor pointed at the infected part of her lung. ¡°Look here¨Cif the situation remains unchecked, the infection will be more serious. If you get white lungs, you¡¯ll die.¡± Rachel was truly frightened. ¡°Is¡­is it really that bad?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a doctor. Why would I scare you for no reason?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean that,¡± Rachel anxiously exined herself Chapter 71 Her Exit 71 The doctor wrote and threw a prescription in Rachel¡¯s way. ¡°Alright, go settle the bill and get an IV drip.¡± Tyler reached out to grab the prescription, but Rachel beat him to She gripped the prescription tightly in her hands. ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡± Tyler smirked and crossed his arms around his chest. He looked at Rachel struggling to her feet and walking to the door. When she finally reached it, her knees gave way once more, and she copsed to the ground. He quickly reached out to hold her steady, as if he had predicted it would happen. ¡°You really like to push yourself. How could you treat a full¨Cgrown man like me as mere decoration? That¡¯s not wise,¡± he saidzily. Rachel realized she had overestimated herself and was indeed pushing herself too much. The doctor, standing right behind them, interjected, ¡°Youngdy, your body is very weak right now. Sit here and wait for the nurse toe over to assist you with the IV drip. Just let your husband settle the bill for you.¡± Fear filled Rachel¡¯s eyes as she attempted an exnation. ¡°He¡¯s not my husband!¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t your husband here with you, then?¡± 11 Rachel bit her lip. Right now, her husband was with the woman of his dreams. Tyler snatched the prescription from Rachel¡¯s hand, the look in his eyes cold andmanding. ¡°Sit here and don¡¯t go anywhere. This time, Rachel didn¡¯t try to act tough and nodded obediently instead. As there were too many people in the consultation room and it was getting too noisy for Rachel, she moved to the bench outside to wait for Tyler. She shut her eyes to get some rest and recover. Just then, a familiar voice sounded in her ear. ¡°William, thank you so much for today! I didn¡¯t expect to get motion sickness from the ne ride. It was enough trouble for you to fetch me at the airport, but I had to trouble you further with a trip to the hospital.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Mrs. Judd. It¡¯s on the way, and your health is important. You shoulde to the hospital just for peace of mind.¡± Rachel subconsciously opened her eyes, and saw three figures standing to her right. Samantha and William were standing together, with a middle¨Caged woman of about 60 years old between them. She was probably Samantha¡¯s mother. William¡¯s words made the middle¨Caged woman smile. She grabbed William and Samantha¡¯s hands and held them together, saying dly, ¡°William, I didn¡¯t expect you to be waiting for Samantha even after she left for her studies overseas for so many years. As her mother, I¡¯m so d to see you two reunited once again.¡± A joyful smile lit up Samantha¡¯s fair and petite face. In a sharine sweet tone, she said, ¡°Mom, William treats me very well. Look at this ne¨Cit¡¯s called Eternal Heart, and it represents his love for me. He spent a fortune snagging this at an auction for me!¡± Rachel sat on the bench, a chill spreading across her entire body from head to toe. Her breathing, which had barely begun to ease, started bing ragged again. 1/2 Her fingers subconsciously gripped the chair handle tightly. The cold metal shocked her. The Eternal Heart represented William¡¯s love for Samantha. What about their marriage certificate at home? Why did she not know about her husband bing another woman¡¯s boyfriend? ¡°You¡¯d better take your mom to the doctor. Having difficulties breathing isn¡¯t child¡¯s y. If it gets too severe, it might be fatal,¡± William urged Samantha. Rachel smirked sardonically. Yeah, he certainly knew that breathing difficulties could get fatal. Look at him, showing so much concern for Samantha¡¯s mother. The three of them were walking toward the consultation room when they bumped into Rachel, seated on the bench. Samantha was, in fact, the first to spot her. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± Her Exit 72 Chapter 72 Rachel smiled weakly at them. ¡°What a coincidence,¡± she barely managed. ¡°You¡¯re here at the hospital too?¡± Samantha found the encounter strange too, and said awkwardly, Rachel, this is my mom. She just got off the ne, which was poorly ventted and packed with people. William and I were worried, so we brought her here for a check¨Cup.¡± Samantha then took it upon herself to make introductions. ¡°Mom, this is my colleague, Rachel Lloyd. She¡¯s great and often helps me out at work.¡± At Samantha¡¯s exnation, Charmaine rk immediately grabbed Rachel¡¯s hand and thanked her profusely. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, thank you so much, really. Samantha is still so young and doesn¡¯t really know much. She needs as much help as you can give her.¡± Samantha whispered to Charmaine, ¡°Mom, my colleague is hearing¨Cimpaired, but she can lip¨Cread. Talk slower.¡± ¡°Huh? She¡¯s disabled?¡± Charmaine blurted out. Rachel¡¯s face stiffened. She had a hearing impairment, but no one had everbelled her as disabled before. Knowing that her mom had spoken too rashly, Samantha felt awkward. She exined cautiously to Rachel, ¡°My morn is a straight talker and doesn¡¯t think much when she speaks. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Charmaine pulled Rachel over, surveying her from head to toe as she started speaking to her like they were age¨Cold friends. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty, just like my daughter! Please don¡¯t take my words to heart. I¡¯m just like this, shooting my mouth off. Let me introduce you, this is my daughter¡¯s boyfriend.¡± Charmaine pulled William to stand before Rachel, as if she were at a show¨Cand¨Ctell session. William¡¯s face darkened and his brows furrowed, his jaw tense. Samantha¡¯s face turned pale, back facing him, her entire body shaking. He didn¡¯t need to think much to realize what was going on. He stepped forward and blocked their way, casually greeting William. ¡°Mr. Lewis, what a coincidence to see you here at the hospital! Did you finally realize that you should be apanying her to the hospital for a check¨Cup?¡± W Her Exit 73 William was already in a bad mood to begin with, and Tyler¡¯s appearance made things worse. He let out a cough and said calmly, ¡°Here to bring Samantha¡¯s mother for a check¨Cup.¡± Tyler nodded pensively and humined. Rachel shut her eyes tight. She wouldn¡¯t im to know Tyler very well, but she knew that he would never bother to show others undue respect. Him humming meant one thing¨Ctrouble was about to befall them As she expected, Tyler¡¯s words dropped like a bomb on William¡¯s head. He refused to preserve William¡¯s pride, not even bothering to veil the truth for him. ¡°You didn¡¯t even bother about your wife, who almost fainted by the roadside, and here you are, bringing the mother of your, dream woman for a check¨Cup. What a good husband and filial son you are!¡± Not only did Tyler¡¯s words bring shame upon William, but they even managed to embarrass Samantha, who was standing nearby. She pursed her lips, tears welling up in her eyes as she said in a trembling voice, ¡°Mr. Hunt, don¡¯t me William! This has nothing to do with him. I was the one who asked him to bring my mom and me here for a check¨Cup. This time¡­¡± ¡°Hold it right there, Ms. Judd. I have immunity to pretentious bitches, so the act you¡¯re trying to put on has no effect on me. Anyway, this is your private affair. It¡¯s none of my business. Isn¡¯t it your turn to see the doctor? Hurry up, don¡¯t waste other people¡¯s time.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t bother giving Samantha the chance to exin herself and simply cut her off. Samantha didn¡¯t even have the time to conjure up tears. She stood stunned, not knowing what to do at that moment. Others may not know Tyler well, but William did. He knew that pursuing the matter further wouldn¡¯t do anyone good. He simply nodded at Tyler. ¡°We¡¯ll be off, then.¡± William brought Samantha and Charmaine straight into the consulting room that Rachel had just left. Tyler scoffed and stuck his hands in his pockets. He made his way leisurely to Rachel¡¯s side and pulled out a napkin for her. ¡°Need a cry?¡± Rachel sniffed, snapping back to attention and forcing her tears back in. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to cry about.¡± ¡°Oh, I thought I could finally put this napkin to good use. What a pity, I¡¯ll just have to use it to wipe my mouth after a meal.¡± Tyler stuffed the napkin back in his pocket and ced the prescription and bill in Rachel¡¯s palm. ¡°Tell William to pay me back.¡± Rachel nced at the figure towering before her and back at the bill in her palm. It was 150 dors. She was beginning to understand why Tyler was able to grow LS Enterprise to such ster excellence in a matter of just two years. Rachely on the bed as she was hooked up to an IV drip. The doctor put her on an oxygenator in consideration of her breathing difficulties. After half an hour, she finally felt herself more or less restored. Tyler sat on the chair, his legs crossed and his back slightly bent over as he looked at his phone. His sv¨¦lte fingers flew across 1/2 the screen, as if dancing to a beautiful melody. Paired with the elegant cufflinks and his white shirt, it made for a mesmerizing sight. Rachel thought that while her fingers were long and nice to look aftoo, they were nothingpared to Tyler¡¯s. There was a sort of weight and power to a man¡¯s hands. Tyler, sensing a gaze on him, looked up. He followed Rachel¡¯s gaze and realized she was looking at his hands. He said in jest, ¡°Shall I bring a knife and chop them off so you can bring it home and admire it all day long?¡± Her Exit 74 ¡°No need,¡± Rachel said as she retracted her gaze awkwardly. She looked away and pursed her pale lips, feeling rather ashamed Goodness, she couldn¡¯t believe she got caught staring. Tyler lifted a hand and nced at his watch. ¡°I have a meeting to attendter. Do you need me to call William next door over?¡± Rachel smiled bitterly. ¡°You really know how to joke, Mr. Hunt.¡± She would really have a screw loose if she wanted to call William over. It would only serve to humiliate and insult herself further. ¡°I¡¯ll be off, then.¡± Tyler grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and made a move to leave. Rachel suddenly called out to him, ¡°Mr. Hunt, I have something else to tell you. Can you give me five minutes?¡± She knew that it wouldn¡¯t be easy to contact him if she were to let him leave. She had to elerate the progress of Project Oasis. Tyler didn¡¯t turn back to look at her. He kept her back facing her and said, ¡°If you want me to sign an agreement with William, ask him to make you in charge of the project. When that happens, Il sign it.¡± Rachel furrowed her brows. ¡°Why?¡± Then she added hurriedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Hunt. I¡¯m not a narcissist. I won¡¯t assume that you¡¯ll use your power to open doors for me.¡± Tyler looked at her from the corners of his eyes. ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to work with someone pretentious and incapable. It¡¯s a waste of my time.¡± Rachel nodded, understanding where he wasing from. ¡°I¡¯ll tell him exactly what you said.¡± Tyler opened the door and walked out. Rachel then realized that given William¡¯s skepticism, he might suspect that something was really going on between her and Tyler if she were to tell him word¨Cfor¨Cword what Tyler just told her. Well, she couldn¡¯t care less about it. She didn¡¯t feel reassured with Samantha on the project and the high likelihood that Samantha might screw things up. After the check¨Cup, Samantha held Charmaine as they left the consultation room. ¡°Mom, the next time you feel unwell, you must tell me at once. Don¡¯t try to put up a strong front,¡± Samantha said. ¡°Okay. Come to think of it, what exactly did that man mean? He¡¯s got me confused. Who is William¡¯s wife?¡± Charmaine asked. Samantha was d that her mother was advanced in years and didn¡¯tprehend what went on earlier. Otherwise, she was going to have a hard time exining things to her mother. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom. That man was just spouting nonsense. How could William possibly be married? Even if he were, it would be to
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A smile finally stretched across Charmaine¡¯s face. ¡°Exactly! You two have been together for so many years. Our entire family is looking forward to attending your wedding when it finally happens.¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Samantha blushed at Charmaine¡¯s words, and looked coyly at William. William, on the other hand, was at a loss for words. ¡°Mrs. Judd, Samantha, you two stay here while I go ask the doctor if he has any further advice for us.¡± Charmaine¡¯s approval of William grew with every passing minute. Thank you so much, William. Samantha has such good taste in men. You¡¯re such an outstanding boyfriend!¡± William nodded before opening the door to the ward and walking out. The moment William left, Charmaine pulled Samantha in. ¡°Why don¡¯t you have a sense of urgency? Let me make things clear for you¨Cmiss out on this, and you won¡¯t find a better man than him. Hurry up and get married. Even your younger brother has a girlfriend now, for heaven¡¯s sake!¡± ¡°You know our family¡¯s situation. We¡¯re not loaded.¡± Samantha pulled out a card from her bag. ¡°I have some money from my previouspany. Make do with it for now. No matter what, you can¡¯t let his girlfriend think that he can¡¯t afford to be in a rtionship.¡± Her Exit 75 Charmaine felt bad taking Samantha¡¯s money. ¡°Samantha, you¡¯ve been giving us all your money over the years. Is been tough on you. Things will get better once your younger brother gets married,¡± she said wearily. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom. If you didn¡¯t need to pay for my education, Eugene wouldn¡¯t have dropped out of school so early. He¡¯s smarter than me. Had he continued with his studies back then, I¡¯m sure he would be earning more money than me right now.¡± Samantha patted Charmaine¡¯s backfortingly. Charmaine sniffed, but quickly returned to the matter at hand. ¡°You must quickly bring up marriage with William to avoid future troubles. He¡¯s such an outstanding man, I¡¯m sure tons of women are eyeing him.¡± ¡°I know, Mom.¡± Despite her verbal assurance, Samantha knew that William had no intention of divorcing Rachel. She was aware that Rachel wasn¡¯t simply a recement in William¡¯s heart. For all she knew, Rachel had subconsciously crept into William¡¯s heart. He just didn¡¯t know it himself. William was done enquiring with the doctor and felt relieved when he confirmed that Charmaine¡¯s condition was mild and wouldn¡¯t need to be hospitalized for a long time. Just as he was about to leave with another report in hand, he caught sight of familiar silhouette from the corner of his eyes. a He stopped for a few seconds and met Rachel¡¯s gaze. She looked equally stunned, too. During those few seconds, the eyes he was clearly so familiar with suddenly looked like those of a stranger. William paused for a few seconds before finally pushing the door to Rachel¡¯s ward open. His gazended on the IV drip that Rachel was hooked up to before looking around him. ¡°Where is Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°He left.¡± Rachel¡¯s voice was as chilly as thete winter wind. William¡¯s tense shoulders rxed as he pointed at the drip. ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± ¡°Lung infection.¡± William furrowed his brows. ¡°Didn¡¯t I give you another office?¡± Rachel wanted tough at his exmation. She had stayed in that dusty office for so long¨Cit didn¡¯t just take a matter of days for the infection to grow. Would suddenly changing to another office have the effect of cleansing her lungs? She couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin all that to him and simply said, ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m just too weak.¡± ¡°Then you should be resting more. I¡¯ve been so busy recently that I don¡¯t have time to take care of you. You need to learn how to take care of yourself.¡± William rubbed his nose bridge, looking fatigued, as though he really had been upied by something major during this period. Yet, Rachel was working in the samepany and was also the project director. How could she not know about the projects thepany managed? Project Oasis was the only one they had their hands on, and even that got dyed because of Samantha. She went along with his ims anyway. ¡°I know. Go ahead and be busy. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be helping your girlfriend take care of her mother?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t feel the least bit jealous saying that. She simply used the words that Charmaine used earlier. However, William¡¯s face darkened at her words. ¡°Samantha¡¯s moi is sick. She didn¡¯t want to agitate her, which is why she didn¡¯t tell her about our break¨Cup.¡± Rachel nodded pensively. He was worried about agitating Samantha¡¯s mother, but couldn¡¯t care less about agitating her. She smirked. ¡°I¡¯m not ming you. You don¡¯t need to give me an exnation.¡± William¡¯s tightly knitted brows finally eased at Rachel¡¯s words. He walked over to her bedside and held her cold hands. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. You know very well how I¡¯ve treated you over the years. Understand my plight, won¡¯t you?¡± Her Exit 76 ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Rachel found it hrious. She clearly didn¡¯t say anything, so why was William overreacting like this? Wasn¡¯t it good that she didn¡¯t count it against him? William was still displeased. He twisted the watch around his wrist again and again¨CRachel knew that meant he was getting frustrated. ¡°But your feelings are written all over your face.¡± Rachel chuckled, not out of joy but mockery. ¡°What should be doing, then?¡± She knew William wanted her to be magnanimous and forgiving, and to tell him to take care of Samantha and her family. Would that satisfy him? The displeasure on William¡¯s face deepened at her couldn¡¯t care¨Cless attitude. He lifted a hand. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s not dwell on this any longer. Don¡¯t worry, what happened with Samantha¡¯s mother today was just an ident. It won¡¯t happen again. Her mother is just here for a check¨Cup and treatment. She won¡¯t keep bothering me.¡± Rachel¡¯s face twitched uncontrobly. ¡°Is that so?¡± William pulled a chair over and sat by Rachel¡¯s side. ¡°Rachel, when Mr. Hunt was here earlier, did you talk to him about signing the agreement?¡± Although William was very reluctant to work with Tyler, there was no way he could start work if he didn¡¯t cooperate with thetter. Tyler had half the say in the project, so he could procrastinate on getting the project started. William, on the other hand, had to rush. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able to answer to his grandfather. Rachel felt more or less numb to whatever he said. All he cared about right now was work and Samantha. He didn¡¯t give two hoots about her health. Well, it didn¡¯t matter. None of this was important. She sniffed, and ryed word¨Cfor¨Cword what Tyler told her before he left. ¡°Tyler Hunt said that he doesn¡¯t want Samantha on the project. If she stays, he won¡¯t sign the agreement.¡± William¡¯s eyes darkened, and his usual calm and collected demeanor vanished without a trace. ¡°Who will be in charge, if not Samantha?¡± ¡°Me,¡± Rachel announced without batting an eyelid. William¡¯s eyes turned even darker. He burst outughing and rested both palms on her shoulders. ¡°Rachel, are you pulling my leg? You¡¯re just an ordinary employee now! You can¡¯t be put in charge of projects, got that? Samantha has to lead the project. You can only assist her.¡¯¡± Rachel¡¯s eyebrow twitched. She felt a dull, throbbing pain on the back of her hand where the needle was fixed in ce. She forced a smile and shrugged, as if washing her hands of the matter. ¡°That¡¯ll be between you and Tyler Hunt.¡± William¡¯s face stiffened; he pulled his phone out of his pocket and waved it in front of Rachel. ¡°I¡¯ll head out to make a call.¡± Rachel knew that he was going to negotiate things with Tyler and see if he could still push for Samantha¡¯s involvement in the project. William¡¯s bias toward Samantha was clear for all to see when he chose her proposal over Rachel¡¯s, ignoring even the obvious spelling mistakes in it. He had paved the way so carefully for Samantha, just so that she could be in charge of her first ever project in the country. He did not expect Tyler¡¯s request to make all his efforts go down the drain; naturally, he didn¡¯t want that to happen. chel could also sense the fear William had toward Tyler; yet, for Samantha¡¯s sake, he decided to reach out to Tyler. The favor he showed to Samantha at every turn made their seven¨Cyear¨Clong marriage look like aplete and utter joke. William stood along the corridor, pondering for a few minutes before finally dialing Tyler¡¯s phone number. Tyler¡¯s clear, crisp voice sounded through the phone. Her Exit 77 ¡°Are you calling me to pay back the money?¡± ¡°What money?¡± William asked, confused. ¡°Your wife¡¯s medical fees. I paid for it first. Shouldn¡¯t you be the one paying for it instead?¡± ¡°How much was it? I¡¯ll transfer it to you .¡± ¡°150 dors.¡± William fell silent. Tyler chuckled coldly when he heard no response from Wim. ¡°What? Trying to shirk responsibility?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll transfer it to youter.¡± Despite knowing Tyler for so many years, William had never managed to see through his thoughts. All the more William couldn¡¯t understand why a mogul of his status would fuss about 150 dors. ¡°Alright, goodbye.¡± Tyler preferred not to speak more than the situation warranted. ¡°Wait! I have something to discuss with you. Regarding the person in charge of Project Oasis, why must I remove Samantha? She was in charge of the project that ourpany decided on right from the start.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice, deep with disdain, sounded through the phone. ¡°William, why don¡¯t you change your brain for a new one? Your brain is filled with Samantha right now. If it weren¡¯t for her, would I manage to seize the management rights to the project? Even now, you¡¯re still trying to push for her. Ask yourself¨Cis her proposal really better than Rachel¡¯s?¡± Tyler¡¯s words rendered William speechless. Before he could react, Tyler went on, not giving him a chance to refute him. ¡°You know my temperament very well. I won¡¯t take back my words. I couldn¡¯t care less if you insist on being blinded by love and spoiling Samantha, but the project isn¡¯t a tool for you to court a woman. The person¨Cin- charge must be switched to Rachel.¡± With that, Tyler hung up. Listening to the beeping sound, William tightened his grip on the phone, the veins on the back of his hand popping Rachel didn¡¯t know how the conversation was going between William and Tyler, but she could sense that Tyler wasn¡¯t one to be easily convinced. That man took scrupulous care over his work and would never tolerate hups in his projects, not even minor ones. She smirked sardonically. She used to find William very diligent at work, especially before he became the CEO. Yet now, she was beginning to understand why Tyler was a rising star who could catch up and surpass Lewis Enterprise, an age¨Cold brand in the market. She could see the clear reason behind that. However, it no longer had anything to do with her. Samantha would soon be the wife of the CEO of Lewis Enterprise. Rachel could almost sense the bitter taste of defeat on her lips. 12:1 When she saw the door to her ward opening once more, she could see the dour look on William¡¯s face and the chilly aura he was exuding. He trudged toward Rachel and looked at her. Rachel could sense the critical judgment in his eyes. ¡°Has Tyler read Samantha¡¯s proposal?¡± he asked. Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Why did he question her proposal, then?¡± The veins on William¡¯s temples popped, his eyes deep and unfathomable. Rachel¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°This has nothing to do with me, don¡¯t have Samantha¡¯s proposal.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve read it.¡± His words made Rachel feel as though she was pushed into a deep, dark abyss. Her body stiffened up as shey on the bed, so tense that she couldn¡¯t move a muscle. It took her a long while to recover. Her lips quivered as she struggled to speak. ¡°Are you trying to say that I tipped Tyler off on Samantha¡¯s proposal?¡± Her Exit 78 William decided to let things go. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just update Samantha about it.¡± Rachel clenched her fists and remained silent. Her nails turned bright red from the force she dug them into the flesh of her palins. A simple word from him was enough for him to pretend that he never suspected or maligned her. Just then, Samantha walked to the door and knocked on it. William, why didn¡¯t you call me to visit Rachel with you?¡± William turned around and replied to her, ¡°I saw her just now and came right in.¡± Samantha looked at Rachel lying on the bed. ¡°What happened to you, Rachel? You were fine earlier. What a coincidence that you ended up in the ward right next to my mom!¡± Rachel could sense the underlying tone in her voice. William couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Rachel, it¡¯s not good to be on the TV din for can. Why not just take some medicine?¡± Rachel looked away and said coldly, ¡°The doctor wanted me on an IV drip.¡± ¡°For how many days?¡± William asked as he pointed to the drip. ¡°Just for today.¡± too long. Try to get off it if you She was suddenly d that she was only going to be on the drip for today. She wondered what else William would have to say if the doctor made her stay for a few more days. ¡°I¡¯ll send you back home tonight, then.¡± ¡°William¡­¡± Samantha purred. William listened on as she said, ¡°The doctor said that my mom probably doesn¡¯t need to be on an IV drip. She just needs toe back again tomorrow.¡± ¡°Right, I see. In that case, Rachel, wait here for me tonight I¡¯ll send Samantha¡¯s mom back first. She¡¯s advanced in years and isn¡¯t in great health, so she needs to head back earlier and rest.¡± William said it in an imperative and did not ask for her opinion. Rachel wasn¡¯t taken aback by his tone. She looked calm as she said almost emotionlessly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯re the only one Ms. Judd can rely on here. I can understand.¡± William¡¯s tightly knitted brows eased as he rubbed her head dotingly. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t be so petty. After the dust settles with Project Oasis, I¡¯ll spend some quality time with you, okay?¡± Rachel nodded obediently, neither fussing nor putting up a fight. ¡°Sure.¡± Samantha smiled sweetly, tilting her head to one side. ¡°Rachel, you really are as magnanimous and forgiving as William says you are. Not many women can be like you!¡± Rachel remained silent. In contrast to Samantha¡¯s words, she probably looked like a joke. Yep¨Cit was true that no one was as magnanimous as she was. William walked over and tucked Rachel under the covers, gently patting the back of her hand. ¡°Get some rest. I¡¯m going to see what else I can help with.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± At that moment, Rachel felt as though she were a woman in ancient times, virtuous enough to send a woman to her husband¡¯s bed. Samantha, on the other hand, looked innocent in everyone¡¯s eyes, being the frail and vulnerable woman she was. She poked her head out from behind William. ¡°In that case, Rachel, we¡¯ll be going. Have a good rest.¡± Rachel nodded. When they reached the door, William suddenly remembered something and turned around to sign to her. ¡°Samantha¡¯s mother came too suddenly, and we forgot to buy gifts for her, so we had to use the gifts we bought for your father first. Go ahead and buy them again using the card I gave you.! William opened the door and left with Samantha. Rachel looked down, masking the emotions roiling in her heart. The gifts she put so much effort into selecting were taken away from her so casually, just because Samantha had forgotten to get some for her mother. William didn¡¯t even bother calling her to ask about it. Her Exit 79 Rachel couldn¡¯t even tell if Samantha had truly forgotten to buy gifts for her mother, or if William simply wanted to please his future mother¨Cinw by using Rachel¡¯s gifts At night, after she was done with her IV drip and was preparing to hail a cab home, she walked past Samantha¡¯s mother¡¯s ward. She saw William seated on the chair, chatting with the elderly woman. Samantha was standing by William¡¯s side with a knife in hand, peeling an apple. They were all smiles as they chatted with each other, looking just like a happy family. A sudden gust of wind blew in from the end of the corridor, Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back a shudder as she wrapped A sudden herself tighter in her thin cardigan. She retracted her gaze and turned to leave. It was past nine at night by the time she reached home. Since she hadn¡¯t had dinner, she ordered something simple and fuss¨Cfree. Since William gave her father¡¯s gifts to Samantha¡¯s mother, she had to wake up early the next day and make another trip to the shopping mall. That was exactly what Rachel did the next day when she woke up, buying all the gifts she did previously at mall before taking a cab straight to her family home. The living room was bustling with excitement, as if it didn¡¯t make a difference whether she was there or not. She smirked self¨Cderisively. Things hadn¡¯t changed one bit. The servants were the first ones to spot Rachel at the door, and swiftly announced, ¡°Ms. Lloyd is back.¡± Everyone in the living room turned their attention to her at once. Despite her greatest efforts to ignore it, Rachel could still sense the hostility and antagonism. She nodded at Mrs. Jones. ¡°Today is my father¡¯s birthday. I came back to visit him.¡± Mrs. Jones said with a bright smile, ¡°Mr. Lloyd will be very d. I¡¯ll tell him straight away.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Rachel was naturally very familiar with the house, but it all felt so strange to her at the same time. She had just stepped into the house when she felt a slight piercing pain on her face. She cupped her right cheek and heard gleefulughtering from the living room. ¡°I hit the target! I hit it!¡± A little boy was all smiles as he stood a short distance away with a slingshot in hand. ¡°Henry, you hit somebody! Watch out, or I¡¯ll tell your dad about it.¡± Ady with a svelte figure approached her, speaking with a gentle voice as melodious as that of a nightingale. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Rachel. Henry is still young, so please forgive him.¡® Rachel¡¯s heart trembled. She was nothing but a mere ¡°somebody¡± in this house. What else could she expect? She was not a legitimate daughter of this family, unlike her younger sister Yvette. +25 BONUS Yvette was the only one her mother and father treated as their own. Rachel naturally had no reason to pick on a nine¨Cyear¨Cold. She was back just to see her father, perhaps for the veryst time. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s Father¡¯s birthday today. I¡¯m back to see him.¡± Yvette drew closer to Rachel and surveyed thetter from lead to toe. She then crossed her arms and chuckled coldly. ¡°Grandpa¡¯s home today. He probably won¡¯t be very happy to see you. Why don¡¯t you leave your gifts here ande another day?¡± Rachel knew her grandfather hadn¡¯t forgiven her, even though many years had passed. Although he had Henry after that, it remained like a thorn painfully stuck in his throat. But this time, things were different. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll leave right after seeing Father,¡± Rached said calmly. With that, she took a step past Yvette, who also moved to block her way. Yvette¡¯s brows furrowed, clearly losing her patience. ¡°Did you not understand what I said?¡± She then covered her mouth and smirked, as if recalling something- ¡°Oh, I remember it now! You¡¯re deaf and can¡¯t hear a thing You risked your own life for the sake of a man. How did our family raise a woman as foolish as you?¡± Her Exit 80 Rachel didn¡¯t respond to Yvette, but her eyes turned as colds ice. Whenever her brows arched in that way, the disdain in her eyes was clear to see. Furious that Rachel was ignoring her, Yvette¡¯s voice rose a sharp pitch as she screeched, ¡°I told you to put the things down!¡± Rachel continued ignoring her. Yvette reached out to push her. ¡°Who in this family do you think will want to see you here? advise you not to ask for a snub! Or is William not giving you enough money? I heard that the woman of his dreams is back, and she even attended the same school as you did.¡± Rachel seemed to have expected Yvette¡¯s move and stopped her attacking hand without missing a beat. Rage burned in Rachel¡¯s eyes. Her lips were pursed tightly, and the stormy look on her face sent shivers down Yvette¡¯s spine. ¡°Don¡¯t embarrass yourself. You¡¯re the daughter of the Lloyd family, so you should at least show some basic courtesy. If others were to see how you behave, they¡¯dugh at the Lloyds for not teaching you well!¡± Rachel sneered. It was true that Yvette only returned home to the Lloyds after she grew up. Before that, she was raised by a couple in the vige. Living in the viges meant that having a full meal itself was a privilege. Social graces and civil manners were a luxury vigers had neither time nor money to care about. After Yvette¡¯s return, her father did hire someone to teach her etiquette. However, she waszy and gave up on the lessons halfway through. Yvette¡¯s face flushed with ire. She was trying to keep up a pretence earlier, but now, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to continue doing so. ¡°Who else can I me but you? If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much! You ruined the life that was supposed to be mine. The cheek of you toe back! Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m the real daughter of this family! You¡¯re just an adopted child with no blood rtion to Dad and Mom!¡± Rachel knew her ce in this family. Despite that, she refused to allow Yvette to step on her dignity, especially after she had returned Yvette the life that was supposed to belong to her. If Rachel had a choice, she wouldn¡¯t want things to be like this. Only those who experienced it knew how it felt to descend into hell from heaven. That experience was worse than death by a thousand cuts. ¡°I know. You don¡¯t need to keep reminding me of that. I¡¯m just here for a short visit, and I won¡¯te back again in the future.¡± There was a cold, her eyes whenever she got angry never failed to strike fear in people¡¯s hearts. Rachel took a step forward past Yvette. Suddenly, something sharp flew past her left cheek. The piercing pain it left behind made her wince. Yvette gloated when she saw Rachel getting hurt as she briskly walked toward the boy. ¡°Good shot, Henry! If it weren¡¯t for her, your younger brother wouldn¡¯t have gone missing to this day. We don¡¯t even know if he¡¯s alive or dead right now. Henry red viciously at Rachel and almed his slingshot at her once more. ¡°You¡¯re a wicked witch! You¡¯re the one who made my brother unable to return home till now! Leave, or I¡¯ll hit you with my slingshot!¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the ruckus?¡± All of a sudden, a deep, mature voice of a man boomed from the staircase. They all turned their attention to him. Rachel greeted him respectfully, ¡°Father.¡± Jim Lloyd smiled kindly at her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call beforeing?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t want her tussle with Yvette to affect Jim¡¯s mood. She forced a smile and said as casually as she could, ¡°I wanted to give you a surprise.¡± Jim walked toward Rachel and pointed at her ear. ¡°Well, has there been any improvement? A friend mentioned to me a doctor from Arden who is an expert in this area. Take some time off work and give him a try.¡± Her Exit 81 ¡°No need, Father. I¡¯m fine. What¡¯s more, It¡¯s been so many years, I¡¯ve gotten used to it.¡± Rachel had wanted to tell Jim about how her hearing had been restored, but changed her mind at the thought of William finding out. She couldn¡¯t afford for any idents to happen at this critical period. ¡°You must get it checked out,¡± Jim insisted. ¡°I know you can lip read, and everyday conversations aren¡¯t a problem for you, but your worldcks something If you can hear. Be good, contact the doctor when you¡¯re home. As for the cost¡­¡± ¡°Dad, you weren¡¯t the one who caused her ears to be like this! Her husband is the one she should be looking for, not us. Moreover, he owns such a hugepany. Would he not have the money to treat his wife¡¯s condition?¡± Yvette butted in. Fire burned in her chest when she heard Jim defending Rachel so fiercely. Why would he do that? Rachel wasn¡¯t his biological daughter. He should hate Rachel as much as Yvette did! She was practically a sinner of the Lloyd family. ¡°Enough, Yvette,¡± Jim rebuked Yvette, his face dark with displeasure. ¡°Even if Rachel isn¡¯t your biological sister, she did live with us for many years.¡± Yvette¡¯s eyes turned red. She whined indignantly to Jim, ¡°Dad! If it weren¡¯t for her, I wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much for so many years. My brother wouldn¡¯t have gone missing, either.¡± ¡°Exactly! Well said, Yvette. Because she brought bad luck upon us, I don¡¯t even know the whereabouts of my son till today.¡± The piercing voice of a woman rang in the living room. Rachel looked up and saw a figure walking down the stairs, dressed in an expensive skirt with her hair up in the most fashionable style. Her skin was fair and dewy, a clear sign of an extensive and luxurious skincare routine, which smoothed out all signs of aging on her face. She was Rachel¡¯s stepmother and Jim¡¯s second wife, Sasha Dawson. Ever since Sasha lost her younger son, she viewed Rachel with animosity. She didn¡¯t like Rachel in the first ce, and her dislike toward Rachel intensified since then. Yvette hurried over to Sasha¡¯s side, confident that her mother would back her up. ¡°Mom, seriously! She clearly knows that no one in the family wees her, but she insists on appearing here. She¡¯s just bent on upsetting everyone.¡± Sasha smoothed out her shawl and strutted toward Rachel, overwhelming hostility in her eyes. ¡°Rachel, are you really bent on doing that? Making everyone upset on your father¡¯s birthday?¡± Rachel knew that she wasn¡¯t weed here, but there were some things she had to talk to her father alone. So, she made the greatestpromise she could. ¡°I¡¯ll leave right after speaking with Father. I won¡¯t overstaymy presence.¡± She then looked at Jim. ¡°May I, Father? Jim was tired of his family being at daggers drawn each time Rachel visited them, during which he always found himself in a difficult spot. He rubbed his nose bridge Irritably. ¡°Come on up. Rachel was about to follow behind Jim when Sasha stopped her. +25 BONUS ¡°Rachel, your grandfather is here today. Must you force me to invite him down before you¡¯ll leave?¡± Sasha spat. Rachel was stopped from entering the house like an outsider. The atmosphere turned icy in that instant. Jim looked at Sasha and demanded, ¡°What are you doing? rachel said she just wants a word with me and will leave after that.¡± ¡°No way! Who knows if she¡¯s here to ask you for money? I heard from Yvette that William¡¯s childhood sweetheart is back. He even removed Rachel from her position as director.¡± Jim¡¯s face fell as he asked Rachel, ¡°Is that true?¡± Her Exit 82 Rachel furrowed her brows. Since she had made up her mind about leaving William, she didn¡¯t want her family involved any further. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just some misunderstanding,¡± she muttered. ¡°I must admit, we¡¯re impressed by your amazing attitude in this entire fiasco. How could you remain so calm with your husband fooling around with another woman?¡± Sasha sneered. ¡°Enough about all that. Come with me to my study,¡± Jim cut in. Jim shot Rachel a look; this time, Sasha didn¡¯t stop Rachel. Rachel was taking the first step of the stairs when she tripped on something She was distracted, wondering how to exin things to her father. Because she didn¡¯t pay attention at that moment, she fell forward with a gasp. Her forehead hit the stairs, and she winced in pain. She held her forehead and felt something wet on her palm Looking down, she saw blood stains on it. Yvette covered her mouth and yelped in feigned surprise. ¡°m so sorry for identally causing you to trip, Rachel! But how could you be so careless? Tripping on such a wide staircase.¡± Jim hurriedly held Rachel up. ¡°Rachel, are you okay? I¡¯ll have Mrs. Jones fetch the first¨Caid kit to treat your wound. ¡°No need,¡± Rachel said with a wave of her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s just head up.¡± Jim was still concerned. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re fine?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a minor bump.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t want to make things more difficult for Jim. Because she had identally lost Sasha¡¯s son, Sasha had been bearing a grudge against her father over the years. After Rachel followed Jim into his study, she put all her gifts for him on the table. ¡°Father, these are gifts I bought for you. Happy birthday.¡± Jim was delighted. ¡°I¡¯m happy enough to see you back home. You shouldn¡¯t have gone through such expenses.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not much. Today is special, it¡¯s your birthday.¡± Aside from visiting home during the new years, Rachel hardly returned home and would usually give her father a call to catch up on things. Given her circumstances right now, she thought she should spend more time with him. 1 and William ¡°It¡¯s just the two of us here, so tell me. What¡¯s going on between Jim asked. ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s just a misunderstanding. Don¡¯t listen to them talk nonsense.¡± Rachel hardly felt anything at the mention of William and Samantha Jim, however, didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t hee with you today, then?¡± Jim knew that William would always keep Rachelpany each time she came home. He had a bad feeling when he saw his daughter here alone. Rachel pulled her phone out to check the time. ¡°He¡¯s been very busy at work recently. He did say that he¡¯de overter.¡± Jim knew that it was gettingte. ¡°In that case, call him and ask where he is right now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± To put Jim¡¯s mind at ease, Rachel texted William in front of him. [Where are you right now? I¡¯m already at my father¡¯s house! [Rachel, I¡¯m so sorry. Something cropped up here, and I might not be able to make it.] Rachel wasn¡¯t surprised by what he said, but her father was right. William had never failed to keep herpany whenever she came back home. He knew that she wasn¡¯t treated well by her family members¨Cat least, that was what he told her in the past. ¡°I¡¯ll have your back from now on. I¡¯ll go back home with you. I¡¯ll see who would dare to bully my wife in front of me,¡± he had said. Rachel thought he had said it on the spur of the moment and couldn¡¯t help but tease him. ¡°Don¡¯t pull my leg! I know you. You¡¯re so busy at work, you wouldn¡¯t have the time to go back home with me. William raised a hand and swore to her, his voice firm and determined. ¡°Trust me. No matter how busy I am, I¡¯ll definitely go back home with you. I won¡¯t let you get bullied by them!¡± Chapter 83 Her Exit 83 Chapter 83 Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back a smirk. The man who once swore so fervently that he would never let her get hurt turned out to be the one to hurt her the most. A man¡¯s promise only remained valid at the time when it was spoken, and not anymore after that. Rachel lowered her head and replied to his text. Her thumb hovered over the keys as she was gued by hesitation. By the time she was done typing, her palms were all wet. [Sure, go be busy.] Jim could sense the change in Rachel¡¯s mood. ¡°What is it? Did something happen?¡± Rachel kept her phone and snapped back to attention. ¡°Father, William said that he¡¯s held up at work and might not be able to rush here. He said he¡¯ll have a meal with you next time.¡± Jim didn¡¯t say anything further about it. ¡°I know how busy you youngsters can get. It¡¯s fine. Why don¡¯t you head back after dinner?¡± ¡°No need. I have some things to attend to, too. We¡¯ll have a meal together next time, perhaps.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t dare to tell Jim that she herself had no idea whether there was a chance for her toe back and have a meal with him. Jim didn¡¯t push further. With her grandfather at home, there was every possibility that the two of them might sh and things would turn sour. Before Rachel left, Jim reminded her, ¡°Treat your wound when you get home.¡± Rachel nodded before opening the door of the study. Hot tears welled up in her eyes. When she went down the stairs, preparing to take her leave Yvette came blocking her way once more. Yvette looked down her nose at Rachel. ¡°What, thinking of leaving just like that?¡± Not wanting to waste her breath on Yvette, Rachel threw her a cold nce before brushing past her. Yvette couldn¡¯t stand the disdainful look in Rachel¡¯s eyes. She was the legitimate daughter of the Lloyd family, while Rachel was nothing but a sham. What right did she have to behave so high¨Cand¨Cmighty around here? Yvette grabbed Rachel¡¯s wrist. ¡°Our house isn¡¯t a ce where you cane and go as you like! For all we know, you¡¯re here to beg for money from Dad.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°I did not.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t take your word for it. We need to see it for ourselves!¡± Yvette turned her head to instruct the servants next to her. ¡°Wendy, Holly, search her! See if she stole anything valuable from the house.¡± The two servants of the Lloyd household made a move in Rachel¡¯s direction, but Rachel bellowed, ¡°I dare you to!¡± Wendy and Holly had no clue what was going on. Rachel was clearly just a youngdy, but at that moment, the air of authority she exuded frightened the both of them. They stood rooted to the ground, not daring to move a muscle. Wendy and Holly instinctively nced helplessly at Yvette. Yvette pointed at Rachel. ¡°What are you two doing, staring at me? Search her! If something really ends up lost, you two will be suspects, too!¡± Wendy and Holly had no choice but to do as they were told. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, don¡¯t me us. We¡¯re just servants with no say of our own.¡± A cold glint shed past Rachel¡¯s eyes, her clear and crisp voice filling their hearts with fear and dread. ¡°Let me. remind you two that you have no right to search me. If I were to call the police, you¡¯ll be punishable byw.¡± Sasha walked over, her lips curling in a smirk. She maintained her figure very well and looked nothing like her age of 50. She strutted toward Rachel, her hips swaying from side to side. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re at your own home. Why must you be so aggressive? Thest time Yvette¡¯s friend visited our ce, we lost a ne worth 200,000 dors.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed as she surmised icily, ¡°You mean to say that I stole something here?¡± Her Exit 84 Sasha crossed her arms, her lips curling into a sneer. There was an undeniable shrewdness in those mesmerizing eyes of hers. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very nice. We¡¯re just doing a simple check. We¡¯re not asking anything more from you. What if Something identally gets hooked onto your clothes or something, and you had no idea? Rachel stood ramrod straight, the look in her eyes almost murderous. ¡°I said, I didn¡¯t take anything. Or do you really think I¡¯ve gotten so poor I would bother stealing a couple of nes from your house?¡± Sasha refused to back down. She had a smile on her face, be it was the kind of smile that hid daggers behind it.¡± Since you refuse to cooperate, we¡¯ll have to go hard on you She shot Holly and Wendy a look¨Cthe two of them charged toward Rachel, each holding Rachel down on both sides. Yvette rolled up her sleeves, about to reach into Rachel¡¯s packet, when Rachel sent her flying in the air with a hard kick to her stomach. ¡°Get away from me!¡± Yvette didn¡¯t expect Rachel to kick her like this and rolled down the stairs. Her head hit the railing, and the pain made her shriek out loud. ¡°Argh!¡± Holly and Wendy didn¡¯t expect Rachel to retaliate so aggressively, and were at a loss for what to do. Rachel didn¡¯t hold herself back and flung both her arms with all her might, sessfully shaking both servants off and onto the floor. ¡°Oh goodness!¡± ¡°My back!¡± She looked down at them with a smirk on her face. ¡°How dare you even try to search me. Even if I want something, I would never stoop so low as to steal it!¡± She dusted her shirt with a look of disgust on her face. Sasha¡¯s face flushed red with ire¨Cshe waspletely taken aback by Rachel¡¯s retaliation in her own home. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re out of your mind! How dare you behave so aggressively in my house! Rachel Lloyd, what right do you have to do that? If it weren¡¯t for you, my son wouldn¡¯t have gone missing! Do you know how important a child is to his mother?¡± Rachel stood up straight, her eyes incisive. ¡°I know it was my mistake back then. I caused you to lose your child, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can humiliate me as you please. She had never given up on looking for her younger brother, Sasha didn¡¯t know about it, and she didn¡¯t want her to know about it anyway. Sasha snickered. ¡°Humiliate? It was just a simple check, and you call it humiliating? Don¡¯t forget, you haven¡¯t been a part of our family for a long time! You¡¯re not your father¡¯s biological child. You¡¯re nothing but an outsider to us. Since we just lost something valuable in the house, what¡¯s wrong with me asking for a quick check?¡± 12 Chapter B4 Yvette got back up on her feet and chimed in, ¡°Exactly! What right do you have to strut in and out of our house whenever you like? Rachel Lloyd, do you really think you¡¯re the daughter of this family just because you carry the family name?¡± Rachel cast Yvette a look of disdain, a smirk on her face, her eyes piercing The sun was shining brightly outside, but Yvette felt a chill down her spine. ¡°Yvette Lloyd, do you know what I see in you? Low self¨Cesteem. Why do you keep picking on me? Notpletely because I took your ce, but because of your pitiful pride and ego. ¡°You think that despite being the biological child of the Lloyds, you¡¯re still bogged down by your wild upbringing andck of ss as a true heiress of a wealthy family. You¡¯ve probably been on the receiving end of insults and mockery from heiresses of other families. ¡°You¡¯re simply venting your frustrations from all that on me.¡® Rachel¡¯s words were so urate, Yvette froze on the spot, unable to move. Her face turned pale as she wrung her hands anxiously. Her Exit 85 Even Jim didn¡¯t know about it. How did Rachel know? Did she send someone to spy on Yvette? That must be it! Yvette refused to admit the truth. Her voice a pitch higher, he screeched, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I say, Rachel, William probably dumped you! That¡¯s why he isn¡¯t with you this time when he used toe with you every time youe here.¡± Yvette covered her mouth as she cackled. ¡°I know! He¡¯s probably with his childhood sweetheart. Why shouldn¡¯t he? Should he keep you, a pitiful deaf,pany instead? Bringing you out would be embarrassing for sure!¡± Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed irritably¨Cshe looked visibly upset by Yvette¡¯s jab at her. This was precisely the reason she usually preferred to avoiding home. She slowly approached Yvette and looked down at her, the disdainful look in her eyes striking fear in Yvette¡¯s heart. Rachel held Yvette¡¯s chin with her fingers, her gaze sending chills down Yvette¡¯s spine. Yvette¡¯s eyes widened as she stuttered, ¡°What¡­what do you want? This is the Lloyd household, not a ce you can just run wild!¡± just want to remind you that dignity is earned, not given by others. If you continue living with a heart embittered by jealousy, thinking that your past was caused by me, I advise you to run back to where you came from. Otherwise, others in high society will degrade you anyway, and you might end up embarrassing the Lloyd family,¡± Rachel sneered. With that, she shook Yvette away, who stumbled a few steps back in her heels and almost fell again. Yvette red at Rachel, hatred in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t dare to cause any more trouble. This damn woman! She was no longer the legitimate daughter of the Lloyd family, yet she continued acting like she was all that. How dare she behave so arrogantly, even when her husband was fooling around with another woman! Rachel was about to leave the house when Sasha suddenly stared at the staircase and greeted respectfully, ¡°Dad¡± Rachel¡¯s back stiffened. Gerald Lloyd was making his way down the stairs slowly, his eyes narrowed and intimidating, exuding a sense of authority His gaze swept across the living room before finallynding on Rachel. Rachel had no choice but to stay. Out of basic courtesy, she couldn¡¯t just leave right there and then. She turned around and calmly greeted him, ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°Back here to visit?¡± 2D BONUS ¡°Yes.¡± Gerald made his way down and pointed at the couch with his cane. ¡°Sit. I have something to talk to you about.¡± A bad feeling washed over Rachel. Her grandfather had never made her stay to talk to her. Left with no choice, she returned to the couch and sat down. ¡°I heard that the rights to manage Project Oasis are now in Tyler¡¯s hands?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she responded with a nod ¡°That means you¡¯ll soon be working with LS Enterprise?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gerald nodded pensively. ¡°Rachel, you know it hasn¡¯t been easy raising you over the years. It¡¯s time for you to return our kindness¡± Rachel found the topic suffocating. She looked back at Gerald, her eyes sombre. ¡°Grandpa, what do you mean by that?¡± Her Exit 86 ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors between you and Tyler. I know thattely, things haven¡¯t been in your favor. Have you thought of a better solution that would benefit everyone?¡± Rachel knew that this old fox was speaking so nicely to her because he had a trick up his sleeve. She didn¡¯t want to beat around the bush and said frankly, ¡°Grandpa, please speak your mind. I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t want me to join you for lunchter.¡± Gerald sighed and smiled, but that smile sent shivers down Rachel¡¯s spine. ¡°What a pity.¡± Rachel had no idea what he meant by that, and simply smiled back politely. His words after that made the smile freeze on Rachel¡¯s face! ¡°I want you to y the role of matchmaker and introduce your younger sister to Tyler Hunt.¡± Yvette was rather surprised to hear her grandfather¡¯s request. Back then, Gerald had wanted to introduce Yvette to William, but her parents strongly discouraged him from doing so. They imed that William wasn¡¯t suitable for her, and that she hadn¡¯t picked up the rules of upper- ss society. It was inappropriate for her to marry into the Lewis family. Otherwise, she would have be Mrs. Lewis. Yvette was furious with her parents for being biased back then. She was clearly their biological daughter, so why did they let Rachel have the chance instead? Her grandfather¡¯s words right now delighted her. Rachel looked as though she was put on the spot, but she quickly rejected Gerald¡¯s request. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t do it.¡± Yvette¡¯s face fell. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re already married to William! I¡¯m not trying to snatch your husband, so why can¡¯t you help me out here?¡± Rachel¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°I¡¯m not that close to Mr. Hunt.¡± Gerald had never been rejected before, and everyone in the family listened to and obeyed his every word. He never expected his granddaughter, one he had no blood rtion with to boot, to reject him so tantly. ¡°Do you not want to see your mother¡¯s tombstone moved back here?¡± he threatened harshly. Rachel pursed her lips, her entire body stiff, her face dark. Grandpa, my mother was your daughter¨Cinw. How could you bear to leave her out there over the years?¡± Gerald remained unmoved, his face sullen and sombre. The mention of Mnie seemed to intensify his anger. Your mother insisted on going out to work on some project, refusing to fulfil her motherly and womanly duties. Had she listened to me back then, things wouldn¡¯t have tumed out that way,¡± he spat. Rachel furrowed her brows. She had always known that her grandfather was steeped in the tradition of the earlier generation; he believed that women had to be virtuous homemakers, assisting their husbands and taking care of children at home. Mnie, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t a woman like that. She had ambition, dreams, and a mind of her own ¡ú¡ú Rachel had always taken her mother as her role model, believing that women should be like that regardless of the era they lived in, instead of blindly following men. ¡°Grandpa, it wasn¡¯t wrong of my mother to pursue her dreams. You can¡¯t impose your thinking on others,¡± she retorted. ¡°That is all I have to say,¡± Gerald cut her off. ¡°You¡¯re on your own.¡± Rachel clenched her fists as her breath caught in her throat. He was as autocratic and dictatorial as always. But if she were to leave just like that, her mother¡¯s tombstone would remain out there forever. Jim had been oppressed by his father for so long, he had long lost the ability to fight back. Rachel pondered for a moment before finally giving in. +25 BO Her Exit 87 ¡°I can be a matchmaker, but I can¡¯t guarantee that Tyler will take a fancy to her. He¡¯s a picky man, very unfathomable. I really don¡¯t know him very well.¡± Gerald wasn¡¯t bent on forcing Rachel to do anything more than that. ¡°Sure.¡± Rachel stood up, not wanting to stay here for a minute longer. ¡°Wait for my call, then.¡± After leaving her old home, Rachel could finally breathe easily. She felt so suffocated inside. She subconsciously touched the tender, wounded part of her forehead and hissed in pain. Yvette was vicious, as usual. Thankfully, she was still in shape to head home. She pulled her phone out to call for a cab, and saw a text from Cecilia. [Aren¡¯t you supposed to go home today to celebrate your father¡¯s birthday?] Rachel thought Cecilia had something to ask her, and quickly texted her a reply. [Yeah, what¡¯s up?] Cecilia sent her an angry face emoji, along with another text. [Look at Samantha¡¯s socials!] Rachel found something Samantha posted half an hour ago. [Hope that I¡¯ll have my most loved one by my side on my birthday every year from now on.] The post came apanied by a picture. In the picture, Samantha turned around while strolling along the beach, her hand holding another man¡¯s hand. Although the man¡¯s face couldn¡¯t be seen, Rachel could clearly recognize that hand. William was careful enough to remove his wedding ring, but the mark left behind could clearly be seen. Rachel sneered sardonically. When William said he was busy, he was actually referring to celebrating Samantha¡¯s birthday. He clearly knew how the Lloyds mistreated Rachel, and also how Sasha and Yvette would hold themselves back on his ount. Otherwise, they would bully her fearlessly as they did today. William knew it he knew it all, yet he stood her up and left her alone in such a difficult situation. She e put her phone aside and hailed a cab back home. On her way back, she texted Cecilia [Can you help me check on Tyler¡¯s schedule over the next few days?] Cecilia, as always, agreed to it readily. [Give me five minutes.] Rachel knew Cecilia had a way to get it. She hadn¡¯t agreed to William firing, Cecilia for Samantha¡¯s sake. Cecilia was a long¨Ctime employee of thepany, with an extensivework and deep connections. Losing her would be a blow to Lewis Enterprise. It was also difficult for Cecilia to find a new job, especially with that fiasco. Rachel sat there in a daze for five minutes until Cecilia sent her another text. There¡¯s a banquet at Regal Vale Hotel tomorrow night. Mr. Lewis will be there, too. I heard that Mr. Lewis might be there tomorrow to sign an agreement with Mr. Hunt.) Rachel felt a mix of joy and gloom at the news. She was d to hear of a chance to introduce Yvette to Tyler, but also dreaded the moment William would see the proposal for the management rights of Project Oasis, which he would have the right to read upon signing the agreement with Tyler. He would then realize that all along she had been the one behind the proposal. Rachel knew she had to start preparing to resign. She could just imagine the scene right before her, like a volcano erupting just a few feet away from her. However, it seemed as though William had agreed to Tyler¡¯s request and kicked Samantha out of the project. No wonder he had to celebrate Samantha¡¯s birthday with her, even at the expense of standing Rachel up. His little darling was furious, and he had to cajole her. Rachel immediately informed the banquet to Yvette, who texted back a single word of acknowledgement. [Okay.] She scoffed at Yvette¡¯sck of manners. Yvette was behaving as though Rachel owed her! Her Exit 88 When Rachel reached home, she treated her wound. She was about to pack up when William returned. He put his keys on the table, took off his snit, and signed to Rachel. ¡°Back so early?¡± ¡°Yeah, just a quick visit,¡± Rachel replied. William headed to the fridge to grab a bottle of water before walking back to Rachel. He noticed the ster on her forehead and gave her a look of concern. He half¨Cknelt on the ground to check the wound. ¡°How did you get hurt?¡± The concern in William¡¯s eyes sent Rachel into a daze. At that moment, she couldn¡¯t discern whether William was genuinely concerned for her or not. If it were feigned, she had to admit that his acting skills were getting more and more impable with each passing day. ¡°Nothing. I just tripped and fell.¡± She found it meaningless to tell William about how Yvette and Sasha bullied her. After all, he was no longer her strong pir of support William¡¯s brows were knitted tight. ¡°Why were you so careless? Where did you trip? Was it your sister and stepmother who pushed you?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t want to talk about it, but since William seemed bent on getting to the bottom of the matter, she decided not to hide it from him. ¡°What can you do even if they did push me? Will you stand up for me?¡± He didn¡¯t even do anything about it when Howard humiliated and bullied her so badly. Tyler, on the other hand, felt different. If nothing else, she thought he was the kind who would never spare anyone who dared to take advantage of him. William wasn¡¯t like that. He would always consider the big picture and sacrifice her, as she was no longer important to him. If he were to sh head¨Con with Howard, he might lose his position in Lewis Enterprise. William could sense that Rachel was upset and pressed on her shoulders, exining patiently to her, ¡°You know that if I were to stand up for you and question your sister and stepmother, it would only worsen your rtionship with them. Would you be fine with that?¡± He made it sound as though he was thinking of her. She looked down, masking the disappointment in her eyes as she said coolly, ¡°I¡¯m kidding. It has nothing to do with them.¡± William held her cold hands. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely go with you no time. They wouldn¡¯t dare to bully you with me around¡± ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Rachel said, not wanting to war his phony slow of concern. She changed the subject, ¡°What were you busy with today? Why do I somehow smell something shy on you?¡± William raised his arm and took a sniff of his sleeve. Chapter RS with a ¡°Do you? It¡¯s probably because I walked past a restaurant during my meeting partner today, and the smell stuck on me.¡± Rachel smiled but didn¡¯t say a word. William stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a shower and get changed, lest the smell make you ufortable.¡± Rachel looked at him turn around and walk into his room, her eyes turning cold. She didn¡¯t actually pick up a fishy smell on his clothes, but she did catch a whiff of Samantha¡¯s perfume on him. When Rachel returned to her room to take herptop, she saw William¡¯s phone on the bedside table. She had no desire to check his phone whatsoever, but just then, his phone screen lit up. She took a peek, and saw a text from Samantha. [William, would Rachel be upset if I were to go to the banquet with you? She¡¯s your wife, after all.] Her Exit 89 Rachel felt her breath catch in her throat.. As it turned out, William had no intention of bringing her, which was why he made no mention of it. Was he that eager to introduce Samantha to everyone? That would certainly save him time exining things to everyone when she eventually took Rachel¡¯s ce. Just then, William walked out of the washroom and saw Rachel standing by the bedside table with his phone in her hand, His brows furrowed and he bolted toward Rachel, pulling his phone away from her. ¡°Learning to spy on others¡® phones now, aren¡¯t we?¡± Rachel¡¯s hands froze in midair, surprised by William¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°I just saw your phone screen light up and wanted to help you see if it¡¯s anything important. Why are you overreacting?¡± Rachel¡¯s exnation made William realize that he was indeed overreacting. His tightly knitted brows rxed. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ve been so busy at work. I didn¡¯t want you bogged down by it too, that¡¯s all.¡± William nced at the text he received. ¡°Oh yes, there¡¯s a banquet I have to attend tomorrow. Since your forehead is injured, you¡¯d better rest at home. Samantha wille with me, and I¡¯ll take the chance to introduce her to ourwork. If she can bring more to the table, it¡¯ll lessen your load, too.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t argue with him. His mind was set, wasn¡¯t it? Sheplied obediently. ¡°Okay.¡± William thought about how overly¨Cagitated he had been to Rachel and reached out to pull her into his embrace, rubbing a warm palm down her back. He signed to her, trying to console her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rachel. I was too agitated just now and frightened you. You know the unrest that Project Oasis has brought to thepany recently.¡± Rachel had no intention whatsoever to kick up a fuss, her face cid. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let Ms. Judd apany you.¡± William¡¯s tense muscles rxed as he rubbed Rachel¡¯s head dotingly. ¡°Get some rest at home these few days.¡± ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Rachel said. ¡°I want to resign and stay at home for a while to rest. May I?¡± She decided to bring up her resignation to test the waters with William. It might save her some trouble when she officially asked for it. William¡¯s face tensed up once more at Rachel¡¯s request; he felt as though he was on an emotional roller coaster since he came home. ¡°You want to resign? If you need a break, I can let you do that. There¡¯s no need for you to resign.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine. There¡¯s Ms. Judd, She¡¯ll be an excellent assistant for you, just like I was back then.¡± It felt just like yesterday that Rachel was studying diligently and working overtime, pursuing projects at every Chapter F opportunity that came her way just so she could rise to be William¡¯s trusted right¨Chand man Yet now, William seemed to no longer need her around. William rubbed his nose bridge, not wanting to agree to Rachel¡¯s request just yet. After a long pause, he said, ¡°How about this? Let me consider it. If the shareholders agree to it after we discuss the matter, you can take a break and leave everything to me¡± William made it seem as though she was resigning to enjoy a good life back at home. She didn¡¯t even have a say over whether she could resign. He had to first seek the shareholders¡® permission before allowing her to leave. Rachel didn¡¯t mind it, really. Whether William agreed to her resignation or not, she was bent on leaving. However, resigning and taking the proper route to do so would entitle her to certainpensation. ¡°Okay, Update me tomorrow night.¡± Her Exit 90 Rachel avoided contact with William for the rest of the night. He kept trying to draw near to her, and she had to suppress the disgust rising in her chest as much as she could. William, sensing her resistance, tilted her face toward him. ¡°What is it? Do you feel unwell or something?¡± Rachel had to make up an excuse. ¡°I¡¯m having my period, and my stomach is cramping.¡± William furrowed his brows as he nced at the calendar. Didn¡¯t your period end on the 12th?¡± Rachel sat stunned. Her period ended on the 2nd, not the 12th. Whose period did he take note of? Come to think of it, who else could it be but Samantha¡¯s? One with Rachel didn¡¯t expose him and instead surmised, ¡°It¡¯s probably getting irregr because something¡¯s wrong my body.¡± William covered her abdomen with a warm palm. ¡°Is it cramping very badly? Should I get a hot water bottle and a warm cup of tea? Rachel¡¯s period wasn¡¯t actually here, but she wanted to see if William would really do as he suggested. She furrowed her brows. ¡°Yes, please. Thank you.¡± William pinched her cheeks lovingly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite with your husband.¡± Rachel forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s only right to show my appreciation.¡± William got changed, about to head out, when his phone buzzed. His phone was still at the bedside table, and Rachel saw from the corner of her eyes that it was Samantha calling. He probably didn¡¯t expect Samantha to be calling at two in the morning. Rachel said reassuringly, ¡°Answer the call. You¡¯re the only one she can depend on, especially if she has an emergency.¡± William took the call. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, calling me so ¡± ¡°William, can you pleasee over? I think I have a fever. My head hurts and I feel terrible.¡± William furrowed his brows. Rachel could see the worry and anxiety in his eyes; he was wishing he could teleport to Samantha straight away. ¡°Did you take your temperature? Apply a cold towel to your forehead.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already done so, but I still feel very bad. I think my temperature is around 40 degrees.¡± Samantha sounded as though she was on the verge of breaking down, her tone weak and pitiful. Anyone¡¯s heart would break upon hearing her voice. That was probably the difference between her and Samantha Samantha knew how to be weak and vulnerable, while Rachel would always try to solve her own problems by herself. William pondered for a moment before agreeing ¡°Got it. Walt for me. Rachel¡¯s heart turned cold at his words. The moment Samantha opened her mouth, she was doomed to be defeated. Samantha¡¯s voice suddenly sounded more lively and energetic at the prospect of William heading over. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you! William, you muste.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you! Will After hanging up, William kept his phone in his pocket and approached Rachel. ¡°Rachel, Samantha has a fever, and she¡¯s all alone at home, ter fever is quite bad, so I must head over and take a look¡± Rachel forced a smile and looked up at him. William was trying hard to mask it, but she could still see the concern and anxiety in his eyes. Since he was so worried about Samantha, what reason did she have to stop him from going over? Her voice rang in the night, calm and cold. ¡°Go ahead. She still has to attend the banquet with you tomorrow evening. I probably won¡¯t be able to in my current state.¡± William patted her shoulder. ¡°Wait for me at home. I¡¯ll be back in a jiffy.¡± Rachel looked at William as he walked out the door, a sardonic look in her eyes. Wait for him? She would probably only see him the next morning. Her Exit 91 William leaving wasn¡¯t a bad thing, Rachel told herself. At least she wouldn¡¯t need to share a bed with him¨Cthat would only disgust her. She slept pretty well that night. After waking up, Rachel wasn¡¯t surprised to see that the other side of the bed was empty. She got out of bed and made herself a simple breakfast before getting started on her resignation letter. At ten o¡¯clock, William texted her. [I¡¯m sorry, Rachel. Samantha¡¯s fever was too high. I sent her to the hospital, and that took us quite a while.] Rachel smiled, her eyes hollow. She replied in her usual magnanimous and forgiving stance [It¡¯s fine. It must be tough on her, having to take on the burden of caring for her sick mother while she¡¯s still so young.] William texted her a sad face emoji, followed by, II¡¯m d you¡¯re not mad.] Rachel didn¡¯t reply to that. She found it rather hrious¨Cwas it important at all to William whether she was mad or not? She put her phone down and continued working on her resignation letter before sending it to the shareholders via email. She was involved in many projects and was also William¡¯s wife, which made her different from an ordinary employee. Thus, her resignation was a slightly trickier matter. At seven in the evening, Rachel put on some light makeup and a light yellow gauze tube dress. She gathered her hair up in a simple and elegant w clip. A pair of rose gold hoop earringspleted her clean, sharp look. It was simple and not too much, giving her a refreshing feel Rachel was beautiful to begin with, and the light touch of makeup entuated her already striking features In a bid to minimize interactions with Yvette as much as possible, Rachel agreed to meet her at the entrance of the hotel. Otherwise, they might just end up fighting all the way. When Rachel arrived, she saw Yvette stepping out of a car that Rachel could recognize even with her eyes closed. Shawn, the Lloyd family chauffeur, was at the wheel. He always used to fetch her everywhere in that car. Yvette stepped out of the car elegantly, donning a champagne feather cocktail dress and thetest ne with an exorbitant price tag. She also had on a bracelet and a ring¨Cshe was putting on as many essories as her body could wear. A thought suddenly came to Rachel¡¯s mind. The more onecked something, the more one would try to appear to have it. That was exactly the case with Yvette. However, the way she dressed had nothing to do with Rachel, who was here just to y the role of a matchmaker. Yvette¡¯s makeup was impable, clearly from the hand of a top¨Cnotch makeup artist. She had spent the entire afternoon dolling herself up just for this banquet. She wanted Rachel to see that she was in no way inferior to her, and that Rachel wasn¡¯t the only one worthy of being the daughter of the Lloyd family. Yvette held up the hem of her dress and walked haughtily toward Rachel. for me.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t my dress look fabulous? I¡¯m telling you, it costs a ton of money! Dad chose it specially for me.¡± Rachel hummed indifferently. ¡°Hope your outfit catches Mr. Hunt¡¯s eyes, or it¡¯d all be in vain.¡± Yvette¡¯s face changed at Rachel¡¯s words. ¡°What do you mean by that? Would be fancy you Instead, you deaf woman?¡± Rachel¡¯s lips curled in disdain as she looked icily at Yvette. If you were deaf, you might not even be able to lip- read. At the very least, I know what people are saying.¡± Yvette¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Still having designs on me?¡± A man bumped into Rachel from behind, his voice low and familiar. Her Exit 92 Rachel was frightened by the man who was leaning against her back. She didn¡¯t know why her heart started racing, but she knew that she would somehow get nervous each time Tyler appeared before her. Her nerves were also apanied by a strong urge to escape. He had a truly wicked mouth, that was for sure. She naturally couldn¡¯t be too casual with Tyler with Yvette around. She instinctively took two steps back to widen her distance from Tyler, and nodded respectfully at him. ¡°Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed at her cold and distant greeting, ¡°Did you get possessed by something? Why do you feel so different from two days ago? Did you earn a minor in face changing?¡± Rachel fell silent. She really wanted to give him a look and stop him from talking too much with her. If Yvette found out that they were on rather familiar terms, she might expose Rachel before her grandfather. Then, he would never let her off the hook. On second thought, Tyler thought differently from ordinary people. If Rachel gave him a look, he might tease her for missing him till her eyes hurt. She skipped past all that and started introducing Yvette to Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, let me introduce you to¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯m Rachel¡¯s younger sister, Yvette Lloyd. d to meet you for the very first time!¡± Yvette stepped forward eagerly even before Rachel was done introducing her to Tyler. Rachel was stunned to see Yvette so direct and enthusiastic. She shrugged, dismissing the thought that she suddenly felt so redundant around here. To her surprise, Tyler didn¡¯t even nce at Yvette. He stuck his hands in his pockets and said, ¡°I¡¯m heading in He then strode into the hotel. Yvette stared at her hand, which was still hanging in mid¨Cair, her face flushing with embarrassment, She pursed her lips and turned to Rachel, looking visibly upset. ¡°What¡¯s with you just now? Why didn¡¯t you speak up for me?¡± Rachel, amused, shrugged helplessly. ¡°I was going to speak just now, but you cut me off, didn¡¯t you? I thought you could handle it yourself.¡± With that, Rachel lifted the hem of her dress and headed into the hotel. Indignation filled Yvette¡¯s eyes. She pouted as she followed behind Rachel. ¡°Walt for me¡­ That was when she realized that Rachel wouldn¡¯t be able to hear her. The moment Rachel entered the venue, her gazended on William and Samantha walking right next to each Chapter B other. They were almost hugging, looking so intimate, their bodies fitting seamlessly into each other. William had on a gray suit which entuated his tall, towering figure. His hair was slicked back, making him look even colder and more distant than usual. Samantha was wearing a gray strap dress, which matched his outfit. If Rachel remembered it correctly, William would always wear a ck suit to banquets. He seldom wore gray or navy blue suits She had suggested that he wear a different color, but he always said that he didn¡¯t like gray. She smirked, a sardonic look in her eyes. As it turned out, it wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t like gray¨Che just refused to change for her. Yvette walked to Rachel¡¯s side and followed her Igaze. She smirked, her mood lifting, and gloated, ¡°I was wondering why you¡¯d evene with me. Turns out that William didn¡¯t want to bring you! I bet that the woman next to him, who looks like a meek and innocent rabbit, is his childhood sweetheart.¡± Chapter o Her Exit 93 from the looks of it, you two are ofpletely different styles. thought you¡¯d bear some resemnce to illiam¡¯s first love, but it seems like you¡¯re not even a recement!¡± Yvette went on haughtily. achel kept silent. She didn¡¯t know if Yvette meant it as a mockery or praise. at even a recement? Who on earth would want to be a recement? Or did Yvette mean that she wasn¡¯t even orthy to be a recement? ichel retracted her gaze and nced at her watch. Let me remind you that Tyler will only be here for half an hour. He has another appointment to go to after this, you¡¯d better seize this chance.¡± zette¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± achel picked up a ss of champagne from a waiter¡¯s tray and took two sips. ¡°Would you be able to make him Il for you in an instant if I told you that?¡± vette cast Rachel a disdainful look. ¡°You¡¯re jealous of me, aren¡¯t you? If I hadn¡¯te back, you¡¯d still be the gitimate daughter of the Lloyd family. A pity you¡¯re just a nobody now!¡± achel smirked, not letting Yvette¡¯s words affect her. She simply said indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m legally ie mistress of the Lewis family.¡± vette gritted her teeth, anger burning in her eyes. If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯d be the mistress of the Lewis family! You¡¯re shameless through and through, Rachel ou¡¯re still acting all high and mighty after stealing the life that should have been mine!¡± he most frustrating thing was that no matter what Yvette said, it failed to ruffle Rachel¡¯s feathers. id she not care one bit? npossible! Rachel¡¯s life was turned upside down by her appearance. How could Rachel not bear a grudge against er? achel couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to Yvette. he spotted Tyler, who was the center of attention no matter where he went. Everyone¡¯s eyes seemed to be on im. He was surrounded by elite businessmen and corporate leaders, all of them eagerly raising a toast to him. yler¡¯s long fingers were wrapped around the stem of his ss, a look of faint interest in his eyes. It made Rachel el like he was, in fact, distracted. le suddenly turned his head, and their gazes met. Rachel shuddered as she nked out at that moment. lis deep, dark eyes twinkled teasingly as he raised his ss at her, the corners of his lips curling in a wicked mile. achel anxiously turned her back to him, her fair cheeks blushing ever so slightly. vette sensed the change in Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± achel looked away and said with a calm that she did not feel, ¡°Nothing Mr. Hunt is right ahead. Seize the chance nd don¡¯t let it go to waste! Help me out here, Rachel. Since you know Mr. Hunt better, can you help me give this ss of champagne to him? He certainly won¡¯t take it from me, so treat it as a go¨Cbetween.¡± Yvette grabbed a ss from a waiter¡¯s hand and passed it to Rachel. Rachel didn¡¯t think much of it. Yvette had taken the ss of champagne from a waiter¡¯s hand. If Yvette had handed her a ss from somewhere else, she certainly wouldn¡¯t agree to help. Who knew what she might add to the champagne? All Rachel wanted to do right now was to settle Yvette¡¯s affair and leave as soon as she could: She took the ss from Yvette¡¯s fingers. ¡°Come on.¡± Yvette smiled smugly. With a man like Tyler, she couldn¡¯t rely on the usual, boring methods. One look was enough for her to know that this man was a tough nut to crack. Ordinary women weren¡¯t his cup up of t tea. Why bother wasting her time on ordinary means, then? Her Exit 94 Just as Rachel and Yvette were about to approach Tyler, William and Samantha beat them to it. William had a document in hand. Rachel didn¡¯t need to see it to know it was a contract. She suddenly grabbed Yvette¡¯s wrist. ¡°Wait¡­¡± Yvette frowned and looked at Rachel. ¡°What is it this time? Didn¡¯t you say that Tyler will only be here for half an hour? Time is of the essence!¡± ¡°Wait for them to finish their discussion.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t care how anxious Yvette was. Whatever it was they could only go over after Tyler and William were done talking. She felt thankful that William hadn¡¯t seen her, or she would have some exining to do. She wondered what Tyler and William were talking about. She saw William¡¯s face fall, and his gazended on her. Rachel¡¯s heart fell with a thud. Her fingers tightened so hard around the stem of the ss that her knuckles turned white. She saw thezy smile hanging on Tyler¡¯s lips, and gritted her teeth. Tyler really wouldn¡¯t let her off the hook so easily. He had deliberately directed William¡¯s attention to her. Since William had seen her, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to just leave right there and then Rachel decided to approach them directly, with Yvette in tow. Her gazended on Samantha¡¯s impably made- up face. Smirking, she said, ¡°You recovered so quickly, Ms. Judd. You had a fever justst night, and here you are, fine and dandy. It¡¯s great to be young, isn¡¯t it?¡± looking Samantha burst out in demureughter and then turned to look at William. The tenderness in her eyes was clear for all to see. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to William, who took such great care of me through the night. Otherwise, I couldn¡¯t have recovered so quickly, Rachel, the chicken soup that William makes is so delicious!¡± The smile on Rachel¡¯s face froze. William had never made chicken soup for her. The most he had done was to drive somewhere far to buy it for her. After spending seven years of her life with him, she never knew that her husband knew how to cook chicken soup. She instinctively nced at William and asked with feigned indifference, ¡°You know how to cook chicken soup?¡± William arched a brow; a look of awkwardness shed past his eyes, but it vanished in an instant. ¡°I learned it from a video I chanced upon. I¡¯ll cook it for you back home next time.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t pursue the matter further and yed along. Sure. Do learn how to cook a few more dishes, and I¡¯ll be in for a feast.¡± Tyler stood on one side, leaning leisurely against the wall and sipping on his champagne as he watched the act they were putting on. He said with a teasing smile, ¡°Seems like you¡¯re a busy man, Mr. Lewis. Not only do you have to cook for Ms. Judd, but you also have to whip up a feast for your wife.¡± Rachel inhaled sharply at Tyler¡¯s jab at William. His insults were first¨Css indeed. +25 BONUS William¡¯s face tensed, but he quickly changed the subject. ¡°Mr. Hunt, it¡¯s about time for us to sign the agreement between ourpanies.¡± Tyler wasn¡¯t one to harp on other people¡¯s affairs, and he immediately stood up straight. ¡°I¡¯ve made myself clear that we have no issues as long as Ms. Judd isn¡¯t involved in the project.¡± He said it so tantly, Rachel saw Samantha¡¯s eyes turn red. She stood behind William, looking like a pitiful rabbit frightened into silence. William patted her gently on the back. ¡°I¡¯ll put you in charge of other projects.¡± Samantha shook her head as tears slid down her cheeks. She said chokingly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, William. I¡¯m not capable enough for Mr. Hunt.¡± Rachel stood in awe of Samantha¡¯s acting chops. She looked so pitiful, her tears would move even a passerby. Her acting skills were getting better and better by the day. Rachel was thoroughly impressed. She didn¡¯t know if Tyler would change his mind. Few could resist a sweet and pretty like Samantha, after all. Her Exit 95 Yvette was so caught up in watching, she couldn¡¯t help whispering to Rachel, ¡°She¡¯s pretty good, I¡¯ll give her that. I don¡¯t think you can win this round. They might even rece you on the project. No man can resist a woman acting sweet and you don¡¯t seem to know how to do that.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t argue with that. Who would¡¯ve thought Samantha would drop her pride and cry right in front of Tyler? She cried softly and pitifully, like a littlemb no one had the heart to bully. Then, Rachel looked at Tyler. He didn¡¯t reject her right away¨Cand as long as he didn¡¯t say no immediately, it meant there was still a chance. She quietly clenched her palm, eyes clear and cold as they locked on Tyler. If he changed his mind now, everything she had worked for would be wasted. Tyler had sharp eyes, a tall brow bone, and striking features that gave him a naturally intense kind of charm. He raised a hand to rub his brow, and sighed. ¡°When Ms. Judd cries like this, it goes straight to my heart.¡± Rachel¡¯s breath caught. Her brows pulled together, and her shoulders slumped. She knew it no matter how different Tyler might seem, he was still a man. And no man could truly resist a woman who knew how to act soft and helpless. And Samantha had that ability¨Cthat way of drawing sympathy from men without even trying. Samantha sniffled softly, her voice gentle and sweet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hunt. That was embarrassing. I know I¡¯m not as capable as Rachel, and I¡¯m totally okay with her leading this project. I really am. Buttely, she¡¯s been wrapped up in so many rumors. People in thepany are starting to think she¡¯s been secretly working with an outside firm. But as long as it doesn¡¯t hurt thepany, I guess it doesn¡¯t really matter. I don¡¯t know if others trust her¨Cbut I do,¡± Tyler stared at Samantha¡¯s tear¨Cstreaked face for a moment, then let out a faint smirk. ¡°Didn¡¯t realize you and Ms. Lloyd were such good friends.¡± Samantha looked a little flustered under his gaze. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Hunt,¡± she said with a soft smile. Her heart fluttered, and she thought maybe things were turning around. This project meant everything to her. If she could pull off the Oasis Project, she would finally make a name for herself back home. People at Lewis Enterprise would stop doubting her behind her back¨Cand no one wouldpare her to Rachel ever again. William nced at Tyler, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Based on what he knew about Tyler, this shift didn¡¯t make sense. Tyler had been firm thest time they spoke¨Cthis project had to be led by Rachel. He valued results and efficiency. He didn¡¯t trust people like Samantha, who only knew how to work connections from behind the scenes. So why the sudden change? William was still trying to figure it out when Samantha, unable to hold back anymore, leaned forward. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I know you t I¡¯ve got to this project!¡± misunderstood me before, but could you give me a chance? I¡¯ll give everything Tyler slowly set down his champagne ss, then leaned in closer to her. Samantha¡¯s eyes widened in shock. That face¨Cso ridiculously good¨Clooking¨Ccould throw anyone off bnce. Without thinking, she curled her fingers into a fist, her voice even softer. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you¡­¡± ¡°Have you ever thought about joining ourpany?¡± Tyler asked, voice low. ¡°Be my assistant.¡± Rachel stared at him in disbelief. Even William had the same stunned expression. What on earth was Tyler doing? He was poaching someone¨Cright in front of William! +25 B Her Exit 96 ¡°Well? Think it over,¡± Tyler drawled, eyes locked on Samantha. Samantha pressed her lips together, falling deep into thought. If she said yes to Tyler, her future at LS Enterprise would probably be a lot brighter. Lewis Enterprise wasn¡¯t even a realpetitor to Tyler¡¯spany anymore. But at Lewis Enterprise, she had William¡¯s protection. Things were easier and safer there. Still¡­ Tyler was different. Rumors had it that he came from really powerful background. No one really knew where he came from, but everyone knew not to underestimate him. More importantly, if she could get Tyler to fall for her¡­ Samantha nced carefully at William, hoping for some kind of sign. ¡°William,¡± she said sweetly, ¡°can I just try working with Mr. Hunt for a while? If I can learn more over there, maybe I cane back and help you even better.¡± William¡¯s face darkened, his brows knitting together. ¡°You really want to go to LS?¡± Everyone knew what Tyler was doing he was poaching someone right in front of William on purpose to embarrass thetter. Samantha pouted and tugged gently on William¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for you. Think about it¡ªif I can learn something valuable there, isn¡¯t that a good thing for you too?¡± William didn¡¯t want to argue with her in front of so many people. He yanked his sleeve out of her grasp and stepped back. ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± Samantha immediately beamed and turned to Tyler. ¡°Then, Mr. Hunt, now that William agreed, can you make me the lead on Project Oasis?¡± Tyler gave azy, mocking smile. His eyes, sharp and cold,nded straight on William. ¡°This is the woman you picked?¡± he said. ¡°Someone who runs off the second another man so much as crooks a finger? What exactly are you so proud of?¡± William¡¯s eyes narrowed; he shot Tyler a cold, sideways nce. Tyler ignored William¡¯s displeased re. With both hands tucked into his pockets, he let out a soft cough, his voice slipping back into that usual, cool tone. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Judd. I was just joking, earlier. But if you¡¯re really interested in being an assistant, you¡¯re wee to apply through the proper channels. LS is always open to new talent.¡± Samantha stood there in shock, frozen in ce. Her face drained of color, then flushed red, like she didn¡¯t know whether to be humiliated or furious. Yvette couldn¡¯t hold back augh. ¡°How embarrassing!¡± Rachel nudged her elbow, giving her a look to remind her to control herself. Yvette quickly pulled herself together. William narrowed his eyes, his lips pressed into a tight line ¡°Mr. Hunt, is this how you handle people? Making fun of others just for sport?¡± ¡°It was just a joke,¡± Tyler said casually. ¡°Didn¡¯t actually steal your girl, did 1? Rx.¡± His smile was sharp, almost careless. It was the kind that always made people unsure if he was ying or dead serious. One moment he looked like a cold¨Chearted judge, the next, a rebel who cared about nothing. By now, Willian just wanted to get this meeting over with. Thest person he wanted to deal with was Tyler. No one could ever guess what this man was thinking. Even William¡¯s grandfather could never understand Tyler¡¯s mind. He was a terrifying existence. William pulled out the contract and said, ¡°I¡¯ve gone through the details of this. If there¡¯s nothing else, you can go ahead and sign it.¡± Tyler took the contract, but he handed it straight to Rachel instead of reading it. ¡°You¡¯re the lead. You check it.¡± Rachel blinked, caught off guard. A cold sweat prickled on her back. It felt like Tyler wouldn¡¯t stop until he had pushed everyone to their limits. Her Exit 97 But there was no way around it¨Cif this contract wasn¡¯t signed, Rachel couldn¡¯t leave. Even without looking, Rachel could feel Samantha and William¡¯s res stabbing into her like needles. After Tyler pulled that move, everyone probably thought she was on his side. Otherwise, why would he hand something this important to her instead of reviewing it himself? Rachel hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out and took the contract. Then, she braced herself as she flipped through the pages. After checking everything carefully, she looked at Tyler and said, ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯ve gone through it. Everything looks fine.¡± Tyler waved his hand. ¡°Good. Go ahead and sign it.¡± As soon as the contract was signed, Samantha couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you all keep talking. I need some air.¡± William took the document and instinctively looked at Rachel. She knew exactly what that meant. But no matter what, she wasn¡¯t going to let William be the one to speak first¨Cnot with Yvette watching, ready to mock her.. So she said, ¡°Go check on her. She¡¯s new¨Cmaybe not used to this kind of pressure.¡± William gave a short nod. ¡°Call me when you¡¯re ready to leave.¡± And with that, he walked right past her, contract in hand. Rachel¡¯s eyes turned colder. She picked up the drink Yvette had handed her earlier and offered it to Tyler. Her lips quirked upwards as she said, ¡°Mr. Hunt, congrattions on securing the rights to Project Oasis,¡± Tyler gave her a look of pure disdain. ¡°That smile¡¯s pretty ugly¨Ctry not to use it again.¡± Rachel¡¯s smile froze on her face. This man was as ruthless as ever. He had said something just like that thest time too, but she didn¡¯t think her smile was that bad. Still, she curled her lips again, just slightly. ¡°Got it.¡± She pushed the drink forward again. Tyler took it, giving it a once¨Cover. ¡°This isn¡¯t poisoned, is it?¡± Rachel¡¯s expression twitched. She wasn¡¯t about to let that slide. ¡°Then don¡¯t drink it,¡± Rachel muttered, starting to pull the ss back. But before she could, Tyler snatched it right out of her hand ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll drink it¨Cjust to be polite.¡± He raised the ss to his lips, paused for a second, then tipped it back and downed it in one go. ¡°Hmm. Not bad. A little bitter, though.¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°All the drinks here taste the same. How can it be a little bitter?¡± She was too busy trading barbs with Tyler to notice Yvette beside her, face growing more and more sour. Tyler leaned forward slightly and held the ss toward her It really is bitter. Don¡¯t believe me? Try it yourself.¡± Rachel wrinkled her nose and turned her head. ¡°You already finished it.¡± Tyler¡¯s lips curved into a smirk, and his voice droppedzy, low, and rough. When he next spoke, his voice was a husky whisper that brushed past her ear like he was speaking right next to her. Rachel¡¯s face flushed instantly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Afraid of an indirect kiss?¡± Rachel¡¯s brain practically short¨Ccircuited. Her whole face was hot, and she wanted nothing more than to disappear into the floor. How did he say stuff like that so shamelessly? And in front of Yvette, no less? If this weren¡¯t such a public setting, Rachel honestly would have punched him. Though. She probably wouldn¡¯t dare. In a rush to change the subject, she grabbed Yvette and showed her a little closer to him. ¡°Mr. Hunt, let me introduce you. This is my younger sister, Yvette. I heard you¡¯re still single, right? Maybe you two should date.¡± The amused look in Tyler¡¯s eyes vanished in an instant, and his gaze sharpened. ¡°You¡¯re trying to set me up with someone?¡± Rachel¡¯s stomach tightened under his stare. When she thought of her mother¡¯s grave, she forced herself to keep going. ¡°Yeah. My sister¡¯s pretty andes from a good family. Maybe you could give her a chance?¡± Tyler crossed his arms and leaned casually back against the wall again. ¡°I like men.¡± Rachel fell speechless. Her Exit 98 Yvette stood there,pletely stunned. Almost without thinking, she looked at Rachel. ¡°What¡¯s really going on? You never told me before¨Che has issues with his orientation?¡± Rachel froze, not sure how to answer. If she couldn¡¯t figure this out, the situation with her mother¡¯s grave would get even moreplicated. Also, she never expected Tyler to say he liked men. She looked at Tyler. ¡°What are you talking about? Since when do you like men?¡± Tyler shifted on his toes, a yful smirk flickering at the edge of his mouth. His sharp jaw moved as he spoke clearly. Rachel caught the cold glint in his eyes as he mocked her. ¡°Oh? You think you know my orientation better than I do? Have you ever tried?¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks burned bright red. She hadn¡¯t tried anything with him, but she had seen it. She remembered thest time she was drugged¨CTyler had reacted then. If he really liked men, he wouldn¡¯t have reacted. He was doing this on purpose. Yvette was standing close, so Rachel couldn¡¯t say much. She leaned in and whispered in Yvette¡¯s ear, ¡°You¡¯ve always wanted to marry into a rich family, right? Tyler¡¯s family is even stronger than the Lewis family. If w ended up with him, who¡¯d dare talk behind your back? Think about that!¡± After hearing Rachel¡¯s words, Yvette started to feel tempted again. When she heard Tyler liked men, she had almost given up. After all, she was young and beautiful¨Cshe couldn¡¯t be with someone who had ¡°issues¡± like that. If she stripped naked in front of him and he didn¡¯t react, that would just be humiliating But Rachel¡¯s words made sense, too. Lewis Enterprise used to be the biggestpany around, but in thest two years, it had fallen far behind LS Enterprise. Tyler¡¯s wealth had be unimaginable years ago. William? Yvette didn¡¯t even want to think about him. Yvette took a deep breath. After thinking it over, her delicate face brightened with a smile once more, ¡°Mr. Hunt, sorry for overreacting just now,¡± Yvette said. ¡°These days, liking men is totally normal. We could just be friends.¡°! When Rachel heard that, she felt her tightly furrowed brow rx a little. Tyler swirled the half¨Cfull ss in his hand with his long, defined fingers, watching the two women with calm amusement. A quiet chuckle escaped him. ¡°You two sisters are putting on a show for me, huh?¡± Rachel caught the sarcasm in his voice. ¡°Mr. Hunt, your family probably pressures you about marriage, right? Instead of a stranger, why not pick someone you already know? I know my sister well. She¡¯s a good person.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t care about the truth anymore. She just made it up as she went. Whether Tyler really with Yvette or not, if they got together, she could finally push the old man to move her mother¡¯s grave sooner. Then, her mother¡¯s spirit could rest in peace. y wanted to be Tyler set his ss down on the table and suddenly grabbed Rachel¡¯s arm, pulling her aside. Rachel was worried that Yvette might get upset and run off, so she quickly waved and said, ¡°I¡¯m just going to talk to Mr. Hunt alone for a moment. Walk here for me.¡± Tyler pulled Rachel into the hallway, and she kept trying to convince him, ¡°Mr. Hunt, you¡¯re looking for someone anyway. Choosing my sister isn¡¯t a bad idea,¡± Tyler watched Rachel like she was some kind of salesperson. He put his hands in his pockets, leaned in a little, and his dark eyes locked onto hers. Rachel¡¯s heart suddenly shrank, and she took a quick step back without even thinking Her Exit 99 ¡°Rachel.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was low, and there was a hint of coldness within it. ¡°What?¡± she answered without thinking Tyler¡¯s warm fingers gently held her jaw. There was a sharp glint in his eyes as he stared right at her as he asked, I didn¡¯t even tell anyone your secret. How did it slip out so fast? What did the Lewis family give you?¡± Rachel knew she couldn¡¯t hide anything from Tyler. This man always saw through everything Even if she tried to keep it secret, it wouldn¡¯t work. If he found out she was nning against him, it would only make things worse, so, she decided to be honest and told him everything Teler nodded thoughtfully, then sneered, ¡°Am I your personal property? How can you be so sure I¡¯d want the one you pushed on me? Rachel tilted her head and blurted out in frustration, ¡°You don¡¯t like Yvette? Then what do you want? Someone like Samantha¨Cfragile and crying all the time?¡± She thought Yvette¡¯s personality and background weren¡¯t perfect, but maybe it was just Yvette¡¯s attitude toward her that was bad. As for looks, Yvette¡¯s parents were both good¨Clooking, and she herself was stunning¨Clike a fiery princess from a fairytale. A little temper, but when it was just the right amount, it could be a charm. Tyler suddenly looked uneasy, his brow furrowing as he instinctively pressed a hand to his chest. Seeing this, Rachel quickly stepped forward and steadied him. & ¡°What¡¯s wrong? If you don¡¯t want to agree, I won¡¯t force you. But you don¡¯t have to get this upset, Mr. Hunt.¡± She had expected it all along. With Tyler¡¯s lone¨Cwolf nature, he probably wouldn¡¯t listen to even his own family let alone someone like her, who barely knew him. Tyler suddenly felt short of breath, and sweat appeared on his forehead. He grabbed Rachel¡¯s wrist tightly. ¡°Rachel, this mess is your own doing. You have to take responsibility!¡± Rachel looked confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She noticed Tyler¡¯s face looked worse by the second, but why did he say it was her fault? ¡°Don¡¯t you know well enough to recognize what¡¯s happening?¡± Rachel¡¯s mind nked. She froze, unable to move at all. Her mouth felt sealed shut, and after a long, moment, she barely managed to whisper, ¡°You. You were drugged? Who did it?¡± Tyler rested his head on her shoulder, tilting it slightly. His warm breath brushed against her ear, making her skin tingle all over ¡°That ss of wine you were the one who gave it to me, weren¡¯t you?¡± Rachel¡¯s mind finally caught up, and she gasped. ¡°That ss of wine¡­ I got it from the waiter. There¡¯s no way it was drugged! No one else touched it.¡± Tyler nced toward Yvette in the hall behind them, and shorted softly. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you¡¯re your mother¡¯s daughter, I¡¯d think you two were working together to trap me.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°If I set you up, I¡¯d be digg my own gravel She wasn¡¯t stupid enough to think she could outsmart Tyler the man even William feared. She was no match for him. Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t care. You have to take responsibility for this.¡± Rachel nearly lost her breath, and she stammered, ¡°L. How am I supposed to do that?¡± Her Exit 100 +74 BONUS At that moment, too many people wereing and going. Frobably because Tyler looked really unwell, his pale face caught a lot of curious eyes passing by. Tyler leaned close and whispered in her ear, ¡°Help me back to my room first.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t dare waste any time. If the drug started worlding on him in public¡­ Tomorrow¡¯s headlines would be full of it, and the Lewis family would get dragged into the mess too. That idiot Yvette¨Chow dare she drug Tyler?! Rachel supported Tyler as he pointed the way. When they reached the hotel room door, Rachel asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your key card?¡± ¡°In my pocket.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Rachel didn¡¯t think twice and reached into Tyler¡¯s pants pocket. Men¡¯s suit pockets were deep, and she had to hold him up while trying to find the card. Her fingers seemed to disappear into a bottomless ck hole, and she had to search by feel. ¡°Ouch¡­ Stop r rummaging around so roughly,¡± Tyler frowned and said softly. Rachel¡¯s cheeks flushed red. ¡°I¡¯m not being rough! Your pockets are too deep.¡± She fumbled inside a bit more, then her fingertips touched something t. ¡°Found it.¡± She pulled out the card and tapped it on the door. Ding! The door clicked open. Rachel helped Tyler inside and tried to get him to the bathtub. Last time she was drugged by Howard, Tyler had done the same for her. She turned and carefully guided him into the bathroom. ¡°Maybe you should cool down with some cold water first.¡± Tyler was already in a bad condition¨Chis whole body was burning hot. Even through the fabric of his clothes, Rachel could feel his temperature rising fast. Rachel struggled with all her strength to get Tyler into the bathtub. She was just about to stand up and turn on the water when she realized the hotel showerhead was way too high. She had to stand on her tiptoes, stretching to reach it. As soon as her fingers touched the showerhead, her foot slipped. Her eyes widened in shock as she fell straight into the tub, ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Tyler groaned under her weight. At the same time, cold water poured down from the shower soaking them bothpletely. Rachel was embarrassed and dripping wet, and she grabbed the sides of the tub to pull herself up. At that moment, she seriously wanted to kill Yvette, She looked up and caught Tyler¡¯s half¨Cclosed eyes staring at her. He was wearing only a soaked white shirt now, and the water made the curves of his body visible. Rachel could even see his toned abs¨Che definitely worked out a lot. Higher up, lls Adam¡¯s apple stuck out as the top two buttons of his shirt were undone Rachel couldn¡¯t help the words that crossed her mind. What a sight! However, she had some self¨Ccontrol she wouldn¡¯t take advantage of the moment. Still, she hesitated to look away. Just as she was about to climb out of the tub, Tyler grabbed her wrist, his voice low and rough. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To call 911,¡± Rachel said She found it a little funny. Before this, she had never dealt with anything like this. Now, she felt like an expert. ¡°They won¡¯t get here in time. Also, there are cameras everywhere and maybe even reporters. Do you want us both to be on tomorrow¡¯s headlines?¡± Tyler¡¯s steady voice held a faint tremble. No one knew better than Rachel how dangerous this drug was. It didn¡¯t just destroy a person¡¯s body¨Cit ruined their mind, too. Tyler was strong enough to keep control, barely holding on. If it had been Howard instead, he wouldn¡¯t havested a second. Her Exit 101 Rachel¡¯s mind went nk; she felt even more panicked than she did thest time she found herself drugged. ¡°What should we do, then?¡± Someone popped into Rachel¡¯s mind, and she asked cautiously, ¡°Why don¡¯t I call Yvette here? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep this a secret. I won¡¯t let her be a threat to you. I can be your witness that she was the one who drugged you.¡± Rachel raised her right hand solemnly, as if making an oath The lights in the washroom were as bright as day, but Tyler¡¯s eyes were deep and dark. Rachel¡¯s heart raced as she waited for his reply. After a long time, he said, ¡°Rachel, do you think I¡¯m a dumpsite? That I¡¯d take anyone whoes my way?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t understand what he meant. ¡°You should be more concerned about tiding through the drug¡¯s effects right now. It¡¯s just easing a biological urge. Just shut your eyes and you won¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Hmm, makes sense. I wouldn¡¯t be able to see a thing with the lights switched off anyway,¡± Tyler said. His agreement made Rachel think that he hade round to her suggestion. ¡°I¡¯ll get Yvette over right here,¡± she said. Rachel was about to stand up when she realized that Tyler was gripping her wrist tightly, not moving an inch. Tyler looked at her for a few seconds and said mysteriously, ¡°Since I can¡¯t see a thing in the dark, there¡¯s no need. for you to go to that trouble.¡± With that, the lights in the washroom went off, and it became pitch dark. Before Rachel knew it, she felt a wet hand on the back of her head. She tensed up when she felt his lipsnding on hers. It began as a mere touch on the surface, but the kiss soon deepened. Tyler rubbed his lips hard against hers, an air of dominance overpowering her. She felt his heat invading her senses as he pried her lips open and ventured further. She clenched her fists, her heart beating wildly. A faint scent of champagne on Tyler¡¯s body wafted up her nose, making her almost lose her breath. Rachel instinctively wanted to pull away, but Tyler reached out to pinch her chin between his fingers, the calloused part of his hand gliding over her smooth skin and sending a shiver down her spine. Perhaps because he felt her getting breathless, Tyler softened the kiss, backing down ever so slightly yet keeping herpletely at his mercy. Rachel didn¡¯t have a single ounce of energy in her to resist him, her blood gushing through her veins. Tyler¡¯s warm skin pressed against hers, sending her temperature cising as well When Rachel finally realized what was going on, her eyes widened. What were they doing?! Was Tyler crazy? How could he kiss her? Havinge back to her senses, Rachel pushed hard against Tyler¡¯s chest, who, in turn, released her without much of a fight. She was still panting hard, her eyes still hazy as she stared in shock at his deep, dark eyes, which felt like an endless whirlpool of emotions sucking her in The effects of the drug were abating. Tyler¡¯s voice was still low, but not as hoarse as before. ¡°Seems like I¡¯m a pretty good kisser. It took you a while to snap out of it.¡± Rachel¡¯s face flushed bright red as she pursed her lips, feeling awkwardness wash over her. ¡°How¡­how could you kiss me?¡± Her Exit 102 Tyler leaned back leisurely in the bathtub, which was clearly too short for his height of almost six feet three. ¡°I remember you wanted to pay me for a one¨Cnight stand. Now, it¡¯s my turn.¡± In her panic, Rachel turned to switch the lights on before turning back to look at Tyler, her guard up. ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you going to pay me for a one¨Cnight stand?¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed, an unfathomable look in his eyes that made hit look wilder and more sensual than usual. ¡°You¡¯re the cause of all this mess. Shouldn¡¯t you be held ountable for it? And you still want me to pay you? Dream or¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you asking me to sleep with you for nothing in return? That¡¯s too much!¡± She had seen her fair share of stingy people, but she had never seen someone as shameless as Tyler, who refused to pay even a single cent. Tyler rubbed the bridge of his nose, chuckling at Rachel¡¯s words. ¡°Why don¡¯t you name a price, then? 150 thousand dors? 300 thousand dors?¡± That was when Rachel realized that Tyler had been fooling her. Blushing in embarrassment, she muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t mean that I want your money.¡± ¡°Well, what are you arguing about if you don¡¯t want money?¡± Tyler asked, shrugging. ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, Rachel seemed to be the one who was drugged instead of Tyler, getting confused and being sent into a daze with just a few words from him. Tyler suddenly grunted in pain, his brows furrowing. Rachel saw his lips pursing into a thin line and the veins on his arms popping out, as if he was bearing with Immense pain. She suddenly remembered the doctor who attended to her thest time. ¡°Tyler, weren¡¯t you the one who called for a doctor for me before? What¡¯s his number? I¡¯ll call him right away.¡± She found the doctor highly skilled. She was in such torment, as though countless ants were crawling over her body. Yet, the moment the doctor gave her a pill, she felt the pain slowly being alleviated She had thought she needed to go through tremendous torture or have her stomach pumped to alleviate the drug effects. ¡°My phone¡­in my suit pocket.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel hurriedly stood up and approached the bed, not bothered by the fact that she was dripping wet. She found Tyler¡¯s phone, which was thankfully unlocked, and searched for the doctor¡¯s number. Tyler¡¯s contacts were saved in a very straightforward and simple manner. The doctor¡¯s number was simply saved under the title ¡°Doctor¡°, and she even found a contact saved under the title ¡°Lawyer¡°, with no names indicated. After the call went through, she heaved a sigh of relief when the doctor answered very quickly. ¡°It¡¯s in the middle of the night, for goodness¡® sake. I need rest too, you know?¡± ¡°Hello, doctor. Tam Mr. Hunt¡¯s friend. He¡¯s been drugged, could I please trouble you toe down to Regal Vale Hotel?¡± Rachel¡¯s hand was shaking as she gripped the phone tightly She waspletely drenched and was shivering from the cold in the hotel room. ¡°Are you Ms. Lloyd, whom I saw before?¡± Rachel was surprised to hear that he actually remembered her. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did you just say that Mr. Hunt was drugged?¡± ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s not appropriate to send him to the hospital right now. There might be paparazzi around, so I have to trouble you toe to him here.¡± Xavier Jenkins arched an eyebrow. How could Tyler get himself drugged? His mother was proficient in pharmacology, and he himself learned alongside her for a while. Even Xavier¡¯s teacher praised Tyler for having great potential in the medical field despite his young age. How could he possibly allow someone to drug him? But now wasn¡¯t the time to question whether someone had drugged him, because he had clearly fallen prey. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I¡¯m overseas right now. I can¡¯te. From the looks of it, does Mr. Hunt¡¯s condition look less severe than yours before?¡± Xavier said. Her Exit 103 a The drug Rachel had been given was a different one. It was banned substance that couldn¡¯t be bought from proper channels, clearly something prohibited byw. However, Tyler would have no problems resisting the effects of ordinary aphrodisiacs by willpower alone, albeit a very tough process. ¡°You¡­¡± Rachel walked back to the washroom with the phone in hand and saw Tyler with his shirt unbuttoned. His chest muscles were exposed right before her, and the mere sight made her blush. Her legs were rooted to the ground, unable to move an inch When he heard no response over the phone, Xavier called out to Rachel, ¡°Ms. Lloyd?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m still here. He looks slightly pained, but not too bad¡± ¡°You have to help him get some relief, or the drug effects will only umte inside his body and, in the worst case scenario, he might die from it,¡± Xavier said. ¡°D¨CDie from it?¡± Rachel¡¯s face turned pale. When she had been drugged, she did feel as though she was on the verge of death. The torment of being burned alive by desire was so grating, she couldn¡¯t bear to even think back on it. ¡°What¡­what should we do? Is there any other way aside from actually doing the deed?¡± She was still William¡¯s wife. How could she¡­. If she were single, she probably wouldn¡¯t flinch at the idea, Tyler had saved her before, after all. Plus, he wasn¡¯t bad to look at, which would certainly make it a breeze for her. Xavier quickly gave her a suggestion. ¡°You can do it by hand¡± Sweat beaded on Rachel¡¯s brows. ¡°By hand?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only way. Ms. Lloyd, you know you won¡¯t be able to run if anything were to happen to Mr. Hunt, Alright, I¡¯ll leave it up to you. I have something to attend to here. Now, goodbye.¡± With that, Xavier hung up. Rachel heard the beeping from the phone and felt as though the sky was falling. This meant that she was Tyler¡¯s only antidote. She was the only one who could help him. e put her phone down and approached Tyler, feeling as though she were staring death in the face. She took deep breath, and told herself that it was nothing more than just giving him a massage. Many massage parlours offered such a service. She would just treat him as an object and get it done with her eyes shut. That would certainly be way better than sleeping with him, anyway, Rachel crouched down low and saw Tyler leaning against the bathtub, his eyes half¨Cclosed, the muscles in his jaw tensed, and his brows furrowed. Just from mere sight, she could feel just how much torture Tyler was in. A tinge of guilt rose from her chest. Ultimately, he was in this plight because of her. If she hadn¡¯t brought Yvette here, Tyler wouldn¡¯t have taken that wine. The worst thing was, she was the one who handed it to him. If it had been Yvette, Tyler would never have drunk the entire thing, given how guarded he always was with people. Rachel was, at the end of the day, the trigger of this entire mess. Tyler was right. She should be held ountable. Rachel bit the bullet and said to Tyler, ¡°Mr. Hunt, the only thing, we can do right now, based on what the doctor told me over the phone, is to do it by hand.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes opened slowly at Rachel¡¯s words. Her facial features were delicate and exquisite, the drops of water on her face making, it look even more dewy and almost wless. Rachel inhaled sharply and clenched her fists. ¡°I messed up so I should be held responsible for this,¡± ¡°Will you do it, or shall I?¡± Tyler askedzily. Her Exit 104 Rachel was rather taken aback that Tyler didn¡¯t seem to mind either option. She felt the heat rising in her face and her heart leaping in her throat as she stammered, ¡°Y¨CYou¡­you do it.¡± She then turned her face away. Hearing the metallic sound of a zipper being undone, her fists clenched even tighter. ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Tyler said. Rachel didn¡¯t dare to look, and could only reach out and try to feel for it. Tyler grabbed her hand and put it on himself. The heat and the feel of his skin on her palm made her instinctively retract her hand in fright. Tyler inhaled sharply as his voice boomed low, betraying undercurrents of agony he was bearing with. ¡°Don¡¯t dilly -dally. Hurry up.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know how she survived the ordeal. Her entire body was tense except for her hand, which was moving very mechanically. Each passing second felt like torture to her. She asked Tyler cautiously, ¡°Is the speed okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Rachel eximed, shutting up immediately. After a while, Rachel¡¯s hand started to ache, but Tyler was showing no signs of being done. ¡°How much longer do you need?¡± His voice lower and more hoarse, Tyler said, ¡°Almost there.¡± Ding! The doorbell suddenly rang, and Rachel instinctively made a move to pull her hand back in shock. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Stay focused.¡± Rachel asked anxiously, ¡°Aren¡¯t you almost done?¡± some more, and we¡¯ll be here even longer,¡± Tyler said tly, but his tone sounded much better than before, as if he wasn¡¯t in that much pain anymore. Rachel had no choice but to ignore the knocking on the door A few secondster, Tyler spoke, the rity in his voice restored. ¡°GO open the door.¡± Rachel heaved a long sigh of relief and stood up to wash her hands, not daring to even peek at him. She then took a towel to wrap herself up before heading over to open the door. The moment she did, she saw Yvette standing right outside ring at her with eyes filled with hatred. Yvette could sense something was wrong in the air. Jealousy grew in her heart when she noticed how drenched Rachel was. She pped Rachel hard. ¡°You¡¯ve thoroughly embarrassed the Lloyd family!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t see the ping; her brows knitted tightly, her face snapping to one side. Yvette was furious¨Cshe had prepared that wine for herself and simply needed Rachel to pass it to Tyler. That would save her a lot of trouble. She could tell that Tyler was a tough it to crack, so she wanted to snag him in one fell swoop. As long as they had a roll in the hay, she would kick up a huge fuss, and Tyler would be left with no choice but to be responsible for her. ¡°I waited for you out here for so long! You said you¡¯de back, but look what happened! You were here, fooling around with Tyler!¡± she screeched. Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed; she cupped a hand over her cheek as she looked at Yvette. Her cold eyes sent a shiver down Yvette¡¯s spine, who looked away evasively. ¡°What¡­what are you looking at me like that for? Who¡¯s the one in the wrong now?¡± ¡°You are! Who told you to drug Tyler¡¯s wine? You¡¯ll bring harm upon the Lloyd family!¡± Rachel roared. Did Yvette not know what Tyler was capable of? From where did she get the guts to scheme against him? However, it did not dawn upon her the severity of the consequences of her actions. Yvette simply wrapped her arms around her chest, scoffing, ¡°Quit trying to scare me! You¡¯re just trying to climb into Tyler¡¯s bed by using me as an excuse because you fancy him and don¡¯t want me to marry into a wealthy family so easily. William has fallen out of love with you, anyway. It¡¯spletely understandable that you¡¯re looking for a new target right now!¡± Her Exit 105 ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have snatched him from me! Rachel, who do you think you are? Do you think you¡¯re still the heiress of the Lloyd family? I¡¯m telling you, quit dreaming! I¡¯m the only legitimate daughter of the Lloyd family, while you¡¯re nothing!¡± Yvette spat viciously. ¡°And who do you think you are?¡± A voice growled from inside the room. Tyler stepped out in a bathrobe, his hair still wet at the ends. His gaze was prating, and the sharp arch of his brow was enough to silence another. The hair on Yvette¡¯s arms stood on end when she saw Tyler¡¯s expression. Immediately, her face turned pale with fright. ¡°I¡­ Mr. Hunt, don¡¯t believe a word of what my sister said! She was the one who drugged your drink! She wanted to find a chance to hook up with you and then pin the me on me!¡± Rachel looked at Yvette in disbelief; she didn¡¯t expect thetter to push the me entirely on her. Tyler raised a hand and rubbed his brow. ¡°Is that so? I was wondering why she was so eager to raise a toast to me.¡± Seeing that Tyler was convinced, Yvette continued embellishing her story. ¡°I even advised her against it, and reminded her that she¡¯s already married. If William found out, how would she exin things to the Lewises? But she insisted on doing it anyway!¡± Tyler shot Yvette azy nce, then asked tly, ¡°So why didn¡¯t she seize the chance to sleep with me just now? I¡¯ve been here waiting for her for hours.¡± ¡°She¡­¡± Yvette couldn¡¯t seem to wrap her head around what Tyler just said. In fact, she thought she had misheard him. Rachel didn¡¯t sleep with him¡­? How could that be? Why would she be drenched if she didn¡¯t do anything with Tyler? Rachel scoffed and admonished her, ¡°What else could I be doing aside from cleaning up your mess? Don¡¯t you know that you can lower the body temperature with cold water and alleviate the effects of the drug?¡± Yvette was no fool. She pursed her lips and said dismissively, ¡°Rachel, who are you trying to fool? The drug is so potent, how could its effects be alleviated with some cold water? I¡­¡± She broke off, realizing she had inadvertently exposed herself. Rachel and Tyler exchanged knowing nces. The truth was out. Tyler¡¯s voice rang coldly in Yvette¡¯s ears, ¡°I¡¯ll speak with your father about this.¡± Yvette¡¯s knees went weak, and she had to hold herself up against the door frame. Her lips trembling, she sputtered, ¡°L¡­I didn¡¯t mean it. It was Rachel! She offered to introduce me to you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t spare her, either.¡± Tyler threw Rachel a side nce which can ¨C He won¡¯t spare her? But didn¡¯t she help him out earlier? Wasn¡¯t that considered an effort on her part to make amends? Had Rachel known how foolish Yvette was, she would never have agreed to help. Yvette didn¡¯t dare to provoke Tyler further, she could only try to make Rachel shoulder the me. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re the cause of this mess! You¡¯d better clean up after yourself, or I¡¯ll tell William what happened between you and Tyler today. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯ll exin to him why you were alone with a man in a hotel room!¡± With that, Yvette turned to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± Her Exit 106 Annoyed, Yvette snapped, ¡°What else¡­¡± Smack! A loud p sounded along the corridor, Tyler whistled, impressed by the sudden turn of events. Yvette stared wide¨Ceyed in shock at Rachel. ¡°How dare you p me! Rachel, have you lost your mind? How could you p me?¡± Rachel ignored the rage and shock in Yvette¡¯s eyes. It had been so long since she had pped someone, her hand was starting to tingle and go numb from the impact. Shaking her hand, she said calmly, ¡°So what? Did you forget that you pped me earlier? Of course, I had to return the favor.¡± Yvette¡¯s eyes widened further. Something snapped inside of her and she transformed into an aggressive shrew from the boonies, looking nothing like the heiress of a wealthy family she imed to be. She started shrieking at the top of her lungs, the sound resembling that of a dying cat. ¡°What right do you have to p me? Rachel, who the hell do you think you are? All you did was take my ce as the fake heiress of the Lloyd family for a few years! Do you really see yourself as the real heiress? You thief! You stole my life!¡± Yvette pointed a finger at Rachel, who in turn grabbed her wrist and red icily at her. ¡°Yvette, get this straight. Even if I weren¡¯t part of the Lloyds, I¡¯m still the mistress of the Lewis household. What right do you have to point fingers at me?¡± Rachel snarled. Yvette¡¯s body shook with anger. She had fully expected Rachel to live in disgrace after being chased out of the Lloyd family, and not behave as arrogantly as she was right now. Tyler lifted a hand and ran his fingers through his tousled hair. Beads of water sprayed out onto Yvette¡¯s face. He leaned leisurely against the door frame, crossing his legs and tilting his chin at Yvette. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve embarrassed yourself enough. Why aren¡¯t you leaving yet?¡± Yvette bit her lip and red furiously at Rachel before storming off. After she finally left, Rachel stumbled a few steps back, feeling as though all her energy had been sucked out of her. Tyler held her steady, but didn¡¯t forget to sneer at her. ¡°After all that, it turns out that you¡¯re just a paper tiger.¡± Rachel threw him a side nce before holding herself up against the door frame. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, isn¡¯t it?¡± Tyler wrapped his arms around his chest and joked, ¡°You used your hand. I didn¡¯t make you move your body.¡± Rachel was so embarrassed by Tyler¡¯s scious words that he didn¡¯t dare to look at him. Her priority right now was to deal with her soaked clothes. Yvette always did whatever she pleased; Rachel feared the trouble that might befall her if Yvette exposed the fact that she was in a hotel room with Tyler. She was about to call the receptionist to ask a staff member for help to buy an outfit for her at the nearest shopping mall when Tyler stopped her. ¡°Are you sure you can wait till they deliver the clothes here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Rachel said with furrowed brows Tyler drawled, ¡°Shall I lend you the bathrobe I¡¯m wearing? Rachel arched a brow at him. Ding! The doorbell rang. Rachel¡¯s heart was in her throat as she looked in the direction of the door. Tyler¡¯s brows arched as he voiced Rachel¡¯s concerns, ¡°Could it be William?¡± Rachel clenched her fists. Thest time she was drugged, Tyler was at least fully dressed. This time, though, things were different. There was no hint of Tyler being drugged, and Rachel waspletely drenched. She looked down at her clothes and saw them clinging to her body, exposing every curve. She would never be able to clear her name, no matter how hard she tried. Tyler didn¡¯t even bother to remind her of the state she was in, despite knowing full well about it. She gritted her teeth, checks flushing bright red. Damn that man! The doorbell rang again. Rachel looked nervously at it, anticipating her doom. ¡°I¡¯m opening the door,¡± Tyler announced tly. Rachel grabbed him anxiously. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! How will we prove our innocence if you open the door right now?¡± Her Exit 107 Yvette was probably cooking up a high tale to William right now. Tyler chuckled. ¡°What are you afraid of? He should be worried about Samantha and himself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. I just don¡¯t want more trouble.¡± Rachel was going to leave this town and simply wanted an amicable split with William. She treasured their rtionship when they were in love, and didn¡¯t want things to get too ugly now that she had decided to leave. It waspletely unnecessary. Tyler looked up and sighed. ¡°Fine. Since you helped me out just now, I¡¯ll very reluctantly save you this time. From now on, as long as I need you, you¡¯ll have to say yes with no strings attached.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Rachel said without any hesitation. She wouldn¡¯t be seeing Tyler again after this¨Cassuming she could get over this crisis in the first ce. Tyler stood up and walked to the door to open it. Before Rachel could make a run for it, the door swung open. In that split second, she considered taking her own life there and then. A man¡¯s words couldn¡¯t be trusted after all! Rachel shut her eyes. A stranger¡¯s voice rang in the air. ¡°Mr. Hunt, here¡¯s what you asked me to buy.¡± ¡°Okay. Is everything settled on William¡¯s end?¡± ¡°Yes, everything¡¯s settled. You¡¯ll have to be quick, though. We won¡¯t be able to hold him back for long.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Rachel opened her eyes, only to see a man in a suit speaking respectfully to Tyler, updating him about the situation. She gripped her chest and heaved a sigh of relief As it turned out, that wasn¡¯t William. Tyler seemed to have everything prepared, and that even included an outfit for her. She tried to recall what had happened earlier, but simply couldn¡¯t figure out when Tyler had the chance to call his assistant. He couldn¡¯t possibly have the power of foresight, could he? Rachel couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around it. After shutting the door, Tyler approached Rachel with a bag of clothes hanging on a finger. Azy smile stretched across his face as he asked with an arched brow, ¡°What are you doing standing here instead of getting dressed? Waiting for William toe?¡± Rachel snapped back to attention and took the bag from him. Just likest time, she found a fresh set of undergarments in the bag as well. She entered the washroom; by the time she got changed and walked out, she saw Tyler in a pair of pants hanging on his lean yet powerful waist. Sensing the gaze behind him, Tyler turned around, fishing a shirt off the bed and throwing it on. He shot Rachel a sideways nce and threatened, ¡°Keep looking, and I¡¯ll start charging a fee.¡± Rachel came back to her senses and pursed her lips out of embarrassment. Damn it! Why did she have to get caught peeking at him? Tyler buttoned his shirt up slowly before putting on his suit jacket. Rachel couldn¡¯t help but click her tongue in approval. Clothes make a man, indeed. Tyler was a walking mannequin, and his outfit entuated his great figure. Of course, she kept her thoughts to herself. When Tyler was finally done getting changed, Rachel urged, ¡°Can we leave now?¡± Tyler smoothed out his suit jacket. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¦° Right after they walked out the door, they heard hurried footsteps down the corridor and William¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you sure Rachel and Tyler are inside?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain! Tyler was in a bathrobe, and it was just the two of them in the hotel room. Rachel even had him drugged! She¡¯s clearly disregarding you and the family¡¯s reputation!¡± Rachel had to fight the urge to storm up to Yvette and p that girl again. She had expected Yvette to talk nonsense before William, but she didn¡¯t expect the story to be so far¨Cfetched. She looked around them, seeing only hotel rooms with no passage in sight. They were bound to meet. Her Exit 108 Rachel started to panic and subconsciously looked at Tyler, ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°If all else fails,¡± Tyler said with a shrug, ¡°we¡¯ll just have to go back.¡± Rachel¡¯s brows knitted tightly. ¡°What¡¯s the point? We¡¯ll end up being found out, anyway.¡± William would surely search every nook and cranny of that room. Rachel had seen theyout of the room herself, and knew there was nowhere they could hide. The footsteps drew nearer, and Rachel clenched her fists tighter. Her heart beat wildly, and she started breathing rapidly. Suddenly, a phone rang, The sound of footsteps faded along with it. Rachel guessed that William probably received a call. She had never wished so hard that Samantha was calling¨CSamantha was the only one who could make William pat everything down and rush to her side. The caller said something that displeased William. ¡°I don¡¯t have time right now! Give me a few minutes¡­ Got it. I¡¯ll head over right now, Wait for me at the hospital. Don¡¯t panic.¡± With that, William hung up. Yvette didn¡¯t expect this sudden turn of events. ¡°William, the room is right ahead! Turn that corner and you¡¯ll see it!¡± ¡°There¡¯s an emergency, and I need to rush to the hospital.¡± William stuffed his phone in his pocket and turned to leave. Yvette refused to let William leave just like that. She was on the verge of getting a sweet taste of revenge! The rich would never tolerate infidelity. What¡¯s more, this concerned not just William himself, but also the glory and reputation of his entire family. Whether it was true or fabricated, a simple rumor was enough to crush Rachel. The Lewis family didn¡¯t approve of William and Rachel¡¯s union in the first ce. As one of the most powerful and influential families in Yurelia City, why would they willingly let their son marry a deaf woman? To rub salt in their wound, Rachel was subsequently revealed not to be biologically rted to the Lloyd family. That was certainly a double¨Cwhammy for the Lewises. If it weren¡¯t for William going against all odds and insisting on being with Rachel at the expense of his own life, she would never have be Mrs. Lewis. ¡°I¡¯ll get to the bottom of thister.¡± We, ignoring Yvette¡¯s objections. Yvette ran in the direction William left, lifting the hem of her skirt and chasing after him. ¡°William¡­.!¡± When themotion along the corridor dled down with Wim and Yvette¡¯s departure, Rachel turned to say to Tyler, ¡°Let¡¯s go, too.¡± Worried about bumping into William and Yvette, Rachel had to leave by the back door with Tyler. When they finally safe in the car, she patted her chest and heaved a sigh of relief. Were Tyler sat in the driver¡¯s seat, pulling out his cigarette case and hunching over to bite one in his mouth. He asked darkly, ¡°What should I say if Williames to ask me about this?¡± Rachel looked at the Regal Vale Hotel through the window, ber eyes cold and pensive. ¡°Say whatever you want.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell him the truth, then,¡± Tyler replied with an arch of his brow. Rachel turned back to look at him. ¡°You¡¯re bent on destroying me!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you asking for it? The cheek of you to try to hook me up with your sister! Are you looking down on me?¡± His voice was dripping with displeasure. Rachel couldn¡¯t figure out where Tyler was going with this. She kept her silence, not knowing what to say. With a wave of her hand, she said irritably, ¡°Forget it! Just do whatever you want.¡± After all, William and Samantha never considered her feelings when they fooled around behind her back. Her Exit 109 Just then, her phone rang Rachel knew it was William calling even before she looked at the screen. Her brows furrowed. What was the meaning of this? William knew she couldn¡¯t hear him, so why was he deliberately calling her? Rachel ignored the call. Soon, William sent her a text. [Are you with Tyler?] Rachel sneered. What a busy man he was! He was probably busy keeping Samantha at the hospital. Why would he have the time to show her concern? Instead of replying to his question, Rachel asked him back: Where are you?] [I¡¯m outside, attending to something. Answer my question Rachel stared at his perfunctory response and couldn¡¯t be bothered to text a reply. She switched her phone off and said to Tyler, ¡°I¡¯m heading back.¡± Tyler pointed at her face. ¡°Like this?¡± That was when Rachel remembered the p Yvette gave her earlier. She left the hotel room in such a panic earlier. that shepletely forgot about it. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m heading back. Thank you in advance for Project Oasis.¡± With that, she opened the car door and hopped out. Tyler didn¡¯t stop her from leaving. He stared at her gaunt figure, which looked as though it had all of its energy sucked out. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. Was she that exhausted? Rachel hailed a cab by the roadside. When she opened the car door, she could feel the tugging ache in her right hand. Tyler reallysted way too long. Shouldn¡¯t things be quicker under the effects of an aphrodisiac? She once heard someone im that if it took a man very long to climax, it meant that he either had sex so frequently he was no longer so sensitive, or that he naturallysted long in bed. Which category did Tyler fall under? When Rachel arrived home, a familiar, sharinely sweet voice sounded through the door the moment she opened it. ¡°William, Rachel wouldn¡¯t be happy to find out you brought me home.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t even know where she is right now,¡± William said, clearly displeased. Samantha blinked at him with herrge, innocent eyes. ¡°William, don¡¯t overthink. There¡¯s probably a misunderstanding between Rachel and Mr. Hunt. She loves you so much, she would never do something to let you down! But since your rtionship with Mr. Hunt is so poor, Rachel really shouldn¡¯t get too close to him. And that proposal¨Care you sure Rachel was the one behind it? ¡°That can¡¯t be! It would be terrible if she really were helping Mr. Hunt to go against you! But it¡¯s fine. No matter what happens, the baby and I will always be by your side.¡± Rachel tightened her grip on the keys in her hand. Her feet felt like they were nailed to the ground, and she was unable pale as a ghost, and her heart skipped a beat. She felt her breath catch in her lungs, unable to take the breath. Samantha was pregnant! to move an inch. Her face went chalk¨Cwhite, No wonder William left in such a hurry after receiving the call. As it turned out, Samantha was pregnant. A bright female voice suddenly rang in the air. ¡°Rachel¡­? Why¡­why are you back?¡± Rachel snapped back to reality, and her gazended on Samantha¡¯s panicked face. She forced a smile on her face. ¡°Ms. Judd, what brings you here to my home?¡± Samantha stared at Rachel, her face ashen, As ifpletely forgetting that Rachel was deaf, she stammered, ¡°Some¡­something cropped up. Rachel, did you hear everything we said?¡± Her Exit 110 Chapter 10 The corners of Rachel¡¯s lips stretched into a smile as she stared at them, saying with feigned confusion, ¡°What did you say just now?¡± Realization dawned upon Samantha that Rachel was deaf and couldn¡¯t hear a word of what they said earlier. Samantha didn¡¯t actually mind Rachel knowing the truth, but right now was a critical period. If Rachel were to discover their affair, ask for a divorce, and drag William to court, she would have the right to half of his assets. Samantha forced a smile and said, ¡°Nothing. We were just talking bout the LS proposal. William said that it looked very much like something you would write.¡± The smile on her face looked so mild and harmless. ¡°I was just thinking, we¡¯re all in the samepany. Why would you stand on Mr. Hunt¡¯s side? Wouldn¡¯t that be helping our enemy?¡± ¡°Yes, I wrote the proposal,¡± Rachel admitted calmly. Samantha covered her mouth in shock and yelped, ¡°What did you say?! Rachel, you wrote the LS proposal? You¡¯re helping Tyler Hunt? Is it really as the rumors im¨Cthat you and Mr. Hunt are¡­ Rachel furrowed her brows as her tone turned somber, ¡°Ms. Judd, don¡¯t believe everything you hear. There¡¯s nothing between me and Tyler Hunt!¡± Compared to William and Samantha, her dealings with Tyler were at the very least kept strictly work¨Crted. What was more, she had no feelings whatsoever for that man. Samantha¡¯s body started trembling at Rachel¡¯s stern rebuke. Her eyes turned red, and she sniffed, looking as though she had suffered grievous indignation. ¡°Rachel, I trust fully in you and Mr. Hunt. Those are just rumors that outsiders are spreading. Why are you being so fierce to me? Samantha then turned to look at William, tears welling up in her eyes. She looked so pitiful that one couldn¡¯t help but go soft on her. Even Rachel found it difficult to remain unmoved, not to mention a man. She knew she waspletely defeated with the advent of Samantha¡¯s tears. William flung the proposal in Rachel¡¯s direction. ¡°So you really were the one! You¡¯ve truly disappointed me. Everyone¡¯s tongues are wagging about your rtionship with Tyler. How will everyone in thepany and business circles talk about me once this proposal is announced?¡± Rachel opened her mouth, ready to rebut William; in the end, she said instead, ¡°This project was my mom¡¯s dying wish. It was the only thing I could do.¡± William had been hell¨Cbent on putting this project in Samantha¡¯s hands, disregarding Rachel¡¯s feelings and desirespletely. For the sake of Samantha¡¯s career prospects, he had no qualms about dismissing her mother¡¯s final wish on her deathbed. Since he gave her no way out, Rachel had to find a way out herself. William used to treat Rachel so well, she subconsciously relied on him in all things. That was why she didn¡¯t even realize it when William gave Samantha the rights to Project Oasis. Rachel had imagined all sorts of possibilities. She wasn¡¯t the only one eyeing the project, after all, and she kept her guard up against countlesspetitors. Yet, she never expected her most beloved man to be the one to stab her in the back. William¡¯s brows furrowed, the air around hiur turning icy. Rachel could sense the anger growing inside him. ¡°You could have told me if you really wanted the project. There was no need for you to do this. You should know the consequences!¡± he roared. Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back a sneer. What right did William have to stand before her and say all these things? She had approached him to discuss it. In fact, she nearly pleaded with him¨Conly to have him ask her to understand him and not put him on the spot. She wasn¡¯t putting him on the spot. She was only making things difficult for herself. Her Exit 111 Chapter 111 Wasn¡¯t that enough? Yet, Rachel no longer wanted to bring these up. There was no need for her to. It was time for their seven¨Cyear¨Clong rtionship to draw to a close. ¡°You¡¯ve already signed the contract, so there¡¯s no point discussing this. We should instead think about how to handle the project well. This project was birthed for the sake of thepany and not Ms. Judd, after all,¡± Rachel said. Samantha pursed her lips; she nced at Rachel as she said chokingly, ¡°But Rachel, what about me? After all this, this project no longer has anything to do with me anymore. It¡¯s very important to me. Without it, I have no way of gaining a foothold in the country.¡± ¡°Rachel, even if you wanted to be in charge of Project Oasis, you should be considerate of others. Samantha poured her heart and soul into this project, too! And now, you¡¯re just kicking her out for no good reason. That¡¯s simply too much!¡± William said coldly. Rachel arched a brow. Was she too much? She wouldn¡¯t have uttered a word if Samantha¡¯s proposal had been decent. Yet, Samantha didn¡¯t even bother correcting the typos in the document. She did try to make way for Samantha, so much so that she found it going against her conscience. Rachel looked indifferently at Samantha¡¯s red¨Crimmed eyes and the pitiful indignation on thetter¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve been giving in to her, and you know that. If she¡¯s still willing to work hard and contribute to the project, I can involve her. However, I must have ultimate say over the design direction of Project Oasis.¡± She said it so coolly and matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, it made her sound even more imposing. Samantha shook her head, her cheeks flushed, a hurt look in her eyes. ¡°Rachel, I know I might not be good enough for your standards. Don¡¯t worry. Since the project is so important to you, I¡­I won¡¯t hold you back.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Rachel agreed, not bothering to put up any pretense. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t ask for too much! Lewis Enterprise is the one with the ultimate say over Project Oasis.¡± William¡¯s brows furrowed as he looked at Rachel. ¡°Add her name to the papers! Even if she¡¯s just assisting, it would still bolster her career prospects. That¡¯s what I promised her mother. Rachel, you can¡¯t make me go back on my word to a dying woman.¡® ¡± Rachel could sense that William was hell¨Cbent on ensuring Samantha¡¯s involvement in the project, even if Samantha weren¡¯t the one calling the shots. At the very least, there would be a shadow of her participation when the project eventually drew to a close. Rachel nced at William. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Also, your sister told me she saw you and Mr. Hunt in a hotel room, and he was drugged. Is that true?¡± William¡¯s gaze was fixed on Rachel as he threw the question at her making her hair stand on end. She knew clearly that William would no doubt find the answer to his question if he set his mind on investigating the matter. Hiding the truth would only invite trouble for herself. Rachel straightened herself up, took a few breaths to steady herself, and said frankly, ¡°Yes.¡± William¡¯s eyes darkened as his brows furrowed tightly. ¡°So you two¡­¡± Before William could go on, Samantha grabbed William¡¯s arm anxiously. Chapter in ¡°William, don¡¯t make blind guesses! How could Rachel do somethi misunderstanding somewhere.¡± William¡¯s eyes narrowed, a storm brewing in them. His gazended on Rachel once more. ¡°I don¡¯t remember you wearing this dress at the banquet.¡± Chapter III ¡°William, don¡¯t make blind guesses! How could Rachel do something like that behind your back? There must be a misunderstanding somewhere.¡± William¡¯s eyes narrowed, a storm brewing in them. His gazended on Rachel once more. ¡°I don¡¯t remember you wearing this dress at the banquet.¡± Her Exit 112 Chapter 112 ¡°I was helping Mr. Hunt into the washroom and identally got soine water sshed on me. Mr. Hunt¡¯s assistant helped buy this outfit for me.¡± Rachel sounded neither offensive nor defensive; she spoke without so much as a twitch in her eyebrow, making it difficult for William to find anything suspicious in her tone. Samantha asked curiously, ¡°How did you help Mr. Hunt alleviate the effects of the drug? I heard that it¡¯s impossible to resist them just by sheer willpower!¡± Smiling, she exined further, ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m not doubting your and Mr. Hunt¡¯s innocence. I¡¯m just curious. I don¡¯t know much about it, and only heard about it on TV.¡± Her words deliberately pushed Rachel into the eye of the storm. Samantha was no stranger to the birds and the bees. Everyone knew that ordinary people would find it nearly impossible to ovee the effects of such aphrodisiacs. 1 Although William didn¡¯t ask any further, the look in his eyes made it clear that he was waiting for Rachel¡¯s response. The tension in the room was palpable. Rachel felt her breath catch in her throat and her heart race. She alone knew how antsy she felt inside despite how calm andposed she remained on the outside. She clenched her fists so hard, her nails dug into the flesh of her palms. The sudden, sharp pain made her flinch and dispelled the haze in her mind. The moment Samantha and William found something amiss, things would only be more troublesome from here onward. She had to get past this as calmly as she could manage. Rachel took a deep breath and tilted her head to look at William. ¡°Others might not be able to resist the effects of the drug, but you know Tyler and how mind¨Cboggling his tolerance level is. You can¡¯tpare him with normal people.¡± Rachel knew how risky her answer was. In fact, the alternative of telling a fib would probably have been a safer option. However, she knew clearly that a lie would need to be covered up by even more lies. The more lies she told, the more loopholes in her story. She would rather tell the truth. Aside from one particr detail, she had no qualms about telling William everything else. William was no strange to Tyler¡¯s astonishing tolerance level. In that regard, Tyler was no human but a beast instead. He was capable of things beyond human ability in many aspects, tolerating things many others found impossible. He tolerated not bypromising his standards, but by being excellent at adapting to situations. Rachel had no clue about the background of William¡¯s rtionship with Tyler, but each time she mentioned Tyler, she could clearly sense something amiss in William¡¯s mood. Silence ensued in the room. William¡¯s face fell, but he kept quiet, his silence a form of torment to Rachel. She felt so nervous, she could hardly breathe: A momentter, William retracted his gaze and said, ¡°Once Project Oasises to an end, I hope you¡¯ll cease all interactions with Tyler. You know how I am, Rachel.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± sheplied obediently. Even without William asking for it, Rachel had set her mind to avoid all other interactions with Tyler from now on. Rachel returned to her room and was opening the door when she heard Samanthia asking William in that cloyingly sweet voice,¡± William, isn¡¯t it too much of us to force Rachel like this?¡± ¡°Not at all. She was the one who engaged in such dealings with Tyler Hunt behind my back in the first ce,¡± William remarked casually. Rachel stepped into her room and started packing her things. She led her luggage case with everything she wanted to bring with her, and ignored everything that William gave her. She had already sold everything she could in return for cash. In the road ahead of her, she had only herself to rely on. Cash was something she sorely needed. Thankfully, William didn¡¯t pursue the matter regarding Tyler any further. Yet, Rachel wondered if that was considered a good thing for her. Her Exit 113 After all, one would remain calm if one didn¡¯t care. It was exactly how Rachel felt about William and Samantha right now; she didn¡¯t care about them one bit. This was probably how an utterly broken heart felt. Just as well¨Can amicable split was miles better than an ugly separation. At night, when Rachel stepped out of the washroom fresh from a shower, someone barged into her room and gave her a huge fright. She instinctively tightened her grip over the towel and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that it was Samantha. The next moment, her brows furrowed. ¡°Ms. Judd, don¡¯t you know that it¡¯s basic courtesy to knock before entering someone else¡¯s room?¡± Samantha looked down awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rachel. I forgot.¡± Rachel released the hand clutching her chest and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°William bought supper and wants you to join us.¡± Rachel hesitated for a moment. Samantha spoke as though she were the mistress of the house¡ªas if Rachel was the guest Samantha was inviting for a meal. Samantha saw the hesitation in Rachel¡¯s eyes; she btedly realized what her tone insinuated and exined anxiously, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rachel! That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯ve always been by myself, you see. Now that you and William are by my side, I feel such an intimate sense of kinship, and I made a slip of the tongue. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Samantha then drew nearer to Rachel. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind, would you, Rachel?¡± Rachel forced a smile on her face, not knowing what to say. Samantha had said it all. She decided to let things go and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go have supper.¡± With that, she brushed past Samantha and left the room. William opened the takeout boxes and waved a hand at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, 113 If William¡¯s parents knew about Samantha¡¯s baby, they would be ted. Over the years, they had been pressuring Rachel and William to have a baby. Much to Rachel¡¯s disappointment, she never got pregnant. It made his parents dislike her even more. Samantha¡¯s pregnancy was a clear sign that Rachel¡¯s marriage to William was doomed to end. William sensed something amiss with Rachel and gently knocked on the table before her. ¡°Rachel, is the food not to your liking? 11 Rachel snapped back to attention and forced a smile on her face. ¡°No, I just don¡¯t have much appetite.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like the barbecued meat from this eatery?¡± Rachel put down her fork and said tly, ¡°I like the one at the North Coast. Samantha¡¯s the one who likes this.¡± 20 BONUS Chapter 14 Her Exit 114 William¡¯s hand froze mid¨Cair as the corner of his lips twitched. He was suddenly at a loss for words. Like a mediator, Samantha tried to smooth things over. ¡°Rachel, it was probably an honest mistake on William¡¯s part. Dont get mad at him. He just bought food from the wrong restaurant. I¡¯m quite free now, so I can buy what you like for you.¡± With that, Samantha put her fork down at once and grabbed her phone, making a move to leave. She made sure to remind William, ¡°Stay here and keep Rachelpany at home. I¡¯ll go get the food. Rachel, text me the dishes you like.¡± Before Rachel could respond, William stood up to grab Samantha¡¯s wrist. His eyes turned dark as he said with displeasure,¡± There¡¯s no need for you to go! How is the barbecued meat from the South Coast and North Coast different? You probably won¡¯t be able to buy any food at this hour, anyway. I¡¯ll buy it for her nother time.¡± ¡°William, don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Samantha insisted. ¡°Rachel wants it. She has been a great help at work, and it¡¯s time for me to repay her kindness. Please, just let me go.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sote! It¡¯s too dangerous for ady like you to be out there alone.¡± Rachel saw the tense muscles in William¡¯s jaw, betraying the anxiety he was feeling. She couldn¡¯t hold back a sneer. What were the two of them doing, putting on an act before her? She hadn¡¯t uttered a word, and she certainly did not insist that Samantha buy food for her. Why were they being all emotional? Hi a you to go alone. Why not have William go with you? William¡¯s brows furrowed as he tried to suppress the anger rising in his chest. ¡°Must you have it at this hour? Can¡¯t you just make apromise? Rachel, since when did you learn how to force others to do your bidding?¡± Rachel pursed her lips and tilted her chin at Samantha, who was looking all mild and innocent. ¡°Ms. Judd was the one who insisted on buying it for me.¡± Samantha tugged William¡¯s arm and said, ¡°This has nothing to do with Rachel. I to do it of my own ord. Don¡¯t be mad.¡± Anger burned in William¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve made myself clear. It¡¯s veryte now. If someone must go, it¡¯ll be me.¡± With that, he turned to say to Rachel, ¡°Samantha¡¯s mother was just discharged from the hospital and is resting at home. She has a nurse with her, and there¡¯s no more space in the house. Samantha will be staying at our ce for a few days.¡± It wasn¡¯t a discussion or a question¨Cit was a deration. Samantha shrank back and looked fearfully at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, if you find it inconvenient, I can leave right away. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t put you and William on the spot.¡± Rachel could clearly see through Samantha¡¯s poor acting. No decent woman would seek help from a married man and ask to stay in his home. Was there ack of hotel rooms in Yurelia City? Not since thest time Rachel checked. Must Samantha stay in their house? Or was William worried that someone might kidnap Samantha in the deep of the night? Yet, Rachel knew deep down in her heart that William was bent on keeping Samantha in their house. Chapter 114 A wide smile stretched across Rachel¡¯s face. She said brightly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t mind it. You¡¯re such a filial daughter, Samantha Coincidentally, Cecilia needs my help at her home for the time being. You can take my room.¡± Rachel refused to live in the same space as Samantha and William she was worried her stomach might churn in disgust. Her Exit 115 It was also a good chance for Rachel to spend more time with Cecil before she left for good. Samantha looked coyly at Rachel, her ears turning pink. ¡°Rachel, are you deliberately staying elsewhere because you don¡¯t want to see me?¡± ¡°Not at all! Please make yourself at home,¡± Rachel said generously The knot on William¡¯s brows unravelled at Rachel¡¯s words. He reassured Samantha, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since Rachel has said so, just make yourselffortable here. I might not be able toe home on days when I work overtime at the office, so remember to lock the door.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t be bothered to stick around and watch the put on an act. She was racking her brain for a way to take her leave when her phone rang. Her tense muscles rxed. She had never wanted to Ceive a call as badly as she did right now. She waved her phone at Samantha and William. ¡°I need to take a call. Please continue eating.¡± Rachel returned to her room, and saw that her grandfather was calling. She really didn¡¯t want to speak to him, but she knew she still had to, especially since her mother¡¯s affairs remained unresolved. Rachel cut the call off and sent her grandfather a text. [Is there something you need?] She tried to keep her tone respectful yet distant, aplete contrast to the closeness shared between family members. [Come home at once.] As usual, his tone bore no affection, only amand. Rachel didn¡¯t say no to him. She had to face up to it sooner orter, anyway. She tapped on the screen. [Okay.] Rachel put her phone aside, took a deep breath, and opened the door once more. The living room was empty, save for the half¨Ceaten food left on the table. William and Samantha were basking in the joy of Samantha¡¯s pregnancy and didn¡¯t notice her at all. She retracted her gaze and left the house with her luggage case in tow. Outside the district, she gave Cecilia a call. Cecilia was surprised to hear from Rachel at this house. ¡°Rachel, why are you calling me sote? Did something happen?¡± Based on what Cecilia knew of Rachel, thetter would never call her at such ate hour unless it was something very important. Rachel coughed; feeling slightly awkward, she asked, ¡°Cecilia, may I stay at your house for a few days?¡± ¡°Sure, but it¡¯s quite crowded here, especially with a kid around. If you find it troublesome, I can stay with you in a hotel.¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t probe for the reason. Rachel would tell her if she wanted to. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll just stay for a couple of days. But before that, I need to visit my old home.¡± ¡°Sure. Call me once you¡¯re done. I¡¯m still at the office, tied up with work.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t surprised to hear that. Given the situation that Lewis Enterprise was in, working overtime was nothing out of the ordinary. They had to deal with theirpetitor, LS Enterprise, after all. After hanging up, Rachel went straight to her old home. She could hear someone crying and wailing from outside the door ¡°Grandpa, you have to stand up for me! No matter what, she shoul given her the chance!¡± Yvette flung herself on a chair as tears fell down her cheeks, deepe ¡°But she really shouldn¡¯t have pped me in front of Mr. Hunt. Gr Rachel sighed helplessly. She knew there would be a battle waiting for her back at her old he ¡°Grandpa, you have to stand given her the chance!¡± up for me! No matter what, she shouldn¡¯t have done that. If s I she wanted! Mr. Hunt, I would have Yvette flung herself on a chair fell as tears down her cheeks, deepening her usations against Rachel. ¡°But she really shouldn¡¯t have pped me in front of Mr. Hunt. Grandpa, look at how hard she hit me¡­it still hurts.¡± Rachel sighed helplessly. She knew there would be battle a waiting for her back dhome. at her old) E Her Exit 116 Chapter 116 A maid called out, ¡°Ms. Lloyd is back.¡± Yvette¡¯s face twisted with fury. The moment she saw Rachel, her anger red even hotter. She snapped at the maid, ¡°Ms. Lloyd? She¡¯s not even a real daughter of the Lloyd family. Who are you calling Ms. Lloyd?¡± Startled by Yvette¡¯s outburst, the maid shrank back and didn¡¯t dare say another word. Rachel, however, walked in calmly. She patted the maid¡¯s shoulder before looking at Yvette and said, ¡°If you¡¯re angry, take it out on me. What¡¯s the point of yelling at her?¡± Yvette clenched her jaw tightly, her face streaked with tears. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯ve got the nerve toe back? If it weren¡¯t for you, I would¡¯ve ended up with Tyler! ¡°And now? You¡¯ve gotten everything. You must be proud of yourself, right? The two biggest names in Yurelia City both fell for you.¡± Rachel scoffed. She gave Yvette a slow, side¨Ceyed nce. ¡°Is your only purpose in life to sleep with men?¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°Enough! Both of you, stop fighting.¡± Gerald mmed his hand on the table. He looked at Rachel sternly. ¡°Rachel, answer me. Was it really you in the room with Tyler, not your sister?¡± ¡°That¡¯s only because she-¡± ¡°I only need a yes or no.¡± Rachel narrowed her eyes. ¡°Yes.¡± Gerald continued speaking. ¡°And the p? Was that your doing too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gerald nodded slightly, deep in thought. He then got up and walked over to Rachel. He stared at her for a few seconds. Suddenly, a loud p echoed through the living room. Everyone stood frozen, their eyes locked on Rachel. Rachel was caught off guard too. She only felt a sudden gust of wind brush past her cheek, followed by a sharp, burning pain and the sound of the p ringing in her ears. Yvette, who had been crying a moment ago, hadn¡¯t expected Gerald to actually p Rachel himself. She stood there in disbelief, mouth slightly ajar, staring at them. The shock onlysted a second. Soon enough, her surprise turned into smug satisfaction. ¡®Serves you right, Rachel. That¡¯s what you get for acting all high and mighty, and for stealing my man. You think you cany a hand on me just because of your status? Now, you¡¯re finally getting a taste of your own medicine.¡® Rachel held her cheek, trembling all over. Her gaze turned cold as she red at Gerald. Gerald, who had seen his fair share of storms, still felt a shiver run down his spine from that look. Rachel¡¯s gaze stayed firm as she said coldly, ¡°That p just settled the debt of all those years you raised me. From now on, if you every a hand on me again for Yvette¡¯s sake, I won¡¯t let it slide.¡± All these years, she knew Gerald had never liked her. She knew he resented her for taking the life that was supposed to belong to Yvette, his real granddaughter. Chapter 116 It wasn¡¯t like she had ever wanted that. Who would willingly live a life full of unpredictable lows and highs Did they really think giving up all the good things in life was easy? Even Yvette looked shocked for a moment. She hadn¡¯t expected Rachel to speak to Gerald like that. ¡®Has she lost her mind?¡® But soon, she sneered again. by over dat ¡°Rachel, who do you think you are to talk to Grandpa like that? Do you think a p is enough to repay everything the Lloyd family has given you? Dream on.¡± Rachel shot her a cold, sideways nce, and Yvette instantly felt like she had been dealt a heavy blow. Her Exit 117 Yvette felt a sudden chill run down her spine. Rachel walked up to Yvette and said, ¡°Did you tell Grandpa it was you who drugged Tyler? He said to your face that he¡¯d being after the Lloyd family for answers. ¡°So instead of wasting time on me, maybe you two should start figuring out how to deal with Tyler. I don¡¯t need to tell you how difficult he is to handle.¡± At the thought of Tyler¡¯s facial expression back then, Yvette instantly started to panic. Gerald instinctively turned to look at Yvette. ¡°Is what Rachel said the? Did you drug Tyler?¡± Yvette stepped back reflexively. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice, Grandpa. Tyler clearly wasn¡¯t interested in me. If I hadn¡¯t done something, I wouldn¡¯t have even gotten close to him.¡± As she spoke, she pointed at Rachel and shifted all the me to her ¡°It¡¯s her fault! She ruined everything! If it weren¡¯t for her, Tyler and I would already be together. With pressure from the public, he would¡¯ve had no choice but to marry me!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t bother hiding her scorn, mocking Yvette¡¯s delusion without restraint. ¡°Yvette, are you out of your mind? Do you really think Tyler can be so easily manipted by women? ¡°Even if he didn¡¯t realize what you did right away, do you think he¡¯d let you threaten him afterwards? ¡°If you end up taking the fall for this mess, fine. But if he decides toe after the Lloyd family too; your days as the Lloyd family¡¯s darling are over.¡± Rachel rarely interacted with Yvette, and now she realized just how stupid she really was. Yvette was reckless. She always charged blindly ahead. Even someone like William was wary of Tyler. How dare the Lloyd family mess with him? Gerald¡¯s expression turned even gloomier as Rachel spoke. He turned to Yvette and yelled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you talk to me before doing something like this?!¡± Yvette shrank back, her shoulders hunched. ¡°I thought it would be faster this way. You told me to slowly build a connection with Tyler, but he acts like he doesn¡¯t even see me. How am I supposed to get close to someone like that?¡± ¡°That still doesn¡¯t justify using such despicable methods!¡± Gerald had been furious with Rachel at first, but now most of his anger was directed at Yvette. He couldn¡¯t believe she stooped so low. Rachel wasn¡¯t interested in watching the two of them argue. She waved her hand. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Wait! Rachel, you caused this mess. Do you think you can just walk away like that?¡± Yvette rushed forward and grabbed Rachel by the wrist. Rachel¡¯s gaze turned cold and her tone became forceful. ¡°Let go.¡± Yvette flinched under her re, but she held on. If Rachel left now, she¡¯d be left to take the full brunt of Gerald¡¯s rage. He might actually beat her to death. ¡°I¡¯m not letting go,¡± Yvette said stubbornly. ¡°You haven¡¯t exined everything. How was the drug in Tyler¡¯s system handled? Shouldn¡¯t you tell Grandpa? Didn¡¯t William ask you anything?¡± As she spoke, Rachel saw a flicker of smugness in Yvette¡¯s eyes. Rachel pursed her lips and shook her hand free with a look of pure disdain. ¡°Get lost. That p I gave you? Gerald already avenged you. But if you keep pestering me, I won¡¯t mind giving you another.¡± Yvette clenched her jaw so tightly it looked like her teeth might break. Her eyes burned with hatred as she stared at Rachel. ¡°If you don¡¯t clear this up right now, I¡¯m not letting you go. Did you skep with Tyler or not?¡± ¡°Oh, what a coincidence. I was just about to ask what kind of drug you gave me. Why were the effects so intense?¡± X Her Exit 118 Everyone in the living room stiffened the moment they heard that cold, deep voice. Only Tyler could speak with such charisma. All of Yure City knew that if a voice alone could make one¡¯s skin crawl and breath hitch, it had to be his. Rachel froze on the spot. It was as if her feet weighed a million pounds. She couldn¡¯t move. She hadn¡¯t expected Tyler to show up at the Lloyd residence, especially not at this hour. Even if Yvette had drugged him, it hadn¡¯t done any real harm. She had assumed Tyler¡¯s words to Yvette earlier had just been an empty threat. She had never thought he¡¯d actuallye here to confront them. Dressed as always in a ck suit, Tyler looked even more formidable tonight. His defined features and cold aura gave him an almost inhuman edge. His tailored suit hugged his tall frame perfectly, and the dark tie only emphasized his elite demeanor. His usually tousled hair was slicked back today, adding an even fiercer edge to his brow line. He strode in and sat down with his legs crossed. His gaze was unreadable. Every inch of him radiated aloof dominance. The moment Gerald saw Tyler, his stern expression turned into a smile. ¡°Mr. Hunt! What a surprise! If we¡¯d known you wereing, we would¡¯ve prepared something ahead of time.¡± Tyler nodded. ¡°Gerald, how¡¯s your health these days?¡± Gerald nodded eagerly. ¡°Pretty good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I¡¯d hate for you to copseter.¡± Tyler ced one elbow on the armrest,zily tapping a finger against his cheek. Despite the casual posture, his voice made the entire room hold their breath. Rachel snapped out of her shock and took a deep breath. This man really said whatever he wanted. In the Lloyd family, Gerald was the undisputed authority. He¡¯d served in the military, and that tough, unyielding personality of his had never changed. He didn¡¯t tolerate opposition. That was why Jim had never been able to convince him to let Rachel move in after they got married. Jim couldn¡¯t defy Gerald, and Rachel wasn¡¯t someone who liked being controlled. Living under the same roof would¡¯ve only brought Jim more trouble. In the end, she had chosen to move out and enjoy her freedom. Gerald was clearly taken aback by Tyler¡¯s blunt words. The smile on his face began to fade, and his tone turned solemn,ced with a tinge of anger. ¡°Mf. Hunt, what¡¯s the meaning of that? Are you not here as a guest? Or are you here to settle a score?¡± Tyler lightly drummed his fingers against the table. His gaze was sharp and unreadable, and although he sat calmly, the air around him felt tense. ¡°I¡¯m sure you already know what your granddaughter did. It seems that after switching heiresses, not only has the Lloyd family failed to rise in prestige, it¡¯s now dragging its name through the mud.¡± He smirked and he let out a soft chuckle. It wasn¡¯t loud, but everyone in the room heard it clearly. Yvette¡¯s face went pale. Gerald, hardened as he was by his years in the military, still held on to some traditional values. That was why bloodline and reputation mattered so much to him. Now, his tone softened a little. ¡°Yvette is still young. She must¡¯ve been misled by bad influences outside. Since I hear you weren¡¯t seriously affected, perhaps we can put this whole thing behind us. Could you agree to that for my sake? ¡°She¡¯s long admired you, Mr. Hunt, and just wanted to get to know you better through her sister. Really, it was Rachel who introduced the two of you in the first ce.¡± As he spoke, Gerald turned to Rachel with a frown. His voice was full of reproach. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s wrong with you? Your sister may be iminature, but you? How could you go along with this nonsense too?¡± Her Exit 119 Rachel stood silently nearby, but she couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. Gerald was shifting all the me onto her. Usually, he didn¡¯t even acknowledge her as part of the Lloyd family To him, she wasn¡¯t one of their own. She was just an outsider. But now that someone needed to take the fall for Yvette, He suddenly remembered Rachel was her older sister. Seeing the change in circumstances, Yvettte quickly chipped in. ¡°Yeah, this really has nothing to do with me. It was Rachel who told me to wait there. She said you were hard to deal with, Mr. Hunt, so I just came up with this idea.¡± Rachel honestly didn¡¯t even know what to say about this family anymore. Her entire existence boiled down to being a scapegoat for the Lloyds. She didn¡¯t defend herself. Just like Gerald said, perhaps this could be her way of repaying them for raising her all these years. Tyler¡¯s dark, icy gaze reflexively shifted to Rachel. Her right cheek was still red and slightly swollen. She kept her eyes down. Her expression was unreadable. She looked very thin and frail. Tyler narrowed his eyes and nced at her. His voice wasced with cold disdain. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, aren¡¯t you going to exin yourself?¡± Rachel merely smiled nonchntly. ¡°It was my fault. I was the one who suggested Yvette meet you. I handed that ss to you myself. If you want someone to be held ountable, that should be me.¡± Rachel thought that by doing this, Tyler might let the Lloyd family off the hook. But Tyler let out a sudden chuckle and mmed his palm on the table. The force of it echoed like a crashing wave. ¡°Do you people think I¡¯m an idiot? Or do you want me to pull up the security footage and see who actually drugged the ss?¡± Yvette¡¯s face turned ashen. Her legs nearly gave out from fear. Rachel stepped forward. She seemedposed on the surface, but her tightly clenched fists gave her away. She looked at Tyler and said, ¡°Mr. Hunt, even if this was Yvette¡¯s doing, I take full responsibility.¡± Yvette nodded frantically and seized the opportunity. ¡°Yes, yes! It was her fault! Mr. Hunt, she¡¯s just trying to use you to get further in life and dumped everything on me. She wanted me to drug you so she could take advantage of you while you were out of it. ¡°William¡¯s first love came back into the picture, and now she¡¯s looking for a new target. Unfortunately, you¡¯re the unlucky one she picked, Mr. Hunt.¡± Rachel frowned. She had intended to use this opportunity to repay the Lloyd family, and then never see them again. She didn¡¯t care about anything else after that. She hadn¡¯t expected Yvette to turn around andpletely sabotage her. Did Yvette think Tyler wouldn¡¯t be able to see who was actually behind all of this? Yvette noticed Tyler¡¯s increasingly unreadable expression and grew smug. In her mind, Rachel was just digging her own grave. She figured Rachel thought she was being clever by taking all the me, but she clearly had no idea what it meant to be too clever for her own good. Rachel simply opened her palms and looked at Yvette with an expression that said, ¡®I tried, but you¡¯re beyond saving.¡® ¡°Yvette, if you¡¯re dead set on self¨Cdestruction, I won¡¯t stop you,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Go ahead and tell Mr. Hunt the truth. It was you who drugged the drink. You were hoping to be his wife.¡± Yvette was stunned. She never expected Rachel to expose her like that right in front of Tyler. All eyes were on Tyler, waiting to see how he would react. Her Exit 120 Tyler chuckled softly before he lifted a hand to rub his forehead. His gaze swept across everyone present. ¡°The Lloyd family really is full of talent,¡± he said dryly. ¡°Gerald, if I were you, I¡¯d start treating Rachel like a gem. At least she wouldn¡¯t embarrass you in public. ¡°But with a mind like your second daughter¡¯s, bringing her out might just drag the Lloyd name through the mud.¡° Rachel couldn¡¯t help but nce at Tyler in surprise. She had to admit that this man really had no filter. He dared to say out loud what she never would¡¯ve dared to whisper in front of Gerald. Judging by the way Gerald¡¯s face had darkened, she wasn¡¯t the only one caught off guard. Yvette pursed her lips tightly, and her cheeks turned red from embarrassment. Rachel could practically feel how badly Yvette must have wanted the floor to swallow her whole. Being insulted like that in front of everyone was certainly humiliating. But Gerald wasn¡¯t the kind of man to just swallow an insult. He sped his hands behind his back, and his tone turned cold. ¡°Mr. Hunt, this is a private family matter. I don¡¯t see how it concerns an outsider like you.¡°. Most people would¡¯ve backed down at that point, but Tyler had never been the kind to know when to shut up. His calm voice rang out clearly in the room. ¡°Outsider? You must be joking, Gerald. I almost became your grandson¨Cinw.¡± As he said it, his gaze didn¡¯tnd on Yvette, but rather on Rachel. Rachel met his gaze, and suddenly, she thought of that night when Tyler was in the bathtub, and she used her hand- Flustered, she quickly looked away. Yvettepletely misunderstood what was being said. She thought Tyler still had some interest in her. Emboldened, she stepped forward. She fixed a seductive gaze on him. Her slender fingers brushed flirtatiously against the fabric of his suit. ¡°Mr. Hunt,¡± she purred. ¡°I know I was wrong this time, but could you give me another chance? I really think we¡¯d be a good match.¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow slightly, his proud andmanding eyes flicking over her. Yvette¡¯s heart leapt. She thought she saw hope. Tyler slowly reached out and ced his hand over hers. A smile crept onto her lips, only for Tyler to casually brush her hand away. His eyes were now full of disdain. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said tly. ¡°I¡¯m a bit of a clean freak. Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Yvette¡¯s smile faded away. The maids nearby struggled to hold back theirughter. Rachel almost cringed from secondhand embarrassment. Was it not obvious that Tyler had zero interest in Yvette? Yet, she insisted on throwing herself at him like that. Yvette¡¯s eyes welled with tears, and she bit her lip so hard it bled. Gerald¡¯s expression darkened in frustration. His granddaughter had just been publicly humiliated, and he¡¯d had enough. ¡°What exactly do you want, Mr. Hunt?¡± he asked coldly. Tyler ran a hand through his hair and lookedpletely unbothered. ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it, Gerald. Could¡¯ve saved us all some time if you¡¯d just asked that earlier.¡± He casually pointed at Yvette as he spoke again. His voice sounded calm yet stern. ¡°I don¡¯t hit women. So how about letting Rachel do it for me?¡± Yvette stared at Tyler in disbelief. ¡°What gives you the right? Mr. be sleeping together!¡± She pointed at Rachel fiercely. ¡°Rachel, at they find out? ¡°Your divorce isn¡¯t even finalized, and you¡¯re already hooking up what Mom was thinking, believing you were really her daughter. Yvette stared at Tyler in disbelief. ¡°What gives you the right? Mr. Hut, you¡¯re obviously protecting Rachel. The two of you must be sleeping together!¡± She pointed at Rachel fiercely. ¡°Rachel, aren¡¯t you afraid of what the Lewis family will do to you when they find out? ¡°Your divorce isn¡¯t even finalized, and you¡¯re already hooking up with another man. Where did you get the nerve? I don¡¯t know what Mom was thinking, believing you were really her daughter. You¡¯re a disgrace to this family!¡± Her Exit 121 Although Rachel had a mild temperament, she had finally reached her limit. Herposed expression now carried an icy edge, and the look in her eyes had turned stormy. She no longer seemed like someone who could be reasoned with. She slowly walked up to Yvette and stared at her for a few seconds Suddenly, she raised her hand and pped Yvette hard across the face. ¡°Ah!!¡± Yvette instinctively covered her mouth. She red at Rache. ¡°How dare you hit me in front of Grandpa?¡± ¡°So what?¡± Rachel asked calmly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear Mr. Hunt earlier? He said I could do it in his ce. One more thing, you can say whatever you want about me, but don¡¯t drag Mom into it. She¡¯s your mother too!¡± ¡°So what if she is? She always loved you more!¡± Yvette snapped. m her real daughter, and she still defended you at every turn! ¡°If she never wanted me, why bother giving birth to me in the first ce? Why should someone like you who¡¯s not even part of the family get to boss me around?¡± Yvette was visibly furious, and she raised her hand to strike back. A man¡¯s voice interrupted. ¡°Better think twice, Yvette. If you hit back, that¡¯ll just earn you another p. Like I said, I don¡¯t hit women. Rachel will be doing it for me.¡± Yvette¡¯s jaw trembled with barely contained anger. She really couldn¡¯t understand what was so great about Rachel that Tyler would actually step in to defend her. Rachel was still married. How could she possiblypare to someone like herself, who had never even been engaged? Still, Yvette had no choice but to slowly lower her raised hand. She turned around, eyes misty with tears, and looked pitifully at Gerald. ¡°Grandpa, you have to stand up for me. Rachel¡¯spletely out of control!¡± But Gerald didn¡¯t dare say anything harsh to Tyler. Tyler¡¯spany was at its peak. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before he overtook Lewis Enterprise. If they made an enemy out of him now, once Tyler became the dominant force in Yurelia City, squashing the Lloyd family would be a walk in the park for him. Gerald ced a hand on Yvette¡¯s shoulder and spoke softly. ¡°This time, we¡¯re in the . Just bear with it for now.¡±
  1. rs. She was still rying and covering her
Yvette¡¯s eyes welled with tears. Clenching her fists, she ran out of the room and upstairs. She face. Gerald sighed deeply and turned to the maids. ¡°Go up and calm her down.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Rachel stood there silently, watching it all unfold. She couldn¡¯t help but remember how, not so long ago, she was the one Gerald used to dote on like that. But now, all he saw was his real granddaughter, Yvette. Was blood really that important? After all these years living together, did none of that mean anything? Without saying a word, Rachel turned and walked away. From now on, Gerald could enjoy his life with his real granddaughter. As for her, the ¡®fake¡® one, she wouldn¡¯t being back. Tyler slipped his hands back into his pockets, watching the whole scene y out with an air of amusement. ¡°I¡¯ll let this matter go today,¡± he said casually. ¡°But I hope you make sure your granddaughter learns how to behave. Next time, don¡¯t embarrass yourselves with such disgusting tricks.¡± Gerald¡¯s face turned an ugly shade, but he couldn¡¯t find a single word to argue back. Outside, a cold wind swept across Rachel¡¯s face. The side of her cheek that had been pped earlier still throbbed faintly. She was reaching for her phone to get a ride when Tyler appeared beside her out of nowhere. ¡°I helped you out big time,¡± he said. His tone was light butced with sarcasm. ¡°Not even a thank¨Cyou? Is that how the Lloyd family teaches manners?¡± Her Exit 122 Rachel didn¡¯t bother arguing with Tyler. After all, his appearance had indeed helped her out today. But she wasn¡¯t naive enough to believe he did it just for her Tyler was the kind of man who lived for himself. He wasn¡¯t exactly the type to go around doing good deeds out of the kindness of his heart. So she just said inly, ¡°Thanks for your help today, Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler rubbed his forehead and nced at her sideways, clearly dissatisfied with the bare minimum of gratitude. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°What else do you want?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t a real thank¨Cyoue with some action?¡± He lifted his wrist and checked the time on his watch. ¡± Perfect timing for ate¨Cnight snack. I know a great barbecue ce. Let¡¯s go.¡± Without waiting for a response, Tyler grabbed Rachel by the wrist and started walking toward his car. ¡°But I have nster-¡± ¡°Eat first, talkter.¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t expected him to be this pushy, but then again, that was just who Tyler was. He did things his own way. Once he decided on something, no one could stop him. He¡¯d always had that kind of attitude. Before she could resist, he had already ushered her into the passenger seat. She instinctively turned and tried to get back out. ¡°No, seriously, I¡ª¡± Bang. The car door mmed shut in her face. Next second, he was in the driver¡¯s seat. The engine roared to life, and the sudden eleration pushed her back into the seat. Rachel instinctively grabbed the hand rest for support. Halfway through the drive, as the car finally slowed, she looked around the interior and realized this wasn¡¯t the same limited¨Cedition car Tyler had drivenst time. ¡°Is your other car still not fixed?¡± she asked without thinking. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s still in the shop.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. If it weren¡¯t for me-¡± No one had expected Howard to go that insane. He had chased after her and Tyler like a man possessed. ¡°Well, since you feel so bad, you should treat me to a few more meals,¡± Tyler said. He was driving with his usualnguid manner. One hand was on the steering wheel, his body leanedfortably back, and his other elbow rested on the window ledge. Rachel was starting to think that every time she saw him he always managed to find some excuse to get her to buy him food. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Mr. Hunt, does no one else ever invite you to dinner?¡± Tyler gave her a cold nce. ¡°What do you think?¡± Rachel answered honestly. ¡°Then why are you always trying to get me to do it?¡± That made Tylerugh. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, maybe you should do some self¨Creflection. What else do you have to offer me besides a meal?¡± It took her a second to realize what he meant. Honestly, she didn¡¯t have much else to offer in return for what he¡¯d done for her. A meal was the only thing she could think of. Still, she wasn¡¯t going to admit that so easily. ¡°I¡¯m notpletely useless, you know.¡± ¡°Oh, of course. You¡¯ve got more to offer than just food. You¡¯ve got quick hands too.¡± His tone was light, like he was making a joke, but the words carried a very specific memory. Rachel¡¯s cheeks instantly flushed bright red. Her ears were burning. She pursed her lips tightly and mumbled, ¡°Can you not bring that night up again?¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s a talent,¡± Tyler said in a perfectly serious tone. Rachel clenched her hands in herp, her face burning all the way to the tips of her ears. Tyler¡¯s brain truly operated on a different wavelength. Most people would¡¯ve been embarrassed, but he didn¡¯t even blink. Who on earth would want a talent like that? Since Rachel clearly couldn¡¯t shut him up, she changed the subject. ¡°I do have some responsibility for what happened with Yvette, but I had my reasons. I thought if I introduced her to you, even if it was something short¨Clived, at least Gerald would think she had a chance. ¡°If that worked, I could finally bring my mother¡¯s grave back home. I didn¡¯t want her to be all alone out there/ anymore.¡± Chapter 123 Her Exit 123 Chapter 123 Tyler was probably just bored, but for once, he actually showed some interest in gossip. ¡°So what¡¯s Gerald¡¯s problem with your mother, anyway?¡± Rachel lowered her gaze slightly. She pouted a little. Even her voice was more subdued than before. ¡°When Gerald found out I wasn¡¯t his biological granddaughter, he got it into his head that my mom had an affair with her first love, and that¡¯s how she had me. As for my dad, well, the entire Lloyd family has always been under Gerald¡¯s thumb. My dad never stood a chance. ¡°My stepmother used to be my dad¡¯s secretary. She talked trash behind my mom¡¯s back, stirred the pot, and even did some things to make my mom look bad. Even after they found out I wasn¡¯t the child of her first love, Gerald still insisted their rtionship wasn¡¯t clean. ¡°He refused to let my mom into the Lloyd family.¡± Just thinking about how much her mother gave to the Lloyd family made Rachel fume. It wasn¡¯t just that Gerald had looked down on her mother. It was that the entire Lloyd family didn¡¯t deserve her. Tyler rubbed his brows with a scoff. ¡°So you dragged me into all your family drama. I¡¯m just an innocent scapegoat, huh?¡± ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t right,¡± Rachel admitted with a flicker of guilt in her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m apologizing. Back then I thought that if by any chance you did like Yvette, then great. And if you didn¡¯t, well, no harm done.¡± She knew now she¡¯d oversimplified things. Tyler pulled the car around the corner and parked it with practiced ease. Rachel nced at his pale, well¨Cdefined fingers as they steered the wheel effortlessly. Even something as mundane as parking looked good when he did it. Attractive people really did look good no matter what they were doing. After unbuckling his seatbelt, Tyler let out a soft, amused grunt. ¡°You really think I¡¯d fall for that brainless sister of yours?¡± Rachel had noeback for that. Yvette was somewhat brainless. She thought everyone was as simple¨Cminded as she was. Did she really think someone capable of surpassing Lewis Enterprise in just two years would be some pushover? That thought reminded Rachel of something. She turned to Tyler. ¡°You¡¯re not the type to let your guard down. Are you saying you didn¡¯t notice anything weird in that drink that night?¡± She didn¡¯t buy it. Tyler wasn¡¯t the kind of man to leave himself vulnerable. Tyler smiled, and his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°I trusted you too much. Goes to show one should never trust a woman.¡® The more rxed and casual he acted, the more Rachel suspected he wasn¡¯t as careless as he seemed. But that was just her instinct. She had no proof he¡¯d really known what was in that drink. It didn¡¯t matter anymore. She unbuckled her seatbelt, got out of the car, and only then realized they were at a barbecue restaurant in Northshire. She hadn¡¯t been here in a long time. She¡¯d once mentioned this ce to William, hoping he¡¯d bring her here. When he finally did find the time to go get food, he brought back barbecue from Samantha¡¯s favorite ce instead. In the end, Rachel was never the one who mattered. Was this just a coincidence or had Tyler actually nned it? ¡°I heard this ce has decent reviews. No idea if it¡¯s actually any good,¡± Tyler said casually. Rachel gave a little shrug and smiled a little. ¡®Alright then.¡® She was definitely overthinking it. Her Exit 124 Rachel answered honestly, ¡°It¡¯s good. I¡¯ve been here before¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great. Don¡¯t say I¡¯m taking advantage of you. I¡¯m actually being pretty fair,¡± Tyler replied before he closed the car door and walked up beside Rachel. He yawned as he did so. Rachel felt like every time she saw Tyler, he always looked half¨Casleep, like he¡¯d just rolled out of bed. But at the office, he was cold and unapproachable like apletely different person. They picked a window seat and sat down. Rachel nced at Tyler in his tailored suit which was clearly high¨Cend and probably custom¨Cmade. Sitting in a ce like this, filled with the smells and grease of street food, he really looked out of ce. Tyler scanned the ce, and Rachel could tell he was unimpressed. A ce like this was always full of smoke and oil. The tables were sticky with grease, and business was so good the owners clearly didn¡¯t have time to keep things spotless. She hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go somewhere else? Somewhere you usually eat?¡± ¡°No gas left in the car. We can¡¯t go far. Let¡¯s just stay here,¡± Tyler said as he grabbed a stack of napkins and started wiping down the table. He wiped it down thoroughly, using all the napkins, and tossed everything in the trash. Even though the table was practically shining at that point, it still didn¡¯t feel clean enough for him. Rachel couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Mr. Hunt, are you sure no one forced you toe here?¡± Tyler paused mid¨Cmotion, as if just realizing how over¨Cthe¨Ctop he was being. Even the restaurant owner was eyeing him strangely. Finally, he stopped and sat down. Rachel gave the owner an awkward smile. ¡°Sorry, my friend here has a bit of a cleanliness issue.¡± The owner sighed, ¡°Miss, we¡¯re just running a small business. This is the best we can manage.¡± Rachel quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll pay for the napkins too.¡± Only then did the owner drop the matter. Tyler scoffed. ¡°A stack of napkins? That guy needs to think bigger.¡± ¡°Keep your voice down,¡± Rachel whispered. ¡°He¡¯s just trying to get by. Not everyone lives like you, throwing money around.¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°Excuse me? Do I throw money around?¡± Rachel took a sip of water. ¡°Do I need to spell it out? Those handmade leather shoes you¡¯re wearing probably cost more than this whole restaurant.¡± ¡°Two restaurants,¡± Tyler corrected casually. ¡°Pfft.¡± Rachel choked on her water and ended up spitting some of it out. Before she could even look up, Tyler had already reacted, grabbing a te from the table to shield himself. Rachel clutched her chest and coughed a few times. ¡°Sorry, that was a little ungraceful.¡± ¡°Next time, talk like a normal person. Don¡¯t start a rainstorm mid¨Cmeal,¡± Tyler said dryly as he set the te down and dabbed at his clothes with a napkin. His movements were unhurried and refined. There wasn¡¯t a trace of Chapter 124 panic. Thoroughly embarrassed, Rachel quickly wiped her mouth She was now convinced that Tyler really did have a bit of Op. She¡¯d heard him mention it to Yvette back at the Lloyd residence. A man who used an entire stack of napkins to clean one table obviously wasn¡¯t someone who could tolerate someone identally spitting water on him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take off your jacket? I¡¯ll take it home, wash it, and return it to you,¡± she offered. ¡°Alright.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t hesitate at all. He shrugged off the jacket and handed it to her immediately. Her Exit 125 Chapter 125 Rachel was momentarily stunned by how fast Tyler took off his jacket. Seeing her still frozen, Tyler lifted the jacket closer to her. ¡°What are you spacing out for? Take it. My arm¡¯s getting sore.¡± Rachel finally snapped out of it and reached to take the jacket. She muttered under her breath, ¡°Your arm¡¯s sore from handing over a jacket? What a weakling.¡± ¡°Am I weak? Are you sure about that?¡± Tyler sipped from his ss. He lookedpletely calm. Rachel rolled her eyes. ¡°You should be d I wasn¡¯t drinking water just now, or your shirt would¡¯ve been next.¡± ¡°No big deal. Worst case, I¡¯ll take this one off and give it to you too. He looked totally unfazed. Rachel immediately conjured up the memory of Tyler in the bathtub that day, with only a towel around his waist, his toned upper body and his abs- Her face turned red, and her breathing suddenly became heavy. She forced herself to snap out of it. ¡°No need. Just stop talking.¡± She was really worried he¡¯d throw out another wildment. Right then, the owner brought over the grilled skewers. ¡°Enjoy your meal.¡± Tyler nced over. ¡°I don¡¯t eattro.¡± The owner was speechless. Rachel could tell from Tyler¡¯s look that he was expecting the owner to pick out thetro for him, but the poor man clearly didn¡¯t have the time for that. The two of them just stared at each other in silence. Finally, Rachel stepped in. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, sir. We¡¯ve got it.¡± ¡°Alright then, enjoy,¡± the owner said before walking off, though he cast another strange nce at Tyler on his way. Rachel slumped slightly and started using her fork to pick out the bits oftro from the skewers. Tyler didn¡¯t rush her. He rested his chin on his hand, his elbow on the table, and watched her leisurely. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you do something about your face-¡± ¡°Rachel?¡± A shrill female voice rang out. Rachel¡¯s hand froze mid¨Cair. She was still holding a piece oftro. She looked up instinctively, only to see William and Samantha standing right at their table. When William saw Tyler, his expression immediately darkened. ¡°Mr. Hunt?¡± Samantha let out a short, mockingugh. ¡°Rachel, did you invite Mr. Hunt out to celebrate after he signed with Lewis Enterprise?¡± Then, as if to herself, she added, ¡°But didn¡¯t William and I already say we¡¯d bring some food back for you? We came all this way, and you still-¡± William¡¯s expression turned cold. His gaze was harsh, and he soundedpletely displeased. ¡°If you¡¯d said so earlier, we wouldn¡¯t have made this trip for nothing.¡± Right then, the owner came over with their takeaway. ¡°Sir, here¡¯s your order.¡± ¡°Forget it.¡± William swatted the bag away with a scowl, sending skewers scattering across the floor. He turned without another word and walked straight out of the restaurant. ¡°William-¡°Samantha called out. She looked back at Rachel. When she spoke her tone was clearly usatory. ¡°Rachel, that was really low of you. If you wanted to have dinner with Mr. Hunt, you could¡¯ve just said so. Why make use out here for nothing? With that, she stomped off after William, fuming. Rachel sat there. She was still stunned. Their voices still echoed in her ears, but her brain hadn¡¯t quite caught up. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going after them to exin?¡± Tyler asked. Her Exit 126 ¡°There¡¯s nothing to exin,¡± Rachel said calmly. She knew very well that after what Samantha had just said, there was no way William would believe her. If she ran after them now, it would only make her look guilty. The more she thought about it, the funnier it seemed. Did William really think he and Samantha were innocent? She suddenly had a question on her mind, but at this moment, Tyler was the only one she could ask. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Tyler, probably finding it inconvenient to eat with his sleeves down, slowly rolled them up, revealing a portion of his toned forearms. Under the overhead light, his hands looked even fairer and more slender. Rachel swallowed hard. What was going on with her braintely? Why was she suddenly finding Tyler¡¯s hands attractive? Was it just because she hadn¡¯t done that in a while? She shook her head and forced the inappropriate thoughts out of her mind. Tyler picked up a beef skewer. Even the way he ate looked mesmerizing to her. ¡°Ask away.¡± Rachel asked, ¡°Are all men like this, expecting double standards, like they can do whatever they want but won¡¯t allow their partner to do the same?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about others, but I¡¯m not like that,¡± Tyler replied. He nced over the table. There was only in water. Probably unsatisfied, he got up and grabbed a drink from the nearby fridge. Turning his head politely, he asked Rachel, ¡°Want one?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He came back holding two bottles and handed one to her. Rachel looked at him curiously. ¡°So what are you like then?¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow and nced at her. ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She was genuinely curious about how someone like Tyler, who always gave off this wild, untamable vibe, approached rtionships. He opened the bottle, but instead of drinking from it directly, he poured the drink into a ss elegantly. ¡°When I¡¯m in love, I only love one person. I won¡¯t split my attention. If one day she falls for someone else, she can tell me. I¡¯ll let her go. But betrayal? That I won¡¯t tolerate.¡± Rachel liked that perspective. Actually, she liked it a lot. She was like that too. If she liked someone, she gave it her all. If the rtionship ended, she wouldn¡¯t cling or beg. But someone like William, who was still with her in body but not in heart, felt insulting to be with. She wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t take a loss. At that moment, she felt like she¡¯d found someone who understood. She raised her ss to Tyler. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to be the devoted type.¡± Tyler lifted his own ss and lightly tapped it against hers, producing a crisp clink. His dark t eyes swept over her with an unreadable look. ¡°Do I really look like a yer to you?¡± ¡°Uhh, not that much. Just a little bit.¡± Rachel hunched and her voice got increasingly softer. Tyler smiled roguishly. ¡°What do you mean by not that much? You clearly have a bias against me.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Rachel immediately denied. She wouldn¡¯t ever admit it. Tyler didn¡¯t argue. Instead, he merely said, ¡°You¡¯ll find out eventually.¡± ¡®Find out what?¡® Before Rachel could even begin to unpack that cryptic sentence, Tyler had already moved on to the next topic. ¡°The media¡¯s been spectingtely that there¡¯s tension between ourpany and Lewis Enterprise. I discussed it with William the other day. ¡°We¡¯re organizing a team¨Cbuilding event the day after tomorrow. It¡¯s to ease suspicion from the media and help the project move forward more smoothly.¡± Her Exit 127 Rachel frowned at the thought of the twopanies organizing a joint team¨Cbuilding event. The image of William and Samantha being together again suggested it was inevitable someone would gossip about it. It was probably best if she didn¡¯t go. But she didn¡¯t voice that thought to Tyler. She only responded with a grunt. After they finished eating, Rachel paid the bill, and they left. It was alreadyte by the time they stepped out of the restaurant. Once they got in the car, Tyler asked, ¡°Do you want me to take you home?¡± ¡°No, just drop me off at-¡± Before she could finish, her phone rang again. ¡°Sorry, I need to take this.¡± Rachel swiped to answer. Cecilia, what¡¯s wrong? I was just about to head over.¡± ¡°My kid¡¯s running a fever. We¡¯re at the hospital now. Rachel, would you mind staying at a hotel tonight instead?¡°. Rachel was well aware of Cecilia¡¯s family situation and didn¡¯t even question the change in ns. ¡°Do you need my help with anything?¡± Cecilia immediately waved it off. ¡°No, no, I¡¯ve got it under control, just feel bad. Everything was already arranged. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Really. Just call me if anythinges up.¡± After hanging up, Rachel had no choice but to change her ns. ¡°Mr. Hunt, could you drop me off at Tangerine Hotel?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t ask any questions. With a light step of the pedal, the car sped off into the night. Rachel actually appreciated this about Tyler. Not many people could refrain from probing. ¡°1 When they arrived at Tangerine Hotel, Rachel thanked him and got out. At the front desk, she began searching her purse for her ID. After a while, her expression changed. She hadpletely forgotten to bring it. How could she forget? Feeling awkward, Rachel looked at the receptionist. ¡°I forgot my ID. Would it be possible to check in without it? It¡¯s just me, and I won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± The receptionist shook her head. ¡°Sorry, but things have been stricttely. Without a valid ID, we can¡¯t check you in unless you have a friend who has theirs. They can help check you in and register you as a guest.¡± The first person who popped into Rachel¡¯s head was Tyler. She quickly said, ¡°Can you wait just a moment?¡± Rachel ran toward the exit and spotted Tyler just as he was about to drive off. She rushed up and knocked on his window. ¡°Mr. Hunt, wait!¡± Tyler turned around. ¡°What¡¯s up this time?¡± Rachel looked a little sheepish. ¡°I forgot my ID. Can I borrow yours? You just need toe in with me to help register.¡± Tyler searched his suit pocket for a bit. ¡°Didn¡¯t bring mine either. Rachel¡¯s shoulders dropped. Herst hope was gone. She really didn¡¯t want to go back. If she returned now, both William and Samantha would be home. God only knew how Samantha would have spun the story about her and Tyler by now. Tyler was her only hope now. She did some quick math. There were only four or five days left. If William wanted to misunderstand, let him. She looked up at Tyler cautiously. ¡°Mr. Hunt, could you let me crash at your ce for the night?¡± Tyler¡¯s fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel. His tone was casual with a teasing edge. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about sparking rumors? Who knows? By tomorrow morning, you might wake up as Mrs. Hunt.¡± Her Exit 128 Chapter 128 Rachel had no other choice. She couldn¡¯t possibly sleep under a bridge. She nced at her phone. William still hadn¡¯t sent her a single message. The look he had given her before leaving the barbecue ce was practically burned into her mind. Anger, shock, disappointment, and countless other emotions were all tangled together. Even so, she didn¡¯t feel a shred of guilt. In fact, there was even a faint sense of satisfaction. It was just a meal with Tyler, and he had already reacted like that? Now she was starting to look forward to seeing William¡¯s face after she left Yurelia City for good. Maybe he¡¯d even thank her for clearing the way so he could be with Samantha. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said. Tyler stared at her for a few seconds. ¡°Alright then. Get in.¡± Rachel got back in, and Tyler drove straight to his apartment. The moment she stepped inside, the ce felt unfamiliar. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look like where you brought me thest time.¡± Tyler casually tossed his suit jacket onto the couch and replied in a half¨Cserious tone, ¡°Well, that ce waspromised. William already found it, remember?¡± His tone was light, almost teasing. The way he said it felt vaguely suggestive. The idea that flickered through her mind made her cheeks flush and quickly spread to the tips of her ears. When she came back to her senses, Tyler had alreadye close. The mix of sandalwood and cigarette on him filled her nose. It wasn¡¯t unpleasant. Oddly enough, it was calming. His lips curled into a smirk as he looked her over with amusement. ¡®What¡¯re you blushing for?¡± Rachel steadied herself. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just a little warm in here.¡± She quickly walked a couple of steps away to put some distance between them. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever open your curtains?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too bright. I don¡¯t like it.¡± She nced around and noticed something awkward. ¡°Do you only have one bedroom?¡± Tyler, now without his jacket, flopped onto the couch without a care. His arm drapedzily over the armrest. ¡°Do I look like someone who shares living space?¡± She shouldn¡¯t have asked. She looked at the couch. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep here tonight then.¡± ¡°Of course. Or were you hoping I¡¯d take the couch?¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. She was used to his sharp tongue by now. He didn¡¯t spare anyone. When one was in someone else¡¯s home, one had to y nice. ¡°Do you have any extra nkets? Even a throw would be just fine.¡± Yeah, there¡¯s one in the closet upstairs. Help yourself.¡± Tyler stretched out his long legs and folded his arms across his chest. He closed his eyes as if to rest. Rachel didn¡¯t say anything more and headed upstairs. She opened the closet and pulled out a she was about to turn and leave, the hem of her shirt snagged something, pulling it to the floor. She quickly ced the a photo frame. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t have caught her attention. It was probably a family photo or one with friends. But when Rachel got a good look at it, she froze. Gerald was in the frame, and Tyler stood next to him. Her brows furrowed deeply. What was the connection between Gerald and Tyler? Why would they have a photo together? She remembered when Tyler first met her mother, he had said he didn¡¯t have any family. Hisst name was Hunt, not Lewis. If there really was some significant connection, William wouldn¡¯t treat him like aplete outsider. Suddenly, Rachel heard Tyler¡¯s sarcastic voice from behind. ¡°I¡¯m just a myth, Rachel. Don¡¯t get obsessed, especially not with my photo.¡± Her Exit 129 Tyler¡¯s deep voice was right next to her ear. The photo frame in her hand was swiftly taken away. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the real thing look better?¡± he asked. Rachel had been pretty embarrassed, but the second she heard that remark, the awkwardnesspletely disappeared. ¡°I wasn¡¯t staring at your picture because I¡¯m obsessed with you. I just identally knocked it over while grabbing the nket.¡± ¡°Is denying everything your personal motto?¡± Tyler¡¯s voice sounded nonchnt as usual. Rachel nearly rolled her eyes. Hugging the nket, she brushed past him and asked, ¡°Is narcissism yours?¡± Tyler smirked a little as he turned and watched her walk out of the room, nket in hand. He lowered his head, eyesnding on the photo of a younger version of himself in the frame. The usual edge in his expression softened for a moment. But as soon as his gaze shifted to the old man in the picture, his brows instinctively knit together. ¡°Eyesore,¡± he muttered. With a sharp smack, he flipped the frame face down on the nightstand. Meanwhile, Rachel was downstairs spreading out the nket on the couch. She had considered asking Tyler about the photo, but on second thought, decided against it. After all, it was his personal business. Maybe it was just a photo taken by coincidence. As she settled under the nket and got ready to sleep, the familiar scent of Tyler clung faintly to the fabric. She was usually the kind of person who had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar ces, but for some reason, she drifted off unusually fast that night. By the time Tyler came downstairs, she was already asleep. She looked peaceful, hershes fluttering slightly. Her skin seemed pale yet delicate. It was a serene sight. His warm fingertips gently traced her brow as he murmured, ¡°Heartless little thing. How could you forget about me so quickly?¡± In the end, he simply tapped the tip of her nose lightly. ¡°Goodnight.¡± The next morning, Tyler had just finished his morning run and was heading back when he noticed a vehicle parked nearby. He slowed to a stop and walked up to the car before tapping on the window. The window rolled down to reveal a man in a baseball cap who seemed annoyed. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Is this a good spot for taking photos?¡± Tyler asked, leaning against the car with a casual demeanor that still managed to carry a subtle hint of pressure. ¡°The view doesn¡¯t seem great. Want to move inside? I could strike a pose for you.¡± The young man clearly wasn¡¯t used to dealing with people like Tyler. Just one look from him could make someone¡¯s entire body tense. He started stammering. ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know what you mean-¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, just hand over the camera,¡± Tyler said with his palm open. ¡°Or I¡¯ll take it myself.¡± The guy broke into a cold sweat. Panic was written all over his face. He reluctantly handed over the camera that had been hidden behind his seat. Tyler patiently clicked through the photos one by one. In several shots, Rachel was seen getting out of his car. The guy had clearly been trying to capture it from every angle. Tyler nced over his shoulder at him and asked, ¡°Tell me, does the way I¡¯m looking at her in this picture seem a little different to you?¡± The guy blinked. ¡°You seem very affectionate.¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°You misunderstood. I look at dogs the same way.¡± He kept scrolling through the images, some of which were taken from oddly tricky angles. He even gave a little critique as he did So. ¡°Your technique¡¯s actually pretty good. It¡¯s a bit of a waste doing this kind of work.¡± The guy chuckled nervously. ¡°Just trying to make a living.¡± ¡°Who sent you?¡± Tyler favorited a few of the photos. Clearly smart enough to realize he wasn¡¯t getting away, the man didn¡¯t even try to resist anymore. He gave in and confessed everything. ?? A Her Exit 130 ¡°I¨CIt was Samantha.¡± Tyler sneered. ¡°Well, at least you¡¯re honest. What else did Samantha say?¡± ¡°She said if I could get some spicy photos of the two of you, she¡¯d give me a bonus.¡± Tyler raised a brow. ¡°How about youe inside now? I¡¯ll help you stage a few.¡± ¡°N¨CNo need for that.¡± Now that he¡¯d been caught, he wouldn¡¯t dare actually ask Tyler for anything outrageous. He knew perfectly well why Samantha was offering so much money. It was because this man wasn¡¯t just anybody. If it were some average guy, she¡¯d never offer that kind of cash. That was the key point. ¡°How much did she offer you?¡± Tyler asked. ¡°Seven grand,¡± the guy said nervously, raising seven trembling fingers. Tyler thought for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll give you twenty one thousand. Photograph her instead.¡± The guy looked stunned. ¡°Twenty one grand?¡± He¡¯d never seen that kind of money in his life. Most of the time, his jobs only paid a few hundred, and maybe a couple grand at most. Nobody had ever offered him this much. ¡°Yeah. Just follow my instructions. You¡¯ll get the full amount. And don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t affect what you¡¯re getting from Samantha. I¡¯ll delete a few photos. You can still give her something.¡± ¡°Okay, whatever you want. I¡¯ll shoot whatever you say.¡± Tyler gestured with his finger. ¡°Come here.¡± After Rachel woke up, she quickly freshened up and even made breakfast since she couldn¡¯t reach Tyler by phone. She was just about to eat when Tyler walked in. He was humming a tune. Rachel listened for a second. It sounded oddly familiar. Was she hearing it wrong? Tyler was humming the theme song from an animated film. It was a children¡¯s song. She smiled reflexively. Did this man have a childlike heart? It was hard to believe. Someone so cold and aloof was actually humming a children¡¯s song. Tyler walked up to her. Before she could hide her smile, he caught it. Hands in his pockets, he looked at her and asked, ¡°Never seen someone sing before? Is that funny to you?¡± Rachel¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Not really. It¡¯s just that song and your whole persona don¡¯t really match.¡± Tyler sat down, grabbed the sandwich on the te across from her and took a big bite without asking. He asked, ¡°Then what do you think suits me? The River Flows East?¡± Rachel instantly imagined the tune. ¡°The river flows east, and the stars in the sky point to the Big Dipper.¡® This was killing her. As soon as she snapped out of it, she realized something. Why did it matter what Tyler wanted to sing? If he wanted to sing, let him sing. It wasn¡¯t her business. She quicklyposed herself. ¡°Sing whatever you want. Children¡¯s songs are fine too.¡± There was nothing wrong with having childlike innocence. Tyler polished off the sandwich in a few bites. ¡°By the way, Samantha hired someone to secretly photograph us. The pictures are actually pretty good. Wanna see?¡± he asked. The way he said it made it sound like it was the most normal thing in the world. It was as if someone just randomly snapped a photo of him on the street. Rachel frowned instantly. She lost all her appetite. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried at all?¡± Tyler took a sip of milk. ¡°Why should I be? Do you think I¡¯m scared of some gossip?¡± Her Exit 131 Chapter 131 Rachel let out a sigh. She finally understood that Tyler didn¡¯t worry about things like this at all. Only she cared. A married woman like herself getting caught in a scandal with her husband¡¯s nemesis. It didn¡¯t take much to picture how messy that situation would be. Tyler raised his eyebrows awkwardly. ¡°What? Is getting caught in a scandal with me something to be ashamed of? Do you know how many people want that? I don¡¯t even bother with them. Yet here you are acting as if the world is falling apart.¡± Rachel knew it was pointless exining it to him. He¡¯d never understand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Her proposal for LS Enterprise wasn¡¯t even finished yet, and now there were rumors involving her and Tyler. Once things went south, she¡¯d be the one caught in the mess. All she could hope for was that she¡¯d be able to hold out long enough. ¡°Thanks for letting me crashst night. I¡¯m heading out now. There¡¯s more in the kitchen if you¡¯re still hungry.¡± Rachel got up, picked up her empty te, and carried it into the kitchen. On her way out, she grabbed her jacket from the couch. Tyler remained seated at the dining table, saying nothing. He didn¡¯t mention that he¡¯d already deleted the photos. The moment Rachel stepped out of Tyler¡¯s ce, her phone chimed with a message. It was from William. [Come to the office for a meeting.] There were no questions about why she had been with Tylerst night. He didn¡¯t even ask where she¡¯d been. Rachel didn¡¯t ask anything either. Honestly, she was d he wasn¡¯t asking questions. It spared her the trouble of having toe up with excuses. This way, they stayed out of each other¡¯s way, and that was for the best. She took a cab straight to the office. Inside, people were chatting excitedly about the uing team¨Cbuilding event. ¡°Did you hear? The event¡¯s tomorrow, and we¡¯re doing it with Mr. Hunt from LS Enterprise.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing! I¡¯ll finally get to see my dream guy in person.¡± ¡°I heard Mr. Hunt is super hot.¡± ¡°Really? I thought Mr. Lewis was already very handsome. Is there really someone even hotter?¡± ¡°They¡¯re both hot, just in different ways. Mr. Lewises off as being aloof, but that whole distant, untouchable vibe just makes him even more attractive.¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt¡¯s the intense, rugged type with distinct facial features. I bet guys like him are really wild in bed.¡± Rachel blushed. She didn¡¯t know how wild he was exactly, but she did know he definitely had some serious moves. At the very least, his boldness was off the charts. The women around her were blushing and giggling. Haha, stop it! Say one more word and I¡¯ll end up dreaming about him tonight.¡± ¡°Pfft, what are you, a teenage girl with a crush?¡± ¡°Ohe on, don¡¯t pretend. Who doesn¡¯t have a little fantasy about Mr. Hunt?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t pay any particr attention. Office gossip was always nonstop anyway. She just walked straight toward the conference room. Cecilia spotted her and quickly caught up to her with a file in hand. ¡°Where did you sleepst night?¡± Cecilia asked. ¡°At a friend¡¯s ce.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t say it was Tyler¡¯s apartment. She didn¡¯t want to cause any drama. Cecilia still looked guilty. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I didn¡¯t expect our kid to suddenly get sick like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Rachel said casually, patting Cecilia on the shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go in for the meeting.¡± Cecilia suddenly stopped her. ¡°Do you know what it¡¯s about?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it about the team¨Cbuilding event?¡± ¡°It is. Will you be going?¡± Cecilia. Her Exit 132 Chapter 132 ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± Rachel said. She wasn¡¯t exactly a key yer anyway. If she showed up, Samantha would probably act like someone had stolen her spotlight. She¡¯d get all flustered and dramatic like usual, and turn the whole thing into a scene. Cecilia nodded. ¡°Honestly, that¡¯s a good call. There¡¯d be less drama. Samantha will definitely be there. Just the sight of her is exhausting. She hardly brings anything to the table. All she does is flirt with Mr. Lewis. I seriously can¡¯t even deal with her.¡± At that, Cecilia shot a re toward Samantha, who was sitting a few rows back. ¡°I barely got you out of troublest time,¡± Rachel reminded her. ¡°Don¡¯t stir things up again.¡± Cecilia stopped immediately. When Rachel and Cecilia walked into the conference room, they nearly ran into William. His gaze brushed over Rachel¡¯s face for a second before he looked away. His expression went cold. Rachel quickly looked elsewhere and took her seat. William nced around the room. ¡°You¡¯re all familiar with the issues we¡¯re facing. To smooth over any rumors of tension between us and LS Enterprise, both sides have agreed to a joint team¨Cbuilding event tomorrow. ¡°I expect everyone to participate.¡± Rachel raised her hand. ¡°Mr. Lewis, I¡¯ve got something going on tomorrow and won¡¯t be able to make it. I¡¯d like to request time off.¡± Whispers immediately broke out across the room. ¡°Rachel¡¯s skipping?¡± ¡°Did they have a fight or something?¡± ¡°If she¡¯s not going, that¡¯s a major snub to Mr. Lewis.¡± ¡°If his own wife¡¯s not going, what¡¯s the point of the rest of us showing up?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go either. Those events are exhausting.¡± William¡¯s frown deepened. He tapped his knuckles on the table. It was louder than usual. ¡°I just said I want everyone to participate.¡± Rachel frowned. She still tried to push back. ¡°Isn¡¯t Ms. Judd¡¯s attendance enough?¡± Samantha¡¯s voice was soft and shaky as she spoke. ¡°Rachel, you know I¡¯ve been suspended. Did you really have to say it in front of everyone?¡± Rachel cleared her throat. ¡°Sorry. That slipped my mind.¡± ¡°Well, since she¡¯s suspended-¡± ¡°Cecilia!¡± Rachel cut her off quickly, worried she¡¯d say something reckless that Samantha could twist to her advantage. She turned to William again. ¡°Mr. Lewis, this really isn¡¯t about who¡¯s filling what role. I just have a personal matter to take care of.¡± She had no interest in going. It would only bring trouble. William¡¯s eyes darkened. His stare was stern. Samantha¡¯s voice remained gentle, and her eyes shimmered with tears like she was barely holding it together. ¡°Rachel, if you¡¯re worried about me, I¡¯ll stay home. It¡¯s fine. Thepany should alwayse first.¡± She looked like she was ready to martyr herself for the business. Rachel had no problem with her doing that, but she did have a problem with Samantha dragging her into it every time. She red at Samantha. ¡°I said I¡¯ve got a personal matter to deal with. Was I not clear enough, or does Ms. Judd have trouble seeing too?¡± Rachel signed clearly and slowly. Rachel was just being direct, but Samantha¡¯s helpless expression still managed to make Rachel look like the bad person in everyone¡¯s eyes. Samantha didn¡¯t argue. Her eyes just turned redder as she murmured, ¡°I understand.¡± William locked eyes with Rachel before speaking in a cold manner. Her Exit 133 ¡°Come to my office after the meeting,¡± William said. Rachel lowered her gaze. She gulped before replying, ¡°Okay.¡± William gave a few more instructions about the team¨Cbuilding event, then dismissed the meeting Samantha walked over to Rachel, clutching her folder. Her tone was meek and unsure when she spoke. ¡°Rachel, if I¡¯ve done something to upset you, you can just tell me., But you really didn¡¯t have to put Mr. Lewis on the spot in front of everyone.¡± Rachel frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not upset with you.¡± She had no interest in watching Samantha put on her act. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the conference room. Cecilia noticed the gloomy look on Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°Are you alright? ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need to go over there for a bit.¡± Rachel pushed open the door to William¡¯s office. He was standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. The moment she stepped inside, the chill in the air was palpable. It felt so cold it made her back tense. She knew William was angry. Of course he was. She had just embarrassed him in front of the entire staff. She stepped forward in a calm andposed manner. ¡°Mr. Lewis, you wanted to see me?¡± William turned around and gave her a look¨Cover with a sneering expression. ¡°Where did you sleepst night? At Tyler¡¯s ce?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t surprised by the question. Tyler had already mentioned this morning that Samantha had someone spying on them. Whether or not they got anything on camera, it was bound to get out sooner orter. She chose to be upfront. ¡°Yeah.¡± William hadn¡¯t expected her to admit it so easily and boldly, His expression instantly soured. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t forget you¡¯re a married woman. Do you really think spending the night at another man¡¯s ce is okay?¡± This was the first time he¡¯d spoken to her with such bluntness. William had always tried to smooth things over before. Never once had he spoken to her this harshly. Rachel¡¯s fingers clenched into a fist at her side. She looked at him for a long moment while holding herself together. ¡°Do you think I wanted to stay outside?¡± ¡°I already told you,¡± William replied. ¡°Samantha¡¯s just staying at the house for a few days. You still can¡¯t handle that? Rachel, what¡¯s gotten into youtely? You¡¯ve never been this unreasonable¡± Rachel¡¯s hands were shaking slightly. She bit her lower lip before lifting her gaze to meet his. ¡°Am I being unreasonable?¡± William¡¯s cold gaze swept across her face. It was followed by a scoff ¡°Aren¡¯t you? Then what would you callst night? Going to that barbecue ce with Tyler? You were trying to get under my skin, weren¡¯t you? And today, you know that out of everyone, you¡¯re the one person who has to show up to the team¨Cbuilding. You don¡¯t get to choose.¡± Thatst sentence knocked the wind out of her. He was right. She didn¡¯t have a choice. As long as she was William¡¯s wife and still an employee of Lewis Enterprise, she had to protect his image. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go.¡± William¡¯s tightly furrowed brows eased slightly. 452 He walked over to her, ced his warm hand on her shoulder, and gave it small squeeze. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. You¡¯re my wife, and I own Lewis Enterprise. you don¡¯t show up, what message does that send to the rest of the team? And what will people outside thepany think? ¡°We just barely got past the gossip with LS Enterprise. If people start spreading rumors about our marriage too, it¡¯ll only make things worse.¡± ¡°I have one condition,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Before the team¨Cbuilding, event takes ce, you have to sign my resignation letter.¡± 212 Her Exit 134 Chapter 134 William¡¯s brows, which had just rxed, tightened all over again. He didn¡¯t quite get it. ¡°Do you really have to quit? Is Samantha that unbearable?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but scoff on the inside. Even now, after everything, Samantha was still the only thing on his mind. It was as if no matter what she did, it all came down to her not being able to tolerate Samantha. If he actually stopped to think about it, he¡¯d realize it had nothing to do with Samantha. It wasn¡¯t Samantha she cared about. It was his attitude. There was no point bringing it up now. It was far toote for that. Rachel¡¯s face was emotionless. ¡°This has nothing to do with her.¡± ¡°Then what? Are you nning to join LS Enterprise after the team¨Cbuilding event?¡± For whatever reason, William just wouldn¡¯t let it go. Rachel¡¯s patience had run thin. ¡°Mr. Lewis, now¡¯s not the time to interrogate me. What you should be considering is whether or not to sign my resignation letter. That¡¯s the real issue here.¡± William rubbed his temples in frustration. ¡°Do you really have to be this dramatic? Have you even thought about what the rest of thepany will say once you leave? Rachel, can¡¯t you just wait until I¡¯ve fully secured my position before bringing this up?¡± There were things Rachel didn¡¯t want to say too directly. It was like watching someone battle depression alone. At first, when they were fighting it, no one noticed or bothered to reach out. Nobody even cared. Right after they gave up, someone finally offered to help. By then, it was already toote. Rachel signed calmly. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I need a break. You know how I¡¯ve been having trouble breathing the past few weeks. Sometimes, I still feel like I can¡¯t even catch my breath.¡± At that, William knew he couldn¡¯t keep pushing. ¡°I understand.¡± He bent forward and retrieved the resignation letter Rachel had submitted earlier out of a drawer. After a short pause, he signed his name on it and tossed it toward her. ¡°There. Happy now?¡± Rachel could tell how displeased he was. His expression made that crystal clear. That didn¡¯t matter anymore. She wasn¡¯t fazed. With the signed resignation letter in hand, everything between them was officially over. She smiled at him. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lewis. I¡¯ll attend the team¨Cbuilding event like you asked. After all, I¡¯m still Lewis Enterprise CEO¡¯s wife. I wouldn¡¯t want to give people a reason to gossip.¡± ¡°Oh, and one more thing,¡± William added. ¡°As the person in charge of this project, you should keep an eye on Samantha¡¯s health during the event. Didn¡¯t she just recover from a fever? She still seems fragile. ¡°You two are in the same department. Don¡¯t give people anything to talk about.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only a fever. Is Ms. Judd that weak?¡± Rachel asked, staring at William for a few seconds. ¡°She¡¯s thin, you know that. She looks frail, and since she joined the get along.¡± Rachel let out a chuckle. ¡°So in your eyes, Samantha and I have to be good friends?¡± William¡¯s dark blue eyes bore into her. Right then, the office door swung open. ¡°Mr. Lewis, the team from LS Enterprise is here for the event briefing. They¡¯re waiting in the conference room.¡± ¡°I see. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± William pulled himself together. He walked over to Rachel with a conflicted expression. ¡°Rachel, you know what I¡¯ve been through. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be where I am today without you. You gave everything to help me get here, didn¡¯t you? If I lose this position, all the effort you put in would go to waste. This is all part of what we built together.¡± How could Rachel forget? She and William had wed their way to the top of this industry. William fought for his career, while she fought for him.. Her Exit 135 Chapter 135 Back when she used to think about all of it, Rachel felt like those memories were her biggest source of motivation. But now, looking back, it all felt like some kind of joke. As she stepped out of the office, she ran into Samantha, who was holding a tray of coffee and clearly on her way in. Samantha gave her a polite nod. ¡°Hi, Rachel.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Rachel gave a short response and was about to walk past her. But Samantha suddenly grabbed her arm lightly. Her voice was soft and delicate. ¡°Rachel, I think William already talked to you, right? He asked you to look out for me during the team¨Cbuilding event.¡± Rachel was already irritated, and no matter how hard she tried to keep a lid on it, her signing still came across harsh. ¡°Are you still a child? Can¡¯t you take care of yourself?¡± Samantha didn¡¯t say another word. After lunch, Samantha brought fruit teas for everyone in the office except Rachel. ¡°Rachel,¡± she said, putting on her innocent act! ¡°I remembered you prefer coffee. But my doctor said I shouldn¡¯t be drinking any right now because of my health. You¡¯re not mad, right?¡± Rachel nced down at the schedule William had just handed her for tomorrow¡¯s team¨Cbuilding event. Her temples throbbed. She didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with Samantha anymore. When the workday finally ended, she had ns to grab dinner with Cecilia. After such a heavy workload today, a good meal felt well deserved. But just as they were heading out, they ran into William and Samantha. William held out a folder. ¡°Rachel, I need you to expedite this file. Our partnerpany needs it done by midnight.¡± Rachel took it and flipped through it. She frowned. Her gaze shifted instinctively to Samantha. ¡°Isn¡¯t this project under Ms. Judd?¡± Samantha looked up at her with a weak, pitiful expression. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Rachel. I suddenly felt nauseous. It¡¯s sote, and I couldn¡¯t get a ride, so William has to take me to the hospital. ¡°But by the time I¡¯m done and get back, it¡¯ll probably be toote to finish the report.¡± Rachel replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t had dinner yet. My stomach is acting up William didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°I already had food delivered. It should be downstairs now. They¡¯ll bring it up to you.¡± He gave her a pat on the shoulder as if he were assigning her some grand mission. ¡°I trust you. You¡¯ll handle it just fine.¡± Without waiting for Rachel¡¯s reply, William walked off with Samantha in tow. Rachel pursed her lips and turned to Cecilia. ¡°Go ahead without me Looks like I won¡¯t be able to make it to dinner tonight.¡± Cecilia stared at her. ¡°Are you seriously doing Samantha¡¯s work? And what the hell is wrong with William? You just told him you haven¡¯t eaten and your stomach hurts. ¡°He only cares about Samantha. How can he not care about you?¡± Rachel took a deep breath. Oddly, she was calmer than Cecilia, who was merely a bystander. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We can go another day. You should go home.¡± ¡°Nope. I¡¯m staying.¡± Cecilia grabbed the project file from her. ¡°Let¡¯s get this started. Two of us will finish it faster anyway.¡± Rachel sat back down at her desk and nced over the documents. Her expression darkened. Samantha, the so¨Ccalled project lead, hadn¡¯t done anything. She really had left the mess all behind for someone else. But then again, with William¡¯s personality, it wasn¡¯t surprising. As long as Samantha pouted a little, he¡¯d alwayse running to support her like her personal knight in shining armor. Meanwhile, Rachel had thrown herself into work, as always, and forgot everything else, including dinner. She hadn¡¯t even eaten by the time they finished near midnight. She had just emailed the final report to William and was reaching into her drawer for some antacid when another message came through. [She¡¯s still at the hospital for tests. The doctor wants to put her on an IV drip. She just called. There¡¯s another file she needs double¨Cchecked. Look for data sheet number 002.] Rachel clenched her fist. Her Exit 136 Chapter 136 Rachel endured the pain in her stomach and reflexively clenched her jaw. Everyone knew that the stomach was most affected by your emotions. People prone to anger or sadness were often the ones who suffered most in this regard. That was exactly how she felt now. Her fingers trembled slightly as they tapped on the keyboard. [I¡¯m not feeling well/Let her handle it herself.] William replied: [She¡¯s on an IV drip right now. It¡¯s inconvenient. By the time she finishes cross¨Cchecking the data, it¡¯ll be way toote. You¡¯re a senior employee. This kind of thing shouldn¡¯t be a big deal for you. Rachel smiled bitterly. She finally understood the phrase ¡®the squeaky wheel gets the grease¡®. She was the kind of person who didn¡¯t know how to cry. Even when she did, she¡¯d pretend she was fine. Naturally, William assumed she was made of steel and that she could handle anything She sent another message to try to make it clear. [I¡¯m seriously not feeling well. My stomach really hurts.] [Didn¡¯t someone already bring you dinner? Why would your stomach still hurt?] At that, Rachel suddenly lost all desire to argue. She sent him a short reply. [Got it.] William didn¡¯t respond again. Rachel didn¡¯t have it in her to keep working either. All she could do was microwave the meal William had sent. After eating, the pain in her stomach didn¡¯t go away. In fact, it got worse. She clenched her jaw and pushed through thest of the dataparisons. Cecilia walked over and noticed how pale Rachel looked. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s wrong? Is it your stomach again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need to rest.¡± Rachel tried to move, but it felt like she had been stabbed in the stomach. She couldn¡¯t even stand. Sweat formed on her forehead. Cecilia could tell it was serious. ¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital.¡± As they headed to the ER, Cecilia grabbed Rachel¡¯s phone, nning to message William. But as she unlocked the screen, she happened to see a message from Samantha. [Sorry, Rachel. I feel bad you had to cover for me tonight. William¡¯s still here with me at the hospital. I told him to go help you, but he said he didn¡¯t feel safe leaving me here alone.] Cecilia nearly lost her temper. Samantha is seriously the worst. She even had the nerve to send you that disgusting message? She¡¯s doing it on purpose to get under your skin. ¡°And what is wrong with William? His wife is in pain and he doesn¡¯t care, but he¡¯s off fawning over his useless ex?¡± Rachel understood clearly. Of course William didn¡¯t have time for her. Right now, all his attention was on Samantha. To the Lewis family, their future heir mattered more than anything. Rachel forced a weak smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve always had stomach issues. It¡¯s not their fault.¡± Cecilia looked at Rachel¡¯s trembling lips and felt a pang of sorrow for her. ¡°You¡¯re too nice. They¡¯re walking all over you and you still won¡¯t say a word.¡± What could Rachel even say? She¡¯d been angry. She¡¯d been heartbroken. Ever since she found out Samantha was pregnant, she knew things were truly over between her and William. She was leaving this ce soon anyway. There was no point fighting over this now. As Cecilia helped Rachel into the hospital, they passed by a private ward. Out of the corner of her eye, Rachel spotted a familiar figure. It was William. He was seated by Samantha¡¯s bed, peeling an apple and gently feeding her slices. He was very careful and considerate. Samantha beamed at him. Her face glowed with happiness. ¡°William, have one too.¡± ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯m not hungry,¡± he replied with an affectionate look in his eyes. Her Exit 137 Chapter 137 The way William looked now was nothing like the cold, distant expression he had worn in the office earlier that day. As Samantha chewed on a slice of apple, she cast a mildly concerned nce at William. ¡°William, do you think Rachel¡¯s going to be upset you dumped all my work on her?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t,¡± William replied casually. ¡°Rachel can¡¯t sit still. Back when we worked together, she wouldn¡¯t even agree to leave early if you asked her. She insisted on working overtime.¡± Rachel felt nauseous. There was a bitter taste in her mouth. She had never enjoyed working overtime. Back then, William had said his position at thepany was unstable and he couldn¡¯t trust anyone else with critical project work. He had begged her to take it on personally. For the sake of his dream, she had workedte nights and pulled all¨Cnighters more times than she could count. But clearly, he had long forgotten all of that. He had forgotten how he had once gently asked for her help. Cecilia was about to explode. She clenched her jaw and looked ready to storm into the ward. Despite the pain, Rachel reached out and grabbed her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Seeing how hard Rachel was trying to stop her, Cecilia reluctantly backed off and led her to the doctor instead. After a series of tests, the diagnosis came back. Rachel had acute gastritis. The doctor rmended an IV drip immediately. ¡°How long will it take?¡± Rachel asked anxiously. ¡°If the drip works well tonight, you won¡¯t need toe back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She let out a sigh of relief. If she had to miss tomorrow¡¯s team¨Cbuilding event because of her health, who knew what kind of drama would unfold. Cecilia looked at her with sympathy. ¡°You¡¯re working yourself to death. Even now, you¡¯re still worried about-¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Once the team¨Cbuilding is over, everything will be fine. Cecilia sensed something was off. ¡°Rachel, are you hiding something from me? You¡¯re giving me the feeling like you¡¯re about to leave.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression froze for a moment. For a second she wanted to tell Cecilia the truth. That she really was leaving. She would disappear to a ce where William would never find her. This was her drawing a final line under the seven long years of their rtionship. Cecilia was too impulsive and kindhearted. If she found out, she might identally spill the beans, and all of Rachel¡¯s ns would fall apart. Rachel forced a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Where would I even go?¡± Cecilia rxed and patted her chest. ¡°You scared me. I thought you were actually leaving.¡± Still hooked up to the IV drip, Rachel began to feel the medicine taking effect. The pain in her stomach gradually eased. She nced at the time on her phone. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should head back and get some rest. I¡¯ll grab a cab after the drip finishes.¡± Cecilia hesitated. ¡°Come back with me. You shouldn¡¯t go home tonight. That woman is an eyesore.¡± She tilted her head toward the room next door. Honestly, Cecilia admired Rachel. Her own husband was busy fussing over his calmly. If it had been her, she¡¯d have blown up already, Rachel smiled a little. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I need to go back and pack anyway In the next room, and Rachel could still sit here That made sense. No matter what, Rachel would need to get ready for tomorrow¡¯s event. Cecilia¡¯s house was a mess. She was also too embarrassed to insist that Rachel came over. ¡°Alright then. Just take care of yourself, okay? Don¡¯t let this stuff eat away at you.¡± Cecilia gathered her things and left. Rachel leaned back. She was ready to rest her eyes for a moment when her phone suddenly vibrated. She looked at the screen. It was a call from Tyler. Ch Her Exit 138 apter 138 Why was Tyler calling at this hour? Rachel took a deep breath. She hesitated before finally sliding her finger across the screen to ept the call. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s still one detail about tomorrow¡¯s team¨Cbuilding event that hasn¡¯t been finalized. Come here for a bit,¡± Tyler said. Rachel frowned. She had been the one who drafted the entire proposal for Oasis, so it wasn¡¯t unreasonable for Tyler to call her. But there was a problem. ¡°I¡¯m in the hospital right now.¡± ¡°Oh? What a coincidence. So am I.¡± He still sounded as nonchnt and flippant as ever. Rachel was stunned. Were people scheduling joint hospital visits these days? She didn¡¯t bother to ask questions. Work came first. ¡°I¡¯m at City Hospital, Ward 204¡± ¡°The room next to William¡¯s?¡± Tyler sounded surprised. Rachel felt a little awkward. ¡°Yeah.¡± Tyler couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You two are a real piece of work. William¡¯s in the next room fawning over Samantha, while his legally wedded wife¡¯s just left to fend for herself.¡± His words hit like a truck. But Rachel was used to it by now. Tyler¡¯s sarcasm didn¡¯t sting much anymore. It was only the truth. She changed the subject. ¡°Weren¡¯t youing over to talk about the team¨Cbuilding ns?¡± Knock. Knock. Startled, Rachel nearly dropped her phone. She barely caught it in time to avert disaster. She took a breath. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, and Tyler walked in with an IV drip hanging from his hand. Rachel blinked. When he¡¯d said he was in the hospital, she had thought he was just joking. She pointed at the IV drip. ¡°What happened to you?¡± ¡°Allergic reaction,¡± he said casually. Rachel was surprised. ¡°You didn¡¯t know you were allergic to something?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t tell me.¡± Tyler walked around the room and came to stand beside her bed. ¡°What about you? Did you have an allergic reaction too?¡± ¡°My stomach is aching.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t bother giving him the details. Tyler never struck her as someone interested in meddling in other people¡¯s personal issues anyway. He nced around and noticed there was an empty bed next to hers. Without hesitation, he called someone. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m in Ward 204. When it¡¯s time to change the IV drip, just here.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hunt.¡± He hung up and casually flopped down on the empty bed beside Rachel. Rachel was startled. Her eyes widened. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Standing¡¯s exhausting. This is morefortable. You¡¯re not seriously going to make a sick man stand while discussing work, are you?¡± She hesitated. William had always suspected her and Tyler, and she used to care mainly because she didn¡¯t want unnecessary drama. But after what William had done, she didn¡¯t care anymore. ¡°Fine.¡± Tyler tried to get , but by the time she realized what was happening, it was toote. Tyler only had one hand free, which was holding onto the IV bag. Even if he saw her falling, there was no way he could catch her in time. Her Exit 139 They fell down together. Rachel gasped in pain as the IV needle in the back of her hand was pushed in even deeper. It wasn¡¯t the kind of pain that caused numbness. It was the kind that zeroed in on one spot and felt ten times worse. Tyler heard her gasp and instinctively looked over. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing. The needle got pushed in. It hurts a little.¡± Rachel gently lifted her hand and rested it on the nket. Tyler pressed the call button. His gaze was fixed on her rapidly swelling hand. ¡°Are you dumb? If you couldn¡¯t reach, just say something. I could¡¯ve bent forward a little.¡± Rachel¡¯s hand still throbbed with pain. The sharp, piercing ache hadn¡¯t faded at all. She hadn¡¯t expected him tofort her, but did he really have to snap at her like that? Did he not realize how scary he looked when he was and harsh. ty? His expression was downright murderous, and his voice was cold Rachel didn¡¯t even know why, but the tension that had been building up inside her suddenly burst. Her eyes stung as tears welled up. She looked at Tyler, and her lips trembled with suppressed frustration. ¡°Why are you yelling at me? I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. It¡¯s your fault for being so tall!¡± Tyler hadn¡¯t expected her to tear up just because he raised his voice. The harshness on his face immediately softened, and for once, there was a flicker of tenderness in his eyes. He nced around, looking for something, but came up empty¨Chanded. With a touch of irritation, he muttered, ¡°What kind of hospital doesn¡¯t even have tissues?¡± A momentter, seeing no other option, he walked over and awkwardly raised his sleeve to wipe her tears away. Rachel was stunned. Her vision was blocked, and she instinctively looked up. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Tyler paused for a second. He then answered matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°Wiping your tears.¡± Rachel was speechless. She had been on the verge of an emotional breakdown, but his ridiculous response made herugh out loud. Tyler was such a hopelessly clueless man. She could already imagine how he¡¯d be with his girlfriend in the future. If he ever made her cry, he¡¯d probably ask ¡®What do you want? Tell me what¡¯ll make you stop crying. Do you want a purse? A house? A car?¡®. That was just who he was. He couldn¡¯t be bothered with small talk or coaxing. If he had tofort a woman, he¡¯d probably just offer her materialpensation. Rachel might¡¯ve beenughing, but deep down she still felt unsettled. She frowned a little. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± She meant it as a polite refusal, but somehow, her voice came out with an almost childlike softness. She was shocked at herself. For a moment, the room fell into a heavy silence. Tyler didn¡¯t quite understand what had just happened, but the sight of her flustered expression made him flush a little himself. He leaned in, and his warm breath brushed against her cheek. ¡°Were you trained to change expressions onmand? Why are you blushing again?¡± Rachel¡¯s ears felt warm. ¡°Back off!¡± fem grined ¡°Towablishing from just this? Man, you¡¯re easy totease¡± Steur fee wants spoken with his deep, husky voice left her heart thumping ver the pushed the door open ything alright Kachel quickly pulled herself together and instinctively stepped back, putting some distance between her and Tyler. She turned to the muse ¡°My Weedle got kascked out of ce. Could you help me adjusti Her Exit 140 Chapter 140 The nurse immediately frowned upon hearing that the IV needle had to be adjusted. She was clearly irritated. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you when I first inserted the needle not to move around? Why don¡¯t any of you listen?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t get angry at first. She understood it wasn¡¯t easy for medical staff these days, juggling shifts and overtime. Being in a bad mood was understandable. She apologized politely. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I moved a little without noticing. Could you please adjust it for me?¡± The nurse walked over and grabbed Rachel¡¯s hand a little too forcefully, causing Rachel to cry out in pain. ¡°Oww!¡± The nurse frowned even more. She raised her voice. ¡°Now it hurts, huh? Why weren¡¯t you concerned when you were moving around earlier? Do you have any idea how busy we are today? We don¡¯t have the time to reinsert IV drips for every careless patient!¡± Rachel bit her lip and said nothing, figuring it was better to let things go. The nurse continued muttering as she prepared a new needle. ¡°You patients treat the hospital like some kind of retirement home, expecting us to be your personal maids.¡± Rachel clenched her jaw against the pain, silently hoping the woman would just hurry up and finish. Suddenly, the nurse was shoved aside. ¡°Get lost.¡± The voice was deep,ced with barely restrained anger. Just hearing it was enough to know this man was not someone to mess with. Rachel was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Tyler to step in for her. The nurse stumbled backward and nearly fell. She looked up furiously at Tyler. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± Tyler loomed over her with a cold gaze. ¡°You call this patient care if you don¡¯t want to do your job, then leave.¡± The nurse scoffed. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was harsh. ¡°You can resign right now.¡± The nurse lifted her chin defiantly. ¡°Why should I? Do you own the ce? Do you think you can just order people around like that?¡± Rachel muttered quietly beside them, ¡°You¡¯d be surprised. He kind of does have that power.¡± The nurse finally took a good look at Tyler. His suit clearly wasn¡¯t cheap, and there was an unmistakable aura of authority about him. He had a refined yet intimidating presence. Her confidence wavered. ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯re bluffing, right? Don¡¯t try to scare me.¡± Tyler wasn¡¯t one for empty threats. He retrieved his phone, called the hospital¡¯s deputy director, Noah Trevor, and exined the situation. Within minutes, Noah arrived. Once he understood what had happened, he immediately turned to Rachel and apologized. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. This was entirely our nurse¡¯s fault. I¡¯ll take care of it myself and make sure it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Noah¡¯s sudden appearance left the nurse in shock. She finally realized she had seriously messed up. Her face went pale, and she rushed over, stammering. ¡°Dr. Trevor, who exactly is this guy?¡± Noah, who had been smiling politely at Tyler a second ago, turned and shot her a deadly re. ¡°You idiot. Don¡¯t you recognize Mr. Hunt? He¡¯s one of the hospital¡¯s major shareholders! Without his investment, forget you, we¡¯d all be out on the street.¡± The nurse stood there in stunned silence. The man before her was actually a major shareholder of the hospital. She truly had messed with the wrong person. Her Exit 14`1 Chapter 141 Her legs gave out, and she dropped to her knees. She clung pitifully to the leg of Tyler¡¯s pants. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I didn¡¯t know you were one of the hospital¡¯s major shareholders! If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have dared to do something like this.¡± Then she turned to Rachel, all the arrogance from earlierpletely gone. ¡°You must be Mrs. Hunt, right? Mrs. Hunt, I am so, so sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it. I¡¯ve just been going through a tough timetely. And work¡¯s been overwhelming, too. I swear, if things were normal, I¡¯d never treat you that way.¡± Rachel had never had anyone kneel in front of her like this before, and for a moment, she was too stunned to respond. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that. Besides, I¡¯m not-¡± ¡°Mrs. Hunt! Hello!¡± A familiar voice was suddenly heard from the doorway. Rachel froze. William walked in with Samantha. She didn¡¯t even need to look at him to know just how furious was right now. She felt a chill down her spine. Samantha, on the other hand, lookedpletely unfazed. She strolled up to Rachel and tilted her head with a teasing smile. Rachel, since when did you be Mrs. Hunt?¡± Rachel kept her gaze lowered. Her heart was practically hammering out of her chest, but she forced herself to stayposed.¡± It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± The nurse blinked in surprise. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not Mrs. Hunt? Then why was Mr. Hunt so worked up just now?¡± Rachel wanted nothing more than to run over and tape that nurse¡¯s mouth shut. She had to be doing this on purpose. Because of Rachel, the nurse was about to lose her job, so now she wanted to drag her down too. There were always people like that. If they were going down, they¡¯d happily burn the whole house just to make sure others went with them. Rachel¡¯s gaze suddenly turned cold. ¡°Even if we¡¯re just friends, would you really stand by and do nothing while a nurse jabs a needle into your friend¡¯s arm hard enough to make them scream? Would you?¡± The nurse had noeback. Her mouth snapped shut. Noah turned and, upon spotting William, immediately straightened up with a respectful smile. ¡°Mr. Lewis, what brings you here tonight?¡± William nodded toward Rachel. ¡°My wife¡¯s in this ward.¡± Noah looked stunned and turned back toward Rachel. ¡°She¡¯s your wife?¡± He didn¡¯t say more, but the implication was loud and clear. Just like the nurse, he¡¯d also assumed Rachel was Tyler¡¯s wife. Rachel pursed her lips tightly. It felt like every time Tyler was around, something chaotic would happen. William walked over and towered above her. His presence suddenly felt oppressive. He raised his hands and began making gestures. ¡°Why are you with Tyler again?¡± Rachel¡® caught the anger and disdain in his eyes. She also knew exactly why he was using signnguage. He didn¡¯t want Samantha to understand. Anyone who hadn¡¯t studied it wouldn¡¯t be able to make sense of what he was saying. Rachel frowned and responded in sign. ¡°Mr. Hunt called me. He said there were still issues with the team¨Cbuilding n that hadn¡¯t been finalized. He happened to be here too.¡± William clearly didn¡¯t buy her exnation. He kept signing, but more aggressively this time. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he just call me directly?¡± Before Rachel could even respond, Tyler¡¯s voice cut through the room. It was cold andced with sarcasm. ¡°Well, Mr. Lewis, that would require you actually being avable. ¡°But since you were busy spending the night at the hospital with a female employee, I figured you probably didn¡¯t have time for work.¡± ( Her Exit 142 William frowned instinctively at Tyler¡¯s words. He turned to look at him. ¡°Do you understand signnguage, Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°I learned it back when I was volunteering abroad,¡± Tyler replied. So yeah, I understand it.¡± The tail end of his sentence dripped with sarcasm. William picked up on it. His already grim expression darkened further. Even Rachel could feel the sting of humiliation in the air. It was as if someone had pped William across the face in front of everyone. She had already understood what William was trying to do the moment he started signing at her. He didn¡¯t want to confront her with Tyler in the conversation, so he had tried to do it discreetly. But ever since Samantha joined thepany, Rachel had noticed that William didn¡¯t bother using signnguage with her as much anymore. Perhaps he didn¡¯t have the patience for it now. William turned his head slightly and said coldly, ¡°If there¡¯s anything work¨Crted you need to discuss, Mr. Hunt, you can bring it directly to me. Rachel isn¡¯t feeling well right now and doesn¡¯t have the energy to deal with it.¡± Anyone else might¡¯ve let it go at that, but not Tyler. Sure enough, he chuckled sarcastically. ¡°Funny, she seemed full of energy just now. Since she¡¯s the one in charge of this project, I think it¡¯s more efficient for her to handle it. Besides-¡± His deep, dark gaze flicked toward Samantha, who still stood next to William. ¡°You probably won¡¯t have the time since you still have to take care of Ms. Judd.¡± Samantha clung to William¡¯s sleeve. ¡°William, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d drive me home? The doctor said I still need someone to watch over me tonight. If I get another fever, it could get serious. You know I can¡¯t take any medication right now.¡± William frowned. He was clearly torn. Tyler leaned back against the hospital bed with one leg crossed over the other. He shot a side nce at Sama can¡¯t take medication? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re pregnant? Whose is it?¡±
  1. ¡°Ms. Judd
Rachel¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She hadn¡¯t expected Tyler to hit the mark so directly. Samantha froze for just a second. A flicker of panic appeared in her eyes. ¡°N¨CNo, Mr. Hunt, you must be joking.¡± Tyler folded his arms, putting on his ssic ¡®not my business¡® kind of smug disinterest. His voice sounded deliberately casual. ¡°Oh? I just assumed that¡¯s what it was since I¡¯ve never heard of you having a boyfriend. People might get the wrong idea. They might think Mr. Lewis is your boyfriend.¡± Tyler was known for never holding back, and Rachel had long since gotten used to his sharp tongue. It could make anyone ufortable. But for the first time, she actually enjoyed it. Because this time, his words were aimed at Samantha and William. Rachel had been watching their reactions the whole time Tyler was talking. At the mention of ¡®pregnant¡®, both their expressions changed. Samantha¡¯s eyes were full of guilt. William¡¯s expression went stiff and his brows furrowed tightly. Samantha had no choice but to force a smile. ¡°N¨CNo way. William¡¯s just being nice. We went to the same college, and he¡¯s known my mom for years. That¡¯s all.¡± Tyler nodded slowly. He then shifted his gaze to William, who had been silent this whole time. ¡°Is that so, Mr. Lewis?¡± Something flickered in William¡¯s eyes, but he quickly recovered and nodded stiffly. ¡°Yeah.¡± Tyler smiled. ¡°Sure. But being someone¡¯s mistress is rather shameful these days. If word gets out, it¡¯ll be messy.¡± Her Exit 143 Samantha¡¯s face went pale. She tilted her head up slightly. She seemed so fragile as if she would copse into William¡¯s arms at any moment. ¡°William, I don¡¯t feel so good. Can you take me home?¡± William gave her a nod and turned to Rachel. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯ll take her home first. How long will your IV drip take? I¡¯lle back to get youter.¡± Rachel politely declined. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. Cecilia¡¯sing to pick me up. She¡¯s been feeling downtely. I promised I¡¯d keep herpany.¡± William studied her with a deep, unreadable gaze for a few seconds but didn¡¯t try to persuade her. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± He and Samantha turned to leave the ward. But just as they reached the door, William suddenly stopped and looked back at Noah. ¡°Dr. Trevor, if this is how your nurses behave, maybe your hospital doesn¡¯t need to be in business much longer.¡± Noah jolted like he¡¯d just been electrocuted. His posture snapped straight. ¡°Please rest assured, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Hunt. Even if you hadn¡¯t said anything, we wouldn¡¯t tolerate someone like that here.¡± William looked away and left the room with Samantha. Noah sighed in relief and immediately turned to the nurse. His expression was now stern. ¡°Starting tomorrow, you don¡¯t need toe in anymore. Submit your resignation letter.¡± The nurse looked like she was about to cry and pleaded with him. ¡°Please, Dr. Trevor. Can¡¯t you give me another chance? I swear I won¡¯t do this again.¡± Noah didn¡¯t even look at her. His tone was firm with no room forpromise. ¡°You¡¯ve offended Mr. Hunt and Mr. Lewis¡® wife. How am I supposed to protect you? Everything your supervisors told you clearly went in one ear and out the other. You ran into someone you can¡¯t afford to mess with this time. There¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± He turned back to Tyler and bowed slightly. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I sincerely apologize. Please, get some rest. I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± He then grabbed the nurse and dragged her out. The room finally quieted down again. Rachel let out a sigh and nced sideways at Tyler¡¯s hand. ¡°Is your IV drip okay? Do you need a fresh one?¡± Tyler rested one hand behind his head. He seemed to have smirked ¡°Are you just annoyed because you had to get jabbed again and want me to suffer with you?¡± Rachel slouched and lightly tapped her own mouth. ¡°Ugh, I really need to learn to shut up.¡± Tyler wasn¡¯t the kind of guy who cared whether people worried about him or not. To him, expressions of concern were just unnecessary noise. He yawned and stretched. ¡°I¡¯m taking a nap.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there was something wrong with the team¨Cbuilding proposal?¡°Rachel reminded him. ¡°You said you needed to talk to me. Might as well go over it now while I still have the energy¡± Tyler turned away from her andy on his side. ¡°I sent it to your phone. Check it yourself.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. For someone so , it was a miracle he managed to run a wholepany sessfully. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. Just as she was about to look away, she caught a glimpse of Tyler¡¯s back where his shirt had ridden up a little. There were ovepping wounds. They were starting to fade, but still looked fresh enough to be from a few days ago. ¡°How did you get those wounds on your back?¡± she asked. Chapter 144 Her Exit 144 Chapter 144 Tyler¡¯s body stiffened for a moment. Then he casually tugged down the hem of his shirt with his other hand, covering the wounds on his lower back. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Rachel frowned, and a sudden memory shed through her mind. She recalled the time when Tyler had rammed his car into Howard¡¯s a few days ago. He had taken the hit for her. He¡¯d basically vanished after that. She had tried messaging him, but he never replied properly. He only said he was busy and offered no exnations. She took a wild but probably urate guess. ¡°You beat up the Ziegler family, didn¡¯t you?¡± Tyler sounded a little defeated. ¡°Being too smart isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡± He turned around, rustling the sheets. His gazended on Rachel. ¡°All right, tell me, how¡¯d you figure it out?¡± ¡°Howard is the Ziegler family¡¯s only son. His father had himte in life, so naturally he¡¯s extra precious. The moment something happened to him, Gerald would¡¯veunched an investigation. ¡°Even if you¡¯re pretty well¨Cknown in Yurelia City, Howard isn¡¯t someone just anyone can mess with, especially when you two haven¡¯t even fallen out publicly. ¡°To give the Ziegler family a proper exnation, your family could only beat you up as a gesture of sincerity. It¡¯s the only way to appease Mr. Ziegler.¡± Tyler rubbed his brows. He seemed somewhat amused. ¡°William really wasted all those years with you. Dic hide whatever¡¯s going on between him and Samantha from you?¡± Rachel gave a faint, bitter smile. ¡°Or maybe they never even nned to hide it in the first ce.¡± Tyler snorted. ¡°Well, that¡¯s that then. Forced love never bears sweet fruit.¡± hink he could Rachel chuckled softly. ¡°I never intended to force anything. Rtionships are about mutual choice. Now that he has someone new, if I still clung to him like that, I¡¯d only be humiliating myself. She had an almost painfully strong sense of pride, and she hated pointless fights. The truth always revealed itself in the little things. Tyler, perhaps messing around, raised a hand and gave her a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°You really didn¡¯t let your mom down, good girl.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± It sounded so weird. He replied with a sarcasticment. ¡°I was speaking on your mom¡¯s behalf. Or do you want to be my daughter? Say ¡®Daddy¡® first, let¡¯s hear it.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even bother responding. Tyler could take shamelessness to a whole new level. It was no wonder no one in Yurelia City could keep Howard in check except him. She nced again at the wounds on his back. ¡°Do they hurt?¡± ¡°If I say yes, will youfort me?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± The room fell silent for a few seconds. Apparently dissatisfied with such a cold response, Tyler¡¯s voice deepened. ¡°I¡¯m feeling generous, so I¡¯ll give you one more chance. Try that again.¡± Rachel remained silent. This man didn¡¯t just live like a spoiled brat, but he thought like one too. Then again, Tyler getting beaten up had something to do with her. She felt a little responsible for it. In the end, she gave in. ¡°All right. How do you want me tofort you?¡± ¡°Sing something for me.¡± Rachel blinked in surprise. She hadn¡¯t meant it literally. She had just said it to be polite. But here he was, dead serious and making demands. She clenched her right hand into a fist. Fine. She¡¯d repay the debt she owed him. ¡°I don¡¯t know that many songs. What do you want to hear?¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± The corners of Rachel¡¯s mouth twitched. Her skin even started tingling from embarrassment. Through clenched jaws, she muttered, ¡°How is it that you go around like this and nobody¡¯s ever punched you in the face?¡± Tyler sneered, shing that devil¨Cmay¨Ccare grin. ¡°I¡¯d like to see them try.¡± Her Exit 145 At that moment, Rachel felt a surge of anger rise within her. Her cheeks were burning hot. Tyler, of course, looked at her with that irritatingly smug, provocative gaze ¡°What? Do you want to hit me?¡± Rachel did want to hit him, but she was fully aware of the strength difference between men and women. She chickened out. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Then hurry up and sing. I¡¯m trying to sleep.!¡® Tyler grabbed the nket with one hand and pulled it over himself. Rachel recalled the children¡¯s song Tyler had hummed earlier. She looked up the lyrics on her phone, took a few minutes to get into the mood, and then began to sing softly. ¡°It¡¯s him, it¡¯s him, our friend, Torch. In the skies, he soars high. In the seas, he dives deep-¡± Rachel had no idea whether Tyler actually liked it or not, but she knew singing a children¡¯s song would be easier to stay on key. If she tried a pop song, it¡¯d probably sound like a banshee screaming. After she finished the song, she noticed Tyler lying still on the hospital bed. His back rose and fell gently. He had actually fallen asleep. Was her singing basically a luby? She waited a few more minutes, confirming he really was asleep, before finally letting out a long sigh of relief. Why did this feel like she was babysitting a child? Rachel shook her head. She then pulled out her phone to check the team¨Cbuilding problem Tyler had sent h At first nce, she thought she¡¯d misread it. But after checking several times, she realized what the problem was. What were they supposed to eat for lunch and dinner? She looked up at Tyler in disbelief. Was he mentally ill? He came all the way here in person for something like this? Couldn¡¯t he just leave that to someone working for him? There were even several options that included five local farm¨Cto¨Ctable restaurants. Rachel finally picked one with food that seemed like it would suit most people, based on reviews and menu variety, A few hourster, her IV drip was almost done. A nurse came in to remove the needle. This nurse¡¯s attitude was way better than the previous one¡¯s, and Rachel didn¡¯t feel any pain at all. The nurse even updated her about Tyler afterwards. ¡°The gentleman over there will take a bit longer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. Just make sure toe back and remove his needleter,¡± Rachel replied. She slipped on her shoes and quietly left the room. Tyler didn¡¯t wake up until close to six in the morning. He nced at the back of his hand and realized the needle had already been removed. He turned over to check the bed beside him. It was empty. Just then, a nurse came by to help another patient. +25 BONUS Tyler asked, ¡°Excuse me, what happened to the patient in that bed?¡± ¡°She left after the IV drip finished.¡± Tyler smirked. ¡°She ran off pretty fast.¡± He checked the time on his watch. His brows twitched slightly. Had he actually slept that long? He immediately dialed a number. ¡°I slept for six hours.¡± ¡°What the hell? Are you joking right now? You actually slept for six hours? What happened? Did you overdose on sleeping pills or something? I¡¯m telling you, if you take too much, that stuff can kill you.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°I didn¡¯t take any sleeping pills.¡± Xavier clearly didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°Seriously? Not even one? I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°I swear, not a single one.¡± Tyler couldn¡¯t help butugh at Xavier¡¯s shocked tone. Why would he lie about something like this? Xavier finally started to calm down. ¡°Fine. Tell me, if you didn¡¯t use meds, how did you manage to fall asleep?¡± +25 BO Her Exit 146 Chapter 146 Xavier had been prescribing medication for Tyler for years to treat his sleeping disorder. There was a period when it had be so frustrating that it had nearly broken him. He had even begun to doubt whether he was truly cut out to be a doctor. How could he not even fix a single case of insomnia? Over the years, he¡¯d tried everything he could think of, including acupuncture, herbal remedies, dietary therapy, and even sound -based treatments like white noise. If it existed, he tried it. If it didn¡¯t, he invented it. But the results were minimal at best. As a doctor, if all his efforts had failed, he really couldn¡¯t imagine what else could possibly help Tyler fall asleep. ¡°You have to tell me, who did this? What exactly did they do to make you sleep that long?¡± He had to know. Someone had managed to put this chronic insomniac to sleep for six straight hours. That was practically a miracle. The best solution he¡¯d evere up with had only managed to keep Tyler asleep for a little over four hours. Tyler looked genuinely helpless as he said, ¡°Since you¡¯re asking so sincerely, I¡¯ll do you the kindness of telling you. It¡¯s very simple, singing.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xavier thought he must¡¯ve misheard. ¡°Did you just say singing? Bro, are you messing with me? Singing what? ¡®Happy Days¡®?¡± ¡°¡°Torch¡®.¡± ¡°Pfft! I get it now. It¡¯s because your mental age is three, right? My apologies. I clearly overestimated you before.¡± He had tried ying music for Tyler in the past. It had mostly been soothing stuff, of course. Who would¡¯ve guessed this guy preferred children¡¯s songs? Tyler lowered his voice and growled, ¡°Get lost.¡± Xavier just kept going. ¡°But hey, if it really works, maybe you should hire that person to sing for you regrly. Speaking of, now I¡¯m really curious, who was it that sang you to sleep?¡± ¡°You know her. Mrs. Lewis.¡± ¡°William¡¯s wife?¡± Now Xavier was truly shocked. ¡°Okay, now what is wrong with you? I mean, sure, I can understand wanting someone who can sing children¡¯s songs, but did it have to be his wife? ¡°Can you imagine the drama if this ever gets out? The kind of headlines? Man, I don¡¯t even want to think about it. You just recovered from thest beating. If this keeps up, Gerald might whip you again.¡± Tyler wasn¡¯t the type to sit around listening to people ramble. ¡°Enough. You sound like an old woman nagging. Cut it out.¡± He didn¡¯t even wait for Xavier to say another word. He just hung up Company policy had them meeting at the LS Enterprise building by half past seven, but it was already well past departure time, and there was still no sign of Rachel. Tyler checked his watch. His expression was cold and detached. He was here strictly for business. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why isn¡¯t she here yet?¡± William looked confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you two share a hospital wardst night? Didn¡¯t she say goodbye before she left?¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes darkened. His tone wasced with mockery. ¡°What, Williamn? Are you asking me to find your wife now?¡± William had been all bold and righteous a second ago, but one look from Tyler and all his confidence immediately deted. He hesitated for a few seconds. He then turned away and kept trying to video call Rachel. There was still no answer. +25 BONUS That was when Arsen walked over to remind them, ¡°Mr. Lewis, it¡¯s been over thirty minutes. Should we go?¡± The sun was particrly harsh today. William squinted slightly under the bright re with hands on his hips. ¡°You guys go ahead. I¡¯ll wait for her.¡± Her Exit 147 Arsen looked a bit troubled. ¡°That won¡¯t work. Someone still needs to go up there and take charge.¡± ¡°Let Mr. Hunt go first,¡± William said. Arsen was visibly shocked. His gaze instinctively darted toward Tyler. ¡°Huh? Mr. Hunt? I really don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. Someone¡¯s going to have to give a few opening remarks. ¡°With Mr. Hunt¡¯s personality, he¡¯ll probably go up there and say something like ¡®Work hard or get out. We won¡¯t even bother shaking hands on the way out.¡°¡± Everyone knew that leading a team wasn¡¯t just about power and status. It was about bnce. Tyler, on the other hand, didn¡¯t even bother pretending. He hated business formalities and had no patience for small talk. Even Arsen understood Tyler¡¯s temperament, so of course William knew it all too well. He sighed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go talk to him.¡± Bracing himself, William walked over to Tyler again. ¡°Mr. Hunt, we really can¡¯t keep the employees waiting. Let¡¯s send the first group ahead.¡± ¡°Mm. No need to wait. Let¡¯s go,¡± Tyler said, clearly already eager to leave as he reached out and opened the car door. Just as he was about to get in, William pressed a hand to his shoulder. ¡°No, Mr. Hunt, I meant I¡¯ll go with the staff first. Could you wait here a bit for Rachel?¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow. He was clearly surprised by the request. ¡°You want me to wait here for your wife? William, weren¡¯t you drowning in jealousy? Are you a changed man?¡± His sarcasm was turned up to maximum. William¡¯s expression darkened instantly. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you must be joking. Sure, there were some misunderstandings before, but that¡¯s all in the past. Besides, a man like you would never be interested in another man¡¯s wife. Gerald wouldn¡¯t allow you to be with someone already married either. He won¡¯t let you be a homewrecker.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t argue. In fact, he nodded along as if fully agreeing. ¡°You make a fair point, Mr. Lewis. I wouldn¡¯t stoop so low as to interfere in someone else¡¯s marriage.¡± Divorced women didn¡¯t count, of course. Hearing that, most of William¡¯s tension melted away. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave her in your care. Unless you¡¯d prefer I stay and wait, but in that case I¡¯ll have to count on you to go and take the lead at the event.¡± Tyler waved him off. ¡°You know I can¡¯t stand that sort of thing.¡± William knew all too well. With their roles sorted out, William took the team and left first. By the time Rachel arrived, it was already close to half past eight. She came running in, face flushed, sweat glistening across her forehead. She doubled over and panted heavily. She felt like if she¡¯d run even a few steps more, she might have passed out. Just like that, she watched the team¡¯s vehicles drive off without her. Rachel sighed. She was stillte after all. She squatted on the ground, trying to catch her breath for just a few minutes. Suddenly, a pair of polished leather shoes appeared in front of her. +25 BONUS A low, teasing voice followed. ¡°Rachel, if you wanted to ride in my car, you could¡¯ve just asked. No need for the dramatic entrance.¡± Rachel looked up and saw Tyler towering over her with that ever¨Cpresent smirk on his lips. Even like this, she could feel the aloof arrogance in his eyes He had an untouchable king¨Cof¨Cthe¨Chill energy. She smiled a little. As expected, Tyler never missed a chance to take a jab at her. Propping herself up with both hands on her knees, she slowly straightened up. Her lips were slightly parted, and she was still catching her breath as she spoke. ¡°Mr. Hunt, do you have a narcissistic personality disorder? Should we get you a doctor for that?¡± Chapter 148 Her Exit 148 Chapter 148 Instead of getting angry, Tyler actually looked at her with interest. ¡®Sure. Since you¡¯re so interested in me, why don¡¯t you try treating me?¡± Rachel took a deep breath and immediately regretted everything she just said. She should¡¯ve known that talking sense to Tyler was pointless. She looked away. ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor. I can¡¯t treat that kind of disorder.¡± ¡°Then why are you out here making a diagnosis? Quack.¡± Tyler clicked his tongue in mock disgust and opened the car door. Seeing that Rachel was still just standing there, he whistled at her. ¡°Hey, quack. Get in the car. Or are you nning to walk there?¡± Rachel blinked in surprise. ¡°Where¡¯s William?¡± ¡°He went ahead with the staff.¡± Rachel frowned. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you go?¡± Tyler didn¡¯t seem like the type to wait around for people. Fastening his seatbelt, Tyler nced at her from the corner of his eye. ¡°William sold you off to me. Starting today, you¡¯re my personal assistant. You¡¯ll handle everything from food, clothes, scheduling, even lubies.¡± Hearing that William had already left with the others, Rachel figured there was no point being dramatic about it. She opened the passenger¨Cside door and climbed in. ¡°Liar.¡± ¡°Yep. That¡¯s what I am.¡± Tyler chuckled hoarsely. Rachel watched him smirking and realized she¡¯d been yed again. Her jaw clenched in frustration, and her cheeks flushed. She turned toward the window and refused to speak to him. This man clearly got a kick out of teasing people. Tyler started the engine and drove straight toward the estate. Rachel had run all the way there, and even though she¡¯d caught her breath, she still felt winded. Her throat felt like it was burning.. Out of the corner of his eye, Tyler noticed her slightly parted lips were dry and chapped. But every little movement made them look soft and inviting. He spoke. ¡°There¡¯s water in the back. Grab one if you want.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t hesitate. She quickly turned and reached for a bottle. She was just about to twist the cap open when his voice came out of nowhere. ¡°I drank from that one already.¡± Without thinking, Rachel put it down and grabbed another. ¡°I drank from that one too.¡± She blinked. ¡°How many bottles did you drink from? Why don¡¯t you ever finish one?¡± Tyler rubbed his jaw and pretended to think hard. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m not ure. You¡¯ll just have to test them one by one.¡± Suddenly, Rachel¡¯s eyes widened as if something clicked in her brain. ¡°You¡¯re messing with me!¡± Tyler nced at the back seat and put on an innocent face. ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m beingpletely serious.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± She didn¡¯t believe a word of it. The more someone insisted they were telling the truth, the more likely they were lying. Tyler made a few exaggerated sounds before giving her that same amused look. ¡°You know how to swear now. Impressive.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t care. ¡°We¡¯re both adults here. Drop the act.¡± She figured that deep down, Tyler probably understood her better than anyone else, maybe even better than William. Standing in front of Tyler always made her feelpletely seen. It was as if she couldn¡¯t hide a single thing. Tyler said nothing. He only smiled. Rachel finally grabbed a random bottle of water, twisted it open, and started drinking. The cool water soothed her throat instantly. She felt a wave of relief wash over her. She only realized how precious water was when she was truly dehydrated. Chapter 149 Her Exit 149 Chapter 149 Tyler turned his head slightly and asked, ¡°Why were youte today? William said he called you several times but couldn¡¯t reach you.¡± Rachel felt that he was acting like some strict parent questioning a kid who hadn¡¯te home the night before. She didn¡¯t bother hiding it and just told him the truth. ¡°I saw a cat get hit by a car on the way here, so I took it to the vet. Luckily, it made it. The vet said if everything goes well it should be able to go home in a few days.¡± ¡°So, are you nning to adopt it?¡± Tyler¡¯s question made her pause. She actually hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. I¡¯ll see if anyone else is willing to adopt it. If not, then yeah, I¡¯ll take it home.¡± ¡°You¡¯re allergic to dust, but not to cat fur?¡± Tyler had frowned slightly without either of them realizing it. She looked at him in a startled manner. ¡°How do you know I¡¯m allergic to dust?¡± Even Tyler himself was caught off guard. He hadn¡¯t even realized he¡¯d said it until it was already out of his mouth. But he recovered quickly and came up with an excuse. ¡°Your mom mentioned it once. She said you¡¯ve had that allergy since you were little.¡± ¡°Oh wow, sounds like my mom really told you everything.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°She told me a lot. She said you watched way too many teen dramas growing up. One time, you randomly grabbed some boy at school and dered you were gonna marry him. ¡°And when that boy turned you down, you dragged me in front of everyone and said ¡®this is my future husband, and we¡¯re gonna have ten kids together-¡°¡± Before he could finish, Rachel covered his mouth. Her cheeks and ears turned red with embarrassment. She red at him. ¡°Stop! When did I ever say I wanted you to be my husband and have kids with you?¡± Tyler didn¡¯t try to remove her hand. It was soft, and he didn¡¯t seem to mind the contact. He just lifted his chin slightly, gesturing with his eyes toward the road to remind her that he was driving. Rachel thought about the time they had raced cars with Howard. For the sake of her own life, she decided to behave. But before pulling her hand away, she warned him. ¡°Don¡¯t make stuff up again.¡± She finally let go. Tyler gave her a sideways nce and raised an eyebrow, ¡°You covered my mouth. That means I was right. You remember it pretty clearly, don¡¯t you?¡± Rachel shot him a re. ¡°Nope. Don¡¯t remember a thing.¡± While they were still talking, the car reached the entrance of the estate. Tyler¡¯s parking skills were smooth and precise. There was none of that cautious, inch¨Cby¨Cinch reversing some people did. He parked perfectly in a single attempt. Rachel was still staring out the window, dazed, when Tyler gave her a look as if he could read her mind. ¡°Don¡¯t be envious. Natural talent like this can¡¯t be taught.¡± She snapped out of it, naturally rolling her eyes at his unshakable arcissism. The more he praised himself, the less she wanted to give him the satisfaction. ¡°I wasn¡¯t admiring your parking.¡± She got out of the car and looked around. She wanted to check out what the estate looked like. But the moment she nced ahead, her gazended on Samantha and William. William was gently touching Samantha¡¯s still- t belly, his eyes full of softness and a kind of affection Rachel had never seen before. Even as an outsider, she could feel how deeply William was looking forward to the birth of that child. Well, he could rest easy. She was no longer a threat to his happiness. He had already lost her, forever. Her Exit 150 pter 150 For a moment, Rachel didn¡¯t even know what to say. She had a feeling that walking over now would just be interrupting. But Tyler, as usual, had no concept of embarrassment. He walked straight up like he hadn¡¯t noticed a thing and greeted them casually. ¡°Mr. Lewis, you¡¯re certainly busy. Can¡¯t spare a moment to wait for your own wife, yet you¡¯ve got time to admire a female employee¡¯s belly?¡± His gaze shifted yfully to Samantha. ¡°What is it? Does Ms. Judd¡¯s belly look more special than everyone else¡¯s? Prettier, maybe?¡± William had remainedposed when he saw Tyler, but the moment his eyesnded on Rachel beside him, his entire expression changed. The gentleness from before disappeared. It was reced by something darker. Samantha pursed her lips. Her face went pale for a brief second before she quickly recovered, putting on a cheerful smile as she jogged over to Rachel. ¡°Rachel, where were you this morning? William and I waited for a long time. We thought something might¡¯ve happened to you.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even nce at Samantha, however. Her gaze was fixed on William the entire time. ¡°Is that so?¡± It was as if William snapped out of something. He rushed toward her and grabbed her hand tightly. ¡°What happened to you? I called you so many times, why didn¡¯t you answer?¡± ¡°You thought something happened to me?¡± Rachel asked. ¡°Of course I did. I even asked Cecilia. She said she wasn¡¯t with youst night and had no idea where you were.¡± Rachel looked at him. There was that familiar look of worry in his eyes and those same blue eyes that once used to look at her that way. She had thought she knew this man after spending seven years together. It turned out those seven years were just the threshold. She kept her voice steady. ¡°So why didn¡¯t you call the police?¡± If someone you cared about couldn¡¯t be reached and their phone was off, wouldn¡¯t your first instinct be to file a report? But William was different. He¡¯d had Tyler wait for her at thepany¡¯s entrance. Then he¡¯de here with Samantha in tow,ughing and chatting. All before he even knew whether Rachel was okay. William hesitated. ¡°If I had called the police, this event would¡¯ve been ruined. Rachel, you know how important this event is for thepany. I figured you would-¡± Rachel raised her hand and cut him off. ¡°Enough. It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± Without another word, she walked right past him and headed inside. As Tyler walked past William, he gave him a slow, thoughtful look. ¡®Mr. Lewis, with your jam¨Cpacked schedule, don¡¯t forget to take care of your health.¡± The vein in William¡¯s forehead twitched as he turned to re at Tyler. ¡°You didn¡¯t arrange for Rachel to see that on purpose, did you?¡± Tyler gave a short, dismissive chuckle. The smugness in his expression was obvious. ¡°Scenes like that y out all the time. Why would I need to arrange anything? Besides, how would I know you couldn¡¯t even hold off for a few hours?¡± He threw William a final nce that was full of contempt. William¡¯s expression darkened. The way Tyler looked at him wasn¡¯t just hatred. It was pure disgust. Samantha looked up at William, noticing how tightly pursed his lips were and how his jaw was clenched. She nervously tugged at the hem of his shirt. ¡°William, do you think Rachel saw something just now? Will she be mad at me?¡± The more she spoke, the more guilty she felt. +25 BONUS Her Exit 151 Chapter 151 ¡°I don¡¯t know why she suddenly showed up either. I really didn¡¯t think much of it at the time. I¡¯m sorry. Did I cause a lot of trouble for you? If Rachel misunderstood anything, I can go talk to her and exin. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s the petty type,¡± Samantha said. William narrowed his eyes slightly. Something about Rachel felt differenttely, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it. She had been avoiding himtely. Or perhaps, had she already figured something out? That thought made the light in William¡¯s eyes grow dimmer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s not that petty. Let¡¯s head inside. If there are any activitiester, just be careful.¡± Samantha leaned against him and replied sweetly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, make sure to protect our baby.¡± Inside the main hall, Cecilia was munching on some fruit. Everything here was provided by the resort and offered in unlimited amounts. She had just turned her head when she saw Rachel walking in from outside. She waved at her. ¡°Over here-¡± Rachel, already looking around for Cecilia, quickly made her way over. Cecilia rushed to her and grabbed her hand. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you? Do you know how panicked we were this morning when we couldn¡¯t reach you? ¡°Where did you go? Mr. Lewis asked me about you several times. Everyone at thepany was waiting. He actually stayed behind to wait just for you, but things got busy and he had toe here to host the event.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart gave a little jolt. Did William wait for her? That was definitely unusual. After Rachel exined what had happened, Cecilia nearly screamed. ¡°Are you crazy? With your allergy problems, how can you even think about keeping a cat?¡± Rachel quickly held up a finger to hush her. ¡°Can you not make such a big deal out of it? Keep your voice down.¡± She didn¡¯t want people overhearing and gossiping about her again. No doubt someone would start calling her a saint or say she was insane for holding up thepany over a stray cat. She really didn¡¯t need the extra drama. Cecilia only now noticed how many people were staring at them. She immediately shut her mouth. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m really worried about your allergies. Are you sure you¡¯ll be okay?¡± ¡°Rx. And I said, I¡¯ll only adopt it if no one else steps up. The vet said my allergies aren¡¯t incurable. They can be managed.¡± Cecilia let out a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re being reckless. Don¡¯t you remember when you moved into that dusty office? You could barely breathe at night back then. This isn¡¯t just a little rash or sneeze were talking about. This could be a serious medical issue.¡± ¡°Trust me. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Rachel replied. She was confident in her own health. Just then, William pped his hands as he walked over. 11 ¡®Alright everyone, gather around. Let¡¯s go over what¡¯sing up next. ¡°We¡¯ll be splitting into two teams with LS Enterprise and mixing the groups forpetitions. At the end, the winners will receive a grand prize. Each member of the winning team will get a smartphone, aptop, and a cash prize of ten thousand dors, all sponsored by both ourpanies.¡± Gasps of shock echoed through the room. ¡°Oh my goodness! That¡¯s insane! That prize is huge. I¡¯m definitely in it to win it now!¡± ¡°I have to get this one.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been needing a newptop, and I still have a mortgage payment this month. This prize would be perfect!¡± Her Exit 152 Even Cecilia couldn¡¯t help but get excited. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t you want that prize too? I mean, it¡¯s really good. If I win, I won¡¯t have to stress about money for the next two months.¡± Rachel thought about how she¡¯d be leaving soon, and how she didn¡¯t really have anything to give Cecilia before she left. Then, an idea came to her. ¡°How about this, if we¡¯re not on the same team, and I end up winning, I¡¯ll give you my share of the prize.¡± Cecilia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯d give me your prize?¡± ¡°Yeah. I already have a phone and aptop. Plus, I helped out with LS Enterprise¡¯s project this time. Technically, thepany should be giving me a bonus anyway,¡± Cecilia was so moved that she hugged Rachel tightly. ¡°Rachel, I love you so much!¡± The teams were decided by drawing lots. Rachel and Cecilia drew their slips one after the other. Rachel unfolded hers. She was in Group 2. She immediately asked Cecilia, ¡°Which group are you in?¡± ¡°Group 6.¡± Cecilia held up her slip to show her. Cecelia was a little disappointed. ¡°I really wanted to be on your team.¡± Rachel let out a relieved sigh. ¡°No worries. Think of it this way. If we were in the same group, our chances of winning would¡¯ve been cut in half.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Cecilia giggled and squinted. Not far away, Samantha nced at her own slip. She then turned quickly to look at William. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were full of anticipation. ¡°William, which group are you in?¡± ¡°Group 3.¡± ¡°I am too! That means we¡¯re on the same team!¡± Samantha¡¯s cheerful voice rang out brightly through the crowd. William then walked over to Rachel and asked, ¡°Which group are you in?¡± ¡°Group 2,¡± Rachel replied honestly. ¡°Want me to switch with someone so we¡¯re in the same team?¡± bing your job. If ¡°No need.¡± Rachel declined gently, even going so far as to justify it from William¡¯s perspective. ¡°You¡¯re j people found out we switched teams just to be together, it might cause gossip. This partnership with LS Enterprise is important. It could determine whether the project moves forward smoothly.¡± Honestly, there probably wasn¡¯t a single man who could resist a wife this understanding. William¡¯s expression instantly softened, and the harshness in his expression faded away. He ced a hand on her shoulder. ¡± Rachel, having you say that really means a lot to me. I was worried you might be upset.¡± Rachel offered a carefree smile. ¡°Why would I be? This is work. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s something else. I get it.¡± William raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, you¡¯re not upset that I¡¯m teamed up with Samantha?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be upset about? She¡¯s a colleague. Her mom¡¯s sick. As someone who went to school with her, and now as her boss and friend, it¡¯s only right you help out.¡± William was caught off guard by howposed she was. Sure, she had never confronted him or caused a scene before, but he had always assumed she was just quietly holding in her anger. Yet she didn¡¯t mention anything, and he couldn¡¯t bring it up either Doing so might¡¯ve just drawn more suspicion. Strangely, William felt a pang of guilt toward Rachel. He reached out and gave her a hug. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m really lucky to have a wife like you.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t hug him back. Instead, she just gave him a light, polite pat on the back. ¡°Go on. Make sure everything goes smoothly today.¡± William nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel was just about to go find her group when suddenly she heard a group of people nearby gasp in surprise. ¡°No way. Are they saying Mr. Hunt is participating this time?¡± Her Exit 153 Chapter 153 ¡°I just saw Mr. Hunt drawing a lot a minute ago, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Oh my god, this is wild. But honestly, with Mr. Hunt¡¯s personality I really didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be the type to join a game like this.¡± ¡°Exactly! I heard hispany held a team¨Cbuilding event once, and it was a huge deal that he actually showed up. All the women in thepany were thrilled. And guess what? He showed up and then slept the entire afternoon.¡± ¡°Sounds about right. He doesn¡¯t seem like someone who¡¯d enjoy this kind of thing.¡± Rachel was curious too. She couldn¡¯t believe Tyler was actually joining the game. Suddenly someone shouted again. ¡°Mr. Hunt is in Group 2!¡± The crowd instantly became excited again. ¡°Who¡¯s in Group 2? I¡¯m so jealous!¡± ¡°Oh no, now I really want to be in Group 2.¡± ¡°Me too! Can we switch?¡± ¡°I think so. I¡¯m gonna ask Rachel. She¡¯s easy¨Cgoing.¡± ¡°Me too, I¡¯ll go.¡± In an instant, Rachel was surrounded by people. All of them were holding their slips and trying to trade with her. ¡°Rachel, can I trade with you?¡± ¡°Rachel, if you trade with me, I¡¯ll do any data work you need.¡± ¡°Same here. Our whole department will support you first and foremost.¡± ¡°Rachel, I just came back from overseas and bought some amazing chocte. I¡¯ll bring you some if you¡¯ll trade!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t really mind switching teams, but there was just one problem. She held up her own slip. ¡°I¡¯d love to trade, but I only have one.¡± ¡°Give it to me!¡± ¡°Me! Pick me!¡± ¡°Name your price, anything you want, I¡¯ll do it!¡± Rachel was genuinely unsure who to give it to. Cecilia tugged at her arm. ¡°You¡¯re not seriously thinking of trading with them, are you? Come on, everyone¡¯s dying to be on Mr. Hunt¡¯s team and you¡¯re going to give that up?¡± Rachel shrugged nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± Cecilia leaned in and studied her face. ¡°Wait, are you immune to hot guys or something?¡± Rachel had to admit that Tyler was attractive, but the moment he opened his mouth, he could shut down a whole room. She didn¡¯t have the mental strength to deal with someone like that. She gave a polite, neutral smile. ¡°He¡¯s alright.¡± Just then, Tyler walked over. His expression was calm and cool. ¡°Rules say no switching teams.¡± ¡°Aww.¡± A collective sigh of disappointment echoed from the crowd. Rachel raised her hands with a helpless smile. ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing I can do then.¡± The crowd that had swarmed her quickly dispersed. The game¡¯s rules were simple. Everyone had to stand on a pre¨Cmarked circr pad. No one¡¯s feet were allowed to touch the ground outside of it. If anyone in the group stepped off, the entire team would be disqualified. The pads were only big enough to fit three to four people standing closely together, but each team had about eight members. To make it harder, everyone had to get to a pad marked with a specific color. Just listening to the rules made Rachel tired, She really didn¡¯t want to participate, but she had no choice because it was mandatory. Someone from thepany, older and unable to join the game, was assigned to act as referee. ¡°Alright, everyone gather with your groups and start discussing your strategy. You¡¯ve got five minutes. I¡¯ll give the signal after that.¡± The energy in the other teams was high. Everyone wanted that generous prize. ¡°Here¡¯s the n. Stack in tight, press in, and whoever can hug someone, do it. Forget everything else. Winninges first.¡± Tyler stood beside Rachel with his arms crossed. He leaned forward slightly to whisper in her ear. ¡°Are you dumb?¡± Rachel gave him a sideways nce. ¡°Huh?¡± Her Exit 154 ¡°So many people were fighting to be in my group, and yet you wanted to trade away your spot. Tell me, are you dumb or what?¡± Tyler¡¯s tone was just as carefree and cocky as ever, like being in his group was some sort of rare privilege. Rachel shot him a cold re in return. ¡°What¡¯s there to fight over? Every group is the same.¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow and said with absolute confidence, ¡°If you¡¯re in my group, I guarantee you¡¯ll win.¡± His tone was so certain it actually caught Rachel¡¯s attention. She nced over at him again and then noticed he was wearing a ck windbreaker today. His hair was tousled a bit by the wind, adding a touch of casualness that softened the harshness usually brought by all¨Cck attire. Hands in his pockets, he had striking features and well¨Cdefined bone structure. His lips were especially well¨Cshaped. Honestly, his face was close to wless. Today, he looked a little more youthful than usual. After a brief pause, Rachel said sarcastically, ¡°Mr. Hunt, we¡¯ve known each other long enough. Lines like that might work on the younger girls in thepany, but not me.¡± As she spoke, she even helpfully pointed at a girl in front of them, who had on a floral dress with bangs and ck¨Crimmed sses. Her fair skin and innocent expression screamed ¡®just graduated¡®. Tyler casually followed her gesture with a nce, but even that single look was enough to cause a misunderstanding. The girl, whose name was Talitha, immediately blushed when she caught Tyler¡¯s gaze and quickly lowered her head in embarrassment. A colleague nearby noticed. ¡°Why is your face all red?¡± Talitha mumbled shyly, ¡°Mr. Hunt just looked at me.¡± The coworker¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Huh?¡± Meanwhile, Talitha was practically glowing. Her face radiated lovestruck energy. Rachel saw right through Talitha¡¯s little daydream and couldn¡¯t help but shudder slightly. Tyler¡¯s charm really was lethal. One look was all it took to capture her heart. Tyler raised a brow at Rachel with a smug grin. ¡°Still think I¡¯m full of myself?¡± Of course Rachel knew how dangerous Tyler¡¯s appeal could be to women. She had just been teasing earlier. At that moment, the host¡¯s voice boomed over the mic. ¡°Alright everyone, time to get ready! You have fifty seconds to get into position. If even one foot touches the ground outside the pad, your group is disqualified!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± the crowd responded in unison. Rachel nced around and saw how fired up everyone looked. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the power of money. These were the same people who usually groaned over running an extra mile, and now they were bouncing with excitement for a silly game just because the reward was attractive. ¡°Okay! One, two, three! Group 1, yellow! Group 2, red! Group 3, blue! Group 4, white! Group 5, green! Group 6, ck!¡± The moment thest word left the referee¡¯s mouth, everyone scattered like wild animals toward their assigned colored pads. Rachel heard ¡®red¡® and took off running toward the red circle. But with the crowd surging around her and the pressure of the countdown, it wasplete chaos. People were bumping into each other left and right. Someone even tripped and fell to the ground. Rachel nearly got knocked over herself, but just as she lost her bnce, a hand grabbed her arm, and she stumbled right into Tyler¡¯s chest. When she looked up, she met his deep, dark gaze. Her heartbeat immediately picked up. Amused, Tyler looked down at her. ¡°Careful. If you miss the prize and break a leg, William won¡¯t be able to take care of you.¡± Rachel realized he was teasing her again. She quickly pulled herself away from him. ¡°Thanks.¡± Once steady on her feet, she dashed for the red circle. By the time she got there, it was already packed. Her coworker, Leon, saw her and reached out. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, hurry, get up here!¡± Rachel was just about to take his hand when suddenly another hand shot out faster than hers. She instinctively turned to look. X Her Exit 155 It was Tyler. Leon, who had been about to help Rachel up, was stunned for a second when Tyler cut in. His outstretched hand stopped moving. Tyler looked up. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you only help women? Don¡¯t guys deserve a hand?¡± Rachel was left speechless. Tyler really was the type who refused to take even the smallest loss. After hesitating for a moment, Leon reluctantly helped Tyler up. Once steady, Tyler turned around and extended a hand toward Rachel. Rachel pouted and looked at him suspiciously. There was something seriously wrong with him. Still, she reached out and took his hand. His palm was wide and his grip firm. It felt reassuring. For a brief second, a thought appeared in Rachel¡¯s mind. Maybe Tyler really could help her get first ce. But the space was tight, and just getting herself onto the tform was already a struggle. To make things worse, she had to stack her left foot over her right. Rachel felt like her feet were fighting each other for space. Some coworkers were already starting to wobble. ¡°How long do we have to stay up here?¡± ¡°Should be around a minute, I think.¡± Someone was already groaning. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. A whole minute? I can barely make it to thirty seconds.¡± Just as the words were spoken, Rachel almost tumbled off the tform. It felt like her waist was about to snap. She clung to the tform with all her strength, and her breathing becamebored. Everyone was packed together, and the tight air made it hard to breathe. Her history of respiratory issues didn¡¯t help. Her mind started to cloud. Her body swayed. She was losing her bnce fast, and her upper body was already tipping backward. Suddenly, Tyler¡¯s arm circled around her waist. He pulled her forward and helped her regain bnce. Standing a full head taller than her, he leaned slightly, his mouth close to her ear as he spoke in a deep voice. ¡°If you want to win, stop holding back. Hold on tighter.¡± His breath tickled her ear and sent a shiver straight down her spine At first, Rachel had only held onto the hem of Tyler¡¯s shirt. She had felt hesitant and awkward. After all, there were people everywhere, and she had been in a rumored scandal with him before. If something else sparked up again, it¡¯d be another whirlwind of gossip. But then she looked up and saw Samantha practically glued to William¡¯s front. She was wrapped around him, clinging to him like a ko. William didn¡¯t even seem to care if their coworkers saw. He held her by the waist without hesitation. Rachel gave a sneering smirk. She stopped hesitating and wrapped her arms firmly around Tyler¡¯s waist. Just then, the referee called out, ¡°Alright! Now all you have to do is hold that position for sixty minutes!¡± The crowd burst into chatter. ¡°What? Sixty minutes?¡± The referee quickly corrected himself. ¡°Oops, my bad, not sixty minutes. I meant one minute. Just one!¡± Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. That scared the hell out of me. I thought I was going to pass out fromck of oxygen!¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, the way this is going, ourpany might end up with a few office couples after this event.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. I saw Lukas and Katie from our team practically glued to each other just now.¡± ¡°Honestly speaking, this isn¡¯t a bad idea for apany activity.¡± Rachel held tightly to Tyler¡¯s waist. She was afraid of falling again. His scent slowly drifted into her nose. It was the smell of toboced with a subtle undertone of sandalwood. It was oddly calming. Rachel grew curious. Why did Tyler, of all people, smell like this? She looked up and asked, ¡°Why do you smell like sandalwood or something?¡± Tyler raised his eyebrows with a slight grin. ¡°You picked up on that?¡± Her Exit 156 ¡°Yeah,¡± Rachel said. Tyler lowered his gaze to Rachel¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he said casually. ¡°I¡¯ve always had trouble sleeping. A sandalwood sachet helps a little.¡± Rachel suddenly recalled that time at the hospital when Tyler had asked her to sing. So that was the reason. She¡¯d honestly thought he was messing with her. Then again, this man always had a twisted sense of humor. Who would¡¯ve thought someone like him, who seemed so carefree actually struggled with sleep? The referee¡¯s voice was heard again. ¡°Fifteen seconds left, everyone! Hang in there!¡± Not far away, Samantha clung tightly to William. She looked up and caught a glimpse of Rachel and Tyler. ¡°William, I think Rachel and Mr. Hunt might really win this time,¡± she said. William nced over, following Samantha¡¯s line of sight. When his gazended on Tyler¡¯s hand, his expression immediately turned sour. Samantha noticed his displeasure and tried to defend Rachel. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea, William. I¡¯m sure Mr. Hunt and Rachel are just focused on winning the challenge. Look at how packed it is. Everyone¡¯s practically wrapped around someone else.¡± William¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t looked that bad before, but after hearing Samantha say that, his expression soured even more. His jaw clenched tightly. Samantha patted his arm in an attempt to calm him down. ¡°Alright, alright, let Rachel exin things to youter.¡± Leon, who stood beside Rachel, took the initiative me know.¡± Rachel declined politely. ¡°I¡¯m fine, thanks.¡® ¡± to speak up. ¡°Rachel, do you need a hand? If you¡¯re feeling unsteady, just let Leon looked slightly disappointed but didn¡¯t say anything else. Others had already begun falling off the tform. This challenge was no joke. It really tested one¡¯s bnce. Rachel was also struggling a bit. She stole a nce over at Cecilia¡¯s group and noticed something odd. Their group had a lot of heavier people. Half of them hadn¡¯t even managed to get on the tform, but the rules were strict. As long as even one person in your group hadn¡¯t made it up, you lost. Rachel could tell Cecilia¡¯s group didn¡¯t stand a chance. That only strengthened her determination to win, The referee checked the timer. ¡°Alright! Time¡¯s up! And the winner is Group 2!¡± Rachel let out a sigh of relief. She released Tyler and stepped down. Cheers erupted from Group 2. The other groups groaned in disappointment. ¡°I told you we should¡¯ve switched to Group 2. None of you believed me. With Mr. Hunt in the mix, it was a guaranteed win!¡± ¡°Do you guys know what I just saw? I swear I saw Mr. Hunt holding Ms. Lloyd by the waist!¡± ¡°Whoa, are you shipping them now?¡± ¡°Why not? Mr. Hunt and Ms. Lloyd totally looked good together!¡± ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s not like we¡¯re asking them to get married or something. People used to ship Mr. Lewis and Samantha too.¡± ¡°Well, Samantha¡¯s got that cute, youthful charin going on. Who doesn¡¯t like that? Just a tiny pout from her and I feel like my heart¡¯s melting.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s kind of pathetic, man.¡± Hearing all the gossip, Rachel instinctively stepped away from Tyler. She walked over to Cecilia, who looked at them with open envy ¡°Your group got so lucky. Everyone¡¯s slim. I swear I saw Mr. Hunt Holding up half your team by himself. Tall guys really have the advantage,¡± Cecilia said. Rachel froze. ¡°Wait, what? You saw Mr. Hunt supporting half our group?¡± Cecilia nodded. ¡°How else did you all stay up there that long? Didn¡¯t you see the other groups? Most of them hit the ground ages ago.¡± It finally hit Rachel what Tyler meant when he said that with him there, they¡¯d definitely win. At the time, she¡¯d thought he was just bragging. With so many people involved, it didn¡¯t seem like something he could control Rachel instinctively nced in Tyler¡¯s direction. He was sitting off to the side like nothing had happened. He casually retrieved a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up. His long, well¨Cdefined fingers held the cigarette loosely as he tapped off the ash over the armrest. Her Exit 157 Rachel felt that Tyler lookedpletely of ce sitting there. He didn¡¯t blend in with these people at all. He was like a deity who identally descended to the mortal world His entire being carried an aura that didn¡¯t belong to this ordinary, mundane realm. Just then, William stormed over. He looked very ups upset. He grabbed her wrist tightly. ¡°Come with me.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but frown. William was being unusually forceful today. His grip was much rougher than usual. She instinctively signed, ¡°Let go of me! You¡¯re hurting me!¡± William ignored her protest and dragged her off to the side. Rachel felt like her bones were about to crack. She finally yanked herself free from his grasp. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± she signed frustratedly. The veins on William¡¯s forehead bulged, and the look in his eyes was practically feral. He started signing angrily. ¡°Do you really have the nerve to ask me that? Rachel, what were you doing just now? What were you and Tyler doing?¡± Only then did Rachel realize what was s going on. No wonder William was acting like a lunatic. It was because of Tyler. What was there to be angry about? Tyler, at least, was a gentleman Rachel didn¡¯t know him that well, but she was sure he wasn¡¯t the type to take advantage of someone in a cheap or underhanded way. Even if he were trying to take advantage, he¡¯d do it boldly, not sneakily. Rachel didn¡¯t call William out for how close he¡¯d been with Samantha. She¡¯d seen it crystal clear. They had practically been joined at the hip. It was funny how he didn¡¯t seem to have a problem with that. Yet here he was, confronting her like he had the moral high ground. Rachel kept herself calm. She gently rotated her sore wrist. ¡°It was just a game. Why are you overreacting? Everyone was crammed onto that tform. It¡¯s only normal for there to be physical contact.¡± William narrowed his eyes. He was clearly not buying it. ¡°You do realize that our entire goal here is to ease tensions between LS Enterprise and Lewis Enterprise so we can move forward with the oasis project. ¡°If you and Tyler spark any kind of scandal right now, how the hell am I supposed to exin that to my family?¡± He paused before adding, ¡°By the way, my parents want us to stop by tonight. ¡°I¡¯m guessing they saw those recent photos of you and Tyfer. I¡¯ll try my best to smooth things over, but Rachel, please, I need you to look at the bigger picture.¡± Rachel listened to his self¨Crighteous exnation and honestly just felt likeughing, but she held it in ¡®There wasn¡¯t much time left. She had no reason to blow things up now, not when she was so close. Every ounce of restraint was meant for that final moment to deliver the most devastating blow. She nodded obediently. ¡°Got it.¡± William stepped closer and ced a hand on her shoulder. He gave it a light squeeze, then a heavier one. ¡°Rachel, look me in the eyes. Do you have feelings for Mr. Hunt?¡± Rachel met his slightly nervous gaze and smirked. She mimicked his body say that, William¡¯s tense expression finally eased a little, but Rachel knew he wasn¡¯t truly reassured. As long as Tyler was in the picture, William¡¯s suspicions would r He started signing again. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you listen to me? I to Rachel found it absurd. ¡°That was a game. William¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I don¡¯t care if it was a game or! you¡¯re this close to someone how my parents are. If they find better watch yourself.¡± As long as Tyler was in the picture, William¡¯s suspicions would never go away. He started signing again. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you listen to me? I told you not to get too close to Tyler.¡± Rachel found it absurd. ¡°That was a game.¡® William¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I don¡¯t care if it was a game or something else. The timing right now is sensitive. You know how my parents are. If they find out you¡¯re this close to someone from our rivalpany, I won¡¯t be able to protect you. You¡¯d better watch yourself.¡± Her Exit 158 Chapter 158 Just as William was about to turn and walk away, Samantha came running over. Her cheeks were flushed, and her nose tinged with red, giving her an especially sweet and innocent look. Tiny beads of sweat glistened on her smooth, fair forehead. She nced nervously at Rachel and William. She could sense the tension between them. Cautiously, she reached out and took Rachel¡¯s hand. Her voice was soft. ¡°Rachel, I sweat, there¡¯s nothing going on between me and William. Please don¡¯t get the wrong idea. William isn¡¯t using you and Mr. Hunt either. It¡¯s just that, well, you two did look really close.¡± Rachel was utterly confused. She couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of what Samantha was trying to say. Was she trying to defend her or stir the pot? Rachel hadn¡¯t intended to bring up anything about Samantha and William. Since Samantha came over on purpose to make her ufortable, there was no need to hold back anymore. Rachel turned slightly, casting Samantha a sideways nce. She smiled sarcastically. ¡°Ms. Judd, whatever¡¯s going on between me and William really doesn¡¯t require your input. There¡¯s also no need for you to speak on my behalf either. Our rtionship is our own business. We¡¯ll handle it ourselves.¡± Her words were direct and matter¨Cof¨Cfact. Itcked the warmth she usually had. It came across as cold and distant. Samantha was the kind of girl who couldn¡¯t be yelled at, scolded, or even spoken to too loudly. So being shut down like this by Rachel hit her hard. Her eyes filled with tears on the spot, and her shoulders trembled as she spoke in a choked, aggrieved voice. ¡°Rachel, why are you being so mean to me? I meant well. I know I was a little too close to William just now, and I get that you might¡¯ve been jealous. But I didn¡¯t have a choice at the time. If I hadn¡¯t held onto William, I could¡¯ve fallen off.¡± Rachel looked at her with an expression that seemed almost approving. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Ms. Judd. It was just a game. There¡¯s no need to take it too seriously. ¡°You holding onto William, that was out of necessity. So I¡¯m sure youpletely understand my situation just now too. I couldn¡¯t exactly pull away and risk our team losing just because of me, right?¡± William¡¯s expression, which had already been grim, now turned even more sour. He was practically looking daggers at them now. Samantha suddenly realized she¡¯d fallen into Rachel¡¯s trap. She had just unintentionally justified Rachel¡¯s actions with Tyler. Her lips trembled as she bit them hard, covering her mouth as she sobbed twice. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two alone.¡± With that, Samantha ran off in tears. Rachel watched her leave. Her expression was actually somewhat sympathetic. She then nced at William. ¡°You¡¯d better check on her. She¡¯s rather fragile. If something happens, it could ruin this whole team¨Cbuilding event.¡± Her words hit the mark with William. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on her then.¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She watched as he walked further and further away. She knew exactly where she stood now. In William¡¯s world, only two things mattered. Work and Samantha. Just then, Cecilia walked over. ¡°Rachel.¡± Rachel snapped out of her thoughts and turned to her. ¡°What¡¯s up? ¡°I just wanted to ask, what happened back there? Why did Mr. Lewis suddenly drag you off like that? Don¡¯t tell me something bad happened?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Rachel gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Cecilia still looked worried. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really nothing.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the concern written all over Cecilia¡¯s face. ¡°Well, we¡¯d better head back. Dinner¡¯s about to start. Oh, and I heard they¡¯re handing out prizes afterward,¡± Cecilia said. ¡°You can have the phone and theptop. I noticed your oldptop is way overdue for a recement anyway,¡± Rachel replied. She figured she¡¯d just credit the expense to Williamter. There was no way he could justify buying things for Samantha and not for her. It wouldn¡¯t make sense. She was going to milk everyst drop out of him while she still could. Cecilia¡¯s eyes glistened with joy. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re the best! Honestly, having a friend like you is the luckiest thing that¡¯s ever happened to me.¡± Her Exit 159 ¡°Alright, just take better care of yourself from now on,¡± Rachel said. She knew that going forward, there wasn¡¯t much more she could do for Cecilia. Cecilia still had no clue. When it was time to eat, William and Samantha sat together. When Samantha spotted Rachel, she cheerfully waved her over. ¡°Rachel! Come sit with us!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll just stay here. I¡¯m toozy to move.¡± Samantha looked a little disappointed but nodded politely, ¡°Okay then.¡± Rachel sat with Cecilia, and next to them was Tammy, whose face was bright red. It was obvious she¡¯d been holding back for a long time before she finally mustered the courage to raise her hand and call out timidly to Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, we still have a seat over here!¡± By the time Tammy finished her sentence, her cheeks were as red as a tomato. Tyler finally looked in their direction, scanning the area before walking toward her. The female coworkers at the table couldn¡¯t help but squeal. ¡°Oh my God, it¡¯s Mr. Hunt! He¡¯s actually sitting at our table. No way. Oh my gosh, Mr. Hunt is eating at the same table as me!¡± ¡°I have to document this sacred moment with my phone.¡± Some bold ones had already whipped out their phones and opened their camera apps. The moment Tyler sat down, the entire table¡¯s vibe changed. Rachel felt a sudden chill down her spine, and she instinctively inched closer to Cecilia. Tyler turned his head slightly, nced at her, and raised his brows. ¡°What? Do I have some kind of gue? Why are you scooting away from me?¡± he asked in his usual husky voice. He was just loud enough to be overheard. Everyone at the table turned to look at Tyler and Rachel with curious eyes. Gossip was practically thepany¡¯s secondnguage, especially when it involved Tyler. Rachel¡¯s face turned bright red under the attention. She turned to Tyler, mortified, and whispered urgently, ¡°Can you not say stuff like that out loud?¡± Tyler looked genuinely confused. ¡°Was that loud? Or are you just feeling guilty?¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks burned. ¡°Why would I feel guilty? Stop twisting things!¡± Tyler responded like he was giving a lecture. ¡°Ourpanies are business partners. And as partners,munication is perfectly normal. You should study the phrase ¡®a clear conscience fears no rumor¡®.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous. People are bound to assume something even if there¡¯s nothing,¡± Rachel replied with a frown. He just shrugged nonchntly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Meanwhile, a few people nearby were whispering among themselves. ¡°I seriously can¡¯t tell if Mr. Hunt is into Rachel or Tammy.¡± +25 BONUS ¡°I think it¡¯s Tammy. Didn¡¯t hee over riglit after she called him?¡± ¡°Can you not ship people randomly? If Mr. Lewis sees this, there¡¯ll be a huge misunderstanding.¡± Rachel could hear all of it loud and clear. She lowered her head slightly and whispered to Tyler, ¡°See? Anyone who¡¯s even remotely connected to you bes a target.¡± Even Tammy, who was usually low¨Ckey and stayed out of everything, had been dragged into this mess. Tyler was struggling to hear her through the surrounding chatter. Everyone was talking at once, and all he could see was Rachel¡¯s mouth moving nonstop. Tyler, not exactly known for his patience, suddenly leaned in and raised his voice, ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Caught off guard, Rachel turned her head at the same time. Her lips identally brushed against Tyler¡¯s cheek. They both froze instantly. Rachel¡¯s first thought was, ¡®Did anyone see that?¡® She nced around in a panic, and to her relief, no one seemed to notice. She quietly let out a sigh. ¡®Thank goodness no one saw that.¡® What she didn¡¯t notice, though, was a pair of burning eyes filled with jealousy that had caught the whole thing. Tyler, on the other hand, lookedpletely calm. In fact, he looked at Rachel like he¡¯d finally confirmed something. ¡°I knew it. You¡¯ve got ulterior motives.¡± Rachel nearly rolled her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t have any inappropriate intentions toward you, Mr. Hunt. Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± Her Exit 160 Tammy leaned in close to Tyler. Her cheeks were flushed red as she asked shyly, ¡°Mr. Hunt, could you help me open this bottle?¡± Her voice was so soft that if you weren¡¯t paying attention, you won¡¯t even know she was speaking. Tyler hesitated for a moment. He then took the bottle from her hand and twisted the cap off effortlessly. He handed it back to her. Tammy epted it sheepishly. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hunt.¡± Clutching the bottle like it was a prized possession, Tammy suddenly felt like the luckiest woman in the world. She couldn¡¯t help but whisper to a coworker next to her, ¡°Mr. Hunt opened it for me just now.¡± ¡°Oh my god, then I¡¯m definitely going to ask him to open intne too¡± Suddenly, all the women at the table scrambled 10 I their bottles to Tyler. Without hesitation, Tyler slid all the bottles toward Rachel. ¡°I¡¯ll let you handle this.¡± Rachel looked at him in a puzzled manner. ¡°Isn¡¯t this opened one, you should open the rest.¡± Tyler nced around at the crowd. ¡°Take a good look. These are all your coworkers.¡± He suddenly grabbed a bottle of water from under the table and dropped it in front of Rachel w th a loud thunk. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I¡¯d like to trouble you with mine as well.¡± Rachel was speechless. Tyler was being his typical self, always stirring the pot just for the fun of it. She took a deep breath and reluctantly agreed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll open these for everyone.¡± The female coworkers weren¡¯t having it. ¡°Forget it. We only wanted Mr. Hunt to open ours.¡± ¡°1 Like they¡¯d all just been doused with cold water, one by one they grabbed their bottles back. The mountain of bottles in front of Rachel instantly shrank to just one, Tyler¡¯s. Tyler saw she wasn¡¯t moving and raised his chin at her. ¡°What are you waiting for? Go on, open it, Ms. Lloyd.¡± Rachel shoved the bottle back toward him. ¡°Open it yourself.¡± Tyler leaned on one elbow, resting his chin in his hand as he looked at her. ¡°So now you¡¯re ying favorites? You were going to open theirs, but not mine. Isn¡¯t that what you call double standards?¡± he asked yfully. Rachel was momentarily speechless. She had noeback. In the end, she gave in with a ¡®less trouble is better¡® mentality and tried to twist the cap open, but the cap felt like it was glued shut. She clenched her jaw, using every ounce of strength she had. Still, it wouldn¡¯t budge. Suddenly, the bottle was taken from her. Tyler twisted it open with ease. ¡°You could open it yourself, so why did you ask me to do it?¡± She stared at him with a baffled expression. Tyler tipped his head back to take a drink. From Rachel¡¯s angle, she could clearly see his Adam¡¯s apple move as he swallowed. She couldn¡¯t help but gulp. Tyler¡¯s face really was indeed attractive. No wonder all the women at the table were basically circling him like sharks. What she didn¡¯t know was that Tammy had been ring at her nonstop. Rachel had felt eyes on her the entire time she was eating, but every time she turned around, she saw nothing. Cecilia, meanwhile, was too busy eating to notice anything else. She kept piling food onto Rachel¡¯s te. ¡°Rachel, try this. The fish and shrimp too. They¡¯re delicious!¡± Just as Cecilia was about to drop some fish and shrimp onto Rachel¡¯s te, someone intercepted her. Both Rachel and Cecilia instinctively looked up. Her Exit 161 Cecilia didn¡¯t know if she made a mistake, but she could sense Tyler¡¯s face turning solemn. ¡°She¡¯s allergic to seafood,¡± he said in a low voice. Cecilia stood stunned for a moment before realization dawned on her. ¡°Look at me! How could I forget something so important? You¡¯re allergic to this!¡± With that, she hurriedly spooned the food back. Samantha walked over with a ss in hand, her face bearing a mile and innocent smile. ¡°My, my! Mr. Hunt and Rachel share such a close working rtionship. Rachel¡¯s best friend Cecilia forgot that she has a seafood allergy, but Mr. Hunt remembers it so clearly.¡± Everyone else at the table hadn¡¯t paid Tyler much attention, but the moment Samantha made thement, their gazes immediatelynded on Rachel and Tyler. ¡°Goodness! Is Mr. Hunt and Ms. Lloyd really that close?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a direct p on Mr. Lewis¡® face? Thankfully, he isn¡¯t at this table. Imagine how awkward that would have been!¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be awkward about? It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t know that Ms. Lloyd was the one who drew up the proposal for Project Oasis.¡± ¡°For all you know, the two of them have been fooling around for a long time. It¡¯s just that no one talked about it.¡± ¡°Poor thing, that Mr. Lewis.¡± Everyone started spinning tall tales; Rachel was on tenterhooks, feeling like a cat on hot bricks. She stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m done. Enjoy your meal.¡± The moment she stood up, Samantha grabbed her wrist. She wore her usual pitiful and innocent look on her face, and spoke in a clear, crisp voice. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s the matter? There¡¯s still so much food left. Why aren¡¯t you finishing it? I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have talked about you and Mr. Hunt. I¡¯m so sorry! Do sit down and let me apologize to you.¡± Samantha tilted her ss to Rachel and arched a brow at her. ¡°Let me raise a toast to you, Rachel. Please don¡¯t stoop to my level and forgive me. I didn¡¯t mean to talk about you and Mr. Hunt like that. It was just a joke!¡± Samantha¡¯s words only served to fuel everyone¡¯s suspicions about Rachel and Tyler. Rachel turned, her wrist still in Samantha¡¯s hand. The aloofness in her eyes hardened into icy coldness, like the surface of ake freezing over during winter. ¡°Ms. Judd, if you really want to raise a toast to me, shouldn¡¯t you do so with wine? Why are you just using a random beverage? Are you looking down on me?¡± Samantha had the cheek to look embarrassed by Rachel¡¯s tant words. She tightened her grip on the stem of the ss. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯ve been feeling under the weather recently, and my doctor advised against drinking alcohol. Please understand.¡± In a joking voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough that everyone at the table could hear, Rachel said, ¡°I heard that you¡¯re pregnant, Ms. Judd. That¡¯s why you can¡¯t drink alcohol. Samantha¡¯s doe¨Clike eyes immediately dimmed. Putting on a confused look, she said, ¡°Rachel, what are you talking about? I don¡¯t quite understand. I don¡¯t even have a boyfriend. How could I possibly be pregnant?¡± ¡°Is that so? I happen to have the contact information of your attending doctor. Coincidentally, she was the one who told me that you were pregnant, and that your boyfriend apanied you to the doctor¡¯s visit. ¡°She even told me that your boyfriend was called¡­¡± Her Exit 162 Samantha¡¯s eyes widened at Rachel¡¯s words, her entire body growing tense. Everyone else looked at Rachel with curiosity, excited to hear some groundbreaking news. Samantha clenched her fists as she stared at Rachel with flushed cheeks, feeling her heart in her throat. A momentter, Rachel burst intoughter. ¡°I¡¯m just joking! Don¡¯t take it so seriously. Eat more, Ms. Judd. Look at how skinny you are. How will you take care of your boyfriend when you eventually have one?¡± Samantha¡¯s face stiffened, and she forced a smile. Rachel even gave her a pat on her shoulder before leaving. Samantha could feel a sheen of sweat on her back. After Rachel left, everyone at the table turned their attention to her. Many colleagues surrounded her and bombarded her with questions. ¡°Oh my gosh, Ms. Judd! Are you really in a rtionship?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t I hear about this before?¡± ¡°Is your boyfriend¡¯s surname also Lewis? Is he a brother other or a rtive of Mr. Lewis?¡± ?? ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us you have a boyfriend?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°When will you bring him to us so we can have a look?¡± Samantha grew increasingly frustrated with the people crowding around her, and her face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°We¡¯ll go hiking over thereter. Please gather at the same ce this morning after your meal,¡± she said. With that, she hurriedly left. Rachel walked away and took a deep breath, finally feeling relieved. She didn¡¯t find things as stifling as before. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the ws of a cat to be so sharp and lethal,¡± came Tyler¡¯sment. Rachel scoffed as she threw him a nce. ¡°What, do you think I¡¯m the kind to be a sitting duck, Mr. Hunt?¡± Tyler lifted the leg of his pants and squatted next to her. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand. You already know what William is doing behind your back, and you¡¯re still not getting a divorce? What exactly are you nning to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nning to do anything,¡± Rachel said with a chuckle. ¡°Mr. Hunt, don¡¯t use your paranoia on me.¡± Tyler looked at her as he toyed with his lighter in his hands, making a bright, metallic sound as it moved around. ¡°I never doubt my judgement.¡± Rachel simply looked far into the mountains before her. ¡°I¡¯m not hiding anything, and I¡¯m not nning anything.¡± Tyler chuckled, not saying a word further. He didn¡¯t think Rachel was one to proceed without a n. That incisive look in her eyes was enough to tell him there was more to her than meets the eye. Tyler¡¯s gaze made Rachel slightly uneasy. She took a deep breath before asking, ¡°What are you doing, staring at me?¡± Tyler cupped his chin in his hands and smirked wickedly. ¡°You look good.¡± For some reason, his reply sent a shiver down Rachel¡¯s spine. His eyes were like those of a predator eyeing its prey. Why did she feel like she was the prey he was eyeing? She tried to shake the feeling away. ¡°I suppose we can start work on this project tomorrow, right?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes. You know that your proposal has been approved. It can be executed as per normal anytime.¡± Rachel heaved a sigh of relief. In that case, it was time for her to prepare to leave. William would be able to open the present she prepared for him. Just then, Cecilia approached them. She nodded at Tyler and greeted him. ¡°Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler nodded back. Seeing Cecilia, the knot on Rachel¡¯s brows eased. Although she had a clear conscience, she was worried about rumors that others might start spreading. What¡¯s more, she was going to the Lewis household with Tyler tonight. The mere thought of it gave her a headache. Rachel took a deep breath and held Cecilia¡¯s hand. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and we¡¯re supposed to gather. We¡¯re hiking up the mountain in a while.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Rachel said as she looked down at her dress. It wasn¡¯t tight¨Cfitting, but it still made things inconvenient for her. +25 BONUS Chapter 163 Her Exit 163 Rachel went back to her room and found some loose¨Cfitting clothes in her luggage case. Everyone was preparing for the hike up the mountain. Cecilia walked alongside Rachel. As they walked on, she bumped Rachel with her elbow. ¡°Look at how shameless Samantha is! She¡¯s not even bothering to hide it. Mr. Lewis is not her husband, for goodness¡® sake!¡± However, Rachel was no longer perturbed by the scene before her she gave Cecilia a half¨Csmile and said, ¡°For all you know, he might eventually be her husband.¡± Cecilia looked at Rachel in shock. ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you going to divorce Mr. Lewis? Please don¡¯t! That¡¯s precisely what Samantha wants you to do. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d fight them to the very end! Whoever ends up as the homewrecker is the one who gets embarrassed. Look at how much injustice you¡¯ve faced ever since Samantha came. ¡°Just think about the gastric problems you¡¯ve had recently. Did Mr. Lewis show you any concern? If it were in the past, he¡¯d send you to the hospital straight away over the slightest difort!¡± At the mention of Samantha, Cecilia gritted her teeth in anger. Rachel remained silent, her eyes calm. She knew very clearly that the reason wasn¡¯t just that William didn¡¯t care about her any longer. There was another reason. Before, he had seen Tyler in he r ward. The possessive streak in men like him meant that even if they didn¡¯t care for you, they would never allow you to be with another man. How repulsive. Rachel patted Cecilia on the shoulder and saidfortingly, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go gather. They had just left the room when they bumped into someone. Rachel was the first to apologize. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, I was the one¡­oh, Ms. Lloyd.¡± Tammy looked up as she wiped her shirt, and saw that it was Rachel. 11 Rachel knew every colleague at work¨Ceven the most insignificant lowest¨Cranked employee. ¡°Tammy, you¡¯re¡­¡± She saw a box in Tammy¡¯s hands, and looked down to see biscuits scattered all over the floor. She hurriedly bent over to pick them up. In her haste, she didn¡¯t notice her phone dropping on the floor. Tammy quietly picked up Rachel¡¯s phone and slipped it into her pocket. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Ms. Lloyd. Don¡¯t bother picking them up. I¡¯ll just bake a new batch,¡± Tammy said. Rachel couldn¡¯t suppress the guilt on her face. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Are you heading over to the gathering ce now?¡± Tammy looked as sweet as her name suggested, but she was also very reserved, often blushing whenever she talked to others. Rachel nodded. ¡°Yeah, I was about to head over. Join us soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Rachel and Cecilia left, Tammy pulled Rachel¡¯s phone out of her pocket and tried unlocking it. She seeded at the second try, a wily smile on her face. Everyone was out of breath when they reached the summit. Cecilia copsed on the ground. ¡°My god! You have to be very fit to do this.¡°. As an asional jogger, Rachel found it alright. After she joined the new ce, she might have a heavy workload. Keeping fit was a must. Some colleagues were huddled together in a corner. ¡°I saw Mr. Lewis holding Samantha. She looked like she was struggling.¡± ¡°This hill isn¡¯t that bad. The slopes aren¡¯t even that steep! The hike is a little longer and farther, that¡¯s all. You certainly don¡¯t need to be held like that.¡± ¡°What a joke! Why do I feel like Mr. Lewis will soon end up with Samantha? If this goes on, Rachel will lose her position as Mrs. Lewis.¡± ¡°Poor thing! She lost her hearing, and now she¡¯s also going to lose her ce as Mrs. Lewis. How is she going to survive for the rest of her life?¡± ¡°She couldn¡¯t even hold on to her position as a director back then, not to mention this now!¡± Her Exit 164 Someone snuck a peek at Rachel and sald mockingly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯te out if I were her. Perhaps, I¡¯d even leave thepany right away.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I heard from the grapevine that Rachel secretly handed in her resignation.¡± ¡°Well, what else can she do? Someone¡¯s taking her ce. It¡¯ll only be embarrassing if she stays.¡± Cecilia threw her trekking pole, overwhelmed with frustration. She yelled at the top of her lungs, ¡°Are you people done being bullies?¡± One of the colleagues said through pursed lips, ¡°So what? It¡¯s the truth, whether you like it or not. It¡¯s not like she can hear us, anyway.¡± Cecilia had a strong urge to punch the colleague in the face. ¡°Just because she can¡¯t hear you doesn¡¯t mean you can shoot your mouth off like that!¡± Rachel calmly stepped forward to pull Cecilia away. ¡°Sit down and drink some water.¡± Cecilia scowled at them and sent them death res before finally retracting her gaze. That was when she realized how pale Rachel¡¯s face was. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you having difficulties breathing again? Did you bring your medication?¡± Rachel shook her head, not wanting Cecilia to worry about her. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Just then, William and Samantha made their way over slowly. Rachel was seated in their way, and couldn¡¯t hide even if she wanted to. The three of their gazes met, and the air turned tense with awkwardness. Things were made worse when the colleagues seated next to Rachel started gossiping again. Samantha approached Rachel, her arm wrapped around William¡¯s as she greeted Rachel brightly. ¡°Rachel, why did you walk faster than us?¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze swept across Samantha¡¯s belly. ¡°I can¡¯t help myself. You¡¯re not in a great physical state, you see. Next time, don¡¯t participate in such physically demanding activities. If anything were to happen, Mr. Lewis won¡¯t be able to escape¡­responsibility¡­¡± She suddenly felt out of breath mid¨Csentence and clutched her chest, overwhelmed by a coughing fit. Cecilia grabbed her arm anxiously. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s wrong? Are you having breathing difficulties? I¡¯ll get an oxygen can- ¡°Oh, William! I suddenly feel terrible and have difficulties breathing!¡± Samantha cut Cecilia off, clutching her chest as her face crumpled up in feigned pain. William immediately pulled out an oxygen can and handed it to Samantha. ¡°Sit down and rest.¡± Samantha took the oxygen can from William and smiled brightly at him, her crystal¨Cclear eyes fixed unwave on him. Everyone else had be mere background to them. Cecilia stood stunned. ¡°Mr. Lewis, Rachel¡¯s¡­¡± Rachel grabbed Cecilia¡¯s arm, signaling her to stop talking. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Cecilia stared hard at Rachel for a few seconds, knowing clearly that she was trying to put up a strong front. Rachel didn¡¯t want William to know that she was in difort. What¡¯s more, her condition was moreplicated than Samanthas. Cecilia knew that if William was made aware of Rachel¡¯s difort, he would surely take care of her first. Everyone knew she had lung problems. William couldn¡¯t possibly care about Samantha and ignore Rachel Cecilia tried to persuade Rachel in hushed tones, ¡°Don¡¯t try to act tough. This is a matter of life and death. This ce is so remote, any ident might cost you your life! There¡¯s no point in an act of bravado right now.¡± However, Rachel had thoughts of her own. She knew Samantha was pregnant, and she knew how desperately William wanted a child. It was simply unfortunate that Rachel never got pregnant over the years. She was busy working overtime just to secure William¡¯s position as the CEO, and was seldom at home. Her Exit 165 Perhaps the great pressure they had faced before made it difficult for Rachel to get pregnant. She knew very well how important this child was to William. Even she said anything, she would only get rebuffed. He would end up iming that she didn¡¯t understand him. She turned to Cecilia and said, ¡°Take me there so I can sit and get some rest.¡® The two of them were about to leave when Samantha called out to Rachel. ¡°Rachel, are you not feeling well? You don¡¯t look too good. I can lend you the oxygen can.¡± Samantha stuffed the can in Rachel¡¯s hand as she spoke. Rachel was not feeling good, but what made itughable was that even Samantha could tell that she was in difort and had difficulties breathing. On the other hand, William, whom she had spent seven years with, remained blissfully ignorant. From the corner of her eyes, she saw William tense up the moment Samantha handed the oxygen can to her. She may be mistaken about other people, but certainly not about William. Instead of returning the oxygen can to Samantha, Rachel received her gesture of goodwill. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Judd.¡± Rachel barely felt the tension in her chest relieved after two puffs of oxygen when she saw William standing before her. ¡°Rachel, Samantha hasn¡¯t been feeling well these few days. Why don¡¯t you go over there and get some rest? She¡¯ll be at risk without the oxygen can. I promised her mother I¡¯d protect her well If anything were to happen to her, I wouldn¡¯t be able to answer to her mother.¡± WAR Rachel looked up at William, feeling her heart clench as though it was pierced by a needle. She suppressed the pain she felt and simply nodded. After the pain in her chest faded, she finally mustered the strength to say, ¡°Is there something between you and her mother?¡± William didn¡¯t know how to answer Rachel¡¯s question. His lips were pursed in a hard, straight line, the muscles in his jaw tense. He pulled Rachel away by her arm. ¡°Rachel, I know you don¡¯t feel good about this, but Samantha¡¯s mother doesn¡¯t have many days left to live. You¡¯re someone who cares about even the cats and dogs on the streets. Shouldn¡¯t you care about a human being?¡± he lectured. Seeing the usatory look on his face, she grew amused. Unable to hold back, she quipped snidely, ¡°How kind of you.¡± William gave her a sideways nce. ¡°Isn¡¯t that basic of a human being?¡± Rachel¡¯s heart grew cold at his remark; her ragged breathing suddenly worsened, making her feel suffocated. She pried William¡¯s hand away and ced the oxygen can back in his arms. ¡°Take good care of her, then. Don¡¯t let her mother down,¡± she muttered. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of anger in her; she and William looked as if they were having a harmless chat. Rachel turned to call out to Cecilia. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Cecilia.¡± From the looks of it, Cecilia guessed that things had gone south and hurried over to Rachel. The two of them continued trudging forward. William retracted his gaze, sensing something was off with Rachel¡¯s attitude. Yet, he couldn¡¯t quite put a finger on it. He turned around and handed the oxygen can back to Samantha. ¡°Wait for me. I need to make a call.¡± Samantha didn¡¯t know where William was going, but she nodded anyway and stayed where she was. William walked over to the other side and called Arsen. ¡°Check if Mrs. Lewis has been up to anything strange, or if she¡¯s preparing to go somewhere.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Her Exit 166 Chapter 166 William hung up and made his way back to Samantha. Samantha saw the worry on his face and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, William? You don¡¯t look very happy. Did Rachel say something? ¡°1 ¡°Nothing. I just find her rather odd these days.¡± Samantha subtly clenched her fists, but kept the mild and harmless smile on her face intact. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Perhaps she¡¯s been under slightly more pressure recently.¡± William cast a dark nce in Rachel¡¯s way. ¡°Hopefully so.¡± Samantha tugged the hem of William¡¯s shirt, her voice as lilting and melodious as that of a nightingale. ¡°William, don¡¯t be too upset. Smile and think about our baby in my belly.¡± The mention of their child eased the knot on William¡¯s brows. ¡°I know. You, too¨Cdon¡¯t think about anything else right now aside from taking care of our baby.¡± Rachel was finding it harder to breathe as she continued on her way with Cecilia by her side. She clutched her chest, feeling suffocated all the way to her brain. With theck of oxygen, she was also beginning to falter in her steps. Her knees gave way, and she leaned on Cecilia. Thankfully, Cecilia managed to hold Rachel in time. That was also when she realized how pale Rachel¡¯s lips had turned. ¡°Rachel¡­!¡± she cried anxiously. ¡°Give her this.¡± An oxygen can resting on arge hand extended Rachel¡¯s way. Cecilia looked up to see who it was¨CTyler. She hurriedly grabbed the oxygen can from him and positioned it at Rachel¡¯s nose. ¡°Rachel! Rachel, hang in there¡­¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes dimmed at theck of color on Rachel¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Where¡¯s William?¡± He saw Samantha with an oxygen can on his way here. The mention of William made anger burn in Cecilia¡¯s chest. oxygen ¡°Don¡¯t talk about him! Rachel was already feeling unwell just now and even Samantha could tell. She offered Rachel her can, but Mr. Lewis took it away for some reason. He¡¯s been with Rachel for so many years. How could he not know about he severe lung condition?¡± Cecilia¡¯s heart ached as she thought about Rachel¡¯s plight. She felt so much for Rachel, and she was just a friend. How could William, her husband, remain so aloof? Tyler remained silent; he twisted the cap of a bottle of mineral water open and put it on the ground. A few minutester, Rachel slowly regained full consciousness with the oxygen. The first person she saw when she opened her eyes was Tyler. Thinking she must be mistaken, she shut her eyes and opened them once more¨Cbut Tyler¡¯s face was still right before her, up close and even clearer than before. That was when Rachel realized she wasn¡¯t dreaming. Tyler saw that Rachel had finally awakened and sat down, leaning against a tree. He arched his knee up and rested his long arms * on it. ¡°Rachel, you need to keep yourself filter. How could you feel suffocated at such a height? Rachel knew that Tyler had a sharp tongue, so she didn¡¯t count it against him. She nced doubtfully at the oxygen can in Cecilia¡¯s hand. Where did Tyler get this oxygen can? There was no shop in sight around here, and the nearest ce that sold oxygen cans was at the foot of the mountain Given how fit Tyler was, hiking this mountain was probably as easy as pie for him. Her Exit 167 Rachel leaned against the tree and exhaled out loud. She managed a weak smirk and said, ¡°I owe you one again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way. This is a team¨Cbuilding session between ourpanies, and a lot of eyes are looking at us. I don¡¯t want anyone dying here,¡± Tyler said indifferently. Cecilia¡¯s face stiffened. That¡­.that sounded so harsh! She had heard about how tough it was to deal with Tyler, and she didn¡¯t believe it at first. He was so handsome, it was enough to mask a nasty personality. Who knew that his words were enough to choke one to death? A colleague came looking for Cecilia. ¡°Cecilia,e with me. I have something to tell you.¡± Cecilia looked back at her and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be there with you in a moment.¡± She turned to Rachel. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m worried about leaving you along here. Shall I get someone here to watch you?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m fine.¡± Cecilia¡¯s heart clenched with anxiety at the thought of what nearly happened. If anything were to happen again, and if there was no one by Rachel¡¯s side¡­ She instinctively nced at Tyler. He was the only one around here, and she had no other choice. She bit the bullet; she was about to ask Tyler for help when she saw him stretching his limbs out and shutting his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll sit here and catch a wink.¡± Cecilia shut her mouth, knowing that the opport ty to ask him for a favor had passed. On second thought, it was probably a long shot to ask Tyler to keep Rachelpany. He had always been a lone ranger. How could he possibly be willing to stay with Rachel? What¡¯s more, Rachel was nobody to him. Well, it was fine as long as someone was around. ¡°I¡¯ll go over, then.¡± Cecilia made sure that Rachel was fine before leaving. After Rachel recovered, she nced at Tyler, who was pretending to sleep against the tree trunk. She coughed. ¡°I know you¡¯re not asleep.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes opened as he ncedzily at Rachel, his tone leisurely. ¡°Did anyone teach you not to be so tant?¡± Rachel almost couldn¡¯t hold herughter back at Tyler¡¯s words. The cheek of him, a die¨Chard, insensitive straight¨Ctalker, to scold her for being tant with her words! Rachel watched on as Tyler yawned. He was the leader of LS Enterprise and a needle mover of Yurelia City¡¯s economic growth, yet he revelled in hiszy and sloppy image. She looked around them, and saw no signs of Samantha and William. Then, she repliedzily to him, ¡°Youe out tops when ites to talking tantly. No one would dare to fight you for the throne.¡± Tyler looked down as he folded his sleeves and tugged at his tie. ¡°Of course. You know very well how aggressive I can be, right?¡± Rachel¡¯s face turned red; she looked away, refusing to talk. Tyler scoffed. ¡°So petty? You¡¯re as mild as a harmless sheep before William, but you¡¯re behaving like a highly guarded porcupine before me. Ms. Lloyd, you¡¯re not being very fair¡± His voice was low, with a tinge of glee. Rachel turned to exin, ¡°I¡¯m not mad. I just don¡¯t want to talk.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your phone?¡± His sudden question stunned Rachel. The first thing that popped up in her mind was what did Tyler want her phone for? ¡°What do you want my phone for?¡± she asked. ¡°Check whether you even have your phone with you or not.¡± Her Exit 168 Rachel plunged a hand into her pocket, only to find it empty. ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± she eximed. Tyler looked at her with feigned confusion. ¡°Yeah, where¡¯s your phone?¡± From Tyler¡¯s tone, Rachel knew that he was fooling her once inore She looked awkwardly at him, feeling that he was ying her like a clown. Baffled by a riotous mix of chagrin and hrity, she asked, ¡°Mr. Hunt, quit joking around with me at a time like this. Did you find my phone somewhere?¡± Tyler decided to call it quits and pulled out a white phone from his pocket, flinging it at her. Rachel caught it, not missing a beat. She looked down and confirmed that it was indeed her phone. ¡°Where did you find it?¡± Tyler stuck both hands in his pockets and looked behind Rachel, who turned around and looked in the direction of his gaze. Her gazended on Tammy. She suddenly recalled how she bumped into Tammy after getting changed with Cecilia just now. She thought she had heard something, but she was so busy apologizing to Tammy that she didn¡¯t pay it much attention. She even took a quick check of the floor, but didn¡¯t see anything. Rachel checked her phone, worried that someone might have tried unlocking it. Her passcode was simple, six eights. She didn¡¯t see anything strange. However, when sheunched her messenger app, she saw a text sent to Tyler, which confused her greatly. When did she text Tyler? [Mr. Hunt, pleasee to the forest. I have something to tell you.] Rachel looked up, the look in her eyes quivering as she rified, ¡°never texted you this.¡± ¡°I know. How could you possibly text something like that? You always just call me,¡± Tyler said with certainty. Rachel was rather surprised to hear how well Tyler knew her. Indeed, she wasn¡¯t someone to beat around the bush and speak in such a roundabout manner. It was, however, something that Tammy might do, given her character. She subconsciously nced at Tammy. ¡°You mean¡­ Tammy picked up my phone and texted you? What did she tell you, then?¡± Tyler pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, tilted his head down, and put it to his lips. He cast Rachel a sideways nce, deliberately keeping her in suspense. ¡°Do you want to know what she said to me?¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°Mr. Hunt, don¡¯t bother trying to keep me in suspense. The way Tammy looked at you when we were ying that game and during lunch was certainly not pure. What else could she say to you, aside from confessing her feelings?¡± Tyler scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s rather observant of you. The cheek of you to im that you don¡¯t have designs on me.¡® Rachel couldn¡¯t stop herself from rolling her eyes. ¡°Anyone with eyes can tell. It¡¯s very obvious with youngdies.¡± When a woman likes a man, even the air around them feels different. It¡¯s a very subtle feeling. It didn¡¯t take Rachel much to conclude, ¡°You probably rejected her straight away and made her cry.¡± Tyler looked up, his jawline sharp, his eyes deep and dark, like a ck hole sucking everything in. ¡°Or do you think it¡¯s a better idea to give her false hope?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t approve of the way Tammy went about confessing her feelings to Tyler, but she could understand Tammy. One in love would find all sorts of ways to get close to his or her object of affection. Tammy was probably worried that she might get rejected if she texted him using her own number. ¡°Still, you should at least break it to her nicely. For all you know, she has never been in a rtionship before. Isn¡¯t rejecting her so cruelly dashing all her hopes of romance? You might even make her no longer want to pursue a rtionship in the future,¡± Rachel lectured. 199 Her Exit 169 Chapter 169 Tyler¡¯s face turned dark with displeasure, and he replied mercilessly, ¡°Whether she pursues a rtionship or not has nothing to do with me.¡± Rachel¡¯s face stiffened, her lips pursed tight. ¡°Do you not have any sympathy for a youngdy who has feelings for you?¡± She found it absolutely reasonable to break it to Tammy as gently as he could. There was no need to be so tant in his rejection. What¡¯s more, it wasn¡¯t wrong of her to like him. Tyler took a long pull on his cigarette and tapped away the ashes. a mocking tone, he said, ¡°So why don¡¯t you just let Samantha take your ce, since she likes William so much? Is tolerating her the right way to solve this problem in your opinion? ¡°1 Rachel was stunned for a moment. She never expected Tyler to suddenly bring this up. Then again, since when was Tyler gentle with his words? However, it was his freedom to say whatever he wanted. What right did she have to point fingers andment about his approach to matters? Rachel didn¡¯t want to offend Tyler. There was no need to, anyway. She wasn¡¯t going to stay long in Yurelia. Perhaps that was just the way he treated everyone else. She had initially found him eptable despite his sharp tongue, because he did help her fulfil her mother¡¯s dying wish. He had personality, to boot. Even so, she felt that he had spoken out of line just now. She stood up and approached him, her brows furrowed. ¡°Mr. Hunt, do you think I should charge at Samantha and pick a fight with her, or throw a tantrum and threaten to kill myself before William, forcing him to break up with her?¡± Tyler shrugged his shoulders and said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s none of my business, really.¡± Rachel scowled, annoyed. ¡°Then what are you doing here, discussing Samantha and William with me?¡± Tyler stood up and leaned against the tree trunk, resting one leg over the other. ¡°What are you doing here, discussing whether Tammy likes me? You probably wish that I¡¯d say yes to her so that I wouldn¡¯t break her fragile heart right, Ms. Lloyd?¡± Rachel seldom heard someone speak so directly and sharply. It was very unlike the sly and cunning old foxes at work¨Ceach smarter than the other and more adept at making subtle, snide remarks. Tyler, on the other hand, said the nastiest things that came from deep down in his heart. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you want to sympathize with her. You can even offer herfort, though she may not take it well.¡± Tyler¡¯s deep, dark eyes were sharp and incisive, his voice icy cold, as his gaze swept past Tam. ¡°She¡¯s looking our way right now. Do you want me to call her over? ¡°No need,¡± Rachel said. Tyler¡¯s words struck her like lightning, but she recovered from it in the next instance. How could someone as autocratic as him bothier listening to other people¡¯s opinions? He hated people interfering in his affairs. Rachel was the one who had crossed the line. She felt the anger that was burning a second ago put out in that moment, and the blood gushing in her veins slowed down. What right did she have to expect that of Tyler? Rachel sniffled, looking much less agitated than before. ¡°Pardon me. I take back what I said earlier. Thank you for returning my phone, Mr. Hunt.¡± With that, she turned to leave. Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed, but as he retracted his gaze, itnded on the oxygen can that Rachel left behind at the spot where she was sitting earlier. Rachel was on her way to look for Cecilia when Tammy approached her. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, Cecilia told me to tell you that something cropped up and she can¡¯t handle it alone. I think a colleague was left behind somewhere.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t think much of it, but knew that she had to take responsibility for anything that happened. After all, she was the person¨Cin¨Ccharge alongside William and Tyler. ¡®Come on, bring me there,¡± she said. Her Exit 170 +2 Chapter 170 Rachel followed Tammy as thetter led her somewhere increasingly deste. By then, she started sensing that something was wrong. She pulled Tammy¡¯s arm to stop her from going forward. ¡°Where is Cecilia? Did they reallye all the way here? Let¡¯s call them first.¡± Rachel looked at her phone to dial Cecilia¡¯s number. Suddenly, Tammy pressed her hand. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I¡¯m sure Mr. Hunt told you all about it.¡± Tammy¡¯s voice no longer sounded as innocent as before. Instead, was as cold as ice; coupled with the chill of the wind in this deste forest, it sent chills down Rachel¡¯s spine. Rachel inhaled sharply, suddenly realizing that Tammy probably had an ulterior motive in bringing her here. She looked tense. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be asking me that, since you¡¯ve already guessed as much.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably feeling all smug that Mr. Hunt rejected me,¡± Tammy said with a self¨Cderisive smirk. Rachel was confused. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Tammy suddenly shoved Rachel with a look of disgust on her face. ¡°Drop the act! You want Mr. Hunt for yourself, don¡¯t you? You love the attention and special treatment you¡¯re receiving from Mr. Hunt while feeling secure in your position as Mrs Lewis. Ms. Lloyd how shrewd you are!¡± Rachel was stunned by the stark contrast between how Tammy looked right nowpared to her usual adorable and innocent demeanor. She really needed a lesson on how to judge one¡¯s character. Before, she had thought Samantha was as mild and harmless as amb when thetter first joined thepany. It was only after a few interactions that Rachel realized what a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing meant. Rachel thought about how she spoke up for Tammy before Tyler, and really wanted to p herself hard. She looked coldly at the youngdy before her¨Cone she had thought was so gentle and lovely before, yet she now wished she could strangle. ¡°So, what do you mean? Do you see me as your rival? Do you want to pick a fight with me?¡± ¡°I just can¡¯t stand the sight of you!¡± Tammy said through gritted teeth. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, Mr. Hunt would definitely take a liking to me. Since you¡¯re with Mr. Lewis, just stay with him and quit being such a two¨Ctimer! Who are you trying to kid with that phony innocence of yours? How are you better than I am? At the very least, my hearing is intact. Do you really think a deaf person like you is worthy of Mr. Hunt?¡± Rachel truly didn¡¯t want to count it against Tammy. Yet, Tammy insisted on using her disabilityainst her, rubbing salt into her wound. In that case, there was no point in her trying to be nice to Tammy. € ¡°What about you? How much better do you think you are? If you really became deaf, would you be able to figure out what people are saying just by reading their lips?¡± Rachel shot back. ¡°It¡¯s your own fault that Tyler doesn¡¯t fancy you. Don¡¯t me it or others and make them enemies in your imagination, What¡¯s more, there are so many other men out there. Why get so fixated Tyler Hunt alone? ¡°You me everything else when he doesn¡¯t like you back, but have you considered the fact that it might be his loss that he doesn¡¯t fancy you? You¡¯re at the prime of your youth, youngdy. Be proud of who you are, won¡¯t you?¡± Rachel spoke in quick¨Cfire session like a drumfire,pletely overwhelming Tammy, whose ferocity subsided momentarily Tammy probably didn¡¯t expect Rachel, who usually didn¡¯t speak much, to be so sharp with her words. She stood rooted to the ground, blinking through her confusion as she stared at Rachel in daze. A momentter, her fair skin took on a reddish hue. ¡°What right do you have to say that of Mr. Hunt? Why are you butting into my affairs? As long as you keep your distance from Mr. Hunt, he¡¯ll pay attention to me sooner orter!¡± she screeched indignantly. Her Exit 171 Chapter 171 Rachel felt her brain failing her. She was sure that Tammy had lost all cognitive ability, leaving only a romance¨Criddled brain in her skull. There was no way Rachel could talk sense into someone like that. As the saying goes, you could never wake someone pretending to sleep. ¡°Fine, take all the time you need and give it your best shot. We¡¯ll see if Tyler pays you any attention at all.¡± With that, Rachel turned to leave¨Cand then realized she couldn¡¯t figure out the way back. Damn it! She never thought she would fall into Tammy¡¯s trap when she followed thetter here. After a few unsessful attempts, Rachel went back to Tammy and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Take me back.¡± Tammy sneered. ¡°Think about why I even brought you here in the first ce. Would I let you go back so easily? Do you know how badly I was humiliated by Mr. Hunt because of you? He said that even if you¡¯re deaf, you¡¯re still a hundred times better than I am! Why? Why does he find a married woman like you better than me?¡± Rachel knew Tammy was the one who put the me for Tyler¡¯s rejection on her. Based on what she knew of Tyler, he wouldn¡¯t bother exining himself to Tammy¨Cnot with that romance¨Criddled brain of hers. Rachel became coteral damage. She shrugged, and looked at Tammy in disdain. ¡°I am better than you.¡± Tammy¡¯s entire body shook with anger. Suddenly, she charged toward Rachel and shoved Rachel to the ground. Caught off guard, Rachel fell to the ground. By the time she got up, Tammy was no longer around. She suddenly panicked and ran forward for a short distance, but she saw no sign of Tammy. ¡°Tammy!¡± Rachel yelled. But no one responded to her. She pulled her phone out to call for help, but it received no signal in this area. Rachel really wanted to p herself hard. Being a sitting duck was no solution, and the sky was turning dark She had to find a way to get back. Thankfully, she could somewhat rely on her good memory, which took her along a familiar¨Clooking path. Very soon, she saw a fork in the path. Rachel couldn¡¯t for the life of her remember whether she took the left or right path. The fork in the road may seem insignificant, but she knew that taking a wrong turn might cause way back. What¡¯s more, she wasn¡¯t familiar with this forest. never be able to find her Suddenly, she heard a woman¡¯s voice. ¡°Rachel¡­ Rachel¡­¡± Rachel thought she must be hearing things. Why would she be hearing Samantha¡¯s voice, of all people? *28 BONUS Very soon, however, she saw a figure approaching her, and confirmed that it was indeed Samantha Samantha hastened her footsteps when she saw Rachel. ¡°Rachel, finally found you!¡± Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed instinctively. ¡°What are you doing here?! ¡°I saw you walk here with Tammy. I heard from our colleagues that she confessed to Mr. funt but was rejected, and you wer apparently the reason he rejected her.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart grew cold at Samantha¡¯s exnation. Tyler was indirectly causing her doom. If even Samantha heard about it, the rumor must have spread like wildfire amongst their colleagues. Rachel assumed that the Lewis family had also heard of the rumors being spread. If the project was brought forward, she wouldn¡¯t need to face them. Rachel looked defeated. The priority right now, however, was to find her way back. ¡°Since you managed to follow us, you should remember the way back, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Rachel followed Samantha, but couldn¡¯t shake off feelings of doubt over why Samantha was so kind¨Chearted as toe find her and lead her back. Her Exit 172 Chapter 172 After what happened with Tammy, Rachel was rather worried. Did she just hop from one trap to another? She now felt as though everyone was trying to harm her. As she followed Samantha, Rachel asked, ¡°Weren¡¯t you with William? How could he possibly let you roam around alone like this?¡± Samantha turned around and gave Rachel what was supposed to be a normal smile, but she thought she sensed something else in it. In her usual innocent tone, Samantha said, ¡°Rachel, why are you being so suspicious? If it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t be able to find your way back.¡± Rachel hated seeing that mild and harmless mask on Samantha¡¯s face, which hid the sinister and malicious thoughts thetter harbored. She looked icily at Samantha and cut straight to the chase. ¡°William isn¡¯t around, so you don¡¯t need to bother putting on an act. Let¡¯s be honest with each other, shall we?¡± The smile on Samantha¡¯s face deepened; her eyes were crystal¨Cclear, never failing to evoke the desire in men to protect her. Some women just had that charm in them. They could simply stand there and blink innocently to make a man do everything for them without them saying a word or doing a thing. Samantha had that charm. F She looked confused by Rachel¡¯s words. In a saco arinely sweet voice, she said, ¡°Rachel, I don¡¯t have anything against you, really. In fact, I envy you for being by William¡¯s for so many years.¡± Rachel straightened her back. ¡°You left him back then. You have only yourself to me.¡± Samantha scoffed, her voice bright yet with a tinge of mockery. ¡°Yeah, it was my problem back then, but he promised to wait for me. Rachel, you probably don¡¯t know this yet, but there¡¯s one thing about you that¡¯s simr to me.¡± A bad feeling rose in Rachel¡¯s chest. Could it be that dramatic? What Samantha told her at the next moment was exactly as she had expected. ¡°There¡¯s a butterfly on your back, isn¡¯t there?¡± Rachel¡¯s heart fell, and her face turned pale. Her body wavered as she felt an invisible hand clutching her heart. The pain was so intense, she almost fainted from it. She subconsciously put a hand over her chest. Rachel had thought thate what may regarding William and Samantha, she could remain calm. It was only at this moment that she realized how tormenting the pain was¡ªand that it could only get worse. She did not have any reason to doubt Samantha¡¯s im, because she remembered clearly how first got to know William. It was during their school¡¯s anniversary celebration, during which she was part of the cheerleading team. Her uniform was bare- backed William, on the other hand, was the captain of the basketball team; he was a popr kid in school, what with his boyish good looks. That was before he became jaded with the world, back when he was young and suave, with a lively and energetic air about him. Rachel was busy managing the team and didn¡¯t notice the basketball flying toned her. It was b nick of time, and she thanked him for it. He approached her and praised her for the butterfly on her back. Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed as she tried hard to calm herself dommere¡¯s a butterfly on your back, ¡°Yes, I have a butterfly on my back. He got someone to tattoo it on Samantha said, Rachel felt as though she could hardly breathe. She forced a smile on her face, but tears were welling up in her eyes. No wonder With would Yess the batteryerde whenever she was fresh out of her shower. Her Exit 173 Chapter 173 Rachel had been a fool to miss that detail. Samantha threw her hands open and said casually, ¡°But Rachel, you don¡¯t need to feel burdened. At least William married you. I¡¯m not forcing you to divorce him, either. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be like other women and force you to divorce himn.¡± Rachel had a sudden urge tough as she gave Samantha a sideways nce. ¡°Do you really think that not forcing others to get a divorce is considered not wrecking someone else¡¯s family?¡± Rachel knew clearly what was going on in Samantha¡¯s mind. Samantha was pregnant right now, and that was her trump card. Even if Rachel were willing to be William¡¯s hidden lover, the Lewis family would never allow that to happen. Her parents¨Cinw had always been biased against her, especially given her learing disability. If it weren¡¯t for William¡¯s insistence on marrying her, she would never have ever stepped foot into the Lewis household. There was nothing more for Rachel to argue with Samantha over. No matter the truth, she had already made ns to leave. Ever since William betrayed their rtionship, their rtionship was doomed to end sooner orter. Rachel wasn¡¯t one to tolerate such betrayal. ¡°Whatever,¡± Rachel said mockingly. ¡°Do as you please. Let¡¯s just head back.¡± Samantha didn¡¯t expect Rachel to be so calm andposed. She couldn¡¯t help but be in awe of Rachel. Suddenly, she could understand why William chose to marry Rachel. She was indeed different from other women. Samantha was about to take a step forward whe figure emerged from the left. Rachel thought she was already down in the dumps, but when she saw that face, she knew her stroke of ill luck wasn¡¯t over yet. Howard Ziegler! What was he doing here? He looked every bit the part of a rich heir as he struttedzily toward Rachel. ¡°Well, well. Isn¡¯t this Ms. Lloyd? I told you long ago that we have an affinity with each other. Fancy us bumping into each other here. What else could this be, if not fate?¡± Disgust filled Rachel¡¯s eyes as she red at Howard. ¡°What are you doing here, Howard?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t Ie join a silly team bonding session between yourpanies? Isn¡¯t it for fun? I love having fun.¡± Samantha grabbed Rachel¡¯s arm. ¡°Rachel, let¡¯s go!¡± Before Rachel could react, Howard stood in their way. He tilted his chin at Samantha and snarled disdainfully, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in you. Leave right now¨Cor else!¡± Rachel shot Samantha a look. ¡°Leave, quick.¡± Rachel had no idea what possessed Samantha to make her stand in front of Rachel and say with bravado, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving! Rachel, what if he hurts you after I leave?¡°. Rachel¡¯looked at Samantha with a strange look, suddenly finding hrious. She really couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on in Samantha¡¯s mind. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to think that Samantha really cared about her. Rachel said helplessly, ¡°What¡¯s the point of you staying here?¡± Samantha pouted, her face flushing and eyes glistening with fear, but she was trying hard to suppress it. ¡°I can¡¯t leave!¡± Howard had rum out of patience and walked over to shove Samantha away. ¡°Scram!¡± Samantha fell to the ground, and her head hit a rock before she lost consciousness. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she hurried over to help Samantha up. ¡°Samantha¡­!¡± Her Exit 174 Rachel looked back at Howard and saw that devil¨Cmay¨Ccare look on his face, which bore no signs of panic whatsoever. Fear crept up on Rachel; she felt suffocated, as though she were floating on the surface of the ocean. She had thought Howard was just a yful, rich heir of a wealthy family who was too arrogant for his own good, given how much his grandfather spoiled him. She never expected him to show such disregard for life. If Samantha was suffering from a hemorrhage in her skull from hitting her head against that rock and didn¡¯t receive treatment in time, it could very well be a matter of life and death. Yet, Howard remained cold and indifferent about it, his attention solely on Rachel. ¡°To think that William alone wasn¡¯t enough, and you had to hook up with Tyler as well. What is Tyler giving you in return? Have you already slept with him? You¡¯re so beautiful, he must have slept with you¨Cunless he has a problem.¡± ¡± Howard had never seen a woman as beautiful as Rachel. Somehow he couldn¡¯t seem to forget her since he first saw her. He was now getting increasingly irritated by the women around him, feeling as though something was missing in every single one of them. They would always pounce on him with desperation each time they saw him. Rachel was certainly more interesting than them. Rachel sneered as she looked at Howard with derision. ¡°Howard, not everyone is as disgusting as you are.¡± Howard knew how rare a chance this was and made a leap for Rachel, who quickly dodged his sudden attack. ¡°Howard Ziegler,¡± she warned him, ¡°did your grandfather not teach you a harsh enough lessonst time?¡± Anger rose in Howard¡¯s chest at the mention of t had happened before. He red at Rachel, gritting his teeth. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have been beaten up so badly or gotten exposed by the media! Tyler, that disgusting bastard- he drugged me and exposed all my secrets! My grandfather beat me up so hard, I was bedridden for two weeks. Who¡¯d believe you when you say Tyler has no feelings for you?¡± Rachel inhaled sharply. So Tyler was the one who drugged Howard! She found it surprising that he would do something like this, given how he hated poking his nose in other people¡¯s affairs. Before Rachel could ponder further on what that meant, Howard had grabbed her wrist in an iron¨Ctight grip. Rachel started struggling against his hold, but her efforts were in vain. Howard rubbed his thumb against her wrist. ¡°You look even more charming than thest time I saw you. William is beyond stupid to ignore such a beauty and run into the arms of a stupid young girl who knows nothing. What a fool! He doesn¡¯t know a good thing when he sees it!¡± This was the first time Rachel heard something reasonable from Howard¡¯s mouth. Howard leaned in close to Rachel, taking in her scent with relish. ¡°You¡¯re truly different from others. The perfumes those women like wearing make me want to puke. But you¡¯re not wearing any, and you smell soforting.¡± Rachel¡¯s body shook with disgust. ¡°Howard, if you dare touch me, I¡¯ll kill you and then kill myself!¡± ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s be with each other in life and death, then.¡± Howard pounced on Rachel and pressed her to the ground. Rachel threw all caution to the wind and yelled at the top of her lungs, ¡°Help! Help!¡± Desire raged in Howard¡¯s veins, urging him to get intimate with Rachel. As long as his grandfather had his back, no one in Yurelia would darey a finger on him. Rachel struggled with all her might, kicking and punching him. To her dismay, her attacks seemed to do nothing to weaken his advances. Chapter 174 Her Exit 175 Chapter 175 Howard seized the chance to grab Rachel¡¯s ankle. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, is that all you¡¯ve got? Are you actually trying to flirt with me?¡± He bent his head forward to kiss Rachel¡¯s neck. That was when she caught sight of a familiar figure a distance away. As though she spotted her savior, she immediately yelled for him. ¡°Mr. Hunt!¡± Howard¡¯s hand froze in mid¨Cair, and he looked in the direction of Rachel¡¯s gaze. However, there was nothing there. He said mockingly, ¡°Say, do you have feelings for Tyler? You should be calling out to William for help! Did you get the wrong man?¡± Rachel was very sure she wasn¡¯t mistaken. She was certain she saw Tyler. But why did he turn a blind eye to her predicament? For some reason, she suddenly recalled what he had said to her before. Indeed, he wasn¡¯t one to poke his nose in other people¡¯s affairs. If she were the one imagining him to be a good and kind¨Chearted person, that would be her mistake. At that moment, all her hopes were dashed. She only had herself to rely on. Rachel waited for the perfect opportunity to lift her leg and kick Howard in his groin. Unfortunately, Howard dodged it, and Rachel¡¯s knee brushed against the side of his leg Suddenly, she heard a voice yelling her name. ¡°Rachel! Rachel¡­!¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. It was Cecilia. She yelled out loud, ¡°Cecilia! I¡¯m here!¡± Howard was no fool. He knew that his n was foiled now that someone was on her way here. It would only spell trouble if more people were drawn here. He spat on the ground. ¡°What bad luck! Looks like we¡¯ll have to keep our first time together for another day. Be good and wait for me, alright?¡± With that, Howard stood up and dashed off into the woods. Rachel heaved a sigh of relief, a bitter aftertaste still in her mouth. If Cecilia hadn¡¯t rushed over in the nick of time, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape. She stood up and smoothed out her clothes. If others were to see the miserable state she was in, she couldn¡¯t imagine the kind of rumors spreading around in the office the next day. There were enough rumors about her spreading. She didn¡¯t want more rumors, especially if they involved her and that bastard Howard. Standing up, Rachel saw Samantha knocked out cold next to the rock she had hit her head on. Rachel b checked on her. er and quickly ¡°Samantha. Samantha, wake up.¡± Just then, Samantha opened her eyes groggily. Seeing her stirring awake, relief washed over Rachel. The next second, however, Samantha suddenly shoved Rachel away and wrapped her arms around her head in fear. ¡°Don¡¯t hit me, don¡¯t hit me¡­ I won¡¯t snatch William from you¡­!¡± Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed when she heard the nonsense Samantha was spouting. ¡°What on earth are you talking about?¡± Before she could figure out what was going on, a figure dashed over, almost bowling her over. She lost her bnce; as she fell on the ground, she saw William helping Samantha up with a worried look. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. No one can hurt you.¡± Seeing himing to her rescue, Samantha immediately threw herself into William¡¯s arms. ¡°Oh, William! I was frightened to death! Just now¡­¡± William looked down and saw the wound on her forehead. His eyes turned dark and stormy. ¡°What happened?! How did you get hurt so badly?¡± Samantha looked extremely aggrieved and in a miserable state, with her hair disheveled and unkempt. She looked at William with eyes filled with fear. ¡°William, don¡¯t me Rachel. This has nothing to do with her. She just identally pushed me, and I lost my bnce.¡± Her Exit 176 Chapter 176 Rachel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°When did I push you?¡± Samantha flinched at Rachel¡¯s exmation, looking as pitiful as an injured puppy. In a trembling voice, she murmured,¡± Rachel, I¡¯m not ming you. I identally fell.¡± Rachel raised her voice. ¡°I repeat, I did not push you.¡± Samantha pursed her lips and remained silent, but the pitiful look on her face spoke volumes. William¡¯s brows furrowed as he turned to look at Rachel. ¡°Even if you have something against Samantha, you can¡¯t push he! You can alwayse to me and tell me what¡¯s on your mind. I can exin things to you.¡± Rachel was no longer taken aback by William defending Samantha Her heart had turned numb long ago. She simply stared at him and repeated herself, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I didn¡¯t touch her.¡± William¡¯s eyes turned even darker, like the clouds in the sky, telling of an impending storm. ¡°You and she were the only ones around!¡± William gave his final word, which sent Rachel into despair. She didn¡¯t even have the desire to speak up for herself. She suddenly burst out into wildughter, which deepened the knot on William¡¯s brows. ¡°Rachel! Are you still trying to deny it? If you weren¡¯t the one who pushed her, who was it?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Rachel stopped mid¨Csentence. She truly had no idea how to even begin to exin things to William. However, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from asking him, ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡± Wouldn¡¯t William know the kind of person she is after spending seven years with her? He believed she was the one who pushed Samantha down, simply based on Samantha¡¯s im. William took a deep breath and clenched his fists so hard, the veins on the back of his hands popped. In a low voice, he said, ¡± How do you expect me to trust you?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t possibly say that Howard almost took advantage of her and pushed Samantha down. Would William believe her? Since Samantha said that Rachel was the one who pushed her, how could Rachel possibly admit that Howard was there? What would her colleagues say about her? For all she knew, they would spread rumors about Howard sleeping with her, or that she seduced Howard and together, they pushed Samantha down because she was in their way. These people had no logic to speak of. To them, gossip was truth; nothing mattered as long as they had something to entertain them when they felt bored. Rachel¡¯s hesitation made William even more certain that she had mistreated Samantha. He shot Rachel a look of disappointment before bending down and gathering Samantha in his arms. ¡°Reflect on what you did wrong.¡± He carried Samantha in his arms, ignoring the strange looks his colleagues were giving him. Rachel looked down at her bloodied palms, injured when William pushed her away earlier. Much skin had been scraped away. The bloody streaks on her palms wore frightching, but somehow, he felt no pain at all. Cecilia saw William leaving with Samantha in his arms before heading over to Rachel and helping her up. That was when she noticed the blood on her palms. ¡°Rachel, are you alright? Does it hurt very badly?¡± The sight of Rachel¡¯s palms alone hurt. The skin on the flesh of her palms was scraped away and bunched up at the sides. Did William not see that? Rachel shook her head. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t hurt. ¡°How could it not hurt? I¡¯m getting goosebumps looking at it, and you¡¯re still saying it doesn¡¯t hurt!¡± Cecilia couldn¡¯t stand the sight of blood and gore. She held Rachel¡¯s palms and gently blew on them. ¡°I¡¯ll blow on them for you. That was simply too much of Mr. Lewis. Why didn¡¯t he at least hear you out? He left just like that in front of everyone, and didn¡¯t give a damn about how people might talk about you.¡± Her Exit 177 Chapter 177 ¡®Doesn¡¯t he even care about your reputation?¡± Cecilia went on. Rachel forced a smile but didn¡¯t say anything further. She looked up, only to see Tyler standing by a tree, smoking a cigarette. Seeing him roused a cacophony of conflicting emotions in her. He had clearly seen her just now. He had helped her before, and even Howard himself said that Tyler was the one who exposed his scandal. Why did he choose to turn a blind eye her plight this time? Tyler was an unfathomable man. Rachel couldn¡¯t skin lie surface of his thoughts even after spending some time with him. He was certainly way more frightening than Wilm ever was. Cecilia held Rachel as they walked and she asked, ¡°Why were you a such a secluded ce with Samantha? Did she lure you there?¡± ¡°No, I bumped into her by ident.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t bother exining much to Cecilia. There was no point in going into details, anyway. After they descended the hill, Cecilia helped to treat Rachel¡¯s wound. The image of how Howard almost took advantage of her earlier kept ying in Rachel¡¯s mind. She just couldn¡¯t understand. Tyler could very well have stopped Howard just now. Yet, he turned a blind eye to her plight. Logic reminded her that that was the kind of per on Tyler was. He was no good guy and didn¡¯t need anyone imposing that sort of role on him. She was trying to trap him in a stereotype, that¡¯s all. But once that logic evaded Rachel, she simply couldn¡¯t figure out why Tyler chose to ignore her. As Cecilia treated Rachel¡¯s wound, she noticed Rachel remaining silent and in a daze. She stretched a hand out and waved it in front of Rachel. ¡°Rachel?¡± Rachel finally snapped back to reality. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. Just thinking about something.¡± Cecilia looked at her with concern. ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re hiding something from me? What exactly is going on? Also, what¡¯s with the mark on your neck? It looks like someone tried to strangle you.¡± Cecilia reached out to open Rachel¡¯s cor slightly, revealing a shocking red imprint on it which formed a stark contrast with Rachel¡¯s fair, dewy skin. When Cecilia drew close to Rachel, she could tell that Rachel was trembling ever so slightly despite her best efforts to bring herself under control. Others might think that Rachel was shaking out of anger over William choosing to defend Samantha instead of herself. Yet, Cecilia didn¡¯t think Rachel was the kind of person to get so mad that it affected her physically. Rachel looked down, as if trying to hide something. She never realized how observant Cecilia coul she wanted to. Why were her senses so sharp and keen at a time like this? Rachel took a deep breath and gently patted Cecilia on her shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. I just had a little fight with Samantha.¡± Cecilia said firmly, ¡°Whatever it is, I know for sure you couldn¡¯t have pushed Samantha. I saw how pitiful she was pretending to be, and I knew she was plotting against you.¡± Rachel no longer saw this as important. Be it Samantha¡¯s appearance or the realization that she had been Samantha¡¯s recement all these years, they only proved that things were thoroughly over between her and William. Cecilia applied onestyer of ointment on Rachel¡¯s wound. ¡°Alright, remember not to let the wounde in contact with water. Although it¡¯s superficial, the wound is rather extensive. You don¡¯t want it getting infected.¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Cecilia kept the first¨Caid kit away before rising. ¡°I won¡¯t bother you anymore. Get some rest.¡± Her Exit 178 Rachel saw Cecilia off andy on the bed to try to get some rest, but her mind was in chaos. She got changed to head out for a stroll. If it weren¡¯t for her wound she really wanted to take a shower. The mere thought of Howard¡¯s hands on her made her stomach churn, She took a deep breath and suppressed the difort she felt and headed outdoors. After a couple of twists and turns, she chanced upon a courtyard. It was covered in wellndscaped greenery, which rxed her at once. The paths in the garden were paved with stones. There was a swing right in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by beautiful flowers. Rachel enjoyed spending time in an environment like this, which never failed to rx her tense nerves. She walked closer to the swing and slowly sat down on it, grabbing the rope on both sides. She swing her legs and started swinging back and forth. She thought about how hard William pushed her, and the disappointment and rage she saw in his eyes. Over the years, William had neverid a finger on her. He had once made a promise to her¨Cthat he would nevery a finger on her no matter what. Pushing her was out of the question. Otherwise, he would get struck by lightning and suffer a painful death. Evidently, if oaths were effective, there wouldn¡¯t be so many women losing themselves in love and allowing that love to make their lives a living hell. Even Cecilia could tell that she didn¡¯t fight with Samantha, but that she was probably hurt by someone else. William, on the other hand, chose to turn a blind eye to her state. Rachel looked down at the stones below the swing, subconsciously tightening her grip on the ropes. She almost forgot about her wound until the pain from rubbing against the coarse rope made her wince and release her grip. ¡°Can¡¯t even take that bit of pain?¡± Those bitingly cold words made all the emotions that Rachel was holding back gush forth like water out of a broken dam. Hot tears trickled down her cheeks, showing no signs of stopping. Her eyes were bloodshot as huge drops of tears crashed onto the ground. She said nothing and wept in silence. ¡°You didn¡¯t shed a tear when William treated you so unfairly, yet here you are, crying me a river when I said one sentence. Ms. Lloyd!¡± Rachel¡¯s body shook. She looked up, desperate for an answer and not caring how miserable she looked right now. ¡°You really were there just now.¡± Tyler stuck both hands in his pockets and unabashedly admitted it without shying away from the truth. ¡°Yeah, I was.¡± ¡°Why? Why didn¡¯t you help me? I can understand that you don¡¯t want to offend Howard, but you could have just shouted, and he would have stopped.¡± Tyler simply said, ¡°I can¡¯t possibly be around you all the time. You should learn how to protect yourself. Take this as a lesson. You need to learn that you can¡¯t just trust everyone around you.¡± Tyler¡¯s words crashed like a hammer on Rachel¡¯s heart. His words were always so piercing and merciless. He spoke his mind without regard for others. *29 BORUS That was the kind of person Tyler Hunt was Even though Rachel had long gotten used to his sharp tongue, she couldn¡¯t hold back a shudder spon hearing his words. It wa tough pill to swallow. Logically speaking, she could understand why Tyler did what he did Emotionally speaking, she disapproved of how heartless he was in leaving her in the lurch. She turned her face away and fell silent, her lips pursed in a straight line. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, her tear¨Cstained cheeks somehow looking fairer than before. Her red¨Crimmed eyes made her look like a little rabbit, trying her best to stop crying. Despite her best efforts, tears continued rolling down her cheeks. Tyler pulled out a bag from somewhere, from which he produced some warm cocoa in a disposable cup. He stuck a straw in the cup and gently pinched both her cheeks. The straw was then forced into her mouth. She looked at Tyler, confused. ¡°You¡­¡± Tyler grabbed her other hand and guided her to hold the bottom part of the cup before he let go of it. ¡°Drink some warm cocoa, and you won¡¯t feel so bad anymore.¡± The sweetness of the chocte spread in Rachel¡¯s mouth. She could taste the fragrant cream. Her eyes were still wet with tears, but she could feel the mncholy in her heart fading away. She didn¡¯t feel as bad as she did before. ¡°This tastes pretty good, but where did you get it from?¡± she asked Her Exit 179 If her memory served her well, she knew there weren¡¯t any shops around selling beverages. One had to walk very far to buy a bottle of water, not to mention something as luxurious as hot cocoa. ¡°Ady from the reception brought some hot cocoa up the hill and said that she had an extra cup. She saw how handsome I was and offered it to me,¡± Tyler saidzily. Rachel didn¡¯t doubt the effect his good looks had ondies ranging between the ages of 10 to 50. All of them would fall prey to that devilishly handsome face of his. Putting aside his sharp tongue, she did agree that Tyler did look like an exquisite masterpiece carved by the heavens. She couldn¡¯t find a single w in his physical appearance. His girlfriend would need to be of stout heart, though. A delicate princess spoiled by doting parents would probably burst out in tears just from being teased by him. Just then, Rachel¡¯s phone buzzed. It was William calling. She didn¡¯t answer the call. At the next moment, a text popped up on her phone screen. [Where are you?] [What is it?] Rachel really didn¡¯t want to reply to him, but on second thought, she thought it better to put up aplete act and carry it through to the end. William texted her, [Come to room 502. I have something to ask you.] Rachel felt her heart drop with a thud. Why did William suddenly want to talk to her? Was there something regarding Samantha that was still unresolved, or did Samantha tell him something? What frightened Rachel most was the possibility that something bad had happened to Samantha¡¯s baby. William would kill her if that happened! Rachel released her grip on the cup of cocoa as sheposed herself. [Okay.] After sending the text, she stood up from the swing. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, Mr. Hunt, I¡¯ll be heading back.¡± Rachel shook the cup of warm cocoa in her hand. ¡°Thanks for this.¡± She could draw a clear line between different matters. Tyler watched her petite back figure walking away, each step firm with determination. A figure appeared next to him. ¡°I say, Tyler. You called me all the way here just to buy a cup of warm cocoa for thatdy?¡± Tyler nced coolly at him. ¡°What, did I not pay you enough?¡± Shiloh didn¡¯t dare to argue with Tyler, who never failed to get his way. Even getting his hands on the moon in the sky was possible for him. With a wave of his hand, Shiloh said, ¡°No, but how is thatdy rted to you? I¡¯ve never seen you put so much effort into someone before.¡± Shiloh had been friends with Tyler for many years, and knew he wasn¡¯t the sort to buy warm cocoa for ady. If any otherdy were to ask Tyler for some hot cocoa, he would only say that it was filled with sugar and chemicals that would only make one grow fat and age faster. Tyler stuck his hands in his pockets and cast Shiloh a sideways nce. ¡°Do you have a lot of time on your hands? Should I give you some work to do at the subsidiarypany?¡± Shiloh shuddered at Tyler¡¯s threat. ¡°Perhaps¡­perhaps not.¡± A thought suddenly came to Tyler¡¯s mind, and he rubbed the bridge of his nose. ¡°What was Howard doing here?¡± ¡°I looked into it. Howard somehow knew that yourpany was having a team bonding session and made a special trip here. He even asked an employee from Lewis Enterprise.¡± ¡°Who did he ask?¡± Tyler asked tly as he pulled out a cigarette at stuck it in his mouth. Shiloh thought back on what he had found out. ¡°I think her name Samantha Judd.¡± ¡°Samantha? Check when she started following Rachel.¡± ¡°Probably around one minute after saying yes to Howard.¡± Tyler smirked, and immediately figured out what was going on. ¡°How scheming of Samantha, to y such games at a time like that. I knew things weren¡¯t that simple when I saw Howard.¡± Shiloh could understand him. ¡°Can¡¯t me you. Howard has his eyes on you, and he¡¯ll snatch anything you care about. That was so even for some projects you had. He already had his doubts since thest time. If you popped up this time round, he¡¯d never spare thatdy.¡± Her Exit 180 Howard¡¯s presence was an eyesore. His grandfather had spoiled him too much. Given how powertof the Zieglers were in Yurelia City and the rtionship his family had with theirs, Tyler couldn¡¯t really do much to Howard. All Tyler could do was teach Howard a small lesson on asion. Still, it was precisely because no one could do anything to Howard that allowed him to be so unscrupulous. The only difference was that while others wouldn¡¯t even dare think aboutying a finger on Howard, Tyler had a way to somewhat bring Howard under control. At the very least, Howard wouldn¡¯t be so unbridled. 1 Shiloh looked in the direction Rachel left. ¡°You could have exined things to her just now. Her colleagues from Lewis Enterprise only came over because you informed them about what happened,¡± Otherwise, who would go to such a secluded part of the woods? Tyler took onest pull of his cigarette and tugged his tie on his cor, and said indifferently, ¡°Must I im credit for every good thing I do?¡± True¨Cthat was not Tyler¡¯s style at all. Even if someone misunderstood him, Tyler wouldn¡¯t bother rifying matters. He thought that those who believed him would believe him no matter what. As for those who didn¡¯t, exining things to them was a waste of breath. ¡°How should we deal with Howard, then?¡± ¡°Howard has lots of time on his hands recently. Quite a number of thedies he dated previously got knocked up, no?¡± Tyler held the cigarette between his fingers and tapped the ashes away. Shiloh nodded. ¡°Yes. They demanded that he tal responsibility, but you know him. How could he agree to that?¡± ¡°Then make a mountain out of a molehill and send all thedies to Howard¡¯s grandfather. There are a few more who are still in university, whom his grandfather tried to forcibly subdue. Hire a goodwyer for them.¡± Shiloh inhaled sharply. That was Tyler Hunt for you, always aggressive in his approach. Tyler flung the cigarette on the ground and stubbed it out with his shiny ck leather boots before strolling leisurely back to the lobby. Rachel was about to knock on William¡¯s door when she received a text from Cec¨ªlia. [I passed by Mr. Lewis¡® room just now and heard him on the phone. It seemed like he was talking about you.] Rachel frowned. Talking about her? She typed away furiously on her phone. [What about me?] Cecilia texted back. [Rachel, are you nning to go somewhere?] A sense of foreboding rose in Rachel¡¯s chest when she saw Cecilia¡¯s text. Did William pick up on some Rachel¡¯s heart was in her throat, and even her fingers started trembling as she typed another text. [What exactly did you overhear William say?] [He said you¡¯re nning to leave Yurelia City. Rachel, are you really going to do that?] Rachel furrowed her brows, her heart racing. She quickly typed another message to Cecilia. I¡¯ll exin things you next time.] After putting her phone aside, Rachel clutched her chest and took a deep breath. She pushed the door open and entered. Seeing William¡¯s back in view as he stood at the window with his hands in his pockets somehow gave Rachel tremendous pressure. The air in the room felt thin, suffocating. She told herself not to be nervous. She didn¡¯t, even know what was going on, and things might not be as bad as she imagined. Rachelposed herself as much as possible before approaching William She asked calmly, ¡°How is Ms. Judd in the hospital?¡± William turned to look at her, his eyes icy. ¡°She¡¯s fine, just some superficial wounds.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± Rachel said it rather impassively, as though she was merely showing concern out of courtesy. Her Exit 181 Chapter 181 William wasn¡¯t in the mood to bring up anything about Samanthanymore. His gaze was cold and piercing as he narrowed his eyes. He looked Rachel up and down. Rachel felt the intense pressure of his focus. After a brief pause, William finally spoke. ¡°You bought a ne ticket. Where were you nning to go?¡± Rachel had mentally prepared herself when she was still at the dogs, so now that William asked, she remained rtively calm. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± At her denial, William ced his warm palm firmly on her shoulder. He thought for a moment before speaking again. ¡°I know I¡¯ve been a bit distanttely because of work. It wasn¡¯t intentional. But there¡¯s no need to get so upset that you¡¯d go buy a ticket and leave in a huff.¡± Rachel looked up at him. She wasn¡¯t angry, and she didn¡¯t raise her voice. Her expression was unsettlingly calm. ¡°I¡¯m not angry. I think you¡¯ve misunderstood something.¡± ¡°As for the situation with Samantha, I did treat you a bit harshly, and I even pushed you today,¡± William said, ignoring her words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He reached out to take Rachel¡¯s hand, but identally brushed against the wound on her palm. She winced and instinctively pulled back. Only then did he look down and notice the injury. The cold edge in his voice immediately disappeared. ¡°Did you fall when I pushed you earlier?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Rachel backed away slightly. She tried to pull her hand free from his grip. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me see. Does it hurt? I¡¯ll blow on it.¡± William gently held her hand and bent forward to blow softly on her wounded palm. 1. Rachel stared at his dark hair. This person used to be so familiar to her. But now, he felt like aplete stranger. William¡¯s warm breath brushed over her wound. It was soft and soothing, but the pain had long passed. She¡¯d already endured the worst of it all by herself. Whateverfort or apologies he offered now meant nothing. Rachel pursed her lips and forcefully yanked her hand back. ¡°It really doesn¡¯t hurt. It¡¯s just a superficial wound.¡± William¡¯s eyes were filled with concern as he looked at her. ¡°For now, just stay home and rest. I¡¯ve already arranged a ce for Samantha to move to. She¡¯ll be gone in the next day or two.¡± Rachel looked up. Her voice was hoarse as she struggled to find it. She¡¯s moving out?¡± ¡°Yeah. That way you¡¯ll feel more at ease at home too. The Oasis project is about to begin, and I won¡¯t be so busy anymore. ¡°Besides, our anniversary¡¯sing up. I¡¯m still waiting to open the gift you¡¯re giving me for it.¡± William pulled her into his arms. His hand wrapped around her waist. ¡°I wonder what you¡¯ve got for me. It must be a huge surprise.¡± Rachel smirked sarcastically. ¡°Yeah, the gift I prepared for you will definitely be a huge surprise. You¡¯re going to be very shocked.¡± William was stillpletely unaware. He smiled warmly as he gazed at her. ¡°If you say that, I¡¯ll want to unwrap it now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t You¡¯ve waited this long, what¡¯s another two, days?¡± Rachel stopped him quickly. She was afraid he might actually go back and open that box now. William gently cupped her cheeks with both hands, and in his eyes was a tenderness Rachel hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. ¡°Alright, if I¡¯ve waited this long, I can wait a few more days. ¡°Rachel, you still haven¡¯t answered me. Were you really nning to leave Vurelia City?¡± apter 182 Her Exit 182 Rachel smiled and replied nonchntly, ¡°I was just nning to get away for a bit and clear my head. I hadn¡¯t had the chance to tell you yet. Who knew you¡¯d find out so soon?¡± ¡°Were you nning to go alone?¡± William still seemed doubtful. ¡°I wanted Cecilia toe with me, but she has kids at home and couldn¡¯t get away,¡± Rachel replied. Thankfully, Rachel had been smart enough to buy a one¨Cway ticket to Kahnwel. Otherwise, it really would¡¯ve been difficult to exin herself now. Her original n had been to leave quietly and use that ticket as a diversion in case William tried to track her down. She hadn¡¯t expected she¡¯d be forced to y that card so soon. William¡¯s eyes flickered. He looked at Rachel, his eyes narrowing, and then said something that took her by surprise. ¡°I can go with you.¡± Rachel blinked in surprise. ¡°You want toe with me? Isn¡¯t thepany keeping you busy?¡± With Samantha watching him like a hawk, did he really have time to travel with Rachel? On top of that, Samantha was pregnant. Rachel didn¡¯t dare assume that she mattered to him more than the child Samantha was carrying. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can apply for leave. It¡¯s true I haven¡¯t spent much time with youtely. But Rachel, if you¡¯re upset about anything, we can talk about it. ¡°You don¡¯t have to fight with Samantha. She¡¯s just a young girl who doesn¡¯t know any better. Cut her some ck. ¡°If the ambnce hadn¡¯t arrived in time, and something serious happened, how do you expect me to deal with both of you?¡± The sneer in Rachel¡¯s eyes became obvious. She died William¡¯s troubled expression. ¡°If something had happened to Samantha today, would you have told the police that I pushed her?¡± she asked. William seemed tense. His tone grew solemn. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t make that kind of assumption. I don¡¯t want any more conflict between you and Samantha. Can¡¯t you try to understand where I¡¯ming from?¡± Rachelughed bitterly to herself. He was using the same excuse. He always asked her to be understanding and wanted her topromise for him, but he never once did the same for her. Rachel had shed with Samantha so many times, and William had never stood on her side. Now, Rachel was finally able to control her emotions again. She pretended to speak nonchntly. ¡°I was just joking earlier. Don¡¯t get all worked up.¡± William visibly rxed. The tense expression on his face faded, and he smiled again. ¡°I knew you¡¯d understand. Samantha will have to stay in the hospital for a few days. Drop by and visit her when you have time. Maybe even apologize to her. This whole thing will be over. ¡°I¡¯ve already had a talk with Samantha too. Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s not the type to hold a grudge.¡± Rachel could hardly believe what she heard. William really was a master at ying both sides. Even with all the effort he had put into maintaining his personal rtionships, he still had the energy to run apany. Rachel had to admit this was impressive in its own twisted way. +25 BONUS She forced a smile. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll visit her in a couple of days.¡± She had no intention of doing so. She¡¯d be long gone by then. Only fool would apologize to someone like Samantha Although Samantha¡¯s actions were despicable, what hurt Rachel more was William¡¯s behavior. He was the one who truly had the ability to hurt her. Each time, he would strike where it hurt the most, and he never missed. He was the man Rachel had wasted seven years loving. William pulled her into his arms once more. ¡°After this whole mess is over, let¡¯s just enjoy each other¡¯spany. My parents are still waiting to be grandparents. We¡¯ve got some work to do,¡± he said. 01:183 Her Exit 183 Chapter 183 Rachel found it allughable now. She¡¯d finally seen just how good William was at pretending. His acting skills were honestly impable. It turned out love could be an act. Just as she expected, not long after she left William¡¯s room, a notification popped up on her phone. Her flight to Kahnwel had been canceled. The smile that had lingered on her face earlier vanished, and her eyes narrowed slightly. People like this really did exist. They didn¡¯t love you, but they still refused to let you go. That evening, the team¨Cbuilding event wrapped up smoothly around seven. Those who had won prizes were beaming with joy, while those who hadn¡¯t could only look on enviously. Rachel had both her phone and the newptop in hand. She handed theptop to Cecilia. Cecilia was overjoyed as she took the brand¨Cnew device and hugged Rachel tightly in excitement. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m so lucky to have a friend like you. You¡¯re amazing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Now that you¡¯ve got a newptop, make sure you work hard with it.¡± Thinking about how this might be thest time she¡¯d see Cecilia, Rachel couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of guilt and sadness. Cecilia had always treated her as a true friend, but Rachel couldn¡¯t tell her the truth that she was leaving soon. Rachel reached out and hugged her. ¡°I¡¯m lucky ave a friend like you too.¡± After all, even the man who had shared her bed could betray her. In the end, Cecilia was all she had left. Just as everyone was about to board the bus, William called Rachel aside. ¡°Rachel, you go on ahead. Samantha¡¯s still in the hospital. The doctor wants to keep observing her a little longer. Since it was a brain hemorrhage, if anything goes wrong, it might affect you too. I¡¯m going to stay with her for now. Once I¡¯m sure she¡¯s stable, I¡¯ll head back.¡± He patted Rachel¡¯s shoulder gently in a reassuring gesture. ¡°Be good and wait for me at home.¡± Rachel had no objections. ¡°Okay. Go take care of Ms. Judd. I¡¯ll head home with Cecilia.¡± William reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately before turning and getting into his car, Once everyone was on board, some of the female colleagues started gathering and whispering to each other as usual. ¡°I saw Mr. Lewis walk off in the other direction just now. He must be going to see Samantha, right?¡± ¡°Well, what choice does he have? He¡¯s basically cleaning up Ms. Lloyd¡¯s mess. She was the one who pushed Samantha and got her hurt. If Mr. Lewis doesn¡¯t step in and smooth things over, it¡¯ll just get worse.¡± ¡°But you have to admit, Samantha¡¯s got some serious tricks up her sleeve. She totally seeded in luring Mr. Lewis over.¡± Cecilia¡¯s expression turned sour as she overheard the gossip. She frowned and couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Could you guys tone it down a little? What are you even saying? So what if Samantha has tricks? The fact is, she got in the middle of someone else¡¯s rtionship!¡± ¡°And so what if she did? Ms. Lloyd let it happen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like she had a choice. Everyone knows Samantha was Mr Lewis¡¯s first love,¡± someone else chimed in. ¡°When one¡¯s first love shows up, nobody else matters.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit angry hearing their chatter. In fact, the mote they talked like this, the more it proved how miserable their own lives were. They fed off other people¡¯s pain to feel better about themselves Just because she wasn¡¯t angry, it didn¡¯t mean she wanted to listen to all this nonsense. She stood up slowly from her seat. Her naturally cool gaze gave off was powerful enough. Everyone immediately fell silent. swept over the group. She hadn¡¯t even spoken yet, but the aura she Her Exit 184 Rachel¡¯s expression was impassive, yet it carried a sense of authority as she signed. ¡°If I remember correctly, thepany rules clearly state that employees are not allowed to gossip about their superiors behind their backs. I¡¯ve turned a blind eye when you¡¯ve done it privately before. ¡°But to say these things right in front of me, isn¡¯t that a little much? ¡°Oh, and I assume everyone¡¯s been working on the Oasis project recently? Must¡¯ve earned a lot of bonuses and now have nowhere to spend them. ¡°Alright then, once we get back, each of you will pay a fine. While you¡¯re at it, I want a written self¨Creflection from every one of you. Leave it on my desk first thing tomorrow morning!¡± Cecilia looked at Rachel with eyes full of admiration and excitement. She was practically bursting with joy. ¡®That¡¯s exactly how it should be done!¡® she thought. Everyone else stood there in stunned silence. They werepletely dumbfounded. They looked at one another, but not a single person dared to speak. It seemed they¡¯d all forgotten that Rachel had already been reinstated as the director. Although she had submitted her resignation to William, the official announcement hadn¡¯t been made yet. Why not take advantage of her position now to shut these people up? The bus finally quieted down. One by one, the gossipers went back to their seats. Rachel leaned back in her seat again. Her expression rxed. Finally, there was peace. Cecilia gave her a beaming thumbs¨Cup. ¡°Rachel, finally! You stood up for yourself. I honestly thought you were going to let it go again.¡± Rachel smiled and held Cecilia¡¯s hand tightly. As they neared the city, Rachel received another message from William. [Go back to the house first. I¡¯ll be back soon.] Rachel froze slightly and quickly typed her reply. [Aren¡¯t you with Samantha at the hospital?] She¡¯d assumed that since William wasn¡¯ting home, she wouldn¡¯t have to go back either. William replied swiftly. [The doctor said there¡¯s nothing serious.] Rachel didn¡¯t quite understand why he was suddenlying home, but after a moment, she figured it out. They¡¯d never really tried to hide anything from her before. She gave a simple reply. [Got it.] She put her phone away and nced out the window. There were still about thirty minutes to go. Thinking about the long night ahead, Rachel decided to close her eyes and rest. When she opened them again, the bus had already reached thepany¡¯s entrance. After saying a brief goodbye to Cecilia, she hailed a cab back to the Lewis family estate. The moment she stepped through the door, the weight in her heart only grew heavier. The housemaids barely acknowledged her. One kept sweeping like she didn¡¯t even see her. The others pretended not to notice either. Rachel had long gotten used to this. She sat down in a chair by herself and quietly texted Jim. [Dad, could you please talk to Grandpa again about moving Mom¡¯s tombstone back?] Just as she hit send, a voice could be heard from the staircase. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Rachel looked up and saw William¡¯s mother, Cassandra Lewis, slowly walking down from upstairs. She tucked her phone away and gave a polite nod as she stood. ¡°Mother.¡± Cassandra pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and gave Rachel a cold nce before sitting down on one of the chairs. ¡°Where¡¯s William? Didn¡¯t you say you two wereing back together?¡± Cassandra had never liked Rachel. She had hearing loss, came from what they thought was a prestigious family, but had turned out to be a fake heiress. She held no real status in the Lloyd family. Other than her looks, there was nothing special about her. Rachel remained respectful despite her mother¨Cinw¡¯s attitude. After all, she was still William¡¯s mother. ¡°William is still on the way back.¡± At that moment, a housemaid brought over coffee and ced it on the table between the two women. Cassandra lifted the cup with practiced grace, took a slow sip, and asked casually, ¡°Have you two been fightingtely?¡° Her Exit 185 ¡°No,¡± Rachel replied. ¡°Then what¡¯s going on between you and Tyler? William should¡¯ve told you that our rtionship with Tyler isplicated. Why are you still hanging around him?¡± Cassandra asked. The moment Cassandra mentioned Tyler, the gracefulposure on her well¨Cmaintained face vanished. It was reced by an obvious look of displeasure. Rachel calmly replied, ¡°Mr. Hunt and I are purely connected through work. Those rumors going around are nothing but baseless gossip.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Then how do you exin this?¡± Cassandra suddenly retrieved an envelope from behind her and flung the photos inside straight at Rachel. Caught off guard, Rachel took a sharp strike to the face. Her whole body tensed immediately. A wave of humiliation washed over her. Still, Rachel kept her expression neutral. She picked the photos up off the ground and nced at them. One showed Tyler helping her into a hotel, while others were of them meeting in public over the past few weeks. There was even a photo of her getting out of a car, with Tyler looking at her back. Even she had to admit that there was something almost tender in Tyler¡¯s gaze. His gaze was soft, and his expression was focused. It was as if he was looking at someone he loved. Rachel figured the photographer had probably chosen a particrly misleading angle to make things seem that way. Before she could exin, Cassandraunched in another tirade. ¡°I also heard you recently did the business proposal for the Oasis project for LS Enterprise, which now forces ourpanies to cooperate!¡± The more Cassandra spoke, the angrier she got. She stormed up to Rachel, snatched the photos off the table, and hurled them into her face again. ¡°You¡¯re really something. The seemingly perfect daughter¨Cinw for the Lewis family doing all this backstabbing!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t move. She sat rigidly in her chair with her fists clenched tightly. One of the photos had cut her cheek, leaving a sharp red mark. Cassandra didn¡¯t care that Rachel was injured, or that the maids were witnessing everything. ¡°I was against your marriage from the beginning. If William hadn¡¯t threatened to kill himself, how could a fake heiress like you have ever set foot in this house? ¡°Do you know how I getughed at by the other women during luncheons? They ask if my son couldn¡¯t find a wife. Why else would he marry some deaf girl?¡± Rachel could tolerate everything else. She knew, deep down, that she probably was never truly the right match for William. The Lewis family held high status in Yurelia City. Being ridiculed in social circles wasn¡¯t something they could ept easily. But there was one thing she couldn¡¯t let go. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t forget. I wasn¡¯t born deaf. I lost my hearing because of your son.¡± If she hadn¡¯t shielded William that day, he would be the deaf one now. Cassandra let out a cold, dismissive chuckle and showed no sign of appreciation. ¡°So what? Do you really think William loves you? If you hadn¡¯t taken that hit for him, he never would¡¯ve married you. ¡°He married you out of guilt, nothing more. You knew from the start that the woman he loved was Samantha. You just happened to show up at the right time.¡± Rachel had heard the same thing from Cassandra before. Back then, she¡¯d been so deeply in love andpletely blinded by emotion. Even when Cassandra had said such things, Rachel had never doubted William. No matter who he once loved, she had believed he loved her now. She could feel it. Or at least, she had thought she could. Now, she regretted being so naive and so blindly devoted. She was so eager to believe in the perfect little love story William had spun for her. Rachel didn¡¯t argue anymore. She simply lowered her head and smiled bitterly. ¡°You¡¯re right. I admit it. I¡¯ve lost.¡± Cassandra looked at her with a flicker of surprise. ¡°Oh? Finally showing some spine. So what now? Are you nning to divorce my son?¡± Her Exit 186 Of course Rachel couldn¡¯t give Cassandra a direct answer. If she said anything now, Cassandra would be the first to run and tell William. William was already suspicious of her. If she slipped up even a little, he would find out. Just as Rachel was weighing her options and trying to figure out how to respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m home.¡± Rachel sighed quietly in relief at the sound of William¡¯s voice. Cassandra also dropped the questioning as soon as William appeared. She turned around and smiled warmly as she walked over to him. ¡°William, what took you so long?¡± ¡°Traffic was bad, Mom.¡± Then came a sweet and obedient voice from the entryway. ¡°Good evening, Mrs. Lewis. I¡¯m one of William¡¯s employees. You probably remember me.¡± Rachel felt a sudden chill run down her spine. She stood there frozen. A momentter, she forced herself to turn around. Sure enough, Samantha was standing right next to William. He had brought her home. Cassandra stared at Samantha for a long moment before she came back to her senses. ¡°You must be Samantha.¡± Samantha smiled. ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d still remember me.¡± Cassandra smiled affectionately and took Samara¡¯s hand, treating her with such warmth it was like night and daypared to how she treated Rachel. ¡°Of course I remember. Everyone knows you and William went to school together. But what happened to your head?¡± Samantha touched the bandage on her head instinctively. ¡°Oh, I fell during a team building event with Rachel earlier today. It¡¯s nothing serious. William already took me to get it treated.¡± The moment Rachel¡¯s name came up, Cassandra turned and snapped, ¡°Rachel, we have a guest. Why are you just standing there? Go brew some coffee!¡± The atmosphere in the room immediately grew tense. Even the maids, who were cleaning up, paused in stunned disbelief. They all gave Cassandra odd looks. There were plenty of maids in the house. Everyone knew Rachel didn¡¯t need to serve guests herself. It was clear Cassandra was deliberately putting Rachel in her ce by treating her like a maid. Rachel froze only for a split second before lifting her chin and offering a calm, polite smile. ¡°Mother, we have maids for that, don¡¯t we? Besides, I¡¯m all thumbs in the kitchen. What if I don¡¯t get the coffee Ms. Judd doesn¡¯t like it?¡± Cassandra¡¯s expression turned sour immediately. ¡°Didn¡¯t your family teach you how to brew a simple cup of coffee?¡± right and Rachel let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Back home, only the maids learned how to brew coffee. William didn¡¯t marry me just to have someone serve coffee, did he?¡± Her reply was nonchnt, but it hit its mark perfectly, making Cassandra¡¯s expression darken even more. Before Cassandra could retort, Rachel turned toward one of the maids. ¡°Leia, please prepare a cup of coffee for Ms. Judd. Don¡¯t Chapter 186. keep our guest waiting.¡± Leia hesitated and nced at Cassandra. Everyone in the house know Cassandra¡¯s word was final. Cassandra nodded a little. Only then did Leia dare to move. Cassandra led Samantha to a seat. As Samantha walked past Rachel, she noticed the scattered photos on the floor, She bent down and picked them up, casting Rachel a seemingly apologetic nce. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s going on between you and Mr. Hunt? I thought everything was already cleared up. Or did something happen again?¡± Cassandra¡¯s expression instantly became tense. She raised her shrill voice. Her Exit 187 ¡°What do you mean again? Are you saying she and Tyler had something going on before too?¡± Cassandra asked. ¡°No, no, of course not, Mrs. Lewis,¡± Samantha replied with artful speed. ¡°That must¡¯ve all been a misunderstanding. How could Rachel be that kind of person? She was probably just working closely with Mr. Lewis back then. ¡°But maybe Rachel was just thinking about thepany. I mean, how else could she manage to bring bothpanies into a partnership if she didn¡¯t?¡± Far from helping, Samantha¡¯s exnation only fanned the mes of Cassandra¡¯s irritation. Her expression grew darker by the second as she shot Rachel a cold re. ¡°Didn¡¯t William tell you what kind of rtionship we have with LS Enterprise? Is that even apany we can afford to work with? And now you¡¯ve dragged them into a business deal with us? Rachel, what exactly are you plotting? Are you and Tyler trying to set a trap for William?¡± Rachel¡¯s expression remained calm as ever. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Samantha stepped forward again and pretended to mediate. ¡°Mrs. Lewis, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve misunderstood. Rachel and Mr. Hunt are totally innocent. How could she be working for him? Even if the rumors outside say she¡¯s trying to be Mrs. Hunt, you can¡¯t believe that.¡± Cassandra sneered before ncing at Rachel with undisguised contempt. ¡°Did you think you could marry Tyler? Rachel, you¡¯ve really overestimated yourself. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. Tyler¡¯s a maniptive man. Even his own biological father can¡¯t read him. For power and money, he could turn on and even kill his own siblings. ¡°Do you think someone like that who doesn¡¯t even care about his own blood is someone you can handle?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even want to exin anymore. It clear Cassandra had made up her mind. Nothing she said would change it. William stood silently through it all. Not once did he try to defend her. In his heart, he probably believed she and Tyler had something going on too. At that moment, a maid entered with a tray and ced a cup of coffee in front of Samantha. ¡°Ms. Judd, your coffee.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Samantha replied. She looked up at Cassandra with a sweet smile. ¡°Mrs. Lewis, please don¡¯t get too worked up. It¡¯s not good for your health. Have some coffee to calm down.¡± Cassandra took a deep breath and turned away. She said to William ¡°Send her upstairs. I don¡¯t want to see her right now.¡± William walked over to Rachel. His tone didn¡¯t change much from before. ¡°Rachel, let¡¯s go upstairs and take care of that cut on your face.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression froze slightly. She forced a shaky voice. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can take care of it myself. It¡¯s been a while since you spent time with Mother. You should stay with her.¡± William¡¯s gaze lingered upon her. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be okay on your own?¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes flickered, but she forced herself to sound indifferent. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a small cut. Besides, Ms. Judd is here. She should have someone with her.¡± ¡°You know how my mom is. She¡¯s blunt and a little harsh, but she means no harm. Don¡¯t take it personally. I believe in you.¡± He gently patted the back of her hand as if offeringfort. Rachel nodded. But as she turned and walked upstairs, the smile on her face vanishedpletely. Once back in her room, Rachel stared at the disheveled reflection in the mirror and couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. ¡®Rachel, you really are a mess, but not for much longer. Soon, you rise from the ashes.¡® Her Exit 188 Rachel stayed in her room and tended to the cut on her face using the first¨Caid kit. What she didn¡¯t know was that downstairs, William had already told Cassandra about Samantha¡¯s pregnancy The moment Cassandra heard it, her face lit up with joy. ¡°Really? Samantha¡¯s pregnant? That¡¯s wonderful! That means I¡¯ll be holding my grandchild very soon!¡± As she spoke, Cassandra immediately removed the emerald bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Samantha. ¡°Samantha, this is your first visit to our home, and I don¡¯t have anything better prepared. This emerald bracelet was passed down to me from William¡¯s grandmother.¡± Samantha was startled and instinctively tried to refuse. ¡°Oli, no, 1 can¡¯t ept this, Mrs. Lewis. It¡¯s far too precious. How could I? Besides, this should be something passed down to Mr. Lewis¡® wife. I really shouldn¡¯t wear it. ¡°I don¡¯t want much. I just want to be with William. I shouldn¡¯t have gone abroad and left him behind back then. This child is the least I can do to make up for that.¡± But Cassandra insisted, pulling Samantha¡¯s hand over and slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. Samantha looked down at the translucent emerald bracelet. It had a beautiful luster, and anyone would be captivated by it. She clearly didn¡¯t want to give it up, but she was still hesitant. She nced at William for help. ¡°William, this is such a valuable gift from Mrs. Lewis. Are you sure it¡¯s okay for me to ept it?¡± William didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°If it¡¯s from my mom, then go ahead and keep it.¡± Samantha blushed and smiled demurely. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll ept it. Thank you, Mrs. Lewis. If there¡¯s anything you ever need, don¡¯t hesitate to call me.¡± She raised her wrist and admired the bracelet again. She clearly loved it. ¡°But if Rachel finds out about this, she probably won¡¯t be too happy. ¡°After all, something like this should¡¯ve been passed down to her, the official daughter¨Cinw.¡± Cassandra, already biased against Rachel, looked even more displeased. After all these years, Rachel hadn¡¯t shown any signs of producing an heir. What kind of family would tolerate that? Truth be told, Cassandra had always felt Samantha was the better match for William. Rachel had swooped in out of nowhere. Cassandra had only reluctantly epted Rachel as William¡¯s wife because she had believed Rachel was the Lloyd family¡¯s heiress. Even if Rachel was deaf, Cassandra had thought she could overlook it for that. After all these years, Rachel¡¯s hearing hadn¡¯t improved. Cassandra patted Samantha¡¯s hand affectionately. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her. I¡¯ll give her something else. You keep the bracelet, and don¡¯t be so courteous with me anymore.¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll ept it. Thank you, Mrs. Lewis.¡± Samantha smiled sweetly. Her demeanor was so gentle and agreeable that it made Cassandra beam with satisfaction. Cassandra nced at William. ¡°William, I¡¯ll go talk with my mom for a bit.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Samantha replied and nced upstairs. ¡°Can I go up and take a look?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± William nodded before following Cassandra to the side. Once Samantha had gone upstairs, Cassandra finally spoke in a more serious tone. ¡°So what are you nning to do about Rachel? Are you not getting a divorce?¡± William frowned. ¡°Divorce? Why would I?¡± Cassandra was visibly surprised. She looked at him as if he had just said something outrageous. ¡°You¡¯re not getting a divorce? Samantha is pregnant, William. And you still don¡¯t n to divorce Rachel? What do you intend to do when the baby¡¯s born?¡°¡± In her mind, Samantha¡¯s pregnancy automatically meant Rachel would be reced. She thought William had long epted that. 189 Her Exit 189 Chapter 189 Who would¡¯ve thought William didn¡¯t even n on getting a divorce? William rubbed his temples in frustration. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought that far ahead yet. We¡¯ll deal with it when the timees. Don¡¯t worry, Samantha won¡¯t pressure me. She already told me that being with me is enough for her. She doesn¡¯t care about status. ¡°She said whatever I decide, she¡¯ll go along with it.¡± Cassandra nodded, pondering the situation. ¡°But that can only work for now. There¡¯s no way this setup willst. If Rachel finds out about Samantha, with that temper of hers, she¡¯ll cause an uproar. ¡°You can¡¯t be fooled by how calm Rachel seems. She may not fight or argue on the surface, but if she ever discovers what¡¯s going on between you and Samantha, she¡¯ll turn the entire household upside down.¡± The more Cassandra spoke, the more irritated William became. ¡°Mom, can you not create unnecessary drama?¡± ¡°Then why won¡¯t you divorce Rachel?¡± William rubbed his chin. His expression was tense. Feeling stifled, he yanked at his tie in agitation. ¡°Rachel lost her hearing because of me. Mom, don¡¯t bring up her deafness in front of her again. If she hadn¡¯t stepped in front of me that day, I¡¯d be the one who became deaf.¡± Cassandra scoffed. ¡°And what if she only did that to get close to you? Maybe she just saw a chance and took it.¡± She was getting more pleased with herself by the minute. ¡°You think I forgot how many women were chasing after you back then? Our family nevercked options. And let me remind you, whether or not you end up divorcing Rachel, she cannot get involved with Tyler. That would be aplete disgrace to the Lewis family!¡± At the mention of Rachel and Tyler, William¡¯s expression darkened even further. ¡°I already warned her.¡± Truth be told, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention even when the two of them started interacting. While Cassandra and William were downstairs nning how to keep Rachel away from Tyler, upstairs, Samantha had already arrived at Rachel¡¯s bedroom door. Without so much as knocking, she pushed it open. ¡°Rachel, there you are!¡± Rachel was startled by Samantha¡¯s entrance. She looked up, saw Samantha leaning casually against the doorframe, and frowned. ¡°Ms. Judd, as a guest, do you not know how to knock before entering someone¡¯s room?¡± Samantha faked a smile as she looked at Rachel. ¡°I figured even if knocked, you wouldn¡¯t hear it, Rachel.¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°And if your boss couldn¡¯t hear you knocking, would you still just walk in unannoured?¡± Samantha¡¯s smile faltered. She bit her lip, clearly reluctant, but in the end gave a few half¨Chearted knocks on the door. Rachel gave a satisfied smile. ¡°So, Ms. Judd, what brings you here? ¡°Oh, nothing much,¡± Samantha said breezily. ¡°I just wanted to show you this bracelet and see if it suits me. It¡¯s such a fine piece of emerald, and I¡¯m still young. I¡¯m not sure I can pull it off.¡± As she spoke, she raised her wrist to reveal the bracelet. Rachel instantly recognized it as Cassandra¡¯s favorite emerald bracelet. It was an heirloom that was traditionally passed to the daughter¨Cinw in the Lewis family. Back when Rachel had married into the Lewis family, Cassandra ha refused to pass it to her because she didn¡¯t like her. Now, she had given it to Samantha, a woman visiting their home for the first time. Rachel sneered on the inside. She couldn¡¯t force something that wasn¡¯t meant to be. Her Exit 190 ¡°It looks nice,¡± Rachel replied tly. Samantha stood there, still trying to appear embarrassed. ¡°Rachel please don¡¯t misunderstand. I really didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I actually tried to turn the bracelet down, but your mother¨CInw insisted. I couldn¡¯t say no.¡± Rachel sat on the edge of the bed and began neatly putting the supplies back into the first¨Caid kit. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. If she wants to give it to someone, that¡¯s her business. It¡¯s just a bracelet. She doesn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s permission.¡± She nced at Samantha in surprise. ¡°Is this the first time someone¡¯s given you something that valuable?¡± The pride that had just started to glow in Samantha¡¯s eyes immediately dimmed. Her expression stiffened. She blinked. ¡°Of course not. William¡¯s given me plenty of things before. Nes, for example, and the Eternal Heart pendant was from him too.¡± ¡°Oh? You two seem really close,¡± Rachel remarked. However, her expression remained calm as ever. It was as if she was talking about someonepletely unrted to her. Samantha must have sensed something off. She quickly forced a smile. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t take it the wrong way. William and I are just friends. He¡¯s always seen me as his little sister.¡± The sarcasm in Rachel¡¯s smirk was impossible to hide. ¡®Yeah, a special kind of sister,¡® she thought to herself. She stood and walked right up to Samantha. Her gaze brieflynded on the bandage reached up and lightly ran her fingers along the edge of the gauze. on Samantha¡¯s forehead. She slowly Something about Rachel¡¯s touch sent an involuntary chill down Samantha¡¯s spine. Her whole body tensed, and her voice trembled. ¡°Rachel, what are you doing?¡± Rachel¡¯s expression was ice¨Ccold. ¡°Why did you say I pushed you? You know it was Howard. Ms. Judd, you might want to be careful. Lying too oftenes with consequences.¡± For once, Samantha was speechless. She usually had a quick answer for everything, but now she just stood there in stunned silence. ¡°I know you want to be with William,¡± Rachel added. ¡°But you don¡¯t need to go behind my back and y these games. I¡¯m not trying to fight you for him.¡± Rachel¡¯s fingers suddenly pressed down on the injury beneath the bandage, making Samantha wince and hiss in pain. ¡°Ouch!¡± Samantha instinctively clutched at her wound. Her face turned pale as she stumbled back. There was something different in Rachel¡¯s eyes. There was no longer just cool indifference, but something much more sinister. It felt like she was holding a de to Samantha¡¯s throat. Samantha staggered. Her knees almost gave out. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Nothing. I just wanted to take a closer look at your injury. You said I pushed you, didn¡¯t you? I had to see how serious it was.¡± Rachel took two steps closer and gently cupped Samantha¡¯s face in her hands. Her fingers found the wound again, and this time, she pressed hard enough to make Samantha cry out. ¡°Ahh!¡± Only then did Rachel finally pull away. ¡°It hurts, doesn¡¯t it? You should really be more careful. Liars tend to pay for their lies.¡± Samantha¡¯s legs buckled as she stumbled back. At that moment, the bedroom door swung open, and William stepped in just in time to catch her before she copsed. He frowned and looked down at her. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I-¡± ¡°Ms. Judd came to show me the bracelet. I noticed the gauze on her forehead was bleeding through. Since I had supplies on hand, I was about to rece it for her, but she was worried I wouldn¡¯t do it right.¡± Rachel cut in smoothly before Samantha could respond. Samantha froze. She was still shaken from what just happened and had no chance to defend herself. William nced down and saw the growing red stain on the white gauze. He gently took Samantha¡¯s wrist. ¡°Go downstairs. Mrs. Jones will take care of it for you.¡± Samantha Hodded. William helped her to the door and called down to one of the maids to tend to her. Her Exit 191 William turned back to look at Rachel again. His gazended on the cut on her right cheek, and his warm fingertips gently reached out to touch it. Rachel instinctively stepped back. His hand froze midair before he awkwardly pulled it back. Rachel looked up and asked, ¡°Why did Mom give that heirloom emerald bracelet to Ms. Judd? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a keepsake?¡± She wasn¡¯t trying to make a big deal out of it, but she wasn¡¯t about to let them treat her like a fool either. When she married into the Lewis family, many friends and rtives had their eyes on her. Cassandra had refused to pass the bracelet down to her, and that had immediately stirred up rumors. Later, Cassandra had made up an excuse and given her a pair of earrings instead, saying she was keeping the bracelet for sentimental reasons. It barely covered up the slight. Rachel had always known that Cassandra didn¡¯t like her. She didn¡¯t recognize Rachel as her real daughter¨Cinw, and that was why she had held the bracelet back. Rachel hadn¡¯t argued. But now, on Samantha¡¯s very first visit to the house, and without even having any official status, Cassandra had given it away so easily. What did that make Rachel? William rubbed his temples is voice was hoarse and sounded genuinely tired. ¡°Maybe Mom didn¡¯t think much of it. Samantha came over for the first time, and she didn¡¯t have anything else on hand to give her.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Rachel looked at him. ¡°So it was absolutely necessary to give her a gift?¡± Her gaze bore into William, catching every subtle shift in his expression. He looked like he was reaching the end of his patience. He let out a long sigh. ¡°If you like that bracelet, I¡¯ll get you an even better one.¡± Rachel smiled sarcastically. ¡°Do you really think I care about the value of a bracelet? Do you think that¡¯s what this is about?¡± William tugged at his tie. He was clearly trying hard to stay calm. He took a deep breath. ¡°Then what are we even arguing about? You know how my mom is. Why let her get to you?¡± Rachel nodded and responded nonchntly. ¡°I see.¡± She suddenly felt exhausted. She was too tired to argue because she knew exactly how this would end. When a man¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t with you, no matter how small the matter, he would never take your side. It had nothing to do with anyone else. Rachel¡¯s sudden calm seemed to reassure William. He thought she¡¯d finallye around, and he tried to soothe her as always. ¡°Alright, I know you were upset that Mom didn¡¯t pass the bracelet down to you back then. But everyone know daughter¨Cinw of this family. Why bother about something so superficial?¡± re the real Rachel quietly pushed away his hand. ¡°I was just making conversation. Cecilia invited me out. I need to go. You should stay and have dinner with Mother.¡± With that, Rachel brushed past him and headed for the door. William¡¯s expression suddenly darkened. ¡°You¡¯re not going to see Tyler, are you?¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°You¡¯re wee to video call if you¡¯re that worried.¡± William chuckled dryly. ¡°Just kidding. I trust you. But seriously, we¡¯ve only just stabilized things with LS Enterprise. Don¡¯t give people more to talk about. Stay away from Tyler.¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d told her that. But really, what right did he have to say that? He spent every day glued to Samantha, yet here he was lecturing her over innocent work interactions or the asional run¨Cin with Tyler. There was no point in telling William this. He wouldn¡¯t believe anything she said. Rachel didn¡¯t bother replying. She wasn¡¯t supposed to be able to hear him anyway. When she got downstairs, Cassandra was in the living room with Mrs. Jones. They were helping Samantha change her dressing The moment Cassandra saw Rachel, her expression turned cold. She said curtly, ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready,¡± Rachel smiled politely. ¡°Mother, a friend needs me for something urgent, so I won¡¯t be able to join you tonight.¡± Her Exit 192 When Cassandra heard that someone had invited Rachel out for dinner, her narrowed eyes instantly filled with suspicion. ¡°Which friend? It¡¯s not Tyler, is it?¡± she asked. Rachel¡¯s hand froze slightly in the middle of grabbing her bag, but she didn¡¯t respond. She wasn¡¯t facing Cassandra. Instead she simply walked straight toward the door as if she hadn¡¯t heard anything. Fury surged across Cassandra¡¯s face. She stood abruptly and pointed a trembling finger at Rachel¡¯s back. ¡°Rachel, stop right there!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even pause. She just walked right out. Cassandra¡¯s entire body trembled with anger. ¡°This is outrageous! She has absolutely no respect for me!¡± ¡°Madam, don¡¯t forget, she can read lips, but she can¡¯t hear,¡± Mrs. Jones said. That snapped Cassandra back for a moment, but the anger was still there. ¡°Just the sight of her irritates me. Who does she think she is? She used to have the Lloyd family backing her, but now? She¡¯s not even their biological daughter.¡± She turned toward Samantha and softened her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel can¡¯t affect you. William might be a bit reluctant now, but only because she lost her hearing for him. In the end, everything depends on the child you¡¯re carrying.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Lewis. I fine with it. I just want to stay by William¡¯s side and give birth to our baby. I won¡¯t fight Rachel over anything,¡± Samanthad. Cassandra gently rubbed Samantha¡¯s cheeks. ¡°You really are such a good girl.¡± After leaving the Lewis family estate, Rachel caught a glimpse of a familiar¨Clooking car nearby. It didn¡¯t look like Tyler¡¯s. Why would he be here anyway? But it was already dark, and she couldn¡¯t make it out clearly. Besides, her ride had just arrived, so she didn¡¯t pay much attention. She told the driver to head to a tattoo studio. When she got there, the owner was already closing up. Knowing she would be leaving town soon and had too much else to handle, Rachel didn¡¯t want to dy. She took a few notes from her wallet and ced them on the counter. ¡°Can you please help me out? I probably won¡¯t be around the next few days.¡± The shop owner nced at the cash and casually swept it into his bag. ¡°Alright,e in.¡± Rachel let out a sigh of relief and walked in. As she rolled up her shirt, the tattoo artist caught sight of the butterfly on her back and frowned. ¡°That butterfly¡¯s been there a long time, hasn¡¯t it? If you want to get it removed now, it won¡¯t be easy. It will hurt a lot too.¡± Anyone familiar with tattoos knew that while getting one could be beautiful, having it removed required serious patience. Rachel didn¡¯t hesitate for even a second. ¡°No problem.¡± The artist blinked in surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be so resolute. ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s get started.¡± Rachel took a deep breath andy down on the narrow table. The moment theser touched her skin, a wave of sharp, burning pain shot through her back. She gripped the table tightly. Cold sweat formed on her forehead. The artist, feeling the tension in her body, paused and wiped his own brow. ¡°If it¡¯s too much, we can stop right now,¡± he said. ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. Please continue.¡± No matter how much it hurt, she forced herself to endure it. That butterfly on her back had been a constant reminder of all the love she had poured out, only to find out in the end she had been nothing more than a stand¨Cin. The artist couldn¡¯t help but feel some admiration for her. This kind of pain wasn¡¯t something most young women could handle, yet Rachel went through it withoutint. Her Exit 193 The tattoo artist nced at her curiously. ¡°Did something happen recently, youngdy? Did you get into a fight with your boyfriend?¡± Rachel bit her lip before forcing out a few strained words. ¡°I never thought this tattoo would end up hurting me this much.¡± If she hadn¡¯t gotten that tattoo back then, maybe things would¡¯ve turned out differently. That butterfly had once offered her hope. Now, it was a curse to her The artist could tell just from her expression that this tattoo had caused her a lot of pain. He tried tofort her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Once it¡¯s gone, your life gets a clean te too.¡± Rachel¡¯s body was tense. The veins on the back of her hands stood out, and sweat dripped down her forehead. She barely managed to speak. ¡°Yeah, my life¡¯s about to restart.¡± Almost three hourster, she feltpletely drained. The artist helped her into a chair and noticed how pale she was. Her lips were drained of color. He poured her a ss of water. ¡°Kid, I have to say. I admire your courage.¡± Rachel¡¯s hands trembled as she took the ss and forced a weak smile. It felt like she¡¯d just survived something brutal. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No problem. Just get some rest tonight, and try not to get that area wet for a couple of days.¡± After paying, Rachel walked out of the tattoo studio. It was already midnight. She walked a short distance down the road. She was nning to call a cab when she heard a group of men talking andughing nearby. ¡°I told you that chick wasn¡¯t into it, and you didn¡¯t believe me. You had to go and push it.¡± ¡°Yeah, she nearly called the cops.¡± ¡°It¡¯ste, and she was just standing there on the street. Who knew what she was doing? Of course I thought she was a prostitute. 11 ¡°Check it out. There¡¯s a real beauty over there. Damn, she¡¯s hot.¡± The moment Rachel heard that, she knew she was in trouble. She quickened her pace. Behind her, theughter grew louder. ¡°She¡¯s leaving!¡± ¡°Get her!¡± No matter how fast she walked, she couldn¡¯t outrun them. In just a few strides, they had her surrounded. Panic surged in her chest, and in a split¨Csecond, she called William. She didn¡¯t wait to see if the call went through, she started pleading immediately. ¡°William, I¡¯m on Warren Street. Can youe get me?¡± The call went through as William picked up. He sounded annoyed. Rachel, I¡¯ve got something going on right now. Weren¡¯t you supposed to be meeting up with Cecilia?¡± Then he added almost like an afterthought, ¡°Oh right, I forgot you can¡¯t hear me ¡°I can hear-¡± Rachel started, but she couldn¡¯t waste time exining. She had to protect herself. After what had happened with Howard, she feared the worst. Beep. Beep. Beep. The line went dead. A cold, mechanical sound echoed in her ear. Her heart sank. Momentster, her phone buzzed. She nced at it. [Rachel, just grab a cab and head back. I¡¯ve got some things to handle right now. Can¡¯te over,] A chill went down her spine. She felt like she¡¯d fallen into an icy pit The thugs must¡¯ve noticed the change in her expression because they burst outughing ¡°Aww, she tried calling her boyfriend, and he ditched her.¡± ¡°Sweetheart, listen to me. Guys are all the same. That one¡¯s useless. Why note have some fun with us instead?¡± ¡°Come on, we¡¯ll show you a good time.¡± As they spoke, they began closing in around her. Her Exit 194 Chapter 194 Rachel instinctively clutched her phone and backed away. Although she was trying to keep calm, her entire body was trembling uncontrobly. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer. If you try anything, I¡¯ll call the cops!¡± One of them sneered. ¡°Go ahead. Call them. Let¡¯s see what¡¯s faster, your fingers or our feet.¡± Rachel gripped her phone tightly. She suddenly shoved the guy in front of her and took off running. She frantically dialed the police. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m at- Ahh!¡± Before she could finish, someone kicked her hard in the back, and she tumbled violently to the ground. Her already injured palms scraped hard against the concrete again. She gasped from the pain. She winced as she tried to get up, but her hair was suddenly yanked from behind, jerking her head back. ¡°Ahh-¡± A muffled cry escaped her lips. A guy in a baseball cap had a smug grin on his face. He patted Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°Why bother running? Do you think those skiriny legs can outrun us?¡± He jerked his chin toward the two others. ¡°Drag her into that alley over there.¡± Two of them grabbed Rachel by the arms and began pulling her toward a dark alleyway. Just one nce into that ck void sent a chill down her spine. It was like a bottomless abyss. Her chest clenched with dread, and fear engulfed her until it felt hard to breathe. She screamed at the top of her lungs. ¡°HELP! Somebody help me!¡± Her desperate cries echoed down the street, but no one came. She was no match for these people. Rachel¡¯s heart filled with dread. The men started tugging at her clothes. She thrashed, but to them, her resistance was futile. Lying on the cold pavement, her body trembled. She shut her eyes and felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks. Suddenly, she heard a man¡¯s voice. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± The men froze. They turned and saw a man approaching. ¡°I¡¯ve already called the cops.¡± ¡°What? You called the cops?¡± They panicked. After scrambling to pull their pants back up, they bolted. Rachely there in a mess, too shaken to imagine what might have happened if that stranger hadn¡¯t appeared. The man helped her sit up. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you.¡± She was trembling all over, but she still forged herself to respond. He led her to his car, opened the back door, and gently helped her inside. As Rachel leaned back against the seat, she caught a familiar scent It was one that made her heart skip. ¡®Isn¡¯t this She turned her head. Sitting beside her was a man she knew all too well. Rachel¡¯s mouth opened slightly in disbelief. It took her a moment to speak. ¡°Mr. Hunt, why are you here?¡± Tyler leaned toward her slightly. He studied her for a moment before smiling. ¡°Rachel, why do things like this keep happening to you?¡± Rachel smiled in a self¨Cdeprecating manner. ¡°Guess I¡¯m just unlucky.¡± Just days ago, the incident with Howard had barely wrapped up, and now this had happened. Tyler nced toward the dark alley the men had dragged her into. What the hell were you doing out here at this hour? ying hide¨Cand¨Cseek?¡± Rachel was used to Tyler teasing her, so she simply smiled. ¡°I came to get a tattoo removed. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be out thiste.¡± ¡°Oh, that butterfly on your back.¡± Rachel took a deep breath and looked at Tyler with a serious expression. ¡°How do you know I have a butterfly tattoo on my back? 11 She was sure of one thing. She¡¯d never been naked in front of him. Given its location, only someone really close to her could have seen it. Her Exit 195 Chapter 195 Of course William would know about the tattoo, but how did Tyler now? Tyler casually crossed one long leg over the other. He leaned back his seat with an air of nonchnce. ¡°Just a guess,¡± he said smoothly. Rachel didn¡¯t buy that for a second. She felt like he was deliberately stringing her along. ¡°Come on, tell me. How do you know?¡± She had gotten it back in school. She had been caught up in a trend with a bunch of her female ssmates. She¡¯d originally wanted a lily because it was her favorite flower, bu too many girls had already picked that. After going back and forth, she had settled on a butterfly instead. Tyler folded his arms across his chest, leaned against the car seat, and smiled without answering Rachel didn¡¯t press the issue. She wasn¡¯t the kind to beg for an answer. If he didn¡¯t want to tell her, fine. Tyler¡¯s assistant, Tim, was driving. As the car approached an intersection, Tyler finally asked, ¡°Should I take you home?¡± Rachel frowned. At the thought of William, her expression instantly cooled. She looked down at her cracked phone. The call log was still on screen. There wasn¡¯t a single missed call from William. He hadn¡¯t even texted her anything further. She had sounded so desperate on the phone earlier. Even if they were just friends, he should have called back, but he hadn¡¯t. Realizing that, tears welled up in her eyes. She took a deep breath and forced them back. ¡°Yeah.¡± Tyler had Tim drive to a nearby pharmacy and run in to grab supplies. He came out with a bag of medicine and handed it to Tyler. Tyler took the bag and pointed toward the convenience store across the street. ¡°Get two bottles of water. One room temperature.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Once Tim left, Tyler opened the bag and brought out a tube of ointment. Rachel was still trembling from either fear or the cold. Even though she tried to hide it, Tyler noticed. He took off his jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders. Rachel immediately felt its warmth seep into her body. Before she could even thank him, he added, ¡°Make sure you hand wash it and get it clean before you return it.¡± Thest few words were emphasized. Rachel couldn¡¯t help butugh, though her smile was tinged with exhaustion. That was so him, always blunt to the point of rudeness. He¡¯d say exactly what he wanted without ever caring now others took it. As long as he got what he wanted, that was enough. She didn¡¯t refuse. Her clothes were torn, and the jacket offered at least somefort. She held out her injured hand. Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you want me to blow on it?¡± Rachel blinked. She instinctively wanted to exin herself. ¡°I was just going to-¡± Before she could finish, Tyler had already taken her hand and leaned in, gently blowing on the wound. A cool breeze swept over her scraped palm. The stinging pain dulled a little. Tyler was surprisingly patient. He blew on her hand again and again to soothe her injury. Embarrassed, Rachel finally spoke up. ¡°You really don¡¯t have to do this-¡± It was hard to understand why he was suddenly being so kind. Just days ago, he¡¯d stood by and done nothing when she needed help. Now, he was acting like her savior. It gave her chills. Tyler looked up. Their faces were only inches apart. They both froze. Rachel stared into his eyes. All that usualziness was gone. His features were distinct. He looked dangerously charming when he smiled. ¡°If you want to get a closer look at me, just say so. No need to fake an injury,¡± he said with a soft chuckle. Rachel coughed awkwardly. ¡°No, I just wanted to say that my hands are wounded, so you might not get that jacket back anytime soon,¡± Tyler¡¯s ever¨Cconfident expression froze. Her Exit 196 Tyler frowned as if he didn¡¯t quite buy what Rachel had just said. ¡°Is that so?¡± Rachel nodded seriously, as if worried he might not believe her. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s all it was. You interrupted me before I could exin.¡± From her words, Tyler seemed to recall how he¡¯d just jumped to a conclusion. His eyes briefly swept over her, though his expression remained unreadable. ¡°Oh.¡± There wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of embarrassment or awkwardness from him, despite his earlier assumption. Rachel couldn¡¯t help but admire him a little. This man probably didn¡¯t even know what the word ¡®awkward¡® meant. If it had been her, just imagining the situation from the other side made her cringe inside. If she¡¯d misunderstood someone like that, especially in that way, she would probably want to disappear into a hole. Tyler twisted the cap off the ointment and grabbed Rachel¡¯s hand. Rachel lowered her gaze. Her voice was much softer than usual. ¡°I can do it myself.¡± ¡°Stop acting all shy. It¡¯s annoying.¡± He frowned. A flicker of impatience appeared on his face. Rachel didn¡¯t dare argue. Tyler wasn¡¯t the type who liked drawn¨Cout drama. If she kept insisting, he¡¯d probably spit out something even harsher in return. She thought it was best not provoke him, especially not when she was leaving soon. She obediently held out her hand for him to apply the ointment. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Rachel thought his touch tonight was more gentle than usual. But that couldn¡¯t be. Tyler wasn¡¯t that kind of guy. She figured she must¡¯ve been so shaken by what had just happened that even Tyler was starting to look decent. Still, the silence in the car started to feel stifling. Trying to shake it off, she recalled something and asked, ¡°Why were you even in that neighborhood thiste?¡± Tyler paused for a moment before replying. ¡°I was just passing by. A friend was trying to drag me out for drinks. My night was ruined because of you.¡± He dipped a cotton swab into the ointment and gently dabbed it on her wound in soft, careful circles. To Rachel¡¯s surprise, it didn¡¯t sting at all. It actually tickled a little. Realizing she¡¯d disrupted his ns, she felt a pang of guilt. She never liked owing people favors. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. If you¡¯ve got something to do, I can get out here. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± Tyler nced at his watch. She then held it up for her to see. ¡°Do you think anyone would wait for an hour?¡± Rachel lowered her gaze. Guilt crept into her voice. ¡°Sorry. In that case, let me drink with you to make it up to you. How does that sound?¡± At that, something flickered in Tyler¡¯s eyes. His gaze deepened with interest. ¡°You? Drink with me?¡± She caught a hint of skepticism in his look and lifted her chin proudly. ¡°What, don¡¯t think I can hold my liquor? I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯m pretty good.¡± She¡¯d inherited it from her father, after all. Tyler leaned his cheek against his palm and eyed her with amusement. ¡°You sure about that, Rachel?¡± he asked teasingly. ¡°Try me,¡± Rachel shot back confidently. After everything that had happened today, her mind was a mess. Even if she went home, she doubted she¡¯d get any sleep. She might as well have a drink and clear her head. She thought about it. Aside from her family, the only friend she had in Yurelia City was Cec¨ªlia. All her old friends had gone abroad. Her Exit 197 Rachel¡¯s old friends rarely came back to visit. These past few years all her energy had been poured into William and work, so much so that she no longer had a life of her own. If she wanted to go out for a drink, the only person she could really call was Cecilia. But thinking of Cecilia¡¯s current situation, Rachel could only force bitter smile. With all the drama going on in Cecilia¡¯s family, there was no way she¡¯d have the time or energy toe out drinking. At this point, the only person left she could go to was Tyler. Tyler raised an eyebrow with a faint smirk. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you had it in you, Rachel.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a drink. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m marching into a burning bullding¡± Just then, Tim came back with two bottles of water. Tyler took them and opened the car door before giving him an order. ¡°You can head back.¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt, where are you headed? I can take you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll call when I¡¯m done.¡± Tim nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± After he left, Tyler handed Rachel one of the bottles. ¡°It¡¯ste. His wife¡¯s on the night shift. He has to go home and take care of his child.¡± Rachel was a little surprise Was Tyler really that considerate? Then again, ¡°Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler shifted slightly to the side to reveal Rachel behind him. ¡°Pick something out for her.¡± The sales associate gave Rachel a once- over with a strange look before smiling again. None of them of the scene. noticed pair of a eyes watching outside from the entrance. The person quickly r ¡°Miss, please follow me.¡± y raised their phone and took a photo Her Exit 198 Rachel followed behind the sales assistant, who patiently broughthe clothes to her. ¡°This dress would look great on you. Your figure is amazing. You¡¯d look good in anything. Your skin is fair too, and the color will reallyplement yourplexion.¡± Rachel knew it wasn¡¯t right to drag people out of bed thiste, so she didn¡¯t bother being picky. ¡°This one¡¯s fine,¡± she said right away. The sales assistant let out a sigh of relief. She had expected a difficult customer, bu Rachel was surprisingly easygoing When Rachel stepped out of the fitting room after changing, the assistant¡¯s eyes lit up. Any trace of sleepiness was gone. ¡°Miss, you look absolutely stunning in that dress! It¡¯s like it was custom¨Cmade just for you.¡± The dress itself was simple. It had a strap with featheryyers sewn into the fabric. Rachel¡¯s tall and slender figure, with perfect proportions, made her a natural fit. Her long, fair legs were especially striking. ¡°This dress is really hard to pull off. Lots of people have tried it on before, but on you? It¡¯s perfect.¡± Rachel simply smiled. ¡°You¡¯re very sweet. Thanks, I¡¯ll take this one.¡± The assistant was just about to process the purchase. ¡°Wait a second.¡± Tyler walked over, crossed his arms, and gave Rachel a once¨Cover with a frown. ¡°Pick a different one. Preferably a long dress with no straps.¡± Rachel and the sales assistant both fell silent. Even so, the assistant responded quickly and professionally. ¡°Oh, of course, I¡¯ll get another one right away.¡± She soon returned with a more conservative option. It was a two¨Cpiece set with a grey knit short¨Csleeve top and a matching pleated skirt. It still ttered Rachel¡¯s long legs andplimented her slim figure. The sales assistant had sold clothes for years, but she couldn¡¯t remember seeing such beautiful legs. Rachel thought it looked good too. Tyler rubbed his chin and finally nodded with satisfaction. ¡°What about her shoes?¡± Only then did the assistant notice Rachel was barefoot. ¡°Right! I¡¯ll go grab a pair.¡± She came back with a pair of silver, rhinestone¨Cstudded heels that were about two inches high. Rachel tried them on. ¡°They fit perfectly.¡± ¡°Great. Let¡¯s go,¡± Tyler said tly and walked to the counter. ¡°I can pay for these myself!¡± Rachel hurried to stop him, but he blocked her with an elbow. ¡°If you¡¯re going to insist, why don¡¯t you also cover the sales assistant¡¯s overtime fee?¡± he asked while nodding at the tired- looking woman yawning in the corner. Rachel paused, nced over, and silently put her wallet away. She figured she could just transfer the money to Tylerter. After all, she had his banking details and could perform a digital transaction. Tyler signed his name quickly and with force. Once they got back in the car, they headed straight for Neon Bar. By then, the nightlife was in full swing. Rachel didn¡¯t like being in the spotlight, so when she spotted a quiet corner, she pointed at it. ¡°How about over there?¡± ¡°Okay¡± Tyler raised his hand to get a waiter and opened a tab. Halfway through, Rachel needed to use the restroom. Tyler nced over and asked a question. Her Exit 199 ¡°Do you need someone to go with you? If you¡¯re scared, you can beg me. I might reluctantly apany you,¡± Tyler said, lounging on the couch with his legs stretched out. The light above cast shadows over his jawline and features, giving him a vague, smoldering look. Tyler always had that superior attitude wherever he went. To be fair, he had the right to act that way. Rachel smiled. ¡°No.¡± Tyler leaned back again. He didn¡¯t press the issue. Following the waiter¡¯s directions, Rachel made her way to the restroom. Once inside, she retrieved her phone and checked it again. She saw that William had sent her a message ten minutes ago. For a moment, the icy wall around her heart seemed to thaw slightly. But when she opened the message, the chill came crashing back like a tidal wave. [Rachel, my mom¡¯s not feeling well. William was worried about me being alone tonight, so he took me to the hospital. Did you need him for something?] Rachel read it, shrugged, and let out a cold, sarcastic chuckle. Merynever failed to disappoint her. She had almost been assaulted, and William was at the hospital with Samantha¡¯s mother. He was worried about Samantha being alone at night, but not her. She didn¡¯t believe for a second that William hadn¡¯t heard the urgency in her voice earlier. The call had connected. Rachel washed her hands and left the restroom. When she returned to the table, she was surprised to see Tyler surrounded by a group of women. She had assumed women were at a disadvantage in this kind of ce, but now it looked like the men had it worse. The women hadpletely encircled Tyler, leaving not even a sliver of space. These women weren¡¯t just ordinary. They were all stunningly beautiful, sexy, and impably styled. Event Rachel couldn¡¯t help but feel a little envious of their looks. They were boldly leaning into Tyler, one even resting her hand on his thigh. It was full¨Con seduction. Rachel stared in disbelief and swallowed hard. Were women always this forward these days? If Tyler actually gave in to all of them, he might get eaten alive, literally and figuratively. She could already imagine the wild scene in her mind. It was a lot to take in. Suddenly, a deep voice cut through the air. ¡°Why are you standing there? Come here.¡± Rachel froze for a moment when Tyler called out to her, but she still walked over. She could feel the women¡¯s gazes boring into her. She wasn¡¯t sure how she managed to reach him. Tyler took her slender wrist and yanked her into his arms. In her heels, Rachel lost her bnce and fell right onto hisp. She was immediately engulfed by the mix of tobo and a rich whiskey scent clinging to him. She noticed he had unbuttoned two of the top buttons on his shirt. His corbones were exposed, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and every inch of him radiated masculinity. With his perfect features, dark hair, and prominent brows, Tyler was already irresistibly charming. His cool, piercing gaze made him seem restrained, but that only made him more appealing Even through the fabric of his suit pants, Rachel could feel the hea She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She pressed a hand against the seat cushion as she tried to get up, He whispered softly into her ear. ¡°Rachel, mind doing me a favor? Even through the fabric of his suit pants, Rachel could feel the heating off his body. She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She pressed a hand against the seat cushion as she tried to get up, But Tyler wrapped an arm firmly around her waist. He whispered softly into her ear. ¡°Rachel, mind doing me a favor? Her Exit 200 Chapter 200 Rachel immediately understood what Tyler meant. He wanted hero act as his shield. Considering he had helped her earlier that night, it didn¡¯t feel rig to refuse such a small favor. So Rachel suppressed the awkwardness she felt and sat back down. Thankfully, the lighting was dim enough that no one noticed how flushed she had gotten. A few of the women nearby, seeing how close Rachel was to Tyler, couldn¡¯t help but feel curious. ¡°Hey, sweetheart, where are you from? Even if you¡¯ve got your eye on him, there¡¯s still a firste, first¨Cserved rule,¡± a woman in a red dress with dark hair asked. Rachel lifted her chin while trying to suppress her nerves. ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong. I¡¯m his girlfriend.¡± ¡°Girlfriend?¡± The group burst intoughter. A ¡°Come on, sweetheart, can¡¯t youe up with a better excuse? We re all his girlfriends too, you know!¡± Rachel thought maybe it was the way she said it that made them suspicious, so she tried again. This time, she did it more firmly. ¡°I came here with him. Why wouldn¡¯t I be his girlfriend?¡± Tyler heard Rachel¡¯s serious attempt and chuckled helplessly while rubbing his forehead. Rachel looked hrious. The woman in red sneered. ¡°Sweetheart, if we go by that logic, then every girl who walked in with him must be his girlfriend too. Her friends startedughing as well. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re seriously too cute. You look all sweet and innocent, but this level of cuteness? It¡¯s lethal.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re into this guy, just tell us, babe.¡± Laughter broke out again around them. Rachel didn¡¯t know what came over her, but she repeated herself even more firmly this time. ¡°I really am his girlfriend!¡± Tyler yed along perfectly. He ced his palm gently on her back and chuckled. ¡°Yeah. She really is my girlfriend.¡± Rather than being convinced, the whole thing came off more like the two of them putting on a show. One of the women, already starting to lose her patience, waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Alright, honey, scooch over and let us have a turn. Whatever kind of guy you¡¯re into, we¡¯ve got them all here.¡± ¡°Yeah, just say the word, and we¡¯ll hook you up. Do you want a hot young thing or a mature guy? We¡¯ve got them all.¡± Rachel hesitated. Honestly, she¡¯d never dated anyone but William her whole life. She had poured her heart into that man and loved him so deeply, only to be betrayed in the end. Resentment rose in her chest, and she couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling. She took a deep breath. Her eyes sparkled as she looked across at the woman in red. ¡°In that case, could you maybe-¡± Before she could finish, Tyler suddenly turned her face toward him and kissed her. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened. The taste of alcohol still lingered on his lips as his kiss deepened and pressed into hers. The kiss was quick, but by the time it ended, Rachel was frozen in ce in Tyler¡¯s arms. She was still in shock. Tyler¡¯s gaze swept casually across the group of women. ¡°Are you done here?¡± The women, finally convinced the two were together, didn¡¯t press he issue any further. They moved away with their hips swaying. They were already moving on to the next target. Rachel could still faintly hear their voices as they walked off. ¡°Do you know how long it¡¯s been since I¡¯ve seen a man that fine?¡± ¡°Right? I¡¯d take him even if it was for free. Men like that are truly he in a million.¡± Her Exit 201 ¡°Yeah, what a shame. I thought he¡¯d go for someone mature like you. Never thought he¡¯d like the in and nd type.¡± Rachel instinctively looked down at herself. ¡®in and nd-¡® She didn¡¯t think she looked that bad. They had to be exaggerating. ¡°Hey, how long are you nning to sit there? My legs are going numb,¡± Tyler said softly by her ear. Rachel quickly got off hisp. Somehow, it felt like Tyler was mocking her. ¡°I¡¯m not even that heavy.¡± She was slightly over one hundred and seventy pounds. That was hardly heavy. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Tyler¡¯s tone was nonchnt as his eyes slowly scanned her body like he was inspecting her. Rachel pouted and didn¡¯t feel like talking to him anymore. Ever since he had left her to fend for herself at the vi, she had decided to keep her distance. This drink was just to repay a favor and nothing more. She lowered her head and took a sip of her drink. It was sweet and didn¡¯t have the usual harsh burn of alcohol. Her brows rxed. This was actually pretty good. She ended up taking a few more sips. Arms crossed and leaning against the couch, Tyler eyed her. ¡°What¡¯s this? You said you¡¯d drink with me, but you¡¯re just drinking alone now.¡± Rachel hesitated for a second. She then turned and gently clinked her ss against his. Tyler chuckled and tipped his ss back. He finished it in one gulp. He picked up the bottle and refilled both their sses. ¡°Are you not worried? If William sees you here, or if his family finds out, they¡¯lle after you.¡± Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°You sound like you know the Lewis family pretty well.¡± ¡°I had some dealings with them in the past,¡± Tyler replied casually Rachel recalled seeing a car that had looked like Tyler¡¯s when she left the Lewis family estate earlier. It had looked simr to the one he was driving now. But she hadn¡¯t gotten a good look, so she wasn¡¯t sure. She tested the waters. ¡°Mr. Hunt, did you happen to drop by the Lewis family estate today?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± he answered without even a pause. Rachel didn¡¯t press further. Given how bad things were between Tyler and the Lewis family, it didn¡¯t make much sense for him to go there. Tyler slowly turned his ss. The golden liquid swirled along the sides. ¡°The Oasis project isunching tomorrow. I heard you already resigned from Lewis Enterprise.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t see any reason to hide it. ¡°Yeah, I quit.¡± Tyler raised a brow. ¡°So what¡¯s next? Are you going to stay home and be William¡¯s full¨Ctime wife?¡± Rachel smiled sarcastically. ¡°Maybe.¡± Something flickered in Tyler¡¯s eyes. ¡°You really are loyal, huh?¡± Rachel chuckled. ¡°After seven years, it¡¯s not so easy to just walk away.¡± Chooter 201 Tyler smirked sarcastically. ¡°Loyal, sure. I just wonder, was that kiss earlier part of all that deep loyalty too?¡± Rachel froze mid¨Cdrink. He really knew how to stab someone where it hurt. She forced a nonchnt, even yful expression. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with anything? Love¡¯s something you carry in your heart, right? And besides, it wasn¡¯t like I volunteered. You asked me to help. I was forced.¡± She emphasized thosest words deliberately. Tyler scoffed. ¡°Oh? Then let me make it up to you. How about you kiss me back?¡± Her Exit 202 Tyler¡¯s attitude made it seem like the kiss didn¡¯t even mean anything, but the ck suit he wore added a sense of seriousness to the situation. Rachel often felt like Tyler had several personalities living inside him. She could never figure out what this man was really thinking. Under the dim, hazy light above her, Rachel quietly studied him. She knew full well that trying to y mind games with someone like him was basically suicide. She awkwardly looked away. ¡°Just take that as me returning the favor. Don¡¯t bring it up again.¡± She once again reminded herself that this was thest time they¡¯d see each other. She needed to cut all ties with him. Tyler looked up. ¡°Giving up that easily?¡± Rachel clenched her fists. It somehow felt like she was being challenged. She suddenly turned and looked at him slyly. ¡°What, are you hoping I¡¯ll kiss you?¡± Tyler gave her a look that was impossible to read. ¡°Either way works for me.¡± Rachel pouted. ¡°Not interested.¡± This man acted like he was ready for anything. She bet even if she told him she wanted to sleep with him, he¡¯d just open his arms wide. By the time they finished drinking it was three in the morning. Three empty bottles sat on the table in front of Rachel. She stood up, still swaying and clearly tipsy, and reached out to grab another bottle from the table, only for Tyler to stop her. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± The alcohol had gone to her head. She didn¡¯t care what Tyler said. Her mind was spinning like a movie reel, full of memories with William. Everything she¡¯d been suppressing came flooding back in a rush. With a sudden burst of strength, she snatched the bottle from Tyler¡¯s hand and tilted her head back to down another drink. Tyler frowned. Based on experience, he knew what came next. She would be a drunken mess. He rubbed his temples in irritation. As expected, bottling things up too long made people go insane. Was a guy like William really worth this? The signs couldn¡¯t be more obvious, and yet she had still quit her job to stay at home and y house for him? What the hell was wrong with her? Rachel mmed the ss down on the table and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She was clearly struggling to stay upright, but she still tried hard to lookposed. Tyler could see through her act. He almostughed. She was already in such a state. Why was she still putting up a front? Rachel identally bumped into someone. The burly man she jostled turned around, annoyed. He shoved her with one hand. ¡°Are you blind?¡± Rachel¡¯s face flushed, and she nearly lost her bnce. Tyler had been right behind her and caught her in time. Even though she had been yelled at, she still politely said, ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t mean to.¡± But the man clearly wasn¡¯t about to let it go. He grabbed Rachel by the cor and yanked her up. ¡°You think saying sorry is enough? Do you know how expensive this shirt is? You¡¯re paying for it.¡± Before Rachel could respond, arge hand gripped the man¡¯s wrist and stopped him. When the man looked up, he was met with Tyler¡¯s cold gaze. The man froze from the pressure. ¡°Let her go. How much for the shirt? I¡¯ll pay you,¡± Tyler said. The man gave Tyler a once¨Cover, quickly realizing he wasn¡¯t dealing with an average guy. His eyes gleamed calctively. ¡°Ten thousand.¡± Tyler gave a disdainful snort. ¡°That shirt of yours is probably worth three hundred at best. You¡¯re asking for ten grand?¡± ¡°So what? If you¡¯re not paying, then neither of you is leaving tonight.¡± Her Exit 203 The man yanked Rachel toward him again, but Tyler had no patience to waste here. Without hesitation, he pulled Rachel behind him andnded a punch squarely on the man¡¯s jaw. The man clutched his face in pain, his temper ring. ¡°Alright, you wanna y tough? Fine!¡± He swung a fist straight at Tyler¡¯s face. Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed. He grabbed Rachel and quickly stepped aside. The punch missed its mark. He took the chance to shout, ¡°Run!¡± The alcohol had finally worn off for Rachel, though she was still a little woozy. She looked at Tyler in panic. ¡°If I leave, what¡¯ll happen to you?¡± Tyler clicked his tongue. ¡°Can¡¯t bear to leave me now?¡± Rachel nearly rolled her eyes. He still had time to joke at a time like this, She turned and nced around. ¡°Come with me!¡± She grabbed Tyler¡¯s hand, slipped off her heels, and ran barefoot toward the back exit. Tyler looked down at her fair, slender fingers in his grasp. She felt so strong despite how delicate she looked. A memory, long buried, appeared in his mind. Who would¡¯ve thought someone so stubborn would willingly live in William¡¯s shadow? He frowned deeply. Rachel pulled him out the back door, the burly man hard on their heels. She looked around quickly and pointed to a nearby dumpster. ¡°Let¡¯s hide in there.¡± Tyler¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Rachel, are you out of your mind?¡± Rachel took a deep breath, and without thinking, snapped back. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s out of your mind. Can we even beat him? Tyler lifted his chin with infuriating confidence. ¡°How do you know I can¡¯t?¡± Rachel was starting to feel like she wasn¡¯t the drunk one, but Tyler was. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± The size difference alone made it a no -brainer. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the size of that guy? He could easily crush us!¡± Tyler looked genuinely stunned by her words. He turned to nce at the man. ¡°I¡¯d rather be crushed to death than hide in a dumpster.¡± Rachel was speechless. Before they could argue further, the man had reached them. There was nowhere left to run. The man stood in front of Tyler and cracked his knuckles loudly. ¡°Let¡¯s see just how tough you really are.¡± Tyler shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it into Rachel¡¯s arms. He lunged straight at the man. Rachel gasped, her eyes wide. Was Tyler seriously nning to fight this guy head¨Con? Had he lost his mind? She quickly retrieved her phone and dialed the police. If they arrived in time, then at least Tyler wouldn¡¯t be beaten to death. After giving the address, she looked up again. Tyler was already fighting the man. Despite the guy¡¯s size and strength, Tyler was clearly more agile and skilled. He could dodge most of the blows. Still, even with quick reflexes, Tyler caught a punch to the side. He staggered back a few steps. Rachel quickly steadied him. ¡°Are you okay?¡± The man sneered and spat on the ground. Then he pointed at them and barked, ¡°Once I knock you down, I¡¯m gonna have a real good time with your girlfriend, right in front of you!¡± Rachel suddenly felt a shift in the air around Tyler. His entire aura changed as if a switch had flipped. His eyes seemed bloodshot, and a deadly aura came off him. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you have a real good time first.¡± Her Exit 204 Just as Tyler finished speaking, he grabbed a broken stick from the ground and charged at the man. Rachel watched, her heart pounding. She looked around frantically, hoping to find something that could be used as a weapon. She spotted a trash can lid. It couldn¡¯t exactly be used as a weapon. Meanwhile, Tyler and the man had gotten into a full¨Con brawl. Tyler had swiftly taken the advantage. Rachel stood frozen. She was stunned by what she saw. She had never imagined Tyler could fight like that. Every punch he threwnded right on target. One strike and the man crumpled to the ground and curled up in pain. Sweat poured down his forehead, his face pale. Rachel rushed forward and grabbed Tyler¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± They turned to leave, but didn¡¯t notice the man scramble to his feet. He pulled a knife from his coat and charged at them. Tyler barely caught the motion in the corner of his eye. By the time he turned, the de was already heading straight for Rachel. Without a second to think, he threw himself behind her, wrapping his arms around her. There was a chilling thud. The de had plunged into Tyler¡¯s back. His whole body lurched forward, and he let out a stifled grunt. Rachel instantly knew something was wrong. She turned just in time to see the man yank the knife back out of Tyler¡¯s back. Tyler¡¯s tall frame crumpled as he copsed to his knees. He was barely holding himself up with one hand braced against the ground. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened, her lips trembling. ¡°Tyler!¡± She couldn¡¯t believe it. That man was actually carrying a knife. Police sirens pierced the air. The man panicked, dropped the knife, and tried to run, but he was quickly tackled and arrested by the officers. Tyler was rushed to the hospital. After the doctor finished treating him and came out, Rachel ran over anxiously. ¡°Doctor, how is he? Is he in any danger?¡± She didn¡¯t even want to think about what would happen if Tyler didn¡¯t make it. He had taken a knife for her. If something happened, she¡¯d never be able to repay the debt. There would be no way she could leave Yurelia City. The doctor took off his mask. ¡°He¡¯s lucky. The knife missed all vital organs, but it was a close call.¡± Rachel felt like her heart had nearly leapt out her chest. It finally stopped racing. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. How long does he need to be hospitalized?¡± She didn¡¯t have much time. If Tyler needed care, it wouldplicate her ns. ¡°The wound isn¡¯t deep, and nothing critical was hit. We¡¯ll observe him for a bit, and if there are no issues, he can be discharged soon.¡± Rachel¡¯s tense, wrinkled expression finally rxed. ¡°Thank goodness.¡® Just then, a police officer approached and asked Rachel to give a statement. She recounted everything in full. Once the report was filed, the officer left. As she finished, her phone buzzed. It was a message from William. [Rachel, why aren¡¯t you home?] Rachel scoffed when she saw it. Did he finally remember he had a wife after his date with Samantha? Back when she was in danger, desperate and helpless, where was he? She put her phone away without replying to him. Soon after, a nurse wheeled Tyler back into the ward. His lips and face were pale. Rachel didn¡¯t look much better. She¡¯d lost her shoes while running, and her hands were stained with blood. Her hair was a mess. She lookedpletely disheveled. When Tyler opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Rachel in this downtrodden state. His voice came out hoarse. ¡°What happened to you, Rachel? Did you cry?¡± Her Exit 205 Rachel instinctively raised her hand to wipe at the corner of her eye. Sure enough, her hand came away damp. She had cried without even realizing it. But Rachel was proud. If she admitted it, Tyler would definitely tease her about it. So she kept up the act. ¡°I didn¡¯t cry. Some dust just got into my eyes.¡± ¡°Oh? You sure it wasn¡¯t your eyes that got into the dust?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rachel froze for a second, actually doubting if she¡¯d said it wrong. Then she realized that Tyler was messing with her. Seeing her lost expression, Tyler chuckled. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been scared silly.¡± Rachel bit her lip in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯ve never experienced something like that before. Being scared is normal. But I wasn¡¯t scared that bad.¡± Tyler onlyughed again. ¡°I¡¯ll have Tim take you home. Thiste at night, even if William wasn¡¯t worried before, he¡¯s probably starting to panic now.¡± But Rachel didn¡¯t n on going home. If anything, she wished she could stay out for the next few days, right up until she left this city for good. She shook her head. ¡°No. I¡¯ll stay here with you. After all, you got hurt because of me. It¡¯s my responsibility.¡± Tyler immediately saw through her. ¡°If you¡¯re using me as a shield, just say so. I charge for that kind of thing.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart skipped. She knew it. Tyler was far too cunning. She couldn¡¯t hide much from a man like him. She hadn¡¯t said a word about her real intentions, yet somehow he had seen right through her. Since she¡¯d already been exposed, there was no use denying it. ¡°Either way, you need someone to take care of you, and I just happen to owe you. Doesn¡¯t that work out for both of us?¡± Tyler narrowed his eyes. ¡°But I don¡¯t like being someone¡¯s pawn.¡± Rachel met his piercing gaze, and a chill ran down her spine. She¡¯d let her guard down. A man like Tyler preferred to move others like pieces on a chessboard, not the other way around. Rachel¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡®Fine!¡® If it wasn¡¯t for her, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten hurt. She stretched out her hand. ¡°Give me the QR code.¡± Tyler tilted his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t even named a price yet. How do you know how much to pay? Besides, who just carries around a QR code?¡± ¡°You didst time,¡± Rachel shot back without thinking. Tyler waved her off. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know once I figure out the price.¡± Rachel was genuinely surprised. Did Tyler even need money? She thought he was joking, but he was serious. Still, she really didn¡¯t have time to waste. ¡°Just name your price now. I don¡¯t like to procrastinate.¡± Mainly, she didn¡¯t want this debt hanging over her head forever. Tyler raised an eyebrow in amusement. ¡°Wow, someone¡¯s in a rush to give me money. That¡¯s new.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know how to exin. She might as well act like a fool here. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m just really eager to pay you.¡± Tyler leaned in with a rxed posture. Even with her face smudged with grime, she still looked beautiful Probably still shaken, there was still a hint of fear in her eyes. There was something vulnerable about her and something that stirred a quiet urge to protect. He could even make out the pores on her skin and the flutter of hershes. With his usual teasing tone, he said, ¡°Tell me, Rachel, just how rich are you?¡± Rachel froze. She was caught off guard by how close he was. She answered honestly. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not rich. I just don¡¯t like owing people favors.¡± Tylerughed again and leaned back. ¡°You said that with such confidence earlier. I almost thought you were going to be my sugar mommy.¡± Her Exit 206 Rachel just found it funny. ¡°I couldn¡¯t afford to do that even if I wanted to.¡± Never mind the fact that Tyler clearly came from money, his unpredictable nature alone was enough. Who would dare try to be his sugar mommy Doing that would be like bringing an untamed beast home. You never knew when it might turn around and bite you. Just then, there was a knock on the door. 4 Rachel turned around and saw Tyler¡¯s assistant, Tim, walk in. ¡°Mr. Hunt, the things you asked for have been delivered.¡± Tim set a bag of fresh clothes on the nightstand. Tier gestured toward a white box on top. ¡°That¡¯s yours,¡± he said to Rachel. ¡°Go change in the bathroom. Wash your face while you¡¯re at it. You look awful.¡± The first half of that sentence sounded fine, but the second half made Rachel¡¯s brows furrow instantly. She instinctively raised a hand to her face. ¡°Is it that bad?¡± ¡°Go look in the mirror.¡± Tyler looked away and slowly started pulling clothes out of the bag Rachel didn¡¯t argue. She took the bag into the bathroom. She nced at her reflection in the mirror. Covered in smudges and dust, she looked like a beggar off the street. Perhaps he had a point. She did look pretty awful. Thankfully, Rachel wasn¡¯t the type to be overly sensitive about things like that. As she sorted through the clothes, she froze for a second when she spotted the undergarments. Tyler was surprisingly thoughtful. The style he¡¯d picked made her cheeks flush. She held up the bra by the straps, giving it a quick once¨Cover. It had ckce and was semi¨Csheer. It was just enough to give off a mysterious vibe. She pouted. Who would¡¯ve thought Tyler had this kind of taste? She¡¯d assumed he¡¯d go for something more conservative or traditional. But then again, what man actually liked the serious and proper type? That was no fun. Technically, the underwear she¡¯d been wearing was still fine, but she was a bit of a clean freak. She changed into the new set. Surprisingly, it fit her perfectly. Just thinking about it made Rachel¡¯s ears turn red. It was as if Tyler had seen her naked before. She suddenly feltpletely exposed, as if she had no secrets left in front of him. The dress, on the other hand, was quite modest. It was just a regr short¨Csleeved one. Rachel was a little confused. Tyler¡¯s taste seemed inconsistent. The inside versus the outside didn¡¯t match. But that wasn¡¯t her problem. Once this was all over, she¡¯d be leaving anyway. When Rachel walked out, Tim was struggling to help Tyler change Tyler couldn¡¯t use his hands much, so Tim was trying to pull his T¨Cshirt over his head. Unfortunately, it had gotten stuck. Even without seeing Tyler¡¯s face, Rachel could feel the cold, irritated energy radiating off him. Tim was sweating bullets. Tyler was just about to do it himself when Tim quickly stopped him ¡°Mr. Hunt, the doctor said you can¡¯t move around like that. If the stitches tear, they¡¯ll have to sew you up again.¡± ¡°So you want me to sleep like this tonight?¡± Tyler¡¯s voice sounded like a warning. Standing near the bathroom door, Rachel actually shivered a little when she heard him speak. But he looked so ridiculous right now. Rachel couldn¡¯t help it. She slowly retrieved her phone and snapped a quick photo of him with the shirt tangled over his head. Tyler had clearly run out of patience. He was grabbing the T¨Cshirt again, ready to yank it down himself, when Rachel quickly stepped forward.¡± Her Exit 207 ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Rachel stepped forward, and Tim immediately let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Lloyd.¡± Honestly, he¡¯d thought that if he couldn¡¯t help Tyler get dressed properly, he might not even have a job tomorrow. Rachel moved to Tyler¡¯s side and gently pulled his hands down. ¡°You¡¯re in such a rush. That¡¯s not like you at all.¡± She took hold of both sides of the shirt and tried tugging it downward. It was tight. Rachel nced at Tim, who was still wiping sweat from his forehead. ¡°Did you buy the wrong size?¡± ¡°The sales clerk said it was Mr. Hunt¡¯s usual size. How could it be too small?¡± Rachel examined the shirt. The bottom half looked fine, but the cor area was obviously tight. She started teasing Tyler. ¡°Tyler, don¡¯t tell me you drank too much contaminated form as a kid and it made your head too big. How is it that everyone else can wear this size but not you?¡± Annoyed, Tyler reached up to tug at the shirt again. ¡°How is this my problem? It¡¯s clearly the shirt. Call that store and tell them they can shut down tomorrow.¡± Tim¡¯s sweating intensified. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Rachel finally managed to pull the shirt down past Tyler¡¯s head. His cheeks were flushed from the struggle, and he looked like a wronged child. Rachel had to turn away to suppress herughter. She really was holding back, but Tyler still noticed her shaking shoulders. He spoke from behind her with an usatory tone. ¡°Rachel, are youughing at me?¡± She waved her hands quickly, turning around. ¡°No, no! My eyes were just itching a little. Why would I-¡± She paused mid¨Csentence, realizing something felt off. She tugged gently at Tyler¡¯s shirt and discovered part of the back cor was still sewn shut. Rachel turned to Tim. ¡°Get me a pair of scissors.¡± Tim¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, what do you need scissors for?¡± Was she going to cut up Tyler¡¯s shirt? Rachel wasn¡¯t exactly patient. ¡°Just go get them. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to hurt your boss.¡± Tim rushed off and came back with a pair of scissors from the exam room. Rachel took them, pinched the cor, and carefully snipped along the seam at the back. Tyler immediately felt the pressure lift from his shoulders. Tim suddenly realized what had happened. ¡°Oh! The tag seam at the back of the T¨Cshirt hadn¡¯t been cut.¡± Rachel touched the fabric and turned toward Tim. ¡°Where did you buy this shirt?¡± The question caught him off guard. ¡°One of the stores on Eastin Street.¡± Everyone knew the boutiques on Eastin Street were either high¨Cend or ultra¨Cluxury. It was definitely not the kind of ce that sold poorly sewn shirts. Rachel pointed to the fabric. ¡°Do you really think this looks like something from Eastin Street? At best, this shirt cost three hundred bucks.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed. He was getting angrier by the second. ¡°Exin. Now.¡± Tim¡¯s knees buckled under that gaze, and he dropped to the floor. ¡°M¨CMr. Hunt, I can exin. I had no choice. Please hear me out-¡± Her Exit 208 Tyler¡¯s eyes darkened. He looked like the devil. ¡°You should know don¡¯t like wasting words. Go back to the office and submit your resignation.¡± Tim¡¯s eyes widened in panic. ¡°Mr. Hunt, can¡¯t you give me just one more chance? I really had no choice. My child has leukemia. ¡°He¡¯s only three years old. I can¡¯t just give up on him. The medical bills are overwhelming, and I can¡¯t afford them anymore. Please, I¡¯ve worked for you for so many years. Just this once, I¡¯m begging you.¡± Tyler¡¯s tone remained resolute. ¡°If you¡¯ve been with me that long, you should know I never change my mind once I¡¯ve made a decision.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t feel it was her ce to interfere with how Tyler handled his ownpany affairs. From her perspective, she might¡¯ve taken Tim¡¯s situation into consideration, but Tyler clearly wasn¡¯t someone who showed mercy easily. Tim lookedpletely crushed. It was as if his whole world had copsed. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I swear I didn¡¯t mean to do it. I was desperate. What else could I do? Should I just let my kid die? If there was any other way, I wouldn¡¯t have done this.¡± Tyler turned his face away. He didn¡¯t even want to hear another word. ¡°Once I¡¯ve gotten to the bottom of this, I¡¯lle back and deal with you. I won¡¯t bother tallying up how many kickbacks you¡¯ve taken over the years. All you need to do now is resign.¡± The weight of Tyler¡¯s words was suffocating. Even Rachel could feel that Tim had no hope left. There was no point in him staying any longer. She turned to him and said, ¡°If you ask me, you should just leave. When you chose to do this, you should¡¯ve known it would catch up with you sooner orter.¡± Tim¡¯s eyes filled with tears. He wiped at them clumsily. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, if I had any other choice, I wouldn¡¯t have done it.¡± ¡°If you made that choice, then you have to ept the consequences. You¡¯ve worked with Mr. Hunt long enough to know exactly what kind of man he is.¡± Rachel was worried that if the assistant kept begging like this, it would only anger Tyler further instead of softening his resolve. Tim sighed heavily. ¡°I understand.¡± Once he was gone, Tyler tugged at the shirt on him with a look of disgust. ¡°No wonder I¡¯ve been feeling itchytely. That guy must have a death wish. How dare he short change me on my personal items. 11 He retrieved his phone and immediately called Yale, his chief aide. Tim was just responsible for day¨Cto¨Cday affairs. Yale usually managed everything else but had been tied up with other work recently and hadn¡¯t been around. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what can I do for you?¡± Yale asked respectfully. ¡°Look into the receipts for my personal expenses like clothes and daily items. Tim has been skimming from me. Also, find out if his kid really is sick.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Hire a new personal assistant, and get someone to send over a proper change of clothes.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After issuing his orders, Tyler hung up the phone. Rachel nced at the shirt Tyler was wearing ¡°Actually, that shirt¡¯s not bad. Sure, it¡¯s not on par with your usual ones, but at least it¡¯s made of real cotton.¡± Tyler frowned and shot her a sidelong nce. ¡°You think I¡¯m someone who settles for mediocrity?¡± ¡°Well, this is an unusual situation. Your assistant¡¯s already busy, and now you want him to send you a whole new outfit¡­¡± Rachel trailed off mid¨Csentence, realizing she might¡¯ve said too much. Her Exit 209 Rachel quickly changed her wording. ¡°Do whatever you want. Just pretend I said nothing.¡± Tyler couldn¡¯t resist teasing her. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re a perfect subordinate. You always put your boss first.¡± Rachel felt a little awkward. ¡°It was just a passingment.¡± Tyler wasn¡¯t someone who could be easily manipted. Rachel also realized she had overstepped. He didn¡¯t change his mind. In fact, he seemed even more annoyed by the cheap shirt he was wearing. ¡°Good thing you¡¯re just an employee and not a boss. If you were, you¡¯d be eaten alive in the business world. Don¡¯t be too soft. That¡¯s the only advice I¡¯ll give you.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t reply, but those words hit home. In the days that followed, they¡¯d stick with her more than she expected. Later that evening, Yale arrived with a new set of clothes. It was Rachel¡¯s first time meeting him. She had assumed the previous man was Tyler¡¯s assistant, but this one looked the part. He and Tyler shared a simr aura that was cold and distant, like a wall no one could get past. Yale walked up to Tyler and handed over the bag. ¡°Mr. Hunt, everything you requested has been delivered.¡± Tyler paused for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s not fake this time, is it?¡± Yale smiled vaguely. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Hunt. It¡¯s definitely not fake.¡± Tyler¡¯s gaze shifted to Rachel. ¡°Help me change.¡± His tone didn¡¯t sound like a request. It was an order. Rachel was used to him acting like royalty. A man like Tyler carried an innate sense of privilege. Just looking at him made people instinctively straighten up. She pursed her lips and replied with mock grievance, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Rachel walked over to help him. She hadn¡¯t paid much attention when helping him earlier, but this time, she caught a glimpse of the wound on Tyler¡¯s back. It looked like a coiled centipede that was raw, red, and brutal. Rachel had always been squeamish about blood and wounds. Just seeing it gave her goosebumps. She immediately looked away, frowning. As she carefully helped him change, she muttered, ¡°If something like that ever happens again, I don¡¯t want you to jump in front of a knife for me.¡± She meant it. Even if something really did happen to her, there¡¯d be no one who¡¯d grieve for her anyway. But Tyler was different. He had people who cared about him. Tyler noticed the dimness in her eyes. ¡°So, your life means that little to you? Your mom went through so much to raise you. If she saw you talking like this from up above, she¡¯d never rest in peace.¡± At the mention of her mother, a pang of sorrow rose in Rachel¡¯s chest. She took a deep breath. She realized Tyler had only needed one sentence to bring her back o herself. It felt like she was being snapped out of a trance. Maybe it was just her imagination. Just moments ago, she¡¯d felt like it didn¡¯t matter if anything happened to her. But if anything happened to Tyler, she wasn¡¯t sure she could bear the guilt for the rest of her life. After finally getting him dressed, Rachel touched the fabric of the new shirt. ¡°This one definitely feels better.¡± Tyler snorted. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say that earlier?¡± Rachel was speechless. Tyler looked away and turned to face Yale. ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± Her Exit 210 ¡°It¡¯s true. His family does have a child with leukemia. And yes, he¡¯s been pocketing quite a bit of money. Roughly a million,¡± Yale reported calmly. Rachel couldn¡¯t help but gasp. Tim must have had a death wish. Did he actually embezzle a million dors from Tyler? A million sounded like a lot, and it was. But when it came to a disease like leukemia, even that amount might not go very far. No matter how much money one had, illness had a way of burning through it like fire through paper. If Tyler really chose to pursue the matter, Tim was done for. If Tim couldn¡¯t repay it, he¡¯d be facing prison. Tyler frowned slightly. A look of surprise flickered in his eyes. ¡°That much?¡± ¡°Yeah. Maybe you hadn¡¯t noticed before,¡± Yale replied. Yale could understand. Tyler was the type to focus all his attention on business. He barely spent any mental effort on the logistics of his personal life. Probably because of the recent rush with the Oasis project, Tyler had simply overlooked these things. After a beat, Yale asked, ¡°Mr. Hunt, do you want to press charges?¡± Tyler waved him off. ¡°No. Thepany needs to focus on the project right now. I don¡¯t have the time to waste onwsuits. Just fire him and start looking for a new personal assistant.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Rachel let out a sigh she hadn¡¯t realized she was holding. Even though Tyler was known for being ruthless and upromising, never ying favorites, he had still chosen mercy this time. Given the circumstances, it was understandable. After all,passion still existed beyond the rule ofw. Maybe Tyler wasn¡¯t as cold as he looked. But as soon as that thought appeared, Rachel quickly shook her head and tried to dismiss it. She couldn¡¯t afford to fall into that trap. For all she knew, next time he¡¯dpletely shatter her expectations again. Once Yale wrapped things up, he left quietly. That night, Rachel stayed with Tyler. She barely managed to doze aff on the stiff fold¨Cout chair beside his bed. The day had been too chaotic and emotionally draining. Even on that ufortable chair, however, exhaustion finally took over. The next morning, Rachel slowly opened her eyes to bright sunlight. She froze, unsure of her surroundings. She was in the hospital bed. Startled, she bolted upright and quickly looked around. What the hell? She¡¯d gone to sleep on the chair. She remembered it clearly. How had she ended up in Tyler¡¯s bed? Where was Tyler? 55 Just as she threw off the covers and was about to get up, the bathroom door opened. Tyler walked out, dressed in a crisp ck suit, his hair neatlybed back. He looked much better thanst night. Some color had returned to his face, but he still appeared a little weak. Rachel stared at him in confusion. ¡°Why am I in your bed?¡± Tyler did up thest button on his shirt. He lifted his chin slightly, the clean lines of his jaw drawing a sharp contrast with the cool amusement in his eyes. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking you that?¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°I really don¡¯t remember.¡± Tyler walked over to the nightstand, picked up his charging phone and nced at the screen. ¡°You suddenly got up in the middle of the night like you were sleepwalking and crawled into my bed. You wrapped yourself around me like an octopus and wouldn¡¯t let go.¡± Rachel¡¯s face flushed red. She stiffened and tried to defend herself. ¡°I did not!¡± Tyler was looking down at his phone and texting someone, but he paused just long enough to nce at her from the corner of his eye. ¡°I thought you said you didn¡¯t remember. So how do you know you didn¡¯t sneak into my bed?¡± Her Exit 211 Rachel was rendered speechless by his words. The way he put it¡­ What did he mean by ¡°secretly climb into his bed?¡± Just then, Tyler read something that made his brows furrow. Rachel saw it too, and her expression shifted. Before she had the chance to ask further, her phone buzzed. She looked to see a call from Cecilia and answered it without a second thought. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Cecilia?¡± ¡°Goodness, something huge just happened! Were you with Mr. Hunt the entire nightst night?¡± Rachel nodded, still in a daze. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who knows about it. Everyone on the inte does! You even went to the barst night with Mr. Hunt, and he got injured. The police were involved, and you stayed by Mr. Hunt¡¯s side the entire night. Am I right?¡± Rachel¡¯s head buzzed when she heard that everyone on the inte had found out. Only one thought crossed her mind¨Cshe was doomed! Cecilia, not hearing any response from Rachel, called out to her. ¡°Check your phone for thetest news. Don¡¯t bothering into the office for now. I¡¯m sure the paparazzi will be crowding the entrance. Make sure you don¡¯t get photographed, or William will surely kill you.¡± Rachel dicked on today¡¯s news and saw the giaring headline. ¡°Mrs. Lewis on a rendezvous with Mr. Hunt of LS Enterprise! Marriage troubles ahead!¡± The detailed report below exaggerated things even further. By the time Rachel was done reading it, she was in awe of the creativity of these reporters. Instead of being reporters, they were probably better at being web novelists. William¡¯s call came very soon. Rachel saw his name appear on her phone screen and, for the first time in her life, didn¡¯t dare answer his call. She pursed her lips anxiously. Tyler walked to the windows and looked out, only to realize that the entrance was surrounded by the media. Rachel walked over to the windows and almost fainted at the scene below. ¡°Why are there so many people downstairs?¡± Tyler could only dial Yale, to whom he ordered icily, ¡°Find a way to get rid of the paparazzi at the entrance!¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt¡­ Every single mediapany in Yurelia City is gathered downstairs, not just one or two of them.¡± Tyler frowned. ¡°Are you trying to tell me to think of a solution myself?¡± Yale shuddered. ¡°N¨CNo, sir¡­ I¡¯ll find a solution right away.¡± Tyler gave hit an ultimatum. ¡°I¡¯m giving you five minutes. If you don¡¯te up with something, don¡¯t bother reporting to work tomorrow!¡± Tyler was about to hang up when Yale added, ¡°Wait, Mr. Hunt, there¡¯s one more thing¡­I just received news that William Lewis is rushing over right now!¡± This time, Rachel heard it loud and clear¨Cit made her heart almost stop. She started feeling like the sky was falling. Tyler hung up. Rachel sat down on the chair. The entrance was surrounded by the paparazzi, and they were stuck in here. If they tried heading out, it would only confirm the rumors spreading like wildfire. The heavens must be ying a trick on her. She was nning to leave Yurelia City tomorrow. Why did she have to be dealt with such a hand at a critical time like this? Tyler looked at Rachel sitting there in a daze. He pulled out a cigarette and tilted his head as he lit it. ¡°Are you giving up already?¡± Instead of being in a panic, Rachel was surprisingly calm andposed. She looked up and shed Tyler a smile. ¡°The entrance ispletely jammed up by reporters. I suppose that¡¯s the same for every nook and cranny in this vicinity.¡± Tyler leaned against the headboard of the bed and flicked off some ashes from his cigarette. ¡°How are you going to exin things to Williamter?¡± Her Exit 212 ¡°What is there to exin?¡± William probably already had his suspicions about her rtionship with Tyler. This situation merely confirmed his suspicions. If that was true, nothing she said would help things. Tyler rubbed his chin and bit on his cigarette, ncing at Rachel with a half¨Csmile. ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell you can be so gutsy at a time like this.¡± Rachel smiled but said nothing. Tyler stubbed his cigarette out and flicked it out of the window. He walked toward Rachel and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Come with me. Rachel furrowed her brows and looked at him with confusion. ¡°Reporters are everywhere outside. Where are you bringing me?¡± ¡°You can choose not to go. It¡¯s just rumors, I won¡¯t die from them. Tyler shrugged indifferently. Rachel naturally didn¡¯t want to invite trouble on herself. Things were indeed bing more troublesome, but rumors were ultimately just rumors if they stayed so. If the reporters snapped photos of her being with Tyler in the same hospital, even the same ward, the rumors online would be the trigger that would blow up her life. She didn¡¯t dare think about the catastrophe th I woulde from that. Nodding, Rachel looked Tyler straight in the eye. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Tyler guided Rachel through a couple of consultation rooms before arriving at the neurology department. He opened a door and pushed her through it. The doctor in the room was attending to a patient. Rachel whispered awkwardly to Tyler, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem good to be barging in like this.¡± Tyler pointed outside, as if leaving the choice to her. ¡°So, do you want to meet those reporters and take the chance to exin to them our rtionship and see if they believe you or not?¡± Rachel kept mum. Exining to the reporters the truth was akin to howling at the moon. All they were interested in doing was writing whatever they pleased. They were only here to confirm their suspicions and set it in stone. That was how they managed to attract all the likes and attention on the inte. The doctor turned around, and Rachel¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the familiar face. Wasn¡¯t this the doctor who attended to her when she was drugged before? Xavier was equally surprised to see Tyler and Rachel. His gazended on Tyler. ¡°Why are you here? Still having trouble sleeping?¡± Tyler scoffed, ¡°You must still be on the 2Gwork.¡± Realization dawned upon Xavier. ¡°So the reporters at the entrance are here for you!¡± Tyler tapped his head. ¡°But of course. Who in our hospital could attract so much media attention?¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Xavier said, ¡°what do you want from me this time?¡± ¡°Very simple. Fetch her a nurse uniform and lead her out.¡± That was when Rachel finally understood what Tyler was trying to do. Indeed¡ªif Xavier gave her a nurse uniform, Rachel could blend in with the staff in the hospital. Avoiding the reporters wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Although there was no way of suppressing rumors of her and Tyler, it was way better than actually getting caught red¨Chanded. If that happened, she would never be able to clear her name. There wouldn¡¯t be a problem if Tyler was found alone. Xavier shook his head and sighed. ¡°If you insist.¡± He turned around and opened the back door, and spoke to someone in the consultation room next door. Very soon, he returned with a nurse uniform in hand. Rachel heaved a sigh of relief when Xavier handed her the uniform Her Exit 213 Chapter 213 ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it fits you,¡± Xavier said. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± Rachel assured. She wouldn¡¯t dare kick up a fuss right now. Xavier pointed to the restroom. Rachel hurried into it and got changed into the nurse uniform. Thankfully, she could still wear it despite it being slightlyrger. Tyler passed Rachel to Xavier. ¡°You can forget about being the chief doctor here if any reporter finds her.¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter. ¡°Come on, Mr. Hunt. You¡¯re sticking your finger in too many pies. Interfering even in a hospital¡¯s affairs?¡± Tyler tilted his head and nced at Xavier. ¡°I¡¯m your hospital¡¯s biggest shareholder. What do you think?¡± Xavier shrank back. ¡°Fine. I take that back.¡± He then turned to Rachel. ¡°Come with me, Ms. Lloyd.¡± Rachel was surprised to hear his address. ¡°You remember me?¡± ¡°Of course, I do. Tyler never sticks his nose in other people¡¯s affairs. You¡¯re the first.¡± ¡°You talk too much!¡± Tyler¡¯s warning came almost immediately. Xavier shut up and smiled, not saying a word further. Tyler saw Rachel walking out with Xavier before returning to his ward. The moment he sat back down on the bed, someone barged into his room. William, Samantha, and a whole barrage of people strutted in. William¡¯s gaze swept across the room, not sparing every nook and cranny in the ward. After confirming that the person he was looking for wasn¡¯t in the room, William turned his attention to Tyler. ¡°Where¡¯s Rachel?¡± Tyler crossed his legs leisurely and scoffed. ¡°William, do you have a problem? Why to the hospital to find your wife? Or have you had enough of your lover and finally remembered that you have a wife?¡± Tyler had always had a sharp tongue and said whatever he pleased. He had no qualms about appearing rude before others- exercising restraint was not a concept that existed in his world. William¡¯s face darkened. He straightened his back and snapped, ¡°I¡¯s all over the papers! You two were drinking at a barst night when a fight broke out. You got injured and were sent to the hospital.¡± William didn¡¯t realize he had fallen right into Tyler¡¯s trap. Tyler tapped his fingers on his thigh and said pensively, ¡°Oh, you even know about the fightst night! In that case, I¡¯d like to ask: Where were you and what were you doing when Rachel tried to contact youst night?¡± At that, William¡¯s lips were pursed in a tense line. He dismissed Tyler¡¯s question, saying coldly, ¡°That¡¯s between us husband and wife I believe it has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Exactly. In the same way, your search for your wife has nothing to do with me.¡±
Tyler¡¯s conclusion effectively shut William up. Samantha chimed in, ¡°Mr. Hunt, if you really like Rachel, just tell straight to Williamn! If you two are truly in love with each 24 other, I believe William will give you his blessings. That would be much better than having a secret affair behind everyone¡¯s backs.¡± Tyler chuckled. ¡°On the topic of secret affairs, that¡¯s something I¡¯m sure you¡¯re way more familiar with than I am, Ms. Judd. Would I, Tyler Hunt, need to keep the woman that I love hidden?¡± William knew clearly that Tyler was absolutely right in saying so. If Tyler did have a thing for Rachel, he wouldn¡¯t give two hoots about William. In fact, he would even waltz right before William with Rachel in his arms. He was a madman through and through. Why else would the Lewis family be so fearful of him? Her Exit 214 William, knowing he was no match for Tyler, didn¡¯t want to say more to thetter. He immediately called Rachel, but the ward remained silent¨Cthere was no sound of a phone ringing. Suddenly, Samantha said, ¡°Mr. Hunt, I need the washroom. May I use it, please?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t stop her, even though he knew full well what Samantha was trying to pull Samantha walked past him, feeling a shiver down her spine when her shoulder brushed past his. She couldn¡¯t hold back a tremor -Tyler¡¯s aura was way too imposing. Rachel truly didn¡¯t know her ce! Would a man like Tyler Hunt fancy a divorcee? He was merely ying around with her. Samantha walked into the washroom and looked around beforeing out and shaking her head at William. William frowned. Just then, a series of knocks sounded at the door, which drew Samantha¡¯s attention. ¡°William, that must be the reporters barging in from downstairs!¡± William¡¯s brows were tightly knit. Reporters filled every corner of the hospital, and they had no way to escape. ¡°Let¡¯s just open the door.¡± Since Rachel wasn¡¯t around, the reporters wouldn¡¯t be able to do much even if they wanted to make a mountain out of a molehill. Samantha approached the door and opened it. The reporters swarmed in like bees, holding up the cameras in their hands and pointing them at William and Tyler, their fingers clicking relentlessly on the shutters. ¡°Mr. Lewis, may I ask for your opinion on things between Mr. Hunt and your wife?¡± ¡°Did your wife really note home all night?¡± ¡°Did you not try looking for her?¡± ¡°Do you know about Mrs. Lewis not returning home the entire night? What are your thoughts about rumors between the two of them?¡± Despite foreseeing such a situation happening, William¡¯s face darkened at the reporters¡® questions, the veins in his temple popping. He remained silent. Tyler acted like he was here as a curious bystander, a cigarette between his fingers and an arch in his brow. ¡°What, are you reporters so bored nowadays? Got nothing to do, so digging up other people¡¯s personal affairs is the most interesting thing on your tes?¡± The reporters saw Tyler talking and exchanged nces with each other. It wasn¡¯t difficult to tell that they feared the man. Tyler was a frightening presence¨Che simply had it in him to make people give him a second look, with his hair¨Craising and gripping aura. Some of the reporters were starting to get cold feet. Offending Tyler Hunt was no small matter. Yet, a daredevil in the crowd spoke up, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing between Mr. Hunt and Mrs Lewis, what is Mr. Lewis doing here? Isn¡¯t he suspicious of things as well?¡± ¡°Yes We have photos as evidence. How could it not be true?¡± The tape that Tyler barely managed to douse started igniting again The reporters held up their microphones and pointed them at Wilham and Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, can you tell us if you were with Mrs. Lewisst night of pot? What exactly is your rtionship with her?¡± ¡°Are the rumors troe? That there are feelings between you and Mrs Lewis?¡°¡± ¡°Is Mrs. Lewis nning to divorce Mr. Lewis so that she can be with you, Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis, what are your thoughts on this?¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt and Mr. Lewis, could you give all of us an exnation? William took a deep breath to collect his thoughts before saying solemnly to the reporters, ¡°This is all a huge misunderstanding. I¡¯m sure you know about the recent coboration between mypany and LS Enterprise.¡± Her Exit 215 ¡°As the one in charge of Project Oasis, it¡¯s reasonable for my wife to have dealings with Mr. Hunt in my ce when I don¡¯t have the time.¡± One of the reporters continued pursuing the matter, holding his microphone up high. ¡°If it¡¯s purely work¨Crted, why meet at a bar? In the middle of the night, no less!¡± William smiled. ¡°My wife does have work¨Crted engagements with Mr. Hunt, but as for the meet¨Cup at the bar, we only see their backs in the photos. What if it¡¯s one of Mr. Hunt¡¯s many female associates?¡± William had been staring at the photos on his way here, and realized that most of them showed either their side or back views. In other words, Rachel¡¯s face never appeared in the photos. No one could confirm who Tyler was with. The reporters were rendered speechless. They were indeed unable to confirm the identity of the woman in the photos. Although Tyler¡¯s face was clear in them, the woman¡¯s face was not captured. Even if they saw Rachel in person, if she couldn¡¯t be identified from the photos they took, they had no grounds to insist that she was the woman with Tyler that night. The reporters exchanged looks, racking their brains for an answer to William¡¯s question. Tyler stubbed out his cigarette in the tray and stood up. He walked toward the reporters and threw them a cold nce. ¡°It¡¯s clear how interested you reporters are in my private affairs. Shall I make an announcement the next time I kiss one of my female associates, so you can find the best angle for a photo? Or do all of you really have nothing better to report on? Shall I hike up the unemployment rate a little? That might give you a chance to find something to do.¡± Tyler was not one to mince his words, no matter who the other party was. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin himself to anyone. His tone waszy and lethargic, but those who knew him well would hear the warning in his words. The reporters didn¡¯t dare say a word further and started to disperse with their tails between their legs. William¡¯s eyes narrowed with indignation. Tyler¡¯s casual threat was more effective than his long¨Cdrawn exnation. Tyler stuck his hands in his pockets and strode leisurely toward William, throwing a look of disdain at William as he walked past thetter. ¡°William, how could you make up that stuff you did earlier without batting an eyelid?¡± One of his many female associates? What a joke! William clenched his fists. ¡°Can¡¯t you just keep your distance from her?¡± Tyler stopped in his tracks and shot back, ¡°Can¡¯t you keep your distance from Samantha?¡± His words rendered William speechless, as though he had stuffed a sock down William¡¯s throat. William opened his mouth, but the dull, suffocating ache in his chest made him unable to speak. Rachel and Xavier snuck out through the back door. Although reparters were crowding around the back door, they were all waiting expectantly for Tyler. She looked down and hid behind Xavier, sessfully escaping from the reporters¡® gazes. When they finally reached somewhere safe, Rachel took off the nurse uniform and thanked Xavier before leaving. ¡°Dr. Jenkins, thank you so much for your help. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to leave so easily.¡± Navier waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I¡¯m doing this for Tyler. He asked me to bring you to a safe ce and will join uster. ¡± Chapter 216 Her Exit 216 Chapter 216 The thought of the news reports made Rachel furrow her brows, a heavy weight on her chest. She had to settle this, or she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave in peace. Xavier found a cafe nearby and went in with Rachel. They settled down at a table next to the window. Xavier called for a waiter. ¡°An Americano, please.¡± Rachel chimed in, ¡°Make it two.¡± Xavier lifted an arm to check his watch. Rachel subconsciously looked out the window, feeling a little worried. ¡°Dr. Jenkins, do you think Tyler can shake off those reporters?¡± She felt concerned, especially after hearing from Tyler¡¯s assistant that William was on his way to the hospital. Her heart grew cold with fear at the thought of those two men shing amidst the crowd of reporters who love stirring up trouble. Xavier scoffed. ¡°Seems like you don¡¯t know much about him. If he¡¯s bent on leaving, all the reporters in Yurelia City won¡¯t be able to stop him.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t doubt Xavier¡¯s words. Tyler always had his way, and no one was able to stop him from doing whatever he wanted. It was very unlike William, who was always trying to take everyone and everything into consideration. He didn¡¯t have a strong backing that could allow him to behave fearlessly, like Tyler. On that note, having a strong backing felt good indeed. Curious, Rachel asked, ¡°Dr. Jenkins, have you known Mr. Hunt for a long time? He looks very fit to me. Why would he have a sleep disorder?¡± Tyler always looked glowing, energetic, and lively. How was he sleep deprived? She also remembered clearly how well he slept thest time. Xavier recounted, ¡°I don¡¯t know if he told you this before, but he was often confined and punished so harshly, you wouldn¡¯t be able to imagine it. He didn¡¯t have a good childhood, and your mother probably knew about it. Did she not tell you about it?¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°No, my mother always wanted me to focus on my own affairs. She never shared with me about anything else.¡± Xavier nodded pensively. ¡°I can understand that. There was indeed no need for you to understand those things.¡± Xavier¡¯s words were still ringing in Rachel¡¯s head. She sat silent for a moment. Unable to withhold her curiosity, she asked again, ¡°Why did Tyler¡¯s family treat him like that? He¡¯s a biological child of the family, not adopted!¡± Rachel felt anger burning in her heart just from hearing about Tyler¡¯s childhood. No wonder Tyler felt rather rebellious despite his age. He hated being under anyone¡¯s control, and Rachel guessed that it had something to do with his childhood experiences. It was said that an unhappy childhood required lifetime healing. She always believed in that. An unhappy childhood also affected one¡¯s personality, sometimes even causing certain defects. Based on what she understood of Tyler over this period, she could sense that there was indeed a defect in his personality due to his past. er 218 Her Exit 217 Rachel gave a satisfied smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find such great coffee near the hospital.¡± She had been here a few times, but never expected the coffee served in such an ordinary¨Clooking ce like this could be so good. Xavier said half¨Cjokingly, ¡°Have you heard the saying? Small shop are always generous with their ingredients.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back a chuckle. That statement seemed to tin true. Just then, Xavier¡¯s phone rang. He nced at the phone screen and looked around him before waving his hand. ¡°Over here.¡± Rachel followed his gaze and saw Tyler walking toward them. His good looks were attention¨Cgrabbing as usual, no matter where he went. Thedies in the cafe who originally had their attention on their coffees couldn¡¯t help but stare at him the moment he walked in. ¡°He¡¯s so handsome!¡± ¡°I can sense from the aura he exudes that he¡¯s rich. He looks just like my ideal type.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen such a good¨Clooking man for a long time.¡± ¡°What should I do? I suddenly find my husband so ugly, I feel like vomiting.¡± Rachel had a strong urge to change seats when she heard what all thedies in the cafe were muttering under their breaths. It meant that the moment Tyler sat down, they would be the centre of everyone¡¯s attention. Rachel didn¡¯t like that feeling. The moment Tyler sat down, she asked, ¡°Can we talk somewhere else?¡± Tyler didn¡¯t sense anything wrong and leaned casually against the back of the chair, looking as though he was right at home. ¡°Why change? This isn¡¯t bad.¡± Rachel sat up straight and leaned in closer to Tyler, whispering, ¡°Did you realize how many people have been staring at you the moment you walked in? Reporters are everywhere right now. We¡¯d be in trouble if they find us here.¡± Tyler covered his mouth and coughed, lookingposed. ¡°You¡¯ll have to get used to this. This happens no matter where I go. Are you really going to keep changing ces because of how people look at you? What you need to do is to make others get used to you instead of you getting used to others. Got that?¡± Hearing that, Rachel was thunderstruck. What others cared about had always been important to her. Her mother had raised her not to be selfish and to consider other people¡¯s feelings. Now that Rachel was older and had experienced some things, she was beginning to think more about herself. However, she couldn¡¯t go to the extent of caring only for herself, like Tyler. He cared naught for what others felt. That wasn¡¯t all that bad. Life was short and tough. There was indeed no point in living based on what others thought. And so, Rachel gave up on the idea of changing seats. Tyler crossed his legs and said in all seriousness, ¡°Rachel, very soon, it¡¯ll be a double whammy for you from both the Lewis and Lloyd families. You better be prepared.¡± Rachel frowned. ¡°What¡¯s this got to do with the Lloyd family?¡± ¡°Yale updated me that William¡¯s mother read the news online and rushed to your family home to demand an exnation.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened as she stood up in shock. ¡°What did you just say?!¡± Tyler smirked. ¡°Did you really think William¡¯s mother would just t at home and do nothing after something so major happened?¡± Rachel stood up and grabbed her bag. ¡°I need to go home right now!¡± Her Exit 218 Before Tyler could say anything, Rachel was already out of the doo ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to check it out?¡± Xavier aske! Tyler crossed his legs, leisurely sipping on some cottee. He cast Napier a sideways nce. ¡°Are you sure I should be going back with her? The Lewis family will kill me.¡± Xavier nodded in agreement. ¡°That will be awkward given your rtion with the Lewises. If you were with Rachel, the entire family would implode¡± Tyler arched a brow and said halt¨Cjokingly, ¡°So what if we¡¯re together? We aren¡¯t siblings.¡± Xavier¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, but he found it rather hrious at the next moment. ¡°Seriously? Do you really have feelings for her The thought alone shocked Xavier. He was sure that even the dead would be shocked. ¡°I was just making a casual remark,¡± Tyler saidzily. ¡°Why so angious? What, does your daughter tancy me and want to marry me too?¡± Xavier scoffed. ¡°Would you even fancy my daughter? It she were as beautiful as Ms. Lloyd, I wouldn¡¯t need to v Xavier put his hand on his forehead, thinking back on the first time he anxiously brought his daughter to Tyler. Who knew that the moment his 20¨Cyear¨Cold daughter firstid eyes on Tyler, she fell hard for him. Subsequently, she rejected all of the bright young men he introduced to her. She would go on all day about dating Tyler and no one else. Tyler put the coffee cup to his lips and took a sip, the knot in his brows unravelling, ¡°Your daughter isn¡¯t ugly. At least, she¡¯s better¨Clooking than you are.¡± ¡°That coffee cup was Ms. Lloyd¡¯s¡­¡± Xavier was stunned. Wasn¡¯t Tyler a germaphobe? He would never use a cup so meone else used, not to mention drink coffee that someone else drank. What¡¯s more, Tyler didn¡¯t look at all disturbed after drinking it. Tyler nced at the lipstick stain on the cup and took in its light fruity scent. He retracted his gaze and mumbled, ¡°Oh.¡± He then downed all the coffee in the cup. ¡°It¡¯s a virtue not to waste food.¡± Xavier simply smiled without a word. Meanwhile, Rachel rushed to the Lloyd household by taxi. She wanted to exin things to her grandfather and her father before Cassandra arrived. Otherwise, the rumors about her spreading, like wildfire would soon give her father Jim trouble. The moment she stepped into the house, she heard amotion from inside. ¡°You must give me an eptable exnation! Your daughter marred into my family, and something so major happened. Did you actually read thements and see the pictures online?! The Lewis family has be the butt of everyone¡¯s jokes! ¡°You know clearly the state of our rtionship with Tyler. You must give us a satisfactory answer to this, or a divorce is the only way! We can¡¯t afford to be embarrassed like this.¡± Jim knew reason wasn¡¯t on his side. He read the reports and knew that Rachel was in the wrong No matter what, she shouldn¡¯t have gotten herself involved with Tyler. Jim approached Cassandra and exined politely to her, ¡°We are indeed at fault here, but it¡¯s pointless to pin the me on someone. We should be finding a solution instead.¡± Cassandra scoffed. ¡°Solution? What other solution would there be? Divorce is the only solution!¡± Jim shook his head. ¡°No. A divorce would only confirm suspicions that there¡¯s something between Rachel and Tyler.¡± Her Exit 219 Cassandra pursed her lips. ¡°What has that got to do with my family? It¡¯s all your daughter¡¯s fault for being promiscuous and fooling around with Tyler!¡± Jim put his hands behind his back and said firmly, ¡°No matter what you say, I believe there¡¯s nothing between Tyler and my daughter!¡± Cassandra crossed her arms in front of her chest. ¡°Your family is just covering up for Rachel! I don¡¯t care. Whatever it is, divorce is non¨Cnegotiable. We¡¯ve never had someone like that in our family over the generations. I¡¯m sure this problem utterly lies on your family¡¯s side!¡± ¡°Cassandra, my granddaughter is indeed at fault here,¡± Gerald spoke up. ¡°This happened because of ack of discipline on our end. We¡¯re not trying to shirk responsibility. We just want to solve the situation and reduce the potential damage caused to both our families.¡± However, Cassandra clearly wasn¡¯t interested in solving the problem. ¡°Mr. Lloyd; how else can this be resolved? Photos of their rendezvous are all over the inte! You should seriously reflect on what¡¯s going on in your family!¡± Cassandra¡¯s words angered Jim, who looked away with a face dark with displeasure. His voice was shrill with indignation. ¡°You have no proof whatsoever! What right do you have to im that my daughter is in the photos? What if it¡¯s someone else? What¡¯s more, the paparazzi are still seeking out the truth! Why are you jumping to conclusions here and insisting that it¡¯s my daughter? No matter what you all say, I trust that my daughter isn¡¯t someone like that!¡± Rachel, standing at the doorway, felt warmth fill her heart when she overheard what her father said. Everyone was doubting her except for her father, who firmly chose to believe in her. Everyone else in the Lloyd household probably thought the same way as her grandfather, ming her for being promiscuous and fooling around with Tyler, thereby disgracing the entire family Cassandra wasn¡¯t going to let Rachel off the hook so easily. She grabbed her bag and plopped down on a chair. ¡°Whatever you say! I¡¯m not interested in examining how virtuous your daughter is. All I know is that your family is responsible for this mess, and you must give a proper exnation for it!¡± Yvette, munching on some chips, grumbled, ¡°What a bother! I told Rachel long ago that she lucked out marrying into the Lewis family. Why would she get herself involved with Mr. Hunt? Grandpa, you have to believe my words now, don¡¯t you? I told you that she was just using me as a shield so that she could be with Mr. Hunt.¡± Cassandra looked at Jim through narrowed eyes, as if she had caught on to something. ¡°I knew it! Rachel is really having an affair with Tyler, and all of you are condoning it!¡± ¡°They¡¯re not condoning anything, and things between Tyler and me are not what you think they are.¡± Rachel suddenly appeared through the door, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to her. Jim was the first to approach her as he signed, ¡°I told you not toe back for the time being. Let me handle this.¡± Rachel knew that Jim was worried that Cassandra would cause her trouble. No one in this family, aside from Jim, would stand on her side. She grabbed Jim¡¯s hand reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Dad. I can handle this alone. What¡¯s more, I can¡¯t let so many people bully you.¡± Jim turned around to look at Cassandra and Gerald, sighing helplessly. ¡°I know them. They won¡¯t spare you so easily.¡± Rachel patted the back of her father¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a way to deal with them.¡± Her Exit 220 Jim was surprised by Rachel¡¯s im. None of them could think of a solution to the problem. How could Rachel, just a lone young woman, find a way around it? But now that she was back, Jim knew he couldn¡¯t just tell her to leave. Rachel walked toward Cassandra. ¡°Mom, things aren¡¯t what they seem to be. Tyler and I have a professional working rtionship. At most, we are just ordinary friends.¡± Cassandra crossed her arms in front of her chest. If it weren¡¯t for Rachel¡¯s hearing impairment, she wouldn¡¯t even bother casting a nce her way. She didn¡¯t believe a word of Rachel¡¯s im. Instead, she pulled out divorce papers from her bag and mmed them on the table. ¡°Sign it.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t shocked by the divorce papers Cassandra produced. She knew from the start how much Cassandra didn¡¯t like her -thetter despised her for her hearing disability and saw her as unworthy of being part of the Lewis family. What¡¯s more, the fact that Rachel wasn¡¯t blood¨Crted to the Lloyd family amplified Cassandra¡¯s dislike of her. However, Rachel would never sign the papers. If she did, William wouldn¡¯t feel the impact of the ¡®surprise¡® she had in store for him. Rachel rejected Cassandra straight away. ¡°I won¡¯t get a divorce. If you truly want me to divorce William, you might consider trying to persuade him instead. If he agrees to it, I don¡¯t have a problem with it.¡± Cassandra¡¯s face fell. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Rachel straightened her back. ¡°I¡¯m not threatening you. I¡¯m just speaking the truth.¡± From the expression on Cassandra¡¯s face, Rachel could tell that William would never agree to a divorce. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t havee here alone with the divorce papers in hand. Gerald mmed his cup hard on the table. ¡°Rachel Lloyd, she is your mother¨Cinw! You¡¯d better watch your words! You¡¯re thoroughly embarrassing our entire family!¡± Rachel furrowed her brows. She used to tolerate everything this family did to her, on ount of them raising her since she was young. She didn¡¯t want to bite the hand that fed her. After all that had happened, however, she finally faced up to the truth: whether she did wrong or not, her grandfather would never stand up for her¨Ceven if she were in the right. If that was the case, what was the point of tolerating them? She would at least try to seek justice for herself. Rachel turned to look at Gerald, her expression icy. ¡°Why should I watch my words? Did I curse or swear? Grandpa, if you have the time and energy to lecture me in front of my mother¨Cinw, why not use it to try to clear our family¡¯s name instead?¡± That was what he cared most about anyway, right? Gerald¡¯s face turned red with anger. He was the authority of the Lloyds, who demanded full obedience and submission from everyone in the family. No one dared to talk back to him. ¡°Did I say anything wrong? You ruined our family¡¯s reputation with your questionable behavior in public. Your sister is of a marriageable age. How would any respectable man consider her as a worthy partner?¡± he barked. Yvette looked begrudgingly at Rachel. ¡°Exactly! You bring cmity everywhere you go. As long as you¡¯re around, nothing is smooth¨Csailing for our family. Rachel, are you doing this on purpose? You¡¯re driving a wedge between Mr. Hunt and me, creating rumours that you¡¯re with him and seizing the opportunity to sully my name,¡± she whined. Rachel couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste her breath on Yvette. She looked at Yvette as though thetter had a screw loose. She then walked toward Gerald. ¡°Well then, Grandpa. Since things have already happened, you should do as I say if you don¡¯t want to see the Lloyd family¡¯s reputation ruined.¡± Everyone stared at Rachel, dumbfounded. After the initial shock subsided, Cassandra red at Rachel with disdain. Her Exit 221 ¡°Rachel, quit putting on a strong front at a time like this! How could you still be in the mood to y the heroine when something so dire has happened?¡± Cassandra sneered. Yvette pursed her lips. ¡°Exactly! How smart do you think you are? Quit pretending!¡± Gerald said solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t try to act tough, Rachel. It¡¯s not your ce to speak when the adults are discussing matters.¡± Rachel smirked. ¡°In that case, Grandpa, what bright ideas do you have to resolve this crisis?¡± Gerald gripped his teacup tightly. ¡°What else? I can only say that you were talking business with Mr. Hunt. Both of yourpanies are working together on a project, anyway. It¡¯s an eptable exnation. The rumors will fizzle out eventually. But I hope you¡¯ll keep your distance from Mr. Hunt from now on. It¡¯ll be best if you withdraw from this project at once!¡± Rachel chuckled. As she had expected, she was always the one to be sacrificed in the Lloyd family. Anything and anyone was more important than her. This time, however, she wasn¡¯t doing it for the Lloyds. She was doing it for her mother and herself. With a glint in her eyes, Rachel said, ¡°But I have a solution that allows Yvette to get close to Tyler and take the first step to entering the Hunt household.¡± Gerald looked at Rachel in surprise, and asked in disbelief, ¡°Really? You have a way to quell the rumors and let Yvette get close to Tyler?¡± ¡°On one condition.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Gerald didn¡¯t care what Rachel asked for. Nothing was more important than giving Yvette the chance to get close to Tyler. ¡°Once I resolve this matter, you¡¯ll have to move my mother¡¯s tombstone to the family cemetery.¡± Gerald nodded without hesitation. ¡°But of course. As long as you do as you say, that¡¯s not a problem at all.¡± ¡°Alright, then. Firstly, my face isn¡¯t in any of the photos online. If the reporters could confirm that I was the one in the photos, they wouldn¡¯t have jammed up the hospital looking for me. As long as my face wasn¡¯t captured in the photos, therein lies our chance. ¡°We can say that Yvette and Tyler were on a date. However, because it¡¯s still early days, they didn¡¯t want to make things public just yet. ¡°They are both single. It would be reasonable if they were found together.¡± Gerald nodded excitedly. ¡°This is a good idea!¡± Jim, on the other hand, furrowed his brows. He walked toward Rachel. ¡°Rachel, this might sound like a good n, and we¡¯re certainly in on it, but have you thought of whether Tyler would be willing to cooperate?¡± Cassandra chimed in, ¡°Rachel, you only just got to know Tyler. You probably don¡¯t know him well enough. Don¡¯t me me for not reminding you. Tyler Hunt isn¡¯t a man who will just yield to you. It¡¯s pointless if he¡¯s not willing to cooperate!¡± Gerald sighed, the light in his eyes dimming. ¡°Yes. Tyler is extremely temperamental and does whatever he pleases. Even his family members have no hold over him, not to mention us.¡± Jim held Rachel¡¯s hand, a look of concern in his eyes. ¡°We can¡¯t do this, Rachel. It¡¯s a good idea, but that man isn¡¯t easy to deal with.¡± Gerald nodded in agreement. ¡°Indeed. The n might seed if we¡¯re talking about any other man, but we¡¯re talking about Tyler Hunt here. Give it up.¡± Her Exit 222 Was Tyler someone who would yield to just anyone? Cassandra waved the divorce papers in her hand. ¡°Rachel, it¡¯s a good idea, but applied wrongly. You should spend your time looking through the divorce papers and signing them instead.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve made myself clear. I won¡¯t divorce William,¡± Rachel said firmly to Cassandra. Cassandra¡¯s face flushed red with anger. She pointed at Rachel, then said to Jim and Gerald, ¡°Just look at her! Your good daughter! How shameless of her, insisting on hearing directly from my son for a divorce!!! Jim couldn¡¯t hold himself back any longer. The veins on his forehead popping, he barked back. ¡°Cassandra, that¡¯s too much! How could you call my daughter shameless? Wasn¡¯t it your son who insisted on marrying my daughter right from the start? He was so desperate to marry her! Otherwise, I would never have agreed for Rachel to marry into a family as treacherous as yours!¡± With an angry wave of his arm, he turned to look away from Cassandra. Rachel took a deep breath, reluctant to waste her time on this. ¡°There¡¯s no better solution than this. Doing as I said is the best of both worlds.¡± Everyone present knew that Rachel¡¯s solution was indeed the best. The biggest problemy in Tyler being extraordinarily hard to deal with. He was certainly no ordinary person. Anyone who could deal with Tyler was certain to seed in anything he or she set out to do. Not just anyone had that kind of willpower. Gerald pondered for a moment before finally agreeing to Rachel. ¡°We¡¯ll do as you said, Rachel. However, you should also know that if you fail to handle Tyler well, our deal is off.¡± Rachel would be the one working things out. Gerald knew he had the better end of the deal. Yvette approached Rachel and held her arm, as if they were best buddies. ¡°Rachel, my dear sister! We¡¯re all counting on you now. You must find a way to get Tyler on our side.¡± Rachel smirked coldly before pulling her arm out. With a forced smile, she sneered, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, don¡¯t say that. How could an ordinary, lowly person like me be worthy of being your sister?¡± Yvette smiled awkwardly. ¡°Oh, Rachel! How could you say that? I was silly in the past. Even if we don¡¯t share the same mother, you¡¯ve been with this family for so many years. How could we not be sisters? If I end up marrying Tyler, I won¡¯t forget how you helped me.¡± ¡°No need for that. I¡¯m just helping to establish initial contact, and I¡¯m not doing it for you. It¡¯s best if we save the fake pleasantries between us.¡± Rachel was getting goosebumps from the fake, ingratiating smile on Yvette¡¯s face. She had seen too much of Samantha recently, who was equally fake. That innocent smile on her face hid silent daggers that might stab her in the back before she had the chance to scream for help. Even when Rachel realized what was going on, Samantha would only give her an innocent look, as though pursuing the matter was a sign of disrespect toward her. Yvette saw how impervious Rachel was to her and found it pointless trying to butter her up. She didn¡¯t like Rachel to begin with, anyway. Gerald, clearly getting exhausted, said with a wave of his hand, ¡°I¡¯ve said everything I wanted to say. Rachel, it¡¯s up to you from here on.¡± Her Exit 223 ¡°Got it,¡± Rachel said with a nod. Gerald struggled to stand up and walked towards the stairs with the help of a servant. Rachel approached Cassandra and nodded at her. ¡°Mom, shall I send you back?¡± ¡°No! Take care of your mess. Let me remind you again that Tyler isn¡¯t as easy to deal with as you think he is.¡± No one knew Tyler better than the Lewises. He was no ordinary, normal person. Rachel nodded with a smile. ¡°See you, then.¡± Jim signaled to a servant to see Cassandra out. No matter what, he wouldn¡¯tpromise on basic manners. After everyone left, he approached Rachel. ¡°Rachel, that was too rash of you. I understand how anxious you are to fetch Mom back home, but we can always think of other ways. Something so risky¡­ Although we don¡¯t have direct interactions with Tyler Hunt, we¡¯ve heard much about him over the years. He¡¯s not someone easy to deal with.¡± Jim didn¡¯t seem to understand why Rachel wanted to take the risk. But this was something only Rachel knew. This was a risk she had to take. Time was ticking, and Tyler was a bone she had to chew¨Cno matter how tough. However, she didn¡¯t want her father worrying about her. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. I have my ways. Don¡¯t worry so much. Also, I know you¡¯re very filial, but don¡¯t be blindly filial. What I mean is, do think for yourself, too.¡± She was implying that Jim shouldn¡¯t shortchange himself for Gerald¡¯s sake, and to counter thetter at appropriate times. Jim knew what Rachel meant. ¡°I know you¡¯re saying that for my good. Regardless, your grandfather is an elder.¡± To that, Rachel said nothing further. ¡°I¡¯ll be off, then.¡± Jim thought about the reports he had read, and held Rachel back for onest reminder. ¡°Don¡¯t get too close to Tyler Hunt. He¡¯s not someone we can handle. As for your sister¡­ You know she doesn¡¯t listen to me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel left the house after bidding Jim goodbye. When she walked out the door, she looked up at the azure sky. Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes as she felt her heart growing cold. The world was so vast, yet there was no ce she could call home. This house she used to live in felt unfamiliar to her right now. She used to think that wherever William was would be her home. Yet now, even that was taken away by Samantha. Their home was filled with her putrid stench¨Cit disgusted Rachel thoroughly. However, her priority now was thinking about how to persuade Tyler. Given Tyler¡¯s character, she knew even before she tried that he would never agree to helping her. Thankfully, she had to return Tyler¡¯s jacket, which at least gave her a chance to contact him. Rachel knew clearly that, given Tyler¡¯s suspicious nature, he would find out at one nce what she was trying to do. How was she going to persuade Tyler to agree to help her? Rachel felt her head pounding. She had no idea where to begin. Jim was right. No one in this world, even the most cunning of businessmen, could make her feel this way. What made things worse was that she was running out of time. She had to get this settled as soon as possible. T Her Exit 224 Rachel pulled out her phone; after hesitating for a moment, she finally dialed Tyler¡¯s number. Tyler was surprised to hear from her. ¡°Why are you calling me at this time?¡± Rachel took a deep breath, feeling a guilty conscience. However, the thought of being able to fetch her mother¡¯s tombstone back to the Lloyd family cemetery once she sessfully persuaded Tyler made her bite the bullet. She had no choice but to let Tyler down for now. ¡°I¡¯m done here. I¡¯d like to return your clothes and treat you to a meal to thank you.¡± Tyler pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°You¡¯re going to treat me? When?¡± Rachel was so worried that Tyler might sense something amiss that she didn¡¯t notice something was off with Tyler. She thought of the best time for them to meet. ¡°How about tomorrow? If you have time.¡± It would be troublesome if Tyler could only meet two dayster. She would be gone by then. She had to swiftly settle this once and for all while she was still here. Tyler agreed readily. ¡°Alright, tomorrow it¡¯ll be. But why do you have the time to treat me to a meal?¡± Rachel was stunned by Tyler¡¯s question. Thankfully, she managed to snap back to attention and quickly replied to him, ¡°You know how much I hate owing people favors, It¡¯s fine.¡± Rachel wished she could meet Tyler today and fulfil her mother¡¯s wish. However, given how sharp and observant Tyler was, insisting on giving him a treat tonight would surely expose her ulterior motive. She decided to propose to meet tomorrow, just in case. Tyler remarkedzily, ¡°Why would I reject a treat?¡± Rachel heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°We¡¯ll meet tomorrow afternoon, then. Pick a ce and text me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tyler hung up. Rachel held her phone in her hands and sat in a daze. She could almost feel her heart in her throat. It was difficult having a guilty conscience indeed, unless you had a strong heart. She was intending to settle dinner at a restaurant, but the thought of William rushing to the hospital to look for her was enough for her to conclude that William wouldn¡¯t spare her if she did not return home tonight. She put on a hat and a mask, and hailed a taxi home. Thankfully, the driver looked rather advanced in years and didn¡¯t seem to be updated about things on the inte. He didn¡¯t even bother looking, at Rachel, Rachel¡¯s phone buzzed again. She had switched it to silent mode. Ever since things between her and Tyler exploded online, her phone had been buzzing nonstop, receiving calls from countless unknown numbers. It was William calling. Rachel hesitated for a moment before answering it. Before hearing what William had to say, Rachel said at once, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± She then hung up. Rachel walked to the door and saw it ajar. She could see William seated inside through the gap in the door. She could sense the tension in the air even before she entered the hall. She knew without a second thought that William was furious. Rachel paused for a moment outside before straightening herself up. Bracing herself, she stepped into the hall. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± William remained silent. Rachel approached him and sat down on a chair. The moment she sat down, she felt a cold, imposing aura overwhelming her. Her Exit 225 The ashtray on the dining table was filled to the brim with cigarette stubs, a clear sign of the terrible mood William was in. Rachel decided to be honest about Cassandra¡¯s visit to the Lloyds. ¡°Your mom went to my family¡¯s home today, insisting that I divorce you.¡± A tremor shook William¡¯s body, but his face didn¡¯t change much. Rachel knew that from his silence, he was furious. Still, she didn¡¯t have much time left. She decided to cut to the chase. ¡°If you think there¡¯s really something going on between me and Tyler, or if you want a divorce, I can sign the papers.¡± She wasn¡¯t one to cling desperately to another. What¡¯s more, she knew clearly that William no longer loved her. William¡¯s brows furrowed at Rachel¡¯s words. He turned to look at her and stood, his face dark. Rachel could see a vicious glint in his deep, dark eyes. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯ve been wanting a divorce for a long time, right?¡± Rachel was stunned by his question and looked up at him with confusion. ¡°I was just thinking in your shoes. Is that wrong? Or do you want me to cling on desperately to you and ruin your family¡¯s reputation? Your mom made it quite clear when she visited. It¡¯s all for the sake of protecting the Lewis family¡¯s reputation. This entire matter won¡¯t blow over unless we get a divorce.¡± The veins on William¡¯s forehead popped. ¡°You mean, my mom asked you to divorce me?¡± ¡°Your mom came with divorce papers, forcing me to sign them. I told her you need to be in the know about this,¡± Rachel said honestly. William fixed his gaze on Rachel. ¡°Did you sign it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± She had already signed another set of divorce papers. Why sign another? That was the gift she had prepared for William. William¡¯s shoulders drooped, looking as though he had breathed a sigh of relief. His tone softened. ¡°Don¡¯t me my mom. This matter blew up, and she had no other way about it.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t shocked by William¡¯s attempt to speak up for his mother. She had long gotten used to it. Blood was thicker than water. How could she expect William to side with her instead of his mother? Rachel wouldn¡¯t be foolish to think that William would stand on her side. What¡¯s more, things were critical right now. There was really no point getting obsessed about something like this. ¡°Okay, I know.¡± Rachel was very calm. However, she said nothing after that, which made William think that she was sulking. He pursed his lips. ¡°My mom did that for the good of our family. I did warn you not to get too close to Tyler. Why didn¡¯t you listen to me? Why didn¡¯t you pick up my calls? I feel like you¡¯ve changed.¡± William started to bring up the past. Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed, scoffing inwardly. How could William use her so thoughtlessly? Between the two of them, who was the one who changed? A Rachel suppressed the urge to argue with William and said tly, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with too many things, including work. You know about ourpany¡¯s interactions with LS Enterprise. Meetings with Tyler are inevitable. What¡¯s more, I¡­¡± ¡°Quit using work as an excuse! I can meet Tyler for the project. Anyone in thepany can do the same, but Tyler insisted on taking Samantha off the project. Tell me! Did he sign the agreement for this project for your sake?¡± Her Exit 226 William¡¯s pitch went up a notch as he grabbed Rachel¡¯s shoulders, shaking them hard. He red at her with red¨Crimmed eyes. Rachel could feel her brain shaking in her skull. She tried to bear the difort. ¡°William, calm down and hear me out!¡± That was when William stopped shaking Rachel. She bit her lips hard, her eyes just as cold. It had been so long since she returned home, yet William showed her no concern about whether she was injured. His suspicions about her rtionship with Tyler were most likely due to the photos he saw online. William knew that something had happened when they were at the barst night, and even Tyler got hurt and was sent to the hospital. Yet, he didn¡¯t bother checking in on her and asking if she was fine. It was vastly different from how much he overreacted to any slight difort Samantha felt, be it a headache or gastric pains. William took a deep breath before letting go of Rachel. He sat down on a chair and poured himself a ss of wine, which he downed. ¡°Speak.¡± Rachelposed herself and tried to figure out what to say. ¡°You im that something is going on between me and Tyler. If you believe everything you hear outside, why don¡¯t you take the rumors about you and Samantha seriously?¡± William was stunned for a moment. Then, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve already exined my rtionship with Samantha. I just find her pitiful. Since we used to be schoolmates, I want to help her to the best of my abilities. Now that you¡¯ve quit, she¡¯s the only one I can work with.¡± William said it so helplessly, as if he was forced to promote Samantha at work. Rachel sneered. What a tear¨Cjerking performance he was putting up! Who would believe that Samantha was the only one he could work with in that hugepany of his? She didn¡¯t know if even William believed what he was saying. Instead of refuting his words, Rachel yed along and said, ¡°Is that so? That makes things difficult. It¡¯s troublesome if you have no one else you can work with in the office.¡± The anxiety and worry in William¡¯s eyes faded at the sight of Rachel being so agreeable. ¡°Rachel, can you considering back to work?¡± Rachel forced a smile on her face. She didn¡¯t know if it was William who couldn¡¯t bear for her to leave thepany, or if he simply thought that there would be no one around to cover Samantha in her absence. At the end of the day, she was nothing but a useful tool he could keep around and use. Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up as she switched the subject to talk about Samantha. ¡°William, you know about the rumors in the office between you and Samantha. Even if I trust you, you can¡¯t block out the nasty gossip spreading in the office. ¡°My resignation is a good thing for both you and Samantha. If you really want me back, you can transfer Samantha to another department for the time being. ¡°For example, the marketing and sales department. As long as the three of us are in different departments, no one would be able to spread any rumors.¡± Rachel was making it very clear that if William wanted her to stay on in thepany, he had to separate her and Samantha. The office of the marketing and sales department was located very far away from William¡¯s department. It was akin topletely separating the two of them. It was up to William whether he was willing to forsake his lover. Rachel was forcing him to choose between the two. Her Exit 227 Chapter 227 Time seemed to stand still. Rachel took a deep breath and stared at William. A momentter, William finally spoke¨Cpatiently, almost gently. ¡°Rachel, I know you don¡¯t feel veryfortable about the rumors spreading in the office, but Samantha¡¯s mother is still receiving treatment in the hospital. You know the marketing and sales department well. A neer wouldn¡¯t be treated very well there. She needs money right now. Transfetting Samantha there would be akin to sending her to her doom.¡± Rachel could tell that William was very patiently exining things to her. He would rather spend time patiently exining this to her than to ask her if she was injured. She nodded her head understandingly, as if she had epted his exnation. ¡°Okay, I got it. You don¡¯t need to exin so much. I know Ms. Judd¡¯s situation is ratherplex.¡± She shrugged and went on, ¡°I was just making a casual remark. You don¡¯t need to take it so seriously.¡± William nodded. ¡°Stay at home for the time being. Things are really messy out there, so you shouldn¡¯t head out for now.¡± Rachel took another deep breath. ¡°How do you intend to deal with it?¡± She wanted to hear from William. Thinking of that, William rubbed the bridge of his nose. ¡°Things are gettingplicated. We¡¯re thinking of clearing your name, since your face wasn¡¯t captured in the photos and only your side and back profiles can be seen. Reporters may have seen you there, but if they didn¡¯t manage to capture your face, it can¡¯t be considered concrete evidence. ¡°We can always say that Tyler went to the bar with another woman As a single man, it¡¯s a that softened just a moment earlier tensed up again. ¡°What, can¡¯t you even tell me where you got these clothes from?¡± Sweat dripped down Rachel¡¯s back. Her Exit 228 Chapter 228 Rachel pursed her lips. After pondering for a moment, she said, ¡°Tyler and I bumped into hooligan who insisted on having a drink with me. He even¡­ I couldn¡¯t wear my clothes. It was Tyler¡¯s assistant who helped me buy a change of clothes.¡± There was a pained look on Rachel¡¯s face as she recounted the harrowing incident. William approached her, his brows furrowed and his face dark with concern. ¡°Are you alright?¡± At that moment, Rachel couldn¡¯t seem to tell whether the worry on William¡¯s face was genuine or feigned. Never had she expected she would one day doubt the feelings of the man she had loved for seven years. She looked down, hiding the mncholy in her eyes. ¡°Do you really care whether I¡¯m fine or not? Where were you when needed you?¡± With Samantha, of course. William¡¯s mind was in a mess. He furrowed his brows, trying hard to remember. ¡°When¡­when did you try calling me? It was just that one time when I told you I was upied.¡± Rachel looked at him, denying the truth, feeling her heart sink into the depths of disappointment. Even so, she was no longer as shocked as she was before. She was no longer startled by how much the man she loved for so many years had changed. Perhaps she had gotten so used to it, she no longer felt disappointed by it. This man was capable of making her lower her standards again and again. Rachel felt deeply exhausted. She had said so much to William, but nothing seemed to work. She shrugged. ¡°Forget it,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the room to rest.¡± Rachel turned to walk toward the room. William pursed his lips as he looked at her retreating figure, his eyes icy. Rachel returned to the room andy down on the bed, finally able to rx somewhat. All she could think of was how to make Tyler agree to her request. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t have anything to give him in exchange. Tyler didn¡¯tck money. As for business opportunities, there were plenty of people fighting to offer that to Tyler. She counted for nothing. But if she failed, her mother¡¯s tombstone thaty outside the Lloyd family cemetery would forever be a regret in her lif in her chest. She pursed her lips¨Cshe promised herself that no matter the price she would make Tyler agree to it. ¡®horn Meanwhile, William returned to the study feeling frustrated and ill at ease. He paced up and down the study before pulling his phone out and calling his mother. Over the phone, Cassandra said viciously, ¡°William, is that bitch Rachel back home? I¡¯m warning you, watch out for her and Tyler! If they really end up together, you¡¯ll be the butt of everyone¡¯s jokes. I¡¯ll be too embarrassed to appear in public!¡± Each time Cassandra mentioned Tyler, she felt as though her world was crumbling. Tyler was a frightening presence in the Lewis household. The eyebags under William¡¯s eyes and his hoarse voice betrayed the deep fatigue he was feeling. He reached out to grasp the windowsill, his fingers tightening their grip. ¡°Mom, did you serve her divorce papers?¡°. Cassandra was slightly taken aback. She took a few seconds topose herself before saying, ¡°Did that bitch tell you that? Hmph! I knew she wasn¡¯t as innocent as she portrayed herself to be. I knew it! William, divorce her before is hoo¨Cha between her and Tyler goes too far!¡± Suddenly, William roared like an angry beast. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll never divorce lier!¡± Cassandra jumped back in shock. William had never reacted so negatively toward her! A Her Exit 229 Chapter 229 Yet here he was, behaving like a raging lion at the mention of Rachel. Cassandra didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Why won¡¯t you divorce Rachel? Samantha is carrying your child. Do you want her child to be illegitimate?¡± Cassandra¡¯s words hit the nail on its head. William gripped his phone so tightly, the veins on the back of his hand popped. ¡°If I let her go and divorce her, if¡­if there¡¯s really something going on between her and Tyler, that¡¯d be akin to giving them my blessings.¡± If he divorced Rachel, she would have every reason to be with Tyler Others might care about other people¡¯s opinions, but Tyler was different. He did everything based on his mood and never cared about what others thought. He would allow them to have what they want over his dead body. ¡°What¡¯s more, Rachel didn¡¯t sign it. That means she doesn¡¯t want to divorce me,¡± William went on. Cassandra had no idea what her son was thinking. He might have genuinely liked Rachel when he insisted on marrying her back then, but now that Samantha was back, things were different. He should be focusing all his attention on her instead. Cassandra sighed. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand you. If you don¡¯t divorce Rachel and Samantha¡¯s stomach eventually gets bigger, you won¡¯t be able to keep the truth hidden.¡± With that, she hung up. William¡¯s eyes narrowed. Silence ensued in the room. He went through countless cigarettes as he closed himself up in the study, only returning to his bedroom at two in the morning Coincidentally, Rachel was walking out of the washroom, wearing a spaghetti¨Cstrap sleep gown. She was groggy from waking up in the middle of the night to use the toilet. She nced at William sleepily and turned back to fall back into her bed, but suddenly felt someone grab her wrist. Rachel¡¯s wrist bone almost broke under the force, and the sudden pain drove away all sleepiness. She turned around. With confusion in her eyes, she snapped at William, ¡°What are you doing? Let me go!¡± William¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his eyes deep and dark, sending fear shooting through Rachel¡¯s heart. ¡°Where¡¯s the butterfly on your back?¡± Rachel fell silent. She heard his question loud and clear, but was stunned by it. William thought she didn¡¯t read his lips clearly and started signing to her. ¡°I¡¯m asking about the butterfly on your back.¡± Rachel finally snapped back to attention, realizing that William was ring up at her in the middle of the butterfly on her back was gone. because the What a preposterous reason! If she didn¡¯t know the story behind the butterfly, she would probably still be clueless as to why William was yelling at her. He was furious only because the butterfly that looked so much like the one on Samantha¡¯s back was gone. ¡°I found it ugly and don¡¯t want it anymore. Can¡¯t I?¡± Rachel said coldly. She had it tattooed on her back of her own ord. Did she have to seek his permission to have it removed? William furrowed his brows, his entire body exuding an ley aura. ¡°Why don¡¯t you want it anymore? Didn¡¯t you say that you like it very much?¡± Rachel cast him a sideways nce. Her calm andposed demeanor formed a stark contrast with his burning fury. There was almost no emotion in her voice. ¡°What¡¯s there to say? fused to like it, but I don¡¯t anymore. Who said that one must keep liking something forever?¡± People could stop having feelings for another person with time, not to mention objects. What¡¯s more, wasn¡¯t William the one who gave up halfway and ended up liking someone else? What right did he have to question her? Rachel looked at William through narrowed eyes, her stare piercing. ¡°Even if I¡¯m your wife, aren¡¯t you going overboard?¡± Her Exit 230 Chapter 230 William didn¡¯t know what was going on, but at that moment, he could sense a bone¨Cpiercing chill in Rachel¡¯s eyes. By the time he recovered, all he could see was her usual look of indifference. He wondered if he was seeing things. Rachel shook off William¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I want to sleep.¡± +25 BONUS She didn¡¯t tell William why she removed the tattoo, but she would let him know the reason when she eventually left Yurelia City. William watched Rachel¡¯s retreating figure and opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He shut the door and returned to the study. Hey down on the couch, the dim light shining on his handsome features and reflecting the mncholy on his face. Based on what he knew of Rachel, she wasn¡¯t the kind to be fickle in her affections and abandon the old for the new. She would be faithful to what she liked, and would never exchange it for something else. Or, could it be¡­ William inhaled sharply. Did Rachel realize something? He thought back on recent happenings, remembering that Rachel never threw a tantrum over Samantha. She would only ask a little more and never say anything specific. After coaxing Rachel, William seldom gave further thought to the matter. Despite the suspicions in his mind, he couldn¡¯t quite confirm if that was where something had gone wrong. After what happened with William, sleep evaded Rachel. She tossed and turned on the bed, frustrated and bothered. She nced at her wrist, which had turned red from William¡¯s grip The redness had somewhat faded. Thinking of her meeting with Tyler tomorrow, Rachel forced herself to sleep, or she might copse during the meeting. Rachel didn¡¯t know when she fell asleep, but it was nine in the morning when she woke up. She quickly got out of bed and rushed to the washroom to freshen herself up. She texted Tyler. [Mr. Hunt, where shall we meet for lunch?] Tyler replied to her very quickly, but the teasing tone was apparent [Are you itching to give your money away? Will you only feel good if you use it?] Rachel stomped her foot in frustration. She wasn¡¯t itching to give her money away, but she was certainly itching to settle this once and for all! She wouldn¡¯t be able to leave if she didn¡¯t settle this matter properly. She did not receive a response from Tyler after replying to his text Her heart raced as she waited for Tyler¡¯s reply¨Cshe suddenly felt as though she were dating him. The feelings Tyler elicited in her frustrated her to no end. At the possibility of Tyler going back on his word, Rachel trembled Suddenly, she felt someone tap on her shoulder, frightening her so badly that her face turned pale. She turned around, and rxed when she saw that it was William. He immediately sensed something amiss. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you feel unwell?¡± Rachel was surprised to hear William showing her concern. She slipped her phone back into her pocket and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Cecilia was just telling me about something that cropped up back at home and asked me for help to find an apartment.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find an apartment. We bought a small apartment before. You can let her move in there and decide how much rent you want to charge her,¡± William said. The sudden change Rachel felt in William surprised her. William was not one to butt into his employee¡¯s private affairs¨Caside from Samantha, of course. Rachel looked questioningly at William. ¡°What¡¯s with you today?¡± que + Her Exit 231 William smiled, pulled Rachel into his arms, she knew. He pointed at himself. and gently patted her back. He was once again the patient andposed William ¡°Of course I¡¯ll follow your wishes. Besides, haven¡¯t you always gotten along well with Cecilia?¡± Rachel felt uneasy. She couldn¡¯t tell what William was thinking anymore. Lately, Cecilia had been looking for a new ce. Her previousndlord wanted to sell the apartment quickly because a family member had fallen ill. So now Cecilia and her whole family had to find somewhere else to live. But her sry wasn¡¯t much. With kids to care for and daily expenses piling up, renting a decent ce was tough. If William rented the house to Cecilia, it would help her a lot. ¡°That¡¯s great. But she should still sign a contract with you.¡± William frowned. ¡°We¡¯re all in the samepany, and you know her. Is that really necessary?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Rachel said. ¡°A contract protects both parties.¡± What she was really worried about was if Cecilia didn¡¯t have a contract, and one day Rachel was no longer around, William might take out his anger on Cecilia and kick her out. But with a lease in ce, even if he didn¡¯t want to rent to her anymore, he¡¯d have to wait until it expired. William didn¡¯t press the issue. He just ruffled her hair affectionately. ¡°Alright. As long as you¡¯re happy.¡± Rachel gave him a gentle push. ¡°Now go take care of your stuff. I¡¯ll tell Cecilia the good news once I finish up.¡± ¡°That can wait. I booked your favorite restaurant.¡± He had started making arrangementstest night. He wanted to surprise Rachel. He realized he had been neglecting hertely because of Samantha. Rachel looked confused. ¡°Is there a special asion? Why the sudden dinner n?¡± William pinched her cheek with a smile. ¡°Is that so strange? I¡¯ve been busy with work and haven¡¯t had time for you. Now that I do, I want to spend more time together.¡± Rachel felt a lump in her throat. If William had paid this kind of attention when she still cared, maybe things wouldn¡¯t havee this. But now, it was toote. She gave him a casual excuse. ¡°I already made ns with Cecilia. She finally got some time off, and I can¡¯t back out. 31 William¡¯s expression was briefly sullen. ¡°But I¡¯ve already made the reservation. I even booked the whole ce so we wouldn¡¯t be disturbed.¡± Rachel reached out and hugged him. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We still have time. Any day will do. But Cecilia¡¯s in a tough spot. If she doesn¡¯t find a ce soon, she might end up on the streets with her kid.¡± It sounded serious, and William couldn¡¯t argue against it even if he was clearly disappointed. ¡°Alright,¡± he conceded. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll leave it for another day. But still want something today.¡± He leaned forward and tapped his lips. Now, whenever Rachel saw him, all she could think about was what had happened between him and Samantha.` She forced herself to ignore the rising disgust and to reply yfully, ¡°Come on. We¡¯ve already been married for so long. Don¡¯t be dramatic. I really have to go.¡± With that, she gave him a light tap on the chest and walked past ! Her Exit 232 Chapter 232 ¡°After Rachel left the house, she finally let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she hadn¡¯t eaten breakfast. Otherwise, she might have really thrown up. How could William manage to fall in love with two women at the same time? He had clearly done everything lovers would do with Samantha, yet he could still act like nothing had happened and continue showering her with affection. With a sneer, Rachel hailed a cab to head to LS Enterprise. Since Tyler wasn¡¯t replying to her messages, and she didn¡¯t want seem pushy, she figured it was better to show up in person. If she happened to run into him, she could just make up some excuse. Whether he believed it or not didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was seeing him. But when the car stopped outside LS Enterprise, Rachel was shocked to find the front of the building swarmed with reporters. From the looks on their faces, most of them had camped there all night. They were exhausted. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Could Tyler have worked through the night at the office? Things outside were already this chaotic, and he still had the energy to stay in and work. Rachel quickly put on a face mask and baseball cap, paid the fare, and got out. She walked through the crowd and was just about to enter the building when she was stopped by LS Enterprise¡¯s staff. ¡°Sorry, you can¡¯t go in.¡± Rachel lifted the garment in her hand and spoke in a soft voice. ¡°I¡¯m here to return Mr. Hunt¡¯s jacket.¡± She even pulled the jacket out to show them. Originally, she had nned to send it to the dry cleaner, but then thought there might not have been enough time. Before leaving the house, she had bought a new one. It was already one of the most expensive jackets she could afford. But if Tyler wanted the kind of hand¨Ctailored suits he usually wore, then she really couldn¡¯t help. Even if she wanted to get one made, it was toote. More importantly, she didn¡¯t have that kind of money. One of Tyler¡¯s suits probably cost more than her sry andmissions for several years. The staff at the entrance still looked hesitant, but they also didn¡¯t want to risk holding up someone who really was delivering clothes for Tyler. If that caused trouble, they couldn¡¯t afford to take the me. After thinking it over, one of them finally spoke. ¡°Maybe we should call Mr. Hunt to check.¡± ¡°Yeah, get reception to ask him.¡± Rachel heard them nning to confirm with Tyler and quickly added, ¡°Tell Mr. Hunt my name is Rachel.¡± ¡°Could you repeat that?¡± Afraid of mishearing, they asked again. Rachel didn¡¯t think much of it and repeated, ¡°I¡¯m Rachel.¡± The group frowned and whispered among themselves. Rachel couldn¡¯t tell what they meant. Were they going to ask him or not? If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn¡¯t have said anything. Chapter 232 She was about ready to give up when, suddenly, one of them turned to her and said, ¡°You can go in.¡± Rachel was momentarily stumined. ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯re not going to check?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Go on up.¡± Rachel was the woman in the rumored scandal with Tyler. Who would dare stop her? They had been with thepany ever since Tyler founded it, and never once had there been rumors linking him with any woman. Sure, there were people who tried to create gossip around him before, but every attempt got shut down immediately. This was the first time Tyler hadn¡¯t denied a rumor. That alone said enough. Inside, Rachel stepped into the elevator. She was still in a daze. She couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d been let in this easily. When she reached the door to Tyler¡¯s office, she thought she could vaguely hear his voiceing from inside. Her Exit 233 ¡°You need to make sure Oasis doesn¡¯t get affected by this report.¡± Yale looked troubled. ¡°Mr. Hunt, that can¡¯t be helped. If we¡¯d had one to kill the rumor early on, maybe Oasis wouldn¡¯t have been affected. But now, it¡¯s hard to say.¡± Tyler frowned in annoyance. ¡°If you really can¡¯t handle anything, st quit. Let¡¯s not waste each other¡¯s time.¡± Yale quickly shook his head. ¡°No, no, Mr. Hunt, I can handle it. I¡¯ll deal with it right away.¡± With that, he scooped the stack of files off the desk, Jurned, and hurried out. Just as he opened the office door, he ran straight into Rachel. Yale froze. ¡°Ms. Lloyd.¡± Rachel almostughed out loud but kept a straight face and greeted him calmly. ¡°Yale, thanks for bringing me those clothesst time.¡± Yale blushed as Rachel looked at him. He quickly lowered his head. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I still have to carry out Mr. Hunt¡¯s instructions. I¡¯ll leave now.¡± Rachel nodded. Yale walked past her to the elevator and pressed the button. He couldn¡¯t help but nce back at where Rachel was standing. He reflexively touched his chest and realized how fast his heart was racing. Rachel really was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. He had actually blushed just from her looking at him. Thinking about it, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how Tyler had some serious self¨Ccontrol. If it were anyone else, they would¡¯ve caved a long time ago. Rachel knocked politely on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice came from inside. Rachel steadied herself. She then pushed the door open and walked up to his desk. ¡°Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler looked up. A flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes. ¡°How did you get in?¡± Rachel paused before answering honestly. ¡°I told your security downstairs that I was Rachel, and that I was here to return your jacket. They let me in.¡± At that, something flickered in Tyler¡¯s dark eyes. He had a faint, knowing smile. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re good at reading the room,¡± he murmured. ¡°Sorry? What did you say, Mr. Hunt? I didn¡¯t catch that.¡± Rachel thought he was talking to her. Tyler gave a small, awkward cough and returned to his senses. ¡°Nothing. Didn¡¯t you say you came to return my jacket? I wasn¡¯t expecting it so soon.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get it back yet. The original jacket is still at the dry cleaner, and it might take a few more days. So I bought you a new one. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ll like it.¡± Rachel took the new jacket out of the bag. Tyler nced at thebel. He then looked at her with aplicated expression. ¡°You really went all out. This thing¡¯s expensive. Does William know?¡± It sounded like a simple question, but somehow,ing from Tyler, it carried a strange, ambiguous tone. ¡°She had only bought him a recement jacket. Why did he have to bring William into it? Now it sounded like she¡¯d snuck around behind William¡¯s back to by something for Tyler. Technically, she had. If William found out, things would definitely blow up. Rachel didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she quickly changed the subject. ¡°Try it on. See if it fits.¡± +2 Her Exit 234 The way Tyler looked at Rachel changed slightly. Rachel took out the jacket and unfolded it for him to see. She looked like a salesperson pitching her product. ¡°Look, the material and fabric might not be as good as what you¡¯re used to, but it¡¯s still fine for casual wear,¡± she said. ¡°And here, there¡¯s an inner pocket, so you can keep something in there you want.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t say much. He leaned back like a boss taking his time,stening to Rachel while she presented the features of the jacket. Probably tired from listening, he took a sip of coffee and let the rich aroma linger in his mouth. Yale had picked a good coffee this time. Rachel kept talking enthusiastically, and Tyler just listened quietly as if he was enjoying a story. He didn¡¯t interrupt her and just let her go on. When Rachel finally finished and saw that Tyler¡¯s expression hadnt changed at all, she couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I can try another store. If that still doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll just wait until your original jacket is ready from the cleaners and bring it to you.¡± She knew all too well that there was a huge difference between a custom¨Cmade suit and an off¨Cthe¨Crack one. The two weren¡¯t in the same league. Tyler checked his watch, stood up from his chair, and adjusted his cor. ¡°Leave the jacket. Let¡¯s go eat.¡± Rachel let out a sigh of relief. As long as Tyler epted it, that was enough. But before they could even reach the door, the receptionist came over with a folder in hand. ¡°Mr. Hunt, are you heading out to eat?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± She looked hesitant. ¡°It might be better not to go out right now. The ce is surrounded by reporters everywhere. If they catch sight of you-¡± Right now, the rumors about Tyler and Rachel were spreading like wildfire online. Everything was being dug up. Tyler had spent thest few years outside of Yurelia City, and the media couldn¡¯t find much from abroad. Even if there had been anything, it had long been covered up by him. But Rachel was different. She was standing at the center of the storm. Just that morning, the front desk staff had seen the onlinements while having breakfast and were floored by what they had read. Some posts imed Rachel¡¯s change of heart was faster than flipping a switch, that the person she thought she¡¯d love forever was simply someone she hadn¡¯t outgrown yet. Someone had even unearthed the story of Rachel losing her hearing and nearly dying because of William The two of them had been considered the model couple in Yurelia City for years. They were thest pair anyone expected to split. And now, in the middle of all that, Rachel had shown up to see Tyler. It really would make people wonder if there was something going on between them. Tyler nced at Rachel. With his hands in his pockets, he frowned a little. ¡°Looks like your treat¡¯s not happening today. Why don¡¯t we just order delivery?¡± Rachel pursed her lips. She had never imagined the reporters would be this insane, but ordering takeout felt too casual. She needed to show how sincere she was so Tyler wouldn¡¯t tly reject herter if she asked for something. An idea came to her. ¡°How about this? We¡¯ll go to your ce. I¡¯ll cook for you. I remember my mom saying you loved meatballs.¡± Rachel had only recalled thatst night. Her childhood memories of Tyler were scattered mostly because she had been so young. Chapter 235 Her Exit 235 Chapter 235 +25 BONUS Since Rachel¡¯s mother was extremely strict with her, most of her he had been spent studying. She had only asionally heard her mother mention someone like Tyler. When Tyler heard her words, he looked at her with surprise. The man who was always calm and unreadable actually showed a flicker of emotion in his eyes for once. ¡°Do you know how to make meatballs?¡± Plenty of people knew how to make meatballs, but no one had ever managed to recreate the vor of Rachel¡¯s mother¡¯s version. Her meatballs were the best he had ever tasted in his life. The moment Rachel saw Tyler¡¯s reaction, she knew she had made the right gamble. She had never made any meatballs for William because he hated them. She didn¡¯t know if she could recreate her mother¡¯s vor, but that didn¡¯t stop her. With full confidence, she nodded. ¡°I do.¡± Tyler immediately said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t expected him to agree so quickly. ¡®Did he just say yes?¡® But then came another issue. She pointed toward the street below. ¡°There are still so many reporters outside. How are we supposed to get out?¡± Tyler thought for a moment. He then said to the receptionist, ¡°Find Yale. Tell him to put on my suit and a hat. Just make sure no one gets a clear look at his face.¡± The receptionist immediately understood Tyler¡¯s n. Yale would be a decoy. ¡°I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡± Rachel and Tyler stood together by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows and watched Yale, now dressed in a suit, walk confidently out the front door of thepany. In an instant, the reporters swarmed toward him like a pack of starving wolves. Tyler tilted his head toward Rachel and jerked his chin. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Rachel nced down at Yale below and shivered before following Tyler. ¡°Poor Yale. Those reporters are going to eat him alive.¡± Tyler pressed the elevator call button and nced sideways at her. Want to take his ce?¡± Rachel quickly waved her hands. ¡°No thanks.¡± If she and Tyler went down together right now, she didn¡¯t even want to imagine the scene that would unfold. They¡¯d bepletely surrounded. She was sure the reporters would stop at nothing to catch them together. The elevator doors opened. Tyler stepped in first. As soon as the doors closed, the employees outside immediately huddled together and started whispering. ¡°Oh my god, that¡¯s wild. What¡¯s going on between Mr. Hunt and Ms. Lloyd?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°Could the rumors be true? Are Mr. Hunt and Ms. Lloyd actually seeing each other?¡± ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t say that. Just hearing it makes me nervous. Isn¡¯t Ms. Lloyd still married?¡± ¡°Who knows? Maybe it¡¯s just gossip. It¡¯s not like Mr. Hunt hasn¡¯t had women try totch onto him before.¡± ¡°Exactly. Remember those women who tried to get headlines with Mr. Hunt? Their stories didn¡¯t evenst a day before getting taken down.¡± ¡°So this is basically the first time a woman has made it into a real scandal with Mr. Hunt.¡± ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so jealous. If I could ever be photographed in the same me as Mr. Hunt, I could die happy.¡± Inside the elevator, Rachel stared at the floor numbers dropping and suddenly remembered ¨C she still hadn¡¯t called Cecilia. If William asked her about itter and she didn¡¯t have her story straight, it would blow up fast. As soon as the elevator door opened she reached for her phone to call Cecilia, but William¡¯s name suddenly appeared on the screen. Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her Exit 236 Chapter 236 For a moment, Rachel couldn¡¯t even think straight. She just stood there frozen, clutching her phone like she was paralyzed. Tyler nced at the caller ID. Then he saw Rachel¡¯s nervous expression and let out a soft chuckle. ¡°With that look on your face, anyone would think we¡¯re having an affair.¡± Startled, Rachel immediately turned to him. ¡°Can you not mess around at a time like this?¡± Tylerughed huskily. ¡°I told you before and you didn¡¯t believe me Give me your phone. I promise William won¡¯t dare call again. 11 He even held his hand out seriously like he meant it. Rachel didn¡¯t dare hand Tyler her phone, especially not when everything was already teetering on the edge. He clearly had no good intentions. But then again, he was involved in this mess too. How could he be sopletely unfazed? She pointed in another direction. ¡°Give me a second.¡± Tyler cleared his throat and scratched his head. ¡°Make it quick. I don¡¯t have all day.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t answer William¡¯s call. Instead, she quickly texted him. Why did you call?] She then immediately messaged Cecilia and exined the entire situation. Cecilia replied with a simple ¡®OK¡®. Only then did Rachel finally breathe easy again. She put her phone away and walked over to Tyler. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Tyler led her toward the back exit of the building. It looked like a regr office hallway from the outside, but inside, it was a concealed passage. It was more like an emergency exit route. ¡°It¡¯s a little dark. Come here.¡± Tyler reached out and grabbed Rachel¡¯s wrist. She stiffened the moment his hand wrapped around hers. She actually had mild astigmatism, and with such dim lighting it was hard for her to see clearly. One small step at a time, she followed Tyler down the hallway. She felt slightly helpless. Oddly enough, the whole thing really did feel like they were sneaking around. As Rachel walked, her steps got a bit too quick. Her heels caught on each other, and before she could even react, she stumbled forward. Tyler heard the noise and had just started to turn when he felt her crash right into him. It was pitch ck. He couldn¡¯t see a thing, so his instincts kicked in. He reached out to catch her. He hadn¡¯t expected her momentum to be that strong. As soon as he caught her, he lost bnce and went crashing down with her in his arms. In that split second before hitting the floor, Tyler instinctively shielded her with his body. Rachel felt her whole body jolt, but it wasn¡¯t painful. Chapter 236 What she did hear was a soft, inuffled grint. She realized what had happened and immediately asked, ¡°Mr. Hu, are you okay?¡± +20 BONUS Tyler winced and grumbled without holding back. ¡°Seriously, Rachel, If you wanted to throw yourself at me, you didn¡¯t have to pick this ce. Just say the word, and I¡¯ll y along.¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks turned red, and even her ears felt wann. She quickly defended herself. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to throw myself at you! My heels got tangled!¡± ¡°You managed to trip on your own heels. That¡¯s impressive.¡± Using the wall for support, Tyler slowly stood up. Rachel didn¡¯t bother arguing. She knew she could never win a battle of words against him. Besides, he still had that injury on his back. Instead, she asked gently, ¡°How¡¯s your back? Is it okay?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of here.¡± Tyler got to his feet and kept walking forward with Rachel. Her Exit 237 Chapter 237 Once they got out, Rachel finally felt like light had returned to the world. She took a deep breath and sighed. The feeling of being back in the light was amazing. But the next second, Rachel turned to look at Tyler with a strange expression. Tyler frowned. ¡°Can you not look at me like you¡¯ve seen a ghost?¡± Rachel opened her mouth slowly. ¡°I just realized we were beingplete idiots. Why didn¡¯t we use our phones?¡± Their phones had shlights. Why had they fumbled their way through the dark instead? She could excuse herself for not thinking clearly, but Tyler? Had his brain shut down too? Tyler shot her a sideways nce, then pulled a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. ¡°Speak for yourself. Don¡¯t drag me down with you.¡± Rachel looked up at him. ¡°So you did remember your phone?¡± ¡°The second I turn it on, I get flooded with calls.¡± It was irritating enough that he¡¯d just silenced it altogether. Rachel nodded. ¡°Same here, but I set filters.¡± Suddenly, things started to make sense. No wonder Tyler hadn¡¯t replied to her messages earlier. Still, he could¡¯ve at least said something. Tyler smirked a little. ¡°See? It¡¯s still your fault.¡± Rachel clenched her fists. She was furious. ¡°You could¡¯ve at least reminded me!¡± Tyler¡¯s gaze locked onto her. The yful nonchnce from before was gone. Instead, his gaze was intense and deep. ¡°Rachel, you really are something. I took your hand and led you out, wasn¡¯t that good enough? These hands of mine aren¡¯t for just anyone. Be grateful.¡± Rachel pouted and murmured, ¡°What, is being touched by you supposed to bring me riches?¡± ¡°What was that?¡± Tyler suddenly leaned in close. His warm breath brushed against her ear. Rachel jumped. Her body trembled as her heart raced. Her ears were probably bright red now. She instinctively shrank back. ¡°Nothing.¡± Tyler pulled the car keys out of his pocket. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Rachel followed behind him, but as she walked, she noticed a blood stain on the back of his shirt. Her eyes widened, and she hurried to catch up. ¡°Your wound opened up again.¡± Tyler paused briefly but then brushed it off. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll rewrap it when we get back.¡± Rachel reached out and grabbed his hand. She was suddenly serious. ¡°We should go to the hospital.¡± Tyler¡¯s gaze settled on her for a moment, and his voice turned cold. ¡°Do you know what will happen if we go to the hospital right now?¡± Then Rachel realized that they didn¡¯t have options. Even going to a hospital wasn¡¯t possible in this situation. She backed down. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s just rewrap it at home then.¡± Tyler gave a short, amused short at how quickly she folded. Then he pulled open the car door and tilted his head toward her, gesturing for her to get in. Rachel saw it was his favorite car. It was the global limited edition he had raced against Howard with She always felt awkward sitting in the front seat. She could never forget what Samantha and William once told her. ¡°Tyler never lets anyone sit in the front passenger seat unless he thinks they¡¯re important.¡® But Tyler himself didn¡¯t seem to care much right now. Rachel stared at the passenger seat for a moment. She then looked away and opened the back door. ¡°I¡¯ll just sit in the back.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t bother saying anything. He grabbed her and shoved her straight into the front passenger seat before mming the door shut in one fluid motion. Chapter 238 Her Exit 238 Chapter 238 Tyler got into the driver¡¯s seat and started the engine. They headed toward the apartment. Midway through the ride, Rachel noticed that his face looked unusually pal¨¨ She was worried about the wound on his back. Tyler had been hurt because of her. She couldn¡¯t just sit back and ignore it. But knowing Tyler, he¡¯d probably clench his jaws and Tough it out do matter how much pain he was in. Men had so much pride. She spotted a pharmacy ahead and pointed at it. ¡°Pull over in front I¡¯ll get something for your wound.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tyler pulled the car over to the curb. He stayed in the car while Rachel got out. She bought some bandages and ointment for treating wounds, When she came back, she didn¡¯t get in right away. Instead, she walked over to the driver¡¯s side and tapped on the window. Tyler lowered it and squinted at her. ¡°What?¡°. ¡°Let me try driving your car.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes glimmered with surprise. ¡°Right now?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He looked thoughtful for a moment. He then unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door. Rachel nodded slightly. ¡°Thanks.¡± As Tyler walked around the car, she nced at the back of his shirt. Luckily, there wasn¡¯t much blood. It must¡¯ve opened up a little earlier when she fell on him. When Rachel sat in the driver¡¯s seat, it felt like a dream. She had never driven a luxury car before. Her heart fluttered with a little excitement and a hint of nervousness. After all, she knew just how expensive this car was. If she messed up, she would never be able to pay for the damage. Just as she was about to start the engine, she asked nervously, ¡°If anything happens, you¡¯re not going to make me pay for it, are you?¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Why? Are you that bad of a driver?¡± ¡°Not terrible. It¡¯s just my first time driving something this pricey. Of course I¡¯m nervous.¡± Her hands were already sweating on the wheel. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s insured,¡± Tyler said. Rachel just started to rx when he suddenly added, ¡°But if you really crash it, I¡¯ll just take you as payment.¡± Rachel had just started the car. As the engine roared to life, the sound thrilled her like music to her ears. She nced at Tyler as she elerated. ¡°Take me as payment? What are you going to do with me?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t exactly a jack¨Cof¨Call¨Ctrades. She figured even if Tyler took her, she wouldn¡¯t be of much use. Someone like Samantha could at least flirt her way through things. Tyler said tly, ¡°I could use you for bedtime stories.¡± ¡°Bedtime stories?¡± Rachel blinked in confusion. She had no idea what kind of twisted logic Tyler was working with this time. ¡°Figure it out yourself.¡± Tyler clearly had no intention of exining. +28 BONUS Rachel was a little nervous at first, but as she got morefortable, her driving got faster and smoother. She was like a wild horse breaking free down the road. The engine¡¯s deep roar echoed across the highway. Plenty of people were drawn by the sound. ¡°Holy crap, that car is so cool.¡± ¡°It¡¯s expensive too. I heard it¡¯s a limited edition.¡± ¡°Who owns that? Must be loaded.¡± ¡°Not sure, it sped past too fast to see. But I think it was a woman.¡® ¡°Damn, which lucky girl is that?¡± ¡°I managed to snap a photo. Come, look!¡± Others quickly gathered to get a glimpse. Rachel pulled up in front of the apartment and killed the engine. They¡¯d made it in one piece. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Tyler. ¡°We¡¯re here. Let¡¯s get out.¡± Tyler rested a hand on the door and gave her a look. ¡°So this is what you call being nervous? The way you were driving, you didn¡¯t look scared at all.¡± Her Exit 239 Chapter 239 Rachel smiled. ¡°I just wanted to get here faster so we could deal will your wound.¡± She grabbed the bag from the pharmacy, got out of the car, and walked around to the passenger side before opening the door. ¡°Do you need me to help you out?¡± Tyler suddenly realized something. A smirk appeared on his face. He knew something was off earlier. He had wondered why Rachel ad randomly asked to drive his car. In a situation like this, she wouldn¡¯t normally be in the mood to try out a luxury car. Yet she¡¯d looked at him all innocent, like a wide¨Ceyed bunny, asking if she could take it for a spin. He¡¯d actually believed her. Tyler waved her off. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± He unbuckled his seatbelt, and grabbed the door handle as he got out. Rachel noticed how he paused for a beat as he got out of the car, clearly in pain, before finally straightening up. When they reached the apartment door, Rachel looked at the keypad and instinctively stepped aside to let him punch in the code. ¡°Two, zero, zero, zero, five, two, zero.¡± Tyler stood there as he recited the code out loud, clearly expecting her to enter it herself. Rachel walked up and pressed the numbers as instructed. Beep. The door opened. Tyler stepped inside, and Rachel followed right behind him. But something about that code stuck with her. It felt familiar. Tyler slipped off his jacket and copsed onto the couch. The dog didn¡¯t run toward him as expected. Instead, it charged straight at Rachel like a missile. As the huge dog hurted toward her, Rachel froze on the spot. The dog leapt and tackled her to the ground. Thankfully, shended on a plush carpet. At thest second, she instinctively threw her hands out to break the fall, preventing her head from mming into the floor. Before she could even process what had happened, the dog was already licking her face enthusiastically and rubbing its head against her. Rachel knew from videos and reading that dogs showed lots of physical affection. If they were acting like this, it usually meant they were thrilled to see the person. Although it was only a dog, she waspletely pinned. The worst part was that she wasn¡¯t even strong enough to push it off. All she could do was look toward the couch, where Tyler was casually sipping coffee, and call for help ¡°Mr. Hunt, can you please control your dog?¡± ¡°Ray,¡± Tyler called out in a deep,manding voice. Instantly, the dog obediently got off her and trotted back to Tyler. Tyler patted its head. ¡°If you keep bothering her, she might poison you one day.¡± Ray¡¯s eyes filled with fear. He pressed closer to Tyler¡¯s legs like he was seeking protection. Rachel muttered under her breath. ¡°How could you scare a dog like that?¡± He was awful. Tyler casually lifted his gaze. ¡°Sounds like you actually liked him being that friendly with you.¡± Just thinking about what had happened made Rachel shudder. ¡°No thanks.¡± Tyler eyed her glistening cheek, slick from all the dog¡¯s saliva, with undisguised distaste. ¡°You should probably wash up.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t need to be told twice. She quickly headed for the bathroom, but paused in the hallway to remind him, ¡°Open up the bag. I¡¯lle help you with it in a bit. Take off your clothes while you¡¯re at it.¡± Chapter 240 + Her Exit 240 After Rachel left, Tyler tapped Ray¡¯s nose. ¡°You were way too clingy just now. What, I don¡¯t deserve a little dignity?¡± Ray whimpered andid at Tyler¡¯s feet. His pitiful eyes brimmed with innocence. Rachel stepped out of the bathroom. Her fingertips were still wet. She flicked the water off and casually asked, ¡°Mr. Hunt, your bathroom doesn¡¯t even have a towe¡± Mid¨Csentence, she looked up and spotted Tyler with his back furried toward her. He was in nothing but his underwear. His skin was smooth over toned muscle, and the raw masculinity made her jaw drop. She had seen his body before, but somehow it still managed to take her breath away every time. Tyler turned around when he heard her voice. ¡°There¡¯s no towel. Can¡¯t you just use a tissue?¡± Still stunned, Rachel only now snapped her mouth shut after hearing his voice. ¡°Oh, right. Sure.¡± She walked over to the table, pulled a couple of tissues from the box, and wiped her hands. She then nced at him. ¡°Why¡¯d you take all your clothes off?¡± Tyler blinked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me to?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. ¡°I told you to take off your shirt, not everything.¡± ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t say only the shirt.¡± Tyler said this with absolute confidence like he had the moral high ground. Rachel wisely chose not to argue. Dealing with Tyler was exhausting enough, never mind the dog that was still eyeing her like a personal chew toy. She picked up the ointment from the table and stood beside him ¡°Turn around.¡± Tyler turned his back to her. Rachel removed the bloody bandage and tossed it in the trash. The wound across his back was split open in the middle. She inhaled sharply. That familiar difort welled up in her again. She felt goosebumps all over her body. But she took a deep breath, steadied herself, and got to work. She applied the ointment before wrapping fresh gauze around his torso. To do it properly, she had to wrap it around from behind and then reach over his front. At first, Tyler didn¡¯t think much of it. But then he suddenly felt something soft press against his lower back. His body went stiff instantly. Rachel noticed the tension. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I hurt you?¡± Tyler¡¯s voice came out deeper and raspier ¡°No. Just back off a little. You¡¯re too close. It¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Hot?¡± Rachel echoed in confusion. She nced down and realized just how close she had been pressed up against him. Her cheeks turned red in an instant. ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 240 This time, she was extra careful to keep her distance. But just as she focused on her task, Tyler¡¯s teasing voler could be heard. ¡°Rachel, does William not feed you? You¡¯re practically skin and bone.¡± Rachel froze. Her hand paused in the middle of the motion. Her brain soon caught up. She looked down at herself. ¡®Skin and bone?¡® Was Tyler seriouslyparing her to that curvy woman in red fromst time? She continued bandaging him but muttered a response while doing so. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re marrying me, Mr. Hunt. What I look like as nothing to do with you. You really don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± Tyler snorted. Rachel found it awfully insulting. What was so funny? So what if she wasn¡¯t voluptuous? It wasn¡¯t something she could control. Besides, she liked her figure just fine. Her Exit 241 Chapter 241 Clearly, Tyler didn¡¯t think so. That woman in the red dressst had been seductive, so much so that even Rachel, as a woman, had to admit she was stumming Just one look from her was enough to send a jolt of electricity through someone¡¯s body. What man wouldn¡¯t be into that? For all Rachel knew, Tyler had already made ns to see her in private Tyler straightened his back. Sensing that Rachel had finished dressing his wound, he reached for the shirt beside him and pulled ¡°I never said I didn¡¯t like your figure.¡± Rachel was already used to his abrupt, half¨Cjoking remarks and replied without missing a beat. ¡°Pretty sure you don¡¯t get a say in that ¡± Tyler buttoned up his shirt all the way to the top. His voice came out low and steady. ¡°Don¡¯t speak too soon¡± Right now, Rachel had only one thing on her mind. She wanted to get dinner ready for this man. If she timed it right and he was in a good mood after eating, she could slip in her request. She straightened her clothes and stood up, ¡°Do you have any groceries in your fridge?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He didn¡¯t cook often, but the cleaningdy always stocked the fridge with fresh ingredients. It was a strange quirk of his. He didn¡¯t necessarily eat the food, but he liked seeing a fully stocked fridge. Rachel walked over, opened it, and sure enough, it was packed with ingredients. She picked out a few and headed into the kitchen. Tyler nced over at her, watching her tie on an apron and busy herself at the stove. He pulled out his phone and casually snapped a photo of her from behind. He sent it to a group chat, There were only a few close friends in the group chat. Wace Peterson quickly responded with a shocked emoji. [Wait a second. Who¡¯s that girl? She looks very familiar.] Luke Ashborn also chimed in with a matching shocked emoji. [Holy crap, Tyler actually sent a message here? And it¡¯s a girl¡¯s photo? This is historic.] Jason Denzel was equally surprised. Whoa! Isn¡¯t she that someone-] Luke: (Dude, fix your sentence before you hit send. Jason: You guys seriously don¡¯t recognize her?] Luke: [Do you?] Wace: [Can¡¯t quite ce her, but yeah, she does look like someone we¡¯ve seen before. Jason racked his brain for a second. He then quickly typed. (1 got it. Isn¡¯t she trom the family that saved Tyler back in the day Luke suddenly remembered too [That girl is Tyler¡¯s¨C1 But he didn¡¯t finish the rest of the sentence. Everyone in the group knew what he meant. Jason: ITsk tsk. So what¡¯s Tyler trying to say here? That he¡¯s got a personal chef now? Luke jumped on the bandwagon. [Ugh, must be nice. Not all of us are lucky enough to have some girl making us dinner. 1 Tyler, sprawled on the couch with his legs stretched over the coffee table, responded with his usual arrogance. [Jealous, huh? Because no one¡¯s cooking for you?] Jason: [Bet you threatened her into it, didn¡¯t you?] Luke: [1 heard she¡¯s not the easiest girl to tame. Tyler probably used some leverage.1 Wace sent an emoji with raised eyebrows. [Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she¡¯s actually the one setting a trap for him.] Tyler saw thatst message and, almost instinctively, narrowed his eyes and looked at Rachel in the kitchen. Her Exit 242 Rachel came out of the kitchen with the dish a full two hourster, She had never realized how exhausting cooking could be, especially when she forgot the recipe for the meatballs hallway through and had to juggle between watching online tutorials and inving to recall how her mother used to make it. Her n mom¡¯s specialty had always been meatballs. If she couldn¡¯t recreate that exact vor Tyler loved, then this whole meal would be pointless. Rachel nervously brought the dish to the dining table. She nced over at Tyler, who was still lounging on the sofa, glued to his phone: She walked over and called out to him from behind, ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready, Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler paused mid¨Ctext and looked toward the dining table that was now covered with a decently hearty spread. He got up slowly from the couch and came to stand in front of Rachel. He rested his hand on the armrest and leaned in just a little. ¡°Rachel, why does this feel a little like a trap?¡± he asked. Rachel instinctively took a step back. Although her expression remained calm, her heart pounded. She forced a smile. ¡°How could it be? You already got Oasis. My mission isplete.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t press further. He straightened up and casually replied, Alright then. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Rachel followed him to the table while pursing her lips tightly. Her mind was already racing. That onement from Tyler hadpletely blocked her next move. If she tried to bring up the favor she needed during dinner, would he get annoyed? Trying not to show it, she sat down across from him and forced herself to get it together. .There was no turning back now. She¡¯d just have to go with the flow She picked up a meatball with her fork and ced it on Tyler¡¯s te. ¡°Try it. I can¡¯t promise it tastes exactly like how my mom made it, though.¡± If she had known sooner how much Tyler liked this dish, she would¡¯ve practiced ahead of time. The way to a man¡¯s heart was through his stomach, after all. Tyler picked up the meatball and took a bite. Rachel stared at him anxiously. It felt like her heart was being squeezed. She could barely breathe. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. ¡°Well? Is it good?¡± Honestly, she hadn¡¯t even felt this nervous when signing contracts Tyler wasn¡¯t saying anything. His expression kept shifting from a sight frown one moment to chewing with mild interest the next. Every second felt like an eternity until Rachel finally blurted out, ¡°Can you just give me a straight answer already? Is it good or not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Tyler replied tly. Rachel couldn¡¯t believe it. She had spent all that time cooking, and all he had to say was that it tasted alright She picked up a piece herself and took a bite. Her eyes lit up immediately. It was really good. How could he just say it was alright? But then again, he was Tyler, the ¡°ruler¡® of Yurelia City. He¡¯d probably eaten meatballs from every top kitchen in the county. If he¡¯d been to a restaurant that served better meatballs, he wouldn¡¯t have asked her to make this dish in the first ce. Rachel meal. There was no way she¡¯d admill tasted bad. A thought suddenly popped into her head. She set down her tork and reached out to take back the te of metballs from Tyler¡¯s side. Her expression was suddenly cold. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t suit your taste, then I¡¯ll eat them myself. I think they taste great.¡± Just as she was about to pull the te toward her, Tyler reached out and stopped her. His hand closed firmly around her wrist. Her Exit 243 ¡°Didn¡¯t you make this for me? Why are you taking it away now! Rachel pouted and, as if suddenly realizing something, ced the meatballs hack in front of Tyler. ¡°Oh, I just thought you didn¡¯t Tyler picked up his fork and started helping himself to the other dies, eating slowly and deliberately. ¡°Rachel, your tricks are way too obvious.¡± Rachel smiled nonchntly and muttered wider her breath, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter as long as they work.¡± The food was, in fact, pretty good. It wasn¡¯t exactly like the taste li remembered, but it was close. He took a sip of coffee and casually asked, ¡°Did you ever cook for William?¡± ¡°Of course. Did you have to ask?¡± As soon as she brought up her past as a pathetic lovelom loser, she wanted to p herself. Tyler clicked his tongue twice and set his cup down. ¡°So did you ever learn how to cook just for him?¡± Rachel nodded honestly. ¡°Yeah. There was a time when he had a bit of a stomach problem, and he couldn¡¯t handle porridge served outside. I had to make it for him myself. In the beginning, I never got the consistency right, so I just kept searching recipes everywhere I could. ¡°I¡¯d get up at five in the morning to cook porridge and make all the dishes he liked.¡± Tyler smiled at her response. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be the nurturing type, but Samantha sure has it easier. All she has to do is bat hershes, pout a little, and call out William¡¯s name in that soft voice of hers.¡± His words stung The contrast hit Rachel hard. Even she had to admit that William had probably never let Samantha wake up at five in the morning to make him porridge. Tyler had a way of hitting where it hurt. His words were merciless and always stripped away any illusion. He forced her to face the brutal truth. Rachel couldn¡¯t help imagining what would happen if Tyler had kids one day. If one of them came home upset because they¡¯d been bullied at school, the mother would probably hug them, talk it out gently, and help the child think through it But Tyler? He¡¯d probably throw out something cold like ¡®You can¡¯t even handle that? Why do you even bother staying alive?¡± She thought of what Xavier had said. Tyler had been physically punished as a child, and he used to be locked up in his room for hours. When it came to being locked up, Rachel had her own trauma. Once, while ying hide¨Cand¨Cseek with kids in the neighborhood, she¡¯d hidden inside a closet as she usually would, but someone had locked it from the outside, unaware that she was inside. She had panicked. That pitch¨Cck space had felt like it was swallowing her whole. She had been stuck there for two hours. No matter how loudly she cried or screamed, no one hade to help. Ever since then, she¡¯d had a fear of tight, enclosed spaces. Lock her up, and her mind would spiral into irrational panic. ¡°Are you thinking about how to improve your cooking so you can win William back?¡± Rachel snapped out of her thoughts and realized Tyler was suddenly standing right in front of her. He was so close she could see chopter 243 * every pore on his skin. She had never seen a guy with much perfect in before. Curious, she asked, ¡°Mr. Hunt, what kind of skincare products do you use? Tyler raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°What, are you jealous?¡± Rachel nearly rolled her eyes. It felt like she always walked straight into his traps, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. He had every reason to be proud. Still, thinking about the favor she had to ask himter, it probably wouldn¡¯t hurt to throw in a fewpliments now. She nodded camnestly and looked at him with admiration, ¡°Totally. Mr. Hunt, I¡¯ve never seen a guy with skin as wless as yours. You¡¯re basically the heartthrob of Yurelia City. No wonder all those women are dying to date you. You really are that amazing. Her Exit 244 Chapter 244 Tyler¡¯s expression visibly darkened at her words ¡°Thatpliment was a bit over the top. Go learn how to act from William ande back.¡± Rachel¡¯s smile froze. It felt like someone had just dumped a bucket of cold water over h head. Was her performance really that exaggerated? She thought she¡¯d actually been pretty sincere. Forget it. Tyler clearly didn¡¯t respond to ttery. Maybe it was better to just eist to the chase. ¡°Mr. Humt, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with you.¡± Tyler leaned back in his chair, his legs crossed. He rested his elbown the table, propping his chin on his hand. His narrowed eyes glinted. ¡°So you¡¯re finally going to show your hand?¡± Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°You knew already?¡± Tyler nced at her. Her pupils contracted slightly, a misty sheen in her eyes. She looked vulnerable yet alluring She probably didn¡¯t even realize that sometimes, just a single look from her could be so tempting He cleared his throat. His deep voice was like a rumble. ¡°I told you earlier. Your little tricks are see¨Cthrough to me,¡± The words ¡®see¨Cthrough¡® made Rachel suddenly recall how Tyler had once nced at her and immediately guessed her clothing! size, right down to her underwear. The man was terrifying. She suddenly realized all her schemes had been nothing more than aedy show in his eyes. He stood there like some omniscient god watching her il about for his amusement. The humiliation burned through her. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around her fork, and the smile on her facepletely vanished. ¡°If you knew, why didn¡¯t you say anything earlier? You just sat there and watched me make a fool of myself. Was that fun for you?¡± Tyler pressed his fingers to his brow. His tone turned cold. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t take your anger out on me. You¡¯re the one asking for a favor. Act like it.¡± His words hit her like a p. It was a clear warning not to act entitled. The resentment in Rachel¡¯s heart was immediately doused. Her reason snapped back into ce. He was right. She had no right to throw a tantrum in front of him. He wasn¡¯t her boyfriend and not even really a friend. Even if he was, she had no right to demand anything. Rachel took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. ¡°Sorry. I let my emotions get the better of Tyler didn¡¯t say anything. He just stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Rachel¡¯s heart leapt. She wondered if he was upset. She suddenly felt like she¡¯d really screwed up. If Tyler got mad now, her entire n would fall apart. She rubbed her brows, intensely stressed. What was she supposed to do now? If she couldn¡¯t get his help, she was done for. Things were already spiraling out of control. She didn¡¯t know who else to go to. Her phone lit up with a message from Cecilia. [How¡¯s it going on your end?1 Desperate, Rachel proceeded to tell Cecilia her n, everything except for her intention to leave Yure City Cecilia responded with a sweating emoji [Not to scare you or anything, but Tyler is seriously hard to deal with. Like,bine ten stubborn men together and you still wouldn¡¯t match him.1 [Yeah, I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you for help.1 Cecilia, being the loyal friend she was, didn¡¯t hesitate. [Hold on, let me think.1 Rachel waited a few seconds before another message popped up, [Look, reasoning with Tyler probably won¡¯t work. You eithery ifall out for him clearly or strike a deal. Since you¡¯ve already quit your job, maybe you can negotiate your way into hispany Rachel nearly smacked herself on the forehead. She was clearly panicking too much. Asking Cecilia hadn¡¯t helped at all. She might as well just figure it out herself. Her Exit 245 She texted Cecilia bark (Forget it. I¡¯ll figure something out on my own. I Cecilia had onest thing to say. [But honestly, no matter how difficult a guy is, they¡¯re all weak to one thing. Even heroes fall for a beautiful woman. With your looks, you¡¯ll definitely have him wrapped aromal your fingers. I Rachel stared at the message in disbelief. Cecilia was crazy. How could she think of such advice? Just then, Rachel heard footsteps approaching. She quickly stuffed her phone back into her pocket and acted like nothing happened as she continued to eat. Tyler walked over and suddenly ced a dessert in front of her, ¡°heard something sweet can improve a person¡¯s mood.¡± Rachel looked at the strawberry shortcake in front of her. She then turned to Tyler with a puzzled expression. ¡°What¡¯s this. supposed to mean?¡± Was this a peace offering? Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m trying to cheer you up. Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± The words ¡®cheer you up¡®ing from him instantly sent a chill down Rachel¡¯s spine. She felt goosebumps all over. She shivered. ¡°Please don¡¯t. It¡¯s creepying from you.¡± Those words were supposed to sound heart¨Cwarming, but when Tyler said it in his stiff, deadpan tone, it felt more like a threat. It was like ¡°eat this, or else something bad will happen!. Tyler pulled out a chair and sat down again. ¡°What? Is William good at cheering people up or something? It makes sense. If he wasn¡¯t, how else could he trick someone like you into being so devoted?¡± Rachel clenched her fist, but she had no way to refute him. His words, harsh as they were, hit home. She picked up a spoon and took a bite of the cake. The sweetness with a hint of tartness spread across her tongue, and for a moment, she really did feel a little better. Desserts really did help improve your mood. After a couple bites, Rachel finally calmed down and looked up at Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I know it might be bold of me to ask for your help.¡± Tyler saw how she kept circling back to the same topic, and the corners of his mouth twitches: ¡°You know it¡¯s bold, and you¡¯re still asking?¡± Rachel almost wanted to cry. What choice did she have? She¡¯d been nning to quietly leave once the deadline passed, but then somehow Tyler had gotten involved and everything had spiraled out of control. ¡°Mr. Hunt, if you have any terms, just tell me. I¡¯ll agree to them. But please, I really need your help.¡± Tyler rubbed his chin. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you want me to go public and tell the media that the woman at the bar was y sister. Since they didn¡¯t get a clear shot of your face, any woman could fill in, right? your ¡°And by doing that, you¡¯ll be able to go back to Gerald and openly demand your mother¡¯s headstone be returned to the Lloyd family.¡± Rachel inhaled sharply. It fell like a jolt of electricity had run down her spine, He¡¯d guessed everything word for word. If she hadn¡¯t known for a fact that she was alone when she went to the Lloyd family estate, she might¡¯ve thought Tyler had been there in person. How else would he know so much? Rachel had to admit she had gotten frustrated before. She felt like the tool of the century. She¡¯d wasted so much time carefully building her case, dressing up, and trying to steer the conversation. It was all for nothing. She could feel sweat forming on her forehead. After what felt like forever, Rachel finally found her voice again.. ¡°You¡¯re right. Since you already figured it out, I won¡¯t hide it.¡± Tyler lifted his gaze. His expression was as inditterent as ever.¡± me as your stepping stone, huh?¡± His casual words sent a chill down her spine. ¡°So basically, you¡¯re trying to use me. Bold of you, Rachel Using She was stupidly bold for wanting to use Tyler as her stepping stone. Rachel nervously fidgeted with her fingers. She forced herself to stay calm. She needed to convince him. Her Exit 246 ¡°But don¡¯t you need to clear thing reputation,¡± Rachelsall (Tou? Getting caught in cetal with a married woman like and cold really damage your At her words, Tylernglied as if he¡¯d just heard a joke. Rachel was shimmed His distinct brows, dark eyes, and perfectly pressed cks, handmade leather shoes, all gave oft an air of superiority. ed slightly as he crossed his legs qa to reveal a patriot that reputation means absolutely. He rubbed his brow and said tly. ¡°If you¡¯d stirred to look into me beforehand, you¡¯d know th nothing to me.¡± If he¡¯d cared about saving face, he would¡¯ve been devoured by the Veterans in the business long ago A deep sense of frustration swelled in Itachel¡¯s chest. Tyler was, without a doubt, the most difficult person she¡¯d meer had to deal with. He was like reinforced steel. No matter what tactic she tried, was like hitting a wall. She couldn¡¯t get any reaction at all. She figured she couldn¡¯t force him. If she tried to be aggressive, he just go one step fu So she got straight to the point. Then tell me, what will it take for you to help me?¡±
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Tyler casually jiggled his leg and gave her a thoughtful look. ¡°That depends on what you¡¯ve got to offer, Rachel.¡± Rachel¡¯s mind spiraled into chaos. The implication was clear. He wanted her. It was just like what Cecilia said. She clenched her fists tightly. Her expression was tense. After what felt like a long time, she made up her mind. She slowly got up and walked to stand in front of Tyler. She then reached up to unge the ribbon at her cor, followed by the first button. Her skin was pale and her figure delicate. With just the first button undone, the elegant curve of her corbone was already exposed. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of her chest, but Tyler didn¡¯t even blink. He stayed where he was, as rxed and indifferent as before, like he was just watching a performance. Rachel¡¯s fingers moved to the third button. Thece trim of her ck bra was now vaguely visible beneath the white fabric. It was a stark visual contrast. Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and the air between them felt like it was starting to thicken Rachel¡¯s cheeks burned red¨Chot, and her entire body felt feverish, She bit down on her lip. She was too embarrassed to even look at him. She had never undressed like this in front of a man, not even with William. She had always been reserved, especially about this sort of thing But if Tyler said no, her mother might never return to the Lloyd family. If she left now, she might never get another chance. Sh couldn¡¯t live with the guilt of freeing herself while leaving her mother alone in the dark. She was willing to give everything if that was what it took to bring her mother home. Just as she reached for the final button, Tyler suddenly grabbed her wrist. Rachel jumped. That¡¯s enough,¡± he said. She looked at him in confusion. His eyes, cold as ice, locked onto hers. The chill in them made the fairs on her skin rise. ¡°What? Not satisfied?¡± she asked bitterly, remembering his earlierment about her figure. He probably preferred someone curvier Tyler stood up and towered over her. Then, without warning, he reached a hand out toward her. Rachel held her breath. Her whole body was tense. She looked up at him a little warily She wanted to back away, but knowing how little patience Tyler had, she stayed still. If he sensed hesitation, he might shut downpletely. Her Exit 247 Tyler¡¯s fingertips brushed against the undone buttons of Rachel¡¯siri. His touch barely grazed her skin, in even that felt like a Jolt of electricity numing through her entire body. The contact she expected never caine, Rachel nced down and saw that Tyler was buttoning her shirt kup, one button at a time. She looked at him in confusion. When she finally opened her mouth, her lips were trembling slightly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked Tyler shot her a sideways nce. His usual nonchnt expression waspletely gone. What reced it was a chilling. piercing cold ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± he countered. Rachel¡¯s mind went nk. ¡°I just thought that if you didn¡¯t mind at I¡¯m married, you¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, so you do remember that you¡¯re married.¡± His tone was scating Rachel frowned. Her thoughts were a mess. What did he want from her? She waspletely thrown off Rachel decided to speak her mind. ¡°I thought about it. You don¡¯t need money, and you don¡¯t need power. The only thing I can give you is this.¡± Tyler slid his hands into his trouser pockets and leaned down close to her face. His voice sounded nonchnt, but somehow it still gave her the tingles. ¡°So what, you think I¡¯m desperate for a woman?¡± Rachel suddenly realized how wrong her words sounded ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± It was true. A man like Tyler could hardly be desperate for female attention. Honestly, even if she threw herself at him, he probably wouldn¡¯t even bat an eye. Tyler frowned. He gave off a cold aura Rachel felt a crushing pressure bearing down on her. in her grave ¡°Rachel, if your mother found out what her precious daughter is doing right now, I wonder whether she¡¯d roll over in Rachel¡¯s pupils contracted, and her face instantly drained of all color. Tyler always knew how t to strike where it hurt the most, and he never missed. His words didn¡¯t just sting. They gutted her. At that moment, Rachel¡¯s spinning mind snapped back into rity. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hunt. I was too impulsive. I shouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± What she¡¯d done wasn¡¯t just offensive to Tyler. It was humiliating for herself. Seeing her return to her senses, Tyler¡¯s sharpness finally softened. The hostility in his gaze melted away, and he went back to his usual careless self. ¡°Knowing you¡¯re wrong and correcting it, that¡¯s good,¡± he said casually. Then, after a pause, his tone turned serious again. ¡°But let me make this clear. What happened today, I can let slide. But I don¡¯t ever want to see you pull something like that with any other man, including William.¡± He emphasized thest part word by word. Rachel didn¡¯t fully understand why Tyler was making that kind of demand, but since she still needed his help, she bit her tongue. He was the boss now. ¡°Alright,¡± she answered. Tyler finally looked satisfied. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, go make me a cup of coffee. The machine¡¯s in the kitchen.¡± The sudden shift in topic caught Rachel off guard, but he hadn¡¯t t¨Cout rejected her request. Did that mean there was still room to turn things around? It was only a cup of coffee. Honestly, if that¡¯s all it took, she¡¯d be happy to brew coffee for him all afternoon. zuupler 248 Her Exit 248 ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go make it now,¡± Rachel said. Once Tyler saw Rachel head into the kitchen, the tension in his body finally eased Ray suddenly barked and leapt onto him. Caught off guard, Tyler couldn¡¯t dodge in time and took a direct hit the groin. His expression changed drastically, and his back curled instinctively as he clutched himself with a grimace. He red at the barking Ray with a voice full of restrained fury. ¡°If you end up doing permanent damage to me, I swear I¡¯m turning you into stew tomorrow.¡± Startled, Ray shrank back and tucked his head like a scolded child, Tyler stayed hunched over for a while, trying to suppress the sharp pain. He knew exactly why tay had reacted like that. In all these years, the dug had never once seen him with an erection. After all, there had never been any women around him But just now, Rachel¡¯s actions had genuinely stirred something inim Ray must¡¯ve thought something had gone wrong with his master. Tyler rubbed his temples and sighed to himself. Fortunately, he had enough self¨Ccontrol. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Rachel was making coffee, but her thoughts kept circling back. Why hadn¡¯t Tyler reacted at all earlier? She remembered how intense it had been thest time he¡¯d been drugged. Compared to that, this time he¡¯d beenpletely unmoved. With no one else to turn to, she texted Cecilia. Cecilia replied almost instantly. [You got that far and Mr. Hunt still didn¡¯t react? If that¡¯s the case, are you sure he¡¯s not into g Rachel stared at the message in shock. guys?] But the more she thought about it, the less sense that made. Tyler just didn¡¯t seem like the type. Another message from Cecilia came through. [Okay, then there¡¯s only one exnation left, but I¡¯m warning you, it¡¯s going to hurt a little.] Rachel¡¯s nerves were already frayed. [What?] Cecilia sent a sighing emoji. (You just don¡¯t turn him on.] It a man showed zero reaction when a woman literally offered herself, it meant one of three things. He was either into men, had problems getting an erection, or simply wasn¡¯t interested. With the first two ruled out, only the thinkremained. Rachel felt her heart sink. The realization was oddly painful. On one hand, she needed Tyler to go along with her n so she could reach her objective. On the other hand, she had hoped Tyler wouldn¡¯t be interested in her so she wouldn¡¯t have to go all the way. Realizing she¡¯d been in the kitchen long enough, Rachelposed herself and brought the coffee out. As she walked into the living room, she saw Tyler slouched on the couch, hugging a pillow with a sour look on his face. Her first thought was that he might¡¯ve pulled his injury again. She quickly walked over and gently tugged his arm. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be leaning back like that. Your back¡¯s still healing You need to sit up straight.¡± Tyler¡¯s expression changed, and he pulled away. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Rachel immediately realized she¡¯d overstepped. Tyler hated being touched. ¡°Sorry, I was just worried about your injury.¡± Tyler turned a bit to the side and took a sip of the coffee. To his surprise, it was actually quite good. Seeing his brow rx slightly, Rachel figured the coffee must¡¯ve been to his liking. Still reluctant to give up, she hesitated for a moment before trying again. ¡°Mr. Hunt, about what we discussed earlier-¡± Her Exit 249 Tyler softened his tone. ¡°If you want my help, sure, but I do have one condition.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Name it.¡± At this point, if Tyler was willing to help her, she¡¯d agree to just about anything. ¡°You¡¯ll sign an agreement. For the next year, you¡¯ll be my hypnotherapist and my personal assistant. That includes making coffee and handling all the mundane stuff.¡± It wasn¡¯t that big of a deal for Rachel. But a year? She didn¡¯t even have a week to spare, she needed to leave soon. Still, if she said no, the opportunity might disappear in a sh. Considering how cold and stubborn Tyler could be, the fact that he was even offering was rare enough to make hell freeze over. Tyler saw her hesitate and frowned. ¡°What? You need to think about such a small request? Are you afraid William might find out? Rachel didn¡¯t dare admit it was because she had ns to disappear, Even if she signed the contract now, it¡¯d be nothing more than an empty promise. She hadn¡¯t fully processed what Tyler had said. She just nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± The next second, Tyler¡¯s eyes dimmed, and he mmed his coffee cup down on the table with a sharp ck. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, if it¡¯s too much of an inconvenience, let¡¯s just forget this ever happened. Rachel panicked. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯ll do it.¡± Tyler turned slightly and eyed her carefully. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t afford to care anymore. As long as Tyler agreed to help, everything else would fall into ce. Once she was gone he¡¯d never find her anyway. Where she was going was strictly confidential. Whatever mess came after, someone else could clean it up. Tyler smirked. ¡°There¡¯s a copy of the contract on the desk in the upstairs study. Gesign it. It¡¯ll be effective starting tonight.¡± ¡°What?¡± Rachel troze. That meant Tyler had already nned this in advance. Before she¡¯d even made up her mind, and before she¡¯d evene to him for help, he had already seen where everything was going Everything was ying out exactly the way he¡¯d expected. A cold chill ran down her spine. Was this man some kind of god? How could he be one step ahead all the time? Rachel knew better than to ask. This was just Tyler¡¯s experience and foresight at work, and her own stupidity had gotten her here. She took a deep breath and slowly stood up. She walked toward thestudy upstairs. Sure enough, on the desk was a document with ¡®Contract¡® printed neatly at the top. Tyler was meticulous when it came to paperwork. were written clearly, but what caught Rachel¡¯s eye was the final line. The terms were ¡°Any breach of contract is at your OWIL risk.¡± There was no exnation of what those consequences were, but the words alone were enough to make her nervous. She felt a twinge of regret. What would Tyler do if she broke the contract? For a moment, she almost backed out. If there was one thing that was clear, it was that Tyler Hunt was not someone anyone wanted to crOSS. But there was no turning back now. Rachel picked up the pen on the desk, hesitated for a second, then quickly signed her name at the bottom. Downstairs, she handed the signed contract to Tyler. ¡°I¡¯ve signed it. I hope you can act quickly. The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day. It¡¯s the best time to move my mother¡¯s grave.¡± Her Exit 250 If it weren¡¯t already gettingte, Rachel would¡¯ve wanted to start night ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got it all nned,¡± Tyler repliest. Rachel nced at the time, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head back ¡± She still had to deal with Cecilia¡¯s housing issue. If she didn¡¯t handle it soon, it might be toote. ¡°okay. Don¡¯t forget about tonight,¡± His reminder made Rachel pause for a beat. She then nodded. ¡°G¡± Just as she turned to leave, her skitt suddenly felt like it snapped on something. Rachel looked down and sew Ray clinging to her hem. His teary eyes were staring up at her. Seeing that look, Rachel couldn¡¯t help but think of it as a fierce dog with a heart of gold. He looked tough, but he clearly had a gentle side. The old saving about how pets reflected their owners kind of checked out. She instinctively looked over at Tyler. ¡°Can you make him let go ofine?¡± Tyler casually nodded at Ray. ¡°He¡¯s the one not letting you go. Notine. Talk to him.¡± Rachel¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Can he even understand me?¡± Tyler flipped open a magazine. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not speaking an liennguage, he probably can.¡± Rachel bent forward slightly and reached toward Ray¡¯s head to pat him, only to freeze at the sight of his sharp fangs and oversized tongue. She got nervous again. In a polite tone, she tried negotiating. ¡°Can you let go of me, please?¡± Ray wagged his tail twice but still didn¡¯t release her skirt. Clearly, he had no ns to let her leave. Rachel gave Tyler a puzzled look. ¡°Why¡¯s he so obsessed with me Tyler rubbed his chin and thought for a second. ¡°Maybe because he¡¯s a boy? Rachel blinked. ¡°That¡¯s actually a thing? ¡°Bay,e here!¡± Tyler gave the floor a light stomp. ¡°Ray, Every time Rachel heard Ray¡¯s name, it felt like Tyler was calling her. It sounded way too close to her name. Her mom used to call her Ray all the time. Ray immediately let go upon hearing Tyler¡¯s voice and trotted over with a happy little whimper. He nuzzled against Tyler¡¯s hand. Tyler gave its head a good rub. ¡°Alright, she¡¯ll be back tonight.¡± Ray¡¯s eyes lit up. He wagged his tail excitedly as he sat upright next to Tyler. Tyler nced at Rachel and smirked ¡°Looks like he¡¯s in love with you Rachel was momentarily speechless. ¡°I¡¯m heading off, then,¡± she said. Just as she reached the door, she paused. It was the first time a dog had shown her that much affection. She turned back and said to Ray, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you some treatster.¡± Ray stuck his tongue out and wagged his tail even harder. Rachel could tell he was happy. She finally left Tyler¡¯s apartment. She tried calling for a ride for a long time, but no cars were avable. She sent Cecilia a location. (I might be a while. Head to this spot first and wait for me.1 [No rush. Take your time.] Rachel stood staring at her phone screen. The app was still searching for a driver. Tyler¡¯s apartment really was far out. It was practically in the suburbs. On the bright side, it kept the reporters away. There was no way she¡¯d ask Tyler to give her a ride again. Just then, a white car rolled up beside her, and the window rolled down. Rachel finally saw who it was ¡°Yale?¡± ¡°Ms. Lloyd, what a coincidence. Are you heading back to the city? Rachel nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Wait for two minutes. I just need to d to deliver something to Mr. Hunt. Then I¡¯ll be driving back too.¡± Rachel lit up. ¡°That¡¯s perfect!¡± Her Exit 251 Yale shut the car door and walked into the apartment with a document. He ced it on Tyler¡¯s desk. ¡°Mr. Hunt, here¡¯s the finalized draft you requested. It can be published tomorrow. Tyler skimmed through the pages and nodded. ¡°Okay. Post it after midnight tonight¡± It was a piece about him and Yvette, worded carefully to suggest the Lloyd family and the Hunt family were in talks but not officially involved. This way, Rachel would hepletely cleared of suspicion Yale nodded slightly. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be heading out. M. Lloyd is still waiting outside.¡± As Yale exited the apartment, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Tylerally liked Rachel. Why not just say so? Why did he go through all this trouble behind the scenes? Tyler had specifically asked him to deliver the document just so he could give Rachel a ride. Tyler had never said it outright, but after working with him for so many years, Yale low exactly what that meant. There was a digital copy of the document. He could¡¯ve easily emailed that instead of making a trip over. The message was clear. When Yale walked outside, he nodded politely at Rachel. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting. Let¡¯s go.¡± [¡°Okay.¡± Rachel let out a sigh of relief. It was a strolor of luck that Yale had showed up. Otherwise, she¡¯d have had no idea how to get back After getting into the car, Yale handed her a bottle of water. ¡°Here.¡± Rachel had been feeling a bit thirsty after the strawberry cake, but he hadn¡¯t dared say anything while at Tyler¡¯s ce. Now, this water felt like a godsend. She took it. ¡°Thanks.¡± After twisting the cap open, she took a few gulps. Her dry throat finally felt soothed. Yale drove her back into the city. Cecilia was already waiting for her at Starfield za. Yale pulled up outside. Rachel got out of the car and politely thanked him. ¡°Thank you for the ride.¡± ¡°No need for thanks, Ms. Lloyd¡± He wasn¡¯t joking. If anything happened to Rachel under his watch, he was sure Tyler would fire him on the spot. After watching Yale drive off, Rachel turned to find Cecilia. Cecilia only had a vague idea of what had gone on. Rachel had barely given her any details over WhatsApp. Rachel smiled as she walked over and naturally looped her arm through Cecilia¡¯s ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you your new ce.¡± ¡°No way. Are you guys really going to rent me that ce? And at such a low price? It feels too good to be true.¡± Cecilia still felt like she was dreaming. Rachel grinned, ¡°You thought I was joking? Come on.¡± The apartment William had bought wasn¡¯t far from there. It was only a short walk away, and the area was in the business Chapter, 261 district, making day¨Cto¨Cday shopping convendent. Rachel tted the key into the door, twisted, and opened H. Sumlight spilled through the windows, filling the space with want. The ce was bright, stylish, and decorated in a modern, minimalist style. Compared to the ces Cecilia had rented before there was a world of difference. Cecilia¡¯s eyes widened as she looked around. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I actually get to live in a ce like this. Rachel, are you sure you and Mr. Lewis agreed on this?¡± ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t worry. I brought the lease contract. All you have to dos sign it. Each month, you¡¯ll just transfer the rent to this ount.¡± Rachel handed her a slip of paper with the bank detalls. Cecilia nced at the rent and practically choked. ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯re only charging me one grand? This ce should cost at least seven grand a month!¡± That too was being conservative. It was in the business district. Cecilia was only making the lowest estimate, Rachel had other things to deal with now, and her clock was ticking Just as Rachel got to the door, she ran right into William. She frozen ce, stunned, unable to move as she just stared nkly at him. Even Cecilia was startled by his sudden appearance. She hadn¡¯t expected William to be standing right outside the door ¡°Mr. Lewis- William stood there with a bouquet of red roses. There was an affectionate smile on his face as he walked up to Rachel and raised his hand to make a gesture. Her Exit 252 ¡°Alright, I said It¡¯s fine, so it¡¯s fine. Just sign the papers. If everything looks good, you can move in within the next couple of days. I¡¯ve already booked the movers for you.¡± Rachel sabd Cecilia was so excited she nearly swore out loud ¡°Rachel, meeting you must be the result of all the good karina 1 built up in my previous life!¡± she lugged Rachel tightly and grinned from ear for ¡°I¡¯ve never lived in such a nice ce in my entire life!¡± Rachel patted her shoulder lightly. ¡°Alright, just settle in and treat this as your home. The lease is for five years, so that means you won¡¯t need to worry about house -hunting again for a while. And nobody will raise the rent either!¡± Cecilia was so overwhelmed she nearly screamed. ¡°Oh my goodness! 1ow did I get so lucky to h seriously over the moon!¡± Rachel handed over all the paperwork. have a friend like you? I¡¯m Noticing how Rachel was in a hurry, Ceci asked curiously, ¡°You¡¯ve been super busy these days. What exactly have you been up Rachel gave a forced smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing big. Just dealing with a bunch of minor things. You know, I ended up trending with Tyler, and the buzz still hasn¡¯t died down. I have to find a way to kill the negative press.¡± Cecilia sighed. ¡°Yeah, I get it. The day I saw you and Tyler on the trending list, I was so scared. Especially because you¡¯re Mr. Lewis wife. ia would never pass up the chance to sink ¡°Lewis Enterprise and LS Enterprise both have huge influence in Yurelia City. The media their teeth into a story connecting you with both of those powerful men Rachel felt herself rx slightly, knowing things would finally be resolved tomorrow. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯ll all be over by tomorrow, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Cecilia suddenly remembered the message Rachel had sent her earser, and something clicked in her mind. Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Wait, you didn¡¯t really do that with Mr. Hunt, did you? You asked for his help dealing with the scandal, didn¡¯t you?¡± Rachel was caught off guard and didn¡¯t know how to respond for a moment. Her thoughts tangled into knots. She was trying to figure out how to exin it. ¡°Yeah, you got the first part wrong, but the second part¡¯s true.¡± Cecilia was even more stunned. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything with him? Then why would he agree to help you? Cecilia suddenly recalled Tyler¡¯s cold and stern expression. Just the sight of himp gave people chills, not to mention how emotionally distant he always appeared. More importantly, her coworkers¡® gossip painted Tyler as someone who despised unnecessary socializing and had zero tolerance for small talk or doing favors. He avoided events, didn¡¯t entertain ttery, and basically couldn¡¯t be bothered with anyone. Hearing that he had agreed to help Rachel was genuinely surprising. Rachel, worried Cecilia might get the wrong idea, ended up exining the agreement she made with Tyler. Cecilia finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Oh, that makes more sense now.¡± Rachel nced at the time and became flustered. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Feel free to explore the ce on your own, but I¡¯ve got to head out.¡± She still needed to find a quiet ce to call Jim and brief him about Tyler, especially about needing Yvette¡¯s full cooperation when the time came. Cecilia didn¡¯t want to take up anymore of her time. ¡°Alright, alright. Go do what you need to do.¡± Just as Rachel got to the door, she ran right into William. She frozen ce, stunned, unable to move as she just stared nkly at him. Even Cecilia was startled by his sudden appearance. She hadn¡¯t expected William to be standing right outside the door ¡°Mr. Lewis- Her Exit 253 ¡°I know you¡¯d be here.¡± Wiln said. Rachel was very d she had brought Cecilia over. Il Wim had shown up and she feado¡¯t been another storm for sure. here, it would¡¯ve stirred up She looked at the roses in his hand with a puzzled expression. ¡°What made you think of bringing roses?¡± ¡°Did you forget? Our anniversary is in a couple of days, Ilotow it¡¯s fot the actual day yet, but I wanted to surprise you a linte early. And this isn¡¯t all. I have more nned. This is just the appeter.¡± William held the bouquet out to her. Hachel paused for a moment Hore reaching out to take it. There was no spark of excitement in her chest and none of that giddy feeling of receiving gift from someone she loved Her mood was strangely calm. She epted the roses with a nkexpression. ¡°Thanks¡± ¡°There¡¯s more. Come here.¡± He led her to stand in front of the television. He plugged in a USB drive and brought a video up on the screen. It was Rachel in her college uniform, with her earphones in as she memorized vocab. Suddenly, a group of ssmates swarmed in from behind. A girl tugged on her arm. ¡°Rachel, They¡¯re about to pull a prank!¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t even reacted yet when some boysdragged her forward. A few others pushed William toward her from the other side. Their ssmates crowded around, squeezing the two of them together, and one of the guys yfully shoved William¡¯s head toward Rachel¡¯s face. Everyone started chanting. ¡°Kiss! Kiss!¡± Caught in the chaos, Rachel had no way to escape. Her cheeks burned red, and before she could even think, their lips met in the middle of all the shouting. ¡°They kissed! They kissed!¡± No one knew how she had really felt at that moment. Nobody knew how excited she had been and how it had stirred something unfamiliar in her heart. It was that hazy, fluttery feeling of youthful romance. But now, watching it all again, those memories only seemed to mock her. They mocked her for how foolishly in love she¡¯d once been. How blind she had been to fall so hard for a man who would eventually cause her so much pain and even leave her deaf in one car Rachel stared nkly at the screen. William was lost in nostalgia. A gentle smile appeared on his face. He waspletely immersed in the moment. He pulled Rachel into his arms. His eyes were full of what looked like tender affection. ¡°Rachel, see? This is proof that we were once deeply in love.¡± Seeing the emotion in William¡¯s eyes, all Rachel felt was a chill creeping down her spine. She didn¡¯t know how he managed to still act like this. How could he perform this role of a devoted lover so convincingly? She didn¡¯t want to respond. She wasn¡¯t as good an actor as he was in fact, she didn¡¯t even want to y along But she was leaving soon. She couldn¡¯t afford to let William suspect a thing. e anymore. Chopter 253 She clenched her fists and pressed her nails hard into her palms, daly pain could keep her mind clear. Otherwise, she might really lose control and smash those roses right into William¡¯s face She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. Then, she put on a strained smile ¡°Yeah. These are all memories of the past. When did you even get someone to film this? I had no idea ¡° Still swept up in his feelings, William didn¡¯t notice the subtle change in Rachel¡¯s expression ¡°Ever since we got together, Fr had someone record all our little moments. I¡¯ve kept everything been saving it for a day like this. ¡°And when we make make it to our next seven years, I¡¯ll show you the re,¡± Rachel fell silent. William had no idea that their rtionship was about toe to an end. There wouldn¡¯t be another seven years, and that ending was entirely his doing. He¡¯d have to live with the consequences. Her Exit 254 Rachel turned and said to William, ¡°Honestly, there¡¯s no need to really not necessary ¡± through all this trouble. We¡¯re already together now, so it¡¯s What she really meant was there was no need for William to keep patting on this act. His performance didn¡¯te across as romantic at all. If anything, it felt nauseating But Williams just chuckled and affectionately ruffled her hair. ¡°Silly girl, how could it be trouble? I want us to look back on these memories when we¡¯re old and gray. It¡¯ll be something worth remembering¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help the bitter sarcasm rising in her chest as she looked at William¡¯s face. He still looked as gentle and affectionate as always. He was looking at her with patient, loving ever But to her, it all felt unfamiliar now. She wanted to ask him, when he said ¡®old and gray, wasn¡¯t he really thinking of Samantha? Someday, they would grow old together and watch videos like this, reminiscing about their love story. Since William seemed somitted to his little show, she didn¡¯t bother trying to talk him out of it anymore. ¡°Sure, whatever makes you happy.¡± ¡°Now then, Mrs. Lewis, you¡¯ve got time to have dinner with me, haven¡¯t you? And that gift you got me, can I open it tonight? The way he said ¡®Mrs. Lewis¡®, his voice deep and hoarse, carried a tenderness that could melt anyone¡¯s heart. Rachel couldn¡¯t help but think that if she hadn¡¯t already known about him and Samantha, she might¡¯ve beenpletely fooled by all this. This whole honey¨Ccoated performance he tailored just for her? she used to be helplessly drawn in, but not anymore. Standing off to the side, Cecilia felt like an awkward third wheel and quietly slipped away. When Rachel came back to her senses, she realized Cecilia had already vanished. She let out a long sigh. She¡¯d been hoping to use Cecilia¡¯s presence as an excuse to politely turn William down. But now, it seemed there was no escaping it. Fine. She¡¯d just treat it as their final dinner together before parting ways. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Just as they were about to leave, William paused, ¡°What about the Dowers?¡± Rachel pursed her lips. She had hoped he wouldn¡¯t notice. After all, red roses symbolized love, and whatever love they had between them was long gone and reced by nothing but lies. Holding that bouquet made her feel like she was mocking herselt She had discreetly left it on the dining table earlier while William was distracted putting away the USB drive. She paused for a moment and said, ¡°Uhh, it¡¯s kind of awkward carrying them around. Why don¡¯t we just treat them as a housewarming gift for Cecilia? The ce could use a fresh scent anyway¡± William frowned. ¡°If you want to give her a gift, we can buy something else. I picked those out for you.¡± Rachel genuinely felt ufortable carrying them around. They felt like a joke to her. 1 She slipped her arms around William¡¯s waist and looked up with a sweet, yful expression. ¡°You can buyme another bouquet next time, okay? My hands hurttely, and it¡¯s tiring to carry things. Just let Cecilia have them. She¡¯s never even received flowers before.¡± William was caught off guard, Rachel rarely acted this way. She was always quiet and not the type to express much emotion. Shie preferred doing things for others in silence. Her sudden change in tone and the way she cling to him like this as irresistible. He softened immediately. ¡°Alright, alright. Whatever you say. Let¡¯s consider it a gift for her then¡± Only then did Rachel finally let out a sigh of relief, She stepped back from his arms and stood up straight. ¡°Ter¡± go ¡± William drove them to the restaurant, Rachel nced at her watch time had flown. It was already past seven in the evening Pop! When they arrived, she had barely stepped inside when a shower of confetti rained down on her Rachel flinched in surprise. The restaurant had been redecorated. Her favorite flowers were everywhere. It was a pleasant sight. William had even arranged for a violinist and a pianist to perform. As she walked in, the soft, familiar tune began to y. It was their song from college, the one they had both loved. Her Exit 255 Chapter 255 William remembered all those moments they had once shared, what he couldn¡¯t change was the fact that he no longer loved Rachel. Rachel actually tell a trace of regret, it will still loved her now, and if all of this had truly been for her, she would¡¯ve been over the morn with joy. But right now, everything he did just made het leel sick. I felt take and utterly repulsive She was certain William must be feeling just as miserablile, After all, pretending to be in love with someone you didn¡¯t care abia and putting in all that time and effort for these so¨Ccalled surprises must¡¯ve been exhausting. William smiled in satisfaction. He then turned to her and asked, ¡°Do you like it?¡± Rachel forced a stiff smile. ¡°I do.¡± William took her hand and led her to the window. The sky outside had already turned dark Standing beside her, William suddenly snapped his fingers. A thunderous boom echoed outside, making Rachel flinch. But before she could even react, dazzling fireworks burst open in the night sky like blooming flowers. Colorful sparks lit up the darkness and were reflected on Rachel¡¯s face. She instinctively covered her mouth while watching those beautiful disys as they exploded, one after another William signed, ¡°There¡¯s an even better oneing Rachel looked at him in confusion. ¡± Another loud bang sounded in the sky. William patted her shoulder and pointed upward, signaling her to look again. Rachel lifted her gaze just in time to see the fireworks bloom into glowing words written in the air. ¡°Rachel, may you always be safe and happy.¡± It wasn¡¯t ¡®I love you¡®, but ¡®May you always be safe and happy Rachel¡¯s smile froze. Of course, he was probably worried Samantha might see this. William rested his hand on her shoulder and asked, ¡°Do you like it? Did you have a good time tonight?¡± Rachel felt her throat dry up. She opened her mouth and finally squeezed out two words. ¡°I did.¡± William slowly leaned in toward her. His warm breath brushed against her cheek, Rachel knew exactly what he was trying to do. Behind them, a few watters murmured in envy. ¡°I¡¯m so jealous of Mrs. Lewis.¡± ¡°Right? Mr. Lewis is not just handsome, but he¡¯s still doing romantic things after seven years of marriage. Most guys bother by now.¡± ¡°Exactly. You can¡¯t find a husband like Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Lewis is really blessed.¡± ¡°I remember when they got married, Mr. Lewis personally designed an insanely expensive wedding dress for her.¡± ¡°Ugh, don¡¯t remind me. My husband feels like absolute trash inparison.¡± But Rachel didn¡¯t feel touched at all. The admiring words from outsiders were like salt on an open wound. wouldn¡¯t ?? ?25 BONUS The most dangerous kind of betrayal wasn¡¯t the tant, shameles kind. It was when the love was already gone, but the person still acted like they were pouring their whole heart out to you. It was this that cut the deepest. Just as William¡¯s lips were about to meet hers, Rachel suddenly felther stomach churn violently. The next second, she pushed him away and rushed to the nearby trash bin, retching. Startled, William quickly ran to her side. Pante shed in his eyes as he signed frantically. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling sick?¡± Rachel had no idea what was happening either. The moment the image of William kissing her shed through her mind, she felt physically nauseated. But she had eaten barely anything all day. There was nothing to throw up. She just dry¨Cheaved a few times. She waved him off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Nearby, the staff began whispering and specting. ¡°Mrs. Lewis vomiting. Could she be pregnant?¡± that pretty normal? They¡¯ve been married seven years, Having a baby now would make sense.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already curious who the baby would look like. Mr. Lewis or Mrs. Lewis? They¡¯re both gorgeous.¡± ¡°No doubt about it. Any kid of theirs is going to be stunning.¡± Her Exit 256 Rachel¡¯s face turned even paler as she listened to theirments. At that moment, the only thing she felt genuinely thankful for was that she hadn¡¯t nned on having a child in the past few years. Otherwise, she could already imagine how miserable her life would have been. Holding a newborn in her arms while watching her husband, the father of her child, apany another woman to prenatal checkups. She and her child, like abandoned strays, would have to face long, lonely nights on their own. For women, having a child meant acquiring a weakness. But being alone and childless meant she could walk away at any time, get a divorce, and start a brand new life. That thought alone helped her breathe a little easier. William had clearly overheard the waiters¡® remarks just now. He frowned and turned to Rachel. ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± Rachel had initially nned to say no, but for some reason, she found herself wanting to test him. She wanted to see how. William would react to the possibility of her being pregnant. So she simply said vaguely, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t really paid attention.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital tomorrow to check¡± William helped her sit down. Rachel nced at the crease between William¡¯s brows. There was neither joy nor excitement of a man who might soon be atather So she asked, ¡°What if I am pregnant? Would you not be happy?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that,¡± William said quickly. ¡°I¡¯m just thinking. We¡¯ve tried for years without sess. It¡¯s strange that now, all of a sudden, it might¡¯ve happened.¡± He said it with a yful tone, but Rachel immediately caught the implied meaning in his words. Her face darkened. She didn¡¯t hold back and asked directly, ¡°You mean, this child might not be yours?¡± William must¡¯ve realized how badly that sounded and quickly tried to exin, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. It¡¯s just that it all feels a bir sudden, Rachel And honestly, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready to be a father yet. Maybe we should wait a bit longer?¡± Rachel¡¯s expression changed at once. But then she thought better of it. If she reacted too strongly now, William might start hiding his true thoughts again, and whatever he said after that would just be more lies. The only way to get him to let down his guard was to pretend she was going along with his decision Rachel¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She appeared innocent and hurt as she gazed at him. ¡°William, you don¡¯t want this baby?¡± William looked at her vulnerable expression and felt his heart melt He reached for her hand. ¡°Of course I do. How could I not Want our baby? It¡¯s just, we don¡¯t even know if it¡¯s real yet, right?¡± Rachel could see it clearly. He didn¡¯t want to find out. She remembered what he had once told her. He had said his greatest dream in life was for them to have twins, Ideally a boy and a girl One who looked like him, and one who looked like her. If they had that, he had said, his life would be perfect But now, the same man who had oner said all that was telling hi her he wasn¡¯t ready to have children. Rachel couldn¡¯t help butugh. She lowered her head and let out oft, bitter chuckle Willian was startled by her sudden reaction. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± She instantly wiped the smile off her face ¡°Ols, nothing I just think you¡¯re right.¡® William gently patted her shoulder and tried tofort her. ¡°It¡¯s pay. We¡¯re still young. If we want kidster, we can always try He spoke with such nonchnce, as if it were just some trivial tople thary could revisit anytime Rachel had never had high hopes for him, but now that he had actually said those words aloud, she realized he could still manage to disappoint her even further, Every time something happened, William always had some new excuse to leave her stunned and disillusioned For a moment, she truly wondered if she had ever truly understood this man she¡¯d shared a bed with for seven years. Had he be someonepletely different after being with Samanthar It it was was the former, then human nature was terrifying It was i is hard to believe the man who shared her bed for seven years could lie so well and hide his true self sopletely. Her Exit 257 Rachel barely ate anything throughout dinner. Every second felt like torture. What made it worse was the group of people nearby who constantly took pictures of them with their phones. The harsh camera shes made her frown, and she finally turned toward them, ¡°Excise me, would you mind not taking any more photos?¡± Before she could say more, William gently pressed her hand down and signed to her, ¡°Rachel, Farranged for them to be here. What happened between you and Tyler caused too big a stir online, Right now, this is the only way to try and salvage your reputation.¡± Every word s I sounded like it came from someone genuinely concerned for her, but Rachel knew better. She knew exactly what he meant by ¡®salvage her reputation¡°. This wasn¡¯t about helping her. It was about William not trusting her and using this excuse to justify his actions, She smiled sarcastically. ¡°I don¡¯t care what others say about me. But what about you? Do you think the same way they do?¡± William froze slightly, He then chuckled and signed patiently. ¡°You misunderstood. How could I not believe you? Everything I said before was just to remind you. But Rachel, you should know, you¡¯re my wife. I won¡¯t allow anyone to nder you Do you understand? Rachel¡¯s mouth twitched. He sounded so serious. It was as if he was doing something noble. She nodded obediently. ¡°I understand. I was just joking earlier, that¡¯s all.¡± After hearing her response, the tension in William¡¯s brows eased. He let out a long sigh. ¡°That¡¯s my girl. Do you want to walk around the mall after this? I heard they just had a new shipment of jewelry. Do you want to take a look?¡± Rachel waved him off. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I need to help Cecilia with her packingter. I checked the weather forecast Tomorrow is a good day to move.¡± William frowned. ¡°You¡¯re still going to help her? Can¡¯t she do it herself? We¡¯ve already given her such a good deal on the rent And besides, what if you really are pregnant? You shouldn¡¯t be doing anything strenuous.¡± Rachel gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to keep it. So what does it matter? William was silent for a moment. He then reached out and gently rabbed her shoulder. ¡°It you really want this baby, I guess it¡¯s not impossible.¡± Rachel could see the hesitation written all over his face. That was the answer of a man who truly wanted a child. She forced a smile and patted his arm. ¡°It¡¯s fine. A baby can wait You¡¯re still building, your career, and now isn¡¯t a convenient time anyway. I heard yourpany¡® going to be working with a foreign firmter this year. Isn¡¯t that sa ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s a lot going on. Honestly, I probably won¡¯t have much time for anything else for a while.¡± As he said this, a tired expression crept onto his face. Rachel nodded. ¡°That¡¯s great news. It¡¯ll be a major step forward for the o epany.¡± Just as she expected, as soon as William started talking about thepany, his eyes lit up. Rachel knew that his heart and his time were now led to Samant and his business. She didn¡¯t know what kind of guilt trip had led to sanddenly n a surprise for her today, but whatever it was, it was already toote. She barely touched hood for the rest of dinner. front desk to settle the bill, Rachel stood by quietly and waited. She overheard him speaking to the When William went to the in manager. ¡°Make sure you go through all the photos they took. Have them set to Arsen ¡± The manager instantly nodded. ¡°Understood, Mr. Lewis,¡± Standing beside him, Rachel felt like her already shattered heart had just been torn open again. The surprise, the flowers, and the fireworks were all for show. It was a performance for the media. How thoughtful of him. When William finally finished giving instructions and turned back around, Rachel was no longer there. He asked the nearest waiter, ¡°Did you see the woman who came in with me earlier?¡± Her Exit 258 Chapter 258 ¡°Thedy asked met respectfully. to let you know that she¡¯d left. She also told you to drive safely on your way home,¡± the waiter replied William¡¯s eyes turned dim. It looked like he was processing something. Then, without another word, he turned and walked straight out of the restaurant. Rachel had just gotten into a cab. After giving the driver the address, she quickly texted Cecilia and asked her to help cover for her a little Cecilia still sounded concerned. Rachel, I think this is too risky. What if someone finds out? And you¡¯re spending every night under the same roof as Mr. Hunt¡­ She didn¡¯t finish the rest of the sentence. She figured Rachel would get the message without her spelling it out. Rachel dida¡¯l feel worried. She rolled down the car window slightly to let the night air clear her head as she typed a reply. Remember what I told you earlier? I did all that and he still didn¡¯t react. I think it¡¯s safe enough.] Besides, for some reason, she just didn¡¯t believe Tyler was the type to take advantage of someone. He wasn¡¯t the kind of guy who¡¯d ept anything worthless. Of course, she didn¡¯t consider herself worthless. Cecilia, seeing that Rachel seemed confident and in control, didn¡¯t press the matter further. She knew Rachel was someone who always understood boundaries [Alright, just be careful.) way and suddenly remembered Tyler¡¯s dog. Ray. Rachel tucked her phone away She had promised to bring it something to eat earlier. People always said the way to a man¡¯s heart was through his stomach. Maybe the same applied to dogs. a bit? I¡¯ll only take a few minutes,¡± Rachel said to the driver. ¡°Can you stop up ahead for just a b The driver didn¡¯t refuse, but reminded her, ¡°Just be quick, okay? I¡¯ve got other rides lined up.¡± Thank you. Rachel got out quickly and walked into the pet store. She asked for rmendations on dog treats. Once she arrived in front of Tyler¡¯s apartment, she stepped out of the car and immediately shivered. Tyler¡¯s ce was well¨Chidden. It was great for dodging media attention, but it still felt a little too secluded. The area was pitch- ck. There were no streetlights and hardly any passing cars. It felt eerily quiet. She hadn¡¯t noticed it in the daytime, but now, under the cover of night, it felt creepy. What if she had to sneak out after putting Tyler to sleep? She¡¯d have to call a ride in the dead of night. It wasn¡¯t exactly safe. But she couldn¡¯t sleep over at Tyler¡¯s either. If William found out hadn¡¯te home, he¡¯d be full of questions Rachel paid the driver and approached the door. Sl lifted her had to knock. Something felt off. She nced behind her. There was no one. She retrieved her phone and typed a message just in case. As soon as she slid the phone back into her pocket, the door creaked open. There was no sound of footsteps. Rachel sucked in a breath. The stillness of it all made her skin crani. Her spine went stit But as the door opened, Ray trotted out. She gasped and let out a shaky sigh of reliet., Bending down slightly, she patted Ray¡¯s head Fortunately, he had seen her quite a few times by now. He didn¡¯t hek or growl like the first few times. ¡°Where¡¯s your owner?¡± she asked gently. Ray humed and nced up the stairs a couple of times. Rachel caught on. He was saying Tyler was upstairs. She opened the bag and showed it to Ray. ¡°Look, I passed by a pet store and got you some treats. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ll like them, though.¡± The dog sniffed the air and began wagging its tail enthusiastically Rachel smiled. ¡°But I have to ask your owner if you can have them, she said, holding the bag and heading upstairs with Ray trotting close behind She knocked gently on Tyler¡¯s door. ¡°Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°Come in. Rachel pushed the door open and stepped in. She exined that she¡¯d stopped by the pet store and picked up some treats for Ray. ¡°Can he have them?¡± she asked. Tyler nced at the bag. ¡°Should be fine. If he dies from it, that¡¯s on him.¡± Bay let out two dramatic whines. Chapter 259 Her Exit 259 Chapter 259 Rachel felt reassured enough to take out some dog treats from th the pag. Ray¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of food, and his tongue hung out. He drooled so much it looked like a puddle was about to form on Then Rachel handed him a treat, and the dog snapped it ups without hesitation. While feeding Ray, she tumed to Tyler and asked, ¡°Mr. Hunt, do you not feed your dog enough or something?¡± The way Bay was acting, one would think he hadn¡¯t eaten in days, Tyler nced sideways at Ray with a disdainful expression. ¡°Probably starved to death in his past life. No matter how much I feed him, he¡¯s never full.¡± Ray looked like he understood him. He slumped to the ground with a pitiful look in his eyes and stared at Tyler in quiet protest Rachel¡¯s heart melted. She reached out and gently patted Ray¡¯s heat. ¡°There, there. He was just teasing you. No one¡¯s judging you. Go ahead and eat.¡± Ray nodded and happily resumed chomping on the treats Tyler snorted and smiled. ¡°Sure, go ahead and listen to her. Why not just go home with her tonight?¡± Ray remained silent Tyler¡¯s face twitched slightly. He scoffed again. ¡°Traitor. Can¡¯t even walk straight when there¡¯s a woman around ¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but dog. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? You¡¯re seriously fighting with a dog now?¡± Tyler leaned to one side and crossed one long leg over the other. ¡°Who said I was arguing with it? Does he even deserve that kind of attention?¡± Rachel thought Tyler seemed on edge tonight. Every word out of his mouth was a news page on her phone, Rachel froze. William had moved fast. Within the mere forty minutes it took for her to get here, Arsen had already posted the photos and the official announcement. The pictures showed her and William appearing intimately close, including one of them standing by the window as William wrapped his arm around her while they watched the fireworks. From the outside looking in, it looked like the two of them were sit very much in love. If she didn¡¯t know the truth herself, even Rachel might have believed the illusion. Especially the way William looked at her in the photos. His eyes were full of tenderness Rachel now truly believed that love could be faked: She didn¡¯t even need to look at the caption to guess that it was full of fluff about how in love they were, but it never mentioned Tyler. Rachel understood why. If Tyler was mentioned, people might assume the whole post was just an attempt to do damage control about her rtionship with him. She put her phone away. Herexpression turned from calm to cold Tyler happened to nce over and catch sight of what was on her screen. ¡°William¡¯s got quite the talent for putting on a show, but judging by your face, I guess it didn¡¯t work on you.¡± Rachel snorted as she slipped her phone into her pocket. ¡°It¡¯s all staged. I¡¯m just a pawn.¡± It had looked like a carefully nned surprise, but in truth, it was a well¨Corchestrated scheme. Suddenly, Tyler stood up from his chair. As he walked past her, be gently patted her head. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. You¡¯d better get ready. Figure out what kind of luby you¡¯re singing tonight. Make it a cheerful one. Don¡¯t bring all your gloomy energy into my dreams.¡± Rachel looked up. ¡°Mr. Hunt, can I ask, is it safe to get a cab from here thiste?¡± Tyler stopped walking. He turned and looked at her. ¡°What do you think?¡± Rachel could already tell from his tone. ¡°Then how am I supposed to get home tonight?¡± she mumbled under her breath. Her Exit 260 ¡°You have two options. Either crash in the guest room next door or drive my car lie wyler said.. You mean that limited edition one?¡± Machel asked reflexively. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s the one I drove here, I don¡¯t usually stay at this ce, so the other cars aren¡¯t here.¡± For a moment, Rachel was touched that Tyler was actually willing to let her drive such an expensive car. But the next second, Tyler pulled open the bathroom door and casually remarked, ¡°But you¡¯ll have toe back tomorrow moming to pick me up. It¡¯s hard to get a cab from here in the morg.¡± The door shut with a soft click. Rachel covered her face with both hands. It felt like the world was copsing. Maybe she should just drive over tomorrow night. But with how paranoid William had betely, who knew if he¡¯d tampered with her car? No matter how she looked at it, she couldn¡¯t think of a proper solution. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Without reazing it, Rachel¡¯s gaze drifted toward the frosted ss window where Tyler¡¯s silhouette was faintly visible. She couldn¡¯t see clearly, but she could make out his tall frame and the lean lines of his body. Rachel¡¯s mind started to fill in the details, especially his abs. ¡°Damn it!! When Tyler finally stepped out, Rachel quickly turned around at the sound of the door opening and pretended to feed Ray like nothing happened. Soon enough, she suddenly remembered something and spun around to look at him. ¡°Your wounds haven¡¯t healed yet. How could you take a shower?¡± She had been too busy checking out his physique earlier and hadpletely forgotten he was still injured. Tyler casually grabbed a towel to dry his wet hair and said withplete indifference, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll just re¨Cdress itter.¡± ¡°The doctor told you clearly that your wound isn¡¯t supposed to get wet yet.¡± Rachel frowned and walked over. She gently pulled at the gauze. The area where the wound was had turned pale and soaked. Thankfully, there was no bleeding. She let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯ll redo the dressing for you. And you¡¯re not going to take a shower for a week, got it?¡± If Tyler hadn¡¯t taken that knife for her, she honestly wouldn¡¯t even want to deal with someone as stubborn as him. She went downstairs to get th Meanwhile, Tyler sat cross¨Clegged on the carpet. He pulled out a biscuit it from the treat bag and offered it to Ray. Ray eagerly Trotted over He was either talking to himself or Ray. He seemed a little lost in thought ¡°Do you think she was worried about me?¡± Ray barked twice Tyler smiled as he patted Ray¡¯s head. The The usual coldness in lis pary was reced by an unexpected gentleness. you felt it too, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ray didn¡¯t respond. He just kept staring at the treat in Tyler¡¯s hand Realizing Ray wasn¡¯t paying attention at all, Tyler smiled. ¡°Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall.¡® Ray¡¯s eyes remained locked on the treat. Tyler held it out, and just as Ray was about to choimp down, he pulled it back and dropped it back in the bag ¡°Didn¡¯t get it? Not my fault.¡± Rachel happened to walk in just in time to see the w whole thing. With the first aid kit in hand, she said tly, ¡°Ray¡¯s got manners. Can¡¯t say the same for you.¡± Ray barked in agreement Rachel chuckled and covered her mouth. ¡°See? Even Ray¡¯s got beef with you. You¡¯ve gone too o far¡± Tyler raised a brow. ¡°And now you¡¯re teaming up with Ray to gang up on me? How is that fair?¡± Rachel opened the kit and pulled out fresh gauze ¡°I¡¯m just calling it like it is.¡± Her Exit 261 As Rachel removed the bandage around Tyler¡¯s back to treat his wound, she crouched t Unknowingly, she crushed the dog biscuits while doing so. Her attention was fully on Tyler; she didn¡¯t notice Ray Trying in vt to paw the biscuits out. Just as she was about to apply ointment on the wound, she felt a forceing; from behind, and she fell forward. She instinctively put her arms before herself, bracing for the fall, For some reason, her palmsnded on Tyler¡¯s leg, and her bodyled t on his back. Tyler remained where he was, casting her a sideways nce. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be treating my wound. Why did you pounce on me?¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks flushed red, and her mind went nk Amomenter, she recovered from her shock and exined in a parc, ¡± 1 didn¡¯t mean to do that. It was the dog! It pushed me toward you. Tyler looked around, but didn¡¯t see any signs of Bay. He then turned an arched brow in Rachel¡¯s way. Rachel furrowed her brows. Gone so fast? Without any evidence, she could only rely on her mouth. ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to pounce on you. What reason do I have to do that?¡± she said, trying to defend herself. ou need a reason to pa ¡°Do you to pounce on me?¡± Tyler remarked matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. Rachel was dumbfounded. She realized that talking to Tyler was like talking to a brick wall He didn¡¯t look like the sort to hear people out. He would insist on his own opinion¨Cthat she wanted to get close to him and was plotting to take advantage of him. Rachel sighed and gave up on trying to exin. ¡°Think whatever you want.¡± A low chuckle rumbled in Tyler¡¯s throat, the sound mesmerizing and seductive. ¡°How did you end up touching me there?¡± That was when Rachel realized that she had been pressing against his leg at a sensitive spol. Rachel quickly pulled her hands away, as though she had touched fire. Her ears turned bright red, and she could feel her body getting warmer. She kept quiet and continued treating his wound. When she was finally done, she felt as though she had done some strenuous activity. She felt so exhausted that she could only sit on the floor, panting hard Tyler heard her panting and remarked, ¡°Hey, Rachel. Keep it down Rachel clenched her fists. With a tilt of her chin, she snapped, ¡°I¡¯m just panting. Are you not even allowing me to breathe?¡± Tyler approached her, his devilishly captivating face inches away from Rachel¡¯s. She sat ramrod straight, feeling her breathing stall Grinning, he said, ¡°It¡¯s just that you sound too¡­you know? Others might think¡­¡± Tyler let his sentence hang, in suid¨Cair. Bachel was go innocent young woman, and immediately understood lus hint. Her cheeks turned even redder, and even her neck started turning red. ¡°I was just breathing normally!¡± Rachel pushed him away and tidied up the first aid kit before heading downstairs. Tyler followed her; he needed some water. Rachel tummed around, seeing him walking around with a bare torso, she couldn¡¯t help but demand, ¡°Can you please put on a At Rachel¡¯s question, Tyler poured himself a cup of water and looked up. From her angle, she could see his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down as he drank ¡°Quit being so domineering,¡± he quipped. ¡°Tis at home. I¡¯m already being courteous by not walking around fully naked.¡± Rachel, shocked, asked in disbeliet, ¡°You don¡¯t usually wear any clothes at home?¡± Chapter Her Exit 262 Tyler looked at Rachel with a strange expression, then burst outughing as though he had heard a hrious joke. ¡°Just listen to yourself!¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with what I¡¯m saying.¡± Rachel said firmly. ¡°It¡¯s naturally fine for you to not wear anything at home when you¡¯re alone, but I¡¯m a woman. You should at least watch it. Tyler nodded, as if persuaded by her. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. Men nowadays should learn to protect themselves when they¡¯re out.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Why was he making it sound as though she had designs on him? As if she was tempted by his naked body in any way! Fine¨Cshe admitted that he was a very attractive man, but it wasn¡¯t to the point of making her lose her self¨Ccontrol. His concern was absolutely unnecessary! Tyler put the empty ss back on the counter and nced casually at Rachel. ¡°Think about it yourself. I¡¯m going to bed.¡± He started up the stairs, but at the first step, he turned around and said to her, ¡°Sing Pretty Boy by M2M tonight.¡± Rachel¡¯s lips twitched as she recalled the lyrics of the song. How strange could Tyler get? Who in the world was still listening to that song? Forget it -she would bear with it for two nights. After that, she would never see him again. She was about out to walk up the stairs when someone knocked on the door Rachel and Tyler turned to look at the door at the same time. It was gettingte, and Tyler¡¯s home was secluded. People usually wouldn¡¯te all the way here. Who would be here at a time like this? In a low voice that carried a tinge of fatigue, Tyler asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt, it¡¯s me.¡± It was an all¨Ctoo¨Cfamiliar voice, William was here! What was he doing here sote at night? Anxiety crept up Rachel¡¯s face. She instinctively turned to Tyler to whisper, ¡°Does William know you live here?¡± ¡°Probably not,¡± Tyler said with furrowed brows. Rachel felt a weight on her shoulders, so suffocating she almost couldn¡¯t breathe. Her mind drew a nk as she stared at Tyler ¡°What should we do now?¡± They couldn¡¯t possibly let William in. She was certain he wasn¡¯t here just to have a chat with Tyler. That wasn¡¯t possible, given their rtionship with each other. Tyler pondered for a moment before tilting his chin in the direction of the stairs. ¡°Go to my room first. I¡¯ll open the door.¡± Rachel pondered for a moment and decided to do as Tyler said, which seemed to be the only option right now. she hurried upstairs, but didn¡¯t notice our of h of her earrings falling t After Rachel went upstairs, Tyler stretched out his shoulders and walked leisurely to the door to open it. With a yawn, he said, ¡°William, what the hell are you doing here in the middle of the night? Are you trying to break into my house? William cut to the chase and demanded, ¡°Is Rachel here?¡± Tyler ran his fingers through his hair that was still dripping wet, allow chuckle escaping his throat as though he had heard a joke. ¡°William, this isn¡¯t your first timeing here in person to ask for your wife, Lost your wife, and you¡¯re asking me for her? Should I just marry your wife instead? That¡¯ll be ideal for you and Sunantha, since you two are Infatuated with each other.¡± Her Exit 263 William furrowed his brows, affronted ou want to, Grandpa would never ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you still thinking of being with her? quit dreaming! Even if you allow it¡± Tyler scoffed, he leaned back into the chair, saving darkly, ¡°Do you really think I, Tyler Hunt, need to ask for other people¡¯s opinions before doing something?¡± William stood silent. Tyler was n William knew Tyler well he was the sort of man who would do whatever he liked and not give a damn about what others thought. Sometimes, William envied him for having the ability to bear the consequences of his actions. He, on the other hand, didn¡¯t. He could only grow and build up hispany before his grandfather would fully put thepany in his hands. William¡¯s oves narrowed as he turned to look at Tyler, still in doubt ¡°Are you really in love with Rachel?¡± he asked. Tyler was such a proud and arrogant man, the golden boy of Yurelia City, favored by the heavens. Why would he bother himself with a married woman like Rachel? Before, Grandpa tried introducing him to heiresses of powerful and influential tamilies in Y¨¹relia City. An alliance marriage between both families means that Tyler would be unrivalled in Yurelia City and potentially the entire country. Yet, Tyler chose to reject the opportunity. I . None of thedies caught his fancy. How could such a picky man fancy a married woman like Rachel? William had spent seven years with her, sharing a bed and countless days and nights with her. Had Tyler gone mad? Tyler arched a brow, the look in his deep, dark eyes unfathomable at that moment, William was not sure what was in Tyler¡¯s mind ¡°Why don¡¯t you make a guess?¡± Tyler said. William would never be able to guess. Tyler was no sim been able to see through him. simpleton Despite knowing him since their childhood, William had never Or rather, no one in the Lewis family was al able to see through him. Rachel leaned against the door in the room upstairs, straining to hear William and Tyler¡¯s conversation. She waspletely shocked by what she heard. What did Tyler say? Was he in love with her? How dare he crack such a joke! She might end up ip with another man after divorcing William, but it certainly wouldn¡¯t be Tyler! He was an extremely dangerous man whom she couldn¡¯t read. Like the wind, hees and goes as he pleases, and cannot be Erasped by anyone Dumbfounded, Rachel didn¡¯t notice the dog sneaking into the room. It wrapped its arms around her leg and tugged hard at the hem of her slin Rachel snapped back to attention and pulled her shit back, whispering. ¡°Let go! The time for snacks is already over. You can have more tomorrow.¡± Ch Her Exit 264 ¡°It¡¯s my dog,¡± Tyler said confidently without skipping a beat. William didn¡¯t believe a word of it. He looked doubtfully at Tyler. ¡°But I heard someone say that he saw with his own eyes Rachel entering your house.¡± ¡°He must be seeing things. Probably has something wro with his vision. Why would Rachele here?¡± Tyler didn¡¯t show any nerves despite being questioned,stead with azy, devil¨Cmay¨Ccare attitude. The more he acted this way, however, the less William believed him. ¡°I need the washroom,¡± William said to Tyler. He knew that the only washroom in this house was upstairs, in Tyler¡¯s room. If Rachel really was hiding in Tyler¡¯s house, she would be in the bedroom. Where else would a man and a woman be in the middle of the night? Without even casting William a nce, Tyler said tly, ¡°You should know quickly if you need the washroom.¡± He yawned twice between turning around and walking upstairs. ery well that I¡¯m a germaphobe. Go back home William saw the wound and bandage on Tyler¡¯s back, which clearly looked like it had just been treated. Tyler was also fresh out of a shower and imed to be alone at home. Who was the one who helped him change out his bandages and treat his wound? Rachel was definitely upstairs! The moment Tyler got on the first step, William followed right behind him and eximed, ¡°I can¡¯t hold it in any longer!¡± Just as William was about to charge upstairs, Tyler stretched an arm out to stop him. Thezy look in Tyler¡¯s eyes instantly turned aggressive at a speed that shocked William. William froze immediately, unable to move an inch. Tyler looked icily at William. ¡°Did you not understand what I said just now?¡± William looked right into Tyler¡¯s eyes, the air in the room tense. Things seemed to have reached a stalemate- 1 someone knocked on the doo Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed, displeasure thick in his voice. ¡°William, how many people were you intending to bring to my house today?¡± Confused, William retorted, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything of th sort.¡± ¡°Go open the door!¡± Tyler said irritably with a wave hand. William was equally curious as to who would be here at such ate hour, aside from himself. When he opened the door, he saw that it was Samantha. His face turned dark with anger. ¡°What are you doing here at such ate hour?¡± ¡°I came to check things out. I was worried that you might end up fighting with Mr. Hunt and Rachel,¡± Samantha said with a look of concern. William knew Tyler was already upset by his sudden visit. Now, with Samantha to top things off¡­ Tyler valued his privacy greatly; he hated having people unimportant to him at his house. William stopped Samantha from entering the house, for fear that she might really anger Tyler. ¡°Go back home. I¡¯ll settle things here.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Samantha whispered meekly, ¡°The driver left, and it¡¯s hard to get a taxi here.¡± She added, ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯re just here to bring Rachel back. We¡¯ll leave right after we get her. I¡¯ll go in and exin things to Mr. Hunt.¡± Before William snapped back to attention, Samantha brushed past him and walked into the hall. She stood before Tyler and said politely, ¡°Mr. Hunt, we¡¯re here to bring Rachel back home. She¡¯s upstairs, isn¡¯t she? I¡¯ll go up and call for her.¡± Then, she started heading for the stairs. Tyler furrowed his brows; he was about to step forward and reach out for Samantha when she spoke. 212 Her Exit 265 Chapter 265 ¡°Mr. Hunt, we¡¯re of the opposite sex. We shouldn¡¯t have physical contact where possible. Let¡¯s keep our distance, shall we?¡± Samantha said sweetly. At that, Tyler let out a low chuckle. Samantha walked up the stairs, and William followed suit. This time, Tyler didn¡¯t stop them. There were only two rooms upstairs. Samantha opened the door to the first room. She was about to try the second door when Tyler¡¯s voice sounded coldly from behind, ¡°Ms. Judd, this isn¡¯t the ce for you to just barge in whenever you like. Are you sure the person you¡¯re looking for is in there?¡± Samantha¡¯s hand froze on the door handle. She could clearly hear the warning in Tyler¡¯s voice. Even though his tone wasn¡¯t threatening, it was enough to intimidate. Her heart started racing. At that moment, she hesitated. However, she knew Rachel was right inside. Letting this pass might spell trouble for her. In the end, Samantha decided to ignore Tyler¡¯s warning and resolutely pushed the door open. As she had expected, she heard the sound of running watering from the washroom: Immediately, she turned around and said with certainty to William ¡°Rachel really is inside!¡± At Samantha¡¯s assertion, William¡¯s face darkened. When he heard the water running in the washroom, he walked over, his brows knitting tightly. Samantha stepped forward to knock on the door, but William stopped her. ¡°She can¡¯t hear you. What¡¯s the point of knocking?¡± he sneered. Samantha could see the fury in William¡¯s eyes and the fire burning from the depths of his heart. She pulled her hand back. ¡°Sorry, I forgot.¡± Tyler brushed past them and walked in, calmly pulling a shirt out from the wardrobe and putting it on. It was something so ordinary, yet it filled William¡¯s chest with an inexplicable fire. His wife was showering in Tyler¡¯s bathroom! Anyone else in Tyler¡¯s shoes would have the cheek to look slightly guilty. Yet, he showed no trace of guilt and kept acting like nothing was happening. Did he really not care about his reputation? William¡¯s chest heaved as he red at Tyler. ¡°Do you have nothing to say to me?¡± Tyler pulled out a hairdryer from a drawer, plugged it in, and turned to ask, ¡°Say what?¡± ¡°You¡¯re alone with Rachel in your house!¡± William bit out. ¡°Don¡¯t you have some exining to do?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to exin. You and Ms. Judd, on the other hand, came barging into my house without my permission. Who gave you the guts to do that?¡± Samantha was taken aback to hear Tyler¡¯s words. It was her first time seeing someone like Tyler. Everything he was doing was unlike what a normal person would do. William, feeling that he was in the right this time, refused to back down. He could sense that Tyler was trying to trample on his pride. Through gritted teeth, he snarled, ¡°How is it wrong of me toe looking for my wife when you two are the ones doing shady things behind my back? Fine! Since you refuse to admit it, I¡¯ll look for her myself!¡± Throwing all caution to the wind, William grabbed the door handle and slowly opened the door¡­. Chapter 266 Her Exit 266 +25 BONUS William was ready to re up, but the moment he saw the person inside, he and Samantha stood dumbfounded. Rachel wasn¡¯t in the bathroom¡ªit was Yvette. Thankfully, Yvette was already fully clothed. Despite that, she couldn¡¯t help but yelp when she saw William. ¡°William! Why¡­why didn¡¯t you knock?¡± William was stunned into silence; it took a while for him to recover from his shock. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked. ¡°I came to see Mr. Hunt. What are you doing here?¡± Yvette walked out of the bathroom. Samantha¡¯s feet were rooted to the ground. She opened her mouth stuttering, ¡°W¨CWhere¡¯s Rachel?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you call her if you¡¯re looking for her?¡± Yvette asked as she dried her hair with a towel. The shock William and Samantha felt from seeing Yvette there wasparable to seeing Rachel and Tyler in the same room. Before they could ask Tyler and Yvette for an exnation, they heard amotion outside. Hordes of paparazzi rushed up to them, pointing their cameras at Tyler and Yvette, snapping pictures of the two. The bright shlights made Yvette raise an arm over her eyes, yelping in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who allowed you people to barge into private property like this?¡± she cried. The reporters, however, ignored Yvette¡¯s exmations and continued snapping away with their cameras for fear of missing a detail. Heated discussions ensued. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be something between Mr. Lewis¡® wife and Mr. Hunt? How did it turn out to be Ms. Yvette Lloyd?¡± ¡°I even heard that Ms. Yvette Lloyd has been meeting Mr. Hunt in private. They just haven¡¯t made things public yet. So it¡¯s true?¡± ¡°There must have been a mistake somewhere! It¡¯s clear what¡¯s going on now, and it looks like it has nothing to do with Mrs. Lewis.¡± ¡°I told you back then, didn¡¯t I? Her back view looked like Ms. Yvette Lloyd¡¯s!¡± The reporters pointed their microphones at Tyler and asked, ¡°Mr. Hunt, was thedy you were seen with at the bar thest time Ms. Yvette Lloyd?¡± With an arch of his brow, Tyler asked, ¡°Haven¡¯t you already seen it for yourself? Why bother asking me?¡± The reporters nodded their heads pensively before posing another expected question in Tyler¡¯s way. ¡°When we asked you about it before why didn¡¯t you just admit that it was Ms. Yvette Lloyd?¡± Tyler rubbed his nose bridge. ¡°We¡¯re just dating right now. Is there a need to make it public right now?¡± His gaze swept coldly across the reporter who raised the question. ¡°Are you reporters really that bored? All of you are so concerned about my private affairs, trying to capture photos of everything I do. As for the photos you guys secretly snapped of mest time, please go back and tell your bosses that they have to at least show some appreciation to me. I won¡¯t allow my photos to be taken without some kind ofpensation in return.¡± The reporters exchanged nces. Everyone knew how insolent and unbridled Tyler was in his speech He never cared for anyone. Despite knowing that, the reporters were still shocked to hear him speak with such impunity and so unabashedly. No matter how much of a bigwig one was and how displeased and upset one was toward the media, none could be as outrageous in hiseback as Tyler. Demandingpensation from their bosses? The reporters were stumped and speechless.; Tyler yawned; fatigue etched in his eyes, he said irritably, ¡°Are you guys done? I¡¯m going to retire for the night.¡± The reporters had no choice but to leave, all too embarrassed to continue filming. Before William and Samantha could try to sneak off, Tyler¡¯s voice rang coldly behind them. ¡°What did I say just now? Do you two have problems with your hearing?¡± Samantha¡¯s body stiffened. She shot William a pleading look, her face paling. ¡°William¡­¡± William hurriedly pulled Samantha behind him. ¡°Mr. Hunt, she was just trying to find Rachel just now. She didn¡¯t mean any harm. Plus, if you had told us the truth when we asked you about it earlier, this misunderstanding wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± Her Exit 267 Chapter 267 Tyler nodded. ¡°So,¡± he concluded, his voice slow, ¡°do you mean to say that it¡¯s¡­my fault?¡± The night was quiet, save for the wind rustling the leaves on the trees, giving off an eerie vibe. A chill went down Samantha¡¯s spine. She tried to exin herself to Tyler, her voice trembling, ¡°That¡­.that¡¯s not what I mean, Mr. Hunt! I was indeed rash to visit here so suddenly. I¡¯m very sorry!¡± Tyler waved his hand. A wicked smirk curled on his lips, and he looked like the devil in the flesh. ¡°I¡¯m not one to take back my words.¡± With that, he picked up his phone and called the police. ¡°Hello, is this the police station? I have with me two people who trespassed on private property and even called a bunch of reporters to my house. Their actions have severelypromised my reputation, personal safety, and security. Please send some officers here right away, thank you.¡± Never in William¡¯s wildest dreams did he imagine that Tyler would call the police. He pinched Samantha¡¯s arm before turning to look at Tyler. ¡°Is there a need to make a mountain out of a molehill over all this? he eximed anxiously. Tyler pursed his lips, clearly not intending to sweep this under the rug. ¡°I warned you before. You can¡¯t me me for not heeding it.¡± Samantha¡¯s face changed, frightened by the prospect of being sent to the police station in the middle of the night. ¡°William, let¡¯s leave now!¡± she eximed, panicking. If they left now, the police wouldn¡¯t find anyone upon arriving. William shared her thoughts; he was about to make a dash for it with Samantha in tow when they saw the dog standing before them. Ray blocked their way at the entrance, his usual mild¨Cmannered demeanor all but gone as he snarled at Samantha. Frightened, Samantha retreated. Tyler sat on the bedside, leisurely crossing his legs. ¡°You two had better stay here and not try anything funny. My dog wouldn¡¯t know any better.¡± Samantha¡¯s face turned ashen, and she didn¡¯t dare to move an inch Ten minutester, the sirens of police cars rang in the air. William and Samantha were soon taken away for trespassing on private property. -Silence descended upon the house once more. Yvette approached Tyler apprehensively. ¡°Mr. Hunt, why don¡¯t¡­ Why don¡¯t you let me stay here with you tonight?¡± Right after she spoke, Ray barked at her twice. Tyler smirked as he said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. My dog gets ealous very easily. He doesn¡¯t like strangers in the house.¡± ¡°Then why can my sister be here?¡± Yvette asked. She didn¡¯t dare to speak too presumptuously, as she hadn¡¯t yet figured out Tyler¡¯s attitude toward Rachel. If she went overboard and upset Tyler, it would only affect her negatively. Tyler shrugged, looking as though he were an uninvolved party. ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask the dog directly. He probably prefers your sister¡± He made it sound as though Rachel¡¯s appearance here had nothing to do with him, but everything to do with the dog instead. Ray stared at Tyler, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. No one knew if Ray really understood what Tyler just said. Yvette clenched her fists as she slowly inched toward Ray, a look of determination in her eyes. Tyler¡¯s lips twitched. Yvette cheered herself on. If she could stay the night here, life would take a turn for the better from now on. Even if her rtionship with Tyler was only in name, others would see her in a different light. No one would dare say that she was living in Rachel¡¯s shadow, an illegitimate child picked up from nowhere. Yvette wanted everyone to know that she was the only legitimate daughter of the Lloyd family. Her Exit 268 Chapter 268 Yvette inched toward Ray and started to negotiate with him. ¡°Doggy, can you please let me stay the night here? It¡¯s so dark out there. What if something happens to me, a weak and defenceless girl?¡± Tyler¡¯s shoulders shook as he quietly pulled his phone out to record a video. Ray didn¡¯t seem pleased with Yvette¡¯s suggestion and looked away, refusing to pay her any attention. Yvette may not have felt so at the start, but now, she could see how smart this dog was. Ray could clearly understand what she was trying to say. An idea came to Yvette¡¯s mind¨Cshe would coax the dog with some snacks. She crouched down low and leaned toward Ray. ¡°Let me tell you¨Cif you agree to letting me stay here, I can buy you lots of snacks.¡± At this, Ray¡¯s eyes lit up. Tyler clenched his fists and suddenly coughed twice. Ray immediately snarled ferociously at Yvette, sitting up straight and barking at her again. He barked so loudly and suddenly, Yvette copsed on her floor with fright. Meanwhile, Tyler stopped recording and sent the video to Rachel. Just then, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come on in,¡± Tyler said. Yale pushed the door open and walked in. ¡°Mr. Hunt.¡± ¡°Send Ms. Lloyd back,¡± Tyler instructed. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Yvette didn¡¯t expect that Tyler was already intending to send her back. She shook her head anxiously. ¡°I¡¯m not going home! Mr. Hunt, we¡¯re dating right now. Isn¡¯t it reasonable for us to stay together? If reporters are waiting outside and we don¡¯t leave the house together, the truth will be exposed!¡± Tyler looked darkly at her. ¡°That¡¯s not something you should be worried about.¡± Yale saw Yvette standing there, refusing to leave, and knew what he needed to do. Over time, he had be familiar with dealing with such situations. Yale had his fair share of chasing away hordes of women who showed eager interest in Tyler. He was proud to say that he was pretty adept at this. He bent over and said to Yvette, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I think you¡¯d better leave before Mr. Hunt res up. Otherwise, tomorro announcement might just get retracted before it has a chance to see the light.¡± Yale was making it very clear to Yvette that leaving now meant that she could still keep her rumors with Tyler. If she refused to Yeave, she wouldn¡¯t even be able to be Tyler¡¯s rumored girlfriend. Hearing that, Yvette no longer dared to say anything more. With those rumors around, at least there was hope in her rtionship with Tyler. Whatever it was, her first step was a sess. She and Tyler were inseparable¨Cfor now. She had plenty of chances in time toe. And so, she stood up and said to Tyler, ¡°I¡¯ll head back with Rachel, then.¡± With that, Yvette turned around to look for Rachel. But then, she heard Tyler say, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about your sister.¡± Yvette¡¯s heart fell. She turned back to look at Tyler in disbelief. ¡°You mean, you want my sister to stay here? It¡¯s already sote! Won¡¯t that be inappropriate?¡± Tyler was running out of patience, and it was showing on his face ¡°Ms. Lloyd, you don¡¯t need to be concerned about that.¡± The tone in his voice made it clear to Yvette that she had no other choice in this matter. Not daring to say anything further, Yvette could only leave indignantly with Yale. The moment she left, she bumped into Rachel, who was coincidentally leaving the other room. The thought of Rachel and Tyler being alone in the house made Yvette exceedingly ufortable. How did things turn out like this? Everyone thought that she was with Tyler, but she was in fact nothing more than Rachel¡¯s recement. Chapter 269 Her Exit 269 Chapter 269 ¡°Rachel, go back with me. Dad said he hasn¡¯t seen you for a long time,¡± Yvette said immediately. Rachel naturally knew what was going on in Yvette¡¯s mind. The gia was clearly acting out of jealousy. Rachel never intended topete with Yvette for anything. Rather Yvette had always been the one imagining the antagonism between them. To be honest, Rachel wanted to go back and visit her father too, but she had simply too many things to attend to and was running out of time. Anyway¡­ She hadn¡¯t been spending much time with him over the years. After her departure, J¨ªm probably wouldn¡¯t find it hard to get used to. He had Yvette by his side, after all. Rachel patted Yvette¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Go home by yourself. I have something else to attend to.¡± Yvette looked displeased. Taking in the displeasure on Yvette¡¯s face, Rachel went on, ¡°You should be content. I called you over just now and executed the n just to fulfill your wish. Oh, yes¨Ctell Grandpa that I¡¯ve done as you all wanted. Please move my mother¡¯s tombstone back.¡± Yvette didn¡¯t push further and left with Yale. After Yvette left, Rachel finally heaved a sigh of relief. She bowed to Tyler and said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hunt. If it weren¡¯t for your help tonight, things might have turned out really badly. Tyler had changed into somethingfortable while Rachel was talking to Yvette at the door. He approached Rachel and looked at her, staring at the reflection of the light on her hair. He could clearly see her facial features right before him. Her skin was fair and dewy, and hershes went on forever, fluttering like butterflies as she blinked. Rachel could sense something different in Tyler¡¯s gaze. He looked as though he was trying to see right through her, and it felt deeply invasive. She looked away. His stare was too incisive, it made her feel like running away. Tyler¡¯s voice entered her ears, deep and hoarse. ¡°You¡¯re more scheming than I thought, huh? Since when did you start nning this?¡± He had always thought that Rachel was blinded by love, especially with regard to William. She had discovered his affair for so long, yet chose not to kick up a fuss over it. She never exposed William, or gave him an ultimatum. Either she was bearing with it in preparation for a major outburst, or she loved him so much she didn¡¯t even care if he had a woman outside of the marriage. There were women so blinded by the honeyed words of men, they lost all their ability to think. They would brainwash themselves, thinking that these mers were just chasing after something novel, and would patiently wait for the realized they were the ones who loved the men the most. Tyler found that thought alone outrageous. Rachel looked at him with a self¨Cderisive smirk. se men ¡°Do you really think I love William to the point of losing my mind? If that really happened, my mom would be turning in her grave.¡± Tyler was never interested in rumors from the gossip mill, but he was getting excited to see the little kitten he had always thought was meekly bearing whatever came her way finally baring its ws in preparation for a counterattack. He had never been so unwittingly used like this by someone. Rachel Lloyd was the first. Her Exit 270 Chapter 270 Tylerposed his thoughts; he had a rough idea of what happened, but he was still unclear about some details. He walked leisurely to the balcony and poured himself a ss of wine. His long, svelte fingers wrapped around the stem of the ss, swirling it. ¡°Want some?¡± Rachel waved her hand. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Before, she used to drink while entertaining clients to secure William¡¯s position in Lewis Enterprise. Unless she was in a very bad mood, she would never touch alcohol. Tyler didn¡¯t force her and took a sip from his ss. The fragrance of the alcohol spread in his mouth, and the tight knot in his brows slowly unravelled. ¡°Tell me, when did you sense something amiss?¡± Rachel rubbed her chin pensively. ¡°Probably when I arrived at your ce. I sensed a car suddenly stopping at your ce, and that¡¯s a rarity. It gets even more remote up ahead.¡± Tyler raised the ss in his hand and arched a brow. astute of you.¡± Rachel thought of another detail. ¡°When I came in, I think I saw a figure reflected on the metal te of the door lock, but I wasn¡¯t quite sure.¡± Tyler nodded. ¡°You texted Yvette and told her to swing by and turned the tables on them. What a string of plots.¡± Rachel¡¯s seemingly unassuming appearance almost gave Tyler the mistaken conclusion that she had grown up to be a sweet and innocent yet naive and stupid woman. To think that she had some acting chops! Rachel wasn¡¯t exactly considered intelligent, but that was indeed quick¨Cwitted of her. ¡°Those reporters are wily old birds. They¡¯d think you and Yvette are trying to cover up the truth, no matter what you two im. It¡¯ll be troublesome if they ask you two to do something to prove it.¡°¡± Rachel had seen her fair share of the kind of things kiss Yvette¡­ Yvette would probably be very willing, but Tyler¡­ reporters were capable of. For all she knew, they might just make Tyler Rachel shuddered at the mere thought of it. Tyler would probably leave on the spot, given his temperament. Tyler tilted his head up and downed his drink. He looked very at ease, as though he was listening to her tell a story. I down his throat as he swallowed his drink. It was a sensuous and Rachel¡¯s gazended on his Adam¡¯s apple that bobbed up and do mesmerizing sight. She could still objectively say that Tyler¡¯s good looks were beyondpare, his features wless as though carved by a master sculptor. If she had to point out a w of his, the only thing she could find was probably his sharp tongue. Tyler gave her a sideways nce. ¡°You just made use of me. Shouldn¡¯t you give me an exnation? What¡¯s more, they saw me without a shirt when they came in.¡± Rachel was bbergasted. ¡°Are you seriously ming me for that? Tyler was just finding fault and being petty. He wasn¡¯t a woman, so why did it matter that others saw him half¨Cnaked? He turned around and sat on the sofa, crossing his right leg over h left. Even in loungewear, he gave off a lofty air of nobility. ¡®Do you really think I¡¯m one to let go of something like this?¡± Realization dawned upon Rachel. Indeed, Tyler had always been calctive; he would say anything that came to his mind with no regard for others. He was aloof and indifferent, yet somehow more genuine than William. She actually preferred engaging with someone so frank, unlike someone like William¨CWilliam, who imed to love her and treat her well, only to end up hurting her behind her back. Chapter 271 Her Exit 271 Chapter 271 Tyler wouldn¡¯t stab you in the back. He would only do so in your face. Thinking that, Rachel felt much better. ¡°I¡¯mpletely at your mercy here. I¡¯m probably not of much value to you.¡± ¡°You owe me, for now. You have all the time in the world to return the favor, so no rush.¡± Tyler put the empty ss down, threw off the sheets on the bed, and climbed onto it. ¡°You can start singing.¡± Rachel nced at her watch and saw that it was indeed veryte. She switched the lights off, leaving just the bedsidemp on. She sat by the bedside and braced herself, then opened her mouth to sing. That cheesy song by M2M, Pretty Boy. She hadpletely forgotten the lyrics, but when William and Samantha were around, she searched up the lyrics on her phone and practised singing to it. Rachel had another song prepared, but even before she was through with the first song, she could clearly make out Tyler¡¯s steady breathing. She paused for a few seconds to make sure that Tyler was fast asleep, then stood and left the room. Ray was crouching at the door, and started wagging his tail upon seeing Rachel. Rachel really wanted to go home, feeling ill at ease. She had been lying to William that she had been at Cecilia¡¯s these few days. She was worried that he might start to doubt her. However, this ce was far too remote. It was difficult to call for a cab here, so Rachel decided to give up and bear with it. She made her way to the guest room, switched the lights on, and realized that the bed was all made. She had been so upied with chasing William away, she didn¡¯t notice the furnishings in the room. She ran her fingers over the sheets, which felt brand¨Cnew. The fabric was soft and smooth to the touch, and it immediately made her feel sleepy. Did Tyler really have a sleep disorder? Could someone with a sleep disorder fall asleep so quickly? He was fast asleep in a matter of minutes, even before she finished singing one song. Rachel shook her head, stopping herself from overthinking. She tidied her things up andy on the bed. Meanwhile, William and Samantha were brought to a police station to have their statements taken. It wasn¡¯t a major issue to begin with; after William informed the police of his rtionship with Tyler, they did some basic verification and then released him and Samantha. That was when Samantha found out the truth. Shocked, she looked at William in disbelief, her brows tightly knit pale with fright. d her face ¡°William, does Rachel¡­ Does she know that Mr. Hunt is your uncle?¡± William shook his head. ¡°No, she doesn¡¯t. Tyler¡¯s rtionship with our family is veryplicated, and his name is a taboo in the house. At the end of the day, given his skills, our family is worried about what he can do. Whatever it is, he can be like a madman through and through if he wants!¡± The frightening memories of his childhood came flooding back to William¡¯s mind, shaking him deeply. It was a traumatic and dark period of his past. The fear he felt toward Tyler was carved into his bones and left an indelible mark on him. Although Samantha had no clue what Tyler did to frighten William so badly, she could sense the cold and creepy aura that man exuded. He was like the mysterious, deadly woods that gave off a chilling sense of foreboding. It wasn¡¯t something that could be contained by anyone. C Her Exit 272 hapter 272 Samantha soon realized something. ¡°If Rachel ended up with Mr. Hunt, and word goes out¡­ What¡­what should we¡­?¡± What Samantha brought up was precisely what William was worried about. It had been a thorn in his chest all this time. It was also why he had been trying to stop Rachel from being with Tyler. He couldn¡¯t afford to be embarrassed this way¨Cthe Lewis family couldn¡¯t afford to be embarrassed this way! After leaving the police station, William and Sama Rachel texted back. [I¡¯m at Cecilia¡¯s. We can talk Before William could reply to her, she sent another tex Her sudden question bewildered William. got in the car. William couldn¡¯t hold himself back from calling Rachel. [You went to Mr. Hunt¡¯s house today?] He couldn¡¯t possibly tell Rachel that Samantha informed him of seeing her heading to Tyler¡¯s house, which made him suspect that they were alone there. What made things worse was that they eventually found Yvette instead of Rachel. William could only text back a vague reply. [I had something to ask Tyler and ended up seeing Yvette there. Are they really an item?1 [I¡¯m not sure. You¡¯ll have to ask Yvette for the details.] Rachel made sure not to get herself involved in this mess. William didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. [Are you noting back tonight?] [I need to help Cecilia tidy things up here and won¡¯t be home tonight. Didn¡¯t I already tell you that?] William was rendered speechless; he could only text her back to tell her to rest early. The next day, Rachel hailed a taxi and rushed back home first thing in the morning. Today was the day her mother¡¯s tombstone was to be moved back to the Lloyd family cemetery. Her mother was finally going to be home! It was her mother¡¯s wish to be close to her father after passing, and to be buried with him after they were both gone. Who knew an ident would happen, causing her grandfather to forbid her mother to be buried in their family cemetery? It may be something minor to others, but it had been a thorn in Rachel¡¯s chest for a long time. Rachel didn¡¯t tell Tyler that she was leaving. Since he had a sleep disorder, she figured it was better to let him sleep in. She also noticed that Ray¡¯s food bowl was empty, so she filled it up before leaving. It was tough calling for a taxi here, but she eventually managed to get one. She had to go home for a change of clothes, as her current outfit was too bright and colorful. Wearing somethir and in a darker shade was more appropriate. re muted When Tyler woke up, he saw his dog on his bed, staring at him with big, bright eyes. He patted Ray¡¯s head and sat up. Ray suddenly whimpered, which made Tyler subconsciously look in the direction of the door. ¡°Has she left?¡± In response to Tyler¡¯s question, Ray barked twice. Tyler got changed and opened the door to the room next door. The sheets were folded neatly and ced at the foot of the bed. She even tidied up the sink counter in the washroom; it looked clean, as if no one had stayed the night. He brushed a finger over his brow and scoffed, ¡°She¡¯s a clean freak herself.¡± Pot calling the kettle ck¡­ Tyler headed downstairs to prepare a simple breakfast for himself. He noticed that Ray¡¯s food bowl was filled to the brim, together with Ray¡¯s favorite snacks. Ray wagged his tail as he followed Tyler, who rubbed his head affectionately. ¡°No wonder you like her so much.¡± Ray wagged his tail even harder. As Tyler walked into the kitchen, he received a call from Yale. ¡°Mr. Hunt, after William Lewis returned homest night, he immediately got someone to track down Ms. Lloyd¡¯s whereabouts these few days. He¡¯s probably getting suspicious of her.¡± +25 BONUS Chapter 273 Her Exit 273 Tyler seemed unruffled by the update, as though it was something perfectly normal. He cracked an egg and switched the phone to loudspeaker mode. ¡°You know what to do.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Also, something major is happening with the Lloyds today¡­¡± Rachel changed into a fresh set of clothes before heading to the Lloyds. Yvette didn¡¯t look too pleased to see her. On the other hand, there was a 180¨Cdegree change in Sasha¡¯s attitude toward her. Sasha approached Rachel and grabbed her hand with a bright smile. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re back! I thought you¡¯dete today.¡± Rachel remained indifferent to her change of attitude. ¡°Why would I bete for something as important as my moming home?¡± Sasha nodded profusely. ¡°Yes, yes! They¡¯re doing the necessary preparations, and everything will be done once the ceremony is over.¡± Rachel remained silent. Sasha knew Rachel didn¡¯t like her, even though Rachel was her preferred daughter out of the two of them. Yvette, despite being the legitimate daughter of the Lloyd family, was no match for Rachel in terms of both intellect and looks.. However, Rachel held a grudge against Sasha because of Mnie. Rachel felt that Sasha was the one who spoke badly about Mnie to her grandfather, which was why he hated Mnie so much and didn¡¯t want her name in the family genealogy, and didn¡¯t allow her to be buried in the family cemetery. If it were Rachel, she would have brought Sasha sess long ago. Yvette didn¡¯t look the part of an elegant, well¨Cbred heiress at all. That country bumpkin in her always seemed to peek out despite her very best efforts to suppress it. Covering herself up with designer garb and embellishing herself with branded essories only made her decent enough to engage with. On the other hand, Rachel waspletely different. Her elegance shone even when she wore the most ordinary shirt and jeans. Her genteel and dignified aura drew the attention of many men in Yurelia City, giving her nock of choices of suitors. Marrying into the Lewis family was considered good enough, but it was a pity Rachel didn¡¯t like Sasha. Because of that, Sasha couldn¡¯t ride on the coattails of her sess. Sasha could only pin her hopes on Yvette. If Yvette could marry into the Hunt family with Rachel¡¯s help, Yvette end up better than Rachel. probably Sasha was all smiles as she grabbed Rachel¡¯s hand. ¡°Rachel, if your sister does end up marrying Tyler Hunt, our family will be able to hold our heads up high before others. With one daughter married into the Lewis family and another into the Hunt family, we¡¯ll be the talk of the town! You two would have feet!¡± the two most powerful and influential families under your That was the brightest smile Sasha had ever given Rachel, but Rachel knew it bore ill intentions. She was truly disgusted by Sasha. Chapter 273 In Sasha¡¯s eyes, her daughter was nothing more than a cash cow to bring her profit and benefits. Beyond that, she held no affection whatsoever. Rachel didn¡¯t want to get into an argument with Sasha, but she couldn¡¯t hold herself back. She turned to look at Sasha, doubt evident in her eyes. ¡°Do you really treat Yvette as your daughter?¡± Sasha stood stunned, not really getting what Rachel meant. She kept the smile on her face as she asked, ¡°Rachel, what do you mean by that? I don¡¯t quite understand. It¡¯s been so many years. Of course I see Yvette as my flesh and blood.¡± ¡°If you really do, why would you use her as a tool and make her unscrupulously try to get close to a man she doesn¡¯t even like, or a man she doesn¡¯t even know the temperament and personality of¡± Her Exit 274 Sasha was rendered speechless. She didn¡¯t expect Rachel to suddenly bring this up. Rachel wasn¡¯t sure if Yvette understood what sh Was getting at, but the look on Yvette¡¯s face changed. Sasha noticed it as well and dragged Yvette over. ¡°Yvette, tell Rachel whether you like Mr. Hunt or not. Without a second thought, Yvette blurted out, ¡°Of course I do! He¡¯s so handsome, who wouldn¡¯t like him? I¡¯m sure you can¡¯t find a woman in the whole of Yurelia who doesn¡¯t fancy him.¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°Says who? I don¡¯t like him.¡± Tyler had a sharp tongue that even Rachel found hard to handle, not to mention Yvette with her fragile ego. Rachel wasn¡¯t joking¨CYvette would probably break down in tears with just a few harsh words from him. Yvette, however, clearly didn¡¯t believe Rachel¡¯s im. ¡°Rachel, we¡¯re family. Why bother putting up a front before me? If you don¡¯t like Mr. Hunt, why did you sneak into his house behind William¡¯s back? Mr. Hunt was just done with his shower. What were you two doing together?¡± Yvette didn¡¯t like Rachel to begin with. She knew they were probably treating her as a shield, calling for her to clean up their mess after they had their fun. They would always deal her the shorter end of the stick. Rachel looked at the expression on Yvette¡¯s face, and knew that her mind was in the gutter. ¡°Can you please get that out of your mind? Must a man and woman be engaged in those kinds of activities when they¡¯re alone?¡± However, Yvette was bent on getting to the bottom of things. ¡°What were you two doing, then?¡± ¡°Discussing something!¡± Rachel bit out. Yvette refused to believe her. ¡°Oh, so you two were just discussing something and then Mr. Hunt took a shower!¡± ¡°Yvette, that¡¯s your sister¡¯s business. It has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business,¡± Jim said as he came down the stairs. Yvette knew that her father had always cared for Rachel and always put her first in many things. She just didn¡¯t understand. She was supposed to be the legitimate daughter of the Lloyds. What right did Rachel have to snatch the love that belonged to her? Yvette stomped her feet with frustration. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re being biased!¡± ¡°You always get the best of everything, and you even went over the limit of your credit cardst month. Meanwhile, your sister has never taken a cent from our family,¡± Jim retorted. Yvette was rendered speechless by his words. Rachel¡¯s eyes softened as she looked at her father. ¡°Dad.¡± Jim nodded. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡°. ¡°Yeah, back to see Mom.¡± This was probably herst time visiting her mother. Jim subconsciously nced behind Rachel. ¡°William didn¡¯te with you?¡± Rachel stood stunned for a moment, but recovered quickly and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell him I wasing back.¡± +25 BONUS William was probably busy keeping Samanthapany and didn¡¯t have time for her, What was the point of forcing him? ¡°I called him yesterday and told him about it. He said he woulde,¡± Jim said. Rachel¡¯s face turned dark with displeasure. ¡°Dad, why did you askim toe?¡± Jim could see at a nce that something was wrong. He walked downstairs and stood before Rachel. ¡°Are you two fighting? Is it because of Tyler? I read the report just now and saw that Tyler has admitted it himself. The misunderstanding between you and William should be resolved. What¡¯s more, you two have been together for so many ye You two should trust each other,¡± he said, concerned. y years. Rachel naturally didn¡¯t want her affairs with William to bother Jim What was more, she didn¡¯t want to look like aplete joke in front of Yvette and Sasha. ¡°No, he¡¯s just been very busy working with foreignpanies recently.¡± Jim patted Rachel¡¯s shoulderfortingly. ¡°Talk things out between you two if there¡¯s anything. Don¡¯t fight. You two have been married for seven years. Maintaining a marriage for that long ain¡¯t easy.¡± Rachel knew her father was being long¨Cwinded, but she nodded obediently anyway. ¡°Okay.¡± Yvette leaned in close to Rachel, trying to glean some gossip. ¡°Rachel, did William ask you about being at Mr. Hunt¡¯s house yesterday? He doesn¡¯t even know about your mom¡¯s tomb getting moved. You two must be fighting! If that¡¯s really the case, I can exin things to him.¡± 275 Her Exit 275 ¡°I also heard that William is always with another woman. Is your marriage on the rocks?¡± Yvette pressed. Rachel pursed her lips. She had never been good at putting up an at before others, especially when Yvette¡¯s words hit the nail on the head. Yvette¡¯s eyes lit up, as though she had discovered something groundbreaking. ¡°So it¡¯s true!¡± Rachel¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. Just as the tension in the air was growing, one of the servants announced, ¡°Mr. Lewis of Lewis Enterprise is here.¡± Rachel heard it clearly. The servant addressed him as Mr. Lewis of Lewis Enterprise, not the son¨Cinw of this family. He was here, and not back home. She had long gotten used to it, but the servants¡® address of William was like a stab in her chest. The scar that had barely healed started bleeding once more. William entered, carrying many bags. So was Arsen, who was behind him. Sasha was shocked by their generous gesture. She immediately approached them with an ingratiating smile. ¡°Mr. Lewis, why didn¡¯t you call us beforeing? We¡¯d be able to wee you at the door.¡± William knew Rachel had been at odds with Sasha, but as a businessman, he knew enough to respond to Sasha with courtesy and basic respect. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Lewis.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you came back with Rachel. We were just asking her if you two have been fighting.¡± As she spoke, Sasha¡¯s gaze hovered over the bags in William¡¯s hands. Rachel could feel her gaze prating through the bags into the contents inside. She looked like she wished she could see through the bags. Rachel was disgusted by her greed. Compared to her disgust over Sasha¡¯s insatiable greed and gossipy nature, Rachel was more curious to hear William¡¯s reply. She stared at William, waiting for his response. William approached Rachel and handed the bags to the servants. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and signed as he spoke, I set off fireworks for her and gave her flowers as an apology for being way too busy at work and forgetting to keep herpany That¡¯s why she¡¯s angry. It¡¯s understandable.¡± Rachel looked into the eyes of the man who had spent every day and night with her over the past seven years, which were brimming with affection for her. Yet she found them so unfamiliar, as if she were looking into the eyes of a stranger. A wave of disgust washed over Rachel. She looked away, forcing a smile on her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. You¡¯re being too sensitive.¡± William could sense the loathing in Rachel¡¯s tone and pulled her nearer. ¡°I¡¯ll take you out for a vacation in a few days. Haven¡¯t you been wanting to see the ocean? I took leave from work. Take it as our anniversary surprise.¡± Yvette¡¯s face paled as fire burned inexplicably in her chest. +25 BONUS If Rachel weren¡¯t helping her snag Tyler, she would have told Wim all about Tyler and Rachel¡¯s secret meetingste at night. Yvette refused to believe that William didn¡¯t sense something amiss. Thest time she told William she saw with her own eyes Tyler and Rachel entering a hotel room, William chose to give up midway. Was William deliberately escaping and not willing to divorce Rachel? Why? Did he love her too much? How could he?! What was so good about Rachel? She wasn¡¯t a legitimate daughter of the Lloyd family, and hadn¡¯t gotten herself pregnant over the years she had been with William. Why did William still treat her so well? Rachel saw how upset Yvette was. Rachel knew she was no saint. In fact, she was a very vengeful person. Even though she hated William very much right now, she knew he had something up his sleeve. Jim could sense something amiss in the air, and stepped forward to smooth things over. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s about time. We should go check if things are ready over there so that we can start lunch on time at twelve. Yes, yes,¡± Sasha chimed in. ¡°Let¡¯s head over and take a look: You youngsters should pay your respects to your mother.¡± 01270 Chapter 276 Her Exit 276 Chapter 276 One thing Rachel was in awe of Sasha for was her ability to stab another in the back. Her attacks were always sneaky and never aboveboard. Yet, Sasha could pretend to treat her enemy as her daughter in the public eye. Rachel knew clearly how much Sasha detested her mother, Mnie. Yet, Sasha would still encourage them to pay their respects to Mnie and say things like how she always saw Mnie as a dear sister. From what Rachel remembered, however, Sasha had always tried to hurt Mnie behind her back. Sasha would look friendly and helpful on the surface, but seduce Jim without Mnie knowing. They walked to the door, but the sudden arrival of an unexpected guest gave them a rude shock. The man was dressed in a ck suit, his hairbed back neatly, which added a stern yet aggressive edge to his usual chilly demeanour and entuated his sharp facial features. His deep, dark gaze swept across everyone in the room before he said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Lewis, I came here to pay my respects to Mrs. Lewis. jim knew that Mnie saved Tyler when he was young, which exined why he made a special trip here to show his respect. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to reject Tyler. What¡¯s more, his father was trying to pair Yvette with Tyler. If that turned out sessful, Tyler would be his son¨Cinw. ¡°I appreciate it, child. You¡¯ve been keeping it in mind even after so many years,¡± Jim said gratefully. Yvette immediately approached Tyler and wrapped her arms around his, her tone coquettish. ¡°Tyler! Why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing? Had I known, I would¡¯ve stayed with you.¡± ¡°It was ast¨Cminute decision,¡± Tyler said, subtly pulling his arm out of Yvette¡¯s hold. Yvette¡¯s arms hung in mid¨Cair as a look of disappointment overtook her. Sasha eagerly stepped forward to wee Tyler. ¡°Just tell us next time you want to pay us a visit, Tyler. We can make the necessary preparations. Also, Yvette is still young and may overlook certain things. Please forgive her.¡± Tyler shot Sasha a cold and aloof nce as he snubbed her, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Sasha¡¯s lips twitched; she told herself that was simply how distant Tyler was with others. Despite that, she did feel embarrassed being snubbed in front of so many people. Jim approached Tyler to strike up a conversation. ¡°Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t seen you for many years. You¡¯ve been doing well as ofte, haven¡¯t you?¡± Tyler nodded. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lewis. I¡¯m good, just asionally suffering from insomnia and not sleeping very well.¡± Jim didn¡¯t find it odd. ¡°It must be due to work stress. Sleep is very important. You should get it checked with a doctor. I know an old doctor with experience in this regard.¡± Tyler walked next to Jim. ¡°I¡¯ve been treated for the condition. I found a pretty good doctor, though I must say that his treatment method is rather unique.¡± That piqued Jim¡¯s interest. ¡°Oh, how is it unique? Tell me more.¡± Rachel stood diagonally behind Tyler, her heart racing as she heard Tyler¡¯s words, She pursed her lips anxiously. Her back stiffened and she started breaking out in cold sweat, und the tea about them. William and Sasha were both sharp¨Cwitted and very perceptive. They would be able to tell what was going on the moment Tyler g Her back stiffened and she started breaking out in cold sweat, tins the tea about them. William and Sasha were both sharp¨Cwitted and very perceptive. They would be able to tell what was going on the moment Tyler ga I sweat, unsure of where to look. She dreaded the prospect of Tyler spilling Her back stiffened and she started breaking out in cold sv the tea about them. William and Sasha were both sharp¨Cwitted and very perceptive. They would be able to tell what was going on the moment Tyler gave himself away. Chapter 277 Her Exit 277 Rachel didn¡¯t want anything to crop up at this critical juncture. If her grandfather were to find out that she had private dealings with Tyler, he might just break her legs. Tyler threw Rachel a seemingly careless nce, but from the corner of her eyes, she could sense his gaze resting on her for at least three to four seconds. Those few seconds were surely enough for some of them to notice something. Tyler smirked and said in a low voice, ¡°Singing.¡± Jim was surprised to hear that. ¡°Singing? This is my first time hearing of something like that. I¡¯ve heard of other treatment methods, home remedies, and even needle therapy, but I¡¯ve never heard of singing as a form of treatment. Does ying any song work?¡± Tyler hummed pensively before answering, ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Someone has to sing it. Songs yed over a speaker won¡¯t work.¡± Sasha hurriedly jumped in. ¡°Mr. Hunt, Yvette is a pretty good singer. Why don¡¯t you let her sing you some songs when it¡¯s convenient for you?¡± Yvette hurried over to Tyler, eagerly showing off her skills. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hunt! I can sing very well. I even won an award for singing when I was in university. Let me sing something for you.¡® 11 With that, Yvette broke into a song, her voice clear and melodious as that of a nightingale. Rachel genuinely thought that Yvette could sing better than her. She suddenly wished that Yvette could sing for Tyler in her ce. That way, she wouldn¡¯t exactly be breaching the contract. There shouldn¡¯t be a problem if Yvette reced her. That should be legitimate, especially since Yvette was her sister as much as Yvette refused to admit that. Yvette paused after a few lines. Everyone waited for Tyler¡¯s take with bated breath. Rachel thought Tyler felt every bit like a judge, holding everyone¡¯s destinies in his hands. Yvette was looking anxiously and expectantly at Tyler. Would she live to regret pinning all her hopes on a man? The only person Rachel would pin her hopes on in the future was herself. y well.¡± Tyler responded very seriously, his solemn tone thickening the tension in the air. ¡°Yes, you do sing very w A re of hope illuminated Yvette¡¯s eyes as they lit up. ¡°Really? In that case,..¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing, you sing way too well. I prefer someone who sings badly.¡± Tyler smirked wickedly before shooting Rachel a seductive smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t that so, Ms. Lloyd?¡± His sudden mention of Rachel¡¯s name made everyone turn their attention to her. Rachel felt as though she was pinned to the wall. Her mind went nk as her brain failed her. She could only stare at Tyler in a daze. William was the first to ask Rachel a question. ¡°What does this have to do with you?¡± Rachel was at a loss for words, feeling tongue¨Ctied. ¡°I¡­¡± Yvette looked displeased. ¡°Yeah, Rachel! How did you know about Mr. Hunt¡¯s problem?¡± Jim didn¡¯t want Rachel getting too close to Tyler. He didn¡¯t know Tyler very well, but he knew for a fact that Tyler wasn¡¯t a simple man and probably very scheming. He considered himself a good judge of character, but Tyler was one of those whom he couldn¡¯t quite see through. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s going on? Tell me,¡± he asked. Her Exit 278 At that moment, Rachel had a strong urge to kick Tyler out. She knew how much he liked seeing others get embarrassed. He loved seeing the world burn. The gears in her mind shifted quickly, and found the perfect excuse ¡°Dad, it¡¯s like this. I bumped into Mr. Hunt¡¯s doctor before. Two days ago, I encountered some hooligans, and it was Mr. Hunt who saved me from the situation. He even got hurt in the process. Jim surveyed Rachel head to toe anxiously. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, but Mr. Hunt got hurt because of me. He¡¯s still recovering from a wound on his back from that incident.¡± Rachel heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Jim focusing his attention on her potentially getting hurt. She turned and saw Tyler staring at her That smile gave her goosebumps. his deep, dark eyes, a smile on his face. There were too many unfathomable emotions in his eyes. Sometimes she didn¡¯t dare to look into them, for fear that she might lose herself in that vortex of emotions. There was a clear improvement in Jim¡¯s stone toward Tyler. ¡°I apologize for the trouble that Rachel caused you, Mr. Hunt,¡± he said. Tyler said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. Our paths crossed by coincidence. Ms. Lloyd had actually tried to call Mr. Lewis, but I think he was with another female employee at that time.¡± Tyler deliberately turned his gaze toward William, as if waiting for his response. The shift in his gaze made everyone in the Lloyd family look at William as well. They weren¡¯t the only ones who had witnessed how deeply William loved Rachel. Everyone in Yurelia City could stand as a witness to that. William stood up against his parents and didn¡¯t care that Rachel had a hearing disability. All the more he didn¡¯t care how people in Yurelia City talked about him behind his back. He was willing to be enemies with everyone in his family and Yurelia City for sake. Yet now, someone had imed that William chose to ignore Rachel¡¯s call in favor of a female employee. Suddenly, William found himself at the centre of scrutiny. He could feel Jim¡¯s gaze on him. Jim had been reluctant to let Rachel marry William at the start, for fear that she might get bullied given her disability. Mnie, on the other hand, was convinced that William would treat Rachel well, given how far he was willing to sacrifice for her sake. Jim¡¯s brows furrowed, but he didn¡¯t want to pin the me on William. He simply said, ¡°I know you¡¯ve been busy with work, William. It¡¯s good for a man to concentrate on his career, but you should know your limits. Since we¡¯re family, I won¡¯t bother beating around the bush with you. If you ever fall out of love with Rachel, tell us and send her back home.¡± Jim¡¯s words hit Rachel hard, her heart trembling from the impact. Her eyes widened as she registered the shock from said. Tears started welling up in her eyes. fim ¡°Dad¡­¡± she said hoarsely. Jim knew that despite being unable to hear, Rachel could read lips and make out what they were saying. He sighed and patted Rachel¡¯s shoulder. Chapter 278 +25 BONUS ¡°Remember, this ce will always be home to you. Regardless of whether you¡¯re my biological child, we raised you. That makes you our daughter.¡± No one knew how important his words were to Rachel. Her Exit 279 Rachel¡¯s life had changed drastically ever since she found out she wasn¡¯t her parents¡® biological child, She had no idea who her biological parents were. She felt like an abandoned child no one wanted, with no ce to call her home. She even pretended to like Yvette, pleasing thetter just to feel epted. Rachel wanted nothing else except to stay grew up in and be with her parents. But Yvette hated having Rachel around, and did everything to sow discord. Eventually, she caused their grandfather to chase Rachel out of the house. Coincidentally, Rachel met Willian into the abyss. whom she thought was the man who would save her. Yet, he turned out to push her deeper During this period, Rachel hade to terms with a lot of things. She had be too reliant on William, to the point of using him to heal her psychological wounds. Now, she realized that she was the only one who could heal those wounds. If she chose to rely on a man, she would lose everything if he fell out of love with her Rachel¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°Thank you, Dad.¡± William¡¯s face turned dark with displeasure, but his upbringing stopped him from expressing what he truly felt inside. He forced a smile and said, ¡°Dad, I was at faultst time. I was working on a project with a colleague in the office. It was my oversight, but don¡¯t you worry about my affection for Rachel. The thought of divorcing her never crossed my mind. We¡¯ll never get a divorce.¡± With William¡¯s reassurance, Jim said nothing and simply nodded. He was a man himself. How could he not know what William was thinking? A man might im to be in love when he was genuinely in love, but a man who fell out of love would never be able to force himself to love again. On the other hand, Rachel said nothing about William¡¯s reassurance. There was nothing left in her broken heart except for deep- seated cynicism. She was very curious. Samantha was now pregnant, and it was only a matter of time before Samantha married William. Wasn¡¯t William worried that he would have to eat his words when the time came? Or did he have a n in mind? Soon, the episode drew to a close. Everyone focused on paying their respects to Mnie. Upon seeing her mother finally take her ce in the Lloyd family cemetery, Rachel felt relieved. Suddenly, Tyler received a call. He walked out to answer it. Rachel caressed Mnie¡¯s name, carved on the tombstone, and saidfortingly, ¡°Mom, your wish is finally fulfilled.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t understand why Mnie insisted on returning to the Lloyd family, especially since her grandfather didn¡¯t like her. Jim remarried, too. No one knew what transpired between him and Sasha. Were they truly in love with each other, or did Sasha find her way into the Lloyd family through underhanded means Rachel didn¡¯t agree with Mnie, but she understood thetter. After everyone paid their respects, they started making their way to the dining hall for lunch. Just then, an uninvited guest appeared. One of the servants came over to inform Jim, ¡°Sir, Mr. Ziegler is here. He said he¡¯s here to send an invitation ¡± At the mention of Howard¡¯s name, Rachel¡¯s hair stood on end. She looked warlly at the door. Howard Zigler! 1 Of all days, why did he choose toe here today? The Zieglers were one of the most powerful and influential families in Yurelia City. His grandfather used to be a high¨Cranking military officer whom no one dared to provoke. Even the Lewis family was intimidated by the Zieglers, not to mention the Lloyds. Back then, Rachel almost married into the Ziegler family. Her Exit 280 Howard had proposed to her, and she rejected him, but it was all invain. Howard sought the help of his father, who came in person to ask on Howard¡¯s behalf for Rachel¡¯s hand in marriage. The Lloyd family didn¡¯t dare to offend him, so they had no choice but to agree to the proposal.. At that moment, Jim chose to reveal to his father that Rachel was a biological child of the Lloyd family, and he intended to make that information public soon. The Zieglers weren¡¯t keen on being inws with the Lloyds, and toward¡¯s father only agreed to it very reluctantly when Howard went on a hunger strike in protest. How could someone from the Ziegler family marry an ordinary woman? If word were to spread, it would make them the butt of everyone¡¯s jokes! Thus, Mr. Ziegler gave up on asking for Rachel¡¯s hand in marriage Howard never brought it up again. The truth behind Rachel¡¯s birth circumstances dealt her a major blow, but also saved her from marrying a man she didn¡¯t care for. If she married someone like Howard, she knew she would be doomed for the rest of her life. Rachel knew how Howard felt about her, and refused to meet him. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll head back to my room for now,¡± she told Jim. Jim nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Rachel was about to turn and walk upstairs when she heard the slow drawl that sounded like it came from the devil himself. ¡°Is that Rachel I see? Were you preparing to hide in your room when you heard that I wasing?¡± Rachel¡¯s body stiffened as she tightened her grip on the handrail, her knuckles turning white. A servant came rushing over, bowing her head guiltily when she saw Jim. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir! I tried to stop him, but I couldn¡¯t.¡± Jim knew Howard¡¯s temperament and how spoiled thetter was. He showed no one any respect and cared nothing for others, no matter where he was. Jim didn¡¯t count it against the servant. With a wave of his hand, he said, ¡°You may go.¡± Rachel had no choice but to stay. Since Howard had seen her, hiding upstairs would only make matters worse. She could only return to the hall and force herself to greet Howard. ¡°Hello, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Howard stuck both hands in his pockets as he sauntered toward Rachel with a cavalier attitude, surveying her from head to toe. Rachel detested that invasive gaze of his. ¡°You look even prettier than you did thest time I met you, Rachel.¡± He reached a hand out, but was stopped by William. William¡¯s brows were furrowed as he red daggers at Howard, fire burning brightly in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, please show some self¨Crespect!¡± Howard acted as if he had just noticed William¡¯s presence and scoffed, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here, too. I was just joking around with Rachel. Why so agitated?¡± William shook off Howard¡¯s hand, the veins popping on the back of his hand as he warned, ¡°Howard Ziegler, she¡¯s my wife- not someone you can just casually joke around with!¡± Howard clicked his tongue, 280 ¡°You finally acknowledge her as your wife. Why don¡¯t you remember that while you¡¯re flirting with another woman? Come to think of it, you¡¯re doing so well in your career. I¡¯m sure hordes of women are pestering you, fighting for your attention.¡± The veins on William¡¯s forehead popped as he grabbed Howard¡¯s cor. ¡°shut up! Quit sowing discord between uslu Even that didn¡¯t wipe that teasing smile from Howard¡¯s face. Conversely, William¡¯s agitation egged him on even more. Howard stood sluggishly, letting William hold him up at his neck as though he were a rag doll. There wasn¡¯t a trace of fear in his eyes. With a clear intention to provoke, he drawled, ¡°I was just cracking joke. Isn¡¯t it very normal for a man, especially a sessful one, to get involved with many women? Why are you so agitated? Got a guilty conscience?¡± Her Exit 281 William yanked Howard up by the cor, but instead of backing of Howard even leaned in a little closer to provoke William deliberately. No matter how furious William was, there was nothing he could do to Howard. The Lewis family simply couldn¡¯tpete with the Ziegler family. That was when Jim stepped in. He pulled William back and tried to smooth things over. ¡°William, let go. Howard was just joking around.¡± William red at Howard with barely restrained rage before finally releasing him. He turned to Rachel and signed, ¡°Don¡¯t take what he said to heart. It¡¯s not true.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t speak this time. Instead, she began signing back, ¡°What did he say? He spoke too fast. I couldn¡¯t catch it.¡± William saw what she meant, and his expression rxed slightly. It was nothing. Just a stupid joke.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Rachel nodded calmly. The truth was, she¡¯d understood perfectly well what Howard had said. She just didn¡¯t want to embarrass anyone. As for whatever William was doing outside their rtionship, she no longer cared. William¡¯s phone lit up with an iing call. Rachel saw him decline it, but whoever was calling was persistent because the phone rang again and again. By the third call, William finally answered with a look of irritation. ¡°I told you I had something going on today, didn¡¯t I?¡± 4 Rachel couldn¡¯t hear what the caller was saying, but she could tell it was a woman¡¯s voice. Most likely, it was Samantha. William eventually stood up, covering the receiver with his hand, and walked over to Rachel. He mouthed the words, ¡°It¡¯s something from work. I need to take this.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t stop him. William walked out of the hall with his phone. Meanwhile, Howard had turned to Jim. ¡°Gerald¡¯s got a big birthday partying up this week. I¡¯m here to hand out the invitations. Thought I¡¯d invite everyone to join the fun.¡± He tilted his head to look past Jim and over at Rachel, where she stood at the foot of the stairs. ¡°You¡¯re invited too, Rachel.¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡± After all, she was leaving tomorrow anyway. She could agree now and still stand him up. Howard seemed to remember something else and walked over to her. He casually leaned against the staircase railing and looked her up and down with that same yful smirk. ¡°Rachel, you really ought to reconsider being with me. Look at William. That coward doesn¡¯t even dare speak up. Trust me, he won¡¯t protect you. ¡°You stick with me, and I promise no one in Yurelia City will ever darey a finger on you. We almost did it thest time. I haven¡¯t stopped thinking about you since I got back. ¡°Other women don¡¯t even interest me anymore. If this goes on, I think I¡¯m going to lose my edge. Rachel, you¡¯ve got to take responsibility for that.¡± Rachel was absolutely disgusted. Apart from William and Samant, it was scumbags like Howard that made her wish she really were deaf. She wouldn¡¯t have to hear all this filth then. But there was one thing Howard had gotten right. William couldn¡¯t protect her. Howard was already openly harassing her, and William couldn¡¯t eveny a finger on him. Rachel red at him with revulsion. ¡°Howard, today is an important day for my mother. Don¡¯t say disgusting things like that in our house.¡± ¡°Oh right, your mom¡¯s big day,¡± Howard said. ¡°Relocating her grave, aren¡¯t you? Totally slipped my mind. You should¡¯ve said something. I¡¯ll pay my respects to herter. But hey, let¡¯s be real, it weren¡¯t for her butting in back then, you¡¯d already be my wife. ¡°Hell, maybe if she hadn¡¯t broken us up, she¡¯d still be alive today. Meddling in people¡¯s rtionships surely brings some bad karma!¡± ¡°Howard, shut your mouth!¡± Rachel was shaking with rage. Her hand trembled as she raised it, ready to p him. Her Exit 282 Just as Rachel¡¯s palm was about tond on Howard¡¯s face, Jim¡¯s hand shot,out to grab her wrist. Rachel was shaking with fury. Usually calm and easygoing, she was ready to strike. It was like every sharp edge she had was suddenly out in full force. Jim looked at her and said, ¡°Rachel, calm down. Mr. Ziegler was just joking.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and her lips trembled with fury. She shot Jim a sharp nce. ¡°Joke or not, I won¡¯t let anyone insult my mother.¡± Yvette, shocked to see Rachel actuallysh out, didn¡¯t dare step forward. She whispered to Sasha beside her, ¡°Has Rachel lost her mind? She actually answered back to Howard. Does she even realize what she¡¯s doing? If we offend him, our whole family¡¯s finished.¡± Sasha knew that if Howard got angry andined to Gerald, the entire Lloyd family could be wiped out. The good days she¡¯d finally started to enjoy would all be destroyed by Rachel. She tighterfed the shawl around her shoulders and quickly stepped forward. She tugged at Rachel¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Rachel, hurry and apologize to Mr. Ziegler. He was just making small talk, and he didn¡¯t really say anything about your mother. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?¡± Rachel seemedpletely deaf to her words. Her icy gaze remained fixed on Howard. Sasha grew more anxious. If this couldn¡¯t be smoothed over, and they really provoked Howard, he wouldn¡¯t juste after Rachel. He¡¯d take down the entire Lloyd family with her. ¡®This damned troublemaker,¡® Sasha thought. She tried again, this time with a heavy, lecturing tone. ¡°Still not apologizing? If this doesn¡¯t blow over today, who¡¯s going to shoulder the consequences when you drag the entire Lloyd family down with you? ¡°The Lloyd family raised you all these years. If you don¡¯t want to help, fine, but don¡¯t bring disaster upon us.¡± Rachel stood firm. She truly couldn¡¯t understand how they could all be ?iding with the offender. Everyone was ming her. Did they expect her to apologize to Howard? On what grounds? Rachel pointed at Howard. Her gaze was steady, and her voice was unwavering. ¡°He¡¯s the one who Id apologize, not me.¡® Howard let out a sarcastic chuckle. He was clearly amused. Not only did he not apologize, but he became even more arrogant. He scoffed disdainfully, his hands in his pockets. ¡°Rachel, this is why I like you. You¡¯ve got quite the temper, but your dad and stepmom aren¡¯t wrong. If the Ziegler family wanted to crush the Lloyd family, we could do it with ease. And you like William, don¡¯t you? Too bad. Do you think William can protect you?¡± Rachel stood tall with her back straight. Her words came slowly and firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone to protect me. But today, Howard, if you don¡¯t apologize, you¡¯re not leaving this house.¡± Jim was practically panicking. He knew Rachel¡¯s temper better than anyone. She could tolerate almost anything, but the moment someone brought up her mother, she turned into someone else entirely. Not even Gerald could calm her down then. Instead of backing off, Howard raised a brow in amusement at her deration. ¡°Oh? Is that so? Then I¡¯d really like to see what you¡¯re going to do. Are you nning to tie me up and drag me to bed, Rachel?¡± Rachel clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. Jim, though his face was twisted with embarrassment and fury at Howard¡¯s words, knew the truth. No one here could do anything. Even the Lewis family couldn¡¯t keep Howard in check. How could someone like him? Tripter 202 anything. Even the Lewis family couldn¡¯t keep Howard in check. How could a small¨Ctime family like the Lloyds possibly stand up to someone like him?
Her Exit 283 Rachel had always known Howard had thick skin. Aside froming from a powerful family with plenty of people backing him, the guy had zero decency. He was basically a rich, arrogant lowlife Truth be told, she really had no way to deal with him. As a woman, she wasn¡¯t strong enough to take him on physically. The Lloyd family didn¡¯t dare cross him either. That didn¡¯t mean she was going to let this slide. With Howard standing there, smug and untouchable, practically radiating that cocky thug energy, Rachel wanted nothing more than to p that grin right off his face. Seeing no one dared to say a word, Howard got even more brazen ¡°Rachel, you really ought to think about marrying me: Just imagine, we¡¯d be family, and the Lloyds would rise right up with the Zieglers. Sounds like a win¨Cwin, doesn¡¯t it?¡± This time, Rachel didn¡¯t hold back. She spat on the ground. ¡°Howard, you really think just because the Ziegler family runs wild in Yurelia City that every woman wants to firarry you? Let me make it clear right here, right now. Even if I end up divorced and desperate, I still wouldn¡¯t consider you!¡± Her words stung. In all his life, no one had ever dared talk to Howard like that, especially not in front of so many people. His expression turned dark. ¡°Rachel, are you seriously talking to me like that? What, you¡¯d rather throw yourself at someone like Tyler, huh?¡± He was like a dog off its leash now. He waspletely out of control. ¡°What, did he rock your world in bed or something? Now you think you¡¯re too good for the rest of us? Do you even know the rtionship between him and William? And you¡¯re dumb enough to get in the middle of that mess? ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Tyler is William¡¯s-¡± Before he could finish, he was kicked hard from behind. Howard hit the floor like a sack of bricks. ¡°What the hell?¡± he roared. ¡°Who just kicked me?¡± ¡°Your daddy,¡± a man¡¯s voice replied. Howard scrambled to his feet and whipped around. It was Tyler. His furious re instantly turned into a wicked grin. ¡°I knew it. Only you would have the balls toy a hand on me in this whole damn city. Tyler, you really are something else!¡± Tyler tilted his neck. His fists were clenched tight enough to crack his knuckles. That devil¨Cmay¨Ccare smirk appeared on his face. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got the balls, all right. But I don¡¯t think you do!¡± With that, Tyler lunged toward him again. His fist sailed through the air and cracked Howard in the jaw. Howard had tried to brace for it, but it didn¡¯t help. The punch knocked him off bnce, making him stumble back a few steps. He licked the inside of his cheek and spat blood on the ground. ¡°Damn it, Tyler. That¡¯s the second time you¡¯ve hit me over this chick. Must¡¯ve been one hell of a ride.¡± He waspletely unhinged now and not even trying to hold back. ¡°When you¡¯re done with her, pass her along to your buddy here, won¡¯t you? Why keep all the fun to yourself?¡± Tyler stood over Howard in his ck suit. He looked aggressive despite his smile. ¡°Who do you think you are? ¡®Buddy¡®? I don¡¯t have friends like you.¡± ¡°Tyler!¡± Howard snarled. ¡°Youy a hand on me again, and I swear Gerald¡¯s going to beat you up worse thanst time! Have those bruises healed already? Are you itching for more?¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed. His dangerously handsome face had an eve more sinister grin now. ¡°Thanks for the reminder. Since Gerald is going to beat me up anyway, I might as well make sure you¡¯re worth the punishment.¡± C Her Exit 284 hapter 284. Just as Tyler was about to swing again, Jim stepped in and stopped him. ¡°Tyler, today is the day Rachel¡¯s motheres home. Let it go.¡± Tyler paused for a moment before finally relenting. He red at Heward. ¡°Howard, do you want me to drag you out, or are you walking out on your own? Pick one.¡± Howard¡¯s body was still twitching from the kick and the punch he taken. He knew when to retreat. It was more important to live to fight another day. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and shot Tyler a warning, resentful re. ¡°You¡¯re the boldest bastard in all of Yurelia City, Tyler. Just wait. We¡¯re not done.¡± Tyler tilted his chin with a smirk of pure disdain. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. Try me anytime.¡± Howard staggered to his feet and started limping toward the door.im, knowing Howard wasn¡¯t someone they could afford to offend, quickly approached him. ¡°Let me have the driver take you home.¡± Howard scoffed and waved him off. ¡°Save it.¡± Once Howard was gone, Sasha rushed forward. Her face was pale. ¡°Good heavens. This is a disaster. What are we going to do now, Jim? Howard left looking that bad, Gerald¡¯s going to flip out and dump all the me on our family! ¡°He was raised like a prince! Gerald¡¯s neverid a finger on that boy his whole life, and now he goes out to deliver one little invitation andes back beaten to a pulp.¡± Sasha was rushing around the living room like a headless chicken. Terrified, Yvette clung to Sasha. ¡°Mom, what if Howard really holds this against us? Thepany just started getting back on its feet. If he turns on us now because of Rachel, we¡¯re screwed.¡± Yvette red at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, seriously, what were you thinking? You know we can¡¯t afford to piss Howard off, and you just had to go and provoke him! What now?¡± Rachel frowned. She could understand Sasha¡¯s panic, but Yvette was Mnie¡¯s biological daughter. How could she say something like that? Rachelughed bitterly. ¡°Yvette, don¡¯t you think my reaction was the normal one? Howard just said all those disgusting things about Mom and you didn¡¯t say a thing. All you care about is luxury and status. Do branded goods and power really mean more than family to you?¡± Yvette seemed to realize how bad her response appeared. She lowered her head and muttered, ¡°Okay, yeah, what Howard said was really awful. ¡°But what was I supposed to do? I can¡¯t just p him like you did. And besides, Mom¡¯s gone. Whatever he says, it¡¯s not like she can hear it. You¡¯re deaf anyway. Why not just pretend you didn¡¯t hear it and stay quiet?¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze flickered. She was stunned that those words hade from her own sister. Her chest heaved with rage, but in the end, she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡®Forget it. Nothing I say will make a difference to people like Yvette,¡® she thought. ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing to say to you.¡± With that, Rachel turned and walked toward the backyard. Sasha nced at Tyler. Then she quickly whispered to Yvette, ¡°Yvette, don¡¯t just stand there! Take Mr. Hunt upstairs and help him clean up!¡± After all, Tyler¡¯s hands had gotten bloody during the fight with Howard. Yvette finally snapped out of it and walked up to Tyler with a sweet smile, Mr. Hunt, let me take you upstairs to get cleaned up. You can change into my dad¡¯s clothes. They should fit you just fine Her Exit 285 Although Yvette didn¡¯t know Tyler all that well, she knew influential people like him v ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Tyler said bluntly. ¡°Just have one of the maids show me the way.¡± were usually particr about cleanliness. Yvette¡¯s smile froze in embarrassment, but this wasn¡¯t the time to be self¨Cconscious. Rtionships had to be cultivated, especially when she and Tyler were practically strangers. It was normal for him to feel distant. She quickly forced a smile again. ¡°Mr. Hunt, the maids probably don¡¯t know where the clothes are. It¡¯ll be much easier if I take you myself.¡± Sasha chimed in. ¡°She¡¯s right, Mr. Hunt. The maids still have things to take care of. Yvette has time. Let her take you upstairs.¡± With both of them pushing, Tyler figured there was no polite way to refuse anymore. ¡°Alright then. Thanks, Yvette.¡± His voice was still detached and impersonal. Yvette quickly led him up the stairs. She was eager to stay by his side. Just as the two disappeared upstairs, William walked back in from outside. Seeing the guests mostly gone, he looked around, puzzled. ¡°Where¡¯s Rachel?¡± Jim answered, ¡°She¡¯s upstairs. Mr. Hunt just went up with Yvette to change clothes. William, If Jim was calling him into the study, it couldn¡¯t be anything good. Maybe it really was about what he suspected. He retrieved a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. The flickering me cast a glow over his face. ¡°Dad, what did you want to talk about?¡± Jim¡¯s expression was grim. ¡°You saw how Howard treated Rachel tonight. He was absolutely out of line. He doesn¡¯t even pretend to respect us anymore. ¡°William, do you remember what you promised me back then? You said you¡¯d take care of Rachel and never let her be hurt. And now look at what¡¯s happening.¡± At the mention of Howard, William¡¯s face darkened further. He took another deep drag from his cigarette. ¡°Dad, you know how Howard is. No one in Yurelia City dares mess with him. He¡¯spletely unhinged.¡± Jim¡¯s jaw clenched even harder at this. ¡°So what, then? We¡¯re just going to let Howard bully Rachel? You want her, a woman, to go head¨Cto¨Chead with someone like him?¡± Jim couldn¡¯t help raising his voice. Back when William had begged to marry Rachel, his promises had sounded so convincing. Rachel had juste out of her room. She was nning to talk tom about her mother¡¯s burial expenses. She felt she ought to contribute. It was, after all, the least she could do for the woman who had raised her, even if she wasn¡¯t her biological daughter like Yvette was. As she walked out, a maid told her Jim and William were in the study. She made her way over. But just as she lifted her hand to knock, she heard Jim¡¯s voice through the door. He sounded furious. She then heard the sound of things crashing to the floor. ¡°William, I¡¯ve kept my mouth shut about you and Samantha from your office, but the least you could do is treat my daughter right!¡± Jim shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. If I hadn¡¯t helped cover things back then, do you really think Rachel would¡¯ve ever married you? ¡°You pursued her for so long, and she never gave in. It wasn¡¯t until she thought you were the one who saved her in that fire. That¡¯s the only reason she agreed to be with you.¡± Rachel¡¯s grip on the doorknob tightened. Her face went pale. ¡± Her Exit 286 Chapter 286. Rachel was suddenly flooded by memories she had long tried to forget. She was a freshman in college when it happened. Someone had deliberately set a fire and locked her inside. She had almost made it out, but the windows had been sealed shut. There had been no way to escape. No one outside had dared toe in, and the fire department hadn¡¯t arrived. It was the first time she that came face to face with death. That feeling of sheer terror was something she still remembered. Just as she had been on the verge of losing consciousness, a familiar figure had appeared through the mes. She had recognized its silhouette and height. ¡®It¡¯s William, isn¡¯t it?¡® When she woke up afterward, the first person she saw had also been William. Her ssmates also told her it was William who saved her. She had no reason to doubt it. But from what Jim said, it sounded like he knew that William hadn¡¯t been her saviour. Who was it then? If William hadn¡¯t been the one who rescued her, why did he im the credit? From inside the study, she could hear Jim¡¯s voice again. ¡°I¡¯m going to say this one more time. If you can¡¯t treat Rachel like you did in the beginning, then let her go. I don¡¯t want to see my daughter get hurt.¡± William scoffed. ¡°Dad, that might make sense if Rachel were still the beloved daughter of the Lloyd family. But Gerald clearly doesn¡¯t see her that way. Tell me. Do you think there¡¯s still a ce for her in that family?¡± His words hit Jim like a sledgehammer. It was brutal but true. Gerald ruled the Lloyd family, and if Rachel were to return home after a divorce, neither Sasha nor anyone else in that house would ever truly ept her. Jim hated himself for being unable to protect Rachel. William knew he didn¡¯t need to say any more. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s just head downstairs for dinner. As for Rachel, don¡¯t worry. I have no intention of divorcing her.¡± Jim had no choice but to let it go. ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡± Outside, Rachel smiled helplessly. Her naive father still believed that not getting a divorce was the best oue. He didn¡¯t understand that sometimes staying married was a far worse kind of torture. Footsteps suddenly echoed down the hallway, snapping her back to reality. It was toote to run. As the study door opened, she quickly pushed open the door to the room next to it and shut it behind her. She was just about to let out a sigh of relief when she turned around and froze. Yvette was on top of Tyler, pinning him to the bed. The two of them were tangled in a position that needed no exnation. Rachel whipped back around. ¡°Sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to. You two carry on!¡± Tyler instantly seemed irritated. ¡°Rachel, what the hell are you thinking?¡± Before he could finish, Rachel had already flung the door open and bolted out, only to run straight into William and Jim. An idea shed through Rachel¡¯s mind. William grabbed her arm after seeing how startled she was. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°N¨CNothing,¡± she stammered, but her eyes kept darting toward the room she¡¯d juste out of. William¡¯s instincts kicked in. Something was definitely off. He helped steady her before reaching for the door and pushing it open, only to see Tyler just getting off the bed, Yvette clinging to him from behind. ¡°Mr. Hunt-¡°William fell silent. Then, without saying another word, he quietly shut the door again. Rachel, faking an annoyed pout, smacked William lightly on the arm. ¡°Who told you to open the door?¡± ¡°How was I supposed to know they were in there?¡± William asked. He couldn¡¯t shake the image he¡¯d just seen. Was it possible? Could Tyler really be interested in Yvette? Did that mean Rachel and Tyler really hadn¡¯t been doing anything inappropriate back at Tyler¡¯s apartment yesterday? Her Exit 287 ¡°Tyler¡¯s only here today because of Yvette.¡® Rachel could see what William was thinking by the look on his face She couldn¡¯t help but smile at her own foolishness. Men were always the same. They never questioned what they did wrong but they¡¯d never allow their partner to step out of line. Then there was what Howard had said earlier. Something about William and Tyler. But Tyler¡¯s sudden entrance had interrupted him. What had he been about to say? Just then, Tyler and Yvette walked out together. Everyone¡¯s eyes followed them curiously. William actually looked amused, even teasing as he said, ¡°Mr. Hun, Lapologize on Rachel¡¯s behalf. She didn¡¯t know you and Yvette were inside. She walked in by mistake.¡± Tyler started to exin, ¡°It¡¯s not what you-¡± But Rachel cut in before he could finish with an apologetic expression. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯m really sorry. I should¡¯ve knocked. I didn¡¯t mean to intrude.¡± At first nce, she lookedpletely sincere. But if one looked closely, there was the faintest trace of mischief in her eyes. Tyler narrowed his gaze and studied her expression for a moment So he¡¯d been yed again. Was Yvette¡¯s little show part of Rachel¡¯s n? Or had Rachel simply taken the opportunity to throw him into the spotlight? Either way, Tyler had be someone else¡¯s chess piece, and a woman¡¯s no less. Yvette, face flushed and seemingly shy, mumbled softly, ¡°Rachel, can you knock beforeing in next time?¡± ¡°Oh, my bad. I¡¯ll be sure to knock next time,¡± Rachel replied. She was far too rxed and showed no hint of embarrassment. Jim actually hoped Yvette and Tyler would get together. That would give the Lloyd family an addedyer of security in Yurelia City. He had been worried that if Rachel and William divorced, Rachel wouldn¡¯t have much to fall back on. Without the Lloyd family¡¯s protection, life would be tough for her. But if Yvette and Tyler ended up together, then even if he wasn¡¯t Rachel¡¯s husband, he¡¯d still be her brother¨Cinw. He could help take care of her. With this thought in mind, Jim nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all go eat.¡± As they headed downstairs, Tyler brushed past Rachel. William was still holding her arm, and Tyler¡¯s shoulder identally bumped into her other arm. Rachel instinctively nced at him as Tyler slid past her with quietposure. She pursed her lips, and her heart clenched. The spot he touched was tingling. Did he do that on purpose? Did he know she had done it all intentionally? It was just a spur¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmoment decision. If he hadn¡¯t gotten tangled up with Yvette, she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to use it against him. That¡¯s what Rachel told herself anyway. Once everyone was seated, Rachel didn¡¯t overthink things and started helping herself to the dishes she liked. Then she spotted the beef. She swallowed. She was allergic to beef, but this particr piece looked so tender and juicy. Everyone was busy chatting. Perhaps no one would notice. Rachel carefully picked up her fork and reached for that one little piece. But just as she was about to grab it, another forknded on top of hers. 9270 Her Exit 288 Rachel instinctively nced over to see who had stopped her. It was Tyler. She figured it was just a coincidence. Maybe Tyler liked beef too. But the te was full, and she wasn¡¯t petty enough to fight over food. So Rachel withdrew her fork and generously gave it up to him Tyler took the slice of beef. Rachel thought, ¡®Okay, that one¡¯s his. Now it¡¯s my turn.¡® Just as she reached out again, Tyler¡¯s fork pressed hers down once more. This time, Rachel was sure it wasn¡¯t a coincidence. She gave him a strange look. But since she was allergic to beef, she couldn¡¯t exactly ask him if he was doing this on purpose. She awkwardly pulled away. There was still plenty of beef on the te. She didn¡¯t believe Tyler would eat it all. She turned her attention to the other dishes, trying to bide her time. Meanwhile, Sasha kept throwing Yvette suggestive nces. ¡°Yvette, pour Mr. Hunt a drink. Help him feel wee.¡± Yvette immediately reached for the winess in front of her and started pouring for Tyler, but he lifted a hand to stop her. Yvette¡¯s hand froze midair awkwardly. Tyler remained polite, but his voice was cold as usual. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯ll be driving.¡® ¡± Sasha jumped in immediately. ¡°That¡¯s easy to solve. You can just stay over tonight. We¡¯ve got plenty of guest rooms. Or if you¡¯re not used to staying here, we can have the driver take you home.¡± She was afraid Tyler would refuse. In her mind, as long as he drank, the rest of the night would fall into ce. After all, she had gotten Jim drunk all those years ago. How else would she have married him so easily? Tyler didn¡¯t budge. ¡°No, thanks. I don¡¯t drink unless it¡¯s a business event.¡± His tone left no room for persuasion. Sasha and Yvette exchanged nces. Since he¡¯d made it clear, they couldn¡¯t push it any further. Yvette reluctantly put the winess back on the table. Rachel saw the opening and quickly reached out with her fork again. She was just about to grab a small slice of beef when she heard Tyler¡¯s voice. ¡°Yvette, would you mind passing me the beef?¡± Yvette had just returned to her seat in defeat. The second Tyler spoke to her, her eyes lit up again. ¡°Of course. Mr. Hunt, if you like beef, you should¡¯ve said so earlier. Mrs. Jones makes the best beef.¡± She quickly picked up her fork and began moving some beef to Tyler¡¯s te. Tyler looked up. ¡°Can I have the whole thing?¡± Everyone was momentarily stunned at this, but they quickly recovered. Jim eximed cheerfully, ¡°Of course. Yvette, just pass the whole te to Mr. Hunt!¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Yvette responded brightly. She ced the entire te of beef in front of Tyler. Rachel sat dumbfounded in her chair. She turned to re at Tyler for stealing her food. ¡®Seriously? Do you like beef that much? You had to take the whole te?¡® Dinner continued, but Rachel felt like she had a wad of cotton stuck in her chest. All she¡¯d wanted was one tiny bite. Surely that wouldn¡¯t have hurt anyone. Tyler just had to eat the entire te of beef. William¡¯s phone rang. He picked it up and politely excused himself from the table. ¡°Sorry, I need to take this.¡± He stepped out to the courtyard. The call was from Samantha. His brow immediately furrowed, and a flicker of irritation crossed is face. When did Samantha get so clingy? Lately, she had been calling constantly. If he missed one call, she¡¯d call twenty more times. Her Exit 289 Chapter 289. Ever sincest month, Rachel hadn¡¯t called him once. She barely even texted. William couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off with her But whenever he asked, she always acted like everything was normal. The phone in his palm kept vibrating. Eventually, William gave in and answered the call. ¡°I already told you I¡¯d be home soon. Dinner¡¯s still going on here. ¡°My stomach doesn¡¯t feel right, William. Can youe home earlier? Maybe the baby misses you already,¡± Samantha¡¯s soft, syrupy voice cooed in his ear. The irritation in William¡¯s chest eased a little. He rubbed his temples, forcing down the frustration, and said calmly, ¡°It won¡¯t be much longer. Just hang in there. If it really gets worse, call Arsen and have him take you to the hospital.¡± ¡°Pleasee back soon. I¡¯m scared something might happen to the baby.¡± That one line made William tense. This baby wasn¡¯t easy toe by. He¡¯d been hoping for one for a long time. He used to dream about having a child with Rachel. That would¡¯ve been perfect. But now that Rachel was possibly pregnant, what about Samantha¡¯s baby? After soothing Samantha, William ended the call. He retrieved a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. The rush of nicotine soothed his nerves for a moment. The bitter smoke drifted upward, dragging his discontent with it. A couple of housekeepers walked by. They were sweeping the courtyard and whispering gossip under their breath. William usually didn¡¯t care about chatter like this, but this time, he caught something about Rachel and Tyler. ¡°Do you think what Mr. Ziegler said is true? That Ms. Lloyd is messing around with Mr. Hunt behind Mr. Lewis¡® back?¡± ¡°No way. You remember, right? Mr. Lewis practically begged the old man to let him marry her. Everyone in Yurelia City knew how in love they were.¡± ¡°Pfft. That¡¯s old news. Come on, we¡¯re not kids anymore. Don¡¯t tell me you still believe in fairy tales.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. The seven¨Cyear itch is real. I¡¯ve seen so many couples fall apart. One of them always finds someone else, or they just fight constantly.¡± ¡°Plus, isn¡¯t Mr. Lewis rumored to be seeing that young girl from his office? I heard she was his first love back in college.¡± ¡°Wow. If that¡¯s true, it¡¯s not just one of them cheating. They both are.¡± ¡°What a tangled mess. Just today there was a post online saying Mr. Hunt and Yvette are dating. Then Mr. Ziegler ims Ms. Lloyd has already slept with Mr. Hunt. Ugh, and the way he said it was just nasty.¡± ¡°Good thing Mr. Lewis didn¡¯t hear that. He¡¯d lose his mind.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get back to work. Enough gossip. We¡¯re still broke.¡± William stood nearby. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared in the direction the two housekeepers had walked off. The cigarette burned down to his fingers before he realized it. The sudden sting snapped him back. He flicked the butt into a nearby bin and stormed back inside. Rachel could tell something about William¡¯s energy was off. But before she could figure it out, he grabbed her by the wrist and started gesturing to her. ¡°Come with me. I need to ask you something.¡± ¤¤ ww Her Exit 290 Chapter 290. A sinking feeling crept up Rachel¡¯s spine. The moment William grabbed her wrist, a sharp pain shot through her bones. She frowned and stared at his back as he dragged her outside. ¡°William, let go! You¡¯re hurting me!¡± But hepletely ignored her, pulling her out into the courtyard before finally letting go. Rachel almost teared up from the pain. She immediately rubbed her aching joint. The anger inside her was starting to build too. She had no idea what could¡¯ve made him this furious. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± she demanded. William¡¯s expression was tense. He started signing furiously, his gestures harsh and deliberate. It was almost as if he was afraid she¡¯d miss a single word and misunderstand him. ¡°Your sister is already seeing Tyler, and you¡¯re still nning to mess around with him?¡± Rachel flinched. She rubbed the throbbing red mark on her skin. He was making no sense. What did he mean by messing around with Tyler? Yes, things between her and Tyler wereplicated, but it wasn¡¯t like what William was thinking. She shook out her hand and turned away. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± 11 William stared at her in such a way that felt like he would devour her. His voice was soft, but the fury in his tone was impossible to miss. ¡°Howard said you slept with Tyler. Is it true?¡± Rachel had heard that usation so many times now, it barely fazed her. Honestly, she was exhausted by it. She had thought that after Tyler and Yvette stirred up such a big scene, William would¡¯ve stopped doubting her. She didn¡¯t care about whether he believed her, because the moment he had chosen to distrust her, their rtionship had already started to deteriorate. This constant questioning only deepened that crack. She didn¡¯t bother denying it anymore. ¡°Think what you want. You wouldn¡¯t believe me even if I said otherwise.¡± William¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°So you¡¯re not even going to exin? Because you know there¡¯s nothing to exin, or because the truth really is what it looks like? ¡°Do you realize what kind of scandal this would be if word got out about you and Tyler? This isn¡¯t a only one ruined. Our entire family would go down with you!¡± You wouldn¡¯t be the Rachel hadn¡¯t nned to argue with him anymore. But sometimes, she just couldn¡¯t swallow the bitterness. She took a deep breath and met his gaze. ¡°Tell me the truth. Are you upset because you still care about me and can¡¯t stand the thought of me being with another man? ¡°Or is it just because Tyler has beef with your family, and if I get caught up in a scandal with him, it¡¯ll hurt the Lewis family¡¯s image? And threaten your CEO title.¡± As she said it, something else urred to her, and her voice turned colder. ¡°Oh, right. You still have that dear uncle of yours. He¡¯s always been a ticking time bomb for you, hasn¡¯t he?¡± For a split second, surprise flickered in William¡¯s eyes. It was quickly reced by rising anger. He stormed forward, grabbed her shoulders, and spun her to face him. ¡°Is that really what you think of me?¡± Her Exit 291 Chapter 291. Rachel let William shake her without resistance. A faint smile appeared on her face. Her voice was so calm it was hard to tell what she was really feeling. ¡°Then tell me, William, what kind of person are you?¡± This was the man who¡¯d been with her for seven years. A man who used to treat her with such tenderness and care, who even imed he¡¯d give his life for her. Maybe even that had been a lie. She didn¡¯t even want to ask him about what had really happened back then with the fire. William would never tell her the truth. They had chosen to hide it from her from the very beginning. There was no way they¡¯de clean now. But part of her still wanted to know. If William wasn¡¯t the one who saved her, who had? She ran through every possibility in her mind, but she still couldn¡¯t think of anyone. William suddenly found the woman in front of him almost unrecognizable. She was still Rachel, but not the Rachel he thought he knew. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s going on with you? Did something happen? Just tell me. We¡¯re supposed to face things together, remember? That¡¯s what we promised each other.¡± But Rachel had long lost the desire to confide in him. It felt meaningless now. She shook her shoulder free from his grip. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just stop being so paranoid, that¡¯s all.¡± With that, she coldly averted her gaze. Not saying another word, she turned to leave. William¡¯s jaw clenched tightly. The sight of her walking away with such indifference ignited the fury building inside him. He strode forward and tried to grab her again. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re not leaving until you exin!¡± ¡°Let go!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t raise her voice, but William¡¯s grip on her wrist was too strong, pressing right on the same spot from before. The pain red again, making her cry out instinctively. By now, William¡¯s anger hadpletely overtaken his reason. Rachel struggled against him, and when he finally let go, it was too sudden. She was still trying to tug out of his grip, and as he suddenly released her she fell. ¡°Rachel!¡± William lunged forward to reach for her, but it was toote. Rachel fell straight back, the back of her head hitting a jagged rock with a sickening thud. A sharp pain shot through her skull. The darkness swallowed her whole. She lost consciousness instantly. Themotion outside quickly drew everyone from inside the house. A group rushed out and froze at the scene. Rachel was lying motionless on the ground. Jim¡¯s face went pale as he ran over in a panic. ¡°Rachel! What happened to you?¡± Sasha screamed in horror when she saw the blood spreading across the ground. She mped a hand over her mouth. ¡°Blood. Jim, there¡¯s so much blood!¡± Jim followed her gaze to his palm and only then realized it was covered in warm blood. His hands began to tremble uncontrobly. He whipped around to the stunned maids. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Call an ambnce!¡± That snapped them out of it. One of the maids rushed back inside call emergency services. But just as chaos began to erupt, a calm voice cut through the noise ¡°An ambnce will take too long. We have to get her to the hospital now. Bring me a clean cloth to stop the bleeding.¡± ¡°Y¨CYes! Right away!¡± A maid quickly brought over gauze, and someone pressed it firmly to the back of Rachel¡¯s head. Tyler scooped her into his arms and headed outside. ¡°Tyler-¡± Her Exit 292 Hearing Jim call his name, Tyler stopped walking. Jim looked worried as he said, ¡°Tyler, I¡¯m counting on you to take care of Rachel.¡± +25 BONUS At this moment, the only person he trusted to look after Rachel wa Tyler. As for William, the cause of Rachel¡¯s injury was still unclear. Tyler nodded solemnly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jim. She¡¯ll be fine.¡± Then he picked up his pace and ran out of the house. Jim quickly ordered the servants, ¡°Get the car ready!¡± With Rachel in his arms, Tyler practically sped all the way to the hospital, life¨Cor¨Cdeath situation, and he dared not make a sound. His heart was in his throat the whole way. He could only clench his jaw and hope for the best. Thankfully, despite all the close calls, they arrived safely at the hospital. Yale let out a huge sigh of relief. He felt like he¡¯d just brushed shoulders with death. Tyler had already contacted the doctors in advance, and by the time the car screeched to a halt, the medical team was waiting. The moment they opened the car door, Rachel was rushed straight inside and into the operating room. As the doors shut behind her, it was like the strength drained from Tyler¡¯s body. He slumped into a chair and looked utterly spent. After vomiting outside, Yale came in with a pale face and an empty stomach. Heposed himself before walking over to Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler rested for just a moment before suddenly rising to his feet and grabbing Yale by the cor. The veins on his arms bulged as his voice turned ice¨Ccold. ¡°Go tell Xavier. Whatever it takes, I want her alive!¡± Yale was startled by Tyler¡¯s fury, but he quickly nodded. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Not long after, the rest of the Lloyd family rushed in. Worried sick, Jim approached Tyler, who was still seated. ¡°Tyler, how is she?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the operating room now,¡± Tyler replied in a hoarse voice Jim clenched his fists. His expression was gloomy. Suddenly, he turned toward William, grabbed him by the cor, and shouted, ¡°You owe me an exnation! How the hell did Rachel get hurt like that? What happened between the two of you?¡± William stood there with his brows furrowed, but he didn¡¯t fight back or get angry. He just remained silent. The hallway was so quiet, it was suffocating. Jim¡¯s rage grew more intense with William¡¯s s prolonged silence. He suddenly roared, ¡°I asked you a question!¡± Sasha, sensing things were getting out of hand, quickly stepped forward and grabbed Jim¡¯s arm. ¡°Jim, don¡¯t be like this. Calm down. I¡¯m sure William didn¡¯t mean it. Maybe they were just messing around like couples do.¡± Jim shook her off with a scowl. ¡°Don¡¯t try to smooth things over. Messing around? She¡¯s bleeding out on an operating table, Does that sound like messing around to you?¡± Yvette had been standing nearby. Seeing Jim lose his temper like this shocked her. He was usually mild¨Cmannered and rarely got into arguments with anyone. Yet today, he was yelling at William right to his face. Rachel was just his adopted daughter. She wasn¡¯t even his own flesh and blood. Was this really worth it? Yvette stepped up. She was unwilling to stay silent any longer. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sure William didn¡¯t do it on purpose. He loves Rachel. He¡¯d never hurt her. She must have fallen on her own.¡± Her Exit 293 Jim shot Yvette a cold nce. ¡°Did you see it with your own eyes? How can you be so sure your sister fell by ident?¡± ¡°Well-¡± Yvette had never seen Jim this angry before. The way he stared her clown made her heart tremble with unease. She stepped forward and tugged at the hem of William¡¯s shirt. ¡°William, hurry up and exin to my dad. I know you didn¡¯t push my sister. I believe you.¡± William kept his head down and said nothing. Cassandra arrived at that moment. Someone had apparently informed her. As soon as Cassandra saw the Lloyd family crowding around William, she rushed over and protectively pulled him behind her like a hen shielding her chick. ¡°What are you Lloyds trying to do, huh? Ganging up on my son?¡± Jim pointed at William. His usual mild, easy going demeanor was gone. Now all that remained was a furious father demanding justice for his daughter. ¡°Who¡¯s ganging up on your son? What I want to know is what your son did to my daughter. She¡¯s still in the operating room right now. If something happens to her, William, how are you going to face her mother in the afterlife?¡± Everyone present knew how much Mnie had favored William back in the day. If she could see now the kind of man her daughter had married, she¡¯d be rolling in her grave with regret. Cassandra didn¡¯t even bother getting the full story before jumping in to defend William. ¡°You all keep saying my son is the one who hurt your daughter. Do you have any proof? And even if they had a little argument, that¡¯s normal between a couple. No one wanted her to fall and hit her head. ¡°I think no one should be ming anyone. My son was probably just confronting her about her and Tyler. You can¡¯t even keep your own daughter in check. She¡¯s a married woman, and still out there seducing other men. ¡°My son already told her clearly. The Lewis family has aplicated history with Tyler. He warned her to stay away from that man, but she refused to listen. Your daughter has no shame doing God knows what behind everyone¡¯s back, and now we can¡¯t even speak up about it?¡± Cassandra might have been dressed like a wealthy socialite, but the words that came out of her mouth were harsh. Jim was trembling with rage. He clenched his teeth. ¡°How could you say something like that? Rachel is your daughter¨Cinw. She married into your family and has been with you for years. Do you all really see her as nothing more than an outsider?¡± Jim couldn¡¯t believe it. If Cassandra had truly treated Rachel like her own daughter, she¡¯d nev of everyone. something so cruel in front But Cassandra didn¡¯t feel even a shred of guilt. On the contrary, she raised her voice arrogantly. ¡°She¡¯s been married to our family for years and still hasn¡¯t given us a child. How am I supposed to treat her like a daughter?¡± Jim¡¯s face darkened with fury, but as a man, he couldn¡¯t stoop to arguing with a woman in public. It would only make him aughingstock. So he turned his head toward Sasha and snapped, ¡°Are you mute or something?¡± Sasha snapped out of her daze and immediately stepped up to Cassandra with a forced smile. ¡°Ohe on now, Cassandra. We didn¡¯t mean it like that. Like I said earlier, it was probably just a little misunderstanding between the couple that caused the ident. William must be feeling terrible right now too.¡± Cassandra¡¯s tone finally softened a little, though her posture was still proud and overbearing. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. It was just a little ident. Why is your husband acting like my son intentionally hurt your daughter? Isn¡¯t it possible she just slipped and fell?¡± Sasha kept nodding and smiling. ¡°Yes, yes, of course. Young couples, you know, sometimes ¡°Sasha, are you out of your mind?¡± Jim shouted. ¡°Do you even heat what you¡¯re saying? How could you just throw Rachel under the bus like that?¡± M N Her Exit 294 Chapter 294. Sasha grabbed Jim¡¯s arm and said sternly, ¡°I think you¡¯re the crazy one here. Can we afford to offend the Lewis family? ¡°Right now, nothing¡¯s official between Yvette and Tyler yet, but have you forgotten? If it hadn¡¯t been for William stepping in for thest project, our cash flow would¡¯ve copsed.¡± Everyone in business knew that without the right backing, the difference between life and death coulde down to a single decision. Jim only had Rachel on his mind. ¡°So what? Just because the Lewis family helped us once, I¡¯m supposed to offer up my daughter as a sacrifice? Think about it. If they hadn¡¯t gotten into some kind of argument, how the hell would Rachel have ended up hurt like that?¡± Sasha crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°So what if they did? Don¡¯t forget, Rachel¡¯s not really part of the Lloyd family. Yvette is your biological daughter.¡± Jim¡¯s face turned cold the second he heard that. ¡°That¡¯s a cruel thing to say. Yes, Yvette is my daughter by blood, but we raised Rachel all these years too. She¡¯s no different from our own.¡± For years, because Gerald had always disapproved of Rachel staying with the Lloyd family, Jim had carried a deep sense of guilt toward her. Sasha knew how stubborn Jim could be and didn¡¯t have the patience to keep arguing with him. ¡°Fine, do what you want. But I¡¯m telling you, offending the Lewis family is something we cannot afford. If anything goes wrong with thepany, Gerald will probably want to kill himself. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯ll face your ancestors then.¡± That hit Jim right in the heart. He didn¡¯t care about wealth and status, but he did care about the Lloyd family. Gerald had poured his entire life into building their legacy. He couldn¡¯t let it all go up in mes under his watch. Jim clenched his fists and bit his lip hard. He hated how powerless he felt. He couldn¡¯t even protect his daughter, let alone fight for justice on her behalf. Now that Sasha could see she had gotten Jim on board, she turned to Cassandra with a more polite tone. ¡°Cassandra, don¡¯t mind what Jim said earlier. He¡¯s just a little hot headed. He didn¡¯t mean to me William.¡± Cassandra still looked displeased. She carried herself with that arrogant aura unique to upper ss women. ¡°Of course. Your family wouldn¡¯t even be where it is today if not for us. Rachel? God knows what good she must have done in herst life to marry into our family this lifetime. ¡°You ought to be grateful.¡± She turned to her son and added, ¡°William, don¡¯t worry about any of this. You-¡± As she spoke, Cassandra caught sight of someone sitting quietly on a bench out of the corner of dropped.
  1. ye. Her face immediately
¡°Tyler? What are you doing here?¡± Jim noticed her reaction. The domineering, high¨Cand¨Cmighty Cassandra suddenly looked rattled at the mere sight of Tyler. He had heard rumors that the Lewis family¡¯s rtionship with Tyler wasplicated. He¡¯d tried asking before, but both sides avoided the topic. Eventually, he¡¯d stopped pressing. Tyler had one arm draped casually over the bench armrest. His gaze shifted coldly over to Cassandra. ¡°Mrs, Lewis,¡± he greeted tly. The distant tone of his voice sent chills down Cassandra¡¯s spine. Sasha, trying to smooth things over, quickly stepped in with a smile. ¡°Oh, Cassandra, something came up at home today, and since Tyler a and our family go way he back, came to help. by Lately, he¡¯s also been seeing Yvette.¡± As soon that, as she said Yvette blushed. But Tyler cut a cold, in with indifferent line. ¡°We¡¯re not We¡¯re dating. just friends.¡± The moment he said that, an awkward silence filled the air. Yvette, were just been who had beaming pursed together. She tightly with happiness, looked likes she pped. now looked like she¡¯d been her swallow whole floor o wanted the Her face flushed deep red, and her lips chess N NER X Her Exit 295 Fortunately, everyone present knew what Tyler was like. If he didn¡¯t respect someone, it didn¡¯t matter who they were. He¡¯d treat them the same. Cassandra didn¡¯t take it to heart. After all, it was the Lloyd family¡¯s own mess. What mattered more to her was her future grandchild. She walked over to William and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°William, Samantha said she¡¯s not feeling well. It¡¯s something to do with her stomach. You should go check on her.¡± William only seemed to snap out of his daze when he heard Cassandra¡¯s voice. He frowned deeply. A trace of disbelief flickered across his face that Cassandra would bring this up while Rachel¡¯s life still hung in the bnce. ¡°Mom, do you even hear yourself right now? Rachel is still in surgery. How can you tell me to leave now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not a doctor! What¡¯s the point of waiting around? I¡¯ll tell you if anything happens.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving Rachel like this.¡± William¡¯s tone was firm. Seeing how stubborn he was, Cassandra lowered her voice and leaned in close to his ear. ¡°That baby Samantha¡¯s carrying is the first hope we¡¯ve had in years. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, if anything happens to that child, I don¡¯t care if Rachel lives or dies, she will never step foot into the Lewis household again.¡± William appeared to hesitate. The veins at his temple bulged as he clenched his jaw. ¡°Don¡¯t force me, Mom!¡± he growled. Cassandra was furious. ¡°What do you mean I¡¯m forcing you? You¡¯re the one forcing me!¡± William stood there and refused to move. Cassandra finally lost her patience and shoved him. ¡°What are you still standing there for? Go!¡± Left with no choice, William gave in. He turned and walked up to Jim and Sasha before bowing politely. By now, his usualposure had returned. ¡°Dad, Sasha, I¡¯ll leave Rachel in your care. If there¡¯s any news, please call me right away.¡± Jim looked at him in disbelief. When he spoke, even his voice trembled with anger. ¡°What are you saying? Rachel is still in a critical condition and you¡¯re leaving?¡± Sasha, on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem to care much and stepped in to smooth things over. ¡°Jim, William¡¯s still the head of thepany. He probably has something urgent to handle. Let¡¯s not make a fuss.¡± She turned to William with a bright smile. t you v right away.¡± ¡°Go ahead, William. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll keep an eye on Rachel, and if anything happens, we¡¯ll let y William nodded slightly. ¡°Thank you, Sasha. I¡¯ll be going then.¡± Jim looked furious, but because of the Lewis family¡¯s power, there wasn¡¯t much he could say. ¡®Fine, she¡¯s my daughter. I don¡¯t need anyone else to care about her,¡® he thought. He turned toward Tyler. Seeing that Tyler was still there gave him somefort. ¡°Tyler, thank you for everything today,¡± he said. ¡°Rachel¡¯s stable for now, so you don¡¯t have to stay.¡± Tyler barely lifted his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s already been in surgery this long. What¡¯s a few minutes more? I owe Mnie too much. If something happened to her daughter, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live with myself.¡± Chapter 295. Jim sighed deeply at the mention of Mnie. He patted Tyler¡¯s shoulder with heartfelt emotiori. ¡°You¡¯ve done more than enough.¡± The one who should have been standing here was William, Rachel¡¯s husband. But in the end, it was Tyler, the one who always seemed distant and cold, who proved more reliable than the man who¡¯d always made empty promises. If Mnie could see this from the heavens, and see the man she once believed would care for her daughter for a lifetime furn out like this, she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to rest in peace. Just then, the light above the operating room went out. After a slot while, the doctor walked out. Her Exit 296 Jim quickly stepped forward. ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s my daughter?¡± The doctor let out a long sigh. ¡°She¡¯s out of danger for now, but she¡¯s still unconscious. We can¡¯t say when she¡¯ll wake up. She hit her head hard, and it caused intracranial bleeding. If she hadn¡¯t been brought in so quickly, she probably wouldn¡¯t have made it.¡± Jim¡¯s legs buckled just hearing that. He stumbled back two steps, only to be caught by Tyler from behind. ¡°Jim.¡± Jim waved his trembling hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine. As long as she¡¯s still alive, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Standing off to the side, Yvette clenched her fists tightly when she heard Rachel was still alive. Why was Rachel so lucky? People said that getting hit in the head was fatal, but Rachel was still breathing. Why couldn¡¯t she just die? That would¡¯ve solved everything. Compared to everyone else, Tyler remained far calmer. ¡°Doctor, is there any indication of when she might regain consciousness?¡± he asked. ¡°Based on typical cases, that is.¡± The doctor shook his head grimly. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. In most cases, if they wake up, it¡¯s within twenty¨Cfour hours. But if it goes beyond that, then it¡¯s up to fate.¡± Jim¡¯s hands were shaking uncontrobly. ¡°D¨CDoctor, are you saying that if my daughter doesn¡¯t wake up, she could end up in aa permanently?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. If she has a strong will to live, she may wake up.¡± Jim nearly lost his footing again. Sasha rushed over to support him ¡°Jim, don¡¯t worry too much. Rachel has always been blessed. Her mom¡¯s watching over her from above. You need to take care of yourself too.¡± With Sasha¡¯s help, Jim sat back down in a chair. The nurses wheeled Rachel out of the operating room and into a ward, the whole group following. Cassandra walked up, nced at Jim and Sasha, and said, ¡°Since everything is settled here, there¡¯s really no point in so many people crowding around. I¡¯ll head back now.¡± Jim reacted as though he hadn¡¯t heard her. Sasha, on the other hand, smiled warmly and walked over. ¡°Go ahead, we¡¯ve got things handled here. You should go get some rest.¡± Cassandra hesitated, maybe realizing how bad it looked to just walk out, so she found herself a convenient excuse. ¡°Exactly, Rachel¡¯s still unconscious. There¡¯s not much we can do just sitting here. Better to save our strength. Call me if anything happens. 11 With that, she grabbed her purse and left without looking back. Once she was gone, Jim pointed in the direction she left and cursed under his breath. ¡°Cassandra is unbelievable! Even William left at a time like this! I¡¯m absolutely furious.¡± Sasha waved and tried to calm him down. ¡°Oh,e on. What¡¯s the point of being mad now? We were the ones who aimed too high, marrying into the Lewis family. You expect them to treat Rachel like she¡¯s one of their own?¡± Jim considered that, and he felt less angry. He shook his head and sighed. ¡°With Rachel like this, we clearly can¡¯t rely on the Lewis family. Find two caretakers to take shifts looking after her. And don¡¯t tell Gerald about any of this. With his current health, he can¡¯t take another shock.¡± Sasha was irritated by the list of tasks. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I got it. Nothing but problems.¡± She got up and moved to one side to arrange for the caretakers. Jim turned to Tyler. ¡°Tyler, Rachel¡¯s no longer in danger now. If you have other things to take care of, go ahead.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t insist on staying. After all, he didn¡¯t have a ce in this family. He nced at Rachel onest time before standing.
  1. up.
¡°If anything happens, don¡¯t hesitate to call me,¡± he said. Jim nodded. His impression of Tyler improved even more. ¡°Thanks again, Tyler.¡± Then he turned to Yvette. ¡°Yvette, walk Mr. Hunt out.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Yvette replied quickly. She was practically glowing with excitement. Tyler was about to lift his hand to decline, but Sasha cut him off. ¡°Tyler, consider it a gesture of thanks. If you won¡¯t let us treat you to a meal, at least let us see you off properly.¡± She said it so tactfully, Tyler couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Sorry for the trouble, Yvette,¡± he said. Yvette beamed and walked out with him. She trailed beside him with a girlish charm in her voice when she spoke. ¡°Tyler, would it be okay if I dropped by your house tomorrow?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got work tomorrow,¡± Tyler replied indifferently while quickening his pace. Yvette hurried to keep up. ¡°Tyler, won¡¯t you wait up?¡± she called out sweetly. He suddenly stopped and turned slightly to give her a cold nce. ¡°Yvette, this is far enough.¡± Yvette wasn¡¯t about to let the opportunity slip by. She immediately came up with an excuse. ¡°I was about to head home too. Could you give me a ride?¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed. The coldness in his tone sent chills down her spine. ¡°I¡¯m not headed in your direction.¡± After being turned down over and over, Yvette was starting to feel defeated. But she reminded herself that if she could just marry Tyler, her life wouldpletely change. She¡¯d finally be free of Rachel¡¯s shadow forever. So she put on her sweetest voice and grabbed the hem of his coat before giving it a yful tug. ¡°Tyler, even if you don¡¯t want me to visit, you can at least give me a ride, right? We¡¯re not strangers anymore. If you just gave me a chance, you¡¯d see all the good things about me.¡± Tyler looked her up and down. ¡°I¡¯m not interested,¡± he said tly. Yvette froze, and her smile vanished. She couldn¡¯t even fake it anymore. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Her Exit 297 ¡°Lonly spent time with you because it was convenient,¡± Tyler said te suddenly let out a soff chuckle. His voice was deep and pleasant, but Yvette still caught the unmistakable note of mockery ¡°You¡¯re Mnie¡¯s biological daughter, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yvette felt like his words had shattered her soul. Her expression wint nk, and even her neck stiffened as she furned to look at him. ¡°yler, what do you mean by that? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Tyler must¡¯ve been in a generous mood today. He actually bothered to speak more than usual. On any other day, he would¡¯ve been long gone. He retrieved a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out with his lips, and lit it with a flick of his lighter. Smoke swirled around his face, making him appear somewhat mysterious. ¡°Even Rachel, who¡¯s only an adopted daughter, knows how to care about your mother. And you, her actual daughter? You¡¯ve done absolutely nothing. All you ever think about is marrying rich, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Yvette¡¯s expression went rigid as if she¡¯d turned to stone. It felt like someone had a vice grip on her heart, and she couldn¡¯t breathe. With thest bit of reason she had left, she tried to defend herself. ¡°That¡¯s not true, Tyler. I did bring it up with Grandpa. My mom abandoned the family years ago to chase some research project. I¡¯m just some girl they brought back from the countryside. I didn¡¯t have a say in anything.¡± She looked up at Tyler carefully, afraid of pushing him further. Her voice grew softer with each word. But Tyler didn¡¯t seem to take her exnation seriously. He gave a disinterested hum in response. ¡°Hmm. You can stop here, Yvette.¡± He flicked his used cigarette directly into the trash can with precision. Then he turned and walked away. ¡°Tyler-¡± Yvette called after him. She was reluctant to let it end like that. Tyler paused briefly. Her eyes lit up. She thought he changed his mind. But then he nced over his shoulder with clenched teeth. ¡°One more thing. Not just anyone gets to call me Tyler. From now on, it¡¯s Mr. Hunt.¡± With that, he walked out the hospital doors and disappeared. Yvette stood frozen for a moment before finally snapping out of her daze. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into her palms until the skin turned red. The pain jolted her back to her senses. A wave of fury surged in her chest. Rachel. It was always Rachel. Why was it that everyone around her only ever praised Rachel? Why did they alwayspare her to Rachel? What made her so inferior? She was Mnie¡¯s biological daughter, and yet Mnie had treated Rachel like she was her real daughter. Just because Rachel lost her hearing, her mother had run off to pursue some research, trying to create hearing aids or treatments to help her recover. But what about her? When had Mnie ever cared about her? Even Jim doted on Rachel. If that was how it was, why bother bringing her back to the family at all? If it weren¡¯t for Rachel, Yvette believed everyone would finally see how brilliant she truly was. Inside the car, Tyler sat with his eyes closed. Up front, Yale stole a cautious nce at him through the rearview mirror. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯ve already contacted the top neurosurgeons. I briefed them on Ms. Lloyd¡¯s condition. They said if she still doesn¡¯t regain consciousness, they¡¯ll consider alternative measures.¡± ¡°Okay. Have them prepare backup ns. No matter what it takes, she must wake up.¡± Yale felt a heavy wave of pressure hit him. If Rachel didn¡¯t pull through, it wouldn¡¯t just be bad news. It¡¯d be catastrophic for everyone involved. He nodded quickly. ¡°Yes, sir. ¡°Oh, and one more thing. Regarding Ms. Lloyd¡¯s head injury, I¡¯ve already retrieved surveince footage from the Lloyd family estate. ¡°Based on what the maids there are saying, it seems William overheard Howard mentioning something about you and Ms. Lloyd, suggesting there was something improper between you two ¡°Apparently that led to an argument between him and Ms. Lloyd, and during their fight, she identally hit her head.¡± Her Exit 298 Tyler sheered when he heard that. He found it hrious. ¡°William really is like a rabid dog. He¡¯s just looking for someone to sink his teeth into.¡± Even Yale couldn¡¯t help chiming in. ¡°Exactly. After all, he¡¯s been with Ms. Lloyd for seven years, and he can¡¯t even trust her. He¡¯s acting like she¡¯s the cheating one. What about himself? ¡°Mr. Hunt, there¡¯s one more thing. Word is, Samantha¡¯s pregnant The reason William suddenly left the hospital today was because she wasn¡¯t feeling well.¡± Tyler let out a cold chuckle. ¡°He really lives up to his reputation as Yurelia City¡¯s Most Devoted Man. His wife is lying at death¡¯s door, and he¡¯s rushing off to check on his side chick? Calling him an animal is too generous.¡± He rubbed his brow and began murmuring to himself ¡°I used to think when I gave him that chance back then, maybe he¡¯d actually treat her right-¡± Yale turned his head slightly. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what did you just say?¡± Tyler snapped out of it. His fingers tapped idly against the car window. ¡°He¡¯s trash now. There¡¯s no point in protecting his dignity anymore. Might as well do this for Mnie, wherever she is now.¡± Tyler leaned forward and whispered a few things in Yale¡¯s ear. Yale¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Mr. Hunt, if you go through with this, the Lewis family is really going to fall apart. And if Gerald finds out it was your doing-¡± Tyler didn¡¯t seem the least bit concerned. He smirked with that devilish charm of his. ¡°So what? At worst I¡¯ll take a beating. Not like I haven¡¯t before.¡± Yale let out a long sigh. ¡°Are we still heading over there tonight?¡± ¡°No. Just send someone to keep an eye on things. Me staying there would be inappropriate.¡± With that, Tyler leaned back, closed his eyes, and massaged his temples. Back at the hospital, Yvette had just returned to the ward. Sasha immediately rushed over and grabbed her arm. ¡°So? How did it go with Mr. Hunt? Any progress?¡± Yvette lookedpletely dejected. Her expression was awful, and she yanked her arm away. ¡°What progress? He¡¯spletely shutting me out! And he said all kinds of awful things. Mom, I really don¡¯t think Tyler likes me at all.¡± A sudden thought came over her, and panic began to set in. Sasha quickly tried tofort her. ¡°What nonsense is that? If he wasn¡¯t interested in you, why would he even agree to a scandal with you? Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re the first woman to ever be linked to Tyler in the tabloids!¡± Even if it was just a rumor, the weight of it was undeniable to the elite women of Yurelia City. This was Tyler, a man with a spotless record when it came to women. Just being rumored to be with him already put Yvette in the top tier of wealthy heiresses. Yvette¡¯s gaze drifted to Rachel, who stilly unconscious in the hospital bed. ¡°I just can¡¯t shake the feeling that Tyler didn¡¯t agree to the rumor because of me.¡± Sasha picked up on her implication right away. ¡°Are you saying Tyler only went along with it because of Rachel?¡± ¡°Yeah. That night, she showed up at Tyler¡¯s house reallyte. I think once William arrived, Tyler pulled me inst¨Cminute to help cover things up. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to exin herself to William.¡± Sasha¡¯s expression darkened as the pieces clicked together. She nced at Jim and scoffed. ¡°I told you, I¡¯ve always said there was something off about Rachel and Tyler¡¯s rtionship. You just never believed me. Well, look now.¡± Jim, however, still firmly believed in Rachel. The way he looked at Basha made it clear he didn¡¯t approve of what she was saying. ¡°Don¡¯t twist things like that,¡± he said. ¡°Back then, Mnie saved Tyler¡¯s life. And Rachel has known him since they were kids. To me, Tyler treats Rachel like a little sister. You¡¯re reading way too much into it.¡± Her Exit 299 Sasha smiled. She almostughed. ¡°You really have no idea, do you? Let me tell you something. There¡¯s no such thing as pure friendship between a man and a woman.¡± ¡°Mom, you have to do something. Tyler was so cold to me just now He even told me not to call him Tyler anymore.¡± Just thinking about it made Yvette feel humiliated all over again. Tyler¡¯s harsh words had shattered her pride. He left her raw and exposed in the most painful way possible. All these years, she had worked tirelessly to y the perfect daughter of the Lloyd family, trying to outshine Rachel. But no matter what she did, everyone still thought she couldn¡¯tpare to her. Sasha gently patted Yvette¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Alright, alright, calm down. Come on, step outside with me. I need to tell you something. ¡°Okay.¡± Yvette followed Sasha out of the ward. Once they were sure no one was around, Sasha leaned in and lowered her voice. ¡°What are you so afraid of? Your sister hasn¡¯t woken up yet, and no one even knows if she ever will.¡± Yvette instantly understood what Sasha was implying. Her eyes lit up but just as quickly dimmed again. ¡°But the doctor said there¡¯s still a chance she might wake up. And if she does-¡± Sasha leaned closer and whispered in her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. These things are up to us. The doctor did say she hit her head and had intracranial bleeding. Who can say for sure?¡± Yvette looked at Sasha in horror. ¡°Mom, you-¡± Sasha couldn¡¯t stand seeing her daughter so timid. She pulled Yvette¡¯s hand away from her mouth. ¡°If you don¡¯t have the guts, fine. Just know that when she wakes up and starts stealing your man again, don¡¯te crying to me. ¡°It¡¯s up to you. Either be ruthless once and for all, or keep letting her walk all over you. Think about it.¡± With that, Sasha turned and walked away. Yvette stood there with her brows furrowed. She felt torn. What was she supposed to do? Could she really do that to Rachel? She was still alive. Yet Sasha wasn¡¯t wrong. As long as Rachel was around, Yvette would never know peace. She would never truly be the rightful eldest daughter of the Lloyd family. Rachely on the hospital bed, her mind hazy like she was trapped in a long dream. She saw herself lying in a pool of blood. She saw herself being rushed into an operating room, the blinding white light overhead making it impossible to open her eyes. Voices echoed in her head. The doctor was talking to someone. ¡°We don¡¯t know when she¡¯ll wake up. At the earliest, twenty¨Cfour hours.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart jolted violently. What did they mean, twenty¨Cfour hours? She didn¡¯t have twenty¨Cfour hours. Her flight was at midnight. If she missed it, it would be considered forfeit. If she had to wait for the next opportunity, that wouldn¡¯te for another ten years. Rachel tried with everything she had to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt like they were glued shut and impossible to lift. She was surrounded by darkness again. That same night, all of Yurelia City was turned upside down. ¡®Earth shattering¡® would be putting it lightly. Meanwhile, William was still at the hospital with Samantha. Samithay in bed, tightly holding William¡¯s hand. Her eyes were wide with concern. ¡°William, do you think something might be wrong with the baby? William¡¯s mind waspletely preupied with Rachel. He hadn¡¯t heard a word Samantha was saying. Her Exit 300 William fiddled with the hem of his shirt. The veins bulged in his frehead, and there was a look of intense guilt in his eyes. What the hell had gotten into him today? No matter what happened, he shouldn¡¯t haveid a hand on Rachel. He definitely shouldn¡¯t have let her get hurt. Samantha could tell that even though William was physically by her side, his mind had long since drifted to Rachel¡¯s ward. ¡°William, if you really can¡¯t stop worrying, then just go stay with Rachel. I¡¯m fine here. The baby shouldn¡¯t be that fragile. If something really does go wrong, then maybe that just means it wasn¡¯t meant to be,¡± she said softly. ¡°After all, it picked the worst possible time to cause trouble.¡± William turned to look at her and asked, ¡°What did the doctor say? Samantha lowered her head and cast a brief nce at her lower abdomen. ¡°Not much. Just that the fetus is unstable and needs. monitoring. If nothing happens tonight, we should be fine. But if I start bleeding, I¡¯ll have to return to the hospital immediately. William frowned. He still had to wait and see how tonight went, but Rachel¡¯s condition waspletely unknown. How was he supposed to wait that long? He stood up, grabbed his phone, and said, ¡°Rest for a while. I¡¯m going outside to make a call.¡± Samantha nodded obediently. ¡°Okay.¡± William stepped out and quickly dialed Cassandra¡¯s number. As soon as the call connected, he asked, ¡°Mom, how¡¯s Rachel doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s stable for now. Don¡¯t worry, her life¡¯s not in danger. But as for when or if she¡¯ll wake up, they can¡¯t say.¡± William¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What did you say? She might never wake up?¡± He sounded like he couldn¡¯t believe what he just heard. Hearing that William was still fixated on Rachel, Cassandra tried to talk some sense into him. ¡°Son, can you be a little more realistic? Rachel might never wake up, and you¡¯re still hung up on her?¡± But William¡¯s thoughts were racing, and he wasn¡¯t listening to anything she said. ¡°Mom, what if we switch to a different doctor? Maybe someone better? Would that help?¡± Cassandra gasped in disbelief. ¡°Are you crazy? You still want to switch doctors? I¡¯m telling you straight up. Her brain¡¯s injured. Changing doctors won¡¯t do a thing. It¡¯s all up to fate now.¡± William¡¯s voice was stern. He could barely conceal his anger. ¡°Mom, Rachel is my wife. If there¡¯s even a chance to save her, I¡¯m willing to try.¡± Cassandra was furious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Have you lost your mind? God is giving you a way out, and you still don¡¯t get it. You need to focus on Samantha now. She¡¯s carrying your child! ¡°Rachel means nothing. It¡¯d be better if she didn¡¯t wake up. If she does, let¡¯s see how you n to deal with that mess.¡± That was thest straw for William. Just hearing her say that made his heart clench with frustration. ¡°Mom, can we not talk like this during such times?¡± Cassandra gave up arguing. From her perspective, Rachel probably wouldn¡¯t wake up anyway. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll just say this. After all these years, I¡¯ll finally get a grandchild, and if anything happens to it, it¡¯s on you. You¡¯ll be the death of me.¡± With that, Cassandra hung up without waiting for a reply. William¡¯s grip on the phone tightened as he frowned. He still wanted to go see Rachel. This whole thing was his fault, bu he couldn¡¯t just walk away from Samantha either. Her Exit 301 William smoked a cigarette outside before going back in. Samantha was half¨Cleaning on the bed. Herplexion was clearly better than before. Her voice was still weak as she asked, ¡± How is it, William? Did they manage to save Rachel?¡± William¡¯s head hung low. His entire demeanor radiated defeat. ¡°She made it through the surgery, but she¡¯s still unconscious. The doctors said they don¡¯t know when or if she¡¯ll wake up.¡± Samantha gasped and covered her mouth. ¡°You mean, she might go into a permanenta?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Samantha frowned. ¡°That¡¯s just tragic. William, you should talk to the doctors. Tell them to do everything they can to help Rachel. Going into aa would ruin her life.¡± William rubbed his temples. The dark shadows under his eyes were more pronounced than ever. He lookedpletely drained. ¡°They already did what they could,¡± he said. ¡°Saving her life was a miracle in itself. As for waking up, even the doctors aren¡¯t sure. It¡¯s up to fate at this point.¡± For cases like this, whether a patient woke up was often beyond medical control. Seeing William¡¯s defeated look, Samantha reached out and tightly held his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, William. Now that Rachel¡¯s like this, I swear I¡¯ll take good care of myself and make sure nothing happens to the baby.¡± William nodded quietly. Just as the situation with Rachel seemed to be settling, another waye of trouble hit. Arsen called. Already irritable, William¡¯s mood only worsened when he saw who was calling. ¡°What now?¡± he snapped as he answered. ¡°Mr. Lewis, it¡¯s bad. You need to get online quickly.¡± William¡¯s expression changed immediately. He barely waited to hang up before opening the browser. There was a video trending at the top. He clicked on it, and his eyes widened. It was footage from the security camera in the backyard of the Lloyd family estate. It showed him and Rachel arguing. The video clearly showed him pushing Rachel, and her taking a hard fall to the ground. The clip had already racked up tens of millions of views. Unsurprisingly, it had skyrocketed to the top of trending topics. News about Rachel being hospitalized and still unconscious had also surfaced. Thement section was in absolute chaos. Some were supporting Rachel, while others defended William. [Isn¡¯t Mr. Lewis supposed to be the most devoted husband in Yurelia City? We all saw how good he was to his wife before. How did he turn into someone who would hit his wife?] [That was brutal. He practically beat her to death!] [Men are simply good actors. Pretending to be loving, but behind closed doors, this is who they really are.] [Exactly! No matter how serious the fight, you don¡¯t do this to your wife.] [His whole image just crumbled. I¡¯m heartbroken. I used to set my standards based on Mr. Lewis. And now look at him.] [Same here. I used to nag my boyfriend, saying, ¡®Why can¡¯t you be like Mr. Lewis?¡® Turns out, that was a huge mistake.] [Come on, you guys are going too far. Couples fight. It happens.] [Yeah, and maybe it was an ident. Didn¡¯t he try to grab her in the video?] (He just didn¡¯t catch her in time.) [Oh, please. What kind of logic is that? So if someone tries to kill incone but fails, they¡¯re innocent?) This is attempted murder, in and simple. Rachel¡¯s still in the hospital unconscious, and no one even knows where William ran off to.] Her Exit 302 Thement section was flooded, but William had no interest in reading any more. What he had already seen was more than enough to drive him to the brink. He gripped his phone tightly, as he rang Arsen back. The veins on his forehead bulged as he shouted into the call. ¡°Who the hell released that video?¡± Arsen stammered nervously on the other end, ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know either. It just randomly showed up online today. Could it have been the Lloyd family? After all, the footage came from their surveince. Besides them, who else could¡¯ve had ess to it and posted it?¡± William was furious. ¡°Then what the hell are you still standing around for? Get on it and find out now! And another thing, do whatever it takes to get that video taken down!¡± ¡°Yes, sir! But Mr. Lewis, things are already a mess at thepany. You really need toe back and take control. The hospital where Mrs. Lewis is has already been surrounded by swarms of reporters.¡± William felt like his head was going to explode. He had to go to thepany, but he also had to go to the hospital. After weighing the options, William decided to head to the hospital first. ¡°Have someone hold down the fort at the office for now. I have to go to the hospital. God knows what the press is going to say if I don¡¯t show up.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After ending the call, William grabbed his coat. Samantha saw he was getting ready to leave and asked urgently, ¡°William, it¡¯s already sote. Where are you going?¡± ¡°I need to be at the hospital with Rachel.¡± At those words, Samantha¡¯s shoulders slumped. Her voice became low and subdued. ¡°Then what about.me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll have my mome over to stay with you. The doctors have all been instructed. If anything seems off, they¡¯ll take you straight to the hospital.¡± William squeezed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing will happen.¡± Samantha could tell his mind was made up, so she didn¡¯t argue further. ¡°Alright then. Take good care of Rachel. If anything happens, let me know. I¡¯ll help however I can.¡± William patted her gently on the head. Then he turned and left. By the time he arrived at the hospital, the main entrance was already jam¨Cpacked with reporters. He had no choice but to sneak in through the back door. When he pushed open the door to the ward, Jim and Sasha were still there watching over Rachel. She was still unconscious in bed. ¡°Dad, how is Rachel doing now?¡± Jim didn¡¯t even look at him. When he spoke his tone was cold. ¡°What do you think? The doctors said if she doesn¡¯t wake up within twenty¨Cfour hours, she could end up in a permanenta! William clenched his fists. His eyes were dark, and his expression nk. ¡°So you¡¯re the ones who leaked that video online?¡± Hearing this, Jim froze for a second. He then looked at William in disbelief. ¡°You think we leaked that video?¡± William¡¯s tone was tight with tension. His entire face felt stiff. The room¡¯s atmosphere grew icy. ¡°That footage came from your house. If it wasn¡¯t someone on your side, who else could¡¯ve release it?¡± Just thinking about the consequences of the video going public made William more anxious. He ran a hand through his already messy hair in frustration. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry,¡± he continued. ¡°You think I hurt Rachel, and maybe I did. But it wasn¡¯t on purpose. We¡¯re still family, aren¡¯t we? Why do this? What good does it do you if the Lewis family goes down?¡± Her Exit 303 Tim was fuming by now. He shot up from his chair. ¡°You really think we leaked that video on purpose just to get the entire city of Yurelia to gang up on you?¡± ¡°That surveince footage came from your house,¡± William replied. ¡°If not someone from the Lloyd family, then who else could have gotten their hands on it?¡± Sasha kept herposure. She couldn¡¯t let things escte too far between the Lloyd family and the Lewis family. She still needed to maintain a working rtionship. After all, once her son grew up, he¡¯d need help from the Lewis family and from Tyler. No matter what, Rachel and Yvette were still his sisters. As long as Jim was alive, they had to help their brother. Sasha stepped in as the peacemaker. ¡°William, we¡¯re family. Even if Jim has a problem with you over Rachel¡¯s injury, it¡¯s not like he¡¯d go and upload that video just to drag you through the mud.¡± William clenched his teeth, but hearing Sasha¡¯s words calmed him a little. He pulled out a chair and sat down with his legs crossed. His attitude now was a far cry from earlier when he had rushed after Rachel to the hospital. He tapped on the armrest. ¡°Then maybe someone can exin to me how footage from your home ended up online without your consent.¡± Jim was still visibly angry. ¡°We¡¯re looking into it too. I¡¯ve been here watching over Rachel and haven¡¯t even had the time to check the surveince system. Then out of nowhere, the video showed up online.¡± He had already seen the video. It wouldn¡¯t be fair to say the whole thing was William¡¯s fault, but he definitely wasn¡¯t meless either. Seeing Jim and Sasha¡¯s reactions, William started to believe it probably hadn¡¯t been them. ¡°Then I¡¯m counting on you both to find out who leaked the video,¡± he said. ¡°This is going to be a huge problem for us if we don¡¯t get a handle on it.¡± Sasha smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll let you know as soon as we find out. But, William, I really think you shouldn¡¯t leave the hospital right now. The whole inte¡¯s saying you abandoned Rachel_¡± She didn¡¯t finish the sentence. She didn¡¯t need to. William knew what she meant. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My mom told me everything. I¡¯ll be here with Rachel until she wakes up.¡± Hearing this, Jim finally rxed a little. ¡°If you mean that, then I feel a lot better.¡± Sasha gave Jim a subtle look. ¡°Jim, if there¡¯s nothing else we can do here, let¡¯s head back. Let William stay and keep watch. He can call us if anything changes.¡± Jim nced at Rachel lying in bed. He still didn¡¯t feel right leaving ¡°No, I want to stay here. Even if I go home, I won¡¯t be able to sleep.¡± Sasha patted his arm. ¡°Come on, there¡¯s no one home. What if Dad asks where we are? And with all this drama blowing up online, you need to talk to the staff and make sure they don¡¯t say the wrong thing. Imagine if this reaches him.¡± William jumped in to help convince him. ¡°You should go get some rest. With me here, you don¡¯t have to worry. If Rachel wakes up, you¡¯ll be the first person I call.¡± Jim hesitated but eventually nodded. ¡°Alright. William, I¡¯m not going to bring up the fact that you left earlier. But this is a matter of life and death. I don¡¯t want any more mistakes. ¡°Rachel may not be our biological daughter, but I¡¯ve raised her all these years. Even if it¡¯s just out of respect for her mother, and for trusting you and leaving Rachel in your care, you owe it to her take good care of her now. ¡°If she never wakes up, and if she ends up in aa, even if your nily doesn¡¯t want her anymore, we¡¯ll take her back.¡± Rachel was his daughter. He was fine with taking care of her. The question was whether William had the decency to take responsibility. Her Exit 304 ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Rachel will definitely wake up,¡± William murmured as he stared at Rachel lying in the bed. An oxygen mask covered her face. Sasha and Jim packed up before leaving the ward. Once they exited through the back door of the hospital, Jim let out long sigh. ¡°When you get the chance, call Yvette and tell her to head home,¡± he said. ¡°And make sure she keeps her mouth shut. Whatever happens, she can¡¯t breathe a word of this to Thomas.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Sasha nodded, then hesitated. ¡°But Jim, earlier, why did you say that in front of William? That if Rachel really goes into aa, and the Lewis family doesn¡¯t want to take care of her, we¡¯d take her back?¡± Jim turned to her with a puzzled look. ¡°What are you trying to say? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯d rather leave Rachel out there with no one to care for her?¡± Sasha froze for a second, realizing her words had been too obvious. She quickly tried to backtrack. ¡°No, Jim, you misunderstood me. That¡¯s not what I meant. I just think Rachel offered her youth to William. She married into the Lewis family. She¡¯s their daughter¨Cinw. Why should they get to walk away?¡± Jim wasn¡¯t one to force things. ¡°You saw for yourself how that mother¨Cinw of hers treats her. If Rachel really ends up like that, do you honestly think she¡¯d let someone in a permanenta stay in their house?¡± ¡°But Thomas won¡¯t agree with this either. Rachel¡¯s adopted, after all. If she ends up in aa and we bring her back to the Lloyd family, what will people say? Can you win an argument against Thomas?¡± Sasha asked. Sasha¡¯s words made Jim pause in thought. He waved his hand in frustration. ¡°Forget it. We¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there. Rachel might wake up tonight for all we know. Mnie must be up there watching over her.¡± Once in the car, Sasha sent a message to Yvette. [Rachel¡¯s alone with William right now. Do whatever it takes to get him out of that ward.] Yvette still seemed hesitant. After all, this wasn¡¯t just a dirty trick. They were gambling with Rachel¡¯s life. [Can¡¯t we just wait a little longer? What if she ends up in aa on her own? Then we don¡¯t have to do anything.] Seeing that message nearly made Sasha curse aloud. No wonder Tyler didn¡¯t want her. She was such a useless coward. Sasha quickly replied while Jim had his eyes closed for a nap. [Fine, then wait. And when she wakes up and marries Tyler instead, you can have whatever¡¯s left. Your choice.] After sending the message, Sasha immediately cleared her chat history. This was the perfect chance to get rid of Rachel, and Yvette didn¡¯t even have the guts to act. Sasha had originally thought maybe Rachel being part of the Lewis family could help her son in the future, but thinking about the way Rachel had treated her? Forget it. Rachel was a pawn she couldn¡¯t use and was better off discarded. Inside the ward, William sat by Rachel¡¯s bedside, gently holding her hand in his. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. ¡°Rachel, please wake up. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll be the one the Lloyd family mes. I¡¯ll be the enemy of all of Yurelia City,¡± he said exhaustedly. ¡°You love me the most, don¡¯t you? You won¡¯t just sit here and watch me fall like this, right? ¡°I¡¯m not as terrible as the inte says I am, am I? It¡¯s just,telyve been distracted. Maybe I¡¯ve neglected you, but I promise, once you wake up, I¡¯ll make it up to you. Whatever you want, I¡¯ll give it to you. Just pleasee back to me.¡± William didn¡¯t notice it, but the fingers of Rachel¡¯s right hand moved a little. Her Exit 305 Just then, William¡¯s phone buzzed. He retrieved it and frowned when he saw that it was a call from Arsen. His first instinct was to ignore it. But he know that if Arsen was calling at this hour, it probably had something to do with thepany. As much as he didn¡¯t want to take the call, he had no choice.. He swiped to answer. He already sounded frustrated as he spoke. What now?¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis, you really need toe over right away. The deputy director can¡¯t keep things under control anymore. The shareholders are all in an uproar, and Lewis Enterprise¡¯s stock price has dropped to a critical level. ¡°You need to hold a press conference or release a statement to rify the video. Taking it down is pointless now. It¡¯s already been spread everywhere.¡± William¡¯s brow hadn¡¯t rxed since the call began. His entire face remained tense. ¡°Got it. I¡¯m on my way now.¡± After hanging up, he turned to nce at Rachel. He couldn¡¯t call Jim right now, not after he¡¯d just promised to stay with Rachel until she woke up. If he suddenly left to handlepany matters, he didn¡¯t even want to imagine how Jim and Sasha would see him. After thinking for a moment, he decided to call Cassandra. ¡°Hello? Mom, how¡¯s Samantha doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s stable for now, I¡¯m still here with her, don¡¯t worry. Oh, and saw the video. What the hell is going on? Was it the Lloyd family? Did those two do this to get back at us? I knew they couldn¡¯t be trusted! ¡°William, don¡¯t worry. Once Samantha is out of the woods, I¡¯ll go to the Lloyd family myself and settle this.¡± ¡°Mom, now¡¯s not the time to talk about who posted the video. We¡¯ll deal with thatter. I need to head to the office immediately. Rachel can¡¯t be left unattended. Can youe and watch over her? At the mention of looking after Rachel, Cassandra¡¯s voice immediately turned sour. ¡°What¡¯s there to watch? If she¡¯s going to wake up, she¡¯ll wake up on her own. If she¡¯s not going to, then nothing¡¯s going to change whether I¡¯m there or not. What¡¯s the point of me going? It¡¯s more important I stay home with my grandson.¡± William was already agitated. ¡°Mom! I already promised Rachel¡¯s dad I¡¯d stay here until she wakes up! And another thing. Everyone online is saying I¡¯m a scumbag. If I leave now and Rachel¡¯s left alone, do you have any idea how the public will tear me apart?¡± That got Cassandra¡¯s attention. ¡°Wait, are you saying this could affect thepany¡¯s image? And the Lewis family¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Exactly. If I take a hit, thepany and the family do too. Isn¡¯t that enough of a reason?¡± William knew his mother didn¡¯t care about Rachel, but she definitely cared about money and the Lewis family¡¯s reputation. Sure enough, her attitude changed immediately. ¡°Alright, fine. I¡¯ll go now.¡± William finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Good. I¡¯m heading to the office. Please get here as soon as you can.¡± ¡°Go handle your business. Rachel¡¯s situation is covered.¡± Cassandra gave her word. After hanging up, William walked over to Rachel and leaned in to gently kiss her forehead. ¡°Rachel, you have to wake up. Tomorrow¡¯s our anniversary. I haven¡¯t opened the gift you got me. I was saving it for tomorrow. But what I really want is to open it with you.¡± With that, he turned and left the room. On the way out, still worried, he sent Cassandra a follow¨Cup message, urging her again to get there quickly. She replied promptly, assuring him that she was already on her way. Cassandra put her phone away. She then leaned down to speak softly to Samantha, who was still lying in bed. ¡°Samantha, stay at home and rest. If anything happens, just call me, okay?¡± Chapter 3:06 Her Exit 306 ¡°Cassandra, are you heading to the hospital to stay with Rachel?¡°mantha asked. She sat up a little straighter. ¡°Yes, you heard it yourself earlier. There¡¯s nobody with Rachel ri now. If I don¡¯t go, William will definitely me me for it ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thave a friend working at the hospital. I can ask her to check in on Rachel for us. You going there now won¡¯t help much. If Rachel wakes up, the nurse can notify us immediately.¡± Cassandra hadn¡¯t been too eager to go in the first ce. Hearing Samantha offer a convenient alternative, she nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. Go ahead and send your friend a message. If Rachel wakes up, just have her let us know. I¡¯ll head over then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Samantha retrieved her phone and quickly sent a message. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± But what Cassandra didn¡¯t know was that this seemingly small decision would lead to disaster. Outside Rachel¡¯s ward, a man in a medical mask nced around before slipping inside. He carried a tray scattered with vials and syringes. Once inside, he quietly locked the door behind him. He walked toward Rachel¡¯s bed, removed the existing IV needle, and pulled out a new syringe and drug vial from his tray. After flicking the needle and watching the liquid drip from the tip, he slowly approached, the needle raised and ready. William had just arrived at the office only to be mobbed by a wall of reporters outside. He hadn¡¯t expected them to be at the back door too. ¡®Damn it, Arsen. Couldn¡¯t you handle something this basic?¡® Instinctively, William turned to leave, but it was already toote. He was surrounded. Not only were there reporters, but angryizens had also gathered outside the office. ¡°Mr. Lewis, can you give us a reasonable exnation for the video? Did you really hurt your wife that badly?¡± ¡°Why did you hit her, Mr. Lewis? Was your marriage already falling apart?¡± ¡°Just days ago, you were seen giving Mrs. Lewis a surprise at a restaurant. What changed so quickly? Was it all just for show?¡± ¡°Were you two already having marital issues? Were your public disys of affection just a performance?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think you owe all your fans and followers an exnation for deceiving them?¡± The questions from the reporters alone gave William a massive headache, but what made things worse were the furiousizens who¡¯d shown up on their own. Most of them were women. Unlike the reporters, they didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°You lying bastard! We all thought you were a loving husband, but you¡¯re just trash! Your wife¡¯s still in the hospital, and you ran off!¡± ¡°For years you fooled us. We believed you were the only rich man in Yurelia City who treated his wife well. Turns out you had us and your wife fooled the whole time!¡± ¡°Right! If that video hadn¡¯t been released, we¡¯d still be under your spell.¡± ¡°My daughter used to have a great boyfriend, but she keptparing him to you. She said he wasn¡¯t as good a husband. Now she¡¯s devastated after seeing the truth. She even tried to take her own life. You have to take responsibility!¡± In the span of hours, William had gone from the city¡¯s most adored husband to its public enemy number one. Just then, his phone rang in his pocket. He nced down and saw that it was a call from Arsen. He took the call. ¡°Mr. Lewis, something bad has happened!¡± Her Exit 307 William felt a surge of frustration the moment he heard those wotes. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Someone posing as a doctor got into the ward. They tried to kill Mrs. Lewis. Now they¡¯re gone, and so is she. You¡¯d better get over here right away.¡± William froze to the spot as if he¡¯d been struck by lightning. He could hardly believe what Arsen had just said. Someone had tried to kill Rachel, and now she was missing? He snapped back to his senses, roughly shoved the crowd aside, and sprinted toward his car. The reporters and bystanders behind him scrambled to keep up. ¡°Mr. Lewis! Mr. Lewis! Please exin what¡¯s going on!¡°¨C William didn¡¯t say a word. He jumped in the car, fired up the engine, and mmed his foot on the pedal. A few reporters surrounded the window and pounded on it. ¡°Mr. Lewis! Just give us ament. Mr. Lewis!¡± But the car bolted forward like a wild horse, leaving everyone behind. When William reached the hospital, he burst into Rachel¡¯s room, only to find itpletely empty. His expression darkened instantly. The veins on his neck bulged as he turned to Arsen and yelled, ¡°Where is she?¡± Arsen flinched under the weight of his re. ¡°I don¡¯t know. By the time I got here, she was already gone. There were only some scattered syringes on the floor. The doctors took them to run tests. ¡°Check the security footage!¡± William roared. Arsen looked even more shaken. ¡°T¨CThe cameras were disabled.¡± William clenched his jaw so hard his teeth nearly cracked. His eyes were bloodshot. ¡°You¡¯re telling me someone vanished into thin air and you don¡¯t have even a single lead?¡± Arsen hung his head in shame. ¡°Mr. Lewis, maybe we should call the police.¡± William red at him. ¡°You want me to call the police? You think this mess isn¡¯t big enough already?¡± Arsen instantly went quiet. He was too afraid to speak again. Rachel was missing, and no one knew if she was dead or alive. Their only option was to call the police. Without reporting it, if something happened, that would be a life on their hands. Still, William refused to go public. With the scandal still escting online, if news of Rachel¡¯s disappearance broke, it would blow everything sky¨Chigh. William paced the room like a caged animal. He was frantic and overwhelmed. Then a thought struck him. ¡°My mother. I told her toe stay with Rachel. Where is she?¡± Arsen replied quickly, ¡°I already notified her.¡± Cassandra arrived shortly after with Samatha at her side. Cassandra seemed frazzled. ¡°William, what¡¯s going on? I heard Rachel¡¯s missing. How could that happen?¡± William whirled around and snapped at her. ¡°Mom! Didn¡¯t I tell you toe and stay with Rachel? What the hell were you doing?¡± Cassandra had never seen William lose it like that. She was stunned. ¡°I¨CI was just nning toe a littleter. How was I supposed to know this would happen? Besides, shouldn¡¯t you be more optimistic? ¡°If she¡¯s missing, that must mean she woke up on her own. Why are you panicking?¡± ¡°Woke up?¡± William shouted. ¡°Do you have any idea what¡¯s going on? Someone tried to kill her! They disguised themselves as a doctor, and now she¡¯s gone! No one knows where she is, or if she¡¯s even still alive!¡± William was like a man on a rampage. He was utterly restless. If Rachel really had disappeared like this, how would he exin it to the Lloyd family? The media was already out for blood. If news got out that Rachel had vanished under suspicious circumstances, the consequences for hispany and the entire Lewis family would be catastrophic. ¡°What?¡± Cassandra was equally shocked by the fact that somebody tried to take Rachel¡¯s life. Her Exit 308 Soon enough, Cassandra recovered from her shock and said to Wim, ¡°What does this have to do with you? Rachel must¡¯ve messed with someone she shouldn¡¯t have. This isn¡¯t our fault. It¡¯s ol like we wanted her dead.¡± In her mind, things couldn¡¯t be more straightforward. Frankly, she hoped someone would take Rachel out of the picture that way, the marriage would be over, and Samantha could officially take Rachel¡¯s ce in the Lewis family. Once Samantha gave birth to her grandchild, their family would finally feelplete. William rubbed his aching temples. He was visibly trying to rein in his anger. ¡°You do realize the reporters outside are watching my every move, right? They already believe everything I did for Rachel before was just for show. Now if they find out she disappeared under our noses, what do you think they¡¯re going to say? ¡°They¡¯ll start asking the obvious. Wasn¡¯t anyone watching her? How could something like this even happen?¡± Cassandra didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Just say I went to the restroom. Simple as that. People need the bathroom, don¡¯t they?¡± William let out a bitterugh and said under his breath, ¡°Mom, do you think these reporters are idiots?¡± Even Cassandra realized that excuse was too weak. ¡°Well, what do we do then? We obviously can¡¯t cover this up, but we can¡¯t call the cops either. If the police get involved, the whole thing¡¯s going to blow up even worse.¡± Just then, the doctor came over with a report. He walked briskly toward them. ¡°We¡¯vepleted the analysis. The syringe found on the floor contained a lethalpound. We don¡¯t know for sure whether it was injected into the patient.¡± William¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡°What are you saying? If it was injected, does she have any chance at all?¡± The doctor¡¯s expression was grim. ¡°I really can¡¯t say for certain. But with this particr drug, the fatality rate is around seventy to eighty percent.¡± William¡¯s pupils contracted. Even Cassandra¡¯s legs went weak with fear. Samantha quickly caught her just in time. ¡°Are you alright, Cassandra?¡± Cassandra clutched Samantha¡¯s hand tightly. Her face was pale with shock. ¡°W¨CWho could Rachel have possibly crossed? Who would want her dead?¡± Samantha was just as stunned. She turned to William instinctively. ¡°Yeah, William. You¡¯ve been with Rachel for years. Are you sure she hasn¡¯t had any dangerous associationstely?¡± ¡°Not that I¡¯ve heard of,¡± William said, stroking his chin as he racked his brain. He tried to think of anyone Rachel might have angered recently, but no one came to mind. Who would go so far as to try to kill her? Cassandra was panicking now. She began to stutter. ¡°I¨CIs she dead or alive? D¨CDid she even wake up?¡± William shot her a sideways nce. ¡°How would I know?¡± Cassandra immediately tried to distance herself from responsibility. ¡°Well, this doesn¡¯t have anything to do with us, right? We weren¡¯t the ones trying to kill her. If the Lloyd family asks, we¡¯ll just me it on whoever was after her.¡± But that was exactly what bothered William the most. ¡°Rachel has disappeared. It doesn¡¯t matter if she¡¯s dead or alive. The Lloyd family will definitely call the police. Once they do, this whole thing will be exposed, and the media wille after us like a pack of wolves!¡± C Her Exit 309 ¡®The doctor couldn¡¯t help but interject after overhearing their conversation. ¡°If you don¡¯t report it to the police, and the patient is still alive somewhere, wouldn¡¯t you miss the opportunity to rescue her?¡± Hearing this, William turned and shoved a thick envelope into the doctor¡¯s palm. ¡°Dr. Warren, I heard your family¡¯s been going through a rough patchtely. Take this. It might help you get through it. You understand what to say, and what not to say, right?¡± Lenny Warren nced at the weighty envelope in his hand and hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he nodded. ¡°Yes, Mr. Lewis. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t say a word that shouldn¡¯t be said.¡± Cassandra still wasn¡¯t at ease. ¡°Then what do we do now?¡± William had an empty look in his eyes. ¡°If the Lloyd family asks, we say we don¡¯t know. She vanished. Maybe she woke up on her own and left.¡± ¡°But what if she was kidnapped, and the kidnapperse asking for ransom? Wouldn¡¯t that give us away?¡± Samantha added. ¡°Then we say we¡¯re just as surprised. We know nothing about it,¡± William replied coldly, brushing the responsibility off without a care. Although Lenny had taken William¡¯s money, deep down he couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°This family is ruthless. None of the praise about them online was true.¡® Lenny had believed William was the most devoted husband in all of Yurelia City, the man every woman had a crush on. But now, the mask was off. When it came down to it, seven years of marriage could be discarded like trash the moment it became inconvenient. Lenny could only shake his head helplessly. He was just a doctor and was powerless against people like them. All he could do was silently pray for Rachel¡¯s safety. No one knew if she was dead or alive. But no matter how much William tried to cover things up, word still made its way to the Lloyd family. Jim and the others rushed to the hospital not long after. Jim¡¯s face was ashen, and his steps were hurried. He shoved open the door to the ward and stormed in. William stood there with a tense look on his face. This time, Jim gave him no chance to speak. He grabbed William by the cor and punched him square in the face. ¡°Where is Rachel?! I asked you, where the hell is she?!¡± William didn¡¯t fight back. He simply took the punch and lowered his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dad. This is my fault. You can hit me as much as you want. I¡¯ve already sent people out to search for her. The moment we hear anything, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± Cassandra couldn¡¯t bear to see William get hit. She rushed forward and shielded him. ¡°Hey! Jim, who gave you the right to hit my son? Your daughter married him. She didn¡¯t sign her life away to the Lewis family. Yes, we¡¯re responsible, but you can¡¯t pin the entire thing on us!¡± Jim¡¯s face was dark with rage. His hands trembled as he pointed at William. ¡°What did you say before I left? You said you¡¯d stay by Rachel¡¯s side until she woke up. It¡¯s only been a few hours, and now you¡¯re telling me my daughter¡¯s just vanished? That she just disappeared into thin air?¡± Standing nearby, Yvette was equally confused. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡® she thought. Hadn¡¯t she already contacted someone to inject the drug into Rachel? She had clearly told them to make sure Rachel stopped breathing and then leave immediately. But that person¡¯s phone had been unreachable ever since, and she had assumed the n had failed. And now Jim was saying Rachel had gone missing. Her Exit 310 Yvette exchanged nces with Sasha, who also shook her head. Carly, Sasha was just as clueless. Cassandra was still trying to defend her son. ¡°Don¡¯t me my so thepany¡¯s a mess right now. He had to go handle it. Before he left, he called me and asked me toe watch Rachel. Bt something came up at home, and by the time I got here, she was already gone. ¡°And besides, you don¡¯t need to assume the worst. Maybe Rachel just woke up and went out on her own. She could be back any minute.¡± Jim couldn¡¯t hold back his sarcasm at that ridiculous suggestion. You really think my daughter is the kind of person who¡¯d just walk off like that without a word? She knows we¡¯re all worried sick and her phone¡¯s been turned off.¡± Seeing the tide turning now that Rachel was gone, Sasha no longer bothered ying nice with the Lewis family. With Rachel vanished, it was the perfect time to shift all the me Her expression changed entirely. She crossed her arms and lifted her chin, speaking with a sharp, cold edge to her voice. ¡°Come on now, inws, let¡¯s not twist the story. When we left, Rachel was lying here safe and sound. We handed her over to your care. Now she¡¯s gone, and instead of taking responsibility, you throw out excuses like this? ¡°Or do you want me to call in the media? Let the public see how the Lewis family treats the daughter¨Cinw they always unted in front of everyone?¡± Cassandra immediately panicked at the mention of the media. ¡°No, no, no! Come on, this is a family matter. There¡¯s no need to blow this up in the press. It¡¯d be embarrassing for everyone involved.¡± Jim made his decision on the spot. ¡°Then we¡¯re calling the police. Someone¡¯s missing. Reporting it is the only responsible thing to do.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t call the police!¡± Cassandra and Sasha blurted the same sentence out simultaneously. Jim¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. ¡°At a time like this, you still don¡¯t want to call the police? What the hell are you both thinking?¡± Sasha quickly pulled Jim aside and whispered, ¡°We don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on yet. We don¡¯t know if Rachel left on her. own or if she was kidnapped. She vanished without a trace in broad daylight. How do we exin that?¡± Her words made Jim waver again. Yvette chimed in as well. ¡°She¡¯s right, Dad. You can¡¯t just rush into calling the police. What if Rachel was kidnapped? If we wait, they might contact us for ransom. If you alert the police and it leaks, what if they panic and kill her?¡± Their arguments swayed him into giving up on the idea of calling the police. He found himself unsure of what to do at all. William seized the moment and stepped forward. ¡°Dad, I swear to you, I¡¯ll make up for my mistake. I¡¯ve already sent people out to look for Rachel. The second I hear anything, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± Jim gave William a sidelong nce. ¡°That¡¯s the same thing you said before Rachel disappeared. Why should I believe you now?¡± William narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Then what do you suggest?¡± Jim¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°On my way here, I already contacted Tyler. If anything, Rachel grew up around him, and he was close to her mother. I think he has every right to help investigate.¡± The moment Jim said that, the entire atmosphere in the room shifted. The tension suddenly thickened. William¡¯s expression changed drastically. If Tyler got involved, this wouldn¡¯t be something he could control or smooth over easily. Tyler was relentless and too difficult to deal with. Her Exit 311 Chapter 311 Not just William, but even Yvette and Sasha frowned at what Tyler said. Yvette was the first to open her mouth. ¡°Dad, Mom and I will go ask the doctor and see if he knows more about the situation.¡± ¡°Yes, ask the attending doctor. There are surveince cameras around, too,¡± Jim said. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do that¡­¡± ¡°Forget about checking the surveince footage. One of the doctors said that someone destroyed all of it,¡± Tyler said. ¡°Someone destroyed the footage?¡± Jim frowned, instinctively aware that things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed. Even the surveince footage was destroyed. That meant Rachel didn¡¯t leave of her own ord. It was a case of premeditated kidnapping. Yvette and Sasha crept to the door; after making sure no one was within earshot, they began whispering under their breaths. ¡°We have to stop Tyler from getting himself involved in this!¡± Yvette started panicking. ¡°Mom, how can we even stop him? Dad didn¡¯t even tell us about it! Anyway, this is our problem¨Cit has nothing to do with Tyler Hunt.¡± Sasha pulled Yvette along, her face sullen. ¡°What exactly is going on? Where did the man you hired send Rachel to?¡± Yvette shrugged and said helplessly, ¡°I¡­I have no idea, too. I told him to just inject the medicine into Rachel¡¯s body, but I couldn¡¯t reach him by phone at the agreed time.!¡± Sasha found it sickeningly hrious. ¡°So you mean Rachel evaporated from the face of the earth, and you don¡¯t even know whether the medicine was injected into her?¡± ¡°It probably was. I secretly asked the doctor just now. He said he picked up a syringe on the floor just now, and it was empty.¡± That answer alone cost her a few hundred dors. Sasha couldn¡¯t figure it out. ¡°So tell me, if the medicine was injected into Rachel, where is she right now? Where could she have gone?¡± Yvette had no clue. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not panic. She¡¯s gone, and a dead man tells no tales. Even if someone managed to find her, she¡¯d probably be on the brink of death. There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± ¡± As long as the medicine was injected into Rachel¡¯s body, Yvette didn¡¯t believe Rachel had the luck to survive. When they returned to the ward, they saw Tyler standing at the door. He was wearing a dark suit and had on a pair of ck shades, his towering figure making him a natural head turner. Yvette couldn¡¯t peel her eyes off Tyler. He had such a mesmerizing aura about him that made people can¡¯t help but stare at him. Even though he had rejected her previously, Rachel¡¯s disappearance meant that her main threat was gone. She would surely be able to make Tyler fall in love with her! Hope reignited in Yvette¡¯s heart as she approached Tyler, looking all bashful and innocent. ¡°Mr. Hunt¡­¡± To her chagrin, Tylerpletely disregarded her presence as he turned his attention to Jim instead. Mr. Lloyd, are you not going to call the police?¡± William told Jim about the consequences of calling the police, and im repeated what William had told him earlier to Tyler. T20 BONUS ¡°The Lewis family doesn¡¯t want to alert the police either?¡± Tyler said. William felt goosebumps on his arms from the look Tyler was giving him. He looked straight back into Tyler¡¯s eyes. ¡°We haven¡¯t gotten to the bottom of the matter yet. If we call the police and Rachel turns out to be kidnapped, we¡¯d only be putting her in greater danger,¡± he tried to reason. & Her Exit 312 Chapter 312 Everyone was stunned by William¡¯s words, save for Tyler. ¡°William Lewis, you¡¯re a bastard through and through. The best thing thoseizens have done was to cyber¨Cbully you¡± Jim didn¡¯t quite understand what Tyler meant. ¡°Tyler, what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°The Lewis family is just worried that things will blow up with the police involved, thereby affecting their reputation and thepany. Public opinion of him is quite negative at this point. Ifizens found out that he couldn¡¯t keep his eye on an unconscious person and allowed her to simply vanish into thin air they¡¯re bound to tear into him like mad dogs.¡± Tyler¡¯s sinct summary of the situation made William¡¯s face darken with displeasure, his jawline tense. Realization dawned upon Jim as he fixed his gaze on William. He said in disbelief, ¡°William, is that really the case? What were you thinking¡­¡± ¡°Dad, it¡¯s not like that. Hear me out!¡± William tried to exin. ¡°Rachel is your wife, and she¡¯s been with you for seven years. If she hadn¡¯t blocked the attack when someone smashed a chair on you, you¡¯d be the one deaf instead of my daughter! Online reports rave about you, and I¡¯ve always thought that Rachel was leading a good life with you. Who knew¡­ You turned out to be such a selfish person in reality! You¡¯ve truly disappointed me!¡± Jim roared. Cassandra spoke up for William, her shrill voice ringing in the entire room and across the corridor outside. ¡°Jim Lloyd! How could you me my son for your daughter¡¯s disappearance? He wasn¡¯t the one who kidnapped her! My son loved her with all his heart and even gave her an amazing wedding gown, which she turned around and sold! ¡°My son didn¡¯t even me her for doing that. Our family wasn¡¯t keen on having William marry Rachel in the first ce. If it weren¡¯t for William, who kept pleading with us and going on a hunger strike in protest, do you really think a lowly family like yours is fit to be our inws?¡± Jim clutched his chest, his entire body shaking. ¡°You¡­ It wasn¡¯t my daughter who insisted on marrying into your family. It was your son who insisted on it!¡± ¡°Only because your daughter seduced my son!¡± Cassandra snapped back; she refused to back down. ¡°Mom! Is this the time to be fighting like this?¡± William roared. ¡°Forget it! Go back home right now.¡± Cassandra shook her head. ¡°How could I? They might bully you once I leave!¡± Fire was burning in William¡¯s eyes, and the emotions suppressed in his voice betrayed his fury within. ¡°I said, go back home right now! You¡¯re not needed around here!¡± Cassandra realized that William was truly furious and swallowed the words in her mouth. William didn¡¯t want to give Cassandra any chance to act up, so he told Samantha, ¡°Head home with my mom.¡± Samantha was worried about leaving William here alone. ¡°William are you sure you¡¯ll be fine alone here?¡± In addition to the Lloyds, Tyler was there, too. He was a tough nut to crack. William feared him, to boot. There was no way William could pit himself against Tyler. What¡¯s more, William wasrgely responsible for Rachel¡¯s disappearance while she was injured. He was certainly at a disadvantage. Samantha took a deep breath and made up her mind. ¡°I¡¯ll stay right here. I¡¯m worried about Rachel disappearing without a trace, too. I¡¯ll send Mrs. Lewis to the door ande back after she gets in the car.¡± Her Exit 313 Chapter 313 Cassandra nodded profusely. ¡°Yes, yes! Samantha, stay here with William. See if he needs any help.¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Lewis,¡± Samantha nodded obediently. Tyler rubbed his chin, a glint in his eyes as he remarked casually, ¡°You three act so well. If things don¡¯t get solved satisfactorily, all of you should just work as actors instead!¡± Tyler had always been a straight talker and never beat around the bush. His cutting remark seemed to make the temperature in the air dip a few degrees. The faces of all three stiffened. Cassandra shook out the tension in her shoulders and coughed awkwardly. ¡°Tyler, this is between our families. I know Rachel¡¯s mom is your benefactor, but you shouldn¡¯t overstep your boundaries. What¡¯s more, you¡¯ve always hated interfering with other people¡¯s affairs, don¡¯t you?¡± Tyler ran his fingers through his hair as he let out a low chuckle. ¡°Who said I¡¯m interfering? I¡¯m just here to watch the show. Are you going to stop me from watching the great show you¡¯re putting up?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Cassandra choked on her words, at a loss for what to say. Samantha patted her shoulder. ¡°Alright, Mrs. Lewis. I¡¯ll walk you to the entrance. William has a lot on his te right now.¡± Cassandra knew she was no match for Tyler. Seniority by age was something he didn¡¯t care for. He wouldn¡¯t hold back even in the face of his father. After Cassandra and Samantha left, Tyler said to Jim, ¡°You guys talk. I¡¯m heading out for a smoke.¡± He walked to the corridor and lowered his head to pull out a cigarette with his lips. Yale stood by his side, lighting the cigarette with his lighter. Tyler held the cigarette between two fingers, taking a long drag before casting a nce at the door to Rachel¡¯s ward. ¡°How are the investigations going?¡± ¡°Someone may be after Ms. Lloyd¡¯s life. A man disguised as a doctor tried to inject something into her. As for whether he seeded and how Ms. Lloyd is right now, I haven¡¯t found out yet Yale replied. Tyler rolled up his sleeves, revealing his sculpted forearms with bulging veins. He nced coldly at Yale, his aura so imposing it felt like waves crashing against Yale. ¡°You spent so much time investigating, and you¡¯re telling me now that you don¡¯t even know whether she¡¯s alive or not?!¡± he snapped. Yale lowered his head meekly. ¡°Mr. Hunt, the¡­the surveince camera footage was destroyed. I only found out what I know from a doctor. He said William bribed him to keep his mouth shut and not leak information about this murder attempt.¡± ¡°William is talented at shirking responsibility. He¡¯s worried that if Rachel dies, the Lewis family mighte under ure for it,¡± Tyler snarled. ¡°Go on investigating! You¡¯d better find her, even if it means searching every corner of Yurelia City!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Yale then asked cautiously, ¡°What if something bad really happened to Ms. Lloyd?¡± It was a sensitive question, but Yale had to ask. They were dealing with a premeditated murder, after all. Even if the syringe found on the floor was empty, it didn¡¯t mean the substance inside had been injected into Rachel. Simrly, it also didn¡¯t suffice as proof that she was still alive. Her Exit 314 A momentter, Tyler said, ¡°If she¡¯s really dead, I want to see her corpse.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Meanwhile, William and Jim were chatting about Rachel in the war. Jim still wanted to alert the police about the matter, ¡°Are you sure we can find Rachel by ourselves? What if she¡¯s really in danger and we miss the golden opportunity to rescue her?¡± ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry,¡± William reassured Jim. ¡°I¡¯ve sent my men on a search for her, and I¡¯m confident we¡¯ll find her. If we call the police and alert the media, it¡¯ll only dy our efforts to find Rachel if they get involved.¡± ¡°You¡¯re worried about the Lewis family¡¯s reputation and your eyes?¡± Tyler said as he stepped into the ward. Their gazes met, sending sparks flying in the air. William furrowed his brows and said sternly, ¡°What do you mean by that, Mr. Hunt? Rachel is my wife, and I don¡¯t even know whether she¡¯s dead or alive. I¡¯m the most anxious one here.¡± ¡°Is that so? If you¡¯re really anxious about it, you should be calling the police to search for her right now. Rachel¡¯s chances of living increase the more this blows up. More people will know about her disappearance, andizens¡® awareness about her case will increase. That¡¯ll only make it easier for us to find her.¡± Hearing Tyler¡¯s words, realization dawned upon Jim. ¡°Yes! William, I think Tyler is right. Let¡¯s call the police right now! They¡¯re the professionals. Searching for Rachel like headless chickens will only make us miss the best opportunity to find her. If fail to protect her, I won¡¯t be able to exin to herte mother.¡± Jim was on the verge of losing his mind out of panic, doing and agreeing with anything anyone else said. ¡°Don¡¯t call the police!¡± William insisted. ¡°Dad, what if Rachel is really kidnapped? The kidnappers only want money. We¡¯ll just give them what they want when they call us, and Rachel wille back safe and sound. What if you call the police and trigger an entire host of problems, which will only put her in danger?¡± Jim hesitated once more, pacing back and forth the ward like a cat on a hot tin roof. ¡°What¡­what should we do, then?¡± ¡°I think we should wait¡­¡± ¡°William Lewis, must you capitalize on a father¡¯s worry about his daughter?¡± Tyler leaned against the door frame, his eyes so icy that a chill went down William¡¯s spine. William looked deeply at Tyler, silent. ¡°Call the police! I¡¯ll bear the consequences for whatever happens, Tyler concluded firmly. Ty William¡¯s voice went up a pitch. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what right do you have to make this decision for the Lewis family and we decide what to do about her affairs. There¡¯s no need for you to butt in!¡± hel is my wife, Tyler¡¯s eyes turned dark and dangerous. ¡°William Lewis, must you make me tear off that mask on your face before Mr. Lloyd?¡± William pursed his lips, gritting his teeth so hard his jawline was tensing up. He feigned ignorance. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve utterly embarrassed the Lewis family!¡± Tyler snarled. He went ahead to make a call without William¡¯s approval. ¡°Hello, I want to make a police report¡­¡± Her Exit 315 Chapter 315 Tyler¡¯s police report blew up the murder attempt made on Rachel¡¯s life. Everyone involved was summoned to the police station, but the police found nothing. What made things worse for William was that as the case blew up, Lewis Enterprise went into a crisis. A series of unfortunate events came crashing down on William. By the time he was done with work, it was already midnight. He dragged his exhausted body back home. He slumped on the floor, leaning against the wall, lookingpletely defeated. A depressing haze filled the room, making him feel even more despondent and sluggish.¡± He just couldn¡¯t figure out whether Rachel eventually gained consciousness or not. Why did he find the entire thing fishy? Somehow, he knew that something was amiss. Just then, he received a call from Arsen. ¡°Mr. Lewis, we¡¯ve been getting calls from many partners cancelling their projects with us. Rumors abound online about your wife. Thepany might be in danger if we fail to suppress those rumors.¡± William was all out of patience. He smashed the ashtray against the wall and yelled, ¡°Didn¡¯t I instruct you to buy the media? Did you not do as I said?!¡± The piercing crash of something hard hitting the wall sounded in Arsen¡¯s ear. He said cautiously, ¡°I did that, Mr. Lewis¡­but they said someone up there issued an order prohibiting them from taking down the reports.¡± William¡¯s hands froze on his knees. He furrowed his brows. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Someone is stopping them from taking down the reports.¡± ¡°Did you find out who?¡± William asked. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Hunt.¡± William¡¯s voice went up a pitch. ¡°Tyler Hunt?¡± ¡°I guess so, based on what the media partners told me. They didn¡¯t say it outright.¡± William scoffed. ¡°Who else in Yurelia City has the ability aside from him?¡± Arsen was confused. ¡°Why would Mr. Hunt do that? He technically has nothing to do with this entire case.¡± William couldn¡¯t figure it out, either. Tyler was never one to interfere in other people¡¯s affairs. Even if Mnie was his benefactor and he was intending to return the favor he owed her, his actions were crossing the line. Tyler was essentially interfering in William¡¯s internal family affairs. William¡¯s eyes narrowed as a storm brewed in his eyes. ¡°Arsen, tell my grandfather about this. He¡¯ll do something about it, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. After hanging up, William stood up and identally knocked against something, sending it crashing to the floor. He looked down and saw an elegant box. Suddenly, he realized that it was the box Rachel gave him as a gift for their wedding anniversary. He had wanted to open it on the day of their anniversary, but so much had happened over the past few days. William unlocked the box with a passcode, which was the date of his and Rachel¡¯s wedding anniversary. The box opened up automatically. William saw a roll of paper and a ring in the box. His first thought was that the ring was a new one Rachel bought from elsewhere. When he picked it up, he realized that it was the ring they bought when they got married. He had asked Rachel about it, and she told him she had sent it to the jeweller for polishing. He eventually forgot all about it as he became increasingly upied by things at work. What did she mean by putting this ring in the box? Her Exit 316 William unrolled the paper, and was shocked by the contents. It was a divorce agreement. He thought he was seeing things and had to look a few times before he was sure. Rachel had signed her name at the bottom of the paper. She didn¡¯t want a single cent, and opted to leave the marriage without any alimony. William picked up another piece of paper in the box, with a few words written on it. [William, I can hear.] William¡¯s eyes widened; his fingers trembled, the paper falling out of his hand. It took a long time for him to recover from his shock. His memories with Rachel reyed in his mind like scenes from a movie. Each time he called Samantha right in front of Rachel, his conversations with Samantha¡­ She had heard it all. William went weak in his knees as he copsed on the floor. His head was pounding, feeling as though it was going to implode any moment now. He held his head in pain. He had never expected Rachel to have recovered her hearing so quickly. She had been tolerating everything he had done all this time¨Cshe probably knew about his affair with Samantha long ago. She had been putting up a front all along, pretending to be understanding each time he defended Samantha, trusting all the excuses he made up. William clenched the divorce papers in his hand, fire burning in his chest. Rachel was already nning to disappear from his life. She didn¡¯t even want to tell him all this to his face. Didn¡¯t she promise to spend all their wedding anniversaries with him from now on? William¡¯s fingers trembled, the veins in his arms bulging. His eyes were bloodshot as he felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if someone was clenching his heart. Suddenly, he heard a door open. The sound made him jump and run toward it. When he saw Cassandra, he came to a halt in the living room. The glint of hope that reignited in his heart was dashed at that moment. Cassandra immediately sensed something amiss with William when she saw how pale his face had turned. She anxiously approached him. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pick up my calls?¡± William was in a daze, silent even in the face of his mother¡¯s question. Cassandra shook William hard. ¡°William, what¡­.what happened to you?¡± Cassandra looked down and saw the paper in William¡¯s hand, and pulled it out. ¡°What is this?¡± She was thoroughly shaken after reading its contents, her eyes wide open with shock. ¡°Is Rachel back? Is she awake?¡± Cassandra knew something was wrong the moment she asked those questions. The date on the divorce papers wasn¡¯t recent. She turned to William with a look of surprise in her eyes. ¡°Rachel wanted to divorce you a long time ago?¡± William snapped back to attention. ¡°Yes, she wanted to divorce me a long time ago,¡± he said in a low, weak voice. ¡°This was the wedding anniversary gift she prepared for me.¡± Her words rang in his head. This was the wedding anniversary gift she had prepared especially for him, and he could only open it on the day itself. It was a surprise for him, she said. A surprise, indeed. William looked up, and suddenly burst outughing. Cassandra jumped in fright from his sudden outburst. ¡°William, what¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re scaring me¡­¡± SN Her Exit 317 Chapter 317 Cassandra could sense that William still had feelings for Rachel. There were some things, however, that he just couldn¡¯t figure out. In an attempt to make William feel better, Cassandra deliberately talked badly about Rachel, ¡°Alright now, William. Whether Rachel really wants to divorce you or not, she¡¯s no longer around, and we have no idea where she is. We don¡¯t even know if she¡¯s dead or alive. Just take it that she doesn¡¯t exist. ¡°Thankfully, she has the conscience to leave the marriage without cent. She knows she¡¯s not worthy of you and decided not to fight with you for your assets, unlike other women.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± William yelled. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about her like that!¡± Cassandra pursed her lips, displeased. ¡°Fine, fine. I won¡¯t. Seriously, you¡¯ve already decided to be with Samantha, but now you think Rachel¡¯s all that after she¡¯s gone. I really have no idea what¡¯s going on in your mind.¡± William handed the divorce papers to Cassandra. ¡°Mom, publicize the contents of this divorce agreement. It might just resolve our current crisis.¡± Cassandra looked at him doubtfully. ¡°What do you mean by that? I don¡¯t quite understand. Doesn¡¯t this prove that Rachel wanted to divorce you a long time ago? Netizens will only be harsher with you.¡± ¡°They¡¯re already very harsh to me right now, but making this public proves that I¡¯m not the one who wants a divorce. Rachel was the one who nned all this. Even if we eventually fail to find her, we can always say that she was the one who chose to leave. ¡°She wasn¡¯t kidnapped. It¡¯ll suffice as an exnation for the police. Otherwise, I¡¯ll keep getting dragged down by this as long as she remains missing. There are tons of things I need to deal with at work.¡± You win some, you lose some. At the very least, this might just be the lifeline William needed. 1 Cassandra was hesitant about it, worried that publicizing the divorce papers might trigger bacsh. She looked at William with uncertainty in her eyes. ¡°Are you sure you want to publicize it?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Cassandra said. She would do as William told her to. Their divorce was something she wanted to happen, anyway. ¡°One more thing. This divorce agreement alone won¡¯t be enough. Get someone to post past photos of her with Tyler and Howard. Find someone who often posts celebrity gossip so it won¡¯t look so deliberate.¡± Cassandra was surprised to hear William¡¯s instructions. ¡°William, are you sure you want to do that? Doing that will doom Rachel to a life of beingmbasted byizens, assuming she were alive. If she were dead, she¡¯d be turning in her grave!¡± Everyone in Yurelia City would think that Rachel was flirting with other men and divorcing William because she had moved on from him. Her disappearance might just be her eloping with another man. Cassandra didn¡¯t like Rachel, but all she wanted was for Rachel to divorce William. Rachel was deaf, and it was a point of mockery for Cassandra whenever she met with otherdies of high society. What displeased her the most was Rachel¡¯s failure to bear a child for their family. on the back of his hand. Samantha¡¯s pregnancy made her feel much better about the entire situation, and in turn, lessened her hatred toward Rachel. William spiralled into a dilemma, a dark, depressing cloud looming over him. Veins popped ¡°Lewis Enterprise is at stake,¡± he said, his voice low and etched with misery. ¡°Our family is doomed if we don¡¯t do something 1:2 drastic!¡± The hair on the back of Cassandra¡¯s arm stood on end. ¡°Has the situation be so bleak?¡± Her Exit 318 William nced coldly at Cassandra. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll joke about something like this?¡± Cassandra fell silent. Very soon, the divorce papers Rachel served William were posted online. It was soon apanied by photos of her and Howard and Tyler. There was a swift change in public opinion; all who were berating William suddenly shifted to speak up for him. [Goodness, I knew it was the right move not to take a side. I¡¯ve won 80% of everyone here!] [I knew things weren¡¯t so straightforward with people from wealthy families. See? William Lewis is the man we thought he was all along.] [Didn¡¯t expect this woman to be so promiscuous. It¡¯s enough that she had a fling with Howard Ziegler, but Tyler Hunt too?] [Isn¡¯t Tyler Hunt with the other daughter of the Lloyd family?] [Damn! Are things thisplicated? What¡¯s with Rachel Lloyd? She probably ran away from the hospital of her own ord.] [Exactly! How could an entire person just vanish into thin air?] [She probably eloped with another man. Could be Howard Ziegler, since Mr. Hunt is still around.] [Yes, yes! I heard that Mr. Ziegler hasn¡¯t been around recently. I wonder where he went? Rachel Lloyd probably ran off with another man.] Criticisms targeted at Rachel filled the inte. Even the police concluded that Rachel demonstrated signs of leaving based on the divorce papers she drew up a long time ago. No one pointed to the case as a case of premeditated murder when it was raised. It was simply a case of a missing person. The police soon called off their interrogation of William. Tyler was seated at his office desk, scrolling through the news. His face turned darker as his finger rotated the scroll wheel on hisputer mouse. Yale opened the door to Tyler¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Hunt, things are looking up for Lewis Enterprise. Everyone is criticizing Ms. Lloyd on the inte and her r¨¦putation is probably ruined, whether she¡¯s alive or not. ¡°Everyone is iming that Ms. Lloyd ran away with Howard Ziegler. Should we publicize his whereabouts and clear Ms. Lloyd¡¯s name?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Tyler said with a raised hand. ¡°It¡¯s pointless even if you mention Howard¡¯s name. Even if you clear their suspicions toward Howard Ziegler, theseizens will just bring up thousands of other men.¡± Yale sighed. ¡°Mr. Lewis is vicious. He doesn¡¯t even know whether his wife is dead or alive, but he went ahead to capitalize on whatever remains of her. I wonder what Ms. Lloyd thinks of William making use of the divorce papers she left him with.¡± Tyler rubbed his chin, his eyes dark. The dim light above him cast a shadow, wrapping him in a dark and¡­bre aura. His fingers tapped lightly against the table. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect Rachel to be so good at hiding her true feelings. She bore with William for so long, only to pull the rug out from under him so suddenly.¡± 1/2 He turned to ask Yale, ¡°How are things on William¡¯s end?¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s been wasting away at bars at night, drinking himself silly and calling out for Ms. Lloyd.¡± Tyler scoffed. ¡°How pretentious! He didn¡¯t treasure her when she was around and even tried using a woman for his selfish benefit. The nerve of him to call her name!¡°. ¡°What should we do?¡± Yale asked respectfully. ¡°If we don¡¯t quell public opinion right now, your name might get dragged through the mud, too.¡± Her Exit 319 Tyler¡¯s fingers froze on the table as he cast Yale a nce. ¡°Do you think I care about my reputation?¡± Yale nodded. ¡°I spoke too much.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes turned dark as he turned his attention to thements online. ¡°Any clues on Rachel¡¯s whereabouts?¡± Yale shook his head. ¡°Not yet. The man who tried to kill her disappeared into thin air, too.¡± From the corner of his eye, Tyler saw the contract he had signed with Rachel. He remembered how resolutely she had signed it and given him her word. Yet now, she had vanished into thin air. He ran a finger over Rachel¡¯s signature on the paper and mumbled to himself, ¡°I like seeing things through to their end, especially if it¡¯s on paper. You¡¯ll have to fulfil your obligations for the entire period you signed for, Rachel.¡± Realization dawned upon Yale. ¡°I¡¯ll send more men to search for her, but what should we do about thements online?¡± Tyler leaned back into his office chair and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, putting it to his lips. ¡°Doesn¡¯t William love a good expos¨¦? We¡¯ll expose his affair with Samantha, and I¡¯ll see how that measures up to his expos¨¦ of Rachel.¡± Yale said with a frown, ¡°Do we¡­do we really need to do that? If things blow up and affect William negatively, I¡¯m afraid it may be difficult to exin things to your father.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bear the consequences for that. Just do as I say,¡± Tyler said firmly. Yale was worried about Tyler getting into trouble with his father. Thest time Tyler had a car chase with Howard for Rachel¡¯s sake, he almost got Howard hurt, and his father punished him by making him kneel for an entire night and beating him to a pulp. Tyler was way too stubborn to wince, bearing all the pain from the punishment without so much as a sound. He had barely recovered from his wounds from that incident. If William¡¯s scandal broke out, Tyler would only add to his wounds. Yale knew Tyler¡¯s temperament well. No one could stop him from doing whatever he set his mind to. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Yale opened the door to leave, only to see an old man of about seventy standing outside the door. Time had left its mark on his wrinkled face, but it wasn¡¯t enough to cover up the natural air of authority he had about him. Yale stammered, ¡°Mr¡­Mr. Hunt.¡± ¡°Where is Tyler?¡± the man demanded. Yale turned around and stuttered, ¡°He¡¯s¡­he¡¯s inside.¡± He quickly turned his body sideways. Thomas Hunt walked in, his appearance making Tyler furrow his brows. He quickly recovered and smirked, ¡°What brought you all the way here?¡± Thomas¡® face was dark with displeasure as he scoffed, ¡°The nerve of you to ask that! Did you or did you not interfere with the Lewis¡® family affairs?¡± Tyler leaned back into his chair, his jawline hard and chiseled. He smirked and remarked with a devil¨Cmay- Williame crying to you?¡± Thomas sat opposite Tyler, exuding an imposing aura that belonged exclusively to an autocrat. -care attitude, ¡°Did +25 BONUS ¡°He didn¡¯t need toin to me. You¡¯re the only one in Yurelia City who dares to pit against him.¡± Tyler crossed his legs and leaned backzily, a smug smile stretching across his face. ¡°Oh, what an honor indeed. Can you even me me? Especially when all his attention is on that woman he has outside of his marriage.¡± ¡°Shut up! No matter what, you can¡¯t go against your family. What¡¯s more, what age are we living in now? It¡¯s natural for men to have other women outside of their marriage! That¡¯s not a big deal Her Exit 320 Chapter 320 Tyler let out a low chuckle. In a voice dripping with sarcasm, he sale, ¡°You¡¯re right. If you hadn¡¯t gone around getting involved with so many women, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up with so many sens.¡± ¡°You insolent rascal! Why bring up the past? I¡¯m talking to you about William right now! I didn¡¯t kick up a fuss with you over this before, but I¡¯m making myself clear this very moment. From now on, stop interfering in the Lewises¡® affairs!¡± The rebellion etched in Tyler¡¯s bones urged him to not only ignore Thomas¡® warning, but also to rebuke thetter. ¡°Father. Instead of picking on me for punishing wrongdoing, you should be teaching William how to be a faithful husband who doesn¡¯t cheat. Isn¡¯t that a better use of your time?¡± Thomas stomped his foot in anger, his face dark with displeasure, the sagging skin on his face shaking. ¡°Are you bent on angering me to an early grave?!¡± ¡°You underestimate yourself. You wouldn¡¯t die so easily. I have a lot of work to attend to. Please don¡¯t bother me any longer.¡± Tyler rested an arm on the backrest of the chair next to him, looking unperturbed. There was nothing Thomas could do about Tyler, Out of all his sons, Tyler was the most stubborn. His headstrong ways were so deeply etched in his bones, he refused to admit his mistake despite the punishment he suffered. Thomas had to admit, however, that Tyler was the most capable of the lot. He had initially thought of training William, but William only had one¨Cthird of Tyler¡¯s talent and ability. Tyler was the only one whom Thomas felt reassured handing his business to¡ªand also the only one he feared. No matter how hard he tried, Tyler was a lion he could never tame. Thomas cut to the chase. ¡°Tell me, have you fallen for that girl?¡± Tyler lookedzily at Thomas and drawled, ¡°Did you have one too many rtionships when you were young? Why must romance always be involved?¡± ¡°I know you too well. You¡¯d never poke your nose into other people¡¯s business,¡± Thomas retorted. ¡°Save it. Quit being so confident about how well you know me. How well do you really know me? If you really knew me, you wouldn¡¯t have put me under house arrest,¡± Tyler shot back. He looked indifferent, but the chilly air he gave off only served to push people away. ¡°I only wanted you to be a strong pir of the family,¡± Thomas tried to exin. ¡°If a man couldn¡¯t even take that minor suffering, he¡¯d be a useless bum as an adult!¡± ¡°I was just a child at that time!¡± Tyler roared¨Csomething snapped from within, and he could no longer hold himself back. Thomas fell silent; after a moment, he finally stood up and sighed helplessly. ¡°No matter what, this matter concerns the Lewis family. I¡¯ll never allow you to destroy the foundation our ancestors built up over the generations for the sake of a woman.¡± ¡°We¡¯re mere pawns to you,¡± Tyler cut him off, ¡°and you¡¯re just picking the one most useful to you.¡± Thomas said nothing to refute Tyler¡¯s ims, but he left with a harsh warning. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think. Whatever it is, I can¡¯t let down our ancestors. Even if William divorces that woman, I¡¯ll never give you a chance to be with her.¡± He paused for a moment before saying through gritted teeth, ¡°I¡¯ll let that happen over my dead body!¡± Her Exit 321 Chapter 321 Tyler stared at Thomas¡® back, his tone calm but still icy. ¡°Rachel¡¯s mother is my benefactor. I can agree to anything else aside from this. I¡¯ll never back down.¡± Silence ensued once more. A momentter, after some consideration, Thomas said, ¡°I deal with things on William¡¯s end. Whatever it is, don¡¯t interfere.¡± With that, he mmed the door and left. The sound reverberated in the room. Tyler¡¯s body trembled as his lips curled in a smirk. ¡°So old, but still strong enough to m the door so hard.¡± Soon, William received a call from Thomas. ¡°Grandfather, have you settled things on your end? Tyler won¡¯t be interfering anymore, will he?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve given him a heads up, but he has one condition. You have to quell the rumors surrounding this issue and take down all news detrimental to Rachel¡¯s reputation. As for yourpany¡¯s problems, find another way to solve them.¡± William was taken aback. ¡°But why, Grandfather? Haven¡¯t you discussed things with Tyler? Does he refuse to back down, or is there really something between him and Rachel ¡± ¡°Shut up! If it weren¡¯t for the trouble you caused, would things have turned out this way? The nerve of you to make me clean up your mess!¡± Thomas roared, venting all his frustration from meeting Tyler on William. Despite being a tough nut to crack, Tyler usually wouldn¡¯t reject Thomas¡® requests. However, this matter was the only thing he refused to relent. Thomas didn¡¯t know if it was due to Rachel, or that her mother was Tyler¡¯s benefactor. He could still ept it if it were thetter, but if the former turned out to be true¡­ Thomas¡® eyes dimmed. Chaos would ensue in the Lewis family. On the other hand, William wasn¡¯t about to agree to Tyler¡¯s condition. There was a huge mess back at his office that he had to deal with. If it weren¡¯t for his expos¨¦, which had bought him some time, he was probably going to drown in the harshmentsizens spat his way. 3 ¡°Grandfather, you know very well that I¡¯ll have a tough time handling the online rumors without this shift in public opinion. Thispany is what it is today as a result of all the blood, sweat, and tears we poured into it! Can you bear to see all our efforts over the years go down the drain?¡± William said, almost breathless out of agitation. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m clueless about that?!¡± Thomas spat. ¡°Have you considered the fact that Tyler is as stubborn as a bull? If you refuse topromise and he expo. ur affair with Samantha, can you or the Lewis family bear the consequences of that? ¡°If he continues interfering in the Lloyd family affairs, and if Rachel somehow returns and they pick up from where they left off, I¡¯ll be utterly humiliated!¡± The mere thought of his grandson¡¯s wife bing his sons wife was enough to make Thomas lower his head in shame. That would be a great humiliation for the Lewis family! William was frightened by the prospect as well. ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t joke around with me,¡± he said cautiously, ¡°Rachel and Tyler won¡¯t¡­ What¡¯s more, they didn¡¯t know each other before all this.¡± William did have his suspicions about them, but he still found the idea hard to swallow. Before he could recover from his shock, however, the servants ran over from the door. ¡°Mr. Lewis, the Lloyds havee.¡± ¡°Who, specifically?¡± William asked with a frown. Her Exit 322 Chapter 322 ¡°It¡¯s Mrs. Sasha Dawson and Ms. Yvette Lloyd.¡± William wanted his servant to turn them away, but on second thought, he didn¡¯t want his problem with Rachel to keep hanging over his head. The feeling was akin to having the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, ever- present. With a wave of his hand, he said irritably, ¡°Let them in.¡± Just then, Cassandra and Samantha came walking down the stairs. Cassandra was very pleased with Samantha¡¯s obedience. ¡°Samantha, just stay here with peace of mind. You have nothing to fear with me and William around. Anyway, Rachel hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± ¡°Mrs. Lewis, if Rachel returns, I¡¯ll move out right away!¡± Samantha eximed passionately. Cassandra didn¡¯t like the prospect of Samantha moving out ¡°Don¡¯t be silly! What¡¯s the point if Rachel came back? She¡¯ll divorce William sooner orter. Everyone knows what happened. Even if shees back, it¡¯ll only be for settling divorce proceedings.¡± Samantha bit her lip coyly, cheeks turning red. ¡°But¡­ Won¡¯t I be bothering you and William?¡± Cassandra patted the back of Samantha¡¯s hand reassuringly ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Mom, the Lloyds havee,¡± William announced darkly upon seeing Samantha and Cassandrae down the stairs. Cassandra¡¯s face fell when she heard about the Lloyds at their door. ¡°They really have nothing better to do! What are they here for?¡± Just then, Yvette and Sasha stepped in. The moment they settled down in their seats, Sasha cut straight to the chase. ¡°William, Rachel is still your wife. It¡¯s not very appropriate to bring another woman home, is it?¡± Given her experience, Sasha could see at one nce what Samantha was trying to do. The moment she saw Samantha in the house, she understood. Before William could exin himself, Cassandra jumped in ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Samantha is our guest. My son treats your daughter so well, yet she vanished into thin air after leaving behind a divorce agreement! They should have gotten a divorce a long time ago. Why act so mysteriously?¡± However, Sasha wasn¡¯t here for a petty argument with Cassandra. ¡°We¡¯re both women. You know very well what exactly is going on. I came here to solve the problem we have at hand.¡± Cassandra simrly wanted to resolve the situation before them. Rachel wasn¡¯t going toe back miraculously; she might as well take the chance to get something out of this. She lifted the teacup to her lips for a sip. ¡°How do you want to solve the problem?¡± ¡°Very simple. Rachel vanished under your care, but all the criticisms online are targeted at her iam and your entire family came through unscathed, while her reputation is wrecked. If she really isn¡¯t alive anymore, she¡¯d be turning in her grave!¡± Cassandra gave Sasha a sideways nce. ¡°And?¡± ¡°Five million, and we won¡¯t pursue this matter anymore. Hearing that, Cassandra almost burst outughing. ¡°Oh, I honestly thought you were here to seek justice for 1 Nobody knows if she¡¯s dead or alive right now, and here y ¡°Did Jim make youe here? Doesn¡¯t he dote on Rachel swallow me whole that day at the hospital, was he just act ¡°Five million, and we won¡¯t pursue this matter anymore. Otherwise, we¡¯ll never let this go!¡± Hearing that, Cassandra almost burst outughing. ¡°Oh, I honestly thought you were here to seek justice for Rachel! To think you¡¯re even more vicious than us! Nobody knows if she¡¯s dead or alive right now, and here you are, demanding money. ¡°Did Jim make youe here? Doesn¡¯t he dote on Rachel very much? When he looked like he was about to swallow me whole that day at the hospital, was he just acting?¡± A P Her Exit 323 Chapter 323 At Cassandra¡¯s tant quip, Sasha¡¯s face turned sullen. Yvette chimed in, ¡°Mrs. Lewis, we all know very clearly who William has been spending his time with. Since Rachel isn¡¯t around right now, it¡¯s about time to put an end to things. If someone exposes William¡¯s affair with Ms. Judd, the negativements online that he¡¯s trying so hard to quell mighte back with a vengeance.¡± Cassandra smacked the table hard, her face solemn and tinged with anger. ¡°You¡¯re threatening me right now!¡± Sasha chuckled derisively. ¡°How could this be considered a threat? Consider itpensation instead. Rachel didn¡¯t bear a child for your family, but she spent seven good years with Wilm. Ending it so hastily like this¡­ If anything leaked, the media would think that your family treated Rachel justly on ount of this money. It would certainly save you a lot of trouble.¡± Cassandra¡¯s lips twitched. These two were clearly extorting money from her and her family, but given the difficult spot they were in right now, a head¨Con sh would put them in the media¡¯s spotlight. They might fall into yet another crisis. But it was five million, not 500,000! Cassandra decided to try lessening the blow. She toyed with the teacup lid and said with feigned casualness, Since we both want to solve the crisis, how about one million instead? Five million is simply too much.¡± f ¡°Given the trouble this entire fiasco has caused, I¡¯m sure your family is facing damages of way more than five million,¡± Sasha sneered. ¡°You¡­you¡¯re kicking us when we¡¯re down! I knew your daughter was a bearer of ill luck. Anyone who marries her is doomed to misfortune¡­¡± Cassandra¡¯s body shook with anger. She was on the verge of calling for her servants to chase both women out of her house. Just then, Samantha said, ¡°Just tell us that you want money Why bother using Rachel as an excuse? To think that the Lloyds are capable of something so underhanded!¡± Yvette didn¡¯t like Rachel, but she hated Samantha even more. If Samantha hadn¡¯te between William and Rachel, Rachel wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to get involved with Tyler. For all Yvette knew, she would have been together with Tyler long ago. ¡°Ms. Judd, you¡¯re not the Lewises¡® daughter¨Cinw. In fact, you¡¯re nothing! What right do you have to say anything here?¡± Yvette snarled. Samantha froze, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. She mumbled under her breath, ¡°Sorry¡­¡® William immediately pulled Samantha behind him, his voice solemn with a tinge of haughtiness, ¡°I¡¯d like to ask- since when was it your turn as a junior in the family to speak?¡± Samantha tugged at the hem of William¡¯s shirt, her eyes red¨Crimmed like those of a rabbit. Her face and her voice were so broken, they were designed to tug at one¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°William, don¡¯t me Ms. Lloyd! They¡¯re just worried about Rachel. They probably think that Rachel w well when she was married to you. They just want to ask for somepensation on her behalf!¡± ated Yvette was taken aback by the turn of events. She had seen her fair share of vixens and shrews, but she had nevere across a weak, vulnerable sheep like Samantha. Yvette hadn¡¯t actually said anything harsh, but Samantha looked so aggrieved and acted as though she had suffered great indignation. Before, Yvette had looked down on Rachel for being unable to take down Samantha, allowing thetter to snatch her husband away. Her Exit 324 Chapter 324 Now, it seemed this innocent¨Clooking witch did have some tricks up her sleeves. She wasn¡¯t as simple as she looked. William¡¯s gaze swept across Yvette and Sasha. ¡°Three million. If you don¡¯t ept it, the door is right over there. I¡¯m sure your family is affected by Rachel¡¯s scandal with Tyler and Howard, too.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Cassandra chimed in. ¡°Didn¡¯t you read thements online?¡± Sasha and Yvette exchanged nces. William was right¨Cthe situation caused by Rachel was indeed affecting the share prices of the Lloyds¡® business. That was why Jim wanted them toe here and negotiate with the Lewis family in hopes that they would arrive at a satisfactory solution. Sasha and Yvette didn¡¯t really care about Rachel, but they wanted to seize this chance to get some money for themselves. Yvette whispered into Sasha¡¯s ear, ¡°Forget it, Mom. Five million is too much. If we anger William until he refuses to give us a cent, we¡¯ll end up with nothing.¡± Sasha patted the back of Yvette¡¯s hand to reassure her that she knew what she was doing. She coughed and said, ¡± On ount of us being family, we¡¯ll take three million.¡± She pulled out a card from her bag and put it on the table. ¡°Please transfer the money to this ount.¡± With that, Sasha and Yvette turned and left the house. Cassandra walked out to see their retreating figures, spitting on the floor with anger she couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Who do they think they are? They treat Rachel so poorly, yet here they are, demanding money in her name the moment she disappeared. How shameless! Rachel must be cursed to be born in such a nasty family. They¡¯re using her even while her whereabouts are unknown!¡± Cassandra¡¯s words made William think back on what he had done, and it made him feel terrible. He looked irritably at his mother¡¯s back profile. ¡°Mom, stop it. We aren¡¯t much better than them. Take it aspensation for Rachel.¡± After Yvette and Sasha got into the car, Sasha received a notification on her phone. She nced at it; when she saw the bnce in her ount, a huge grin spread across her face. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect William to give the money so readily!¡± Yvette shot her a look of concern. ¡°We might have gotten the money, but how are we going to exin things to Dad?¡± Sasha¡¯s excitement faded. ¡°Yes, what do we tell your dad? We were supposed to be here to stick up for Rachel, but ended up getting money. If he finds out, he¡¯ll be furious with us!¡® Yvette¡¯s eyes narrowed, a vicious look on her face. ¡°Whatever it is, Rachel is gone, and the Lewis family is nning for a divorce. We probably won¡¯t have further interactions with the Lewis family from here on. Let¡¯s just make up an excuse.¡± ¡°Alright. Leave the three million with me. Just tell me what you want to buy and I¡¯ll give you the money,¡± ¡°Sasha said with a gentle pat on Yvette¡¯s shoulder. Yvette¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°But Mom, didn¡¯t we agree to split it evenly? Why are you¡­¡± ¡°Are you silly? If I gave you the money and your dad bes suspicious enough to check your bank bnce, he¡¯ll find out!¡± Sasha patted Yvette¡¯s shoulder again, trying to ease her doubts. ¡°Alright, why are you so worried about leaving the money with me? Do you think I won¡¯t give you the money? How about this¨Cif that¡¯s the case, you can always tell your dad what happened today.¡± Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Her Exit 325 Yvette pondered for a moment before agreeing to it. ¡°Fine, Dien.¡± *+25 BONUS Sasha grabbed Yvette¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Any progress on the man you hired to drug Rachel? Have you found him? Yvette sighed. ¡°No news at all.¡± Sasha¡¯s face fell. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine if he disappears for good. What I fear is that he¡¯s still alive and well. He¡¯ll be a threat to us!¡± ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry,¡± Yvette reassured Sasha. ¡°If Rachel¡¯s still alive, why would shee back? Even if she¡¯s alive, she wouldn¡¯t dare return. She¡¯d drown in all the harsh remarks theizens are throwing at her.¡± Her words effectivelyforted Sasha and eased her worries. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± she said with a relieved smile. Days passed, and Rachel never came back. She seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing from everyone¡¯s lives. Conspiracy theories about her disappearance continued to thrive online, however. Some guessed that she either disappeared or came into harm¡¯s way. Her reputation was in shreds despite William¡¯s efforts to quell public opinion against her, as it was what his grandfather demanded of him. Of course, William wasn¡¯t able to do that single¨Chandedly and had to rely on help from his grandfather. To this end, the Lewis family went to great lengths to bring everything under control. The people of Yurelia City didn¡¯t know that Tyler was rted to the Lewis family. He was the one who refused to admit his rtionship with them. Through the years, William never gave up searching for Rachel. Tyler, on the other hand, traveled across the country. Under his leadership, hispany soared to great heights. At the Royal Hotel in Arden, Tyler stood before a huge window, twirling a pen with his fingers. His eyes were dark and dangerous, and his broad shoulders framed his tall, svelte figure well. His outstanding facial features only served to entuate the natural elegance he was born with. Yale opened the door and walked in. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯ve checked. Thatdy isn¡¯t Ms. Lloyd.¡± The pen stopped twirling in Tyler¡¯s hand, and his eyes dimmed. ¡°Got it.¡± Yale stood where he was, silent. Tyler stared at the contract he had signed with Rachel back then. The paper had turned yellow with time, and the corners were creased. It was obvious to see that it was a document he frequently flipped through and read. A momentter, Tyler realized that Yale was still there. He nced at the man with a hawk¨Clike gaze. ¡°Is there something else?¡± ¡°Your father called twice, asking you to go on a blind date. He said that your distant cousin, Ms. Lyons, wants to see you again.¡± Chapter 325 Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed at the mention of his distant cousin as if trying hard to recall who she was. ¡°Ms. Lyons? Who¡¯s that?¡± Yale shook his head helplessly. ¡°Ms. Lyons, that demure¨Clookingdy with an air of elegance about her. She has long, ck hair and carries herself well, just like a well¨Cbreddy of high society. She looks veryely, too.¡± Tyler opened up the file before him, flipped to thest page, and signed his name. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t remember her,¡± he said carelessly. ¡°You only care about Ms. Lloyd anyway¡­¡± Yale mumbled. Tyler shot Yale a cold look. ¡°What are you mumbling to yourself about?¡± Yale pursed his lips. ¡°Nothing.¡± Even so, he couldn¡¯t help but grumble. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you can¡¯t go on searching so aimlessly for her. You¡¯re of marriageable age, and your grandfather is very anxious. If Ms. Lloyd were still alive, we¡¯d have found her long ago. It¡¯s impossible that¡­¡± ¡°Since when was it your ce to question my decisions?¡± Her Exit 326 Chapter 326 Tyler¡¯s hand froze in mid¨Cair; his gaze swept coldly across ale, who shrank back in fear. A chilly glint shed past Tyler¡¯s dark eyes¨Ceyes that seemed exquisitely carved by a master¡¯s hand. Yale didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. Even though Tyler never admitted it, Yale knew Rachel had a ce in Tyler¡¯s heart all this time. Though it seemed as if he had traveled across the country for his business expansion, he was in fact searching for Rachel. Any news he received about Rachel was enough to make him fly all the way there to confirm it. s, he had been disappointed countless times. Yale didn¡¯t know if it was because of Rachel¡¯s mother, or some other reason. Tyler was a very secretive man; even Yale, who had been by his side and serving him faithfully for so many years, couldn¡¯t quite figure him out at times. Before taking his leave, Yale stole a nce at the contract Tyler signed with Rachel. He sighed and walked out the door. Five yearster¡­ News of Jim Lloyd being in critical danger due to his medical condition broke out in Yurelia City, spreading like wildfire. He didn¡¯t have much time left on this earth; his final wish was to see his daughter, Rachel Lloyd, before he passed
  1. on.
However, it had been so many years since Rachel vanished into thin air. Her whereabouts remained unknown, and no one knew whether she was dead or alive. Would Jim die with regrets? Such headlines started flooding the inte. Sasha and Yvette were seated at the foot of Jim¡¯s bed in his ward. Jim¡¯s face was pale and he looked all sapped of energy. He was still knocked out from his surgery, but he kept calling out for Rachel. Yvette pursed her lips, clearly upset. ¡°What in the world is Dad thinking? He¡¯s still calling for Rachel at a time like this. What did Rachel do to bewitch him?¡± Sasha didn¡¯t expect Jim to care so much for Rachel even after she had disappeared for so many years without a trace. Was it ultimately because of Mnie? She turned to Yvette. ¡°Honestly¨Cit¡¯s been so many years, and you still haven¡¯t had any progress with Tyler. We went to such great lengths to give you the chance to get close to him. With Rachel gone, you should have at least made some progress!¡± The mention of Tyler¡¯s name made Yvette dete like a popped balloon. ¡°Easier said than done! You have no idea what a tough nut he is to crack! I¡¯ve done everything I could, but it¡¯s like he¡¯s not a man at all. He shows zero interest in me!¡± Over the years, Yvette had given her all. Yet, Tyler remained unyielding there was nothing she could do about it. Sasha found it odd, too. ¡°You¡¯re right. I heard that his grandfather introduced many eligible bachelorettes to him, but none of them caught his fancy.¡± A bold thought came to Yvette¡¯s mind. ¡°If Tyler¡¯s an ordinary man, there¡¯s only one exnation for this¡ªhe¡¯s in love with someone else!¡± Realization dawned upon Sasha. ¡°You mean¡­ He likes Rachel?¡± The mention of Rachel¡¯s name made Jim¡¯s fingers twitch as hey on the bed. Yvette waved her hand, finding the thought far¨Cfetched. ¡°Forget it! I don¡¯t care who he fancies. So what if he likes Rachel? It¡¯s been so many years. If Rachel were still alive, she¡¯d havee back long ago.¡± Hearing that, Sasha let the matter go. ¡°The problem now is, we have no idea how long your dad will live. As for the inheritance¡­¡± Her Exit 327 Chapter 327 ¡°Mom, the inheritance will naturally go to my brother and me. He¡¯s still young, so I¡¯ll probably be temporarily in charge of his share. Thepany will naturally be his when he grows up,¡± Yvette said. Sasha smiled. ¡°How could that be? Your brother might still be young, but he¡¯s the only son in the Lloyd family. You¡¯re a daughter; you¡¯ll eventually marry into another family. Even if you fail to marry Tyler, you may still end up marrying into another wealthy family in Yurelia City. You¡¯ll be the mistress of that family and enjoy a life of abundance without worry. Why bother fighting with your brother over this inheritance?¡± Yvette knew long ago that even though Sasha treated her well, when push came to shove and her personal interests were at stake, Sasha would choose to put her son first¨Cnever Yvette. ¡°Do you really think Dad will leave all the money to us when he loves Rachel so much?¡± Yvette said. The smile on Sasha¡¯s face froze when she realized that something was wrong. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Dad gave Rachel 30% of thepany¡¯s shares. He also pumped a huge sum of money into establishing a subsidiarypany and named it after her. Didn¡¯t expect that, did you? We¡¯ll never get our hands on that money.¡± Sasha stood up in shock. ¡°What did you say?! Has he lost his mind? Rachel isn¡¯t his biological daughter, so why is he giving her so much of his assets?!¡± Yvette sighed. ¡°What can we do about it? There¡¯s no need for you to fight with me. You should be spending your time thinking about what we should do instead.¡± Sasha¡¯s gazended on Jim. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to be.ruthless, then. Your dad doesn¡¯t have much time left, anyway. We¡¯ll just have to alter his will and make him sign it. That should do!¡± Yvette threw Sasha a sideways nce. ¡°How do you intend on splitting the inheritance? If you insist on giving everything to my brother, I won¡¯t be helping you.¡± Sasha knew she had no choice. If she didn¡¯t cooperate with Yvette, neither of them would be able to get their hands on the money. She gently patted Yvette on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got it prepared.¡® 11 She pulled out a copy of a will she had prepared long ago, which shocked Yvette. ¡°You thought about this long ago!¡± ¡°I had to for something this important. If your dad had been fair, I wouldn¡¯t have needed to do this. But since he¡¯s so biased towards his adopted daughter, whom we don¡¯t even know is dead or alive, he can¡¯t me me for being ruthless and forsaking our rtionship.¡± Yvette read through the contents of the will and realized that it was stillrgely written in her brother¡¯s favor. She was about to highlight how unfair the will was when Sasha held her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Aside from this, I¡¯m putting aside 30 million dors for you. You and your brother will each own 40 % of thepany¡¯s shares, and I¡¯ll own 20% of it. That¡¯s not going overboard, is it?¡± Yvette hesitated. Strictly speaking, she was still getting the shorter end of the stick. However, picking a fight with Sasha wasn¡¯t beneficial for her, either. Her brother was still young, and she had plenty of time to rewrite her destiny. ¡°Alright,¡± Yvette finally agreed. From the corner of her eyes, Sasha saw Jim slowly opening his eyes. She quickly tapped Yvette¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yvette, your dad¡¯s awake!¡± Yvette froze for a moment before hearing Sasha speak again ¡°Go grab a pen, quick!¡± Yvette hurried over to the consultation room next door to borrow a pen, while Sasha helped Jim sit up on the bed. ¡°Oh, Jim, do you feel any difort anywhere? Shall I call the doctor?¡± Sasha safd. Jim looked feeble and low in energy, his eyes dazed. With a wave of his hand, he mumbled weakly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± 2/ Her Exit 328 Chapter 328 Just then, Yvette came back with a pen. Sasha took it over and pulled out the will she had prepared long ago. ¡°Jim, the secretary said that there¡¯s a document here that needs your signature. It¡¯s very urgent, and thepany can only release the funds with your signature.¡± Jim coughed, then said weakly, ¡°Give¡­give it to me.¡± Sasha handed him the contract and flipped it right to thest page for Jim. Jim was about to sign it when he sensed that something was wrong. He paused for a moment before flinging the paper away. ¡°How¡­how dare you trick me! This isn¡¯t apany document, it¡¯s a will! You want me to sign it so you¡¯ll get your hands on my assets!¡± Yvette¡¯s face paled. She didn¡¯t expect Jim to be so clear¨Cheaded despite his condition. Sasha decided to cut to the chase with him. ¡°You don¡¯t have much time left, and you don¡¯t have a choice. You¡¯ll have to sign the will eventually, even if not today. Why do you still care about Rachel when she¡¯s no longer around? Why don¡¯t you care more for me, my son, and Yvette?¡± Jim¡¯s face turned purple with rage. ¡°I¡­I did give you your share. Why are you doing this? Even if Rachel doesn¡¯te back, I¡¯m giving Rachel her share!¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ve really gone mad! Rachel has disappeared and probably died long ago. How could you leave money in the hands of a corpse?!¡± Sasha roared. She was beginning to suspect that there was something mentally wrong with Jim and that he had turned foolish. Ever since Rachel¡¯s disappearance, he had been drinking himself into a stupor. Every single day, he mumbled sorrowful apologies to Mnie. Sasha just couldn¡¯t understand. Rachel wasn¡¯t his daughter by blood. Even though he had raised her over the years, was she really worth him bing like this? Jim struggled to speak with all his might. ¡°That¡­that¡¯s not something you need to concern yourself with. The money belongs to the family. It¡¯s not your ce to call the shots on where the money goes. Whatever it is, I¡¯ve written my will a long time ago. I don¡¯t care if you two don¡¯t like it.¡± With that, Jim copsed on the bed, all out of energy. Sasha shed all pretense of cordiality. ¡°Since you¡¯re hellbent on giving the money to that wench, don¡¯t me me for forsaking our decades of marriage! she snarled. She turned around and yelled at Yvette, who was standing there in a daze, ¡°What are you doing just standing there? Hold your father up and make him sign it!¡± Yvette stepped forward to hold Jim up, but he red furiously at her. ¡°Yvette, are you really going to be unfilial and go against me?¡± Yvette was hesitant. She had never done something like this, and was shaking with fear. ¡°Dad¡­ I¡­ I have no choice, either. You¡¯re the one who decided to give Rachel everything. She¡¯s dead, so why do you even care about her?¡± Jim gripped the sheets tightly, refusing to sign the will. Ve ¡°You¡­you unfilial brat! Had¡­had I known you¡¯d be lik His words were the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back, erasi and indignation over the years to the surface. Her pitch went up a notch as her voice pierced through the ¡°Since you see Rachel as your only daughter, there¡¯s no pol years. Don¡¯t bother yourself with all these. Just give it to us Yvette grabbed Jim¡¯s hand, forcing him to hold the pen whil Together, they pressed Jim¡¯s hand down on thest page. ¡°Stop!¡± A woman¡¯s cold, hard voice sounded at the door. you even care about her?¡± Jim gripped the sheets tightly, refusing to sign the will. Veins popped on his forehead, and his chest heaved. ¡°You¡­you unfilial brat! Had¡­had I known you¡¯d be like this, I¡¯d never have allowed you back!¡± His words were the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back, erasing all of Yvette¡¯s hesitation and driving all her anger and indignation over the years to the surface. Her pitch went up a notch as her voice pierced through the air in the ward. ¡°Since you see Rachel as your only daughter, there¡¯s no point in showing you mercy! Dad, you¡¯re advanced in years. Don¡¯t bother yourself with all these. Just give it to us! Yvette grabbed Jim¡¯s hand, forcing him to hold the pen while Sasha put the will on the table. Together, they pressed Jim¡¯s hand down on thest page. ¡°Stop!¡± A woman¡¯s cold, hard voice sounded at the door. Sew Her Exit 329 Chapter 329 Yvette and Sasha¡¯s backs stiffened at the voice, their hands freezing in mid¨Cair. Jim looked at the person standing at the door, his eyes widening in surprise. Yvette and Sasha turned to look at each other. ¡°Did¡­did you hear something just now?¡± Sasha asked. Yvette¡¯s voice was trembling. ¡°You¡­you heard it too?¡± They turned to look at the door, aghast at who stood there, ring at them. Yvette pointed at the figure next to the door. ¡°Impossible¡­impossible!¡± ¡°Rachel, is that really you? Aren¡¯t you dead?¡± Sasha eximed. How could Rachel still be alive after so many years? But since both of them saw it with their own eyes, it probably wasn¡¯t a ghost they were seeing. Rachel stepped into the ward, her heels cking on the floor. The gray business suit she was wearing made her look professional and spirited, her beautiful tresses entuating her elegant features. She lookedpletely different, exuding a magnificent aura that felt distant and imposing. Rachel smirked, her eyes icy. ¡°I can tell you two really wanted me dead. I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, but that didn¡¯t happen.¡± She walked past Yvette and Sasha and approached Jim on the bed, the cold, hard look in her eyes softening. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry to have made you worry.¡± Jim¡¯s eyes turned red at the sight of Rachel. He lifted his hand weakly and grabbed her hand tightly, leaving unspoken words of yearning hanging in the air. Yvette started to panic, her pupils dting with shock. Her shoulders started trembling as she stared at Rachel¡¯s back profile. ¡°How¡­how are you still alive after so many years?¡± Jim reached out to touch Rachel¡¯s cheek, his hand shaking with emotion. Rachel grabbed his other hand and patted it gently, soothing him before turning to look at Yvette. ¡°Did you think that the man you hired killed me?¡± Back then, Rachel should have died. When that man was slowly injecting the substance into her body, she miraculously woke up, as though the heavens had seen her indignation and how unfairly life had treated her. Yvette¡¯s lips quivered. She couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing, and thousands of questions flooded her mind. ¡°Where have you been all these years? Why didn¡¯t youe back, since you¡¯re alive?¡± A cold glint shed past Rachel¡¯s eyes. Yvette felt a chill down her spine when Rachel¡¯s gaze swept across her. ¡°Had I note back now, how would I ever know that you two were capable of something so wicked?¡± Chapter 329 * +25 BONUS She wouldn¡¯t back to this ce if she hadn¡¯t read online about her dad being in critical condition. She had merely Jim, red¨Cfaced with anger, yelled at Yvette and Sasha, ¡°Scram, you two!¡± Sasha and Yvette knew they had messed up and exchanged nces before leaving. After they left, Jim lost consciousness. Rachel immediately called for the doctor. The doctor began resuscitating Jim once more. One hourter, the doctor came walking out of the ward. Rachel rushed over to him and asked anxiously, ¡°Doctor, how is my dad?¡± The doctor shook his head and sighed helplessly.. ¡°Things aren¡¯t looking good for him. He¡¯s been under much emotional stress in recent years, and his organs are failing. You should be prepared.¡± Chapter 330 Her Exit 330 Chapter 330 Rachel didn¡¯t understand. Jim was in good health when she left. How did things change so much in just a few years? Did Sasha treat him poorly? The doctor added, ¡°He probably has something gnawing at his mind. I heard the nurses say that when he was sent to the hospital for emergency resuscitation, he kept calling for someone named Rachel. That person is probably the one troubling him. Rachel is your mom, isn¡¯t she?¡± Rachel gave the doctor an awkward look. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh. Anyway, he survived this time round, but things are still not looking good, so do be mentally prepared.¡± With a glimmer of hope in her voice, Rachel asked, ¡°Is there no other way?¡± ¡°Not at this point.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Rachel said nothing further, turning around to make some calls. She knew some doctors from abroad. As she walked out while looking at the phone with her head lowered, she identally bumped into someone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t paying attention,¡± she quickly apologized. ¡°Ms. Lloyd¡­¡± The man said in disbelief, his voiceced with a hint of uncertainty. Rachel looked up and saw that it was Xavier. She wasn¡¯t expecting to bump into someone she knew at the hospital. Since he saw her, she could only greet him out of courtesy. Dr. Jenkins, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Xavier was aware of what had happened to Rachel back then. No one knew of her whereabouts. Some even imed that she ran away with another man. Xavier had only met Rachel a few times, but his instincts told him that she wasn¡¯t one to do that. Other people imed that she was no longer alive as she was left in a vegetative state. Xavier took a while to recover from his shock, and stuttered, ¡°You¡­you¡¯re still alive.¡± Rachel nodded, her eyes bright and lively. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m still alive.¡± ¡°But after so many years, why¡­¡± ¡°Dr. Jenkins, my dad is in critical condition. I¡¯ve got to go.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t exin to Xavier all that had happened back then at this point. She was about to leave when Xavier called out to her. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, pardon me, but I have advice for you regarding your dad.¡± Rachel stopped in her tracks and turned around, looking back at him with doubt in her eyes. ¡°Do tell.¡± ¡°I know you are anxious to save your dad, but from my perspective, I rmend that you don¡¯t re ate him.¡± so?¡± Rachel frowned. ¡°Why do you say ¡°I¡¯ve read your dad¡¯s reports, and his organs are failing. Coupled with a heavy emotional burden over the years, he¡¯s been suffering fromte¨Cstage liver cancer. Forcing him to stay alive will only doom him to being dependent on these machines to live. You might as well give him release.¡± Rachel blinked, his words dealing her a huge blow. Xavier sighed. ¡°This isn¡¯t your dad¡¯s first time here at our hospital. I¡¯ve chatted with him and he¡¯s very worried about you. He doesn¡¯t know whether you¡¯re dead or alive, and he¡¯s most concerned about that.¡± Rachel never expected her departure to affect Jim so negatively. She thought no one would care that she left. She was chased out of the Lloyd household back then, and seldom returned. She never expected her weak father, who was always so servile to her grandfather, to care so much about her. Her Exit 331 Rachel knew life and death weren¡¯t things she could control All she could do now was to stay by Jim¡¯s side and walk with him through his final moments. ¡°Oh, right. Can I trouble you with something else?¡± she asked. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Xavier replied. ¡°Could you keep it a secret that you saw me here?¡± Rachel knew Xavier wasn¡¯t the type to spread rumors, but he did know Tyler. She still owed Tyler a contract. And being a person who always followed through, Tyler would never let it slide if he found out she had lied to him back then. With his strong sense of justice, he definitely wouldn¡¯t spare her. Right now, she didn¡¯t want to be involved with anyone here. If it weren¡¯t for Jim¡¯s critical condition, she never would¡¯vee back. To her, this ce had long been a closed chapter. Whether it was the people or the things that happened here, none of it had anything to do with her anymore. Xavier was momentarily stunned. Truthfully, when he saw Rachel, his first instinct had been to inform Tyler right away. ¡°Actually, Tyler¡¯s been trying to find you these past few years. Are you really sure you don¡¯t want me to tell him?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t think too much into it. She just smiled. ¡°Looks like you still haven¡¯t fixed Mr. Hunt¡¯s insomnia.¡± Xavier chuckled at that. ¡°Tell me about it. I¡¯ve treated a lot of people, but with Tyler, his insomnia¡¯s like a chronic illness. It just won¡¯t go away. You happen to be his remedy. Rachel smiled modestly. ¡°You tter me. I¡¯m not that powerful. It¡¯s probably just a coincidence. Anyway, I should get going.¡± Xavier nodded slightly and watched Rachel head back to the ward. Then, he picked up his phone and sent a message. [Guess who I just ran into?] Back in the ward, the doctors had managed to stabilize Jim. His consciousness gradually returned, and he slowly opened his eyes. When he saw Rachel, he instinctively reached out. ¡°R¨CRachel, is it really you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Dad.¡± Jim had been drifting in and out of consciousness. Seeing Rachel earlier had felt like a dream, and he¡¯d feared that if he woke up again, it would all vanish. He had feared that Rachel had nev¡­eturned, and it was all just his imagination. But now, feeling her presence so vividly, Jim finally let out a sigh of relief. It felt like he hade back to life. ¡°Rachel, it really is you. I thought after all these years, you had-¡± He didn¡¯t finish the sentence. He stopped himself from saying anything too ominous. Instead, he nodded repeatedly, and his eyes welled with tears again. ¡°You¡¯re back. That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he reached under his pillow, pulled out a key, and ced it in Rachel¡¯s hand. ¡°Rachel, take this key and go back to the Lloyd family estate. Inside my safe, you¡¯ll find the will I prepared a long time ago, along with a letter. After I¡¯m gone, I want you to bury the letter with me.¡± Rachel looked puzzled. ¡°Dad, you really don¡¯t have to go against Sasha and the others for me. Yvette¡¯s your biological daughter. ¡°The fact that you raised me all these years already means more than enough. You¡¯ve done more than anyone could ask. You really don¡¯t need to leave me anything in your will.¡± She believed that if Jim hadn¡¯t left anything to her, maybe Sasha and Yvette wouldn¡¯t have been so ruthless. 1 Her Exit 332 Jim waved. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about any of that. Just go back, open the safe, and bring the contents to me.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Rachel stood in front of the old Lloyd family estate. She stared at the familiar ce. Her emotions were a tangled mess. She never thought she¡¯d set foot here again. She had once imagined that when Jim passed, she mighte back briefly. But even then, she hadn¡¯t nned to show herself. It didn¡¯t matter. Once Jim¡¯s affairs were settled, she would leave again. Standing tall, she stepped inside. The moment the maids saw her, their faces turned pale like they had seen a ghost. One maid held a basin, ready to start cleaning. She spotted Rachel, her hands trembled, and she dropped it. ¡°Ag¨Cghost!¡± The rest of the maids shrieked and ran into the living room in a panic. Sasha walked in as the sudden chaos erupted, her expression serious. ¡°What are you all screaming about? It¡¯s broad daylight. What ghost is there?¡± Rachel stood calmly in the center of the living room. Sasha, nowposed, looked at her with nothing but hostility. She lifted her chin and took on the full air of ady of the house. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re not even part of the Lloyd family anymore. What are you doing back here?¡± ¡°Dad asked me toe get something for him. Don¡¯t worry I¡¯ll leave as soon as I¡¯m done. Won¡¯t even stay a second longer.¡± With that, Rachel turned to the staircase. But just as she was about to go up, Sasha moved, blocking her path. Rachel¡¯s previously calm gaze turned icy cold in an instant. Her voice came outced with a deadly chill that made the maids instinctively shudder. ¡°I said, I¡¯m only here to take something for Dad. I¡¯ll leave right after!¡± ¡°Whatever your father needs, Yvette and I can handle it. We don¡¯t need someone who has no blood ties to the Lloyd family meddling.¡± Yvette walked down the stairs at that moment. ¡°That¡¯s right, Rachel,¡± she added. ¡°You might still have the samest name, but you¡¯ve got nothing to do with the Lloyd family anymore. ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve been missing for so many years. We all thought you were dead. Since that¡¯s the case, why bothering back now?¡± Rachel could see right through them. Now that Jim was gravely ill, the two of them clearly nned to team up an seize control. She nced down and yed with the key Jim had given her. ¡°If you two had taken better care of him, do you think I¡¯d have toe back?¡± she asked scornfully. We don¡¯t even know where you¡¯ve been all these years! What right do you have to use us of not taking care of him? Get this straight. These years, it was us by his side, not you!¡± Sasha shouted, her expression ugly. She was furious. Just when she thought she¡¯d finally gotten rid of the obstacle, Rachel had suddenly reappeared. Rachel had no interest in wasting words. Her gaze turned downright menacing, and she snapped, ¡°Move!¡± She stepped forward and shoved Sasha aside without an ounce of hesitation or courtesy. Sasha was so startled by Rachel¡¯s roar that her whole body trembled. This was still the same Rachel who used to seem quiet and unassuming, but something felt off now. Where was this sudden intensitying from? Sasha fell to the floor as Rachel stormed past her and headed upstairs. She shouted at the maids, who were still standing frozen in ce. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Stop her! ¡°Madam, Mr. Hunt is here!¡± Her Exit 333 A maid stumbled into the room to report, and all three of them froze. Rachel¡¯s pupils contracted. It felt as if someone had punched her straight in the gut. Why was Tyler suddenly at the Lloyd family estate? Did Xavier tell him? She wasn¡¯t ready to face him. Truthfully speaking, Rachel felt deeply guilty toward Tyler. She had used him to fulfill her final wish and vanished without a word after that He¡¯d probably been looking for her all these years just to settle the score. Honestly, there probably wasn¡¯t a single person in all of Yurelia City who had dared to y Tyler for a fool like that. But she¡¯d had no other choice back then. No one wanted to mess with a sleeping lion unless they had no other choice. Sasha reacted first. She quickly waved at the maid and shouted, ¡°What are you standing there for? Stop him!¡± She had a panicked expression. If Tyler saw Rachel now, wouldn¡¯t thatpletely ruin any chance Yvette still had? ¡°So this is how the Lloyd family treats their guests?¡± The deep, chilling male voice rang out across the hall before the maids could even take a step. Rachel¡¯s entire back went rigid. Her legs suddenly felt like they were made of lead and frozen in ce. Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails cut her palms, yet she felt no pain. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might explode from her chest. Tyler stood there in a perfectly tailored gray suit, tall and imposing. A pair of thin, gold¨Crimmed sses rested on his nose, but behind them, his dark eyes were a barely restrained storm. It was almost unbearable to look directly at him. He looked thinner than before, though maybe that was just Rachel¡¯s imagination.. The indifference in his eyes, however, was no illusion. They seemed even colder than she remembered. Not even a trace of warmth remained. It was like standing in the dead of winter. But Tyler didn¡¯t look at her directly. Instead, his gaze locked tightly onto Sasha. Sasha¡¯s face froze and turned pale. After a few seconds, she forced herself to speak. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you misunderstood. Of course we wee you. It¡¯s just that there¡¯s been a lot going on at hometely We¡¯re not really in a position to receive visitors.¡± Tyler raised his hand and brushed gently over his brow. As he lifted his gaze, a cold glint shed through his eyes Then he pointed straight at Rachel. ¡°By ¡®a lot going on¡®, you mean someone who vanished off the face of the earth for years suc again?¡± y turning up Rachel didn¡¯t know if she was imagining things, but in that moment he pointed at her, she felt like her entire boc had been locked down by invisible chains. Sasha stammered, ¡°I¡ªI¡ª¡± Yvette quickly stepped in and hurried over to Tyler¡¯s side. Mr. Hunt, this is all just a family matter. Don¡¯t get involved. Come upstairs with me. I have something to talk to you about.¡± But Tyler¡¯s eyes never left Rachel. His stare made her skin crawl. She instinctively looked away. She didn¡¯t have time to waste here. She also couldn¡¯t afford to care about Tyler right now. So she turned again and headed straight upstairs. Sasha rushed forward to block her again. ¡°Rachel, didn¡¯t you hear what I said? I already told you, this is Lloyd family business! You¡¯re not even one of us. What right do you have to interfere?¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze held unwavering determination. There was force behind her stare, and it made Sasha uneasy She was frightened of Rachel, even if she wouldn¡¯t admit it, but she couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch Rachel walk away with the inheritance. For all she knew, Jim might have had a change of heart. Seeing Rachel again might¡¯ve made him decide to leave everything to her. Tyler casually sat down in a chair nearby, crossed his legs, and made himself at home as if he owned the ce. ¡°Yvette, since your family matters aren¡¯t resolved yet, go ahead and deal with them. I¡¯ve got time to wait.¡± Her Exit 334 Chapter 334 Tyler¡¯s casual statement left everyone momentarily stunned. No one could quite figure out what he was really here for. Sasha stared at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, do you really have to do this? I¡¯m warning you. This is trespassing, I can call the cops on you right now!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t show the slightest hint of panic. Instead, she lifted her chin with a sneer, giving Sasha a sidelong stare. ¡°Go ahead. Call thein. I¡¯d love to see who gets arrested, me or you. Want me to help jog your memory about what happened five years ago?¡± Sasha¡¯s face went pale. ¡°W¨CWhat are you talking about?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the least bit curious who paid someone to inject me with something in the hospital nearly five years ago? It nearly killed me. Or why the person who was sent vanished along with me and never showed up again?¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze swept across Sasha and Yvette. Her words hit their mark. Both women froze in ce and were stiff as statues. Yvette suddenly stammered in a panic, ¡°T¨Cthat has nothing to do with me! Rachel, stop ndering us!¡± Rachel¡¯s re grew colder. ¡°Really? Then why don¡¯t we bring in that person you sent and ask them ourselves?¡± Sasha and Yvette werepletely silent. Rachel brushed past Sasha and headed upstairs. This time, no one dared to stop her. Tyler sat in the chair with his eyes slightly narrowed. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. When he turned toward Yvette and Sasha, there was an unmistakable chill in his gaze. Rachel went upstairs, opened the safe, and took everything Jim had asked for. Then she headed back down. Her movements were swift and precise. She didn¡¯t even bother to question why Tyler had shown up at the Lloyd famil estate. As she moved to leave, Yvette suddenly lunged forward, grabbing her arm and bursting into tears. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯ve ignored the Lloyd family all these years. You left Yurelia City like you never nned to return. Whye back now just to destroy my peaceful life? I¡¯m the real daughter of the Lloyd family. ¡°Why are you back to steal all of this from me? What did I ever do wrong? You took my parents from me, and now you want to take the family¡¯s inheritance too?¡± The sight of Yvette like this made Rachel involuntarily think of Samantha back then. It was the same pitiful act, the same attempt to win everyone¡¯s sympathy, as if she alone was the victim of the world. Yvette, noticing Rachel¡¯s indifference, suddenly turned and looked at Tyler. She rushed toward him and grabbed the sleeve of his suit tightly. Her eyes welled with tears. ¡°Mr. Hunt, please don¡¯t believe what she said. She¡¯s using us unfairly. You saw it yourself. She only came bac after hearing Dad was critically ill. She wants to take everything. ¡°She¡¯s even using us of trying to hurt her, but she¡¯s the one who left that divorce agreement, saying she wanted to leave William! ¡°Now she¡¯s even ming you for leaving us.¡± Yvette spun back around and snapped at Rachel in a trembling voice. ¡°You keep saying we hurt you. Then why did you leave? Do you even dare tell us where you went all these years?¡± There was no way Rachel could tell Yvette where she¡¯d been She¡¯d signed a non¨Cdisclosure agreement. Now that she had what she came for, she had no intention of wasting another word on Yvette. With an unreadable expression, she brushed past. Suddenly, Tyler stood up and extended an arm to stop her. Rachel halted. She instinctively looked up at him. Her Exit 335 Rachel¡¯s gaze was wary as she stared at Tyler. Her voice turned cold. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what¡¯s this supposed to mean? Are you going to stop me too?¡± Tyler looked at her and smiled. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve wrapped up your business with them, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time we settled ours?¡± Rachel¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. Her heart clenched. She knew that once Tyler showed up, there was no escaping. She did owe him an exnation. Well, since she¡¯d already run into him, there was no running now. All she could do was face it head¨Con. ¡°Fine. But you¡¯ll have to help me get out of liere.¡± She nced at Sasha and Yvette. Those two looked like they were ready to tear her apart. There was no way they¡¯d just let her walk out so easily. Tyler¡¯s gaze was solemn. Beneath his calm exterior lurked a quiet intensity. ¡°Rachel, are you trying to use me again?¡± Her back went stiff. A chill ran down her spine. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty. At this point, she had no other option. ¡°Well, since you already think I used you once, what¡¯s one more time, right? Help me or not, it¡¯s your call.¡± Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed. His voice became even colder. ¡°And what if I say no?¡± Rachel smirked before shrugging helplessly. ¡°Then I guess you won¡¯t be settling that score with me today.¡± Tyler noticed how rxed she appeared. She seemedpletely unconcerned about whether she¡¯d make it out of the Lloyd family estate in one piece. He let out an amused scoff. ¡°Are youtching onto me now? Rachel smiled a little. ¡°Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Hunt.¡± A momentter, Tyler stood up straight and dropped his hand. Yvette gasped at the sight. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what are you-¡± Tyler turned around and politely addressed Sasha. ¡°Sasha, Ive got some business at the office that needs my attention. I¡¯ll be heading out.¡± Then he exchanged a look with Rachel and gave her a subtle nod. She understood instantly and began walking toward him. She was prepared to leave with him. Yvette, seeing this, felt a surge of rage rise up in her chest. She turned and shouted at the maids, ¡°Stop Rachel! Grab those documents from her!¡± The maids immediately swarmed toward Rachel. Rachel clutched the papers tightly, refusing to let go. Just as they were about to engulf her, Tyler yanked Rachel behind him. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± His voice thundered through the hall like a p of lightning, powerful andmanding. The maids froze and exchanged nervous nces. They were too afraid to make a move. Sasha realized things were going sideways. Her expression darkened as her tone turned grim. ¡°Mr. Hunt, this is our family matter. Please stay out of it.¡± Tyler gripped Rachel¡¯s slender wrist and looked up. ¡°Well, have a score to settle with her. So how about you push your family matter back a bit?¡± His voice was calm, but Sasha could feel the unshakable authority beneath it. Still, she tried to salvage the situation. If Rachel walked out with those documents, it could ruin everything for her and Yvette. Sasha narrowed her eyes and forced herself to speak. ¡°As long as Rachel hands over what she¡¯s holding, we¡¯ll let her leave.¡± Tyler turned to Rachel and asked politely, ¡°Would you like to hand it over?¡± Rachel answered bluntly, ¡°No.¡± Tyler spread his hands and gave a helpless shrug. ¡°Well, you heard her. She said no.¡± Her Exit 336 As soon as Tyler finished speaking he grabbed Rachel by the wrist and prepared to lead her out. Seeing this, Sasha couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°If you refuse to hand her over, then don¡¯t me us for what we do next!¡± She waved at the maids, signaling them to move in. A group of them immediately stepped forward to surround the two. Tyler didn¡¯t flinch in the slightest. His gaze swept over the crowd with open contempt. ¡°Are you sure the Lloyd family wants to go up against me?¡± Yvette felt afraid when she heard that. Tyler¡¯s LS Enterprise had be an absolute powerhouse in Yurelia City, No one really knew what had gotten into him these past few years, but the man seemed possessed. He was constantly traveling abroad and building international business ties. Whatever he did, it was clearly working. Lewis Enterprise used to be a rival. Now, it wasn¡¯t even in the same league. Yvette tugged at Sasha¡¯s sleeve. Her mother was angry beyond reason. ¡°Mom, let it go. Just let her leave. Even if there is a will, it still has to go through the courts. Rachel isn¡¯t even Dad¡¯s biological daughter. Worst case, we¡¯ll fight it legally. There¡¯s no way a judge would hand the Lloyd family¡¯s fortune over to an outsider.¡± Sasha still hesitated. ¡°But your father knows we forced him to sign the altered will. I¡¯m afraid-¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. There are no cameras in the ward. No one can prove anything. Besides, he just woke up and is still groggy. Maybe he doesn¡¯t even remember clearly. But if we get into a direct conflict with Tyler now, I fear-¡± Even Sasha¡¯s furious re had begun to falter. Yvette was right. If they went head¨Cto¨Chead with Tyler, they weren¡¯t going to win. If he came here today just to protect Rachel, they had no chance ofing out on top. So what was the point of a direct sh? Sasha exhaled slowly. ¡°Fine. Consider this me showing Mr. Hunt some respect. You two can go.¡± The maids immediately stepped back. Once Tyler and Rachel were out the door, Sasha furiously stomped her foot. Her eyes were full of hatred. ¡°Rachel is nothing but a walking disaster. She was already gone. Why did she have toe back?¡± Yvette seethed with frustration. ¡°Why else? Of course she came back to fight for the inheritance! She¡¯s pretending it¡¯s all for a final goodbye, but who¡¯s buying that?¡± Sasha clenched her fists tightly. A sudden jolt of pain shot through them. She looked down and saw that one of her freshly manicured nails had snapped off. ¡°I truly underestimated Rachel back then.¡± Yvette had an even bigger concern, however. ¡°Mom, what if she decides to stay this time? What do we do then?¡± Sasha clenched her teeth. Her gaze was ice¨Ccold. ¡°If she really wants to stay and fight us to the finish what we started. She¡¯s already died once, what¡¯s a second time going to matter?¡± 1 then we¡¯ll After leaving the Lloyd family estate, Rachel nced behind her and, seeing no one was following, let out a long Chapter 330 sigh of relief. Thanks for your help today, Mr. Hunt. I¡¯ve still got things to take care of, so I¡¯ll be on my way,¡± She turned, ready to bolt. Tyler grabbed the back of her cor before she could take a step. His voice was deep and hoarse. ¡°What now? nning to use me and disappear again?¡± Her Exit 337 Rachel shut her eyes in despair. She knew Tyler wouldn¡¯t let her off that easily. After all, she had deceived him. She decided it was best to talk things through calmly. She turned to face him with slightly pleading eyes. At six foot three, he towered over her. She tried to sound as reasonable as possible. ¡°Mr. Hunt, how about this? I¡¯ll pay you the penalty for breaching the contract. We¡¯ll call it even, like we never signed anything. Deal?¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°Oh? Are you rich now ¡°This isn¡¯t about money. I admit that I was the one in the wrong.¡± Rachel figured with someone like Tyler, reasoning was the only way. If she pushed too hard, she¡¯d be the one to suffer. Tyler finally let her go. He nced down at his watch in that slow, unhurried way of his. ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of standing around. I prefer to talk somewhere else.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± He gave a subtle tilt of his chin toward his car. ¡°Get in.¡± Rachel hesitated and thought of Jim. ¡°But Mr. Hunt, I really have something important to-¡± Tyler didn¡¯t even let her finish. He turned and walked toward his car without looking back. Rachel finally understood. This man wasn¡¯t going to give her even a second to weasel out of this. Tyler was already at the passenger side, holding the door open. He didn¡¯t say a word, but the pressure was suffocating. He made it obvious that she had to get in no matter what. Rachel hesitated and nced at the time on her phone. Eventually, she gave in and climbed in. The second her seatbelt clicked, the carunched forward like a bullet. Rachel was thrown forward, then mmed back into her seat from the force. Panic hit her instantly. She turned to re at him. ¡°Mr. Hunt! What the hell are you doing?¡± Tyler didn¡¯t respond. His foot pressed harder on the elerator. With his jaw clenched, he looked like the devil himself had taken the wheel. Rachel¡¯s heart pounded. She gripped the door handle with all her strength. Her gaze was locked on the road ahead. She was terrified he wouldn¡¯t react in time, and they¡¯d crash straight into another car. It reminded her of something that happened five years ago. Tyler had raced against Howard in a near¨Cidentical death¨Cdefying scene. That had been the first time she had felt like she was face to face with death. The second time was when she had been in thea. She had felt the ice¨Ccold medication aping through her veins. If she hadn¡¯t woken up in time, she might never have woken up at all. Chapter 337 Thinking back on everything she¡¯d been through, a strange calm settled over Rachel. She said nothing and let Tyler drive like a madman. Was she afraid? Of course. She was human. Who wasn¡¯t afraid of dying? But she knew, without a doubt, there was no stopping Tyler when he was like this. So she swallowed her panic and waited for him to stop. When he finally did, Rachel unbuckled her seatbelt the moment the car came to a halt and scrambled out. She staggered over to a tree and leaned against it, dry heaving violently. Her face had gone white as a sheet, and her body trembled. Tyler shut the car door and strolled over. He snickered. ¡°You held it together. Weren¡¯t you scared?¡± Rachel slowly stood up straight. She still looked shaken. ¡°Of course I was scared. But even if I told you to stop, would you have done so?¡± Tyler answered without hesitation. ¡°No.¡± Her Exit 338 Chapter 338 ¡°Well, there you have it. Since I knew yelling wouldn¡¯t help why would I scream and distract you? That¡¯d just get me killed faster,¡± Rachel said. She didn¡¯t care about appearances anymore and slumped right down on the ground. ¡°Besides, Mr. Hunt, with your current status? If you¡¯re hot afraid of dying, why should I be?¡± Tyler bent forward slightly. His cold fingers gripped her chin and tilted her face up, forcing her to look at him. Rachel¡¯s beautiful eyes held a mischievous glint. She smiled slyly. It was still the same face, but nothing like five years ago. Now, there was a fierceness in her and a strength simmering beneath the surface like a lioness who¡¯d finally discovered her ws. He stared at her intently. The rough pad of his thumb brushed slowly against her jawline. He smiled, but his voice remained t. ¡°So, you want to pay the penalty and pretend the contract never happened?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I know the agreement includes a breach use. I¡¯m willing to pay it in full and call it square.¡± Seeing that Tyler had brought up the contract himself, Rachel thought maybe he was open to negotiation But he suddenly let go of her and clicked his tongue. ¡°Do you think you can buy me off that easily?¡± Rachel¡¯s brows instantly furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean, Mr. Hunt?¡± A cold, arrogant smile appeared on Tyler¡¯s face, and the air suddenly felt tense around them. ¡°You still don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± He said, suddenly leaning in close. ¡°Once you sign a contract with me, it doesn¡¯t end just because you say so. It ends when I say so.¡± His breath was hot against her ear, but Rachel felt a chill run down her spine like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. His voice echoed in her ears like a spell she couldn¡¯t break. Rachel¡¯s gaze suddenly turned fiery. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you and I have no personal feud. You don¡¯t have to go this far over a contract.¡± Tyler took a few slow steps toward the apartment building. He casually tucked his hands into his pockets. He looked rxed, but his gaze was cold. ¡°You¡¯re the one who signed it. I don¡¯t take kindly to people backing out halfway. You signed it, so now you fulfill it. 11 Rachel instantly regretted ever agreeing to that contract with Tyler. He was even more difficult than William. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why me?¡± Tyler thought for a moment before responding. ¡°Maybe your singing is just terrible enough to knock me out.¡± R¨¢chel choked on her breath. Some things never changed. Tyler¡¯s tongue was still as sharp as ever. Whatever. She wasn¡¯t nning to stick around anyway. Once she wrapped things up here, she could vanish just like she did five years ago. The moment she thought it, Tyler, as if reading her mind, piercing re in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about pulling the same stunt again. Tha I¡¯ll drag you over myself.¡± Rachel¡¯s face darkened instantly. Tyler keyed in a code, and the apartment door opened. Tha to his suburban apartment. ¡°You could¡¯ve at least taken me home!¡± she called after hi This was the suburbs. Getting a cab here was nearly impos Tyler sounded indifferent. ¡°Figure it out yourself.¡± The door mmed shut behind him. Rachel clenched her fists tightly and looked at the long, de The moment she thought it, Tyler, as if reading her mind, looked over with a cigarette between his lips and a piercing re in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about pulling the same stunt again. That trick only works once. If I don¡¯t see you at ten tonight, I¡¯ll drag you over myself.¡± Rachel¡¯s face darkened instantly. Tyler keyed in a code, and the apartment door opened. That was when Rachel realized he¡¯d driven them all the way to his suburban apartment. ¡°You could¡¯ve at least taken me home!¡± she called after him. This was the suburbs. Getting a cab here was nearly impossible. Jim was still waiting for her at the hospital. Tyler sounded indifferent. ¡°Figure it out yourself.¡± The door mmed shut behind him. Rachel clenched her fists tightly and looked at the long, deste road stretching ahead. Her Exit 339 Rachel tried calling for a ride, but in a ce like this there was hardly even another soul around. There was also no way she could walk back to the city. By the time she got there, Jim would¡¯ve long been dead. Tyler really was the kind of man who held a grudge. After five years, he must¡¯ve built up plenty of resentment toward her. If it had been anyone else, money might¡¯ve been enough to smooth things over, but Tyler wasn¡¯t just anyone. He looked like the cool, detached type, but Rachel could tell from that contract just how controlling he really was. The man hated being made a fool of. Honestly, who would dare to mess with him? He was the golden boy and the undisputed ¡®king¡® of Yurelia City now. Even just hearing his name was enough to make people tread carefully. Worse still, the one who had yed him was a woman. Rachel had just turned to leave when she spotted something. The car key was still in the ignition. An idea urred to her. She nced back at the apartment. Maybe Tyler had forgotten to pull the key, or maybe he didn¡¯t think she¡¯d dare take it. It didn¡¯t matter either way. Right now, she had to get back to the hospital. If escape wasn¡¯t possible for now, then she¡¯d just have to face everything head¨Con. Rachel yanked the door open and slid into the driver¡¯s seat. With a roar, the engine started, and the car peeled away from the curb. Back in the apartment, Tyler sat on the couch and rubbed his brow. He looked exhausted. Rayy on the floor and sniffed his leg. He looked as if he sensed something off about Tyler today. He scooted closer and rubbed against Tyler¡¯s foot. Tyler blinked open his eyes and reached down, gently scratching behind Ray¡¯s ears. His deep voice came out like a murmur. ¡°She¡¯s back.¡± Ray hopped up onto the couch, sniffed his hand, and licked his fingers. Tyler paused mid¨Cmotion and raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Do you still remember her?¡± Ray wagged his tail like crazy. Tyler smiled and leaned back against the couch. His breathing slowed, and his Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly as he exhaled. His left hand dangled off the side of the couch. There was still a half¨Cburned cigarette wedged between his fingers. He stared nkly at the ceiling. Hisshes cast faint shadows under his eyes. If it weren¡¯t for Jim falling ill and having very little time left, Rachel would probably never have shown her face again. She¡¯d have stayed out there forever, dead to the world. He had no idea how much time passed before his phone suddenly buzzed. Chapter 339 It was a message from Jason with a photo attached. [What happened to you, Tyler? Do you think just because you run Yurelia City now, you can start parking your car in the middle of the road like this? Seriously, this is your prized ride. In broad daylight, too. Are you drunk or something?] There was another one from Luke. [If you don¡¯t move that car soon, someone¡¯s going to move it for you.] Tyler had been feeling drowsy, but those messages woke him up instantly. He tapped on the photo. His car, the same one that had been parked outside the apartment, was now stopped in the middle of the road in the city. It hadpletely stalled all traffic. He shot up from the couch and opened the front door. His car was gone. It had to be Rachel. After all these years, she¡¯de back sharper than ever. Now, she even knew how to steal cars. Tyler grabbed his phone and called Yale. ¡°Move the car parked on A2 Highway.¡± Yale was so stunned that he thought he¡¯d misheard. ¡°Mr. Hunt, sorry, did you just say move the car on A2 Highway?¡± ¡°Did I stutter?¡± Her Exit 340 Yale didn¡¯t dare say another word. ¡°I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Just as he was about to hang up, Tyler added coldly, ¡°And find out where Rachel¡¯s been all these years.¡± Yale froze. ¡°Mr. Hunt, do you mean Ms. Lloyd is back?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Yale was genuinely surprised. ¡°She¡¯s still alive!¡± Tyler was already running low on patience. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to check on stuff? Why are you still bbering on?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Are we still going to Bostevia in a few days?¡± The trip was already nned. Tyler was supposed to fly over to finalize a business deal. But with everything that just happened, Yale figured it was better to confirm with him. After a brief silence, Tyler replied, ¡°Things in Bostevia aren¡¯t looking greattely. I heard our potential partner over there has been secretly talking to otherpanies. If we sign a deal now, it could get messy down the line. Cancel it for now.¡± Yale covered his mouth and held back a chuckle. He knew it After hanging up, Yale went to deal with the car situation. By the time he arrived, the car had already been towed. He had no choice but to pay the fine. When he reviewed the traffic footage, the driver turned out to be Rachel. He clicked his tongue in disbelief. Rachel hadn¡¯t just grown guts over the years, she¡¯d practically sprouted wings. Not only had she driven off in Tyler¡¯s car, but she had parked it smack in the middle of the road. In all of Yurelia City, who else would even dare to pull something like that on Tyler? That little stunt made headlines in no time. Tyler was forced to head back to the office to handle the PR fallout. Once things got rolling, he didn¡¯t stop until midnight. Even an average person who blocked traffic like that would be held ountable. The fact that Tyler was a public figure only made things worse. A storm had already broken out online. ¡°Oh my goodness! I can¡¯t deny that this was hot, but we do need to respect trafficws, people.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. This really feels like someone set my man up. He may be bold, but not reckless.¡± ¡°Only Howard would dare to pull off something like this!¡± ¡°Ugh, that lunatic again!¡± ¡°I remember when he raced with my man years ago, and my man just rammed his car off the road. Total legend.¡± ¡°Not sure what this move means, but I¡¯ll wait for LS Enterprise¡¯s statement. There¡¯s no way my man would do this.¡± Chapter ¡°Whether he did it or not, it was his car. And there¡¯s no mistaking it, only one of those exists in Yurelia City.¡± Rachel sat quietly beside Jim¡¯s hospital bed, scrolling through thements on her phone. This little detour had clearly bought her time. Tyler was now too tied up toe after her tonight. That meant she could spend a bit more time with Jim. Truth be told, she hadn¡¯t meant to cause Tyler this much trouble. But she knew that the deeper she got entangled with him, the harder it would be to escape. She had never expected that one signature on a contract years ago would be the chain that bound her now. She¡¯d had no other choice. Only Tyler could help her with this. Until she fulfilled Mnie¡¯s final wish, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to leave for good. No matter how she yed this game of chess, it led straight to a losing checkmate. Ding. Her phone chimed with a new message. She looked down. [Nice move, Rachel, creating a diversion like that. You can dodge the first bullet, but you won¡¯t escape the second.] Her Exit 341 When Rachel saw the message, her heart sank. Tyler really had eyes and ears everywhere. It hadn¡¯t even been that long, and he already had her number figured out. There was no way she¡¯d let him know he got to her, so she didn¡¯t even bother replying. Just as she was about to put her phone away, another message popped up. (You¡¯ve got three seconds to reply, or I¡¯lle drag you out mysel Rachel¡¯s hand actually trembled a little. She was seriously starting to wonder if Tyler had installed some kind of tracker on the back of her head. How else could he always know exactly what she was thinking? She didn¡¯t have time to ponder. She knew all too well that if Tyler said he¡¯d do something, he meant it. Grabbing her phone, she rushed to type a reply, only to nk out. Suddenly, she was unsure of what to even say. Three seconds flew by in a heartbeat. In her panic, all she managed to send was a single punctuation mark. That technically counted as a reply, right? She soon received a message. [Is that your new way of texting?] Rachel nearly rolled her eyes. [Didn¡¯t you say I had three seconds?] Tyler read the message and let out an amused scoff. [Now you¡¯re suddenly all obedient?] Rachel wasn¡¯t in the mood to y games with him. [Mr. Hunt, if you have something to say, please get to the point.] Jim didn¡¯t have much time left. She needed to take care of his final wishes, and with the mess at the Lloyd family, there was still a lot to settle. She wanted to do this right for him. [We¡¯ll settle the score tomorrow. Let me give you a bit of advice, Rachel. Whatever schemes you¡¯re cooking up, keep them away from me. You¡¯re smart, but not as smart as you think.] Rachel smiled. She didn¡¯t take him seriously. She just let him talk without responding. When she realized Tyler hadn¡¯t mentioned her going over to see him tonight, she finally sighed in relief. At least her little stunt had worked. She hadn¡¯t caused this whole mess for nothing. ¡°W¨CWater-¡°Jim¡¯s weak voice broke through her thoughts, mumbling as he stirred in his sleep. Rachel instantly put her phone away and stood up. ¡°Hold on, Dad. I¡¯ll get you some.¡± She grabbed the thermos and walked out of the room. +20 BONUS Just down the hall, Samantha and William exited the doctor¡¯s office. Samantha clutched a medical report with a disappointed expression. ¡°William, I didn¡¯t expect that after all these years, my body still hasn¡¯t recovered.¡± William gently held her hand. His voice was soft and reassuring. ¡°¡®s okay. The doctor said it takes time. You had major hemorrhaging a few years ago. Your body¡¯s still weak. It¡¯s not something that¡¯ll fix itself overnight. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re still young.¡± But Samantha gripped the report tightly, and the pitiful look in her eyes slowly gave way to rage. If it hadn¡¯t been for Rachel back then, she never would¡¯ve lost that child. Rachel was dead, so why was she still ruining her life? She took a deep breath, sniffled a little, and turned to William. ¡°I¡® going to the restroom. Wait for me here.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯m stepping out for a smoke.¡± As Samantha walked toward the bathroom, she passed a corner, and her steps suddenly faltered. She thought she saw something or someone. She picked up her pace until she was practically running down the hall. By the time she turned the corner, the figure was gone. She was unsure if her mind was ying tricks on her. But she¡¯d seen it clearly. That silhouette had looked just like Rachel ¡®Rachel. It¡¯s impossible! Isn¡¯t she dead?¡® Suddenly, Samantha¡¯s knees buckled, and she grabbed the wall for support. Someone tapped on her shoulder from behind. Samantha jumped and turned around with a gasp. The colour drained from her face, and her eyes were wide with terror. Her Exit 342 Chapter 342 When William saw how panicked Samantha looked, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What happened?¡± Samantha finally breathed a little easier when she realized it was William. She instinctively reached out and gripped the hem of his shirt. ¡°I think I just saw Rachel.¡± William¡¯s brows furrowed instantly. ¡°What did you say? You saw Rachel?¡± ¡°I only caught a glimpse. It was quick, and I can¡¯t be sure. Besides, Rachel hasn¡¯t shown up for years. Maybe she¡¯s no longer alive. William, maybe I was seeing things.¡± Samantha noticed the way William¡¯s expression changed the moment he heard Rachel¡¯s name. All these years, she knew he¡¯d still been secretly lookiWhen Rachel saw the message, her heart sank. Tyler really had eyes and ears everywhere. It hadn¡¯t even been that long, and he already had her number figured out. There was no way she¡¯d let him know he got to her, so she didn¡¯t even bother replying. Just as she was about to put her phone away, another message popped up. (You¡¯ve got three seconds to reply, or I¡¯lle drag you out mysel Rachel¡¯s hand actually trembled a little. She was seriously starting to wonder if Tyler had installed some kind of tracker on the back of her head. How else could he always know exactly what she was thinking? She didn¡¯t have time to ponder. She knew all too well that if Tyler said he¡¯d do something, he meant it. Grabbing her phone, she rushed to type a reply, only to nk out. Suddenly, she was unsure of what to even say. Three seconds flew by in a heartbeat. In her panic, all she managed to send was a single punctuation mark. That technically counted as a reply, right? She soon received a message. [Is that your new way of texting?] Rachel nearly rolled her eyes. [Didn¡¯t you say I had three seconds?] Tyler read the message and let out an amused scoff. [Now you¡¯re suddenly all obedient?] Rachel wasn¡¯t in the mood to y games with him. [Mr. Hunt, if you have something to say, please get to the point.] Jim didn¡¯t have much time left. She needed to take care of his final wishes, and with the mess at the Lloyd family, there was still a lot to settle. She wanted to do this right for him. [We¡¯ll settle the score tomorrow. Let me give you a bit of advice, Rachel. Whatever schemes you¡¯re cooking up, keep them away from me. You¡¯re smart, but not as smart as you think.] Rachel smiled. She didn¡¯t take him seriously. She just let him talk without responding. When she realized Tyler hadn¡¯t mentioned her going over to see him tonight, she finally sighed in relief. At least her little stunt had worked. She hadn¡¯t caused this whole mess for nothing. ¡°W¨CWater-¡°Jim¡¯s weak voice broke through her thoughts, mumbling as he stirred in his sleep. Rachel instantly put her phone away and stood up. ¡°Hold on, Dad. I¡¯ll get you some.¡± She grabbed the thermos and walked out of the room. +20 BONUS Just down the hall, Samantha and William exited the doctor¡¯s office. Samantha clutched a medical report with a disappointed expression. ¡°William, I didn¡¯t expect that after all these years, my body still hasn¡¯t recovered.¡± William gently held her hand. His voice was soft and reassuring. ¡°¡®s okay. The doctor said it takes time. You had major hemorrhaging a few years ago. Your body¡¯s still weak. It¡¯s not something that¡¯ll fix itself overnight. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re still young.¡± But Samantha gripped the report tightly, and the pitiful look in her eyes slowly gave way to rage. If it hadn¡¯t been for Rachel back then, she never would¡¯ve lost that child. Rachel was dead, so why was she still ruining her life? She took a deep breath, sniffled a little, and turned to William. ¡°I¡® going to the restroom. Wait for me here.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯m stepping out for a smoke.¡± As Samantha walked toward the bathroom, she passed a corner, and her steps suddenly faltered. She thought she saw something or someone. She picked up her pace until she was practically running down the hall. By the time she turned the corner, the figure was gone. She was unsure if her mind was ying tricks on her. But she¡¯d seen it clearly. That silhouette had looked just like Rachel ¡®Rachel. It¡¯s impossible! Isn¡¯t she dead?¡® Suddenly, Samantha¡¯s knees buckled, and she grabbed the wall for support. Someone tapped on her shoulder from behind. Samantha jumped and turned around with a gasp. The colour drained from her face, and her eyes were wide with terror. ng for Rachel. William frowned and thought for a moment. ¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t imagine it.¡± Samantha trembled all over. She looked at him in rm. ¡°What do you mean? You think I really saw Rachel?¡± ¡°Think about it. The police only ever filed a missing person report she was never confirmed dead. And I heard Jim¡¯s in critical condition. He¡¯s in this very hospital. ¡°Rachel¡¯s someone who values family above all else. If she¡¯s still alive, and she knows her father¡¯s dying, there¡¯s no way she¡¯d stay away.¡± William clenched his fists. Why hadn¡¯t he thought of using Jim to draw Rachel out sooner? All these years, he had waited in vain. None of his searches were fruitful. He couldn¡¯t stop wondering. He had mobilized so many people, yet Rachel had hidden herself wlessly. Samantha noticed the shift in his gaze. It was no longer the same as before. She pursed her lips. There was a look of displeasure in her eyes. Was William still thinking about rekindling things with Rachel? Before she could dwell on it, William turned to her. ¡°I heard Jim is on this floor. If who you saw really was Rachel, we might find her if we go to him.¡± With that, William strode down the hallway toward the wards. Samantha watched him from behind. Her lips parted as if to say something, but in the end, she swallowed it. She also wanted to know if Rachel was dead or alive. This de had hung over her all these years. It was time to end this, one way or another. She followed William to Jim¡¯s ward. Inside, Jimy in bed, his face pale and his body unmoving. He seemed half asleep. William leaned in close and softly called out, ¡°Mr. Lloyd.¡± Jim¡¯s eyelids twitched slightly but he didn¡¯t open his eyes. A wave of unease suddenly hit Samantha. If Rachel really had returned, would William still want her? She hadn¡¯t realized just how much Rachel¡¯s disappearance had affected him back then. If they saw each other again, and the old feelings came back- No. She couldn¡¯t risk it. Samantha stepped forward and tried to change his mind. ¡°William I must¡¯ve been mistaken. Rachel¡¯s probably not even alive anymore. Let¡¯s just go.¡± +20 BONUS Even William started to think maybe it was just wishful thinking. Rachel hade back, surely he would¡¯ve heard something by now. He sighed softly. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go.¡® Just as they turned to leave, the door to the ward suddenly swung open. Her Exit 343 As soon as Samantha heard the creak of the door opening, her heart started to pound. Her gaze was fixated on the door. The nurse who hade to change the IV drip paused at the sight of the two of them staring oddly at her.. ¡°Is there something I can help you with?¡± she asked. William¡¯s hopeful gaze dimmed instantly. Samantha, on the other hand, looked as if she¡¯d just been granted reprieve. She felt relieved Rachel wasn¡¯t there. William stepped forward as he asked, ¡°Could I trouble you to tell me who¡¯s been caring for Mr. Lloyd the past couple of days?¡± ¡°His daughter, of course,¡± the nurse replied. William pulled up a photo of Rachel on his phone and showed it to her. ¡°Was it this person?¡± The nurse studied it for a moment, seemingly trying to recall, then shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s not her.¡± Samantha watched William¡¯s urgency with a heavy heart. Her usual innocent¨Clooking eyes were now bloodshot with jealousy and bitterness. If she had known William still cared this much about Rachel, she never should have said anything in the first ce. She took a deep breath, walked to William¡¯s side, and said softly, ¡°William, I told you. I must¡¯ve been mistaken. Let it go. We don¡¯t have a good rtionship with the Lloyd family right now anyway. We should leave before things get awkward.¡± William followed her out of the room. Once they left, the nurse changed Jim¡¯s IV drip, and only then did Rachel open the door ande in. The nurse turned and saw her. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I already sent those two away for you.¡± Rachel handed her an envelope. ¡°Thank you for the trouble.¡± ¡°1 The nurse took it with a smile. ¡°It was only a small favor. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to rely on you to look after my dad. I may be busy with other things the next few days and can¡¯t be here around the clock.¡± The nurse beamed, feeling the weight of the envelope. ¡°Of course. Thank you.¡± Rachel closed the door as the nurse left. Her expression, which had remained calm just moments ago, turned cold in an instant. In truth, she had seen Samantha even before Samantha saw her. It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to hide, but rather, now wasn¡¯t the time for a reunion. She wanted Samantha to think she¡¯d caught a glimpse of her. She wanted to let them wonder and suffer from the uncertainty. Rachel wanted to be someone they thought had long since died, but now suddenly lingered like a vengeful ghost. Wouldn¡¯t that gnaw at them far more than a confrontation? ¡°R¨CRachel-¡± Jim¡¯s weak voice pulled Rachel back from her thoughts. She turned to him and brought a cup to his lips. ¡°Dad, have some water.¡± Jim struggled to take a few sips. He then reached for Rachel¡¯s hand ¡°Did you get the documents?¡± ¡°I did. They¡¯re all right here.¡± +20 BONUS Rachel handed everything over to lilm. Tim gave her a will. ¡°This is for you, and this is the deed to a house¡¯ve left in your name. Also, don¡¯t open this letter unless you have absolutely no other choice.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t attached to the Lloyd family¡¯s wealth, but the letter qued her curiosity. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s in the letter?¡± ¡°Just promise me, don¡¯t Copen it unless you absolutely must. Keep safe. Rachel, I¡¯ve wronged you. I let you suffer so much over the years. But I¡¯m just d that you¡¯re still alive. You¡¯re a¡ª¡°Jim suddenly choked on his words. Rachel had never med him. Even when he brought Yvette into their home, when the entire Lloyd family had turned their backs on her, and even when Gerald had kicked her out, Jim had always treated her kindly. She knew she wasn¡¯t his biological daughter, and for him to do this much was already more than enough. She had never expected more. She gently patted his chest, afraid his emotions might get the better of him and cause him difficulty breathing. ¡°Alright, Dad. You¡¯re not fully to me. You¡¯ve already done more than enough for me. You don¡¯t need to carry any guilt. Right now, don¡¯t think about anything else. Just focus on getting better. Jim clutched her hand tightly, trembling as he tried to speak. ¤Á¤ã ??? Her Exit 344 Chapter 344 T¨CThere¡¯s one more thing. Yvette and Sasha won¡¯t give up so easily. Y¨CYou need to be careful. I¨CI can¡¯t protect you anymore. ¡°A¨CAnd no matter what, you must not let the Lloyd family fall into their hands. Otherwise, generations of blood, sweat, and tears will all be for nothing. When I die, I won¡¯t be able to meet our ancestors in the afterlife with dignity if that happens.¡± With those words, Jim¡¯s strength gave out and he slumped back down. ¡°Alright, Dad, please rest now. Don¡¯t say another word. I know what you¡¯re worried about. I¡¯ll do everything I can, I promise,¡± Rachel said anxiously. Jim slowly closed his eyes again. He was too drained to speak another word. Seeing how much worse he was getting, and remembering how the nurse had said he wasn¡¯t sleeping well at night, Rachel decided she needed to speak with Xavier. She found him in the consultation room next door. When Xavier saw her, he visibly froze in surprise. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, why are you here?¡± Rachel immediately caught the flicker of guilt that appeared on his face. ¡°You look surprised to see me, Dr. Jenkins. Is it because you think I shouldn¡¯t be here right now?¡± Xavier grew even more awkward. He scratched his head nervously ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I swear, I didn¡¯t tell Tyler anything. He figured it out on his own. You can¡¯t me me for that¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help butugh at how flustered he was. ¡°Dr. Jenkins, I¡¯m not here to me you. As for how Mr. Hunt found me, I honestly don¡¯t care.¡± Given how her father¡¯s condition was worsening, she knew she¡¯d have to stay here a while longer. Tyler would find out eventually. Whether it was today or tomorrow didn¡¯t really make a difference anymore. Seeing that Rachel wasn¡¯t using or interrogating him, Xavier let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Seems like your mindset has changed a lot from before.¡± Rachel pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°Maybe after facing near¨Cdeath situations, I¡¯ve learned to let go of things. I think I understand what really matters and what doesn¡¯t.¡± Xavier nodded thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Rachel quickly got back to the matter at hand. ¡°I want to ask about my dad¡¯s condition. How long will this go on? I mean, is there any way to make him feel a little better? He¡¯s groggy all day and sometimes mutters nonsense in his sleep.¡± Xavier nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll adjust the medication to keep him asfortable as possible.¡± Rachel took a deep breath. She hesitated for a few seconds before finally asking what she dreaded most. ¡°Given how he is now, how much time do you think he has left?¡± She needed to know so she could make ns, wrap up other matters, and eventually leave with peace of mind, especially since she still had to deal with closing things out on her end. Otherwise, she¡¯d face a serious breach of contract. Xavier thought for a moment before replying. ¡°At most, a month. But that depends on how his condition holds up. it there¡¯s any sudden change orplication, it could be much sooner.¡± Every word struck Rachel like a hammer to the chest. What was just another clinical update to a doctor sounded like a death sentence to her. She gripped the edge of the desk tightly. Her knuckles turned pale from the pressure. Xavier added, ¡°Your father¡¯s health issues are mostly caused by long¨Cstanding stress and depression. You must make sure he avoids emotional outbursts. If he gets too agitated, it might trigger a fatal reaction. It could happen anytime, anywhere.¡± That truly made things difficult for Rachel. After all, Yvette and Sasha were family too. There was no way topletely stop them from seeing Jim. Not wanting to take up more of Xavier¡¯s time, Rachel got up to leave. But just as she turned to go, Xavier looked at her and added, ¡°Ms. Loyd, if you don¡¯t n to stay in Yurelia City for long, I¡¯d suggest you keep a low profile for now. Otherwise, trouble mighte knocking.¡± Rachel froze mid¨Cstep. She turned back to him. ¡°What do you mean by that, Dr. Jenkins?¡± Her Exit 345 Xavier merely smiled and said nothing. +15 BONUS Rachel figured Jim would probably wake up hungryter, so she decided to head out and buy some food. ¡°Rachel-¡± As Rachel passed by the emergency room, she heard a woman calling out to her in disbelief. Rachel froze. She slowly turned around, as if unable to believe what she¡¯d heard. Cecilia¡¯s eyes widened the moment she saw Rachel¡¯s face. For several seconds, both women stood in stunned silence before Cecilia took a hesitant step forward, then another, slowly closing the distance between them. When they were finally face to face, Cecilia¡¯s lips trembled as she spoke. ¡°It¡¯s you. It¡¯s really you, Rachel¡® Later, the two of them went to a cafe near the hospital. It took Cecilia a while to calm herself. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her voice choked when she finally spoke. ¡°Where on earth have you been all these years? I thought you were dead!¡± As she spoke, Cecilia couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and began to cry. Rachel pulled out a tissue and handed it over gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t get the chance to tell you before I left. But it wasn¡¯t just you. I didn¡¯t tell anyone. Honestly, I only came back because of an ident. I had nned to never return, to just let the world think I was dead.¡± Cecilia took a deep breath and epted the tissue from Rachel. ¡°You have no idea how much I worried about you all these years, not knowing if you were dead or alive. But I always believed you must¡¯ve had your reasons.¡± Rachel reached out and took her hand. ¡°Thank you for understanding. By the way, how have you been these past few years? William didn¡¯t give you a hard time because of me, did he?¡± Cecilia sighed. ¡°After you left, Mr. Lewis was in a terrible mood. He came looking for you a couple of times, but I really didn¡¯t know anything. Then he reimed the apartment. Samantha¡¯s mother moved in.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart sank. ¡°But we signed a lease. The term wasn¡¯t over. He had no right to kick you out!¡± ¡°Samantha admitted there was a lease, but she said the contract was with you, not Mr. Lewis. She used us of fraud and threatened to sue if we didn¡¯t vacate. ¡°You know how it is. I¡¯m just a regr person. How could I fight them? I know now that you gave me that apartment to help me, and I didn¡¯t even realize it at the time.¡± Cecelia felt even more guilty now. Rachel reached out andforted her. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s all in the past. I really thought that¡¯d give you a few years of peace. I didn¡¯t expect they¡¯d be so ruthless. Do you have a ce to stay now?¡± Cecilia shook her head. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time to worry about me. I just want to warn you. If you n on staying in Yurelia City, you can¡¯t walk around so openly.¡± Rachel frowned in confusion. Xavier had said the same thing earlier. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cecilia took a deep breath and told Rachel everything that happened after she vanished. As Rachel listened, it felt like something had mmed into her chest. She thought she already saw William clearly for who he was. She had epted his betrayal and the fact that he had moved on. Even after she had vanished without a trace, he had still dragged Fortunately, Rachel wasn¡¯t actually dead. Otherwise, she¡¯d probab Even after she had vanished without a trace, he had still dragged her name through the mud. Fortunately, Rachel wasn¡¯t actually dead. Otherwise, she¡¯d probably roll over in her grave. Her Exit 346 Chapter 346 Rachel grabbed the edge of the table as fury surged through her. Her calm expression was reced by one of cold anger. ¡°William won¡¯t even let the dead rest in peace!¡± William had even used the divorce agreement she left behind to trample her further. He wouldn¡¯t even leave her a final shred of dignity. If that was the case, then why should she spare him any mercy? Across from her, Cecilia watched the shift in Rachel¡¯s gaze. Her eyes were cold, and she gave out an intimidating aura. This was apletely different woman from the gentle, soft¨Cspoken Rachel she¡¯d once known. Cecilia felt a chill down her spine. She subconsciously pulled her coat tighter around her. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re not thinking of going after them, are you? Maybe just let it go. Although Lewis Enterprise isn¡¯t on the same level as LS Enterprise now, you¡¯re just an ordinary person. You can¡¯t go up against them alone.¡± Cecelia was worried. Rachel had finally escaped that painful marriage. Now she had no one backing her. If William and Samantha found out she was alive, who knew what they¡¯d try to do this time. Rachel knew Cecilia was only concerned for her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± she said. ¡°And I won¡¯t expose myself. But before that, I need your help with something.¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Anything, just say it.¡± After listening to Rachel¡¯s n, Cecilia looked at her with something close to awe. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t tell me you went off and did some secret training these past few years. This is brilliant. But I¡¯m telling you, this move is really going to stir up the Lewis family.¡± Rachel smiled. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what they deserve?¡± ¡°Yes! They absolutely deserve it. You have no idea how shocked I was when I saw all those stories online ndering you. I couldn¡¯t believe it. How could two people who used to love each other turn into this? ¡°You weren¡¯t even around anymore, and he still had to twist the story just to protect himself. He ndered you so ruthlessly. I wanted so badly to speak up for you, but no one listened. My voice was too insignificant. If I could, I would¡¯ve silenced all those people!¡± Cecilia was shaking with anger just talking about it. Rachel ended upforting her instead. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not the same pushover I used to be.¡± Cecilia paused then said, ¡°I did hear that after you disappeared, Mr. Lewis didn¡¯t do well. He drank a lot and was always out at parties. I think maybe he did feel guilty. I mean, if it weren¡¯t for him, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up in the hospital. ¡°And wasn¡¯t there something about someone trying to harm you? What was that all about?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a long story,¡± Rachel said. ¡°I¡¯ll exinter. For now, let¡¯s just head home.¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t push further. All that mattered was that Rachel was still alive. Rachel stood at the cafe entrance and watched Cecilia leave. The warmth in her eyes slowly vanished and was reced by a chilling calm. ¡®William, this time, it¡¯s your turn. We¡¯ve got some unfinished business.¡® William and Samantha were still on their way home when Arsen suddenly called. Chapter 340 ¡°Mr. Lewis, something¡¯s wrong!¡± William frowned. Ever since Samantha told him she might¡¯ve seen Rachel, he had felt unsettled, like something was stuck in his chest. At Arsen¡¯s frantic tone, William couldn¡¯t help but snap, ¡°What are you yelling for? What now?¡± ¡°Someone posted stuff online about you and Ms. Judd, and it¡¯s gone viral, Over ten million views already! You¡¯d better check it out!¡± Her Exit 347 William immediately opened the video on his phone. The veins stood out in lits forehead, and his expression darkened in an instant. Samantha, noticing how grim his expression had be, walked over curiously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± William seemedpletely lost in his own world. His eyes looked ominous. ¡°This can¡¯t be. How is this possible? That video should¡¯ve never been uploaded-¡± When Samantha saw the footage, her face turned pale. ¡°Who posted this?¡± The video showed her and William during the early days of their affair when they¡¯d met at the beach cabin, various times they¡¯d seen each other since, and all their intimate moments. Everything was exposed online. Even the clip of Samantha visiting William and Rachel¡¯s marital hone had surfaced. William slumped onto the couch and gnawed at his fingernails. It was a nervous habit of his. He frowned as he sank deep in thought. Comments were flooding in faster than he could read. They were all filled with curses and outrage. ¡°What the hell? So Mr. Lewis was hooking up with Samantha five years ago? That means Rachel wasn¡¯t the one who cheated. This devoted husband¡® act was all a scam!¡± ¡°Damn. So this whole narrative was manipted from the start? He really yed us all.¡± ¡°These two are disgusting. No wonder Williamshed out at Rachel. He probably wanted to silence her. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he had something to do with her disappearance.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a thriller noveling to life. Rachel probably found out about their affair and quietly wrote the divorce agreement to leave him.¡± ¡°Then William found out, made her disappear, and used that divorce agreement to get off scot¨Cfree. This is terrifying.¡± ¡°The man she loved for seven years turned out to be the demon who destroyed her. Someone tag the Yurelia City Police. This case needs to be reopened!¡± ¡°Yeah, if this is true, William cannot be allowed to get away with it¡± ¡°Poor Rachel. If she really died, she must be turning in her grave.¡± ¡°If it were me, I¡¯de back and haunt them!¡± People were demanding the police reinvestigate William, suspecting him of criminal involvement in Rachel¡¯s disappearance. It wasn¡¯t just William under fire. Samantha¡¯s Facebook ount was being bombarded with direct messages. Her phone buzzed non¨Cstop. She opened her messages and saw countless insults and threats. They called her a homewrecker, said she¡¯d never be able to have children, and that karma would catch up with her. Samantha¡¯s hands trembled as she held her phone. Her eyes welled with tears. She turned to William, with a pitiful expression. ¡°William, everyone¡¯s calling me a mistress. They¡¯re saying I ruined your marriage with Rachel. I¨CI never should¡¯vee back. I should¡¯ve just stayed abroad. If I hadn¡¯t clung to you, none of this would¡¯ve happened. You and Rachel wouldn¡¯t have separated. ¡°After all these years, there¡¯s still no sign of her. This must be my karma.¡± Her Exit 348 The more Samantha spoke, the more her voice choked with emotion. She sat on the couch and quietly sobbed. William felt incredibly irritated. The same sense of dread he¡¯d experienced five years ago was now surging back like a flood. He rubbed his temples and ced a hand on Samantha¡¯s shoulders he tried to soothe her. ¡°Don¡¯t take what people online say too seriously. If you hadn¡¯t left back then, the two of us would¡¯ve been together long ago. There wouldn¡¯t even be talk of you interfering in anyone¡¯s rtionship.¡± Samantha looked up at him with teary eyes. ¡°William, are you really not mad at me?¡± ¡°What would I me you for? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll have Arsen look inte it and find out what¡¯s going on. You stay home. Don¡¯t go anywhere these next few days.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m in charge of thatpany project. We¡¯re at a critical stage I can¡¯t just not show up-¡± Samantha broke off. The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was off. She suddenly grabbed William¡¯s arm. ¡°William, what if that really was Rachel we saw at the hospital? What if she¡¯s the one behind all of this?¡± She hadn¡¯t been sure earlier, but now everything seemed to be pointing toward Rachel. The timing was too perfect. Who else would dig up the past and resurface those videos from five years ago? Rachel was the only one. Samantha remembered the letter and divorce agreement Rachel had left behind. She realized just how long Rachel must¡¯ve endured in silence. Rachel¡¯s disappearance had devastated William. Samantha had seen firsthand how badly it had affected him. It had taken him nearly a year to recover, and even that had been slow. Samantha couldn¡¯t even bear recalling the process. Everything had been ruined because of Rachel. At the mention of Rachel¡¯s possible return, a tremor of emotion flickered in William¡¯s eyes. He pursed his lips. Beside him, Samatha clearly saw the change in his expression. Though she didn¡¯t show it on her face, her heart churned with unease. He still cared about Rachel. That much was clear. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t react so strongly at just the mention of her name. Samantha forced herself to break the silence. ¡°William, no matter what happens with Rachel, if she really hase back, then we have to be ready. If she¡¯s still reluctant to let us be together, then I¡¯ll step aside. After all, it really was my fault back then.¡± Her words softened William. The furrow in his brow slowly eased, and his tone grew gentler. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. Just stay home and rest. I¡¯ll handle things at thepany.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Samantha nodded obediently. After William left, he immediately called Arsen. ¡°Have you found out who posted the videos? Was it Rachel? Has shee back?¡± Arsen was caught off guard by the name. ¡°M¨CMs. Lloyd? That can¡¯t be. She disappeared so long ago. No one even knows if she¡¯s alive. How could she suddenlye back now?¡± Chapter 348 Then who else could it be? Tell me, who else could¡¯ve posted the It almost sounded like William was growling. ¡°Then who else could it be? Tell me, who else could¡¯ve posted those videos of me and Samantha if not her?¡± It almost sounded like William was growling. Chapter 349 Her Exit 349 Arsen was briefly stunned on the other end of the call. He knew that William only appeared to have moved on over the years. The truth was that he hadn¡¯t. Even if Rachel really hade back, it was toote. ¡°I¡¯ll keep digging. But Mr. Lewis, you should head to thepany first. The shareholders are already making a fuss.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Just thinking about all the problems waiting to be dealt with made William¡¯s irritation spike again. He clenched his fists and mmed them against the steering wheel. Human or ghost, he would get to the bottom of this. He soon arrived at the Lewis Enterprise building. He didn¡¯t know that across the street, on the twenty¨Csecond floor, someone was staring at him. Yale walked over and ced a file on Tyler¡¯s desk. ¡°Mr. Hunt, here¡¯s the information you asked for. But it¡¯s iplete. I suspect Ms. Lloyd has someone helping her cover her tracks.¡® Tyler looked away. He idly brushed his fingers across his watch, a cigarette between his lips. ¡°I bet she¡¯s the one who leaked the videos. I really underestimated her. Looks like she¡¯s been nning something big for a while. Now it¡¯s just a matter of when she decides to show herself.¡± Yale caught the undertone in Tyler¡¯s voice. ¡°I found out that Ms. Lloyd met with Cecilia at the hospital earlier today. I¡¯m guessing Cecilia told her everything that happened while she was gone.¡± Tyler narrowed his eyes slightly. He smiled a little. ¡°No wonder she finally made a move. That¡¯s more like Mnie¡¯s daughter.¡± He had always felt that Rachel¡¯s previously meek and submissive demeanor didn¡¯t fit her. ¡°Maybe this is the real her,¡± he added. Yale blinked. ¡°You¡¯re saying everything before was just an act?¡± Tyler recalled her calm reaction five years ago when she discovered William and Samantha¡¯s betrayal, andpared it to her clear¨Cheaded, strategic responses now. She hadn¡¯t broken down or retaliated wildly. She¡¯d simply vanished. In reality, she¡¯d been plotting patiently and silently for a long time. He was even more curious now. When had she started preparing for this? His eyes gleamed, and his expression was indifferent yet amused. He leaned casually against the desk with his arms folded across his chest. ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± he murmured. Yale was a little worried. ¡°But Mr. Hunt, Ms. Lloyd doesn¡¯t have any support in Yurelia City now. How could she possibly go up against Mr. Lewis? Shouldn¡¯t you step in?¡± Tyler raised his brows slightly. ¡°If she gets cornered or steps on the wrong toes, she¡¯lle to me on her own.¡± He wanted her toe to him willingly. Yale immediately understood and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Tyler really was sly. Getting back to business, Yale continued, ¡°Right, about Ms. Lloyd¡¯s whereabouts, honestly, we haven¡¯t been able to dig up anything useful. We have no clue where she went or what she¡¯s been doing these past five years. 02 ¡°But we did uncover one thing. The person who drugged her five years ago was Yvette. She hired someone to inject Rachel while she was still in aa. But what¡¯s strange is, the person she hired also disappeared.¡± Tyler frowned slightly. There were still gaps in the story of that day But he was certain of one thing. Whoever had tried to harm Rachel back then, she had found out. And as for where that person had ended up, only Rachel would know. He waved his hand. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter anymore. What does matter is where has she been all these years?¡± Tyler had spent thest few years scouring the country. He hadn¡¯t found a single trace of her. Yale was equally puzzled. ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s not just us. Even Mr. Lewis has been looking. But with the two most powerful forces in Yurelia City bothing up empty, how could she possibly-¡± Her Exit 350 Tyler nced over the file Yale had just handed him, then put it back down and rubbed his temples, His eyes were clouded with ¡°Keep digging. Also, about that institution Mnie went to for that research project, look into it.¡± Yale was a little surprised. ¡°You mean the drone development project? But didn¡¯t it get rejected for failing some review, or something?¡± ¡°The drone project itself isn¡¯t the point. I heard that the institution required strict confidentiality agreements. Anyone who joins has to stay inside for years and remainpletely cut off from the outside world. ¡°We¡¯ve looked everywhere for her all this time and found absolutely nothing. If we rule out everything else, that¡¯s the only possibility left.¡± 4 The idea had just urred to him, but what really surprised him was the possibility that Rachel had that kind of technical background. Just how capable was she? He had spent so much time around her and yet had no clue at all. Who was the real master of disguise now? Yale instantly caught on. ¡°Understood, Mr. Hunt. I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡± The two of them stood by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window as noise rose from below. A crowd of reporters and angryizens had gathered outside Lewis Enterprise. Tyler felt a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Yale handed him a cup of freshly brewed coffee. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I really didn¡¯t expect Ms. Lloyd¡¯s return to stir up such a storm. Thest time we saw something like this was when Mr. Lewis used her as a scapegoat. Now look, the tables have turned. Their roles havepletely flipped.¡± A rare look of approval appeared in Tyler¡¯s eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t think shed hit him this hard either. But it¡¯s a clean shot, right to the heart.¡± Across the street, Lewis Enterprise had descended into chaos. Security guards were struggling to hold back the crowd, while the protestors outside shouted louder and louder. ¡°Come out! Give us an exnation!¡± ¡°Yeah, you tricked the public. You owe us the truth!¡± ²ú ¡°And that mistress, where is she now? She¡¯s probably hiding like a coward because she knows she¡¯s guilty. If she¡¯s not, then why won¡¯t she show her face?¡± ¡°Exactly! Guilty conscience, that¡¯s what it is. Come out and exin yourselves!¡± ¡°Disgusting. Using your ex¨Cwife¡¯s divorce letter to y the victim, dragging her name through the mud when she wasn¡¯t even around to defend herself. Is that what a real man does?¡± ¡°They probably conspired together from the beginning! Remember when they imed Rachel ran off with some other guy? What a load of crap. Mr. Hunt has spent the past few years focused solely on work.¡± ¡°My friend¡¯s got Howard on WhatsApp. He posted stories from abroad. That whole time, Gerald had shipped him overseas to study. He wasn¡¯t even in the country!¡± ¡°Exactly! Damn! That means the whole thing was a total smear campaign. The timestamps on the photos and videos are real. There¡¯s no way to fake those.¡± ¡°Absolutely despicable! This is beyond a love triangle. This is the fall of basic morality!¡± Inside Lewis Enterprise, William sat frozen at his desk. He was surrounded by the constant ring of phones. Hisndline and personal phone were tinging non¨Cstop. His expression was dark. The employees outside his office didn¡¯t dare go in. They just kept trying to push the responsibility onto each other. ¡°You go in first!¡± ¡°Like hell I will! Didn¡¯t you see Mr. Lewis¡¯s face? He looks like he¡¯s ready to bite someone¡¯s head off!¡± ¡°So what now? We can¡¯t just stand here. This is a crisis!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think maybe this is Rachel¡¯s ghost getting revenge? Wasn¡¯t there a tumor she might be dead?¡± Her Exit 351 ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Didn¡¯t they say she ran away? And that divorce agreement was prepared long ago. It shows she¡¯d already made up her mind to leave.¡± ¡°That just proves she wanted to divorce. But how could she run if Mr. Lewis had already put her in aa?¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis really brought this on himself. He practically killed her ¡°Enough! Keep your voices down!¡± William spun his pen between his fingers and pursed his lips tightly. His expression was gloomy. The entire office was thick with a suffocating tension. No one outside dared even breathe too loud. Arsen stood at the doorway and red at the hesitant employees. ¡°Well? Go in!¡± They exchanged nervous nces but still didn¡¯t dare move. Arsen didn¡¯t sugarcoat it. ¡°If your cowardice dys any more of Mr. Lewis¡¯s affairs, can you afford the consequences?¡± That was enough. The staff mustered their courage and entered quickly to report. ¡°Mr. Lewis, Horus Enterprise has just moved to revoke ourpany¡¯s bidding qualifications. If we don¡¯te up with response soon, LS Enterprise might swoop in and steal the deal.¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis, Newton Enterprise says this recent scandal has severely impacted their image. If they don¡¯t cancel our partnership, their hotel chains will be dragged down with us.¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis, Lux Enterprise is demandingpensation. They say this has hurt their brand, and many of their customers are demanding refunds!¡± William gave the others a sideways re so cold it could freeze blood. His voice turned cold. ¡°And you? What¡¯s your deal?¡± The rest of the staff looked down like children who were being reprimanded. ¡°W¨CWe¡¯re facing simr issues, sir. More partner brands are lodgingints. Some want to cancel their deals. Others are demandingpensation.¡± William clenched his fists and frowned. Through clenched teeth, he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s finance? I want the numbers. How much are we talking about?¡± The finance representative squeezed through the crowd and cautiously stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Lewis, we¡¯ve done a preliminary estimate. If we¡¯re expected to settle everything, we¡¯re looking at losses in the billions. ¡°Our liquidity is already strained, and most of our capital is tied up in overseas expansion projects. We simply don¡¯t have enough cash to cover thepensation. Sir, maybe it¡¯s best to consider alternative solutions that could salvage the situation.¡± William mmed his fist onto the desk. ¡°You¡¯re telling me thepany can¡¯t even cover this much?¡± ¡°N¨Cnot exactly. Earlier this year, Ms. Judd allocated arge portion of funds into a beauty salon investment. It¡¯s been operating at a loss, and she funded several boutique homestays. Those haven¡¯t generated any ie either.¡± William¡¯s expression darkened even further. ¡°When did this happen?¡± ¡°Earlier this year.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the report? Give it to me.¡± The finance representative, clearly anticipating the request, quickly handed it over. William flipped through the report, and in the next moment, tossed it onto the floor. The veins in his neck were visible. ¡°Who gave you authorization to release that much funding to her? Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me?¡± The finance representative trembled under his fury. ¡°B¨CBut sir, these were your instructions. You said if Ms. Judd found a promising project, and it passed all basic reviews, finance was to approve the funds without hesitation.¡± Chapter 352 Her Exit 352 Chapter 352 William didn¡¯t recall saying anything like that. His brows furrowed tightly as he tried to recall. ¡°Did I really say that?¡± The finance representative nodded. ¡°Yes, you did. Have you forgotten? If you want the exact details, you can ask Ms. Judd.¡± William nced over the investment projects Samantha had signed off on. His expression grew darker. Did she actually think this kind of garbage was worth investing in? If those had ever been shown to him, he wouldn¡¯t have even given them a second nce, let alone invested in them. That was like burning money for fun. Samantha must have thought the Lewis family was just too rich. William snapped irritably, ¡°Shut all those projects down immediately!¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Arsen rushed forward after taking a call. ¡°Mr. Lewis, the crowd downstairs is getting rowdy. They¡¯re demanding toe up. We really need to do something. Security can¡¯t hold them back much longer.¡± William went off. ¡°Are you all useless? Can¡¯t you even handle a few reporters? Call the police!¡± ¡°About that-¡°Arsen hesitated. William red at him impatiently. ¡°Spit it out! What now?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know who did it, but someone already called the police. They reported you in connection with Ms. Lloyd¡¯s disappearance years ago. The station wants you toe in for questioning.¡± ¡°When did this happen?!¡± William sounded like he was on the verge of exploding. ¡°Just a few minutes ago. I¡¯m already looking into who filed the report. We¡¯re still waiting for confirmation.¡± ¡°Could it be someone from the Lloyd family?¡± William couldn¡¯t think of anyone else who would stand up for Rachel. Arsen didn¡¯t agree. ¡°Mr. Lewis, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the Lloyd family. Word is, there¡¯s infighting going on over there. Apparently, Jim is preparing to leave part of the inheritance to Ms. Lloyd.¡± William¡¯s expression had been tense since the beginning of the crisis, and it only grew tenser. ¡°He¡¯s nning to give it to Rachel?¡± ¡°Yes. And now the younger Ms. Lloyd and Sasha are both furious. Plus, with Jim in poor health and hospitalized, I doubt he has the time or energy toe after you.¡± William narrowed his eyes instinctively. ¡°Then ording to you, there¡¯s only one other possibility.¡± His gaze drifted across the street to LS Enterprise. ¡°Who else could it be?¡± Arsen followed his line of sight. ¡°You think it might be LS Enterprise? Something about that doesn¡¯t add up. If Mr. Hunt really wanted to get involved, why didn¡¯t he act sooner? Why do this now all of a sudden? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± William raked his hands through his messy hair. ¡°You¡¯re asking me like I have the damn answer!¡± There was a knock at the office door, and several men in police uniforms entered. ¡°We¡¯ve received a report that you may be connected to a missing person¡¯s case from five years ago. Mr. Lewis, we need you toe with us to help with the investigation.¡± William tried to exin. ¡°What does that have to do with me? That case was closed years ago, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Sorry, Mr. Lewis, we¡¯re just doing our job. As long as there¡¯s a formal report, we¡¯re required to investigate.¡± ¡°Can you at least tell me who filed the report against me?¡± William asked reflexively. The two police officers exchanged nces. ¡°I think the name was-¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 353 Her Exit 353 Chapter 353 ¡°Cecilia or something. I heard she used to work at yourpany and was close to the missing person. She¡¯s the one who reported you,¡± one of the police officers said. William frowned. He pursed his lips tightly. Cecilia. The police officer continued, ¡°You¡¯ll still need toe with us. ¡°1 William looked conflicted. He spread his hands. ¡°You can see for yourselves; mypany needs me right now. There¡¯s a mountain of urgent matters waiting on my desk. I really can¡¯t leave right now.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to apologize in advance.¡± With that, the two police officers stepped forward to forcibly escort William out. ¡°I¡¯ll cooperate. Let go of me.¡± Only then did they release him. William¡¯s appearance in public immediately caused a stir. As soon as the crowd outside saw him, the scene went wild. ¡°Scumbag! You¡¯re disgusting for lying to all of us for so long. How can you live with yourself?¡± ¡°Exactly! You might even be guilty of murder now. Who in their right mind would still do business with someone like you?¡± ¡°Your ex¨Cwife isn¡¯t even around anymore, and you¡¯re still leeching off her name. How could such a vile man exist?¡± ¡°I used to think he treated his ex¨Cwife so well. Now the more I think about it, the more sickening it is.¡± ¡°Get out of Yurelia City!¡± ¡°Get out of Yurelia City!¡± Chants of protest echoed outside the Lewis Enterprise building. Some aggressive protestors even began throwing tomatoes and water bottles at William. The scene began spiraling out of control. Someone in the crowd even threw a book, and it hit William in the forehead. The sharp corner tore a small gash in his skin, blood seeping out. William¡¯s expression turned stormy. It was clear he was deeply offended by the crowd¡¯s violent behavior, and an overwhelming rage was beginning to surge. But in the end, he held it in. After all, there were reporters everywhere. He was still a public figure. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose control. The police struggled to get him through the crowd and into safety. Just as he was about to step into the police car, his gaze flicked toward the corner of a nearby wall, and he froze. A sh of something familiar caught his eye. His pupils contracted. Wasn¡¯t that Rachel? He immediately raised his voice. ¡°It¡¯s Rachel!¡± He began to struggle against the police officers. ¡°Let me go! I saw her!¡± But of course, the police couldn¡¯t let him escape. They pinned his shoulders down, ¡°Mr. Lewis, if you try to flee now, that¡¯s a very different charge.¡± +15 BONUS William watched helplessly as that familiar figure disappeared around the corner, her coat fluttering behind her. ¡°I really saw her!¡± One officer exchanged a nce with a colleague, who immediately went in the direction William had pointed to investigate. When the officer returned after checking, he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t see her anywhere. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! She was just there. I saw her!¡± He had lived with Rachel for seven years. There was no way he¡¯d mistake someone else for her. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the station first. We¡¯ll sort it out once we¡¯re there The police soon escorted William back to the car. He sat in the patrol car and reyed the scene in his mind again and again. He really had seen Rachel. That meant Rachel was alive. He turned to the police officer and asked, ¡°Can I make a phone call?¡± ¡°You can.¡± After all, this was a five¨Cyear¨Cold case. William had previously been investigated and found without any criminal suspicion. He had witnesses for every time he visited Rachel while she was unconscious. So the officers weren¡¯t too strict with him. William quickly called Arsen. His tone was serious as he issued his orders. ¡°Cecilia or something. I heard she used to work at yourpany and was close to the missing person. She¡¯s the one who reported you,¡± one of the police officers said. William frowned. He pursed his lips tightly. Cecilia. The police officer continued, ¡°You¡¯ll still need toe with us.¡± William looked conflicted. He spread his hands. ¡°You can see for yourselves; mypany needs me right now. There¡¯s a mountain of urgent matters waiting on my desk. I really can¡¯t leave right now.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to apologize in advance.¡± With that, the two police officers stepped forward to forcibly escort William out. ¡°I¡¯ll cooperate. Let go of me.¡± Only then did they release him. William¡¯s appearance in public immediately caused a stir. As soon as the crowd outside¨Csaw him, the scene went wild. ¡°Scumbag! You¡¯re disgusting for lying to all of us for so long. How can you live with yourself?¡± ¡°Exactly! You might even be guilty of murder now. Who in their right mind would still do business with someone like you?¡± ¡°Your ex¨Cwife isn¡¯t even around anymore, and you¡¯re still leeching off her name. How could such a vile man exist?¡± ¡°I used to think he treated his ex¨Cwife so well. Now the more I think about it, the more sickening it is.¡± ¡°Get out of Yurelia City!¡± ¡°Get out of Yurelia City!¡± Chants of protest echoed outside the Lewis Enterprise building. Some aggressive protestors even began throwing tomatoes and water bottles at William. The scene began spiraling out of control. Someone in the crowd even threw a book, and it hit William in the forehead. The sharp corner tore a small gash in his skin, blood seeping out. William¡¯s expression turned stormy. It was clear he was deeply offended by the crowd¡¯s violent behavior, and an overwhelming rage was beginning to surge. But in the end, he held it in. After all, there were reporters everywhere. He was still a public figure. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose control. The police struggled to get him through the crowd and into safety. Just as he was about to step into the police car, his gaze flicked toward the corner of a nearby wall, and he froze. A sh of something familiar caught his eye. His pupils contracted Wasn¡¯t that Rachel? He immediately raised his voice. ¡°It¡¯s Rachel!¡± He began to struggle against the police officers. ¡°Let me go! I saw her!¡± But of course, the police couldn¡¯t let him escape. They pinned his shoulders down, +15 BONUS ¡°Mr. Lewis, if you try to flee now, that¡¯s a very different charge.¡± William watched helplessly as that familiar figure disappeared around the corner, her coat fluttering behind her. ¡°I really saw her!¡± One officer exchanged a nce with a colleague, who immediately went in the direction William had pointed to investigate. When the officer returned after checking, he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t see her anywhere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible! She was just there. I saw her!¡± He had lived with Rachel for seven years. There was no way he¡¯d mistake someone else for her. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the station first. We¡¯ll sort it out once we¡¯re there. The police soon escorted William back to the car. He sat in the patrol car and reyed the scene in his mind again and again. He really had seen Rachel. That meant Rachel was alive. He turned to the police officer and asked, ¡°Can I make a phone call?¡± ¡°You can.¡± After all, this was a five¨Cyear¨Cold case. William had previously been investigated and found without any criminal suspicion. He had witnesses for every time he visited Rachel while she was unconscious. So the officers weren¡¯t too strict with him. William quickly called Arsen. His tone was serious as he issued his orders. Her Exit 354 ¡°Quickly look into it. Find out if Rachel has really returned.¡± This time, Arsen didn¡¯t ask any further questions and immediately agreed. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°And get me awyer. I need to get out of here as soon as possible! ¡°Already working on it.¡± Arsen¡¯s reply slightly eased William¡¯s grim expression. William was soon escorted into the police station to undergo a fresh round of questioning Back at the hotel, Rachel returned to find Cecilia already waiting. ¡°Rachel, everything¡¯s done. William¡¯s already been taken to the station, and thements online? Absolutely brutal. It¡¯s so satisfying! The nerve of that guy to still treat you like that when we didn¡¯t even know if you were dead or alive back then. Has he no conscience?¡± Rachel idly twirled a ss in her hand. ¡°Now William¡¯s about to face the worst days of his life in there. And by the time hees out, the entire Lewis Enterprise will be in shambles.¡± Cecilia couldn¡¯t help but praise her. ¡°You¡¯re brilliant. If you hadn¡¯t bribed someone in the Lewis Enterprise finance department ahead of time, William probably still wouldn¡¯t know that Samantha had been funnelingpany funds into useless investments.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes gleamed, and she smiled. ¡°Didn¡¯t he always go out of his way to protect Samantha? Let¡¯s see how he ns to shield her this time.¡± Looking at this new, vengeful side of Rachel, Cecilia couldn¡¯t help but feel both admiration and relief. She looked at Rachel with visible awe. ¡°Rachel, I love who you¡¯ve be. You¡¯re nothing like you used to be. Where have you been all these years? What have you gone through?¡± ¡°I-¡± Rachel faltered, not quite knowing how to exin. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything someday when we have more time.¡± ¡°So when are you nning to confront William? Are you just going to stay behind the scenes like this? He did see you today, didn¡¯t he?¡± Cecilia could barely contain her anticipation. If William and Samantha realized Rachel was not only alive but had also be apletely different person, specifically one who no longer tolerated any injustice, she couldn¡¯t wait to see their reactions. Rachel¡¯s gaze instantly turned cold. ¡°Soon,¡± she said. ¡°But before that, I want to make sure he suffers more. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting him off that easily.¡± She hadn¡¯t originally nned on returning for revenge. Cecilia had already told her that after her disappearance, William hadn¡¯t had an easy time. It had taken him years to start getting his life back together. Samantha¡¯s miscarriage had also hit him hard. But what she hadn¡¯t expected, and what had made her change her mind, was that even when she was practically gone from his world, William had still refused to let her go. He had used her to keep up his fake image of being a devoted husband. He just had to squeeze out everyst bit of value she had left. No wonder the older generation always said that you could be with a man for years, think you knew him inside and out, and then he could still do something that shattered everything. It made you question your own judgment, your marriage, and your whole view on love and trust. If William was going to be so ruthless, why should she spare him any dignity? Just then, her phone began to buzz. She looked down and saw that the call was from Tyler. Her heart skipped a beat. She¡¯d be especially sensitive to that nametely, but she couldn¡¯t ignore it. Rachel motioned for Cecilia to stay quiet. She then answered the call. ¡°Mr. Hunt. To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°William¡¯s been taken in for questioning. That was your doing, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Rachel paused for a moment. She knew there was no hiding it from Tyler. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then let me tell you something. Gerald from the Lewis family just called me. He asked me to help get William out. So, what do you think? Should I agree to help him or not?¡± X Chapter 355 Her Exit 355 Chapter 355 A wave of dread instantly washed over Rachel. She knew Tyler well enough to understand that once he asked something like this, it was already a form of threat. Tyler had been hiding in the shadows. He was clearly waiting for the right moment to strike. Just the other day, she had purposely left his car in the middle of the road to escape a confrontation, but she knew full well that someone like Tyler would never let her off that easily. All these years, he¡¯d been flying across the country, pretending it was all for business deals andpany expansion, when in truth he just couldn¡¯t stomach the fact that she had used him, yed him, and vanished after signing that contract. A man as proud and powerful as Tyler Hunt would never be content ying the fool. He had to regain the upper hand. That was inevitable. Rachel took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down quickly. Her voice was lower than usual, weary yet steady. ¡°Mr. Hunt, just say it. What do you want from me?¡± At that moment, Tyler was loungingfortably in his chair with one leg casually crossed over the other in his tailored cks. He toyed with a Rubik¡¯s Cube. He looked like he had just woken up from a nap. ¡°You¡¯re a smart woman. You should already know.¡± Rachel closed her eyes. ¡°What time will you be home tonight?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be in after seven.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯lle over at seven.¡± Of course she knew how Tyler worked. He said he¡¯d be home after seven, but if she dared show up around ten or eleven, he¡¯d be ready to catch her off guard. When she did arrive, he¡¯d wear that innocent, wounded expression and tell her, ¡°Sorry, the old man insisted. I¡¯ve already promised to help William.¡± That was just who Tyler was. If you didn¡¯t take his first offer seriously, you¡¯d never get another. He wouldn¡¯t hesitate the second time. §£§Ö§Ö§â. §£§Ö§Ö§â. §£§Ö§Ö§â. The cold dial tone echoed in her ears as the call disconnected. Rachel let out a long, tired sigh and hung up. Cecilia, noticing her tense expression, asked with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Rachel?¡± ¡°I should¡¯ve never gotten involved with Tyler in the first ce. Now I can¡¯t shake him off even if I tried.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have you know, Mr. Hunt hasn¡¯t dated anyone these past few years,¡± Cecilia said. Rachel couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± Cecilia winked at her. ¡°I¡¯m just saying. ¡°Once William finds out you¡¯re the one pulling the strings behind all this, he¡¯s definitely not going to let it slide. The man didn¡¯t even spare you when you were his wife. Look at all the things he¡¯s done. I¡¯m really worried about what¡¯s going to happen next,¡± Rachel ced a hand on Cecilia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I appreciate your concern, but I¡¯m not the same woman I was before. Even if he tries something, I¡¯m not going to sit back and take it this time.¡± At least now, she had the power to fight back. This was something she never had five years ago. Chapter 355 +15 BONUS To Cecilia, Rachel looked like she was glowing. She threw her arms around Rachel with a bright smile. ¡°Rachel, you have no idea how much I love the new you. You¡¯re glowing. Honestly, you were always a powerhouse at work. You never lost to anyone. Why should you have to y second fiddle to them? ¡°Samantha has turned Lewis Enterprise into aplete mess ever since she joined. It¡¯s pure chaos in there. I heard that the shareholders have had issues for a while now, but since William was still keeping thepany¡¯s numbers up, they let it slide. ¡°But this time, it¡¯s different. Samantha tookpany money and made a bunch of reckless investments. Even if William supported her behind the scenes, now that money is gone, and it¡¯s money thepany desperately needs, those shareholders are going to turn all their fury on her.¡± Her Exit 356 Rachel Instinctively looked at Cecilia. She had already made up her mind. ¡°Cecilia, I might need your help with what¡¯sing next. I¡¯ve been away from thepany too long.¡± Cecilia nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if you didn¡¯t ask, I¡¯d still help. Rachel patted her on the shoulder. ¡°I know things haven¡¯t been easy for youtely, with no job and the tough situation at home. I¡¯ll help you get your ce back in the next couple of days. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Cecilia felt a sudden wave of unease at Rachel¡¯s words. She looked at her. ¡°Rachel, what are you nning now? I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t go doing anything reckless. I can figure out the housing thing myself. You don¡¯t have to take care of me!¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t told her the whole truth before she left, but Cecilia had always known. Rachel must¡¯ve had her reasons. Rachel checked the time. ¡°All right, don¡¯t worry about the rest. I¡¯ve got it under control. I¡¯m heading out.¡± With that, she pulled some cash from her bag and stuffed it into Cecilia¡¯s hands. She then quickly turned and left. ¡°Rachel-¡°, Cecilia tried to stop her, but Rachel had already stepped into the elevator and waved goodbye. Samantha was pacing nervously at home. She had called William repeatedly, but he wasn¡¯t picking up. Left with no other choice, she called Cassandra. Cassandra showed up quickly. Samantha rushed forward to hold Cassandra¡¯s hand with a pitiful expression on her face. ¡°Mother, what¡¯s going on?¡± But Cassandra didn¡¯t return her familiarity. She coldly yanked her hand away. ¡°How should I know, Samantha? I heard you tookpany money to invest in some nonsense, and now it¡¯s all gone. ¡°Thepany¡¯s funds arepletely tied up in that overseas coboration. If our partners pull out and demandpensation, what are you going to do then?¡± Samantha was stunned by the sudden usation. Her eyes instantly welled with tears. Panic appeared on her face. She mumbled, ¡°Mother, how can you me me for this? I didn¡¯t know it would turn out this way. And William approved the funding, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°He was blinded by you! Look at thepany now. Outsiders might think we¡¯re rolling in money, but we both know the truth. Ever since Rachel left, thispany hasn¡¯t had a single day of peace!¡± Cassandra crossed her arms and red at Samantha with nothing but cold disdain. ¡°I thought you¡¯d at least give the Lewis family a child. But look at you, you couldn¡¯t even keep the baby. ¡°I should¡¯ve known! Rachel was the better choice. At least back when she was around, thepany never faced the kind of mess it¡¯s in now.¡± As soon as Samantha heard Rachel¡¯s name, her expression immediately turned sour. Her earlier expression of hurt and grievance turned into something dark. It sent a chill down Cassandra¡¯s spine. Cassandra instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. Why did it suddenly feel so cold? Samantha leaned in close to her ear and said coldly, ¡°Mother, did it ever ur to you that maybe everything happening to thepany and to William right now is because of Rachel?¡± Cassandra froze and turned to look at Samantha. Her expression turned serious. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Ch Her Exit 357 apter 357 +15 BONUS Samantha told Cassandra that she had seen Rachel. Cassandra¡¯s pupils contracted, and her eyes filled with fear. Even her voice shook. ¡°You mean Rachel is still alive? Didn¡¯t she disappear off the face of the earth five years ago? She¡¯s been gone for so long. For all we know, she might already be dead.¡± Samantha had thought through it more carefully just moments age ¡°Mother, think about it. If Rachel wasn¡¯t the one who reported it, why would William suddenly get taken into the station over that five¨Cyear¨Cold case? Right at this critical moment, too. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to thepany now that he¡¯s gone? Who else but Rachel could have pulled this off?¡± Cassandra immediately panicked too. Her earlier arrogance vanished without a trace. ¡°T¨CThen what do we do? ¡°Rachel must know what William did with her divorce agreement back then. He even spread rumors about her running off with another man. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s going to let this go now.¡± Seeing Cassandra spiral into a panic, Samantha rolled her eyes. She stepped forward to calm her down. ¡°Mother, Rachel isn¡¯t the type to hold grudges. If she really wanted revenge, she wouldn¡¯t have waited until now. But right now, we need to focus on getting William out. You know the kind of ce a police station is. He won¡¯tst long in there. ¡°I already spoke to Gerald, but he said he can only go to Tyler and ask him for help.¡± Tyler was a taboo topic in the Lewis family, but one they had no choice but to deal with. If the family ever truly ran into trouble, Tyler was the only one who could save them. Samantha thought for a moment and then asked Cassandra, ¡°Mother, do you know where Tyler lives?¡± Cassandra immediately looked at her, rmed. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Samantha chuckled. ¡°I want to talk to Tyler myself. I think the reason he hasn¡¯t made a move is because he doesn¡¯t want to. If he really wanted to get William out, it would be a piece of cake for someone like him.¡± Cassandra agreed with that logic. ¡°You¡¯re right. With Tyler¡¯s influence, it¡¯s not like he needs time to pull some strings. If he¡¯s hesitating, then it means he¡¯s choosing not to help.¡± But then she frowned again. She was clearly still concerned. ¡°Let me make one thing clear, though. Tyler isn¡¯t someone you can just convince with a few sweet words. He¡¯s not easy.¡± ¡°No matter what, I have to try. It¡¯s for William¡¯s sake.¡± Hearing that, Cassandra finally looked a little more approving. She patted the back of Samantha¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Samantha, you know better than anyone that our family¡¯s daughter¨Cinw can¡¯t be outdone by Rachel. ¡°Back then, even though Rachel couldn¡¯t have children and was deaf¨Cwell, fake deaf¨Cbut in other ways, she still held her own. You can¡¯t let her outshine you. I¡¯m sure you hate how people keepparing you to her.¡± Samantha felt a surge of fury deep inside, but she couldn¡¯t show it in front of Cassandra. She kept her expressionposed and smiled politely. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mother. I¡¯ll do my best to be the perfect daughter¨Cinw.¡± Cassandra¡¯s expression rxed. ¡°I¡¯ll send you Tyler¡¯s addresster Whether it works or not, it¡¯s all on you now.¡± ¡°Yes, Mother.¡± Once Cassandra left, Samantha¡¯s smile froze on her face. She pursed her lips, and the skin around her mout! slightly. in to tremble Bang! She mmed the door shut and stood in front of the coffee table for a moment. She then suddenly swing her arm and swept everything on the table to the ground with a crash. Her Exit 358 The room instantly filled with the sound of objects ttering. Rachel had already left, so why did shee back? What the hell was Yvette doing? Not only did the people she sent out fail to get rid of Rachel, but now she was even back alive. And those investments she had made before, why did William suddenly start asking questions about them now? Samantha didn¡¯t believe for a second that all this was just a coincidence. But it was fine. Tyler wouldn¡¯t just sit back and watch William get locked up like that. No matter what, they were still family. Samantha walked into the bathroom, freshened up quickly, and even put on a full face of makeup. Looking at her own cute yet yful reflection in the mirror, especially those innocent¨Clooking eyes, she was sure Tyler wouldn¡¯t be able to say no. At seven in the evening, Rachel was sitting in the car confirming the final details. ¡°Mr. Wattson, are you sure we¡¯ll win the case? ¡°T ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lloyd. Your ex¨Chusband breached the contract by throwing someone out. Even if you can¡¯t get the house back, he¡¯ll definitely have to pay the penalty.¡± Rachel finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± She sorted out a few more things rted to William while still in the car. From the looks of it, if no one pulled strings, he might be stuck inside for a week. If her disappearance case from five years ago kept resurfacing, then even if awyer stepped in, there was no guarantee they could get William out. Public opinion alone would make that nearly impossible. The police wouldn¡¯t dare go against what the public wanted. By the time she arrived at Tyler¡¯s apartment, it was already seven. Rachel had been dealing with things all day and was absolutely starving. If she¡¯d known, she would¡¯ve bought something to eat on the way. She walked up to the door and knocked. No one answered. Looking at the familiar keypad, she wondered if Tyler had changed the code after all these years. Rachel tried entering a series of numbers. The code had always resembled her birthday, which was why she remembered it so clearly. She tapped in the digits and hit confirm. Ding. Rachel blinked in surprise. The door had actually opened. So Tyler really was sentimental. After all this time, he hadn¡¯t changed the code. She gently pushed the door open and saw Tyler sitting right there on the couch. He was already in his loungewear, slouchedzily with zero tension in his posture. His legs were crossed as he held his phone. He was staring at her now. His eyes were darker than most, and although he looked half¨Casleep, Rachel couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she¡¯d just stepped into a hunter¡¯s line of sight. She frowned. ¡°You were home? Why didn¡¯t you open the door?¡± Tyler propped his head up with one hand and answered slowly, ¡°Didn¡¯t feel like moving. Besides, didn¡¯t you get in anyway?¡± ¡°Only because I happened to remember the code.¡± ¡°Well, good thing you did.¡± Tyler shifted positions and nced at her before going back to his phone. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten yet. Rachel, why don¡¯t you make us something?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t bother arguing with him. She was hungry too, after all. She headed straight for the kitchen. It was like muscle memory at this point. Opening the fridge, she saw it was unsurprisingly stuffed with food. She raised an eyebrow. Did Tyler spend a lot of time living here these past few years? If it was for work, it would¡¯ve made more sense for him to stay in a ce downtown. This apartment was at least two hours from his office. But that was his private affair, and Rachel wasn¡¯t about to pry. She took out some groceries and started steaming rice. As she moved about, she noticed Ray wasn¡¯t around and casually asked, ¡± Where¡¯s Ray?¡± ¡°Dead.¡± Her Exit 359 Rachel froze. ¡°Dead? That¡¯s impossible. I remember he was always in good health.¡± Tyler let out a long sigh and said solemnly, ¡°After you left, he probably died of a broken heart. Stopped eating altogether. Starved himself to death.¡± Rachel felt numb. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you do anything about it?¡± Tyler nced at her. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard? Emotional wounds are the hardest to heal. He t¨Cout refused to eat. What was I supposed to do?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t just sit there and watch him starve to death!¡± Her voice rose without her meaning to. She hadn¡¯t been the biggest fan of dogs back then, mostly because she¡¯d been scared by one as a kid, but Ray had been sweet and surprisingly perceptive. Later, after moving abroad, she had even adopted a dog of her own She had named it Waffle. It was a stray that had been abandoned by its previous owner. She¡¯d heard from others that Ray had also been abandoned by his original owner because of some old superstitious belief that his appearance would bring financial loss. That had been Ray¡¯s second home already. Rachel knew that feeling all too well. It was the pain of being loved and then discarded. Some people were worse than animals. But she had never bought into those ridiculous superstitions. She had insisted on adopting Waffle back then just to prove them wrong. Owning a dog didn¡¯t bring bad luck, but abandoning one? That definitely would. As Rachel stood there grieving for Ray, suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the apartment, and something darted out. A blurunched itself onto the couch and barked at Tyler twice. Startled, Tyler reflexively leaned back a little, then reached out to pat the dog¡¯s head. ¡°Alright, alright. It was just a joke, okay? I didn¡¯t mean you were actually dead!¡± Ray clearly wasn¡¯t happy with that and barked at him again in protest. Tyler casually pointed toward the kitchen. ¡°Look over there. See who¡¯s here.¡± Ray turned his head. The moment he saw Rachel, he bolted toward her. Thanks to her experience with dogs now, Rachel didn¡¯t panic like she had the first time. She crouched down and opened her arms just in time to catch him. Ray squirmed in her arms. He wagged his tail furiously and nuzzled into her chest like a ball of excitement. He circled her feet in joy before jumping up to lick her face. Rachel nearly toppled backward under Ray¡¯s enthusiasm. Holding his face in her hands, she struggled to contain his excitement. ¡°Okay, okay. Calm down!¡± Tyler cleared his throat twice and called out to Ray. ¡°Ray, if you keep that up, you¡¯re gonna scare her off. Then s¡® won¡¯te visit you anymore.¡± Ray seemed to understand and immediately stopped leaping on Rachel. He sat obediently at her feet. Rachel scratched his head. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t bring you any treats this time. I¡¯ll get you some next time, promise.¡± Ray grinned with his tongue out. Rachel felt her heart melt. Ever since adopting a dog of her own, she had zero defense against dogs with such deep affection. 1/2 Chapter 359 She patted his head. ¡°At least you¡¯re sweet, unlike your owner. He full of lies. Lying is shameful, you know.¡± She fully expected Tyler to snap back at her, but surprisingly, he actually agreed. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Rachel. I couldn¡¯t agree more. Lying is shameful.¡± He dragged out thest few words with special emphasis, as if to deliberately remind her of something. Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her thoughts flew to the contract she had signed with him five years ago. Her expression flickered with a trace of guilt. She¡¯d just walked straight into his trap. Dealing with Tyler meant staying on constant high alert. Her Exit 360 Rachel casually whipped up three dishes and a soup. Lately, for some strange reason, she¡¯d been craving spicy food. So she made spicy chicken, stir¨Cfried squid with chili, and a dish Tyler liked, meatballs. When she brought the food to the table, Tyler actually looked pretty satisfied. Rachel knew it was the meatballs he was pleased with. She took off her apron and was just about to sit down when something seemed to roll past her foot. Ray suddenly went berserk, darting around the living room and knocking over a cup on the coffee table, spilling water everywhere. Then he spotted a bug flying around the room and lunged toward the table. Rachel didn¡¯t even have time to react. Ray crashed straight into her. Her slender frame couldn¡¯t handle the impact. She toppled backwards. Quick on his feet, Tyler reached out and grabbed her waist, trying to pull her back. But out of nowhere, Ray barreled into Tyler too, sending both of them crashing to the floor in a dizzying heap. In that split¨Csecond, Tyler instinctively shielded Rachel¡¯s head with his hand. A sharp crack followed, and a jolt of pain shot through his arm. It was probably broken. Rachel felt a sharp pain in her back and a small bump to the head, but what really jolted her was the warmth on her lips. Her mind went nk. When she finally processed what was happening, her first instinct was to push Tyler away. But he didn¡¯t move an inch. Her eyes widened. What the hell was Tyler doing? Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest. His kiss had left her legs like jelly, and her breath came out hot and heavy. Their bodies were pressed so tightly together it was like they were molded into one. His fingers gripped her waist as her body arched against his. She opened her eyes and saw Tyler¡¯sshes up close. His eyes were closed, so she couldn¡¯t tell what was going on behind them. Worse still, she couldn¡¯t deny that he was a good kisser. So good, in fact, it stirred up something raw and primal inside her. Or maybe it had just been too long since she¡¯d been with a man. It had to be hormones. It felt like she¡¯d been dragged into deep water. The only sound she could hear was her own chaotic heartbeat. She then felt his hand sliding further down her back. Panicked, she quickly grabbed his wrist to stop him. Tyler¡¯s eyes suddenly opened. His gaze was intense. His voice was deep and hoarse. ¡°Nervous?¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks turned red. She looked at him frantically. ¡°Tyler, do you even realize what you¡¯re doing?¡® ¡°I¡¯m testing whether my male functions are still working.¡± He said it so bluntly and casually like it was the most normal thing in the world. Rachel almost wondered if Tyler could even feel shame. He didn¡¯t use any over¨Cthe¨Ctop one¨Cliners. There was no excuse to cover up the fact he¡¯d just kissed her out of nowhere. He just t¨Cout told her he was testing whether he could still get aroused by a woman. +15 BONUS Rachel pursed her lips. She could still feel the warmth of his kiss lingering. ¡°At the very least, you could¡¯ve asked me first.¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯ll ask next time.¡± Tyler got up from the floor and rotated his arm. Whatever passion had been in his eyes just moments ago was gone. It was like nothing had even happened. Rachel was fuming. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt, Mr. Hunt-¡± Suddenly, urgent knocking came from the door. Rachel recognized the voice instantly. She turned to Tyler. ¡°It¡¯s Samantha. Why is she here looking for you?¡± Her Exit 361 Tyler immediately sensed something amiss from the look in Rachel¡¯s eyes. He rubbed his wrist and s ght. ¡°Erase those filthy thoughts from your mind. I¡¯m not interested in her.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d have such bad taste,¡± Rachel retorted with a pout. Tyler smirked; he pulled Rachel into his arms and whispered into her ear, ¡°What kind of woman should I fancy to be considered to have good taste?¡± His voice was smooth and rich, his hot breath spewing against her ear; it gave her goosebumps. She looked up, straight into his gorgeous dark eyes. They were in such close proximity, she felt the air getting thick with suspense. Tyler may look aloof and indifferent, but there was something in his deep, dark eyes that gave him the impression of a dedicated, devoted lover. Rachel calmed herself down before pushing him away. ¡°Mr. Hunt, please mind your distance.¡± Tyler chuckled, his gaze looking effortlessly seductive as he said suggestively, ¡°I didn¡¯t see you behaving so sensibly when I kissed you earlier.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart raced at his remark. Suddenly, Samantha called out once more. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯ming in!¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened, on high alert. She instinctively turned to look at Tyler. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that there was nothing between you and Samantha? Why does she have the passcode to your house?¡± Confusion shed past Tyler¡¯s eyes. With a shrug, he said, ¡°Would you believe me if I told you I had no idea, too?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Rachel suddenly realized she had trusted Tyler too much. She had no idea what he had been through in the past five years. Who could guarantee that he did not remain in contact with Samantha during that time? Tyler had always been a private person. He would never casually tell others the passcode to his house. Or had he reconciled with the Lewis family? Rachel¡¯s guard was up; she looked at him again, instinctively taking a step away from him. Tyler, sensing the trepidation and doubt in her eyes, frowned. He nced upstairs and said, ¡°Head up first.¡± Rachel rushed up the stairs in a hurry, with no time to further question Tyler. At the same time, Samantha opened the door and stepped in. Tyler stood right there, his hair still dripping wet. His brows were tightly knit, betraying his anger. Samantha froze where she was, realizing that she hade at a bad time. But since she was already here, she had to bite the bullet. She forced a smile on her face as she greeted Tyler. ¡°U¨CUncle¡­¡± Tyler flicked the water droplets on his shoulder away, not bothering to deign Samantha even a nce. ¡°Mrs. Lewis,¡± he said icily, ¡°call me Mr. Hunt instead. The Lewises have never acknowledged me as a member of their family.¡± The smile froze on Samantha¡¯s face. ¡°Uncle¡­Mr. Hunt, you kid.¡± Tyler grabbed a mop from the washroom to clean up the mess his dog left behind. ¡°Mrs. Lewis, speak your mind if you have something to say. I need to get changed soon.¡°. Looking around her, Samantha saw two sets of cutlery and some very familiar¨Clooking dishes on the table. Samantha vaguely remembered William telling her that Rachel loved eating spicy food. One particr thing/Rachel liked doing whenever she cooked was to decorate her food with two leaves, be it coriander or parsley. The dishes on the table themselves weren¡¯t suspicious, but the meatballs¡­ It was rumored that meatballs were Tyler¡¯s favorite. He even went around all the restaurants in Yurelia City in search of the perfect meatballs, but none were to his taste. Her Exit 362 Meatballs were something Mnie used to make for Tyler. Rachel was Mnie¡¯s daughter. Thatbined was enough to rouse Samantha¡¯s suspicions. With feigned casualness, Samantha said, ¡°Mr. Hunt, do you have guest here today? So sorry for bothering you. Is that guest Rachel, by any chance?¡± Tyler couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste his breath on Samantha. He removed his watch, mming it hard on the coffee table. He plopped down on the couch and crossed his legs. ¡°Samantha Judd, I don¡¯t have time for you to stick your nose in my affairs. Hurry up and say what you have to say, or scram!¡± Despite already knowing what she was in for, Tyler¡¯s tant rejection still embarrassed Samantha. She was on the verge of breaking down. She clenched her fists, then took a deep breath and tried hard to calm herself down. ¡°Mr. Hunt, my mom said that Grandfather has already spoken to you about getting William out as soon as you can. Is there anything that¡¯s holding you back?¡± Rachel stered her ear to the door, trying hard to eavesdrop. Despite her greatest efforts, she couldn¡¯t quite make out their conversation except for the notion that Samantha was here for William. Her heart clenched. If Tyler interfered, her chances of victory would be slimmer. Rather, defeat was certain if Tyler intervened. Everything Rachel had worked hard for during this period would all be in vain. Tyler mopped the floor clean while Samantha remained standing rooted to the ground. She didn¡¯t dare to take a seat when he didn¡¯t give her the go¨Cahead. From her angle, she could see his sharp jawline and elegantly carved features. Tyler stood up straight and said coldly, ¡°Since when was it your ce to tell me what I should do?¡± Samantha immediately lowered her head. ¡°Mr. Hunt, that¡¯s not what I meant. At the end of the day, you and William are family. Why let an outsider destroy our family¡¯s peace and harmony?¡± Tyler sneered, ¡°How long have you been married into the Lewis family? Do you really know what goes on between me and them? I advise you not to be so nosy. I don¡¯t even care what my father says, so what makes you think I¡¯ll care about what you say? His words were cutting and hard¨Chitting, piercing Samantha right through her chest. She stood right where she was, her feet rooted to the ground, unable to speak. She bit her lip hard, feeling viciously humiliated by Tyler. ¡°I trust you have your considerations, Mr. Hunt. I won¡¯t bother you any longer. May I use your washroom before I leave?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t stop her. Rachel saw Samantha walking up the stairs from the gap in the door and hurriedly looked around the room for a ce to hide. But¡­ Where would be a good spot for her to hide? Everything was in in view! The only feasible ce was the wardrobe. Left with no choice, she pulled the wardrobe door open and stuffed herself in. The moment Rachel shut the wardrobe door, Samantha entered the washroom. She flung the washroom door open and saw no one inside. Samantha was certain that Rachel was in Tyler¡¯s apartment. Tyler¡¯s room was simply furnished, with just a bed, a wardrobe, and a coffee table by the bay window. Hiding in his room was close to impossible. There was only one ce left. As long as she could prove that Rachel was still alive, there might be hope for William¡¯s release, even without Tyler¡¯s help. With that in mind, Samantha approached the wardrobe and reached out to open it. 2 Her Exit 363 Rachel gripped Tyler¡¯s jacket tightly, her heart in her throat. A split second before Samantha opened the wardrobe door, her phone rang. She walked away to answer the call Rachel silently heaved a sigh of relief. What on earth was Tyler doing?! Did he deliberately let Samantha in here to find her? As for Samantha, it turned out to be a call from work. ¡°Ms. Judd, please hurry back to the office now. The shareholders want to see you.¡± Samantha frowned. ¡°What is it about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the projects that you invested in without their approval. Many partners are asking ourpany forpensation. If we¡¯re unable to pull out the necessary funds topensate them, we¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Samantha was frustrated with how things were turning out, but knew she couldn¡¯t push it away. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± She hung up and nced at the wardrobe again, reaching out to open it. Just then, someone entered the washroom¨CTyler. He immediately saw Samantha standing before his wardrobe, her hand on the handle. His gaze paused on her hand resting on the wardrobe door. ¡°Mrs. Lewis,¡± he said slowly, ¡°my washroom isn¡¯t in my wardrobe.¡± Samantha could hear the edge in Tyler¡¯s voice. She hurriedly retracted her hand with a sheepish smile. ¡°The doors to your wardrobe look pretty sturdy. I¡¯ve been looking around for a new wardrobe, you see.¡± Tyler remained silent; he crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against the wardrobe, his imposing aura making the temperature around them dip. Samantha felt a chill down her spine. If she stayed here any longer, she feared Tyler might just throw her out. With a quick nod, she said, ¡°Please consider what I¡¯ve said earlier. No matter what, we do share a rtionship. Please, do give it some thought.¡± With that, Samantha brushed past Tyler and left the room. Upon hearing the main door shut with a thud, Rachel stepped out of the wardrobe. It felt so stuffy inside; her cheeks were flushed from the heat andck of air. She kept fanning herself to cool down. After she recovered, she opened the washroom door to peek out and confirm that Samantha had truly left. She turned back into the room and asked Tyler, ¡°Why did you let Samantha into the room?¡± Tyler tutted. ¡°She needed the washroom. I couldn¡¯t stop her, could ?¡± ¡°You could just let her go to the washroom outside!¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes were red with indignation. She knew Tyler had a way to deal with Samantha if he wanted to. Yet, he allowed Samantha into his room and exposed her to danger. Tyler strutted to the window and poured himself a ss of wine. Instead of sipping on it, he swirled it gently. Azy smile stretched across his face. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯d be suspicious? The more I try to stop her froming upstairs, the more she¡¯ll think you¡¯re upstairs.¡± Recalling what Samantha said earlier, Rachel¡¯s eyes turned as cold and dark as the still waters of ake at night. ¡°What exactly is your rtionship with Samantha?¡± she demanded. ¡°What is my rtionship with Samantha?¡± Tyler repeated. He offered Rachel the wine, but she pushed him away unceremoniously. Her gaze fell on him, probing for an answer. Seeing the aggression in her eyes, his brows furrowed slightly, and he took a sip. Her Exit 364 ¡°Rachel Lloyd, quit looking at me with that interrogative state.¡± Rachel, sensing the anger in his voice, immediately knew that her tant question had crossed a line with hin He had always been the one questioning others, not the other way round. As much as she wanted to know the answer to her question, she knew that angering the man before her would nullify all her chances. She took a deep breath and collected her thoughts, but in ce of the calm in her eyes from five years ago was a chill that wasn¡¯t there before. ¡°May I use your washroom and borrow some clothes? I¡¯d like to get changed out of my wet clothes before we talk.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You want to talk to me about William?¡± Rachel cut straight to the chase. ¡°Yes.¡± Tyler pulled out a ck shirt from his wardrobe and waved it before Rachel. ¡°With your height, you probably don¡¯t need pants.¡± She could probably wear his shirt as a dress. Rachel pursed her lips at his quip about her height, but she took the shirt anyway. ¡°No need for pants.¡± She turned to walk into the washroom, where she found a bath towel and a hand towel. Given how much of a clean freak Tyler was, she guessed that fresh towels were brought in here daily. Tyler got changed into a fresh set of clothes himself. Sitting on his chair, he stared hawk¨Ceyed at the washroom, the ss of wine still in his hand. After so many years, Rachel¡¯s temperament feltpletely different. If Tyler cared to admit it, she was rather intimidating when she questioned him earlier. Though he wasn¡¯t intimidated, it was a clear sign that the Rachel of the past¡ªas docile and meek as amb¨Chad changed. The angel with an edge felt less dull, bearing the promise of interesting times ahead. Tyler was curious as to what Rachel wanted to talk to him about. What cards did she have in her hand? Rachel finished washing up and got changed into the clean shirt. She thought nothing of the shirt¨Cshe was simply wearing something she had borrowed from Tyler. It was very baggy for her, and her entire body was practically swimming in it. However, the hem ended slightly below the top of her thighs, which unintentionally made her look seductive. Would Tyler think too much if she were to walk out looking like this? Yet, she couldn¡¯t put her wet clothes back on. Left with no choice, Rachel bit the bullet and stepped out of the washroom. Seeing her, Tyler¡¯s gaze darkened. Her legs were long and svelte, the fairness of her skin tone a glowing contrast to the ck shirt. Her hair was bunched up in a w clip, revealing her delicate facial features. In the past, there used to be a breathtaking shimmer in her bright eyes and an ethereal elegance about her. Now, they carried an aggressive edge. Tyler somehow found it strangely cohesive. trangen He smirked, arching his brows. The top buttons of his gray shirt hanging loosely on his shoulders were undone, adding to hisid¨Cback demeanor as he lounged casually on the chair. ¡°Rachel,¡± he said with a yful smile, ¡°are you really going to talk to me like this?¡± Rachel looked away sheepishly. ¡°Can you please ask Yale to send over another set of clothes?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush for that. Tell me what you want to talk about first. Her Exit 365 Rachel tugged at the hem of the shirt before sitting down. Tyler waved the ss in his hand at her once more. ¡°Need a drink?¡± ¡°No thanks.¡± She had to be on high alert while negotiating with Tyler. If she drank herself silly, she might end up unwittingly falling into his trap. ¡°I don¡¯t care about your rtionship with Samantha,¡± she began, but I just have one request. Can you please not agree to her request to help William out of his situation?¡± If Tyler bailed William out of trouble, all her ns from here on would be foiled. That wasn¡¯t all. She guessed that the first thing William would do upon his release would be to check on her. No matter how well she managed to hide her tracks, he would certainly be able to find some clues. Her n was only a few days away from sess. She would never allow someone to foil it at such a critical juncture. Tyler leaned backzily, his brow arching. ¡°Why should I help you?¡± he drawled, toying with a Rubik¡¯s cube. ¡°By right, I should be on his side. You had me fooled back then, too.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not listening to your exnation. All I know is that a heartless brat lied to me back then and even made use of me. She then vanished without a trace after she got what she needed from me.¡± Tyler leaned in close to her and asked with feigned benevolence. ¡°Tell me, should I start settling scores with this little liar?¡± Rachel knew she couldn¡¯t outwit Tyler, especially when she had done him wrong. ¡°How about this? I promise I¡¯ll make it up to you. Starting tonight, I¡¯lle here every night to coax you to bed. I¡¯ll also pay you all liquidated damages, if any.¡± Tyler fixed his gaze on her before leaning back against his chair. He cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯s just what¡¯s due to me, and doesn¡¯t suffice as negotiation terms.¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks flushed. Negotiating with Tyler was a hundred times harder than negotiating with any of the partners she had struck up agreements with. She was starting to feel for thepanies working with Tyler. Rachel clenched her fists, forcing herself to calm down. ¡°What else do you want?¡± Tyler downed the entire ss and said tantly, ¡°My father has been urging me to get married¡­¡± He deliberately left his sentence hanging as he crossed his arms across his chest. Leaning back against the chair, he stared at Rachel with a deep, unreadable gaze. Rachel didn¡¯t know if she understood what he was insinuating, but she said, ¡°I can help you deal with the blind dates he throws your way. I guarantee they won¡¯t bother you one bit.¡± The knot in Tyler¡¯s brows eased. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t be as heartless as you werest time.¡± It sounded like a harmless tease, but Rachel knew clearly that it was a warning. If she fooled him a second time, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get away just by negotiating with him. No matter how generous her terms were, Tyler would probably not even spare her a chance to negotiate with him. Tyler stood up. ¡°Go downstairs for dinner and prepare a programme for tonight to coax me to sleep. Oh yes, grab some picture books from the bookstore when you¡¯re free. Singing songs day after day is getting boring.¡± Rachel red at Tyler¡¯s back profile. How dare he be so picky! She clutched her chest and tried to calm herself down, telling herself that Tyler was her master right now. She couldn¡¯t afford to offend him! Tolerating him was better than dealing with William, anyway. After Tyler went downstairs, he gave Yale a call, an ominous look in his eyes. Her Exit 366 ¡°Find out how Samantha knows the passcode to my apartment!¡± Tyler snarled. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Yale replied. ¡°Also, change the lock on my door tomorrow. Now that she¡¯s touched it, it¡¯s filthy.¡± Yale paused for a moment, letting Tyler¡¯s instructions sink in. ¡°Alright, sir.¡± 5 PONUS Samantha left Tyler¡¯s apartment, still feeling like something was amiss. Was Rachel truly not in Tyler¡¯s apartment? If she really did get help from Tyler, things would only grow moreplicated. The thought of Racheling back for revenge made Samantha feel uneasy. Since the day she saw Rachel at the hospital, she had been having nightmares. In her dreams, Rachel¡¯s soul sought her for revenge. Samantha raised a hand to wipe her brows, realizing that they were covered in cold sweat. She frowned, her heart racing. She had to quickly deal with Rachel, or she¡¯d go mad from the suspense! When she rushed to Lewis Enterprise, she found that those who were causing a ruckus had been taken away by security guards and the police. The police were standing guard at the entrance of thepany to fend against the angry public masses, for fear that more trouble might ensue. They patrolled the area the entire day until office hours were over. At the moment, tt was considered safe for Samantha to enter the office. The moment she did, however, she could hear her colleagues gossiping in hushed whispers around her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Ms. Judd still dares toe into the office. She¡¯s really fearless!¡± ¡°Exactly! She¡¯s crossed the line this time, implicating thepany and even embezzlingpany funds!¡± ¡°Otherpanies are seekingpensation from us, and the money she lost is just enough to cover thepensation we owe. Would she have to shoulder the me if we fall short of the amount?¡± ¡°That depends on what Mr. Lewis decides.¡± Samantha¡¯s heart raced as she overheard her colleagues¡® conversation. She hurried to the meeting room. Inside, the shareholders were up in arms. ¡°I¡¯ve already said it back then¨Cit was a bad idea to let Samantha be the director. Just look at what good she has done for thepany over the years!¡± ¡°Compare that to what Rachel has done for thepany before. We were in a crisis, but our business was still thriving!¡± ¡°I knew nothing good coulde out of a decision driven by lust. Things happened the way I thought they would! Rachel was doing a great job, but he just had to insist on getting Samantha, who knew nothing.¡± That woman wrecked Mr. Lewis¡® family and chased Rachel away so she could be Mrs. Lewis, but I heard that she¡¯s unpopr in the city¡¯s high society circles. She wasn¡¯t born in a wealthy family. She¡¯s a far cry from true, well¨Cbred heiresses!¡± ¡°She must think of herself as an ugly duckling who became a swan after marrying into the Lewis family. Is she even worthy?¡± Just then, Samantha¡¯s voice rang in the air. ¡°Everyone! Must you be so unforgiving with your words when we¡¯re already in the red? Unlike Ms. Lloyd, who was deaf, my hearing is impable!¡± Samantha walked in with her chest puffed, thinking that she could intimidate the shareholders with her confidence. Unbeknownst to her, the shareholders had long been displeased with her. If it weren¡¯t for William and his efforts to make them yield to him, they wouldn¡¯t bother paying her the slightest attention. ¡°It¡¯s great that you have no problems with your hearing, Ms. Judd. The ounting department has done their calctions, and you¡¯ve chalked up losses totalling one hundred million from your so¨Ccalled investments. Investments that, might I remind you, neither Mr. Lewis nor us are aware of. Please make up for the loss, or we¡¯ll have to settle it by the book.¡± Her Exit 367 Samantha banged the table, her face cold and hard. ¡°What can you do if I say no? Thepany belongs to William, not you shareholders!¡± The shareholders couldn¡¯t stand Samantha¡¯s arrogance. She used to be so meek and docile when she first joined thepany. Now, it was clear to them that it was nothing but an act. They refused to back down. ¡°Since you refuse to admit your mistake, keep an eye out for ourwyer¡¯s letter. We¡¯ll sue you collectively. Just a reminder¨Cif you don¡¯t pay, we¡¯ll file an appeal in court. I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t want tond in jail over such a measly sum of money.¡± Samantha¡¯s heart skipped a frightened beat. She didn¡¯t expect the shareholders to disregard even William. Worse, they were even considering calling the cops on her! As she fell silent, one of the shareholders instructed the assistant, Draw up awyer¡¯s letter and email it to Ms. Judd.¡± Samantha started to panic. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m Mr. Lewis¡® wife! Must you be so aggressive?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Ms. Judd. We¡¯re not being aggressive. Rather, we depend on that money to save thepany. If you don¡¯t agree to pay up, we¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± ¡°Indeed. The projects we¡¯ve been discussing with our overseas partners are stuck, unable to progress. We need to pump more money into these projects, or our overseas partners will pass this opportunity up to otherpanies. Tell us, Ms. Judd. If that happens, what should we do?¡± Samantha finally understood where all this was going. ¡°So you¡¯re using me as a shield to pave the way for yourselves? What great shareholders you are for thepany!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the losses from your investment, Ms. Judd, this would never have happened,¡± another shareholder countered. ¡± If Ms. Lloyd were still around¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Samantha raised her voice, her usual mask of innocence and meekness torn off to reveal hideous and savage wrath, thoroughly frightening the shareholders. She gripped the edge of the table, her lips pressed so tightly together they turned white. She red at the shareholders with bloodshot eyes. ¡°You¡¯re alwaysparing me with Rachel Lloyd! Why? She¡¯s already dead, and you¡¯re stillparing her with me! I didn¡¯t see all of you treating her very kindly when she was still alive and around! Would all of you even bother listening to her if she couldn¡¯t lip¨Cread as well as she could? ¡°You old fogeys! I think you¡¯ll always have something nasty to say, no matter who¡¯s doing the work! You¡¯ll be able to find fault even in the most shining example. You should be examining the good you¡¯ve done for thepany over the years instead!¡± The shareholders pursed their lips, ignoring Samantha¡¯sments. ¡°Whatever it is, we¡¯re better than you in every sense of the word. There¡¯s no point arguing with us about this, Ms. Judd. I advise you to settle the matter as soon as you can. If you don¡¯t transfer the deficit in three days, just wait to be taken behind bars.¡± With that, the shareholders upped and left, adjourning the meeting. Samantha stared at them as they left the room, gnashing her teeth with anger. Hatred brimmed in her once innocent, crystal- clear eyes. Rachel was already gone, so why was her presence still haunting Samantha even after her death? Everyone around Samantha lovedparing her to Rachel. What exactly was so good about Rachel?! Still, she had a bigger problem right now. Asking William for help was useless since he was being detained by the police. From where could she find the money she needed? The shareholders looked serious. If she failed to make up the deficit and they decided to sue her, she was doomed to be locked behind bars! +15 BC Her Exit 368 There was only one way for Samantha, which was to seek help from her mother. Samantha called her mom and said anxiously, ¡°Mom, can youe to my house right now? I have something need help with.¡± Mrs. Judd immediately agreed to it. Samantha hung up and called for a cab. Meanwhile, Cecilia observed everything that was going on and dialed Rachel¡¯s number. ¡°Rachel, it¡¯s just as you expected! Samantha took the bait. She just left in a cab.¡± ¡°Head over right now and do as I¡¯ve said,¡± Rachel said. Unable to hold back her curiosity, Cecilia asked, ¡°Rachel, what else are you hiding from me? What else have you nned? Seeing you like this makes me uneasy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cecilia,¡± Rachelforted her, ¡°I¡¯ll make up for all the injustice you¡¯ve suffered for my sake during your time at Lewis Enterprise.¡± Aside from being upied by her father¡¯s affairs, Rachel had more or less caught up with what had happened over the past five years since her departure. All the shameless things William and Samantha had done stoked a fire in her heart. She could easily forget about it if she were still overseas, miles away from them, unable to see what they were up to. Yet, now that she was aware of it, she couldn¡¯t let them off the hook so easily. Cecilia¡¯s heart felt full at Rachel¡¯s reassurance. ¡°Thank you so much, Rachel! What you said made the injustice and humiliation I faced over the past few years all worth it. There¡¯s no need for you to offend them for my sake. I¡¯m just worried about you¡­¡± Cecilia was worried, since Rachel alone couldn¡¯t stand up against William and hispany. He had not just Lewis Enterprise backing him up, but also the Lewis family. Rachel, however, had set her mind to it. She knew she would aplish nothing if she were gued by fears. ¡°Alright, quit worrying about me and just do as I said. Don¡¯t you want to secure a good future for your child and yourself?¡± Cecilia fell silent. She wanted to gain a foothold in Yurelia City and own a house, even if it was something small. However, relying on her current ie was insufficient, even if she were to ve away around the clock. She had her selfish desires, which she knew were unfair to demand of Rachel. Cecilia clenched her fists, telling herself that she wasn¡¯t to be med. Samantha was the one at fault¡ªshe was reaping what she had sown, after all. After Samantha arrived home, she saw her mother waiting for her in the hall. For the past few years, Mrs. Judd had been focusing on her health. If it weren¡¯t for William splurging on an overseas doctor to treat her, she would be in a worrying state. Even so, she still looked weak and frail, hanging by a mere breath She approached Samantha and held Samantha¡¯s hands tightly. Her tone was fraught with anxiety. ¡°Samantha, I read all about it online. Is William really in jail? What exactly is going on between you and William? Didn¡¯t Ms. Lloyd force him to marry her because she was deaf? Wasn¡¯t their marriage nothing but a facade? ¡°Why are people rebuking you for being a homewrecker? Samantha, please exin things to me. We can¡¯t have someone in our family doing something so shameless!¡± Her Exit 369 A look of dread and fear crossed Samantha¡¯s face, but she quickly recovered and held her mother¡¯s hands with a smile. ¡°Oh, Mom! Just listen to yourself! How could I possibly wreck someone¡¯s family? All thosements online are nothing but nonsense. I would never ruin someone¡¯s family! It¡¯s all Cecilia Young, Rachel¡¯s friend. She¡¯s the one cooking up stories and spreading nasty rumors!¡°/ At that, Mrs. Judd¡¯s face brightened somewhat. ¡°Listen to me, Samantha. Our family may be poor, but we¡¯d never allow something so immoral to happen under our noses. Do you hear me?¡± Samantha, desperate and worried, was in no mood to discuss ethics with her mother. ¡°I know, Mom. Anyway, do you have money right now?¡± ¡°Yes. How much do you need?¡± All the money Ms. Judd had came from Samantha herself, who was generous to give when she had plenty and less so when things were tighter. Aside from medical and usual expenses, Mrs. Judd managed to save most of the money. Samantha put up all five fingers. ¡°Do you have 500,000 dors?¡± Mrs. Judd was stunned. ¡°500,000 dors?!¡± Samantha¡¯s heart was in her throat. ¡°Do you not have that much?¡± ¡°I have at most 200,000. I wouldn¡¯t have that much money! What¡¯s more, your cousin borrowed 200,000 from me for his wedding.¡± In Samantha¡¯s absence, Mrs. Judd relied on her rtives and neighbors for help. Now that one of her rtives needed help, she was naturally d to agree to it. Samantha¡¯s face fell. ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you tell me about that?¡± She needed the money desperately to save herself! ¡°Well¡­ I didn¡¯t know you needed the money so urgently,¡± Mrs. Judd said anxiously. ¡°What about William? This is probably peanuts to the Lewis family. Why don¡¯t you ask him for help? At worst, we can consider it a loan and return it to him once your cousin pays us back.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as you think,¡± Samantha said morosely. ¡°Don¡¯t you know my cousin¡¯s financial state better than me?¡± Seeing the panic in Samantha¡¯s eyes, Ms. Judd grabbed her hands and asked solemnly, ¡°Samantha,e clean with me. What exactly is going on? Are you in some sort of trouble? Why do you suddenly need so much money?¡± Knowing that she couldn¡¯t keep things under wraps any longer, Samantha told her mother the truth. Having listened to Samantha¡¯s exnation, Mrs. Judd¡¯s face changed. Her knees buckled, almost sending her copsing on the floor. ¡°What¡­what should we do? We don¡¯t have that much money!¡± Samantha looked around them. ¡°If nothing works, we¡¯ll just have to sell this house.¡± Just then, someone knocked at the door. Samantha walked to the door, and was stunned to see Cecilia. ¡°Cecilia, what brings you here?¡± she asked, giving Cecilia her most harmless and innocent smile. ¡°I¡¯m here to ask for the apartment,¡± Cecilia demanded, cutting straight to the chase. Samantha stood stunned for a moment before quickly recovering from her shock. ¡°Cecilia, you must be joking! You did stay in this apartment before, but it¡¯s not yours.¡± Cecilia pulled out the contract she had signed with William a long time ago. ¡°Back then, Mr. Lewis signed a contract with me. It states very clearly that I can stay here from three to five years, but I was forced to move out after being here for less than a month. I didn¡¯t count it against you at that time, but what you did after that makes me utterly sick! ¡°Rachel tolerated you two as best as she could. She refused to expose you for your wicked deeds despite no longer being around. Yet, you two made use of her and sucked her blood dry even at her lowest!¡± Her Exit 370 Her Exit 369 ¡°You¡¯re not even worthy to be called a human. In that case, there¡¯s no need for me to show you any mercy,¡± Cecilia went on. ¡°Look closely! It¡¯s stated very clearly here that if you make me move out prematurely, raise the prices, or refuse to rent me the apartment during the contractual period, you¡¯ll have to pay me liquidated damages of one million dors!¡± At the mention of one million dors, Samantha felt as though the sky was falling on her. ¡°What does this have to do with me?¡± she immediately rebuffed. ¡°wasn¡¯t the one who signed the contract with you. Find whoever it was who signed it!¡± Cecilia wasn¡¯t at all surprised by Samantha¡¯s remark. She nodded pensively. ¡°Since you insist on being so stubborn, we¡¯ll just have to go through the legal proceedings.¡± With that, she stepped aside, allowing a man immactely dressed in a suit to walk in. ¡°Ms. Judd, I am Ms. Young¡¯swyer. Having read through the contract your husband signed, you have two options right now. You either let Ms. Young move in here and fulfil your contractual obligations, or pay her one million in liquidated damages.¡± Cecilia looked smugly at Samantha. ¡°If you refuse to take either option, we¡¯ll have no choice but to bring you to court. Do think it through.¡± With that, Cecilia left with thewyer, not giving Samantha the chance to respond. Samantha stared at the duplicate copy of the contract in her hand, broken. In her eyes was nothing but wrath and fury. This also meant that she no longer had the right to sell this house! What could she do to raise the outstanding amount? Just then, realization dawned upon her. Cecilia couldn¡¯t have thought of this by herself. Otherwise, she should have found this loophole in the contract and sued her five years ago. She wouldn¡¯t have waited till now. Samantha called Arsen. ¡°Have you gotten any answers? Is she not actually dead and still alive?¡± she demanded coldly, her usual affable kindness all but gone. ¡°Mrs. Lewis, we found signs of Ms. Lloyd being active in Yurelia City, but we can¡¯t quite confirm that it¡¯s her!¡± Those signs, however, were enough for Samantha. ¡°Goes without saying that she¡¯s the one behind all this. Arsen, find a way to lure Rachel out. Otherwise, I don¡¯t know how long William has to be detained for!¡± The longer William was kept in there, the greater the pressure she faced! The shareholders andizens were watching her every move. No one would pay attention to someone stuck with the police. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Oh, yes. I heard that something major is happening with the Lloyds recently. I think it¡¯s about their family inheritance and the distribution ofpany shares. They¡¯re calling for a shareholder meeting tomorrow.¡± ¡°Something¡¯s happening to the Lloyds, too? Rachel must be behind it.¡± Samantha decided to go to Lloyd Enterprise¡¯s office and check things out for herself. She might just be able to find some clues. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that, Mrs. Lewis. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll get back to work. Thewyer I hired for Mr. Lewis is here. We¡¯ll try our best to bail him out!¡± Samantha¡¯s eyes lit up at the news. ¡°Of course, Arsen. Do what you can to get William out.¡± ¡°Still, Mrs. Lewis, I advise you to quickly settle the matters on your end. Given what I know of Mr. Lewis, he probably won¡¯t help you suppress them.¡± Samantha¡¯s eyes dimmed once more. ¡°Arsen, you¡¯ve been with William for many years. I have a question for you,¡± she said tentatively. ¡°Ask away, Mrs. Lewis,¡± ¡°If Rachel really does return, will William¡­ Will he seek a reconciliation with her?¡± Her Exit 371 Arsen was stunned by the sudden question. He had to pause for a moment before replying, his tone cautious. ¡°Mrs. Lewis, you shouldn¡¯t need to ask me this question. You probably know the answer to it. Pardon me, but I have to get back to work.¡± With that, Arsen hung up. Samantha stood rooted to the ground, her face sullen. She tightened her grip over the phone, veins bulging in the back of her hand. Mrs. Judd approached her and patted her gently on her shoulder. ¡°How are things between you and William as ofte? What do you mean, Rachel¡¯s returning and whether William will reconcile with her? Aren¡¯t you the woman he loves?¡± Samantha was running out of time to exin things to her mom. There was no way she could make things clear to her mom, anyway. Her mom would never understand. ¡°Alright now, Mom. Let me deal with my problems. All you need to do right now is to give me the money to put out the fire.¡± Mrs. Judd owed everything she had today to her daughter. Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t turn a blind eye when her daughter needed help She pulled out a card and handed it to Samantha. ¡°I heard that it gets dangerous at night around here, so I keep this card with me at all times¨Cjust in case anyone might break in. The passcode is your birthday.¡± Samantha didn¡¯t expect her mother to be so generous. Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Mom¡­ Don¡¯t you worry. I¡¯ll find a way to earn back the money you¡¯ve given me.¡± ¡°Of course, I trust you¡¯ll do that.¡± Samantha took the card and left. Very soon, Cecilia received a call from Samantha. At the moment, she had just met with Rachel. ¡°Should I answer it?¡± she asked Rachel. ¡°Of course,¡± Rachel said. ¡°She¡¯s probably all prepared.¡± Rachel was confident that Samantha would agree to their request. If she were Samantha, she would do the same¨Cespecially when faced with pressure from thepany and the threat of being sued. To make matters worse, William was stuck with the police right now. Upon release, he would probably be up to his ears in work. Even if Samantha weren¡¯t the one who signed the contract, she was technically one with William by name, bound together for both good and ill. Since he was suffering, it was only expected for her to have a hard time from here on. At Rachel¡¯s urging, Cecilia swiped to answer the call. Clearing her throat, she said, ¡°Ms. Judd,e round so quickly?¡± ¡°Cecilia, you know things are quiteplicated at Lewis Enterprise at this juncture. William is still with the police. As an employee of thepany, you really shouldn¡¯t be kicking us when you¡¯re down, should you?¡± Samantha said. ¡°We¡¯re not close enough to be cracking such jokes with each other. Ms. Judd,¡± Cecilia replied, unperturbed. ¡°Just get to the point.¡± ¡°Given the difficulties thepany is facing right now, we were nning to sell the house. We certainly can¡¯t afford to rent it to you. How about this? I have another apartment in Yurelia City th that do?¡± Cecilia was quite moved by Samantha¡¯s offer. To begin with, she wasn¡¯t asking for much. All she wanted was a She was out of a job; relying on meagre unemployment benefits renting a ce in Yurelia City, where real estate prices were sky- Cecilia looked longingly at Rachel, eager to jump at the offer. However, Rachel shook her head. She couldn¡¯t let Cecilia agree to That would make things troublesome for Rachel. All her efforts tl Rachelforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No matter what happens, Iv Cecilia came round rather quickly. Her Exit 372 ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m happy that you¡¯re helping me like this Cecilia said. ¡°Lloyd Enterprise¡¯s shareholder meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss the distribution of my father¡¯s assets. I must quickly settle this issue regarding your apartment,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Just tell me if you need my help,¡± Cecilia assured her. ¡°I need another favor from you. Help me check on things on William¡¯s end. I worry he won¡¯t be detained for much longer.¡± Even if Tyler agreed not to help hasten William¡¯s release, the Lewis family and William himself would find an alternative way. Still, Tyler¡¯s intervention would significantly shorten William¡¯s detainment. Cecilia agreed readily to it. ¡°No problem! I¡¯m on it.¡± Rachel nodded before dialing a strange number. ¡°Have you submitted the proposal?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel. I¡¯ve done it. I amended the proposal as you told me to, so there shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem,¡± came the reply. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± Rachel had been burning the midnight oiltely, working on and amending the proposal to snag the project before William could get his hands on it. Cutting off Lewis Enterprise¡¯s source of funds wouldnd thepany in a crisis. When Rachel hung up, Cecilia asked curiously, ¡°Rachel, who were you calling just now?¡± ¡°A man who once wanted to harm me,¡± she said simply. It was the best exnation she could offer. Cecilia was stunned by the answer, shocked that Rachel would use someone like that. ¡°Rachel, I advise you to think twice. If he can think about harming you once, he¡¯ll do it again. For all you know, he¡¯s probably waiting for a chance to strike. How could you let him work for you? ¡°It¡¯s fine. I wouldn¡¯t have allowed that to happen unless I had absolute trust in him.¡± Hearing that, Cecilia knew that Rachel was no longer the woman she had known in the past. Rachel had probably considered whatever concerns Cecilia was having right now. There was probably no point for Cecilia to push things her way. At the police station, William was speaking to hiswyer. ¡°It¡¯ll be tomorrow at thetest,¡± thewyer said. William heaved a sigh of relief. A day here felt like years. He was cooped up here for two days, and it was all thanks to his beloved ex¨Cwife! Soon, Arsen received a call. ¡°What? When did that happen? Got it, I¡¯ll tell Mr. Lewis everything I know.¡± After hanging up, Arsen approached William with a sullen face. He had to collect his thoughts for a moment before announcing, ¡°Mr. Lewis, I was informed that the project we were working on with an overseas partner was snatched right under our noses!¡± Arsen hesitated for a moment before continuing. ¡°Someone who imed to be from Lloyd Enterprise jumped in hallway, seeking to sign a contract with them. Their proposal immediately caught the eye of the person in charge. He signed the contract without a second thought.¡± ¡°He signed it straight away?¡± William said, baffled. ¡°And it was someone from the Lloyd family¡­ Could it be Yvette? But how would she be capable enough to do that? It couldn¡¯t be Jim. He¡¯s still in the hospital.¡± A name shed past William¡¯s mind, and his eyes darkened. ¡°She¡¯s the only one left!¡± Arsen immediately understood who William was referring to. ¡°Are you talking about Ms. Lloyd, Mr. Lewis?¡± Her Exit 373 A thought suddenly came to William¡¯s mind. ¡°Any news from the Lloyds as ofte?¡± he pressed further. ¡°The Lloyds will be holding their shareholders¡® meeting tomorrow¡± Arsen said. ¡°Seems like it¡¯ll be about the distribution of their family assets.¡± William rubbed his chin, his voice lower than usual. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Rachel will be there for sure. Have thewyer pick up speed. Get me out of here as fast as he can!¡± Let¡¯s see how Rachel can hide from him! ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Arsen said with a nod. ¡°As for that overseas project¡­ Even before I was stuck here, I kept reminding you to follow up closely on it! Usepany funds to cover the gaps if need be!¡± ¡°But sir, Mrs. Lewis diverted somepany funds for her investments. She can¡¯t pull them out just yet.¡± Veins popped on William¡¯s forehead. He punched the table hard, a storm brewing in his eyes. ¡°Where¡¯s the money?! Make her cough it out! How dare she ruin such a major project! Where is she?¡± ¡°Driven by the pressure the shareholders are putting on her to make up for the losses she incurred, Mrs. Lewis has been busy trying to sell her house. Ms. Young has hired awyer to sue you over the apartment you rented her, as you¡¯ve never fulfilled the contractual obligations. ¡°Since you¡¯re stuck here, she could only liaise with Mrs. Lewis. Ms. Young¡¯s condition was to either continue renting the apartment to her and fulfill the contractual obligations, or topensate her one million dors.¡± William gritted his teeth in anger. ¡°It must be Rachel! It must be her! Cecilia isn¡¯t this smart. There¡¯s someone behind her, plotting all these!¡± Arsen nced at his watch. ¡°Mr. Lewis, I¡¯ve told you everything I know. I have work to attend to, so I need to leave.¡± The next day, at Lloyd Enterprise. The shareholders, Yvette, and Sasha were engrossed in conversation. Sasha was trying to gain the shareholders¡® sympathy. ¡°You¡¯re long¨Ctime employees of thepany. You know clearly that Rachel isn¡¯t rted to the Lloyds. How could she walk away with our family assets? Jim is severely ill. Given his condition he can¡¯t call the shots! ¡°Please try to talk him out of it. Rachel is suddenly back after being missing for five years. I¡¯m sure she has an ulterior motive. Who knows what she¡¯ll do after getting her hands on the shares of Lloyd Enterprise?¡± Yvette started putting on an act, pretending to be miserable and pitiful. ¡°All of you are witnesses to thepany¡¯s sess. If Rachel wants to return to work for thepany, my mom and I wouldn¡¯t say no. What she really shouldn¡¯t have done was threaten my dad and force him to rewrite his will while he¡¯s severely ill.¡± Yvette wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, trying to look as woeful as possible, The shareholders were enraged. ¡°How could Rachel do something so unfilial? Even if she isn¡¯t rted to the family, Jim treated her like his real daughter all these years!¡± ¡°I knew Rachel was nning something when she suddenly disappeared five years ago! As I expected, she¡¯s suddenly back in Yurelia City¨Cmost likely for the Lloyd family assets.¡± ¡°We¡¯re old timers at Lloyd Enterprise. We can¡¯t let her have her way!¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t you worry. We¡¯ll never let her have her way!¡± Sasha and Yvette exchanged nces. Relieved, Sasha said, ¡°Since we¡¯re all on the same page, I guarantee you all¨Cif the shares go to Yvette and me, we¡¯ll never let you down. We¡¯ll stick together through thick and thin!¡± Her Exit 374 The shareholders nodded in mison. ¡°Alright!¡± At that moment, a voice rang in the air. ¡°Ms. Rachel has arrived!¡± Everyone fell silent at the announcement. Rachel walked in, her heels clicking on the floor. She was wearing pink office suit and a red silk maxi skirt. The beige heels entuated her already long legs. Her long, curled hair framed her petite face, while the gold hoops hanging on her earlobes gave her a trendy impression. Rachel was good¨Clooking to begin with. Sprucing herself up slightly made her a mesmerizing sight to behold. The moment she stepped into the meeting room, her imposing aura was unmissable. Her cool gaze swept across everyone in the room. The shareholders somehow felt intimidated by her aura; they hurriedly lowered their heads and spoke to each other in hushed whispers. ¡°Is this Rachel Lloyd, whom William Lewis divorced? Why does she look so different from how she looked in the past?¡± ¡°Yes, I feel the same way. Why does she look so different? She used to greet me so politely.¡± ¡°Why is she looking at us like we¡¯re prey? Did you see her staring at me for a split second longer? It sent a chill down my spine!¡± ¡°I have a feeling that today will be a tough battle.¡± Rachel walked in and greeted a few shareholders with a nod. She pulled a chair out and sat down, leaning against the back of it. In her hand was a document and a pen, which she twirled around. She didn¡¯t look like she was here for business. Instead, she looked like she was here to watch something entertaining. The shareholders exchanged looks. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who would attend a meeting behaving like this?¡± ¡°How disrespectful!¡± ¡°That¡¯s too casual of her.¡± Yvette approached Rachel and tried to talk sense into her. ¡°Rachel, everyone here is your senior. You should at least try to be a little more polite, or others might chide us for not having proper manners.¡± Rachel smirked sardonically, as though she had heard a joke. Her eyes were filled with disdain. ¡°How am I not polite? Didn¡¯t I greet them when I came in? Or is this no longer how people greet each other nowadays?¡± Yvette didn¡¯t expect Rachel to blow her off in front of so many people. But it didn¡¯t matter. Yvette wanted Rachel to behave proudly and unreasonably¨Cthe shareholders would believe that Rachel had indeed done something so preposterous. She looked awkwardly at the shareholders, then said meekly to Rachel, ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m reminding you for your own good. Don¡¯t be so fierce to me. I know we sisters had our share of misunderstandings, but we¡¯re rted by blood. We¡¯ll always be family!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shoot your mouth off,¡± Rachel retorted. ¡°We¡¯re not rted by blood. Back then, you were the one who chased me out of the Lloyd household. The nerve of you to im that we¡¯re family now!¡± Yvette was thoroughly embarrassed by Rachel¡¯s eagerness to dissociate from her. Sasha walked up and tugged at Yvette¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Yvette, you might see her as your sister, but she might not reciprocate your feelings. She probably only has eyes for the Lloyd family assets right now.¡± One of the shareholders spoke up. ¡°I heard that Mr. Lloyd transferred 50% of thepany shares to you, Ms. Rachel. Is that true? Did you cajole or threaten him to sign the contract you prepared a long time ago, so you can usurp the Lloyd family assets?¡± Her Exit 375 ¡°Exactly!¡± another shareholder said. ¡°You¡¯re much too ambitious The Lloyds took Care of you for so long, and Mrs. Lloyd practically raised you single¨Chandedly. She certainly never expected you to turn out this way!¡± The others began to chime in as well. ¡°You¡¯re wicked through and through! Mr. Lloyd is still in the hospital, likely unaware of what¡¯s happening. You¡¯re his adopted daughter, but you neglected your duty of taking care of him. Not just that¡ªyou went missing for five years, but now, you¡¯re back to get his money. You¡¯re malicious!¡± ¡°Listen, Rachel Lloyd. As an old¨Ctimer of thepany, I advise you to leave right now if you know what¡¯s good for you. If you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll pull out the evidence and expose you for all your malice! You¡¯ll only end up humiliated.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be better for you to leave of your own ord before things get messy here.¡± Instead of panicking or looking awkward, Rachel crossed her legs and swept a haughty nce across the room. ¡°If that¡¯s the game you want to y, let¡¯s ce bets for today. Who will be the first to leave this meeting room, and who will be humiliated?¡± The ignorant shareholders readily agreed to Rachel¡¯s proposal. ¡°Sure. I don¡¯t believe the world is so unfair that someone like you can seize thepany¡¯s shares!¡± ¡°Exactly! What cards do you have in your hands? Show it to us right now.¡± In truth, Rachel wasn¡¯t exactly confident about her odds. She wasn¡¯t the legitimate daughter of the Lloyds and had no legal rights to the family assets. However, she had consulted herwyer, who told her that it may be possible if Jim insisted on transferring thepany¡¯s shares to her. While she wasn¡¯t rted to him, she was legally his adoptive daughter. Rachel didn¡¯t care much for the shares themselves, but simply thought that Yvette and Sasha had gone overboard. She wasn¡¯t fighting for herself. Rather, she was fighting for Jim. Jim had contributed much to the Lloyds. She knew how much blood, sweat, and tears he had shed for the family. Rachel pulled out Jim¡¯s will. ¡°I have the original copy. To prevent any malicious or fraudulent behavior, I¡¯ve duplicated some copies for everyone. I trust everyone here recognizes my father¡¯s handwriting.¡± The moment the shareholders were done reading through Jim¡¯s will, they started voicing their objections. ¡°This is clearly a will your father amended at your insistence! Mrs. Lloyd and Ms. Yvette saw with their own eyes how you seized the chance while he was severely ill to cajole him into signing a will you prepared a long time ago.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve practically altered the will in your favor!¡± ¡°Exactly! Mr. Lloyd wouldn¡¯t be so foolish as to give you such a significant chunk of thepany¡¯s shares. Look at how much is left for Mrs. Lloyd, her son, and Ms. Yvette? You¡¯re taking more than half.¡± ¡°That¡¯s equivalent to giving you half of the entire family fortune!¡± Rachel smirked. ¡°Have you considered the fact that perhaps they¡¯re too useless and have no ability to oversee thepany¡¯s operations whatsoever?¡± Instantly, tears welled up in Yvette¡¯s eyes. She stared at Rachel, doe¨Ceyed, the very picture of woe and grief. ¡°Rachel, I know you want toe back to work for thepany, and that you¡¯ve excelled in your work at Lewis Enterprise. But I¡¯ve been working hard all these years. I want to achieve something for thepany, too!¡± A Sasha approached Yvette and stood next to her with a kind,passionate gaze. ¡°Yvette, don¡¯t me your sister. She¡¯s been like this since she was young. She certainly didn¡¯t mean to be malicious!¡± she said with mock kindness. Rachel frowned, looking at Sasha and Yvette putting on a show. She stood ramrod straight. ¡°You two may have the time to put on a fabulous show for us here, but I don¡¯t have the time to watch it.¡± With that, she pulled out a pen recorder from a folder, ced it on the table, and pressed the y button. ¡°I am Jim Lloyd. I can¡­ I can testify for Rachel. The will she is showing you right now is personally written by me. I had my will written one week before I was hospitalized. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for her.¡± Her Exit 376 Although Jim¡¯s voice sounded weak and breathless, his words were audible. Rachel crossed her arms across her chest and said calmly, ¡°Do we still need any further verification?¡± Panic shed across Yvette¡¯s face. She never expected Jim to still be able to record his testimony for Rachel despite being so severely ill and on the verge of death. Why was he treating his biological daughter like this for the sake of an adoptive daughter he had no blood rtions with? Was this what a real father should be doing? Sasha saw the change in Yvette¡¯s eyes and knew Yvette was on the verge of emotional copse. She hurriedly wrapped her hands around Yvette¡¯s, pulling her attention back to the matter at hand. If Yvette lost her cool, they were bound to lose everything this time Yvette looked at Sasha and calmed herself down. With a sniff, Yvette said hoarsely, ¡°Rachel, let¡¯s stop fighting. It¡¯s getting embarrassing. If you insist that Dad wrote this will himself, then so be it. Even if you seize Lloyd Enterprise for yourself, I wouldn¡¯t object to it. I¡¯m your sister, after all.¡± Sasha patted Yvette¡¯s shoulder dotingly. ¡°Yes, Rachel. Even if you¡¯re not rted to the Lloyd family by blood, everyone can tell how well we¡¯ve treated you over the years. Must you go to such extremes? Everyone here is your senior. You should at least show them some basic respect. It breaks my heart to see the family turn out this way¡­¡± Sasha covered her face and started sobbing into her hands. The shareholders red daggers at Rachel. ¡°Rachel Lloyd, you drove your stepmother and stepsister to desperation for the sake of money. Don¡¯t you fear retribution?¡± ¡°Exactly! No wonder Mr. Lewis insists on divorcing you despite being married to you for so many years. You really should reflect on yourself.¡± ¡°I heard that Mr. Lewis was called to the police station for no rhyme or reason. I know some people simply bring bad luck to their husbands.¡± ¡°Indeed! Look at the pandemonium that befell the Lloyds at her return. It would have been better if she had remained missing and never returned.¡± ¡°Although thepany wasn¡¯t exactly thriving during the years she went missing, things were at least smooth sailing. Look at the sudden upheaval we¡¯re facing now!¡± ¡°So what if you have your father¡¯s signature and voice recording? How would we know if you¡¯ve threatened him or resorted to underhanded means to make him sign the will?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true! The never of an outsider with no blood rtions with the Lloyd family to hanker after the family assets. Dream on! ¡°1 ¡°What are you still doing here? This is an internal meeting, and outsiders are not wee. Someone, hurry up and call for security! Get her out of here!¡± ¡°Call the police while you¡¯re at it! She¡¯s a fraud and a crook. Someone who stoops to falsifying her father¡¯s will should be sentenced to jail!¡± When Cecilia heard the shareholders berating Rachel, she hurried over to Rachel¡¯s side. She feared that they might really call the cops on Rachel. She asked anxiously, ¡°Rachel, what should we do? Should we just leave? No one can bail you out if you get caught!¡± Rachel had fallen apart with William, and Jim was still lying unconsc someone else¡¯s business, either. Cecilia would never have the ability to bail Rachel out by herself. Rachel was about to speak when a voice sounded at the door. ¡°I can testify that Rachel did force Jim Lloyd into rewriting his will! Rachel¡¯s back stiffened at the sound of that voice. Turning around, It was William! This day had finallye. Her Exit 377 William rushed all the way here the moment he left the police station, with no time for a fresh set of clothes. It was clear for all to see that he hadn¡¯t had a good time locked up in there the past few days, what with his stubble and the dark circles under his eyes. He looked worlds apart from his usual peppy, clean shaven look. In fact, he looked so down¨Cand¨Cout and miserable, he felt like aplete stranger to Rachel. She remained unperturbed at the sight of William, Her eyes ever so cold and distant. Ever since she disappeared, William did nothing for her, although she didn¡¯t expect much from him in the first ce. The moment she set her mind on leaving, she had drawn a clear line between them, Yet, she never expected the divorce papers she left behind to bring her trouble. Seeing William stepping forward to testify against Rachel, Yvette smiled smugly. She walked toward Rachel and said sympathetically ¡°Oh, Rachel! What exactly is going on between you and William? You two used to be so loving! How did things turn out so ugly between you two?¡± Her seemingly harmless words nted a bomb right under Rachel¡¯s feet. Rachel didn¡¯t expect Yvette to be so quick¨Cwitted. The tables had turned indeed. People in the meeting room started dishing out nastyments. ¡°I knew it! I knew things weren¡¯t that simple. Mr. Lewis gave her everything he had! Everyone in Yurelia City knows about it.¡± ¡°Aside from that messy divorce, there were even scandals between her, Mr. Hunt, and Howard, Ziegler. Isn¡¯t that an insult to the Lewis family?¡± ¡°Alright, I think it¡¯s clear as day who¡¯s in the right and who¡¯s in the wrong. It¡¯s so obvious!¡± Security guards entered the room, nking Rachel on both sides. ¡°Ms. Rachel, pleasee with us.¡± Rachel pursed her lips, remaining fearless despite being in such a difficult situation. Her gaze remained cold and hard. She did have something to say, but she was just surprised at William¡¯s ability to twist the facts so tantly. Rachel¡¯s eyes turned even colder as she tapped her pen on the folder. The tapping wasn¡¯t loud, but the sound it made reverberated in William¡¯s ears, making him feel uneasy. The next moment, everyone in the room saw Rachel walk leisurely toward William. In an instant, the air around them turned tense and chilly. None of the shareholders dared to utter a word. Most of them were more interested in seeing how the scene would unfold. The couple before them used to be so loving, everyone in Yurelia City knew how close they were. Yet, things had turned out so ugly between them. William was even iming that he could testify against Rachel and prove that she had forced Jim to rewrite his will! Wasn¡¯t he stuck in the police station the past few days? From where did he get the so¨Ccalled evidence? Rachel paused for a moment. Her eyes were deadly calm as she said, ¡°You sound so confident now, Mr. Lewis. Did you see me coercing my father to sign the will with your own eyes?¡± William was stunned by the calm in her eyes. He never expected such aplete change in her over the years. Her gaze, once so docile and as bright as the sun, now looked so icy and distant. 212 Her Exit 378 William had to admit, Rachel was more charming than before. Her style of dress had changed, too. She had a more mature aura about her, and the sharp. confidence in her eyes elevated her elegance and poise. William bent down and whispered into her ear, ¡°Rachel, you¡¯ve fooled me so thoroughly the past few years. We still stand a chance now, though. As long as you agree to be with me once more, I can take back what I just announced to everyone.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes dimmed as her heart clenched in her chest. A fire started burning in her. She smirked derisively at William. ¡°William Lewis, your wife is right here. How shameless must you be to say something like that?¡± William didn¡¯t find his words at all ridiculous. ¡°That divorce we got back then was against my will. You knew I had to deal with things at thepany, as well as the negative influence your departure caused the Lewis family.¡± He looked so emotional as he spoke. Instead of being moved, Rachel felt d she had left him. She cast him a look of disgust. ¡°Cut it out. If you get so engrossed with your acting I¡¯m afraid you might just end up taking yourself seriously!¡± William¡¯s face fell. He met the cold, hard look on Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°Are you saying no to me?¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Are you asking me to be your illicit lover?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound so nasty. Now that you¡¯ve returned, you don¡¯t have anyone else to rely on. I can let our past grudges rest on ount of us being together for so many years. We can still care for each other.¡± Rachel nodded pensively; she brushed past William and nced at Samantha, who was standing right behind her. Samantha was ring at her, as if trying to pierce through her with her gaze. All of a sudden, Rachel felt invigorated. Once, she had red at them with such fury. Yet now, the tables had turned. Samantha was barely holding herself back. As the saying goes, what goes aroundes around Rachel used to spend countless days and nights looking at William and Samantha being all lovey- dovey with each other. They did it so tantly, right in front of her. However, she didn¡¯t have the time to y games with William right now. She turned back to William, her voice dripping with disgust. ¡°William, what makes you think that I¡¯d want a filthy man like you? Every night I shared bed with you, the thought of the filthy things you and Samantha did repulsed me so!¡± Rachel¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. They looked at William with strange expressions. William didn¡¯t expect Rachel to fall out with him so quickly, and in front of so many people to boot. He pursed his lips, veins popping on his forehead. The smugness in his eyes gave way to hideous viciousness. ¡°Since you refuse to take the easy way, we¡¯ll just have to do it the hard way. Don¡¯t me me for disregarding our past marriage!¡± Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed, a sense of foreboding filling her heart. ¡°What do you want?¡± Her Exit 379 William cast Rachel a sideways nce and sneered. ¡°Scared so quickly?¡± Yvette thought William really had leverage over Rachel. Confident, she approached Rachel. ¡°Rachel, just admit your mistake,¡± she said with feigned kindness. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re familiar with everyone here. Although you were disrespectful and arrogant just now, I trust that everyone here will forgive you.¡± ¡°Yes, Rachel. We¡¯re family. You should be considerate and respect all your seniors here. Stop causing trouble for everyone, alright?¡± Sasha chimed in. With that, she shot the two bodyguards a look. ¡°Please take her out of here.¡± The bodyguards nked Rachel on both sides and grabbed her arms. ¡°Pardon us, Ms. Rachel.¡± Rachel started struggling against their hold, refusing to be escorted from the room. ¡°Let me go! William, show us the evidence if you even have it!¡± Samantha stepped forward, wearing her usual pure and innocent appearance, her tone full ofpassion. ¡°Rachel, you fooled William and disappeared from Yurelia City without a trace. You really should have informed us that you¡¯reing back. It does look a little suspicious that you¡¯re finally back when Mr. Lloyd is in critical condition, but of course, we trust you unconditionally.¡± Her gaze swept across the entire room. ¡°The thing is, these outsiders will never trust you. I think it¡¯s better that you don¡¯t get involved in this mess for the sake of your reputation. Why don¡® you go back with us first?¡± With that, Samantha tried pulling Rachel out of the room. The entrance was crowded with other employees hoping to catch a glimpse of the excitement in the room. They could sense the shift in the situation in the room. Those who were previously criticizing Samantha all started speaking up for her. ¡°Seems like Ms. Judd isn¡¯t that bad after all!¡± ¡°Ms. Rachel Lloyd and Mr. Lewis are already divorced, yet Ms. Samantha is still trying to persuade her to stay out of trouble, just like a real friend should!¡± ¡°Have you heard? There was ady who married a pan with an ex¨Cwife with whom she¡¯s close. They¡¯re practically sisters! They even started a business together and expanded overseas.¡± +15 PONUS ¡°Really? If that¡¯s really true, I think the man isn¡¯t een important in that rtionships ¡°Exactly! Ms. Samantha looks so harmless and meek. She¡¯s probably not as scheming as rumors make her out to be.¡± ¡°Rachel Lloyd, on the other hand, could kill with just one look¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s mighty fine. Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s an alpha? I love that look in her eyes, as though she¡¯s the queen of the world.¡± ¡°I am a strong individual and not anyone¡¯s essory, Isn¡¯t this precisely the mindset and attitude a modern woman should have in today¡¯s world ¡°Exactly! She¡¯s a role model for most women on this earth. What a pity that not everyone can be someone like her.¡± Most were guessing that Rachel would leave with Samantha After all, Samantha had already given Rachel a good reason to leave. She would be foolish and ungrateful to reject that olive branch of peace. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Rachel refused to budge. She looked coldly at Samantha as she raised her voice. ¡°Let go!¡± Samantha stood stunned, her feet rooted to the ground. The intimidating aura Rachel exuded stupefied her; for a moment, she didn¡¯t know how to respond Rachel repeated herself once more, her voice ringing in the air. ¡°Let go!¡± This time round, Samantha released Rachel¡¯s arm in fright. The next moment, tears sprang to her eyes. She looked indignantly at Rachel 11 R Her Exit 380 Rachel, I was¡­ I was just thinking for your good. Even if you don¡¯t want to leave with us, there¡¯s no eed for you to be so fierce,¡± Samantha stammered. ears trickled down her cheeks; the sight confirmed to everyone that she was the innocent party ere. hey saw clearly how aggressive Rachel was being. This is getting out of hand. Ms. Rachel is being way too arrogant! Does she really think this is her ompany?¡± She showed her sister and stepmother such disrespect just now, and here she is, tantly allying Samantha in front of everyone.¡± I know, she¡¯s just jealous because she failed to retain her position as Mrs. Lewis!¡± Oh! Since she can¡¯t get it, no one else can! I understand. She¡¯s upset that Mr. Lewis moved on and arried a kind and understanding woman like Ms. Samantha.¡± ire burned in Cecilia¡¯s heart when she overheard the ridiculousments people were making. he couldn¡¯t help but yell at them, ¡°What do you know? Rachel wasn¡¯t the one who did wrong! They ere the ones who let Rachel down! Back then, Mr. Lewis¡­¡± Cecilia, we know you¡¯re close to Rachel, but you can¡¯t nder us just because you want to stand up or her. If I did something wrong, you can tell me directly. I¡¯ll change,¡± Samantha exined rough sobs. he didn¡¯t forget to daintily wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes. She sounded so vulnerable, broke the hearts of everyone who heard her. eeing Samantha¡¯s ability to twist the facts, Cecilia felt a sharp pain in her chest. he pointed a finger at her and said shakily, ¡°Samantha Judd, you¡­ You¡¯re spouting nonsense!¡± achel held Cecilia¡¯s hand. Rather than getting angry at Samantha¡¯s words, she found it hrious. he strutted leisurely to Samantha. Being much taller than Samantha, she had to look down at the tter, her eyes filled with disdain. amantha felt suffocated by Rachel¡¯s piercing gaze. Rachel was practically looking at her as though Je were trash. par overtook Samantha as she subconsciously shrank back. What¡­what do you want?¡± Even after so many years, your acting is still shoddy. Ms. Judd, we have all the time in the world to owly settle our scores. Unfortunately, right now, I dont have time to waste on your terrible eting. Go back home and put on a good show for your brainless husband instead.¡± ¡°Rachel!¡± William roared, his brows tightly knit. He looked at her in disbelief. ¡°You didn¡¯t use to be like this. How did you be so sharp¨Ctongued and aggressive?¡± Rachel looked coldly at him. ¡°What, did you expect me to tolerate your filthy deeds just like I did five years ago?¡± Yvette watched the scene unfolding before her and started to worry that it might affect her goal of seizing thepany¡¯s shares. She was initially worried that William might still care for Rachel as his ex¨Cwife. They used to be so loving, after all. Yet, they were at daggers drawn right now. She raished her voice and addressed the shareholders. ¡°I have a will that my father handed me in person! May I request that all outsiders take their leave?¡± The security guards jumped into action and started dragging Rachel out of the room. ¡°Please leave!¡± Rachel was no match for the two burly men. Very soon, she found herself at the door. Suddenly, someone pushed her hard from behind. ¡°Tramp!¡± Rachel was caught off guard and lost her bnce. ¡°Rachel!¡± Cecilia yelled. Her Exit 381 Rachel stumbled and fell hard to the ground. Her high heels only worsened the fall; the impact left multiple scrapes and bruises on her wrist and forearm. Cecilia wanted to rush to Rachel¡¯s side, but the crowd pushed and jostled so much that she couldn¡¯t. get through. She could only stand there and watch belplessly. Behind her, the spectators wore gleeful expression, pointing fingers and gossiping without restraint. ¡°Serves her right! This is karma! Who told her to force Mr. Lloyd to sign the will and try to steal the Lloyd family¡¯s fortune?¡± ¡°Whoever pushed her, I owe them a thank¨Cyou. That was satisfying to watch!¡± ¡°How can a woman be this shameless? If I were her I¡¯d be too embarrassed to show my face here!¡± ¡°Get lost! Lloyd Enterprise doesn¡¯t want you here!¡± Rachel forced herself to endure the pain radiating from all over her body and tried to get up. Suddenly, a pair of hands appeared in front of her. She instinctively looked up. William stared down at her. ¡°I told you earlier, didn¡¯t I? I could¡¯ve handled all this for you. Why are you always so stubborn, Rachel? I¡¯ve said this before¨Cbeing so stubborn isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡± Even injured, Rachel¡¯s eyes remained bright and resolute. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help, Mr. Lewis.¡± William¡¯s concern was rejected outright by Rachel. His ego was hurt. ¡°You¡¯ve brought this on yourself!¡± His voice had returned to calm, but a chill still seeped through each word. Rachel¡¯s defiant posture only disgusted the Lloyd Enterprise employees around her even more. ¡°She really doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her. Mr. Lewis was being gracious and extended a hand for old time¡¯s sake, and she still acted all high and mighty!¡± ¡°Exactly! She acts like she¡¯s some saint! Does she seriously think she¡¯s going to be the future leader of Lloyd Enterprise?¡± At that moment, Rachel felt like the entire crowd was stomping her pride into the ground¨Cas if every single person there wanted to trample her dignity. She clenched her jaw and stood up shakily. Despite the sharp pain shooting through her body, her back stayed straight and her gaze never wavered. That one moment was like a spark to William¡¯s fuse It ignited a firestorm in his chest. ¡°You¡¯re in this condition, and you still won¡¯t lower your head and ask for my help? If you¡¯d just say the word, I¡¯d help you!¡± he roared. But Rachel let out a cold scoff, her defiant stare stabbing into William¡¯s heart like a dagger. ¡°I¡¯d rather be spit to death by every single person here than ever ask you for help.¡± William was thoroughly provoked. The fury bubbling inside him nearly burst out. ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s see just how tough you really are!¡± He retrieved his phone from his suit pocket, opened a video, and yed it for the crowd. ¡°This is the video of Rachel forcing Mr. Lloyd to sign the will!¡± On the screen, Rachel held the will in her hands while speaking to Jim. Although what she said wasn¡¯t clear, Jim¡¯s expression visibly grew agitated His chest heaved as his emotions rose. Soon, hisplexion turned red, and his body convulsed The shareholders erupted in fury, mming the table and yelling at Rachel. ¡°What do you have to say for yourself? Look at what you did to him! He was driven to that state by you, and you still shamelessly asked him to sign the will!¡± ¡°Even if he wasn¡¯t your biological father, he raised you like his own! Do you really feel no gratitude at all?¡± Her Exit 382 ¡°I told you from the start¨Cher sudden return was definitely fishy!¡± ¡°Exactly! I mean,e on. Someone who disappeared for five years just shows up out of the blue? And we¡¯re supposed to believe it¡¯s just to check in on her sick father?¡± ¡°If she really cared, where was she all this time?¡± ¡°Right? It¡¯s such a fake act! When he was alive and well, she was nowhere to be found. Now that he¡¯s on his deathbed, suddenly she remembers she has a foster father? Give me a break!¡± ¡°If you were really here just for your dad, no one would say anything. But you came back for the Lloyd family¡¯s fortune!¡± Yvette was covering her mouth, sobbing tragically as she spoke. ¡°Yes, Rachel. No matter what, you shouldn¡¯t have forced Dad to give you part of his inheritance. If you were truly in need of money, you could¡¯ve just told us. We were a family once. We wouldn¡¯t have let you struggle. You didn¡¯t have to make a scene like this.¡± Sasha, too, dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, crying so hard she looked like she could barely breathe. ¡°That¡¯s right, Rachel. You¡¯re being much too heartless. Even before your dad got sick, he was always thinking about you. Honestly, the reason his health declined over these years? It¡¯s because he never stopped worrying about you. ¡°You disappeared for five years. Even back then, we all thought you were still in aa. He med himself constantly, thinking that if only he had stayed by your side in the hospital, maybe things would¡¯ve turned out differently. But who could¡¯ve guessed¡­¡± Rachel furrowed her brows. None of this was part of her n. Sure, she had expected Yvette and Sasha to try to defame her, but she had ways to fight back. What she didn¡¯t expect was for William to suddenly produce a vague, misleading video that painted her in a terrible light, iming she was forcing Jim to sign a will she had supposedly prepared long ago. It was all based on nothing but Jim¡¯s visible distress in the footage. That was outright nder. ¡°Yes, the footage does show me and my father, but the document wasn¡¯t a will. It was a contract for a charitable donation in his name. And there¡¯s no audio. Making such a serious usation from a silent video? That¡¯s insane,¡± she said, trying to defend herself. ¡°You don¡¯t need sound to see what¡¯s happening. If you weren¡¯t pressuring him, why did he get so agitated?¡± One of the shareholders shot back. ¡°That¡¯s because Sasha and Yvette got to him before did. They forced him to sign a forged will. When I confronted him about it, that¡¯s when he got worked up!¡± Rachel snapped. Yvette looked at Rachel with tears brimming in her eyes, her expression pitifully innocent. ¡°Oh, Rachel! Even if you¡¯re trying to clear your name, you can¡¯t drag me and Mom down with you. If you¡¯ve already decided to throw away the bond we once had as sisters, I can¡¯t keep covering for you. I wouldn¡¯t be able to face Dad if I did.¡± She stopped crying, her tone of helpless resolve: ¡°Since we can¡¯t seem to get anywhere by talking here, I say we call the police. Let¡¯s hand over Mr. Lewis¡® video and let the police decide what has really happened.¡± Someone in the crowd agreed and began dialing the police. Rachel pursed her lips. Her fingers clenched around the document in her hands. Even if she could eventually prove that William¡¯s video was a setup, i would be toote for her after the cops dragged her away. Sasha and Yvette would absolutely take advantage of her absence to go after Jim. Since everyone believed he didn¡¯t have long to live, they could easily kill him, with no witnesses left to challenge them. Just as Rachel was frantically thinking of a way out, a deep,manding male voice echoed from the hallway. ¡°Quite the crowd in here. Mind if I join the party?¡± Her Exit 383 At that instant, everyone turned toward the doors of the conference room. Tyler stepped in, dressed in a custom¨Ctailored ck suit and a crisp white shirt. His sharp, chiseled features, cold and piercing gaze, and thin lips gave off an untouchable air of authority. His entire presence exuded a refined and aloof arrogance that made the room feel tense the moment he walked in. It was William who finally broke the silence. He sounded noticeably stiff. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what brings you here?¡± Tyler casually twirled his phone between his fingers, the sleek device spinning in smooth arcs. Outside the room, several female employees couldn¡¯t take their eyes off him. ¡°How can someone look that good? Mr. Hunt is so hot.¡± ¡°Even his hands look good!¡± ¡°True, but he¡¯s kind of intimidating. When he walked in just now, the pressure in the air shifted. His presence is unreal!¡± Rachel froze for a split second. She hadn¡¯t expected Tyler to show up here¨Che was never one to join in on drama. Tyler was the kind of man who¡¯d sip coffee without blinking even if people started fighting next to him. His hands tucked in his pockets, Tyler scanned the room with sharp, hawk¨Clike eyes full of disdain. He then pulled out a chair like he owned the ce and dropped into it leisurely. ¡°I¡¯m getting old. Thought I¡¯d join the fun and see how a room full of grown men gang up on a woman.¡± Everyone present knew Tyler didn¡¯t y by the rules. Even Howard, who feared no one, once said Tyler was the only person he would never dare mess with. Tyler didn¡¯t sugarcoat things. He called it like he saw it, and the entire room fell deathly silent. He casually rested one leg on the table, leaning back in his chair like he had all the time in the world. His gaze swept across the room, ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. Keep going.¡± The shareholders exchanged anxious looks. ¡°Uhh¡­¡± ¡°How are we supposed to keep going like this?¡± ¡°Who invited him?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me? I have no idea!¡± Yvette instantly tensed up when she saw Tyler. The previous incident had left quite the psychological scar on her. She still couldn¡¯t forget that cold, cutting look he gave her. Just thinking about it gave her chills. Nervously, she tugged at Sasha¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Mom, what do we do now?¡± Sasha, more seasoned andposed, nced at Tyler and whispered back, ¡°What do you mean, what do we do? Just because he¡¯s here, we back down? I¡¯m telling you¨Cif we let this go, Rachel wins. And if that happens, we¡¯ll never get a say in this family again.¡± Yvette took a deep breath and clenched her jaw. She turned back to Rachel and pressed on. ¡°Rachel, just tell the truth already. The longer you drag this out, the worse it¡¯s going to be for you. Mr. Lewis has already shown the video, and the police have been called. If you keep pretending, you¡¯re only digging your own grave.¡± Rachel stood firm and turned to face William. He thought this would finally break her down, but not even a hint of submission could be found in her gaze. ¡°You really think you can condemn me with a video that doesn¡¯t even have sound? That¡¯s not just careless. It¡¯s absurd,¡± she sneered. One of the shareholders chimed in coldly, ¡°You¡¯re not part of the Lloyd family by blood. Strictly speaking, you have no right to a share of the Lloyd family¡¯s assets. Even if Mr. Lloyd agrees, the rest of us don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Exactly! Thispany wasn¡¯t built by Jim Lloyd alone. We have been here from the start.¡± ¡°And even if the will holds up and you end up owning thergest share, what exactly can you contribute to thispany?¡± Her Exit 384 ¡°You were nothing more than a mid¨Clevel director at Lewis Enterprise back in the day. I even heard you were involved in a major scandal five years ago. How could someone like you possibly lead Lloyd Enterprise?¡± one shareholder said derisively. At that, Rachel smirked. Slowly and deliberately, she replied, ¡°Well, does securing the overseas project that used to be under Mr. Lewis count for anything?¡± At that, the corners of Tyler¡¯s mouth lifted. He had clearly underestimated her. The shareholders seemed taken aback. ¡°No way! Is she talking about that major overseas project Mr. Lewis was working on before?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right. Lloyd Enterprise had tried everything and still failed to secure it. That deal¡¯s notoriously difficult to close!¡± ¡°I heard tons ofpanies were vying for it. Mr. Hunt had already cornered most of the market overseas. If not, it would¡¯ve gone to Lloyd Enterprise long ago.¡± ¡°Exactly! Other than Lloyd Enterprise, only Lewis Enterprise really stood a chance. I remember hearing they were just a step away from closing it.¡± ¡°Listen to her brag. She was working alone. Lloyd Enterprise didn¡¯t even assign anyone to help. How could she possiblynd that deal by herself?¡± ¡°Seriously, she¡¯s just a young woman. Does she really think she¡¯s invincible or something? What a joke.¡± Yvette and Sasha exchanged nces. They were waiting for Rachel to embarrass herself. At this moment, Tyler started to speak. ¡°Funny. I heard Mr. Lewis dropped that deal after Mrs. Lewis made some disastrous investment moves. On top of that, Lewis Enterprise has been caught up in so many scandalstely that their partners are demandingpensation.¡± The very next second, Rachel tossed a signed contract onto the conference table. ¡°Everything¡¯s here in ck and white. Unless you¡¯re all blind, you should be able to read what¡¯s on this.¡± The shareholders rushed to grab the document and skimmed through the pages. ¡°It¡¯s real! There¡¯s thepany seal and everything It¡¯s officially signed. How did this stay under the radar?¡± ¡°This deal alone could carry our earnings for the next six months. That project is a gold mine!¡± ¡°Incredible! I was seriously worried about our numbers with Mr. Lloyd in the hospital, but this changes everything!¡± Watching their shameless expressions change so quickly, Rachel couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. ¡°You all sure have a talent for switching sides seamlessly. Maybe when you retire, you should consider a career in acting.¡± The shareholders looked embarrassed. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, even if we acknowledge yourpetence, that doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re not Mr. Lloyd¡¯s biological daughter. Even if he wanted to transfer his shares to you, without legal confirmation, it doesn¡¯t hold weight.¡± They weren¡¯t wrong. Everyone in the room knew Rachel¡¯s position was still shaky. If Yvette decided to sue, it could drag out for ages. ¡°Exactly, Ms. Lloyd. We really do appreciate what you¡¯ve done with this deal, and of course, you¡¯ll get your share of the profits. But before the police get here, my advice? Leave now.¡± Rachel let out a chuckle. ¡°So that¡¯s the n now? Take the win and cut me loose? Well, what if I refuse?¡± Her stubborn streak was impossible to break. The shareholders looked at each other. ¡°Then this bes a family matter. You¡¯ll have to settle it in court.¡± Rachel pursed her lips, refusing to move even an inch. Just then, the police arrived. After asking a few questions, they proceeded to escort Rachel away. She was just about to be taken away when a deep voice echoed through the air. ¡°Hold on.¡± Her Exit 385 The police stopped, and everyone in the room fell into stunned silence. William¡¯s brows furrowed. His gaze became tense as he looked at Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, this is a family matter for the Lloyds. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for an outsider like you to get involved,¡± he said. Tyler slowly rose from his chair and leaned casually against the edge of the conference table. His gaze lifted slightly. The natural force of his presence was impossible to ignore. At William¡¯s words, he let out a deep, hoarse chuckle. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the table. His expression remained cool and unbothered. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Mr. Lewis, then what are you doing here? Are you trying to win your ex¨Cwife back?¡± William was at aplete loss for words. His face turned red from shame and frustration. Samantha chimed in nervously, ¡°Mr. Hunt, we understand you may have some personal ties to the Lloyd family, and perhaps you¡¯re here to help Rachel. But thew makes it very clear, she¡¯s not Mr. Lloyd¡¯s biological daughter. Technically speaking, she has no legal im to the inheritance.¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow and shot back with a question that stunned everyone present. ¡°Who told you she¡¯s not rted to the Lloyd family?¡± Everyone froze. At this moment, Yvette finally couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you must be joking!¡± she blurted out. ¡°Rachel is only an adopted daughter. There¡¯s no way she could be Dad¡¯s biological child. Even if you re trying to help her, you can¡¯t just tell lies like that. And we¡¯ve said it already¨Cif she really needed money, we would¡¯ve helped her out of respect for our past as a family.¡± Tyler calmly pulled out his phone and made a call. Yale,e in.¡± Momentster, Yale entered the room with a document in hand. He handed it to Tyler, who unsealed the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper. ¡°Take a look for yourselves.¡± Rachel stood nearby. She couldn¡¯t quite make out the text from where she was, but there was something oddly familiar about the document. The others all leaned in to read. There was an uproa ¡°What is this? No way!¡± ¡°This has to be fake! This is insanel¡± Yvette and Sasha, sensing something was wrong from themotion, stepped forward anxiously. Yvette snatched the document from the table; as he eyes scanned the contents, her expression went rigid. The next second, she flung the paper away like it burned her. ¡°No, this is impossible! That can¡¯t be real! You must¡¯ve forged it!¡± Sasha noticed her daughter¡¯s panic and quickly bent down to pick up the document. After reading it, she too paled in horror. ¡°T¨CThis can¡¯t be true! There¡¯s no way Rachel is Jim¡¯s real daughter! This has to be fake! You forged it!¡± Gone was Sasha¡¯s elegant poise. She now looked as pale as a ghost and was shaken to the core. Tyler gave the table a light tap with his knuckles. ¡°What, a daughter born out of wedlock doesn¡¯t count as one now?¡± Even Rachel was stunned. She hesitantly stepped toward Tyler, her expression full of disbelief and unease. ¡°Mr.Hunt, what is this? Am I my father¡¯s illegitimate daughter?¡± Tyler¡¯s gaze settled on her. Rachel tilted her head slightly to meet his eyes. She looked like a deer caught in headlights. The moment their eyes locked, it felt electric. ¡°Yes. Your father never told Mnie. He was afraid she couldn¡¯t handle it. Years ago, on a business trip, he got drunk and had a one¨Cnight stand with a local interpreter. Your true mother, terrified, never told him the truth. Instead, she secretly switched you and Yvette.¡± Her Exit 386 ¡°Back then, the DNA test was only done between Yvette and Mnie,¡± Tyler said calmly. ¡°As for why your father never spoke up all these years, I think you already know the reason.¡± He cast Sasha a nce that seemed casual, but was anything but. Outsiders might not know what kind of person Sasha really was, but Rachel knew all too well. On the surface, Sasha acted generous, iming to raise the Lloyd family¡¯s children like her own. But in reality? Sasha deliberately spoiled Yvette without teaching thetter a shred of discipline. Every time Yvette attended a high¨Csociety event, she embarrassed herself. Now, all the heiresses in that social circle treated her like a joke. Rachel¡¯s fingers gripped the edge of the table. Her knuckles turned white. Her heart ached as if someone had struck it hard. Memories reeled through her mind like a fast¨Cpaced film. Why did Jim still treat her so well after she had been thrown out of the Lloyd household? Why did he worry endlessly after she vanished, wondering every day whether she was even still alive? He had internalized those regrets for so long that they turned into illness. Even knowing he might not live much longer, he left behind a will. Even if she might no longer be in this world, he still made sure a portion of his assets would be donated in her name. It was his way of ensuring her presence remained in the world. Her father had gone through all that pain to protect her memory. Rachel sniffled, and her eyes welled with tears. At that moment, Rachel knew. Since her father had done so much for her, she would risk, everything to stop people like Yvette and Sasha from getting what they wanted. She straightened her back. Her eyes lit up again, but they were even colder than before. ¡°If any of you think that paternity test is fake, I¡¯m happy to do another one with my father at any time. Also¡­¡± Rachel walked up to Yvette, the harshness of her aura crashing down like a cold wind. Yvette was instantly overwhelmed and struggled to breathe as an unexinable fear surged up inside her. Her body reacted instinctively. She took several steps back. ¡°W¨CWhat are you doing?¡± she stammered. Rachel caught the flicker of fear in Yvette¡¯s eyes and gave a disdainful scoff. ¡°With guts like that, you really had the nerve to force Dad to sign the will you two tampered with?¡± Yvette¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯re lying! Everyone saw the video. It was you who forced him to sign it!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Rachel¡¯s voice was calm but icy. ¡°I believe the hospital has surveince footage. We can check the time you both entered the room. And since the doctor already confirmed Dad¡¯s condition is improving, I¡¯m pretty sure nothing beats him testifying in person.¡± Yvette¡¯s legs buckled at her words. ¡°Stop making things up! You¡¯re the one who did this! Don¡¯t try to me it on me when there¡¯s no proof!¡± Just then, Tyler¡¯s voice cut through. ¡°I happen to have a recording on me. Not sure if it counts as evidence, but why don¡¯t we all listen and find out?¡± He retrieved a recording pen from his suit pocket, about to press the y button. X Her Exit 387 Yvette immediately lunged forward and covered her hand over Tyler¡¯s. ¡°Don¡¯t-!¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow, mildly amused, then looked around the room. ¡°I think I don¡¯t need to spell out the truth for everyone, do I?¡± Yvette¡¯s panicked reaction had already said everything. Sasha looked like she was about to lose it. She stormed up to Yvette and grabbed thetter¡¯s arm, scolding in a suppressed voice, ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve just done?!¡± Yvette was as pale as a sheet, too frightened to think straight. ¡°Mom, Tyler has a recording! If he ys it, we¡¯re finished!¡± Sasha yanked Yvette¡¯s hand before letting go again, her voice filled with frustration. ¡°Even so, you can¡¯t just fall apart like this!¡± Tyler¡¯s piercing gaze swept across the room. ¡°If any of you still have doubts about this will, shall I personally have Mr. Lloyd brought here for you to ask him yourselves, even though he¡¯s still lying sick in bed?¡± Though posed as a question, his voice dropped like a weight across everyone¡¯s chest. It sounded like a threat, as if anyone who dared say ¡°Yes¡± would instantly regret it. The room fell silent. Rachel stepped forward and retrieved the will Jim had given her earlier. ¡°If there are no issues, please sign this. If you do have a problem, feel free to wait for the police and exin everything to them instead.¡± Everyone understood what she meant. Tyler was using both a carrot and a stick. He made it very clear to Sasha and Yvette that if they tried to pull any more tricks, consequences would follow. Sure enough, neither Sasha nor Yvette dared to move. They could only watch as the shareholders signed the will one by one. Rachel walked up to the two of them and handed over the file and a pen. In a voice only the three of them could hear, she said, ¡°Yvette, Sasha. If you think everything you did will stay buried, you couldn¡¯t be more wrong. We¡¯ll settle thister.¡± Yvette froze, inplete and utter panic. ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s lips curved upward slightly. Like a cat toying with a trapped mouse, she wasn¡¯t in any rush. She would wait for them to walk right into the trap. ¡°That¡¯s okay. You¡¯ll understand soon enough.¡± Her calm words sent a chill straight down Yvette¡¯s spine. The fear of the unknown was the most terrifying thing of all. Trembling, Yvette picked up the pen and proceeded to sign. However, Sasha suddenly grabbed her hand with a tense expression. ¡°Think this through! If you sign this, thepany will have nothing to do with you anymore.¡± Yvette nced cautiously at the people around them, then whispered to Sasha, ¡°What good is arguing with her now? Even if thepany is in our hands, can we even hold on to it? You saw what happened. Tyler has that recording.¡± The more Yvette thought about it, the more terrified she became. Without hesitation, she signed her name on the document. Now, only Sasha remained. She had no choice. No matter how bitter she felt, she could only clench her jaw and sign the will. Seeing them both sign, Rachel finally sighed in relief. The ordeal had been moreplicated than she anticipated. She had expected resistance from Yvette, Sasha, and the shareholders¨Cbut she never imagined William would get involved too. This time, he had stood against her. What truly caught her off guard was that Tyler had chosen to step into the chaos and stand on her side. From the corner of her eye, Rachel nced at him. Tyler was lounging in the office chair, calm as ever. He held a cup of coffee in one hand, sipping on it leisurely,pletely unfazed. It was as though he was nothing more than a bystander watching a show, never once having been part of the battle that had just unfolded. Only then did Rachel remember¨Cthe paper Tyler had presented was the very document she had retrieved from the Lloyd family¡¯s estate on Jim¡¯s behalf. Then, she hadn¡¯t had time to read it. She hadn¡¯t even known what it was. Her Exit 388 Now, Rachel finally remembered. When she left the hospital, she only took the will Jim had written. She hadn¡¯t brought that other document. No wonder Jim had said at the time, ¡°Maybe this will help you.¡® After the meeting ended, Rachel and Cecilia left straight away. They didn¡¯t walk with Tyler. Rumors about him were still flying around¨Cif they were seen leaving together now, there was no telling what the gossip mill might churn out next. Rachel didn¡¯t really care, but Tyler might not want to be caught in any new scandal. All Rachel wanted now was to get her affairs in order. The less unnecessary trouble, the better. Cecilia stood beside Rachel, visibly excited, her face lit up with joy. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Rachel. ¡°You were so cool today! But you¡¯re hurt. Come to my ce, let me help you clean that up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing more than a scrape.¡± Rachel lifted her arm to look at the wound again¨Cit was only bleeding a little. She wasn¡¯t the kind to be squeamish. After all, she had survived worse. This didn¡¯t evene close. When the elevator doors opened, Rachel asked, ¡°When are you moving? I can get someone to help.¡± ¡°No need to trouble yourself. Samantha already gave me the keys. She said I can stay for the rest of the lease term before moving out. Rachel, you always show up right when I need you the most.¡± Rachel slung an arm around Cecilia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come on. Do we really need to say things like that between us? Let¡¯s go, my treat.¡± ¡°It should be my treat.¡± Cecilia felt bad letting Rachel pay again. The two were just about to hail a cab when a voice suddenly called out. ¡°Rachel!¡± Rachel froze. William strode up to her quickly. His expression was unreadable as he said almost wistfully, ¡°Your hearing has really recovered.¡± It would¡¯ve been fine if he hadn¡¯t brought that up. The moment he did, a sarcastic smile formed on Rachel¡¯s previously calm face. ¡°Bit of a letdown for you, isn¡¯t it? Did you think my hearing was gone for good? Too bad. They healed just in time for me to hear every filthy word you and Samantha said behind my back.¡± William had never seen Rachel so openly hostile toward him. All the thorns she had kept hidden were now on full disy, and each word out of her lips hit harder than thest. ¡°I¡¯m d your hearing came back,¡± he said, clearly struggling to keep his voice steady. Rachel didn¡¯t avert her gaze. She stared directly into his eyes, studying every twitch and every flicker of guilt. She wanted to burn this version of him into her memory, as a reminder that no amount of pretty lies could ever redeem him. She didn¡¯t even want to waste her words on him. Her narrowed eyes and the slight sneer on her face showed clear irritation. ¡°Say whatever you came to say. I don¡¯t have time to watch you perform.¡± William¡¯s eyes flickered with guilt. ¡°I didn¡¯t want our paths to cross like this today. But Rachel, I never wanted to be separated from you. All these few years, I¡¯ve been looking for you.¡± This time, Rachel couldn¡¯t help butugh, but the sound rang hollow. Under the sunlight, her smile seemed to chill the air. ¡°You were looking for me? What for? To silence me Afraid I¡¯d expose you and Samantha?¡± William¡¯s already somber expression darkened further. He was getting frustrated. ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant. I only came to warn you. Now that you¡¯vepletely fallen out with Sasha and Yvette, they won¡¯t let you go easily. If you insist on doing things your way, history will only repeat itself, just like it did five years ago.¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze sharpened at once. Her expression became serious. ¡°What do you mean by that? Do you know what happened five years ago?¡± GET IT N Her Exit 389 ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure. Back then, there were rumors that you had crossed someone dangerous. People said someone wanted to hurt you, but it was never confirmed. Then you suddenly disappeared. The police didn¡¯t even dare conclude whether you were really dead or not,¡± William said. Rachel narrowed her eyes, ring at him. ¡°So you did know something about my disappearance five years ago. But instead of helping, you pretended to know nothing. You took the divorce agreement I left behind and used it to paint yourself as some kind of victim. You turned me into a tool to cleanse your reputation, to step on and use. You¡¯re disgusting.¡± At this point, Rachel didn¡¯t even feel anger¨Cjust a deep, cold revulsion. She had no more hope or expectations for William. They had once loved each other and gone through hell just to be together. Yet, when her life was hanging in the bnce, and when she vanished from the world, her husband hadn¡¯t just turned his
  1. k.
e had driven the knife in deeper! William frowned and tried to exin. ¡°You don¡¯t know what it was like back then. I didn¡¯t have a choice, Rachel. I was stuck. But now, I want to make it right. Give me that chance. Let me fix it.¡± Rachel sneered and took a few steps toward him. Her voice turned harsh as her smile vanished, and her cold gaze locked onto his with pure contempt. ¡°William, you really are full of crap,¡± she snarled. When you were with me, you had your eyes on Samantha. Now that you¡¯re married to her, suddenly I¡¯m the one you want toe back to? You¡¯re the perfect example of that saying¡ªthe grass is always greener on the other side. It doesn¡¯t matter how good your partner is. Somehow, you¡¯re always looking for a better recement.¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± William¡¯s expression soured. He felt utterly humiliated. ¡°William¡­¡± A sweet, chirpy voice called out behind him. Rachel turned slightly and caught sight of Samantha jogging toward them. Samantha came to a stop by William¡¯s side and instantly looped her arm through his. The two stood close, side by side. ¡°Rachel, congrattions! You really came out on top today.¡± Rachel smiled, but her voice was cold. ¡°Yeah, thanks. I suppose I should be grateful. If it weren¡¯t for you two fanning the mes, I probably wouldn¡¯t have earned this victory.¡± Samantha¡¯s expression flickered briefly with unease. She lowered her voice and said, ¡°Rachel, are you ming us? The way things were back then, we just wanted to keep you away from the chaos. Think about it. There were so many Lloyd Enterprise shareholders there, and Yvette and your stepmother were clearly trying to trap you. That was the only way to protect you, to get you out fast. Don¡¯t misunderstand our intentions. We really meant well.¡± Rachel sneered. Her voice was t and devoid of emotion. ¡°I¡¯m the one who wasted time on the two of you. Look at you now¨Cwhat a perfect match! Both of you belong on stage. Talented actors, you are. But next time, spare me the performance. I¡¯m sick of watching.¡± With that, she linked arms with Cecilia and turned to leave. After taking just two steps, she suddenly stopped, as if remembering something. She turned around and stared straight at Samantha. ¡°Keep an eye on your husband. Don¡¯t let him run around like a horny mutt in heat. I¡¯m not interested.¡± Rachel raised her hand to g a taxi. Just then, a white car pulled up beside them. The window rolled down, revealing Yale, who leaned over to ask Rachel a question. Her Exit 390 ¡°Ms. Lloyd, do you need a ride?¡± Yale asked. Rachel hesitated for just a second. Seeing Samantha behind her, cheeks flushed red as if she were about to catch up, she nodded without hesitation. ¡°Sure.¡± Right now, Samantha and William were an even bigger threat than Tyler. She didn¡¯t hesitate to slide into the car with Cecilia, and Yale smoothly pulled away from the curb. Samantha watched the car drive off and stomped her foot in frustration. She pouted at William. ¡°William, what did Rachel mean by that just now? Don¡¯t tell me you actually want to get back together with her?¡± William¡¯s eyes were dark and unreadable. He shoved his hands into his pockets, lookingpletely uninterested. ¡°You should be thinking about how you¡¯re going to cover the losses.¡± Samantha¡¯s heart sank; when she saw William turning to leave, she quickly grabbed his arm, eyes panicked as she tried to exin. ¡°William, you can¡¯t just walk away from me like this! You agreed to those investments too, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I did, but you¡¯re the one who told me they were guaranteed wins. I¡¯ve spent years funding you so you could learn the ropes, and this is what you¡¯ve learned? When Rachel was learning, she had everything figured out before the projects evenunched. Look at you now.¡± William had never said anything before, but that was back when he didn¡¯t feel taken advantage of. The money Samantha had lost was supposed to be their lifeline. He was trying hard to keep his temper in check, but it was slipping. Samantha couldn¡¯t take his cold tone. She immediately started to cry, tears like shimmering pearls rolling down her cheeks. She looked heartbreakingly pitiful. ¡°William, I know I was wrong. I¡¯m sorry, okay? I¡¯ll fix this. Even if I have to sell everything or work side jobs, I will pay you back.¡± She wiped away her tears and turned to leave. William frowned and, after a beat, chased after her. He caught her wrist in a firm grip. ¡°I was just upset, alright? I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡¯ll figure something out for the money. But for now, we¡¯ll have to sell the house.¡± Samantha froze. Her expression turned awkward. ¡°About the house¡­ I¡¯ve already extended the lease to Cecilia. When we tried to go back in, she brought awyer and threatened to sue us if we didn¡¯t follow the contract.¡± William¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°This has Rachel written all over it. Cecilia doesn¡¯t have the brains to pull that off.¡± Samantha pursed her lips. Her eyes glistened with guilt. ¡°This is all my fault. If I hadn¡¯t loved you so much and insisted on being with you, Rachel wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge ande back just to get revenge. If she¡¯s angry, she can take it out on me. She didn¡¯t have to drag you into this. Doesn¡¯t she know Lewis Enterprise is your life¡¯s work?¡± William¡¯s expression was unreadable, but his gaze grew even darker. In Tyler¡¯s car, Rachel sat quietly while he lounged in the backseat with his eyes closed. Tyler hadn¡¯t spoken since they got in. The air waspletely still, yet somehow his very silence filled the cramped interior with an oppressive pressure. The tension was suffocating. Rachel was just about to break the ice with some small talk when Tyler suddenly opened his eyes and parted his lips. ¡°Sing something for me.¡± Her Exit 391 Rachel was dumbfounded. She nced at Cecilia and Yale, who both looked equally baffled, and tried to check if she had heard it right. ¡°Are you being serious?¡± she asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night,¡± Tyler said. He leaned his elbow against the side of his chiseled jaw. The natural aggression in his features was now muted by hiszy demeanor. Cecilia turned curiously. ¡°Rachel, why is he asking you to sing?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t quite know how to exin. ¡°It¡¯s just¡± ¡°Rachel here signed a contract with me five years ago. She owed me a favor. In the end, she tricked me. Now that she¡¯s back, don¡¯t you think she should fulfill her duty?¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He loungedzily in the backseat. His tone, though casual, carried that same teasing edge that made Rachel¡¯s face instantly flush red. Truth be told, it was her fault. Cecilia, who didn¡¯t dare to question Tyler, could only stare at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, what¡¯s going on between you and Mr. Hunt?¡± Rachel hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ll exinter.¡± ¡°Alright then, sing! I¡¯ve never heard you sing anyway. Let¡¯s consider it a celebration of your victory. Rachel had no way out of it. After all, the contract did state very clearly that as long as the request was reasonable, she couldn¡¯t say no. She took a deep breath to steady herself. ¡°What would you like to hear, Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°Good Luck¡¯s Coming,¡± Tyler said without missing a beat. ¡°Pfft!¡± Cough, cough, cough! Cecilia, who had just taken a sip of the water Yale handed her, immediately burst into a coughing fit. Rachel hadn¡¯t even opened her bottle yet. Cecilia kept coughing violently. ¡°Sorry,¡± she gasped between coughs. Rachel gently patted Cecilia¡¯s back. Her tone was calm andposed. ¡°You¡¯re not used to him yet. Give it time, and you¡¯ll see. He¡¯s always like this.¡± He was always picking songs so cheesy and painfully outdated¡ªsongs that no one could even think of in their wildest dreams. Tyler¡¯s voice, which sounded impatient now, could be heard from the back. ¡°Hurry up.¡± Rachel gave Yale and Cecilia a helpless smile and a slight snod. ¡°Please don¡¯t mind me.¡± She took a deep breath and started singing. Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was clear enough to fill the car. ¡°Good luck¡¯sing, I wish you good luck. Good luck brings joy and love. Good luck¡¯s here, let¡¯s wee it. May there be prosperity across thends. Fold a thousand paper cranes, tied to a red ribbon¡­¡± The longer Rachel sang, the more embarrassed she felt. Before, it was just her and Tyler. She could hide her face in her bag and call it a day. But now, with Yale and Cecilia present, even with her thick skin, it was hard not to feel the secondhand embarrassment. There were moments that she genuinely felt like Tyler¡¯s personal songstress. The song onlysted a few minutes, but to Rachel, it felt like an eternity. By the time she finished, her face waspletely red. Yale had just stopped the car at a red light and nced back at Tyler. He sounded amazed, but kept his voice soft. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, Mr. Hunt fell asleep.¡± Rachel turned around. Tyler was leaning against the window with his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. That was when she noticed Tyler¡¯s ridiculously long and curly eyshes. She couldn¡¯t help but whisper to Yale, ¡°Tyler¡¯s mom must be beautiful.¡± Yale nodded. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s stunning. I¡¯ve honestly never met anyone her age who managed to stay that beautiful.¡± Her Exit 392 When Yale mentioned Tyler¡¯s mother, there was a fleeting gleam in his eyes. It was the kind of admiration that Rachel couldn¡¯t help but notice. It only made her more curious. What kind of beauty was this woman, to inspire such natural reverence at the mere mention of her name? Judging by Tyler¡¯s looks alone, his mother must¡¯ve been just as stunning and elegant. The car finally pulled up in front of Moon & Barrel. Rachel initially thought Tyler was here for a meal. Since they had hitched a ride with him, it seemed impolite to ask to be dropped off elsewhere. After all, they couldn¡¯t just treat him like a chauffeur. Once the car stopped, Rachel politely turned to Yale. ¡°Thank you, Yale. If there¡¯s nothing else, we¡¯ll just head out.¡± Yale blinked in confusion. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, Mr. Hunt said you two are joining him for dinner.¡± Cecilia gasped and instinctively turned to look at thevish, upscale Moon & Barrel. She had passed by it countless times, but never stepped foot inside. It was a ce reserved for the truly wealthy. She grabbed Rachel¡¯s arm, eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°Rachel, Mr. Hunt is so generous!¡± Rachel found her reaction amusing. ¡°You might as well be a mukbang streamer at this point, with the way you love food.¡± Cecilia chuckled sheepishly. Rachel figured that since Tyler had helped her out today, she would pay for this meal as her way of saying thanks. Even so, she couldn¡¯t help but recall that a single meal here was rumored to cost more than an average person¡¯s eight¨Cmonth sry. Yale circled to the backseat to wake Tyler. Momentster, Tyler stepped out, stretchingzily and sliding his hands back into his pockets. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± As his tall figure brushed past Rachel, he leaned in slightly and muttered in her ear, ¡°Your singing was so awful, I fell asleep halfway through.¡± Rachel froze in ce. She then watched him leave and pouted. She knew her singing was always off¨Cpitch, but out of all the singers he could¡¯ve chosen, he had to pick her. Now, he even had the nerve toin. Yale, watching the two of them, stifled augh. Of course, Tyler wasn¡¯t reallyining. What he really meant was that he had fallen asleep too quickly to hear the full song. It was strange. Yale had been by Tyler¡¯s side for years and had taken him to all sorts of top¨Ctier specialists. Still, they had never found a solution to his sleeping disorder. He knew Tyler pretended to have moved past the trauma of his childhood, but some things were etched into the soul. They didn¡¯t vanish overnight. He could only hope that Rachel would stay in Yurelia City for good. Maybe she would be the one to finally help heal Tyler. Inside the restaurant, Rachel realized Tyler had made a reservation well in advance. He had clearly expected her to win the Lloyd Enterprise shares today. Then again, someone like Tyler, always several steps ahead, had probably anticipated every possible detail. Once they were seated, the waiter began bringing out dishes almost immediately. As the food arrived, Cecilia nudged Rachel with her elbow. ¡°Rachel, why do I feel like half the dishes on this table are your favorites? Are things between you and Mr. Hunt progressing that fast? Does he already know what you like?¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks flushed under Cecilia¡¯s teasing. ¡°Would you shut up and eat already? Look at Tyler. Does he seem like the type who¡¯d spend his precious brain power figuring out my preferences?¡± Cecilia rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short, You¡¯re not exactlycking.¡± Rachel just figured that Cecilia had been reading too many romance webnovelstely. The meal was going smoothly¨Cuntil an uninvited guest arrived. X Her Exit 393 If Rachel hadn¡¯t seen Howard with her own eyes, she might havepletely forgotten about him. At first, Howard only noticed Tyler. But as he walked closer, he spotted Rachel. A cigarette dangled from Howard¡¯s lips. He wore a ck shirt with the cor flung open carelessly, revealing his corbone, a prominent Adam¡¯s apple, and sharp jawlines. Through the haze of smoke, his yful gaze locked onto her. ¡°Tsk, tsk. If it isn¡¯t Rachel? Five years gone and you¡¯ve blossomed. You¡¯re different now. ssier. Prettier, too.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression remained cold. She hadn¡¯t given Howard the time of day five years ago, and she sure wasn¡¯t about to now. She lowered her head and sipped her coffee without even sparing him a nce. As for Tyler, who was seated across from her, he didn¡¯t even look at Howard. Howard didn¡¯t feel the least bit awkward. Instead, he strolled right up to Rachel and reached out to touch her cheek. ¡°Come on now, Rachel. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten everything, like what almost happened between us on that hill¨Cargh!¡± Before he could finish, there was a high¨Cpitched scream. Tyler raised his brows slightly. Rachel had seized Howard¡¯s wrist mid¨Cair, and with a swift twist, a sickening sound came from his joints. It was followed by another howl of pain. Her expression didn¡¯t change, but her icy gaze gleamed like des. She smiled and gave him a scornful look. ¡°Howard, did you really think I¡¯m still the same Rachel from five years ago, just all bark and no bite?¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed with interest. He hadn¡¯t expected a second round of entertainment right after dinner. He picked up a piece of meat with his fork and popped it into his mouth, chewing it slowly. ¡°Not bad,¡± hemented calmly. Howard tried to break free, but was stunned by how strong Rachel¡¯s grip was. He couldn¡¯t shake her off. Meanwhile, Tyler sat there, calmly enjoying his food andpletely unbothered. Howard lost it. ¡°Tyler! What the hell? Can you quit eating for a second and tell her to let go? Seriously? You¡¯re just going to sit there and watch?!¡± he roared. Tyler looked up indifferently. His tone was nonchnt as he said, ¡°Her hand, not mine. Do you expect me to control her body?¡± He didn¡¯t spare Howard a nce and continued eating. He seemed awfully satisfied. ¡°You run your mouth like that. What¡¯s happening now seems pretty fair, don¡¯t you think?¡± The meaning was clear¨CHoward had brought this upon himself. It finally clicked in Howard¡¯s head. He realized just how stupid he had been. Tyler was his sworn enemy. Of course the guy would want Rachel to mess him up! Howard clenched his jaw. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m warning you. If something happens to me here today, my grandfather won¡¯t let you off the hook. Just ask Tyler!¡± Rachel sneered and released his wrist. ¡°Rx. I wasn¡¯t nning to hurt you that badly. No need to drag your grandfather into this. But let¡¯s be real, Howard. Without your grandfather¡¯s protection, what are you really? Just nobody.¡± Howard¡¯s veins were visible on his face. His eyes darkened with rage. ¡°Rachel!¡± ¡°Are you nning to hit a woman now, Mr. Ziegler?¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze was unwavering, firm, and fearless. Tyler, apparently full and satisfied, finally set down his fork. ¡°Howard,¡± he said, his tone nonchnt, ¡°if this gets out of hand, your grandfather might decide to ship you back overseas. Do you really want to screw up your little homing this fast?¡± Howard¡¯s eyes shed with frustration. Of all things, he hadn¡¯t expected to be humiliated by a woman today. Just then, his assistant burst in, clearly having heard themotion. ¡°Sir, we should get to the hospital. If this gets worse, I won¡¯t be able to exin this to your grandfather.¡± The assistant¡¯s arrival gave Howard a much¨Cneeded exit. Still fuming, he pointed angrily at Rachel. A devilish smile appeared on his face. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re getting more interesting by the day. Very well. We¡¯ve got plenty of time!¡± X Her Exit 394 Howard pointed at Tyler, who sat there like he couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°Tyler, you¡¯ve got guts. Just your wait!¡± Tyler smirked and lifted his chin a little. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got guts, alright. As for you, well, that¡¯s up for debate.¡± Howard was so furious that he clenched his jaw. He shook his uninjured hand threateningly as he stormed out of the restaurant. Cecilia let out a long sigh of relief and tugged Rachel back to her seat. Around them, the bystanders who had just witnessed the drama couldn¡¯t help but give Rachel a thumbs¨Cup. Whispers of admiration came pouring in. ¡°Damn, that girl was badass. Did you see that move? So cool!¡± ¡°I know Howard Ziegler. He¡¯s one of the most arrogant, fearless heirs in the city. Even other rich kids who can¡¯t stand him usually just back off. No one wants to mess with his family. With his grandfather¡¯s background, who would dare?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°But did you see how she just locked up his wrist? I didn¡¯t even catch the movement before hearing the sound of bones cracking! If it were me, I¡¯d be screaming too.¡± ¡°Mommy, thatdy was amazing! I wanna learn martial arts so I can fight bad guys too!¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s wonderful. I¡¯ve always said girls need to learn how to protect themselves. What if something bad happens and we¡¯re not around?¡± Cecilia took it all in. Her eyes were full of admiration as she turned to Rachel. ¡°Rachel, you were incredible just now! When did you learn that move?¡± ¡°Back in the day,¡± Rachel replied casually. One of her old coworkers had practiced martial arts. After what she had been through before, Rachel had decided it was essential to pick up a few skills just in case. She needed to be able to protect herself. She wasn¡¯t going to end up like that time five years ago, when Howard tried to force himself on her and all she could do was scream or brace for the worst. ¡°You were seriously amazing! I was so scared just now.¡± Rachel knew Cecilia was the timid type, and patted thetter¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Being scared doesn¡¯t help when you¡¯re in a bad situation.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Tyler leaned back and cut in, ¡°You¡¯ve embarrassed Howard in public. Watch your back. He¡¯ll want payback.¡± ¡°Thanks for the warning, Mr. Hunt,¡± Rachel said dryly. Halfway through the meal, Tyler¡¯s phone rang. He nced at the screen and frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve got to take this. You two go ahead and eat.¡± Rachel watched Tyler step outside to take the call, then quickly shot Cecilia a look. Having worked with Rachel for years, Cecilia understood instantly. She turned toward Yale, blocking his line of sight, and struck up a conversation. ¡°So, Yale, how many years have you been working with Mr. Hunt?¡± Meanwhile, Rachel walked up to the cashier. ¡°Hi, can I get the bill for table 315?¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be 80,000.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Moon & Barrel truly lived up to its reputation! 80,000 for a meal was insane. ¡°Could I please get the receipt?¡± she asked. The cashier paused, clearly surprised by the request. She slowly looked up at Rachel with a strange expression before tossing the receipt at her with obvious reluctance. Rachel frowned, but didn¡¯t say anything. Staff who worked in high¨Cend restaurants were often snobbish. It wasn¡¯t worth picking a fight over this. When she looked at the receipt, something seemed wrong. ¡°This isn¡¯t right. We never ordered the lobster or the caviar.¡± No wonder it added up to 80,000. Those dishes alone cost a fortune. But the cashier gave her a bored, almost mocking look. ¡°There¡¯s no way we made a mistake. You ordered them. Everyone in Yurelia knows how professional Moon & Barrel is. We don¡¯t mess up orders, let alone cheat people.¡± Her tone was full of disdain, like she thought Rachel was just trying to get out of paying. A line had formed behind them. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Can you hurry it up?¡± The cashier was also losing her patience. ¡°Miss, if you can¡¯t afford the food, you shouldn¡¯te to ces like this. You already ate it, and now you say you didn¡¯t order it?¡± She turned and waved over another nearby staff member. ¡°Keep an eye on her. If she tries to run, call the cops right away.¡± Her Exit 395 The waiter came over and tried to usher Rachel to the side. ¡°Excuse me, miss, please step aside for a moment. Rachel wasn¡¯t the type to make a fuss over small things, but the cashier¡¯s attitude ticked her off. Seeing the waiter approaching, clearly intending to grab her, Rachel¡¯s voice rang out with unmistakable authority. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± The waiter met Rachel¡¯s eyes and, for some reason, felt an inexplicable chill. He didn¡¯t darey a finger on her. From the corner of her eye, Rachel saw the rude cashier from earlier rolling her eyes again, and that was the final straw. Rage surged through her. She stepped forward, ready to confront the cashier. ¡°If you keep this up, I¡¯ll have no choice but to call the police!¡± the waiter warned, trying to stop her. But Rachel¡¯s imposing aura made him flinch, and he instinctively stepped aside. Rachel strode straight up to the cashier. ¡°If you really think I¡¯m lying, then call your manager. Let¡¯s check with the kitchen. See if those dishes were actually ordered or not. The truth will be out.¡± But the cashier still didn¡¯t take her seriously and acted even more annoyed. She rolled her eyes at Rachel again. ¡°I told you, our restaurant doesn¡¯t make these kinds of mistakes. You¡¯re just looking to skip the bill.¡± Customers who frequented this restaurant were all rich. She had seen Rachel¡¯s type before. They were usually not very patient. ¡°You guys should just make her pay up and stop arguing. Call the cops already!¡± ¡°Yeah! Why should we all be held up because of one person?¡± ¡°Miss, if you¡¯re going to dine and dash, at leaste up with a better excuse. Look at the expensive food on your bill. Even if the restaurant wanted to let you eat for free, they wouldn¡¯t pick someone like you.¡± Rachel turned to the cashier again. This time, her voice was cold and harsh. ¡°I said, get your manager. Now.¡± The cashier rolled her eyes at Rachel. ¡°Our manager is busy. If you don¡¯t have money and want to dine and dash, you¡¯ve got some nerve trying to pull it off here.¡± Rachel, seeing her attitude, pulled out her phone and started dialing a number. The cashier saw Rachel making a call and assumed she was just contacting someone to bring her money, and so ignored her again. Just then, a well¨Cdressed man walked out from the back. ¡°Liana Ferguson.¡± Rachel now knew the cashier¡¯s name was Liana Ferguson. It was a sweet name, but it didn¡¯t suit her at all. Liana¡¯s expression instantly changed when she saw the man. ¡°Mr. Woods!¡± ¡°I just got a customerint about the kitchen printing the wrong order and using a guest of trying to dine and dash. Is that true?¡± Liana walked over to him and pointed at Rachel. ¡°Mr. Woods, it¡¯s that woman! It¡¯s totally her fault, but she¡¯s trying to me the kitchen. Our kitchen never makes mistakes. She just doesn¡¯t want to pay, and now she¡¯s affecting my work!¡± Wilson Woods looked over at Rachel. He seemed a little surprised. ¡°Are you saying that she¡¯s trying to skip the bill?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Liana added, unable to stop herself. ¡°Don¡¯t let her pretty clothes and looks fool you. Who¡¯d have thought she¡¯d turn out to be someone like that?¡± Wilson lookedpletely exasperated. Without saying another word, he grabbed Liana by the arm and led her over to Rachel. ¡°Mr. Woods, what are you doing?¡± Not far away, Cecilia and Yale finally noticed themotion at the front desk and realized Rachel was in some sort of dispute. Her Exit 396 Her Exit 396Her Exit 396 ale instinctively stood up. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Let¡¯s go check.¡± Rachel ended up being mistreated, Tyler would definitely hold him responsible. ecilia and Yale quickly made their way to the front desk Meanwhile, Rachel was in the middle of confronting Wilson. You¡¯re the manager here, right? Please check the surveince footage. Your staff clearly didn¡¯t erve caviar or lobster, but they¡¯re insisting we ate them.¡± My sincerest apologies, Ms. Lloyd. We¡¯ll check right away.¡± iana, overhearing this, looked at Wilson in surprise. ¡°Mr. Woods, you¡­¡® Do you even know who she is? And you still dared to provoke her?¡± iana was stunned for a moment. ¡°She¡¯s just here for a meal. What, is she some big shot or omething?¡± ven now, Liana still looked down on Rachel. Her eyes were filled with disdain. fter all, in a ce like this, customers never argued over a dish or two. In fact, most were so oncerned about appearances that they would rather pay extra than lose face byining. Vilson snorted. ¡°She¡¯s even more important than most of our rich clientele.¡± iana was about to ask what he meant when someone from the kitchen ran over. Mr. Woods, I¡¯m terribly sorry. It was our mistake. We¡¯ve got a new hire in the kitchen today, and ¡®s been hectic. They identally printed the wrong order and added two dishes from another able to this youngdy¡¯s bill.¡± Which two dishes?¡± Wilson asked immediately. Caviar and lobster.¡± iana¡¯s expression turned dark instantly. Vilson, not missing a beat, snapped, ¡°Liana, why are you still standing there? Apologize to the ustomer!¡± till trying to defend herself, Liana muttered, ¡°That was the kitchen¡¯s fault. My job is to collect ayment. What does that have to do with me?¡± he chef immediately apologized to Rachel. ¡°Miss, the mistake was entirely ours. We¡¯re very sorry. To express our apologies,¡± Wilson chimed in, ¡°tonight¡¯s meal is on the house. You won¡¯t be harged.¡± Before Rachel could respond, Liana muttered under her breath with a sarcastic tone, ¡°What a scene for a free meal. If she actually had money, she wouldn¡¯t care about a couple of dishes.¡± The second those words left her mouth, Rachel turned and walked up to her. Rachel¡¯s gaze was icy and devoid of emotion. ¡°Say that again.¡± ¡°I will! You¡¯re just¡ª¡± But as Liana looked into Rachel¡¯s eyes, the rest of her sentence got stuck in her throat. Rachel let out a dismissive snort and stepped forward with undeniable authority. ¡°Let me say it for you. You were trying to imply I didn¡¯t want to pay because I couldn¡¯t pay. Why else would I care about a few dishes being charged by mistake?¡± Liana scoffed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s what it is!¡± ¡°Then how about this? I¡¯ll pay the bill right now. Your restaurant can find another way topensate me, but first, this cashier must be fired. And second, her behavior today must be publicly posted on your announcement board. Good luck finding work in this industry in the future. Rachel was going to end this woman¡¯s career. Without wasting a second more, she retrieved a card from her purse and ced it on the counter. ¡°Go ahead and swipe it.¡± Liana¡¯s gazended on the card, and she froze. This card looked familiar. 2 Her Exit 397 Wasn¡¯t that a globally limited¨Cedition Centurion Card? Liana had worked at this restaurant for years, and had never seen a Centurion Card before. The card wasn¡¯t something just any rich or powerful person could get their hands on. To own one, the power and connections behind you had to be unimaginably strong. Even the prestigious Lewis family didn¡¯t have one. Who exactly was this woman? How on earth did she get that card? Rachel noticed Liana frozen in ce. She tapped her fingers lightly on the counter to snap her back to reality. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want me to pay?¡± There was no way Liana dared to go through with the charge now. If she did, she might never find another job in Yurelia City. Her expression changed instantly; she forced a smile and began apologizing profusely. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Ms. Lloyd. This was entirely my fault. I wasn¡¯t being responsible. I didn¡¯t take my job seriously enough. Please, I¡¯m begging you, forgive me. You have to understand, people like me working these kinds of jobs, it¡¯s not easy. And today was especially overwhelming. There were so many customers¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s expression remained cold. ¡°And what does that have to do with me? This is your job. You make a mistake at work, and now the customer has to clean up after you?¡± Liana¡¯s face flushed red. She bit her lip hard. ¡°I¨CI didn¡¯t mean it like that. You¡¯re obviously wealthy. Why make things harder for people like us? If you could just let it go, I might be able to keep this job.¡± Rachel let out a cold chuckle. ¡°So now, you¡¯re implying I¡¯m the reason you¡¯re about to lose it?¡± Liana remained silent, but the resentment on her face couldn¡¯t be more obvious. Not far away, Yale had been watching the whole scene unfold. He turned to Tyler, who had been leaning against a wall, silently watching as if enjoying a show. ¡°Mr. Hunt, when did you lend Ms. Lloyd your card?¡± Tyler nced at Yale. ¡°Who said it was my card? Mine¡¯s right here with me.¡± Yale was in shock. ¡°What? That¡¯s not your card? Then how did Ms. Lloyd get that?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± Tyler said with clear amusement. He was still looking at Rachel. Right now, she looked like she was glowing. Arms crossed and smiling, he couldn¡¯t help but think that Rachel was getting more and more interesting. Yes¨Cthis was what Mnie¡¯s daughter should be like. Yale noticed that the situation was spiraling out of control. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you¡¯re really not going to step in?¡± ¡°She¡¯s handling it just fine.¡± Tyler wasn¡¯t in a rush. In fact, this was exactly what he wanted. He wanted to test just how much Rachel was still hiding from him. Where had she really been for the past five years? What had she gone through to be this version of herself? Wilson had already figured out that he couldn¡¯t afford to offend Rachel, especially after a waiter whispered that she had arrived with Tyler. That Centurion Card alone was enough to send ripples through the restaurant. Add Tyler Hunt to the equation, and the situation was nuclear. Acting quickly, Wilson returned the card to Rachel. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, there¡¯s no need to pay. This was entirely our restaurant¡¯s mistake. Even if you hadn¡¯t said a word, she would¡¯ve been dismissed regardless. A mistake this serious would be terrible for our reputation.¡± Satisfied, Rachel didn¡¯t press any further. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, we¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Wilson, ever the tactful one, quickly pulled out a few vouchers from the drawer. ¡°These areplimentary meal passes. You, your friends or family are wee to dine here up to three times, on the house. Any dishes you like.¡± Rachel epted them. ¡°Thank you.¡± She parted the crowd and was met with Tyler¡¯s gaze. There was no emotion on her face. He had clearly seen everything. There was no point hiding it now. The group quickly made their way outside. Cecilia clung to Rachel¡¯s arm. Her eyes were wide with curiosity. ¡°Rachel, where¡¯d you get that Centurion Card? I¡¯ve heard of it before. That thing¡¯s legendary!¡± Her Exit 398 Cecilia originally thought Rachel had spent the past five years on a journey of healing. After all, the pain William and Samantha caused her had been overwhelming. But now, it seemed that those years weren¡¯t just about healing. Rachel must¡¯ve gone through a lot more than anyone realized. Rachel didn¡¯t exin much to Cecilia. After all, some things were better left unsaid, especially to someone not directly involved. ¡°Found it on the road,¡± she replied casually. ¡°Huh? What kind of luck is that? That card is insanely prestigious, not to mention globally limited. The person who lost it must be freaking out!¡± Cecilia was clearly shocked by the answer, but she still believed Rachel. Rachel made up a story on the spot. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just too rich. Probably have a bunch of them and didn¡¯t even notice one was missing.¡± ¡°True, but to be that rich, that¡¯s next level. Imagine casually losing a globally limited card like it¡¯s nothing.¡± Tyler leaned against the car door. He picked up on Rachel¡¯sment. ¡°Yeah. Just how rich do you have to be to misce a Centurion Card?¡± Rachel narrowed her eyes slightly and nced at Tyler¡¯s probing eyes. Just that one nce made her feel unnerved. She felt exposed. Rachel quickly averted her gaze, but the sensation of his gaze lingered like needles on her skin. Trying to shake it off, she changed the subject. She took out one of the dining vouchers and handed it to Cecilia. ¡°Here. When the kids are on break, take them out for something nice.¡± ¡°Rachel, you¡­¡± Cecilia was caught off guard by the gesture. She hesitated for a moment before trying to return it. ¡°You¡¯ve already done so much for me. I can¡¯t keep taking things from you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I have more, anyway. No reason to let it go to waste.¡± Rachel shoved it into Cecilia¡¯s hands before thetter could refuse again. After Yale dropped Cecilia off at her ce, Rachel was about to step out of the car as well. She hadn¡¯t even fully extended her leg when Tyler grabbed her by the cor. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Rachel froze. Every time he manhandled her like this, she felt like a cat being picked up by the scruff of its neck. Could this man just treat her with a shred of dignity? Then again, this was Tyler Hunt. He was always domineering and always in control. Reflecting on tets behavior was beneath him, ming others came far more naturally. Rachel turned and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to Cecilia¡¯s. There¡¯s something I need to talk to her about.¡± Tyler nced at his watch. ¡°The doctor just called your father has regained consciousness. Aren¡¯t you going to see him?¡± Rachel narrowed her eyes. Tyler had fooled her more than once, so her first instinct was to doubt bam The doctor called you first? Not me? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a little strange?¡± Tyler let go and replied indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Then ga Judging by his stern expression, it didn¡¯t look like was lying Cecilia saw Rachel¡¯s hesitation and encouraged her gently, ¡°Kachel, yeas hard a huge victory at Lloyd Enterprise today. You fuelped your father keep has shares and hispany Whether he¡¯s awake or not, you should go share the good nears* Kachel thought about it and modded. ¡°You¡¯re right. y, you head horse and get some test¡± Okay¡± After watching Cecilia go inside, Rachel closed the get door e was just about to turn her head, only to almost code at Tyler, who had someted a closet without her noticing Their eyes met Her heart skipped a beat W¨CWhat are you doing? Where did you get that Centurion Card? Her Exit 399 Rachel instinctively took a step back as Tyler leaned in. ¡°It¡¯s not your card anyway, Mr. Hunt. So I don¡¯t see how it¡¯s any of your business.¡± She was genuinely confused. Tyler wasn¡¯t the type to stick his nose where it didn¡¯t belong. But his next words cleared that up. His eyes bore into her. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d keep someone with a suspicious background around me?¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re nning to rece me?¡± Their eyes met again. His gaze was now nk. Gone were the emotions from before. ¡°Rachel, why are you in such a hurry to distance yourself from me? Or is this just how people from the Lloyd family operate, burning bridges once they¡¯ve crossed them?¡± Rachel pouted slightly. The intense stare sent a chill down her spine. She turned her face away. instinctively, only for Tyler to grab her chin and force her to meet his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Feeling guilty?¡± She was caught off guard by the direct eye contact. Staring into the dark, unreadable depths of his gaze, her heart began to race uncontrobly. She had thought that after everything she had been through in the past five years, she was past being shaken by any man. Plenty of men had pursued her over those years, but she had felt nothing for any of them. She used to believe her heart only raced around Tyler out of guilt, because back then, she was still married to William. Getting too close to another man never felt right. But now, even with that history behind her, why did Tyler¡¯s presence still make her heart pound? She lowered her gaze and steadied herself. ¡°No. Mr. Hunt, if you¡¯re concerned about my background, you can rece me. I meant what I said. I¡¯ll pay the penalty outlined in the contract. If it helps, I¡¯ll stay on until you find someone new.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any ns to rece you, and I¡¯d advise you to stop having that thought, too.¡± With that one sentence, he shattered herst ounce of hope. Five years ago, she didn¡¯t understand this man. Now, five yearster, she still couldn¡¯t read him. Since she couldn¡¯t figure him out, she stopped trying and decided to ask directly. ¡°Why me, then? Why insist on keeping me?¡± ¡°Because your singing is the worst I¡¯ve ever heard. I doubt I¡¯ll ever find anyone worse.¡± Tyler rubbed his forehead while teasing her. Rachel pursed her lips. She wanted to p herself. She should¡¯ve known better than to expect a serious answer from this man. Why did she even bother asking? She turned away and looked out the window, choosing silence. Outside the car, the wind picked up, blowing Rachel¡¯s hair gently through the open crack. A soft, fragrant scent filled the space around them. Tyler frowned slightly. Something about the scent was strangely familiar. He reached out, curling one of her stray strands around his finger, and brought it to his nose. ¡°What shampoo are you using?¡± Rachel was lost in thought about Jim when she suddenly felt his breath against her ear, hot and intimate. Her whole body jolted. ¡°W¨CWhy do you want to know that?¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why are you so jumpy? Just answer the question.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just some random brand from another country. If you like it, I can send you the linkter.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll transfer the money. Get it for me.¡± Tyler picked up his phone, tapped a few times, and momentster, Rachel¡¯s phone pinged with a WhatsApp message from him. She looked down at her phone in surprise. ¡°How did you get my number?¡± ¡°That¡¯s hardly a challenge.¡± Tyler smiled as if to say it was a piece of cake. When Rachel thought about it, it made sense. She had been abroad, and she had signed a confidentiality agreement. Thepany had gone to great lengths to hide her whereabouts and any information rted to her. Her Exit 400 Things were different now. Her time with thepany was up, so there was no reason for them to keep hiding her personal information. At this point, if Tyler wanted to investigate, it would be child¡¯s y. Rachel thought about her current contract. It wasn¡¯tplete yet. Not acknowledging the message mighte off as impolite. Besides, Tyler was sitting right beside her. There was no room to refuse anyway. After weighing her options, Rachel decided to avoid trouble and acknowledged it. A momentter, a transfer notification popped up on her screen. Rachel nced at the amount. It was ten thousand! She turned to Tyler and reminded him, ¡°This shampoo isn¡¯t that expensive.¡± The money he sent was enough to buy at least ten bottles of it. Tyler waved it off casually. ¡°Then use the rest to buy whatever you need. Personal care products or whatever.¡± Rachel¡¯s guard instantly went up. She looked at him warily. ¡°Do I still need to stay overnight at your ce?¡± Tyler responded matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°If I have meetings that go until midnight, do you n to go home in the middle of the night?¡± Rachel actually didn¡¯t want to stay at Tyler¡¯s house. A single man and a single woman under one roof¨Cpeople would talk. Not to mention, William still hadn¡¯t given up on her and Howard had suffered a major loss at her hands today. With his spoiled, entitled personality, there was no way Howard would just let that go. In the end, Rachel refused Tyler¡¯s offer. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I¡¯ll buy a car soon. I can drive home at night.¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°Quite the big spender, aren¡¯t you?¡± Rachel responded earnestly, ¡°My dad probably won¡¯t recover so soon. I¡¯ll likely have to stay here for some time. A car¡¯s not a bad investment.¡± If she didn¡¯t end up needing it, she could always give it to Cecilia. That would help Cecilia with picking up the kids at school. But a more pressing problem was Cecilia¡¯s job. William knew now that Cecilia was on Rachel¡¯s side, so he would never take her back. Given his petty nature, he might even go so far as to smear her reputation in the industry, making it even harder for her to get hired again. Tyler quickly picked up on what was unsaid, and his gaze turned serious. ¡°Are you still nning to leave?¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°If my dad passes in the end, I won¡¯t have any ties left here. Staying would be pointless.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°Whatever else happens, you will finish the contract.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Rachel knew Tyler well enough. He wasn¡¯t someone who tolerated half¨Cdone work. She had heard a story before. Once, Lloyd Enterprise had a project mid¨Cprogress when the project lead died in a car crash. The coboratingpany was sympathetic and said that, under the circumstances, they would be open to terminating the deal. After all, no one else could quite grasp the project lead¡¯s creative direction. Everyone in thepany thought it best to let the project go. Everyone, that is, except Tyler. He insisted onpleting it. He spent two weeks, including four all -nighters, reconstructing the rest of the n himself. Rachel¡¯s phone suddenly rang. It was Cecilia. She swiped to answer. ¡°Cecilia? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Rachel, William reported your dad! I just got word that it¡¯s all over our circle now. He imed that on a past project, your dad used materials with dangerously high levels of formaldehyde. Now, a bunch of people who came into contact with it are in the hospital. You have to do something now!¡± Her Exit 401 If the phrase ¡®when it rains, it pours¡® ever applied to someone, Rachel was living proof. Her brows furrowed tightly. ¡°Did William report him?¡± ¡°Yes. William probably found out your dad has regained consciousness. In his current condition, if he gets investigated and can¡¯t clear himself, they¡¯ll detain him. That could be the end for him!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to confront William right now!¡± ¡°Rachel, calm down! Going to him now won¡¯t help. William is clearly doing this to retaliate against you.¡± After all, William had just been hit hard. Thepany was still in turmoil, and to make matters worse, he had spent a few days in a police station cell. That kind of experience was anything but pleasant. Rachel was anxious. ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t William have an uncle? I heard he¡¯s terrified of that man. Maybe look into who this guy is! 11 Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up. She did vaguely remember hearing about this mysterious uncle who William was very wary of, maybe even someone capable of keeping him in check. She had already met other members of the Lewis family. Judging by Thomas¡® temperament, there was no way he would help her now. The entire Lewis family probably hated her guts. Rachel agreed. ¡°Okay, could you also ask around for me?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll call you the moment I hear anything.¡± Just as she hung up, Yale¡¯s car rolled up to the hospital entrance. Rachel turned to Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you can go take care of your other business now. I¡¯lle byter this evening. Don¡¯t worry.¡± She added thatst part to reassure him she wouldn¡¯t¡¯run. He didn¡¯t need to monitor her every step. Besides, if the situation with Jim wasn¡¯t handled properly, leaving now would mean all hell breaking loose. Tyler opened the car door anyway. ¡°No worries. I have other things to discuss with your father.¡± Rachel looked at him curiously. ¡°What could you two possibly need to talk about?¡± She knew Tyler was once close to Mnie, but when had he be chummy with Jim? Tyler stepped out of the car in his usual rxed style with his shirt half¨Ctucked. There was aid- back quality to him. He nced at her, eyes full of mischief. ¡°Do you want to know?¡± Rachel hesitated, brain spinning, trying to figure out if he actually intended to tell her or if this was just another trap. She did want to know. Whatever was going on between Tyler and Jim, it was probably important. What the hell. She¡¯d trust him onest time. She nodded firmly. ¡°Yeah.¡± Tyler smirked, and Rachel¡¯s heart sank. She had a bad feeling about this. A low, teasing chuckle rumbled from his chest. ¡°If you want to know, trade me one of your secrets, Rachel.¡± As he brushed past her, he seemed quite pleased with himself. His warm palm patted her gently on the head. Rachel stood frozen, fists clenched, and eyes burning with frustration as she stared at Tyler¡¯s back. She had fallen for it again. Wham! She mmed the car door shut and stormed after him. When she pushed open the door to the ward, Xavier happened to being out next to a nurse with a medical chart in hand. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, good timing. I was just about to update you on your father¡¯s condition.¡± Rachel recalled that Xavier had been familiar with her father¡¯s case, but he wasn¡¯t the attending physician. Seeing him with the chart, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Dr. Jenkins, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Oh, there was an earthquake in a neighboring city. Your father¡¯s attending doctor was dispatched for emergency relief, so I¡¯ll be taking over his care for now.¡± Her Exit 402 Rachel only realized it now that Tyler had gotten the call from a doctor earlier, while she hadn¡¯t. If the call had been from Xavier, then it all made sense. Tyler stood there with his hands in his pockets and a nk expression on his face. ¡°Come on in.¡± Xavier entered with a nurse, joining Rachel and the others. Jim was already awake and, upon seeing Rachel, instinctively tried to sit up. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± ¡°Dad, just stay lying down. Whatever you want to say, we can talk about itter.¡± Jim listened andy back down obediently. Rachel turned to Xavier. ¡°Dr. Jenkins, how¡¯s my dad doing now?¡± ¡°There¡¯s been some improvement. Though the overall condition still isn¡¯t great, the fact that he¡¯s awake means we can start nning next steps. Plus, Tyler reached out to a top specialist overseas who happens to be an expert in your father¡¯s condition. We¡¯ll go over the treatment n once it¡¯s finalized.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s time, take your dad out for some light walks. Moderate activity will help with recovery.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you so much.¡± Rachel finally felt like she could breathe a little easier. She nced at Tyler without meaning to. She hadn¡¯t expected that he would go out of his way to find a doctor for Jim. Most likely, it had to do with Mnie. Rachel remembered that, for a while, Mnie had practically seen Tyler as a son. But back then, she was too wrapped up in school to pay attention or ask about it. Xavier looked at Tyler. ¡°Since you¡¯re already at the hospital, why not get a checkup too? It¡¯s been a long time since yourst one. You need to take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Tyler followed him out of the room. Now, it was just Rachel and Jim in the room. She pulled over a chair and sat by the bed while holding his hand. ¡°Dad, why didn¡¯t you tell me all this sooner?¡± Jim still looked pale, but his voice was noticeably stronger than before. ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t n to ever say anything. It would only hurt your sister. I thought that if you could get things done with the recordings I gave you, then I could keep this buried.¡± Rachel could see it now. If it weren¡¯t for Sasha and Yvette¡¯s scheming, Jim probably would¡¯ve taken this secret to his grave. Sadly, all his effort meant nothing to Yvette and Sasha. Those two were blinded by money. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll take care of everything. Oh, right. About my birth mother, what do you know about her?¡± At that, Jim simply shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s not much to say. It¡¯s just like what Tyler told you. It was an ident. I only saw her that one time.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t want to upset him, so she let that topic drop. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more about thatter. But Dad, what¡¯s really going on between you and Tyler? What are you two nning?¡± Jim chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not keeping anything from you. Don¡¯t overthink it. But I do hope that before I leave this world, I get to see you with a boyfriend.¡± Rachel froze at that. Her heart skipped a beat. She stared at him in disbelief. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re not seriously trying to set me up with Tyler, are you?¡± Her Exit 403 Jim immediately said, ¡°You said it yourself. This has nothing to do with me Rachel didn¡¯t even want to think about it. She just walked over and pulled the nket up for lim ¡°Dad, I really hope you won¡¯t take things too far.¡± ¡°How is this taking things too far? Isn¡¯t this just human nature? I need to know you¡¯ll hav someone to take care of you. That¡¯s the only way I¡¯ll be at peace.¡± Jim did have his reasons. Rachel was different from Yvette. Yvette still had her grandfather, but Rachel had no one but him. With how weak his body had be, Jim knew there woulde a day when he wouldn¡¯t br around anymore. When that day came, Rachel would be left with no family in this world. He couldn¡¯t even help Rachel find her birth mother, Suddenly remembering something, Jim reached under his pillow and pulled out a ne. He handed it to Rachel. ¡°Rachel, if one day I¡¯m no longer here and you want to find your birth mother, this ne might help. I waspletely out of it that night, but when I woke up, this ne was by my bed. She must¡¯ve left in a rush and forgot to take it.¡± Rachel took it; she could tell right away it was quite old, though its color hadn¡¯t faded at all. It still had a sheen to it despite its age. She didn¡¯t know much about jewelry, but even she could tell it wasn¡¯t cheap. There was no way something of poor quality couldst that long and still look like this. That meant her birth mother probably wasn¡¯t doing too badly financially back then. That, or someone had gifted it to her. Rachel didn¡¯t me Jim. He had already married Mnie by then. This was probably the best oue they could have hoped for. What she hadn¡¯t expected was that the woman had ended up pregnant. She tucked the ne away safely. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. I understand.¡± In the ward next door¡­ Xavier finished a quick checkup on Tyler and said bluntly, ¡°Your condition is pretty serious. Just when the old issue was finally showing some improvement, Rachel went and left. These five years, your sleep¡¯s been a disaster. On top of that, you¡¯ve been burning yourself out physically. If it weren¡¯t for your consistent workouts, your body would¡¯ve broken down a long time ago.¡± Xavier nced over Tyler¡¯s charts and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not joking. If you don¡¯t get your sleep under control, it¡¯s going to be a serious problem. You¡¯d better hold on to Ms. Lloyd, even if it¡¯s just for the sake of your health.¡± Tyler¡¯s case wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to him. They had tried therapy before, but nothing worked. Some patients were just wired differently. Only somethingpletely unexpected could help with treatment. They had tried physical therapy, acupuncture, and even alternative medicine. None of it worked. But the moment Rachel sang, Tyler could actually fall asleep. The connection between the two of them was almost uncanny. Thinking about what Rachel had said in the car, Tyler rubbed his temples. ¡°That¡¯s not really up to me.¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t help butugh at his rare look of helplessness. ¡°What, you can¡¯t win her over? She looks like she could bolt at any second. Her heart¡¯s not settled.¡± Tyler had the same feeling. It felt like Rachel was secretly nning something behind his back. For now, he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on what it was. Her Exit 404 Xavier leaned against the edge of the table. ¡°Didn¡¯t you two sign some kind of contract?¡± At the mention of the contract, Tyler let out a sarcastic chuckle. He picked up one of Xavier¡¯s pens and twirled it idly with his fingers. ¡°Do you really think a contract could¡¯ve held her down? If it could, would she have disappeared five years ago?¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t help his curiosity. ¡°Where do you think she went during those five years? Even you couldn¡¯t track her down. If it hadn¡¯t been for her father¡¯s illness, we¡¯d probably all assume she died out there somewhere.¡± ¡°No, worse. It was like she vanished into thin air.¡± Tyler rubbed his temples, frowning. He was puzzled too. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had a few contacts overseas? Check again. There used to be a certain organization, one that signs people under strict NDAS to research or develop special projects or products in total secrecy.¡± Xavier¡¯s expression shifted to one of shock. ¡°You mean the Raganor Industries? Tyler, don¡¯t even joke about that. I know Ms. Lloyd was talented when she worked at the Lewis Enterprise, but that organization isn¡¯t something just anyone can join.¡± Tyler was already thinking back to that Centurion Card Rachel had pulled out at the restaurant today. In all of Yurelia City, he was the only one who had one. Not even William or Howard had it. Tyler wouldn¡¯t believe it for a second that Rachel was just an ordinary person. He tossed the pen aside and stood up, slipping his hands into his pockets. His casual demeanor returned. ¡°This time, unless she really can vanish into thin air, she¡¯s not escaping the palm of my hand.¡± Xavier smirked. ¡°Good luck with that.¡± Even he could tell that Rachel wasn¡¯t the same woman anymore. The look in her eyes had changed. Whatever happened in those years had transformed her. Back in the ward, just as Tyler walked in, Rachel was stepping out with a basin of water after wiping Jim down. She stopped short when she saw Tyler, but the water moved faster than she did, sloshing out of the basin and sshing right onto Tyler¡¯s suit jacket. Rachel froze for a moment, then quickly set the basin down and grabbed some tissues to dab at his jacket. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t see you there.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t stop her. He simply lowered his gaze to her. ¡°Rachel, do you have a grudge against my clothes?¡± Rachel paused. She then remembered that five years ago, she was always borrowing Tyler¡¯s jackets for all sorts of reasons. She kept dabbing, managing to soak up some of the water, but there was still arge, dark splotch on the fabric. It was unsightly. After taking a deep breath, she picked up a towel and started wiping again. ¡°Mr. Hunt, please don¡¯t move.¡± As she dabbed at his chest, she couldn¡¯t help but feel his muscles beneath the fabric¨Cfirm, solid, and warm. She had assumed that after five years, Tyler¡¯s skin would¡¯ve aged somewhat like what happened to most people. Yet, his body was still as toned and defined as ever. Every inch of his skin was firm. ¡°How long are you nning to keep feeling me up?¡± Tyler¡¯s voice, cool and low, sounded right above her head. Rachel snapped out of her daze and quickly retracted her hand. ¡°T¨CThis jacket probably can¡¯t be cleaned properly like this. Mr. Hunt, maybe you should take it off. I¡¯ll send it to the dry cleaners for you.¡± Tyler frowned but eventually shrugged out of the jacket and handed it to her, giving her a look as he did. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that next time.¡± Rachel stiffened slightly as she took the jacket, then looked at him oddly. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± X H Her Exit 405 Chapter 405 Just as Rachel said that, her phone rang She nce at the screen. It was a call from Cecilia 15 BONUS ¡°Sorry, Mr. Hunt, need to take this call. If you¡¯re sarping cut of the wand without waiting for Tyler sy, feel free to leave,¡± Rachel said before response. the set done on a bench in the hallway Cecilia spoke first ¡°Karters, your Sorted he Kachari could¡¯t hade far excement. ¡°That fest? ¡°Yes, but the bad news is, the guy moves around a lor. All we know is that he was recently in Yurelia Caty Word is, the swing up at a business parter¡¯s banquet in three days.¡± Rachel dyder¡¯t know whether sough or cry ¡°But if we don¡¯t have any deals how do we te¡¯s tally William¡¯s uncle 1 beard the man has a modern ascert Rachel found that tendevasty anal and coastic expecting me foo just walk up at talte has short of help butugh. ¡°You¡¯re not seriously yo How else was she supposed to check whether theres a master his chest? Cancille sind ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯ve been able to dig up Modder nc Geole Honey for some out soal power on events, Cecilia hadh already done we mgmtessane pak Star writer Ty, we could down myne without threading & sweat ¡°It¡¯s okay fill just have to y in by mad when the minees Before hanging up. Catha added, ¡°You know, you could ask Ma Hind for harly. He practically sums Yurelia Chry Funding Wilhaw¡¯s uncle would be nothing for hun.¡± Kachel¡¯s beat clenched. Every time she asked Tylegtor help, even if he agreed, is mucans after seend haam something. The muate favors she owed hum, theppedes the dicht in the end, how would sta exet pay it all back? She said honestly, ¡°I really don¡¯t want to ask bu Cecilia sighed ¡°alight, let¡¯s just wait and see then After the call ended, Rachel was just about to get unten a group of informed officers watkest toward ber Her heart clenched Had word really gotten out this fast? Were they here for Jim? But in his current condition, there was o way be could be taken anywhere. Rachel quackdly stepped forward ¡°Are you here for Jim Lloyd?¡± ¡°Yes. We received a report that a batch of materials from Lloyd Enterprise contained excessive levels of formaldehyde. Several victims are now in emergency care.¡± Rachel exined her father¡¯s condition to them. ¡°He¡¯s really not in any shape to be taken away for questioning. If you have anything to ask, could you do it here instead?¡± The two officers exchanged a nce, looking a little conflicted. ¡°You have to understand. This case is serious and involves many lives. We haven¡¯t received any instructions from higher¨Cups saying we can question your father at the hospital.¡± That was when Rachel asked, ¡°May I ask if your superior is Logan Traynor?¡± The two looked at each other in surprise. ¡°You know our superior?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say I do. Just give me two minutes. I¡¯ll make a call.¡± They immediately understood what Rachel was trying to do, but one of them still tried to talk her out of it. ¡°I¡¯d advise you not to bother. He¡¯s known for being absolutely impartial. He doesn¡¯t bend for anyone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I just want to exin the situation to him. Nothing more.¡± Her Exit 406 Rachel had heard that Logan was known for being upright and unyielding, never showing favoritism to anyone. No matter how wealthy or powerful someone was, they couldn¡¯t exploit any loopholes with him. ¡°How arrogant,¡± one of the two men muttered under their breath. Rachel ignored them and picked up her phone to call Logan. The callsted barely two or three minutes. After hanging up, Rachel walked over to the two men. ¡°Your superior will be calling you shortly to exin the situation. Please continue questioning him here for now. Don¡¯t take him away yet.¡± ¡°Are you joking? We¡¯re acting under orders from our superior to arrest your father, and now you¡¯re telling us not to take him in?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t interfere with official duties, or we¡¯ll have every right to arrest you too!¡± As they spoke, the two men moved to brush past Rachel. She had no choice but to block them. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Just wait two more minutes. The call ising any moment now.¡± ¡°Step aside!¡± These two were used to enforcing thew and didn¡¯t bother listening to her. One of them reached out to push past her. Rachel wasn¡¯t a match for the two grown men. She stumbled back a couple of steps, losing her bnce. But the pain she expected didn¡¯te. A pair of strong, steady hands caught her around the waist, stopping her from falling. A cool scent mixed with the faint aroma of tobo washed over her. It was somehow familiar, as if she had smelled it before. Sometimes memories just surged out of nowhere. She quickly dismissed the thought. It couldn¡¯t be. She and Tyler had barely interacted in the past, and she was certain it had been William who saved her from the fire. She hadn¡¯t even known Tyler back then. ¡°You okay?¡± Tyler asked softly. Rachel snapped out of it. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± Tyler helped her stand upright. He then turned to the two officers who were still trying to push forward. He reached out and shoved them back, his expression dark and unreadable. His cold, intense presence made it impossible to ignore him. ¡°Even if you¡¯re here to do your job, that doesn¡¯t give you the right to use force, especially against a woman.¡± The two enforcement officers recognized him. After all, there wasn¡¯t a soul in Yurelia City who didn¡¯t know who Tyler was. ¡°Mr. Hunt, we¡¯ve tried reasoning with this youngdy, but we¡¯re on official duty. Please don¡¯t make this harder for us.¡± Rachel spoke up again. ¡°Your superior said he¡¯ll call you the moment he wraps up what he¡¯s doing. Can¡¯t you just wait two more minutes?¡± ¡°We¡¯re here to enforce thew, not to give you people special treatment. We¡¯ve got other tasks waiting. We don¡¯t have time to waste here.¡± The two men tried again to push forward, but Tyler blocked thempletely. His piercing gaze locked onto them, and he spoke with quiet but powerful authority. ¡°Are you sure you want to go against the Hunt family?¡± In Yurelia City, Tyler was a force to be reckoned with. No one dared cross him. Even the officers had to think twice, especially since there were rumors that his family had strong military ties. Offending them could very well cost them their jobs. But this assignment came from higher¨Cups, and the media was already watching the case closely. If something went wrong, they¡¯d be the ones taking the fall. Once again, one of the officers said, ¡°Please, Mr. Hunt, don¡¯t make this difficult for us.¡± Her Exit 407 Tyler¡¯s eyes darkened, and his tone was firm. ¡°What if I insist on making things difficult?¡± The two officers exchanged nces, both clearly torn. They knew Tyler wasn¡¯t someone to cross. Offending him could be even worse than upsetting their higher¨Cups. Just as they hesitated, one of their phones suddenly rang. ¡°Hello? Got it. We¡¯ll report the rest once we¡¯re back.¡± After hanging up, the officer turned to Tyler with a more respectful attitude. ¡°We just received instructions. Given Jim Lloyd¡¯s current condition, he¡¯ll be allowed to undergo questioning here in the hospital room. We¡¯re still investigating the matter, but we must remind the family that if the evidence is solid, no matter who you know, he will have to face the consequences of thew.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t dare think that far ahead. Her only hope right now was that Jim wouldn¡¯t be taken away from the hospital. Everything else could wait. ¡°Thank you both. I apologize if we were out of line just now. Please don¡¯t take it personally.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Rachel and Tyler stepped aside to let them into the ward. The officers briefly exined the situation to Jim, who looked stunned. His emotions red immediately. ¡°No way! That¡¯s impossible! Every batch of materials we used was strictly screened. Something like this just couldn¡¯t happen.¡± After speaking, he clutched Rachel¡¯s hand as if grabbing a lifeline. ¡°Rachel, you have to believe me. In all my years of doing business, I¡¯ve always known the line between right and wrong. I¡¯d never get involved in something illegal, something that could cost lives. That would be like destroying my reputation.¡± He broke into a violent coughing fit, his face looking terribly pale. Rachel stepped forward and gently patted his back to soothe him. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t get so worked up. They already said it¡¯s just a preliminary investigation. You have to tell them every detail. Don¡¯t leave anything out. That¡¯s the only way they can get to the bottom of it.¡± Jim cooperated and exined everything he knew. Seeing that he was cooperative, the officers wrapped up the questioning and left. Now, only Tyler and the others remained in the room. Jim looked anxious as he turned to Rachel. ¡°Someone¡¯s definitely framing us!¡± ¡°I know, but who was overseeing this project on a daily basis?¡± Since something had clearly gone wrong, Rachel knew she had to start tracing it from the source. But Jim just sighed and shook his head. ¡°You won¡¯t find anything. The project manager quit right after it waspleted, and the others involved left for various reasons. Even if you tried to track them down now, the moment they hear something went wrong with the project, no one¡¯s going to cooperate.¡± Tyler scoffed. ¡°Mr. Lloyd, with so many people quitting one after another after the project ended, didn¡¯t you think that was suspicious?¡± ¡°No. They all left at different times, and each of their reasons seemed perfectly valid. I couldn¡¯t exactly stop them from resigning.¡± Rachel knew better. Jim had been in the business world for decades. There was no way he didn¡¯t understand the deeper implications behind such things. Noticing her troubled expression, he tried tofort her instead. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m already old. Do you think I¡¯m afraid of going to prison? At my age, I probably wouldn¡¯t even survive long enough to finish a sentence.¡± He said it in a casual, almost joking tone, but to Rachel, it sounded heartbreakingly bleak. Her Exit 408 Rachel¡¯s eyes suddenly welled up with tears. Jim was already old and gravely ill; that alone was hard enough. Now, he was tangled up in a legal case. If things went wrong, he could end up spending what little time he had left behind bars. Rachel couldn¡¯t hold her emotions back anymore. She got up, turning away from Jim. ¡°No, don¡¯t overthink it. Just focus on getting better. I¡¯ll find out the truth.¡± With that, she hurried out of the ward. When Tyler followed her out, he spotted Rachel standing alone in a corner, quietly wiping her tears. He approached and pulled a clean handkerchief from his suit pocket. ¡°Want this?¡± Rachel nced at it and politely declined. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Well, if your snot and tears end up smeared all over your clothes, that¡¯s one thing, but if it ends up in your mouth-¡± ¡°Ugh, stop! That¡¯s disgusting!¡± Before he could finish, Rachel quickly snatched the handkerchief and wiped her face. As soon as she finished, she realized what she had done, and now the handkerchief was a mess. She bundled it up awkwardly and held it in her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll wash it and return it to you in a couple of days. ¡°Sure.¡± Then, she remembered something. ¡°You¡¯re not that old, but you carry a handkerchief? Isn¡¯t that kind of old¨Cfashioned?¡± Tyler¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°This was my mother¡¯s.¡± Rachel froze for a moment. She remembered catching a glimpse of the flower embroidered on the fabric earlier. The stitching seemed delicate and skillful. ¡°She embroidered the flower, too?¡± He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the only keepsake I have from her. As he recalled her face, Tyler¡¯s gaze grew distant. His mother should¡¯ve lived to the age Jim was now. Rachel noticed how the cold, powerful aura Tyler usually gave off seemed to waver in that moment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to pry. I was just curious. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Tyler looked away. S Rachel suddenly felt the handkerchief burn in her hand. She grew awkward, especially knowing she had just used it to wipe her nose. She understood how important a mother could be to a child. ¡°I¡¯ll go wash this right now and return it to you clean.¡± She turned to head toward the restroom, but Tyler reached out and stopped her by grabbing her wrist. ¡°No need to rush. Even if you wash it now, it won¡¯t dry.¡± Since he said that, Rachel didn¡¯t insist. ¡°Mr. Hunt, can I ask you about someone?¡± Tyler raised his brows. ¡°Is this about William¡¯s uncle?¡± Rachel looked a little surprised. ¡°You already know?¡± ¡°Even if I tell you where he is, how do you n to approach him? Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, he¡¯s got a strange temper. What do you even have to offer him in exchange?¡± Rachel took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll offer whatever I have.¡± Tyler¡¯s brows immediately furrowed. His tone turned harsh. ¡°What do you mean by whatever you have? Be specific.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t immediately catch his meaning. but ¡°I mean, whatever he wants, I¡¯ll give it. And besides, Mr. Hunt, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m in control here. He holds all the cards.¡± Suddenly, Tyler took a step closer, closing the distance between them. His breath brushed against her face. It was warm andced with a rich scent of roses. ¡°What if what he wants is you? Would you give yourself to him, too?¡± Her Exit 409 Rachel furrowed her brows. She seemed tense. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. His Adam¡¯s apple dipped as his hand slid slowly down from her cheek. Rachel stared at Tyler for a few seconds. She then looked away awkwardly and chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re not William¡¯s uncle. Why do you even care? She nced at her watch, understanding now that Tyler¡¯s words made it clear he had no intention of helping her. If he had, he would¡¯ve said so already. There was one less favor to owe him. She had enough debts as it was. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Mr. Hunt. You should head back. I need to go home and change. I¡¯ll take a cabter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t wait for her response. He turned and walked off. ¡°Go say goodbye to Mr. Lloyd. I¡¯ll be waiting at the hospital entrance.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Rachel wanted to decline, but Tyler didn¡¯t give her the chance. He was already gone around the corner. She sighed. There was no point in arguing. Tyler was always domineering and decisive. He was never the type to take no for an answer. Oh, well. Having a ride saved her the trouble of hailing a cab. Rachel went back to the hospital room to say goodbye to Jim. Jim looked at her with concern. ¡°Rachel, I know your personality, but there¡¯s something I need to say. I¡¯ll handle my problems. You don¡¯t need to intervene. And definitely don¡¯t go making any deals with anyone.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart gave a sudden jolt. Sometimes, she wondered if Jim could read her mind. He always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. Still, she nodded and yed along. ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t worry. Just rest. Call me if anythinges up.¡± She left the room. Before she even got out of the hospital, her phone rang. It was William. Although she had long since deleted his number, that string of digits was etched into her memory. Rachel instinctively pressed the power button, declining the call without hesitation. From the moment she left Yurelia City, she had promised herself that she would never get entangled with William again. That awful, broken marriage should¡¯ve ended long ago. When they got back to her apartment, Tyler dropped her off. Rachel was the first to unbuckle her seatbelt. ¡°I¡¯m going up to change. Please wait here, Mr. Hunt¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It was already dark out. Rachel hadn¡¯t realized howte it had gotten. As she reached to press the elevator button, she suddenly sensed a shadow sh past her. She inhaled deeply. She felt a chill down her spine. Could there be an evil spirit? She frantically pressed the elevator button again, but it was still stuck on the 12th floor. The hallway light had been broken for a few days now, and the building management still hadn¡¯t fixed it. Suddenly, a pair of strong hands gripped her shoulders from behind. Rachel instinctively moved to throw the attacker over her shoulder. ¡°Rachel, it¡¯s me.¡± That voice¡­ She turned around and saw William,pletely wasted, reeking of alcohol. She grimaced in disgust. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± His eyes were bloodshot, the stench of liquor thick in the air. He stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Why won¡¯t you answer my calls?¡± Rachel yanked her hand away and let out a cold, sarcasticugh. ¡°Why should I answer? William, have you forgotten? We¡¯re not married anymore. Actually, scratch that, we were never truly husband and wife. These days, we¡¯re more like enemies!¡± She hadn¡¯t even had time to go looking for him, and now, William hade to her himself. Her Exit 410 William couldn¡¯t ept it. He lost control and shouted at Rachel. ¡°You still love me, don¡¯t you? We¡¯ve been together for seven years! How can your feelings just disappear?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t care about a single word he said. In fact, hearing him talk like that made her feel nauseous for no reason. The stench of alcohol on him made her even more ufortable. She couldn¡¯t help but push William away. ¡°Can you stop being so full of yourself? If I still had feelings for you, I never would¡¯ve left in the first ce. When you were fooling around with Samantha, doing all that disgusting stuff behind my back, did you ever think about me?¡± But William didn¡¯t seem to think he was wrong at all. Instead, he growled, as if venting all his dissatisfaction with her. ¡°I never wanted to divorce you!¡± ¡°Then that makes you even more disgusting! You wanted to rekindle things with your precious first love while still pretending to be my husband. Don¡¯t you feel sick just hearing yourself? And you keep saying you love me? Yet, you went and reported my dad when he was already in that state. Were you trying to kill him?!¡± Rachel¡¯s anger built with every word. There wasn¡¯t a trace of affection in her eyes, only a cold, unfeeling re. A smirk suddenly appeared on his face. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell this is yourst chance? As long as you agree to be with me again, I¡¯ll let your dad off the hook.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I will never get back together with you. Just looking at you makes my skin crawl. Go be with your precious Samantha. I sincerely wish you two a long, happy life together!¡± Right as she finished speaking, the elevator doors opened. Rachel turned, ready to walk away. Seeing her about to leave, William suddenly lunged forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist from behind. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯d better think this through. This is thest chance to save your dad!!¡± Rachel struggled, but William, emboldened by alcohol, was stronger than usual and wouldn¡¯t let go. She gave him a warning. ¡°William, if you don¡¯t let go right now, don¡¯t me me for what happens next.¡± ¡°Say yes, and I¡¯ll let go!¡± Rachel took a deep breath. ¡°Fine. You won¡¯t let go? Let¡¯s see about that.¡± She pulled out her phone and called Samantha. As soon as the call connected, Rachel spoke into the receiver, ¡°Ms. Judd, could you please leash your dog? He¡¯s out here harassing people again.¡± Samantha immediately understood that William had gone to find Rachel. Lately, she had sensed something was off with William. He had been drinking alone more and more, and several times she had heard him muttering someone¡¯s name under his breath. She couldn¡¯t quite catch it, but she was pretty sure it was Rachel. Just as she was about to ask Rachel to send her the address, the call was suddenly cut off. William had snatched the phone from Rachel and ended the call. He yelled at her in frustration, ¡°Why the hell are you calling Samantha? I¡¯m trying to talk about us! 11 ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about between us. Do whatever you want. But I¡¯m warning you onest time¨Cdon¡¯t you dare use my dad to threaten me. There is no future between us. None!.¡± William let out a cold snort. ¡°Rachel, we were together for seven years. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you. You treat family like your lifeline. There¡¯s no way you¡¯ll let your dad die. You have no other options, only me.¡± Rachel sneered. ¡°Actually, I do. Your uncle.¡± Her Exit 411 Chapter 411 William furrowed his brows, suddenly bing alert. ¡°You know who my uncle is?¡± he asked Rachel. ¡°I don¡¯t. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t mind if you told me who he is.¡± Rachel just wanted William to know that even if he wasn¡¯t willing to help Jim, she had alternatives. Even though she had no idea what this alternative looked like¡­ She wouldn¡¯t give up on even a glimmer of hope. William was right about one thing. She would never give up so easily on her family. Jim was her only family left in this world, and she would fight tooth and nail to protect him. Rachel sensed William sighing in relief, as though d that she still didn¡¯t know who his uncle was. She found it particrly odd and questioned William, ¡°From the look on your face¡­ Do I happen to know your uncle?¡± William red at Rachel, his eyes shing in warning. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, Rachel. My uncle isn¡¯t easy to deal with and will probably swallow you whole. Provoke him and you won¡¯t be able to shake him off the rest of your life. Also, the Lewis family can¡¯t afford to be embarrassed again. You used to be my wife, for goodness¡® sake. My uncle is thest person you should be looking for!¡± Rachel was intrigued to see William all riled up at the mention of his uncle. She spun the keyring on her finger and scoffed, ¡°Why are you and Samantha allowed to mess around? Why do you get to call it embarrassing for your family when a singledy like me looks for your uncle?¡± The extent of William¡¯s shamelessness never failed to surprise her. She must have been blind in the past to have spent so many years of her life with such a despicable man. William pursed his lips tightly, his face dark with displeasure. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this! My family will never allow my ex¨Cwife to get involved with my uncle. You¡¯ve known my family for so many years. Don¡¯t you know what my grandfather is capable of?¡± Rachel could hear the threat in his voice. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she gave him a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°So what? Do you really think I¡¯m still the same Rachel from the past, who did everything you told her to?¡± William knew that Rachel was a new woman now. Her aura was worlds apart from before, and he hated how much she had changed. It would only make her attract even more men to her. No matter what and no matter when, she would always be his wife. He grabbed her arm, trying to reignite her love for him by reminding her how beautiful their past was. ¡°Rachel, have you forgotten? We once promised each other we¡¯d be together forever. Our love will be evesting! I¡¯ve never forgotten that.¡± Rachel dodged his advance the moment he stretched his hand toward her. ¡°That¡¯s quite enough, William. Can you please stop bringing up the past? It truly disgusts me! You either find a way to clear my father¡¯s name right now, or you might just find yourself calling me your aunt one day.¡± With that, Rachel stepped into the elevator without any hesitation. She pressed a button and took a deep breath to calm herself down. Suddenly, she burst outughing at the thought of what she just said. Being William¡¯s aunt? The audacity of her to even think of that! As for William, he had wanted to force Rachel into agreeing by making use of Jim. Given his current situation, he couldn¡¯t afford to go through another divorce. Thest scandal that broke out over his divorce had done quite a bit of damage to his reputation. Who knew that Rachel was so stubborn and refused to be with him again? Her Exit 412 Even if Rachel refused to be with him, she could forget about being with another man! A vicious gleam shed in William¡¯s eyes. When he left the building, he spotted a familiar¨Clooking cat, which brought a frown to his face. Tyler¡¯s car was parked here. Did that mean that he was here with Rachel? Where were they going sote at night? William quickly hopped into his car. ¡°Mr. Lewis, are we heading back now?¡± Arsen asked ¡°Wait.¡± A few minutester, he saw Racheling downstairs in a fresh set of clothes. She then went into Tyler¡¯s car. William patted Arsen¡¯s shoulder anxiously. ¡°Follow them.¡± Arsen had noticed Rachel too, simply because Tyler¡¯s car was too shy. It was the only one in the. entire Yurelia City, and never failed to draw everyone¡¯s attention on the road. ¡°Why is Ms. Lloyd with Mr. Hunt again?¡± William¡¯s eyes grew cold when he suddenly remembered something. ¡°Do you remember my uncle frequently going abroad during those years? He never nned on partnering with overseaspanies and was always focused on domestic expansion, but the year Rachel disappeared, he started flying everywhere.¡± Arsen nodded in agreement. ¡°Now that you mentioned it, Mr. Hunt, that does seem to be the case. But the two of them¡­¡± He didn¡¯t even dare to think about it. William wasn¡¯t about to jump to conclusions, but he had a feeling Rachel and Tyler¡¯s rtionship wasn¡¯t all that straightforward. At the same time, he couldn¡¯t quite believe it. Tyler was a proud and aplished man who didn¡¯t even fear his father. He had his fair share of rich heiresses introduced to him, too, William thought they were a good enough match for Tyler. Yet, none of them caught Tyler¡¯s eye. The only one Tyler didn¡¯t snub immediately was hidistant cousin, whom William guessed he took the effort to speak cordially with her only because they were rtives. He didn¡¯t really care much for her, either. Meanwhile, Rachel sat in the front passenger seat, Booking disinterested. Tyler wondered what she was thinking as he spotted her spacing out. ¡°Why did you take so long upstairs? Did you take a tower?¡± Rachel snapped back to reality when she heard Tyler¡¯s voice. ¡°No. I saw William.¡± ¡°Is he asking to reconcile with you?¡± Tyler hit the nail on the head. Rachel asked out of curiosity, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°What else could a man and a woman talk about, aside from that?¡± What Tyler didn¡¯t tell Rachel was that he practically saw William grow up and could tell what was on William¡¯s mind in an instant. How could he not know the reason why William kept looking for Rachel? Rachel sneered as she recalled what William told her just now. ¡°He has a screw loose in his head.¡± ¡°You rejected him?¡± Tyler deftly maneuvered the steering wheel, a sight that Rachel had to admit she enjoyed watching. It was a delight to see how smoothly his hands glided across the wheel each time he made a turn. His question made Rachel look at him with an odd expression. ¡°Mr. Hunt, do you mean that I should have said yes to him?¡± William was offering her the chance to be his illicit lover when she had previously given up her position as Mrs. Lewis. Was he not thinking clearly, or did he think that she would be crazy enough to agree to his ridiculous request? ¡°If not him, how about someone else?¡± Rachel turned stiffly to look at him. ¡°Who are you referring to?¡± Her Exit 413 Tyler had parked his car at the entrance. He bowed down low, his aura imposing as ever. Rachel could smell the slight scent of tobo on him, mellowed out by his body heat. She could hear his voice in her ear, like a breeze brushing past her. ¡°How about me?¡± Rachel thought she must have heard him wrong, or that something had gone wrong with her ears. Her face froze as she stared at Tyler before stuttering, ¡°What¡­what did you just say?¡± Tyler stared back at Rachel, who looked as though she had seen a ghost or heard something frightening. He retracted his gaze and tapped the car window. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s head down.¡± Rachel snapped back to attention when she saw Tyler at the entrance. She unbuckled her seatbelt and walked to him, clearly troubled. Her mind was filled with what Tyler just said. How about him? What did he mean by that? Rachel didn¡¯t dare to ponder further. In fact, she had never considered that possibility. She and Tyler were from different worlds. What¡¯s more, he didn¡¯t seem to like her very much. Given his status and who he was, he had nock of women to choose from. Why would he fancy a divorced woman like her? Rachel shook her head and quickly eliminated that possibility from her mind. Tyler probably didn¡¯t mean it that way. He had always loved teasing her¨Cjust like how he teased Ray the dog. At that thought, Rachel felt the weight lift from her shoulders. She walked in and shut the door. Ray wasn¡¯t particrly excited to see Tyler, but upon seeing Rachel, the dog bounded over excitedly to her and leapt up high to rest both paws on her shoulders. Even though Ray couldn¡¯t speak, Rachel could sense his enthusiasm and eagerness. Truth be told, she had adopted a dog herself because of Ray. She wondered how Waffle was doing at her friend¡¯s and made a mental note to call and check in on Waffle. Rachel patted Ray¡¯s head as she asked Tyler, ¡°What time will you go to bed?¡± Tyler removed his jacket and cast her a sideways nce. ¡°So eager for me to sleep right now?¡± Rachel rubbed the tip of her nose sheepishly. ¡°Not really. You look like you haven¡¯t been sleeping well recently. Perhaps you should turn in early today.¡± Tyler scoffed. ¡°Are you nning to flee the moment I fall asleep?¡± ¡°No!¡± Rachel denied at once. Tylerid his jacket on the back of the couch and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his pristine white shirt, revealing his corbones. ¡°I have some work to clear and will probably be busy till eleven. It¡¯s free¨Cand¨Ceasy time for you now, okay?¡± There wasn¡¯t much Rachel could say. Tyler was a busy man, and she couldn¡¯t expect him to sleep the moment he reached home. All she could do was amodate his schedule. Rachel clearly knew her ce. She sat on the couch with Ray in her arms, pulling out some snacks she bought earlier from a bag. She even remembered to ask Tyler for permission. It¡¯s fine for me to feed Ray these snacks, right? 11 ¡°Just watch out. He might get clingy if you give him too many snacks.¡± With that, Tyler went straight upstairs. Rachel didn¡¯t quite understand what he meant by that. Ray was just a dog. How clingy could Ray be over some measly snacks? That sounded exaggerated. She decided to take Tyler¡¯s words as a joke. Rachel took the chance to call her colleague. ¡°Hey Xena, Rachel here. I¡¯m just calling to ask how Waffle is.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Waffle is doing great, just maybe missing you a little.¡± Rachel missed Waffle, too. Her Exit 414 ¡°I might need a while more here before I can go back. I¡¯ll have to trouble you to take care of Waffle for a while longer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. Oh yes, Rachel. Someone was snooping around for information on our organization. Is someone on your end investigating you?¡± Xena¡¯s words gave Rachel a bad feeling about things. Was it William, Tyler, or someone else altogether? ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I might have identally left a trail behind. Their organization waspletely closed off from the public eye. They conducted various research strictly confidential and never published elsewhere. Even staff members couldn¡¯t share the information with their family. Rachel herself never shared her whereabouts with Jim. Xena reminded her, ¡°You¡¯d better get whoever it is to stop their investigations. If the higher¨Cups find out who¡¯s responsible for it, even I may be in trouble, not to mention you.¡± Rachel hummed in agreement. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll deal with it properly.¡± Rachel hung up and sat on the couch, keeping Raypany while she pondered the question of whether it was William or Tyler investigating her. She couldn¡¯t be too tant in trying to find out, or she might just expose herself. She had no intention whatsoever to see William again. The mere sight of him irked her. As for Tyler, he was a hundred times harder to deal withpared to William. He was bound to suspect something if she were to make any slip of the tongue. Before she could even achieve her goal, Tyler might end up seeing through her instead. She had to y the long game. Rachel stayed downstairs till it was around eleven o¡¯clock. Tyler texted her to tell her to head upstairs. He had just walked out of the bathroom wearing just a bathrobe. He felt very at home and at ease before Rachel. His bathrobe was wide open at the chest, the visual feast it offered making Rachel gasp. Tyler picked up a towel from the back of a chair and dried his hair with it. ¡°Can you see clearly standing so far away? Why don¡¯t you take a closer look?¡± Rachel was embarrassed at being caught and looked away hastily. ¡°What song¡­would you like to hear today?¡± Tyler settled down on the couch and crossed his legs leisurely. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯ve learned recently.¡± ¡°You can tell me what you like to listen to, and I can go learn it. Oh yes, I¡¯ve been reading a very interesting story these few days. Do you want to hear it?¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s give that a try.¡± Tyler pointed at one of the cabs. ¡°But first, grab a hair dryer and help me dry my hair.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t about to just do as she was told. ¡°Mr. Hunt, can¡¯t you dry your hair by yourself?¡± Tyler raised his right arm. ¡°Are you so heartless as to forget how I injured my arm?¡± That was when Rachel remembered that fact. Alright, then. She sighed inwardly. It was really no big deal, drying his hair for him. For all she knew, coaxing and pleasing this man would make life easier for her. That thought made her quickly get up to fetch the hair dryer. When she started blow¨Cdrying his hair, they heard someone knock on the door downstairs. Rachel subconsciously nced at Tyler. ¡°Did you arrange a meeting with someone at night?¡± ¡°I ordered takeout. Barbecued meat and grilled bratwurst. Go grab them for me.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but drool at the mention of the food. ¡°I¡¯ll go right away.¡± She hurried down the stairs. The corners of Tyler¡¯s lips lifted slightly when he saw how eagerly she bounded away. He chuckled to himself that girl was as greedy as Ray. Rachel was so hungry, she opened the door without even checking whether the deliveryman was When she saw William standing at the door, her face froze, and she stood rooted to the ground. Her Exit 415 William heaved a sigh of relied when he saw Rachel still well¨Cbempt, although he still condda¡¯t hide the scowl on his face upon seeing her at Tyler¡¯s ce. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he demanded. Rachel didn¡¯t expect to see William here. Five years ago here were a few times when she saw Williaming to Tyler¡¯s ce, but given her status back then, he had to hide from William. However, things were different now. She was single, and it was none of William¡¯s business who she was with or whose house she was at. She said darkly to William, ¡°What does it matter to you? William¡¯s brows were tightly knit as he grabbed Rachel¡¯s wrist, a storm brewing in his eyes ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t forget. We¡¯re husband and wife¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re divorced, and you still call us husband and wife? Are you still drunk?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t want to waste her breath on him. Seeing William never failed to sour her mood. ¡°Alright, cut the crap. I don¡¯t have time to waste on you.¡± With that, Rachel made a move to shut the door. Right before the door shut, William grabbed the door frame. ¡°I¡¯m not here for you. I¡¯m here for Mr. Fun He wasn¡¯t exactly sure whether Rachel knew that Tyler was his uncle. If she was still in the dark, there no need for him to offer her the information. He understood Rachel¡¯s ability at work, and Tyler was even more outstanding in that aspect. I hands, they would be more intimidating than two wolves prowling together! There was only one way he could make Rachel submit. It was simply unfortunate that Jim was Rachel¡¯s only kin left in this world. He wouldn¡¯t stoop to targeting Jim if Rachel had another family member. Meanwhile, Rachel knew that she couldn¡¯t turn William away. He was here to look for Tyler; this was Tyler¡¯s ce, not her own. She stepped aside and let William in. William smirked, but the moment he stepped in, Ray dashed out, charging straight toward him. Ray was strong enough to run William over and send him crashing to the floor. Pinning William down on the ground, Ray started barking at him. Ray was a massive dog and certainly intimidating when provoked, despite how meek and gentle he usually looked. William¡¯s brows furrowed, and his face darkened with displeasure. He iled his arms about frantically, trying to get Ray off himself. ¡°Get off me!¡± Rachel saw William¡¯s face turning pale with fright. She knew that he was once bitten by their neighbor¡¯s dog when he was young, and that traumatic experience left a minor phobia of dogs in him. Rachel deliberately let Ray be in a bid to frighten William Serves him right! However, Rachel noticed that Ray was starting to bare its teeth and showing signs of aggressiveness. She was worried that Ray might really end up biting William She didn¡¯t care whether William died or not, but she cared about Ray. The poor dog might end up getting beaten to death by the Lewis family. It was better to be safe than sorry. And so, Rachel called out to Ray. ¡°Come here, buddy.¡± Ray had always adored Rachel, and the new snacks she had been bringing recently made him like her even more. Rachel¡¯s voice made Ray pounce on her at once. She rubbed his head affectionately and said sardonically, Don¡¯t bite him. He¡¯s toxic. What if biting him kills you?¡± Rachel¡¯s words seemed to frighten Ray, and he shrank back behind her legs. He stared at her, eyes glistening with fear and trepidation. Rachel suddenly found the sight hrious. William was stunned, sensing something amiss with the scene before him. He stood up, a chilly, menacing aura emanating from him as though he were Hades himself. Her Exit 416 He walked toward Rachel, but didn¡¯t dare to go too close His voice was chilly. ¡°Did youe here five years ago? Rachel, still engrossed in ying with Ray, didn¡¯t think much of what William meant by that. ¡°What?¡± Something seemed to click in William¡¯s mind, and he started mumbling to himself. ¡°Samantha imed that you were here, and I didn¡¯t really believe her. There were a few times I suspected Tyler had a woman in his apartment, but I found nothing even after asking someone to look into it. And all this time, there¡¯s never been a woman by his side.¡± Rachel furrowed her brows. She didn¡¯t expect William to remember all these details after all these years, but she naturally refused to admit it. ¡°Have you honed your self¨Cdeception abilities to such a remarkable extent? Are you trying to make me guilty of the same thing as you are, so you can cover up the guilt and shame you¡¯re feeling inside?¡± William drew closer to Rachel. ¡°Do you dare swear that there¡¯s nothing between you and Tyler, and that you¡¯ve never been to this ce of his? Do you dare to swear by your father¡¯s name?¡± Rachel pursed her lips tightly. Indeed, she didn¡¯t dare to do so and subconsciously believed in such things. The hesitation in her eyes made William even more certain of his suspicions. His eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on Rachel. ¡°Well? Do you not dare to swear? Rachel, what right do you have to use me? You¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis, do you not have enough on your te at work? It¡¯s fine if you want to pursue your ex¨Cwif my apartment isn¡¯t the ce for you two to seek reconciliation.¡± A deep, authoritative voice sounded from the elevator. William felt his head buzz at the mere sound of that voice. He clenched his fists and mustered up the courage to speak, emboldened by the alcohol he had consumed earlier. ¡°Mr. Hunt, given your social status, aren¡¯t you afraid rumors of you spending the night with a divorced woman in the same apartment will affect your reputation?¡± ¡°What reputation do I have?¡± Tyler walked forward and stood right next to Rachel, his tone perfunctory. ¡°If you¡¯re here to seek reconciliation with her,e another day. The bed in my apartment is too small and can¡¯t fit three people.¡± Rachel looked at Tyler in astonishment. What nonsense was he spouting this time? Three people in his bed? Even if it were just the two of them, she wasn¡¯t about to share a bed with him! His words only served to confirm William¡¯s suspicions that there was something between her and Tyler. William¡¯s face was darker than a stormy sky. ¡°Are you interested in her?¡± Tyler¡¯s back was facing William, who couldn¡¯t see Tyler¡¯s face. Even so, William could hear the displeasure in Tyler¡¯s voice when he spoke. ¡°William, that¡¯s my personal affair. I have no need to exin myself to you.¡± With that, Tyler took a step forward. He sensed that William was still there, and cast him a sideways nce as he said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t want to stick around. Do you want me to chase you out, or will you leave yourself?¡± Tyler made it seem as though he was letting William make a choice, but William knew that Tyler was just giving him an out. William gritted his teeth, pinning all his hopes on Rachel. ¡°Rachel, if youe with me, I¡¯ll leave space for negotiation regarding your dad. You decide.¡± Chapter 417 Her Exit 417 2 Rachel nced at Tyler. He looked cold and distant, as though this matter had nothing to do with him. Indeed. Whether Tyler decided to intervene had nothing to do with the matter at hand. Rachel looked back at William and started to walk toward him. Her approach brought a smile to William¡¯s face. He knew that, given Rachel¡¯s character, she would never give up on Jim. He understood his uncle well, too. Tyler was an oddball, and temperamental at that. Even if one spent much time with him, it would still be a challenge trying to figure out what was going on in his mind. Given her personality, Rachel would never be able to handle him. William reached out to hold Rachel¡¯s hand with a smile on his face, but she never took it. At the next moment, her words sent him straight to hell ¡°William, I advise you to give up hope on that ever happening. Even if I can¡¯t find a man for the rest of my life, I¡¯ll never be with someone like you. ¡°The nasty things you and Samantha did feel like they just happened yesterday, and they disgusted in to no end. What makes you think that I¡¯ll cheapen myself to be with a filthy bastard like you? ¡°I¡¯d rather find a hot gigolo elsewhere than be with you again. That gigolo will treat me like a queen as I pay him enough. You, on the other hand¡­¡± Rachel was making it clear as day. William was worse than a gigolo in her eyes. Fury burned in William¡¯s chest, the veins on his forehead popping. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re ying me for a fool!¡± he snarled through gritted teeth. Rachel chuckled. ¡°How am I ying you for a fool? Since when did I say that I wanted to get back together with you again? Or that I wanted to leave with you?¡± Enraged and embarrassed, William grabbed Rachel¡¯s wrist and demanded, ¡°You¡¯reing with me today, whether you like it or not!¡± The mere thought of the woman he spent seven years with sleeping with his uncle suffocated him with humiliation. Rachel¡¯s face turned cold when he saw how insistent William was. She raised her voice at him, snarling, William, let me go! What right do you have to take me away?¡± William¡¯s face twisted with anger as he tugged Rachel toward him. ¡°The fact that you¡¯ll forever be a member of the Lewis family, whether you¡¯re dead or alive!¡± Rachel pursed her lips tightly; she was preparing to strike William back when Tyler beat her to it. He lunged toward Rachel and pulled her into his embrace with one hand and shoved William away with another. Chapter att William almost lost his bnce and stumbled a few step back. Tyler looked icily at William, his gaze piercing through Him ¡°Did you not hear what I said earlier? Scram!¡± William¡¯s face flushed red with anger and embarrassment, but there was nothing he could do to Tyler. He knew that if Tyler didn¡¯t step in, it would have been easy to deal with Rachel. She was just a woman, and certainly no match for a man like him. Yet now, with Tyler like an angered beast, William knew that taking Rachel away from under his nose was an impossible feat. Even so, William refused to back down, threatening Rachel as he red daggers at her. ¡°Rachel, you blew this chance. Don¡¯t me me for disregarding our past as husband and wife!¡± Rachel rebuffed, ¡°Quit bringing up our past all the time. It really cheapens the idea of what a husband and wife really should be.¡± Her Exit 418 William pointed a finger at Rachel and bit out, ¡°Good of you, Rachel. I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯ll regret this!¡± Rachel bit back, ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, I¡¯ll never regret divorcing you in my whole life!¡± The fire in William¡¯s chest burned brighter. When he umed the door shut, Ray barked angrily in his direction. Rachel turned to look at Tyler and made no secret of her displeasure. ¡°Why did you say what you said earlier? It¡¯ll only cause a misunderstanding between us, especially when he¡¯s already acting like a mad dog that might bite anytime.¡± Tyler remained unperturbed, his eyes narrowing as he leaned his long torso casually against the staircase railing. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll leave if I hadn¡¯t put it that way?¡± On second thought, Rachel agreed with Tyler. William was the kind of person who would never leave unless he was forced to give up all hope. He would fight tooth and nail to take her away. What he didn¡¯t know, however, was that Rachel had set her mind on not leaving with him, even without Tyler here tonight. She was d that he was finally gone. ¡°Let¡¯s head upstairs and go to bed.¡± Tyler looked at her and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that William will expose you now that he knows ab this?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? I¡¯m single right now, and it¡¯s none of his business who I¡¯m with. Even if ge together with his uncle, there¡¯s nothing he can do about it.¡± She went on dreamily, almost as though she were talking to herself, ¡°If I were to be the wife of William¡¯s uncle, he¡¯ll have to call me his aunt! Hahaha¡­¡± The thought alone made Rachel gleeful to no end. William would have to treat her with respect, and all his hopes of reconciling with her would be dashed. If he dared to pester her, she¡¯d use him of molestation. He¡¯d be dealt with without her lifting a finger! Tyler saw the twinkle in her eyes and leaned forward, whispering into her ear, ¡°Wanna be William¡¯s aunt?¡± Rachel was shocked by the sudden gust of hot air in her ear and instinctively took a step back, identally bumping into Ray right behind her. Ray stumbled backward from the impact. Being on all fours, Ray naturally found his bnce rather quickly, unlike Rachel, who was less fortunate. As she slipped and fell backward, Tyler instinctively pulled her arm and ended up tumbling on the floor with Rachel. This was not the first time they both fell together, and Tyler yet again instinctively shielded the back of her head. By the time Rachel realized what was going on, she sensed something wet and warm on her lips. She could smell thebination of tobo and shampoo on him. Rachel¡¯s head buzzed as she stared into his deep, dark e Tyler mumbled, ¡°The way you¡¯re staring at me makes n Rachel snapped back to attention at his quip and made. onto Tyler¡¯s back, sending him hurtling back onto Rach Their lips found each other again. This time, Rachel couldn¡¯t even budge. The dog weighed hard to breathe. Damn you, Ray! Rachel¡¯s head buzzed as she stared into his deep, dark eyes, ¡± Rachel snapped back to attention at his quip and made move to push him away, but Ray suddenly leaped onto Tyler¡¯s back, sending him hurtling back onto Rachel. Their lips found each other again. This time, Rachel couldn¡¯t even budge. The dog weighed a ton, and she gasped under the pressure, finding it hard to breathe. Damn you, Ray! 1 Her Exit 419 What surprised her was that she didn¡¯t detest being so close to Tyler. Aside from his odd temperament, there was nothing she could find fault with him¨Cbe it fils upbringing, good looks, or excellent figure. However, she refused to tter herself and think that Tyler liked her. If it weren¡¯t for the dog¡­ Just when Rachel was still pondering how she could extricate herself from this delicate situation, someone knocked on the door. Ray heard the knocking on the door and jumped from Tyler¡¯s back immediately, dashing to the door, thinking that William was back. Rachel seized the chance to push Tyler away before standing up. She knew Tyler had put his hands on the back of her head to protect her; otherwise, she would have suffered a concussion falling backward like that. Tyler walked to the door and opened it, while Ray sat poised to lunge at the iing person. ¡°Ray, in the house!¡± Tylermanded, sending Ray shrinking back in. Rachel suddenly had a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, seeing a huge dog like Ray behaving like an obedient minion. At that moment, Ray looked more like apdog than the huge dog he was. However, Ray clearly behaved more impudently before her. Then again, few dared to behave impudently before Tyler. Tyler received the food from the deliveryman and thanked him before shutting the door again. The moment he shut the door, Rachel could smell the fragrance wafting from the bag of barbecu which made her stomach growl. ¡°Where shall we eat?¡± Tyler asked. Rachel pointed at the coffee table. ¡°Right here.¡± She had been busy at work while abroad in thest few years. She hade round, having gone through such a painful divorce with William, and realized that she would onlye to regret relying on men one day. It was a terrifying notion to have her state of wealth and even her destiny in the hands of a man. William might be generous enough to buy her jewelry or bring her out for a grand feast when he was in a good mood, but if he had a change of heart, she would end up being discarded and forced to tolerate his public disy of affection toward Samantha. That was the lowest period of her life, but it no longer mattered. In fact, it worked in her favor. William was in worse pain than she was right now. It wasn¡¯t enough for Rachel, though. She wanted him to be in greater pain. Tyler ced the food on the coffee table and made his way to the fridge. ¡°Want a drink?¡± ¡°How about a soda?¡± +15 BOHUS Rachel didn¡¯t want alcohol; it sounded like a bad idea, especially when she was alone in an apartment with another man. What¡¯s more, this was a critical moment. She was unsure of how things would unfold and dared not let herself overthink. Tyler grabbed a beer can and a soda, and put them on the table. Rachel grabbed one, and their hands identally bumped into each other. She pulled her hand back at once, as though she felt sparks fly. There was a hint of romance in the air, and time seemed to stand still. Rachel could hear her heart beating in her chest. She tried topose herself and tell herself to calm down. If Tyler noticed anything amiss, he would surely seize the chance to mock her. Rachel pulled the tab on the can open, sending a light, refreshing fizz spraying into the air. She tilted her head up and took a huge gulp, relishing in the refreshing sweetness of the drink. Tyler said nothing, as though what just transpired between them was no big deal. He sat down next to Rachel, who unceremoniously grabbed a skewer and put it in her mouth. The spicy fragrance filled her senses, immediately hitting the spot ¡°Want a drink?¡± ¡°How about a soda?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t want alcohol; it sounded like a bad idea, especially when she was alone in an apartment with another man. What¡¯s more, this was a critical moment. She was unsure of how things would unfold and dared not let herself overthink. Tyler grabbed a beer can and a soda, and put them on the table. Rachel grabbed one, and their hands identally bumped into each other. She pulled her hand back at once, as though she felt sparks fly. There was a hint of romance in the air, and time seemed to stand still. Rachel could hear her heart beating in her chest. She tried topose herself and tell herself to calm down. If Tyler noticed anything amiss, he would surely seize the chance to mock her. Rachel pulled the tab on the can open, sending a light, refreshing fizz spraying into the air. She tilted her head up and took a huge gulp, relishing in the refreshing sweetness of the drink. Tyler said nothing, as though what just transpired between them was no big deal. He sat down next to Rachel, who unceremoniously grabbed a skewer and put it in her mouth. The spicy fragrance filled her senses, immediately hitting the spot Chapter 420 Her Exit 420 The taste¡­ It was oddly familiar. Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up. She recognized this taste from somewhere. ¡°Mr. Hunt, did you buy this from that stall at the entrance of Arden University?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± *15 BONUS Rachel¡¯s heart leapt with joy. ¡°The food from that stall is excellent! How did you know that it¡¯s good?¡± Tyler¡¯s brow arched. ¡°Do you not remember at all?¡± ¡°What?¡± Rachel was confused. What did that stall have to do with Tyler? Tyler turned sideways. ¡°How did you end up liking the food from this stall?¡± At that question, memories came flooding back into Rachel¡¯s mind. ¡°The stall wasn¡¯t there at the entrance of Arden University at the start. Students weren¡¯t allowed to leave the school at night, after all. William knew that I love eating barbecued meat, so he made arrangements to shift a stall from afar here and paid them every month. ¡°Whenever I had the craving, William would climb over the fence and buy it for me. Then, I heard that something happened to the stall owner¡¯s family and they stopped operations. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying many different stalls over the years, but none of them do it as well as they do. I didn¡¯t expect to be able to taste it again today. It¡¯s all thanks to you, Mr. Hunt.¡± Rachel was so busy eating, she didn¡¯t notice the light in Tyler¡¯s eyes dimming. ¡°Did you say that it was William who shifted the stall to the university?¡± Tyler asked her with ur brows. ¡°Yes, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Tyler scoffed. How scheming of that man! ¡°Nothing. You¡¯ll know next time.¡± Rachel felt that Tyler was being rather odd tonight, but she didn¡¯t think much of it. By the time they were done with the food, it was almost midnight. Rachel cleaned everything up and started telling Tyler a bedtime story, but as she went on, she started falling asleep while leaning against the headboard. Tyler, still awake, heard her voice fading away until all that was left was sleepy, shallow breathing. The warm, dim light on the bedside table shone on Rachel¡¯s face, her eyshes casting crescent¨Cshaped shadows on her face. Chuckling, Tyler mumbled to himself, ¡°Are you supposed to be putting me or yourself to sleep?¡± +15 BONUS William stormed out of Tyler¡¯s apartment, banging the steering wheel in a rage. Arsen had pulled him back into the car, quickly taking him away for fear that he might go back to settle scores with Tyler. On their way back, Samantha kept calling him. However William was seeing red¨Che was in no mood to entertain her calls. The thought of Tyler and Rachel alone in the apartment made his chest burn. Arsen, seeing William¡¯s phone screen lighting up with Samantha¡¯s name on it, asked cautiously, ¡°Mr. Lewis, aren¡¯t you going to pick up Mrs. Lewis¡® call?¡± William switched his phone off. ¡°She calls me every day it¡¯s annoying.¡± He never found Samantha so stifling¨Cuntil Rachel disappeared and he married Samantha. After that, she started pestering him in all sorts of ways. She would be calling him for no reason other than asking about his whereabouts. He would be out negotiating a business deal, and she would be sending someone to keep an eye on him, especially if a woman was involved at the meeting. She constantly told him about her fears of losing him, but life like that felt suffocating. From the looks of it, Arsen knew that William didn¡¯t want to go home. ¡°Mr. Lewis, where shall we go now?¡± A thought suddenly came to William¡¯s mind. ¡°Call Yvette and ask her toe out right now. Tell her have a question for her.¡± Her Exit 421 Yvette walked out groggily. She plopped down on a chair opposite William and asked, ¡°What on earth do you need from me at this hour? William, recovered from the alcohol, stared at Yvette with utter seriousness. ¡°Yvette, if you still see me as your brother¨Cinw, answer me this. Five years ago, you suddenly appeared at Tyler¡¯s apartment in the suburbs. Was it your sister who called you there, or was there really something going on between you and Tyler?¡± Yvette pursed her lips, surprised that William still remembered something that had happened so many years ago. She nced guiltily at him, evading the question. ¡°William, it¡¯s been so many years. Why are you still hung up over that?¡± She sounded as though she was trying to dissuade William, but her words only served to deepen his curiosity. The knot in his brows tightened; he leaned forward, subconsciously clenching his fists. ¡°You have toe clean with me. I might be able to save you if you tell me the truth. If you don¡¯t¡­d of your schemes against your sister got out, you should know the consequences.¡± William¡¯s threat made Yvette¡¯s face turn pale. She struggled to deny it. ¡°What¡­what nonsense are you spouting? William, I still see you as my brother¨Cinw. How could yo mistreat me like this?¡± William sneered; he pulled out a file from a drawer and flung it at Yvette. ¡°Take a look.¡± Yvette grabbed the folder and flipped it open. As she read through the content, her hands started trembling. Sasha was the one who gave her the idea. If Sasha hadn¡¯t instigated her, she would never have done something like that. Now that she thought about it, she truly regretted her actions. The worst part? She had no idea of the whereabouts of the man she had hired. It was like a ticking time bomb. Who knew if he was dead or alive? Yvette saw records of their fund transfer in the document before her, as well as pictures of their meeting. Despite this, she remained stubborn. ¡°Even if you have photos, how can you prove that I¡¯m the one in them?¡± William lowered his head and sneered again, disdain filling his eyes as he looked back at Yvette. ¡°Forget about putting up ast¨Cditch effort to deny what you did. Since I dare to bring this up, you¡¯d better believe that I have proof.¡± Yvette bit her lips, a mix of guilt and fear tormenting her Chopter dal 15 BONUS William saw the hesitation in her eyes. Not wanting to waste any more time with her, he pushed farther,¡± Since you refuse to talk, I have no choice but to get the police involved.¡± With that, he pulled out his phone to call the police, but vette hurriedly pressed his hand down ¡°Don¡¯t, William! I¡¯ll tell you the truth¡­¡± Yvette came clean about everything that happened five years ago. By the time she was done, the look on William¡¯s face was nothing short of murderous. His lips were pursed tightly. The next moment, he swept everything on his table to the floor with a swing of his arm. Yvette jumped from her chair in fright and stumbled a few steps back. William¡¯s entire body was shaking, the light above him reflecting off his hair and casting a shadow on his face. A storm was clearly brewing in his eyes. ¡°William, I¡­ I think you shouldn¡¯t get so angry,¡± she tried to persuade William, her voice still shaky. Rachel was probably furious with how you and Samantha crossed the line, and that¡¯s why she¡­¡± ¡°Scram!¡± William yelled at her, veins popping on his forehead. Yvette dashed out of the room like a frightened rabbit. She shut the door and patted her chest as she exhaled out loud. Her Exit 422 Chapter 422 How frightening! It was obvious to Yvette that William still had feelings for Rachel, or he wouldn¡¯t have blown his top. What in the world did Rachel do in her past lifetime to make two men lose their minds over her? Having returned after five years, Tyler was still single. Most importantly, they were still getting entangled with each other. But it didn¡¯t matter. Now that William knew about things between Rachel and Tyler, he would never spare Rachel. If William pestered Rachel, she wouldn¡¯t have time to deal with her affairs. That would give Yvette time and space to find ways to dig out the man she hired five years ago. The next day, after Rachel woke up, she found herself lying on a bed. She instinctively threw off the sheets to check if she was still fully clothed. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that she was. Tyler was gone. She reached a hand out and ran it over the bed, finding it still warm. It proved that he had just gotten out of bed. That meant they shared a bedst night. Rachel had a strong urge to p herself. She was supposed to tell him a bedtime story. How did she end up lulling herself to sleep? She got out of bed and nced at her phone. Cecilia had called her multiple times. Since when did she switch her phone to silent mode? Rachel stopped herself from thinking further and called Cecilia back. Cecilia asked anxiously, ¡°What happened to you? Why didn¡¯t you answer my calls? I was so close to calling the cops, I thought you were in trouble.¡± ¡°Nothing, I just fell asleep.¡± Rachel was at a loss for words to exin to Cecilia. She couldn¡¯t possibly tell her that she was trying to coax Tyler to sleep and ended up falling asleep instead. ¡°I called you just to remind you to remember about the event tonight. I even managed to get my hands on the invitation card for you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Rachel eximed in surprise. ¡°Thank you so much, Cecilia!¡± She was fully prepared to contact some of her closer partners in hopes of getting her hands on the invitation. Cecilia chuckled. ¡°Do you need to be so polite with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go find youter.¡± Chapter 422. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Time for breakfast.¡± Rachel was about to hang up when she heard Tyler. His voice was husky, probably because he just woke up. and it sounded strangely seductive. It somehow reminded her of morning call services. Recording Tyler¡¯s voice and selling it online might just earn her big bucks, Rachel pondered. Of course, the money wouldn¡¯t be for her. It¡¯d be for Cecilia, she told herself. Cecilia keenly heard the voice of a man over the phone, and it was a rich, sensuous voice to boot. She asked, Rachel, you¡¯re not at home. Did you spend the night elsewhere? With a man?¡± Cecilia¡¯s voice came piercing through the air. Rachel instinctively pulled the phone away from her ear, looking awkwardly at Tyler. She was so worried that Tyler might misunderstand things that she hurriedly exined to Cecilia, ¡°You misheard it. The sound came from the TV. I¡¯ll call youter!¡± With that, Rachel hung up. Her face was flushed as she looked shyly at Tyler. ¡°Sorry aboutst night. I identally fell asleep.¡± Tyler leaned against the door frame. ¡°Yes. In fact, you were even more sound asleep than I was. You refused to wake up, no matter how hard I tried to shake you awake. Do you exhibit strange behavior at night?¡± GET IT Her Exit 423 Chapter 423 The gears in Rachel¡¯s mind shifted as she thought hard on any bad habits she might possibly have while sleeping. Perhaps, snoring? Her lips twitched as she ventured, ¡°Did I sleepwalk?¡± When Rachel was young, she used to sleepwalk for a period of time. Mnie even suspected that she was possessed and hired a shaman. The strange thing was, her condition slowly improved with time. Tyler stuck his hands in his pockets, his gazending on Rachel. ¡°Do you have a habit of hugging someone else to sleep like a ko?¡± Rachel furrowed her brows as she looked at Tyler, confusion in her eyes. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Tyler pulled out his phone from his pocket and shed her a photo. Rachel was too far to make out what the photo was, but her instincts told her that it was nothing good. She stepped forward and grabbed Tyler¡¯s phone to take a good look. That was when she realized that she was hugging him just like a ko hanging on a treest night. Her legs were wrapped around his waist. Rachel wished she could dig a hole and bury herself in it. Her cheeks flushed bright red from embarrassment. She instinctively tapped on the delete button, but Tyler quickly took his phone away. ¡°I can delete it, but only if you pay up.¡± Rachel was stunned, bbergasted at Tyler¡¯s behavior. ¡°You¡¯re a wealthy businessman and the boss of a hugepany. Do you really need money from someo unemployed?¡± ¡°You know that I¡¯m a businessman, don¡¯t you?¡± Tyler imed unabashedly. ¡°A businessman wouldn¡¯t wake up early unless it benefits him.¡± Rachel considered her options. Leaving such an embarrassing and awkward photo in Tyler¡¯s phone may give her trouble in the time toe. She tried to negotiate with him. ¡°Tell me how much it costs.¡± ¡°Fifty grand,¡± Tyler demanded. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Fifty grand?! Let me remind you, this is no different from ckmail.¡± ¡°I could just keep this photo. Run from me and I¡¯ll post this online.¡± A smirk stretched across Tyler¡¯s face as he toyed with his phone. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s inte overseas. Short¨Cform videos are all the rage right now. I don¡¯t even need to offer a reward, and I¡¯m sure someone will bring you back to me¡± Rachel gritted her teeth, but she knew there was nothing she could do to Tyler. All she could do was re daggers at him. ¡°You sly, cunning fox.¡± She brushed past him and headed down the stairs. Tyler followed behind her. ¡°You really don¡¯t want it anymore?¡± Rachel stopped in her tracks and turned back to look at yler and that sneaky look on his face. He was clearly not being genuine in his offer. Yet, Rachel was still crazy enough to hold out hope for Tyler. She bit her lip, deciding to trust him just onest time. Taking a deep breath, Rachel looked up at him. ¡°Mr. Hunt, could you give me a discount on ount of our partnership?¡± She cautiously lifted an open palm. ¡°How about this?¡± ¡°Five grand?¡± Tyler asked. Rachel shook her head. ¡°Five hundred. ?? Tyler immediately stuffed his phone back in his pocket. Let¡¯s have breakfast. Yale brought some food for us.¡± He walked past Rachel and settled down at the dining table, as if nothing had happened. Rachel pursed her lips, suspecting that Tyler was doing it on purpose. He deliberately made an offer to her, knowing that no one save a fool would buy a photo for fifty grand. Her Exit 424 As she had expected, a leopard would never change its spots, even after five years. She nced at the breakfastid out on the table and said, ¡°Mr. Hunt, I have something to attend to and have to skip breakfast. I¡¯ll be off.¡± She didn¡¯t forget to pat Ray¡¯s head before shutting the door behind her. Tyler looked at the empty te opposite his, the corner of his lips tugging upward. Ray approached him, rubbing against his calf as thoughforting him. Tyler nced at the invitation card under a book on the table. Very soon, they would meet again. Tonight. Rachel and Cecilia met at a cafe, coincidentally bumping into William and Samantha, who were having a tussle. Samantha looked disheveled, her eyes red¨Crimmed as she tugged at the hem of William¡¯s shirt. ¡°William, tell me! Where were youst night?¡± ¡°I told you I was at the office, but you refuse to believe me. Check the surveince footage in the office if you want to.¡± William smoothed out his jacket, the tenderness in his eyes for Samantha in the past all but gone. Rachel was long over it, butmented inwardly at the scene before her. No matter how loving a couple, one would naturally be more sensitive and possessive as the days passed. Their ugliest sides would be exposed to each other. Without enough love between them, tolerating each other day by day would be an impossible task. At that moment, Samantha tried to stop William from leaving. In Rachel¡¯s mind, Samantha had always been adorable, pure, and innocent. Her favorite pastime was behaving coquettishly with William. Rachel had never seen Samantha acting so desperate and repulsive. In fact, it was worse than how she had behaved in the past. William couldn¡¯t hide the irritation in his eyes. ¡°I need to attend a meetingter. You know that many things have been cropping up at work. Can¡¯t you just put aside our personal issues for the time being?¡± Samantha, however, was bent on getting to the bottom of the matter. ¡°I just have one question. Why were you with Rachelst night? Don¡¯t you love me, William?¡± Just then, William received another call from work. He lifted his phone for Samantha to see, all out of patience. ¡°You can see it for yourself. I must return to the office right now. We¡¯ll talk more back home. With that, he pushed her away and walked toward his car parked along the road. Samantha¡¯s face flushed red with anger, biting her lip hard as she watched William walk away. Incidentally, her gaze met Rachel¡¯s. Filled with bottled¨Cup rage, she marched toward Rachel. Seeing the aggressive look in Samantha¡¯s eyes, Rachel prepared herself for an outburst from Samantha. To her surprise, Samantha¡¯s knees dropped to the ground. Rachel took a step back in fright. ¡°Ms. Judd, what are you doing?¡± Rachel was fully prepared for battle, but Samantha surprised her by kneeling before her. Instead of fighting head¨Con, smart people would often choose to hide a dagger behind a smile. A hidden dagger was more dangerous, after all. Samantha¡¯s eyes were red and brimming with tears as she looked pitifully at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, I know you must have hated me back then. You must have hated William for loving me so deeply and letting you down, but you can¡¯t force love. I¡¯m content with how things panned out between William and 1. Can¡¯t you just let us be?¡± Her Exit 425 Samantha didn¡¯t speak very loudly, but it was enough for people around them to hear what she said. Cecilia was equally shocked by Samantha. Cecilia never liked Samantha to begin with. She was the one who wrecked Rachel¡¯s marriage, yet here she was, acting pitiful. It made Cecilia even more disgusted with her actions. She said unceremoniously, ¡°Ms. Judd, aren¡¯t you the thief crying thief now? Who¡¯s the one causing all the trouble? Do you really need me to drop some names?¡± Samantha looked as pitiful as she did five years ago. Evidently, nothing much had changed. ¡°But I¡¯m already married to William! Are you really going to snatch him from me, Rachel?¡± Rachel and Cecilia had agreed to meet at a shopping mall where people were milling around. A crowd was gradually forming around them. Samantha was making a mountain out of a molehill. How could anyone just fall on their knees for no good reason? How could she bring herself to cast aside her pride and dignity, and kneel with such grandiose before Rachel? As for Rachel, she refused to kneel before anyone¨Ceven if it meant losing a man she loved. She had no sympathy whatsoever for Samantha and looked down on thetter for behaving this way. ¡°Ms. Judd, get this straight. Not everyone is like you, hankering after something someone else abandoned. Why would you fancy discarded trash?¡± she spat. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, can you please cut off contact with William? Please, I¡¯m begging you, Rachel. Can you please keep your word and not secretly meet him at night? It¡¯s really not easy, having made it all the way here with him,¡± Samantha pleaded through her tears. Rachel had to admit that Samantha¡¯s tears were indeed impactful to those around them watching If she were ignorant, she might even begin thinking that she was the viin who stole Samantha¡¯s man. Upon hearing Samantha¡¯s pleas, the crowd gathering around them started criticizing Rachel. ¡°I remember this woman. Isn¡¯t she William Lewis¡® wife from five years ago, Rachel Lloyd?¡± ¡°Who could forget? Their story took the entire city by storm. Everyone could see how dedicated and loving Mr. Lewis was! We remember it like it was just yesterday!¡± ¡°You might believe it, but I don¡¯t. It¡¯s nothing but a show they put on. True love doesn¡¯t exist in wealthy families.¡± ¡°Mr. Lewis looked so broken¨Chearted when they got divorced back then. I thought he was truly sad that his wife was gone. ¡°Yet he ended up with Samantha Judd not longter!¡± ¡°He¡¯s already with Samantha. Why is she trying to break them apart? That¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°She probably failed to find a better man elsewhere. I refuse to believe that she remained single over the past five years. I¡¯m sure she couldn¡¯t find anyone better than Mr. Lewis.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s the case. How disgusting of her!¡± Everyone started pointing fingers at Rachel. More and more of them started sympathizing with Samantha Someone even went to the extent of approaching Samantha and pulling her to her feet. ¡°This has nothing to do with you, ma¡¯am. You¡¯re not in the wrong, so why are you kneeling before her? Quick, get up.¡± ¡°Exactly! You¡¯re too kind and too much of a pushover. II were you, I¡¯d give her a hard p, that¡¯s what I¡¯d do!¡± Her Exit 426 Chapter 426 ¡°I say, Ms. Lloyd. You¡¯re quite beautiful yourself. There¡¯s really no need for you to stoop so low. There are plenty of men out there, really.¡± Rachel hated seeing such hypocrisy. She sneered and rebuffed, ¡°Since all of you love standing up for her, why don¡¯t you introduce some good men to her? You said that she¡¯s too kind, and that you¡¯d p me. Why don¡¯t you try pping me on her behalf?¡± Those who were rambling on and standing up for Samantha earlier were stunned by Rachel¡¯s words. Even Samantha, who was still kneeling on the ground, was taken aback. Many ideas on how to deal with Samantha ran through Cecilia¡¯s mind, including ignoring her or throwing evidence in her face. She never expected Rachel to start rebuking the crowd. One of them, trying to hide her embarrassment, yelled back at Rachel. ¡°How shameless of you! You¡¯re the one who snatched her husband! How could you stand there and act like you¡¯re in the right?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± someone added. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen someone as shameless as you! If you think she was the one who snatched your husband, show us evidence! If that¡¯s all true, why didn¡¯t you say so five years ago?¡± ¡°Where were you over the past five years? Did you go around hooking up with other men?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you failed to find someone better. That¡¯s why you¡¯re back, hankering after Mr. Lewis. You¡¯re so shameless!¡± Samantha turned around and put on a show of dissuading them. ¡°Don¡¯t say that! Rachel isn¡¯t like that. She made a foolish mistake, that¡¯s all. She spent so many years with William, so it¡¯s understandable that she still has lingering feelings for him.¡± She tugged at the hem of Rachel¡¯s shirt. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m begging you! Even if you still have feelings for William and can¡¯t bear to leave him, can you please give me some time? I want to be with him during thisst stretch. I promise I¡¯ll return him to you.¡± The crowd began to defend her once more,mbasting Rachel. ¡°Mrs. Lewis has already given in to you, and you¡¯re still so demanding. Aren¡¯t you afraid of karmic retribution?¡± ¡°Get up, Mrs. Lewis. A woman like her will never appreciate your kindness!!! The crowd helped Samantha to her feet. Before she could stand, however, Rachel pressed her shoulders down and stopped her. Samantha was stunned by the sudden movement. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± Rachel smiled icily at Samantha. ¡°I haven¡¯t said yes, so why are you standing up so soon Aren¡¯t you supposed to be kneeling before me? You really should, you know.. ¡°I was married to William when you came prancing back from abroad and broke up our marriage. You had countless rendezvous with him and even bore him a child. All these happened while we were still married. Shall I pull out the evidence and video of your affair with him back then for everyone¡¯s viewing pleasure? ¡°I decided not to count all that against you. I chose to keep silent about it and let you and William be, but you¡¯re biting the hand that feeds you? In that case, don¡® me me for being nasty!¡± Rachel navigated to the photo and video folder on her phone, and showed it to the crowd. ¡°Open your eyes and take a good look at this!¡± Everyone leaned in close to her phone screen. X .g ¡°I haven¡¯t said yes, so why are you standing up so soon? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be kneeling before me? You really should, you know. ¡°I was married to William when you came prancing back from abroad and broke up our marriage. You had countless rendezvous with him and even bore him a child. All these happened while we were still married. Shall I pull out the evidence and video of your affair with him back then for everyone¡¯s viewing pleasure? ¡°I decided not to count all that against you. I chose to keep silent about it and let you and William be, but you¡¯re biting the hand that feeds you? In that case, don¡¯t me me for being nasty!¡± Rachel navigated to the photo and video folder on her phone, and showed it to the crowd. ¡°Open your eyes and take a good look at this!¡± Everyone leaned in close to her phone screen. Her Exit 427 In the video, Samantha was wrapped up in William¡¯s arms as they shared a deep, affectionate kiss. She leaned into his embrace, looking lovingly at him. ¡°William, what if Rachel finds out about our baby? I feel like I¡¯ve let her down.¡± ¡°Rachel wouldn¡¯t be that petty. What¡¯s more, you¡¯ve been feeling down recently. She wouldn¡¯t stop me from keeping youpany.¡± Samantha¡¯s face darkened with displeasure, her heart racing with guilt. Rachel couldn¡¯t possibly have this video! That was when she first captured William¡¯s heart. Rachel turned out to be quite a schemer, after all. All along, she had known that something was going on between Samantha and William. Yet, she pretended to be ignorant about it. She waited till she was in a vegetative state, then vanished into thin air. William may be ignorant about Rachel¡¯s tricks, but Samantha could recognize them a mile away. Rachel just wanted to be on William¡¯s mind. The one that got away was always the best; that rule applied to all men. Rachel looked down at Samantha, whose face was etched with shock and embarrassment. ¡°Do you have anything else to say now?¡± Samantha red at Rachel, but there was nothing else she could do. Instead of pursuing the matter, Rachel decided to leave Samantha with a piece of advice. ¡°I heard that you lost your baby. Shouldn¡¯t you try to get the heavens to pity you byying low or doing good deeds to earn their favor? If not for your sake, then at least do it for your unborn baby.¡± With that, Rachel held Cecilia by the hand and made a move to leave. Behind them, Samantha was shrieking at the top of her lungs. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault that I lost my baby!¡± Rachel stopped in her tracks and turned back, confusion evident in her eyes. She felt a sudden urge tough. ¡°What did you say? I know you love making a scapegoat out of others, but I can¡¯t afford this usation. What does you losing your baby have to do with me?¡± Everyone knew that Samantha had just gotten pregnant when Rachel disappeared. Samantha¡¯s body was shaking and her eyes were bloodshot. The anger in her heart was on the verge of exploding. ¡°How is it not your fault? If it weren¡¯t for-¡± She was immediately cut off by the angry crowd. ¡°You¡¯re disgusting! You were the one who wrecked their family first! The nerve of you to use her of wrecking yours! I¡¯ve never seen someone as shameless as you are!¡± ¡°Exactly! You were even trying to incite the crowd into speaking up for you! How shameless can you get?¡± ¡°We almost believed your lies and thought that she came back to steal your man. Turns out that it was nothing but a lie!¡± ¡°How could you y the same trick and fool us twice?¡± ¡°You¡¯re despicable! You yed the part of a victim so well, we almost fell for it!¡± ¡°You¡¯re wicked through and through!¡± ¡°I hate it when people y the pity card to gain sympathy from others! Damn you!¡± Someone even flung a bottle in Samantha¡¯s way, and another even threw vegetables at her. At once, she became the target of public censure. No one was willing to speak up for her. Rachel and Cecilia cast Samantha a final nce before hopping into their car. Cecilia tutted. ¡°Evil truly never pays. Samantha had iting! I could understand her insecurities before she was officially with Mr. Lewis. But now, they¡¯re already married and she still refuses to let you go. That¡¯s really too much of her.¡± J Her Exit 428 The scene of Samantha being under everyone¡¯s attack was soon posted online, triggering a wave ofments, which the Lewis family soon caught wind of Cassandra was having a meal with her richdy friends in an attempt to strike potential partnerships. ¡°Mrs. Jackson, I heard that Lionscape Enterprise has been busy with a new project. Could you give us Lewis Enterprise a chance to work with you on that?¡± Mrs. Jackson burst outughing, but her eyes were cold and disdainful. ¡°Mrs. Lewis, you must be joking. The Lewis family is so powerful, you didn¡¯t give a damn about me in the past. Why are you suddenly looking for a chance to partner with us?¡± ¡°Exactly, Mrs. Lewis. Things on your end are in such a mess right now. I suppose you haven¡¯t seen the video that was just posted online?¡± Cassandra knew thesedies wouldn¡¯t pass up the chance to mock her. When Lewis Enterprise was thriving, she had her nose in the air when others went to her to plead for favors. The tables had now turned; now, she was the one pleading with others. Cassandra suppressed the anger rising in her chest and forced a smile on her face. ¡°Why, Mrs. Jackson! We¡¯ve known each other for so many years, and we¡¯re good friends. What¡¯s more, this is a win¨Cwin situation we¡¯re talking about. If Lewis Enterprise partners with you and boosts yourpany¡¯s brand, more partners wille knocking on your door.¡± ¡°Alright, Mrs. Lewis. That¡¯s quite enough now. Take a look at the videos posted online before youe asking me for a coboration. I dare say that no one here would dare to coborate with you.¡± Cassandra was still confused. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± She pulled out her phone; seeing the trending headline, she immediately knew it was bad news. She clicked on the video to y it. In the clip, Samantha was kneeling on the ground while Rachel was showing the crowd a video of William kissing Samantha. The conversation itself was embarrassing enough. Cassandra wanted nothing more than to dig a hole to bury herself in. Her face flushed with humiliation; she pursed her lips, lowering her head in shame. Samantha was trying to humiliate the entire Lewis family! What on earth was she doing, going to Rachel? Rachel was no good, either. Still, her death made Cassandra feel quite guilty. A life was lost, after all. On second thought, her disappearance was the only way William and Samantha¡¯s marriage could stabilize. Having all three of them around was a recipe for disaster. Who knew that Rachel would one day be back after five years of peace! What a catastrophe! The more thought gave Cassandra a spring headache She didn¡¯t read all thements below the video, by the time she was halfway through, she felt blood drain from her face. She was on the verge of fainting Cassandra lifted a band, thinking up an excuse to leave the was too embarrassed to stay any longer. *I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I have to go Let¡¯s gather again mother daye ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget about the charity dinner tonight, Mrs. Lewis. Remember to bring your daughter¨Cinw too,¡± one of the richthes sanely seminal her Cassandra gripped her big handle tightly arsely ashamed by what Samantha had done. The moment she steppet out of the hotel, she gaver Samantha a call, Today¡¯s Bonus Offen Her Exit 429 The moment the call went through, Cassandra couldn¡¯t hold herself back and exploded. ¡°Samantha, are you bent on destroying our family?!¡± Samantha, who had barely fled the scene, was now faced with Cassandra¡¯s harsh words. She felt even more indignant and frustrated. When she first married into the Lewis family, Cassandra had treated her like a real daughter and gave in to her every whim and fancy. Ever since she lost her baby, however, there was a massive shift in Cassandra¡¯s attitude toward her. Cassandra would mock her unprovoked and oftenpared her to Rachel. Samantha had slowly gotten used to it, suppressing the indignation she felt each time. ¡°Mom, you really can¡¯t me me. You had no idea that William was with Rachelst night. They were alone in the middle of the night, the audacity of them! Wouldn¡¯t it embarrass the Lewis family if word got out?¡± Cassandra had the sudden urge tough. ¡°I might believe that if someone else said it, but hearing it from you only makes me want tough! Did you forget how you married William back then? Didn¡¯t you steal him from Rachel? ¡°Also, it¡¯s been so long since you lost your child. Why couldn¡¯t you have another since then? Can you still bear a child for the family or not? ¡°Don¡¯t me me for being nasty, but you know the reason I agreed for William to marry you was because Rachel never got pregnant. Together with her hearing disability, it was frankly embarrassing. Compared to her, your only advantage is that you can bear a child!¡± Samantha sensed something amiss in Cassandra¡¯s words. ¡°Mom¡­ Do you want Rachel to get back together with William again?¡± she asked, filled with disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely impossible. Rachel is still single. If the two of them reconcile, it¡¯ll be a good thing for the Lewis family.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Samantha¡¯s voice went up a pitch, her usual calm and endearing demeanor all but gone. ¡°I¡¯ll never let that happen!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of yelling at me now? Hurry up and find a way out! The Lewis family has no ce for worthless people. Also, do something about that video. If you can¡¯t, then get the hell out of our family!¡± With that, Cassandra hung up unceremoniously. Samantha was in great distress, her entire body shaking with anger as she gnashed her teeth. The video of her spread like wildfire online, inevitably affecting William. This incident proved the saying that husband and wife are one flesh to be true. William had barely managed to settle problems at work when Samantha caused him yet another wave of problems. He put his palm on his forehead irritably. ¡°Will you still take Mrs. Lewis to the party tonight, sir? Arsen asked. William cast him a cold re. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s still appropriate for her to appear at an event like that?¡± It she attended, it would only be embarrassing for everyone. ¡°Got it, sir,¡± Arsen replied with a nod. At seven in the evening, Rachel stood right outside the hotel with the invitation card in hand. She looked at her outfit and made sure all was in ce before approaching the entrance. Thankfully, everything had been smooth sailing thus far She saw many familiar faces in the hotel. While her return to Yurelia City wasn¡¯t exactly groundbreaking news, this was her first time making an appearance at a public event. Rachel couldn¡¯t care less about what others thought of her. Tonight, she had only one clear goal in mind. The moment the call went through, Cassandra couldn¡¯t hold herself back and exploded. ¡°Samantha, are you bent on destroying our family?!¡± Samantha, who had barely fled the scene, was now faced with Cassandra¡¯s harsh words. She felt even more indignant and frustrated. When she first married into the Lewis family, Cassandra had treated her like a real daughter and gave in to her every whim and fancy. Ever since she lost her baby, however, there was a massive shift in Cassandra¡¯s attitude toward her. Cassandra would mock her unprovoked and oftenpared her to Rachel. Samantha had slowly gotten used to it, suppressing the indignation she felt each time. ¡°Mom, you really can¡¯t me me. You had no idea that William was with Rachelst night. They were alone in the middle of the night, the audacity of them! Wouldn¡¯t it embarrass the Lewis family if word got out?¡± Cassandra had the sudden urge tough. ¡°I might believe that if someone else said it, but hearing it from you only makes me want tough! Did you forget how you married William back then? Didn¡¯t you steal him from Rachel? ¡°Also, it¡¯s been so long since you lost your child. Why couldn¡¯t you have another since then? Can you still bear a child for the family or not? ¡°Don¡¯t me me for being nasty, but you know the reason I agreed for William to marry you was because Rachel never got pregnant. Together with her hearing disability, it was frankly embarrassing. Compared to her, your only advantage is that you can bear a child!¡± Samantha sensed something amiss in Cassandra¡¯s words. ¡°Mom¡­ Do you want Rachel to get back together with William again?¡± she asked, filled with disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely impossible. Rachel is still single. If the two of them reconcile, it¡¯ll be a good thing for the Lewis family.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Samantha¡¯s voice went up a pitch, her usual calm and endearing demeanor all but gone. ¡°I¡¯ll never let that happen!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of yelling at me now? Hurry up and find a way out! The Lewis family has no ce for worthless people. Also, do something about that video. If you can¡¯t, then get the hell out of our family!¡± With that, Cassandra hung up unceremoniously. Samantha was in great distress, her entire body shaking with anger as she gnashed her teeth. The video of her spread like wildfire online, inevitably affecting William. This incident proved the saying that husband and wife are one flesh to be true. William had barely managed to settle problems at work when Samantha caused him yet another wave of problems. He put his palm on his forehead irritably. ¡°Will you still take Mrs. Lewis to the party tonight, sir?¡± Arsen asked. William cast him a cold re. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s still appropriate for her to appear at an event like that?¡± If she attended, it would only be embarrassing for everyone. ¡°Got it, sir,¡± Arsen replied with a nod. At seven in the evening, Rachel stood right outside the hotel with the invitation card in hand. She looked at her outfit and made sure all was in ce before approaching the entrance. Thankfully, everything had been smooth sailing thus far. She saw many familiar faces in the hotel. While her return to Yurelia City wasn¡¯t exactly groundbreaking news, this was her first time making an appearance at a public event. Rachel couldn¡¯t care less about what others thought of her. Tonight, she had only one clear goal in mind. Her Exit 430 Rachel had to find out who William¡¯s uncle was. Cecilia managed to find out through the grapevine a little about how he looked. He was about six foot two, and always looked cold and distant. His sharp facial features entuated his outstanding aura and assertive edge, making him stand out from the crowd. Rachel kept repeating the information in her head as she made her way through the crowd, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt likeughing. Having this so¨Ccalled information was akin to not having any information at all! Not a single person in this ce was considered ordinary. Rachel gripped her handbag tightly, her heart racing at the thought of what she was hiding inside. She was ready to go all out¨Cno matter what, she had to ask William¡¯s uncle for help to clear her father¡¯s name. Rachel searched around the hall as she pushed past the crowd, drawing the attention of some people who started talking about her in hushed whispers. ¡°Goodness, isn¡¯t that William Lewis¡® ex¨Cwife? What¡¯s she doing here? Didn¡¯t she disappear and die five years ago?¡± ¡°Who said she died? The police never closed the case. That means she¡¯s just missing and not dead. Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± ¡°So, where was she the past five years? I heard that Mr. Lewis had been secretly looking for her all this while, unbeknownst to everyone else.¡± ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s quite devoted of Mr. Lewis, to still be searching for her even after so many years.¡± ¡°If that were the case, why did he divorce her in the first ce? Shouldn¡¯t they have just stayed together?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Men have a thing for their first love. Whether they end up married to another woman or not, there will always be a special ce in their heart for their first love. Mr. Lewis is just like that -he couldn¡¯t forget his first love even when he was with his wife. That¡¯s why he ended up with his first love anyway, to make up for the regret back then.¡± ¡°Yet, when he eventually got together with his first love, the rose¨Ctinted sses he wore werepletely shattered. With that, he decided that his ex¨Cwife was better inparison.¡± If Rachel weren¡¯t busy searching for William¡¯s uncle, she would have gone over and given the gossipmongers a thumbs¨Cup. They were spot¨Con in their analysis of William¡­ Rachel looked around the hall and realized that Yvette and Sasha were present, too. Sasha was tugging on the sleeve of a man on the cusp of middle age, intending to introduce him to Yvette. ¡°Yvette, this is Mr. West from Haverwood Real Estate.¡± Yvette cast the plump, old man a disdainful look and realized how awkward the entire situation was.
  1. 1.
Sasha nudged her with her elbow and smiled ingratiatingly at Mr. West. ¡°She¡¯s a little shy.¡± With a bright smile, Jacob West said, ¡°That¡¯s fine. I heard that you have another daughter by the name of Rachel. Is that right?¡± The fact that Rachel was a daughter of the Lloyd family was not something that Sasha could deny. Since the shareholder meeting held that day, everyone in the business circle knew that Rachel was rted to the Lloyds. Despite being an illegitimate daughter, she still had the blood of the Lloyds flowing through her veins. Sasha had no choice but to reply in the affirmative with a nod. Jacob pushed his sses up his nose bridge, the lenses reflecting light off them. ¡°Is she still single?¡± Her Exit 431 Rachel, not far away, nearly choked on her saliva when she overheard the conversation. When she looked at Yvette again, thetter¡¯s expression had grown darker. Yvette¡¯s thoughts were always easy to read. Earlier, the disdain on her face had made it very clear that she wasn¡¯t interested in Jacob. Honestly, who could me her? Jacob was ten years older than her. On top of that, he was practically three times her size. When he smiled, he gave off a sleazy vibe. Even a couple of looks from him made Yvette feel like he was mentally undressing her. Still, not liking someone was one thing. But being disliked in return? That was another story altogether, especially when hepared her to Rachel. That was something Yvette just couldn¡¯t stomach. Her expression turned sour instantly. ¡°Mr. West, I can tell that you really like my sister. But you should know, she¡¯s divorced from Mr. Lewis. During that time, she¡¯s been getting involved with other men. You seriously don¡¯t mind?¡± But Jacob just kept smiling. He wasn¡¯t the least bit bothered by what Yvette said. ¡°You just don¡¯t get it. So what if she¡¯s been married? That¡¯s her past. I¡¯m not really concerned about that. What matters is your sister¡¯s professional ability. Not everyone can match up to that.¡± Rachel¡¯s talent had once been well known in Yurelia City Her ability was recognized throughout the industry. There were deals that even experienced men couldn¡¯tnd, but Rachel could. Yvette, fuming, stomped her foot and turned to leave. Rachel just treated the whole thing as a joke and zeroed in on her real target. She casually asked a nearby waiter about someone. Since everyone at the event was on a guest list, the staff knew their identities. Rachel slipped the waiter a few hundred bucks. Before long, she got the information she wanted. His name was Jason. He was the only son of the Denzel family, and his parents had lived abroad for years. Cold and aloof, he didn¡¯t sugarcoat anything, but his business acumen was strong. Under his leadership, his family business had grown rapidly in recent years. There were rumors he was an illegitimate son of someone powerful, but that was all gossip. The key was that his overall vibe matched exactly what Cecilia had described. He was striking and almost aggressively handsome. Distinct facial features, single eyelids, and a small, tear -shaped birthmark just below the corner of his eye, which slightly softened his otherwise sharp edges. He didn¡¯t look quite so cold because of it. Rachel didn¡¯t have time to hesitate. At the moment, aside from him, there wasn¡¯t a better candidate present. She took a ss of wine from the waiter and began walking toward Jason. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a familiar figure at the entrance. It was a man in a ck suit; tall, lean, and handsome, exuding a cold, aristocratic air. His chiseled jawline and thin lips were so attractive that it was hard to look away. Sure, there were plenty of men here in ck suits with simr builds, but this one had something special. He had a presence such that you could pick him out of a crowd instantly. But right now, thest thing Rachel wanted was for Tyler to see her. She quickly stepped away, but what she didn¡¯t know was that Tyler had already noticed her. Even if it was just by the hem of her dress, he knew¨Cthat was how familiar he was with her. In a crowd of women, just one nce at her silhouette was all it took. Her silhouette was etched into his memory. Rachel reached Jason¡¯s side just in time to hear a few women trying to crowd around him, each hoping to Strike up a conversation. ¡°Mr. Denzel, could we exchange numbers? My family has a plot ofnd going up for auction in a few days. Maybe you¡¯d be interested in taking a look?¡± ¡°Mr. Denzel, we¡¯reunching a new project tomorrow. Would you be able to attend? You might find something that fits yourpany¡¯s needs.¡± ¡°Mr. Denzel, our firm is working on new energy and drone tech. We¡¯ve already prepared a proposal. Would you consider reviewing it?¡± Her Exit 432 je ten du en nes in the women agerly Proves that read, he just asked them candy,¡± any of you know how to y churrung? don¡¯t know how to pity that Thatnd of old fashioned? somunhing only old people y st ¡°Exactly! My grandpa used to like it. Who even ys shut and anymore?¡± It was unclear whether Jason genuinely had an interest le shatranj or if he was just using it as a polite way to drive these women away. Rachel hadn¡¯t stepped forward yet. She was standing a short distance away, quietly observing Still, someone eventually took the bait. ¡°Mr. Denzel, could we take a look at the board?¡± ¡°Sure¡± Jason pulled out his phone, and the other women leaned closer to look as well. ¡°This board looks like someone stopped halfway through.¡± ¡°Yes, looks like it¡¯s headed toward a dead end. Basically, someone needs to try and turn the situation around ¡± Some of the women might not have been experts, but they understood enough to give it a try. After all, a basic understanding was good enough. It was a chance to impress Jason. Not only was he handsome and came from a powerful family, but word had it that he was close friends with Tyler as well. As for Tyler? They had all given up. That man was practically a priest. Over the years, many had tried to pursue him, but nothing ever worked. He wasn¡¯t moved by anyone. Eventually, rumors began to spread in their circles. People spected that Tyler¡¯s sexual orientation might be unconventional. How else could someone that attractive, that sessful and in his thirties still be single? He never even had a girlfriend. It was hard not to wonder. Rachel took a serious look at the board and finally couldn¡¯t resist stepping forward. ¡°Mr. Denzel, if I manage to solve this puzzle, is there any kind of reward?¡± The moment she said that, the others followed up quickly. ¡°Yes, there should be a reward. We can¡¯t just sit around cracking puzzles for free. This one looks seriously hard to solve.¡± ¡°If the prize is worth it, I¡¯d be willing to give it my all.¡± Jason¡¯s dark gazended on Rachel. He was clearly a little surprised. There was something different about her¨Csomething refined, cool, and almost otherworldly. More importantly, she wasn¡¯t like the others who had thick makeup on. Hers was light and freed her delicate features of any artificial mor. There was a quiet elegance to her, like she didn¡¯t even belong in the same world as the rest of them. Still, Jason couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he had seen her somewhere before. He spoke without thinking. ¡°Excuse me, but have we met before?¡± Rachel responded graciously, ¡°Hello, Mr. Denzel. I¡¯m Rachel Lloyd.¡± ¡°Rachel¡­¡± Jason murmured her name, then suddenly seemed to recall something. He looked at her with a stunned expression. ¡°You¡¯re-¡± He was just about to say it, but then his gaze drifted to a man standing not far away. Instantly, he held back. He couldn¡¯t say it. Tyler had kept this under wraps for years. He hadn¡¯t said anything five years ago, and now that she was back, he still wasn¡¯t saying a word. If Jason exposed anything now, who knew what kind of trouble he¡¯d bring on himself? Tyler might just skin him alive! But as Tyler¡¯s longtime friend, Jason figured perhaps this was the perfect opportunity. Maybe he could finally do something to push these two back together. Even as a bystander, he couldn¡¯t keep watching this y out any longer. He just didn¡¯t get it. Tyler was always the decisive type, so efficient and no¨Cnonsense. Why was he dragging his feet so much when it came to this? She was only a woman. Given Tyler¡¯s charm, shouldn¡¯t he have locked this down long ago? But still, if Rachel wasn¡¯t going to Tyler, why had she suddenlye looking for him? Jason crossed his arms and stared at Rachel like he was watching a spectacle. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, do you know how to solve this?¡± Her Exit 433 achel couldn¡¯t be too sure, either. After all, she wasn¡¯t exactly an expert at shatranj. I can give it a try.¡± Alright, then. If you¡¯d like to give it a shot, go ahead,¡± Jason replied, treating her the same as everyone else o no one would think he was giving her special treatment. How about this? If anyone here can solve this shatranj problem, I¡¯ll agree to spend a night with them.¡± he girls around them all widened their eyes in delight. hey had been racking their brains trying to figure out how to get Jason¡¯s attention. Never did they expect im to throw out such a tempting offer this quickly! they really could spend the night with Jason, that would practically mean they had won him over! fter all, what else would men and women do alone at night? veryone knew exactly what it implied. lthough Jason didn¡¯t have any major scandals tied to his name, it was no secret that he frequented bars uite a bit. S t J C t V a B §Ú N To matter how well a man carried himself, at the end of the day, he was still a man. If that was the case, hen it was hard to believe he could resist a beautiful woman. 34 J Imost everyone there understood that. achel understood it, too. For some reason, the thought made her feel strangely tense. hen again, she didn¡¯t even know if she could solve the shatranj problem in the first ce. There was no oint in overthinking it now. he would just have to take things one step at a time. he women around her were, of course, quick to agree to Jason¡¯s proposal. Mr. Denzel, you¡¯d better keep your word!¡± Yes, you can¡¯t go back on what you said.¡± Quick, check online and see if anyone skilled enough can figure this out.¡± Honestly, I doubt it. Think about it. If someone could¡¯ve solved this puzzle, would Mr. Denzel even be sking around like this?¡± Exactly. If no one online can solve it, what chance do we have?¡± ason spoke again. ¡°I won¡¯t limit your methods. Whether you ask someone online or use any other approach -if someone manages to solve it, that counts as a win.¡± he atmosphere suddenly became electric. Even people who had nothing to do with the game started rowding around. yler stood amidst the crowd, watching as the women began offering rewards online, hoping someone A might crack the puzzle. Others were whispering among themselves, trying toe up with strategies. Seeing the growing crowd, Jason asked a server to bring over a shatranj board and set it up exactly like in the photo he had shown. Both he and Tyler turned their gaze toward Rachel. Amidst the buzz of people chatting and scrolling through their phones, Rachel was the only one sitting there silently, studying the board. She wasn¡¯t on her phone. She wasn¡¯t talking to anyone else. She was just thinking. Jason¡¯s eyes lit up with admiration. All of a sudden, he felt like he understood something. Over the years, even Tyler¡¯s family members had introduced him to many exceptional women, but none of them ever caught his eye. When he first saw Rachel, it was just a picture of her from behind. Her figure was undeniably impressive, and from that alone, he could tell she likely wasn¡¯tcking in looks either. But seeing her in person, there was that moment of amazement. Just one look, and he could tell this woman was different from the rest. Now, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of anticipation. Could Rachel actually solve this puzzle? Someone in the crowd suddenly asked Jason out of curiosity, ¡°Mr. Denzel, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. Where did you get this shatranj puzzle from?¡± Jason didn¡¯t hide anything and answered honestly, ¡°I was ying with a friend a few days ago. He¡¯s convinced no one can solve this setup except for him.¡± After he said that, his gaze subconsciously shifted to Tyler in the crowd. Her Exit 434 Jason couldn¡¯t help but feel secretly delighted. ¡®Dude, you¡¯ll definitely thank me after tonight,¡® he thought. One of the women asked, ¡°Mr. Denzel, is your friend here today too? We¡¯re just worried that if someone does manage to solve the puzzle, and the person who set it isn¡¯t around, things might get tricky.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s here,¡± Jason replied with a smirk. Soon, a few people stepped up to give it a try. But after making just a couple of moves, they realized the board remained deadlocked. The game went on for about half an hour. Everyone who knew how to y, and even those who didn¡¯t but thought they might have a chance, had already taken a turn. No one else stepped forward. Jason started to feel a little puzzled. Rachel had looked so serious while studying the board earlier. But now, she hadn¡¯t moved at all. There wasn¡¯t even a single reaction. Did I just overestimate her?¡® Then again, it made sense. Even top yers online hadn¡¯t been able to solve this. How could she when she wasn¡¯t even a shatranj expert? He should¡¯ve known better than to bring out such a difficult puzzle. Seeing that no one had stepped forward for several minutes, Jason couldn¡¯t help but ask again, ¡°Anyone else want to give it a try? If not, I suppose we¡¯ll just call it a day. No one could solve the puzzle tonight.¡± The crowd below shook their heads. Jason gave a helpless shrug. ¡®Sorry, dude. I tried.¡® He was about to signal the nearby waiter to pack up the board when a clear female voice suddenly rang out. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± The moment Jason heard that voice, a flicker of light returned to his eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh in relief. He had been waiting for this. In the crowd, Tyler¡¯s expression remained unreadable. His gaze was fixed on Rachel the entire time. The second she spoke up and said she would try, the trace of weariness in his eyes vanished entirely. He had set this shatranj puzzle, and so far, not one person hade close to solving it. Now, even he was curious. What method would Rachel use to crack it? Rachel stepped up to the board, essentially making her the evening¡¯s grand finale. Given who she was, it was no surprise that all eyes instantly turned toward her. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Lloyd family¡¯s eldest daughter?¡± ¡°She¡¯s William¡¯s ex¨Cwife, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°I heard it was just recently revealed that she¡¯s actually the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Lloyd from Lloyd Enterprise.¡± ¡°No way! An illegitimate daughter?¡± ¡°Who¡¯d have guessed Mr. Lloyd was such a yer in his youth.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so surprising? In our circle, wealthy men having affairs and kids outside of wedlock is practically normal.¡± ¡°True. Still, I think she has way more ss than that Yvette girl they brought backter. She looks so much more like a true Lloyd.¡± ¡°Shows how little you know. Yvette was brought in from the countryside. Of course she doesn¡¯t have any poise! The Lloyd family practically built her image from scratch with money.¡± Yvette overheard this and clenched her jaws in anger. She grabbed her skirt so tightly that her fingers turned red and the veins bulged on the back of her hand. Her eyes burned with fury, as if she could scorch Rachel just by ring. She was furious that the man she had sent all those years ago hadn¡¯t managed to get rid of Rachel. She was rightfully part of the family by blood. So what if Rachel was the same? She was just an illegitimate child! How could Rachelpare to her? What was wrong with all these people? Were they blind? In what way was she inferior to Rachel? Why did everyone insist onparing them? Fine! If Rachel wanted the spotlight so badly, Yvette would make sure she got all the spotlight she wanted. X Her Exit 435 Yvette shot Rachel a vicious re before walking up to thetter. Just moments ago, she was still fuming, but now her expression instantly shifted to one of delight, as if she were greeting an old friend. Putting on a fake smile, she looked at Rachel like they were the best of friends. ¡°Rachel, maybe you shouldn¡¯t get involved in this. You don¡¯t even know how to y shatranj. And besides, didn¡¯t Mr. Denzel just say earlier that whoever wins the match gets to spend the night with him? Don¡¯t tell me you want to¡­¡± She lowered her voice deliberately for thest part. ¡°But aren¡¯t you already seeing someone? If you do this, won¡¯t he mind?¡± The more innocent and considerate she tried to sound, the more it cast suspicion on Rachel¡¯s character. Yvette¡¯sment immediately sparked a round of gossip among the crowd. ¡°She¡¯s Yvette¡¯s sister. If anyone knows the truth about her, it¡¯s her own family.¡± ¡°Exactly. I¡¯ve heard rumors before. Wasn¡¯t she linked to Howard Ziegler and Mr. Hunt too?¡± ¡°This woman¡¯s really something! She¡¯s managed to get involved with all the most famous men in Yurelia City, and now she¡¯s setting her sights on Mr. Denzel?¡± ¡°I heard Mr. Denzel and Mr. Hunt go way back. Isn¡¯t that going to be super awkward?¡± Rachel could tune out all the chatter except for thatst sentence. It hit her like a jolt of electricity. ¡®Wait, what?¡® Did Jason and Tyler know each other? Were they childhood friends? It couldn¡¯t be just a coincidence! The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. She suddenly remembered how William used to act around Tyler, nervous and skittish, like a mouse in front- of a cat. At the time, it confused her. What kind of connection could make William react like that? If Tyler and Jason were childhood friends, and Jason happened to be William¡¯s uncle, then it all clicked. William was afraid of Jason, and even more terrified that Tyler might know something and rat him out. Rachel¡¯s thoughts lined up like dominoes. It was all starting to make perfect sense. This time, she was sure she hadn¡¯t picked the wrong target. She couldn¡¯t be bothered about Tyler right now. Even if Jason turned out to be Tyler¡¯s father, she still had to win him over. She had originally nned to ignore Yvette. Someone like Yvette wasn¡¯t even worth the time. J But after a moment¡¯s thought, Rachel realized she just couldn¡¯t swallow the insult. So she slowly turned around, her tone casual and indifferent. ¡°How about I tell you the solution, and you y instead? I¡¯m just interested in the game itself, not spending the night with Mr. Denzel.¡± Yvette asked doubtfully, ¡°Really?¡± Rachel raised her brow slightly. ¡°Of course. But only if you¡¯re actually interested in Mr. Denzel. If not, then I¡¯d rather not waste the opportunity. There are plenty of other girls here who¡¯d want a shot.¡± The other girls immediately joined in the excitement. ¡°Tell us, tell us! We want to know!¡± ¡°Ms. Lloyd, if you¡¯re willing to share, name your price! We¡¯ll pay anything!¡± ¡°She¡¯s right, ask for anything. We¡¯ve got plenty of money!¡± Rachel¡¯s lips curled into a confident, seductive smile. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned her gaze to Yvette. ¡°¡®Yvette, no matter what, you¡¯re still my sister. Naturally, I¡¯ll let you have the first shot at this.¡± Yvette definitely wanted the opportunity. Between Jason and Jacob from earlier, only an idiot would pick Jacob. She had no choice but to try and trust Rachel this once. ¡°Okay, then tell me.¡± Rachel saw that Yvette had taken the bait, and her smile widened. With that, she started speaking right in front of everyone. Her Exit 436 ¡°Do you want the solution to this puzzle? Dream on!¡± Rachel said. ¡°You!¡± Yvette shrieked¨Cshe finally realized Rachel had been toying with her. Her expression darkened instantly. Rachel¡¯s expression grew cold as well. Her words were harsh and unfiltered, hitting Yvette like a volley of bullets. ¡°You said I had my eyes on Mr. Denzel, that I wanted to solve this puzzle just to spend the night with him. But aren¡¯t you the same? Putting on this holier¨Cthan¨Cthou act when deep down, you¡¯re thinking the exact same thing. No one here is stupid, Yvette. There¡¯s no need to pretend. If you want something, then at least have the guts to fight for it on your own merit.¡± Yvette was rendered speechless. Her cheeks flushed bright red as she stood there, stiff and embarrassed. She hadn¡¯t expected Rachel to humiliate her right in front of so many people with no mercy whatsoever. That was when Sasha stepped in to smooth things over. ¡°Alright now, sisters bicker from time to time. No need to get upset. Rachel, you¡¯re the older one. Can¡¯t you let a little teasing slide?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even bother to nce at Sasha. She walked straight up to the board and moved a piece on the upper right section. Everyone had been so focused on the center of the board, they hadn¡¯t noticed that position at all. It was only now that they realized the center was just a decoy. Whoever had set up the game wanted everyone trying to solve it to believe the only chance for victoryy in that narrow sliver of hope. But just like in life, what seemed like salvation might turn out to be nothing more than a distraction. People around them gasped with admiration. ¡°Ms. Lloyd truly is extraordinary! She actually cracked this board wide open!¡± ¡°Right? That move she yed was so subtle. I didn¡¯t even think of it. Everyone¡¯s eyes were glued to the center.¡± ¡°Incredible! I¡¯ve seen top¨Ctier yers online struggle with this one, and yet she figured it out.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe any of those rumors anymore. A woman this brilliant wouldn¡¯t need to cozy up to men for anything.¡± ¡°Exactly. Even if she were involved with Mr. Hunt or Howard, who¡¯s to say they weren¡¯t the ones chasing after her?¡± ¡°Good point.¡± Yvette stared as Rachel turned the whole game around with just a single move. Just one move, changed everything. and it She couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°You all must be mistaken! There¡¯s no way! None of you could solve it, and now my sister just magically did? ¡°Yvette screeched. ¡°What are you saying, youngdy? Even if one person was mistaken, do you think an entire ballroom full of people would be wrong?¡± ¡°You know so much about your sister¡¯s private life, but you didn¡¯t know she could y shatranj?¡± ¡°Yvette a Lloyd too. Could it be that you¡¯re just jealous of your sister?¡± Yvette¡¯s face flushed with shame and fury. Veins stood out at her temples, and her fists clenched so tightly her fingertips turned red from the pressure. Jason quietly lowered his head and texted Tyler. [I can¡¯t believe someone actually solved your puzzle!] Tyler nced at the message but didn¡¯t respond. Still, the smile on his face was impossible to hide. Jason had scoured the inte, reaching out to experts, but not a single one had managed to solve the puzzle. Jason made a prompt decision. ¡°Well then, since Ms. Lloyd has cracked the puzzle, I¡¯ll honor the deal. We¡¯ll spend the night together as promised.¡± Her Exit 437 Rachel couldn¡¯t help but chuckle a little when she heard the phrase ¡®spend the night together.¡® It sounded like something out of ancient times, likepeting for thepany of a courtesan. Whoever paid more got to spend the entire night with her. She wondered if that was what Jason felt like now. If Jason heard that, he would probably get a goodugh out of it. After the banquet ended, Rachel walked up to him of her own ord. Jason¡¯s gaze brieflynded on her. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, what made you think of making that move?¡± Rachel just smiled. ¡°It¡¯s like alternative medicine. Some doctors prefer traditional methods, but if I were a doctor, I¡¯d probably go for unconventional remedies from time to time.¡± In other words, she didn¡¯t follow the rules. Jason found that rather admirable. Rachel wasn¡¯t like other women. She looked him in the eye without hesitation. He had met countless women, but not one had dared to look him straight in the eyes so openly. ¡°Do you think we can find somewhere to talk in private? Rachel brought it up before Jason could even speak. Jason raised his eyebrows slightly, clearly surprised. Was she that eager? Was she actually into him? He thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright. Wait for me in this room.¡± He slipped a room key card into her hand. Rachel never imagined a simple key card could feel this warm in her palm. It was like holding a scorching potato. Her fingers instinctively curled around it. Jason hadn¡¯t said anything outright, but she was an adult. She knew exactly what this meant. Still, she didn¡¯t think Jason was doing anything wrong. He was a man, and it was perfectly natural for a man to want that kind of thing with a woman. Rachel nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go get ready.¡± Jason froze for a second, then quickly nodded back, almost hurriedly. ¡°Yeah, yeah, you go get ready. Everything you might need, make sure you have it.¡± He turned on his heel and rushed off, leaving Rachel slightly confused. The more she thought about it, the easier it was to figure out what he meant. Between a man and a woman, what else could he have meant? To be honest, she was hoping there might be another way to resolve this. Something that didn¡¯t require going that far. Oh well. She¡¯d go pick things up first and take them one step at a time. As Rachel left the hotel, she had no idea someone had their eyes on her from behind. Tyler didn¡¯t step forward to stop her. Instead, he called Jason directly. His voice was low and cold,ced with an edge of menace. ¡°What exactly did you ask her to do?¡± Jason hadn¡¯t expected Tyler, who was usuallyposed and restrained, to lose his cool this fast. ¡°You really called fast. Let me tell you, if I weren¡¯t your friend, and were your enemy instead, the way you¡¯re panicking right now would¡¯ve already be your biggest weakness.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t bother hiding his fury. ¡°If anyone daresy a hand on her, I¡¯ll make sure they die a miserable death. I¡¯ll make them regret ever being born!¡± Jason believed him. He and the others had grown up with Tyler and knew exactly what kind of man he was. If Tyler was reacting like this, it meant that the woman really mattered to him. So then why hadn¡¯t he made a move earlier? With his charm, he could have had her wrapped around his finger in no time. Jason didn¡¯t argue anymore. ¡°Alright, alright. But listen, I¡¯ve got something I need your help with-¡± Her Exit 438 Tyler remained silent. When Rachel returned to the hotel, she was carrying two bottles of liquor. She had already made up her mind¨Cif there was really no way out, she might as well get herself drunk. That way, at least she wouldn¡¯t feel so tormented by what she was about to do. Standing outside the hotel room, Rachel took a deep breath, mentally bracing herself. She pulled out the key card and swiped it. Ding! The door unlocked. She gently pushed the door open and cautiously called out, ¡°Mr. Denzel, are you there?¡± ¡°Come in.¡± She heard a man¡¯s deep voice. Rachel felt something was slightly off about the voice, but she quickly brushed that feeling aside. Jason was probably nervous, too. She stepped inside, only to realize that Jason was in the shower. The hotel bathroom had one of those translucent ss walls, frosted enough to obscure details, but you could still make out a silhouette. Rachel only nced briefly in that direction before quickly turning away and sitting down in a chair by the balcony. She clutched the wine bottles in her hand. It felt like a few voices were arguing inside her head. Jason¡¯s intentions were already very clear. She was an adult, and she understood that well. Rachel had already tried everything she could think of. She had found out that the person in charge of Jim¡¯s case was someone named Harry Foster. Even if she couldn¡¯t clear her father¡¯s name immediately, she had to find a way to buy time. Otherwise, with Jim¡¯s deteriorating health, he wouldn¡¯t survive much longer in prison. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t let her father die behind bars. That thought alone gave her courage. For Jim¡¯s sake, she had to take the risk. Truth be told, it was still hard for her to ept sleeping with a man she had only met once. Rachel nced at the liquor on the table. People always said getting drunk was the best way to gain courage. If she got drunk, and if things turned hazy, maybe it would just happen without her remembering too clearly. When the man finally stepped out of the bathroom, he was greeted by the strong smell of alcohol in the room. Rachel¡¯s cheeks were flushed, and her slender fingers still wrapped around the wine bottle. Her eyes were slightly hazy. Hershes fluttered gently. A few strands of hair fell loosely across her face, glowing faintly under the soft amber light above. The man stepped forward, catching her slightly unsteady body. Rachel looked up at him. Her usually bright gaze clouded with mist. Her voice sounded soft and confused. ¡°W¨CWhy do you look different now?¡± He looked a lot like Tyler. No, it had to be a mistake. Either it was her imagination, or she had just been spending too much time around Tylertely. She was probably projecting. Rachel tried to stand up, but her legs were wobbly from the alcohol. She almost stumbled backward, but the man quickly caught her by the waist, preventing her from hitting the sharp edge of the table. ¡°Mr. D¨CDenzel, can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about my father, Jim. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard about his case. He was framed. I know you¡¯re William¡¯s uncle. Only you can convince him to withdraw the report. And since you also know Harry Foster, the one handling the case, I believe you can help clear my father¡¯s name. He doesn¡¯t have much time left. I can¡¯t let him spend hisst days in prison.¡± The man could tell Rachel was stuttering. He nced at the two empty liquor bottles on the table. He picked one up to check. The alcohol content was pretty high. Even in this half¨Cdrunken state, she was still talking about her father. He didn¡¯t know whether to say her alcohol tolerance was good or bad. ¡°So? Are you offering yourself in exchange?¡± Her Exit 439 Rachel squinted slightly. Her mind felt hazy and heavy, But she was still very clear about what she needed to do. Since she had already made up her mind, she didn¡¯t bother to hesitate any longer. ¡°Well then, Mr. Denzel, since you¡¯re after my body and have something I need from you, why don¡¯t we just strike a deal?¡± She consoled herself. It wasn¡¯t like she was some innocent young girl anymore. She was divorced, after all. At least Jason didn¡¯t mind. That, she supposed, was a blessing in itself. It was far better than the alternative. If he had insisted she had to be a virgin, she wouldn¡¯t even have had a chance to offer herself up. The man helped her sit down in a chair before settling into the seat across from her, arms crossed. His deep- set eyes studied her with a subtle, unreadable amusement. ¡°So what I¡¯m hearing is, you¡¯re mentally prepared for this?¡± Rachel nodded solemnly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Alright, then. Show me.¡± He leaned back in his chair while Rachel swayed unsteadily to her feet. She was clearly a bit tipsy. Rachel could sense she had drunk a little too much. Everything in front of her seemed to spin and shift out of ce. She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Sorry, I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Rachel leaned forward slightly, but for a moment didn¡¯t know how to begin. Worst of all, she couldn¡¯t even see his eyes or nose clearly. Everything in her vision was upside down. He watched her stiff posture and suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her into hisp without warning. Rachel fell into him clumsily, her nose brushing against his as she looked up in surprise. ¡°Did you take a shower?¡± His voice was deep and husky. Rachel froze for a second. She then nodded mechanically ¡°I showered before I went out today.¡± The man snorted. ¡°Looks like you were prepared for this, after all.¡± One of his hands was still wrapped around her wrist, while the other pressed lightly on her waist, drawing her into his embrace. She wore very light makeup, and even at this close distance, there was hardly any sign of it. Her skin was fair and wless. The room was thick with the scent of alcohol. Rachel felt ufortable under his gaze and turned her head away. She must¡¯ve been drunk, hallucinating even. How could this man¡¯s face suddenly look like Tyler¡¯s? Noticing her trying to avoid him, the man gently hooked his finger under her chin and made her face him again. ¡°Why are you avoiding me? Isn¡¯t this what you wanted?¡± Rachel felt like a helpless prey in his arms. Her eyes shimmered with moisture as she looked at Jason. ¡°Mr. Denzel, does this mean you agree? Are you confident you can get my dad out of trouble?¡± He slowly caressed her chin. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t havee to me if you hadn¡¯t done your homework first, right? Rachel felt a sense of relief at that. If this night could buy her father peace for the rest of his life, then it was worth it. Besides, Jason wasn¡¯t bad¨Clooking. In fact, he was actually quite handsome. That meant what she bought earlier might actuallye in handy. She couldn¡¯t help ncing over at her bag. He caught her looking and reached over to pick it up. ¡°What¡¯s in here that has your attention, hmm?¡± Rachel watched wide¨Ceyed as he pulled out a condom, raised his brows with a meaningful expression, and examined it front and back. Maybe it was the alcohol, but this time, she managed to respond in a surprisingly calm tone. +2 Her Exit 440 ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who told me to go get it?¡± Rachel asked. The man seemed slightly surprised as he looked at her. ¡°I told you to get it?¡± ¡°Yes, didn¡¯t you ask me to get prepared?¡± Rachel was a little intrigued. Jason hadn¡¯t even had a drink, yet his memory seemed worse than hers, and she had definitely been drinking. Could she have misunderstood? No way. If she had, why would he have taken a shower? That alone was a pretty obvious signal. But the man didn¡¯t seem to hear a word she was saying. He just kept staring at the condom wrapper in his hand, flipping it over a few times. Then, he said, ¡°You bought the wrong size.¡± Rachel blinked in confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too small.¡± Her face went stiff. Were there different sizes? She had just grabbed a box, paid, and left. Sure, it wasn¡¯t her first time doing this, but William had always been the one to buy them. This was her first. time, and she had no idea about sizes. The man gave the packet a shake. ¡°We¡¯ll make it work.¡± Rachel realized there was no turning back now and asked, ¡°Should we move to the bed?¡± ¡°Where do you want to do it?¡± he asked casually. Given the choice between the hard balcony chair and a soft,fy bed, Rachel opted for thetter. ¡°The bed, then.¡± The man helped her over, shrugging off his jacket as he walked. Once at the bed, he gently grasped her chin and gave her lips a couple of teasing pecks. The moment his warm lips touched hers, Rachel felt every cell in her body light up like a spark. His kisses were patient, his hand resting lightly at her waist to keep her steady. Her cheeks turned pink under the heat of his lips, and her breath came quicker. He paused for a beat, then reached behind her, pulling down the zipper of her dress. Lying back on the bed, Rachel¡¯s face flushed as she nced at the harsh ceiling light. ¡°Can we turn that off?¡± she asked. ¡°Can we leave a smallmp on?¡± She thought to herself that at least he had some manners. Jason had always seemed a bit wild and unrestrained, so his gentleness now was unexpected. Given the circumstances, she didn¡¯t want to push her luck. ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel followed Tyler¡¯s pace the whole way. He led every step, and she simply went along with it. The man braced himself above her and suddenly called her name. ¡°Rachel, who am I?¡± That struck Rachel like a thunderp. It felt like someone had yanked her out of apletely different time and space. Her whole body trembled violently. Though the alcohol was still in her system, the shockpletely sobered her. That once¨Cblurry face finally sharpened into focus. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened with disbelief. Her pupils dted. ¡°T¨CTyler.¡± Tyler smiled, clearly pleased by her correct answer. He dipped down to give her a light kiss on the lips like a reward. ¡°Good girl.¡± Rachel felt her heart jolt violently. That meant everything she¡¯d just seen wasn¡¯t a hallucination. The man in this room wasn¡¯t Jason. It was Tyler! How could it be Tyler? He leaned in and whispered in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t drift off now. Focus, Rachel.¡± Rachel was once again dragged back to reality by his voice. Her Exit 441 Tyler didn¡¯t give Rachel any chance to ask questions. Things went on between them until way past midnight, and Rachel eventually passed outpletely Worse yet, she had only bought one condom, and after that one, who knew where he got the rest from. Rachel didn¡¯t even have the energy to care.. As her eyes finally closed, she had just one thought in her mind. ¡®I never want to drink again. Alcohol ruins lives!¡® Tyler, on the other hand, showed no signs of sleepiness. Propping his chin on his elbow, he gazed at her under the soft glow of the dim light. Rachel was fast asleep, hershes trembling gently. He could vaguely smell the scent of orange blossom from her hair. Just then, his phone started to vibrate. He nced down. Jason was calling. ¡®Perfect. The mastermind himself,¡® Tyler thought. As he prepared to get up, the woman in his arms furrowed her brows ever so slightly. Tyler gently patted her like soothing a child, and her expression rxed again. Only then did he quietly get up and walk into the bathroom. He swiped to answer the call, his voice thick with post¨Cpleasure satisfaction, sounding even deeper and fuller in the empty bathroom. ¡°Are you calling to beg for forgiveness?¡± Jason sounded baffled. ¡°What do you mean, begging for forgiveness? I¡¯m calling to im credit! I mean,e on, I helped you big time tonight. Shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me?¡± Tyler snorted. ¡°I didn¡¯t need your help.¡± Jason was dumbfounded. ¡°Dude, seriously? You¡¯re acting like I owe you something now. What do you mean by unnecessary? If I hadn¡¯t stepped in and helped, do you think you¡¯d be snuggled up with the girl of your dreams tonight?¡± Jason had arranged for someone to keep watch at the door. After Tyler didn¡¯te out for an hour, he knew the deed was done. He figured, with things at this point, if Tyler still tried to y the noble gentleman, then he¡¯d never help him again. Tyler frowned. ¡°You scared her so badly she drank two bottles of alcohol. She thought I was you. Should I be thanking you for that?¡± Jason cringed. ¡°Seriously? She drank that much? And even mistook you for me? Damn, she must¡¯ve been really resistant to the idea. Wait a second. Am I that ugly or something? She needed two bottles just to get the courage?¡± Tyler was quickly losing patience with Jason and gave a cold reminder.¡± ¡°Are you sure your focus is in the right ce?¡± Jason kept rambling on. ¡°Whatever, it¡¯s done. Mission aplished. You deal with the rest.¡± Just before hanging up, Jason threw in a final warning. ¡°By the way, dude, I know you¡¯ve been bottling up those manly urges for a long time, but don¡¯t get too wild all at once. I don¡¯t want you breaking yourself.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Tyler cursed and hung up faster than Jason. Immediately after, the group chat exploded. [Thanks to my careful nning and relentless effort, our dear Tyler has finally won the beauty of his dreams.] Luke sent a celebratory emoji. [Holy crap! You really did it? If this dragged on any longer, I was about to bet he¡¯d die alone!] Shiloh joined in the conversation. [Should we y the song, What a Wonderful Day, tomemorate this?] Luke typed a reply. [I support that. And now that he¡¯s finally imed his girl, shouldn¡¯t he introduce her to us? We¡¯ve been waiting forever. If it were me, I¡¯d have confessed ages ago.] Jason added his piece, too. [Exactly! And don¡¯t get me started on William. He wasn¡¯t even the one who saved her back then, but he dared to take credit! If not for that, she probably wouldn¡¯t have fallen for him in the first ce.] Tyler sat on the toilet, idly tapping on his phone screen. He was clearly in a very good mood. [Who gave you all permission to talk about her?] Luke immediately stirred the pot. [Tsk tsk, already getting possessive when you just got her? And she hasn¡¯t even officially said yes yet!] Jason chimed in, too. [Still up at five after all that action. Looks like someone¡¯s feeling extra energetic. Must be the thrill talking!] Her Exit 442 Shiloh sent a yawning emoji. [You guys keep chatting. I¡¯m going to sleep. Unlike some people, I¡¯m not that hyped.] One by one, the rest also admitted they couldn¡¯t stay up any longer and signed off. Tyler scoffed in the group chat. [Let¡¯s be honest, you¡¯re all useless trash.] He put away his phone, walked out, lifted the nket, and pulled Rachel into his arms. For once, he didn¡¯t ask Rachel to tell a bedtime story, and yet he still managed to fall asleep. The next morning, when Rachel woke up, her back was aching like it was about to snap, and her mind was still foggy. She turned to nce at the man sleeping beside her. His facial features were refined, his eyshes long, and his entire presence exuded that cold, signature aura unique to him. Rachel rubbed her forehead in frustration, regretting how drunk she had gotten. She hadn¡¯t even been able to recognize Tyler. She quietly lifted the nket and tried to sneak into the bathroom to wash her face and gather herself. The moment she turned on the faucet and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she froze. Her body was covered in hickeys. She looked down. Her pupils instantly contracted in shock. How long had Tyler been deprived of sex? Her chest, neck, shoulders, and even her thighs had hickeys! Then again, thinking back tost night, he had gone a bit too far. He was like a man with an endless supply of energy. She remembered seeing online that if a man stayed single for too long and went without sex, it could affect his performance. Well, Tyler clearly didn¡¯t have that problem! Speaking of which, Jason was the one who gave her the key card. Why didn¡¯t Jason show up? Why was it Tyler instead? Rachel had a whole list of questions she needed answers to. When Rachel stepped out of the bathroom, she saw Tyler already up, sitting on the couch, smoking. She froze on the spot. The awkwardness between them was palpable. Tyler held a cigarette with practiced ease. His arm hungzily off the side of the couch as he flicked the ash. ¡°Feeling ufortable anywhere?¡± he asked. Rachel immediately understood what he meant by ¡®unconfortable,¡® but she didn¡¯t know how to answer. She forced out a reply. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Sorry aboutst night. I might¡¯ve been a bit rough. I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡± He spoke casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world. But Rachel picked up on something key in that sentence. Her brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Next time?¡± He actually nned for there to be a next time. Before Tyler could respond, the doorbell rang. He got up to open the door. Yale stood outside with a few items for him. ¡°Mr. Hunt, if you need anything else, I¡¯ll be right outside. Just call.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As the door was about to close, Yale caught a glimpse of Rachel standing near the bathroom and was visibly surprised. Tyler had spent the night with Rachel¨Cthat meant he had gotten what he wanted. ¡®Excellent!¡® This also meant that soon enough, Tyler might actually get married. More importantly, people at thepany would stop gossiping that Yale and Tyler were secretly dating. Rachel looked at the items in Tyler¡¯s hands. Hearing Yale¡¯s voice, she asked, ¡°Was that Yale?¡± ¡°Yeah. I asked him to bring some breakfast and clean clothes. I picked the size based on your figure. After 11 Rachel nearly choked on her saliva. Her ears turned bright red. She pursed her lips tightly. ¡°Can you not bring up what happenedst night? And also, what did you do? Look at this, and this¡­¡± She pointed at the hickeys on her body. Clearly, she was furious over how he behaved the night before. Tyler rested his chin in his palm and smiled. In the sunlight, the harshness of his features seemed to soften slightly. ¡°Was that all?¡± His gaze slowly dropped to her chest, and his smile widened ever so slightly. ¡°I remember I also left-¡± Her Exit 443 Just as Tyler was about to say something, Rachel suddenly leaned over and covered his mouth with her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t say it!¡± If he did, she might just want to crawl into a hole and disappear. Tyler didn¡¯t resist and let her cover his mouth. Her palin was warm and carried a faint scent of orange blossom. He raised an eyebrow at her. Rachel suddenly realized how inappropriate this must look and quickly let go of him. Her face turned bright red as she tried to change the subject. ¡°Last night, you clearly knew I mistook you for someone else. Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± Tyler gave her a sidelong nce, pulled out a coffee from the bag, took a sip, and replied in a teasing tone, With the state you were inst night, do you really think it would¡¯ve made a difference even if I said something?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯tpletely unaware of how messed up she had beenst night, and to be fair, Tyler wasn¡¯t wrong. He had been standing right in front of her, and she still managed to mistake him for someone else. It wasn¡¯t until her mind had cleared up a bit, and he called her name, that she finally snapped out of it. Otherwise, even staring at him a little longer wouldn¡¯t have helped. She wasn¡¯t exaggerating. The two bottles of liquor had ridiculously high alcohol content. If it hadn¡¯t been for Jim¡­ The moment she thought of Jim, something clicked in her mind. She looked up at Tyler. ¡°I need to find Jason. He¡¯s the only one who can help me.¡± 11 Tyler took a bite of his sandwich. His eyes were deep like the ocean, and he tapped his fingers on the table in an irritable manner. ¡°Exin this to me properly. What do you mean that he¡¯s the only one who can help you?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t n on hiding anything from him. ¡°He¡¯s William¡¯s uncle. Only he has enough authority over William. I already told you the gist of thisst night, didn¡¯t I? We need William to withdraw the charges against my father. If Jason testifies for me and uses his connections to smooth things over with the people up top, and I can find solid evidence, then we have a real chance at clearing my dad¡¯s name.¡± Tyler zeroed in on the most important part of her exnation. ¡°So you came to the partyst night just because Jason is William¡¯s uncle?¡± Rachel felt a little thirsty. Since Tyler had already told Yale to buy her a meal, she didn¡¯t bother being polite. There was no point wasting it. She picked up the untouched coffee on the table and was just about to insert the straw when Tyler suddenly snatched the cup away. As she held the straw, she stared at him strangely. Was this man seriously so stingy that he wouldn¡¯t even let her have a coffee? Tyler saw right through her thoughts and pushed his sandwich toward her. ¡°Eat something before you drink coffee. Don¡¯t you have chronic stomach problems?¡± Rachel looked at him. She was a little surprised. ¡°How did you know I have stomach problems?¡± Only William and Cecilia knew about this. Even Jim didn¡¯t know.. So how did Tyler know? Tyler didn¡¯t answer directly, keeping a little mystery in his tone. ¡°Let¡¯s just say, I know most things about you.¡± Rachel was thoroughly confused now, and for a split second, she had a gut feeling¨Cwas Tyler hiding something from her? Thinking about how he always teased her, she decided to mimic his usual tone and asked, ¡°Do you like me or something?¡± She fully expected him to shut her down hard. After all, she knew exactly how sharp his tongue could be. Her Exit 444 Rachel had already mentally prepared herself, but Tyler dragged out his words with a sarcastic tone. ¡°You¡¯re only realizing that now?¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t expected him not to snap back. Her expression froze for a moment. Within seconds, she recovered and smiled naturally. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you truly have a sense of humor.¡± She happened to nce over and saw Tyler looking at her. The room was dimly lit. Shadows gathered beneath the lines of his brow bones. Under the soft glow above them, there was a smile on his face. He raised his brows slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Rachel¡¯s tone was light. ¡°I believe you. I mean, I¡¯m not exactly ugly. It¡¯s perfectly normal for someone to be into me.¡± Tyler leaned forward slightly, his whole body moving closer to her. Rachel could clearly feel his warm breath on her face. As scenes ofst night¡¯s intimacy rushed to her mind, she instinctively leaned back. A low, hoarseugh rumbled from his throat. ¡°You were so confident earlier. Why are you suddenly avoiding me now?¡± Rachel rubbed the tip of her nose. ¡°Can you speak properly without getting so close?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯tin about me getting closest night.¡± Tyler leaned back again andzily rested against the chair. A hint of shyness flickered in Rachel¡¯s eyes. Just watching the way his throat moved when he swallowed made her mind unavoidably drift back tost night. Even if she had been drunk and her memory was fuzzy, she could still feel the heat of his touch. She felt like she was going crazy. Rachel stood up without thinking, trying to cover up her flustered state. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom.¡± Tyler watched her hurried escape, the corners of his lips lifting into a pleased smile. Drunk Rachel was more obedient. But next time, he wasn¡¯t going to be anyone¡¯s stand¨Cin. Rachel looked at her flushed cheeks in the mirror and took a deep breath, pressing her hand to her forehead helplessly. Although she used to be a bit cautious around Tyler, it was never to this extent. Now, she couldn¡¯t even handle a little teasing. He hadn¡¯t even done anything, and she was already falling apart. She sshed cold water on her face, forcing herself to calm down. She had serious things to talk about. She couldn¡¯t let herself get sidetracked again. Tyler might not care, but her targetst night was Jason Tyler knew she had mistaken him for someone else and still went through with it, so he had to take responsibility. When Rachel returned to the dining table, Tyler had already finished his coffee and breakfast. He lifted his chin at her and urged, ¡°Hurry up and eat. The sandwich won¡¯t taste good once it¡¯s cold.¡± Rachel picked up the sandwich again and took small, distracted bites. She had been fine just now, but after walking a few steps, she realized she was experiencing some difort in her body. It was hard to even sit still. She tried not to show it, but her difort made her shift in her seat cautiously.. Tyler nced at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Got bugs on the chair?¡± Rachel¡¯s body stiffened mid¨Cshift. She lowered her gaze slightly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Did I go too hardst night?¡± Her cheeks turned bright red again. She bit her lip in embarrassment, wishing she could shut Tyler¡¯s mouth herself. Could he please just forget aboutst night? Her Exit 445 If she and Tyler were really in a proper rtionship, she night¡¯ve actually told him to be gentler next time. But the kind of situation they had now was already strange enough. Bringing this up now would make it seem like she was looking forward to a next time with him or something. Rachel denied it. ¡°No, my back is just a little sore.¡± ¡°I told youst night that position would strain your back, but you wouldn¡¯t listen. You insisted I hang you ¡°Can you not bring up what happenedst night again?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t take it anymore and mmed the coffee mug hard on the table. Her cheeks were flushed, and her whole body felt like it was burning up. She honestly couldn¡¯t understand how Tyler could talk about that so casually¨Cright at the breakfast table, no less! He did it like he was just chatting about the weather, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. This time, though, Tyler let it go. A faint trace of indulgence flickered in his deep¨Cset features. Rachel probably didn¡¯t even realize it. He looked at her now in a way that seemed as if he wanted to have her all over again. They just started things off. It was probably best not to scare her off just yet. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t bring it up again. Say any more and you really might dig yourself a hole to crawl into.¡± Rachel forced herself to calm down and went straight to the point. ¡°Can you think of something to help with my dad¡¯s situation? If not, I¡¯ll have no choice but to go to Jason.¡± Right now, she was fully focused on Jim. The yful gleam in Tyler¡¯s eyes darkened the moment she mentioned Jason. ¡°You still want to go to Jason? nning to sell yourself again?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t lie. ¡°My whole point in finding Jason was to ask for his help. He¡¯s the only one who can do anything. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m looking for a man to sleep with.¡± Thatst line made Tyler¡¯s furrowed brows finally ease a little. He reached behind him and pulled out a document, sliding it across the table to her. ¡°Sign this.¡± Rachel looked at him suspiciously, picked it up, and opened it. Her eyes widened at the terms inside. ¡°You want me to be your girlfriend?¡± ¡°My old man¡¯s been on my case. At my age, I have to start seeing someone. Otherwise, the whole damn city of Yurelia¡¯s going to think I¡¯m into men.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t object. This was actually the best option right now. If it came down to sleeping with someone like Jason, whom she neither knew nor trusted, she¡¯d much rather it be Tyler, At least they knew each other. Instinctively, the scales in her heart tipped toward Tyler Rachel bit her lip and hesitated a little. ¡°But you know I was married to William. If you really want to be with me, you have to be prepared for all the bacsh.¡± Sheid it out inly. ¡°It¡¯s not just people in Yurelia. Even your family probably won¡¯t approve.¡± Tyler¡¯s status meant that he was the kind of man every woman in Yurelia dreamed of marrying. He could have anyone. Why her, of all people? Tyler looked up and stared at her. His voice was deep and carried a hint of irritation. ¡°Then you¡¯d rather go to Jason?¡± Rachel felt like they were talking past each other. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to Jason. I¡¯m thinking about you and your situation.¡± Tyler stood up, casually pulled a change of clothes from his bag, and slipped them on. He continued speaking nonchntly. Her Exit 446 ¡°My situation is none of your concern. Just answer me. yes or no?¡± Tyler asked. Rachel naturally wasn¡¯t going to say no, but she had one condition. ¡°Can we shorten the period? How about just one month And I¡¯ll only be your temporary girlfriend. Once the contract expires, we¡¯re done. No strings attached.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Tyler agreed so quickly that it caught Rachel off guard. But that was fine. Tyler only needed a stand¨Cin girlfriend, anyway. It wasn¡¯t like it was going to be long- term. There were some things Rachel felt were better to make clear from the start. It would save them the trouble of arguingter on. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t even sure she¡¯d be able to win an argument with Tyler. Rachel thought for a second and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have any other uses to add. If you fall for someone else during this time, just let me know. We can end the contract early. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± As Tyler fastened thest button on his shirt, he dragged his words on purpose. ¡°So generous, huh?¡± Rachel smiled and patted her chest confidently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know where the boundaries are.¡± Tyler¡¯s phone buzzed. He nced at it. ¡°If everything¡¯s good, go ahead and sign.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t hesitate. She knew Tyler was her best option right now. Besides, this kind of arrangement was the easiest kind of rtionship, casual and pressure¨Cfree. They could start anytime and end just as easily, without getting too involved in each other¡¯s personal lives. The years she spent with William had taught her how desire for control and possessiveness could turn someone into the version of themselves their partner hated most. It was only after spending a few years abroad that Rachel realized the most beautiful phase of a rtionship was just dating. There was space and no crossing of boundaries. Tyler picked up the jacket slung over the back of the chair. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Rachel asked. Tyler gave her a sidelong nce. ¡°You¡¯re already my girlfriend. Are you afraid I¡¯ll sell you off?¡± Rachel pouted. ¡°Why sell me at all? I¡¯m not even worth much.¡± Tyler smiled. ¡°That depends on who¡¯s buying.¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t quite processed what he meant when the door mmed shut. She quickly got dressed and rushed to catch up. After just a few steps, Rachel realized her body was killing her. It burned. Was Tyler some kind of wild beast? Men who¡¯d held it in too long were truly terrifying! She guessed the alcohol from the night before had numbed the pain, but now it hurt more than her worst period cramps. Rachel got in the car, and the bumpy ride only made her drowsier. It was mostly because she was just too exhausted. The night before had drained her. She hadn¡¯t even felt this tired afterte¨Cnight business dinners. It was all Tyler¡¯s fault! She leaned against the car window and closed her eyes. Tyler could hear her shallow breathing. He tapped on Yale¡¯s seat. Yale nced at Rachel through the rearview mirror and instinctively slowed down. Soon, the car stopped in front of a hospital. Tyler reached over and gently patted Rachel, but she didn¡¯t stir. His warm fingertips brushed across her fair cheek. It seemed he really had been too roughst night. Rachel, half¨Casleep, felt herself swaying. The bumps made her eyes flutter open. The first thing she saw was a man¡¯s defined features and that chiseled jawline. She looked around and realized Tyler was carrying her. People nearby were staring at her oddly. Rachel immediately started squirming and whispered, ¡°Put me down, now!¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 447 Why didn¡¯t Tyler just wake her up? Only then did Tyler slowly set Rachel down. He asked calmly, ¡°Can you walk on your own?¡± Even if Rachel couldn¡¯t, she would never admit it in front of Tyler. How humiliating would that be? On top of that, this man was over 6 feet 3 inches tall and exuded an air of nobility. His perfectly defined, handsome features were hard to look away from. He had been carrying her, drawing even more attention. If some nosyizen happened to snap a picture of this moment, Rachel would be doomed. She had already been cyberbullied for five years over the whole mess with William. If she hadn¡¯t just made hereback, who knew how much longer it would¡¯ve gone on? Rachel clenched her jaws and borrowed strength from Tyler¡¯s arm to stand upright. She looked up and realized they were at the gynecology department. Her already flustered face instantly turned scarlet. She pursed her lips tightly. ¡°Why did you bring me to the hospital?¡± Tyler lowered his gaze and replied in a voice only the two of them could hear. ¡°You said you were ufortable, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I was, but¡­¡± Forget it. Since she was already here, she might as well get checked out. Rachel pushed open the consultation room door and went inside. It wasn¡¯t her first time getting examined, so she was rtively calm. Even so, knowing Tyler was outside the gynecology office waiting made her feel especially awkward. After the doctor finished the check¨Cup and peeled off her gloves, she casually said, ¡°Call in your partner.¡± Rachel was dumbfounded. As she hastily pulled on her pants, she asked in confusion, ¡°Why do you need my partner in here?¡± The doctor, scribbling on a prescription pad, replied, ¡°Why not? Isn¡¯t your condition caused by your boyfriend?¡± There was no way Rachel could let Tyler find out. She hurried to say, ¡°Doctor, it¡¯s fine. Just tell me directly.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be able to manage this on your own,¡± the doctor said tly before walking to the door. Then, she called, ¡°Ms. Whitley¡¯s partner? Pleasee in.¡± ¡°Doctor¡­!¡± Rachel wished she could disappear. Tyler opened the door and stepped inside. His gaze shifted to Rachel, who kept her head down. ¡°I¡¯m her boyfriend. What¡¯s going on?¡± He asked. The doctor adjusted her sses and gave Tyler a harsh look. ¡°Let me just say, young people these days really need to control themselves. Even if you have a lot of energy, you should go easy. You caused a tearing.¡± Rachel¡¯s whole body jolted. She looked at the doctor in shock. She hadn¡¯t realized it was that serious. At first, she had just assumed Tyler had gone at it too many timesst night. But tearing? No wonder she could barely walk! She did feel like a waddling duck. Tyler covered his mouth and let out a soft cough, his expression briefly stiff. It was the first time Rachel had ever seen him look that awkward. Suddenly, the injustice she felt eased a bit. Tyler cleared his throat; with a touch of embarrassment, he mumbled, ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡± The doctor quickly handed over the prescription. ¡°No sex for at least a week. Apply this ointment every night. Keep things clean.¡± ¡°No spicy food either, right?¡± Tyler asked carefully. The doctor gave him a look. ¡°What do you Tyler said nothing more. think?¡± Outside, Samantha happened to be present. She was holding her test results, heading toward a nearby exam room when she spotted Rachel and Tyler walking out of the gynecology department. She instinctively stepped aside and hid behind a pir. Her brows furrowed tightly. At first, she thought she might¡¯ve been mistaken, but when she caught a clear look at their backs, there was no doubt. It really was Rachel and Tyler! Her heart sank instantly. Her Exit 448 by wont taree with Tyler to a ce likethis? After the two of them left, Samantha sipped into the adjacent consultation room. ¡°Duchow, may I ask what was wrong with that wahan just now? Why was she here?¡± The doctor apheld basic professional ethics. ¡°Torry, but we can¡¯t disclose a patient¡¯s private internation Satmantha was quick on her feet and immediatelypaid, ¡°She¡¯s actually my sister. She¡¯s been secretly dating someone without selling our parents. We¡¯re just really worried that the guy might be somend of scammer of sondling What doctors feared mom wasn¡¯t illness, but difficult family members causing trouble. taskdy, the intimacy between that souple earlier had am a bit eNOSS¨ªVE The doctor hesitated, but eventually gave in. ¡°¡°it¡¯s nothing benteus. The interaanse was just are too intense, so she suffered some minor physical trauma.¡± Sammantia fuowmet. She almostitist Bediese mat she had just heard. le saying in was because an infances teen intense?¡± ¡°Wes, sa¡¯s dill Bathing dise ¡°klinight, thank you ¡®Way to talk samme sense into her. ¡° Samantha wasmitted ke ying She made all the way though. instead of getting finer best results, sive ameitatory soulled out and went straight to find william She opened the car doos, got in, and said in shock ¡°William, you won¡¯t believe who I just saw allham Band Ben was out from dcding withpany matters these past couple of days. He hadn¡¯t slept in foore sights. If Samantha hadn¡¯s insted oning here because she fait Reacted advertered how with vial matters ike this, so matter what it was, she always handled at huset. However, Samantha was After¨Cshe was just a child. No matter how big or audi fiue ¡°Who did you see?¡± ¡°I saw your uncle and Rachel! The two of them actually walked out of the gynecology clinic together! If Rachel wasn¡¯t feeling well, it wouldn¡¯t make sense for her toe with your uncle. It¡¯s just too weird.¡± The moment Samantha finished that sentence, she saw William¡¯s expression change drastically. He lowered his voice, but the air around him instantly filled with pressure. ¡°Rachel and Tyler went to see a gynecologist?¡± Everyone here was an adult. He knew exactly what it meant when someone went to a gynecologist. He narrowed his eyes. ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± ¡°They said Rachel got slightly injured because the sex was too intense. William, do you she¡¯s actually seeing your uncle?¡± think Samantha muttered like she was talking to herself. ¡°She¡¯s unbelievable! Knowing how strained your rtionship with your uncle is, how could she get involved with him?¡± She then grabbed William¡¯s hand anxiously. ¡°You really need to think this through. I¡¯m just worried that Rachel might try to use your uncle against you!¡± If it were the old days, William might¡¯ve stood up for Rachel and said she wasn¡¯t that kind of person. But now, the love she once had for him waspletely gone. Samantha sighed. ¡°Rachel used to be so different. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into hertely¡­¡± William no longer felt tired. His sleepiness vanished in an instant. He picked up his phone and called Arsen, his voice icy. Even Samantha, who sat in the passenger seat, felt the chill. ¡°Arsen, check something for me! I want to know what¡¯s going on between Rachel and Tyler. Where were theyst night?¡± Cha Her Exit 449 pter 440 ¡°Roger that.¡± Although it sounded ridiculous, Arsen still obeyed William¡¯s order. Just the thought that Rachel had done all this for Tyler, William felt as though something was stuck in his throat. It was bitter, suffocating, and impossible to ignore. He had been with Rachel for seven years. She clearly loved him, too. She had decided to divorce him only because of Samantha. William refused to believe that Rachel could bepletely heartless toward him. He had known her since college¨Cno one knew her better than he did. As he reached a fork in the road, he made a sharp turn a bit too fast. Samantha nearly got thrown out of her seat. Off¨Cbnce, her body mmed hard against the car door. The pain brought tears to her eyes. She bit her lower lip and looked at William with a pitiful expression. ¡°William¡­¡± William nced at her, realizing he had been a little too rough just now. Since there weren¡¯t many cars at the moment, he reached over and rubbed her head gently tofort her. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ve just been really exhausted these past few days.¡± But Samantha knew very well that this had nothing to do with exhaustion. Ever since William overheard the news about Tyler and Rachel, he had been acting off. He couldn¡¯t even pretend to keep his emotions in check. Samantha clenched her fists tightly, her fingertips turning red from the pressure. She was all choked up. ¡°William, do you still have feelings for Rachel? If you do, I¡¯ll leave right now. I promise, I won¡¯t ever get in your way again.¡± In the past, William used to find this side of Samantha sweet and considerate. The way she cried made her seem delicate and endearing. She wasn¡¯t like Rachel. Rachel always handled everything on her own. She never asked for help, unless he offered it himself. But now, seeing Samantha like this didn¡¯t move him. If anything, it annoyed him. Maybe it was because she had always been this way for so many years. Eventually, he just got tired of it. He missed Rachel more. She had always been gentle when he needed her, and she gave him space when he needed it. William didn¡¯t want to argue with Samantha. Once she got upset, she would throw a fit again. He suppressed his irritation. ¡°No, stop overthinking. I just haven¡¯t been sleeping well. Let me take you home first.¡± Samantha pouted and was still trying to confirm it with him. ¡°William, have you really gotten over Rachel? You don¡¯t have to think about my feelings. You two were doing just fine before. If I hadn¡¯t loved you so much, things would never have turned out this way.¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with you. Don¡¯t overthink it. Didn¡¯t the doctor say your mom¡¯s been getting better these past few days? Maybe you two should take a short trip abroad and clear your mind a little.¡± In the past, Samantha would¡¯ve been touched by his thoughtfulness and agreed immediately. But now, with Rachel back and William reacting this strongly, she just couldn¡¯t feel secure enough to leave. She declined politely. ¡°No, that¡¯s fine. The doctor said that Mom¡¯s condition still needs close attention. We should stay home and let her recover properly. Don¡¯t worry about me. Just focus on your work at thepany.¡± Samantha knew how to bnce affection and restraint. If she kept pushing andining, she would only drive William further toward Rachel. After dropping Samantha off at home, William immediately drove to LS Enterprise. Her Exit 450 On his way to LS Enterprise, William got a call from Arsen. ¡°Bad news, Mr. Lewis.¡± William was already in a foul mood, and hearing this was like adding fuel to the fire. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°We just received word. There¡¯s been a new development in Mr. Lloyd¡¯s case. The higher¨Cups have decided to suspend the investigation for now.¡± William frowned. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Someone submitted new evidence and also dug out the real culprit who used the substandard materials. After the follow¨Cup investigation, it was confirmed that Mr. Lloyd wasn¡¯t directly involved. The withdrawal order has already been issued.¡± William clenched his jaw. ¡°Find out exactly who did this! I want answers!¡± After a long silence, Arsen said, ¡°I heard it was Mr. Hunt.¡± ¡°Tyler?¡± The moment William heard that name, his mind went straight to what Samantha had told him earlier¡ªthat Rachel and Tyler had gone to the hospital together, and for such an intimate reason. That alone said everything about what Tyler had done to Rachelst night. The image filled William with a surge of rage. He couldn¡¯t stop himself¨Chis fists clenched and mmed into the steering wheel. He looked nothing like the calm and reserved man he usually was. The noise startled Arsen on the other end of the call. ¡°Mr. Lewis, are you alright?¡± William took a deep breath and tried to rein in his anger. ¡°Go tell my grandfather right now. He¡¯ll know what to do with this.¡± He just couldn¡¯t ept it. If Tyler really ended up with Rachel, it would be the end of him! What, then? Would he have to start calling Rachel his aunt? Just picturing that scene felt absurd. If this ever got out, the whole Lewis family would be aughingstock! William could already imagine people whispering behind his back wherever he went. Arsen understood how serious this was as well. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± As soon as the call ended, William didn¡¯t waste a second. He went straight to LS Enterprise and asked to see Tyler. Tyler let him in. When William entered, Tyler was sitting leisurely on the couch with his legs crossed, exuding joy and confidence. William hadn¡¯t seen Tyler look this refreshed in a long time. At that moment, he seemed like an entirely different person. William stepped inside without any preamble and got straight to the point. ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Rachel? Are you two together now?¡± Thest part wasn¡¯t even a question. It was a statement. Tyler flipped half¨Cheartedly through a document. He didn¡¯t even bother to look up. His voice was just as icy and intimidating as ever. ¡°William, who gave you the nerve to speak to me like that?¡± William had reached his limit. He usually feared Tyler, but not today. Today, he actually dared to talk back. ¡°You¡¯re already stealing my wife! Can¡¯t I ask a few questions?¡± Tyler scoffed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go home and take another good look at your divorce papers? Or maybe re¨Cread your marriage certificate and check whose name is listed as your wife, Rachel or Samantha.¡± However, William wasn¡¯t about to let Tyler step all over him like that. ¡°Do you really think she¡¯s with you because she actually likes you?¡± Her Exit 451 Tyler leaned back against the couch in a rxed manner. Upon hearing William¡¯s words, he merely cast thetter a disinterested nce. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°She¡¯s only with you because of her father. With Jim in his current condition, there¡¯s no way he can survive a prison sentence. She only slept with you to protect him,¡± William said smugly. Tyler stretched his legs out across the coffee table. ¡°And?¡± William let out a cold chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? Rachel doesn¡¯t love you. You¡¯re just a tool for ger!¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow with clear disdain. ¡°So what? This whole stunt you¡¯re pulling, isn¡¯t it also to make her give in to you? Too bad she¡¯d rather turn to me for help thane to you.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t show a hint of anger at being used. On the contrary, he seemed to wee it. Seeing Tylerpletely unfazed, William¡¯sposure cracked. ¡°Are you going this far for a woman? We¡¯re family, uncle and nephew!¡± he snarled through clenched jaws. Tyler frowned and snapped coldly, ¡°I was stripped of the Lewis name long ago. When did we ever be a family again?¡± He thought back to those years¨Chow the Lewis family had insisted on casting him out and ignored all objections, simply because his existence as an illegitimate child was an embarrassment. But Tyler knew, deep down, that wasn¡¯t the only reason. The bigger issue was that he refused to be their puppet. He wanted to live on his own terms. Thomas realized that Tyler had be too independent. He was no longer obedient, and worse, his very presence stirred up rumors that could damage the family¡¯s reputation. So they exiled him and sent him abroad, far from the public eye. Tyler remembered it clearly. He was only ten years old then, dumped in a foreign country with no family and no one to care if he lived or died. Meanwhile, the Lewis family back home carried on happily, celebrating holidays and enjoying life. William knew what Tyler was currently capable of. If he tried to go head¨Cto¨Chead with him, he would only end up losing. His only chance was to talk Tyler into leaving Rachel, hopefully before things got too ugly. He tried persuasion. ¡°Tyler, you know that back then, the Lewis family was going through a rough time. If we¡¯d brought you back into the fold, things might¡¯ve fallen apartpletely.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t buy the excuse for a second. ¡°That just proves the Lewis family is ipetent and selfish. Don¡¯t you dare say they had no choice.¡± His eyes narrowed before a gleam appeared in them. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll see for myself whether I can protect the person I want to.¡± Upon hearing that, William¡¯s heart sank. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, you¡¯re going to ignore all advice and insist on staying with Rachel? You know better than I do how messy this could get!¡± Tyler may not have officially dered his identity, but everyone knew that his status was a double¨Cedged sword. To the Lewis family, he could be a crown jewel or a ticking time bomb. If Tyler did end up with Rachel, William¡¯s ex¨Cwife, and word got out that Tyler was the Lewises ¡®illegitimate son, it would look like she had just circled back and married another Lewis. Tyler clenched his jaw. He looked even more intimidating when he was serious. His eyes conveyed a threat unlike any other. ¡°Are you done talking? If so, get the hell out.¡± William¡¯s face turned red with rage, veins bulging at his temple. He knew he couldn¡¯t do anything to Tyler. Although he couldn¡¯t, Thomas could. Her Exit 452 Just as Willlian proflied open the office door, be into someone he had been wanting to see traded aring at the warte fine¨CRachel Barbel hadn¡¯t expected to bump into William beg, either Tyler had already taken her home, but the received ast¨Cminute message that there had been a breakthrough in lim¡¯s case. She didn¡¯t send to guess who was behind it. No me but Tyler could have pulled it off in such a short the And so, she mustand over to thank him and to take are of something else. 1 blikam had recently bom prepung ta contact persees partners to restart an old project. If be couldnd the deal, all of his tent problem would be revoked. Would Rachel allow that to happen Freon the momms William had done everything his power to destroy him, they were to longent stangens they were mines, Williams het mend her caputation and made her carry the me for his and Samantha¡¯s actions for yet now, with Jim¡¯s days numbered, William And sail falsely we hum, only dragging him into disaster Wim wanith guy from all of in matched wallend night past im as if she hath seen him, heading straight toward Tyler Once upon a time, she wandid! be funched at him with nothing but love. Now, she treated kira lice Be was otsibite That after infiffiorance andplete distagard rude the siready irritable William even more Bhattavas, chan miting whether Eyle wy, he touched out and grabbed Kachel by he wants is war was eng and fall of resentment. ¡°Rachel, have you fallen this low? Showing up after partyst night just to get close to fason? What a pate? Tums outsan was just a smoke. Your real target was Tyder, wasn¡¯t in?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even bother banking at him. Though he gripped her wrist rightly, her expressionaned catd and unscaldin 20 was because she had caped to act by len¡¯s opinion in the past that she had livest so musically. The man she wore loved had turned round and stabbed her in that back she still chung to the past below, she might as well have been deat Now, when sie kooked at that, there was er we nor hatred. What remained was cult am, ar you calling me chep? What do Since we¡¯ve nothing to each other wymure, who you? Don¡¯t forget¡¯e decaly distant sewy wits and wh I¡¯m a ship with has nothing to do with you.¡± William hadn¡¯t expected Rachel, who was usually so quiet and reserved, to speak with such harsh words. Every sentence stabbed deep, like a knife to his chest. His brows furrowed deeply. ¡°Rachel, you¡­¡± But Rachel wasn¡¯t finished. If it weren¡¯t for the disgust William had caused her to feel with everything he had done, she would¡¯ve never believed she could speak so harshly. ¡®And another thing, William. Even if I had to marry a random man off the street, I would never get back together with you.¡± William, born into wealth and status, had never suffered such humiliation in his life. Yet, Rachel made him sound like a patheticpdog, throwing himself at someone who didn¡¯t want him. His eyes were bloodshot. His fists clenched, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. ¡°Say that again! I dare you!¡± Rachel, however, wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated. Word by word, she said firmly, ¡°Please show yourself some respect, Mr. Lewis.¡± William suddenly grabbed her shoulders with both hands. He had lost hisposure entirely. ¡°You¡¯re my wife! What right do you have to say that to me?¡± Rachel tried to push him off, but with his current state of mind,pletely out of control, she didn¡¯t stand a chance. Even on a normal day, she couldn¡¯t overpower him. ¡°William, this is not the ce for your tantrum!¡± A man¡¯s stern voice rang out. The next second, a heavy punchnded squarely on William¡¯s face. Her Exit 453 William stumbled back two steps from the punch, finally giving Rachel a chance to break free from his grip. He barely managed to steady himself and instinctively pressed his tongue against the inside of his mouth. Sharp pain red. When he wiped the corner of his lips, he was startled to see blood on his hand. Tyler hadn¡¯t held back. He was ruthless, even with his nephew. William pointed at Rachel, his fury barely contained. ¡°Are you really going to go this far for her?!¡± Tyler, true to his nature, remained eerily calm. His expression didn¡¯t even flicker, as if he hadn¡¯t just thrown a punch. His eyes were ck as ink, and somehow, cold as ice. His face looked tense, and his lips were pursed into a t line. ¡°You¡¯re the one acting pathetic, William. If your grandfather saw you like this, he¡¯d probably p you himself.¡± With that, Tyler reached out and pulled Rachel to his side, wrapping an arm around her protectively. ¡°I¡¯m warning you and Samantha both¨Cstay away from her. Otherwise, not even your precious grandfather can protect you.¡± It was a public deration, loud and clear, that Tyler was standing by Rachel. William¡¯s eyes burned with fury and frustration, but there was nothing he could do to fight Tyler. He straightened his jacket. ¡°Then I suggest you brace yourself, Tyler.¡± It was a deration of war. As Rachel was pulled into Tyler¡¯s arms, something deep inside her that felt empty for so long was suddenly full again. She didn¡¯t have time to unpack it yet. She only knew one thing for sure ¨Cshe had chosen the right person to stand behind. Tyler could still keep William in check. Maybe not as thoroughly as his uncle once had, but it was enough. There was a flicker of regret in her heart, but nothing she would call remorse. After William left, Tyler looked down at the woman in his arms. She had instinctively moved closer to him and was now resting her head against his chest. He lifted a hand and ruffled her hair with a teasing smile. ¡°You were so fierce just a second ago. Now, you¡¯re acting like a deer caught in headlights. What happened?¡± Only then did Rachel realize she was still in Tyler¡¯s arms. She instinctively tried to pull back, forgetting entirely that his hand was still firmly on her waist. Before she could even set her heel down, Tyler had already pulled her right back in. She nearly bumped into his chin. Now, their bodies were pressed tightly together. Even through their clothes, she could feel the heat radiating off him and through her. He leaned in, his presence flooding her senses. His breath caressed her skin, and his eyes- dark as the ocean at night¨Cheld a quiet, dangerous intensity. His lips parted slightly. ¡°What are you running from?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even know herself. But every time he got close, she instinctively wanted to flee. She tried to push him away. ¡°The doctor said no sex for a week.¡± ¡°Rachel, could you not always have your mind in the gutter?¡± It was as if she were the one constantly thinking about those things. Rachel was caughtpletely off guard by his sudden usation. She gave him a look of disbelief. ¡°When did I ever say I was thinking about that? I was just reminding you.¡± ¡°Oh really? For a second, I thought your mind was drifting again. Though, for the record, you¡¯ve been in rtionships before, haven¡¯t you? So howe your kissing game¡¯s so bad? All you know how to do is bite me.¡± 242 Her Exit 454 Tyler¡¯s eyes held a hint of amusement. Rachel, at her core, was still quite traditional. Last night had technically been her first time with Tyler, and she wasn¡¯t nearly as bold or shameless as he was when it came to talking about such things. Tyler was different. He had never known shame. There was nothing he couldn¡¯t say with a straight face. Rachel suddenly realized that if she didn¡¯t want to getpletely overpowered by Tyler, she¡¯d have to grow a thicker skin than his. With a look of disdain, she muttered, ¡°Your kissing skills aren¡¯t that great, either. It¡¯s pretty average.¡± Instead of being provoked, Tyler just smiled, as if she had said exactly what he was hoping for. Rachel frowned slightly. Something about that smile didn¡¯t sit right with her. It had the air of a trap that had just been sprung. The next second, Tyler leaned down, pulled her in by the waist, and kissed her again. He murmured, ¡°Well then, if I¡¯m so bad at it, we¡¯d better keep practicing.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even have time to react before the kiss had her spinning andpletely swept away. Honestly, it was embarrassingly easy for her to get lost in his touch. She seriously doubted that Tyler had never been in a rtionship before. He had said as much, but the way he moved, the way he kissed, and the way he touched her, it was impossible to believe he was inexperienced. His skill left her defenseless, even when her rational mind screamed at her to stop. But her body never listened. Only when Rachel heard someone knocking at the door did she snap back to reality. The sudden sense of being caught red¨Chanded made her instinctively shove Tyler away. She looked down and realized with horror that at some point, two or three buttons of her blouse hade undone, exposing her fair corbones. She quickly fastened them. Tyler¡¯s shirt was just a bit wrinkled, especially around the waist, and Rachel could tell those wrinkles hade from her grabbing him, even if she had no memory of doing it. She never imagined she would lose herself like that. The door opened. Chopter 454 Sheryn stepped in and immediately froze at the scene before her, eyes wide, pointing at Tyler and Rachel. ¡°Y¨CYou two? Cousin, who is this woman?¡± This was Rachel¡¯s first time meeting Sheryn. From the woman¡¯s aura alone, Rachel could tell that Sheryn was no ordinary visitor. She didn¡¯t seem like someone dropping by to check on family. It was more like someone who hade to catch them in the act. But she had called Tyler her cousin. Weren¡¯t close blood rtions supposed to rule out romantic involvement? Rachel had always thought close cousins couldn¡¯t legally marry. Tyler calmly readjusted his necktie, clearly annoyed by the interruption, and gave Sheryn a t look. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I came to check on you. I heard you¡¯ve been busytely, so I brought you some chicken soup.¡± The way Sheryn looked at Rachel was openly hostile. She knew very well that Tyler had never kept women around him. She was one of the few who could get close. For a long time, Sheryn had been working hard, studying and improving herself, hoping to be someone worthy of standing beside Tyler. Yet, in the blink of an eye, another woman had already taken her ce. Tyler finished straightening his clothes. Rachel knew he was particr about these things. He was even borderline obsessive. He cast a quick nce at the chicken soup before looking at Rachel¡¯s pale face. ¡°Leave the soup. I¡¯ll drink itter.¡± Sheryn immediately lit up with joy when she heard that. Her mood flipped from gloomy to bright in an instant, and she beamed. ¡°Really? You¡¯ll drink my chicken soup? Why won¡¯t you drink it now?¡± Her Exit 455 Tyler sat back down in his office chair and nced at the contract. His tone immediately shifted into something authoritative. ¡°I said,¡± he began, ¡°I¡¯ll drink itter.¡± Sheryn had always felt a mix of love and frustration toward Tyler, but when he got serious, even she didn¡¯t dare push him. There was something about him that made her uneasy, something she genuinely feared. She pouted, clearly feeling wronged, but didn¡¯t dare argue. Instead, she obediently set the thermos in front of Tyler¡¯s desk. As she did, she even patted the lid like she was tucking in a child. ¡°Make sure you drink it, okay? I spent all morning making this. I went through several chickens, too.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t even bother looking up. ¡°Mm.¡± Before leaving, Sheryn shot Rachel a harsh re. She gave a cold harrumph and walked out, mming the door behind her. Rachel knew full well that if Tyler hadn¡¯t been present, that girl probably wouldn¡¯t have left so easily. Oddly enough, she didn¡¯t really find Sheryn all that annoying. In fact, Sheryn was kind of cute. Rachel wasn¡¯t sure what was wrong with her. She had wanted to turn to Tyler and demand to find out who exactly that girl was. However, the way he was sitting there,posed and unreadable, made her hesitate. She held back. Once Sheryn was gone, Rachel finally remembered why she hade in the first ce. ¡°I heard about my dad¡¯s situation. Things are fine now. The approval went through, and he¡¯s safe. Dr. Jenkins also told me you¡¯re the one who arranged for his doctor, right?¡± It suddenly struck Rachel just how different Tyler was from most men. Many men liked taking credit for what they did, wearing their good deeds like medals, but not Tyler. He was tight¨Clipped and reserved. He would quietly go out of his way to help someone without ever saying a word. He just waited for the person to figure it out on their own. Tyler idly toyed with a little sculpture on his desk, running his fingers over it. His expression remained impassive as he asked calmly, ¡°So, how do you n on thanking me?¡± Rachel had actually thought about that on the way over. The truth was, she didn¡¯t know how to thank him. Tyler was one of those golden boys who already had everything. It wasn¡¯t like he needed anything from her. But that didn¡¯t mean she shouldn¡¯t at least try. She retrieved a small, velvet box from her bag. It was matte ck with a sleek finish that screamed quality even before it was opened. Rachel handed it to him. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what to get, but I passed by a mall and saw this tie. It looked like something that would suit you.¡± Tyler took the box, opened it, and saw a simple ck tie inside. Rachel had always had a minimalist taste. There was never anything too shy. Everything about her was simple, elegant, and timeless. Tyler¡¯s warm fingers brushed along the fabric. The texture was good. He kept looking at it, so long that Rachel began to second¨Cguess herself. Maybe he didn¡¯t like it? She reached forward to take it back. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I can exchange it, or you can pick something yourself if you want.¡± Tyler leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. Startled, Rachel blinked at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t a new tie be tried on first? You do know how to tie one, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked, a faint glimmer in his dark eyes. His eyes locked onto her face. Her eyes were shimmering with a misty sheen, like water reflecting moonlight. She looked shy and alluring all at once. Rachel opened her mouth to say ¡®yes,¡® but before she could get the word out, Tyler started speaking again. Her Exit 456 ¡°If you don¡¯t know how, I can teach you,¡± Tyler said calmly. Rachel¡¯s hand froze mid¨Cair. Sometimes, she genuinely wanted to punch him¨Cor better yet, crack open his skull just to see what the hell was going on in there. She rolled her eyes at him. ¡°If you already know how to do it, then why are you asking me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like moving. My arms are sore,¡± he replied shamelessly. Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. She reached out and gave his face a hard pinch. ¡°Tyler, is your face made of reinforced concrete? How can someone have skin this thick?¡± She had always thought William was shameless, but Tyler? He was on a whole different level. He could handle soft or hard, push or pull. Nothing fazed him. Even if the sky was falling, Tyler always had aeback sharp enough to punch a hole right through it. ¡°You could carry a picture of my face around, and people would know it¡¯s me,¡± he said. Rachel nearly choked. Now she finally understood why there was that saying in Yurelia City that ¡°You can offend anyone, just not Tyler Hunt.¡± His mouth alone could drive you to madness. To stop herself from being further tormented by his words, Rachel gave in and began tying his tie. Tyler was surprisingly cooperative. Although he leaned forward, it was still a bit difficult for her to reach. She couldn¡¯t help butin in her head. ¡®Why is this man so tall for no reason? He¡¯s way over the average. Was he force¨Cfed growth hormones as a kid?¡® Seeing her up on tiptoe and tiny sweat beads forming on her forehead, Tyler asked, ¡°Tired?¡± Rachel kept her focus on the tie. ¡°Almost done. Just stay still.¡± Suddenly, Tyler reached out and grabbed her waist, lifting her effortlessly and settling her directly on hisp while he sat on the couch. ¡°Much easier like this. Go on.¡± Rachel was utterly flustered by the sudden movement. The position she was in¨Cstraddling him¨Cmade her cheeks flush red again. She instinctively tried to get off. ¡°Just bear with it a little longer. I¡¯m almost done. Things had nearly spiraled out of control earlier, and they had even been interrupted. Worse yet, this whole wall was a floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window that was fully transparent. They were in an office building. What if someone across the street saw them? But Tyler, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, tightened his grip on her waist before she could move. ¡°With all this time spent arguing, don¡¯t you think the tie would¡¯ve been done by now, Rachel?¡± She hadn¡¯t known him for very long, but Rachel had already gotten a solid grasp of this man¡¯s stubborn tendencies. There was no escaping him once he decided something. So she said nothing, forced herself to ignore her difort, and continued fiddling with the tie. Tyler rested his warm hand gently against her back, clearly sensing how tense she was. The glint in his eyes softened, something gentle flickering in their depths. Rachel¡¯sshes trembled, and in the sunlight, they cast a delicate halo on her skin. Tyler¡¯s fingers brushed lightly up her back. The pressure was feather¨Clight¨Clike a tickle¨Cbut itpletely threw her off bnce. Rachel felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. A jolt of electricity raced through her body. Her breathing, which had been steady just moments ago, waspletely undone by Tyler¡¯s presence. But somehow, she managed to finish tying the tie. Just as she was about to get off him, Tyler pointed at the cor of her shirt and asked in a teasing voice, ¡°Did I leave that hickey yesterday?¡± Her Exit 457 Rachel lowered her gaze and finally realized that at some point, one of the buttons on her blouse hade undone, revealing a glimpse of her bra underneath. Her ears instantly turned bright red. She quickly jumped off Tyler, clutching her cor as she red at him. ¡°Tyler!¡± Seeing how flustered she was, Tyler didn¡¯t think she was being unreasonable. On the contrary, he found her incredibly cute. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. Getting angry gives you wrinkles. If you¡¯re upset, you can bite me if you want. Anywhere you like.¡± Tyler began unbuttoning his shirt, revealing a broad chest. To Rachel, the way he looked right now felt a bit scandalous. His chiseled features and his deliberately loosened shirt made her feel like she was a femme fatale from a romance drama. She couldn¡¯t help it¨Cmost women would have a hard time resisting a man like him. At this moment, one term suddenly popped into her head. ¡®A seducer.¡® It was totally urate. Snapping out of it, Rachel grabbed his hand just as he was about to undo another button. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Tyler yfully tugged his shirt further open, as if to give her an even better view. With a mischievous smile on his lips, he looked like he was deliberately trying to tempt her. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t want to? It¡¯s yourst chance.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Rachel said firmly. ¡°Alright, then. What a shame.¡± Tyler shrugged, sighing dramatically as he redid his buttons. Rachel checked her watch. ¡°I need to head back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have Yale drive you.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t even give her a chance to refuse. He immediately pulled out his phone and called Yale over. Rachel considered it. If she left on her own, she¡¯d have to call a ride and waste time. She still had more important things to do today. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you up on that offer.¡± She was just about to walk out when Tyler seemed to remember something and called her back. ¡°Wait. Drink the chicken soup first. It¡¯s good for your health.¡± He walked over, opened the thermos, and poured a bowl of soup. As Rachel stared at the steaming broth, she thought of what Sheryn had said earlier about how many chickens had already gone to waste. A pampered youngdy like Sheryn had actually gone out of her way to learn how to make chicken soup for Tyler. Rachel suddenly thought of her past self. She had been willing to learn anything for the person she loved. Aside from work, she never had the patience for much else. She waved him off. ¡°That¡¯s your cousin¡¯s soup. Don¡¯t let her efforts go to waste.¡± Tyler frowned. ¡°You¡¯re being awfully generous today.¡± Rachel simply smiled. ¡°You should drink it yourself. You¡¯ve got a long workday ahead.¡± There was something pointed in her words. Tyler couldn¡¯t help but pull her into his arms again, murmuring into her ear. ¡°Worried I¡¯ll run out of energy?¡± Rachel pushed him away and gave him a look. ¡°Tyler, are you thinking with the wrong head?¡± It seemed like no matter what she said, this man could twist it into something dirty. Tyler just grinned and brought the soup to her lips again. ¡°Come on, be good. Drink it and then go. Otherwise, I don¡¯t mind feeding it to you in a different way.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t new to this. She knew exactly what he meant. Knowing Tyler, he¡¯d probably do it, too. So she took the bowl from him and drank the soup in one go. ¡°How does it taste?¡± Tyler asked. Her Exit 458 ¡°Not bad. For someone¡¯s first time, this is already pretty good,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Let me have a taste.¡± Before Rachel could even finish her sentence, Tyler held the back of her head and pressed his warm lips against hers. She didn¡¯t even have a chance to resist. He kissed her deeply and held her close. A momentter, he reluctantly let her go. Satisfaction was written all over his face, as if he had just tasted the perfect bowl of chicken soup. ¡°Mm, not bad. Tell her to make more next time.¡± Rachel thought Tyler was seriously shameless. If his cousin ever found out that the chicken soup she painstakingly made all ended up in Rachel¡¯s stomach, she would probably want to skin Rachel alive. As soon as Rachel left Tyler¡¯s office, people inside started gossiping. ¡°Holy crap, no way! I¡¯ve never seen any woman stay that long in Mr. Hunt¡¯s office.¡± ¡°Ms. Lyons dropped by just now, too. Howe there wasn¡¯t a fight?¡± ¡°Are you dumb? Do you think Mr. Hunt likes women fighting over him? Smart women keep it subtle and y behind the scenes.¡± ¡°True, but isn¡¯t this woman Mr. Lewis¡® ex¨Cwife?¡± ¡°Good god! What kind of siren magic does she have? The men she wins over aren¡¯t exactly/ ordinary.¡± ¡°What do we do? Now I kind of want to study her methods. That¡¯s some serious skill.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. How would I know?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just really pretty, okay? Look at her. Who else in thispany can match that?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t bothered by their gossip. Back when she agreed to have this arrangement with Tyler, she already knew the road ahead wouldn¡¯t be easy. It was a deal and an exchange of interests. Eventually, it would end. As for everything else, there was no point in overthinking it. She just had to do her job well. After following Yale downstairs, Rachel was just about to get in the car when she ran into Jason. He was driving an SUV, and he pulled his sunsses down slightly when he saw them. ¡°Ms. Lloyd.¡± ¡°Mr. Denzel.¡± Rachel greeted him politely. She was a little surprised to see him there, but she figured he was probably here to see Tyler. Jason casually asked, ¡°Where are you two headed?¡± Yale answered honestly, ¡°Mr. Hunt asked me to send Ms. Lloyd home.¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading that way, too. Yale, go ahead and take care of your work. I¡¯ll drive Ms. Lloyd.¡± Yale hesitated. ¡°Well¡­¡± He really wanted to say yes. After all, he had a lot on his te. However, Rachel had a special rtionship with Tyler. If anything went wrong, Tyler might actually have him skinned alive. Rachel understood that Yale was always busy working around Tyler, so she offered helpfully, ¡± Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t say anything. Just go handle your work.¡± Hearing that, Yale finally sighed in relief. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Lloyd.¡± Rachel got into Jason¡¯s car and buckled up. Jason, being observant, noticed something off about the way she was walking. Thinking about how Tyler had still been texting him around midnight, he immediately put two and two together and couldn¡¯t help but smirk ¡°Tyler went to college with us. He was always great at sports, running miles and miles like it was nothing.¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t caught on to what Jason was implying. She figured he was just saying that she and Tyler went to the same college. She just smiled politely. ¡°Mm.¡± 212 Her Exit 459 Jason couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly at Rachel¡¯s calm response. He nced at her again. Rachel noticed his gaze lingering on her and felt a little ufortable. She turned her head and asked directly, ¡°Mr. Denzel, is there something else you wanted to say to me?¡± Jason did have something he had been meaning to ask her. At the time, he had been so focused on helping Tyler that he hadn¡¯t paid attention to what Rachel was doing. While driving, he casually brought it up as if they were just chatting. ¡°Why did you even go for that puzzle? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re also into¡­¡± He trailed off, still trying to wrap his head around Rachel¡¯s behavior. He covered his mouth and coughed softly, though his eyes still gleamed with amusement. ¡°Look, I get it. Lots of women chase after me. Even if you fell for me, it¡¯s nothing new. But you know I¡¯m friends with Tyler. I can¡¯t exactly go around stealing my friend¡¯s girl, right? You get what I mean?¡± Rachel frowned slightly. She was confused by his assumption. ¡°Mr. Denzel, what do you mean by that? I never-¡± Jason cut her off. ¡°Never what?¡± Rachel realized he must¡¯ve misunderstood something and decided to rify. ¡°Mr. Denzel, I think you¡¯ve got the wrong idea. I came to you yesterday because I needed help. It¡¯s mainly because you¡¯re William¡¯s uncle. My father is facing criminal charges because of his report, so I thought maybe¡­¡± This time, it was Jason who froze. He suddenly hit the brakes. ¡°Wait, what did you say? I¡¯m William¡¯s uncle?¡± Rachel¡¯s expression stiffened as well. ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± Jasonughed helplessly. ¡°William¡¯s uncle? Ms. Lloyd, you¡¯re really putting me in a tough spot. I wouldn¡¯t dare im that title!¡± If he were William¡¯s uncle, Tyler would probably kill him. Rachel¡¯s brain kicked into gear as she tried to make sense of it. ¡°So you¡¯re saying, you¡¯re not William¡¯s uncle?¡± Jason finally couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter. ¡°Of course not! I¡¯m only twenty¨Ctwo. William¡¯s twenty¨Ceight. There¡¯s a six¨Cyear age gap between us!¡± Rachel had thought about that. But in some families, seniority wasn¡¯t about age; it was about the generation one was born into. So she hadn¡¯t given it much thought. Still in disbelief, she asked again, ¡°Mr. Denzel, are you really not lying to me? Are you not William¡¯s uncle?¡± Her stubborn tone amused him even more. ¡°I swear I¡¯m not. I¡¯ve got no reason to lie.¡± Rachel started thinking back to everything that had happened the night before. Her scalp tingled. If she had mistaken Jason for William¡¯s uncle and ended up in bed with him, he still wouldn¡¯t have been able to help her in the end. She didn¡¯t even want to imagine the consequences. Honestly, she felt like she should thank Tyler for picking her upst night. Just picturing herself waking up next to Jason, only to realize he wasn¡¯t William¡¯s uncle, and then getting rejected¨Cit made her stomach turn. She hesitated before asking Jason, ¡°Mr. Denzel, do you happen to know who William¡¯s uncle actually is?¡± She figured Jason and William were in the same circle. He should know. Jason looked hesitant, clearly aware that Tyler hadn¡¯t revealed his identity to Rachel yet. Since Tyler hadn¡¯t said anything, there was no way Jason was going to spill the beans. Her Exit 460 Jason rubbed the spot between his brows. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly who William¡¯s uncle is, either. I only heard he¡¯s mysterious as hell. But Tyler does have some ties to the Lewis family. If you really want to know, you¡¯re better off asking him.¡± Rachel felt like she was developing some kind of trauma from constantly being lied to by men. She had to get a solid answer out of Jason. ¡°Mr. Denzel, how can you be so sure that Tyler would know who William¡¯s uncle is?¡± Jason only gave her one answer. ¡°No one knows better than he does.¡± Rachel got the message. Jason drove her home, and after Rachel thanked him, she was just about to get out of the car. Jason decided to give Tyler onest push. ¡°Ms. Lloyd.¡± Rachel turned around. ¡°Something else?¡± ¡°Do you know who set up yesterday¡¯s puzzle?¡± Rachel thought of the game fromst night. It had surprised her, because it really was a one¨Cof -a¨Ckind puzzle. She had even looked it up online afterward. Nobody had solved it except her. Rachel had taken an unconventional approach. If she had stuck to the usual strategies, there¡¯s no way she would¡¯ve cracked it. To her, it was nothing more than a stroke of dumb luck. She felt curious, too. ¡°Who?¡± Jason liked to be cryptic sometimes. ¡°Why don¡¯t you guess?¡± The moment he said that, Rachel¡¯s mind scanned through the possibilities, and she answered right away. ¡°Tyler.¡± Jason looked at her in shock. ¡°How¡¯d you figure it out?¡± Sometimes, Rachel really thought Jason wasn¡¯t that bright. He could be kind of dopey at times. ¡°The moment you asked me that question, you basically pped Tyler¡¯s name on your forehead,¡± she said. Jason reflexively reached up and touched his forehead. ¡°Was it that obvious?¡± ¡°Yes, because the minute you asked a question like that, it meant the person who created the puzzle had to be someone we both knew. Otherwise, there¡¯d be no reason for you to ask me. And since we just met yesterday, that only leaves one mutual connection, Tyler.¡± Jason finally understood why Tyler had been single all these years despite being surrounded by gorgeous women. He really had his sights set on Rachel. She wasn¡¯t just pretty. She was also brilliant. He waved at her. ¡°Take care, Ms. Lloyd. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be seeing each other again.¡± Rachel nodded slightly. Things between her and Tyler wereplicated now. Since Jason was a close friend of his, it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths again. She watched Jason drive off, and her mind circled back to something Jason had said earlier, Tyler definitely knew who William¡¯s uncle was. Rachel was going to get that answer out of him tonight! What she didn¡¯t know was that her real troubles were just beginning. After Sheryn had returned home from LS Enterprise, she immediately burst into tears in front of her mother. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s over between me and Tyler for real this time!¡± ¡°What do you mean? Weren¡¯t things going fine? Besides, you brought him that soup, didn¡¯t you? Let me tell you, Tyler doesn¡¯t just ept things from anyone. The fact that he took that soup from you proves he hasn¡¯t shut you outpletely.¡± Hearing her daughter sob like this, Wilma gently patted Sheryn¡¯s shoulder tofort her. But Sheryn kept crying. ¡°No, this time it¡¯s different. I walked into his office and caught them together. His clothes were a mess, Mom. I could tell he was really protective of that woman.¡± Wilma¡¯s expression darkened instantly. She mmed her hand on the table. ¡°Tell me, whose daughter is she? I¡¯ll go find her myself!¡± Her Exit 461 ¡°It¡¯s the woman William divorced,¡± Sheryn said indignantly. ¡°Her name is Rachel Lloyd, recently revealed to be the illegitimate daughter of the Lloyds.¡± At first, Wilma had thought the woman was just another daughter from a wealthy family. She knew there wasn¡¯t a single woman in Yurelia City who didn¡¯t wish for a chance to climb into Tyler¡¯s bed. Any involvement with Tyler would guarantee them a lifetime of riches, not to mention being his wife or girlfriend. Wilma¡¯s lips twitched with anger and a hint of disbelief. She grabbed Sheryn¡¯s hands. ¡°My dear girl, did you make a mistake? Your cousin hasn¡¯t had a girlfriend for years, not even a rumored one. And now, you¡¯re telling me you saw him with William¡¯s ex¨Cwife¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious, Mom! I didn¡¯t make a mistake. I recognized her, alright. Her face was stered all over the news previously, and people are still spreading those rumors about her until now.¡± Wilma sighed. ¡°What¡¯s with your cousin recently? He must be bewitched by that woman. Why would he get himself involved with a divorced woman? To make things worse, she¡¯s¡­¡± She was William¡¯s ex¨Cwife, for goodness¡® sake! If Tyler¡¯s father found out, that old man would surely give Tyler hell. Sheryn was starting to panic. ¡°Mom, you have to think of something. I¡¯ve been pursuing Tyler for so long, and we finally made some progress. I can¡¯t let someone snatch him right under my nose!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of this,¡± Wilma assured Sheryn. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll make that woman leave your cousin. I¡¯ve seen my fair share of women like her. All they want is money. She probably didn¡¯t get much from William before, so she¡¯s hankering after your cousin and trying to get in his bed.¡± 1 ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate any longer, Mom. Go find Rachel right now. No matter how much she asks for, make sure she leaves Tyler,¡± Sheryn urged Wilma. Wilma, knowing there was no time to lose, nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯ll go right now!¡± Rachel was whipping up a feast at home just to get in Tyler¡¯s good books. She desperately wanted to know who William¡¯s uncle was¨Cthe man whom she went to great lengths to investigate but found nothing about. Rachel paced back and forth in the house, thinking about whether he should make Tyler drink alcohol like yesterday. On second thought, alcohol was a double¨Cedged sword that would be detrimental to her as it would to Tyler. He was so filled with energy, he could stay up till midnight even without alcohol. he were to take any alcohol¡­ Rachel decided against it. She couldn¡¯t afford to stay up the entireight with Tyler. Ray¡¯s nose twitched at the smell of all the good food Rachel whipped up. He got so excited, he started leaping up and pawing Rachel. Bright, innocent eyes stared right into Rachel¡¯s Rachel couldn¡¯t seem to resist Ray¡¯s eagerness. Ray was just different from other dogs. Whenever Ray stared into Rachel¡¯s eyes, she felt as though she was the only person in his heart and mind. Rachel relented and threw Ray a piece of meat, which he quickly gobbled up. The little treat was so tasty, Ray wagged his tail while staring up at Rachel, as though asking for more. Rachel didn¡¯t dare to give Ray more. She heard that dogs couldn¡¯t take salt in their diet as it was bad for their kidneys. Ray was Tyler¡¯s dog, and she couldn¡¯t just feed it whatever she liked. Ray looked so pitifully at Rachel, she almost couldn¡¯t resist. She patted his furry head. ¡°Alright, now. If I gave you more, your boss is going toe home and give me a huge scolding.¡± Ray seemed to understand her and whimpered twice before giving up. Rachel nced at her watch and saw that it was about half an hour away from the time Tyler was expected to be home. She was about to call Cecilia to discuss her n when someone knocked on the door. 1 Her Exit 462 Rachel was wondering why Tyler was home so early. Without thinking, she opened the door. ¡°Why are you back home¡­¡± Before she couldplete her sentence, her gazended on a woman she had never seen before. She took a deep breath topose herself and asked calmly, ¡°May I know who you¡¯re looking for?¡± Wilma surveyed Rachel from head to toe. ¡°How shall I address your William¡¯s ex¨Cwife, the illegitimate daughter of the Lloyds, or Tyler¡¯s illicit lover¡­?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t angered by her first two options, since they were technically true. When she heard thest option, however, animosity burst forth from her chest. ¡°Madam, you might have misunderstood. I am Tyler¡¯s girlfriend, not his illicit lover,¡± she exined coldly. Wilma scoffed, disdain filling her eyes as she looked at Rachel. She might as well have written ¡®I despise you¡® on her forehead. ¡°Any woman who gets involved with my nephew and tries to climb into his bed is his illicit lover. Just a ything he¡¯s interested in for the time being. Don¡¯t think too much of it. He doesn¡¯t actually like you.¡± Wilma strutted into the house, brushing past Rachel and not caring that Rachel didn¡¯t invite her in. When she saw the spread on the dining table, she chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s quite some effort you¡¯ve put there, but it¡¯s a pity Tyler doesn¡¯t eat onions. Your effort will probably go down the drain.¡± With that, Wilma sat down on the sofa. The moment she did so, Ray started barking at her. Immediately, her face paled with fright. She waved her hands, trying to chase Ray away. ¡°Whose dog is this? How ill¨Cmannered! Don¡¯t you discipline your dog? Is this how it should be treating guests? Go away! Go away, or I¡¯ll hit you!¡± Wilma picked up an ashtray from the table and flung it in Ray¡¯s direction. Rachel instinctively wrapped her arms around Ray, protecting him. The ashtray struck her on her back, triggering a dull pain that spread across her entire body. Rachel winced, bearing with the bone¨Cpiercing pain. Wilma didn¡¯t expect Rachel to be so foolish as to protect a dog. How silly of the girl to protect a dog¡¯s life when it was nothingpared to a human¡¯s! Despite telling herself that, the consequences of her actions struck Wilma with fear. If anything bad happened to his woman, Tyler might very well pin the me on her. Wilma jumped forward to distance herself from the entire situation ¡°You you can¡¯t me me for this. You lunged toward the dog when I was aiming for it. I didn¡¯t mean to hit you!¡± Rachel took a while to recover from the pain, still crouching down the same position she took a deep breath before standing up stiffly Seeing Rachel¡¯s pale face and the sweat beading on her forehead, Wilma realized that the ashtray must have struck Rachel quite hard Wilma was previously bitten by a dog, which exined her phobiant them She sat up straight, justifying her actions without any traces of reget, not even bothering to apologize. ¡°This clearly has nothing to do with me. If you hadn¡¯t rushed forward to protect a dog, the ashtray would never have hit you!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t expect to see such crass and boorish behavior from such a wealthy¨Clooking woman. Her face was carefully expressionless, and her eyes were daggers piercing right into Wilma¡¯s chest. Wilma was taken aback by Rachel¡¯s aura. It was not something she had felt from any other woman, share of people in this world. and she had seen her fair It sent a chill down her spine. Deciding to cut to the chase instead of hiding the truth, Wilma said ¡°I¡¯m Tyler¡¯s aunt. I heard that you¡¯re now with him despite being William¡¯s ex¨Cwife. We¡¯ll never allow a tainted woman like you to be with Tyler. You¡¯d better know your ce¨Cdon¡¯t force us to be nasty!¡± Her Exit 463 Chapter 463 Rachel had seen enough of such drama, be it in the past or soap operas on cable. Rather than panicking, she found the whole thing hrious. Ray, as if sensing her bad mood, whimpered at her feet. Rachel knew that he felt bad for her. Dogs were very sympathetic creatures, after all. She reached out to rub Ray¡¯s head, consoling him. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Head upstairs for some snacks. I put some in your bowl earlier.¡± Seeing that, Wilma had the urge tough. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, you¡¯re such an interesting person. Can this dog understand you? Why say so much to it?¡± Rachel rubbed Ray¡¯s furry cheeks. ¡°Sometimes, dogs understand people more than some people.¡± Wilma rose to her feet in a whoosh, her face red with ire. ¡°How ill¨Cmannered! You dare speak to an elder like that!¡± Rachel looked at her in feigned confusion. ¡°When did I do that?¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± Wilma couldn¡¯t put forth any evidence, as it was true that Rachel didn¡¯t do that. Rather, she merely insinuated it. With a dismissive wave of her hand, Wilma snapped, ¡°Whatever it is, state your price. How much is enough for you to leave Tyler?¡± Rachel sneered; she refused to show Wilma undeserved respect, especially when thetter had resorted to violence over nothing. ¡°Since you¡¯re bent on separating Tyler and me, shouldn¡¯t you go looking for him? As his aunt, you should know his temperament better than I do. You came looking for me, but even if I agreed to it, do you dare say that he¡¯ll agree to it too?¡± It was Wilma¡¯s turn to sneer. ¡°Do you mean to say that Tyler will harass you and refuse to let you go? Open your eyes and see for yourself who we are! Putting aside the fact that you¡¯re a divorcee, you¡¯re William¡¯s ex¨Cwife. That fact alone makes things impossible between you and Tyler. ¡°You¡¯re an illegitimate daughter to boot. If word of that got out, we¡¯d be looked down upon! Tyler is such an outstanding man. He doesn¡¯tck women.¡± Wilma thought that her words would put Rachel in her ce and make her give up. However, Rachel was no longer the same as she was five years ago. Forget being affected by Wilma¡¯s words; she had the courage to retaliate. ¡°You think that Tyler is outstanding, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯m inferior to him. What¡¯s more, he¡¯s no fool. Wouldn¡¯t he know whether I¡¯m good for him or not?¡± she shot back. Winona scoffed. She hated women like Rachel, born to be vixens adept at luring and seducing men. Such women loved hoodwinking men and wrapping them around their little finger. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, he¡¯s just temporarily bewitched by your beauty. You¡¯re not getting any younger. If you want a happy ending straight out of a fairytale, he¡¯s not going to give you that. If you want money, name your price. We¡¯ll be able to afford whatever you ask for!¡± Rachel arched her brow; she covered her mouth and eximed in feigned surprise, ¡°Are you going to drown me with your money?¡± She then rubbed her chin, as if seriously pondering the question. ¡°Then again, my asking price would be quite high. Are you really sure you can afford it?¡± 1 Wilma looked disdainfully at Rachel, as if confirming her assessme She crossed her legs and leaned back against the couch, tilting her her wrist. Her Exit 464 ¡°Name your price,¡± Wilma said haughtily. Rachel raised an open palm. ¡°Five hundred million.¡± Wilma choked, looking in disbelief at Rachel, who now wore a faint smile. ¡°You must be out of your mind! Five hundred million? Do you think you¡¯re made of gold? How dare you ask for such an astronomical amount?! For someone like you, two hundred thousand dors is considered a good deal!¡± Rachel crossed her arms across her chest and looked disdainfully at Wilma. ¡°Oh, so you can¡¯t afford that price. Well, what are you still doing here? Come find me when you can fork out five hundred million. ¡± All of a sudden, Wilma felt yed for a fool. Her mask of civility fell apart; she pointed angrily at Rachel and shrieked, ¡°You filthy hussy! I took you seriously, and you took me for a fool!¡± Rachel was not surprised to see Wilma raise a hand to strike her. She was all prepared¨Cnot to brace herself for the p, but to counterattack. Right before Wilma¡¯s handnded on Rachel¡¯s cheek, Ray rushed downstairs and knocked Wilma down. ¡°Argh!¡± As well¨Cmaintained as Wilma was in the looks department, she was still fifty; her strength couldn¡¯t match up to the dog. What¡¯s more, Rachel could sense that Ray had knocked Wilma with every ounce of his strength. The impact sent Wilma copsing on the floor, unable to get up. ¡°My back¡­ Ugh¡­my back¡­¡± Ray made a move to pounce on Wilma once more, only to be stopped by Rachel. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. She might hit you again.¡± She didn¡¯t expect Ray to defend her so fiercely despite meeting him only a few times. At that moment, she felt touched. The saying that dogs are man¡¯s best friend wasn¡¯t wholly unfounded. Instead of going over to help Wilma up, Rachel stood before thetter, looking down at her. ¡°I¡¯m not bent on clinging to Tyler. If he wants me to leave, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do that without any hesitation.¡± Rachel wished Wilma would make things clear with Tyler and make him give up on her. That way, she could leave once she took care of Jim¡¯s affairs. She didn¡¯t want to stay here for a minute longer. ¡°You said it yourself,¡± Wilma hissed through gritted teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t me me for tattling on you if you refuse to leave!¡± Rachel had no qualms whatsoever. ¡°No problem.¡± Wilma hobbled out in pain, one hand over her back. Rachel heaved a sigh of relief. When Tyler reached home, he saw the food on the table untouched while Rachel was nowhere to be found. Ray, slumped on the couch, lunged toward Tyler at the first sight of him, barking incessantly. Ray had been by Tyler¡¯s side for so many years, so Tyler naturally understood him well. Ray¡¯s agitated reaction instinctively told Tyler that something was wrong. Tyler looked around the living room. Although everything looked neat and tidy, he could sense something amiss. For one, there was a chip off the ashtray. He went straight to check on the surveince footage. Seeing Wilma appear at his house, he thought back to Sheryn today and instinctively connected the dots. He clenched his jaw hard as he watched on. His face turned dark with displeasure, but he was exceptionally gentle when patting Ray¡¯s head ¡°Good boy. Thank you for protecting your mom. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll punish her for you.¡± He opened the door and dialed Wilma¡¯s number. ¡°Aunt, let¡¯s have a talk.¡± Her Exit 465 Tyler and Wilma agreed to meet at a cafe in the city. Tyler settled down in a booth, waiting for Wilma. When she arrived, the walter was serving some coffee. Wilma offered Tyler a kind smile. ¡°Tyler, what made you call me out for coffee?¡± Tyler pushed a cup of coffee toward her. With a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t you know very well why I called you out?¡± Wilma¡¯s face darkened. Still, she felt reassured by the fact that Tyler treated her with respect, much more so than he did his father. No matter how important Rachel was to him, she was confident that in this case, blood was thicker than water. Those thoughts calmed Wilma down and gave her the confidence to speak. ¡°Rachel must have told on me. Tyler, don¡¯t believe her words. She¡¯s up to no good, I¡¯m telling you! You might not havee across a woman like her over the years, but I¡¯ve seen my fair share of wenches like her! Do you know how much money she demanded from me? Five hundred million dors! Does she think she¡¯s royalty?¡± Tyler sipped leisurely on his coffee and saidnguidly, ¡°Five hundred million? She¡¯s worth it.¡± Wilma¡¯s face changed in an instant, but she quickly recovered. She started persuading Tyler, using the tone of a wise elder. ¡°Oh, Tyler. Are you bewitched by that woman? How could you be with her? Your father will beat you to death! You know her rtionship with William. Even if you don¡¯t care about him, you have to consider the reputation of your family, don¡¯t you? Do you have any idea how nasty the rumors may turn out if word were to spread?¡± Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed, his face growing cold. ¡°Aunt Wilma. We may be rtives, but you have no say over my affairs!¡± Wilma was surprised to see Tyler on the verge of blowing his top. ¡°Tyler, you¡­ You know you¡¯re the only son of the Hunt family,¡± she said, unable to stop her voice from trembling. ¡°I can¡¯t stand idly by and watch you get destroyed by this woman.¡± Tyler seldom fought with women, especially his elders. Yet, Wilma had no idea that she had just struck a nerve. The menacing look in his deep, dark eyes made her forehead sweat Wilma was familiar with Tyler¡¯s temperament. Provoke him, and he wouldn¡¯t even care if you were his elder. Would a man who didn¡¯t even fear his father, fear her? Thinking of Rachel having her way, Wilma started to worry about her daughter. She had pinned all her hopes on Sheryn marrying Tyler, which would guarantee their family riches andfort for the rest of their lives. Her husband was a loafer who idled all day doing nothing. Her entire family relied on Tyler for financial support. No matter how supportive Tyler was as a nephew, nothing couldpare to being a legitimate family in name. Tyler sneered. He tapped a finger against the rim of his coffee cup, an unnerving chill settling on his brows. ¡°If I don¡¯t get together with Rachel, are you going to pair me with Sheryn?¡± Wilma bloomed into a bright smile. ¡°You grew up with her, after all. You two know each other well. What¡¯s more, it¡¯s not like you two are rted by blood. Your father would certainly approve of you being together with her. Isn¡¯t that so much better?¡± Wilma didn¡¯t dare to look into Tyler¡¯s eyes, so she didn¡¯t catch the distaste in the depths of his eyes. Tyler leaned back leisurely against the chair, his arrogant and despotic demeanor unbing before an elder. ¡°Even if we¡¯re not rted by blood, everyone in Yurelia City knows that Sheryn and I are cousins. If I married her, do I call you my aunt or my mother?¡± Tyler¡¯s careless remarks sent Wilma¡¯s face flushing with embarrassment. Her Exit 466 Wilma gave an awkwardugh. ¡°Tyler, don¡¯t say that. There¡¯s no need to care about what others will say. All we need to do is release a statement. Given your influence in Yurelia City, no one would dare to say anything about you.¡± 1 To that, Tyler replied, ¡°Seems to me that you don¡¯t even care about your reputation if it concerns Sheryn¡¯s marriage. But let me make this straight¨CI respect you as my aunt, but I don¡¯t need anyone butting into my private affairs. ¡°Since you¡¯ve harassed and threatened Rachel, you can bid farewell to the life you¡¯re enjoying right now. From now, I won¡¯t give you and your family a single cent! Also, tell Sheryn to stop sending me soups or whatever.¡± Wilma¡¯s head buzzed with shock. Never had she expected Tyler to fall out with her over an illegitimate child who was also a divorcee. Her family¡¯sfortable life right now was all because of Tyler. Without him as their pir of support, life would certainly be a living hell from now on! Wilma sat dumbfounded, silent, not daring to utter a word. She lowered her head, the assertiveness and arrogance she had shown Rachel earlier that day all but gone. Though she had watched Tyler grow up, she finally realized that when provoked, he didn¡¯t give a damn about anyone¡¯s feelings. Wilma was no longer in the mood to enjoy the coffee before her. She stood up shakily and said, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll be off, then.¡± ¡°Aunt Wilma, I heard that you didn¡¯t just try to attack Rachel. You even hurt my dog and insulted me, the owner. Is that right?¡± Wilma stopped dead in her tracks as tremors shook her entire body. She couldn¡¯t believe that dirty wench Rachel tattled on her to Tyler! Wilma was indignant. Not only did Rachel tattle on her, but she even exaggerated things! She had been careless to assume that the Lloyds¡® illegitimate daughter¨Cand a divorcee at that¡ªwouldn¡¯t pose a threat to her. To think that¡­ Tyler immediately saw through Wilma¡¯s thoughts. He turned the cup in his hands and said casually, ¡°Rachel didn¡¯t rat you out. In fact, I haven¡¯t seen her since I reached home. I have surveince cameras in my house. They record sounds, too.¡± Wilma¡¯s knees immediately went weak. She was deathly afraid that Tyler might cut off his financial support for them. Desperate, she tried to exin herself to Tyler. ¡°Everything today was my fault, Tyler. I was just worried that you¡¯d be tricked by a woman. You don¡¯t have dating experience, after all. You haven¡¯t had a single girlfriend all these years. I admit that I was a little extreme in my approach, but I didn¡¯t know that dog was yours. I thought it was that woman¡¯s¨CI mean, Ms. Lloyd¡¯s. I was just¡­¡± When she saw Tyler¡¯s eyes turn cold, Wilma immediately changed the way she addressed Rachel. ¡°Remember this, Aunt Wilma,¡± Tyler said firmly. ¡°Rachel is my girlfriend. I¡¯d say that my only weakness is that I¡¯m rather defensive of her. Showing her disrespect is equivalent to doing the same to me. Keep at it, and don¡¯t me me for being nasty!¡± Wilma never thought she would be on the receiving end of a lecture by someone younger. Yet, that was to be expected of Tyler¡¯s temperament. He wouldn¡¯t even give in to his father, not to mention her. Later, Wilma returned home despondently. All the while, Sheryn was waiting anxiously. Seeing her mother at the door, she hurriedly approached thetter. ¡°Mom, how did it go? What did Tyler say? Did he take your advice and agree to stop seeing that woman?¡± Sheryn was aware that she and her family were the only ones Tyler supported financially. Naturally, she assumed that they had a special Her Exit 467 Wilma was so crestfallen and downcast that seeing her daughter set her off. Immediately, she vented her frustrations on Sheryn. ¡°The nerve of you to ask! If you hadn¡¯t made me look up Tyler, would he have told me off?¡± she yelled. Sheryn was in a daze when she saw her mother limping, and quickly held her steady. ¡°What happened? Weren¡¯t you fine when you went to meet Tyler? Wasn¡¯t he the one who asked you out for coffee?¡± Wilma plopped down on the couch. ¡°Was that asking me out just for coffee? He called me out to ughter me! He berated and reprimanded me like I was a kid, all for his damn dog and Rachel Lloyd!¡± Wilma had never been treated like this her entire life and was practically defenceless before Tyler. She felt thoroughly humiliated. Sheryn was shocked. ¡°Huh? How could that be? Doesn¡¯t Tyler hold you in the highest regard? You¡¯re also his aunt. How could he bear to tell you off for that wicked woman?¡± Wilma herself didn¡¯t understand either, and said huffily, ¡°I still can ept it if he did it for a person, but he reprimanded me for a dog. Can you believe that?¡± ¡°Impossible! Tyler respects you so much. How could he argue with you over a dog? That¡¯s just impossible!¡± Sheryn cried. ¡°Would I lie to you about something like this?¡± The thought of her being treated like a fool by Tyler made Wilma feel horrible. It would have been fine if it were over some major, but he told her off her for something as trivial as a woman! Sheryn¡¯s phone dinged; she looked at her screen, her eyes almost popping out when she read the words on it. ¡°Mom, we¡¯re doomed! What in the world did you tell Tyler?¡± The frustration in Wilma¡¯s chest grew when she heard that. ¡°What are you yelling at me for? Why are you losing your cool like an emotionally unstable teenager? How¡¯re you going to marry Tyler like this?¡± Right after Wilma said that, her phone buzzed as well. She pulled it out and nced at the screen before shrieking out loud shortly after. ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± Sheryn rolled her eyes at her mother. ¡°What did you just say a moment ago? Don¡¯t lose your cool like an emotionally unstable teenager?¡± Wilma stuttered, ¡°How¡­how could your cousin act like this? It¡¯s just a dog, and I barely even touched Rachel! How could he reduce our credit limit?¡± Sheryn had pinned all her hopes on her mom to persuade Tyler to stop what he was doing with Rachel. The result? He stopped helping them instead! The fact that Tyler treated his aunt Wilma this way for Rachel, a divorcee and an illegitimate daughter, proved just how important she was to him. Sheryn, meanwhile, had gone to such great lengths just to make Tyler nce her way. That alone was enough to make her content. This was all Rachel¡¯s fault! Suddenly, Sheryn remembered that Thomas¡® birthday was right around the corner. That would be a great opportunity for him to put his foot down on this matter. ¡°I¡¯m not scared of going to Thomas for this,¡± Wilma said fearfully ¡°but if your cousin finds out, he might justpletely remove our credit limit.¡± Sheryn¡¯s face fell in an instant. ¡°Seriously, Mom. What¡¯s with you? Is my marriage or your pride more important? Think about it -do you really think it¡¯s possible for him to keep helping us out financially in this current state?¡± Wilma was stunned by Sheryn¡¯s question. She had never thought about that, since she knew that the money Tyler gave them was peanuts to him. However, what happened today made her see things differently. What if¡­what if Tyler decided to turn a blind eye to them? What would they do? Left with no choice, Wilma had to do as Sheryn suggested. Her Exit 468 ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do as you said. Your cousin will surely bring that woman to Thomas¡® birthday celebration in a few days¡® time. We¡¯re in for some excitement, I¡¯m sure.¡± When Tyler returned to his apartment, Rachel was still nowhere to be seen. He walked upstairs and quietly opened the door. Rachel¡¯s body suddenly started aching after being hit by the ashtray, so sheid on the bed to try to recover from the aches, but identally fell asleep. She had always been a light sleeper, however, and could hear footsteps drawing near to her. The footsteps were very soft, so much that she almost thought she was imagining things. A momentter, she felt a warm body wrapping her from behind, like aforting hot towel folding over her. A pain shot up her back, making her wince. Tyler leaned into her ear and whispered, ¡°Sit up and let me check your back. You can sleep againter.¡± At Tyler¡¯s words, all sleepiness left Rachel and she slowly turned around. In a voiceced with fatigue, she asked, ¡°How did you¡­ 11 Before she couldplete her sentence, his lipsnded on hers. He kissed her from her lips, to her corbone, and then to her earlobes. Rachel recalled the doctor¡¯s reminders and gently pushed Tyler away, worried that things might get out of control. Tyler didn¡¯t reply to her and instead drowned the kiss. Desire grew between them as they basked under the warm glow of the nightlight. She instinctively withdrew from his advances, but he pressed her back, refusing to allow her to hide. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me and simply let her hurt you?¡± His breathnded hotly on her ears, sending a chill down her back andpletely distracting her from what he was saying. He stered his body against her back. Rachel raised her hands above her head, blood rushing to her face in shame. ¡°Tyler!¡± she yelled, clearly embarrassed. Tyler gave her a gentle pat on the behind. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Rachel was at her wit¡¯s end. How could he demand her to not move when he was being so aggressive in his advances? She had rights too, for goodness¡® sake! Very soon, Rachel felt her defences breaking. She felt her body bing weak all over as she squirmed like a worm under his touch. She wanted to struggle against his passionate hold, but each time she felt like she was about to struggle free, he would always manage to trap her back in his iron¨Clike vice. His voice rang hoarsely in her ears. ¡°Who am I?¡± All the muscles in her body were tense and crying out for release. Tyler always managed to ignite the desire in her so easily. Rachel bit her bottom lip, bearing with the overwhelming desire that came crashing onto her in waves. Tyler gently rubbed the pad of his thumb over her lip. The air became thick with suspense as he coaxed her patiently. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you can call my name.¡± At that moment, Rachel realized¨Cnot only was he wicked in the day, but he had this uncanny ability to bring down her defenses even at night. ¡°Tyler¡­¡± she cried brokenly, unable to resist the tremors overtaking her body. Tyler finally decided to spare her, nting a tender kiss on the back of her neck. ¡°Consider this your punishment. If you refuse to tell me something like that again, I¡¯ll tie you to the bedpost for three days and three nights and have my way with you. You can forget about leaving the bed.¡± Rachel instantly realized that Tyler was talking about his aunt¡¯s visit just now. She wanted to turn around and exin things to him, but he hugged her from behind. Rachel bumped him twice with her elbow and identally hit him in the rib. He winced in pain and released her, but wasn¡¯t really mad at her. ¡°Biting the hand that feeds you now, Ms. Lloyd?¡± Rachel widened the distance between them and sat cross¨Clegged on the bed. ¡°Tyler, do you have a problem? If you want to ask about your aunt, just ask it outright! Must you do¡­that while asking me about it?¡± Rachel was way too embarrassed to spell out what Tyler just did to her. Tyler naturally refused to spare her so easily. He reached out to toy with a lock of hair that came loose and wrapped it around his finger before releasing it again. ¡°Say that clearly. Do what?¡± Her Exit 469 Rachel blushed profusely. She was aghast¨CTyler was bing as wicked as Howard! In a pitch higher than usual, she couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Tyler, can you be a little more normal?¡± He was like a vixen, tempting her to sin. What made matters worse was her extremely poor self¨Ccontrol. Despite the constant resistance from her brain, her body would instinctively respond to his temptation. Damn it! Rachel never used to be like this, even with William. Cecilia used to say that she appeared innocent and restrained on the surface, but actually abound in passion inside. Of course, Rachel used to deny Cecilia¡¯s assessment vehemently. She considered herself more conservative in this regard, and that proved to be true when she used to be with William. Yet after two such encounters with Tyler, she couldn¡¯t recognize herself. Tyler had enough of teasing Rachel. He knew that if he pushed her any further, she might explode in anger. He went back to the topic at hand. ¡°Come here. Let me apply some ointment on your injury. If it¡¯s really bad, we¡¯ll have to go to the hospital.¡± Rachel objected to it vehemently. ¡°I¡¯m not going to the hospital!¡± The mere mention of that ce made her head pound. Because of her father, she had been going to the hospital frequently as ofte. The smell of the disinfectant made her feel like puking. ¡°Then be good and listen to me if you don¡¯t want to go to the hospital.¡± This time, Rachel obediently let him roll up the hem of her shirt, revealing her snatched waist, and supple and fair skin. ¡°Do you work out often?¡± ¡°Yeah. Healthes first for me.¡± Rachel often grappled with a huge workload when she was overseas. Everyone was there to work¡ªand that was exactly what they devoted themselves to, putting their hearts, minds and bodies to the tasks they were given. Going to the gym wasn¡¯t exactly a habit for her. Since she went abroad and found herself stretched beyond her limits by the overwhelming workload, she had no choice but to resort to hitting the gym more often. Gradually, she cultivated the habit of working out more frequently, which brought her significant benefits. She looked fitter and more toned than before. Tyler looked at the bruise on Rachel¡¯s back. Her skin was scraped off and looked red around the area. The sight made him recoil. He subconsciously brushed a finger over her wound, the slight pain making Rachel tense up all over. She hissed in pain. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± Tyler asked. ¡°Not that much, but it does itch a little. If it looks fine, just leave it Rachel didn¡¯t want to be pretentious about her injury. Tyler shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to go to the hospital. You were hit by a sharp object and it¡¯s swelling up quite badly in this area. It looks deeper than a superficial injury, and might have impacted the bone.¡± Rachel inhaled sharply, not expecting things to be so serious. Tyler always loved exaggerating things and teasing her. She always had to second¨Cguess what he was saying, for fear of falling for his tricks every single time ¡°It can¡¯t be that bad. It doesn¡¯t hurt that much.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not kidding. If the bone is injured, you might even be paralyzed. If you be paralyzed, instead of coaxing me to sleep, I¡¯ll have to coax you to sleep instead.¡± ¡°If I get paralyzed, you should be finding a recement instead,¡± Rachel said with a pout. She refused to believe that someone like Tyler would bother taking care of her. Their rtionship was purely transactional. What right did she have to ask him to take care of her? He was just pulling her leg at her expense. Left with no choice, Rachel let Tyler bring her to the hospital. When she walked downstairs, Ray bounded over to her, rubbing his cheeks against her leg and looking up at her with glistening eyes, as though concerned for her. Her Exit 470 Rachel rubbed Ray¡¯s head ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry,¡± she reassured him. ¡°We¡¯re just going to the hospital for a quick check. We¡¯ll be back real soon. Watch the house and don¡¯t let anyone in.¡± Ray barked twice. Rachel knew he understood what she was saying ¡°Good boy. You¡¯re as smart as your owner.¡± ¡°Are youparing Ray with me?¡± Tyler said huffily. Rachel pondered for a moment before changing her words and asking, ¡°Are you smarter than Ray?¡± Tyler pursed his lips, his voice low as he said, ¡°Rachel, you¡¯d better watch your words. Whether we can even make it to the hospital depends on what you say from here on.¡± Rachel tossed Tyler¡¯s words back and forth in her mind, feeling as though something was amiss. She decided to throw all caution to the wind. ¡°What¡¯s wrong withparing you to a dog? It¡¯s a very intelligent creature, and people often im that dogs take after their owners. Wouldn¡¯t calling Ray stupid be an insult to you, too?¡± Tyler¡¯s chin lifted proudly. ¡°But of course. I¡¯m so smart¨Cif Ray is stupid, he only has himself to me.¡± Ray seemed to understand what Tyler was saying as he lifted his head and whimpered at Tyler. He seemed to roll his eyes at Tyler before turning away, refusing to look at thetter. Seeing that, Rachel burst outughing. ¡°See? Even your dog despises you.¡± Sheughed so gleefully her eyes twinkled like diamonds. Tyler yfully pinched her waist, making her yelp in pain. ¡°I dare you tough some more.¡± He held her at her waist and helped her toward the door. Rachel quelled herughter, for fear that Tyler might get back at her. When they walked past the dining table, Rachel nced at the food she prepared and remembered that Tyler hadn¡¯t eaten dinner yet. ¡°Do you want to eat something before we go?¡± ¡°You cooked especially for me?¡± Tyler asked with an arched brow Remembering that the reason she cooked for Tyler was because she had something to ask him, Rachel took the chance to im credit. ¡°But of course.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, we¡¯lle back and heat up the foodter.¡± He had to make sure that she was fine first. Otherwise, he would never spare Wilma. They rushed to the hospital where Xavier attended to them. He put on his white robe with a yawn and said sleepily, ¡°Goodness, I just pulled an all¨Cnighter yesterday and survived a full day of consultation visits. I haven¡¯t even recovered from all that, and you had to pull me so rudely out of bed. Even horses need a rest. Tyler ignored hisints and pushed Rachel in his direction. ¡°Check the wound on her back and see if it impacted the bone.¡± All sleep abandoned Xavier when he saw Rachel. He put on his ck¨Crimmed sses and said to her, ¡°Pleasee in.¡± He made Rachel sit on the chair and was about to roll up the hem of her shirt when Tyler barked, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Xavier rolled his eyes at Tyler. ¡°Are you insane? I¡¯m a doctor. How would I know if there¡¯s a deeper issue with her wound if I don¡¯t look at it?¡± Tyler made the decision on Xavier¡¯s behalf. ¡°Write a note and send her for an X¨Cray.¡± Xavier was dumbfounded, but he should have expected it from Tyler. He stood up and said, ¡°Alright, an X¨Cray may be good. Can¡¯t tell if it¡¯s a bone issue just by touch.¡± With that, he handed the referral note to Rachel. When he brushed past Tyler, he patted thetter¡¯s chest and said in a volume audible only to the two of them, ¡°Isn¡¯t that jealousy of yours getting rather out of hand? If she¡¯s so precious to you, just strap her to you all day.¡± Her Exit 471 hi, is Bodgit seriously considering Xavier¡¯s s ¡°That¡¯s quite a good idea, before she flies away again without any warnin On second thought, Xavier found it hrious and couldn¡¯t hold back a c Xavier shot Tyler a t look. ¡°I think you¡¯ve really lost your mind.¡± He knew clearly, when others didn¡¯t, that thisdy was Tyler¡¯s medicine. C iming that she sang badly was just an excuse. Xavier looked at Tyler¡¯s towering back andmented at how incredible destiny could be. A man so favored by the heavens with nock of women, yet so besotted with a single woman for over twenty years. This fool also refused to tell that woman his love for her. Xavier wished he could pry open Tyler¡¯s mouth and force him to speak. If Tyler refused to confess his feelings this time, Xavier was sure Tyler would miss the boat forever. Rachel could tell from the look on Xavier¡¯s face that he was upset. She, of al his words. people, knew how infuriating Tyler could be with She turned around and whispered to him, ¡°Tyler, can¡¯t you be nicer? Your words are sometimes way too cutting, you know?¡± Rachel thought back on how Tyler talked to her, although there was a slim chance that she was the only one he spoke to in that way. Tyler looked down at her and suddenly chuckled. ¡°How should I put it, then? Like this?¡± He then approached Xavier, patted him gently on the shoulder, and said softly, ¡°Dr. Jenkins, could you please send my girlfriend for an X¨Cray, and not roll up the hem of my her however you please? Otherwise, I might just sue you.¡± Before Rachel could say anything further, Xavier¡¯s entire body shook. He rubbed his arms to smooth out the goosebumps that rose. ¡°I¡¯d rather you talk normally. Your tone just gave me goosebumps! Xavier could feel a strange chill down his spine. Rachel couldn¡¯t take it, either. Tyler¡¯s tone sounded more like a warning of him settling scores at ater date. Tyler turned to look at Rachel. ¡°Well, Ms. Lloyd. What do you think?¡± Rachel felt exceedingly ufortable at the overly tender look in his eyes and admitted defeat at loudly earlier.¡±
  1. ce. ¡°I admit I spoke too
Tyler was a thousand times better the way he was previously. At the very least, it didn¡¯t make others feel awkward. Xavier brought them to the door of the radiology room and said to Rachel, ¡°Head right in heads up.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dr. Jenkins.¡± I¡¯ve given the radiologist inside a With that, Rachel walked straight into the room. Tyler and Xavier waited at the door, thetter casting a nce at the former who was standing ramrod straight. ¡°Now that we¡¯re alone, you¡¯d bettere clean. How did that back injurye about? Did you lose control over yourself again? I can understand that you¡¯ve been single for so many years and now, all of a sudden, you¡¯re with the woman you love¡­but you can¡¯t behave so violently.¡± Tyler pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and put it between his lips. He tilted his head and lit it up as he looked at Xavier with furrowed brows. ¡°What in the world are you talking about? How can you even call yourself a doctor? Could a wound like that be caused that way?¡± In response, Xavier shot Tyler a smug look. ¡°Why, I heard that someone brought his girlfriend to the gynaecology department of our hospital just a couple of days ago. I heard it was rather serious.¡± Her Exit 472 Xavier elbowed Tyler. ¡°Come on, show some restraint.¡± Tyler took a puff of his cigarette before looking back at Xavier in disdain. ¡°An old geezer like you wouldn¡¯t understand the kind of energy young people like I have. Drink more chamomile tea when you have nothing better to do.¡± Xavier said huffily, ¡°Quit talking down on me. Also, I¡¯m not an old geezer. I¡¯m a middle¨Caged geezer. You¡¯re not my wife, so how would you know my level of energy in that regard? You rascal¡­¡± Tyler chuckled but said nothing. Xavier fell silent. Standing next to Tyler, he opened his mouth again to exin. ¡°I¡¯m in great shape. Ask my wife if you don¡¯t believe me¡­¡± Tyler looked like he couldn¡¯t care less; he took a step back and widened the distance between the both of them. ¡°I don¡¯t benefit even if you¡¯re in great shape.Why bother exining yourself to me?¡± Xavier was rendered speechless. He opened his mouth to retort again, but didn¡¯t know what to say and eventually gave up. for Tyler¡¯s sharp tongue. Forget it¨Che was certainly no Rachel walked out of the room after she was done with the scan. Xavier pointed wordlessly at Tyler before pulling the curtain open and walking in. One look at Xavier¡¯s expression was enough to tell Rachel that the poor man had suffered under Tyler¡¯s verbal attacks. Tyler was capable of infuriating others, yet there was nothing one could do to him. ¡°What did you say to provoke Dr. Jenkins?¡± Rachel asked out of curiosity. ¡°I didn¡¯t provoke him. He was just arguing with me about his physical strength. I told him I didn¡¯t care, since it didn¡¯t benefit me even if he was in good shape,¡± Tyler said, clearly thinking he was in the right. Rachel was at a loss for what to say. Tyler¡¯s words were indeed rather offensive. Yet, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what exactly was wrong with what he said. Since she was admittedly less sharp¨Ctongued than Tyler, she decided not to kick up a fuss lest she became the one embarrassed instead. Xavier walked out with a report in hand. ¡°The bone isn¡¯t considered injured, but there was a slight impact to it. Rest up and take some health tonic. Come to my consultation room and I¡¯ll prescribe you some ointment to reduce inmmation.¡± Rachel heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Jenkins.¡± Xavier walked her to his consultation room. ¡°It¡¯s right to be careful about bone¨Crted injuries, especially since it¡¯s not something visible to the naked eye. Last month, a youngdy came to us because she was knocked by a car. She wasnt in much pain at that time, but one weekter, she experienced such grievous pain she had toe back again for another check. That was when we realized that her bone had shifted in position. Thankfully, our best orthopedic surgeon was around, or she would have been in grave condition.¡± Xavier¡¯s words sent a chill down Rachel¡¯s spine. She instinctively turned to look at Tyler, who was looking back at her and tilting his chin toward her. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me, but you believe him when he says the same C Her Exit 473 hapter 473 ¡°You¡¯re always like that when you speak, hovering between truths and uncertainties. I never know when you¡¯re being serious,¡± Rachel said self¨Crighteously. She just couldn¡¯t figure hint out. Sometimes, his words felt genuine, but they end up being a tease. At other times, his words sound like a joke, but they were meant to be taken seriously. Tyler hooked an arm around Rachel¡¯s waist, pinching her gently there. His public disy of affection made her feel awkward. ¡°Between us, who¡¯s the one speaking uncertainties? Don¡¯t you know the answer to that?¡± Tyler¡¯s warm lips brushed against Rachel¡¯s earlobes, sending a chill down her spine. She instinctively tried to avoid Tyler¡¯s approach and looked warily at Xavier. Thankfully, Xavier¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t on them. Being with Tyler felt dangerous. Rachel felt that she had to be on her guard all the time. Tyler might think nothing of it, but she couldn¡¯t get used to living this way. She whispered to him, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize how clingy you could get. Where did your cool and aloof image disappear to?¡± She clearly remembered that in the past, Tyler felt like a force to be reckoned with, no matter where he was at and who he was with. Yet now, he seemed like nothing but a lovesick teenager to her. Rachel wanted to leave as quickly as she could, but because of her injury down there, it hurt whenever she tried to walk faster. Tyler caught up with her in two long strides. Xavier sat back in his chair and prescribed the ointment for Rachel before informing Tyler, ¡°I¡¯ll go grab the ointment with you. Someone wille and apply it for Rachel.¡± ¡°Would that be¡­¡± ¡°A woman, yes.¡± Xavier answered Tyler¡¯s question before he was done asking it, the exasperation clear in his eyes. Even Rachel was getting annoyed. She tugged at the hem of Tyler¡¯s shirt. ¡°Can you please restrain yourself? Do you like role- ying that much?¡± Tyler spread his palms, a smug look on his face. ¡°Do I need to role¨Cy?¡± Rachel rolled her eyes at him, refusing to say a word further. Xavier, unable to stand it any longer, said huffily, ¡°Go away. You¡¯re not the only one with a girlfriend around here. Other men probably have had more rtionships than you.¡± In response, Tyler started waxing lyrical about his thoughts on rtionships. ¡°What do you know? Quality over quantity is what matters in rtionships. Some people have such low standards in their partners. How can youpare them to me?¡± Xavier waved his hand dismissively. ¡°I wonder if your mother is turning in her grave, seeing you like this.¡± Tyler threw Xavier a careless nce. ¡°Do you want me to ask my mom to talk to you in your dream?¡± Xavier shivered. ¡°Probably not. I don¡¯t want to be all groggy and distracted at work the next day.¡± The two men stood at the dispensary, waiting for the ointment. Xavier changed the subject. ¡°Isn¡¯t your father¡¯s birthday celebration in two days¡® time? She doesn¡¯t know that you¡¯re William¡¯s uncle, does she? ¡°She¡¯d jump for joy if she found out,¡± Tyler said. Xavier scoffed. ¡°Do you seriously think you know her very well? For all you know, she might be pissed at you for not telling her the truth earlier.¡± Tyler looked coldly at Xavier. ¡°In addition to drinking more chamomile tea, I think you need to eat more walnuts.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Xavier sputtered. ¡°You¡¯re beyond rude and insolent!¡± ¡°Think about it. If I told her the truth, given her character, would she want to marry into the Lewis family again?¡± Xavier pondered over Tyler¡¯s words. Her Exit 474 ¡°That¡¯s true. She probably hates every single Lewis. William hurt her so deeply, and now she¡¯s in a rtionship with yet another Lewis.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed, his carefree and slovenly demeanor earlier all but gone. His eyes glinted dangerously. ¡°This is a double¨Cedged sword. The good thing is, being with me makes her William¡¯s aunt. She¡¯ll forever be a notch higher than him, and it¡¯ll dash all of his hopes of them ever reconciling. The bad thing is, if she marries me, rumors about her will abound in Yurelia City, She¡¯ll be subjected to much bullying and even public censure.¡± Xavier had to admit that Tyler had thought this through rather thoroughly. Given what Xavier knew of Tyler, he would never mistreat any woman he allowed to be by his side. People in Yurelia City only talked about how odd Tyler was by nature. He was a proud, cold, and hard man. He would do anything he wanted, no matter how much others tried to stop him. If he didn¡¯t, it wouldn¡¯t matter how much others try to persuade him. What they didn¡¯t know was the reason people scramble to be in his good books despite how entric he was, and why so many wanted to work for him. The reason was simple¨CTyler believed that as long as you took your work seriously and did as told properly, you would be dulypensated. Xavier¡¯s understanding of Tyler made him doubly curious as to what Tyler would do. ¡°Will you bring her to your father¡¯s birthday celebration?¡± ¡°Of course. I should have brought her home a long time ago. If she hadn¡¯t run away five years ago¡­¡± She would have be his legally wedded wife. This time, Tyler would never allow her to escape him. The thought of what would potentially happen made Xavier¡¯s head pound. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like you¡¯re going there to celebrate your father¡¯s birthday. You look more like you¡¯re preparing to go there and cause trouble.¡± Tyler took the tube of ointment the staff handed to him. ¡°He was the one who asked me to get a girlfriend since I wasn¡¯t getting any younger.¡± Xavier had the urge tough as he walked back to his consultation foom with Tyler. ¡°Your father wants you to get a girlfriend, not William¡¯s ex¨Cwife¡­¡± By the time they returned to the consultation room, the nurse was one applying ointment on Rachel¡¯s wound. They saw her walking out. Xavier reminded Rachel, ¡°Please quit tormenting each other during this period. Let your body rest and recuperate.¡± Rachel blushed, and even her ears turned red. She instinctively stated exining herself to Xavier. ¡°Dr. Jenkins, we¡­¡± Xavier raised a hand. ¡°You don¡¯t need to exin. I understand.¡± Rachel wanted to say more, but a patient was sent in at that moment, requiring urgent attention. ¡°Head back home,¡± Xavier said. ¡°I¡¯ve got to get back to work.¡± Tyler left the hospital with Rachel, who was thoroughly embarrassed by the look Xavier gave her just now. Annoyed, she said, ¡°Can you please exercise some self¨Ccontrol in front of others?¡± Things were supposed to be purely transactional between them, and she was nothing more than Tyler¡¯s fake girlfriend. She wasn¡¯t young and innocent. This transactional rtionship between them didn¡¯t bother her much, since they both got what they wanted. She didn¡¯t feel like she got the shorter end of the stick sleeping with Tyler. Yet now, she felt like things were getting out of hand. Things were moving in a direction shepletely did not expect. ¡°I¡¯m already exercising a lot of self¨Ccontrol, Tyler said tly, not seeing any issues with his actions. Rachel was dumbfounded. Did he just describe the nonsense he did earlier as exercising self¨Ccontrol?! Tyler pinched her fair cheeks and said in a low, seductive voice, ¡°You haven¡¯t seen me when I¡¯m not exercising any self¨Ccontrol. Shall I let you have a taste of that once you get better?¡± Her Exit 475 Chapter 475 Rachel shuddered, goosebumps rising all over her arms. ¡°No thanks.¡± She was genuinely curious about the reason behind his stunning level of energy. Was he naturally that filled with stamina, or had he been deprived of a woman¡¯spany for far too long?. Tyler opened the car door and instinctively reached a hand out to hold Rachel, but she dodged it. ¡°I can get in the car myself. I¡¯m not that weak.¡± Tyler nced at the lower half of her body, his eyes turning darker ¡°Sure, you¡¯re not that weak,¡± he agreed, ¡°but the doctor advised you to stay in bed and get enough rest. Here you are, running around, ignoring his reminders. Seems like your condition isn¡¯t that severe, after all.¡± He rested an elbow on the roof of the car and bent forward to draw close to Rachel. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, are you putting on an act just so you can avoid getting intimate with me?¡± still Hearing his ridiculous im, Rachel was d that they weren¡¯t in genuine rtionship. His tongue had a knack for giving her a coronary. News of her premature death might hit the headlines. The cause of death? Murdered by her other half¡¯s sharp tongue. She reached out to grab the door handle and gave Tyler a sideways nce before pulling the car door close and squeezing him out. Tyler walked around the car and settled in the driver¡¯s seat before broaching another topic. ¡°My father is celebrating his birthday in two days¡® time. Come with me for the celebration.¡± Rachel waspletely caught off guard. ¡°So fast?¡± She hadn¡¯t mentally prepared herself. Tyler drove toward his apartment. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time.¡± Rachel sped her hands tight, thinking that it may not be a bad idea after all. The objective behind the agreement she struck with Tyler was to make his father give up on trying to pair him up with other women. Fulfilling her end of the agreement would relieve her of some of the burden on her shoulders. There was one thing Rachel had to remind him of. ¡°Let me make this clear. I can bear with your family¡¯s attitude for your sake, but if they go overboard like your aunt, don¡¯t me me if I can¡¯t hold myself back.¡± Tyler chuckled. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll let you hold yourself back, given my temperament? Go ahead and unleash your wrath. I¡¯ll clean up your mess if necessary¡± Tyler¡¯s words relieved Rachel. She had been worried that Tyler¡¯s family may end up stricter than William¡¯s, given how wealthy and influential it was. When she was part of the Lewis family, she suffered so much under the hands of Cassandra. That woman often mocked her and made things difficult for her, all of which she tolerated for Willians sake. After William decided to be with his first love, realization dawned on Rachel that her tolerance only worsened his behavior Eventually, after she almostnded in a vegetative state and had lose brush with death twice, she gave up on love. She didn¡¯t doubt that true love existed, but she now believed thatve was ever¨Cchanging. Since then, she told herself that whether or not she ended up with another partner in the future, she would never shortchange herself. Over the next few days, Rachel was held captive in Tyler¡¯s apartment as though she were in jail. He even hired a maid to look after her every need. Wanda was lovely, her face ever so kind and gentle. Her eyes twinkled with quiet joy, and she spoke very politely. It reminded Rachel of her grandmother. She never understood why a lovely woman like her grandmother ended up with a man as vicious as her grandfather. Since her grandmother¡¯s disappearance, Rachel never saw her grandfather make any attempt to find the poor old woman. Rachel heard nothing from him, as though he was pretending her grandmother had never existed. Tyler lifted a hand and rested it on Rachel¡¯s forehead, the warmth of his palm giving her a sense of security she had never felt over the past few years. ¡°What else are you concerned about? Tell me about it.¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡± But¡­ She looked at Tyler¡¯s hand, resting on her forehead. Why did it feel like he was touching her the same way he did Ray? Her Exit 476 Was he treating her like a dog? Rachel hurriedly smacked his hand away. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Tyler leaned backfortably in his seat as he cast Rachel a sideways nce, his incisive gaze boring through her. ¡°You want to ask about William¡¯s uncle, right?¡± Rachel knew that pretending to be smart in front of Tyler would only be repulsive to him, who was genuinely smart and able to see through her in an instant. She decided to be honest. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask me that question. William will be at my father¡¯s birthday celebration. Since he¡¯ll be there, his uncle will surely be there, too.¡± Rachel understood what Tyler left unspoken. He meant that when that day came, she would naturally find out who William¡¯s uncle was. There was no need for her to ask that question now. This time, she was going to find out the identity of this secretive man who had been hiding his identity for years. She was bing increasingly curious about him, especially since she felt some kind of connection with him on more than one asion. She also really wanted to know the kind of man who could exert such control over William. The next day, Rachel received a call from Cecilia. ¡°You¡¯d better hurry!¡± Cecilia urged. ¡°Dy any further, and the project might end up in William¡¯s hands. It¡¯s like he¡¯s on steroids; he¡¯s trying to close deals with all he¡¯s got. He¡¯s probably all worked up because of you. The tables have turned, and Rachel Lloyd of today is no longer someone he is worthy of.¡± Even Cecilia was of the mind that Rachel was back with a vengeance. The moment Rachel returned, she dealt William such a huge blow that he was caughtpletely off¨Cguard. Rachel suddenly recalled something. ¡°Give me a moment. Let me rab myptop and send you the proposal¡­¡± She was about to run somewhere when a thought suddenly came to mind. Oh no! She was at Tyler¡¯s apartment, not hers. ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m not at home right now.¡± Cecilia found her words absurd. ¡°Where are you right now, if not me?¡± ¡°Um, I¡¯m at¡­¡± Rachel stuttered, unable to bring herself to say that she was at Tyler¡¯s. Sensing her hesitation, Cecilia assumed that she was in trouble and asked anxiously, ¡°Tell me where you are right now, quick! Are you in some kind of danger?¡± She lowered her voice. ¡°If you are, cough once and I¡¯ll call the police.¡± Cecilia was being extra careful about Rachel¡¯s safety as thetter was always in all sorts of trouble in the past. Anything that felt slightly amiss made her anxious. Rachel was worried that Cecilia might really call the police. Left with no choice, she had to tell Cecilia the truth. ¡°I¡¯m at Mr. Hunt¡¯s ce.¡± Rachel immediately pulled the phone away from her ear. Having been friends with Cecilia for so long, she could anticipate thetter¡¯s reaction in a split second. ¡°Mr. Hunt?! You two? When did you two start? Rachel, how could you not tell me something so major?¡± Cecilia eximed in shock, her voice rising. Rachel put the phone back to her ear. ¡°Can you tone it down a little You almost burst my eardrums.¡± ¡°Anyone would be shocked at the news. When did you two get together? Are you two seriously together for real?¡± Cecilia sensed something amiss right away, ¡°That¡¯s not right. You were supposed to be looking for Mr. Lewis¡® uncle to help with your father¡¯s situation, right? How did you end up with Mr. Hunt¡­¡± Cecilia paused for a moment and suddenly shrieked, ¡°Is¡­is Mr. Hunt actually Mr. Lewis¡® uncle?¡± Her Exit 477 Hearing that, Rachel was thunderstruck. She had gone through every single powerful and influential man in Yurelia City, but never considered the possibility that Tyler might be William¡¯s uncle. Yet somehow, that didn¡¯t seem right. If Tyler really were William¡¯s uncle, and if William really feared his uncle¡­ Well, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case with Tyler. After all, William always greeted him respectfully as Mr. Hunt. She quickly beat down Cecilia¡¯s guess. ¡°Stop letting your imagination run wild. Can¡¯t believe you let your thoughts stray so far. I¡¯m certainly no stranger to them. If Tyler really were William¡¯s uncle, do you think I¡¯d be clueless about it?¡± Rachel¡¯s words made sense to Cecilia. ¡°That¡¯s true. You¡¯ve been talking to both of them for so long, you can¡¯t possibly not know if they¡¯re really uncle and nephew.¡± Rachel brought the discussion to an end. ¡°Alright. Instead of wasting time on meaningless conjectures, you could¡¯ve been making your way here instead. I¡¯ll send you my location.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel quickly sent Tyler¡¯s address to Cecilia. The moment Cecilia arrived, Rachel opened the door without missing a beat. Cecilia walked in and looked around her, eximing in awe, ¡°Goodness! Mr. Hunt is practically hiding his mistress in a luxurious mansion. I can¡¯t believe someone actually lives in such a secluded ce.¡± Rachel pulled her outside. ¡°It may be secluded, but it¡¯s also very serene and peaceful. There¡¯s even a river outside. You can sit there and fish when there¡¯s nothing else to do.¡± She was getting bored after being stuck in the house for two days straight. Tyler had insisted that shey in bed to recuperate, and he even instructed Wanda to brew soup for her every single day. She had been enjoying so much good food over these two days, she felt like she was on the verge of puking. She used toin that she never had the time to catch a break the past when she was so busy with work, but now, she realized how torturous it was toy in bed all day with nothing to do. When she got bored, she could only y with Ray. When she had her meals, Ray would have his meals, too. Even Ray was gaining weight from all the eating Cecilia tutted. ¡°You¡¯re living the dream, Rachel. On the other hand, I feel so exhausted every day, and I still haven¡¯t found a job yet. You know that since I left Lewis Enterprise, Mr. Lewis has been telling everyone that I¡¯m a spy who caused thepany huge losses. No one was willing to hire me, even though I sent my resume to practically all thepanies in the city.¡± Rachel thumped her chest and said confidently, ¡°Leave that to me Cecilia couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around Rachel¡¯s statement. ¡°What do you mean by that? You mean to say that you can help me find work?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Cecilia didn¡¯t want to believe Rachel, but Rachel did even have a job herself. What¡¯s more, much had changed in Yurelia City over the past five years. Rachel was no longer the same, and that was the case for Yurelia Cly, too. Cecilia was still confused. ¡°Your¡­yourpany? Since when did you have apany?¡± Rachel poked Cecilia¡¯s forehead, exasperated over how slow she was on the uptake. ¡°Did you forget that I¡¯m from the Lloyd family? An illegitimate one yes, but still a daughter,¡± Rachel added, her eyes dimming ever so slightly. Cecilia knew about Rachel¡¯s difficult birth circumstances. It was traumatic enough for Rachel to mistakenly think that she wasn¡¯t blood¨Crted to the Lloyds. Yet now, she was found to be an illegitimate daughter. Fate seemed to be ying a cruel joke on Rachel. Come to think of it, though¡­ An illegitimate daughter was miles better than someone like Cecilia, who had nothing. As the saying goes, a rich family in decline is still richer than a poor family. Ceciliaforted Rachel. ¡°You¡¯re in a way better state than me. Look, I don¡¯t have a job and my life revolves around my child and my mother¨Cinw. My parents died early, and my husband left us with huge gambling debts. I don¡¯t even know where he is right now. No matter how unlucky you end up being, you¡¯ll never be as unlucky as I am.¡± Her Exit 478 Cecilia seldom talked about her own problems. Talking about it only made her sadder, and Rachel never probed much about it. Tears started falling down Cecilia¡¯s cheeks as she spoke. Rachel grabbed a napkin and wiped Cecilia¡¯s tears away, the guilt in her heart reaching its peak. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for reminding you of your past.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ve gotten used to it,¡± Cecilia said through her sobs. Then, sheposed herself and went on, ¡°Come to think of it, if you bring me into thepany, will your stepmother and sister say anything? If it¡¯s only going to cause you trouble, I¡¯m not going. I¡¯ve considered my options. I can also set up a stall to earn some money.¡± Rachel refused to agree to that, shutting down the ludicrous idea. ¡°What in the world are you thinking about? You are such a capable worker! You would¡¯ve risen through the ranks in thepany if you weren¡¯t bogged down by issues at home.¡± Rachel knew how capable Cecilia was, having worked with her for so many years. Cecilia pursed her lips, a look of helplessness in her eyes as she signed inwardly. ¡°What can I do? That¡¯s my destiny.¡± Rachel spoke her mind. ¡°Have you considered this? Given your current situation, with your child and your frail mother¨Cinw so dependent on you right now, you really can¡¯t do much.¡± ¡°Do you have something in mind?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you send your mother¨Cinw back home and pay someone you know to take care of her? Your child will be going to kindergarten soon. I¡¯ll hire someone to help you fetch your child to and from school and stay with your child till you reach home Cecilia¡¯s heart was filled with gratitude over Rachel¡¯s willingness to help her. ¡°Rachel, I don¡¯t know what to say to thank you. I must have done something amazing in my past life to meet someone as amazing as you are in this lifetime. You¡¯re my savior, truly!¡± Cecilia looked as though she was about to bow down to Rachel, who immediately reached out to stop her. ¡°Please don¡¯t, it feels like you¡¯re paying me yourst respects.¡± Cecilia wiped the tears from her face. ¡°I¡¯ll do your every bidding from now on, okay?¡± Rachel looked at thebination of snot and tears on Cecilia¡¯s fac and chuckled. ¡°Alright now, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore.¡± Cecilia wiped her face with a napkin. ¡°Back to what I was talking to you about, you really need to hurry up with your project. Anyter, and we¡¯ll get ourselves in trouble.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes gleamed with astuteness and discernment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We can afford to wait till tomorrow. I¡¯ve sent someone to tamper with William¡¯sptop. He wouldn¡¯t be able to exin himself no matter how hard he tries.¡± C¨¦cilia nodded pensively. ¡°He deserves it for being so horrid and using to spare even your sick father. I¡¯m a little worried about you, though. If William found out that you were behind all this, he¡¯ll bear a grudge against you. What should we do?¡± Back then, William almost caused Rachel to be in a vegetative state Cecilia shuddered to think what might happen to Rachel if he turned utterly vicious toward her. Rachel put her hands over Cecilia¡¯s reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯bent on taking my revenge. I¡¯ve divorced him and taken care of my dad as well. There¡¯s nothing else I have to fear.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. With Mr. Hunt backing you up, there really is nothing ¡°Get the news out there, and get ready for some excitement ahead Her Exit 479 Cecilia nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Leave it in my hands.¡± Just then, Wanda walked in with a bag of groceries. She was slightly surprised to see Cecilia in the house, but did not forget to greet Cecilia with a bright smile. ¡°You must be Ms. Lloyd¡¯s friend.¡± Rachel stood up to introduce Wanda to Cecilia. ¡°This is Wanda.¡± Cecilia greeted Wanda politely. ¡°Hello, Wanda.¡± Wanda said affectionately, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, Mr. Hunt said that he¡¯ll be back for lunch this afternoon, and also to see how your wound is recovering. Do make your friend stay for lunch. I can just whip up a few more dishes.¡± ¡°Thank you, Wanda,¡± Rachel said gratefully. She had wanted Cecilia to stay for lunch, but she was well aware that she was not the mistress of this house. She also heard that Tyler had brought Wanda here from his family home. To a certain extent, Wanda held a higher rank than Rachel in the household. Cecilia was very grateful, too. She had never had a meal in such a luxurious apartment, and it was Mr. Hunt¡¯s house to boot. Rachel whispered softly to Cecilia, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Wanda is an amazing cook.¡± Cecilia took a close look at Rachel¡¯s face and pinched her cheeks. ¡°I can tell. You¡¯ve probably gained at least a few pounds. But you should gain some weight. You look much better that way.¡± Rachel had always been on the skinny side, be it five years ago or right now. The little bit of weight she gained rounded out the cold, sharp edge in her and made her look slightly more approachable. Rachel rubbed her cheeks, which did feel plumper than usual. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll lose that in a few days¡® time.¡± Cecilia was about to speak when someone opened the door. Tyler walked in wearing a white shirt, a ck jacket draped over an arm. He looked like he had a new haircut, his clean and sleek hairstyle entuating his sharp features. His jaw was tense when he was not smiling, which did nothing to diminish how suave he looked. Although this wasn¡¯t Cecilia¡¯s first time seeing Tyler, she was still in awe over his outstanding good looks and features that looked as though they were carved by a master sculptor. How could a man look this attractive? He was rich and came from a respectable family, although Cecilia bad to admit that the Hunts were a lesser¨Cknown family in upper¨Css society. However, with the imposing aura that Tyler naturally exuded, it didn¡¯t matter that people didn¡¯t hear much of the Hunts. Seeing Tyler, Cecilia instinctively stood up and greeted him respectully. ¡°Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler nodded her way, brushed past both her and Rachel, and headed upstairs. Cecilia saw Tyler shut the door to his room and shrunk back, subconsciously looking at Rachel. ¡°Goodnesss, Mr. Hunt looks so cold and distant. He¡¯s so scary, I swear I felt a gust of cold wind blow past just now. His aura is too intimidating, and he just naturally has it in him.¡± 172 Tyler¡¯s aura was indescribable; only those who saw him in person could feel it in their bones. It was the aura of a figure of authority withplete control over everything within his reign. He reigned from above, towering over everyone in a way that was only natural and not pretentious. Rachel had always known how cold and distant Tyler was. After spending some time with him, however, she knew that he wasn¡¯t actually as hard and cold as he looked. She patted Cecilia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she reassured Cecilia, ¡°don¡¯t be too bothered by him. Do you have time now? Let¡¯s head upstairs and talk. Did you bring yourptop?¡± Cecilia patted her bag. ¡°Of course, I did.¡± Rachel and Cecilia walked up the stairs and opened the door to a room, only to bump into Tyler, who was changing out of his shirt. He had just removed it, revealing his strong, muscr back. Her Exit 480 She shut the door immediately. Cecilia, who was walking behind Rachel, almost crashed into her. Seeing how panicked she looked, Cecilia asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why aren¡¯t you going in¡­¡± ¡°Nothing. Wait here for me.¡± With that, she gently pushed Cecilia away before opening the door again and walking in. Tyler had changed into afortable white shirt and turned around at the sound of the door opening. ¡°I just got changed. You came toote.¡± He made it sound as though Rachel was the lecherous one. She tried to exin herself. ¡°I was trying to protect your privacy, but here you are chiding me instead of thanking me.¡± Tyler strutted toward her and bent over, tapping the tip of her nose gently. ¡°Good. You should keep me to yourself and not show it to others.¡® Rachel couldn¡¯t help but feel like having a mouth was useless before Tyler. It didn¡¯t matter what she thought¡ªall Tyler cared about was his own perspective. In other words, she could save her exnations from now on since they were pointless, anyway. Rachel coughed and changed the subject. ¡°Do you need to use the room?¡± ¡°I need to take a shower.¡± ¡°In that case, Mr. Hunt, may we use the study next door, please?¡± Rachel asked cautiously. Tyler cast Rachel a sideways nce. ¡°Are you two nning a huge secret mission?¡± Rachel almost choked on Tyler¡¯s words, her eyes darting everywhere out of guilt. Tyler was way too sharp! She knew he¡¯d never have to worry about being out of a job, even if he decided not to be the CEO of hispany. He would seed in anything he did. Rachel made up an excuse. ¡°I¡¯m just helping Cecilia with her resume. I¡¯m preparing for her to start work at Lloyd Enterprise next week. ¡± Tyler arched a brow. ¡°You¡¯re letting her work at Lloyd Enterprise? ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the matter? I¡¯m a major shareholder of Lloyd Enterpose now. I¡¯m sure I have the right to decide that.¡± Rachel thought Tyler would say that she didn¡¯t have a way to bring Cecilia into thepany. Tyler sat on the bedside, looking refreshed. He crossed his legs and looked at her with an air of authority. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re leading her into a lion¡¯s den? Most of the people there are probably in your stepmother and sister¡¯s camp. Your father is no longer the one calling the shots in thepany. Given the rumors William spread about Cecilia during her stint in Lewis Enterprise, aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll get ughter by those people in yourpany?¡± Rachel had considered this. Sheposed herself, a solemn looking in her eyes. There was an air of determination about her that yielded to nothing and no one. ¡°It¡¯s a necessary step I must take. I won¡¯t let Yvette and Sasha connue managing thepany. They will only make all my dad¡¯s efforts go down the drain. Thepany will go bust in their hands.¡± If thepany went under, Jim would probably turn in his grave. Jin cared so much for her, she couldn¡¯t let him down. ¡°I finally see in you some of the passion I see in Ray,¡± Tyler praised. Rachel pursed her lips and said with a forced smile, ¡°Why, thank you for thatpliment, Mr. Hunt.¡± It was rare enough for Tyler to praise her¨Cbut he just had topare her with Ray. With a wave of his hand, Tyler said, ¡°Since you¡¯re thanking me so sincerely, I¡¯ll be generous and let you use the study for one hour.¡± ¡°What if we exceed the time?¡± Rachel asked! Her Exit 481 Chapter 481 Of course there¡¯s an overtime charge. One grand per hour. Here¡¯s the OR payment code.¡± Tyler retrieved a QR payment code from his drawer and ced it on the table. Rachel was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Tyler to still keep the code. She began to feel a little suspicious. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you kept this just for me?¡± Tyler rubbed his chin, as if she had just given him a great idea. ¡°Hmm¡­ Now that you mention it, that makes a lot of sense. Maybe I shouldbel it as For Rachel Only.¡± Rachel shrank back a little. ¡°No need for that. One hour¡¯s more than enough.¡± She figured even going to a cafe would be cheaper than staying in Tyler¡¯s study. There was no way it was worth one grand an hour! Tyler gently tapped her nose with his finger before letting out a soft chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re way too clever. Do you think I could actually make money off you?¡± Rachel knew full well that Tyler wasn¡¯t short on cash. Just from all her recent eating sprees at his ce, she had probably cost him quite a bit already. She figured this was probably one of his weird amusements. He had too much money and too much time on his hands. Sometimes that was its own kind of curse. Still, she had to admit, if anyone had to bear that curse, she wouldn¡¯t mind being the one. After Rachel walked out, Cecilia curiously came up to her. ¡°Come on, spill it. What exactly were you two doing in there? You were in there for so long.¡± Rachel recalled Tyler¡¯s earlier words and let out a sigh. ¡°I almost got scammed. Come on, we¡¯ve only got an hour.¡± She pulled Cecilia toward Tyler¡¯s study. As soon as they stepped in, Rachel understood why Tyler had joked about charging one grand an hour. This wasn¡¯t just a study¨Cit was heaven on earth. ????? Although she had been here a while, it was her first time setting foot inside Tyler¡¯s study. O She had always been conscious of the fact that studies were usually a man¡¯s private space. If anything confidential got leaked, she¡¯d be the one in trouble. Cecilia took one look around and couldn¡¯t help but gasp. ¡°Oh my goodness! Is this really a study?¡± Everything inside was done in cool tones, with dim lighting that still managed to feel refined. The shelves were lined with books and expensive art pieces, all glowing under hidden LED strips like floating geometric instations. It was a loft¨Cstyle setup; right across from the shelves was a dedicated rack for red wine. Rachel nced at some of thebels. None of them came cheap. Cecilia, who had never seen anything like this before, instinctively reached out to touch one. However, Rachel quickly stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t! If you break one of those bottles, that¡¯s your entire paycheck for the next few years gone.¡± Terrified by Rachel¡¯s warning, Cecilia yanked her hand back. ¡°Are they that expensive?¡± ¡°Come on, do you really think someone like Tyler drinks cheap wine?¡± Rachel asked frankly. Cecilia nodded. ¡°Good point.¡± She quickly snapped out of it. ¡°We better get started.¡± Rachel pulled out a chair and sat down. Once the two of them started discussing, time flew by. Before they knew it, the hour was nearly up. Cecilia began packing up. ¡°By the way, Rachel. I¡¯m really worried. What if William and the Lewis family find out ande after you?¡± Rachel took it calmly. ¡°What¡¯s the point of being scared? I can¡¯t run away like I did five years ago. And besides, William and the rest of them? They¡¯ve crossed the line. If I keep backing down like before, I¡¯d just appear weak.¡± Cecilia sighed. ¡°Honestly, I still think you¡¯d be better off siding with William¡¯s uncle. At least then you¡¯d have some protection. Even if William wanted toe after you, he¡¯d probably think twice out of respect for his uncle.¡± Her Exit 482 Rachel thought for a moment before blurting out, ¡°What about Tyler?¡± Cecilia rubbed her chin. ¡°Tyler is great, sure, but the thing is, I don¡¯t know. I always get the feeling he¡¯s a little cold, you know what I mean?¡± Rachel knew exactly what Cecilia meant. Tyler did give off the vibe of someone who wouldn¡¯t step up for anyone unless it personally affected him. That was the reputation he had in their circle. If it wasn¡¯t his problen, he wouldn¡¯t get involved. After thinking it over, Rachel said, ¡°Honestly, you shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions. Who knows what kind of person William¡¯s uncle really is? He could be even weirder than Tyler. Maybe even a total creep or something, right?¡± Cecilia nodded quickly in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right. I mean, who can say for sure? The guy¡¯s always off the radar. No one in the circle has heard anything about him for years. He could have some serious mental issues, for all we know.¡± The more they talked, the more their imaginations ran wild. ¡°Or he could be, like, one of those twisted types who enjoys torturing people. Remember that drama we watched a while back? The super¨Crich CEO who looked all polished on the outside, but once someone got close, he turned out to be a total pervert.¡± Rachel shuddered as Cecilia spoke. Goosebumps spread across her arms. Suddenly, there were knocks on the door. ¡°Ahh!¡± Both of them shrieked in unison. The door opened, and Tyler stood there with a stern expression on his face. He stared at the two startled women. ¡°What are you two doing in here, trying to summon spirits?¡± It was just like in a horror movie. Two friends gathered in a dark room and were ying with a spirit board. Things got a little too real, and right when it reached the scariest part, a noise broke the silence. It was enough to scare someone out of their wits. Rachel let out a sigh of relief when she saw it was Tyler. ¡°We were just telling each other scary stories.¡± ¡°Oh? Was one of them about a creep?¡± Tyler asked casually. Rachel froze for a second before nodding. ¡°Yeah, something like that.¡± Tyler nodded. ¡°Alright, then. Tonight, let¡¯s hear that story about the creep you were talking about.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rachel blinked in confusion. ¡°Does that mean I don¡¯t have to sing tonight?¡± Why the sudden change to horror stories? ¡°Nope. No singing. Just a story. I¡¯m curious to hear what kind of twisted guy William¡¯s uncle really is.¡± With that, Tyler closed the door behind him. Bang! The loud sound made Rachel and Cecilia both feel like their hearts skipped a beat. Rachel stiffly turned to look at Cecilia. ¡°What was that about?¡± Something about him just felt off. Cecilia looked just as puzzled and muttered, ¡°I have no idea.¡± Rachel mouthed something to her. Cecilia got it. She was saying, ¡®He¡¯s crazy.¡® Later, during dinner, Rachel couldn¡¯t shake the strange tension in the air, especially from Tyler. His face, which already looked stern, now looked like it had been covered in soot. It was pitch ck with gloom. The atmosphere felt inexplicably heavy. Under the table, Cecilia nudged Rachel¡¯s foot and whispered, ¡°Does Tyler not want me eating here?¡± Her Exit 483 Chapter 483 Rachel had no idea what was up with Tyler today. Was he seriously upset because they went overtime in the study? It was only ten minutes! Surely he wasn¡¯t that petty. Still, not wanting Cecilia to overthink it, Rachel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that. He¡¯s probably just stressed from work. Maybe something came up at the office. I¡¯ll tell him a creepy story tonight to entertain him.¡± Tyler suddenly cleared his throat. ¡°No talking during meals.¡± Rachel pouted. Who would say no talking while eating these days? Could he actually be annoyed that Cecilia was dining with them? Even if that was true, there was no need to be so cold about it. This was just in awkward for everyone, especially for Cecilia. Still, Rachel forced herself to stay calm. She kept telling herself that right now, Tyler was her all¨Cpowerful client. She absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to piss him off. There was silence. Rachel was used to this. She had spent enough time around Tyler to know that if she didn¡¯t grow a thick skin, she¡¯d be emotionally wrecked by him in no time. But while Rachel could manage, Cecilia definitely couldn¡¯t. She was already intimidated by Tyler, and now, with his cold expression, it was hard not to spiral into negative thoughts. Rachel couldn¡¯t exactly scold Tyler. This wasn¡¯t her house, after all She was just about to find an excuse for Cecilia to leave early. Perhaps she could say Cecilia was full, and they could grab something elseter once they were back in the city. Just as she opened her mouth, Tyler stood up first. ¡°I¡¯m done. You two take your time.¡± Rachel quickly swallowed her words and nodded. ¡°Of course. Go get some rest.¡± Tyler nced at his watch. ¡°Be back in your room by around nine. I¡¯ve got an early meeting tomorrow, so I need to sleep early.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel¡¯s head started to ache at the thought of having to tell him a storyter. She didn¡¯t even know any creepy stories. Once Tyler left, neither of them moved until they heard the door shut behind him. Rachel immediately rolled up her sleeves and started piling food onto Cecilia¡¯s te. ¡°Come on, eat up. He¡¯s finally gone. You must¡¯ve barely eaten just now, right?¡± Cecilia, still recovering from the stress, patted her chest. ¡°I was so scared. Tyler didn¡¯t even raise his voice, but just looking at him was terrifying. I can¡¯t even imagine what it¡¯d be like if he actually got mad. We¡¯d both be toast!¡± Rachel found it odd. ¡°He usually doesn¡¯t act like this. Even if something¡¯s going on, he usually keeps it to himself. But did you see his face just now? He looked like he was ready to kill someone.¡± Cecilia couldn¡¯t help but snicker. ¡°Haha, you¡¯re right. Honestly, if I weren¡¯t so scared, I would¡¯ve taken a picture of that face. But seriously, even when he¡¯s angry, he looks ridiculously handsome. You get what I mean? Good¨Clooking people just look good no matter what.¡± Rachel sighed and poked Cecilia¡¯s forehead. ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking about right now? I give up.¡± Now that Tyler was gone, Rachel started piling more food onto Cecilia¡¯s te. ¡°Come on, eat more.¡± Cecilia giggled. ¡°You¡¯re acting like I haven¡¯t eaten in 800 years.¡± She stuffed her mouth while stillughing. ¡°But honestly, Wanda¡¯s cooking is amazing! I swear, it¡¯s almost as good as what they serve at restaurants.¡± ¡°If you ever crave it again, just call me. You cane over and eat. Cecilia ate another piece of braised pork and waved at Rachel. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll pass. I don¡¯t think I can handle this again. I¡¯m satisfied with this meal alone.¡± Her Exit 484 Chapter 484 Rachel didn¡¯t say anything more. ¡°Alright then, just eat up while it¡¯s hot.¡± Cecilia had quite an appetite, and with Wanda¡¯s cooking being so delicious, she practically wiped the table clean. She grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth. ¡°By the way, are you nning to take over Lloyd Enterprise?¡± J Rachel nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the n for now. At least, while my dad¡¯s still around. I can¡¯t let the daye when he hears that thepany he built was destroyed by Yvette and Sasha.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Lloyd Enterprise is your father¡¯s legacy. What do Yvette and Sashia know, anyway? All they do is stir up nonsense. If your dad hadn¡¯t held things together these past few years, thepany would¡¯ve gone under already.¡± Rachel had spent a lot of time thinking about it. Taking over thepany wasn¡¯t a rash decision. It was the result of careful consideration. ¡°But it¡¯s not going to be easy to take over. You know how those two are. They¡¯re not going to hand over control of thepany without a fight,¡± she said. Hearing that, Cecilia¡¯s eyes suddenly widened in realization. ¡°Oh my goodness, now it all makes sense! You¡¯re a genius! Now I get why you tripped up William. If that project copses and he takes the fall, and they lose their eligibility topete, you can swoop in and take over. That project will be yours! ¡°So the one you snatched from William before was your ticket into the shareholders¡® meeting, and this one will be your proof of capability to take control of thepany. If yound both major projects back¨Cto¨Cback, even if they wanted to nitpick, they¡¯d have nothing to say.¡± There might still be some resistance, but nothing too serious. ¡°That¡¯s roughly the n for now,¡± Rachel said. Cecilia was practically buzzing with excitement. She stood from her chair and stretched. ¡°Do you know how excited I am right now? I feel like your career is about to take off, Rachel. You¡¯re about to hit your peak!¡± Rachel was also nning to bring over a new project she had worked on abroad. If she could sessfully introduce it to the domestic market, she might even push Lloyd Enterprise past Lewis Enterprise, and maybe even go toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with LS Enterprise. 1 That was Rachel¡¯s goal. The moment she saw Tyler again after returning home, she had already made up her mind. Rachel had always been humble about these things. Unless she actually achieved something, she wouldn¡¯t talk big. ¡°It¡¯s a little too early to say all that now. Let¡¯s talk again when it¡¯s actually done,¡± she said. Cecilia nced at her watch. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m ready whenever you need me. I couldn¡¯t be by your side five years ago, but this time, I¡¯m sticking with you no matter what.¡± Hearing that made Rachel hesitate for a second. Seeing Cecilia so enthusiastic, she didn¡¯t have the heart to pour cold water on her. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should head back. You¡¯ve still got your kids to look after. Oh, by the way, I found someone to help you watch them. She¡¯sing for an interview tomorrow. If you think she¡¯s a good fit, keep her. If not, just let me know.¡± Cecilia was almost moved to tears again. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say! You know what, I should just kneel and thank you already.¡± She honestly didn¡¯t know how else to express her gratitude. Rachel quickly stepped in to stop her. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re good friends. You don¡¯t have to thank me.¡± Cecilia wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. ¡°I just feel so indebted to you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. For now, just get home safely. I don¡¯t want you out toote.¡± Tyler¡¯s ce was out in the suburbs. Even if Cecilia could probably get a carter, Rachel still felt worried. If anything happened to Cecilia, Rachel would never forgive herself. Rachel walked Cecilia to the door and watched her get into the car. She made sure to note the license te before returning inside. Just as she walked in, she saw Wanda heading upstairs with a tray of coffee. ¡°Wanda,¡± she called out, ¡°give it to me. I¡¯ll take it up.¡± X Her Exit 485 Wanda was momentarily stunned, but quickly nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Rachel carried the coffee upstairs. She raised her hand and knocked on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was cold. Just standing at the doorway made Rachel sliver involuntarily. It seemed like he was still in a bad mood. Knowing Tyler¡¯s temperament, it felt off. If it really were just work it didn¡¯t add up. This wasn¡¯t his first time handling tough situations. Unless it was something catastrophic, his mood usually wasn¡¯t affected. Could something major have gone wrong at thepany? Rather than standing there specting, Rachel figured she might as well go in and ask. She pushed open the door and stepped inside. Tyler was seated in his study and focused on theputer screen. Even when he heard her enter, he didn¡¯t look up. Rachel ced the coffee on his desk. ¡°Tyler, here¡¯s your coffee.¡± Upon hearing that, Tyler¡¯s fingers paused over the keyboard. His stern gazended on her. He sounded a little surprised. ¡°What, you need a favor?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t immediately understand what he was trying to say. ¡°No, I just offered to bring the coffee up for Wanda, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Why did you do it? I figured you must want a big favor from me.¡± Tyler tilted his head slightly, rested his chin on his hand, and looked at her with a stern expression. Rachel paused. ¡°I don¡¯t need anything. I just wanted to ask if you were feeling alright today. You didn¡¯t seem like yourself.¡± Tyler crossed his long legs and leaned back, like he was ready to listen. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Rachel thought it was just a normal question, but somehow, when it came out of Tyler¡¯s mouth, it had a faintly suggestive undertone. She cleared her throat and exined, ¡°I just noticed you didn¡¯t seem very upbeat at dinner. I figured I¡¯d ask. After all, you¡¯ve helped my dad a lot. Even if we¡¯re just ordinary friends, a little concern is only natural.¡± Tyler chuckled softly. ¡°I was just teasing. No need to get so worked up and exin so much.¡± Rachel suddenly realized she had overreacted a bit. Tyler had probably been joking. In the past, she would never take his words too seriously because she knew how he was always casual about things. He constantly spoke his mind. If she took him too seriously, she¡¯d be the one to suffer. She didn¡¯t know why she was being so sensitive to his words today. Trying to brush it off, she came up with an excuse. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want you to get the wrong idea.¡± Suddenly, Tyler stood up from his chair. His tall frame loomed as he moved closer to her. A faint scent of mint mixed with tobo drifted over. His deep voice cut through the silence. ¡°Wrong idea about what? Aren¡¯t we just having a normal conversation?¡± His words left Rachel momentarily speechless. She looked at Tyler. His eyes narrowed slightly with a teasing smile. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was being toyed with. It reminded her of him ying with Ray. Rachel clenched her fists and kept reminding herself not to care too much about her ego in front of Tyler. Steadying herself, she responded, ¡°Right, I know. I was just worried that if you joke around like this too often, you might end up making it a habit. Someone might misunderstand you when you eventually get into a rtionship. I¡¯m only looking out for you.¡± Her Exit 486 After hearing what Rachel said, Tyler seemed to seriously considerit for a moment before finally agreeing with her point. ¡°I think you¡¯re right. Who knows? Maybe in the future, I¡¯ll end up with a jealous girl who overthinks everything I say, gets sensitive over my jokes, and throws a fit it I talk to another woman for too long. Yeah, thanks for the heads¨Cup.¡± Rachel was caught off guard by hisment. He didn¡¯t even have shadow of a girlfriend yet, and here he was so sure that whoever he ended up with would be the jealous type. She scoffed at his disy of confidence. ¡°Tyler, aren¡¯t you jumping the gun a bit? For all you know, your future girlfriend could be a submissivedy like Samantha.¡± Rachel had actually wanted to say she might even be a total shrew, but then thought better of it. With someone like Tyler, who was already headstrong, bossy, and domineering, it was hard to imagine him going for an equally aggressive woman. That kind of match wouldn¡¯t look like a rtionship. It¡¯d probably look more like a full¨Con war. The more she thought about it, the more Rachel couldn¡¯t help but imagine the scene ying out in her mind. ¡°A submissivedy, you say?¡± Tyler murmured, almost to himself or maybe just out loud enough for Rachel to hear. Rachel didn¡¯t feel like continuing this pointless back¨Cand¨Cforth. ¡°Are you going to sleep now?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m going to take a shower first.¡± Tyler got up and gave Rachel a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Go get that twisted story of yours ready.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know if it was just her imagination, but that p on the shoulder felt oddly heavy, almost like it came with a sense of responsibility. What was going on? Why did it feel like Tyler had this strange interest in twisted stories? She casually looked some up online and settled on a rough idea. She figured she would just paraphrase the plot of a movie to get it over with. By the time she was ready, Tyler had already finished his shower and was lying in bed. He had on gray silk pajamas, and just from the sheen of the fabric, Rachel could tell it wasn¡¯t cheap. He must¡¯ve been waiting for her for a while. He was lying on his side, idly flipping through a magazine. When he heard her footsteps, he looked up and smirked. ¡°Done cheating?¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes twitched. ¡°What do you mean by cheating? I was doing responsible prep work for my assignment.¡± ¡°Alright then, Rachel the Responsible. Let¡¯s see your performance. He patted the empty space on the bed beside him. Rachel was speechless. He always gave the illusion of conceding verbally, but mentally, he was running things exactly how he wanted. She sat down on the bed, took a moment to collect her thoughts, and started her twisted tale. ¡°There was this man who lived off odd jobs, but he changed jobs constantly. At one ce he worked, a murder happened. The police got involved and found out the killer had a thing for dressing all the women he murdered in wedding gowns. He¡¯d also do something to their eyes- ¡°Switch it. Tell me the twisted story you two were talking about this afternoon.¡± Rachel had just been getting into the story when Tyler cut her off. At first, she didn¡¯t register what he meant. She kept repeating his words. ¡°The twisted story we talked about this after-¡± Her expression changed. ¡°Do you mean William¡¯s uncle?¡± Her Exit 487 ¡°Yeah. I want to hear just how twisted he supposedly is,¡± Tyler said as hey on his side, propping up his head. Rachel looked at his posture. He didn¡¯t look like someone getting ready to sleep at all. It was obvious he nned to keep her up all night talking. He wasn¡¯t seriously expecting her to tell stories all night, was he? Rachel wasn¡¯t stupid. She tested the waters with a question. ¡°Are you nning to sleep soon?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind me,¡± Tyler replied. ¡°Just tell your story.¡± Rachel knew Tyler was sharp. A direct approach might make her seem overly defensive, so she decided to follow his lead instead. ¡°But don¡¯t you already know William¡¯s uncle? You¡¯ve met him, right? Shouldn¡¯t you be the one telling me about him?¡± Tyler gazed at her calmly. ¡°You¡¯ve probably heard people say he¡¯s elusive. Have you ever seen me with him?¡± Rachel thought about it carefully. She really hadn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t dare make things up in front of Tyler. He might be speaking casually, but who knew what his actual rtionship with William¡¯s uncle was? If he went around repeating what she said, she¡¯d be digging her own grave. ¡°We were just specting for fun. Maybe it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t listen to this kind of thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I want to hear it.¡± He sounded like he didn¡¯t care, but his tone carried a subtle pressure. Rachel had spent enough time around Tyler to get a read on how he operated. She decided to give a fair warning first. ¡°You¡¯re the one who asked, okay? This isn¡¯t me gossiping on my own. Don¡¯t go around repeating thister.¡± Tyler replied coolly, ¡°Mm.¡± Rachel had no choice but to continue with what she remembered. ¡°People say William¡¯s uncle never appears in public. Everyone thinks he¡¯s this mysterious guy whoes and goes without ever being seen. ¡°Some say he¡¯s a deformed psycho or something. I even heard he¡¯s really antisocial and hates interacting with people. Isn¡¯t that textbook shut¨Cin behavior? ¡°When I was a kid, our neighbor was like that. They had a child, but we never saw them. The family wasn¡¯t poor either, so it¡¯s not like they couldn¡¯t afford school or something. ¡°Butte at night, you could hear the kid crying, and the whole neighborhood thought the ce was haunted. ¡°Then one day, a friend we were ying with kicked a ball over their wall and climbed in to get it. He identally saw the kid. He had two heads. Like, literally, two heads sharing one body.¡± Rachel still remembered it vividly. That moment from her childhood gave her chills even now. Tyler listened with mild interest. ¡°It¡¯s probably a gic issue. I¡¯ve seen news stories like that. Some women get pregnant with twins, but due to poor nutrition and gic mutation, the twins don¡¯t split properly. You get one body with two heads. They can technically live together like that, though it¡¯s a bit tricky. As they grow, one may start rejecting the other.¡± Rachel blinked. ¡°Wait, so I¡¯m just asking out of curiosity, but if they ever got into an argument, wouldn¡¯t they just be yelling at each other with no way to walk away?¡± That line made Tylerugh. His raspy chuckle rang out in the quiet room. It was surprisingly pleasant to the ear. Rachel suddenly had a thought. Aside from his annoying mouth, this man really was perfect in every other way. He looked like something painstakingly sculpted by the heavens themselves. She didn¡¯t even think what she had said was that funny, but Tyler wasughing so hard that his entire body was shaking as he leaned into her. His chest vibrated with each breath, and the strands of his hair brushed lightly against the skin on her wrist. It tickled. Her Exit 488 The scent of chamomile from Tyler¡¯s shampoo still lingered in the air. It was fresh and calming, making it hard to stay awake. Rachel let out a yawn. ¡°Stop talking already. Let me keep going.¡± All she wanted now was to lull Tyler to sleep as quickly as possible. Tyler rested his head on Rachel¡¯sp without hesitation. ¡°Go on.¡± Rachel looked at him. Could he not be like this? On second thought, if she kept wasting time arguing with him, he night stay awake until sunrise. So she started making things up. ¡°William¡¯s uncle might have some sort of deformity, who knows? Maybe there¡¯s something wrong with his face. That would exin why he never shows up anywhere. Either he¡¯s horribly disfigured, or just like the psychos in those movies. I mean, something¡¯s definitely off.¡± Tyler¡¯s brows twitched as he listened. Rachel was basically describing him as a monster. Just as he lifted his head, ready to ask for more detail, he noticed Rachel¡¯s head drooping. Her lips parted slightly, and hershes lowered. Her breathing was shallow. Was she asleep? He smiled. Wasn¡¯t this all a little backward? Wasn¡¯t she supposed to help him fall asleep? How had it turned into him lulling her to sleep? He slowly sat up and gently helpedy her down on the bed, carefully pulling the nket over her. ¡°I think I must owe you something in my past life,¡± he murmured under his breath. Tyler stepped out onto the balcony, quietly closing the window so he wouldn¡¯t wake her. He then gave Jason a call. Jason was already sound asleep. When he answered the call, he couldn¡¯t stop yawning. ¡°What are you, nocturnal now? Do you even know what time it is? I thought Rachel was supposed to help you sleep these days. Didn¡¯t she show up?¡± ¡°She fell asleep.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re kidding me, right? She¡¯s supposed to put you to sleep, not the other way around. This is totally backward.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. She was telling me about how William¡¯s uncle might be some kind of psycho¨Cmaybe hideously ugly, never seen in public, possibly a two¨Cheaded freak. Or just your typical creepy recluse. She even said some of these psychos in movies dress up dead women in wedding gowns after killing them.¡± Jason burst outughing. ¡°Oh my goodness! Her imagination is next level.¡± Jason was too busyughing to even feel bad for Tyler. He had known Tyler since they were kids, and no one had ever described him quite like that before. It was just too good. Tyler¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°If you don¡¯t shut up, I¡¯ll hang up.¡± Jason immediately stoppedughing. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m done. But seriously, I¡¯ve never heard anyone talk about you like that. It¡¯s wild. In her defense, can you really me her? If you had just told her sooner that you¡¯re William¡¯s uncle, she might¡¯ve already rushed to marry you.¡± Tyler snorted. ¡°If you were her, would you want to marry someone from the same family that hurt you that badly? Keep seeing that same disgusting face every day?¡± Jason paused. He realized Tyler had a point. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right, especially considering Rachel has a history of running away. If she isn¡¯t mentally prepared and suddenly finds out your true identity, she might run again. You really would die alone by then.¡± Tyler rubbed his temples. ¡°Help me leak some news tomorrow. Just say that William¡¯s uncle ising back. Paint me in a slightly better light. Leave some room for imagination,¡± he said. Her Exit 489 Even Rachel thought that way about him, let alone the rest of Yure City. Jason clicked his tongue. ¡°So you¡¯re reallying out of hiding now? Incredible. I have to say, Rachel¡¯s had quite an impact on you. You used to not give a damn about what people said.¡± Tyler had always been the type to do whatever he pleased,pletely unfazed by public opinion. He scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s not the same. They¡¯ve already turned me into some kind of urban legend. If I keep hiding, who knows what kind of wild rumors wille out next.¡± Jason nodded. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll help fix your image tomorrow. After hanging up, Tyler returned to the bedroom. There, curled up under the covers, was a delicate figure peacefully sleeping on his bed. In that moment, it felt like the emptiness inside him that had existed for so long was finally being filled. The next morning, Rachel received a call from Cecilia, who said she had arrived at Lloyd Enterprise. Rachel was about to respond when Cecilia started speaking. ¡°By the way, you need to check online right now! There¡¯s news about William¡¯s uncle. Apparently, he¡¯sing back to Yurelia City in a few days. Someone even posted a photo.¡± Rachel was instantly wide awake. Without even replying, she grabbed her phone and opened the website. The article was just as Cecilia had said. The photo, though taken in poor lighting, showed the back of a tall, slender man in a gray suit. He had one hand in his pocket, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. His silhouette alone was enough to make people imagine a handsome face. Rachel frowned and scrolled through thements. She muttered to Cecilia, ¡°You can¡¯t even see his face.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame, yeah, but even just this one photo has the women of Yurelia City losing their minds! Yesterday, we were still saying maybe he was some kind of freak. Well, if that¡¯s a freak, then he¡¯s my dream freak. I¡¯d marry him in a heartbeat, even if he¡¯s a psycho.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. She knew Cecilia could be serious when needed, but when she wasn¡¯t, she was downright ridiculous. Rachel reminded Cecilia, ¡°Can you have a little more self¨Crespect? You¡¯re experienced. You¡¯re not going to fuss over a silhouette, are you?¡± Cecilia took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s put that aside for now. We can talk about itter. I¡¯m already outside Lloyd Enterprise.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ming over now.¡± Rachel rushed to throw on her jacket, only to realize she hadn¡¯t brought a change of clothes. Worse still, she vaguely remembered being the first to fall asleepst night. She pursed her lips and knocked on her forehead in frustration. How had she dozed off again? Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be the one putting Tyler to sleep? If she went home now to change, she¡¯d bete. But showing up to work in yesterday¡¯s clothes? That didn¡¯t feel right, either. Coincidentally, Wanda walked in. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, if you¡¯d like to change, there are clothes prepared for you in the wardrobe.¡± Rachel blinked in confusion. She hadn¡¯t brought any clothes. Where had theye from? Wanda had clearly anticipated her question. ¡°Last night, Mr. Hunt asked Yale to go out and buy clothes in your size. They should all fit.¡± Rachel was surprised that Tyler had thought this far ahead. He didn¡¯t even bring it upst night. When they were talking, she didn¡¯t hear him say a word about buying clothes. She stood there a bit stunned, still trying to process it. Wanda chuckled, walked over to the wardrobe, and opened it. ¡°Take a look.¡± Inside hung an entire row of women¡¯s attire. They were neatly arranged and had various styles, but one thing stood out. They were all quite conservative. There wasn¡¯t even a single backless top. Tyler was such a conservative. Rachel was only pretending to be his girlfriend. Did he really have to micromanage her li Her Exit 490 Chapter 490 Tyler even had to interfere with what Rachel wore. It didn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s not like she dressed very boldly, anyway. Her usual style was fairly conservative. Rachel casually picked out a professional¨Clooking outfit. After all, he was bringing Cecilia in for her first day on the job, and she had to look the part. Confidence was key. She figured Cecilia¡¯s r¨¦sum¨¦ had already reached HR by now, which meant Yvette and Sasha probably already knew about it too. After changing, Rachel asked offhandedly, ¡°Where¡¯s Tyler?¡± ¡°He left early this morning for a meeting at the office,¡± Wanda replied. Rachel hesitated before asking, ¡°Did he sleep wellst night?¡± Wanda was briefly stunned by the question. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Ms. Lloyd. Shouldn¡¯t you be the one who knows?¡± They had spent the night in the same room, after all. If anyone should know how Tyler slept, it should be her. Realizing how awkward that sounded, Rachel quickly tried to exin, ¡°I meant, Wanda, did you notice if Tyler got up in the night? Did he stay up in the living room or anything like that?¡± Wanda shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m heading out now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared breakfast. Eat before you go.¡± Rachel headed downstairs before grabbing a sandwich and a bottle of milk. She had to admit that Wanda was amazing at everything, including her cooking. Suddenly, she thought of Cecilia. Just as she looked around, she noticed there was another serving of breakfast on the table. Smiling, she asked, ¡°Wanda, can I take one more to go?¡± ¡°Of course. I made breakfast for you and Mr. Hunt, but he left in such a hurry that he didn¡¯t eat. It might be a bit cold, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll heat it up at the office.¡± Rachel packed it all up and rushed out the door. Just as she reached the door and retrieved her phone to call for a ride, she realized she couldn¡¯t get one. None were avable. Then, out of nowhere, a sleek white car pulled up in front of her. The window rolled down. Yale greeted her. ¡°Ms. Lloyd.¡± Rachel assumed Yale was just passing by, and quickly asked, ¡°Yale, are you heading back into the city? Could I hitch a ride with you?¡± Yale turned off the engine and replied, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I¡¯ll be staying here today to help Mr. Hunt organize some documents. Mr. Hunt bought this car for you to make yourmute easier.¡± He handed her the car keys. Rachel stared at the brand¨Cnew keys in her hand in stunned silence Was Tyler always this generous? She had gotten a quick look at the wardrobe earlier. Those clothes weren¡¯t cheap. All of them were custom¨Ctailored and designer pieces. To think this was the kind of treatment she got just for ying his fake girlfriend. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder¨Cif Tyler actually fell in love for real one day, would he give his whole heart to that woman? Would he spoil her beyond belief? The surprise was almost too much to process. She stood there, frozen, until Yale gently reminded her, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, didn¡¯t you say you were in a hurry?¡± Snapping out of it, Rachel nodded. ¡°Right, right. I can¡¯t talk anymore. I have to go.¡± Without even having time to properly thank Yale for bringing the car over, she hopped into the driver¡¯s seat. With a smooth turn of the wheel, she pulled away. Watching her drive off, Yale couldn¡¯t help but mutter in surprise, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect Ms. Lloyd to have such good driving skills.¡± Rachel soon pulled up in front of Lloyd Enterprise and headed upstairs. It was the morning rush. People were streaming into the building. Quite a few employees noticed the car she had arrived in. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s a seriously sick ride. I heard there are only three of those in the world, and they were designed specifically for women. I saw the promo before and loved it.¡± 24 ¡°Seriously, how did she suddenly get so rich? I heard that when she divorced Mr. Lewis, she walked away with nothing. She shouldn¡¯t be able to afford a car like that!¡± Her Exit 491 ¡°Are you stupid? How could you evenpare the two? Let me tell you. Even if you had the money, you still wouldn¡¯t be able to buy this!¡± ¡°Seriously, though. Where do you think she got her hands on a limited¨Cedition car like that?¡± ¡°Probably found herself some rich and powerful man again. Didn¡¯t she do that before?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think so too. I mean, with what she¡¯s got, there¡¯s no way she could afford that car on her own.¡± ¡°Say what you will about her, but she really is good¨Clooking. I bet half the men in Yurelia City are all over her. Didn¡¯t that rich heir Howard Ziegler chase after her for ages?¡± Rachel hadn¡¯t nned on paying any attention to their gossip, but then she figured that even if she stayed silent, they would just keep running their mouths. Between swallowing her anger and standing up for herself, she chose thetter. She turned on her heel and walked straight back to the group of women who had been chatting. ¡°Why don¡¯t you all go ahead and repeat what you just said?¡± The female employees hadn¡¯t expected Rachel toe back and confront them directly. A few of them were visibly stunned by the aura she exuded and started stammering. ¡°W¨CWe didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Yes, you must¡¯ve heard wrong.¡± Most people would¡¯ve let things slide at that point, but not Rachel. If she didn¡¯t teach them a lesson now, who knew what they¡¯d say next time? These women were clearly cowards. Rachel smirked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯ve got the guts to gossip behind someone¡¯s back, but none to admit it when she¡¯s standing right in front of you?¡± Just then, the sound of high heels clicking echoed through the lobby as Yvette strolled over. Pretending not to see Rachel, she turned to the group. ¡°You¡¯re almostte. Why aren¡¯t you all inside yet?¡± Yvette said. The women looked like they had just spotted their savio ¡°Ms. Yvette, your sister is being so mean! She¡¯s using us of talking behind her back when all we said was her car looked nice!¡± ¡°Exactly! Then she just flew off the handle and started tacking us.¡± ¡°Yes! And it¡¯s not like there¡¯s any proof we said anything bad.¡± ¡°Come on, she¡¯s driving a car like that, and she¡¯s afraid of a little gossip? So what it we talk a bit?¡± Now that Yvette was here, suddenly they had all grown backbone. Their tone turned smug. ¡°Come on, Rachel, you¡¯re the biggest shareholder now. get that you want to make a strong impression, but this ising on a bit too hard, don¡¯t you think? She and the others have been here for years. And everyone¡¯s watching. There¡¯s no need to make things so difficult,¡± Yvette chimed in supportively. She gently tugged on Rachel¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Come on, just let it go. Do it for me. If you really need to yell at someone, yell at me. They¡¯re all just employees here. Don¡¯t make it hard on them.¡± Her words were practically throwing a full bucket of me right over Rachel¡¯s head. More and more employees were arriving for work, and the crowd around them kept growing. Rachel didn¡¯t panic in the slightest. Instead, she let out a half¨Chearted chuckle. ¡°So this is what you¡¯re going with, Yvette? You¡¯re really gonna dump this crap on me?¡± Yvette blinked, eyes wide with innocence, and put on the act of being lost and hurt. ¡°Rachel, what do you mean? I don¡¯t understand. I¡¯m just trying to help. I get that you¡¯re new to the role, and maybe a little eager, but there¡¯s no need to rush. These girls are loyal employees. If you just talk to them nicely, they¡¯ll listen.¡± Chapter 492 Her Exit 492 ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so aggressive-¡± ¡°Are you done talking?¡± Rachel cut Yvette off bluntly. Yvette froze for a moment, her expression stiff. She forced a smile. ¡°Rachel, how could you say that? I¡¯m really doing this for your own good.¡± ¡°Yvette, I¡¯ve never fallen for your sweet little act. If you love performing so much, do you want me to get you into showbiz? With your level of acting, maybe you could snag a supporting role. Too bad your performance doesn¡¯t work on me. If you¡¯re really trying to pin all this on me, maybe you should just get on your knees. That might be more convincing.¡± Yvette¡¯s pupils quivered as she looked at Rachel in shock, wondering if thetter had lost her mind. Did Rachel actually ask her to kneel? Rachel raised her brow sarcastically. ¡°What? Not kneeling? Weren¡¯t you just defending them like your life depended on it? Cat got your tongue now?¡± She approached the women standing nearby. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Weren¡¯t you all just talking so confidently? Saying this car was a gift from some sugar daddy? If you¡¯ve got what it takes, go get one too.¡± ¡°W¨CWe¡¯re not like you, using your own sister as a stepping stone to snatch a major shareholder¡¯s seat! And we¡¯d never do whatever it takes just for money!¡± She finally spoke up, seemingly unable to stand how arrogant Rachel was acting, though her voice still trembled with fear. Rachel remainedpletely unfazed. Her expression was unreadable. She tilted her chin toward She. ¡°What, nothing to say now? You were on a roll earlier. Go on, let¡¯s hear more.¡± Her unpredictable response caught Shepletely off guard. Her face turned bright red, and she was at a loss for words. Rachel pointed at the group. ¡°It¡¯s clearly stated in the employee handbook that employees are not allowed to gossip about their superiors behind their backs. All of you, write a self¨Creflection. Tomorrow morning, you¡¯ll read them out loud in front of the wholepany. If any of you don¡¯t want to write it, that¡¯s fine. Just write a resignation letter instead and leave it on my desk.¡± With that, Rachel straightened her back and walked confidently into thepany lobby in her heels. Everyone, including Yvette, was stunned speechless. ¡°W¨CWhat just happened?¡± ¡°Yvette, your sister¡¯s no pushover. We¡¯re in for it now!¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s way too ruthless. She doesn¡¯t even ask questions, but just throws down the verdict.¡± ¡°She¡¯s kind of like Mr. Lloyd, don¡¯t you think? Didn¡¯t he have that same decisive style?¡± She tugged on Yvette¡¯s hand and pleaded. ¡°Yvette, we were on your side. You can¡¯t just leave us hanging. You have to help us!¡± Yvette was seething. ¡°How am I supposed to help? Didn you see? She doesn¡¯t even acknowledge me as her sister anymore.¡± On the 33rd floor of Lloyd Enterprise, Tyler had just stepped out of the conference room when Yale came up to him and whispered a few words. Tyler frowned. ¡°So they ganged up on her?¡± ¡°Yes. They also said some pretty nasty things like how the car you gave Ms. Lloyd was something she got from being someone¡¯s sugar baby.¡± Her Exit 493 When Tyler heard that, he reacted as if he had just heard a joke. ¡°Does she even need to look for a sugar daddy? Are those women blind or what?¡± Yale quickly nodded. ¡°Exactly, exactly! With Ms. Lloyd¡¯s looks and current abilities, there are plenty of men throwing themselves at her. She definitely doesn¡¯t need to go out of her way to look for anyone.¡± Tyler pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. ¡®How did she handle it?¡± At the mention of this, Yale immediatelyunched into a detailed exnation. ¡°Ms. Lloyd was actually pretty impressive. Her sister tried to step in and smooth things over, but Ms. Lloyd shut her down in just a few sentences. Then she told those women to write self¨Creflections and read them out loud at tomorrow¡¯spany¨Cwide meeting.¡± Tyler shook his head. He seemed unsatisfied. ¡°She¡¯s still being too soft. With gossipy people like that, if you don¡¯t punish them hard enough, they¡¯ll just do it again.¡± Having worked with Tyler for many years, Yale knew exactly what this kind ofment meant. He already had something in mind. Yale nodded. ¡°What would you like me to do, Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°Those women were clinging to Yvette¡¯s influence. I¡¯d wager they¡¯ve caused trouble in thepany before. It just hasn¡¯t been brought to light yet.¡± Yale instantly grasped what Tyler was implying. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Tyler added, ¡°Also, check if she¡¯s running into anything difficult on her end. Give her a hand if needed. After all, she¡¯s my girlfriend now. If she gets bullied, that¡¯s a p to my face.¡± Tyler had a cold expression on his face, and he sounded serious. Yale knew perfectly well that he was just finding himself an excuse to help Rachel. Even before they got together, Tyler had done countless things behind her back to support her. In fact, Yale had already lost count. Tyler just had too much pride. If only he hade clean to Rachel earlier and told her the truth, Yale didn¡¯t believe for a second that she would have turned him down. Meanwhile, Rachel had just gotten ready to take Cecilia toplete the onboarding paperwork, but was stopped by the HR department. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Lloyd. Although you¡¯re now the biggest shareholder, we still need Ms. Yvette¡¯s approval for any new hires.¡± The employee looked nervous. No one had expected the sudden power shift at Lloyd Enterprise. The former fake heiress, Rachel, had now somehow be the real heiress. Life truly was full of twists. Since thepany hadn¡¯t started personnel restructuring yet, everyone was confused and afraid to pick sides too soon. At this point, no one wanted to offend anyone. Rachel understood immediately. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, if I go to Yvette and she gives the green light, Cecilia can officiallye on board?¡°, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly it,¡± the employee said with a forced smile. ¡°Fine.¡± Rachel pulled Cecilia along and headed straight to Yvette¡¯s office. At first, she politely knocked on the door, but it was dead silent inside as if no one was there. Cecilia hesitated and said, ¡°Maybe she¡¯s not in?¡± Rachel pushed the door open without hesitation. Yvette was indeed inside, sitting at her desk reading some documents. When she heard the noise, she looked up and saw Rachel and Cecilia walk in. Although she couldn¡¯t openlysh out at Rachel, she had no problem taking it out on Cecilia. Her expression darkened. Her tone was lofty, and she sounded full of superiority. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock? You don¡¯t even have basic manners.¡± Cecilia quickly exined, ¡°We did knock, Ms. Yvette. You probably didn¡¯t hear it.¡± ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t hear it? Then would you please step outside and knock again properly?¡± Cecilia pursed her lips. Her chest rose and fell. It wasn¡¯t that Yvette hadn¡¯t heard. It was obvious she had ignored them on purpose. Cec¨ªlia hadn¡¯t even officially joined thepany yet, and this was the deputy CEO, She couldn¡¯t afford to snap back at Yvette. Her Exit 494 If Cecilia did that, it would also put Rachel in a tough spot. Cecilia pursed her lips and forced down the anger in her chest. ¡°Alright.¡± Yvette smirked. Just as Cecilia was about to turn around and step out, Rachel suddenly grabbed her hand. Cecilia knew what Rachel was about to do, but she didn¡¯t want Rachel to get into a conflict with Yvette because of her. She whispered, ¡°Rachel, let it go. It¡¯s just knocking on a door. It¡¯s not a big deal. Maybe she really didn¡¯t hear it earlier.¡± Rachel gave Yvette the side¨Ceye. She then strode to the doorway and knocked loudly before raising her voice. ¡°Still didn¡¯t hear that? Seems like you might need your ears checked, Yvette. Want me to rmend a good doctor for you? Not hearing a knock is one thing, but if you can¡¯t hear a client in a meeting, that could cause a serious loss for thepany.¡± Yvette put down her pen and fixed her gaze on Rachel. She forced a smile, so fake it was almostughable. ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you already ying favorites on your first day back? I mean, knocking or not isn¡¯t that big a deal. This girl¡¯s your friend. It¡¯s natural for you to defend her.¡± She waved her hand like she didn¡¯t care. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just be more careful next time.¡± Cecilia figured it was better not to make a fuss. She really needed this job. She bowed slightly and nodded toward Yvette courteously. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Yvette.¡± Rachel tugged on Cecilia¡¯s hand, clearly unhappy with her submissive attitude. ¡°What are you doing? She doesn¡¯t have the final say in whether you stay or go. And you did knock, loudly, more than once. If she¡¯s not deaf, she should¡¯ve heard it.¡± At that moment, Yvette¡¯s assistant, Sharon Kandor, couldn¡¯t take Rachel¡¯s arrogance anymore and snapped back. ¡°Who do you think you are to speak to Ms. Yvette like that? You haven¡¯t even officially taken over thepany, but you¡¯re acting all high and mighty. You¡¯re just an illegitimate child! How can youpare to a real heiress of the Lloyd family?¡± Rachel¡¯s calm expression instantly turned icy. Her gaze was sharp as she nced at Sharon. ¡°And your position is?¡± Sharon shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m Ms. Yvette¡¯s assistant.¡± Rachel gave a slow, thoughtful nod. ¡°Oh, Ms. Yvette¡¯s assistant. That¡¯s such an important role. But I must¡¯ve missed the memo. Since when did assistants get to interrupt a conversation between the biggest shareholder and the deputy CEO?¡± Her voice was calm, but the re she shot felt like a dagger straight into Sharon¡¯s face. Sharon¡¯s cheeks flushed red from holding in her frustration. Yvette smiled awkwardly. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her, Rachel. Sharon¡¯s been with me a long time. It¡¯s just out of reflex. She¡¯s protective of me, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s no big deal,¡± Rachel replied with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°She¡¯s clearly close to you, and it¡¯s only natural you¡¯d defend her. So I¡¯ll let it go this time. But if it happens again¡­¡± As Rachel trailed off, her expression suddenly turned harsh. Sharon caught her gaze and felt a chill down her spine. She had never met a woman with such an overwhelming aura, something that came from deep within. Even if she wanted to argue further, the words got stuck in her throat and refused toe out. The tension in the office instantly thickened. Cecilia¡¯s heart was pounding. She was worried that Yvette might blow up and make things worse for Rachel. Just then, someone knocked on the door, ¡°Ms. Yvette, something¡¯s wrong!¡± +15 Her Exit 495 BONUS An employee came rushing in. Yvette was already irritated. She thought holding the position of deputy CEO would give her the upper hand and a chance to put Rachel in her ce. Nobody expected Rachel would turn things around using the incident with Sharon, beating Yvette at her own game. Now, all her carefullyid ns werepletely ruined. Hearing themotion from the employee, Yvette couldn¡¯t help but snap in frustration. ¡°What are you yelling for? Do you not know how to behave?¡± The employee quickly quieted down. ¡°Ms. Yvette, some of ourpany¡¯s employees have just been exposed online for some pretty serious scandals. You should really take a look.¡± Yvette frowned and immediately retrieved her phone. Before she could even finish reading, she shot up from her chair. ¡°What the hell? Who leaked this?¡± The employee stammered, ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know. It was just posted not long ago. I¡¯m not clear on the details, either.¡± Rachel raised an eyebrow at Yvette¡¯s dramatic reaction. Since when did she care so much about employees? Cecilia nudged her with an elbow, gesturing for her to check her phone. Rachel nced down and finally saw what it was all about. It turned out those employees had been caught cooking the books, epting bribes, and even embezzling money from thepany. They were so shameless, they had even taken the office coffee home with them. That wasn¡¯t the worst part. The real bombshell was that it had all been done under Yvette¡¯s direction. Half the money went straight into her pocket. There were even bank records as proof. No amount of excuses could save her now. Rachel let out a cold, disdainful chuckle. She had always looked down on Yvette¡¯s ways of doing things. When someone was doing her dirty work, Yvette was all calm and detached. The moment she got exposed, she would lose her cool. Rachel could already guess what Yvette¡¯s next move would be. She would throw others under the bus. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time. Taking advantage of the chaos, Rachel said casually, ¡°Once you¡¯re done here, maybe you could sign off on the paperwork over at HR?¡± Yvette, still unaware that Rachel was holding a bigger card, scotted and held her ground. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re giving me too much credit. I may be the deputy CEO, but I¡¯m not the CEO. I can¡¯t make that decision on my own.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t argue. She nced at her freshly done nails and said, ¡°Oh, then I won¡¯t push you. I wonder if you still remember what happened five years ago, when a man came to my hospital room to change my IV drip? Did you ever find out where he ended up?¡± Yvette¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Rachel¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Funny thing is, he¡¯s been with me these past few years. Says he¡¯s trying to turn over a new leaf, not helping certain people do shady things anymore.¡± Yvette¡¯s face turned pale. Her lips trembled uncontrobly. ¡°What do you mean? I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. I heard someone tried to hurt you five years ago, but that has nothing to do with me! You can¡¯t just pin it on me!¡± Sharon nodded along. ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s going too far! Just because you¡¯re Ms. Yvette¡¯s sister, doesn¡¯t mean you can falsely use her like this.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even look at Sharon. She kept her gaze fixed on Yvette. ¡°What do you think, Ms. Yvette?¡± Yvette scanned the room and snapped irritably, ¡°What are you all still standing around for? Get back to work!¡± Startled by her sudden outburst, Sharon and the employee quickly scurried out. The office was now silent, with only Rachel, Cecilia, and Yvette remaining. Rachel didn¡¯t spell things out, but she knew Yvette understood exactly what she was implying. She calmly ced the HR form on the desk, raising her brows slightly as she nced at Yvette with a knowing smirk. Her Exit 496 ¡°Can you sign it now?¡± Rachel asked. Although Yvette was reluctant deep down, she didn¡¯t dare gamble on this. If Rachel really lost her temper and exposed the truth, forget everything else¨CYvette might end up spending the rest of her life in prison. Yvette bit down hard on her lip, eyes full of rage and resentment. She then signed the form. ¡°Happy now?¡± Rachel handed the document to Cecilia. ¡°You can start work tomorrow.¡± Cecilia was overjoyed. She hadn¡¯t expected things to go this smoothly. She had been worried that Yvette might refuse to let her join thepany, but she didn¡¯t want to put Rachel in a difficult spot. If that happened, this whole thing might fall through. Yvette¡¯s willingness to sign caught her off guard. With her goal achieved, Rachel was ready to leave. But just as she turned, Yvette suddenly called out to her. ¡°Rachel, wait¡­!¡± Rachel knew exactly what Yvette wanted to ask. Her voice turned cold as she gave her a warning. ¡°Yvette, if you know how to keep your head down, I¡¯ll let this go for now¨Cbut don¡¯t push me.¡± With that, she grabbed Cecilia and opened the office door without looking back. Just as she stepped out, Yvette shouted after her. ¡°Are you with Tyler now?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t answer her; she just paused for a moment before leaving. Yvette clenched her fists tightly. She looked furious. That pause had to mean Rachel was with Tyler now. Why else would it be such a coincidence? They had just argued at the office entrance, and now suddenly all those gossip articles had spread online, each one vicious enough to ruin her reputation. Yvette had worked at thepany long enough to know how these things worked. Those people were finished. They could forget about staying in the industry. Even she would have to face questioning from the shareholders. When the time came, what could she possibly say? Even if she came up with an exnation, the bigger issue was, how was she going to cover the gap this caused? ¡®Damn you, Rachel!¡® Yvette had almost ended up with Tyler. She had been so lose! It was all Rachel¡¯s fault. Now she was back, trying to snatch away Yvette¡¯s spot as the Lloyd family¡¯s heiress. Sure, Rachel was only an illegitimate daughter, but who was to say things wouldn¡¯t turn out better for a biological child in the long run than for an adopted one? She had to make ns fast. As Rachel and Cecilia walked out, the employees who had badmouthed Rachel earlier were visibly panicking. ¡°Oh god, what do we do now? How did this even get exposed?¡± ¡°We¡¯re screwed! Are we going to get cklisted? Who¡¯s behind this?¡± ¡°Who else could it be? It¡¯s obviously her! We just argued with her outside, and the next second, all this stuff went viral online!¡± One of them, worried about losing their job, didn¡¯t care about pride anymore. They rushed to Rachel and tugged at the hem of her blouse. ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you, Ms. Lloyd. Just let me off this time. We really didn¡¯t mean what we said earlier.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve got a whole family to feed! I can¡¯t afford to lose this job.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay? I¡¯ll apologize! Just please give me another chance!¡± If this had happened five years ago, Rachel might have felt sympathy and let them off. But now, she didn¡¯t feel that way at all. She said coldly, ¡°We¡¯re all adults here. Shouldn¡¯t we be responsible for our actions? Didn¡¯t you know it¡¯s wrong to badmouth someone behind their back?¡± Her Exit 497 ¡°We admit we were wrong! Didn¡¯t we already say we¡¯d write a self¨Creflection? We¡¯ll finish it and read it out loud in front of everyone tomorrow, is that okay?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t that already the n? What else is there to discuss?¡± Rachel replied ndly. ¡°N¨CNo objections, that¡¯s good enough.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, we have no objections at all.¡± Everyone knew the stakes. Compared to getting fired or cklisted across the entire industry, writing a self -reflection was a minor punishment, Just then, the shareholders walked out. ¡°They can¡¯t just write self¨Creflections anymore. They must be fired immediately!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. They knowingly broke the rules and made such serious mistakes at work. They need to be dismissed! Have a formal announcement issued. From now on, people like them will never be employed by ourpany.¡± The employees went weak in the knees from fear. ¡°Please, Mr. Summers, we admit we were wrong. We¡¯re begging you, please don¡¯t take our jobs away!¡± ¡°We¡¯re willing to ept anything, even a sry deduction!¡± Gary Summers made his stance clear. ¡°There¡¯s no room for negotiation. For something like this to happen within thepany, we¡¯d face utter humiliation if word got out. And as for Ms. Yvette, the shareholders will convene to discuss how to deal with her for her involvement and covering up the situation.¡± Yvette had just walked out and overheard that sentence. Her legs nearly gave out, and she instinctively reached for the wall for support. Seeing Yvette, Gary stepped forward. ¡°Ms. Yvette Lloyd. After much discussion, the shareholders have decided to suspend you until the investigations areplete. We ask for your cooperation.¡± Yvette quickly defended herself. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I was framed! Those people made me do it. They said they needed the money and asked me to give them special treatment out of friendship. I only agreed because we¡¯re coworkers, Mr. Summers. Please investigate this thoroughly!¡± Rachel stood off to the side with her arms crossed. ¡°Whether you were framed or not, the first thing you should be doing is cooperating with the investigation, not dodging responsibility. You¡¯re the deputy CEO. If you act like this, what kind of example are you setting for others? If something happens, should everyone just shirk their duties?¡± Gary fully agreed with Rachel. ¡°Ms. Rachel is absolutely right. Ms. Yvette, you¡¯re Mr. J¡¯s daughter. Even royalty must face consequences for their crimes, let alone you. You¡¯ve been with thispany for years, and you should know better.¡± Yvette panicked. She waspletely at a loss. She approached Rachel, her voice shaking and tinged with bitterness. ¡°Rachel, do you really have to go this far? Are you really going to push me over the edge like this?¡± Rachel smirked, then leaned in to whisper softly into Yvette¡¯s ear. ¡°Didn¡¯t you do this to yourself? My dear sister, it¡¯s just a suspension. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve been thrown in prison. What are youining about?¡± Yvette trembled with anger, but she couldn¡¯t do anything to Rachel. 1 How did things change so much in five years? Rachel was so cunning now. If Yvette let her guard down even a little, she¡¯d fall right into one of Rachel¡¯s traps! Yvette red at her.. ¡°You really are something, aren¡¯t you? Five years ago, you set up that meeting between me and Tyler on purpose, didn¡¯t you? You wanted to use me to get his attention, didn¡¯t you? You¡¯re so maniptive! And then, you disappeared for five years just to y hard to get with him. That¡¯s quite the strategy.¡± Her Exit 498 ¡°Have you really stooped so low that you¡¯d do anything to get your way with a man? But don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, Rachel! Do you really think the Hunt family would ever let Tyler marry a divorced woman?¡± Yvette¡¯s tant questioning practically nailed Rachel to the pir of shame, as if divorce was something disgraceful. Just like that, others started chiming in. ¡°Now that you mention it, I heard Ms. Rachel and Mr. Hunt had something going on five years ago. Back then, she wasn¡¯t even divorced from Mr. Lewis yet.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s true, their rtionship might be moreplicated than we thought. That woman is seriously cunning.¡± ¡°She waited five whole years just to win over Mr. Hunt? An ordinary person wouldn¡¯t have that kind of determination.¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t stand women like her! I don¡¯t get what Mr. Lloyd was thinking. Sure, Ms. Yvette hasn¡¯t really contributed much to thepany over the years, but at least she¡¯s never been caught in any scandal.¡± ¡°She probably knows she can¡¯t make it on her own, so she¡¯s clinging to Mr. Hunt like he¡¯s herst lifeline.¡± ¡°You¡¯re all jumping the gun. Who says Mr. Hunt even likes her like that? For all we know, he¡¯s just messing around!¡± Yvette noticed how all thements were now in her favor, and a victorious smile appeared on her face. Even if it was just gossip, it worked in her favor. For now, it could dy Rachel from rising to power. Hearing all the chatter, Gary instinctively stepped in front of Rachel and spoke to her in a soft voice. ¡°Ms. Rachel, we shareholders had actually nned to let you take over thepany in a few days. That was Mr. Lloyd¡¯s idea as well. Your past performance and the recent projects you¡¯ve secured for us are very impressive. But as you can see, with everything going on now, we need to be cautious. If too many people within thepany start questioning your position, it could cause problems¡­¡± Rachel, however, didn¡¯t look flustered at all. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± she calmly replied. ¡°I was nning toe in and familiarize myself with the environment anyway. By the way, about that new energy project, Mr. Summers. Could you take a look?¡± Mr. Summers¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You mean the one from Sky Tech Enterprise?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± He immediately pulled Rachel aside, ¡°But Lewis Enterprise has been eyeing that project too! I even heard Mr. Lewis is already in talks with them. Do you really think we can win it?¡± ¡°We can. Trust me.¡± ¡°We can Gary nodded without hesitation. ¡°Alright. Good.¡± Yvette scoffed. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t think just because you sweet¨Ctalked Mr. Summers with one project that you can waltz in and take over thepany. If you don¡¯t clean up your mess of a love life, it¡¯s going to be a problem.¡± ¡°Exactly! We absolutely won¡¯t ept a woman with such a messy private life, always flirting with men, as our boss.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all against it!¡± ¡°Right! A woman hooking up with random men is inappropriate.¡± ¡°Does Lloyd Enterprise not allow employees to date anymore?¡± A deep, cold voice rang out from the entrance. It boomed with authority. Everyone instinctively turned to face the entrance. Cecilia caught sight of Tyler and clutched tightly at the hem of Rachel¡¯s shirt. She was visibly excited. ¡°Oh my goodness, Mr. Hunt is here! He looks so hot! Did he reallye here just to back you up?¡± Rachel smirked. Would Tyler really be that kind? Her Exit 499 Gary¡¯s expression changed the moment he saw Tyler. A first, he lookedpletely stunned, but once he snapped out of it, he rushed over to greet him. ¡°Mr. Hunt, is it really you? What an honor to have you visit ourpany! Is there something we can help you with today?¡± ¡°I just happened to stop by. Thought I¡¯d discuss a potential project with your CEO, Ms. Rachel. But, oh right, she¡¯s not the CEO yet. Never mind, then.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice trailed off into sarcasm mid¨Csentence. He then brushed it off like it was nothing. Rachel watched the whole exchange unfold with wide eyes. Tyler flipped the mood like flipping a switch, turning Gary from hopeful to nervous to disappointed, all in seconds. It was the first time she had ever seen someone manipte another person¡¯s emotions so precisely. When Gary realized Tyler was about to leave, he rushed after him in a panic. ¡°Mr. Hunt, please! This is a misunderstanding. We, the shareholders, had already decided that Ms. Rachel would take over thepany starting tomorrow. It¡¯s just that things moved too quickly today, and the announcement hasn¡¯t been made yet.¡± Hearing this, Tyler paused mid¨Cstep and nced sideways at him. ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re saying Rachel won¡¯t be managing thepany until tomorrow?¡± Gary, sharp as ever, immediately picked up on what Tyler meant and changed his tone without missing a beat. ¡°No, no, that was just our initial n. We¡¯ve already asked HR to draft the announcement.¡± Tyler folded his arms and looked Gary up and down. ¡°Am I supposed to wait?¡± ¡°You all can go ahead and start talking. I¡¯ll speed things up right now.¡± While Gary spoke, he turned and barked at Sharon, who was still standing next to Yvette. ¡°Sharon! What are you standing around for? Get Mr. Hunt some coffee, the best we have! And you¨Cyou¡¯re new, right? Hurry up and show Mr. Hunt to the meeting room.¡± Cecilia was caught off guard for a moment. She quickly modded. ¡°Yes, of course!¡± She walked over to Tyler and respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Hu, this way, please.¡± As Tyler followed Cecilia and passed by Rachel, he narraved his eyes slightly, his gaze dark and unreadable. Then, with a crooked, rather mischievous smile, he lead in and said yfully, ¡°Ms. Rachel, aren¡¯t youing? My time is very valuable, you know.¡± It was only then that Rachel snapped out of her daze. ¡°Alright.¡± The group headed off to the conference room. Yvette, meanwhile, stood frozen in ce. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream. She stared nkly in the direction Rachel had gone. ¡°What just happened?¡± No one paid her any attention. Yvette could only turn to Gary in confusion. ¡°Mr. Summers, didn¡¯t you just say she wasn¡¯t suitable to take over thepany right now? Besides, all she did was bring in one project. That¡¯s hardly enough reason to hand her thepany!¡± Gary didn¡¯t even try to hide his disdain now. ¡°Ms. Yvette, think carefully. You¡¯ve been with thepany for years. What major clients have you ever brought in? And don¡¯t y dumb. You heard what Mr. Hunt said, didn¡¯t you? Isn¡¯t it obvious? He¡¯s practically saying that if we let Rachel take over right now, he¡¯ll consider working with us.¡± Yvette pouted, refusing to back down. ¡°But you know full well she didn¡¯t get that on her own! She¡¯s always throwing herself at men. If someone like her runs thepany, aren¡¯t you afraid it¡¯ll copse?¡± Gary snorted coldly. ¡°You were running things before, and look where that got us. Want me to pull up your performance reports? See just how badly you¡¯ve done?¡± With that, he flung his sleeve and turned on his heel toward the HR department. ¡°Mr. Summers!¡± Yvette called after him. Her Exit 500 Yvette still didn¡¯t give up and shouted after Gary, but he acted like he hadn¡¯t heard a thing. She was trembling all over, nearly flushed with anger. She quickly called Sasha. ¡°Mom, you need to think of something fast. Mr. Summers is already drafting the HR report to appoint Rachel as the CEO!¡± ¡°What? What¡¯s wrong with you? Didn¡¯t I tell you to take advantage of her rtionship with Tyler?¡± Sasha said, aghast. ¡°I did! But Tyler just showed up and basically made it crystal clear that if Rachel doesn¡¯t take over thepany, he¡¯s not doing business with us.¡± Sasha was silent for a moment. ¡°Looks like Rachel really has some tricks up her sleeve. She actually managed to sweet¨Ctalk Tyler into helping her climb thedder, and he¡¯s even willing to hand over a project for her.¡± Yvette was already furious, and hearing Sasha say this only fueled her anger. ¡°What the hell did Rachel do to brainwash Tyler like this?¡± Sasha, being the seasoned one, remained calm. ¡°No need to panic. Don¡¯t forget. We still have onest ace up our sleeve. He¡¯s not someone anyone dares to mess with.¡± Yvette immediately caught on. ¡°Mom, do you mean Howard? But what can he even do to Rachel right now?¡± ¡°You silly girl! How many times have I told you to be more alert and use your head? Rachel¡¯s single now. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time she found herself a husband?¡± Yvette¡¯s eyes lit up in sudden realization. ¡°You mean, you want to make Rachel marry Howard? But she¡¯ll never agree! You know how stubborn she is! 11 ¡°With your grandfather involved, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? Sure, back then she wasn¡¯t officially part of the Lloyd family, and we couldn¡¯t touch her. But now? She¡¯s officially one of us.¡± Yvette suddenly felt like hope was in sight again. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll leave it all to you, Mom.¡± After hanging up, Yvette couldn¡¯t help but nce once more in Rachel¡¯s direction. Her eyes brimmed with resentment. Rachel, just wait! The real show is only beginning. We¡¯ve got all the time in the world.¡® Meanwhile, Cecilia, unsure if Lloyd Enterprise had other avable meeting rooms, led Tyler straight to the same room where Rachel had once faced the shareholders. She opened the door for him. ¡°Mr. Hunt, pleasee in.¡± Tyler walked in, pulled out a chair, and sat down. He was dressed in tailored suit pants. With his legs crossed, he looked more like he was on vacation than attending a business meeting. Cecilia was just about to quietly slip away when Rachel quickly stepped forward and pulled her back. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¨CI just thought you should talk to Mr. Hunt alone.¡± Rachel nced at the doorway. ¡°Are you crazy? You know how many people out there are watching us right now!¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t know whether she should stay or leave. ¡°Then I-¡± ¡°If we¡¯re really talking business, then let¡¯s actually talk. Who knows, we might reallynd a partnership with LS Enterprise.¡± Rachel kept her voice down. She didn¡¯t dare say it too loudly. If Tyler overheard, who knew what snide remark he¡¯d throw her way. Cecilia looked at Rachel in surprise. She couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Are you serious right now? LS Enterprise doesn¡¯t just work with anyone!¡± Companies that partnered with them were top¨Ctier. Even Lewis Enterprise hadn¡¯t managed to coborate with Tyler¡¯spany before. Lloyd Enterprise was hardly anywhere near the top. Did Rachel actually think they stood a chance to work with a bigpany like that? Even so, Rachel¡¯s ambition was clear. She gently nudged Cecilia. ¡°Why not? We should at least try. Who knows? Maybe we¡¯ll get lucky.¡± Cecilia was stunned by Rachel¡¯s boldness, but her fighting spirit was suddenly ignited. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s give it a shot!¡± Her Exit 501` Rachel and Cecilia returned to their seats. Rachel cleared her throat, sat upright, and assumed a serious, businesslike demeanor as she spoke to Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you mentioned you came to discuss a potential partnership. May I ask which project you¡¯re interested in?¡± Tyler raised his brows slightly, a faint smirk ying at the corners of his lips. His slender fingers tapped gently against the table. ¡°Oh? You actually thought I came here to talk business?¡± Rachel tilted her head. ¡°If not to talk business, Mr. Hunt, then what? Do you want to take a nap and have me tell you a ghost story on the spot?¡± Tyler leaned back in his chair like a man with all the time and money in the world. ¡°Aren¡¯t you aware of yourpany¡¯s current situation? You¡¯re not even qualified to coborate with us.¡± Rachel nced at Cecilia and gave her a subtle signal. Cecilia quickly pulled out a folder and handed it to Rachel, who then slid it across the table to Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, perhaps you can take a look at my proposal first, then decide if it¡¯s worth your time.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t even bother sitting up. He hooked a finger under the folder¡¯s edge and flipped it open for a nce. Cecilia was starting to sweat. She thought Rachel was being far too bold. This project was one Rachel had personally worked on before. It was niche and maybe even ahead of its time. At present, there were noparable projects in the domestic market. If the market couldn¡¯t be developed properly, the investment could go up in smoke. Investment projects weren¡¯t child¡¯s y. Cecilia held her breath watching Rachely it out so abruptly in front of Tyler, Meanwhile, a group of employees near the conference room door had already been watching the scene unfold. ¡°Ms. Rachel seriously overestimates herself. With ourpany¡¯s weight, does she really think we¡¯re good enough to work with the biggestpany in Yurelia City?¡± ¡°Exactly. She¡¯s putting on a show. Some people just like to act rich even when there¡¯s barely a hundred bucks in their pocket.¡± ¡°Acting is one thing, but if she crashes and burnster, it¡¯ll be ugly.¡± ¡°If the guy she¡¯s pitching to were some fat cat or a sleazy bald executive, maybe she¡¯d have a chance. Bute on, this is Mr. Hunt! He¡¯s not just anyone.¡± ¡°Right. Mr. Hunt is infamous for being impossible to please. Unless you¡¯ve really got skills, even sending a pretty face won¡¯t move him.¡± ¡°Just watch. She¡¯s going to humiliate herself so badly. I almost can¡¯t bear to look.¡± Tyler hadn¡¯t even finished reading yet, and already his brows were furrowed. His fingertips, which rested on the table, began to tap rhythmically. The sound made Cecilia more and more anxious. Rachel, on the other hand, remained calm as ever. After a few moments, Tyler tossed the folder onto the table with a loud thud. The cover hit the surface hard and made a shrill sound. Rachel¡¯s clear, determined eyes didn¡¯t budge. Her gaze locked on Tyler with unwavering confidence. The overhead lights cast shadows from hershes onto her poised face. Tyler pursed his lips as if considering something important. ¡°Ms. Rachel, you just took over thepany, and you¡¯re already ying this big?¡± Rachel narrowed her eyes slightly. If one looked closer, they would see the ambition burning deep in her eyes. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I won¡¯t deny that the project is niche, but the potential is huge. If it really takes off, both your It was like giving bothpanies an insurance policy. Her Exit 502 Chapter 502 Seeing how confident Rachel was, Tyler nodded. ¡°Alright. How much are you putting into this project?¡± ¡°Five hundred million.¡± That was all thebined funds of Lloyd Enterprise and herself. Tyler let out a hoarse chuckle that echoed through the spacious meeting room. Even people outside heard it. He lowered his head, slowly pulled out a cigarette, and ced it between his lips. His eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Ms. Rachel, are you expecting me to y the fool and invest in this?¡± Everyone knew a new project like this wouldn¡¯t just cost five hundred million. It would take at least two billion to get off the ground. Rachel was basically gambling with the future of bothpanies. If anything went wrong at any point, both LS Enterprise and the Lloyd Enterprise would go bankrupt. But Rachel remained confident. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯ve been researching this project for years. Right now, the country¡¯s development still mostly relies on people, and to some extent, machines. But why can¡¯t we push forward with artificial intelligence? ¡°Artificial intelligence could bring real convenience to people here. Overseas, robots are already starting to emerge. Of course, the project we¡¯re creating doesn¡¯t directly tie into either of ourpanies¡® current business scopes. But Mr. Hunt, you¡¯ve worked with overseas partners before. You should understand this better than anyone.¡± Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed. He lifted his chin slightly and flicked the ash from his cigarette. ¡°Oh? So I¡¯m just your stepping stone now?¡± Rachel exined further. ¡°I¡¯ve researched this thoroughly. As long as the algorithm is right, it can run smoothly,¡± But Tyler stood up. ¡°This project is no small matter. I can¡¯t give you an answer just yet. He truly hadn¡¯t expected her to be so ambitious. Rachel saw Tyler walking toward the meeting room door and instinctively wanted to call out to him, but then she realized there were too many people outside. If she forced him to stay and think it over now, it would only put him on the spot. If he decided to drop the act, she would be the one humiliated today. Even if he was coerced to agree, the problems wouldeter. Outside the room, everyone had heard Rachel¡¯s pitch word for word. At first, they were stunned. Then came disbelief. Soon, people began looking at her like she¡¯d lost her mind. A wave of murmurs broke out. ¡°We¡¯re done for! Thispany is finished. Rachel¡¯s gonepletely mad.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen someone so delusional. Artificial intelligence? Get real! Sure, the Lloyd Enterprise dabbles in a bit of everything, but we¡¯re still a small firm. Launching a project like this is just ridiculous.¡± ¡°She probably let her dreams run wild and forgot how harsh reality is. Every failed entrepreneur thinks they¡¯ll someday pull a lever and shift the world. They then wake up to find it was all a pipe dream.¡± ¡°If the shareholders find out about this project, they¡¯ll shut it down instantly.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? All our shareholders are old¨Ctimers. None of them is that forward¨Cthinking.¡± ¡°I knew she¡¯d embarrass herself, but I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be this bad.¡± Just then, Sharon walked up with a cup of coffee and almost bumped into Tyler on his way out. ¡°Mr. Hunt¡­¡± Tyler nced at the coffee in her hand. ¡°Give it to Ms. Rachel.¡± Rachel knew Tyler was already being as polite as he could. If it were his usual self, he probably would¡¯ve added ¡®to help her sober up.¡® Her Exit 503 Rachel said to Sharon, ¡°See Mr. Hunt out.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Hearing that she was the one to escort Tyler out, Sharon quickly put down the coffee and hurried after him. Inside the conference room, Cecilia walked up to Rachel and said, ¡°Rachel, aren¡¯t we being a bit too hasty? Shouldn¡¯t we take it slow?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time to take it slow. If we wait until others catch on, there¡¯ll be nothing left for us.¡± Cecilia had never seen Rachel so ambitious. Based on what she knew of thetter, it didn¡¯t seem like Rachel was the kind of person to be so rash. She tugged gently on Rachel¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Rachel, what are you really thinking? I feel like I don¡¯t really know you anymore.¡± Rachel turned to the side. Her eyes shone with determination. Rather than feeling discouraged by Tyler¡¯s rejection, she looked even more spirited than before. Cecilia felt as if she were seeing a golden light radiating from within Rachel, making her seem almost haloed in brilliance. Rachel looked at Cecilia and asked, ¡°Do you want ourpany to surpass Lewis Enterprise?¡± Right now, in all of Yurelia City, LS Enterprise was thergest, followed by Lewis Enterprise. But Rachel wanted William to fall. Cecilia¡¯s pupils contracted when she heard this. She was trembling slightly. ¡°Rachel, do you actually want to surpass Lewis Enterprise?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you? All these years, you¡¯ve never had a real shot at your career, always tied down by your family. Are you really willing to stay like that forever?¡± Cecilia hesitated for a moment, but Rachel¡¯s wordspletely swayed her. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m with you. From now on, whatever you say goes.¡± Rachel patted her on the shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Cecilia still looked worried. ¡°But what about Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Take it slow. It¡¯s not just him. Anyone I take this proposal to is going to reject it at first.¡± She had already mentally prepared for that. Cecilia nodded. Just then, Gary came in with a notice from the HR department. ¡°Mr. Hunt! Mr. Hunt¡­¡± He jogged into the conference room, only to find that Rachel and Cecilia were the only ones there. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°He left,¡± Rachel said. ¡°And the project?¡± Rachel casually replied, ¡°Mr. Hunt said he¡¯d go back and think about it.¡± Gary pped his hands happily. ¡°Excellent! That means it¡¯s practically a done deal!¡± Rachel and Cecilia exchanged nces. Wasn¡¯t he getting a little too excited, too soon? Meanwhile, Sharon followed Tyler out of the elevator, her high heels clicking as she half¨Cjogged behind him. ¡°Mr. Hunt, Mr. Hunt!¡± Tyler stopped. He tucked his hands into his pockets. His expression was cold, and his voice was unusually calm. ¡°Tell Ms. Rachel that there¡¯s no need to see me off.¡± Sharon nervously pinched her fingers. She was looking at Tyler with a hint of shyness. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I just wanted to say, please don¡¯t be fooled by her appearance.¡± Tyler furrowed his brows slightly and turned around. ¡°Huh?¡± Seeing he was willing to listen, Sharon quickly continued, ¡°Think about it, Mr. Hunt. That artificial intelligence project she mentioned¨Crecing human brains with machines? That¡¯s just not realistic! ¡°She only came to you because you¡¯re rich and kind. If she approached anyone else, they wouldn¡¯t even let her finish her pitch. ¡°Please, Mr. Hunt, don¡¯t fall for her tricks. She¡¯s just trying everything she can to seduce you, so she can use you as a stepping stone to secure her ce in Lloyd Enterprise.¡± C Her Exit 504 hapter 504 After Sharon finished speaking, she cautiously watched Tyler¡¯s reaction. Everyone in the industry said he had a strange temper. He might be perfectly fine with someone one second, and the next, he¡¯d flip without warning. No one could ever guess what he was really thinking. Tyler¡¯s expression remained cold. His unreadable eyes locked onto Sharon. ¡°Are you done?¡± Sharon froze before numbly nodding. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Then go upstairs and prepare your resignation letter. I¡¯ll speak to Mr. Summers about itter.¡± With a nk expression, Tyler turned to leave. Sharon froze in disbelief, panic shing in her eyes. She only snapped out of it when she heard the sound of his leather shoes cking away. ¡°Mr. Hunt, why? I was just thinking about your best interests! I didn¡¯t want to see you get fooled by some maniptive woman!¡± Tyler rubbed his brows, his patience clearly wearing thin. His jaws were clenched when he spoke, and his voice made Sharon¡¯s scalp tingle. ¡°It¡¯s simple. I won¡¯t allow anyone to speak ill of her in front of me. You just happened to cross the line.¡± With that, he walked out of Lloyd Enterprise, leaving Sharon standing there in stunned silence. She had a nk look on her face. ¡®How did this happen?¡® She had thought long and hard about every word she said. Why would Tyler react like this? Even if he didn¡¯t thank her, firing her seemed excessive. Very soon, Gary called her on the phone. Her heart sank, and she broke out in a cold sweat. With trembling hands, she picked up the call. ¡°H¨CHello, Mr. Summers.¡± ¡°Sharon, are you out of your mind?! You¡¯ve been with thepany for years, and this is the kind of low- IQ mistake you make? Do you even realize who you messed with? Mr. Hunt didn¡¯t show up today for no reason. He was clearly there to support Rachel, and you had the guts to pull that stunt in front of him!¡± Sharon tried to defend herself. ¡°Mr. Summers, I didn¡¯t-¡± ¡°Save it! Do you think you¡¯re smarter than everyone else? That you saw through Rachel while the rest of us are blind? Do you think Mr. Hunt can¡¯t tell if she has an agenda? And you, of all people, figured it all out?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Sharon waspletely speechless after that. Gary had no interest in wasting any more time on an ordinary employee like her. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Just keep that mouth of yours in check from now on. You¡¯ve worked here for a few years, so here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. You¡¯ll write the resignation letter yourself, and we¡¯ll give you one extra month¡¯s pay.¡± The call ended with a cold beep. News of Sharon¡¯s resignation spread quickly throughout thepany. ¡°Did you hear? Rachel asked Sharon to escort Mr. Hunt out, and she ended uping back with a resignation notice. What the heck happened?¡± ¡°I heard from the front desk downstairs that Sharon tried to act smart and told Mr. Hunt that Rachel was maniptive and trying to scam him for money.¡± ¡°Pfft! Is Sharon stupid? Saying something like that basically implies Mr. Hunt is a clueless sugar daddy, rich and dumb, just here to get swindled by Rachel.¡± ¡°Exactly! She¡¯s worked under Ms. Yvette for years. I thought she¡¯d learned something, but her IQ just took a nosedive.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, enough gossip. Ms. Rachel¡¯sing out!¡± Her Exit 505 Rachel and Cecilia walked into the office. Rachel¡¯s voice was cold and indifferent, carrying amanding presence that filled the room. ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone has seen thepany announcement. Sharon didn¡¯t resign for no reason. She deliberately tried to sabotage our rtionship with our partnerpany. She knew full well that we were seeking coboration with LS Enterprise, yet she still went behind our backs and tried to drive a wedge between us and Mr. Hunt. ¡°If she had seeded, and Mr. Hunt pulled out due to misunderstandings about my character, who would bear the consequences of that loss?¡± Rachel¡¯s words left everyone in the office speechless. Among the crowd, Yvette nced down at her freshly manicured nails and said softly, ¡°Could it be that you targeted Sharon just because she was one of my people? No matter what, Sharon was a long¨Ctime employee. Firing her like this¨Cwon¡¯t it chill the hearts of everyone else here?¡± The office, which had just quieted down, instantly erupted again because of Yvette¡¯s words. ¡°She¡¯s got a point. Sharon¡¯s out today. What if one of us is next?¡± ¡°Stop it, you¡¯re scaring me! I¡¯m already panicking.¡± ¡°Right? If just a few words can get you fired, we¡¯re all walking on eggshells now. Who knows when one of us will end up jobless?¡± ¡°ssic new leadership movee in strong to set the tone. Looks like Ms. Rachel¡¯s setting an example. Cecilia rolled her eyes and red at Yvette. That woman really knew how to fan the mes. Rachel simply cast Yvette a disdainful nce before smiling smugly. ¡°I can promise everyone this. As long as youplete your assigned tasks on time and refrain from spreading rumors or gossiping about your superiors, you¡¯ll be able to retire from Lloyd Enterprise without worry, ¡°Also, I have great news, Just moments ago, the CEO of Sky Tech Enterprise personally called me. Their new energy project has officially been awarded to us. Starting next month, all sries and annual bonuses will be doubled.¡± The room erupted in cheers. ¡°Oh my goodness! This has to be the peak for ourpany. I¡¯ve never seen usnd two major projects in a single month!¡± ¡°I suddenly feel like my future is glowing. And Sharon? Such an idiot for trying to sabotage our rtionship with Mr. Hunt! She didn¡¯t stop to think. If he really got the wrong impression of Ms. Rachel, where would that leave the rest of us?¡± ¡°Exactly! She almost ruined everything!¡± Yvette watched the tide turnpletely in Rachel¡¯s favor. Just moments ago, all these people had been pledging loyalty to her, vowing to find ways to force Rachel out. Now, they were switching sides in an instant. Rachel narrowed her eyes and then deliberately smirked in Yvette¡¯s direction. Yvette¡¯s face turned bright red with anger. ¡°Well, since no one seems to have any objections to how I manage thispany, let¡¯s wrap up. I¡¯ll have someone draft newpany policies shortly. Rest assured¨Cduring my term, there will be no favoritism, no collusion, and no shielding of ipetence.¡± Everyone knew exactly what thosest two points referred to. During Yvette¡¯s time in charge, those who were close to her got all the benefits. Competence didn¡¯t matter. What mattered most was knowing how to keep her happy. For those who actually had real skills, that favoritism had always been a major roadblock for career progression. Her Exit 506 Back when Jim was in charge, he took the interview process very seriously. In fact, most of the people at Lloyd Enterprise were actually quitepetent. But no matter how capable someone was or how much work they did, it was no match for those who whispered sweet nothings into Yvette¡¯s ear or ran a couple of errands for her. A promotion or raise? That just took a few words. Rachel¡¯s words instantly fired up the capable employees, like they had just received an energy shot. Some even stepped forward to pledge theirmitment. ¡°Ms. Rachel, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re here to do our jobs and earn promotions and raises, not to kiss anyone¡¯s ass.¡± ¡°Exactly. If there¡¯s work to be done, just give it to us. As long as we don¡¯t have to blow smoke, we¡¯re good.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡± Hearing that only made Rachel more determined. She was going to lead this group of capable employees to greater heights. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. It¡¯s about Ms. Yvette. We just found out that there was a failed project at thepany. Originally, the shareholders had voted against it, but Ms. Yvette epted a 100,000 bribe to secretly sign off on it. That project ended up costing thepany a million. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked HR to draft a demotion notice. Effective today, Ms. Yvette¡¯s suspension will be lifted, and she¡¯ll be demoted to department director. From now on, any project she handles must be reviewed and approved by me personally before it proceeds.¡± Yvette scoffed and stormed over to Rachel. ¡°Who gave you the right to demote me? My position as deputy CEO was appointed by Dad! You don¡¯t have the authority. Not even the shareholders can demote me at will.¡± Yvette looked smug. Jim was hanging on by a thread in the hospital, kept alive only by tubes and IV drips. She had already checked. He was barely conscious these days. If Rachel wanted to demote her, she would need his personal approval. But he was in no condition to be worrying aboutpany matters. He was fighting for his life. At that moment, Gary walked up to Rachel and whispered in her ear, ¡°It¡¯s true. Back then, Mr. Lloyd was concerned that Ms. Yvette¡¯s return to thepany might be seen as illegitimate, so he made it clear that no one but him could fire or demote her. Otherwise, with all the mistakes she¡¯s made, we would¡¯ve done more than just suspend her.¡± Rachel frowned. So even the suspension was just for show? Once things died down, Yvette could just waltz back in and keep ying the role of deputy CEO like nothing happened. Yvette strutted up to Rachel, head held high, and arrogantly tilted her chin. ¡°Oh, dear sister. That must be disappointing, huh? Thought you could make an example out of me? Hate to break it to you, but that n just fell t.¡± Standing nearby, Cecilia¡¯s chest heaved with anger at Yvette¡¯s smugness. She was about to lose it. How could anyone be this shameless? Rachel hadn¡¯t expected Yvette to have such a trump card up her sleeve, but that didn¡¯t mean she was powerless. ¡°If that¡¯s what Dad said, then I won¡¯t go against him. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t demote you or kick you out of thepany. But starting today, you won¡¯t be taking charge of any more projects.¡± Yvette¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Her voice involuntarily rose. ¡°On what grounds?¡± ¡°On the grounds that I¡¯m the one in charge now.¡± Rachel¡¯s words were firm and forceful,pletely overpowering Yvette, leaving her with nothing to say but a seething re. Her Exit 507 The meaning behind all this was already crystal clear. They were basically stripping Yvette of all her authority. What use was the title of deputy CEO if it came with no real power?! Yvette knew this, too. Even if Rachel didn¡¯t demote her or kick her out of thepany, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference. She was nowpletely sidelined. She had no say in project matters, and even less in financial ones. With no other options, Yvette turned to Gary for help. She walked over and clutched his hand, pleading. ¡°Mr. Summers, have you forgotten what my dad asked of you? He told you to take good care of me. You can¡¯t just stand by and let them treat me like this!¡± Gary shook his head. ¡°Ms. Yvette, your father did ask me to look after you, but that only applies if you¡¯re actually trying to do something good for thepany, not if you¡¯re¡­¡± He sighed heavily, clearly disappointed, and gave a dismissive wave. ¡°This ends here. When you start contributing to thepany the way your sister does, we can talk about restoring your authority.¡± With that, Gary turned and walked away. The rest of the people watching had seen enough. It wasn¡¯t worth staying around any longer. After delegating tasks, Rachel sent everyone off to focus on their work. Cecilia quickly caught up to Rachel, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Rachel¨Cuh, I mean Ms. Rachel, where¡¯s your office?¡± Rachel had nearly forgotten. She didn¡¯t even have an office yet. Right then, the two of them happened to pass by Yvette¡¯s office. Rachel suddenly stopped. She turned to Cecilia and said calmly, ¡°Go tell the assistant that since Ms. Yvette isn¡¯t using her office anymore, it should go to someone who actually needs it. Have her move into the office next door.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t speak loudly, but her words were just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. Cecilia pursed her lips and barely held back herughter. ¡°Alright, Ms. Rachel.¡± Soon, people were already making arrangements to move the office. Yvette had juste out of the restroom when she saw a group of people clearing out her things. Her expression changed immediately. ¡°What are you doing? Who told you to touch my stuff? Get out! This is my office!¡± But everyone knew how office politics worked. Back when Yvette held power, she loved pulling strings and using backdoor connections. Those who had real talent were often targeted and suppressed. Now that the tide had turned, no one was going to cut her any ck. Someone mocked her harshly. ¡°Ms. Yvette, you¡¯re not in charge anymore. I suggest you save yourself the embarrassment¨Cunless you want to be the office joke.¡± ¡°Yes, this office was personally requested by Ms. Rachel. We¡¯re just employees. Unlike you, the deputy CEO, we can¡¯t treat the ce like our own house.¡± ¡°If you have a problem with it, you¡¯d better take it up with Ms. Rachel directly.¡± Someone even bumped into Yvette while passing by. She was wearing heels and almost lost her bnce. Her ankle twisted painfully, making her gasp from the sharp sting. She clenched her fists tightly, letting the pain spread through her palms, but her eyes showed no sign of backing down. Just you wait!¡® Yvette didn¡¯t believe for a second that no one could rein Rachel in. Meanwhile, Rachel and Cecilia were in the conference room discussing how to move forward with the Sky Tech Enterprise project. After hearing Rachel¡¯s n, Cecilia looked at her, speechless. ¡°Are you sure this schedule is even doable? You just took over. If no one down there throws a fit, I¡¯ll be shocked!¡± C 3 Chapter 508 Her Exit 508 Suddenly, everything ramped up. Over the past few days, Cecilia had taken the time to look into the state of Lloyd Enterprise before the recent shake¨Cup. Back when Yvette was in charge, the entirepany operated like a punch¨Cthe¨Cclock kind of ce. Everyone just showed up, did the bare minimum, and left. There was barely any work to be done. Most of thepany was just coasting off its past glory. The upside included easy work, nine¨Cto¨Cfive hours, never any overtime, and zero performance pressure. After all, when the deputy CEO herself was just taking up space, how could she expect her employees to Rachel, however, wasn¡¯t the least bit concerned. She asked Cecilia a simple question. ¡°Do you really think anyone in this world would turn down money?¡± Cecilia shook her head without hesitation. ¡°Not a chance.¡± ¡°Exactly. Go ahead and distribute these. Trust me, once they see those bonuses, they¡¯ll put in the effort. You know why people in those corporate jobs are always so bitter? Because their bosses hoard all the projectmissions for themselves. ¡°But we¡¯re keeping it fair, slow, and steady. As long as the money¡¯s there, people will be motivated. That¡¯s when they start actually caring about their work. ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s a hiring notice too. Help me send that out as well.¡± Cecilia took the paper and nced at it. Her pupils contracted. ¡°Rachel, did you type the wrong number or something? This sry¡¯s higher than 90% of thepanies out there! If we make this public, won¡¯t we be a target?¡± ¡°How are we supposed to attract talent without offering money? You want me to hand them my heart instead? We used to be employees, too. We know what it¡¯s like¨Ctoo much work, too little pay, and bosses squeezing everyst drop out of us. But now, we¡¯re the ones running the business. We might as well speak up for working folks and shift the culture a little.¡± Cec¨ªlia couldn¡¯t help but give Rachel a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°All those years you spent as a director at Lewis Enterprise were such a waste of your talent! Honestly, William never should¡¯ve been CEO. You should¡¯ve taken that seat. Maybe then Lewis Enterprise wouldn¡¯t be in the mess it¡¯s in now.¡± Rachel snorted. ¡°Why would I want to build hispany up for him? Things are different now. This is our Cecilia nodded. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Just then, Rachel¡¯s phone rang. It was Tyler calling. She swiped to answer. ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°Congrattions on the big promotion. Does that call for a celebratory dinner?¡± Rachel nearly rolled her eyes. She knew Tyler wouldn¡¯t be calling just to offer congrattions. This man never did anything without some kind of scheme in mind. He was always lurking behind the scenes and ready to pounce. She smiled before saying sarcastically, ¡°Tyler, did you forget how we left things just now? We didn¡¯t exactly part on good terms, and our deal didn¡¯t go through. And now, you want me to buy you dinner? A bit thick¨Cskinned, don¡¯t you think?¡± Cecilia heard Rachel actually call Tyler thick¨Cskinned and felt a chill run down her spine. Her heart felt tense. It was the first time she had ever heard someone say that to Tyler. Tyler¡¯s tone was cold. ¡°Those are two separate matters. I helped you rise to the top, and you won¡¯t even buy me a meal, Rachel?¡± Of course Rachel was willing to treat him. In fact, she was hoping to use the opportunity to bring up the project again. This was her only shot. Only Tyler had the financial power to get it off the ground. No one else even came close. Her Exit 509 Rachel had been going nonstop all morning, and she was starting to feel the exhaustion settle in. She leaned back into her chair to rest for a moment. ¡°You pick the ce,¡± she said. ¡°Moon & Barrel.¡± Rachel was speechless. He chose that ridiculously overpriced ce again! Tyler noticed her silence and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Rachel? Can¡¯t bear to spend the money?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t dare say that. No matter how reluctant she felt, now wasn¡¯t the time to be stingy. If she messed this up, the project would fall through. ¡°You pick the time. Today?¡± ¡°No time like the present.¡± ¡°Fine, after work-¡± Before Rachel could finish her sentence, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Yvette. [Grandpa wants everyone home tonight for dinner. He wants to discuss Dad¡¯s condition.] Rachel scoffed sarcastically. Someone finally showed concern for Jim¡¯s condition. She continued speaking to Tyler. ¡°Sorry, Yvette just messaged. My grandpa asked everyone to go back tonight. He wants to talk about my dad¡¯s health.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was tinged with mockery. ¡°Let me guess, you saw how expensive my dinner spot was and made up an excuse to bail?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help blurting out, ¡°Tyler, are you crazy? Come on, you¡¯re a boss now. Why are you still acting like some moody teenager?¡± Instead of getting upset, Tyler seemed oddly pleased by Rachel¡¯s irritation. He actually liked seeing her react this way. Back when she used to call him ¡®Mr. Hunt¡® all the time, it was clear that she didn¡¯t really mean it. It was just superficial politeness. He didn¡¯t want a phony, sugar¨Ccoated version of her. He wanted the real Rachel. Rachel took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down Tyler had this uncanny ability to get under her skin. She could handle anything else with grace, but when it came to him, she turned into a firecracker. One spark, and she¡¯d explode. She tried again, moreposed this time. ¡°I really do have something important tonight. We can have a meal tomorrow instead. Besides, it¡¯s only one dayter. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ll starve to death or something.¡± ¡°If I do starve to death, will you die with me?¡± Tyler was still teasing. Rachel started to wonder if he had actually lost his mind, but she couldn¡¯t say that aloud. So instead, she yed along. ¡°I would feel terribly guilty.¡± ¡°Your acting needs serious work. That sounded so fake, I lost my appetite. Forget it¨Ctomorrow, then.¡± Clearly, Tyler wasn¡¯t even interested in pretending to believe her. Rachel let out a sigh of relief, her voice now sweet and polished. ¡°Alright then. See you tomorrow, Tyler.¡± The moment the call ended, her smile disappeared. Just dealing with Yvette was already enough to fray her nerves, and now she had Tyler to contend with. To make matters worse¡­ Rachel nced at Cecilia and muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t you think that if Tyler were a woman, he¡¯d be the ultimate mean girl?¡± Just imagining it made her skin crawl. Cecilia nodded in total agreement. ¡°I was thinking the same thing.¡± Tyler really did have that ¡®mean girl¡® energy. After wrapping up her work for the day, Rachel gave it some thought and eventually decided to stop by a department store to pick up some health supplements for Gerald. Whatever everyone else did or said, she had her own standards. This was also a discussion about Jim¡¯s health. She couldn¡¯t show up empty¨Chanded. She drove there in the car Tyler had gifted her. She was heading to a ce she hadn¡¯t set foot in for many years Standing outside the Lloyd family estate, Rachel felt the same as before. This ce had never felt like home. Rather, she felt like a guest here. Her Exit 510 This time, it was different. In the past, Rachel had always entered this house as an adopted daughter. But now, she had returned as Jim¡¯s biological child. The only difference was that she was a child born out of wedlock. A maid at the door came out and saw Rachel, immediately beaming with joy as she greeted her. ¡°Ms. Rachel is back! Ms. Rachel is back!¡± The rest of the maids poured out behind her. Rachel forced a smile. If she didn¡¯t know anyone else, she at least knew these people. They were opportunistic and unfaithful. They were only rushing over now because she had suddenly bounced back, and her identity was once again of value. She didn¡¯t bother putting on a pleasant act for them. She walked past them without a nce, her tone indifferent as she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Grandpa?¡± One of them quickly replied, ¡°Mr. Gerald is already waiting for you in the living room.¡± Rachel entered the living room and saw an elderly man with white hair seated at the head. Five years had passed, and it was clear he had aged considerably. His face was covered in wrinkles, his posture hunched¨Cno longer the upright andmanding presence he once was. Even his eyes had lost their edge. He seemed kinder now. Rachel walked up to him and set down the items she had brought on the table nearby. Her voice was respectful but distant. ¡°These are some supplements I picked up for you. I don¡¯t know much about your current health, so maybe have your doctor look over them before taking anything.¡± Gerald simply nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no need to bring anything. You¡¯re back, and that¡¯s enough. But why haven¡¯t you contacted the family all these years? Do you know how worried your father was? He asked everyone he could to look for you. He nearly went mad with anxiety.¡± Rachel sat down and snorted. Her voice wasced with sarcasm. ¡°I thought whether I¡¯m dead or alive no longer mattered to this family. I didn¡¯t expect to hear someone actually still cared.¡± Gerald¡¯s expression stiffened. ¡°All these years and that temper of yours hasn¡¯t changed a bit, has it?¡± Rachel turned slightly to look at Gerald. ¡°I¡¯ve always believed in returning kindness with kindness, and grudges with grudges. You of all people should know that about me after all the years we spent under the same roof.¡± Did they really expect her to be some kind of saint? Was she supposed to let bygones be bygones and forget all the ways they hurt her? Did she have toe back acting like they were one big happy family? She wasn¡¯t that forgiving. ¡°Rachel, those things happened a long time ago. Besides, you know your grandfather always felt guilty about Yvette. That¡¯s why he wasn¡¯t as attentive to you. But that was then, and this is now. We called you back today to share some good news!¡± Sasha suddenly chimed in. Rachel never had high expectations of them. She smirked. Her gaze was cold when she nced at Gerald and Sasha. ¡°Good news? Let¡¯s not pretend we don¡¯t know each other. I only came back because I heard you were nning something about Dad. If that¡¯s not what this is about, then I have nothing more to say. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± She turned around and started heading for the door. Just as she reached it, she ran into Howard, who was dressed in a suit. This man had left asting scar on her. It haunted her to this day. The moment she saw him, her body instinctively reacted, taking two steps back. Howard smiled at her, but there was something disturbingly twisted about it. ¡°Rachel, long time no see.¡± Her Exit 511 Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed in disgust. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°For something important, of course,¡± Howard said with a wicked sneer. Rachel instinctively turned to nce at Sasha and Gerald. Did she have anything to do with Howard¡¯s appearance here? There was a tension in the air as Sasha stepped forward, trying to smooth things over. ¡°Rachel, since you¡¯re back, why don¡¯t you eat something before you leave? We still need to talk about your dad.¡± Rachel¡¯s face grew cold, clearly unwilling to stay any longer. ¡°We can talk about my dad another day.¡± She made a move to leave. However, Sasha hurriedly held her back. ¡°Rachel, you know that your dad is in a worse condition than we all thought. We¡¯re the only ones left in the family now. No matter how much you dislike us, we should really talk things through regarding your father.¡± Rachel was hesitant. She didn¡¯t want to see Howard, but she also knew that the more she avoided him, the more he would stick around like an annoying, unwanted piece of gum. She took a deep breath before sitting back down. She cut straight to the chase, not willing to waste a moment more. ¡°How do you want to deal with Dad¡¯s situation?¡± Gerald cleared his throat before greeting Howard. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, have a seat.¡± Howard stuck his hands in his pockets and sat on a chair. A servant soon appeared, serving him a cup of hot tea. Gerald knew Rachel¡¯s temperament and decided not to beat around the bush. ¡°You know your dad¡¯s condition. We were thinking of having a celebration and lifting everyone¡¯s mood. His health might just take a turn for the better.¡± Rachel pondered his suggestion and agreed. ¡°My birthday is around the corner. Are you thinking of celebrating my birthday, Grandpa?¡± Gerald sat stunned for a moment, not expecting Rachel to phrase her question so directly. 2/11/2 He smiled stiffly and went on, ¡°You¡¯re not getting any younger, you see. Your dad mentioned that although you and William are divorced, it¡¯s not good for ady to remain single. You should find another man to be with for the rest of your life.¡± Rachel was starting to realize where Gerald was going. Instead of panicking, she crossed her legs and leaned leisurely back on the chair she was sitting on, sipping on her tea. ¡°Isn¡¯t Yvette still single? You should be worried about her instead. There¡¯s no rush for a woman like me, who¡¯s been married once.¡± Sasha put on a good¨Cnatured smile and said, ¡°We¡¯ve already found her a suitable partner. We initially wanted to introduce her to Mr. West, but he preferred you. I also discussed it with your grandfather, and we agreed that it was a bad idea for Yvette to marry a middle¨Caged man when she¡¯s still so young. ¡°She was willing to, for the sake of the family business. But you saw for yourself how Mr. West simply didn¡¯t fancy her. We had topromise and consider Mr. West¡¯s younger brother instead.¡± Rachel put her tea cup down with an arched brow. ¡°Oh, so you want to talk to me about Yvette¡¯s marriage. Sure, I don¡¯t have a problem with that. Just invite me to her wedding and I¡¯ll make time for it.¡± She dusted off her hands and stood up. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± Sasha began. Unable to hold it back any longer, Gerald blurted out, ¡°Your sister¡¯s marriage arrangements are set in stone, but we want to talk about you. I¡¯ve discussed it with your stepmother, and we¡¯ve betrothed you to Mr. Ziegler.¡± Her Exit 512 ¡°That¡¯s why we called him over today,¡± Gerald finished. Howard chimed in, ¡°Mr. Lloyd, Mrs. Lloyd, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve fancied Ms. Lloyd for a long time. I¡¯ll surely treat her well as my wife. As for the betrothal gifts, feel free to raise your request. We won¡¯t shortchange her at all.¡± His mention of betrothal gifts widened the smile on Sasha¡¯s face. ¡°Just listen to how sincere Mr. Ziegler is! He¡¯s worlds apart from Mr. West¡¯s younger brother with his nose stuck up in the air, as if he¡¯s all that.¡± Instead of ring up at Sasha, Rachel looked at her with narrowed eyes and said with a bright smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, ¡°Since you think Mr. Ziegler is so amazing, why don¡¯t you divorce my dad and marry him instead?¡± ¡°How audacious! Rachel, how dare you talk to us like that when we raised you so painstakingly?¡± Gerald berated. Sasha grabbed Rachel¡¯s hand and saidfortingly, ¡°Rachel, I don¡¯t care what you say about me, but your grandpa¡¯s health has been ailing for the past few years. He really cares about you, so please don¡¯t argue with him. If anything were to happen to your grandpa, would your dad survive the blow?¡± Rachel flung Sasha¡¯s hand away mercilessly. She looked pointedly at thetter, a storm brewing in her eyes. ¡°Do we need to put on such a show between us? You¡¯ve never treated me as part of the family. Why bother saying things like that? ¡°You only think of me when you need me for something. What makes you think I¡¯ll agree to it? I¡¯m only a daughter of the Lloyd family when you need me, and when you don¡¯t, I have nothing whatsoever to do with this family.¡± These words have been in the depths of Rachel¡¯s heart for the longest time. For her father¡¯s sake, she didn¡¯t have a nasty falling out with the rest of the family. However, it didn¡¯t mean that she absolved them of all me. She wasn¡¯t a fool. ¡°But it¡¯s a fact that you¡¯re a daughter of the Lloyd family, and you must do as we say,¡± Gerald said firmly. I¡¯ve already agreed to your marriage to Mr. Ziegler. The 4th of next month is a good date. You two will get engaged on that day.¡± Rachel¡¯s face flushed red with anger. What era were they in now? Was forced marriage still a thing? She made her stand clear. ¡°I won¡¯t get engaged to Howard Ziegler.¡± Gerald was livid, his voice shaking as he struck his cane on the floor. ¡°You¡¯ll be driving me to my grave if you refuse to agree!¡± He was forcing Rachel¡¯s hand with his death. Rachel bit her lip hard. Gerald was pushing her to the corner, threatening her with his death if she refused to relent. What would everyone in Yurelia City say of her if word about this were to spread? How was she going to exin things to Jim? Even if she managed to ovee this ordeal, she knew herself well enough to know that she would live in guilt and pain for the rest of her life. Her career and her entire future would be buried along with her grandfather. How vicious of him! Howard sat right there, sipping leisurely on his tea with no intention of getting embroiled in the bitter strife between the Lloyds. He was here just to take advantage of the situation. With Gerald in the picture, Rachel was bound to heel. Just then, the sound of footsteps approached them, followed by a deep voice of a man. ¡°Mr. Lloyd, shouldn¡¯t you give me a heads up if you¡¯re trying to give my girlfriend¡¯s hand in marriage to a Ziegler?¡± Her Exit 513 veryone in the room, including Rachel, stared at Tyler in shock. What in the world was he doing? Why was he exposing their rtionship? Wasn¡¯t it clearly stated in their agreement that they would keep their rtionship under wraps for the time being, unless they had no choice? The main concern was that while she might have a way out, things might be troublesome for Tyler if their agreement were to be terminated. Yet, he exposed their rtionship just like that. Sasha was the first to recover from her shock. As she did, she found Tyler¡¯s statement unbelievable. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what¡­what did you just say? Rachel¡­ Rachel is your girlfriend?¡± Tyler nced coldly at her. ¡°Do you have a problem with that?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Sasha wanted to say that Rachel was a divorcee and that there was no need for him to stoop to marrying a divorcee like her, even though he had been single for many years. Gerald was equally taken aback. He never expected Rachel to get herself involved with Tyler. Instead of being happy with the news, he looked grim. ¡°Tyler, although I¡¯ve never met your father, I have at least heard of his temper. ¡°We¡¯d have nothing to say about you two being together if Rachel had never married. The problem right now is that she¡¯s a divorcee. Your family will never agree to you marrying a divorcee. What¡¯s more, she can¡¯t afford to wait. We want her to get married again as soon as possible so she has someone to rely on for the rest of her life.¡± Gerald made himself very clear, but his words chilled Rachel¡¯s heart. He despised her for embarrassing the family and thought she wasn¡¯t worthy of the Hunts. The nerve of her to dream about marrying Tyler as a divorcee! Of all the eligible men in Yurelia City, Tyler was the cream of the crop. How could he stoop to being with a divorced woman? Rachel wouldn¡¯t have cared if those words came from an outsider, but Gerald was her grandfather. How could he disparage her like that? Sasha chimed in as well. ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. Hunt. It¡¯s not that we disapprove of the two of you being together, but if this is just for novelty¡¯s sake and you¡¯re not nning to take it seriously, it¡¯ll be better if you stay away from Rachel. You might be able to afford ying the game, but she certainly can¡¯t. If she wasted a few more years with you, she might be doomed for the rest of her life.¡± Upon hearing themotion, Yvette came downstairs and immediately noticed how tense the air was. Her face fell when she saw Tyler standing next to Rachel. She tightened her hold over the railing and said derisively, ¡°Yes, Mr. Hunt. You really should think things through. My sister divorced William. If you¡¯re just fooling around with her, you¡¯ll be hard¨Cpressed to exin things to both sides if things were to go south. ¡°Rachel was with my ex¨Cbrother¨Cinw for seven years and ended up divorced. Aren¡¯t you worried that she¡¯d break up with you one day when she¡¯s in a bad mood and ruin your reputation?¡± Sasha stepped forward and earnestly tried to convince Tyler as well, as if for his own good. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hunt. What¡¯s more, you and Yvette almost got engaged before, but it fell through because of various reasons. We found it a huge pity, really.¡± Her Exit 514 ¡°How about considering picking up where you left off with Yvette? As for Rachel¡¯s marriage, leave it to us to decide. Het grandfather has already struck an agreement with the Zieglers, and we can¡¯t go back on our word.¡± Just then, Howard stood up, looking at Tyler and Rachel like they were a shameless, cheating couple. He rubbed his nose and said slovenly, ¡°So this is the woman you¡¯ve been waiting for all these years of being single As if he hadn¡¯t said enough, he drew close to Tyler and tilted his chin at thetter, a wicked sneer on his hips ¡°You must have already slept with her. Was it great? I can understand why you might not bear to leave her after having your fun with her, but are you sure your father won¡¯t break your legs if you let a divorcee marry into your family?¡± Tyler shot him a sideways nce, his jawline tensing. ¡°You mean, you¡¯re just fooling around and don¡¯t really want to marry her? You¡¯ll just return her when you get sick of her?¡± Howard fell silent in that instant, but his silence was enough of an answer for Tyler. After a moment¡¯s silence, Howard said cockily, ¡°As long as she is obedient, makes me happy, and doesn¡¯t cause any trouble at home, I¡¯ll marry her.¡± Sasha approached Howard. As though worried that he might reject Rachel at his whim, she said with an ingratiating smile, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, don¡¯t you worry. Rachel is very obedient, and you¡¯ll find that marrying her is the best choice you can make. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of how capable she is at work. Not only will marrying her help produce an heir for your family, but she can even assist with thepany. You¡¯ll get the best of both worlds!¡± Rachel stood expressionlessly at the side, not refuting a single im. Her gaze swept coldly across everyone in the room, as though they were talking about something that had nothing to do with her. The servants standing around found the entire scene before them strange, and some bolder ones even started gossiping under their breath. ¡°What¡¯s with Ms. Rachel? Why isn¡¯t she saying a word? This is about her marriage, for goodness¡® sake!¡± ¡°Yeah. I think marrying Mr. Hunt is certainly a better choice. Although he seems to have a temper, he¡¯s miles better than Mr. Ziegler, who¡¯s always fooling around with other women.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about his promiscuous lifestyle. Ms. Rachel probably is doomed to suffer if she were to marry him.¡± ¡°I wonder what Mr. Lloyd is thinking. Why must he give Ms. Rachel¡¯s hand in marriage to Mr. Ziegler? Why not Mr. Hunt?¡± ¡°Are you foolish? If he lets Ms. Rachel marry Mr. Hunt, what will happen to Ms. Yvette? She¡¯s never been married, after all.¡± At that moment, they suddenly understood what Gerald was doing. To put it bluntly, Rachel¡¯s greatest shoring was that she was divorced and therefore not worthy of Tyler. If this were just a passing infatuation on Tyler¡¯s end and when he eventually got sick and tired of Rachel and dumped her, the Lloyds wouldn¡¯t be able to say anything. Even Howard wouldn¡¯t want Rachel if that were to happen. Tyler refused to waste his breath arguing with Howard. There was no point trying to talk sense into a fool, anyway. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he shot Howard a look so cold, it sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room. ¡°Howard Ziegler, are you going to fight with me over her?¡± Her Exit 515 Howard scoffed. ¡°So what if I am? Dare you do anything to me?¡± There were tons of people who couldn¡¯t stand how arrogant Howard was, but none of them actually dared to provoke him because of his grandfather Anyone who dared to offend Howard was doomed to have his family torn apart. No one would dare to risk that Tyler had what it took to asionally teach Howard a lesson, but even he didn¡¯t dare to really do much to Howard. A storm was brewing in Tyler¡¯s eyes, and a muscle twitched at his jawline. His lips were pursed as he looked coldly at Howard. ¡°Try it. See if I manage to cripple you¡± Howard tilted his head up andughed loudly. ¡°Tyler, oh Tyler! How should I say this? You¡¯re the only one in Yurelia City I actually respect. None of the other fools are fit to even talk to me.¡± His haughtyughter rang in the air, a confident deration that no one in this world dared toy a finger on him. The thought sent fear shooting through Rachel¡¯s veins. With such a strong backer, the kind of power and influence that Howard had over Yurelia City was so absolute. It enabled him to do anything he pleased She wasn¡¯t sure if Tyler would really be willing to pit himself against Howard for her sake. For someone as wealthy and powerful as Tyler, this didn¡¯t just concern him as an individual, but also two entire families. No sessful man in this world would be willing to risk his all for the sake of one woman. Rachel wouldn¡¯t even me Tyler even if he eventually decided to give up. One couldn¡¯t just live for oneself, but also for one¡¯s family. Rachel didn¡¯t want to put Tyler in a difficult spot and decided to stand up for herself and reject Howard. ¡°Howard Ziegler, quit wasting your time here. I¡¯ll never agree to marrying you. You might think all is fine and dandy as long as you strike an agreement with the Lloyds, but I¡¯m in charge when it won¡¯t marry you, and I won¡¯t. No one can change my mind.¡± Sasha tried to talk Rachel out of it. ¡°Rachel, your grandpa is doing this for your own good! Will you only let this rest if he dies right before you?¡± Rachel pursed her lips. She was resolute about never marrying Howard. Over her dead body would she ever let that happen! However, she didn¡¯t have the guts to live with the guilt of causing someone else¡¯s death over a decision she made. It would be too heavy a burden for her to take on. She looked at Gerald, her eyes red with unshed tears. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand this. No matter what, I¡¯m still a daughter of the family. Even if Dad and Mom didn¡¯t actually give birth to me, the blood of the Lloyd family flows in my veins. Why do you not treat me as family at all? ¡°Instead, you treat me as a pawn, making me do your bidding when you need me and iming that I¡¯m not fit to be a part of the family when you don¡¯t. If that¡¯s the case, I might as well cut off all ties with the family!¡± Rachel¡¯s voice was a pitch higher as she announced her decision unflinchingly. She had made up her mind. Gerald felt faint as he pointed a trembling finger at Rachel. ¡°You¡­you unfilial daughter! How dare¡­how dare you rebel against me and talk about cutting off ties with us?! If you¡¯re really bent on doing that, I have the right to take back all thepany shares under your name. You can forget about staying in thepany!¡± Her Exit 516 ¡°You¡¯d better make the right choice if you know what¡¯s good for you!¡± Gerald thought that threatening Rachel with money and her career prospects would make her yield. He had seen for himself what Rachel was capable of doing for Lloyd Enterprise during this period. The more one sacrificed for something, the deeper one would feel invested in it. He strongly believed that no one in this world would say no to power and wealth. Rachel¡¯s silence on the matter gave Gerald the confidence that he was in control of the situation. At the next second, however, Rachel looked up. Tyler saw a glint in her eyes that shone so bright, it was a beacon of hope amidst the darkness Rachel was thrown into. ¡°Sure, I can give up thepany shares I have and my role in thepany. I can give up everything that has to do with this family. Will that do?¡± Gerald¡¯s jaw dropped and his eyes widened at Rachel¡¯s announcement. ¡°Are¡­are you sure you¡¯ve thought it through? If I were to announce to the public that you cut ties with us, your future in Yurelia City will be ruined!¡± As the one who asked to sever ties with the Lloyds, it was clear what everyone in Yurelia City would think of Rachel. Most would spit on her and look at her in disdain. ¡°That¡¯s my problem and you don¡¯t need to worry about it,¡± Rachel said without a hint of hesitation. Everyone thought that Rachel was doing this as ast resort, desperate not to marry Howard. They didn¡¯t know that she did this out of sheer disappointment in the Lloyds and her grandfather. Although Rachel had always known that her grandfather never liked her, she rationalized to herself that it was because she was not Jim¡¯s biological daughter. Yet now, she was proven to be Jim¡¯s illegitimate daughter and a biological member of the Lloyd family. She had thought that Gerald wouldn¡¯t be as cold to her on ount of the blood ties they shared. Ultimately, she failed to grasp the depravity of human nature. Not only did they refuse to truly ept her as part of the family, but they even tried to squeeze her dry of her value in the name of being family. In that case, she didn¡¯t want a family like this. Gerald was infuriated. He was by nature as stubborn as Rachel, and now, they had reached a stalemate. Despite the traces of regret bubbling in his chest, he couldn¡¯t stop his harsh words fromnding like a sharp de on Rachel¡¯s heart. He refused to back down. ¡°Fine! You think you¡¯re all grown and independent now, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ll see how far you can go without us!¡± he roared. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Mr. Lloyd. Rachel will be part of my family from now on. I might not be able to promise her great wealth and prosperity, but I can guarantee that I¡¯ll never let her go cold or hungry for as long as I live. It¡¯s also a happy coincidence that LS Enterprise¡¯s subsidiarypany is looking to establish a base in Yurelia City and requires a boss. It¡¯s all thanks to you, Mr. Lloyd, that I have just the candidate in mind for that.¡± 1 Tyler sounded as though he was expressing his gratitude to Mr. Lloyd, but everyone in the room knew that wasn¡¯t the case. Rather, he was making one thing clear. From now on, he was Rachel¡¯s pir of support. Even without the Lloyds, he had what it took to let her thrive in Yurelia City. Even if she couldn¡¯t be the boss of Lloyd Enterprise, she could be the boss of his subsidiarypany. He would be her most reliable supporter. Jealousy reared its ugly head in Yvette¡¯s heart, driving her to approach Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, are you sure you want a filthy woman like my sister?¡± she blurted out, dripping with envy. ¡°I know something you probably don¡¯t¡­¡± Her Exit 517 Chapter 517 Sasha stood stunned for a few seconds. Soon, she snapped out of it and hurriedly covered Yvette¡¯s mouth. ¡°Yvette, don¡¯t talk nonsense! If your sister really loves Mr. Hunt, let them be. How will they face each other if you reveal all that?¡± Rachel said without any hesitation, ¡°Go ahead and speak your mind, Yvette. I don¡¯t mind.¡± She was filled with disgust for this family. Sasha was not trying to stop Yvette¨Cshe was clearly hoping just the opposite. Even if Yvette decided not to share the so¨Ccalled secret, seeds of doubt would already be sown between Rachel and Tyler. Sasha¡¯s words would be a thorn lodged in Tyler¡¯s throat. What did she mean by that? She was tantly hinting that the secret Yvette was about to spill would potentially affect their rtionship and deal a huge blow to Tyler. How scheming of them! Unfortunately for that mother¨Cand¨Cdaughter pair, Rachel didn¡¯t care about the secret they thought they had. Her rtionship with Tyler was merely transactional, not genuine in the slightest. Rachel straightened her back and demanded of Yvette, instead of stopping her, ¡°Go on, tell us what Tyler doesn¡¯t know.¡± Yvette lowered her head meekly, her previous brash and overbearing posture all but gone. Her voice was muffled with hesitation, as though she was forced to say what she was about to say. ¡°In that case, don¡¯t me me for this, Rachel. I just think that since you¡¯re now with Mr. Hunt, honesty should be the best policy between you two. If you keep mum about it and Mr. Hunt finds out the truth some other way, it¡¯ll be detrimental to your rtionship.¡± Rachel wrapped her arms around her chest, her interest piqued as to what Yvette had in store for her. ¡°Sure. Go ahead.¡± Yvette turned to Tyler and said, ¡°You might not know this, Mr. Hunt, but Rachel was sexually assaulted by her homeroom teacher in high school, and he went pretty far. The entire incident blew up, and many people knew about it.¡± 1 The look on Rachel¡¯s face froze at Yvette¡¯s mention of the traumatic incident. She clenched her fists so hard, her nails dug into the flesh of her palm, and all the color drained from her lips. She had kept the trauma from this incident to herself all these years, and no one had explicitly raised it in front of her. All along, she had been trying to forget about it. Despite knowing how traumatic the incident was to her, Yvette mercilessly tore open the wound she had kept hidden over the years. Tyler subconsciously turned to look at Rachel. His eyes were dark and foreboding, even more unfathomable than usual. Rachel couldn¡¯t quite figure out what was going through his mind. One thing was for sure¨Che wouldn¡¯t detest her for it. They were putting on an act to get what they each needed. There was no need for him to be offended by something like this. The tension in the air turned thick and suffocating. Rachel could sense everyone in the room looking at her with strange expressions on their faces, as though she were an alien. Did they all forget the fact that she was the victim? Why were they all looking at her like that? She was no saint, however, and wouldn¡¯t stand idly by watching Yvette hurt her like this. She suppressed the bitterness raging in her heart and looked at Yvette. ¡°Thank you for that announcement, Yvette. I have something to tell you, too. Given all the filthy things you¡¯ve done to thepany, I¡¯ve decided to tell Dad the truth. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll decide on how to deal with it.¡± That immediately wiped the smug look from Yvette¡¯s face. She red at Rachel, her lips pursed tightly into a thin line. Her Exit 518 However, there was nothing Yvette could do about it. She was no match for Rachel in every regard. Just then, Sasha chimed in. ¡°Rachel, that¡¯s not right of you! Since you¡¯ve decided to cut ties with our family, you shouldn¡¯t be interfering with the family business.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interfering with the family business. I¡¯m just telling Dad the truth. Since you have no intention of discussing Dad¡¯s condition, then may we never meet again. I hope you won¡¯t ever have to beg me for help if you encounter any trouble from here on.¡± With that, Rachel turned around and walked out, her back ramrod straight. ¡°Wait!¡± Howard yelled. Rachel turned around and shot him an aggravating smile. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, you heard it yourself just now. I¡¯m no longer a daughter of the Lloyd family. I¡¯m afraid your n to marry me is now foiled. But¡­¡± Rachel turned to cast a nce in Yvette¡¯s direction. ¡°There is still one daughter left in the Lloyd family. You may want to consider marrying Yvette instead, Mr. Ziegler.¡± Howard spat on the floor and said unceremoniously, ¡°Feh! Do you think anyone can enter the doors of the Ziegler family? This woman is covered in branded designer garb. The only thing shecks is a brand emzoned on her forehead! And that perfume on her is seriously choking. I can find tons of cheap women like her in nightclubs.¡± Yvette¡¯s face flushed bright red at Howard¡¯s assessment of her, the veins on her forehead popping. ¡°You¡­!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Sasha warned, worried that Yvette might start arguing with Howard on impulse. The Lloyds couldn¡¯t afford to offend a bigshot like Howard. Howard turned to smile gleefully at Rachel. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I am deeply sympathetic that something so unfortunate happened to you. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t despise you because of that. If you¡¯re willing, we can still get engaged as nned. ¡°Whatever it is, you can forget about marrying Tyler. His family is extremely conservative and would never allow a sullied woman like you through their doors. My family, on the other hand, is very open- minded and worlds apart from his.¡± Rachel was about to deliver a stinging rebuff to Howard when Tyler grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind him. ¡°Howard, do you want me to do a tally of how many women you¡¯ve sullied? You¡¯re just the pot calling the kettle ck. Instead of pointing fingers at others here, you should go to the hospital for a thorough check- up instead.¡± Tyler held Rachel¡¯s hand as his gaze swept past everyone in the room. His towering figure stood right before her; for the first time, Rachel realized this was how it felt to be protected by another. This was the first time she felt this way. When she came home with William in the past, he would always prioritize maintaining peace with her family and not let things get too ugly. Tyler, however, didn¡¯t care one bit. He wouldn¡¯t give in to anyone who offended him, even if it were the king. These two men were worlds apart in this regard. Rachel finally knew what it felt like to have someone unconditionally stand on her side. Howard pursed his lips in disdain, as though Tyler had hit the nail on the head. ¡°Since when did you start ying the part of the devoted lover? You haven¡¯t had a single girlfriend over the years because you were waiting for her, is that it? I¡¯d like to see if your father would allow you two to continue being together after knowing her past.¡± Howard winked flirtatiously at Rachel, which made her hair stand on end. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, we¡¯ll wait and see about this. For all you know, you might one daye back and beg me to marry you.¡± Her Exit 519 Rachel didn¡¯t mince her words. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Mr. Ziegler. You¡¯ll never see me begging you, even if it means I have to remain single the rest of my life.¡± Howard shrugged indifferently. He turned around and swung his jacket onto his shoulder, and walked out. Rachel and Tyler walked back to his car, the former settling down in the front passenger seat and recovering from themotion earlier. She had been running on adrenaline fueled by anger earlier, but now that she had calmed down, she felt a lingering fear over what had just happened. If Tyler hadn¡¯t stood up for her¡­ If she shed head¨Con with the Lloyds and angered her grandfather till something happened to him, she would have been doomed. However, now that Tyler had her back, the Lloyds wouldn¡¯t dare try anything with her. Who would dare touch someone Tyler Hunt had his eyes on? The Lloyds weren¡¯t stupid enough to insist on her marrying Howard just for the sake of the celebration itself. They at least had the mental capacity to consider the consequences of doing so. Tyler suddenly leaned so close to Rachel, she jumped back in fright. Her face was pale and stiff as she stared back at him, her eyes dark and hollow. Tyler¡¯s dark, deep¨Cset eyes gave him a striking gaze, entuated by his double eyelids. They looked proud and incisive in the absence of his smile, but there was a trace of tenderness in them as he looked at her. Suddenly, he reached out and gently flicked her forehead with a finger. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ms. Lloyd? Are you petrified by how suave and handsome I look?¡± Rachel was still reeling emotionally from the conflict earlier, but Tyler¡¯s words effectively rxed her tense nerves. ¡°I think you need to make a trip to the hospital to check if you suffer from narcissism.¡± Why was he able to make everything about his looks? Tyler bent over her to grab the seatbelt and strap her in. His voice sounded around her. ¡°Then why are you in a daze? Are you ming me for ruining your chances of getting married? Shall I call Howard back for you?¡± Rachel scoffed. ¡°If you really think Howard and I are a good match, that¡¯s not a bad idea. Call him back right now. He¡¯s willing to get engaged to me, anyway. But if you do so, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to find another woman to be your girlfriend.¡± She refused to back down and started quarreling with him. Silence ensued in the car, and Tyler didn¡¯t say anything in response. He simply tilted his head toward her as he stared at her wordlessly. She felt uneasy under that dark, incisive gaze of his. ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± Tyler rubbed his jaw, his brow arched with an unspoken question. After a moment¡¯s pause, he said, ¡°I was wondering if your mouth was made of diamantine. How is it so hard and stubborn?¡± As he spoke, he lifted a hand and rubbed a finger across her lips. The curve of her lips was tempting like a glistening te of jelly that he suddenly had an urge to bite into. In an instant, he turned his thoughts into action. He bent forward and nted his lips on hers, his attractive features and sensuous aura overwhelming her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and gently pinched her there. Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back a whimper. The sound only made the desire between them grow as the temperature in the car rose. Rachel only snapped back to reality when she heard the sound of metal nking, which made her reach out to push him away. ¡°My period just came.¡± She looked up into his eyes, her crystal clear eyes reflecting an almost imperceptible allure in them. Tyler¡¯s lips rested at her ear as he slowly rested his palms on both her sides on the car seat. Her Exit 520 ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that earlier? I¡¯ll have Wanda prepare some nourishing soup for you.¡± Rachel arched her brow, surprised at his reaction. ¡°Are you not upset?¡± Tyler smiled as he returned to his seat and smoothed out his shirt. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, do you really think I¡¯m a starving wolf that¡¯ll die of hunger if I don¡¯t swallow you whole right this minute?¡± Rachel cleared her throat. ¡°Well, not really.¡± It was just that Tyler¡¯s reaction was so unmistakable, she could even sense the change in him physically. Rachel wondered, wouldn¡¯t men find it a torment to remain aroused without an outlet to release themselves? His reaction had clearly betrayed what he was feeling inside. Tyler rubbed her head affectionately, reminiscent of how he liked to rub Ray¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s not as though I haven¡¯t seen a woman for 800 years. Quit looking at me like I¡¯m that desperate.¡± Rachel mumbled under her breath, ¡°It¡¯s more like you haven¡¯t touched a woman for 800 years.¡± Tyler patted the back of Rachel¡¯s chair and reminded her darkly, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, watch your words. You don¡¯t want this to be a blood bath.¡± His warning made Rachel shudder, the image of violence and bloodshed shing past her mind. A wise man knows when to retreat, and that¡¯s exactly what Rachel did. As Tyler started driving toward the city center, Rachel felt the difort in her abdomen grow. This was the first day of her period, and the emotional rollercoaster from the ordeal earlier intensified her pain. She curled into a ball on the car seat, pressing her palms against her abdomen to relieve the pain. Resting the side of her head on the back of the car seat, she shut her eyes. Tyler nced at her when the car ground to a halt at a red light. He then changed his destination on his GPS, and didn¡¯t wake her up when he arrived. Rachel had fallen asleep during the drive there. When she woke up, she found the car parked in front of a supermarket and Tyler was no longer in the driver¡¯s seat. She looked around before deciding to call him. Just then, the door to the driver¡¯s seat was opened. Tyler ducked right in before stuffing a few bags in her arms. 1/2 ¡°And this, too.¡± He then pressed a hot water bottle into her hands. Rachel could feel the warmth emanating from the bottle and looked up at Tyler in surprise. ¡°Where did you get this from?¡± It was easy to buy a hot water bottle, but where did he get the hot water inside from? ¡°The power of money,¡± Tyler said with a snap of his fingers. Rachel fully agreed with that. She didn¡¯t say so, but she genuinely felt surprised. Tyler looked nothing like a thoughtful and detailed person, be it his looks or aloof and proud personality. Rachel turned her attention to the many bags stuffed in her arms. The contents didn¡¯t look like food to her. ¡°What are all these you bought?¡± ¡°Sanitary pads. I have no idea what brand you¡¯re used to, so I grabbed one from each brand and for different purposes. Some are for day use, some are for night use, and I even got some adult diapers. Periods are such a bother.¡± Tyler thought back on the dazzling array of feminine products lining the shelves in the supermarket and shuddered. There were shelves upon shelves of sanitary pads alone, not to mention other kinds of feminine products. Rachel lifted the bags. ¡°Can you return them?¡± ¡°No.¡± Rachel thought so. These were sanitary pads they were talking about. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll bring these to the office tomorrow.¡± Tyler looked displeased. ¡°I went to such great lengths picking them for you, and you¡¯re giving them to others?¡± Her Exit 521 Rachel was stunned. ¡°Must you be so calctive over sanitary pads?¡± Tyler was being too overbearing in stopping her from giving out sanitary pads to her colleagues. ¡°I took such a long time and handpicked every single one of them. If you really can¡¯t use them all, give them to Ray.¡± Tyler mmed the car door shut, giving Rachel every reason to suspect that he was throwing a fit. However, she didn¡¯t have any concrete evidence. She couldn¡¯t hold back a chuckle. Tyler was obsessed! She exined, ¡°A dog menstruates when it gets into heat every six months. Also, there are just too many sanitary pads here. Even if dogs get into heat monthly, we won¡¯t be able to finish using them. Dogs have specific sanitary pads. These are for women. How¡­¡± However, a man like Tyler naturally didn¡¯t understand. ¡°They¡¯re all for menstruation. What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°These pads are for women. Ray¡¯s a dog.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know how to begin exining things to Tyler. As she spoke, she gestured her hands wildly in the air. ¡°Okay, look. Let me tell you how sanitary pads for dogs work¡­¡± At that moment, Rachel felt as though her brain was going to stall. Tyler leaned an elbow on the window, looking leisurely at Rachel as she demonstrated the differences between the menstruation cycles of a woman and a dog. He could tell that she was doing her best, being all animated as she described it to the best of her abilities. Her brows were furrowed, as though thinking through her next steps. Tyler suddenly grabbed her hand, flying in mid¨Cair. ¡°No need to exin any further. I know what all these are for. Pick some for yourself, and you can give the rest to other people.¡± Rachel heaved a sigh of relief, feeling rather exhausted. Cajoling Tyler was a more troublesome affair than coaxing children. Children were innocent and worlds apart from Tyler, who was tooplicated for his own good. He drove them back to his apartment. 1/20 80 Rachel stepped out of the car with the hot water bottle still in her hands. The pain in her abdomen had subsided. She saw Tyler settling down on the couch, lighting a cigarette, as she made her way up the stairs. Thinking back on what Yvette said earlier, she knew that even ordinary men would mind her past, not to mention a man as outstanding as Tyler. Rachel felt a need to talk things through with him. She nced at the man downstairs. ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Tyler turned around to look at Rachel before patting the empty spot on the couch next to him. ¡°Can¡¯t you say it here?¡± ¡°I can,¡± Rachel said after a moment¡¯s pause. She had wanted to lie down for a while to recover from her stomach difort, but now that Tyler had said so, she had no choice but to walk back down the stairs. The moment Rachel sat down, she felt her nerves acting up. She had been keeping the traumatic incident to herself for so long; if it weren¡¯t for Yvette suddenly bringing this up, she thought the scar from it had long crusted over. She finally realized that it was useless to run from the problem. As long as someone else knew this secret of hers, she couldn¡¯t pretend it never happened. Rather than have someone else expose her again in the future, she would rather exin things to Tyler. Even if they weren¡¯t a real couple, he had the right to know. Rachel wrung her hands tightly till her fingers turned red. She said nervously, ¡°I admit that what Yvette said today is true. That was the year I graduated from high school. My homeroom teacher called me to his office, iming to want to talk about homework. He gave me a ss of water and I fell asleep. You should know what followed. ¡°I had no idea what happened until one time when I entered his office unannounced and saw him watching a video of me¡­ That¡¯s when I found out, and I immediately called the police.¡± Her Exit 522 ¡°The entire school found out about it¡­ I had no choice but to transfer to another school. Gradually, the entire fiasco died down. Later, I found out that the teacher didn¡¯t actually go all the way. He just touched me inappropriately. That was the silver lining in all that, I suppose.¡± Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed the moment he heard about this, the twitch in his sharp jawline making the air tense. Rachel¡¯s voice was trembling as she spoke. When she was done, she looked up at Tyler, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. ¡°Although we¡¯re not truly a couple, that might still affect your reputation, which is why I think it¡¯s better to exin things to you. It doesn¡¯t matter what my homeroom teacher actually did to me. If word spread, it might damage your image. You¡¯ll be at a disadvantage if someone uses this against you in the future.¡± How could a darling of fortune like him, always the center of attention, have a girlfriend who was sexually assaulted and a divorcee to boot? That was a double whammy for him! Rachel could almost hear the nasty rumors spreading. She didn¡¯t mind it, but Tyler had a business to run and a family to care for. Even if he didn¡¯t mind it himself, she wasn¡¯t sure if hispany and family would be able to withstand the pressure. Tyler crossed his legs on the couch and rested an elbow on the arm of the couch, as rxed as a retiree, while giving Rachel a devil¨Cmay¨Ccare look. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, are you looking down on me? Do you really think I¡¯m someone who can¡¯t even deal with something like this?¡± ¡°I know you can, but there¡¯s no need for you to. I know you¡¯re in talks with overseaspanies right now. You don¡¯t need something like this to distract you at such a critical juncture.¡± Tyler lifted a hand and ran his fingers through his wind¨Ctousled hair as he cleared his throat. ¡°So what? Do you want a breakup?¡± Rachel¡¯s heart thumped hard in her chest at his mention of a breakup. Mixed feelings flooded her in that instant She said almost robotically, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you call it a contract termination instead? How did it be a breakup?¡± ¡°Contract termination, breakup¡­ What¡¯s the difference? Stop being so pedantic with me.¡± That was when Rachel realized that she had been reacting to Tyler¡¯s words and going with his flow instead. She didn¡¯t want to waste her breath further on this. ¡°Whatever it is, that¡¯s what I mean.¡± Tyler arched a brow as he fixed his gaze on Rachel, adding an edge to his handsome features. Tutting, he said, ¡°Rachel, do you really want to break up with me and marry Howard so badly?¡± Rachel shot him a strange look and yelled, ¡°Tyler, are you mad? Would you marry Howard if you were given a choice?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not into men. What¡¯s more, I find a phndering bastard like him disgusting. And here you are, having thoughts about him putting his hands on me? You¡¯re so vicious, Ms. Lloyd¡­¡± Tyler started teasing Rachel ¡°I¡­¡± Rachel was about to rebut him when she suddenly remembered her objective and immediately swallowed her words back. She was letting herself get led by the nose by Tyler. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. ¡°That¡¯s about all I have to say. Think about it. I know you have what it takes to deal with it, but there¡¯s no need to get yourself so invested in this.¡± ¡°Rachel, do you want a breakup?¡± Tyler asked her with an arched brow. ¡°Put aside all other considerations and follow your heart. Do you want a breakup?¡± Her Exit 523 Rachel was caught off guard by Tyler¡¯s question and didn¡¯t know what to say. To Rachel, her rtionship with Tyler was very straightforward. It was purely transactional, and there were no feelings involved. Thinking about a breakup wasn¡¯t even relevant in this situation. Of course, if Tyler could terminate the contract of his own ord and not pursue ountability on her end, she would be very d with that oue. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I can decide whether to terminate the contract. I¡¯m the one in the passive position while you hold all the cards, Mr. Hunt.¡± ¡°Just answer the question.¡± There was a chill in his deep voice, and the air around them seemed to tense up. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll count to three. If you don¡¯t give me an answer, I¡¯ll take it that you don¡¯t want a breakup.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°One, two, three. I got it.¡± Before Rachel had the chance to say anything, Tyler was done counting down. She fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled to herself. Tyler was unterally making the decision himself. He wasn¡¯t even intending to ask her for her opinion. Anyway, she had said whatever she wanted to say. Since Tyler didn¡¯t want her reced, forcing him to do it would seem a tad too pushy on her end. She smacked her thighs and stood up from the couch. ¡®Since you¡¯ve thought it through, I¡¯ll head up to get some rest if there¡¯s nothing more.¡± She winced inwardly when she felt the blood flow downwards as she stood up. As she did, Tyler grabbed her wrist ¡°Rachel There was an undercurrent of emotion in his voice and a tone of solemnity as he called her by her full name. She turned to look at him. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Tyler bent over, Rachel could smell the scent of tobo on him, heated up by his body warmth. ¡°Does William know about this?¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t.¡± She knew his inclinations toward chauvinistic thinking and was worried that he might mind her past. The knot in Tyler¡¯s brows unraveled slightly as he smirked. ¡°Got it,¡± he said. ¡°Go upstairs and have a good rest. Don¡¯t overthink what has already happened. I¡¯m not a chauvinist. I don¡¯t care about something like this.¡± Rachel blinked a few times and stood stunned for a few seconds before nodding. At that moment, as Tyler looked at her back profile, he noticed how frail and vulnerable she looked. She barely managed to gain some weight previously, yet she seemed to have lost all that in the blink of an eye. He texted Wanda. [Buy more tonic and cook more soup these few days. Make sure the meals are nourishing.] Wanda texted him back. [Sir, would you prefer ginseng or maca?] Tyler furrowed his brows. Did Wanda misunderstand his request? His phone pinged with another text from her. [Sir, I think it¡¯s important you get sufficient rest, especially when you work so hard. It¡¯s best you don¡¯t overexert yourself in that regard.] Tyler quickly typed out a message in response. [It¡¯s not for me, but for Rachel She¡¯s been feeling weak recently, and her period is here. She needs some nourishment.] I¡¯m so sorry for that misunderstanding, sir] Tyler didn¡¯t reply to her message. Instead, he called Yale and said almost dangerously, ¡°Find out the name of Rachel¡¯s homeroom teacher who threatened her in high school Give me the answer in five minutes.¡± Yale was surprised by Tyler¡¯s sudden request, but didn¡¯t dare to say anything ¡°Yes, sir¡± Five minutester, Yale¡¯s call came ¡°Found it. His name is Desmond Fallon, and he¡¯s currently working as a security guard at a small district.¡± ¡°Chop his hands off and get rid of his filthy member. Leaving it on him is a danger to everyone.¡± Tyler¡¯s vicious words sent a shiver down Yale¡¯s spine. Just that man¡¯s luck! Yale shook his head. Of all people, he just had to provoke Rachel. Meanwhile, Rachel had justin down on the bed upstairs when Cecilia called her. Her Exit 524 ¡°Rachel, Mr. Lewis seems to have received news about you snatching the Sky Tech Enterprise project from him. He¡¯s been rejected by Sky Tech Enterprise for giarism, and he¡¯s even in the headlines! ¡°Coupled with the aftermath of what happened before, not onepany in Yurelia City is willing to work with Lewis Enterprise. One thing is, Mr. Lewis now suspects you and thinks you found someone to frame. him. Do watch out for yourself.¡± Cecilia still felt lingering fear from what happened a few years back. Although it was just an ident, violence was often perpetuated through such idents. Rachel was fearless, however. Upon hearing Cecilia¡¯s update, she scoffed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who started this. If he hadn¡¯t ndered my dad, I wouldn¡¯t have needed to go to Tyler. Whatever it is, he had iting.¡± She couldn¡¯t stand idly by and let William do whatever he pleased. They were adults, and he had to pay the price for his actions. Cecilia knew full well that Rachel would never waver once she set her mind to it. ¡°No matter what happens, you know you have my full support.¡± ¡°There¡¯s actually one more thing I need to tell you¡­¡± Rachel paused. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Cecilia urged. Rachel told Cecilia about her conversation with Tyler just now. Cecilia knew about this part of her past, too. Rachel wasn¡¯t the one who raised it to Cecilia, though. It was by chance that Cecilia came to know about
  1. it.
When Rachel was done recounting what happened, Cecilia fell silent. Rachel even thought that she had hung up and nced at her phone screen to check. ¡°Hello¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still here. I was just thinking that Mr. Hunt probably likes you.¡± Rachel was momentarily stunned to hear that. ¡°What did you say?¡± She suspected that something was wrong with her hearing. Cecilia started analyzing the situation for Rachel. ¡°Think about it. If he doesn¡¯t like you, why did he ask you that question? Given his personality, would he seek your opinion if he didn¡¯t care at all?¡± ¡°Cecilia, you¡¯vepletely misunderstood things. He¡¯s always like this, teasing me for no reason whatsoever,¡± Rachel replied nonchntly. His acting skills were so ster, he could pretend to fancy even a dog, as long as he wanted to. Cecilia was adamant. ¡°You must trust my instincts on people.¡± Rachel reminded her, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, you can trust your gut on others, but Tyler Hunt¡­ I¡¯m not sure if you can even call him a person.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Wait, I¡¯m not saying that he¡¯s not human. I mean that you can hardly consider him an ordinary person.¡± You couldn¡¯t read Tyler. Common sense was pointless when it came to him. His mind worked in ways that transcended the mind of an ordinary man. Cecilia knew Rachel wouldn¡¯t dare believe that possibility right now, but she believed that in time toe, their rtionship was bound to blossom. Still, she decided to drop the subject. ¡°Anyway, are you going to Mr. Hunt¡¯s home with him tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. You¡¯re meeting the inws now,¡± Cecilia joked. Rachel felt embarrassed by Cecilia¡¯s teasing. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Cecilia said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. Mr. Hunt¡¯s taking you to see his family, isn¡¯t he?¡± Although they were putting on an act, Rachel still felt rather nervous. She wanted to make sure she did a good job putting on this act ¡°Should I buy his father something?¡± Cecilia nodded. ¡°You should. Since it¡¯s his birthday, you can bet many people will be there. Whether your rtionship with Mr. Hunt is real or not, you¡¯ve got to keep up the pretense.¡± Rachel thought she might not be in time to get a present tomorrow. ¡°Shall I head out right now to get a present?¡± Her Exit 525 ¡°I have some time now. I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Cecilia said supportively. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll head over to you right now.¡± Rachel suddenly felt thankful for the car Tyler gave her, although she still found it way too extravagant a gift. Then again, she could always return the car to Tyler once they terminate their contract. After hanging up, Rachel packed some of her things and thought of giving Cecilia some sanitary pads. Cecilia wouldn¡¯t need to buy sanitary pads for a while. The moment she stood up, she felt a tug at her abdomen and hissed in pain. She took a deep breath and started cursing. Who in the world invented something as nasty as the period? And why did women have to suffer, and not men?! Rachel shook her head. She didn¡¯t have much time left to ponder these questions. She bounded down the stairs and caught a whiff of freshly cooked soup. Wanda walked out, adle in hand, and smiled cheerfully at Rachel upon seeing her. ¡°Ms. Lloyd,e have a taste of this. Mr. Hunt made me¡­¡± Tyler suddenly cleared his throat. Wanda immediately corrected herself. ¡°You¡¯re having your period right now. It¡¯s a great chance to get some nourishing foods in.¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°But Wanda, I need to head out for a while. I¡¯ll be back soon, so why don¡¯t you keep some for meter?¡± Tyler looked up from the document he was reading. ¡°Where are you going at this hour?¡± ¡°Cecilia asked me out,¡± Rachel said as frankly as she could. Tyler nced at the sky outside. The clouds looked heavy and it felt very windy, as though signalling an impending storm. ¡°Tell her to take a cab here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sote, and you want her to cab here? How is she going to go back home from here?¡± Getting a cab elsewhere would have been possible, but given how secluded Tyler¡¯s ce was, getting a cab at this hour was close to impossible. Tyler tilted his chin upward. ¡°There are so many rooms upstairs. Can¡¯t you pick one for her?¡± Rachel naturally knew about the vacant rooms upstairs, but she wanted to pick out a present. How could she do that by staying here? Her heart wasn¡¯t made of stone. Although they weren¡¯t truly a couple, she couldn¡¯t deny how well Tyler treated her. Even as a fake couple, it was only responsible of her to make Tyler look good in front of his family. She couldn¡¯t let him get looked down upon. Rachel decided to cook up an excuse. ¡°If you make Ceciliae here, what¡¯s going to happen to her child at home? Her mother¨Cinw has returned to her home in the countryside.¡± Tyler put down the document in his hands and stood up to grab his jacket hanging over the back of the chair he was sitting in. ¡°I¡¯ll send you there.¡± Rachel stood stunned. Why did Tyler suddenly feel like a dad? Sheughed. ¡°Tyler, I¡¯m an adult, not a schoolgirl! This ce of yours may be dark and secluded, but the city is brightly lit.¡± Tyler arched a brow. ¡°So you want to move to the city?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Rachel said with an anxious wave of her hands. She didn¡¯t mean to ask Tyler to move. Was he kidding? Why go to such great lengths over something so minor? What¡¯s more, this ce was very quiet at night, and she appreciated that. Although it waspletely dark outside, Tyler found someone to carve out a garden in front and even put a little swing there. Other than during the summer, sitting outside after dinner to enjoy the breeze wasfortable. Over the years, whether Rachel was overseas or with William, she had been busy most of the time. Even when she had time on her hands, she would bury herself in piles of proposals or fill her schedule with appointments with business partners. Tyler didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with Rachel. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Left with no choice, Rachel had to follow Tyler. She pursed her lips, the gears in her head turning as she started thinking of ways to avoid him. Her Exit 526 Rachel buckled herself into the front passenger seat, still thinking about how she could distract Tyler. Things were getting out of hand. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± His deep voice suddenly sounded next to her ear, snapping her back to attention. She shuddered and turned to look at Tyler. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Your seatbelt.¡± There was something strange in Tyler¡¯s tone, but Rachel didn¡¯t sense it. ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Your seatbelt,¡± he repeated. Rachel looked down to check. ¡°Isn¡¯t my seatbelt fastened?¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Tyler lowered his head and chuckled, agreeing with a nod, ¡°Yeah, it is.¡± Rachel finally sensed something wrong with his tone and looked down once more. That was when she realized that she had inserted her seatbelt into the buckle on Tyler¡¯s chair instead. She bit her lip awkwardly, wishing she could p herself. What was she thinking? She hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt and inserted it into the correct buckle. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Tyler turned around and rested a cheek on his palm, staring at her with his dark eyes as he tutted. ¡°Are you having an affair? Is Cecilia just a smokescreen?¡± Rachel was still reeling from her faux pas as she stared back at Tyler in a daze. Somehow, Tyler found her expression extremely adorable. ¡°What?¡± Tyler sensed that something was off with Rachel today and gently flicked a finger on her forehead. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Have you returned to earth now?¡± Rachel did feel much more alert now. She took a deep breath and said in all seriousness, ¡°I¡¯m not having an affair. I have something to talk to Cecilia about. It¡¯s just not convenient having a man around when women are sharing secrets. That¡¯s what I was thinking.¡± She finally found the perfect excuse. Tyler leaned in close to Rachel and asked curiously, ¡°What kind of secrets?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know if it was due to her guilty conscience or if Tyler was just too close forfort, but her breathing quickened and her cheeks turned red. She didn¡¯t quite dare to look into his eyes and looked away, urging him instead, ¡°Hurry up and drive.¡± Tyler chuckled at the guilty look on Rachel¡¯s face, but he said nothing more. He leaned back against his chair and focused on driving. When Rachel rushed to the mall, she saw Cecilia seated on a bench waiting for her. She hurriedly waved at Cecilia. Cecilia stood up and walked over to Rachel. ¡°What took you so long, my dear girl?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice. Someone was hot on my trail, and I barely managed to make it out.¡± Cecilia eximed, ¡°Then what about the presentster?¡± Rachel felt herself at her wit¡¯s end whenever she engaged in a mental battle with Tyler. She pondered for a moment before saying to Cecilia, ¡°How about this? Later on, you¡¯ll bring the presents back home. I¡¯ll text you tomorrow, and you can get a courier to deliver them to the address I give you.¡± Cecilia couldn¡¯t help but praise her, ¡°You¡¯re brilliant!¡± Rachel and Cecilia shopped around in the mall for 40 minutes and managed to find two to three items that caught their eye. If it weren¡¯t for Tyler still waiting outside, Rachel would have shopped longer. Tyler came from a wealthy family thatcked nothing. A poor family would be impressed by something expensive. However, in picking a gift for someone from a wealthy family, not only did it have to be novel, but it couldn¡¯t be too poor in quality. Basically, it had to be more than just expensive. Rachel handed the presents to Cecilia. ¡°I¡¯ll be off, then. Wait for my text tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two of them were about to bid farewell to each other when they bumped into William and Samantha. Her Exit 527 Samantha greeted Rachel as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± Rachel and Cecilia froze at the sound of her name. Who else spoke in that sharinely sweet tone? That voice was the stuff of nightmares! Cecilia tugged at the hem of Rachel¡¯s shirt and whispered, ¡°Why don¡¯t we pretend we heard nothing and just leave?¡± Rachel shook her head at Cecilia. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± She had already fallen out with William and Samantha, anyway. She wouldn¡¯t take any tricks from Samantha lying down. She and Cecilia stopped in their tracks. As Samantha approached Rachel, her gazended on the bags Cecilia was carrying. ¡°Out for a shopping trip, Ms. Young? These don¡¯t look cheap.¡± ¡°These aren¡¯t mine. They¡¯re Rachel¡¯s,¡± Cecilia blurted out without much thought. ¡°Rachel¡¯s¡­ They¡¯re for an elder, I suppose? But why have I been hearing about her cutting ties with the Lloyd family?¡± Rachel arched a brow. She fully understood why people say that good news went on crutches, while bad news traveled fast. How did Samantha even find out about it? Rachel used to be able to at least hold a conversation with Samantha for the sake of work. They saw each other all the time, so it wasn¡¯t good to let things between them turn too ugly. But now, there was no need for her to tolerate anyone. Rachel threw Samantha a cold nce. ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± Samantha¡¯s face froze. She was clearly taken aback by Rachel¡¯s brashness, Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she lowered her head like a disobedient child who had done something wrong. ¡°Rachel, I was just showing you concern. There¡¯s no need for you to be so harsh.¡± Her words didn¡¯t soften Rachel¡¯s stance one bit. ¡°How are we rted, that you should be showing me such concern? To put it in nastier terms, if you hadn¡¯te in between William and me, our marriage wouldn¡¯t have turned out the way it did. Is your so- called concern merely a show of pride as a homewrecker who sessfully took my ce?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t very loud, but she spoke at a volume that passers¨Cby were able to overhear. Samantha¡¯s tears came on cue, her eyes reddening like a rabbit. She started tugging William¡¯s sleeve, like a child who got bullied at the yground. ¡°William, why is Rachel so fierce to me now? I really don¡¯t mean any harm, you must believe me.¡± William patted her shoulderfortingly. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s fine. Stand aside and keep quiet. I have something to talk to her about.¡± Samantha pouted but remained silent, knowing full well the situation before her. William approached Rachel, his face dark. He had never expected them to be enemies when they used to be the most loving couple. All the more he did not expect the woman who used to im to love him wholeheartedly to one day scheme against him. ¡°You stole the project with Sky Tech Enterprise, didn¡¯t you?¡± Rachel scoffed. ¡°All¡¯s fair in love and business. Calling it stealing is nder toward me, Mr. Lewis.¡± ¡°You did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you? You knew we drew up the proposal ourselves, but you used us of giarism. You know the boss of Sky Tech Enterprise would never allow such underhanded means, given his character.¡± Fire burned in William¡¯s chest as he drew closer to Rachel. ¡°You¡¯re screwing me over and driving me to desperation. You¡¯re doing all these on purpose, Rachel! Are you disregarding all seven years of our rtionship?¡± he roared. 2/2 Her Exit 528 Rachel didn¡¯t intend to hold herself back any longer. She looked disdainfully at William, as though he were nothing but a stranger to her. ¡°You look so angry. I suppose you finally know what it feels like to be framed now, don¡¯t you, Mr. Lewis? All you¡¯ve lost is a project, but what about my dad? You know he doesn¡¯t have much time left, but you treated him so callously! Do you know what my dad would be facing had I not thought of a way out? He would have died behind bars! Are you trying to make him die an unjust death?¡± Rachel had William¡¯s cor in a death grip, a savage look on her face as she questioned him. She was raising her voice at William, and it drew the attention of many passers¨Cby. Cecilia was shocked by Rachel¡¯s sudden loss of self¨Ccontrol. She stepped in and held Rachel back, whispering into her ear, ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t be like this. We¡¯re in public in a shopping mall. We should watch our words and behavior.¡± Rachel red at William, releasing her pent¨Cup anger and frustration all in one go. William stood rooted to the ground, his face frozen and his eyes zed over. He felt as though someone was clutching his heart, and he almost couldn¡¯t breathe. He had been with Rachel for seven years and thought he knew her inside out. It was only until today, after seeing how crazy she could get over Jim, that William realized that he understood nothing about Rachel. Rachel shook William¡¯s hand off her and reminded him, ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t show you any mercy. Don¡¯t worry, this isn¡¯t the end of things. I won¡¯t take all the hurt you caused me and my dad lying down. You¡¯d better watch your back and give it your best shot from here on, or you¡¯ll eventually be left with nothing!¡± William slowly recovered from his initial shock and pursed his lips. He shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Rachel, aren¡¯t you being a little too confident of yourself? Even if you have Tyler backing you up now, he¡¯s probably only good enough to stand up for you on trivial matters. Touch Lewis Enterprise if you dare, and see if he¡¯ll help you.¡± Rachel keenly sensed something wrong with William¡¯s warning. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± William said with a sneer. ¡°One day, you¡¯ll see that having Tyler as your pir of support is your fortune and misfortune.¡± With that, he turned to leave with Samantha. Rachel stood rooted to the ground, still in a daze over what William had said. What exactly did he mean? Cecilia approached her. ¡°Alright now, why bother shing with him head¨Con? He has the Lewis family backing him up. Even if you have Mr. Hunt¡¯s help, he¡¯s ultimately¡­¡± She sighed. Tyler was very interested in Rachel right now and treated her superbly, but men were often like that when they were smitten in the early days of courtship. Once they lost interest, they would kick the woman aside. What Cecilia didn¡¯t know was that Rachel was fully capable of protecting herself, given her current level of ability. Tyler suddenly called Rachel, who quickly put a finger to her lips as a signal to Cecilia. She then swiped right to receive the call. ¡°I¡¯m making my way back,¡± she said. ¡°I saw William at the entrance. Did he make things difficult for you?¡± Her Exit 529 Rachel felt a warmth spread across her heart. She thought that Tyler was calling to rush her, but he ended up asking if William was making things difficult for her. ¡°No. He just said some stuff, but I didn¡¯t let him have an easy time. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be waiting for you outside the mall. And please don¡¯t get presents specifically for my old man.¡± Rachel was caught off guard by hisst sentence. She stood rooted to the ground in slight surprise. She subconsciously looked around her, but didn¡¯t see Tyler anywhere. She knew she couldn¡¯t keep it under wraps anymore and asked, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Samantha told me. She said that you were buying something here and kept swiping my card and using my money. She told me to watch out for you.¡± Of course, he watered down what Samantha said and didn¡¯t ry it word¨Cfor¨Cword. Rachel gritted her teeth. Samantha seriously didn¡¯t have anything else better to do; that woman kept talking badly about her at every turn. ¡°Also, I didn¡¯t spend your money. I bought all the gifts with my own money.¡± ¡°I gave you my card and you didn¡¯t use it, and now you¡¯re ming me?¡± Tyler piped up indignantly. Rachel suddenly felt a pang of regret over not ruthlessly making use of Tyler¡¯s money. And so, she nodded. ¡°That was my mistake. I apologize. I¡¯ll go use your card right now, so please give me another ten minutes. ¡°She hung up and took a deep breath before concluding, ¡°I think I sometimes am a little too merciful.¡± She turned to Cecilia next to her, and said, ¡°Do you have anything else you want to buy?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Cecilia couldn¡¯t quite wrap her head around Rachel¡¯s question. Rachel exined, ¡°Since we have it, why not use it? Tell me, is there anything you want to buy for your child?¡± Cec¨ªlia was very tempted. She saw a learning machine for children that she really wanted to get, but couldn¡¯t bear to because it was way too expensive. Rachel knew Cecilia felt bad about using someone else¡¯s money and patted her shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Isn¡¯t your child¡¯s birthday just around her corner? Just take it as a birthday gift.¡± Cecilia hesitated for a moment before nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll ept it graciously, then.¡± Rachel went ahead to buy the learning machine for Cecilia. Bothdies were in good spirits when they left the mall a whileter. Tyler was waiting for Rachel in the car, but before she came back, his phone started buzzing nonstop. He briefly nced at the notifications popping up in his phone. Instead of getting angry, the corner of his lips lifted in what looked like glee. As his woman, it was perfectly justified for Rachel to spend his money. Whose money should she be spending, if not his? When he finally spotted Rachel exiting the mall carrying tons of bags, he pushed the car door open and took the bags from her in one swift move. ¡°You bought so many things.¡± After handing thest bag to Tyler, Rachel looked at him with a grin.¡°What, can¡¯t bear to part with all your money?¡± She bought all these for his father, not for herself. ¡°He¡¯s not worthy of all this expensive stuff,¡± Tyler said with a smirk. ¡°Huh?¡± Rachel was surprised by his choice of words. The next second, she sensed something amiss and asked cautiously, ¡°Do you not have a good rtionship with your father?¡± Tyler paused for a moment before taking thest bag from her hand. ¡°You¡¯ll know very soon.¡± Her Exit 530 Rachel¡¯s curiosity was thoroughly piqued as her imagination started running wild. Was Tyler¡¯s rtionship with his family simr to her rtionship with her family? It made sense given her background, but not for Tyler. He was, to her knowledge, the only son, and a very outstanding son at that. If she were half as capable as Tyler, her grandfather would probably treat her very differently. On the way back, Rachel asked him curiously, ¡°How did you know I went out to buy presents for your father? I might be buying things for myself, for all you know.¡± She sometimes wondered why Tyler was so observant and urate in his instincts. She thought she had hidden it so well, but he still saw through her. Tyler steered the wheel with one hand while retrieving a cigarette from his case with the other. He lowered his head to light a cigarette before leaning his elbow leisurely on the open car window. His fingers were long and strong, and this detail reiterated to Rachel once more just how wless he was from head to toe, aside from his temperament. He really had a chance to strike it out as a hand model. Tyler scoffed. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, do you really think everyone is as dimwitted as you are?¡± Rachel yelled with displeasure, ¡°I¡¯m not dimwitted!¡± Tyler looked down his nose at her and teased, ¡°Come on, then. Show me how you¡¯re not dimwitted.¡± Rachel blushed and argued, ¡°I¡¯m nowhere close to being dimwitted!¡± Tyler nodded with empathy. ¡°Fine, fine. You¡¯re not dimwitted. You¡¯re awesome and very smart, smarter than most.¡± Rachel told herself not to argue with a fool. Tyler stole a nce at Rachel¡¯s way as he drove, and realized that she had a pout on her lips. She looked clearly displeased, her cheeks puffed up like a hamster. She usually considered herself a calm and collected person, but the strange thing was, she always found herself agitated whenever it came to Tyler By the time they reached Tyler¡¯s house, it was already midnight. Rachel was still on her period. After the trip to the mall, she feltpletely exhausted. Once they walked through the doors of the apartment, she made a beeline for the stairs. The moment she took the first step, Tyler grabbed her cor from behind. ¡°Eat something before you head up.¡± Rachel¡¯s shoulders drooped as she said weakly, ¡°I need sleep. I can¡¯t eat anything right now. Let me take a short nap and wake me up when you¡¯re turning in.¡± She couldn¡¯t retire for the night just yet. She had to coax Tyler to sleep first. Just then, Wanda walked out of the kitchen and immediately noticed how pale Rachel¡¯s face was. ¡°Sir, let Ms. Lloyd get some rest. I¡¯ll heat up the foodter when she¡¯s ready to eat.¡± Tyler let Rachel go. ¡°I¡¯ll wake you upter.¡± Rachel looked like a burden was lifted from her shoulders as she dragged her exhausted body to the bed, where she fell straight into. The sheets had Tyler¡¯s scent on them, which smelled so good that they lulled her to sleep immediately. Wanda was on her way back into the kitchen to heat the food when she spotted the pile of presents on the couch. ¡°These must be gifts Ms. Lloyd got for your father.¡± Tyler threw her a nce and nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Wanda sighed sadly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if your father would even ept them. Ms. Lloyd¡¯s efforts might just go down the drain.¡± Her Exit 531 Both Wanda and Tyler knew exactly what was going on. Right now, Thomas still didn¡¯t know that the girl Tyler was seeing was Rachel. If he found out, all hell would probably break loose. Tyler rubbed his temples. He couldn¡¯t shake the gloom in his eyes. He received a WhatsApp message from Jason [Dude, tomorrow¡¯s your old man¡¯s birthday. It¡¯s been forever since the guys got together. Shouldn¡¯t we have a few drinks to celebrate?] The mere thought of tomorrow¡¯s scene made Tyler sneer. [Sure, as long as you can actually drink] Jason quickly caught on and sent a shocked emoji. [Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re bringing Rachel with you!] Tyler immediately fired back at that ridiculous reaction. [She¡¯s my girlfriend. Why wouldn¡¯t I bring her? Am I supposed to keep her hidden forever?] Jason sighed. [Couldn¡¯t you at least give them a heads¨Cup first? Jumping straight into the deep end like this, are you sure your old man¡¯s heart can take it?] But Tyler looked like he couldn¡¯t care less. [He¡¯s the one who kept urging me to date and carry on the family line. Now that I am, he¡¯s not happy about it?] Jason honestly felt likeughing. [Buddy. My man. The point is who you¡¯re dating. Ah, forget it. I know I won¡¯t be able to talk you out of this anyway. Good luck tomorrow, you¡¯ll need it.] Tyler knew Jason too well. That guy would probably show up just to watch the drama unfold. He put away his phone. On the other side of the room, Wanda had just finished reheating the food. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll bring the food up to Ms. Lloyd.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it. It¡¯ste. Wanda, you should rest. Leave the dishes. You can clean them up tomorrow.¡± Wanda was getting on in years and couldn¡¯t quite keep up with the younger folks anymore. Hearing Tyler¡¯s words, she nodded quickly. ¡°Thank you, sir. Just leave the dishes here when you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Once Wanda went upstairs, Tyler put some food on a te and headed up as well. He didn¡¯t knock. Instead, he quietly pushed the door open. Only a small bedsidemp lit the room. Rachel was lying on her side on the bed. Under the soft glow, he could see her longshes trembling slightly. She had a beautiful nose and fair, smooth skin. She was clearly exhausted and fast asleep. Tyler didn¡¯t want to wake her, but if she didn¡¯t eat now, the food would get cold. Wanda had said earlier that eating well was important at a time like this. He leaned close and whispered in her ear, ¡°Time to eat.¡± Rachel, half¨Casleep, waved her hand in the air like someone shooing a mosquito. She identally smacked Tyler right across the face. It happened out of nowhere. He sat there stunned for a moment. His gaze fixed on her. Rachel didn¡¯t seem to realize what she had done¨Cshe probably thought she was still dreaming, swatting away some giant mosquito. She rolled over and went back to sleep. Tyler didn¡¯t bother waking her again. He just sat beside the bed and quietly started eating by himself. In her dreams, Rachel thought she was eating something delicious. Sure enough, hunger woke her up. Groggily, she opened her eyes, only to see Tyler sitting by her bed, enjoying his food. The smell made her stomach growl loudly. Tyler looked up and asked, ¡°Finally awake?¡± Rachel sat up and nced at the te. There wasn¡¯t much food left. Her Exit 532 ¡°Why did you start eating on your own? What about mine?¡± ¡°It¡¯s gone. I ate it all. I tried to wake you, but you wouldn¡¯t budge.¡± Tyler had tolerated the p from Rachel. There was no point bringing it up. What was he supposed to do, p her back? Rachel¡¯s appetite hadpletely kicked in by now. ¡°Did you finish my food? What am I supposed to eat?¡± ¡°Eat me.¡± Tyler put down his chopsticks. With apletely serious face, he started unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his toned chest. He even asked her with a straight face, ¡°So, where do you want to start?¡± Rachel shot him a look and cursed under her breath, ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± Tyler intentionally tugged his cor open a little more, showing off even more skin. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t want any?¡± Rachel rolled her eyes at him again. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°What a shame,¡± Tyler said, buttoning his shirt back up with a regretful look. Rachel tossed off the covers. She was ready to get out of bed and find some food herself. She didn¡¯t believe Wanda wouldn¡¯t have saved her a portion. Just as she was about to get up, Tyler pushed her back down. ¡°Lie down. I¡¯ll bring it up to you.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Why am I getting this kind of VIP treatment? You¡¯re not nning to poison me or something, are you?¡± Tyler gave her a look and touched her forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever. Why are you talking crazy?¡± Rachel pped his hand away. Tyler finally toned it down a bit. ¡°Stay put. This is the first time I¡¯ve personally served anyone food. You better appreciate it.¡± Rachel stared at him, wanting nothing more than to throw her shoe at his smug face. She had seen shameless people before, but no one came close to Tyler¡¯s level. As she drank some soup, a wave of satisfaction washed over her. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Wanda¡¯s cooking is just incredible!¡± Then, a thought struck her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you fork out some money and open a restaurant for her? I really think her cooking is as good as any top chef¡¯s Tyler brought her some pasta. ¡°If Wanda opens a restaurant, who¡¯s going to feed you?¡± Rachel pouted. ¡°Thank goodness I¡¯m not your kid. If I grew up under your kind of controlling parenting. I¡¯d probably end up with zero ambition.¡± Tyler tapped her lightly on the head. ¡°You are kind of like a kid. Hmm, actually, you¡¯re more like a giant baby.¡± Rachel nearly choked on her pasta from frustration. She decided it was best to just eat in silence. Talking to Tyler for too long made her feel like she had lost ten years off her life. While she focused on her food, Tyler replied to some work messages and said casually. There¡¯s something I need to tell you. You should mentally prepare yourself.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°When youe home with me tomorrow, it might not go very smoothly. I don¡¯t need you to suck it up for anyone. Just be yourself, okay?¡± His tone was unusually serious, and it made Rachel feel like tomorrow¡¯s visit was going to be some kind of battlefield. She didn¡¯t know much about Tyler¡¯s family situation, but judging by how many times he had brought it up, it was clearlyplicated. ¡°Can you at least give me a rough idea of what your family¡¯s like, so I¡¯m not totally caught off guard?¡± Her Exit 533 Tyler raised his brows. ¡°You really want to know?¡± ¡°Yeah, but if there¡¯s anything you¡¯re notfortable saying, you don¡¯t have to.¡± Rachel respected Tyler, especially when it came to family matters. Those often came with deep childhood scars. Tyler leaned back slightly. His fists clenched a little while he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m basically the one person no one likes in the family. ¡°You know how big families are. There can only be one at the top. Everyone wants that person to be their own kid. The problem is, no one else in the family is as capable as I am. Naturally, my rtives see me as a thorn in their side. My father used to pin all his hopes on my nephew, but that guy couldn¡¯t handle thepany at all. ¡°So now he wants me to take over the family business, but he refuses to acknowledge me publicly.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears perked up. She felt like she had just caught onto something important. ¡°He won¡¯t publicly acknowledge you?¡± For the first time, Rachel saw aplicated, almost deste look in Tyler¡¯s deep eyes. His lips curled into a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m an illegitimate child.¡± Rachel¡¯s jaw dropped in shock. She quickly raised her hand to cover it, afraid she might blurt something out. Tyler wasn¡¯t at all surprised by her reaction, but Rachel realized she might¡¯ve gone too far and unintentionally hurt him. She quickly lowered her hand and pretended like nothing had happened. ¡°Sorry, I might¡¯ve overreacted.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not surprising.¡± Tyler¡¯s tone was calm, like this was something he had long grown used to. Thinking about it, Rachel realized it made sense. Tyler had grown up in an environment like that. He had probably gotten used to all the gossip and judgment thrown his way. He had probably been weathering judgmental looks and gossip for so long, he just stopped feeling it. Rachel understood Tyler¡¯s feelings all too well. Ever since Yvette returned, she herself had been the target of constant rumors and mockery, no matter where she went. People gossiped, said awful things, and even med her for Yvette¡¯s suffering. They called her a bad omen, said she was born to ruin Yvette¡¯s life, and that it should¡¯ve been Yvette who grew up as the heiress. They imed Rachel had enjoyed years of privilege that didn¡¯t belong to her. So now, she ought to spend the rest of her life paying Yvette back, working like a dog to make up for it. Heh. That nonsense had followed Rachel for years. Even now, people were still saying it. She had simply grown numb. No one could understand Tyler¡¯s feelings better than she could. Suddenly, she reached out and hugged him. Tyler waspletely caught off guard. The man who was always soposed had a flicker of surprise in his eyes. His whole body stiffened. A momentter, the cold edge in his gaze softened. He wrapped his arms around Rachel and rested his head gently on her shoulder. Rachel patted his back softly, as if she wereforting a child. ¡°I know that all these years, no one¡¯s ever hugged you like this. But it¡¯s okay. You have me now. They care that you¡¯re an illegitimate child, but I don¡¯t. I¡¯m my dad¡¯s illegitimate daughter too. So, Tyler, we¡¯re a perfect match.¡± At that moment, it was as if the ice around Tyler¡¯s heart cracked open just a little. His eyes felt strangely moist. Rachel, sensing he hadn¡¯t said anything for a while, thought he was still upset. She looked up to check on him, but Tyler suddenly pressed her back against him, holding her tightly. His usualposed voice trembled ever so slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Rachel froze. Her hands stopped awkwardly in the air. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Rachel, are you using this as an excuse to cop a feel?¡± The moment she heard his teasing tone, she wanted nothing more than to p herself twice. She knew this man wasn¡¯t worthy of sympathy. She smacked him hard on the back. ¡°Tyler, you¡¯re seriously impossible to like! You act like nothing bothers you, even when you¡¯re hurting. Sometimes, I wonder if you even feel anything.¡± Her Exit 534 ¡°Are you saying you feel everything more than I do?¡± Tyler let out a soft, husky chuckle. His chest vibrated subtly. Rachel could feel the strong beat of his heart through his shirt. The warmth from his body was nearly giving her a burn. She rolled her eyes and pinched him again. ¡°Tyler, you¡¯re seriously annoying. Why do you always say such things?¡± ¡°Well, you started it.¡± Tyler never lost a fight. Rachel was so mad that she almost pped him. She started struggling to push him away, but he didn¡¯t budge. So, she went straight for his weak spot. She pinched his nipples. Hiss. Tyler instinctively jerked back. Rachel grinned in triumph, shing him a smug, teasing smile. Frowning, Tyler rubbed his chest. ¡°Can you not pinch me like that?¡± Rachel wiggled in satisfaction. She was clearly proud of herself. Tyler got up and gave her a light pat on the head. ¡°Hey, you said it yourself. We¡¯re a perfect match. I won¡¯t ever consider being with someone who¡¯s not an illegitimate child.¡± Then he muttered to himself, half¨Cjokingly, ¡°Come to think of it, you might be the only illegitimate child in all of Yurelia City.¡± Rachel narrowed her eyes at his rambling. Why did it feel like she had just been roped into something? She opened her mouth to exin, just in case he got too full of himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way. What I was trying to say is-¡± ¡°Just eat. Then get some rest so you¡¯ll be ready for war tomorrow.¡± Tyler cut her off and gave her head another pat, like she was a puppy. Rachel smacked his hand away, annoyed. ¡°Can you not pet me like a dog every time?¡± That only egged him on. ¡°Then how should I touch you? Like this-¡± He spread out his palm and gave her head a messy rub. ¡°Or like this-¡± He curled his fingers like ws and gave her scalp a scratch, like he wasthering up shampoo. Rachel stared at him. He was basically giving her a head massage at this point. ¡®Getting bitten doesn¡¯t justify biting back.¡® That was how sheforted herself. The next morning, Rachel woke up early and sat at the vanity doing her makeup. For a moment, she thought that she shouldn¡¯t go too m. Most of the people she would be meeting today were probably Tyler¡¯s rtives. She couldn¡¯t look too shy, either. Otherwise, people would start gossiping that she was trying to climb the socialdder, or that she was just after Tyler¡¯s money. Low¨Ckey but elegant, that was the goal. Something that wouldn¡¯t embarrass Tyler but also wouldn¡¯t outshine the rest of the crowd. Rachel opted for light makeup and changed into a green dress. Tyler¡¯s family seemed like the conservative kind, after all. Having met a boyfriend¡¯s family before, she wasn¡¯t too nervous. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but think back tost night. She had fallen asleep again without realizing it. The n was to lull Tyler to sleep, yet somehow, he ended up lulling her to sleep instead. She had been asking Tyler how he made his fortune. After all, he had built LS from the ground up, industry leader. That wasn¡¯t something just anyone could do. However, Tyler immediately saw through her motive. She was clearly trying to pick his brain. Since she got caught, Rachel didn¡¯t even bother denying it. She admitted it. Honestly, who wouldn¡¯t want to strike it rich? What did Tyler end up saying? ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything. If you want to get rich, just hold on tight to me.¡± It was an outrageously cocky thing to say, but Rachel knew Tyler could back it up. When Tyler woke up and saw Rachel already dressed and made up, he noticed that she looked Today, she looked more like the daughter of a refined, schrly family. Her Exit 535 ¡°You look more like yourself today.¡± Tyler sat up, grabbed a cigarette from the nightstand, lit it, and tapped the ash into the ashtray. Since he had just woken up, his voice sounded even deeper and huskier than usual. Rachel loved hearing him speak in this voice. She picked up a pearl earring and held it up in front of the mirror. ¡°Your family probably doesn¡¯t like how I usually dress. For the sake of your reputation, I¡¯ve got to at least pretend a little.¡± If Tyler hadn¡¯t been treating her decently, she wouldn¡¯t even bother ying along. She firmly believed that if someone truly liked you, they would like you no matter what you wore or did. If they didn¡¯t like you, nothing you did would ever be good enough. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that. Just be yourself,¡± Tyler said casually. That surprised Rachel a little. Tyler was being unusually easygoing. Still, it was one thing for him to say that. What she actually had to do was another. Basic manners and etiquette still mattered. She didn¡¯t want anyone nitpicking and ming her parents for not raising her right. She could lose face, fine, but she wouldn¡¯t let Jim and the others get dragged down with her. Besides, she was already done with her makeup. Tyler¡¯s opinion came a bitte. Rachel finished applying her lipstick and stood up. She recalled the spending spree from yesterday. At first, she thought Tyler deliberately didn¡¯t mention it, maybe waiting for her to bring it up herself. After thinking it over, she decided she should be the one to speak up. She had bought those things impulsively after all. ¡°You saw the bill from yesterday, didn¡¯t you?¡± Tyler nodded. ¡°Yeah. Why?¡± ¡°Cecilia¡¯s children needed a tablet. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to buy one, so I used your card. I¡¯ll transfer the money to youter.¡± Tyler answered offhandedly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a tablet.¡± Rachel was taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re not mad I spent your money on someone else?¡± Just then, Tyler¡¯s phone buzzed. It looked like work. ¡°Yeah. Go ahead and have breakfast.¡± Tyler took onest drag from his cigarette, stubbed it out in the ashtray, and got up. Rachel went downstairs to find that Wanda had already made breakfast. The delicious smell filled the air, and her stomach growled audibly. The sound echoed through the living room. She exchanged a nce with Wanda, both of them breaking into slightly awkward smiles. ¡°Ms. Lloyd,¡± Wanda called out, e have a seat and eat.¡± ¡°Thank you, Wanda.¡± Rachel sat down and was just about to pick up her fork when her phone buzzed. It was a call from Cecilia. She swiped to answer. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The sky¡¯s falling, that¡¯s what! You snatched William¡¯s project, and now he¡¯s found out you¡¯re nning to cut ties with the Lloyd family. He leaked that info to Sky Tech Enterprise. Now that they know you won¡¯t be in charge¡ªand it might be Yvette instead¨Cthey¡¯re threatening to pull out. They¡¯re even using us of contract fraud, saying we used the deal to pull projects for Lloyd Enterprise and didn¡¯t protect the interests of our partners!¡± Rachel frowned. ¡°When did this happen?¡± ¡°Just now! Rachel, why did you get into a fight with the Lloyd family and talk about severing ties? Isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡± Just hearing it made Rachel furious again. ¡°They tried to marry me off to Howard!¡± ¡°Howard? Are they insane?! That¡¯s like throwing you into a pit of fire! Why didn¡¯t you tell me when we met yesterday?¡± Rachel shoved a sandwich into her mouth. It was a big deal, sure, but she still needed to eat. Food first, warter. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 536 Chapter 536 Rachel couldn¡¯t exactly handle things on an empty stomach. ¡°I figured there wasn¡¯t much to tell you. Everything¡¯s already been taken care of.¡± Cecilia instinctively asked, ¡°So in that case, what about my job?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. I only cut ties with the Lloyd family, but I still have shares in Lloyd Enterprise. I¡¯m still the hands. She can¡¯t touch you.¡± Rachel had already thought through all of this. She wasn¡¯t acting blindly. Since she brought Cecilia into thepany, she naturally nned to pave the way for her. Cecilia was overwhelmed with emotion again. ¡°Rachel, I don¡¯t know what I did in my past life to deserve someone like you. If it wasn¡¯t for you¡­¡± She could already imagine how hopeless her life would¡¯ve been otherwise. Rachel heard footstepsing down the stairs and caught sight of Tyler. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talkter when I get back. I have to go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She had just hung up when Tyler reached the bottom of the stairs. He sat down, took a sip of milk, and asked casually, ¡°What was that about?¡± Rachel paused for a moment. She hadn¡¯t said a word to him, and she was sure he hadn¡¯t overheard the call. But somehow, he was terrifyingly perceptive. Even without hearing or seeing anything, he could sense when something was off. If Tyler ever had a real girlfriend who cheated on him or something, he wouldn¡¯t even need to investigate. His instincts alone would be enough to sniff it out. Thank goodness she wasn¡¯t his real girlfriend! She didn¡¯t even want to think about how that would end. She lowered her head and kept munching on her sandwich. ¡°Nothing, really. Cecilia just said the pads you bought were actually pretty good.¡± Tyler frowned at that. Something about that sentence didn¡¯t sit right with him. A momentter, it hit him. ¡°What do you mean, the pads I bought are pretty good? I bought them for you, not for her.¡± Rachel noticed how his tone suddenly changed and raised a hand in mock reassurance. ¡°Alright, alright, I get it. You bought them for me, not her. Okay?¡± Tyler gave her a warning. ¡°Be more careful with your wording next time. If the wrong person heard that, they¡¯d think I¡¯m some kind of freak with a weird fetish for buying pads for people.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help it. A vivid image popped into her head, and she burst outughing. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Sheughed so hard she doubled over, holding her stomach with no regard for appearances. Wanda walked by and saw Rachelughing hysterically. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s so funny? Tell me, I want in on the joke too.¡± Rachel covered her mouth, her cheeks trembling as she tried to hold back. ¡°W¨CWe were just talking about pads-¡± ¡°Rachel, I think you¡¯re done eating. We should get going.¡± Tyler cut her off mid¨Csentence, walked over, and without a word, lifted her right out of her chair like she weighed nothing. Rachel quickly begged for mercy. ¡°Okay, okay! I won¡¯t say anything more! Let me go!¡± Although the height difference between them wasn¡¯t that huge, she still felt oddly small while being held. 1 Hearing her plead, Tyler finally set her down. ¡°If you talk nonsense like that again, I¡¯ll really teach you a lesson.¡± G Her Exit 537 Rachel didn¡¯t understand why Tyler had such a strong reaction. She was clearly just joking. Wanda walked over with a bottle of milk and poured some for Rachel. She leaned in and whispered, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, don¡¯t take Mr. Hunt the wrong way. He¡¯s just conservative. He¡¯s not the kind to casually date, but once he¡¯s in a rtionship, he¡¯s loyal. That¡¯s why even a joke about him and your friend would make him upset.¡± Rachel nodded thoughtfully, her impression of Tyler improving yet again. This kind of loyalty wasn¡¯t something every man possessed. Most men always wanted more than what they had. Even William, with all his so¨Ccalled deep affection, was no exception. It was why she stopped believing in that whole ¡®devoted husband¡® image. Only a man himself would know whether he was truly loyal or not. Holding to her principle of owning up when she¡¯s wrong, Rachel immediately offered a sincere apology to Tyler. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have joked like that. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Tyler picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth gracefully. ¡°Think about what you did. I want a 500¨Cword reflection on it tonight.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Wait¨CTyler, are you in elementary school or something? Do you seriously want me to write you a reflection?¡± Tyler cast her azy sideways nce. ¡°I can make it 1,000 if you don¡¯t stop talking.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Rachel nced into those intimidating eyes of his and swallowed her protest. There was no point in fighting over something so small. It was only a reflection. She could easily grab something off the inte. She smirked to herself¨Cuntil Tyler added, ¡°Handwritten. And don¡¯t even think about copying something online.¡± Whatever spark of joy Rachel had just felt, it instantly vanished. Dealing with a guy like Tyler really did require every ounce of strength she had. Even then, she probably still wouldn¡¯t win. She slumped in defeat and lowered her head,pletely resigned. After dinner, Rachel and Tyler grabbed the gift she had picked up for his father at the mall yesterday and got into the car. They headed to a destination unknown to her. Halfway there, Rachel started feeling something was off. Was it just her, or did this route feel awfully familiar? It looked like they were headed toward the Lewis family¡¯s estate. Perhaps Tyler¡¯s family home just happened to be in the same area. After all, this was the wealthy side of town. Most rich families clustered in the same areas. That thoughtforted her a little. It was only the second day of her period. Last night she had still been fine, but maybe going out the day before, on top of the argument with William, had made things worse. Now, her lower abdomen was beginning to ache again. She leaned against the car door, elbow resting on the window, and tilted her head toward Tyler. ¡°I¡¯m going to nap a bit. Wake me when we get there.¡± Tyler gave her a quick once¨Cover, his gaze stopping at her lower abdomen. ¡°Is your stomach acting up again?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a nket and a warmpress in the back. Use them.¡± Rachel blinked and turned to look at the back seat. Sure enough, there was a warmpress and a nket. They were obviously newly bought. She instinctively looked back at Tyler. He really was different from William. William always said the right things, but rarely followed through with actions. Tyler, on the other hand, acted first and spoketer. People truly were different. Her Exit 538 Chapter 538 Rachel pulled the nket over herself, ced the warmpress over her skirt, and turned over to sleep without a care for appearances. Tyler kept his eyes on the road and drove steadily to the family estate. Once they arrived, he gave her a gentle nudge. ¡°Wake up, sleepyhead.¡± Rachel mumbled something and rolled onto her side, falling right back to sleep. Tyler unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over, deliberately pinching her nose. Rachel¡¯s breathing grew difficult. She furrowed her brows and tried to move away by shaking her head, but the feeling of suffocation wouldn¡¯t go away. When Rachel finally woke up and saw Tyler holding her nose, she shoved his hand away. ¡°Tyler, are you crazy? Were you trying to suffocate me or what?¡± With a light touch, Tyler tilted her chin up. Rachel looked into his clear, intense gaze. ¡°Well, well. You¡¯ve learned to talk back now, huh? I must¡¯ve spoiled you too muchtely,¡± he said. Rachel snorted. ¡°You were literally trying to smother me, and I¡¯m not even allowed to fight back? That¡¯s pushing it.¡± Tyler pinched her cheeks. Her face looked like a pufferfish, and her eyes shimmered with surprise. ¡°Do you ever run out of steam? Or is that mouth of yours just built tost?¡± He pried open her mouth like he was about to examine it for real. Rachel was so annoyed, she burst outughing and started swatting at him. ¡°Tyler, seriously, what is wrong with you? Do you really want to examine my mouth that badly? Why don¡¯t you just be a dentist?¡± Who in their right mind would stare at people¡¯s mouths for fun? Seeing Rachel¡¯s face flush with exasperation made Tylerugh. ¡°If I ever became a dentist, I¡¯d go full¨Ctime just for you. How much are you willing to pay me, though?¡± He suddenly leaned in, his voice low and smooth right by her ear. The sound alone was enough to make her whole body tingle. This man was just oozing talent. Even if he couldn¡¯t stay a corporate CEO, he could definitely make it as a voice actor or a hand model. He could even be a full¨Ctime model. Rachel¡¯s heart fluttered just looking at that unfairly handsome face. It was wless. Tyler looked like he walked out of a romance novel. ¡°I couldn¡¯t afford you. You¡¯d better go find yourself a sugar mommy,¡± she said bluntly. ¡°I-¡± ¡°Sir, Mr. Thomas is waiting inside.¡± A sudden knock on the window cut him off. Both Rachel and Tyler snapped out of it. The moment Rachel saw the person standing outside, she instinctively pushed Tyler away. This was her first timeing here, after all. She needed to watch out for how she presented herself. Tyler opened the car door, and Rachel got out from the passenger side. The moment she saw the familiar building in front of her, she froze. She turned to Tyler stiffly and asked, ¡°Did you take the wrong turn?¡± ¡°Nope. This is the ce.¡± Tyler had expected this reaction. He wasn¡¯t surprised at all. Rachel was still dazed. ¡°But isn¡¯t this the Lewis family estate?¡± Tyler shut the door, casually spinning the car keys around his finger as the corners of his mouth lifted. ¡°Rachel, haven¡¯t you figured it out yet?¡± Her Exit 539 Chapter 539 Rachel felt like a bomb had just gone off in her head¨Cloud, sudden, and all¨Cconsuming. Everything that had happened up until now came rushing back like a fast¨Cforward montage in a movie. The signs had been there all along. She couldn¡¯t believe it, and yet, the thought had already formed in her mind, demanding to be spoken aloud. ¡°So, you¡¯re William¡¯s uncle?¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah.¡± Suddenly, everything made sense. William¡¯s reaction whenever he saw Tyler¨Cthat deep, almost primal fear¨Cwasn¡¯t just surface¨Clevel difort. It came from somewhere deeper. Rachel had known William for years. He wasn¡¯t a coward by any stretch. If he acted like that around Tyler, then Tyler must have done something that left a real scar. It had to be something serious enough to leave asting mark on William¡¯s psyche. No wonder William once told her that finding Tyler could be her greatest blessing and also her worst nightmare. At the end of the day, blood was thicker than water. Tyler would never truly go against William. Rachel smiled in a self¨Cdeprecating manner. Fate was ying a cruel joke on her. She had tried so hard to escape William, only to end up tangled up again with someone from the Lewis family. Tyler had taken his mother¡¯s surname, so unless someone spelled it out, no one would ever guess he was part of the Lewis family. To outsiders, Tyler and William were from two totally different worlds. Their families didn¡¯t even seem remotely connected. Theirpanies had even fought over the same projects before. LS Enterprise and Lewis Enterprise were well¨Cknown rivals in the industry. Tyler expected Rachel¡¯s shocked silence. Even the maid standing nearby looked stunned when she saw Rachel. Wasn¡¯t this William¡¯s ex¨Cwife? The maid looked like she couldn¡¯t quite process what she was seeing. She was told Tyler would be bringing his girlfriend home today. Why was he here with William¡¯s ex¨Cwife? ¡®Could it be¡­?¡® She gasped and instinctively covered her mouth. ¡®This is way too dramatic!¡® Tyler turned to her and said calmly, ¡°Take the gifts inside. We¡¯ll be in shortly.¡± ¡°Y¨CYes, of course,¡± the maid stammered, quickly grabbing the gifts and disappearing through the door. Tyler ced a hand gently on Rachel¡¯s shoulder. With their height difference, he had to lean forward a little. His tone was surprisingly patient and gentle. ¡°I wanted to tell you before, but there never seemed to be a good time. I was afraid you¡¯d bolt. If you think back, I actually gave you hints to figure it out for yourself. You just didn¡¯t dare think that far.¡± His voice was soft. Rachel could count on one hand the times she had heard Tyler speak this patiently. Sure, she had suspected things before, but suspicions were one thing. Being faced with the truth was something else entirely. She realized she had overestimated how well she could handle it. Her mind wentpletely nk. Rachel clenched and unclenched her fists, trying to calm herself. After calming herself down, she finally spoke. ¡°Do you really think this is the right time to tell me? What if I couldn¡¯t take it? What if I just ran away?¡± ¡°If you want to run now, you can. But hear me out first. Let me give you a few things to think about before you decide to disappear. ¡°Firstly, you¡¯re with me now, which technically makes you William¡¯s aunt. That¡¯s just a fact. ¡°Secondly, I¡¯m only bringing you to meet the Lewis family today. That¡¯s it. I don¡¯t intend to get too close to them myself. ¡°Thirdly, when you¡¯re with me, no one can mess with you. I rank near the top of the food chain when ites to men. So if I¡¯m with you, then you¡¯re automatically top¨Ctier in any room full of women. ¡°Finally, if anyone from the Lewis family dares to cross you, you don¡¯t need to ask my permission to respond. Handle it however you want. My only rule? Don¡¯t let yourself get hurt. As for the rest of them, I don¡¯t care what you do with them.¡± Her Exit 540 ¡°Still thinking about leaving?¡± Tyler asked. He spread his hands casually, his expression calm and unbothered¨Cas if Rachel¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t worry him in the slightest. There was a kind of detachment in his demeanor, the kind that only came from someone who had seen the world and lived through enough to no longer be shaken by it. Given that he had already promised not to get too close to the Lewis family, Rachel felt she still had some control over the situation. All these years, Tyler had never been close to William, and she knew for a fact he wasn¡¯t someone who forgave easily¡ªespecially not those who had hurt him. Rachel understood exactly what William¡¯s weak spot was. He was terrified of her actually being with Tyler. That alone would torment him for life. If word got out, William would be the one to suffer the most. Everyone in Yurelia City would talk behind his back. Not only would he be the talk of the town, but he would also face pressure from Rachel within the family. His ex¨Cwife would technically be his future aunt. That was the kind of gossip very few could handle. This was the worst kind of revenge. She would strike where it hurt most, and he couldn¡¯t even cry about it. She would be the nightmare he could never escape. Rachel took a deep breath, like she was making a monumental decision. ¡°I¡¯ll go in with you.¡± Tyler smiled. He bent his elbow slightly, offering his arm. Rachel got the message and stepped forward to slip her hand through his. The two of them walked into the living room, side by side. Inside, the maid¡¯s earlier words had stirred up a storm. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be joking! There¡¯s no way Mr. Tyler¡¯s girlfriend is Rachel Lloyd! Leia, are you sure you weren¡¯t seeing things?¡± Leia stood her ground. ¡°I swear I wasn¡¯t mistaken. It was her. You¡¯ll see for yourselves in a minute!¡± Just as she finished speaking, another maid at the door called out. ¡°Mr. Hunt and Ms. Lloyd have arrived.¡± Everyone in the room¨Cincluding Cassandra, Thomas, and the rest of the extended Lewis family¨Cturned to look at the entrance. Rachel recognized almost every face in the room. She had seen most of them years ago at her wedding to William. It was funny to think she might have needed time to ¡®get to know¡® them. It turned out they were all familiar faces. Only now, she wasn¡¯t sure how to address any of them. Cassandra¡¯s face went pale the moment she saw Rachel, like she had just seen an actual ghost. ¡°Rachel! Why won¡¯t you just disappear? You divorced William, and now you¡¯re with Tyler? Is this some kind of revenge plot? You vile woman! First you ruined William, and now you¡¯re after Tyler? Have you no shame? Aren¡¯t you afraid of karma?¡± Her voice trembled with rage as she turned to Tyler. ¡°Tyler, don¡¯t believe a word she says. She¡¯s dangerous! William spent years with her. He knows exactly what she¡¯s like.¡± She grabbed William by the sleeve and pulled him forward. ¡°William, say something! Tell your uncle what kind of woman Rachel really is! If you hadn¡¯t been blinded by her back then, you never would¡¯ve married her!¡± William¡¯s face was stiff, his expression dark and twisted. He stared at Rachel in utter disbelief. At first, he thought she had only approached Tyler to get under his skin and to make him jealous. After all, he had wronged her back then. Never had he imagined that she would actually get this close to Tyler. And now, showing up at the Lewis family estate? That wasn¡¯t just a p in the face. It was a full¨Con public humiliation! His eyes burned with fury, veins bulging at his temples. He stormed toward Rachel and yanked her by the wrist. Her Exit 541 Rachel was no longer the same woman she had been five years ago. Even just being touched by William now made her skin crawl. She instinctively shoved his hand away almost immediately. ¡°Let go of me!¡± With everyone watching, being pushed away like that was a major blow to William¡¯s ego. His expression darkened, and his brows furrowed as he tried to maintain some semnce of control. ¡°Rachel, there are a lot of people here. Can you not make a scene?¡± Rachel scoffed. ¡°Make a scene? William, you need to get your facts straight. I¡¯m Tyler¡¯s girlfriend now. And by seniority, he¡¯s your uncle, so I¡¯m your future aunt. Is this how you speak to your future aunt?¡± The word ¡®aunt¡® hit William like a fierce p. His face turned red immediately. With all their rtives watching, he felt like he had beenpletely humiliated. ¡°Oh my goodness, have you ever heard of anything more ridiculous? William¡¯s ex¨Cwife divorced him and is now dating Tyler. That makes her William¡¯s future aunt!¡± ¡°This is insane. If this gets out, the entire Lewis family will be theughingstock of Yurelia City!¡± ¡°Exactly! How will we ever show our faces again? What will our business partners think of us?¡± ¡°William, if you saw thising, why didn¡¯t you do something earlier? Now look at the mess you¡¯ve caused! You¡¯ve embarrassed both families.¡± William felt like he was being grilled alive. His head pounded, and frustration burned through him like wildfire. He ran a hand through his hair and spoke to Rachel again, only this time, it was more forceful. ¡°Come outside with me. Now!¡± Rachel lifted her chin and crossed her arms. ¡°Is that how you ask your future aunt to speak in private? Is this your way of begging, William?¡± That pushed him over the edge. His voice rose several notches in anger. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t push it! Do you think you¡¯re actually my aunt now?¡± He reached for her again, intent on dragging her out, but Tyler stepped in. Tyler¡¯s patience had run thin. His tone darkened, and his brows furrowed ever so slightly. ¡°William, are you still stuck in the past and still think of her as your wife? You need to get it through your head. She¡¯s going to be your aunt whether you like it or not, so start acting like it.¡± The moment William saw Tyler, his stomach turned. But with Thomas present today, if he cowered now, he would forever live in Tyler¡¯s shadow. He clenched his fists and forced himself to stand his ground. ¡°Tyler, are you doing this on purpose? Or did she fool you, too? You could have any woman in Yurelia City. Why her? Do you know what people will say about us two? What will they say about the Lewis family?¡± Even Samantha, who had already known about Rachel and Tyler¡¯s rtionship, hadn¡¯t expected it to go this far. She had thought Tyler was just toying with Rachel¨Ca fling at best. Knowing his personality, she never imagined he would seriously date a divorced woman, let alone his nephew¡¯s ex¨Cwife. This kind of scandal was unheard of in Yurelia City. If it got out, it would be beyond humiliating! Tyler¡¯s expression turned icy. He stepped forward, and even though William was already tall, Tyler¡¯s presence was overwhelming. His height wasn¡¯t just physical. It was the weight of his aura, a pressure few could stand up to. Step by step, he approached William. ¡°You just said it yourself. This is the Lewis family¡¯s disgrace, not mine. Or have you forgotten? It was your family that drove me away in the first ce. I was cast out, remember? And now what? When things blow up, you want me to clean up your mess?¡± Thomas mmed his hand on the table. His voice trembled with fury. ¡°Tyler, are you out of your mind? Yurelia City is crawling with women chasing after you, and this is the one you choose? Your nephew¡¯s ex¨Cwife? You may not carry the Lewis surname, but you still have the Lewis family¡¯s blood! And now, you want to sever ties with the familypletely?¡± Tyler¡¯s gaze remained calm and unwavering. For the first time, Rachel realized how resolute he could be in a situation like this. 212 Her Exit 542 Chapter 542 Rachel had never felt this way before, but now she did. Tyler would fight for what he wanted, no matter what, and he wasn¡¯t afraid to go up against anyone. He pulled Rachel into his arms, making his stance crystal clear to everyone in the room. ¡°Do you see it now? Your disapproval means nothing. I didn¡¯t bring her back for your judgment. I brought her back for you to ept her. Not that it matters either way.¡± Cassandra stepped forward, trying to talk some sense into Tyler. ¡°Tyler, I get that you like Rachel, but this rtionship is a littleplicated, isn¡¯t it? Why don¡¯t you two break up? If you¡¯re looking for a certain type, I can introduce you. That cousin of yours wasn¡¯t so bad, right?¡± Tyler¡¯s response was firm. ¡°Let me say this one more time. I only want Rachel.¡± That finally pushed William over the edge. ¡°Tyler, she was my wife! What if we hadn¡¯t divorced? Would you still be with her?¡± Dressed in a sharp ck suit, Tyler looked colder and more imposing than usual. Without a word, he grabbed William by the cor and stared him down. ¡°William, do you really want to embarrass yourself like this in front of everyone? Don¡¯t you know why you and Rachel got married?¡± A flicker of guilt shed across William¡¯s eyes. ¡°Of course it was because we loved each other. Why else?¡± Maybe the others couldn¡¯t tell, but Rachel knew William too well. After seven years together, she could read even the slightest twitch in his expression. Right now, that flicker of guilt was too obvious to miss. She could tell William was still hiding something from her, and stepped forward. ¡°William, tell me the truth. Did you lie to me back then?¡± At this point, William couldn¡¯t even look at her. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Rachel, how could I have lied? You know how I treated you during our marriage.¡± Rachel had her suspicions before, but she had never asked. Too much time had passed, and she thought it wouldn¡¯t change anything. But now that Tyler brought it up again, she had to know. ¡°Let me ask you again¨Cwas it you who talked to the barbecue shop owner and had him move his stand in front of our school?¡± William didn¡¯t even pause. ¡°Of course.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s your answer, then let¡¯s call him right now. Are you okay with that?¡± William was stunned for a moment before he spoke. ¡°Fine! If that¡¯s how you feel, I don¡¯t mind. Let him clear things up.¡± Rachel picked up her phone and pretended to dial, but before she could finish, Yale spoke up. ¡°Mr. Lewis, I think this has gone far enough. We all know it was Mr. Hunt who spoke to the shop owner. That¡¯s why the stand was moved in the first ce. It¡¯s one thing to take credit behind the scenes, but now, you¡¯re still pretending right in front of Mr. Hunt? That¡¯s just too much.¡± Yale was clearly standing up for Tyler. If William and Rachel were still married, maybe no one would care. Now that they were divorced and he was still trying to spin the story, Yale couldn¡¯t hold back. William hadn¡¯t expected this sudden interference. Tyler was one thing, but his assistant? He wasn¡¯t about to be lectured by a nobody! He pointed at Yale and snapped, ¡°Who the hell asked for your opinion? Quit running your mouth like you know everything!¡± Rachel naturally believed Tyler. She knew him well enough to trust that he wouldn¡¯t lie about something like this. Yale wasn¡¯t William. He had no reason to make something like this up, especially not in public. The lies would unravel sooner orter. Tyler hadn¡¯t nned to waste more time arguing, but William¡¯s attitude was getting on hisst nerve. His voice dropped to a dangerous tone. ¡°William. Keep causing a scene here, and don¡¯t me me for not saving your face when things get ugly.¡± Her Exit 543 Chapter 543 As soon as Tyler spoke, William finally shut up. Rachel didn¡¯t even need to press further. She already understood what that meant. William had lied to her. The barbecue shop owner hadn¡¯t moved his stand for William¡¯s sake. It was all because of Tyler. Rachel clenched her fists, veins bulging slightly across the back of her hand. All these years, she had trusted William¨Cand in the end, it had all been a lie. She took a deep breath. Her eyes filled with contempt as she looked at him. ¡°William, there are so many people here. Do you really feel no shame at all?¡± She didn¡¯t need any more proof. She was absolutely certain now that William had lied. The only thing she couldn¡¯t quite figure out was why Tyler had helped her back then. After all, they barely even knew each other at the time. But now wasn¡¯t the time for those questions. William¡¯s expression turned dark. With so many rtives watching, he wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and disappear. A few people tried to break the tension. ¡°Alright, since Tyler¡¯s already made up his mind, maybe we should just respect that. There¡¯s no point in pushing it further now.¡± ¡°Exactly. Today is Mr. Thomas¡® birthday. Since we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s take our seats.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Let¡¯s go sit down.¡± ¡°We¡¯re here to celebrate Mr. Thomas¡® 80th birthday. Hopefully, we¡¯ll all be back together for his 90th!¡± Just like that, the awkward atmosphere was temporarily defused. Everyone knew that with Tyler¡¯s personality, continuing to escte things would only backfire. If it got out of hand, none of them would be able to clean up the mess. Just then, Mrs. Jones, one of the maids, came over. ¡°Everyone, feel free to look around for now. When dinner is ready, I¡¯lle get you. You¡¯re wee to stroll through the garden until then.¡± ¡°Right, let¡¯s take a walk in the garden. We¡¯lle back when it¡¯s time to eat.¡± Tyler leaned forward slightly and asked Rachel, ¡°Do you want to stay here, ore outside with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather go with you.¡± Even if no one said anything out loud, Rachel could feel the way they were looking at her¨Clike they wanted to swallow her whole. ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of here.¡± Tyler nodded. ¡°I assume I won¡¯t need to lead the way. You probably know this ce better than I do.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know whether to feel proud or just awkward¨Csomething about the way he said it didn¡¯t exactly sound like apliment. The two of them walked out of the living room together. From behind, Thomas watched them leave. He was so angry, he gripped his cane and muttered through clenched jaws, ¡°What a disgrace to the family-¡± Meanwhile, William could only turn to him for help. ¡°Grandpa, you have to do something! We can¡¯t let Rachel and Tyler end up together. If word of this gets out, it¡¯ll ruin ourpany¡¯s reputation.¡± William knew that on his own, he had no way of stopping Tyler or separating the two. He wasn¡¯t a match for Tyler, not in power or influence. If there was anyone who could change Tyler¡¯s mind, it was Thomas. Thomas sighed helplessly. ¡°What do you expect me to do? You know your uncle¡¯s temper. He¡¯s not someone you can talk down to. You were the one who insisted on marrying Rachel in the first ce. I told you back then she wasn¡¯t the right kind of woman. ¡°She was deaf at the time. You two getting together was already the talk of the town. I warned you not to go too far with it, but you wouldn¡¯t listen. And now? Look at the mess you¡¯ve made!¡± Her Exit 544 ¡°How do we know Rachel getting close to your uncle isn¡¯t because of you? What if she¡¯s back for revenge? You never know.¡± William nodded insistently. ¡°That has to be it! I¡¯m telling you, Rachel is doing this on purpose. I can guarantee it. She got close to Tyler just to get back at me. She was obsessed with me, and she never wanted the divorce. But you saw it. I¡¯m already married to Samantha. She couldn¡¯t stand it, so this was the only way. If she¡¯s with Tyler, she¡¯ll always have an excuse to see me!¡± Jason, who had been listening nearby, finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is that Rachel¡¯s still hung up on you? That¡¯s weird, because I clearly remember she was the one who left the divorce papers and walked away.¡± William¡¯s expression darkened. He knew Jason was on Tyler¡¯s side, and he didn¡¯t bother to hide his annoyance. ¡°What does any of this have to do with you, Jason? Maybe you¡¯ve got too much free time on your hands.¡± Jason casually shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, William. Maybe don¡¯t be so sure of yourself. Overconfidence isn¡¯t always a good look.¡± With that, Jason turned around and started walking toward the door. William moved quickly to block him. ¡°Jason! Don¡¯t just walk away! Say it to my face!¡± Thomas, seeing the scene escting, quickly gave Cassandra a look. She rushed forward and grabbed William¡¯s arm. ¡°Are you not embarrassed enough already?¡± she hissed under her breath. ¡°Mom¡± William snapped in frustration. Cassandra didn¡¯t let go and dragged him back. ¡°That¡¯s enough! We¡¯ll talk about thister. No matter what the reason is behind Tyler and Rachel being together, you can see for yourself that they¡¯re not breaking up anytime soon¡± Both of them were stubborn, and with the whole family present, William couldn¡¯t let out his full tage. If it weren¡¯t for the guests, he might¡¯ve flipped a table already. Samantha stepped in to calm him down ¡°Yes, William, let¡¯s not make a scene today. Whatever¡¯s going on between Tyler and Rachel, just let it go for now. We¡¯ll deal with it after Grandpa¡¯s birthday.¡± William had no choice but to swallow his frustration. In the backyard, Rachel and Tyler were walking toward the koi pond, where the scenery was quieter and more peaceful. Once they were sure no one else was around, Rachel finally turned to Tyler and asked directly, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you owe me an exnation about the barbecue shop owner?¡± Tyler narrowed his eyes slightly. He smirked yfully. ¡°Are you starting to feel like you fell for the wrong guy?¡± Rachel was feeling betrayed. William had clearly lied to her, and now, she was starting to question everything. She even wondered if William was the person who saved her from the fire years ago. Although she didn¡¯t have proof, her suspicions were hard to ignore. She turned to look at Tyler. ¡°Did you know I was caught in a major fire a few years ago?¡± Tyler stopped walking and stood still beside the pond. He casually chucked his hands into his pockets as he studied her. ¡°What makes you bring that up now?¡± At this point, Rachel didn¡¯t feel like hiding anything anymore. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it, and the more I go over it in my head, the more something feels off.¡± Chapter 545 Her Exit 545 Chapter 545 Tyler didn¡¯t say much. He just let out a low hum, almost like he was going to make another joke. ¡°Go on, tell me what you¡¯re thinking. Though, I do know a little about the fire you were caught in back then.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but start recalling the past. ¡°I remember seeing someone in the fire, but I couldn¡¯t make out the face clearly, so I couldn¡¯t be sure it was William. And when I woke up, he was by my side, but there wasn¡¯t a single burn or scratch on him. That just seemed off.¡± It had been a massive fire. How could someone walk away from itpletely unharmed? If no one had rescued her, Rachel was certain she would¡¯ve died in there. Yet William didn¡¯t have any injuries. It didn¡¯t make sense. He had imed he was wearing protective gear, which helped shield him from the worst of the mes. It was why Rachel didn¡¯t question it at the time. Besides, it hadn¡¯t even urred to her back then that something might be off. Who would lie about something like that? But after everything that had just happened¨Chow William had lied to her about the barbecue shop owner, how he had impersonated Tyler¨Cshe was beginning to question everything. If he could go that far just to deceive her, what else was he capable of? Meanwhile, Tyler stood there with his hands still in his pockets, casually tossing fish food into the pond like he had all the time in the world. ¡°So? What are you getting at? The person who saved you wasn¡¯t him, but someone else?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t certain. But after today, the seed of doubt had taken root, and she couldn¡¯t help but suspect it might¡¯ve been Tyler. Too bad she had no proof. There was no clear reason, either. It was just a hunch stirred up by what she had witnessed earlier. She couldn¡¯t exactlye right out and ask Tyler, ¡°Hey, were you the one who saved me back then?¡± That would be too abrupt. So she tried to probe gently, hoping he might say something on his own. Rachel nodded. ¡°I want to find out who really saved me that day.¡± ¡°And if it turns out it was someone else?¡± Tyler asked, suddenly leaning close to her. His breath was warm on her face. Rachel found herself staring straight into those deep, dark eyes of his- eyes that sometimes felt like ck holes, pulling her in the longer she looked. She held his gaze for a moment, her heart pounding. She couldn¡¯t tell if he was testing her or just genuinely curious. What could she say to get him to reveal some information? She remembered once seeing a scar on his body. It didn¡¯t look recent¨Cit looked like a burn. But back then, she had never connected it to the fire. It just didn¡¯t cross her mind. Then, with a sly glint in her eyes, Rachel smiled up at him. ¡°If someone else really did save me, I guess I¡¯ll just have to marry him. What do you think?¡± Tyler¡¯s gaze turned darker, and he leaned in to murmur into her ear. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re my girlfriend right now. Already looking to trade up, huh?¡± Rachel fired back, ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re really dating, we¡¯re just preten-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Tyler suddenly kissed her. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened, and her mind went nk. What the hell just happened? Was this an episode triggered by hormones? Was he acting like a dog going into heat? As she tried to make sense of it, voices drifted over from nearby. ¡°William, seriously, what are you even thinking? If Rachel really likes Tyler, just let them be together! Everyone¡¯s saying you¡¯re still hung up on her.¡± Chopter 546 Her Exit 546 ¡°Have you even considered how I feel?¡± Samantha was crying now. She looked pitiful. William was already frustrated. His biggest problems still hadn¡¯t been dealt with, and now, Samantha was piling on more emotional drama. The rage he had just barely managed to suppress red up again in an instant. ¡°Samantha, you¡¯ve changed. You never used to pressure me like this! When did you be so unreasonable? You-¡± Before William could finish, he caught sight of two familiar figures in the distance. His pupils contracted as he clenched his fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. Samantha immediately noticed something was off and instinctively followed his gaze. Her expression turned to shock. Rachel and Tyler were standing by the pond and kissing in broad daylight. Their boldness was almost unbelievable. Most people would¡¯ve quietly looked away in this situation, but not Samantha. She deliberately walked forward and called out. ¡°Rachel!¡± Rachel froze the moment she heard Samantha¡¯s voice. She realized she had probably misjudged Tyler earlier. Tyler pulled back. Rachel¡¯s cheeks were still flushed, and her lips were gleaming and slightly swollen from the kiss. When William saw that, his rage hit a boiling point. He stormed over and yelled at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, do you realize where you are? This is the Lewis family estate! There are rtives all around! Dating my uncle is already uneptable, and now you¡¯re kissing him in public? Do you have no shame at all?¡± Tyler stood with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed as he watched William He didn¡¯t say anything. looking like he was enjoying the show. Then, he leaned in and whispered in Rachel¡¯s ear, ¡°It¡¯s time to exercise your authority.¡± Just that one sentence, and Rachel instantly got what he meant. She straightened up and suddenly raised her voice. ¡°William!¡± The shout made William jump. He stared at her with confusion. Rachel stepped closer. Although there was a clear height difference between them, she didn¡¯t look intimidated in the slightest. Her presence was just asmanding. Her gaze was cold as she red at him. ¡°Clearly, you didn¡¯t understand what I told you earlier. I¡¯m your future aunt. Don¡¯t you have manners? Or did your grandfather never teach you traditional values like respecting your elders? Should I call up your teacher to teach you the basics?¡± She fired off like a machine gun, one hit after another, leaving Williampletely defenseless. But he wasn¡¯t about to admit defeat. How could he let Rachel walk all over him like this? He took a deep breath and growled, ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯re dating my uncle, you¡¯ve suddenly forgotten your ce. I¡¯m telling you, he¡¯s just ying with you! Do you really think he¡¯s going to marry you? That he¡¯d actually let you into the Lewis family?¡± But then another voice cut in, calmly and firmly. ¡°William, you¡¯ve got it wrong. Who said she¡¯s marrying into the Lewis family? If she¡¯s marrying anyone, it¡¯s into the Hunt family.¡± Everyone knew that Tyler had never acknowledged being part of the Lewis family. If it weren¡¯t for Rachel, he wouldn¡¯t even be here. Now that he had shown up, that was enough for today. He had no intention of dealing with these people further. He wasn¡¯t about to let them get their ws into Rachel. Her Exit 547 Chapter 547 William didn¡¯t dare confront Tyler directly, let alone oppose him. He could only try a more roundabout approach. He spoke gently, trying to persuade Tyler. ¡°Tyler, no matter how we argue, it¡¯s still a family matter. Why let outsidersugh at us?¡± He even stepped forward and tried to tug Tyler¡¯s arm, but Tyler flung his hand off without any pretense. ¡°I don¡¯t like being touched.¡± William forced an awkward smile. ¡°Tyler, are you really going to go against me just for this woman?¡± This time, Rachel didn¡¯t hold back. She stepped forward and questioned William head¨Con. ¡°William, think carefully. What can you offer Tyler? Performance? Projects? You¡¯ve got nothing. Also, can you lull him to sleep at night? You can¡¯t, but I can. Take a second to think about it. How exactly are you better than me?¡± William was nearly speechless. ¡°How can you evenpare us like that?¡± Rachel lifted her chin and replied bluntly, ¡°Then how do you want topare?¡± William¡¯s expression turned sullen. He pointed at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, even if you really want to be with me, there¡¯s no need to go this far! Tyler isn¡¯t me. Do you think he¡¯s that easy to fool? You plotted all this just to get one moment of satisfaction in front of me. You want me to call you aunt? In your dreams!¡± ¡°William, watch your words!¡± Tyler¡¯s voice suddenly cut through the air. The pressure in his tone made Samantha, who stood beside them, flinch in fright. Even William, who had already been on edge, couldn¡¯t handle Tyler¡¯s overwhelming presence. Samantha certainly couldn¡¯t. William pursed his lips tightly. He looked like he was boiling with rage, but didn¡¯t dare talk back. After a pause, Tyler stepped in front of him and looked at him sternly. ¡°Out of respect, you¡¯ll have to serve coffee to Rachelter.¡± William froze on the spot. His face twitched with disbelief as he snapped back, ¡°Says who?¡± ¡°Says me, your uncle. That¡¯s the Lewis family¡¯s rule. If you don¡¯t like it, go tell the old man to disown me and kick me out of the Lewis family. Then you won¡¯t have to follow the rule anymore.¡± William clenched his jaws hard. His eyes were slightly red. Deep down, he knew there was no way Thomas would ever kick Tyler out of the family. Thepany had been strugglingtely, and Thomas was already disappointed in him. Judging by his mother¡¯s recent behavior, the inheritance wasn¡¯t going to fall into his hands. To be fair, Tyler had performed exceptionally well over the years. From a distance, Cassandra walked over and immediately sensed the tension in the air. She sighed inwardly, then stepped in and pulled William aside. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you these days? Are you out of your mind? Arguing with your uncle today, of all days? It¡¯s your grandfather¡¯s birthday celebration! What will the rtives think after seeing this mess?¡± she whispered. William had no choice but to swallow his anger. Cassandra walked over to Tyler with a polite smile. ¡°Tyler, we¡¯re all family. There¡¯s no need to make things so unpleasant. It¡¯s not that we¡¯re trying to stop you and Rachel from being together. It was a bit hard to ept at first, but we¡¯ve had time to process it. If you two want to be together, it¡¯s fine. We won¡¯t stop you.¡± Most people would probably expect Tyler to return her kindness with at least some diplomacy. Cassandra was giving him a way out with dignity. But Tyler wasn¡¯t like most people. He always did whatever he wanted. If someone rubbed him the wrong way, even Thomas wouldn¡¯t be able to calm him. Her Exit 548 The rumors within the circle about Tyler¡¯s bad temper weren¡¯t baseless. Sure enough, Tyler¡¯s expression turned icy as he nced at Cassandra and responded bluntly, ¡°Who I¡¯m with¨Cand whether I¡¯m with anyone¨Cis my business. None of you has any say in it.¡± Saying this in front of so many people was a clear p in the face. The atmosphere instantly turned tense and awkward. Cassandra could feel it too. If this had happened in private, she might have just pretended she hadn¡¯t heard it. But now, with so many people watching, she couldn¡¯t just let it slide. If she said nothing, it would be incredibly embarrassing. William, already simmering with anger,pletely lost it when he saw Tyler being so disrespectful to his mother. ¡°Tyler! You can say whatever you want to me, but talking to my mom like that¨Cisn¡¯t that a bit much? Don¡¯t you know what it means to respect your elders?¡± 1 Tyler snorted. There was an intimidating look in his eyes. ¡°William, you actually made a good point. I do believe in respecting elders. But if that¡¯s how you feel, how do you exin the way you just disrespected Rachel? I¡¯ll give you a chance now. Apologize to Rachel, and I¡¯ll forgive you for your poor manners.¡± William clenched his jaw tightly. Rachel could practically see steaming out of his ears and nose. Inside, she was dancing with joy. Tyler¡¯s ruthlessment was so satisfying that she could hardly resist giving him a thumbs¨Cup. Guess it was true what they said¨Cno one else ever really felt what you did. Right now, William probably felt like he was about to explode. She knew him too well. He was proud and arrogant to the core. There was no way he would ever apologize to her. Tyler shifted his gaze to Cassandra. ¡°Is this the kind of son you raised?¡± ¡°I-¡± Cassandra felt her face burn with embarrassment. She had a growing unease that unless William apologized to Rachel, Tyler wasn¡¯t going to let this go. He had that kind of intimidating presence that, even when silent, his actions alone demandedpliance. Tyler crossed his arms and leaned against the nearby railing. He looked rxed on the surface, and he spoke ever so calmly. ¡°Come on, William. Can¡¯t you see everyone¡¯s waiting on you? If you don¡¯t apologize today, nobody¡¯s getting lunch.¡± His tone was casual, but it hit everyone like a crashing wave. He was making it clear that if William didn¡¯t apologize to Rachel, none of them would be eating today. William felt like he was being roasted over a fire. The crowd around them didn¡¯t dare to leave, either. Everyone knew that even though Thomas hadn¡¯t officially handed the Lewis family reins over to Tyler, it was already obvious who the more capable sessor was. The real question was whether Tyler even wanted the position. With his current capabilities, having the Lewis family behind him would make him unstoppable. Truth be told, he didn¡¯t need the backup. He was already a force to be reckoned with. Cassandra tugged gently at William¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°William, let it go. Just apologize to Rachel, and let¡¯s all give them our blessings.¡± William frowned. He was clearly on edge. ¡°Mom, do you even hear yourself? Why should I apologize to her? I did nothing wrong!¡± ¡°Because she¡¯s going to be your aunt,¡± Cassandra replied firmly. ¡°You should¡¯ve dropped that old attitude a long time ago and epted the facts. Hurry up and do it, or none of us are leaving today.¡± Chapter 549 Her Exit 549 Chapter 549 Cassandra had no way of dealing with Tyler, so her only option was to try talking some sense into William. It wasn¡¯t like she could go talk Tyler down. When had anyone ever been able to reason with him? Besides, who in their right mind would pick a fight with Tyler? Even Thomas couldn¡¯t keep him in check. What could they possibly do? It wasughable to even think they had a chance. William was so worked up by now that he wasn¡¯t thinking straight anymore. ¡°Mom, what are you even thinking? Rachel used to be my wife! And now out of nowhere, she¡¯s going to be my aunt? That¡¯s already insane enough, and now you expect me to apologize to her?¡± Cassandra snapped too. She yanked her arm out of his grip and shot back, ¡°If you insist on being this stubborn, then I have nothing more to say. When your grandfatheres looking for youter, let¡¯s see how you exin yourself.¡± With that, she turned to leave. ¡°Mom!¡± William called, panicking. ¡°Oh, now you remember I¡¯m your mother? A real man knows when topromise and when to stand tall. What¡¯s the point of getting hung up on this?¡± Not far away, Rachel noticed William beginning to cave. She instinctively nced at Tyler. Their eyes met, and they shared a subtle, knowing smile. Samantha saw every bit of it. She pursed her lips, and her narrowed eyes glinted with jealousy. It was obvious that those two were doing this on purpose. They wanted William to lose face in front of everyone. If William was humiliated, then Samantha would be humiliated too. After all, she was his wife. If things blew up like this in front of so many people, what then? What if Rachel actually did marry into the Lewis family? How would Samantha ever hold her head up again? Samantha stepped forward. Her voice was soft, humble, and as meek as ever. ¡°Rachel, I think William didn¡¯t mean to be rude just now. His words were harsh, yes, but I¡¯m sure you understand how confusing this all is for him. ¡°One day, your ex¨Cwife suddenly bes your future aunt. That¡¯s not an easy thing for anyone to ept. Maybe he said something offensive in the heat of the moment. If so, I¡¯d like to apologize on his behalf.¡± It sounded like an apology, but anyone really listening could tell that Samantha was just shifting the me onto Rachel. 1/25 The implication was clear that Rachel had entered a rtionship with Tyler out of spite for William. She was still bitter over their divorce. This was seen as a petty act of revenge. But Rachel wasn¡¯t the same pushover she¡¯d been five years ago. The moment she heard Samantha¡¯s words, she shot back without hesitation. ¡°From the way you put it, it sounds like I nned this whole thing out. Are you saying that after William and I got a divorce, I still have to get the Lewis family¡¯s approval on who I date? ¡°Even if he did insult me out of frustration, is saying sorry really that hard? I¡¯m his uncle¡¯s girlfriend now. That makes me his future aunt. epting that and showing basic respect is the bare minimum, isn¡¯t it? ¡°Or what, are you suggesting William has the right to tell me who I can and can¡¯t be with?¡± Samantha stood frozen. She never expected Rachel toe at her this hard and with so many harsh words that she couldn¡¯t even get a rebuttal in. After a moment, Samantha let out a shaky breath. Her eyes filled with tears, and when she spoke again, it was obvious she had started crying. ¡°Rachel, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I was just hoping we could keep this from blowing up any further.¡± Her Exit 550 Rachel refused without hesitation. ¡°Absolutely not. This isn¡¯t the first time William has talked to me like this. Why should I keep putting up with it?¡± She didn¡¯t care about the looks being thrown her way. Her voice was clear and unapologetic. ¡°William is going to apologize to me today. Period.¡± William clenched his jaw and raised his voice. ¡°Rachel, you did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you? You got close to my uncle and wormed your way into the Lewis family just to get back at me. It seems you still have feelings for me.¡± ¡°William! You¡¯re really pushing it, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ve been tolerating you, but you clearly don¡¯t know where to draw the line. Do you want me to pull up the videos and messages from before? Remind you exactly what you and Samantha were doing behind Rachel¡¯s back?¡± Tyler roared. His words dropped like a bomb. William, just seconds ago puffed up with bravado, suddenly deted. Around them, the rtives started whispering. ¡°I¡¯d heard something about this before. Wasn¡¯t Samantha William¡¯s ex¨Cgirlfriend back in the day? She went overseas, and the two of them broke up.¡± ¡°William ended up marrying Rachel real quick. At some point, Samantha returned.¡± ¡°Sounds like he only married Rachel to get over Samantha.¡± ¡°That¡¯s cold. You don¡¯t use someone like that. That¡¯s not responsible behavior at all.¡± As the conversation took a turn for the worse, William¡¯s expression grew darker. Rachel didn¡¯t let up. ¡°William, Samantha. I think we all remember what went down back then. Want me toy it all out again? Or should I just y the recordings and show everyone the videos? Might as well give our guests something juicy to talk about.¡± The veins in William¡¯s forehead bulged. He was shaking with rage as he stepped toward Rachel and raised his hand. ¡°Rachel, we used to be married. Do you really want to destroy me in front of everyone like this? Don¡¯t expect me to keep ying nice!¡± He wound up for the p, but Rachel didn¡¯t even flinch. She stared him down. Cassandra saw what was about to happen. Her face turned pale. ¡°William!¡± But it was toote. His hand was alreadying down. Rachel closed her eyes and braced for the impact, but it never came. She suddenly heard William yelling in pain. ¡°Ouch!¡± Rachel opened her eyes and saw Tyler gripping William¡¯s wrist so tightly that it might snap right off. There was a cold look in Tyler¡¯s eyes. Tyler smiled in a way that sent chills down one¡¯s spine. ¡°William, you¡¯ve really lost your mind. Were you going to hit her right in front of me?¡± Crack! ¡°Ahh!¡± William¡¯s scream echoed in the courtyard after the sound of bones cracking was heard. ¡°William!¡± X Her Exit 551 Cassandra ran over as soon as she saw William¡¯s face turn pale and his body hunched over in pain. ¡°William! Are you okay?¡± ¡°It hurts¡­ I think my wrist¡¯s broken.¡± His voice had gone weak and hoarse. One could tell how much pain he was in from the sound alone. Cassandra looked harshly at Tyler, her patience wearing thin. But even then, she didn¡¯t dare raise her voice too much. There was still a lingering fear. ¡°Tyler, no matter what happened, William is still family. How could you do this to him over a woman who¡¯s not even blood¨Crted? How could you be so cruel?¡± Anyone else might¡¯ve tried to exin themselves or argue back, but not Tyler. He didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°You already know I¡¯m cruel, so why keep poking the bear? You all know exactly what I¡¯m like. I don¡¯t y nice. And if you¡¯re smart, you¡¯ll stay away from Rachel.¡± He wrapped an arm around Rachel¡¯s waist. When his gaze shifted to her, that stormy edge in his eyes softened. ¡°If we stay any longer, no one¡¯s going to be able to finish their meal.¡± Rachel gave him a sweet smile. ¡°Then let¡¯s go say goodbye to your dad and head out. I¡¯ve been craving Wanda¡¯s cooking.¡± Tyler nodded affectionately. ¡°Sure.¡± He looked up at the crowd while still holding Rachel close. ¡°Well then, we¡¯ll leave you all to enjoy lunch.¡± The two of them started walking toward the living room. Rachel could feel the stares burning into her back. Being with Tyler felt like walking around with a spotlight on her. The pressure was constant¨Cpeople staring, whispering, and sizing her up. She nced up at him, half¨Cteasing. ¡°Being your girlfriend is seriously high¨Cpressure. I think you owe me a reward when we get home.¡± Tyler looked down at her and smirked. ¡°How about two gold stars and a cookie?¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re such a cheapskate.¡± Tyler pulled out his phone and handed it to her. ¡°Here. Look at this. If you can¡¯t meet my standards, then maybe you¡¯re not ready.¡± Rachel blinked in confusion. She then took the phone, and her expression changed to one of shock. ¡°Did you actually approve it?¡± It was the same proposal that had been rejected weeks ago in that conference room. She had assumed it was a dead end. Tyler was known for being decisive. If he shut something down, it stayed shut. But now, he had greenlit it. She looked up at him, unsure if she was seeing things. ¡°Wait, seriously? You¡¯re not messing with me?¡± Tyler¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me? Fine, forget I said anything.¡± He reached out to snatch the phone back, but Rachel pulled away just before he seeded. ¡°Hey! I didn¡¯t say I didn¡¯t believe you. I¡¯m just double¨Cchecking. In case you suddenly change your mind.¡± Still grinning, she nced at the screen again. Her smile froze. She shot him a skeptical look. ¡°These terms are brutal.¡± Just scanning the terms, she could already tell it would take at least two to four weeks to rework everything. Even then, she would only get one shot at getting it approved. Tyler took the phone back, his expression shifting¨Cless teasing now, more businesslike. The change in energy was instant. Rachel recognized thatmanding gaze all too well. It was the same look he had when running a boardroom. Tyler probably didn¡¯t even realize it himself, but when he talked business, he exuded this overwhelming pressure that was impossible to ignore. Chapter 552 Her Exit 552 Soon, Tyler and Rachel made their way back into the living room. Inside, everyone was still chatting with Thomas, but they were all careful not to bring up anything about Tyler and Rachel. Anyone with eyes could tell that no matter how stubborn Thomas was, even he couldn¡¯t go up against Tyler. Tyler had been hard¨Cheaded since he was a kid. If he weren¡¯t so stubborn, William wouldn¡¯t have taken control of Lewis Enterprise in the first ce. Tyler would¡¯ve been the one running the show years ago. Luckily, Tyler was capable enough to back it up. If he didn¡¯t, he would have paid the price for his reckless choices a long time ago. Someone leaned close to Thomas and whispered, ¡°Tyler and Rachel are here.¡± The moment Thomasid eyes on them, his cheerful expression darkened. He was all smiles just a second ago, but now his expression was cold as ice. Even his voice lost its warmth. ¡°It¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s start eating.¡± Just as Thomas was about to head to the dining table, Tyler said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ve got something else to take care of. I¡¯ve brought Rachel here like you asked. You don¡¯t need to worry about finding me a girlfriend anymore.¡± Silence filled the room. Tyler took Rachel¡¯s hand and turned to leave. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Thomas suddenly mmed his cane on the floor. The sound echoed through the living room, startling everyone. Tyler didn¡¯t even flinch. Calm as ever, he turned around. ¡°Is there something else, Dad?¡± Thomas pursed his lips. ¡°Can¡¯t you at least sit down and have a meal with me?¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow and scratched his nose. ¡°Are you sure about that? Every time I sit down to eat with you, it ends in a fight. Today¡¯s your birthday, and I¡¯m trying to keep things peaceful. You¡¯ve seen my girlfriend, and I brought a gift. We¡¯ll skip the meal.¡± With that, he turned around and walked away while still holding Rachel¡¯s hand. Stubbornness must¡¯ve run in the family, because Thomas was no better than Tyler. Neither of them ever backed down. Mrs. Jones could clearly tell that Thomas actually wanted Tyler to stay, but his pride just wouldn¡¯t allow him to say it. Seeing that the couple was about to leave, she grew anxious and turned to Thomas, whispering frantically, ¡°Sir, please, just soften up a little. Ask them to stay for the meal.¡± Thomas scoffed. ¡°Why should I? I didn¡¯t tell him to leave! He¡¯s the one obsessed with that woman, walking out like this. What do you want me to do?¡± Mrs. Jones saw there was no changing his mind, so she remained quiet. ¡°Dad, you have to help us!¡± Just then, Cassandra burst into the hall sobbing. Already agitated over Tyler, Thomas¡® mood worsened the moment he saw her crying. ¡°What now? It¡¯s my birthday! Is this really how you all n to celebrate?¡± Cassandra nearly dropped to her knees in front of him, tears spilling down her cheeks. ¡°Tyler broke William¡¯s wrist because of Rachel. William is already on his way to the hospital!¡± Thomas shot up from his chair. His face was drained of color. ¡°What?!¡± Cassandra¡¯s voice trembled as she continued crying. ¡°William and Rachel argued. Tyler demanded that William apologize to her, and Rachel kept pushing his buttons. William got upset and tried to scare her a little. Tyler just walked up and broke his wrist!¡± She was afraid Thomas wouldn¡¯t believe her, so she added quickly, ¡°There were so many people in the backyard! Everyone saw what happened. They can all vouch for it.¡± Thomas¡® face turned red with fury, and his eyes filled with rage. The veins on his face became visible. ¡°He¡¯spletely out of control. Mrs. Jones! What are you standing there for? Go get them back¨Cnow!¡± Mrs. Jones nced nervously at the door and answered hesitantly, ¡°Sir, they¡¯re already gone.¡± X Her Exit 553 Thomas sighed and waved. ¡°Forget it. But seriously, you know exactly what Tyler¡¯s like. Why would you go and provoke him?¡± ¡°I tried to talk William out of it, but you know the history between him and Rachel. Dad, can¡¯t you try talking some sense into Tyler? He¡¯s dating William¡¯s ex¨Cwife! If word gets out, it won¡¯t just damage William¡¯s reputation¨Cyours will be dragged down with it, too. The Lewis family name has stood strong for generations. Are we really going to let it all fall apart because of Rachel?¡± Cassandra insisted. Of course Thomas understood all that, but what could he do? He had spent his life keeping everything under control. Everyone in the Lewis family revolved around him, everyone except Tyler. He was born defiant. No matter what Thomas tried, nothing ever worked on Tyler. Their rtionship had deteriorated to what it was now simply because neither of them would back down. If either one had been willing to Cassandra had hit a nerve, and Thomas shot her a re. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know all that already? You saw for yourself today how Tyler acts. If you¡¯re so clever, then figure out a solution yourself!¡± That shut Cassandra uppletely. Everyone present knew the truth. Tyler was a force of nature. He was stubborn as a mule, harder to handle than a wild animal. With the kind of power he had now, he didn¡¯t need the Lewis family. On the other hand, the Lewis family might still need him. Another Lewis pulled Cassandra aside to console her. ¡°You should check on William at the hospital. As long as he¡¯s not seriously hurt, that¡¯s all that matters. And knowing Tyler, I doubt he really lost all control.¡± Cassandra sneered. ¡°Oh, please! With the way he¡¯s obsessed with Rachel, he doesn¡¯t even see William as family anymore.¡± Thomas was getting more and more irritated by her whining. ¡°Enough already. Just go. Call me if there¡¯s anything to update.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Realizing he¡¯d had enough, Cassandra didn¡¯t dare push further. Meanwhile, Rachel and Tyler had gotten into the car. Yale followed close behind. Tyler turned to face him. ¡°Who told you toe?¡± Yale nodded. ¡°Apologies, Mr. Hunt. I came to deliver a document that requires your signature urgently. I didn¡¯t have time to call ahead.¡± Tyler gave him a cold look. ¡°Don¡¯t let it happen again.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± Yale handed over the document. Tyler nced at it, and instantly, his brows furrowed. Without warning, he threw the document back at Yale. *Are you getting too old to handle your job properly? Did you even check this report? Are the figuresplete? Is the budget sound? Does the proposal have any loopholes?¡± Yale froze for a second, flustered, and scrambled to catch the document. He looked down and said, ¡°I was told another department already did a final check. They said it was ready to go. I¡¯ve been tied up managing the subsidiarypany, so I¡ª¡± One sharp re from Tyler cut him off mid¨Csentence. Tyler¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°Yale, I swear you¡¯re getting more useless by the day. You know exactly what the board has been plottingtely. Don¡¯t y dumb. If something like this happens again, don¡¯t bother showing your face at the Chapter 554 Yale broke out in a cold sweat from the scolding. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°And one more thing, tell those shareholders we¡¯re having a meeting next Monday.¡± Tyler had been busytely, and some people were clearly starting to push their luck. Yale nodded. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Tyler was just about to open the driver¡¯s side door when he noticed Rachel still standing by the passenger side. He nced at her. ¡°What, waiting for me to open it for you?¡± Rachel blinked, caught off guard, and quickly exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that, I just¡ª¡± Before she could finish, Tyler was already walking toward her. Despite the casual scorn in his tone, his actions betrayed him. He stepped up and opened the door for her himself. Watching from nearby, Yale suddenly felt a wave of regret. Why wasn¡¯t he born a woman? He used to think Tyler treated everyone with equal indifference, man or woman. But ever since Rachel came into the picture, he¡¯d seen firsthand what favoritism really looked like. Rachel probably didn¡¯t even realize it herself. Only those who spent enough time around Tyler could recognize how rare and telling his behavior was. He remembered when Tyler¡¯s cousin acted all delicate, saying she couldn¡¯t open the car door. Tyler told her straight¨Cup to ride an e¨Cscooter from now on. E¨Cscooters had no doors, no handles, and therefore no excuses. Earlier, Rachel hadn¡¯t even asked for help, and Tyler had gone out of his way to open the door for her. Yet, even with the door open, Rachel didn¡¯t move. ¡°What now? Want me to carry you in?¡± Tyler asked. ¡°No!¡± Just as he looked like he might actually do it, Rachel threw up her hands and hurried into the seat, buckling up like her life depended on it. Tyler raised a brow. He was amused at her speed. ¡°Now that¡¯s fast. Next time I call you, I expect this level of enthusiasm.¡± As they drove back to the apartment, Rachel grew uneasy thinking about everything that had happened at the Lewis family estate. ¡°I really don¡¯t think you should¡¯ve brought me there today. You saw how it turned the whole ce upside down.¡± Tyler shot her a sideways nce like he could see right through her. ¡°Forget all that. Just tell me, did it feel good?¡± Rachel was stunned for a moment. She then nodded honestly. ¡°Yeah, it did.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to lie. Seeing William humiliated, fuming, and helpless had been incredibly satisfying. Karma always had a way ofing back to those who did evil. Tyler, by nature, was built to deal with people who didn¡¯t know their ce. Tyler smirked. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± ¡°But now you¡¯ve thrown me into the fire. Did you see the way your rtives were looking at me? They were ready to eat me alive!¡± She could practically hear the rumors already¨Ccalling her a homewrecker, the woman who turned uncle and nephew against each other, dragging the Lewis family name through the mud. If word got out about their rtionship, it¡¯d rock society like an earthquake. ¡°I already told you. Even if we¡¯re only pretending to date, as long as you¡¯re my girlfriend, I won¡¯t let anyone mess with you.¡± Rachel was just about to get emotional when he added, ¡°As the saying goes, you don¡¯t mess with someone¡¯s dog unless you¡¯re ready to deal with the owner.¡± Rachel was speechless. 2/2 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 555 Rachel red at Tyler, giving him a look like she had just been yanked from a heartfelt moment straight into wanting to punch someone. She propped herself up and tilted her head toward him. ¡°Tyler, do me a favor and exin what exactly you meant by not messing with someone¡¯s dog unless they¡¯re ready to deal with the owner.¡± Tyler gave a sheepish grin and reached over to pat her on the head again. ¡°Oh,e on. Don¡¯t be so petty, Rachel. It was just a metaphor. I wasn¡¯t actually saying you¡¯re a dog.¡± Rachel was silent, then swatted his hand away. ¡°You might as well not have exined.¡± Trying to exin just made it worse. Once they got back to the apartment, Tyler opened the door, tossed his keys on the table, shrugged off his jacket, and casually called out to Wanda. ¡°Wanda, just whip up something simple. Keep the spice down. Light and in.¡± Wanda poked her head out from the kitchen, clearly aware why they hadn¡¯t stayed to eat at the family estate. ¡°But sir, don¡¯t you usually prefer spicy food? What¡¯s with the change today?¡± Tyler gestured subtly in Rachel¡¯s direction with a nod. Wanda instantly understood and smiled warmly. ¡°You really are thoughtful, sir. I almost forgot she¡¯s not used to the spice. I¡¯ll get right on it.¡± 1 Rachel was now sitting cross¨Clegged on the floor, gently petting Ray¡¯s head. Ray hadpletely taken to her. In fact, Ray now seemed to stick to Rachel more than to Tyler. The real master of the house was definitely noticing this. Tyler nced sideways at the two of them, his face full of mock disdain. ¡°Traitor. After all those years I fed you and raised you, and now a pretty girl shows up and you¡¯re ready to move out. I bet you¡¯d even follow her to the dog butchers if she asked.¡± Rachel burst intoughter and cradled Ray¡¯s fluffy head, tilting her head with a grin. ¡°Is that true? Are you this loyal to me? Would you really go to the dog butchers with me if I asked?¡± Whether Ray understood or not, he just kept staring at Rachel with those big puppy eyes, full of emotion and innocence. Rachel chuckled and muttered, ¡°You know, sometimes I think dogs are way more devoted than men. Look at those eyes. Nothing but love.¡± She leaned in to nuzzle Ray, and the dog clearly loved every second of it. Tyler, meanwhile, froze mid¨Csip of water and gave her a side¨Ceye. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s how it is now? Repaying kindness with shade? Look at you, picking up metaphors and throwing them right back. Fast learner.¡± He had just teased her earlier with the whole ¡®dog and owner¡® thing, and now here she was, casually throwing shade that men weren¡¯t as loyal as dogs. That one hit a little too hard. Rachel put on her most innocent expression. ¡°I was just making an observation. If you took that personally, that¡¯s on you.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t push it. He dusted imaginary lint off his cks. ¡°Lucky for you, I¡¯m mature enough not to argue with a brat. I¡¯m going upstairs to change. Call me when dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Just as he stepped onto the stairs, he paused and looked back. The image of a girl with a dog looked oddly peaceful. It wasn¡¯t bad at all. Later, as Wanda brought out the dishes to the dining table, she nced at Rachel, who was still ying with Ray, andmented, ¡°Ray really knows how to pick people. We¡¯ve had quite a few women show up beforedies Mr. Thomas tried to introduce to Mr. Hunt¨Cbut he was never interested. There wasn¡¯t anything Mr. Thomas could do about it, either.¡± Her Exit 556 ¡°Mr. Thomas arranged for some women to drop by and try their luck, but Mr. Hunt had one condition. If Ray didn¡¯t reject the woman and took the initiative to approach her, then she could stay and try to build a connection with him.¡± Rachel usually wasn¡¯t the type to enjoy gossip, but when it came to Tyler¡¯s bizarre quirks, she was all ears. Her eyes practically sparkled with curiosity as she leaned closer to Wanda, eager to know more. ¡°And? What happened then? Don¡¯t tell me none of those women made the cut?¡± Wanda nodded. ¡°Not a single one.¡± Rachel gasped. ¡°So how did Ray decide? Ray can¡¯t just go by appearances like a person, right?¡± Wanda gave it a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°No, Ray goes by scent. He sniffed them.¡± Rachel raised an eyebrow. She knew dogs were big on smell, but this still struck her as a bit weird. ¡°So, what kind of scent is Ray into?¡± Wanda shook her head. ¡°No clue. But since Ray seems to like you, whatever you¡¯ve got going on must be what he likes.¡± ¡°My scent?¡± Rachel blinked and lifted her arm, sniffing her sleeve. ¡°I smell like regr soap and shampoo. Wanda tilted her head to think it over. ¡°Or maybe he smelled you somewhere before. I heard you and Mr. Hunt knew each other a long time ago- something about your mother? Perhaps Ray picked up your scent at some point and just stuck with it. Who knows, I¡¯m just specting.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t dwell on it. Honestly, it sounded a little too mystical to take seriously. She quickly moved on from the topic. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll go get Tyler for the meal.¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± Rachel walked to the door and knocked ¡°Tyler, food¡¯s ready.¡± There wasn¡¯t an answer. She pushed the door open and heard the shower running. He was still in the bathroom. Figuring he would be a while, she sat down on a chair and decided to make a quick call. She dialed an unknown number. ¡°Hey, I need you to look into something for me. Ten years ago, there was a fire. I need to know if there were any other people present and, specifically, where Tyler was at the time.¡± She figured it shouldn¡¯t be too hard to trace. Tyler wasn¡¯t exactly an unknown figure. This wasn¡¯t about hard proof¨Cit was gut instinct. She knew William too well. The moment she caught him in one lie, it usually meant there were ten more waiting behind it. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve already started digging. Someone imed the guy who rescued you was struck by a wooden beam when the roof copsed. If that¡¯s true, he should have a scar.¡± Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Positive. After you mentioned itst time, I started digging. It wasn¡¯t easy, but I found traces of something being deliberately covered up.¡± Her Exit 557 l couldn¡¯t help but frown. She lowered her voice. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something strange I discovered. When the fire happened, it looked like William didn¡¯t show up untilter, but there¡¯s a gap in his alibi during that time. Like, no one knows exactly where he was. In other words, there¡¯s a period where his whereabouts arepletely unounted for. ¡°And the people who were with you during the fire? Pretty much all of them have disappeared, too. Everyone connected to that incident has gone off the grid.¡± Just hearing that gave Rachel the chills. The more she thought about it, the more unsettling it felt. If William had nothing to hide, then why had everyone involved vanished into thin air? That fire had been so intense that even the firefighters hesitated to charge in, but William somehow made it out without a scratch. She med herself. Back then, she had been too blinded by love to notice the red gs. If she had paid more attention, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have been deceived for so many years. Now, she was determined to uncover the truth and to find out just how much William had kept from her. ¡°You have to dig into this. Get to the bottom of everything. As for Tyler, I¡¯ll handle that myself.¡± It was just a scar, after all. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard to verify. She would find a chance to check for it. Just then, the person on the line added something that made her freeze. ¡°Oh, right. One more thing. ording to what I found, the scar is on the inner thigh. You wouldn¡¯t be able to see it unless you spread the skin a little.¡± Rachel nearly lost her mind. ¡°Excuse me? What did you just say? The inner thigh? Are you kidding me right now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not joking, Rachel. It¡¯s the truth. You can check for yourselfter. Besides, haven¡¯t you two already sealed the deal? It shouldn¡¯t be an issue for you. You¡¯ve got this, Rachel!¡± ¡°You little brat! You¡¯ve really gotten mouthy over the years,¡± Rachel teased. The voice on the other end went quiet for a moment. This time, the person sounded more serious. ¡°Rachel, thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯d probably still be rotting in prison. If you hadn¡¯t worked so hard to find a doctor for my brother, he might not have made it.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t feel like she had done anything extraordinary. She just knew that the guy wasn¡¯t a bad person at heart. If it hadn¡¯t been for his sick brother, he wouldn¡¯t have let Yvette manipte him into betraying her. Not wanting him to dwell on it, she said gently, ¡°Don¡¯t carry that burden. Maybe this is just fate pulling us together.¡± ¡°Yeah. I get it. And I mean it, Rachel. Everything I have now is all because of you. Whatever you need, I¡¯ve got your back. Always.¡± Rachel hesitated a little and said, ¡°Vander, check flights. It¡¯s time you came back. Make sure to bring Sunny with you.¡± It had been months since she had seen her dog. Being back, and especially being around Ray, made her miss her dog even more. ¡°Can I reallye back now?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve got a new projecting up, and I need someone I trust. Didn¡¯t you study e¨Cfinance and budgeting? I don¡¯t feelfortable handing this off to anyone else.¡± Hearing that, Vander Salt was overwhelmed with gratitude. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel. I¡¯ll give it everything I¡¯ve got.¡± Just then, Rachel heard the shower turn off in the bathroom. She quickly lowered her voice. Chapter 558 Her Exit 558 ¡°I¡¯ve got to go. Check on that thing for me. It¡¯s important,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Got it,¡± Vander replied. After hanging up, Rachel ran to the bathroom and yanked the door open. A cloud of steam rolled out, the heat washing over her like a wave. She couldn¡¯t see anything at first. Eventually, Tyler¡¯s silhouette came into view. He hadn¡¯t bothered to get dressed yet and stood therepletely unfazed, right in front of her. ¡°What¡¯s this? Rushing in to sneak a peek?¡± Rachel was close to hurling a slipper at his smug face. This guy was ridiculously full of himself. Then again, he kind of had the right to be. If she looked half as good as he did, she would probably be more shameless than him. Without thinking, Rachel¡¯s gaze drifted to his inner thigh. But after only a couple of seconds, her heartbeat spiked. This was way too awkward. Tyler instantly picked up on her strange behavior. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. She crashed into his chest before she could react. His body was still radiating heat from the shower, and even through her clothes, she could feel the warmth seeping into her skin. Rachel¡¯s face flushed red. She swore to herself that if Vander had tricked her, she was going to kill him the moment he got to Yurelia City! Besides, how was it that the scar ended up there, of all ces? A back or chest scar she could understand, but the inner thigh? That just sounded made up. Tyler lowered his head slightly, his warm breath brushing against the top of her head. His voice came out low and smooth. It heated things up a little. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re definitely up to something. What are you doing in the bathroom, hmm?¡± She couldn¡¯t just tell him the truth. There was no way she was admitting she barged in just to check out his inner thigh for a scar. So she decided to throw her pride out the window and double down on ttery. ¡°No particr reason. I was just appreciating your physique. I read online that you can predict a man¡¯s life expectancy by looking at his thighs.¡± Tyler raised a brow, not looking the least bit suspicious. ¡°Oh, really? That¡¯s a thing now?¡± ¡°Totally.¡± She felt his gaze grow hotter and heavier. Rachel swallowed hard, praying she wouldn¡¯t dig herself into a hole she couldn¡¯t climb out of. To her surprise, Tyler didn¡¯t refuse. In fact, he casually offered, ¡°Well, go ahead then.¡± He stood there tall and unbothered, and Rachel suddenly felt her courage crumbling. But she had to do this. She had to find out the truth. Biting her lip, she crouched down in front of him, carefully avoiding eye contact. Her breathing grew uneven as the nerves kicked in, and her warm breath brushed against his skin. What Rachel didn¡¯t realize was that Tyler¡¯s gaze was intensifying by the second. Something primal flickered to life in his eyes. She was too focused on searching for the scar to realize she was slowly turning into amb led to ughter. After what felt like a mental war with herself, she finally spotted it¨Ca patch of skin that looked different. It was a scar. Her pupils widened in shock. Just as she reached out to get a better look, her hand slipped and brushed somewhere she definitely shouldn¡¯t have touched. Her fingers felt heat¨Cintense heat¨Cand she yanked her hand back like she¡¯d touched fire. The very next second, Tyler scooped her up like she weighed nothing. Rachel found herself staring into his dark, unreadable eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. She was so screwed. Her Exit 559 By the time they were done, Rachel¡¯s arm was killing her. She had to admit, there were times when a guy finishing fast wasn¡¯t the worst thing. Tyler, on the other hand, exhausted her. She shook out her sore wrist just as Tyler walked out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel, a satisfied look stered across his face. He shot her a nce. ¡°So, what exactly were you looking for on my inner thigh?¡± Rachel froze. Right. That was what she came in for. She hadn¡¯t gotten any answers, but she had helped Tyler with something else entirely. Still, after what just happened, she didn¡¯t feel quite so shy anymore. ¡°I told you. There¡¯s this thing I read online. Apparently, you can tell how long someone¡¯s going to live by checking their inner thigh.¡± Tyler gave her a skeptical look, the kind that said he wouldn¡¯t believe her in a million years. Under his stern gaze, Rachel felt a chill down her back, but she clenched her fists and doubled down. ¡°I¡¯m serious! I really read that somewhere. You can¡¯t just dismiss it!¡± Tyler ran a hand through his still¨Cdamp hair. ¡°Fine. I¡¯d love to see what kind of results youe up with. But if you find something bad, you¡¯re responsible.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes went wide open. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just, you know, go? And you still want to-¡± His stamina was kind of terrifying. Tyler sat down at the edge of the bed and crossed his legs. He rested his chin on his hand like he couldn¡¯t figure out what the big deal was. ¡°What, you want your boyfriend to be like those two¨Cpump chumps out there? I¡¯ve got great stamina. You should feel lucky. Most women would kill for this kind of blessing.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t argue with that. He was gorgeous, after all, and it wasn¡¯t just the looks. The confidence, the posture, and the natural charisma¨Che really was unfairly attractive. Just looking at him was enough to make a girl¡¯s heart race, never mind everything else. Still, she had to admit that there was a downside to having a boyfriend this energetic. Rachel fidgeted with her fingers. ¡°I mean, maybe tone it down just a little? It doesn¡¯t always have to be this intense.¡± At this rate, she¡¯d never get any sleep. Tyler leaned back, handsced behind his head, every inch of him rxed and smug. ¡°Can¡¯t help it. I was born this way.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes hard. She smiled a little. Tyler, you should be grateful you¡¯ve got a pretty face and an impressive background. Otherwise, someone would¡¯ve punched you in the face by now.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t even blink. One long leg draped over the other, he raised an eyebrow and gave her a yful smirk. ¡°Rachel, if you want to hit me, just say so. No need to beat around the bush. If it were anyone else, I wouldn¡¯t let themy a finger on me, but for you, I¡¯ll allow it.¡± The way he said it¨Cteasing, cocky, and way toofortable¨Cmade Rachel feel like she was dealing with some seductive male lead from a romance novel. The look in his eyes practically said, ¡°Come on. Punish me. I dare you.¡± Rachel shook her head, trying to clear out the nonsense forming in her brain. Tyler was turning her into someone she barely recognized. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll check your thigh some other day.¡± Tyler changed his pose again, lying on his side this time. He clicked his tongue twice. Her Exit 560 Are you sure about that? Offers like this don¡¯te around twice,¡± Tyler teased. Rachel caught another nce at his sculpted body¨Cbroad shoulders, trim waist, and those abs that seemed carved by a god. She could practically feel herself drooling. Snapping out of it, she forced herself to turn away. ¡°Next time,¡± she mumbled. If she kept looking, she might really lose control. No wonder people always said even heroes fall for a beauty¨Cshe used to think it was a clich¨¦. Now? It hit way too close to home. She pulled open the bedroom door, tossing a reminder over her shoulder as she left. ¡°Wanda says the food¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel headed downstairs. Wanda was on the couch, glued to her phone, giggling at videos. When she looked up, she saw Rachel by herself. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, where¡¯s Mr. Hunt? The food¡¯s getting cold.¡± Rachel pulled out a chair and sat down, not waiting for Tyler before diving in. ¡°He¡¯s still in the shower. He¡¯ll be down soon.¡± Wanda leaned closer, squinting at Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°Why¡¯s your face so red? Are youing down with something?¡± Caught off guard, Rachel patted her cheeks. ¡°Is it that red?¡± Wanda nodded without hesitation. ¡°Pretty red. You should see for yourself.¡± Rachel waved it off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Probably just the heat earlier,¡± Wanda¡¯s concern only grew. She reached out to touch Rachel¡¯s forehead. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not a fever?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Wanda, I¡¯m fine. Really.¡± Wanda pulled away. ¡°Okay, okay. Just making sure.¡± Just then, Tyler strolled down the stairs in a blue checkered pajama set that somehow made him look even moreid¨Cback. That sharp,manding energy he usually carried was somewhat diminished now. Rachel looked away quickly, muttering under her breath, ¡°Ridiculous. No guy should look that good in pajamas.¡± ¡°Are you talking trash about me again?¡± Tyler asked as he approached the table. ¡°Not only are you self¨Cabsorbed, but you¡¯re also paranoid.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t argue. He simply took a seat, reached for a ss of water, and took a slow sip. ¡°Rachel, you probably don¡¯t even realize it, but your face gives you away all the time.¡± Rachel instinctively touched her cheeks. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yeah. For example, when you lie, your eyes dart around, and you blink a lot more.¡± He said it so calmly, like it was just an observation. But anyone paying attention would¡¯ve noticed how detailed it was. No one would notice that kind of thing unless they had been watching someone closely. Wanda couldn¡¯t help but chime in, ¡°Mr. Hunt doesn¡¯t usually notice stuff like that. Ms. Lloyd, he¡¯s definitely got a soft spot for you.¡± Rachel argued, ¡°Wanda, don¡¯t let him fool you. He only pays attention so he can catch me lying and call me out faster.¡± She had spent enough time with him to figure out he lived to tease her. Tyler chuckled and looked at her. ¡°So, I¡¯m guessing your arm¡¯s not sore anymore?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 561 Chapter 561 Rachel¡¯s hand froze in mid¨Cair; her face froze as well. Then, she flung a broli at Tyler. ¡°Listen to yourself talk nonsense again!¡± Tyler continued teasing her, ¡°It¡¯s fine if your right hand is sore. You still have your left hand. But Ms. Lloyd, your hand can certainly afford to move a little faster. It¡¯s too slow, really.¡± Rachel felt her cheeks burning. Tyler must be mad, she was sure of it. What if Wanda could understand his innuendoes? She would be thoroughly embarrassed if she did. Rachel snuck a peek at Wanda, who was smiling gleefully back at her. She hurriedly exined, ¡°Wanda, we were ying a game just now, and it had to do with how fast we could move our hands. You know that typing game, where yerspete to see how fast they can type something? It really helps with increasing work efficiency, you see.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know if Wanda understood what she was trying to say, but she gave her and Tyler a meaningful look. ¡°I know you youngsters love ying games when you¡¯re bored. I can fully understand that.¡± Rachel was aghast at Wanda¡¯s remark. ¡°Wanda, it¡¯s not the kind of games you have in mind. It¡¯s really¡­¡± ¡°Ms. Lloyd, the food¡¯s getting cold. Do tuck in,¡± Wanda interrupted her mid¨Csentence with a smile before shooting the food on the table a look, urging Rachel to eat. Rachel pouted and picked up her spoon to continue with her meal. Tyler chimed in, ¡°You¡¯re only making matters worse.¡± Rachel stomped Tyler¡¯s foot below the table out of spite. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault.¡± Tyler hissed with pain, his brows furrowing. The entire meal felt so awkward for Rachel, the only thing that brought herfort was how delicious Wanda¡¯s cooking was. The moment Tyler was done with his meal, his phone rang. He nced at the screen before answering the call with a disinterested voice. ¡°What do you want¡­¡± Rachel could immediately tell from Tyler¡¯s tone that it was Thomas on the line. He was probably standing up for William, whom Tyler beat up. Thomas¡® voice was stem and solemn, his words filled with usation. ¡°Tyler! Even if you don¡¯t want toe home, don¡¯t forget that the blood of the Lewis family flows in your veins. That¡¯s something you can never change! You dislocated William¡¯s arm for the sake of that woman, and he¡¯s in the hospital right now! Shouldn¡¯t you pay him a visit?¡± Tyler scoffed. ¡°I warned him not to be disrespectful to his aunt, but he refused to listen to me. What could I do? Isn¡¯t itpletely reasonable for an uncle to teach his nephew a lesson?¡± The fact remained that Tyler was William¡¯s uncle. Thomas said indignantly, ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you can hit him. At the end of the day, he¡¯s still your nephew and you¡¯re his uncle.¡± Tylerughed out loud, as though he had heard the funniest thing. ¡°In that case, do you expect me to just be a coward and take it lying down whenever someone insults my wife? I won¡¯t be able to do that.¡± ¡°You can always talk things through. You have to be understanding of William. Rachel used to be his wife, and now she¡¯s your girlfriend. Anyone would feel terrible in his shoes.¡± Thomas knew shing head¨Con with Tyler would never work, given his temperament, and had to use an iron hand in a velvet glove. He was trying hard to keep his temper in check. Tyler sneered. ¡°Could you really me me for that? Was I the one who made William divorce Rachel? Was I the one who reunited him with Samantha and made them have an affair? Old man, why are you bing duller in the head with age?¡± 2/2 Her Exit 562 Tyler¡¯s words rendered Thomas speechless. Since going soft didn¡¯t seem to work, Thomas decided to issue a directmand. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say! What would our rtives think of you beating William up so badly that he had to be hospitalized? Pay him a visit at the hospital and bring Rachel with you. Otherwise, I¡¯lle knocking at your door in the middle of the night!¡± Tyler knew his limits, too. Going overboard might drive Thomas to kick up an even bigger fuss than this. Others might not really knock on his door in the middle of the night, but he believed Thomas would. Tyler had no choice but to give in. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go after my meal, alright? At least tell me which hospital he¡¯s in.¡± ¡°City Hospital.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Tyler ended the call and said to Rachel, ¡°I need to head out for a while. Stay at home and don¡¯t wander about outside. If you¡¯re bored, get Wanda to apany you to the garden outside.¡± Rachel swallowed her final mouthful of food and said, ¡°You¡¯re visiting William at the hospital, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sote, what¡¯s the point of you going all the way there? It¡¯s enough for me to go alone.¡± Tyler headed up the stairs to get changed. Rachel hurriedly stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Tyler saw the obstinate look on her face and knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to talk her out of it. He relented, ¡°Come upstairs and get changed. Don¡¯t wear that out. I¡¯m afraid William might sit up with a start from his near¨Cdeath encounter.¡± Rachel looked down at her body, highly doubtful of Tyler¡¯s words. She mumbled to herself, ¡°It¡¯s just an ordinary skirt. Why so exaggerated?¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously as a look of displeasure shed past them Rachel had her attention on others and therefore did not notice the look in William¡¯s eyes when he looked at her. However, Tyler could clearly see a spark of hope reignited in William¡¯s eyes. All along, Tyler never believed that William truly loved Samantha. He was well aware that some people mistake past regrets as love. Some people might appear to be shut out of the door, but have in fact quietly walked into your heart. Despite herint, Rachel obediently followed Tyler up the stairs to get changed. She did find it inconvenient to wear the skirt. It constricted her movement. She found something morefortable to wear and could feel the blood flowing in her veins once more. Before they left the house, Rachel reminded Wanda, ¡°Please don¡¯t wait up for us. Retire for the night once you¡¯re done with what you need to do.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Wanda said with a bright smile. ¡°Do drive carefully on your way there.¡± Wanda stood at the door, sighing as she watched Rachel and Tyler drive off. If Tyler had been that bit braver and thrown all caution to the wind back then, they wouldn¡¯t have taken so long to reach this point. At least they were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Midway through their journey, Tyler suddenly grabbed Rachel¡¯s hand that was resting on her side. His Rachel shot him a strange look. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t your hand aching? I¡¯m massaging it for you,¡± Tyler said in all seriousness. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she quickly retracted her hand. She looked at Tyler in embarrassment, ¡°Can you stop bringing that up?¡± ¡°Did William ever ask that of you?¡± Tyler asked her tantly. Her Exit 563 Chapter 563 Rachel looked at Tyler, slightly stunned at his question. ¡°Huh?¡± Tyler arched a brow. ¡°What? Did you not understand my question? Should I repeat myself?¡± Rachel swallowed past her constricted throat. ¡°No need,¡± she mumbled awkwardly. Tyler wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger. ¡°So, answer me.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t figure out how Tyler managed to ask something so awkward without batting an eyelid. She had no idea what to say. After a moment¡¯s pause, she asked, ¡°Do you have to ask something so awkward?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Tyler had always been a straight talker and never bothered mincing his words. Rachel wasn¡¯t mad, knowing his temperament. She clenched her fists and shook her head. ¡°No.¡± The knot in Tyler¡¯s brows unravelled as he reached out to rub Rachel¡¯s head as though she were Ray.¡± You¡¯re such a good girl. Don¡¯t pick up such bad habits from others, alright?¡± Rachel looked aghast at the licentious look on Tyler¡¯s face and scoffed, ¡°Tyler, do you want to check out your reflection in the mirror? You¡¯re so two¨Cfaced.¡± ¡°Really? Let me see¡­¡± Tyler seized the chance when he stopped the car at a red light to check his reflection in the sun visor mirror. ¡°I think I look quite handsome.¡± Rachel was rendered speechless by how unreasonable Tyler was being. He had such double standards, allowing himself to do what he frowned upon for others. Rachel patted his shoulder when she saw the traffic light turn green. ¡°You can drive now.¡± As the car drove into the hospital, Rachel realized that they hade empty¨Chanded. ¡°Should we buy something for him?¡± Tyler swung the car door shut. ¡°So desperate to throw your money away?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine by me. I was just thinking of you. Maybe you¡¯d find it awkward to visit him empty¨Chanded. You¡¯re his uncle, after all.¡± ¡°So what if I¡¯m his uncle? He doesn¡¯t treat me as his uncle and even dared to speak to you like that.¡± Tyler pulled Rachel into his arms, his entire body engulfing her petite frame. He added in all seriousness, ¡°Remember this. You can do anything you please in my name. In the same way, anyone who insults you insults me too. Got that?¡± Rachel looked up at him with crystal clear eyes. From her angle, she could see his sharp jawline. His eyes were almost mesmerizing; she couldn¡¯t help but stare at them a tad longer. Her heart started racing. She knew what it felt like to have someone standing up for her, but that felt starkly different from what she was feeling right now. William would always apologize to others on her behalf and then cajole her privately after the issue blew over, and that would be it. Tyler, on the other hand, stood on her side no matter who was in the wrong. It was a tant partiality that was unconditional. A strange thought suddenly came to Rachel¡¯s mind. ¡°Tyler, you treat your girlfriend pretty well. Why haven¡¯t you found one after so long?¡± Tyler drawled as he held her hand and walked into the hospital, ¡°Don¡¯t want to.¡± Rachel followed up with another question. ¡°How do you deal with your biological urges, then?¡± The moment she asked her question, Tyler wrapped an arm around her svelte waist and pulled her into his embrace, leaving no gap whatsoever between them. Rachel looked at Tyler, slightly stunned at his question. ¡°Huh?¡± Tyler arched a brow. ¡°What? Did you not understand my question? Should I repeat myself?¡± Rachel swallowed past her constricted throat. ¡°No need,¡± she mumbled awkwardly. Tyler wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger. ¡°So, answer me.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t figure out how Tyler managed to ask something so awkward without batting an eyelid. She had no idea what to say. After a moment¡¯s pause, she asked, ¡°Do you have to ask something so awkward?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Tyler had always been a straight talker and never bothered mincing his words. Rachel wasn¡¯t mad, knowing his temperament. She clenched her fists and shook her head. ¡°No.¡± The knot in Tyler¡¯s brows unravelled as he reached out to rub Rachel¡¯s head as though she were Ray.¡± You¡¯re such a good girl. Don¡¯t pick up such bad habits from others, alright?¡± Rachel looked aghast at the licentious look on Tyler¡¯s face and scoffed, ¡°Tyler, do you want to check out your reflection in the mirror? You¡¯re so two¨Cfaced.¡± ¡°Really? Let me see¡­¡® Tyler seized the chance when he stopped the car at a red light to check his reflection in the sun visor mirror. ¡°I think I look quite handsome.¡± Rachel was rendered speechless by how unreasonable Tyler was being. He had such double standards, allowing himself to do what he frowned upon for others. Rachel patted his shoulder when she saw the traffic light turn green. ¡°You can drive now.¡± As the car drove into the hospital, Rachel realized that they hade empty¨Chanded. ¡°Should we buy something for him?¡± Tyler swung the car door shut. ¡°So desperate to throw your money away?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine by me, I was just thinking of you. Maybe you¡¯d find it awkward to visit him empty¨Chanded. You¡¯re his uncle, after all.¡± ¡°So what if I¡¯m his uncle? He doesn¡¯t treat me as his uncle and even dared to speak to you like that.¡± Tyler pulled Rachel into his arms, his entire body engulfing her petite frame. He added in all seriousness, ¡°Remember this. You can do anything you please in my name. In the same way, anyone who insults you insults me too. Got that?¡± Rachel looked up at him with crystal clear eyes. From her angle, she could see his sharp jawline. His eyes were almost mesmerizing; she couldn¡¯t help but stare at them a tad longer. Her heart started racing. She knew what it felt like to have someone standing up for her, but that felt starkly different from what she was feeling right now. William would always apologize to others on her behalf and then cajole her privately after the issue blew over, and that would be it. Tyler, on the other hand, stood on her side no matter who was in the wrong. It was a tant partiality that was unconditional. A strange thought suddenly came to Rachel¡¯s mind. Tyler, you treat your girlfriend pretty well. Why haven¡¯t you found one after so long?¡± Tyler drawled as he held her hand and walked into the hospital, ¡°Don¡¯t want to.¡± Rachel followed up with another question. ¡°How do you deal with your biological urges, then?¡± The moment she asked her question, Tyler wrapped an arm around her svelte waist and pulled her into his embrace, leaving no gap whatsoever between them. Her Exit 564 Rachel was wearing a white shirt that was smooth and silky to the touch. There was a rosy glow to her fair, dewy cheeks, and her crystal¨Cclear eyes sparkled with innocence. Tyler¡¯s warm fingers rubbed against her waist through her shirt. In a low, sensual voice, he said, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, must you raise this topic at a ce like this?¡± That was when Rachel realized there were way too many people in the hospital. To make matters worse, Tyler¡¯s outstanding features made him the center of attention no matter where he was, and that included the hospital as well. Rachel had already noticed Tyler turning the heads of many nurses. He had a tall, towering figure; the ck shirt and pants he casually threw on before leaving the house did nothing to weaken his suave and graceful demeanor. He was indeed a sight to behold, not someone easily forgettable. Rachel pushed him away, worried about being the target of hostility of all the women in the hospital. ¡°Let¡¯s go, attention seeker.¡± Tyler held back a chuckle and quickly caught up with her in two strides. He teased, ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°Says who? What can I do if other women want a piece of you? What¡¯s more, we aren¡¯t even a real couple. It¡¯s none of my business if someone wants to check you out or if you want to check someone out.¡± They continued bickering with each other until they reached the door of William¡¯s ward, where Cassandra and Thomas caught sight of Tyler rubbing Rachel¡¯s head affectionately. Thomas¡® face ckened in an instant. He looked sternly at them. ¡°This is the hospital, and William is right inside! The doctor said he needs at least three months to recover fully. He¡¯ll be hospitalized and under observation for a week. His entire arm is in a cast, and you two are still in the mood to flirt around? Are you trying to anger me to an early grave?¡± Tyler stuck both hands in his pockets, the usual chill settling back on his face. ¡°You should make William reflect on hisck of manners toward his elders.¡± Thomas banged his cane on the floor. ¡°Even so, you shouldn¡¯t have hurt him! That¡¯s wrong, no matter what!¡± ¡°All the more you should question William instead,¡± Tyler rebutted self¨Cassuredly. ¡°He wanted to hit my girlfriend. If someone wanted to hit your wife, would you stand idly by and let her get attacked?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Thomas replied instinctively. Tyler smirked. ¡°There you have it.¡± Thomas pursed his lips, his face turning darker. He shut his eyes; with a wave of his hand in the direction of William¡¯s ward, he said, ¡°Hurry up and go in. Nothing can change the fact that you were the one who injured him.¡± Tyler was about to enter with Rachel in tow when Thomas instructed coldly, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, please stay.¡± Rachel stopped dead in her tracks. Tyler instinctively pulled Rachel behind him. Displeased, he snapped, ¡°You just don¡¯t know when to stop, do you? Are you so bent on bullying her at every turn?¡± Thomas shot Tyler an exasperated look. ¡°I¡¯m an old bag of bones. Surely, I won¡¯t be able to hurt her. I just want a word with her. I didn¡¯t see you so anxious when they were resuscitating me at the hospital before.¡± He didn¡¯t forget to scoff in annoyance. Rachel gripped Tyler¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. This isn¡¯t my first time talking to Mr. Lewis, anyway. Go ahead and see William.¡± Her Exit 565 Tyler tightened his grip on Rachel¡¯s handfortingly. ¡°He¡¯s adept at being shameless. You don¡¯t always need to give in to him, alright?¡± Rachel almost couldn¡¯t stop herself from bursting outughing. Thomas blushed and bellowed, ¡°Tyler!¡± ¡°Go on ahead. Just don¡¯t hold her back for too long and make things difficult for her,¡± Tyler said irritably. He waved them away, as though he might just change his mind if they stayed a second longer. Thomas led Rachel to the other end of the corridor, which was quieter with fewer people milling about. Rachel didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. They were certainly familiar with each other, and Thomas had expressed much of his disapproval toward her when she was married to William. He was like that to her when she was with William, not to mention Tyler, the backbone of their family and business. What a joke this entire fiasco turned out to be, Rachel chuckled inwardly. Cutting to the case, she said, ¡± Mr. Lewis, I suppose you want me to leave Tyler?¡± ¡°Since you know what I called you here for, name your price. I¡¯ll do whatever I can to give you what you ask for.¡± Thomas¡® tone was calm, almost pleasant. Rachel had the urge tough at Thomas¡® offer. ¡°Mr. Lewis, do you still remember asking me the same question when I was with William? You still haven¡¯t kicked the habit even after so many years. Haven¡¯t youe round to it yet? I¡¯m never the one with any say in the matter, and neither am I the decision¨Cmaker. Tyler is the one with the right to decide.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t selling herself short. When Thomas tried to make her leave William with the same approach, she had naively agreed to it. She admitted that she was too easily swayed by what others said at that point. Back then, she didn¡¯t want to be a burden to William. The Lewis family was powerful and influential. If William married a deaf woman, he would be the butt of everyone¡¯s joke in Yurelia City. She didn¡¯t want William to be looked down upon. In the end, William put his life on the line by going on a hunger strike, insisting on marrying no one else but her. When he was eventually sent to the hospital, the doctor said that had he been sent in ten minutester, he might have lost his life. That was when Cassandra and Thomas finally relented and allowed her to marry William. Thomas¡® callus¨Ccovered hands rubbed against the handle of his cane as a solemn look overtook him. ¡°Then disappear from the face of Yurelia City as you¡¯ve done five years ago. Since you could hide from both Tyler and William, I¡¯m sure you can go back to where you were hiding again. Just tell me what you want in return.¡± Rachel barely hesitated for a few seconds before nodding. ¡°Sure, I can do that.¡± Delight filled Thomas¡® eyes, and he asked excitedly, ¡°That¡¯s great. What do you want in return?¡± ¡°I want William¡¯s name removed from Lewis Enterprise¡¯s board of directors, and Tyler named as the sessor of thepany,¡± Rachel said without a hitch in her voice. The air around them froze the moment she raised her request. A few secondster, Thomas looked visibly upset after recovering from his initial shock. ¡°You¡¯re asking for too much! Tyler has his ownpany. If I gave mine to him, what would William be left with?¡± Rachel retaliated calmly, ¡°Since you already have William holding the reins, why interfere with Tyler¡¯s freedom to be with whoever he wants? Why, I heard that your family abandoned him a long time ago. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have left him all alone in a foreignnd when he was just a teenager.¡± Although Rachel couldn¡¯t im to understand what Tyler went through, the mere thought alone sounded horrible enough to her. Other children enjoyed the care and concern of their family during their childhood, but¡­. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 566 Chapter 566 But what about Tyler? Thomas ran a hand down his beard, but his tone remained stern. ¡°What do you know? He did live abroad alone when he was very young, but it was all for the sake of being a better version of himself. What¡¯s more, having someone like him around guarantees the security and longevity of the family and its businesses.¡± When she heard Thomas¡® ludicrous exnation, Rachel could no longer hold herughter back. She sneered. ¡°Hah¡­ Great n you have right there. You took full advantage of everyone around you. You threw him aside when you didn¡¯t need him, ignoring him and not showing him an ounce of care or love. The second you see him doing well, you finally remember that he¡¯s family. But did you forget something? Tyler¡¯s family name is Hunt, not Lewis!¡± Fire burned in Thomas¡® chest over Rachel¡¯s sharp¨Ctongued reproach. He pointed his cane at her and snapped in a shaky voice, ¡°Who are you to judge what we do in our family? The audacity!¡± Rachel instinctively shrank back to avoid his cane, so close to poking her eyes out. Thomas rounded on Rachel furiously, utterly angered. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, you¡¯re just the Lewises¡® ex¨Cdaughter¨Cinw! No matter your status then and now, what right do you have to say all that to me? You¡¯re just an illegitimate daughter of the Lloyds. Who do you think you are toment on our family affairs? Who are you to criticize how I do things?¡± Rachel naturally knew her ce. Even so, she went on. ¡°It¡¯s true, I have no right to say anything. But as an outsider, I truly feel that Tyler has been treated very unfairly. He doesn¡¯t even know what it feels like to be loved by his family. He had only himself to depend on over the years and never took anything from the Lewis family. Yet here you are, trying to make full use of him. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s too much?¡± ¡°You¡­you¡¯re a curse on our family!¡± Thomas¡® face turned red with ire as he started getting breathless. His chest heaved as he raised his cane high. Rachel wasn¡¯t afraid of getting hit by Thomas. She admitted that she had gone too far and neglected to consider whether an elderly man would be able to take her frankness at his age. However, she didn¡¯t regret whatever she said. No one else could speak up for Tyler, and given how obstinate he was, he would never say all that to Thomas. He would only swallow all the pain and injustice he had suffered over the years. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around Rachel¡¯s waist. She felt herself being dragged into a familiar embrace. She looked up in surprise and straight into Tyler¡¯s deep, unfathomable eyes. Her jaw dropped, at a loss for words. ¡°You¡­weren¡¯t you¡­¡® ¡± ¡°Have my words fallen on deaf ears? What did I say just now?¡± Tyler¡¯s brows were tightly knitted, a storm brewing in his eyes. ¡°I¡­¡± Rachel wanted to say that she wasn¡¯t exactly getting bullied. In fact, she had done her fair share of talking back, although she could never outwit a senior in Thomas¡® position. Seeing Tyler so protective of Rachel, the fire burned brighter in Thomas¡® chest. ¡°Tyler, just look at the woman you fancy so much. She¡¯s horribly rude! Since when was it her ce to interfere in our family¡¯s affairs?¡± Tyler rubbed Rachel¡¯s shouldersfortingly as he red at Thomas. ¡°And how polite were you when you went behind my back and forced her to leave me?¡± Her Exit 567 Chapter 567 Thomas raised his voice. ¡°This woman isn¡¯t right for you!¡± Tyler refused to back down. ¡°Do you know better than I do whether she¡¯s right for me?¡± Thomas pointed a finger at Rachel, his entire body shaking with anger. ¡°Do you know what she just said to me?¡± The thought of what Rachel said to him filled him with fury. Tyler pulled Rachel behind him and stuck his hands in his pockets, his brow arched. ¡°I don¡¯t think she said anything wrong. That was exactly what the Lewis family did to me, wasn¡¯t it? Admitting that we share the same blood when you need me, butpletely ignoring me when you have no need of me.¡± Tyler wrapped an arm around Rachel¡¯s shoulders, as though staking his im. ¡°Let me make myself clear here. I¡¯ll never marry anyone else aside from Rachel. Take it however you please.¡± With that, Tyler left with Rachel in his arms. Thomas almost fainted with anger. When Rachel and Tyler walked past William¡¯s ward, her and William¡¯s gazes met for a split second. Before she could retract her gaze, she felt a hand covering her eyes. ¡°Exchanging looks with another man in front of me. Ms. Lloyd, are you getting bold?¡± Rachel pried his hand away from her eyes. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? My gaze just swept past his ward! What do you mean, exchanging looks? Can you not use terms like that so carelessly?¡± Why hadn¡¯t she ever noticed how possessive Tyler could get? They weren¡¯t even a real couple, for goodness¡® sake! No one was around; was there a need for him to keep up with the act? Her lips lifted in a smile as she thought of how Tyler stood up for her earlier. She elbowed him gently and said, ¡°You acted pretty convincingly just now, but don¡¯t just shoot your mouth off about things like that in the future.¡± Acting as a couple was still fine, but how could Tyler im to only want to marry her? ¡°How are you going to face your rtives in the future when our contract expires?¡± Tyler pursed his lips, seriously considering her question. ¡°What you said makes sense. I said what I said, and it really would be embarrassing if you don¡¯t marry me 11 Rachel looked up at him, stunned. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case? I practically announced that to the whole world, and I must be a man of my word. What¡¯s more, isn¡¯t marrying me a great deal for you?¡± Tyler said it so naturally, as though what he said made absolute sense. Rachel blinked, unable to figure out if Tyler was being serious or not. Her mind was in chaos, and it was all thanks to what Tyler said. He hadpletely caught her off guard. He always liked to be a tease, and Rachel couldn¡¯t tell if he was joking or doing something else altogether. That gave her an opportunity to evade the topic and sweep things under the rug. ¡°What did you talk to William about just now?¡± ¡°I warned him not to go overboard with you next time, or he¡¯ll risk his position in Lewis Enterprise,¡± Tyler said confidently. ¡°Between his prospects and a woman, I trust he knows his priorities.¡± Her Exit 568 Rachel thought about Thomas¡® instructions to Tyler when he called him and almost burst outughing. ¡°Did you get confused along the way? Your father told you to visit William, and you went there to warn him instead?¡± Tyler pressed his tongue against his lip and said, ¡°He should have known that his request was outrageous to begin with. How could I just visit him and do nothing else? It¡¯s good enough that I didn¡¯t break his other arm.¡± Rachel nodded thoughtfully, agreeing that that sounded more like what Tyler would do. William should really consider himself lucky. By the time they left the hospital, it was past nine at night. There was a street market right outside the hospital that was teeming with people. Rachel had been so busy recently, it had been a long while since she had eaten at a bustling street like this. The smell of barbecued meats made her stomach growl, but she thought Tyler wouldn¡¯t be used to eating street¨Cside food. Rachel retracted her gaze longingly and made a move to walk away with Tyler. To her surprise, Tyler stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Rachel was rather surprised at Tyler¡¯s sudden question. He looked at her confused face and repeated patiently, ¡°I asked if you were hungry. Do you want some food?¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up in an instant. ¡°Really? I want some food, but can you take street food?¡± Tyler shot her a look. ¡°I¡¯m a man. Why can¡¯t I take some street food? Choose a stall you want.¡± ¡°I want that,¡± Rachel said as she pointed to the barbecued meat stall with the longest queue. Although it probably couldn¡¯tpare to the one outside her school, she surmised that this stall wouldn¡¯t be that bad, given how popr it seemed. Rachel sat down at a table and waved Tyler over to join her. The moment he sat down, she realized something. Even in the simplest of garbs, Tyler stuck out like a sore thumb in a ce like this. When he was walking toward her, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to him. ¡°Goodness, he¡¯s so handsome! What a piece of work!¡± ¡°That aura he exudes is outstanding. He might just be a big shot from somewhere.¡± ¡°Check out that towering frame and impressive figure. He¡¯s totally my type! I want to ask him for his number. Do you think he¡¯ll give it to me?¡± ¡°Are you blind? Don¡¯t you see a beauty seated next to him? She looks fabulous, too.¡± ¡°I want to ask her for her number.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± A crowd started forming around Tyler and Rachel. One of thedies approached Tyler and asked coyly, ¡°Hi, can I have your number, please?¡± ¡°Miss, I¡¯m an intern at a nearby hospital. May I have your number, please? If any of your family members and friends need help, I¡¯ll be d to help out.¡± Rachel gave him an awkward smile. ¡°Well¡­¡± Her Exit 569 Tyler and Rachel exchanged looks. Rachel turned them down as gently as she could. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t give my number to strangers.¡± Some of the men looked disappointedly at Rachel. ¡°Are you¡­are you two a couple?¡± Rachel guessed that they were barely in their twenties. There was a glint in their bright eyes, unsullied by the harsh cruelty of the adult world. All of a sudden, she couldn¡¯t quite bear to break their hearts. With a change of heart, she said, ¡°You can follow my socials and message me if you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s great! What do you do for work? I¡¯m currently studying design and finance.¡± ¡°Me, too. I¡¯m familiar with the construction industry, too. I did research in the areas of new energy and unmanned aerial vehicles.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know if this was a sign from heaven, sending so many people in relevant industries her way. The enthusiasm was clear in her voice. ¡°Sure, not a problem. Follow me on social media. If you can¡¯t find a job after graduation, you might just be able to find opportunities in mypany.¡± Tyler furrowed his brows. ¡°Whatpany are you talking about?¡± Was she thinking of taking these prepubescent brats under her wing? Was she really talking business or securing a couple of assistants for herself? Personal assistants? Rachel ignored Tyler. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to contact you guys if I have opportunities at hand, but do note that the work isn¡¯t easy. You need a strong physique to handle the workload. I don¡¯t want to see you breaking down after working for a few days.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, miss. I¡¯m very fit. Look, I have abs¡­¡± He made a move to roll up the hem of his shirt. Tyler pursed his lips, clearly trying to hold himself back. He looked up at the stall owner and yelled, ¡°Sir, could you please help to disperse the crowd? It¡¯s getting suffocating here.¡± The stall owner finally noticed the people crowding around Tyler and Rachel and hurriedly approached them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but could you please return to your seats? You¡¯re bothering other customers. Thank you for your cooperation.¡± That was when Rachel realized that they had drawn a crowd that was obstructing the way. There were even people queuing up at the back. Those who had no clue might even think they were celebrities. Rachel hurriedly said to those who were asking for her number, ¡°You¡¯d better return to your seats. You can follow me on social media and reach out to me there if you need help with assignments. Let¡¯s not affect the stall owner¡¯s business, alright?¡± Thankfully, the youngsters were considerate enough to quickly do as they were told. Compared to Rachel¡¯s fans, Tyler¡¯s female fans, on the other hand, weren¡¯t as easy to deal with. Some continued being insistent. ¡°Handsome, give us your number. We promise we won¡¯t disturb you. Your social media handle will do, too. We¡¯ll just look at your updates and nothing else.¡± ¡°Yeah, we just want to look at you from afar. We¡¯re not asking for much.¡± ¡°Please, hottie. That way, your girlfriend wouldn¡¯t get jealous, too.¡± Tyler took a sip of his drink as his gazended leisurely on Rachel. ¡°Ask my girlfriend instead. If she¡¯s willing to give it to you, I¡¯ll be fine with it, too.¡± Her Exit 570 Thedies turned their hopeful and expectant eyes toward Rachel, as though she were their glimmer of hope. ¡°Miss, could you please share with us his number or social media handle? I promise we won¡¯t be a disturbance to the two of you.¡± ¡°Yeah! We just want to admire his good looks from afar.¡± Rachel red at Tyler. How could he throw her such a hot potato just because he didn¡¯t want to be the bad guy and reject them? Those women might just murder her if she said no! Forget it. Why make things difficult for thesedies? That would only be asking for trouble for herself. Rachel agreed very readily. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll give you his social media handle.¡± Thedies almost cheered out loud. ¡°That¡¯s great! I told you thisdy was nice.¡± ¡°Yeah. The previousdy we asked was very petty. We only asked for her boyfriend¡¯s social media handle and not his number, and she refused to give even that.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Thankfully, she decided to give them Tyler¡¯s social media handle. If she hadn¡¯t, she wondered how badly they would talk about her behind her back. They left right after receiving Tyler¡¯s social media handle. The crowd around them dispersed. Rachel heaved a sigh of relief as she felt the air returning to them once more, The stall owner ced tes of barbecued meat on their table and said brightly, ¡°Enjoy.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up at the barbecued meat on the table. ¡°It smells¡­so good!¡± She eagerly picked up a skewer and put it in her mouth. The fragrance of the meat and the delightful vor of the spices spread across her tongue. She failed to notice the change in the look on Tyler¡¯s face, and even urged him, ¡°Give it a taste. It¡¯s very delicious.¡± When she handed him a skewer, she finally realized the displeasure clearly etched on his face. The gears in her mind shifted quickly as she thought about what she could possibly have done to tick him off. She arrived at a usible conclusion after pondering for a moment and said cautiously, ¡°Are you upset I gave them your social media handle? But that isn¡¯t a big deal, is it? You don¡¯t even update your status or post frequently. They won¡¯t bother you, don¡¯t worry.¡± Rachel even patted Tyler¡¯s shoulderfortingly. Tyler pursed his lips tightly and bit out, ¡°Bonehead.¡± Rachel had no idea what she did to deserve that. She had helped him get out of a sticky situation, for goodness¡® sake! Otherwise, they might just keep bugging him for his number. How dare he call her a bonehead? Who between them was a bigger bonehead? Rachelforted herself and reminded herself not to hold a grudge against Tyler. He had stood up for her before his father, so she really shouldn¡¯t be petty with him over something so trivial. It wasn¡¯t like she didn¡¯t know how spoiled he could be to begin with. She continued savoring the skewer of barbecued meat in her hand and texted Cecilia about what just happened. Cecilia immediately understood what was going on. [Are you clueless? Mr. Hunt is being jealous! You added so many young and handsome men as your followers and almost got them working for you. As for thosedies, just think about it. Given who Mr. Hunt is, do you really think hecks women? He hasn¡¯t had a girlfriend for so many years, so it must be because he hasn¡¯t found anyone good enough.] Rachel found the notion of Tyler being jealous ridiculous. Him? Jealous? Her Exit 571 They weren¡¯t even a real couple to begin with. What was he jealous about? What was more, shouldn¡¯t she be the one more invested in this? Rachel held the skewer of meat in one hand and her phone in the other as her fingers flew swiftly across the keyboard on her screen. [Rubbish. That¡¯splete nonsense.] With that, she put her phone screen side down on the table. She looked cautiously at Tyler and found him with his head lowered, concentrating on his skewer and refusing to speak a word to her. There was clearly a storm brewing in his eyes. Was he really mad? Rachel tried to break the ice with him. She waved her favorite beef skewer before Tyler as a sign of goodwill. ¡°Try this. See if you find it delicious.¡± Tyler looked coldly at her and took the skewer after a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you offer this to one of those young and handsome boys?¡± Rachel sat stunned at his words as Cecilia¡¯s reminder shed past her mind. Was Tyler really jealous? She asked Tyler half¨Cjokingly, ¡°Tyler, are you jealous?¡± Tyler shot her azy gaze. ¡°Rachel, did the attention they gave you earlier stoke your ego so much you forgot your name?¡± His snide remark told Rachel that she had indeed been overthinking as she thought. On the other hand, she felt relieved. The idea of Tyler liking her felt utterly ridiculous to her. Tyler didn¡¯t say anything else after that. With nothing else to say, Rachel started scrolling through the social media profiles of the youngds who had just followed her. The more she scrolled through their profiles, the more hooked she became. Even the corners of her lips lifted unknowingly in a smile. Youngsters nowadays entertained themselves in a myriad of interesting ways, including working out, showing off their sculpted abs¡­ Tyler couldn¡¯t stand the obsession on Rachel¡¯s face and banged a skewer on the table. ¡°We¡¯re done here. Let¡¯s go.¡± Rachel snapped back to attention and hurriedly put her phone away before standing up and following Tyler back to where he had parked his car. She was about to open the door to the front passenger seat when Tyler pressed her hand down to stop her. Rachel looked up at him in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Go buy me a pack of cigarettes. My phone is out of battery and I need to deal with some issues at work.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t give it much thought. Plus, it was reasonable for Tyler to be dealing with issues cropping up anytime. She handed her phone to Tyler and reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t go peeking into things you shouldn¡¯t be looking at. Anyway, what brand of cigarettes do you want?¡± ¡°The most expensive one.¡± Rachel looked around her and spotted a grocer a short distance away. The moment she left, Tyler unlocked her phone and navigated to her social media ount, in which he saw dozens of unread messages. His brows furrowed tightly as he recalled what had happened just now. Were there that many boys who followed her social media ount just now? He didn¡¯t even know her social media handle. He pulled out his phone, searched for her name, and followed her. Then, he clicked on the messages they sent her. [Miss, I was the one in ck just now. Can I ask you if you have a boyfriend? I like you very much.] [Miss, it¡¯s fine even if you have a boyfriend. I don¡¯t mind that. I¡¯ll be content as long as you have a meal with me whenever you¡¯re free.] Her Exit 572 [Do you like my type? I¡¯m very obedient, gentle, and affectionate. PM me and I¡¯ll be there whenever you need me.] [Here¡¯s a photo of my figure. I work out very frequently. If you¡¯re going to choose, pick me.] Tyler deleted every single message. What nonsense were these boys spouting? It was borderline harassment! Only a fool like Rachel would believe they followed her for the sake of work. The hospitals here didn¡¯t just look at one¡¯s CV in their recruitment. Most times,work and personal rtionships yed a key role. Most of their interns came from rich and influential families running businesses top of their field. They were just here as a formality, while she was the only one genuinely interested in the work itself. Tyler changed the setting of Rachel¡¯s profile to private so that no one could follow her and she couldn¡¯t add any friends. He also adjusted the settings such that he was the only one who could see her status updates. He cursed the young men as he deleted their private messages one by one. It was so ringly obvious to him that the photos of their sculpted abs were edited. They didn¡¯t even look realistic. Even if they did, they were no match for his real ones. After deleting all the private messages and confirming that all Rachel could see in her inbox were messages that weren¡¯t so out of line, Tyler locked her phone and put it aside. He was just done when she returned with a bag on her arm. She felt thirsty at the grocery, and decided to buy herself a bottle of water. On second thought, given Tyler¡¯s personality, he would probably nag at her if she bought a bottle of water for herself and not for him. She was about to cross the road when someone grabbed her from the back, causing her to turn around. It was Howard and a bunch of men who looked as vile as him¨Cand they were all drunk. ¡°Howard? Let me go!¡± Howard¡¯s eyes narrowed. The moment he opened his mouth to speak, the stench of alcohol forced Rachel a few steps back. ¡°I thought I made a mistake, but it¡¯s really you, Ms. Lloyd! Well, are you alone today? Isn¡¯t your beloved Tyler with you?¡± He approached Rachel and tapped her on the shoulder again. Rachel shook her shoulder, disgusted. ¡°Howard, we¡¯re in public right now. You¡¯re from a respectable family that everyone knows. What are you doing, getting all drunk and crazy here?¡± One of the men standing next to Howard tutted. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, where is she from? She¡¯s quite a fierce one. Lady, you have the guts to be the first in Yurelia City to harp on Mr. Ziegler like this!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even bother to deign that man a reply, and instead turned to Howard again. ¡°Tyler is right there. Are you sure you want to blow things up?¡± Howard¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of Tyler being nearby. ¡°Is that so? I must meet him. Ms. Lloyd, did you hear about Tyler losing his position in the Lewis family? In other words, his father wouldn¡¯t bat an eyelid if I wanted to mess with him. But that¡¯s all thanks to you for going back home with him that day. I reminded you before¨Chis rtionship with William wasn¡¯t straightforward, but you chose to ignore me. Wouldn¡¯t it be great if you had chosen me instead?¡± X Her Exit 573 Rachel refused to give in to Howard. ¡°Scram! Are you really that desperate for a woman? Stop targeting me. You¡¯re just making a fool of yourself. You¡¯re the great Mr. Ziegler. You shouldn¡¯tck women. Why must you have me?¡± Sometimes, she found the situation hopeless and exhausting. She couldn¡¯t understand what Howard was thinking. Tons of women in Yurelia City were moring for him, while she was a divorced woman. What was he doing pestering her like a sticky, used band¨Caid? Howard scoffed. ¡°Since you really want to know the reason, I¡¯ll tell you. I was only a bit interested in you to begin with. It¡¯s quite rare to find a woman with a character like yours in Yurelia City, you see. ¡°Ever since I found out that Tyler had his eyes set on you, my interest in you grew. You have to know, he¡¯s been single for so many years. He never once showed interest in a woman. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know this, but I¡¯ve had it checked out. During the years you were gone, every single overseas trip he went for in the name of negotiating business was nothing but an excuse to find you.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief¨CTyler had been searching for her during those five years? The shock she was feeling was on par with when she felt upon finding out she was Jim¡¯s illegitimate daughter. Very soon, Rachel realized that something didn¡¯t quite make sense. She could understand if it were anyone else, but if it were Tyler¡­ Rachel concluded that Howard was just talking nonsense and smirked. ¡°It¡¯s your problem if you have a bone to pick with Tyler, but why drag me into it? Based on what you know of Tyler, do you really think he¡¯ll go overseas for a divorcee like me? I might believe you a little if you said that he was there for something else, not to look for me.¡± With that, Rachel turned to leave. Her words provoked Howard. He lunged forward and grabbed her by the hair, causing her to shriek in pain. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Howard¡¯s eerie voice sounded in her ear, along with his alcohol¨Cstained breath. ¡°Rachel, do you think you¡¯re so unimportant to Tyler? Is that it? I¡¯ll show you otherwise today.¡± Howard shot both his friends a look. Two men stepped forward, hauled Rachel up, and dragged her to the car park. Rachel was no match for their strength and could only yell at the top of her lungs. ¡°Save me! Save me¡­!¡± However, the people around them were reluctant to lend her a helping hand, especially when they saw that it was Howard. As they dragged Rachel into their car, she instinctively reached into her pocket for her phone, but realized that she had left it with Tyler. Right before they shut the door on her, she flung the pack of cigarettes out. Tyler waited for Rachel for a long time in the car. Finally, he decided to head down to see what was taking her so long. About a yard away from the grocer, he saw cigarettes scattered all over the road and recognized that it was the brand he had asked for. His brows furrowed tightly, and his face darkened. He hurried into the grocery and asked one of the staff, ¡°Did you see ady in white just now? She bought a pack of cigarettes from you.¡± 2/2 Her Exit 574 ¡°I did, but she left,¡± one of the staff members said. Anotherdy, who had just stocked the shelves, walked over. ¡°Are you talking about that prettydy? I saw her just now. I think I saw her bumping into a few drunkends. We¡¯re not too sure what happened after that.¡± ¡°I saw it! I think that man is Howard, that notorious son of the Ziegler family who struts around Yurelia City like he owns it!¡± Tyler knew exactly what was going on. He hurried out of the grocery store and dialed Yale¡¯s number at once. ¡°Find out where Howard is right this moment. I¡¯ll send you my location and check the surveince footage along the way.¡± Yale was stunned by Tyler¡¯s sudden request. ¡°Mr. Hunt, did something happen?¡± ¡°Howard took Tyler away, and he was drunk.¡± Tyler feared Howard might do something nasty to Rachel in his drunken stupor. No matter how arrogant Howard behaved, he was always wary about the Hunt family¡¯s influence over him. However, things were different now with Thomas¡® recent announcement. Anything Tyler did from now on had nothing to do with the Lewis family. That meant Thomas was officially washing his hands off Tyler. No matter how much trouble Tyler caused, the Lewis family would clean up his mess for him. But now, he was on his own. No wonder Howard had the guts to take Rachel away today. Yale immediately nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, Mr. Hunt. I¡¯ll get to it right away.¡± Tyler returned to his car and was shutting his door when his aunt started calling. He ignored the first few calls, but they kept oning. He swiped right to answer the call irritably. ¡°I¡¯m attending to something urgent right now. Can you call meter?¡± ¡°Tyler,e and save your cousin! Her friend called me earlier and said that she was taken by two men at a bar! Save her, please!¡± Tyler furrowed his brows. How could there be such a coincidence? Rachel was just taken by Howard a second ago, and now, Sheryn was taken from a bar. ¡°Got it. Call the police first.¡± ¡°The assant texted me to warn me that they¡¯ll kill your cousin if I were to call the police. Tyler, he even asked for you to go to them, and only you alone¡­ Tyler, is he your enemy? Why did he kidnap your cousin? What should I do now¡­?¡± Her words made Tyler all the more certain that Howard had kidnapped Sheryn, too. What exactly was he up to? ¡°Give me his number and don¡¯t do anything rash. Just wait for my news at home,¡± Tyler instructed his aunt. ¡°Are you alright handling this alone? I¡¯m worried about Sheryn. She¡¯s my only daughter. You must bring her back safely to me!¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Tyler said as he hung up. A minuteter, he received a text with the address of what he found to be an abandoned factory. He called Yale immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t bother finding the address. I know where they are. I need you to tell Mr. Ziegler what Howard just did and text him the address I¡¯m about to send you.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± X Her Exit 575 Sheryn was taken away by Howard as an afterthought midway through their journey. She and Rachel sat in the car, the former in a much greater panic than thetter, who was calm andposed. ¡°Who are you? Who in the world are you people? Please, I can give you as much money as you ask for. Please let me go!¡± Sheryn shrieked, terrified. Howard pulled the hood off Sheryn¡¯s head. ¡°What the hell are you yelling for?¡± Her cries were annoying him. Sheryn was stunned to see Howard. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, why¡­why did you abduct me?¡± Then, she looked at the woman next to her and realized it was Rachel. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Rachel tilted her jaw in Howard¡¯s way. ¡°You should be asking him instead. Howard, how old are you? You¡¯re still ying childish games like this.¡± Howard sneered as he leaned back against the chair. ¡°What do you know, Rachel? You think the world of Tyler, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ll see which of you two he¡¯ll choose today.¡± Sheryn chuckled self¨Cderisively. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, is this really necessary to see what choice my cousin will make?¡± Sheryn red at Rachel.¡± He¡¯ll definitely choose her. They were being all lovey¨Cdovey thest time I saw them at his office. I heard from my mom that he¡¯s never brought a woman back home before.¡± Tyler had made way too many exceptions for Rachel¡¯s sake. Howard didn¡¯t agree with Sheryn¡¯s take on the matter. He lit up a cigarette and took a puff. ¡°Can¡¯t be so sure about that. Sheryn Lyons, you may not be your mother¡¯s biological child, but I know that Tyler wouldn¡¯t have survived back then without her. He¡¯s been financially supporting your family all these years, hasn¡¯t he? You¡¯re her only daughter. Sometimes, an adopted child might be closer than a biological one. If Tyler¡¯s choice caused her to lose her only daughter today, he might think twice.¡± Howard pulled out a sharp dagger. Sheryn¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. She looked at it in fright, her voice trembling. ¡°N¨CNo way, Mr. Ziegler! It¡¯s fine if you¡¯re just fooling around, but please don¡¯t kill us!¡± Unknown the the rest, Rachel silently pulled out a de from behind her and started cutting the rope with it while Howard was distracted by Sheryn. She didn¡¯t have the habit of carrying something so dangerous with her, but there were mentions of suspicious people appearing outside Tyler¡¯s apartment. And so, she kept her guard up. From then on, she would always carry a de wherever she went. Never did she expect to actually use it today. She tried to cut the rope and said to Howard, ¡°Must you give Mr. Ziegler something to do at his age? I¡¯m telling you, we¡¯re a civilized society withws. You can fool around as much as you want, but if you took a life, that¡¯s certainly not something even your family can keep under wraps. Tyler would never spare you. ¡± Howard smirked as he flicked the ash from his cigarette out of the window. ¡°So what? Do you have poor memory? I told you earlier, the Lewises no longer give a damn about Tyler. No matter what I do to him, Mr. Lewis wouldn¡¯t do a thing. Come to think of it, I should thank you for that.¡± Her Exit 576 ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯d have no way with him my entire life.¡± It was tough enough to deal with Tyler alone, not to mention adding the Lewis family into the mix. Fighting a single wolf was easy, but fighting an entire pack was a different thing altogether. None of that mattered now, though¨Cthey no longer posed a threat to Howard. Rachel tried to calm herself down. She tried to lower Howard¡¯s guard by talking to him while paying attention to her surroundings. Thankfully, they were driving down a straight road. Running away from this ce wouldn¡¯t be difficult. Very soon, the car entered an abandoned ironworks factory. Rachel and Sheryl were dragged inside. One of the men had his eyes on Sheryn and caressed her face lewdly. Sheryn spat on his face, disgusted by his approach. ¡°Take your filthy hand off me! Look at yourself¨Chow dare you eveny a finger on me? I¡¯m telling you, if my cousin knows, he¡¯ll never spare you!¡± Others might not have dared to do anything to Sheryn, but they werepletely drunk and inebriated. The alcohol in their blood boosted their resolve. After staring at Sheryn for a moment, the man pped her hard across her cheek. ¡°Who do you think you are, spitting at me? Consider yourself lucky that I fancy you, you ungrateful twat!¡± He then requested of Howard, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, on ount of my loyalty to you over the years, give me this woman as my reward.¡± A wicked grin stretched across Howard¡¯s face, sending a shiver down Sheryn¡¯s spine. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. I guarantee you¡¯ll have a good timeter on. Leave her to me, and you guys can have your fill of fun with Sheryn on one condition: wait for me to be done here.¡± ¡°Of course, of course! We¡¯ll do whatever you tell us to, Mr. Ziegler.¡± They didn¡¯t think Howard to actually take a life, and merely assumed that he was just ying a harmless joke. He had done this to a lot of other women in the past, after all. After the man pped her, Sheryn started yelling even louder. ¡°How dare you p me! Who do you think you are? I¡¯m telling you, my cousin won¡¯t spare you when he finds out what you did to me!¡± ¡°Tsk! Let¡¯s talk about that if you can walk out of this ce alive. And didn¡¯t you hear what Mr. Ziegler just said? Your cousin has been abandoned by the Lewis family. What would someone like that be capable of? I heard that you¡¯ve been doing lots of bar¨Chopping these days. You¡¯re no different from us. Why bother acting all high¨Cand¨Cmighty and dignified?¡± With that, he caressed Sheryn¡¯s neck and pulled her close, forcing a kiss on her cheek. Sheryn exploded at once. ¡°Scram and don¡¯t touch me¨Cahh!¡± She shrieked in pain once more when the man gave her another hard p. ¡°You¡¯d better behave in front of me, or I guarantee you¡¯ll suffer!¡± One of the men stationed outside on the lookout approached Howard and informed him, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, Tyler Hunt is here.¡± Howard immediately straightened his back, a solemn look on his face. ¡°Is he here alone?¡± ¡°Yes, he is.¡± ¡°I knew he wouldn¡¯t bring anyone with him. If we weren¡¯t at loggerheads with each other, I do admire his guts. Alright, tear some of their clothes off them and drag them out.¡± X Her Exit 577 One of the men could hardly contain his excitement. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯d love to do!¡± With that, he rubbed his hands in glee as he drew near to Sheryn. Sheryn stumbled a few steps back in fright and ended up tripping over something on the ground. She crumpled to the floor, fear written all over her face. Her usual haughty air of a spoiled princess was all but gone. She pleaded with Howard, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, please let me go! This has nothing to do with me to begin with. Go look for Rachel instead. She¡¯s the one with my cousin, not me!¡± Sheryn had no qualms about throwing Rachel into the lion¡¯s den for the sake of self¨Cpreservation. ¡°You¡¯ve done so much for so long just to stop her from being with my cousin, right? It¡¯s very simple¨Call you need to do is to sleep with her. You know your rtionship with my cousin. He wouldn¡¯t want her after that, no matter how much he likes her.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t believe the filthy and merciless words Sheryn was spewing. She red coldly at Sheryn. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Do you really think that will make them let you go?¡± If Sheryn were smarter, she would work with Rachel to find a way out of here. How could she be so foolish as to think that pushing Rachel deeper into the lion¡¯s den would preserve her life? Sheryn hadpletely lost her mind and pinned all the me on Rachel. ¡°You¡¯re such a jinx! You bring me bad luck every time I see you! This is clearly your problem. What does it have to do with me? Why do I have to shoulder all the me? I don¡¯t even know you, and I have to pay for your mistakes. Why?¡± Rachel was rendered speechless by Sheryn¡¯s barrage of usations. After a moment¡¯s silence, she shot Howard a look and offered Sheryn a suggestion. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just give these men a good time and see if they¡¯ll be kind enough to release you?¡± ¡°Quit rubbing salt into the injury here! Let¡¯s get this straight. You¡¯re the one they want, not me,¡± Sheryn went on, as though she had Rachel all figured out. ¡°Wait¡­ I get it now! You¡¯re doing this on purpose, right? You¡¯re provoking me and making them attack me so they won¡¯t do anything to you. How could you be so evil?!¡± Rachel gave up on talking sense into Sheryn. She had a screw loose up there that Rachel clearly couldn¡¯t help fix. Rachel pointed at her head and looked kindly at Sheryl. ¡°Ms. Lyons, if you ever make it out of here alive, I hope you¡¯ll visit the hospital and get a brain checkup.¡± Sheryn exploded with anger and instinctively reached out to attack Rachel, but the two men behind her stopped her just in time. ¡°If you two don¡¯t stop bickering, don¡¯t me me for being nasty!¡± Howard nced irritably at the two women. With a wave of his hand, he said, ¡°What are you two waiting for? Hurry up and tear off their clothes.¡± ¡°We¡¯re on it!¡± Sheryn shrank back in fright to avoid their touch. ¡°Don¡¯te near! My cousin¡¯s right outside¡­ Don¡¯t you darey a finger on me!¡± Rachel finally managed to cut the rope in two with her de, but she knew that she would never be able to outfight the three men alone. She had to first draw Howard away. Just then, his phone rang again. He nced at the screen before showing it to Rachel, smirking. ¡°Tell me, do you think Tyler is calling out of concern for Sheryn or you?¡± Rachel rolled her eyes at Howard. ¡°Are you that bored? Do you have nothing to do with your life? Or is your family¡¯s business doing so poorly that you have to stoop to doing this to entertain yourself? Do you really think you can live for the rest of your life dependent on your grandfather? Of all the flings you¡¯ve had, I believe most of them are with you for money. I¡¯m sure they wouldn¡¯t want to marry you if you seriously asked them.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know if it was because she had hit the nail on the head or her refusal to give in, but her words struck a nerve with Howard. The veins on his forehead popped; he throttled her neck, a cold, creepy smile stretching across his face. Her Exit 578 Rachel saw his eyes widen as they turned bloodshot. The sight sent shivers down her spine. ¡°You and Tyler are indeed a match made in heaven. Look at that woman next to you who¡¯s about to be knocked out cold,¡± Howard said. When he released Rachel¡¯s throat, she gasped for air, taking in huge gulps into her lungs. Breathing never felt like such a luxury. Howard looked at her and teased, ¡°Let¡¯s see what Tyler has to say, shall we?¡± He swiped right to answer the call and said smugly, ¡°Tyler, you have two choices here. You can only bring one of them home. Will you take Rachel or your cousin Sheryn?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking them both with me,¡± Tyler said without any hesitation. ¡°That won¡¯t do. You can only choose one. Why else would I bring both of them here? It¡¯s so that you can make a choice between them.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was low, but tinged with a fearsome force that was unlike his usual demeanor. It was as though he wanted to strangle Howard if he could. ¡°Howard, are you sure you can bear the consequences of ying a game with such high stakes?¡± Howard chuckled insolently. ¡°Tyler, do you think you¡¯re the same as you were before? Your father has announced his decision to abandon you. He no longer cares about you! No one can do anything to me even if I were to have my way with you here.¡± ¡°Then let the two of them go, and I¡¯ll stay here.¡± Howard sneered, ¡°Tyler, do you take me for a fool? How can I continue this game if I let them go? Get this straight. I¡¯m holding all the cards right now. You have no right to tell me what to do!¡± Tyler decided to cut straight to the chase. ¡°Just tell me what you want with me. I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill it.¡± All of a sudden, Howard screamed into the phone at Tyler, all out of patience. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you what I want? Choose one out of the two of them! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll release neither!¡± ¡°Rachel,¡± Tyler said without any hesitation. His mention of Rachel¡¯s name drove Sheryn to desperation, and she shrieked, ¡°Tyler, you can¡¯t abandon me! My mom is still waiting for me at home!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Howard raised his voice at her. The corners of his lips twitched, and he reminded Tyler, ¡°Are you sure you want to save Rachel? Tyler, let me remind you. If your aunt found out that you chose Rachel instead of her daughter, you¡¯ll never be able to hold your head up high before her.¡± Tyler said in a cold, warning tone, ¡°Howard, let me remind you one more time. If anything happens to Sheryn, I¡¯ll never spare you!¡± Howard wasn¡¯t afraid. He burst out into wickedughter. ¡°Tyler, do you think your threats work on me now? I feared you all these years only because of the Lewis family. Now that they refuse to back you up, do you think I have any more reason to fear you?¡± Tyler warned, ¡°Let me make this clear. If anything happens to either of them, I¡¯ll make sure you regret what you did today, Howard.¡± ¡°Release Rachel and do whatever you want to the other woman,¡± Howard instructed the two men. The two men had long been hankering after Sheryn. Howard¡¯s instructions were a green light for them to have their way with her, and they approached her eagerly. Sheryn yelled at the top of her lungs. ¡°Ahhhhh! Let me go! Tyler, how could you be so heartless? I¡¯m your cousin! Did you forget how my mom saved you back then? If it weren¡¯t for you, she wouldn¡¯t have lost her ability to give birth! I¡¯m all she has right now! Are you bent on driving both me and my mom to our graves?¡± Howard sneered, ¡°You¡¯ll just have to me your cousin for loving Rachel to the point of leaving his rtives in the lurch. But¡­ Tyler, you really don¡¯t understand me. Do you really think I¡¯ll stoop to ying a game of choice like this with you?¡± Tyler¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Her Exit 579 ¡°I¡¯m keeping Rachel. You take Sheryn.¡± The two men who were drawing near to Sheryn were stunned by Howard¡¯s decision. ¡°Wait. Mr. Ziegler, you must be kidding. Didn¡¯t we agree to keep this one? We were just getting started!¡± Howard didn¡¯t have the time or energy to talk sense into the two of them. ¡°Hurry up and do as I say. Do you really think you¡¯re here for a good time?¡± The two men didn¡¯t dare offend Howard and had no choice but to reluctantly release Sheryn. Sheryn never expected the tables to turn in her favor. A bright smile stretched across her face, and she gloated to Rachel, ¡°Just look! Turns out that there is fairness in this world, after all. People do get their just desserts.¡± Rachel remained silent. It was true that she was the trigger for all that had happened, and that Sheryn had nothing whatsoever to do with this. She would certainly be riddled with guilt if anything happened to Sheryn because of her. Sheryn spoke a little too much, but she had never done anything to hurt Rachel. Howard, on the other hand, had done much to inflict actual harm on her¨Cand all for the sake of preserving his pride and ego. Rachel knew he didn¡¯t actually like her that much. He was doing all this because he was used to whatever he could get his hands on. But whether it was Tyler¡¯s business or family background, there was nothing Howard was actually capable of snatching from under Tyler¡¯s nose. That was why a woman like her, one without an impressive family background, became something for them to fight over. After Sheryn was released, Howard said to Tyler over the phone, ¡°Sit back and enjoy the show I¡¯ve prepared for you. Do refrain from getting jealous. She¡¯s William¡¯s used goods¨Cnothing precious to begin with, anyway. Let me have a good time with her, and we¡¯ll write off all the grudges between us.¡± Howard¡¯s words were drenched with disrespect and humiliation targeted at Rachel. He was so engrossed in gloating to Tyler that he didn¡¯t notice that Rachel¡¯s hands were already untied. She was about to make a run for it when he spotted her from the corner of his eye. He made a lunge for her and grabbed her hair, pulling her back. His voice sounded like that of the devil himself, filling her with fear. ¡°You¡¯re really not giving me an easy time. To think you¡¯d try to make a run for it while I¡¯m upied. It¡¯s pretty impressive of you to untie yourself. Let¡¯s just do away with all that trouble, then. We¡¯ll see how you¡¯ll escape my clutches today!¡± Howard pressed Rachel down on the ground and started tearing at her clothes. Every cell in her body cried out in protest. She started pounding her fists on his chest with all her might. ¡°Let me go, Howard! You bastard, let me go!¡± Howard¡¯s excitement grew with Rachel¡¯s resistance. Seeing her struggling against his hold ted him, and every pore in his body buzzed with excitement. ¡°Where else can you run to? I¡¯ve been craving your body for a long time. If you¡¯d been obedient right from the beginning, we wouldn¡¯t have had to waste so much time and effort. You¡¯ve already tried Tyler. Why not give me a chance? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t lose to him.¡± Rachael pped him hard. ¡°Get off me!¡± she yelled. Her Exit 580 Howard was stunned by Rachel¡¯s p; he stared at her for a few seconds before pping her back. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you hit me! You should consider it a blessing that I fancy you instead of pretentiously sitting on a high horse! I¡¯m sleeping with you today, whether you like it or not!¡± Rachel¡¯s head was still buzzing from the p Howard gave her. Tyler could hear her cry through the phone. He went wild and tried to charge through the door, but the two men who brought Sheryn out immediately stopped Tyler from barging in. ¡°You can¡¯t go in!¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Tyler punched both of them till they were squirming on the ground in pain. He exuded a murderous aura, his eyes bloodshot and filled with rage. The two men on the ground refused to give up, each of them desperately clinging to his legs. ¡°You can¡¯t go in! Mr. Ziegler won¡¯t spare us if we let you in!¡± None of them were able to bear the consequences of Howard losing his mind. Tyler red at them, his eyes frosty. ¡°You might lose your lifeter if you offend him, but I can take your life right now!¡± Tyler kicked one of them mercilessly, and the man¡¯s eyes rolled to the back of his head before he lost consciousness. The other man knew Tyler wasn¡¯t one to be trifled with. In fact, Tyler looked no different from Hades himself. He didn¡¯t want to end up like his partner. Tyler red at him, and he quickly let go of Tyler¡¯s leg. He charged toward the door, but Sheryn stopped him right before he barged through it. ¡°You can¡¯t go in! Howard haspletely lost it. Now that your father doesn¡¯t want anything to do with you, Howard won¡¯t spare you if you offend him!¡± ¡°Step aside!¡± Tyler¡¯s face was cold and hard, and his bloodshot eyes made for a frightening sight. Sheryn had known Tyler for many years, but she had never seen him in this state before. He looked like apletely different man. Sheryn didn¡¯t care about Rachel¡¯s life or death. In fact, she wished Howard would force himself on Rachel. That would give Sheryn hope that things were possible between her and Tyler. Sleeping with Howard wouldn¡¯t be a big deal for a woman like Rachel, who had been with multiple men anyway. Tyler pushed Sheryn away without a word, and she copsed on the ground. She saw Tyler head straight for the ironworks and yelled indignantly, ¡°Tyler, you¡¯ll get yourself destroyed if you go in! Howard can easily have his way with you! You can¡¯t fight him!¡± Tyler ignored her. He was about to head in when he suddenly found himself surrounded by tons of men. From inside the nt, Howard yelled, ¡°Tyler, did you honestly think I came unprepared? I¡¯ll show you what I¡¯m capable of!¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously, a sharp glint shing in the depths of his eyes. He removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. The men exchanged looks before charging toward Tyler. X Her Exit 581 Sheryn was so terrified she clutched her head and hid in a corner, not daring to make a sound. Tyler had been able to fend them off for a while with his skills, but no matter how good he was, one man couldn¡¯t take on so many at once. Before long, Tyler began to run out of strength. Someone sneaked up from behind and struck him with a club, knocking him to the ground. He dropped to one knee, and his entire body trembled. Sweat broke out on his forehead. For the first time, Sheryn saw Tyler fighting so desperately for a woman. She clenched her jaw hard, feeling both worried and jealous. Rachel had managed to bring Tyler down from his pedestal. God only knew what good deeds this woman had done in her past life to have so many men willing to fight to the death over her in this one. Soon, Tyler couldn¡¯t hold out anymore. He was beaten down onto his stomach, and at some point, someone had hit his head with a club again. Blood oozed out, trickling down his temple in bright red drops. In the end, Sheryn couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She rushed forward and shoved the men away. ¡°Stop hitting him! If you keep going, you¡¯re going to kill him!¡± The men just stood there and watched coldly. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t go inside, we won¡¯t touch you. But if you insist on going in, don¡¯t me us for getting rough!¡± The message was clear. If Tyler pushed forward, his life would be on the line. Tyler¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. His eyes still held that razor¨Csharp gleam, exactly as they had from the start. Sheryn just couldn¡¯t understand what was so special about Rachel that she was worth this golden boy risking his life to save her. In her heart, she kept urging Howard to hurry up inside. As long as he managed to get what he wanted from Rachel, even if Tyler stormed in, it would be toote. Tyler might not care that Rachel was divorced or that she had been with William before, but Sheryn was certain that no man could stomach watching the woman he liked being humiliated right in front of him. ¡°Ahhhhh¡­!¡± Another scream from Rachel echoed from inside. The moment Tyler heard it, he froze. Ignoring his injuries, he charged forward like a madman. The men hadn¡¯t expected him to throw his life away like this. They couldn¡¯t stop him at all, and if someone really died here, they¡¯d be in just as much trouble. After all, this man wasn¡¯t some ordinary guy. He was Tyler Hunt! In Yurelia City, he had a lot of power¨Cthey were no match for him. At the same time, they didn¡¯t dare provoke Howard either. When Howard lost it, he was just as dangerous, and he could make sure they couldn¡¯t survive in Yurelia City. Someone spoke up. ¡°This won¡¯t work. The guy¡¯s too stubborn. We need another n.¡± ¡°Go for his legs. We¡¯ve got no choice. If this keeps up, we can¡¯t hold him.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± One of them took the chance when Tyler wasn¡¯t looking, swung a club, and struck his knee hard. The pain was so intense that Tyler copsed to the ground. Now, he was covered in injuries. His shirt was rumpled, and blood streamed down his forehead. Even his usually well¨Cstyled hair was a mess. Clenching his jaw, Tyler dragged his leg forward and crawled toward the factory. His face had gone pale, and his lips werepletely drained of color. Just then, a piercing police siren rang out. Several private cars also pulled up,pletely blocking the entrance. Police officers jumped out and raised their guns at the men. ¡°Hands up!¡± ¡°Everybody, down on the ground!¡± The thugs nced at each other, then tossed their clubs to the floor. Yale got out of one of the cars. When he saw Tyler lying on the ground, his expression changed instantly.¡± Mr. Hunt!¡± Tyler was clearly about to copse. His gaze stayed fixed ahead. His deep voice was trembling, ¡°S¨CSave her.¡± Only then did Yale realize Rachel had to be inside. He and the police ran forward and broke down the door. Her Exit 582 Just then, Steven arrived, supported by someone as he walked forward. The moment he saw the condition Tyler was in, his expression instantly darkened. He waved at his assistant, urging impatiently, ¡°What are you standing there for? Get him to the hospital, now!¡± The assistant was about to step forward to help, but Tyler refused. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The factory door swung open, and police officers surrounded the ce. Yale quickly helped Tyler inside. Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed deeply while he scanned every corner for Rachel. The moment he spotted Howard, who was fully naked, he pursed his lips and clenched his jaws. Fearing Tyler might cripple Howard in his rage, Yale hurriedly patted his shoulder and pointed to the corner on the right. ¡°Mr. Hunt, don¡¯t worry. Look over there!¡± Tyler looked where Yale was pointing and saw Rachel curled up on the ground in her torn clothes. Her hands were covered in blood while she gripped a razor de tightly. Howard spotted Steven and let out a miserable scream. ¡°Dad!¡± Steven immediately caught sight of the blood on Howard¡¯s thigh. His eyes widened, and he barked in fury, ¡°What are you waiting for? Get him to the hospital!¡± Howard was quickly carried to a car, but he kept ring viciously in Rachel¡¯s direction. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯ll never let you go, even if it kills me!¡± he yelled. Tyler carefully moved toward Rachel, wanting to touch her, but her eyes were filled with endless fear. Seeing how terrified she was, he didn¡¯t dare touch her recklessly. Instead, he took off his jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders. He moved cautiously, for fear of startling her. ¡°It¡¯s over now. You¡¯re safe. Are you hurt?¡± Rachel shook her head numbly. Tyler reached out and tried to take the de from her hand, but he still moved with extreme care. ¡°The police are here. I¡¯m sony I waste Give me the de I don¡¯t want you to hurt yourself.¡± Under his gentle reassurance, he finally managed to get the de from her. Rachel began to regain some awareness and nced at Tyler. When she noticed the injuries covering him, her expression softened slightly. ¡°You¡¯re hurt. Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Her hand identally brushed against his leg, making him grunt in pain. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his jaw clenched. He was visibly in pain. She immediately realized something was wrong. ¡°Did you hurt your leg?¡± Tyler forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a scratch. Don¡¯t worry about me. Yale, get her to the car and take her to the hospital for a check¨Cup.¡± Yale looked anxious. ¡°Mr. Hunt, you need to go too. Your injuries must be examined.¡± Tyler snapped impatiently, ¡°I said, get her to the car first. Don¡¯t waste time with nonsense.¡± Yale didn¡¯t dare say more. He silently carried Rachel to the car beforeing back to help Tyler. They all headed for the hospital. Rachel had just finished her examination when she tried to get up to see Tyler, but the nurse held her down. ¡°You still need to be on an IV drip. You can¡¯t go out.¡± The nurse firmly pressed her back into bed. Rachel could only ask other nurses about Tyler. ¡°Can you at least tell me how the man who came in with me is doing?¡± Another nurse pursed her lips and shook her head. ¡°Not great. Multiple fractures all over his body, probably from being beaten with clubs. The worst is his leg. I heard the doctor next door say they need to check first, but if it¡¯s bad, they might resort to amputation.¡± Rachel frozepletely. Amputation! Her Exit 583 Chapter 583 The nurse saw Rachel frozen in shock and quickly tried tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We only heard it from the doctor. It might not be urate. Maybe it won¡¯te to amputation.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t sit still. ¡°No, I have to see him! I can get the IV dripter.¡± Ignoring the nurse¡¯s attempts to stop her, she ran to the consultation room next door. The doctor was cleaning Tyler¡¯s wounds. Sweat streamed down his forehead, and the veins on his temple were bulging. He was clearly in pain. Tyler was the type who never made a sound unless the pain was unbearable. The moment he saw Rachel, though, the tension in his eyes eased. His voice was still low and strained. ¡°Feels like I haven¡¯t seen you in ages, even though it¡¯s just been a moment.¡± After chuckling at his words, Rachel smiled wearily. ¡°How can you still joke at a time like this?¡± Tyler squeezed her fingers, guilt welling up as he saw her covered in injuries. ¡°I wasn¡¯t fast enough. I almost let you get hurt. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make him pay for what he put you through.¡± Touched that he wasforting her despite his own pain¨Csomething William might not have done- Rachel pulled him into her arms and patted his back like a child. ¡°If you can¡¯t see my injuries, you¡¯ll stop worrying.¡± Tyler chuckled at how she was treating him like a child. ¡°Rachel, is this really how youfort people?¡± She nced at his messy hair. He had always cared about his appearance, and she had never seen him this disheveled. Yet for her, he had thrown away his pride and fought his way in. Seeing the cuts and bruises all over him made her heart clench. She could still remember how her heart skipped a beat the moment she saw Tyler, and he instantly made her feel safe. ¡°Tyler, are you mad? There were so many of them back there. How could you possibly fend them all off?¡± The hard edge in his eyes softened. ¡°What else could I do? I couldn¡¯t let scum like Howard touch you. The humiliation! People would talk behind my back for the rest of my life.¡± Rachel scoffed. He was still so stubborn, even now. Watching the doctor treat his wounds, she saw him trembling but refusing to cry out, and her heart ached. ¡°Doctor, can you be a little gentler?¡± The doctor was trying hard not tough. ¡°I¡¯d like to, but I can¡¯t. If we don¡¯t clean this wound properly, it could get infected. It might lead to amputation.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Are you saying he doesn¡¯t need an amputation right now?¡± ¡°If the wound doesn¡¯t worsen, then no. Luckily, the bone wasn¡¯t seriously damaged. It¡¯s just a fracture, as the X¨Cray shows.¡± The doctor added, ¡°One more thing. I know young couples can be rather passionate, but for the time being, you should avoid any sexual activity.¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks flushed red. Her Exit 584 Tyler suddenly asked, ¡°So, when can we do it?¡± The question stunned the doctor. ¡°When can you-¡± Rachel, flustered, quickly covered Tyler¡¯s mouth and awkwardly exined to the doctor, ¡°Don¡¯t mind him. He¡¯s just joking.¡± The doctor only smiled and said nothing more. When the wound was finally treated, Tyler was already drenched in sweat. Rachel grabbed a few tissues from the table and handed them to him. With azy nce, Tyler put on his most entitled act. ¡°My hand hurts. Wipe it for me.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re acting awfully spoiled right now.¡± Tyler reminded her again. ¡°I¡¯m the patient right now.¡± Rachel shot back, ¡°I¡¯m also a patient right now.¡± ¡°Do you need me to wipe your sweat? I can help you.¡± Rachel narrowed her eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say your hand hurts?¡± ¡°It hurts to wipe my own sweat, but it doesn¡¯t hurt to wipe yours.¡± Rachel was speechless. In the end, she couldn¡¯t win against him and wiped the sweat from his forehead herself. A nurse from next door came over. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, pleasee back. We still need to give you your IV drip.¡± Tyler immediately turned to look at Rachel. ¡°You still have to get an IV drip. What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¨CI just came to have a look,¡± Rachel said, touching her earlobe awkwardly. The nurse added, ¡°That¡¯s not true. As soon as Ms. Lloyd heard there was a chance you might need an amputation, she ran over here immediately. We couldn¡¯t stop her.¡± Rachel¡¯s cheeks burned, and she lowered her head, trying to make herself smaller. Tyler¡¯s eyes were full of amusement as he patted her shoulder. ¡°Alright, she¡¯s just shy. Come on, hide in my arms.¡± Rachel clenched her fists. Tyler was truly shameless. If she hadn¡¯t divorced William, they wouldn¡¯t even be having this conversation right now. At that moment, Yale entered. ¡°Mr. Hunt, we have news about Howard!¡± Rachel¡¯s heart clenched. She wasn¡¯t sure if she had struck Howard¡¯s vital area back then, but at the time, she had no other choice. If she hadn¡¯t done it, she would have been vited. Tyler¡¯s previously calm gaze instantly filled with hostility. ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡± ¡°They saved it, but he¡¯ll need to stay in the hospital for observation. Whether there¡¯ll be any long¨Cterm effects depends on how well he recovers.¡± Tyler snorted. ¡°Seems the heavens are watching over him.¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt, there¡¯s one more thing. Mr. Steven is waiting at the door. He wants to meet you.¡± Tyler wasn¡¯t surprised. Howard was the Ziegler family¡¯s only son. Injuries elsewhere were one thing, but damage down there? If Steven Ziegler could just let that go, it would be strange indeed. He patted Rachel lightly. ¡°Go back and get your IV drip. I¡¯lle see you after I deal with this.¡± Rachel was uneasy. ¡°I should meet him. After all, I¡¯m the one who stabbed him. It has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°What will you use to negotiate with him?¡± Tyler¡¯s single sentence shut her down, but Rachel knew this wouldn¡¯t blow over so easily. Everyone in Yurelia City knew Howard had the Ziegler family backing him. In this city, he could do whatever he pleased. Now, with an injury to his most vulnerable ce¨Cand the possibility of never having children¨Chow could they possibly let this go so easily? Her Exit 585 Tyler shot Yale a look, and Yale stepped forward to help him up. When they reached the doorway, Tyler nced back at the nearby nurse. He still felt uneasy. ¡°Sorry, but could you take her back to her ward? Don¡¯t let her wander around again.¡± The nurse could tell at once how much Tyler cared for Rachel, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Of course.¡± Once Tyler had left the examination room, the nurse turned to Rachel. Her tone brimmed with envy. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, your boyfriend really dotes on you. He¡¯s so protective. Where did you meet such a wonderful man?¡± Rachel honestly didn¡¯t know how to answer. She couldn¡¯t exactly say Tyler was her ex¨Chusband¡¯s uncle. The nurse¡¯s curiosity was so genuine, and her eyes full of anticipation, that Rachel couldn¡¯t quite bring herself to brush her off. After thinking for a moment, she finally said, ¡°Well, he used to be my mother¡¯s student. We¡¯ve known each other since we were kids.¡± The nurse¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Childhood sweethearts!¡± Rachel smiled awkwardly. ¡°Something like that.¡± After muttering something about being envious of Rachel, the nurse helped Rachel back to her ward. Yale guided Tyler down the hallway. Steven sat on a bench with a cane in hand, his expression dark. When Tyler appeared, Steven didn¡¯t even nce his way. The arrogance radiated from him, bone¨Cdeep. Anyone who knew Tyler understood his temperament. If he chose not to show someone respect, their status meant nothing. He simply wouldn¡¯t care. Seeing Steven¡¯s lofty, condescending posture, Tyler didn¡¯t bother to look at him either. Instead, he settled into a seat a short distance away, leaning back in an easy, almostzy posture. Neither man spoke. Standing nearby, Yale felt like he was dying of secondhand embarrassment. The tension was unbearable. Why wasn¡¯t anyone saying anything? Minutes crawled by in dead silence. Finally, Yale broke the silence. ¡°Mr. Steven, Mr. Hunt has other medical exams scheduledter, so we don¡¯t have much time for you.¡± Steven¡¯s tone was full of displeasure. ¡°I assume you already know what happened with Howard. My request is simple. After all, our families go way back. Although you and Howard haven¡¯t been on good terms for years, my rtionship with your father still stands. So here¡¯s what I propose. I won¡¯t hold this matter against you, but Rachel must be handed over to me.¡± Tyler scoffed as if he had just heard a joke. ¡°Steven, since you¡¯ve just said our families go way back, you should know my character well enough. Do you honestly think I¡¯d give you Rachel?¡± Steven¡¯s gaze shifted to Tyler, and his tone suddenly grew harsher. ¡°From the sound of it, there¡¯s nothing to discuss, is there? You know exactly where Howard was hurt, and you know exactly what that means for the Ziegler family. The only reason I haven¡¯t done anything to you is out of respect for your father.¡± Tyler thought for a moment. He then offered apromise. ¡°How about this? Getting me to hand over Rachel is impossible, but I can take the me in her ce. If you want someone to take the me, direct it at me.¡± Steven stared at him as if he had just witnessed a headline¨Cmaking scandal. ¡°Tyler, do you realize how bright your future could be with your abilities? You¡¯re willing to throw your whole life away for that woman? Aren¡¯t you afraid of breaking your father¡¯s heart?¡± Her Exit 586 Tyler clearly had no interest in sitting here and having a heart¨Cto¨Cheart with Steven. Every family had its own problems, after all. He replied curtly, ¡°That¡¯s nothing you need to worry about. Speaking of women, are you telling me Howard can¡¯t find a single one in all of Yurelia City that he has totch onto mine? And to try something as vile as forcing himself on her? He¡¯s not even embarrassed to have that dragged into the open? Or is that the kind of thing the Ziegler family teaches its men?¡± ¡°Rubbish!¡± Steven exploded, mming his cane against the floor. ¡°The Ziegler family would never teach that!¡± ¡°Oh? Then I guess Howard must have picked it up from the scum he runs around with. Either way, his attempted rape has already been officially filed by the police. I know your family has the power to make it disappear¨Cbut if someone decides to interfere, well, things might get a little tricky.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t spell it out, but Steven was experienced enough to read between the lines. The tension between them instantly grew. Steven¡¯s eyes glinted coldly as he gave Tyler the side¨Ceye. ¡°So, Tyler, what you¡¯re saying is, you¡¯re definitely going to get involved?¡± ¡°My girlfriend was the one he went after. Tell me, how am I supposed to just let that slide? If someone had nearly assaulted your wife, would you simply keep the peace? And if I did just let it go, what happens when people find out? Wouldn¡¯t they call me a coward?¡± In just a few sentences, Tyler had backed Steven into a corner. For a moment, Steven was stunned into silence, caught off guard. Then, his expression hardened. He had been talking to Tyler all this time, and the man clearly hadn¡¯t listened to a word. His face flushed red with anger as he got to his feet and loomed over Tyler. ¡°Are you determined to protect Rachel no matter what?¡± Tyler nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Tyler, let me remind you, you¡¯re going to pay for this. Without your father backing you, the Ziegler family could crush you like an ant.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice remained firm. ¡°No matter what you do to me, I¡¯m not letting this go. I won¡¯t just let my girlfriend suffer without payback. Whatever it takes¨Ceven if I lose everything¨CI¡¯ll make sure she gets justice.¡± To Steven, this wasn¡¯t about loyalty. It was pure recklessness. ¡°At this rate, you¡¯re going to regret it one day.¡± Tyler smiled and said nothing. Steven nodded, and his gaze turned hostile. ¡°In that case, Tyler, don¡¯t me me when I strip away all courtesy and destroy youpletely!¡± Tyler smiled. ¡°Whatever you have in mind, I¡¯m ready for it.¡± The tension grew in the hallway. Steven snorted with his eyes wide open. He was about to step forward when he spotted someone approaching from down the hall. It was a man with a build much like his own. Thomas, with the help of his butler, Josh, walked toward them. ¡°Steven.¡± Her Exit 587 Chapter 587 ¡°Thomas, what brings you here? You could¡¯ve at least called beforeing.¡± Thomas waved. ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it. I just found out about the kids¡® situation. You know Tyler. He¡¯s never been one for tact.¡± Steven cast a nce in Tyler¡¯s direction. ¡°Young men are always hot¨Cblooded, and they don¡¯t yet understand how cruel the real world is. We were all like that once.¡± Thomas approached Tyler, his expression grave and stern, and shot him an irritated re. ¡°What are you standing here for? Get back to your ward and stay put. Have them check you over from head to toe.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t bother to argue with Thomas at this point. He simply chuckled. ¡°Getting on in years and still so quick to anger. Have Josh brew you some tea to cool down.¡± Thomas rapped him on the backside with his cane. ¡°Get lost, you brat!¡± Yale took Tyler by the arm and guided him back to his ward. Thomas pointed to the bench behind Steven. ¡°Come, Steven, let¡¯s sit.¡± The two had kept in touch over the years, and given their respective positions, they didn¡¯t speak as harshly to each other as Tyler and Steven had. Once seated, Steven couldn¡¯t resistining. ¡°You¡¯ve seen what happened. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m trying to make things hard for Tyler. You know Howard is my only heir. Your family¡¯s better off. You¡¯ve got William as well as Tyler. ¡°The doctors say that while he¡¯s stable for now, we can¡¯t be sure he¡¯ll still be able to have children in the future. My request is simple. We¡¯ve been family friends for generations, and I don¡¯t want this to turn ugly between us. Just have Tyler give us Rachel to deal with, and the matter will be closed. ¡°But look at him!¡± At the thought of Tyler¡¯s earlier attitude, Steven¡¯s anger red again. Thomas patted him on the shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s just a kid. Don¡¯t take it to heart. I¡¯ll handle it. You have my word, I¡¯ll make sure that woman is brought right to you. ¡°But don¡¯t tell Tyler for now. You know his temper.¡± At the mention of Rachel, Thomas could only sigh. ¡°Honestly, if anyone understands me, it¡¯s you. Howard at least listens to you. For the sake of this Rachel, Tyler nearly drove me madst time. Before that, William was the same way. He was ready to live or die for her. At least he divorced her in the end.¡± Steven had his own opinion on that. ¡°Not to be blunt, Thomas, but did your family owe the Lloyd family something in your past life? Otherwise, why would both William and Tyler be so tangled up with Rachel?¡± Thomas sighed. ¡°You ask me, but who am I supposed to ask? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find some good doctors to take another look at Howard. But really¨Cover a woman? I heard Howard had his eye on Rachel years ago. It¡¯s been so long, and he¡¯s still not over her.¡± Steven only smiled awkwardly. ¡°Who knows?¡± Tyler had made a point of switching Rachel to another ward. When she saw him return, she started to get up to help, but he raised a hand. ¡°You¡¯re still hooked up to the IV drip. Stay put.¡± Rachel sank back into bed. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How did things go? I¡¯ve already told you, whatever it is, I can handle it myself. You don¡¯t have to-¡± ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m the patient right now. I need rest. If you keep spouting useless nonsense, I¡¯m going to have to get my QR code.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. I¡¯m talking about something serious.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m being serious too. How much are you willing to pay me?¡± Her Exit 588 Rachel looked away. ¡°Fine, you said it. If you want to shoulder everything yourself, then go right ahead.¡± Someone knocked on the door. Rachel instinctively looked at the door. When she saw Thomas, she gave Tyler a look. Tyler acted like he hadn¡¯t noticed a thing and even took the chance to tease her. ¡°Why are you winking at me? I¡¯m not in the right state to kiss you now.¡± Rachel was speechless. She turned to look at Thomas. ¡°Mr. Thomas¡­¡± Thomas walked in, leaning on his cane. The first thing he did was re at Tyler with clear irritation. ¡°You¡¯re pathetic! Letting a woman manipte you like this. You¡¯re acting like she¡¯s the first woman you¡¯ve everid eyes on.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t argue. He just went along with it. ¡°Exactly. I¡¯ve never seen a woman as adorable and beautiful as my girlfriend.¡± Rachel felt like she was going to die of secondhand embarrassment. Tyler, of course, was blissfully unaware and kept going. ¡°My girlfriend knows how to make my favorite meatballs. She even tucks me in at night. Can you do that?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but snap at him. ¡°Tyler, stop talking¡­!¡± If she weren¡¯t hooked up to an IV drip, she would have run out the door. She wasn¡¯t anywhere near as perfect as he made her sound, and with Thomas already disliking her, Tyler was probably just cementing her image as a femme fatale in his mind. Sure enough, Thomas wasn¡¯t buying any of it. He pulled up a chair and sat down. ¡°Tyler, let me remind you. I¡¯ve already settled things with Howard, but don¡¯t you go stirring up more trouble. That said, they¡¯re definitely going to want to vent their anger. As for what will happen then, I don¡¯t know, and I won¡¯t interfere. ¡°I told you before. If you insist on being with this woman, you¡¯ll have to pay a price. In the past, the Ziegler family held back because of the Lewis family and didn¡¯t dare touch you. Things are different now. Without the Lewis family protecting you, whatever they decide to do, I won¡¯t stop them. You¡¯d better be ready for that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That¡¯s nothing you need to concern yourself with. Just don¡¯t go ying matchbreaker for no reason,¡± Tyler replied. Hearing that, Thomas felt a surge of anger rise in his chest. ¡°Tyler, one day this woman is going to ruin you, and when that happens, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± Tyler outwardly yed along, but his tone was perfunctory. ¡°Thanks for the reminder. If that¡¯s all, you should head back and rest. My girlfriend and I are both badly injured, as you can see, so we won¡¯t keep you.¡± Thomas realized Tyler was practically showing him the door and grew annoyed. He sprang up from his chair. ¡°Do you think I want to meddle in your business? If you hadn¡¯t made such a mess this time, do you think I¡¯d havee all the way to the hospital?¡± Tyler¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He remained calm. ¡°In that case, please feel free to leave now. There¡¯s no need to waste your time here.¡± Before leaving, Thomas reminded him, ¡°When you¡¯re better, pay Howard a visit. Don¡¯t let things between our families get too tense.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t reply. Thomas knew his temperament and didn¡¯t push for an answer. He just opened the door and left. Rachel turned to Tyler. ¡°You can tell he actually cares about you. He says he came because things got out of hand, but it¡¯s obvious he came to check on your injuries.¡± Tyler snorted. ¡°How exactly could you tell that he cares? He didn¡¯t even ask me once about how I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°Some things don¡¯t have to be said out loud for you to understand.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like beating around the bush. I prefer straight talk.¡± Her Exit 589 Chapter 589 ¡°You sure are high¨Cmaintenance,¡± Rachel said. Tyler chuckled. ¡°Next time you want to tell me you love me, just say it straight. No need to beat around the bush.¡± Rachel pouted, but deep down, she felt strangely reassured. She couldn¡¯t exin it herself. Howard¡¯s situation was still unresolved, and Steven definitely wasn¡¯t going to just let it go. But as long as Tyler was there, the weight on her heart didn¡¯t feel quite so heavy. Still, Rachel knew she couldn¡¯t let herself get toofortable just because Tyler was always stepping in to shield her. She turned serious. ¡°Tyler, when ites to Howard, I¡¯ll take responsibility for what I¡¯ve done. You don¡¯t need to carry this on your back. You¡¯ve got too much at stake to get dragged into this mess. And besides, Howard got hurt because of me. It¡¯s only right theye after me.¡± ¡°In that case, I should be holding Howard ountable, too. He had people beat me up so bad I almost lost a leg. That¡¯s something I fully intend to settle with the Ziegler family.¡± Rachel caught on to what he was implying. ¡°You mean you want to treat your injury and Howard¡¯s injury as an even trade?¡± Tyler spread his hands. ¡°Why not?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t see it as that simple. ¡°Think about it. Yours is just a superficial injury. At least you weren¡¯t seriously hurt. Howard¡¯s injury is different.¡± Tyler leaned back, refusing to concede the point. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about what he did¨Ckidnapping, assault, attempted rape. Those are all major felonies.¡± Rachel could already see how messy this would get. She took a deep breath. ¡°This is going to drag out a lot ofplications. I don¡¯t want you mixed up in it.¡± Tyler looked at her seriously. ¡°Rachel, the moment you decided to be with me, I was already mixed up in it.¡± ¡°But you know we¡¯re not actually a real couple.¡± They were only bound by a contract. Once it ended, so would whatever this was. Tyler suddenly leaned over from his hospital bed so that they were facing each other¨Conly a narrow aisle separating them. He reached out, hooked an arm around her neck, and rested his forehead against hers. His breath brushed against her skin, making her feel warm. With an almostzy tone, he said, ¡°Rachel, you¡¯ve already slept with me, and now you¡¯re telling me we¡¯re not a real couple? Then, what are we? Friends with benefits? Because if that¡¯s the case, we¡¯re acting way too intimate for that.¡± Rachel realized she kept getting tripped up by Tyler¡¯s arguments that sounded ridiculous but somehow still made a bit of sense. Normally, she thought she was pretty quick¨Cwitted. But when it came to Tyler, it was like her brain just stopped working. Suddenly¡­ ¡°Hello, we¡¯re police officers. We¡¯re here to get your statements.¡± Rachel narrowed her eyes slightly. She had expected the police would get involved. Honestly, the fact that they weren¡¯t all being hauled in was already a huge relief, and it was probably only because they were injured. After giving their statements, Rachel asked one of the officers, ¡°So, with what Howard did, will he be facing prison time?¡± Her Exit 590 The officers only gave a vague reply. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say right now. We have to wait until the statements and evidence are sorted.¡± Rachel immediately had a bad feeling. ¡°You mean, you can¡¯t even say yet whether Howard will be charged?¡± One of the officers almostughed. ¡°Miss, a conviction isn¡¯t decided by what someone says. It depends on evidence and witnesses. There was no DNA from you or the suspect at the scene, and no eyewitnesses.¡± Rachel¡¯s mind jumped straight to Sheryn. ¡°I do have a witness. Sheryn was kidnapped with me. We were locked in the same ce. She can testify.¡± The officers exchanged a confused look. ¡°ording to what we¡¯ve heard, she said she never saw Howard assault you. Just that you argued and things got physical.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°What did you just say?¡± The other officer nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve already interviewed her. That¡¯s exactly what she told us.¡® Rachel¡¯s voice went sharp with disbelief. ¡°No way! She was a victim, too! Howard¡¯s friends almost assaulted her!¡± But the officers weren¡¯t convinced. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, we go by evidence. If you have an issue with her statement, you¡¯ll need to speak with her directly.¡± Rachel froze, stunned that at such a crucial moment, Sheryn would actually take Howard¡¯s side. Tyler, by contrast, remained calm. He told the officers, ¡°Thanks for your time. If there¡¯s anything else, we¡¯ll cooperate. But I have one request¨CHoward needs the maximum sentence. We¡¯ll get you any evidence we find.¡± The officers, knowing exactly who was involved in this case, took this seriously and nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Once they were gone, Rachel frowned in confusion. ¡°Has your cousinpletely lost it? Why would she help Howard, when those guys wanted to hurt her too?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t shaken by Howard¡¯s actions. She knew he was trash, and anyone with him was just as bad, but Sheryn¡¯s betrayal stung. Sheryn was also a victim, and instead of punishing her attacker, she was protecting him. Tyler¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°There are two possibilities. One¨CHoward¡¯s people bought her off. She and her mother have no way to stand up to the Ziegler family. Two¨Cshe just doesn¡¯t want to see you do well. You¡¯re her romantic rival, after all.¡± He might not have known Sheryn well, but this incident had shown him just how cold she could be. Rachel paced like a cat on a hot griddle. ¡°So what do we do now? Without Sheryn¡¯s testimony, we have no evidence. And I¡¯m sure Howard¡¯s men have already been silenced.¡± Her Exit 591 Tyler immediately called Yale. ¡°Yale, go check if there¡¯s still any evidence at the scene proving Howard assaulted and tried to rape someone, and bring Sheryn to the hospital. I have questions for her.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After hanging up, Tyler saw Rachel looking anxious. He reached over and pinched her cheek. ¡°What? Don¡¯t trust your boyfriend? I can handle something like this.¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I just don¡¯t want to cause you more trouble.¡± Tyler pinched her cheek again, gently. ¡°Rachel, when are you going to learn to lean on your boyfriend? You really don¡¯t know how to enjoy being taken care of.¡± Rachel felt like he was about to lift her right off the bed. ¡°Ouch.¡± Tyler chuckled and released her. ¡°Now you¡¯re acting like I hurt you on purpose. I didn¡¯t even use any force.¡± Rachel had half a mind to grab her phone and check if her face was red¨Conly to remember that Tyler still had her phone. She reached out for it. ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± Tyler searched around the bed before handing it back to her. When Rachel took it, she noticed the screen was cracked and the back was scratched up. It was obvious the phone had been dropped. She didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened, but judging by the damage, Tyler must¡¯ve been in a pretty rough situation. The fact that the phone was still in one piece was impressive, considering his condition. She stared at him for a moment. Suddenly, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. A flicker of surprise crossed his usually calm, deep eyes. ¡°Well, look at that. Getting bold now, Rachel. I¡¯m impressed.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes at his expression, like she had just done something world¨Cshaking. ¡°It was just a kiss. Don¡¯t look so thrilled.¡± Tyler narrowed his eyes slightly. A yful smile appeared on his face. ¡°Next time, could you be a bit more proactive? I wouldn¡¯t mind. You can do whatever you want, I¡¯ll y along.¡± Rachel looked him up and down. ¡°Given the state you¡¯re in, shouldn¡¯t you be focused on recovering instead of filling your head with R- rated junk?¡± Tyler spoke with absolute confidence. ¡°Rachel, you really don¡¯t get it. This is my way of acknowledging your charm. Would you rather your boyfriend see you and feel nothing?¡± Rachel remained silent. She seriously wondered if something was wrong with her brain¨Cbecause somehow, she could never win an argument with him. His nonsense always sounded just reasonable enough to leave her speechless. Tyler nced at the clock. ¡°This has gone on long enough. You haven¡¯t had enough rest. Close your eyes for a while and rest.¡± Rachel really was tired, especially after what had just happened. She tried not to think about it, but the moment the memory surfaced, her heart clenched painfully as if someone had a hand wrapped around it. The suffocating feeling washed over her like a wave. Not wanting Tyler to worry, she quickly turned her back to him andid down. Her Exit 592 ¡°I¡¯ll rest for a bit. You should try to get some sleep, too.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t think much of it,pletely unaware that something was off with Rachel. He just assumed she was tired and wanted to lie down. Rachel gripped the nket tightly, fighting to keep herself frompletely breaking down. Yale arrived with Sheryn and was about to knock on the door when Tyler raised a hand, signaling him to keep quiet. Yale caught on immediately. He helped Tyler up carefully and led him out of the room. They shut the door gently, both thinking Rachel was asleep, but she wasn¡¯t. Out in the hallway, Tyler sat on one of the benches. His expression turned cold. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve decided to cover for Howard. Is that true?¡± Sheryn knew he would ask her this. If it were about Rachel, no matter how busy or badly hurt he was, Tyler would make time for it. But when it came to her, even if she needed him, he was nowhere to be found. The difference between being loved and not being loved was ring. After this whole ordeal, Sheryn seemed to have figured a few things out. Her expression was nk, her eyes dull, and her voice t and weak. There was even a hint of sarcasm in her tone. ¡°What choice did we have? Tyler, you¡¯ve given up the Lewis family¡¯s protection for Rachel. You might still be able to protect yourself, but us? If we go against the Ziegler family, you know better than anyone what life in Yurelia City would be like afterward.¡± Tyler frowned. ¡°So you¡¯d rather trust Howard than trust me?¡± Sheryn¡¯s tone carried no guilt, only resignation. ¡°Tyler, you¡¯ve always been good to us, but it¡¯s different now. All your attention is on Rachel. You don¡¯t have the time or energy to care about us anymore.¡± Tyler chuckled. ¡°So you think I shouldn¡¯t treat my girlfriend well? That I should be doing that to you instead?¡± He had always spoken bluntly, and Rachel often thought he had a sharp tongue. But if she¡¯d been paying closer attention, she would¡¯ve realized Tyler was already far more lenient with her than with others. Sheryn pouted. ¡°You never used to be like this with me. Ever since you started seeing Rachel, you¡¯re not as nice to us as before.¡± ¡°Have I stopped giving you money? Have I stopped feeding you?¡± That hit Sheryn like a hammer, freezing her in ce. Her face was stiff with embarrassment. She had originally wanted to ease the tension between them, still holding on to the hope that Rachel¡¯s trouble this time had irritated Tyler. After all, Howard and Rachel had been alone in that factory for quite a while. When they found Rachel, her clothes were disheveled. Even if nothing had actually happened, there could have been other contact. Knowing Tyler¡¯s possessiveness¨Cwhether Sheryn had seen it firsthand or not¨Cshe knew enough to realize he wouldn¡¯t take that lightly. Perhaps he was just keeping it to himself. Tyler didn¡¯t bother beating around the bush. ¡°I don¡¯t care what Howard offered you to change your story. You¡¯re going to tell the police exactly what happened that night.¡± Her Exit 593 Chapter 593 Sheryn looked at Tyler with a torn expression. ¡°Tyler, don¡¯t push me. Rachel still has you to back her up, but what about us?¡± ¡°Doing the right thing is what you should be doing. Don¡¯t use Howard as an excuse. When his two men tried to assault you, you didn¡¯t give in. So why suddenly act like Howard has such a hold over you now?¡± Tyler retorted. Sheryn felt like she was being roasted over an open me. She knew Tyler wouldn¡¯t actually harm her, but if she testified for Rachel, she and her mother would be in serious trouble. Besides, helping Tyler meant helping Rachel, and Sheryn wanted nothing to do with that woman. If it weren¡¯t for Rachel, she and Tyler might have been together long ago! That thought alone sent a sh of anger surging through her chest. This time, her refusal was firm. ¡°Sorry, Tyler. I can¡¯t help you with this. If I do, I won¡¯t be able to stay in Yurelia City. I hope you can understand. My mom and I aren¡¯t like Ms. Lloyd. She has you behind her. We have no one.¡± With that, Sheryn stood to leave. Even Yale couldn¡¯t stomach it anymore. ¡°Ms. Lyons, you and Ms. Lloyd are both women. You were almost sexually assaulted. You should be standing with us to punish the man who did this, not protecting him. And besides, after all these years, you know exactly how well Mr. Hunt has treated you.¡± Sheryn stopped walking before turning to face him. ¡°If you want to me someone, me Ms. Lloyd. If it weren¡¯t for her, Howard wouldn¡¯t be at odds with Tyler. If it weren¡¯t for her, I wouldn¡¯t have been taken hostage. Why are you pushing me? Shouldn¡¯t she be the one you¡¯re ming? She¡¯s the spark that lit this whole fire! ¡°Howard or no Howard, I wouldn¡¯t help her. Tyler and I grew up together. We were practically engaged. I was so close to finally getting what I¡¯d dreamed of for years. Then she barged in out of nowhere!¡± The more she spoke, the more upset she felt. Her chest rose and fell with every breath. ¡°If she were truly exceptional¨Cif her background matched Tyler¡¯s¨Cfine. But no, she¡¯s divorced. She¡¯s William¡¯s ex¨Cwife! How could my cousin possibly be with someone like that?¡± Tyler¡¯s expression had been cold before, but now a darker, more dangerous edge crept in. The pressure rolling off him felt like an ocean swell that was dense and suffocating. He nced at Sheryn coldly. ¡°Sheryn, you have no right to pass judgment on Rachel in front of me. Got it? Even if she didn¡¯t exist, I still wouldn¡¯t have married you.¡± His voice was harsh. Sheryn had suspected for a while that there was no future for the two of them, but hearing him p the brutal truth down in in words still left her reeling. Her face drained of all color, and her legs felt rooted to the floor. Tyler didn¡¯t spare her another nce. When he didn¡¯t like someone, he didn¡¯t even pretend otherwise. ¡°Yale, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Yale felt Sheryn had crossed a line, allowing petty rivalry to outweigh any regard for another person¡¯s dignity. Supporting Tyler, he walked past her without so much as a nce. Her Exit 594 Sheryn¡¯s resentment was swelling inside her like a sponge soaked to bursting, ready to split wide open. As Yale helped Tyler back toward the ward, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s your move on Ms. Lyons?¡± He knew Tyler¡¯s temperament. If Sheryn had pushed it this far, Tyler wasn¡¯t going to just let it slide. Tyler thought for a moment. ¡°Cut off every card they¡¯ve got. If she wants to be Howard¡¯spdog, let¡¯s see if he¡¯s willing to feed her.¡± Yale chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s not happening. Howard can barely keep himself together. He¡¯s not about to bankroll Ms. Lyons. She¡¯s no use to him, anyway.¡± Tyler smirked and patted Yale on the shoulder. ¡°If you can see that and they can¡¯t, that¡¯s their problem. I gave them a chance, but they refused to take it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already done more than enough. Whatever her mother did for you years ago, they¡¯ve taken plenty from you since,¡± Yale said. ¡°Push the evidence search, and get me the bestwyer you can find,¡± Tyler replied. If Howard won this case, he would only get bolder. Yale seemed troubled. ¡°Sir, the Ziegler family beat us to it. They¡¯ve already locked in the top attorney in Yurelia City.¡± Tyler frowned. Of course, Steven had probably mapped out every move before evening to talk. They were already picking the bones clean. Tyler scrolled through his contacts, then held his phone out to Yale. ¡°Find this guy. He¡¯s supposed to be a big name overseas. He¡¯s originally from here.¡± Yale saved the number without another word. After leaving the hospital, Sheryn headed straight for Howard. When she opened the door, he was sprawled on the bed. He looked awfully pale in the face. She leaned closer, her deference looking almost rehearsed. ¡°Howard, I did everything you asked. Now it¡¯s your turn to keep your promise.¡± ¡°100,000,¡± Howard said, like the number was carved in stone. Her expression changed. ¡°100,000? We agreed on 1.5 million!¡± Howard snorted. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d hand over that much? You¡¯re a turncoat. Tyler may have stolen the woman I wanted, but I respect him. He¡¯s been footing the bill for you and your mother for years, and this is how you pay him back? By selling him out? Do you think I¡¯d trust you?¡± Howard had plenty of money, but he wasn¡¯t stupid. Sheryn¡¯s chest heaved with rage. ¡°You can¡¯t do this! You¡¯re loaded! You don¡¯t need to stiff me! If you back out, I¡¯ll go to the police right now and tell them exactly what happened!¡± Howard looked like he was enjoying himself. ¡°Be my guest. Call them right now. But after switching your story so many times, do you really think anyone¡¯s going to believe you?¡± Her Exit 595 Sheryn clenched her jaws so hard, it was a wonder they didn¡¯t crack. Her face was pale, and she felt a sting in her nose as she stared at Howard with teary eyes. ¡°Howard, how can you do this? We had an agreement! I¡¯ve never once helped Rachel. I¡¯ve always been on your side.¡± People thought Howard was azy, good¨Cfor¨Cnothing yboy, but that didn¡¯t mean he was stupid. Howard smirked, his gaze full of ridicule, like he was watching a cheap stage y. ¡°Sheryn, are you actually dumb, or do you just like believing your lies? Do you think everything you do is for someone else¡¯s good?¡± He leaned forward slightly, voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Be honest. Are you really doing this for me? Do we even know each other like that? You just can¡¯t stand Rachel. You think you¡¯re beneath her, so you came running to me for some kind of justice. Hate to break it to you, but you came to the wrong person.¡± Howard always spoke this casually to people he didn¡¯t like. Just when Sheryn thought this was rock bottom, she realized there was still farther to fall. Howard enjoyed toying with people who thought they were clever, especially when that person was Tyler¡¯s cousin. He hated anything and anyone connected to Tyler. He even made sure to rub salt in the wound. ¡°Ms. Lyons, why don¡¯t you give your dear cousin a call? See if he¡¯s willing to take you back?¡± He stroked his chin and smirked. ¡°Then again, knowing him, I doubt he will. The guy probably got fooled plenty back in the day.¡± Sheryn¡¯s jaw trembled as she jabbed a finger at him. ¡°Howard, you bastard! No wonder even a divorced woman like Rachel wouldn¡¯t give you the time of day! Maybe take a look in the mirror before you start mocking me.¡± Her voice rose with fury. ¡°You think you¡¯re any better? You¡¯re no different from me. So what if your family¡¯s rich? That still didn¡¯t win you Rachel, did it? Let¡¯s face it¨Cwe¡¯re both in the same boat! So why waste time tearing each other apart?¡± She had barely finished when her phone buzzed. One nce at the screen, and her face went even paler. Her knees almost gave out, and she had to reach for the wall to steady herself. A text message shed before her eyes. Every bank ount and credit card she had was frozen. She didn¡¯t need to guess who was behind it. Tyler wasn¡¯t showing her or Wilma a shred of mercy. And as if on cue, Wilma¡¯s name lit up the screen. Sheryn slipped out of the room to answer, her voice small and guilty. She hadn¡¯t told her mother about any of this. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Wima¡¯s voice came through sharp and anxious. ¡°Sheryn, what¡¯s going on? The bank just told me all our cards are frozen! What did you do? I called Tyler, and he told me to ask you. So tell me straight, what happened?¡± Sheryn opened her mouth twice, maybe three times, but no words came out. Her mother knew her too well. If Sheryn was hemming and hawing like this, it meant she had done something seriously bad. Wilma¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°Spit it out! What happened? If you¡¯ve really screwed things up, do you think keeping quiet is going to help you?¡± Her Exit 596 Chapter 596 Sheryn finally broke down in tears and poured everything out to Wilma. Wilma was silent for a moment on the other end of the line, then burst out in disbelief. ¡°What did you just say?! You sided with Howard and refused to testify for Tyler? Sheryn, have you ¡± It was rare for Sheryn to hear Wilma raise her voice. Though she was only Wilma¡¯s adopted daughter, Wilma had always treated her well over the years. This was the first time Sheryn had heard her so furious, but Sheryn felt wronged. ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t put all the me on me! If it weren¡¯t for Rachel stirring up trouble, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this. You didn¡¯t see it¨CTyler was willing to throw his life away for that woman! Why? What does she have that I don¡¯t?¡± She was too busy airing her grievances to notice Wilma¡¯s growing exasperation. ¡°You foolish child! Can¡¯t you tell the difference between a moment and a lifetime? Even if you can¡¯t marry your cousin, he¡¯s been supporting us all these years without shortchanging you once! And now you¡¯ve gone and offended him, running off to throw in your lot with Howard. Let me guess¨CHoward promised you something, and now he¡¯s gone back on his word, hasn¡¯t he?¡± Just the mention of Howard made Sheryn cry harder. ¡°Mom, he¡¯s a bastard! He promised me 1.5 million, and I did everything he asked. But now he¡¯s changed his mind and cut it down to just 100,000.¡± If she had the courage, she would have taken a knife to him already. Wilma grew frantic, her voice rising into a near¨Cscream over the phone. ¡°Sheryn, you¡¯ve ruined our lives! I¡¯d like to see how you n to fix this mess now!¡± Sheryn had no answers. She could only pin all her hopes on Wilma. Stamping her foot and wiping away tears, she pleaded, ¡°Mom, what are we going to do? If Tyler doesn¡¯t help us, how will we survive?¡± Seeing how desperate she was, Wilma took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. ¡°Sheryn, it¡¯s alreadye to this. You have no choice but to make Howard give you the money.¡± Sheryn looked frustrated. ¡°But Mom, he¡¯s only offering 100,000¨Cotherwise, nothing at all.¡± Wilma¡¯s temper red again, her voice sharp with fury. ¡°This is your own doing! What, do you expect me to go groveling at Howard¡¯s feet to get your money?¡± Then came her final, unyieldingmand. ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it, but you¡¯d better get that money! Otherwise, be prepared to live like an ordinary nobody. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± With that, Wilma hung up without giving Sheryn a chance to respond. Sheryn clenched her phone, her chest heaving. She angrily wiped her tears away. This was all Rachel¡¯s fault, and she would make that woman pay! Chapter 597 Her Exit 597 Sheryn headed back into the ward. Howard was lounging in bed, casually eating fruit as if he didn¡¯t have a care in the world. Next to him, a sultry¨Clooking woman had somehow appeared¨Cgorgeous, with a tight dress straining over her curves. Sheryn¡¯s nails dug deep into her palms. Everyone else was fine¨CRachel was fine, and Howard was fine¨Cyet she had lost everything. No one caught the sh of malice in her eyes, narrowing like a snake poised tosh out. She stepped up to Howard with a stern expression. ¡°Give me 1.5 million, and I can help you get Rachel.¡± Howard paused mid¨Cbite into his watermelon. He then looked up at her with a crooked, mocking smile. ¡°You might be confused. I¡¯m not all that interested in her anymore, but I won¡¯t let this thing slide. She¡¯s going to pay for what she did! If I can¡¯t have her, Tyler¡¯s not getting her either.¡± Hearing that, Sheryn felt even more confident. ¡°Then you need me even more. There¡¯s no need for you to get your hands dirty or think it through¡ªjust spend a little cash, hire someone to do it for you. Easy win.¡± Howard¡¯s eyes narrowed, his expression shifting. He handed the watermelon to the woman beside him, who took it without a word. He cleared his throat. ¡°Let¡¯s hear your n. But if I don¡¯t like it, you¡¯re not seeing a cent of that money.¡± Sherynid it out for him. Howard listened, then grinned, clearly pleased. ¡°You turn on people faster than a light switch. Going after Rachel, I can understand¨Cbut your own cousin? That¡¯s a twist I didn¡¯t expect.¡± His grin turned wild. He was obviously interested. He wasn¡¯t bothered by Sheryn¡¯s creepy n at all. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for them, I wouldn¡¯t be in this mess. They want to ruin me? Then I¡¯ll see it through to the end!¡± Howard liked the n and agreed right away. ¡°Money¡¯s not an issue. My only demand is that those two don¡¯t end up together.¡± Sheryn was quick to press her advantage. ¡°Since you¡¯re so happy with my n, maybe you should give me an advance. You know my family¡¯s not what it used to be.¡± Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Howard simply pulled out his phone, texting his assistant to wire her 200,000. The money reached her ount almost immediately. Sheryn nced at the bnce and smiled. What Howard didn¡¯t know was that he was part of the n, too. Her cold, victorious gaze lingered on him, still lying there, looking smug. Rachel had just had her bandages changed and was ready to lie back in bed and scroll through her phone. She might as well rest while she was still in the hospital. Once she was out, she probably wouldn¡¯t even have time to sleep. That was when Cecilia¡¯s name popped up on her screen. Rachel swiped to answer. ¡°Cecilia, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Oh my goodness, do you ever n on telling me when huge things happen? If I hadn¡¯t overheard the girls at the office gossiping, I wouldn¡¯t even know about the mess yesterday!¡± Rachel frowned in confusion. ¡°Who exactly did you hear this from?¡± Knowing Tyler, the second it happened, he would¡¯ve made sure the news never got out. Chapter 598 Her Exit 598 Chapter 598 After all, this involved both families. If the media got wind of it, the rumors would be endless. More importantly, even if Tyler didn¡¯t act, the Ziegler family would. One could say they cared more about this than anyone. After all, Howard¡¯s injury was different. If word got out, what girl would still dare marry him? Cecilia thought for a moment. ¡°Sounds like one of the staff overheard it from Howard¡¯s social circle. No details, just that Tyler and Howard got into a fight over a woman.¡± Rachel almostughed. ¡°And how are you so sure that woman was me?¡± Cecilia chuckled over the phone. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Who else could it be? Howard¡¯s practically been glued to you his whole life! Years have passed, and he still won¡¯t let you go. If you ask me, that¡¯s just how rich guys are. The more they can¡¯t have something, the more they want it.¡± She didn¡¯t linger on the topic. ¡°I can¡¯t see you until I¡¯m off work. Send me your addresster. Oh, and this morning, Yvette and your stepmother called a shareholder meeting. They yed that recording of you iming you had cut ties with the Lloyd family. ¡°Long story short, you¡¯ve just been forced out as CEO. You¡¯re now just a shareholder who gets dividends. Yvette is back as the deputy CEO because apparently, no one in thepany is more qualified than she is.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t feel much of anything hearing this. She had never really wanted to take over Lloyd Enterprise in the first ce. She had only stepped in for Jim¡¯s sake to give him peace of mind. Now that things had gone this far, she believed Jim would understand. He would never just stand by and watch her marry a piece of trash like Howard. Cecilia sighed. ¡°So you¡¯re just going to walk away from everything you¡¯ve built? Younded that huge partnership for them. If you stayed on as CEO, Lloyd Enterprise could¡¯ve been soaring right now. You should see the project proposals these people are turning in! Honestly, Lewis Enterprise had its slow seasons too, but only in the off¨Cseason. These people? They¡¯re just coasting year¨Cround.¡± Rachel chuckled. ¡°Because they know with someone like Yvette in charge, there¡¯s no chance ofnding a serious deal. So why even bother?¡± Cecilia¡¯s voice suddenly dropped. ¡°Okay, I have to go. They¡¯re huddled up, gossiping about something again. If I hear anything new, I¡¯ll call you right away.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but smile. Cecilia was starting to sound like a spy she had nted next to Yvette. She had just hung up when Yale suddenly burst through the door. ¡°Mr. Hunt!¡± One look at Yale¡¯s anxious face and Tyler knew something had happened. He shot him a warning nce. ¡°This is a hospital, not the office. Don¡¯t crank up the tension here. You reek of overtime.¡± Yale muttered under his breath, ¡°That¡¯s because you only give me two days off a month.¡± Quiet as it was, Tyler heard it perfectly. He cast him azy nce. ¡°Want me to give you an extended vacation instead? Maybe that¡¯ll air out the smell.¡± Her Exit 599 The moment Yale heard that, a bad feeling crept up on him. He quickly backpedaled. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not necessary.¡± Tyler crooked a finger at him. ¡°Come here.¡± For a split second, both Rachel and Yale felt like Tyler wasn¡¯t calling a person so much as summoning a dog. The air turned awkward in an instant, Rachel jumped in to exin for him. ¡°He¡¯s probably just used to it. Ray doesn¡¯t always listen, and this works better.¡± Yale smiled stiffly. ¡°Is that so? Haha¡­¡± Rachel dropped her gaze, realizing that exining only made it sound worse. Yale stepped up to Tyler¡¯s side, leaned forward, and whispered in his ear. ¡°It¡¯s bad, sir. Steven has started hitting our stock hard, and every pending partner is suddenly pulling out. That¡¯s not even the worst part. Thepanies we¡¯re already working with are willing to take the penalty fees just to stop doing business with us.¡± Everyone knew that even if the penalty was paid, thepany would still take a loss. One or two partners pulling out could be managed, but more than that? It could crush them. They were trying to strangle thepany to death. Tyler hadn¡¯t expected Steven to go this far just to force him into submission¨Cand all to help Howard save face. Steven was willing to burn mountains of cash just to bankrupt him. Steven clearly knew the Lewis family wouldn¡¯t step in anymore. LS Enterprise was technically Tyler¡¯s personal asset, but Lewis Enterprise belonged to the family. If Tyler went under, Thomas would be all too happy to see him crawl back, begging for help, so he could take back control. Still, Tyler had seen his share of storms. Even with news like this, his expression remained calm. He didn¡¯t want Rachel to know. He knew her too well. She didn¡¯t care much about herself, but she cared deeply about the people around her. If she found out he was taking this hit because of her, she¡¯d walk herself right up to the Ziegler doorstep without hesitation. Tyler gave Yale a nod. ¡°Help me into the car. I¡¯m going to the office.¡± Yale¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Sir, please reconsider. Thepany can hold out for a bit. You don¡¯t need to rush back. Your health shoulde first.¡± Tyler¡¯s gaze cooled instantly. His voice dropped. ¡°You¡¯re getting bold for an assistant. Starting to make my decisions for me now?¡± Yale lowered his head at once. He had just gotten Tyler to his feet when Rachel called out. ¡°Did the doctor say you needed more tests?¡± Yale answered for him. ¡°Mr. Hunt says I¡¯m taking him to the office.¡± Rachel bolted upright in bed. She was instantly on alert. ¡°Did something happen at thepany? Is Steven going after it for Howard¡¯s sake?¡± Business¨Cwar revenge was something Rachel knew all too well. Tyler denied it tly. ¡°No. A project got messed up. One of my people slipped up on the data. The partner is asking questions, so I need to exin it in person.¡± Rachel gave him a once¨Cover. His leg was still in a cast, his body battered, and his face pale. He hadn¡¯t even healed, and he was already thinking about going back to the office. Her Exit 600 ¡°No way. In your condition, forget me¨Cthe hospital staff won¡¯t let you leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle right back after I handle it.¡± Tyler¡¯s tone was unusually soft. He was trying to negotiate, but Rachel didn¡¯t even have to think about it before refusing. ¡°No. I don¡¯t care what you say, you¡¯re not going to the office. Tyler, this is your body we¡¯re talking about! Did you not hear the doctor? If they hadn¡¯t gotten you here when they did, you¡¯d be missing that leg right now.¡± Yale stared at Tyler like he was seeing a ghost. His eyes were wide. Had hell frozen over? He had worked for Tyler for years, and never¨Cnot once¨Chad he seen him soften his tone. Tyler had always been a lone wolf, decisive to the point of arrogance, never asking for permission. Now, he was actually trying to negotiate¨Cand it was with a woman, no less. This was rare. Yale stayed put like he was watching a show. He was curious to see how Tyler would deal with Rachel, who clearly wasn¡¯t easy to convince. Tyler hobbled over on his crutch, stopping right in front of her, towering over her. His jet¨Cck eyes bore down on her, so intense that Rachel could feel her stomach juices. The scent of hospital disinfectant clung to him,ced with a hint of tobo. Somehow, it didn¡¯t sh at all¨Cif anything, it made her pulse quicken. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t even tell if it was his gaze or his scent that was making her flush. She blinked mechanically, her wordsing out a little tangled. ¡°W¨CWhy are you staring at me? Did I say something wrong? Even if you called the doctor right now, they¡¯d tell you the same thing.¡± Tyler raised an eyebrow. He then brushed two quick kisses against her lips, his voice low and smooth as velvet. ¡°Rachel, if you want to keep looking at me, just say so. You don¡¯t have to use my injury as an excuse.¡± She barely registered his outrageous words. All her focus was on the sudden heat at her lips. Her eyes went wide after a stunned two¨Csecond dy, and she instinctively covered a hand over her mouth. ¡°Tyler, are you crazy? There¡¯s someone here!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Think carefully. If you don¡¯t let me out of this room today, I¡¯ll just keep kissing you in front of him until I¡¯ve made up for every kiss I missed when you weren¡¯t by my side.¡± Before she could react, he leaned in again. Rachel caught Yale in her peripheral vision. He looked just as awkward as she felt. What was wrong with Tyler? How could he act this casually about something so intimate with someone else in the room? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be inexperienced? Years without a single woman around him, and yet he seemedpletely at ease. He didn¡¯t seem clumsy at all. It was quite the opposite. He was moving like a man who had done this before. Rachel, flustered, tried to dodge, but it was toote. Tyler had already pinned her against the headboard and caught her lips. She had no time¨Cor patience¨Cfor this right now. She turned her head to break the kiss, but as if reading her mind, Tyler¡¯s hand slid behind her neck, locking her in ce before she could move. Now she waspletely trapped. His kiss was fierce, almost overwhelming, leaving her momentarily defenseless. She pushed at his chest, but when his eyes narrowed slightly, she saw it¨Cclear, dangerous desire. Her heart skipped a beat. Tyler smiled and leaned close to whisper in her ear. His breath was hot and a little uneven. ¡°Rachel, if you don¡¯t agree, and I lose control, don¡¯t me me.¡± Her Exit 601 When Rachel heard that, her face went pale. She didn¡¯t care about anything else and nodded quickly. ¡°Okay, okay, fine. You can go. But you have to take care of yourself. The second you start feeling unwell, youe straight back to the hospital.¡± Only then did Tyler let it drop. He reached out to pinch her nose. ¡°If you want me to kiss you, just say so. No need to beat around the bush. Honestly, even if you didn¡¯t say a word, I¡¯d still kiss you.¡± Since that wasn¡¯t enough, he even gave her head a gentle pat. That was when Rachel finally understood why Yale had looked at them so strangely earlier. Tyler really did look like he was teasing a dog. Yale ended up sneaking Tyler out of the hospital¨Cwith his current condition, even if Rachel gave permission, the doctors would never sign off on him leaving.
Once Tyler and Yale were gone, Rachel found herself bored alone in the ward. She was just about to lie back and y a mobile game to pass the time when there was another knock at the door. She set her phone down with an irritated sigh. ¡°Come in.¡± Seriously, what was with these past couple of days? People were showing up at the hospital like it was some kind of open house. She didn¡¯t even bother to think who it might be¨Cprobably Thomas or maybe Steven. But when she looked up and saw who it actually was, she froze. They were Yvette and Sasha. Rachel had no interest in putting on a friendly face for anyone, especially not these two, the same people who had once tried to ruin her. Her expression turned cold instantly. ¡°Who told you I was here?¡± Yvette put on a fake smile, holding a fruit basket and a bouquet like the perfect picture of a concerned visitor. ¡°Come on, Rachel, we¡¯re still sisters. The past is the past. Why hold a grudge?¡± She set the basket and flowers on the nightstand. ¡°Besides, before, we had conflicting interests. Things are different now. We can just be sisters¨Cand friends.¡± Rachel let out a short, bitingugh, not bothering to hide her disdain. Her eyes on Yvette were pure contempt. ¡°Yvette, I don¡¯t want to be friends with you. And you? Being friends with me? You really overestimate yourself. I wouldn¡¯t even want you as a friend. Why on earth would I want you as a sister?¡± After spending so much time with Tyler, Rachel¡¯s tongue had gotten sharper. She used to dance around her words, but now, she saw no point. People like Yvette¨Ctwo¨Cfaced, always scheming behind her back- didn¡¯t deserve kindness. Yvette hadn¡¯t expected Rachel to hit back so hard and dropped the act in an instant. She tossed the flowers she had been about to put in a vase onto the floor, crossing her arms with a haughty re. ¡°Rachel, I came here in good faith to make peace, and you act like you¡¯re some big deal. Do you really think you¡¯re still the Lloyd family¡¯s daughter? Still the CEO of Lloyd Enterprise? ¡°I¡¯m sure your littlepdog Cecilia already called to tell you¨Cthis morning¡¯s board meeting voted to remove you as CEO. But don¡¯t worry! I¡¯m notpletely heartless. You¡¯re still a shareholder. You¡¯ll still get your yearly dividends. It won¡¯t be enough to starve you.¡± Yvette said it like she expected Rachel to be crushed. After all, the higher the pedestal, the harder the fall. Her Exit 602 But Yvette¡¯s words had no effect on Rachel at all¨Cshe just let out a scornfulugh. ¡°Yvette, maybe power and money are tempting to you, but to me? I couldn¡¯t care less.¡± Because the truth was, she already had more than enough wealth. Money was secondary¨Cwhat she had in abundance was ambition. Yvette clearly didn¡¯t believe a word of it. She stood there, oozing arrogance, looking at Rachel like she wasn¡¯t even worth the dirt on her shoes. ¡°Alright, Rachel. I know exactly what schemes you¡¯ve got running in that head of yours. No need to put on a show for me. From now on, we will stay out of each other¡¯s way.¡± That was when Sasha stepped forward, her smile polite but her tone dripping with mockery as she turned to Yvette. ¡°Yvette, that¡¯s no way to talk to your sister. You should be grateful to Rachel. If she hadn¡¯t publicly cut ties with the Lloyd family, there¡¯s no way thepany would be back in your hands now. We¡¯re here today to thank her.¡± Then she turned to Rachel, her voice falsely sweet, so sweet it made Rachel¡¯s brows furrow in irritation. ¡°Rachel, we also heard about what Howard did to you. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure Mr. Hunt is deeply devoted to you and won¡¯t hold it against you. Still, men can be possessive. It¡¯s normal for him to have a little hesitation in his heart. Now, you¡¯re standing alone, and you¡¯ve offended the Hunt family. Our family is just a small household. We can¡¯t help you with that. You¡¯ll have to rely on yourself.¡± As if suddenly remembering something, Sasha raised her voice deliberately. ¡°Oh, and one more thing. You should tell Mr. Hunt that the Ziegler family has already started moving against hispany. I hear LS Enterprise¡¯s stock is dropping fast. Some of his partners are even willing to pay the penalty fees just to cancel their contracts with him. Looks like the Ziegler family really does mean to crush him this time.¡± At that, Yvette¡¯s earlier irritation melted away. It was reced with a bright, satisfied smile. ¡°That¡¯s right, Rachel. You should really talk some sense into Mr. Hunt. Tell him not to rush things. If ites down to it, he can always go back and beg the Lewis family. And you, make sure you take care of your health.¡± Rachel, however, didn¡¯t believe a word they had said. ¡°And where exactly did you hear this so¨Ccalled insider news?¡± Yvette tilted her chin up at her, smugness written all over her face. ¡°With something like this, why not check for yourself? What would we gain by lying to you? And besides, if I had to guess, I¡¯d say Mr. Hunt isn¡¯t even in the hospital right now.¡± At those words, Rachel suddenly remembered Yale¡¯s anxious expression earlier and how Tyler had seemed to give him a subtle signal, and only then had Yale calmed himself. No wonder he had been so determined to go to the office. Given Tyler¡¯s current strength, even if something had gone wrong, with the elite team he had at hispany, they should¡¯ve been able to handle it without dragging him¨Cstill recovering in the hospital- back to work. Rachel pursed her lips. She was really getting old. Her mind was growing duller. How had she not realized sooner that something was off? While she was deep in thought, Yvette and Sasha were practically leaning in with a magnifying ss, trying to catch every flicker of expression on her face. The two of them exchanged a triumphant nce. Chapter 603 Her Exit 603 Chapter 603 Yvette didn¡¯t hold back. She continued to provoke Rachel. ¡°Seriously, Rachel. If you had just been willing to marry Howard from the start, none of this would¡¯ve happened. Now you¡¯ve ruined the Ziegler family¡¯s one precious heir, and they might never have kids because of it. You think they¡¯re just going to let that slide? ¡°Mr. Hunt is a stand¨Cup guy, and I¡¯m sure the Ziegler family approached you first. He was just trying to protect you, which is why he shed with them. So now, their only option is to go after him.¡± Sasha added in a sharp, using tone, ¡°Exactly, Rachel! You really have no sense sometimes. How could you put Mr. Hunt in this position?¡± Rachel felt her head spinning from their words. Her re cut through them like shards of ice, freezing the air around them. ¡°Done talking? Good. You can leave now and take your stuff. Trash belongs in the trash can.¡± Sasha shivered and instinctively reached for Yvette¡¯s hand. ¡°Yvette, let¡¯s just go.¡± But Yvette wasn¡¯t backing down. Anger was obvious on her face, and she clenched her jaw. ¡°Rachel, do you really think you¡¯re some big shot now? Back then, you acted so arrogantly! I thought being a Lloyd family heiress would make you untouchable, but one move from me and you¡¯re right back where you started. You didn¡¯t even appreciate the flowers I sent!¡± Rachel pursed her lips. Her voice was ice¨Ccold,pletely different from Yvette¡¯s fiery anger. Her calmness was so intense that just looking at her felt ufortable. ¡°Do I have to ept your flowers, Yvette? Stop acting so high and mighty. You think I¡¯ve forgotten what you did? If you¡¯re daring enough, I can settle this with you right now¨Cno hesitation.¡± Yvette didn¡¯t take Rachel seriously. She nced down at her hands decked in gold and diamonds. Compared to Rachel¡¯s bare hands, she looked like she was dripping in wealth. ¡°Hmph! Rachel, you really think your tired threats scare me?¡± ¡°She can¡¯t do it, but watch me!¡± Suddenly, a voice at the door froze Yvette in ce. Her face went pale, and she didn¡¯t dare turn to see who it was. Rachel, her voice trembling, was the first to speak. ¡°Dad, y¨Cyou¡¯re here? I thought-¡± Not long ago, she had visited Jim in the hospital. The doctors had insisted he couldn¡¯t leave because of his health and the medication he needed. He barely had the strength to move. She never imagined that after just a week, he could actually be out of bed. Sasha froze, gripping her dress. She was too nervous to even look at him. Jim¡¯s gazended on Sasha as he spoke, calm but cutting. ¡°Sasha, it¡¯s been a while. Last time, you didn¡¯t manage to get me, and now you¡¯re back to mess with my daughter. Looks like being Mrs. Lloyd has gotten tiresome for you.¡± Sasha¡¯s face went pale. Her pupils contracted. ¡°Jim, what are you saying? It¡¯s all a misunderstanding!¡± She pointed frantically at the flowers on the floor and the fruit on the counter. ¡°See? We even brought gifts to visit her. We just didn¡¯t expect Rachel to misunderstand us this badly!¡± Her Exit 604 ¡°Do you think I¡¯m oblivious, Sasha? Do you really think I¡¯m too old to see what you¡¯ve been doing behind my back?¡± Jim snapped. Jim was being wheeled into the room by a nurse. On the surface, he looked steady, but Rachel could tell he was pushing himself. He wasn¡¯t fully healed, yet he came just to back her up. Rachel¡¯s heart clenched. She stared at him, emotions swirling. Sasha froze, caught off guard by Jim¡¯s sudden appearance, and stepped forward as if realizing something. ¡°Jim, after all these years together, you can doubt anyone else, but why me?¡± Jim snorted coldly and shot her a hard look. ¡°Sasha, we¡¯re done. Divorce papers have already been sent to your ce. When you see them, if everything checks out, just sign.¡± Sasha¡¯s eyes went wide. Disbelief was written all over her face. ¡°You want a divorce? Are you insane, Jim?! If we split, who¡¯s going to take care of you?¡± Jim¡¯sugh was bitter. ¡°As if you¡¯ve been caring for me while I¡¯ve been in the hospital! No, it¡¯s because I know you too well that I can see who you really are.¡± Sasha took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say! I will never sign the divorce papers.¡± She thought she had the upper hand, but Jim had nned this for a long time. ¡°Fine. If you won¡¯t divorce, that¡¯s your choice. But you won¡¯t touch a single penny of the family fortune. And as for our son? If you can raise him, it¡¯s all on you.¡± Sasha trembled with rage while pointing a finger at him. ¡°Jim, you¡¯repletely out of your mind! You¡¯d throw away your daughter for Rachel, your illegitimate child, and abandon your son? She¡¯ll get married one day! How can you possibly rely on her?¡± Jim¡¯s eyes softened with a tinge of sorrow. Rachel saw the bitter edge at the corners of his mouth. ¡°I can¡¯t even rely on a wife I¡¯ve been with for decades. Who else could I? When Yvette came back, I tried to make up for the past. I let my father push Rachel out of the house, tried to keep family dinners together¡­. but what about Rachel? ¡°And what did I get in the end? Yvette is cold¨Chearted, obsessed with money and power, ignores family, and even plotted against her own father. Does she even deserve our family name?¡± He coughed into his hand, pale and weak. ¡°Dad, please go rest. Don¡¯t push yourself. These things can wait,¡± Rachel said worriedly. Jim raised a hand, determined. ¡°No. I have to finish this.¡± He turned to Yvette, voice icy and unwavering. ¡°Yvette, as of today, you¡¯re demoted to a regr manager. You will never hold an executive position again. The inheritance will be distributed based on your performance, fair and square. Don¡¯t like it? Walk away.¡± Her Exit 605 Yvette¡¯s eyes went wide with disbelief. ¡°Dad, what are you saying? You want me to give up my inheritance? Are you out of your mind? I¡¯m your daughter! And besides, I grew up in the countryside and went through all that hardship. You should be giving me more!¡± She didn¡¯t even need to ask how much Jim had left her. From his words alone, she could tell it wasn¡¯t much. With Sasha now heading for divorce, she wouldn¡¯t get much either. That left nearly everything for Rachel. Jim¡¯s expression darkened with disappointment. ¡°At this point, you¡¯re still so selfish, only thinking about money. Yvette, you¡¯ve had the life you have today because of me. If I hadn¡¯t spoiled you too much, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.¡± Yvette, misreading his words, thought he was feeling guilty. She tried to cover it up with a weak smile.¡± Yeah, Dad, if you hadn¡¯t given me away by mistake, I wouldn¡¯t have grown up so starved for love.¡± Jim¡¯s voice cut through sharply. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Yvette. Since that¡¯s how it is, forget the money. From now on, I will make it clear to everyone that you have no connection to the Lloyd family. In thepany, no one will give you special treatment just because of your family name. Everything from now on followspany rules. Rachel is the one running thepany. I¡¯m in no shape to manage it myself, so this responsibility falls on her.¡± Yvette froze,pletely dumbfounded. ¡°Dad, are you crazy? Are you sick in the head? Why would you do this to me? Are you really cutting me off?!¡± Sasha panicked and grabbed her. ¡°Yvette, your dad¡¯s lost it! He must be out of his mind. We need to get him to a doctor, a psychiatrist, right away!¡± Yvette¡¯s mind had been spinning, but Sasha¡¯s words snapped her back. Her eyes lit up. She forced herself to stay calm because panicking didn¡¯t help with anything. She was still the legitimate Lloyd daughter. Rachel was just an illegitimate child. Besides, she had even said she wanted to cut ties with the Lloyd family herself Yvette squared her shoulders and coughed softly, her voice much steadier than before. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re not feeling well today. Let¡¯s talk about thepany and the inheritance another day. Saying it here won¡¯t make it official¡± With that, she shot Sasha a nce, what the two of them hornedly left The room was left with only Rachel, Jim, and the nurse Jim waved a hand, then coughed violently again. Rachel could see his face had grown paler by the second, and her heart ached ¡°Dad, please go back and rest. You need to stay in the hospital * Jim¡¯s veins bulged on his forehead His face was gaunt, and his cheekbones hollow The dark circles around his eyes were obvious. It was clear that without sheer willpower, he would have copsed already. But he waved it off ¡°No. 1 need to settle this before I leave Rachel, I already gave the will to Larry, the butler. It¡¯s all notarized. There¡¯s no way they can change a thing¡± Her Exit 606 Jim¡¯s hand trembled as he reached out to grasp Rachel¡¯s. His eyes were heavy with quilt. ¡°Rachel, it¡¯s always been me who¡¯s let you down. I was too weak. I thought if I focused on making things right with Yvette for a few years, helped her get bnced, then I could bring you back. But instead, I only made her more spoiled and entitled.¡± Rachel held his hand tightly in return. She knew exactly what was on his mind. ¡°Dad, I know you did it for Yvette, but unfortunately, she may never truly understand your intentions.¡± Rachel understood Jim well. At his core, he was a soft¨Chearted man. If he weren¡¯t, he never would have gone to such lengths topensate Yvette. His goal had always been to make Yvette realize her mistakes and to prevent her from continuing down a misguided path. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Dad, the inheritance you left Yvette should be enough for her to live on, right?¡± A flicker of emotion passed through Jim¡¯s cloudy eyes, and his face twitched slightly. He lowered his head and patted Rachel gently. ¡°Rachel, you really are my daughter. You understand what I¡¯m thinking.¡± Rachel smiled. Because she understood him, she could read the meaning behind all his words. ¡°Dad, whatever you want to say, just say it.¡± Jim paused for a moment. He then said slowly, ¡°Rachel, I know I¡¯ve wronged Yvette, but I¡¯ve wronged you too. I tried to fix one person¡¯s mistakes by making up for another, and in the end, I just ended up hurting both of you.¡± Rachel had resented him at one point, unable toprehend his choices. But over time, she hade to understand and let go. She no longer med him. ¡°Dad, just say what you want to say,¡± Jim exhaled slowly. ¡°Alright, this is what I want to ask. Can you not be too hard on Yvette? Although she¡¯s done you a lot of wrong, she¡¯s still my daughter and your sister. When I¡¯m gone, you don¡¯t have to make her life perfect, but at least don¡¯t let it be unbearable. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°I do, Dad. You mean, at least make sure she doesn¡¯t end up starving.¡± Jim seemed to have mixed emotions. ¡°Yes, I just fear she¡¯ll waste the chances I¡¯ve given her. I don¡¯t want to see things turn out the wrong way for her.¡± This was thest thing Jim wanted to witness. He knew Yvette had dug herself in too deep. No amount of gentle words would fix her now. Rachel gave him a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. I¡¯ll honor that request.¡± To put it bluntly, all Jim wanted was to spare Yvette¡¯s life and nothing more. Finally, he let go of Rachel¡¯s hand. ¡°Thank you, Rachel. There¡¯s one more thing I need from you.¡± Jim pulled a folder from behind him and handed it to her. ¡°Sign this.¡± At first, Rachel didn¡¯t think much of it. She assumed it was just another routine document. She picked up the pen and was about to sign when her eyes caught a few lines on the page. Her pupils contracted as she stared at Jim in shock. ¡°Dad, you¡­¡± Chapter 607 Her Exit 607 Chapter 607 Jim¡¯s face was calm. ¡°Yes, Rachel. I¡¯m handing thepany over to you. From now on, you¡¯re the rightful heir.¡± Rachel froze. She had never imagined Jim would entrust the entirepany to her. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t really want to take over thepany,¡± she admitted. Jim sighed, understanding her hesitation. ¡°I get it. In the past, the Lloyd family treated you unfairly. I know why you¡¯d want nothing to do with thepany. But this business isn¡¯t just mine. Your mother poured her heart into it, too. Can you do it for her sake?¡± His voice trembled. He was on the verge of breaking into tears. Rachel softened. She knew Lloyd Enterprise had been built by her parents from scratch. Although the Lloyd family had other businesses in the past, they had all gone bankrupt during an economic crisis. Thispany was truly her parents¡® creation, not just another branch of the Lloyd family empire. Even if Rachel walked away now, she couldn¡¯t let Yvette inherit what her parents had worked so hard to build. Rachel took a deep breath, picked up the pen, and signed her name. Jim broke down in tears. ¡°Rachel, thank you. You¡¯ve fulfilled your old man¡¯s final wish.¡± Seeing how frail Jim had be, Rachel realized even this short conversation had taken a lot out of him. She steadied his trembling body and went to call a nurse. ¡°Please help me get my dad back to his ward.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Meanwhile, Yvette and Sasha got into the car. Sasha couldn¡¯t help but vent. ¡°Yvette, your dad¡¯s gonepletely crazy, hasn¡¯t he? He¡¯s getting older and more confused, wanting to divorce me now!¡± Yvette gave Sasha a cold look. She didn¡¯t trust Sasha at all. This so¨Ccalled stepmother always appeared sweet, but her heart was full of schemes. When Yvette first joined the Lloyd family, she hadn¡¯t fully understood Sasha. Over time, it became clear that Sasha¡¯s kindness was only a mask. Five years ago, she had even tried to manipte Yvette into going after Rachel¡¯s life. Yvette had taken the hit, while Sasha washed her hands of it entirely. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Yvette still needed Sasha¡¯s help, she would have cut ties long ago. ¡°Mom, you know very well what you did. What else do you expect me to say?¡± Sasha¡¯s smile faltered. She quickly adjusted, forcing a calm expression. ¡°Yvette, what¡¯s going on? We¡¯re on the same team here. If we work together, all of your dad¡¯s assets could end up in your hands.¡± Yvetteughed bitterly. ¡°Oh, now you¡¯re worried about my inheritance? Funny. I remember you wanted most of it for yourself and your son. I didn¡¯t get a single thing.¡± She cursed herself for ever believing Sasha¡¯s lies. Sasha, seething inside, forced herself to keep smiling. ¡°Yvette, I was joking! You can¡¯t handle Rachel on your own. You¡¯d be better off working with me.¡± Yvette wasn¡¯t fooled this time. ¡°Sure. If you want me to team up, fine, but this time, you handle things yourself. Find whoever you want, and do whatever you want. Don¡¯t try to use me like a stepping stone again, like you did five years ago.¡± Sasha clenched her jaw. Yvette was suddenly so smart and so different from before, but Sasha had no choice. If Jim really went through with the divorce, she wouldn¡¯t just lose most of the inheritance. That old fool would probably leave her and her son just enough to get by. Her Exit 608 It was a critical moment. There was no time left for hesitation. After a brief thought, Sasha agreed without further dy. ¡°Fine.¡± Yvette leaned in, reminding her, ¡°Remember, this n was your idea, not mine.¡± Sasha silently cursed Yvette a hundred times in her head, but forced a smile. ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s my idea. Happy now?¡± Yvette pulled up a phone number and handed it to Sasha. ¡°I used to have insomnia, and this doctor was good. You should consult him. For someone like my dad, you¡¯ll get proper guidance. I¡¯m sure he can give you solid advice.¡± Sasha was smart. She caught the hint immediately and quietly memorized the number. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got this.¡± By ten that night, Rachel still hadn¡¯t heard from Tyler. The doctors had alreadye in multiple times to change his dressings, and she couldn¡¯t tell them he had slipped out of the hospital. Instead, she lied, saying he was in the bathroom¨Cor maybe caught up withpany matters he couldn¡¯t ignore. Honestly, she only half¨Cbelieved Yvette and Sasha¡¯s warnings. Still, unease gnawed at her. Rachel grabbed her phone and called Tyler twice, but there was no answer. Panicking, she tried Yale, but he didn¡¯t pick up either. She decided not to waste time on them and called Jerry instead. ¡°Check for me, what exactly has Steven done to LS Enterprise? What¡¯s going on with Tyler¡¯spany right now?¡± Jerry had never questioned Rachel¡¯s orders and responded immediately. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll check it out.¡± Ten minutester, he called back. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯ve got the details. It¡¯s pretty much what you heard, but the situation may be worse. The partners have already paid penalties, which means Tyler¡¯s side is now liable for repayment. If you calcte it out, even if Tyler goes bankrupt, he might not be able to cover it all Everyone in the LS building is working overtime right now¨Cprobably trying to settle thepensation¡± Rachel¡¯s heart clenched. She hadn¡¯t expected it to get this bad. Steven had clearly thrown caution to the wind for Howard,pletely disregarding the Lewis family¡¯s reputation. But in a way, it made sense. In Yurelia City, Tyler¡¯spany dominated the market. The next closestpetitor was Lewis Enterprise, then the Ziegler family¡¯s holdings. Take LS Enterprise out of the picture, and their only realpetitor would be Lewis Enterprise. Considering William¡¯s current ipetence, she had to admit Steven¡¯s n was dangerously smart. Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed. She made a decisive call. ¡°Jerry, calcte all my avable assets. I need to know exactly what I have.¡± Jerry was stunned. He immediately realized her n. ¡°Rachel, you don¡¯t mean you¡¯re nning to cover Tyler¡¯s losses with your own money, do you? Weren¡¯t you going to invest your funds in that other project? The n¡¯s all ready. If you do this, it could fall apart!¡± Jerry was more than grateful to Rachel for saving his life back then. He had been by Rachel¡¯s side for years and had always admired her skill. He knew she was capable of almost anything. However, Rachel had already made up her mind. ¡°That can wait. Originally, I wanted Tyler to invest in my project. If hispany contributed, we could move forward. If he goes under, even with my assets, I won¡¯t be able to find partners.¡± Her Exit 609 Jerry hesitated for a moment. Then, he said carefully, ¡°Rachel, it hasn¡¯t been easy for you to get this far. Maybe you should think twice. Starting over isn¡¯t easy.¡± Jerry hadn¡¯t been by her side every day, but he knew her well. He knew the struggles behind her polished exterior, the years of hardship and sacrifices she had endured to get where she was. For everyone else, it looked effortless, but Jerry knew how much she had poured into her sess. Now, with just one decision, all that effort could be at risk. But Rachel¡¯s resolve was firm. ¡°No. Do it the way I said. Calcte everything, then send it to my phone.¡± Jerry sighed, realizing further persuasion would be pointless. ¡°Got it.¡± He hung up. Rachel immediately called Cecilia. ¡°When are youing?¡± Rachel asked. ¡°I¡¯m on my way. Give me a minute.¡± ¡°Good. Ande with me somewhere.¡± By the time Cecilia caught on, they were already standing outside the Ziegler family estate. Cecilia shook her head in disbelief and nced at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, why are we here? What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°The Ziegler family has already made a move. I also understand why Steven is targeting Tyler.¡± Steven tried to force Tyler to hand Rachel over, but Tyler refused. That was Steven¡¯s opening move. Before Cecilia could protest, Rachel took a step forward. ¡°Rachel! Stop! You¡¯re walking straight into a trap! These people would love nothing more than to tear you apart. If it were anyone else, they¡¯d already be gone. You can¡¯t just walk in there!¡± Rachel gently tugged at Cecilia¡¯s hand while shaking her head. ¡°Cecilia, this isn¡¯t something you can handle. I have to talk to Steven myself.¡± Cecilia grabbed her arm again, reluctant to let go. ¡°I know I can¡¯t stop you, but at least let mee with you.¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°Cecilia¡­¡± Cecilia cleared her throat, a bit embarrassed by the emotional moment. ¡°Alright, alright. Usually, you tell me not to get all sentimental, and now here we are. Let¡¯s go.¡± Inside, Rachel finally came face¨Cto¨Cface with Steven. He held a cup of coffee, radiating authority and cold control¨Cmore imposing even than Thomas. But it made sense. If Steven didn¡¯tmand that kind of presence, how could he intimidate someone like Howard? His sharp gaze was fixed on Rachel, calm but intimidating. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you toe here yourself.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. The Ziegler family had already cornered Tyler. There was no point in ying games. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I didn¡¯te here to let you do whatever you want with me.¡± Steven paused mid¨Csip, a hint of a smirk forming. ¡°Oh? So you didn¡¯te to let me handle you however I see fit. Did youe to negotiate terms instead?¡± Rachel recognized the subtle mockery in his tone. He was confident. Tyler still hadn¡¯t returned, which meant he already had the upper hand. Rachel shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not here to negotiate, either.¡± Steven¡¯s interest visibly piqued. ¡°Then what are you here for?¡± Rachel¡¯s expression remained calm. She sounded almost casual, but what she said next caught even Cec¨ªliapletely off guard. Her Exit 610 Rachel aired it all out. ¡°From this moment on, if you want to do anything to Tyler, go ahead. We¡¯ll take whatever you throw at us. But¡­ Think carefully. If the Ziegler family¡¯s century¨Cold legacy is destroyed over something this petty, isn¡¯t that a little shortsighted?¡± It wasn¡¯t just confidence. It was a direct provocation. Steven actually froze for a beat. Cecilia, who had assumed Rachel came here with some wless n to negotiate, was stunned. She tugged gently at Rachel¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Rachel, do you even realize what you¡¯re saying?¡± Rachel met her gaze, eyes steady. ¡°I know exactly what I¡¯m doing, and exactly what I¡¯m saying. You don¡¯t need to be so shocked.¡± ¡°Impressive. The Lloyd family must be proud to have a daughter like you. I¡¯ll admit¨CI¡¯ve never met someone quite like you.¡± For a man of his age, he had seen plenty of bold people, but none who dared to openly challenge him to his face. ¡°But let me be very clear. It won¡¯t work. You think throwing out a few tough words will make me back off Tyler? I told him from the start¨Chand you over to me, and I¡¯d wipe the te clean. But he refused. He¡¯d rather lose everything than give you up.¡± Rachel straightened her back, unshaken. ¡°I¡¯ve said what I needed to say, and I¡¯m not changing my stance. But tell me, do you really think it¡¯s wise to keep enabling Howard like this?¡± His eyes suddenly turned razor¨Csharp. ¡°What exactly are you implying, Ms. Lloyd?¡± ¡°Howard¡¯s beenwless since he was a child. Everyone in Yurelia City fears him. And why wouldn¡¯t they? With you shielding him, he¡¯s had free rein to do whatever he pleases. If you¡¯d put a stop to it earlier, he wouldn¡¯t be so out of control now¨Cso out of control that he dares tomit kidnapping and assault.¡± Her words came rapid¨Cfire, each one hitting like a blow. Steven¡¯s expression darkened with every sentence. His breath caught for a second in anger. ¡°Rachel, you think you have the right to lecture me about Howard? How I raise him is none of your business! Don¡¯t think that just because you speak so boldly, you can escape punishment. We already have the medical report. Tyler¡¯s in no position to protect you.¡± Rachel snorted. Truth be told, she was furious. One person¡¯s actions should be theirs to bear. There was no need to drag Tyler down with her. ¡°Let me ask you. Between kidnapping and assault, and my self¨Cdefense, which crime weighs heavier? Or have you conveniently forgotten Howard¡¯s crimes? Do you think bribing Sheryn to alter her testimony means you can cover the truth forever?¡± She didn¡¯t care how ugly Steven¡¯s expression became. In her mind, his way of protecting Howard had ruined not just Howard¡¯s life, but hers as well. When she was done, Rachel turned to Cecilia without waiting for a reply. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cecilia was still in shock, only snapping back to reality when Rachel called her name. She quickly stepped up to steady Rachel, and they started toward the door. Just then, they heard a maid¡¯s sharp cry from behind them. ¡°Sir! Sir!¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 611 Rachel rushed to the hospital, where Mr. Ziegler had already been sent. One of the servants looked usingly at Rachel. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I¡¯m just a servant and shouldn¡¯t butt into the affairs of you bigshots, but Mr. Ziegler¡¯s health isn¡¯t in good condition. He has a bad heart and can¡¯t get agitated. He was already angered by Mr. Howard a couple of days ago. ¡°And here you are, knocking on our door and provoking him. You wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the consequences if anything happened to him!¡± A look of guilt shed past Rachel¡¯s eyes. She admitted that she had been a little too direct with her words. She had beenshing out at Mr. Ziegler. However, she hadn¡¯t actually said anything wrong. Cecilia, indignant, spoke up for Rachel. ¡°You¡¯re right. Mr. Ziegler has a heart condition and can¡¯t be provoked. Does that mean we deserve to be provoked? He knows about all the wicked things Howard has been up to, yet never made a move to stop him. Instead, he keeps condoning his actions. ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need us highlighting how many times Mr. Ziegler has had to clean up Howard¡¯s mess. I¡¯m sure he knows better than any of us the filthy things Howard has done!¡± The servant didn¡¯t expect Rachel¡¯s friend, who had been standing at the side silently, to be even more sharp¨Ctongued than her. ¡°You¡­you two are being absolutely unreasonable!¡± Just then, Howard was pushed out of his ward in a wheelchair. The ambnce Rachel called for coincidentally sent Mr. Ziegler to the same hospital Howard was in. Howard asked anxiously, ¡°Mrs. Selvig, how¡¯s my father?¡± ¡°He got agitated, and his heart acted up again. He¡¯s being resuscitated in the emergency room right now.¡± Howard threw out another question, oblivious to Rachel and Cecilia, who were standing a short distance away, ¡°How did he get agitated? Is it because of me?¡± ¡°Not really. It was because of¡­¡± Mrs. Selvig threw a nce in Rachel¡¯s direction. When Howard saw Rachel, realization dawned upon him. He wheeled himself toward Rachel, a ferocious look on his face as he grabbed her wrist. ¡°Rachel, how dare you provoke my father! Are you tired of living?¡± Rachel thought Howard would break her wrist, the pain from his forceful grip furrowing her brows.¡± Howard¡­ Let me go.¡± ¡°Let you go? How will you pay for what you did to my father?¡± Howard looked as though he was about to swallow her whole. Rachel¡¯s build was certainly no match for Howard¡¯s vice¨Clike grip. Cecilia rushed forward to help Rachel despite her fears. ¡°Let her go! You can¡¯tpletely me Rachel for this. If your father hadn¡¯t verbally attacked her indiscriminately and been so unreasonable, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out this way!¡± Her words sessfully got Howard¡¯s attention. He released Rachel and shoved Cecilia so hard, she stumbled backwards and almost lost her bnce. Thankfully, Rachel was there to hold her steady. Howard sneered in disdain. ¡°Who do you think you are? Are you even fit to talk to me?¡± Rachel was furious, and it showed clearly on her face. The usual calmposure in her eyes was reced by an incisive glint that shed past. She red at Howard. ¡°She¡¯s a human like you are. What makes you all that different from her? And why can¡¯t another human talk to you, a fellow human? Or do you actually think of yourself as an animal? In that case, maybe it is pointless for a human to try talking to you,¡± Rachel spat mockingly. Cecilia saw veins popping in Howard¡¯s forehead, his lips pursed tight together like a volcano on the verge of eruption. Her Exit 612 She tugged at Rachel¡¯s shirt, slightly worried. ¡°Rachel, let¡¯s not talk to him so much.¡± Rachel patted the back of Cecilia¡¯s hand, reassuring her. She took Cecilia¡¯s advice and ignored Howard. Provoking him wasn¡¯t a wise thing to do, seeing how he was capable of anything. Howard, on the other hand, refused to simply let it go. He looked smugly at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t get too full of yourself. I heard that Tyler¡¯s trying to get his hands on the most poprwyer in Yurelia City, who¡¯s never lost awsuit in his entire career. I hate to break it to you, but my father beat him to it. Be prepared to lose thewsuit! Don¡¯t even think about begging me. I¡¯ve lost all interest in you.¡± To that, Rachel arched a brow disdainfully at him. Howard sputtered, ¡°Even if you stand naked in front of me, I wouldn¡¯t want to touch you!¡± Rachel told herself that it was pointless trying to talk sense into Howard, given the current situation. However, she couldn¡¯t stand how arrogant that bastard was. His pride and arrogance would be unbridled if left unchecked. Rachel finally couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. ¡°Howard,¡± she sneered mockingly, ¡°do you still think you¡¯re a normal man, like you were before? I can¡¯t believe you were fantasizing about me being naked. It doesn¡¯t matter who¡¯s standing naked before you- I¡¯m afraid you wouldn¡¯t be able to get it up, no matter how hard you try.¡± ¡°Rachel!¡± Howard roared, his eyes wide and menacing. ¡°Would I have be like this if it weren¡¯t for you? I¡¯m telling you¨Cif I really be impotent, you¡¯reing down with me! You¡¯ll be my ve for the rest of your life! I¡¯ll torture you till the day you die!¡± Howard¡¯s bold im made Rachel¡¯s heart clench with fear. She was gripped by fear at the crazed look in Howard¡¯s eyes. Others might feign insanity, but Howard was different. He might have really lost his mind! She didn¡¯t doubt one bit that Howard was capable of doing what he imed. Anything perverted and twisted was probably no big deal in his books. ¡°Who are you trying to torture?¡± In the middle of Howard¡¯s audacious disy of arrogance, a low voice sounded from behind them. Rachel¡¯s heart fell with a thud as she looked in disbelief in the direction of the voice. A man stood a short distance away, dressed casually in a in T¨Cshirt. He was leaning on a cane, his face still wounded but handsome as usual. The overall look shaved the edge off his usual aggressive demeanor and made him feel a tad vulnerable. However, his deep, dark eyes remained sharp and incisive as usual. It was hard looking straight into them. Howard smiled wickedly at the sight of Tyler. ¡°Tyler, why do you keep haunting me? You¡¯re bent on protecting this woman, aren¡¯t you?¡± Tyler cast Howard a cold, demeaning gaze as he asked, ¡°What else should I be doing? Protecting you instead of my own girlfriend?¡± Howard¡¯s face flushed red with anger at Tyler¡¯s words. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°Tyler, you still think you¡¯re all that even at death¡¯s door!¡± Tyler always seeded in upsetting his opponents and never allowed himself to get upset in a fight. He flicked a lock of hair away from his eyes, his tone piercing. ¡°Of course, I do think I¡¯m all that. I don¡¯t know about you, though. I¡¯d advise you to do more good deeds. For all you know, the heavens might give you a second chance if you¡¯re repentant enough.¡± ¡°Damn you!¡± Her Exit 613 Chapter 613 Howard spat on the ground as he cursed. Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed. Indeed, only Tyler could deal with someone as shameless as Howard. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t know what to do with that bastard. Tyler looked as though he didn¡¯t hear Howard properly. He took a step closer to him, pulling his ear, his handsome face unreadable. ¡°What did you say? I didn¡¯t quite catch you.¡± Howard gritted his teeth and repeated himself, ¡°Damn you!¡± ¡°Good boy,¡± Tyler said with a smirk, his eyes as deep as the ocean in the night, filled with dangerous uncertainties. That was when Howard btedly realized that he had been fooled by Tyle. Furious, he snarled, ¡°Tyler, you bastard¡­¡± Tyler lookedzily at Howard, his joking tone betraying no sign of anger. From Rachel¡¯s perspective, Howard looked just like a mouse being toyed with in Tyler¡¯s hands. Even Yale and the nurses behind Howard couldn¡¯t hold back theirughter. ¡°What are you guysughing at? I¡¯ll kill whoever daresugh one more time!¡± Howard burst out. Tyler draped an arm across Rachel¡¯s shoulders, a doting look on his face as he looked at her. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, you¡¯re a bad girl. I told you I¡¯d be back once I was done with work. How did you manage to drive Mr. Ziegler to the hospital while I was away?¡± Tyler¡¯s words made it sound like he was guilty, but Rachel could only see glee in his yful eyes. Even she could tell, not to mention Howard. Howard could barely suppress the anger bursting forth from within and screamed at Tyler, ¡°Tyler, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson today!¡± He made a move to stand up to beat Tyler up, but the moment he tried to get to his feet, a sharp pain from his groin shot through his body. He yelped in pain and sat back down dejectedly. Tyler raised a hand and advised him, ¡°Howard, quit putting up a strong front. Your current situation is rather precarious, what with your father under emergency treatment right now. If anything were to happen to you, do you think your father will have the will to live on?¡± Howard was enraged by Tyler¡¯s words, the veins popping on his forehead. The murderous look in Howard¡¯s eyes told Rachel that if it weren¡¯t for his inability to stand right now, he would surely pick a fight with Tyler. At the next second, Howard calmed down as a thought came to mind. He knew he was no match for Tyler right now, as much as he wanted to beat him up. Tyler had always had a knack for saying things to provoke him and never failed to rile him up. Howard wished he could kill the man, but Tyler would act as though nothing had happened and walk away nonchntly. The anger on Howard¡¯s face slowly subsided. ¡°Tyler, quit being so arrogant before me. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m oblivious about what¡¯s happening to yourpany right now. It¡¯s in such a dire predicament, you¡¯ll be begging on the streets in a matter of days!¡± Hearing Howard¡¯s taunt, mixed feelings filled Rachel¡¯s heart. Steven Ziegler had indeed gone to great lengths to bring Tyler down. Even Howard, a second¨Cgeneration heir, knew about it. Tyler stuck a hand in his pocket, looking even more arrogant than he usually did¨Cnothing like a man on the verge of bankruptcy. With a stubborn tilt of his chin, he retorted, ¡°Rest assured, Howard. Even if I really ended up begging on the streets, I would never beg you.¡± Howard scoffed and said haughtily, ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure of yourself. If you really ended up broke and starving, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll show you mercy and give you some food.¡± Tyler tightened his hold over Rachel¡¯s waist, his brows arched. He said yfully, ¡°So what? Rachel still doesn¡¯t like you. She¡¯d rather have me bankrupt than you impotent.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Howard was about to talk back when the light above the doors of the emergency room went off. The doctor strode out of the room. ¡°Which of you is his family?¡± Her Exit 614 Howard raised his hand, making the nurse behind him take a few steps back. ¡°Doctor, I¡¯m his family. How is the patient?¡± ¡°He¡¯s out of danger for now, but he¡¯s advanced in years. His family should take note not to agitate him.¡± Howard¡¯s gazended on Rachel; he gnashed his teeth, as though wishing he could tear her to pieces.¡± Rachel, hear that? The doctor said that my father is advanced in years and can¡¯t be agitated!¡± Rachel pursed her lips and muttered, ¡°I was just speaking the truth. How was I agitating him?¡± Her few words of truth were nothingpared to Steven¡¯s indiscriminate rebuking and venting of his anger on Tyler. Howard¡¯s body shook with anger as he pointed a trembling finger at Rachel and Tyler. ¡°You two are in this together! Just you wait. We¡¯ll see who¡¯s the ultimate victor!¡± The doctor yelled at Howard, ¡°What¡¯s with the ruckus? Your family is still under emergency treatment! How could you start a fight right outside the operating theatre? As for those who are unrted to the patient, please leave.¡± The doctor made himself very clear. Tyler was very polite to the doctor as he asked him about Steven¡¯s condition. ¡°Doctor, do you mean to say that the patient¡¯s condition has stabilized and he¡¯s generally fine?¡± The doctor nodded. ¡°That¡¯s about right. However, Mr. Ziegler¡¯s health isn¡¯t in great condition in the first ce, and that¡¯s something that his family has to pay careful attention to. Also, we found out during the surgery that he has lung cancer.¡± Howard was stunned by the doctor¡¯s announcement. ¡°What¡­what did you say? He has lung cancer?¡± Howard gripped the cor of the doctor¡¯s coat tight as he shook his head in disbelief. The doctor looked down and said solemnly, ¡°You¡¯ll find it stated clearly in his medical reports. He went through some tests at the hospital before. You might not know this, but he found out a few months ago.¡± Howard swallowed past his constricted throat, staring at the doctor with a look of desperation. ¡°Can he be cured of it?¡± He wanted to ask if the cancer was in its terminal stages, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say those words. The doctor pondered for a moment before answering him, ¡°It¡¯s in the mid tote stages.¡± ¡°He can still be cured of it, right?¡± Howard¡¯s voice was trembling; he felt as though his world was crashing down on him. He had never needed to worry about anything regarding his family, having enjoyed afortable life since his birth. No matter how big a mess he caused, his father was always there to back him up. Howard knew that his father was advanced in years, but the man was considered fit for his age. What¡¯s more, he went for regr checkups at found nothing. How could he possibly be sick? The thing Howard feared the most was the notion of living on after his father passed on, leaving him behind. Who would clean up his mess then? The doctor didn¡¯t dare to make too dire a pronouncement and said vaguely, ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure that it can be cured, given his age. It¡¯ll depend on whether his body can tolerate chemotherapy sessions. If Mr. Ziegler were a decade younger, I¡¯d dare guarantee that he could be treated.¡± ¡°Damn your nonsense! If he were a decade younger, would he even have cancer?¡± Howard¡¯s temper red up again as he blew up at the doctor. The doctor looked upset, but didn¡¯t dare to say anything to offend someone as important as one of the Zieglers. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll do our best.¡± Just then, a nurse walked over. ¡°Dr. Ward, should the patient be transferred to a normal ward or an ICU ward?¡± ¡°ICU ward. Keep him under observation for a night. If everything goes well, transfer him to a normal ward tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes, doctor.¡± The doctor pried Howard¡¯s hands away from his cor. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best, so don¡¯t worry,¡± he repeated. Howard¡¯s hands were left hanging in mid¨Cair as he stared after the doctor¡¯s retreating figure, still in a daze. Her Exit 615 Rachel and Tyler exchanged gazes, clearly not expecting the turn of events. After they left the hospital, a thought came to Rachel¡¯s mind. ¡°No wonder Mr. Ziegler went to such great lengths to bankrupt yourpany. He was trying to pave the way for Howard.¡± Tyler chuckled at Rachel¡¯s conjecture. ¡°He¡¯s still deceiving himself. Doesn¡¯t he know best how capable Howard is? Even if he bankrupts mypany and lets Howard manage their family business, that ck sheep of the family would blow his entire family fortune in no time.¡± Rachel agreed. ¡°Yeah. The Zieglers¡® future was doomed the moment he blindly condoned Howard¡¯s actions.¡± A sense of pity washed over Tyler at the thought of Steven¡¯s illness. Steven¡¯s ability at work in his younger days was clear for all to see. People of that generation earned every cent through hard work and grit, unlike youngsters nowadays, who had to depend on their family for funds to start a business. At the same time, Tyler respected the fact that everyone was born into their destiny. As Tyler pulled the car door open and tried to step in, Rachel hurriedly came to his aid. His leg injury made it difficult for him to enter the car. Tyler stopped what he was doing and turned around to look deep into her eyes. He said teasingly, ¡°Are you that worried about me, knowing that I¡¯m on the verge of bankruptcy?¡± At the gleeful look on his face, Rachel couldn¡¯t help but smack his chest. ¡°How could you be joking around at a time like this? Aren¡¯t you scared of being bankrupt?¡± Tyler¡¯s chest shook withughter. ¡°I¡¯ll still be able to feed you even if I be bankrupt. Didn¡¯t you say so yourself? I can be a model with my figure. I could totally act as a domineering CEO. If that doesn¡¯t work out, I think my hands look good enough for me to be a hand model.¡± Rachel chuckled and scoffed, ¡°Seems like you really won¡¯t die of hunger, then.¡± Given Tyler¡¯s caliber, she believed that he could shine no matter the domain of his choice. Tyler pulled Rachel into the car with him. ¡°So, rest assured. Even if I go bankrupt, I won¡¯t let you or Ray go hungry. There¡¯s really no need for you to panic, okay?¡± With that, he rubbed Rachel¡¯s head out of habit. Rachel instinctively tried to avoid it; she couldn¡¯t help but correct this bad habit of his. ¡°Why are you doing that again? I keep feeling like you¡¯re petting a dog whenever you do that to me. Even Yale feels the same way, and it¡¯s really awkward. It¡¯s fine if you do it with just us, but please control yourself when others are around.¡± Tyler toyed with a lock of Rachel¡¯s hair that came loose and hung at her shoulder. Amused, he said, ¡± Already exercising your rights as Ms. Hunt even before getting married?¡± The title of Mrs. Hunt was a distant notion to Rachel. She had never thought of being together forever with Tyler. She looked away, avoiding that invasive gaze boring through her soul. ¡°Tyler, can you stop joking about that?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s joking around here? Have you had one too many boyfriends who liked to y you for a fool, or did one of them break a promise or something?¡± Tyler folded his arms across his chest, his brows arched, the corner of his lips crooked upward in a smile. Rachel shook her head. ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then why are you so agitated? Are you worried that I¡¯ll really marry you, or that I won¡¯t?¡± Rachel continued denying it. ¡°I never even considered this possibility.¡± She immediately changed the subject, worried that Tyler might keep dwelling on this topic. ¡°Anyway, what exactly is happening to yourpany? Can it be saved?¡± Her Exit 616 Chapter 616 At the mention of hispany, Tyler¡¯s eyes turned solemn. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. I have my ways.¡± Rachel knew from Tyler¡¯s tone that Steven had really gone all out this time. She didn¡¯t pursue the matter with Tyler. She knew how prideful he was, especially with Yale around. Xavier soon found them after they returned to the hospital. ¡°I rushed over the moment I heard the news! What¡¯s with the two of you, doing a disappearing act?¡± Tyler gave him a half¨Csmile. ¡°We had something to attend to.¡± Xavier gave Tyler a knowing look as he surveyed him from head to toe. ¡°Something to attend to? Tell me, what are you capable of doing in your current state?¡± Xavier had the knack of nagging endlessly when he was in the mood. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that you left the hospital while injured. Why did you take her with you, too? How is the hospital going to bear the consequences if anything happens to you both?¡± Tyler looked unsympathetically at Xavier. ¡°You¡¯re getting naggier with age, just like myte grandmother.¡± Tyler found his grandmother naggy¨Cshe was still naggy even at her deathbed. Her words still rang in his mind, as though he had just heard them yesterday. Instead of replying to Xavier¡¯s question, Tyler looked expressionlessly at him with an impatient gaze. The air between them turned awkward. Tyler refused to give him a response despite Xavier¡¯s nagging. Xavier naturally could understand that, given Tyler¡¯s temperament. However, what made him even angrier was that Tyler didn¡¯t even bother to deign him a look. Tyler simply ignored him. Xavier pursed his lips, his face dark with displeasure. He opened his mouth to speak again. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Dr. Jenkins, umm¡­ Mr. Hunt had work to do. Something urgent cropped up at work, and he had to attend to it in person.¡± Rachel took the initiative to exin the situation before Xavier blew up, which helped to ease the tension between the two men. 1/2 Xavier and Tyler were close enough to do away with pleasantries, but Xavier was naturally more polite to Rachel. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I can understand if Tyler has things to do and ces to go while hospitalized. He¡¯s used to being independent and doing whatever he pleases. He takes everyone else¡¯s advice as hot air. As for you, I¡¯ve consulted your attending doctor. Although you didn¡¯t bear any external injuries, you suffered a major shock. Don¡¯t underestimate such trauma. You require rest and recuperation.¡± Rachel knew that Xavier had good intentions. Although he was a tad too naggy, it was out of concern for them. She nodded and said, ¡°I know, Dr. Jenkins. We really shouldn¡¯t have snuck out of the hospital this time. We won¡¯t do it again.¡± Rachel¡¯s meek and submissive demeanor made Xavier feel much better. He tilted his chin in Tyler¡¯s direction. ¡°See that, Tyler? That¡¯s how you talk to people¨Cunlike you, looking at others down your nose.¡± Tyler stared at him nonchntly. ¡°That¡¯s because she¡¯s more courteous and patient than I am. And why should I talk so nicely to another man like you? What if my girlfriend misunderstands?¡± Xavier almost rolled his eyes. Rachel tugged at the hem of Tyler¡¯s shirt, feeling extremely awkward. ¡°Tyler, quit your nonsense!¡± Tyler stretched his arms, looking helpless. ¡°I really can¡¯t get it through to you two. You¡¯re not on the same level as I am. Go back and train yourselves beforeing back to me again.¡± With that, he tilted his chin up haughtily and limped back into his ward. Her Exit 617 Rachel¡¯s eyelids twitched as she looked apologetically at Xavier. ¡°Dr. Jenkins, you know how he is¨Cmore bark than bite. Don¡¯t count it against him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t. That rascal was worse when he was younger. Come to think of it, if the Lewises could show him more love, he wouldn¡¯t have turned out this way.¡°. ¡°I know about that. It¡¯s his subconscious defence mechanism. It¡¯s be a habit over the years,¡± Rachel said knowingly. His harsh words were, in fact, a guard he put up to protect himself. Rachel¡¯s eyes dimmed as he nced at Tyler in his ward. He always looked so imprable, but in actual fact, his heart was riddled with wounds and past hurt. Having been by Tyler¡¯s side every day during this period, she realized how vulnerable he could be, especially at night. Gradually, she could understand the reason behind his sleep disorder. He would often wake with a start at the tiniest sound or movement, and was frequently haunted by strange dreams. Rachel often heard him yelling in his dreams. ¡°Don¡¯t lock me up, don¡¯t lock me up! I¡¯m begging you, I¡¯ll be good next time!¡± He would always say something simr. She said to Xavier, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dr. Jenkins. He sleeps much better nowadays. Doesn¡¯t it show on his face?¡± Xavier nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. He¡¯s injured right now, but he¡¯s clearly in much better spirits than before.¡± He looked more like a human now. Rachel asked, ¡°Dr. Jenkins, is my father not doing very well recently?¡± Although Jim was able to talk and walk, she knew about the notion of terminal lucidity, which urred to people right before they passed away. That was what she was most worried about. Xavier sighed. Rachel knew her guess was right even before he spoke. Jim didn¡¯t have many days left. Rachel took a deep breath; she wrung her hands tight, bracing herself before following up with another question. ¡°Dr. Jenkins, can you give me a rough estimation? How much more time does my father have?¡± Xavier had been paying attention to Jim¡¯s condition all along, ensuring that he received the best doctor, equipment, and medication. However, Jim¡¯s health was in a very poor condition. He was looking for an opportunity to break it to Rachel, but couldn¡¯t find the right time. He pondered for a moment before saying with a heavy heart, ¡°Since you¡¯ve asked me, I won¡¯t hide it from you. Your dad¡­ has one month left, tops. That is, provided he doesn¡¯t get agitated. If that happens, he could go anytime.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened; her heart clenched, as though someone was squeezing it so hard that she could barely breathe. That meant there was no longer a point for him to continue staying in the hospital. Rachel made up her mind. ¡°Dr. Jenkins, can I discuss this with my father¡¯s attending doctor? I think there¡¯s no point in making him stay in the hospital, given his condition. However, can you prescribe him painkillers so he won¡¯t be in pain and feel better?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 618 Chapter 618 ¡°Yes, family has the right to decide whether a patient should continue with a treatment. From a doctor¡¯s perspective, I think there¡¯s no need to keep him in the hospital and make him go through this torture when things havee to this point. Stay with him during his final days,¡± Xavier said. ¡°Okay.¡± After Xavier left, Rachel returned to her ward. Tyler could tell at a nce that something was troubling her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Something on your mind?¡± Rachel was lost in her thoughts, but she quickly recovered. She shook her head, pretending that everything was fine. ¡°Nothing. Dr. Jenkins updated me about my father just now, and I¡¯m nning to bring him home.¡± Rachel was wondering about a more suitable ce for Jim to settle down in, and if she should let him return to the Lloyds. She hadn¡¯t quite decided on that yet. Her rtionship with the Lloyds right now was in tatters, what with her grandfather¡¯s hostile attitude toward her, treating her like an outsider. She refused to be bullied into submission or take anything lying down. The noxious atmosphere at the Lloyds would certainly be a bane for Jim¡¯s health. Tyler suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we take your father back to our ce?¡± ¡°What?¡± Rachel looked up at Tyler in disbelief. ¡°What did you say?¡± Tyler held Rachel¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I said, why don¡¯t we take your father back to our ce? Although it¡¯s a little secluded, the view is great. He can sit outside on thewn to fish and enjoy the scenery.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t expect Tyler to make such a suggestion. Her heart started racing as she blinked in surprise. ¡°But¡­ Will it affect you? You know about my father¡¯s condition right now¡­¡± Tyler was about to pat Rachel¡¯s head; Rachel could sense ifing, given the many times that he had done so. She shot him a warning re. He retracted his arm at her warning. ¡°I¡¯m just patting your head. I¡¯ll stop if you hate it so much.¡± Rachel was about to heave a sigh of relief when Tyler suddenly pressed her head against his chest, rubbing the top of her head hard as though she were a lump of dough. She instinctively yelped, struggling against his hold. ¡°Tyler! Are you crazy?¡± Tyler joked around with Rachel for a while before saying, ¡°Do as I suggested earlier. Don¡¯t worry about anything else. I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± With that, he called Yale over. ¡°Go through the discharge procedures for Mr. Lloyd and bring his things to my apartment. Tell Wanda to prepare the guest room on the first floor.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Rachel¡¯s impression of Tyler soared. He wasn¡¯t as careless or nonchnt as he always portrayed himself to be. Conversely, she found him very thoughtful. He knew about Jim¡¯s condition and was aware that staying in a room upstairs would make getting around very inconvenient. A room on the first floor would be much better for her father. She grabbed Tyler¡¯s hand, rubbing gently against his knuckles. ¡°Thank you, Tyler.¡± Tyler arched a brow. ¡°Really wanna thank me?¡± Rachel caught the mischievous glint shing past the depths of his eyes; a sense of foreboding overtook her. However, she didn¡¯t want to be so petty with him when he had done her such a huge favor. She really should thank him this time. ¡°Tell me. How do you want me to show my appreciation?¡± X The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 619 ¡°Prepare a good program for me tonight and coax me to sleep. You probably won¡¯t be able to do so in a few days.¡± Rachel was perfectly fine with his suggestion. She was with Tyler to coax him to sleep; she practically saw it as her job. However, hisst sentence made her brows furrow. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be getting discharged from the hospital anytime soon.¡± She knew clearly that Tyler was probably up to his ears in work. The attack Steven hadunched against hispany was unprecedented in scale. The Ziegler¡¯s family business had been around for a century. As a young upstart, Tyler¡¯spany may not have the foundation to pit itself against the Zieglers. ¡°I¡¯m generally fine. It¡¯s a little challenging to walk around, but it¡¯s not a big deal. I work sitting down anyway.¡± Rachel knew nothing she said could stop Tyler. She decided to hold her tongue¨Cthis wasn¡¯t the time for her to persuade him to beat a hasty retreat. Instead, she should be giving him her full support. ¡°Alright. Do inform the doctor and get his permission to get discharged. Maybe you should head over and discuss it with him so I won¡¯t worry about it.¡± A smug smile stretched across Tyler¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re getting more and more thoughtful now.¡± Rachel patted his back. ¡°Still so glib at a time like this. Hurry on.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tyler slowly stood up to make his way to the doctor. Yale stepped forward to help him, but Rachel held him back. ¡°Let him go over himself. He wants to get discharged anyway, and you won¡¯t be by his side all the time when things get busy. Let him try doing it himself.¡± Yale nced at Rachel, immediately understanding that Rachel must have something to tell him that wasn¡¯t appropriate to discuss in Tyler¡¯s presence. He nodded. ¡°Be careful, Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler lifted a finger at him. ¡°Get her to pay you your sry from now on. You listen to her every word.¡± Yale chuckled sheepishly. ¡°The instructions of the wife of my boss are as important as those of my boss.¡± The smile on Tyler¡¯s face was so bright, it lit up the entire room. He left the ward, leaving Rachel and Yale behind. Yale approached her, asking, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, what do you want to ask me?¡± Rachel looked at Yale in awe. ¡°You¡¯re worthy of your position as Tyler¡¯s right¨Chand man. I never need to beat around the bush with you. I just want to know how thepany is doing right now. Can Tyler handle it?¡± Yale shook his head and sighed. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, you should know Mr. Hunt¡¯s personality. He only ever shares good news and not the bad. All the more he would never share such things with a woman like you. To be honest, things aren¡¯t looking good at all. If we can¡¯t raise enough funds in the short term, thepany will go bankrupt in at most one week.¡± Rachel was shocked to hear that. She could guess that Tyler¡¯spany wasn¡¯t doing well, but she didn¡¯t expect things to be so bad. Tyler had done so much to build hispany to where it is today, and now, it was going bust overnight. She finally understood what it meant when people say, the higher you fly, the harder you fall. Rachel, however, had a n up her sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yale. I¡¯ll help him get through this.¡± Yale¡¯s eyes lit up at her words. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, are you serious? Can you help Mr. Hunt get through this? You worked in this line before¨Cyou probably know that this isn¡¯t an insignificant amount.¡± He knew that Rachel was genuine in her affections for Tyler, but he wasn¡¯t sure how much of it was romantic. Another thing he knew was that even if Tyler weren¡¯t her boyfriend, being Rachel¡¯s friend was certainly a good thing for him. Her Exit 620 Rachel said confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Not only do I have funds to provide, but I can even close deals for yourpany. As long as we have new partnersing in, there¡¯s no fear of thepany going down.¡± Yale said with a troubled look in his eyes, ¡°But Mr. Ziegler has made it clear that anypany that partners with us will be pitting itself against the Zieglers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. Think about it. No matter how much otherpanies fear the Zieglers, their desire to earn money will outstrip their concern over offending the Zieglers.¡± She had witnessed how greedy some of these people can be. They speak so self¨Crighteously, but always end up sumbing to the temptation of money and power, sometimes to the extent of betraying their friends and allies. At times, when the temptation of money is great enough, they would even betray their own brother, not to mention allies. The confident glint in Rachel¡¯s eyes persuaded Yale that she knew what she was talking about. He gave her a bow. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, please let me thank you on behalf of Mr. Hunt. He was right to put his trust in you.¡± Rachel had one request. ¡°But Yale, you must keep this a secret for me. At least for now, don¡¯t tell Tyler. You¡¯ve been with him for so many years, I¡¯m sure you know him better than I do.¡± Yale nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± After Tyler discussed with the doctor, persuading and coaxing thetter with every reason he could conjure up, the doctor finally agreed to let him be discharged for the time being. However, the doctor gave his approval on one condition: Tyler had to return to the hospital once every two days to make sure that his wound didn¡¯t be inmed. This was something Xavier requested. Xavier knew that without this condition, Tyler wouldn¡¯t even bother setting foot into the hospital again. The man was no different from a robot at work. When Tyler returned to his ward, he saw Rachel seated on the bed with aptop. Even with the needle from the IV drip still inserted in the back of one of her hands, they flew across her keyboard as she typed away furiously, Tyler furrowed his brows and pressed her hand down. Chooter 620 Rachel looked up, ber cold eyes softening at the sight of him. ¡°You¡¯re back. Did you manage to convince the doctor?¡± ¡°I did. He asked me toe back every two days.¡± Rachel nodded approvingly at the doctor¡¯s approach. One simply had to go hard on someone as stubborn as Tyler. ¡°I must write that doctor a shining rmendation. He¡¯s such a brilliant and responsible doctor¡± Tyler wrapped an arm around Rachel¡¯s waist and pulled her into his embrace. He looked at her tremblingshes, like butterflies flitting about in the wind. ¡°From where did you pick up such skills in mockery? You¡¯re trying to say that a stubborn patient like me can only be treated by a good and responsible doctor, right? ¡°Exactly my point, Rachel admitted frankly. Tyler¡¯s fingers rubbed gently across her fair, dewy cheeks. Tll be very busy during this period. Be good, or I¡¯ll teach you a lesson when I¡¯m back.¡± Desire roiled in the depths of his eyes. Rachel could sense it at one nce Ever since they became intimate, it was as though the floodgates of Tyler¡¯s desires had opened and everything had gone out of control ¡°Tyler, sometimes I really want to cut your brain open and see what¡¯s inside. Why are you still in the mood to think about such things when trouble is right at your door?¡± ¡°Appetite and lust are natural human desires. Should I let bankruptcy affect my ns to be in a rtionship and get married?¡± Tyler exined patiently. Rachel was tickled pink by his words. ¡°Yes, yes, everything you say is right. It shouldn¡¯t affect you getting married and starting a family.¡± She realized that whenever she was with Tyler, even the greatest cmity seemed like nothing more than a passing hup. She did feel the burden on her shoulders after speaking to Yale. She was LS Enterprise¡¯s final lifeline, after all She couldn¡¯t let LS Enterprise fall. Rachel couldn¡¯t let Tyler be the talk of the town in Yurelia City, or have people gossip about him being in this plight because of a woman She had to help him ovee his toughest ordeal Her Exit 621 ¡°Time to change the bandage,¡± a doctor said as he rapped on the door. Rachel hurriedly pushed Tyler away before anxiously smoothing out her hair. The doctor looked like he saw nothing out of the ordinary as he approached Tyler. ¡°Time to change out the bandages. You went out at night, and the bandages are probably soaked through.¡± Tylery on the bed obediently. ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡± The doctor made a move to pull Tyler¡¯s pants down, but Tyler stopped him just in time. ¡°Wait, doctor. Please help me draw the curtains.¡± The doctor held back the urge tough. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Aren¡¯t you two a couple? Why are you being so shy?¡± Rachel remained silent, wishing the doctor wouldn¡¯t do as Tyler said and leave the curtains alone. That way, she would be able to see for herself if there was a scar at the top of Tyler¡¯s thigh. She had a chance to check it out previously, but couldn¡¯t exactly spot the scar. It hadn¡¯t been very clear. Tyler cleared his throat. ¡°My girl¡¯s feeling a little deprived. You know my condition right now, don¡¯t you?¡± He spoke at a volume only the doctor could catch. The doctor was stunned by Tyler¡¯s exnation and turned to look curiously at Rachel. Rachel saw the strange look in the doctor¡¯s eyes and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, doctor?¡± He smiled awkwardly. ¡°Nothing.¡± With that, he drew the curtains, effectively blocking Rachel¡¯s view of Tyler. The sudden turn of events stunned Rachel. What was going on? What exactly did Tyler tell the doctor? Rachel knew it certainly wasn¡¯t anything good. However, even if Tyler didn¡¯t let her look, she could sneakily take a peek. Rachel carefully pinched a corner of the curtain and pulled it away, leaving a gap she could look through. The first thing she saw was Tyler¡¯s firm, strong thigh and the sleek outline of his muscled leg. This wasn¡¯t the first time she admired his side profile, but each time she had the chance to, she couldn¡¯t help but exim inwardly with awe. She had never seen such long legs that went on forever. Rachel shook her head and forced herself to focus on the task at hand. This wasn¡¯t the time for her to admire his legs! Tyler and the doctor didn¡¯t seem to notice her. To get a better look, Rachel boldly drew the curtains a few inches more. The doctor was bent over, treating Tyler¡¯s wound. It looked ghastly, with bruises and torn skin surrounding bloodied flesh. Rachel¡¯s heart leapt at the gory sight. She knew Tyler had gotten into a fight with Howard, but wasn¡¯t aware of the extent of his injuries. Tyler never said a word about it since he got hospitalized. Tears welled up in Rachel¡¯s eyes. Just then, the doctor took a step to the right, causing Tyler¡¯s thigh to She could clearly see a well¨Chidden scar, hideous and frightening, despite how long it had been there. From the looks of it, Rachel guessed that the scar must have been a very deep wound at that time. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t look so prominent even after so long. Rachel had already suspected that Tyler was the one who saved her back then, not William. When the truth was finallyid bare before her, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of disappointment. She thought she had found true love, only to have it end so terribly. As it turned out, it was nothing but an unattainable dream. Just then, the curtains were fully drawn open. Tyler saw Rachel in a daze, as though her entire body was frozen stiff. He called out tenderly to her, ¡°Rachel¡­?¡± His voice snapped Rachel back to reality. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine,¡± she assured him. ¡°I was just wondering if you should still go back to work, given how bad your wound is.¡± Her Exit 622 The doctor turned to say to Rachel, ¡°As long as he doesn¡¯t over¨Cexert himself physically or mentally, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. It¡¯s just a superficial wound, after all. It¡¯s certainly not as severe as suffering from internal injuries.¡± Rachel agreed with the doctor¡¯s assessment. As long as Tyler didn¡¯t move around too excessively, recovering shouldn¡¯t be a problem. After the doctor left, Tyler stared at Rachel hard and asked, ¡°What was going through your mind just now?¡± Rachel repeated herself, ¡°Nothing.¡± Tyler rolled up his sleeves, exposing his strong and muscr forearms. ¡°Don¡¯t force me to take my special approach on you.¡± Rachel got to hand it to Tyler. She had no idea how he managed to tell at a nce that she was hiding something from him. Was it that obvious? However, Rachel didn¡¯t want to hide it from him any longer. He had to know about it sooner orter. ¡°I just wanted to ask this. You were the one who saved me from that fire a few years ago, right?¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes dimmed for a split second, but he recovered very quickly, not forgetting to wear a smirk on his face. ¡°You snuck a look at me just now.¡± Rachel almost couldn¡¯t stand Tyler¡¯s intrusive gaze, which made her feel like a thief caught red¨Chanded. She quickly exined, ¡°I identally spotted it just now.¡± Tyler clearly didn¡¯t believe her exnation. With an arched brow, he asked doubtfully, ¡°Was it really an ident, or did you do it on purpose?¡± I¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s defenses wereing down. It wasn¡¯t that she was mentally weak, but that it was practically impossible to stand up against the prating gaze Tyler was giving her. It felt as though he could see right through another just by staring at them. She couldn¡¯t hide any secrets from him. Tyler stretched a hand out and pinched her flushed cheeks. ¡°The moral of the story is, don¡¯t lie. The truth wille out sooner orter.¡± Rachel tried to stand up for herself, refusing to admit defeat. ¡°Mr. Hunt, have you never lied? You were the one who saved me years ago. Why did you lie to me for such a long time instead of just telling me the truth? You knew very well that William wasn¡¯t the one who saved me, yet you hid the truth from me for him. Why?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t figure that out. Why did Tyler hide the fact that he saved her? William didn¡¯t say anything about it, either. He had lied to her for so many years, stealing Tyler¡¯s credit. The mere thought of William iming to love her filled Rachel with deep disgust. Tyler leaned back leisurely on his chair and rubbed his jaw. ¡°I didn¡¯t think much of it back then. I just thought that since your mom treated me so well, I couldn¡¯t possibly turn a blind eye to her daughter in trouble.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Rachel said, looking slightly upset. Tyler didn¡¯t miss the slight change on Rachel¡¯s face. He drew closer to her and stared at her fair, dewy cheeks for a while before saying teasingly, ¡°Why do you look kind of disappointed?¡± Rachel hurriedly denied his im. ¡°Can you stop trying to psychoanalyze people? I didn¡¯t say a thing, and you can just tell what I was thinking from my eyes? You shouldn¡¯t be engaging with normal people like me. You should be engaging with the mute instead. How about this¨Cwhy don¡¯t you change jobs and tell people¡¯s fortunes by their face?¡± Rachel almost burst outughing at the idea. Tyler tilted his chin, a confident look on his face. ¡°I won¡¯t im to know other people well, but you¡¯re different. I know you way better than you know yourself.¡± Her Exit 623 Rachel had no idea that Tyler didn¡¯t just start knowing her only recently. He had known her since she was very young. His attention had been on her since the first time they met. He had been doing so quietly and from afar, where she couldn¡¯t see him and knew nothing. Tyler rested his chin on his palm; instead of getting angry, his interest was piqued. He looked dotingly at her, a curious glint shing past the depths of his deep, dark eyes. ¡°Sure. Help me set up a fortune¨Ctelling stall, and I¡¯ll start work once I recover.¡± Rachel had just said that in passing. Given how wless Tyler looked¨Cwhat with his exquisite features, high cheekbones, and sharp nose¨Cwomen wouldn¡¯t go to him to have their fortunes told. No, they¡¯d go to him to check him out. Rachel turned her face away and rejected him. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that after you be bankrupt.¡± Tyler looked pitifully at Rachel, his eyes glistening; he lookedpletely different from his usual cold aloofness. ¡°Will you take care of me if I really go bankrupt?¡± Of course, Rachel could tell that Tyler was just putting on an act. She decided to y along. She grabbed Tyler¡¯s arm and said dramatically, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. At most, we can do deliveries. As long as I have money for food, I¡¯ll make sure you have bowls to clean. You¡¯ll never go hungry.¡± Tylerughed and pulled his arm out of Rachel¡¯s hands. ¡°Scram!¡± Rachel burst outughing. ¡°You started it first! I was just ying along with you.¡± Tylerposed himself, and his mood turned serious once more. He grabbed Rachel¡¯s hand, rubbing the back of it with his fingers. ¡°Tell me more about your act of heroism. What exactly did you tell Steven Ziegler that made him so angry that he was sent to the hospital?¡± Rachel replied cautiously, being very selective with her response. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything much. I know he wouldn¡¯t spare you, so I decided to go all out and make my stance clear. I think I harped too much on how he condoned Howard¡¯s behavior and agitated him to the point of no return.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t doubt her words. ¡°Steven Ziegler dotes on Howard very much. He¡¯s the only son of the family, after all. It¡¯s just that Steven refuses to ept reality. Given how he has spoiled Howard, even if you gave Howard a hundred years. before taking over the family business, the guy would squander their entire family fortune.¡± ¡°Does he really have no idea?¡± Rachel asked. Tyler could more or less guess what was going through Steven¡¯s mind. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. The only thing Steven can do right now is pave the way for Howard as much as he can while he¡¯s still alive. Once he¡¯s gone, he won¡¯t be able to do anything.¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. A dead person won¡¯t have any say in the matters of the living.¡± The next day, Tyler and Yale packed up and got ready to leave. Tyler¡¯s gaze lingered on Rachel, who was still fast asleep. His fingers gently caressed her cheeks. He didn¡¯t know when he could see her again. He was bracing himself for a long, treacherous battle at work. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s about time. The shareholders are waiting for you to start the meeting,¡± Yale urged. Tyler retracted his gaze, bent over, and kissed Rachel on her forehead before leaving. Yale had never seen Tyler treat someone else so tenderly. He was never a romantic man to begin with, but he had changed ever since Rachel entered the picture. Tyler now had an Achilles¡® heel, but also a vigor and zest for life that wasn¡¯t there before. The moment the door to the ward was shut, Rachel opened her eyes. She could still feel the lingering heat of Tyler¡¯s lips on her forehead. She knew that whatever Tyler was about to do next would determine the destiny of hispany. This battle was necessary, She pulled her phone out from under the pillow and called both Jerry and Cecilia to the hospital. 844 +15 Her Exit 624 The two of them rushed to the hospital at once. When Cecilia arrived at the ward and saw Jerry, who was making his way in, she paused mid¨Cstride in surprise. Jerry¡¯s face was way too attention¨Cgrabbing for her to ignore him. His eyes were aggressive and hostile, the edge of his jaw sharp and incisive. On closer look, however, his features were exquisite and rather good¨Clooking. They exchanged nces for a split second before Cecilia looked away. She paused for a moment, letting Jerry enter first. Jerry walked into the room; when he saw her on the bed, he greeted her automatically. ¡°Hi, Rachel.¡± Rachel was in the middle of getting out of bed and packing her luggage. She turned around when she heard Jerry¡¯s voice. Seeing that it was him, she smiled brightly. ¡°Hi, Jerry. It¡¯s been a while.¡± Jerry reached out to fold Rachel into a hug. Cecilia, still standing at the door, was shocked to see it. Rachel¡­ Rachel knew this man! Cecilia had thought that it was someone the Zieglers had hired to cause Rachel trouble. He appeared very much like a hitman to Cecilia. Whatever it was, he certainly didn¡¯t look meek or easy¨Cgoing. Rachel tiptoed and rubbed his hair affectionately. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve lost weight. Are you unwell or something?¡± ¡°No, I just feel a little bored alone sometimes,¡± Jerry said, a hint of indignation in his voice. Cecilia was taken aback by this scene. She couldn¡¯t believe that a young man with a seemingly rebellious streak and such aggressive eyes would have this spoiled side to him, whining as though he was being treated unfairly, How pretentious! Yes, that was it. Rachel reached out to gently pat this shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a lot of work for you to do. I guarantee you won¡¯t find it dull.¡± Jerry tucked his aggression and dominance away, making sure that he was on his best behavior before Rachel. ¡°Yes! Please don¡¯t send me elsewhere this time, Rachel. Can you let me stay by your side, no matter what happens?¡± The corner of Rachel¡¯s lips lifted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let you go even if you want to go. Things are getting busy, and I need your help.¡± Instead of feeling the heat, Jerry was d to hear Rachel¡¯s words. ¡°No problem, just let me know what you need help with and I¡¯ll be on it. If you hadn¡¯t invested heavily in my studies, I wouldn¡¯t be who I am today. For all you know, I¡¯d probably be doing odd jobs at a factory.¡± Jerry was born an orphan. He¡¯d follow other hooligans and go around stealing from others. Although he knew it wasn¡¯t the right thing to do, he wouldn¡¯t have food to eat if he dared disobey them. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that Rachel was his second parent. Rachel, on the other hand, didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. What¡¯s more, if you didn¡¯t work as hard as you did or exhibit the talent you have, it doesn¡¯t matter how much I invested in you. It¡¯d be in vain.¡± Cecilia was very confused by their conversation. She stepped forward and interrupted them. ¡°Wait. What are you two talking about? Why do I not understand a word of it? Rachel, do you know him? Why have I never seen him before?¡± It was a long story that Rachel had no idea where to begin retelling. ¡°I¡¯ll exin to you in more detailter on. Please help me take this luggage to the car. It¡¯s not very convenient for me to do so right now.¡± Cecilia was dumbfounded. ¡°Are you getting discharged? Has your condition stabilized? Did your doctor allow you to get discharged?¡± Cec¨ªlia threw Rachel a bunch of questions, overwhelming her with information overload. ¡°The situation is getting more tense now. I can¡¯t be bothered about such trivialities right now. What¡¯s more, I¡¯m perfectly fine. Why can¡¯t I be discharged?¡± Cecilia could guess from Rachel¡¯s tone the reason behind the rush and shrugged helplessly. ¡°Alright, I think I get it.¡± Rachel was secretly leaving the hospital without the doctor¡¯s permission. Instead of returning to the apartment, Rachel went straight to the hotel. When she arrived at the entrance, she turned to ask Jerry, ¡°How long did you rent the room for?¡± ¡°One week.¡± Rachel did a rough calction in her head and knew that their time was almost up. She took a deep breath and turned her gaze to the entrance of the hotel. ¡°It¡¯s now or never.¡± +15 BON Her Exit 625 The three of them headed straight to the elevator, oblivious that Samantha had spotted them at the entrance. Samantha was wondering why Rachel was here when she was supposed to be hospitalized. She naturally could recognize Cecilia, of course, but who was that guy with them? She had never seen him before. A n started hatching in Samantha¡¯s mind. The huge uproar with Howard hadn¡¯t yet blown over¨Cand yet, here Rachel was, checking into a hotel with a strange man. Such excitement right in the middle of the day! Tyler was still injured and naturally couldn¡¯t satisfy Rachel during this period. It was alsomon knowledge that women had a higher libido with age. Samantha smirked. Since Rachel didn¡¯t mind, Samantha would help her out and dash all of William¡¯s hopes of being back with her again. She pulled her phone out and dialed William¡¯s number, her voice as bright and melodious as that of a nightingale. ¡°William, guess who I saw at the entrance of the Emerald Hotel?¡± William had been busy at work these past few days, and he had long seen for himself Samantha¡¯s true colours after being married to her for so many years. Conversely, he grew to miss Rachel and the time spent with her in the past. He finally realized that one¡¯s hidden side would be fully exposed after marriage. Samantha was worlds apart from before he married her. In the past, her voice used to feel as soothing andforting as a warm cup of tea on a cold night. Yet now, each time she opened her mouth, her pretentious and fake voice filled William with disgust. She wasn¡¯t like that at the start. Now, she would constantly be asking him for money and going shopping. Worse, she did nothing to help him at work. When Rachel was by his side, William had never felt so tired. A few simple words from him were enough for her to understand what he was trying to convey. They worked together seamlessly. That mere thought sent regret coursing through his veins. William was amending a proposal with a pen in hand, clearly not in the mood to deal with Samantha¡¯s antics. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m busy. Who is it?¡± ¡°I saw Rachel! Not only her, but also another young man. I have no idea who he is. William, what do you think the two of them are doing in a hotel in the middle of the day?¡± William¡¯s pen froze at the mention of another man. ¡°What man?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recognize him, but he looks very young. I heard Tyler¡¯s been hospitalized. Rachel probably has needs unmet. Well, that¡¯s very normal for a woman her age.¡± ¡°Samantha, are you so bored? Do you have nothing to do, that you have to find something for me to bother with? I wouldn¡¯t dare say I know the kind of person Rachel is, so how would you know?¡± William said in a low voice, barely suppressing his rage. ¡°I¡­¡± Samantha was caught off guard by William¡¯s words. Before she could react, William snapped irritably, ¡°I¡¯m hanging up. Don¡¯t call me about such trivialities in the future.¡± The cold beeping tone sounded through the phone into Samantha¡¯s ear. A mix of indignation and glee shed in her heart. William never had such a huge reaction whenever she mentioned Rachel. Yet now, things had changed. A casual mention of Rachel was enough to rile him up. Clearly, he was siding with his ex¨Cwife instead of his current wife. Samantha wanted nothing more than to witness all his hopes dashed when he saw proof of Rachel being with another man! Her Exit 626 After Rachel, Cecilia, and Jerry had everything prepared, Cecilia received a call from Yvette. Cecilia was surprised by the iing call, but wasn¡¯t intending to answer it. When Rachel noticed the slight shift in Cecilia¡¯s face, she leaned over and nced at her phone screen. ¡°Aren¡¯t you off work today?¡± she asked, slightly confused. Lloyd Enterprise was rtivelyx with its employees. As long as theypleted their work, superiors usually wouldn¡¯t call during the weekends. Cecilia found it strange, too. ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯re supposed to be on a break today. I don¡¯t know why Yvette is choosing to call at this time.¡± ¡°Answer it. Otherwise, she might have something to use against you.¡± Yvette was soon going to be demoted to a manager and would no longer be in the projects department. Since she would soon have no authority over Cecilia, they could bear with it for now. Cecilia put her phone on the table, swiped right to answer it, and switched it on to loudspeaker mode. ¡° What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Cecilia, there are issues with two data points in the proposal you drew upst week. I¡¯m in the office right now. Please hurry over and correct it.¡± Cecilia pondered for a moment before exining as gently as she could, ¡°That¡¯s not possible. I checked through the figures before I left. They can¡¯t be wrong.¡± Yvette didn¡¯t hesitate to voice her displeasure. ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you questioning my judgment? I told you I found problems with two data points, and you¡¯re trying to argue with me?¡± Cec¨ªlia had the urge to roll her eyes at Yvette, but she suppressed the anger burning in her chest. Yvette was always picking on her, but she didn¡¯t want to have a falling out with her since Rachel was the one who introduced her to this job opportunity. What¡¯s more, given her current financial situation, she was indeed in need of this job. ¡°Can I go over tomorrow to make the amendments? I¡¯m upied right now.¡± Yvette rejected her suggestion immediately. ¡°I need it tomorrow. Also, are you thinking that since you have Rachel backing you up, you own thepany and can ignore my orders? I¡¯m telling you¨CI¡¯m still the vice president of thepany right now. Rachel is just a shareholder. Aside from receiving dividends, she can¡¯t interfere with any business decisions.¡± Yvette, provoked by Cecilia¡¯s attitude, started raising her voice. Rachel furrowed her brows. ¡°If you don¡¯te to the office today, you can forget abouting to work tomorrow!¡± Yvette screamed. With that, she hung up. Cecilia was stunned; she went silent for two seconds before bursting outughing. ¡°Does that woman have a screw loose? Or is she going through menopause? ring up like this over nothing!¡± Rachel patted her shoulder. ¡°Hurry on to the office and correct those two figures like she asked. You can alwayse back againter¨Cmaybe bring back some tasty snacks for us.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be off, then.¡± Cecilia pouted, very reluctant to leave. However, she had no choice as she couldn¡¯t yet pit herself against Yvette. As she packed her things and stood up, Rachel broke the news. ¡°I have some good news for you, by the way. Yvette will be moved to a managerial position. She¡¯ll be in a different department from yours. She wouldn¡¯t be involved in any of thepany¡¯s projects. In other words, she¡¯ll just have an empty title and receive a sry, that¡¯s all.¡± Cecilia¡¯s eyes lit up at Rachel¡¯s news. ¡°Are you serious? Is the news reliable?¡± ¡°My dad told me that himself. It¡¯s absolutely trustworthy.¡± 2/2 Her Exit 627 After Cecilia left, Rachel asked Jerry, ¡°You were on the road for so long. Do you need a break?¡± Rachel knew that Jerry had been busy with work the past few days and hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep. She feared his body might not be able to take on such a heavy workload so soon after. Jerry patted his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel! I can take it. I do have a tiny request, though.¡± Rachel said, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I want a cup of coffee.¡± Rachel smiled as she patted Jerry¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already ordered your share. Again, don¡¯t try to act tough. Tell me if you really can¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jerry nodded, but what Rachel didn¡¯t know was that he hadn¡¯t slept for two days to help Rachel tabte the total value of her assets. Rachel had wanted to hand the task over to the finance department, but Jerry was worried. Any decent businessman knew that the fewer people who knew his true worth, the safer he would be. In the business circle, no one was innocent. Rachel started to dive into her work, very focused. Jerry would asionally consult with her whenever he encountered issues along the way. After about an hour, someone knocked on the door. Their coffee had arrived. Rachel stood up to open the door. Jerry swiftly got to his feet at the same time. ¡°Rachel, please sit and let me.¡± ¡°Go be busy. I¡¯ll do it.¡± The two of them started bickering all the way to the door and ended up grabbing the door handle at the same time. Rachel released it and chuckled lightly. ¡°You go ahead, then.¡± Jerry opened the door and politely received the coffee from the deliveryman. He was about to pull one cup out of the bag when he identally let it slip through his fingers. It crashed onto the floor, sending coffee sttering everywhere. Rachel instinctively jumped back, but still ended up having coffee on her. Jerry approached her anxiously and grabbed her wrists, checking everywhere for scalds and burns. ¡°Rachel, are you okay? Are you scalded? I¡¯m so sorry, I was too careless.¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just got some coffee sttered on me, no big deal. I¡¯ll head in and wash myself up. Clean up this area.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Not only did Rachel get coffee on her shirt, but even Jerry¡¯s white shirt wasn¡¯t spared. He pulled it off and grabbed a mop to clean up the puddle of coffee on the floor. Rachel didn¡¯t have a change of clothes with her; she had to take off her dirty clothes and wear the bathrobe provided by the hotel. When she walked out, she saw Jerry without his shirt on. He had a skinny frame, but his tall body was lean and toned. Coupled with his attractive face, he often drew much attention fromdies. Rachel always treated him as a child and didn¡¯t expect him to have such a good figure. It surprised her so much, she stood stunned for a moment. Jerry saw Rachel staring at her and called out to her. ¡°Rachel¡­?¡± Rachel snapped back to attention and pointed at his torso. ¡°What happened to you? Where¡¯s your shirt?¡± Jerry picked up his dirty shirt from the floor and showed her the stains on it. ¡°It¡¯s covered with coffee. I thought I¡¯d wash and dry it first before wearing it again. Is it¡­inappropriate of me to be in this state?¡± Rachel cleared her throat and retracted her gaze. ¡°It¡¯s fine, just as long as you don¡¯t feel chilly.¡± She was about to turn around to find her phone to ce another order for coffee when someone knocked on the door again. C Her Exit 628 hapter 628 Rachel paused for a moment, wondering who it could be. ¡°Maybe Cecilia¡¯s back,¡± Jerry guessed. He opened the door and found a stranger standing right outside. It wasn¡¯t Cecilia, but a man he didn¡¯t know. Jerry asked politely, ¡°Sir, who are you looking for?¡± William was initially skeptical about Samantha¡¯s im. Rachel was with Tyler now, William had to admit that Tyler was an outstanding man, despite the dread he often felt toward Tyler. What he didn¡¯t expect was witnessing Rachel with another man behind Tyler¡¯s back. Was this woman nning to embarrass the entire Lewis family? Although Tyler refused to admit to being a Lewis, everyone knew that he was. Blood rtion was a fact that he couldn¡¯t change for the rest of his life. If word were to get out about this, it would surely spark a huge uproar. He and Tyler were doomed to be the butt of everyone¡¯s jokes! Thinking that, William¡¯s eyes filled with ire. He turned his attention to Jerry, whom he noticed was topless. ¡°Who are you?¡± William¡¯s curt question sent Jerry into a daze. Jerry repeated himself, ¡°May I know who you¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for Rachel,¡± William bit out, trying hard to suppress the anger in his chest. Jerry looked into the hotel room and called out to Rachel. ¡°Rachel, someone¡¯s looking for you.¡± Rachel was still wondering if it was Cecilia at the door. When she approached the door and saw William right outside, her brows furrowed tightly. ¡°William, what are you doing here?¡± She immediately sensed something was wrong. ¡°How did you end up here?¡± It was an innocent question to her, but William caught a trace of displeasure in her voice at his sudden appearance here. ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± he said with a smirk. Rachel sensed the ridiculous innuendo in his voice and scoffed, ¡°You have a screw loose up there.¡± William raised his voice, upset that Rachel was still behaving so arrogantly without any sign of guilt despite being caught red¨Chanded. ¡°Rachel, Tyler¡¯spany is in hot soup. Yet here you are, acting all depraved and desperate. Or did this dude give you money as your new sugar daddy?¡± ¡°William, don¡¯t you go too far!¡± Rachel snarled. William showed no signs of stopping and instead became even more direct with his words. His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, and he sneered. ¡°What, angry because I hit the nail on the head? Rachel, you used to be so young and innocent. I can understand why you ended up with my uncle. He¡¯s richer and more capable than me, after all. But you¡¯re still with him. You haven¡¯t broken up, right? Yet, here you are, busy finding a way out while he¡¯s upied with work. Are you bent on ruining the Lewis family? ¡°If you had no other options, you could¡¯vee to me instead. I can¡¯t guarantee you a huge fortune, but I can promise that you¡¯ll never need to worry about food or having a roof over your head. Don¡¯t worry¨CI won¡¯t mistreat you, on ount of how we were once married for seven years. Being with me would be miles better than¡­¡± Smack! Before William was done with his tirade, he was cut off by a p across his cheek. It didn¡¯t make a very loud sound, but it rang across the empty room and echoed down the hallway. Both Jerry and William were stunned. The air around them seemed to freeze. Her Exit 629 William¡¯s face turned dark with displeasure. He gritted his teeth and looked darkly at Rachel, his cheek on fire. ¡°Rachel, how dare you p me! Are you mad?¡± During all those years they were married, she had neverid a finger on him. She never hit him when she was Mrs. Lewis, but here she was, acting so arrogant now that they were divorced. Rachel smirked. ¡°So what? Don¡¯t you think you deserved it for the filthy words you spewed just now?¡± William pointed at the bathrobe Rachel was wearing and then at Jerry, who was topless. ¡°Did I say anything wrong? Despite being with my uncle, you checked into a hotel room with another man behind his back. Or am I seeing things?¡± His eyes narrowed skeptically. ¡°Or are you going to tell me that you¡¯re discussing work while dressed like this?¡± Rachel nodded and said honestly, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. We were discussing work.¡± William burst outughing, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Who are you trying to fool? Working while dressed like this? You must be doing very special work!¡± Jerry didn¡¯t want Rachel to be misunderstood and spoke up to exin things to William. ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve misunderstood. Rachel and I aren¡¯t what you think we are.¡± ¡°Shut up! I¡¯m talking to her right now! Is it your ce to butt in?¡± William¡¯s face twisted with anger as he red daggers at Jerry. Jerry clenched his fists, about to re up, when Rachel stopped him just in time. ¡°Jerry, there¡¯s no need to get angry over someone like that. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± Rachel turned to William. In an icy voice that sent a chill down his spine, she spat, ¡°William, who are you to me, and what right do you have to butt into my affairs? Even if someone questions me, it¡¯ll be Tyler and not you.¡± Her words rendered William speechless. In his anger, he pulled out his phone. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll see if Tyler will condone your shameless actions when he finds out about you with another man in a hotel!¡± Jerry started panicking. ¡°Rachel¡­¡± ¡°Jerry, don¡¯t get yourself involved in this. Head in and do whatever I told you to do just now. We¡¯re running out of time.¡± She was getting Jerry to make some amendments to the proposal. If they could secure this project, it might just save Tyler¡¯spany. Jerry knew that was the more important thing at hand. ¡°Alright.¡± He turned around and walked into the hotel room. However, it looked like an act of guilt in William¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you worried that Tyler will see you trying to hide your illicit lover, and that you won¡¯t be able to handle him when he res up?¡± He didn¡¯t immediately call Tyler. Instead, he toyed with his phone in his hand with a smug smile on his face. ¡°How about this? I can promise you I won¡¯t tell Tyler about what I found out today, on one condition.¡± Rachel said irritably, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to y games with you. Call Tyler if you want. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m clueless about your disgusting intentions. You just want me to have an affair with you, right? Dream on!¡± Her Exit 630 ¡°I told you a long time ago that even if there were no men left in this world, I¡¯d never be with someone like you,¡± Rachel said ruthlessly. William¡¯s heart fell at the firm and resolute look in her eyes, the weight of disappointment almost crushing him. He subconsciously clutched his chest, his brows furrowing. ¡°Rachel¡­ Do you really hate me that much? But you used to love me so deeply,¡± He never forgot everything that happened between them all those years. He simply never admitted to anyone that he missed her so much over the years. So many times, he had gotten drunk over her. In that instant, Rachel caught a glimpse of regret and pain in William¡¯s eyes. Rather than feeling moved, she was disgusted. ¡°William, can you please not say something soughable at a time like this? If you had really loved me, you wouldn¡¯t have had an affair at that time. ¡°You tantly and fearlessly disyed your love and affection for Samantha. Those sweet nothings you uttered to each other cut through me like knives. I don¡¯t want to think about the past, but why must you keep bringing up those filthy memories?¡± The mere thought of it made Rachel¡¯s stomach churn with disgust. William thought Rachel was saying all that because she still had feelings for him. He deeply regretted the way their marriage ended. He grabbed Rachel¡¯s shoulders agitatedly. ¡°Rachel, we still stand a chance. As long as you give me another chance, we can be together again. I¡¯m sure you can¡¯t forsake our seven years of marriage!¡± Seeing the hope in William¡¯s eyes, she suddenly felt avenged. She was now certain that William still had feelings for her. A man might be adept at lying, but his eyes fooled no one. She tilted her chin up and burst outughing, her entire body shaking. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± William looked at her in confusion. ¡°Rachel, what are youughing at?¡± Right at that moment, Rachel stoppedughing. +15 BONUS ¡°I wasughing at you, William! You¡¯re such a joke! We got together after oveing such great hurdles. I thought you¡¯d treasure our rtionship, but you ended up seeking cheap thrills outside of our marriage and got together with your dream girl. ¡°Just think about it. When you were with Samantha behind my back, did you feel the same way about her as you do about me right now? You¡¯re just superficial and easily swayed by your emotions. Do you really know what true love is?¡± Rachel chuckled and shook her head. ¡°No, you have no idea. A man like you, who doesn¡¯t treat rtionships seriously, will never know. You and Samantha are perfect for each other. I sincerely wish you two will never break up. Don¡¯t ever go around bringing harm upon other people.¡± With that, Rachel looked away coldly and made a move to shut the door. Just then, William grabbed the door frame to stop Rachel from shutting the door. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was dark and menacing. ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re ying me for a fool!¡± Her Exit 631 Rachel wasn¡¯t the least bit afraid. She knew as long as Tyler was around, William wouldn¡¯t darey a hand on her She smiled nonchntly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you just embarrassing yourself?¡± William¡¯s fury boiled over, his chest heaving as he lifted his hand. Just then, a female voice suddenly cut in. ¡°Rachel.¡± Rachel turned around and found Yvette standing beside her, staring at her with an odd expression. She had no interest in engaging and didn¡¯t even spare Yvette a nce. Instead, she fixed William with a warning look. ¡°William, if you keep causing a scene here, I¡¯ll have no choice but to call the police.¡± She turned around to face Jerry. ¡°Call the police.¡± Yvette quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. ¡°Rachel, maybe this is all just a misunderstanding Besides, William is your ex¨Chusband. Do you really have to threaten him with the police?¡± She subconsciously nced inside the room. ¡°Whoever¡¯s inside, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not what it looks like. I know you¡¯d never two¨Ctime anyone.¡± Her words sounded like she was defending Rachel, but the way she said it only nted suspicion that Rachel was cheating. Rachel had no patience for Yvette. She was busy enough and had no intention of humoring thetter. Still, if someone handed her an opening, she wasn¡¯t about to let it pass. She gave Yvette a cold look. ¡°What does my love life have to do with you? Did I steal your boyfriend? And honestly, even if you wanted to cheat, it¡¯s not like you¡¯d have the chance.¡± The wordsnded like a p. ¡°Rachel, how can you say that? I¡¯ve never cheated! I was just trying to remind you not to take things too far! This kind of behavior will ruin your reputation.¡± Yvette¡¯s soft, pitiful tone made her sound like a good sister trying to pull Rachel back from the edge. William even chimed in on her side. ¡°Rachel, you should listen to Yvette. She¡¯s right. You shouldn¡¯t keep making the same mistakes.¡± Rachel folded her arms and scoffed. ¡°What does any of this have to do with either of you? The way you¡¯re Chapter nat ganging up, you¡¯d think I threatened your livelihood or something¡± Yvette ignored the jab, slipping closer to take Rachel¡¯s hand as if nothing had been said. ¡°Rachel, please don¡¯t be like this. I know I¡¯ve made mistakes in the past, but I never meant to hurt you. Can¡¯t we go back to how things were? I promise I¡¯ll never cause you trouble again. We can reconcile. I don¡¯t care about the inheritance. I don¡¯t want any of it. I just want to be sisters again. And don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t breathe a word of what happened today.¡± Rachel leaned against the doorframe, watching Yvette¡¯s performance silently without any emotion. After a while, she spat coldly, ¡°Yvette, are you out of your mind? After everything between us, do you think we can y happy sisters again? Doesn¡¯t that sound ridiculous even to you?¡± She yanked her hand free and gave Yvette a look of pure disgust. Yvette froze, staring at her hand hanging awkwardly in the air. Tears rolled down her cheeks. ¡°Rachel, you don¡¯t have to be this cruel! I was only trying to make peace. I even promised to keep your secret I didn¡¯t tell Mr. Hunt you were sneaking around with another man. Besides, don¡¯t you worry about catching something? First it was William, then Howard. Well, we don¡¯t really know if Howard has any-¡± Her Exit 632 ¡°First, it was Mr. Hunt. Now, another man shows up. Rachel, I should remind you, HIV is everywhere these days. You really shouldn¡¯t be sleeping around.¡± Rachel red coldly at Yvette. ¡°You don¡¯t get to run your mouth like that.¡± Yvette pouted. ¡°I¡¯m not making things up! Am I wrong? Just look¨Cyou and him, alone in here, dressed like that¡­ If you¡¯ve got nothing to hide, then let us in. I want to see whether you¡¯re really working or just messing around.¡± Rachel smiled and raised her brows slightly. ¡°Are you sure you want to see?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Yvette nodded. ¡°Then you¡¯d better be ready for what you find. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± ¡°Oh, please! What, is he going to eat me alive?¡± Yvette felt even more convinced that Rachel really did have an unusual rtionship with the person inside. Rachel nodded and stepped aside to clear the doorway. ¡°Fine. If you insist, go right ahead.¡± Yvette strode in and froze at the sight of a man¡¯s back. Jerry hadn¡¯t even put on a shirt yet. She was certain Rachel and this man had been doing something inappropriate. ¡°Rachel, what else can you say for yourself? Don¡¯t even try to deny it.¡± Rachel only shrugged. ¡°Deny what? Did I even say anything?¡± Yvette immediately started attacking Jerry verbally. ¡°Do you know she already has a boyfriend? This is disgusting! You¡¯ve got no respect for yourself or for her!¡± Jerry turned around slowly. The moment Yvette saw his face, she froze, blood draining from her cheeks. ¡°You¡­!¡± Jerry smiled politely, as if greeting an old acquaintance. ¡°Ms. Yvette, long time no see. After all these years, you haven¡¯t changed.¡± Yvette staggered back two steps, looking as though she had seen a ghost. ¡°It can¡¯t be! You¡¯re supposed to be¡­¡± She caught herself mid¨Csentence, scrambling for cover. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person! I don¡¯t know you!¡± Rachel snorted as she walked inside. ¡°It¡¯s a little toote to y dumb, don¡¯t you think?¡± Yvette clenched her fists and forced herself to stayposed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°All you need to remember is that you barged in even when I tried to stop you,¡± Rachel retorted. Yvette¡¯s only thought was to escape. She fussed with a loose strand of hair. ¡°I¡­ I just remembered I have somewhere else to be. I should go.¡± Yvette brushed past Rachel, making a beeline for the door. But before she could leave, William blocked her path. ¡°Do you know this man?¡± he asked with a frown. Panic flickered in her eyes, but she shook her head stiffly. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Though Yvette¡¯s lips said no, her body betrayed her. William gripped her shoulder. ¡°You do know him. Tell me who he is!¡± he said firmly. Rachel strolled over at an unhurried pace. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you. Five years ago, he was the one you and Sasha sent to kill me. Only, you never expected he¡¯d end up on my side. Yvette, I let a lot of things slide because I was giving you a chance. But the way you¡¯ve been actingtely¡­ Frankly, it disgusts me. So tell me, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s about time I settled the score?¡± Her Exit 633 ¡°What are you saying? I don¡¯t even know him! Why should I be responsible for anything? And five years ago? That was forever ago! Don¡¯t you think bringing that up now is ridiculous? Besides, who¡¯s going to dig into something from five years back? You¡¯re dreaming if you think the cops would even get involved!¡± Yvette had already checked¨Cwithout hard evidence and after so long had passed, the police wouldn¡¯t reopen the case. There was no way Rachel could trap her with it. Rachel snorted. ¡°Ridiculous? You should really talk to awyer, Yvette. I¡¯ve got a witness. I had the hospital footage restored. And those transfers you made to Jerry? They¡¯re all sitting right here. Oh, and the list of drugs you bought illegally¨Cwould you like to see it?¡± Yvette¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯re framing me. This is all just a setup so you and that man can threaten me into shutting up about your affair!¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°Even now, you won¡¯t admit the truth. Fine. I don¡¯t need to waste my time. We¡¯ll let thew settle it.¡± Yvette, cornered, turned her fury on Jerry instead. Her eyes burned red as she stormed up to him, mming her fists against his chest. ¡°Who the hell are you?! Why are you helping her? How much is she paying you?¡± Jerry, being a man, didn¡¯t hit her back. He only dodged. The more he backed off, the more aggressive Yvette became, raining blows on him. Rachel finally snapped. She marched forward and pped Yvette hard across the face. ¡°If you want to throw a tantrum, do it outside, not here. What right do you have to hit him? Didn¡¯t you just say you don¡¯t even know him?¡± Yvette covered her swollen cheek, trembling all over. Her eyes were filled with rage, like a cornered animal. ¡°Rachel! How dare you hit me?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t back off. ¡°You¡¯re acting like a lunatic and disrupting my work. Why can¡¯t I hit you? Yvette, this is your call them! If I go down, so does he! Didn¡¯t you say he¡¯s working for you now? Once they see him, he¡¯s finished!¡± She turned to Jerry, her tone dripping with mockery. ¡°See that? After all these years, she¡¯s just been using you! You could¡¯ve walked away, but instead you let her drag you straight into the fire!¡± Jerry¡¯s voice was steady and unwavering. ¡°No matter what Rachel decides, I trust her.¡± Yvette frowned in disbelief when she heard what Jerry said. She shook her head, a sarcastic expression on her face. ¡°You¡¯re so dumb! How could anyone be as stupid as you?¡± Just then, two hotel staff¨Ca security guard and the manager¨Churried over. ¡°Excuse me, is there a problem here?¡± Rachel turned to face them. The timing was perfect. ¡°Yes, there is. These two barged into my room without permission, disrupting my work. Is this what passes for hotel security here? Ignoring guest safety? Or is your hotel nning on shutting down soon?¡± Her Exit 634 Chapter 634 The manager¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Of course, of course! We¡¯d never close down. This was our mistake, and we¡¯ll resolve it right away.¡± He picked up his walkie¨Ctalkie and ordered, ¡°Send a couple of people up to the fifteenth floor. Remove the two intruders.¡± Yvette couldn¡¯t wait to get out. ¡°No need to drag me out. I¡¯ll leave on my own.¡± By now, William¡¯s gaze toward Rachel no longer carried the anger from before¨Conly guilt. ¡°Rachel, please, let me exin. About what happened five years ago, I truly didn¡¯t know-¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even look at him. ¡°Please send this man out as well.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± The manager noticed William¡¯s distinguished clothing. After working in hotels for so many years, if he hadn¡¯t learned anything else, he¡¯d at least learned how to judge a person¡¯s financial status by their appearance. Compared to his treatment of Yvette, the manager was clearly much more courteous to William. ¡°Sir, if you have something to say to thedy, perhaps it¡¯s better to discuss it privately.¡± William immediately said, ¡°She¡¯s my ex¨Cwife.¡± The manager looked troubled. ¡°Even if she were still your wife, sir, if she refuses to talk, you need to respect her wishes.¡± William hesitated. He hadn¡¯t expected things to go this far, but he didn¡¯t want to leave. He wanted to exin things properly to Rachel. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached. The security guards the manager had called earlier arrived, lining up at the door. ¡°Sir, your orders?¡± The manager, mindful of William¡¯s status, spoke inly. ¡°Sir, you can either leave on your own, or we¡¯ll escort you out. But I assure you, thetter won¡¯t look good.¡± Seeing the row of security guards, William had no choice. He said nothing more and walked toward the elevators. At , there was peace once more. Rachel let out a sigh and shut the door again. Jerry stepped forward. ¡°Rachel, why didn¡¯t you call the police just now? That would¡¯ve been the perfect chance to get rid of Yvette Now that she knows I¡¯m still alive, she¡¯ll definitely try to eliminate me¨Cbut it doesn¡¯t really matter to me. My life should¡¯ve ended long ago. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t even be here now.¡± Rachel knew Jerry was loyal. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± Jerry shook his head. ¡°Rachel, you don¡¯t have tofort me. I already know what kind of consequences to expect.¡± He had long epted it. Every day he lived now was borrowed time thanks to Rachel, and he bore no Rachel, noticing how he was forcing himself to stay strong, shook his shoulders gently. ¡°What are you thinking? When have I ever lied to you? If I say you¡¯ll be fine, then you will be.¡± Jerry chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll be alright. Rachel, let¡¯s finish your work first.¡± Rachel sat down, ready to sort out the remaining issues, when her phone suddenly rang. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, we¡¯ve already taken your sister into custody. When can youe down to give a statement? We also need to verify some details. You know, after all these years, reopening an investigation isn¡¯t easy. ¡°Review the evidence I submitted first. I¡¯lle by tomorrow.¡± Rachel knew Yvette too well. That woman would deny everything, but if they could get her to confess before eight o¡¯clock tomorrow morning, that would already count as a sess. Her Exit 635 What Rachel didn¡¯t know was that the moment Yvette was arrested, she had already sent a message to Sasha Sasha hadn¡¯t expected Yvette to be caught so soon. The truth was, this matter had been hanging over their heads for a long time. Yvette wasn¡¯tpletely stupid. She knew Sasha wouldn¡¯t protect her forever. Sooner orter, this would fall back on her. Rather than sitting around and doing nothing, it was better toe up with a n. Some time ago, Yvette and Sasha had already agreed that if Rachel really went to the police, she would inevitably be taken in for questioning. When that happened, it would be Sasha¡¯s turn to handle things. Sasha had naturally agreed. The two of them were already in the same boat. Yvette might not have been Sasha¡¯s first choice of ally, but since Jim now wanted to divorce her, she had no better options. As soon as Yvette sent the message, Sasha immediately brought a doctor with her and went to Jim¡¯s ward. Jim was lying in bed when the door suddenly opened. He struggled to turn his head, but the moment he saw Sasha¡¯s face, his expression instantly darkened. ¡°Who let you in here? Get out! Get out right now!¡± Seeing Jim now, Sasha felt none of the affection of their past marriage. Looking at him only made her regret not suffocating him with a pillow back then. Had she done that, none of these problems would¡¯ve Sasha crossed her arms and smiled coldly. Her graceful posture showed none of the embarrassment of a woman facing divorce. ¡°Jim, how can you talk like that? We¡¯re still husband and wife. We¡¯re not divorced yet. Even if the divorce petition has been filed, there¡¯s still a cooling¨Coff period. It¡¯ll be another month before we¡¯re truly divorced. Right now, I am your wife. And as your wife, don¡¯t I have the right to visit my husband?¡± Ever since discovering Sasha¡¯s true nature, Jim had only grown to hate her more. To think that the partner he had lived with for so many years would try to kill him for money. Even his own biological daughter had followed her lead. It had taken him a long time to digest that truth. Now, just seeing Sasha made all those terrible memoriese back. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you right now. Get out!¡± Jim¡¯s voice was weak and hoarse. Even shouting for a bit seemed to drain all the strength from his frail body. Sasha let out a cold chuckle. ¡°Jim, I¡¯d advise you not to waste what little energy you have left. You¡¯re already in this state. You¡¯d better conserve your strength. Oh, and there¡¯s something else I need to tell you, Rachel, that precious illegitimate daughter you¡¯re so proud of, has already sent Yvette to the police. In the end, they¡¯re still sisters. Yet, Rachel is determined to ruin Yvette¡¯s future over an old misunderstanding. Are you really nning to just stand by and do nothing?¡± But Jim didn¡¯t defend Yvette. Instead, he chose to respect Rachel¡¯s decision. ¡°I believe Rachel wouldn¡¯t send Yvette in without reason. If she did, it must mean Yvettemitted some crime.¡± At that, Jim¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted, as if he had just realized something. He stared at Sasha in disbelief. ¡°Tell me the truth! Five years ago, was it Yvette who plotted Rachel¡¯s harm?¡± Sasha froze for a moment, then quickly exined. ¡°Oh,e on! That was just a small misunderstanding. It was only meant to scare her, not to really hurt her. And besides, look at Rachel now. Isn¡¯t she alive and well?¡± Her Exit 636 ¡°That¡¯s not the same!¡± Jim nearly leapt up from the hospital bed. His face was ashen, and his chest heaved violently. He was clearly furious. Sasha couldn¡¯t be happier to see him angry. Best case, he would just drop dead right there in the hospital bed. ¡°How is it not the same? Rachel¡¯s fine, isn¡¯t she? But now, Yvette is at the police station. If Rachel reopens the case and they reinvestigate what happened back then, Yvette could very well be convicted of attempted murder. If your daughter spends the rest of her life in prison, won¡¯t you feel even a shred of guilt? All of this is Rachel¡¯s fault, but you¡¯re still defending her!¡± Having said that, Sasha carried on talking to herself. ¡°But then again, you¡¯re old now. Your brain doesn¡¯t work properly anymore. Saying things like that is only natural.¡± She signaled to the man behind her with a nce. ¡°Look, I even brought a doctor for you just to check whether that brain of yours has gone faulty.¡± At that, the young man behind her stepped forward and began examining Jim. Naturally, Jim resisted. ¡°Let go of me! Sasha, you don¡¯t have my permission! What right do you have to examine me? Let go of me!¡± Seeing Jim still shouting at the top of his lungs, Sasha quickly turned to the man. ¡°Dr. Frank, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and cover his mouth!¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll be done with this in a moment. Judging by his condition, his brain does look like it¡¯s been under some kind of stress. I think he¡¯ll need further examination. I¡¯ll write you a referral.¡± When Sasha heard that Jim might have a problem with his brain, her eyes lit up. ¡°Really? Does he really have an issue with his brain?¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry, I wouldn¡¯t make this up. You should definitely take him in for further tests.¡± Sasha nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes, yes, of course! We¡¯ll definitely take him for further tests.¡± The doctor finally released Jim. Sasha strode over and pped Jim¡¯s face lightly with her hand. *Jim, did you hear that? You¡¯ve been diagnosed with a mental problem. Once your mind is dered unsound, everything you¡¯ve said before¨Cincluding that will you made¨Chas to be reconsidered. After all, you can¡¯t fully trust the words of a lunatic.¡± Jim was stunned. He pursed his lips as he tried to speak, but it was as if his body no longer obeyed him- he couldn¡¯t get a word out. All he could do was raise a trembling finger at Sasha. ¡°You¡­!¡± At that moment, Sasha felt as if she hade back to life. She let out a smug little hum of triumph. ¡°What about me, Jim? This is all your own doing. If you had just listened to us back then and divided the assets as we wanted, none of this would be happening now. Would you really still be suffering like this?¡± Jim¡¯s face flushed bright red, as though he was on the verge of losing hisst breath. ¡°Y¨CYou-¡± ¡°What are you doing?!¡± A loud shout suddenly rang out at the doorway. Xavier had just been making his rounds when he saw Jim¡¯s hospital room door open. Jim seemed visibly agitated. Sasha was startled by the voice at first, but quickly regained herposure. She turned to face Xavier with a calm smile. ¡°Hello, doctor. I¡¯m Jim¡¯s wife. I came to see him, and after just a few words, you can see how agitated he got.¡± Her Exit 637 Xavier had already heard from Tyler that Jim¡¯s wife spelled trouble. Judging by Jim¡¯s current state, this was far more than a simple argument. He pointed at Sasha and the man standing beside her. ¡°You two wait here. I¡¯ll call his daughter. Right now, the patient¡¯s condition is too delicate. We can¡¯t just let anyone in to visit.¡± With that, Xavier quickly picked up his phone and dialed Rachel¡¯s number. Sasha rushed to stop him. ¡°Doctor, don¡¯t call her! We just came to visit. We didn¡¯t do anything to him. Besides, Rachel¡¯s been busy these days. She doesn¡¯t have time to deal with her father¡¯s affairs.¡± But Xavier stood firm. ¡°Sorry. The family gave strict instructions that every visitor had to be ounted for. If theye back and make trouble for us, we¡¯ll have no way to exin.¡± Hearing that, Sasha let out a cold chuckle. ¡°You doctors really don¡¯t know how to talk! Rachel counts as family but I, his wife, don¡¯t? I¡¯m visiting my husband¨Cwhat¡¯s wrong with that? Who do I need permission from?¡± Since Rachel didn¡¯t pick up, Xavier could only call Tyler instead. There was no telling what Sasha might have already done to Jim. Thankfully, Tyler answered right away. ¡°Come to the hospital, now,¡± Xavier told him. In less than ten minutes, Tyler arrived. Just as Sasha was about to slip away from the room in a hurry, he blocked her at the door. Although Tyler was still recovering from his injuries, the aura he carried was unlike that of ordinary people. Sasha couldn¡¯t withstand his intense gaze. She instinctively looked away before turning her gaze back toward Xavier. ¡°Why did you call Mr. Hunt here?¡± Xavier replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°He¡¯s Ms. Lloyd¡¯s boyfriend now. Since I couldn¡¯t reach Ms. Lloyd, of course I called him.¡± Sasha was furious. ¡°What kind of hospital is this? You¡¯re really something! So I, his wife, am suddenly an outsider? What are you people trying to do?¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t bring himself to argue further, but Tyler could. He stepped right up to Sasha, his sharp features carrying an almost aggressive force. ¡°Do I really need to remind you of what you and Yvette tried to do to Mr. Lloyd before?¡± The implication was clear. If they were being so cautious around her, surely she knew exactly why. Sasha pouted. ¡°We didn¡¯t actually do anything to him.¡± Tylerughed sarcastically. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, unless you kill him outright, you don¡¯t think it counts as doing something?¡± Sasha nced back at the weak, exhausted Jim. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill him, did I? What are you getting at? What, are you nning to be like Rachel and throw me in jail too?¡± She raised her voice deliberately and thrust her hands out toward Tyler. ¡°Go on then! Why don¡¯t you just handcuff me and drag me off?¡± Sasha thought ying the victim would get her somewhere, but she couldn¡¯t have picked a worse opponent. Tyler turned his head slightly toward Yale. ¡°Looks like someone can¡¯t wait to turn themselves in. Fine then, let¡¯s call the cops. Teaming up with Yvette to try to harm Jim counts as attempted murder, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Yale nodded at once. ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll call the police right now.¡± Her Exit 638 Just as Yale teached for his phone to call the police, Sasha snatched it right out of his hand. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not necessary! Look, I only came to visit my husband. Why blow things out of proportion?¡± With that, she tried to leave. This time, Tyler didn¡¯t stop Sasha. He let her walk, but he blocked the man who was about to follow her out. The man froze the moment Tyler stepped in front of him. Just one look at Tyler, and he knew instantly this wasn¡¯t someone ordinary. Tyler¡¯s aura screamed wealth and power. Uneasy, the man blurted out,¡± What are you doing?¡± Tyler narrowed his eyes, sizing him up from head to toe. ¡°She is Mr. Lloyd¡¯s wife, but who exactly are you supposed to be?¡± Sasha had just started to feel relieved that she had made it out, but when she realized Dr. Frank was being held back, panic shed across her face. Afraid Tyler might uncover the doctor¡¯s true identity, she quickly cut in. ¡°He¡¯s our family¡¯s driver!¡± She hadn¡¯t even thought about it before saying it out loud. Tyler raised his brows. He was clearly unconvinced. He turned to face Jim. ¡°Mr. Lloyd, is this your driver?¡± Jim could barely speak anymore. Tyler saw him struggle to move his lips but fail to form any words. Tyler leaned closer and said gently, ¡°You don¡¯t need to talk. Just nod or shake your head.¡± He repeated patiently, ¡°Is this man your driver?¡± With great effort, Jim shook his head. Tyler nodded thoughtfully before turning back to re at Sasha. ¡°You heard him. He¡¯s not the driver. So what is he, your secret lover?¡± Sasha¡¯s gaze instantly sharpened. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting, Mr. Hunt? Do you have any proof of what you just said? If not, I can sue you for nder!¡± ¡°Go ahead, sue me. But before that, I think we should definitely run a background check on this man.¡± Tyler started to turn toward Yale to give the order, but before he could, the man broke down. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor! A licensed physician! Not a lover, not a driver. Mrs. Lloyd asked me toe and examine Mr. Lloyd. She suspects that, given his current condition, his brain might have suffered trauma. She believes he¡¯s showing signs of mental instability.¡± Just from that exnation, Tyler instantly understood what Sasha was trying to do. He asked the doctor coolly, ¡°So you¡¯re saying you can tell all that just by looking at him, with no real tests?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s obvious. The mental state of a healthy person and that of someone with mental issues arepletely different.¡± Tyler seemed surprised. ¡°Are you that capable?¡± Dr. Frank gave Tyler a measured nce and circled him slowly before speaking again. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you suffered some kind of trauma as a child. It left you with deep insecurity, probably insomnia as well. You can only fall asleep to a certain sound. And not just any sound¨Cyou¡¯re very particr about which one.¡± Tyler hadn¡¯t said a word, but Yale and Xavier were already stunned. Xavier immediately stepped forward, his tonepletely different from before. He grabbed Dr. Frank¡¯s hand eagerly. ¡°You¡¯re a genius doctor! A psychiatrist, right? Tell me, is there any way to cure his condition?¡± Her Exit 639 Tyler¡¯s gaze turned sharp, and he cut Xavier off mid¨Csentence. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything better to dotely?¡± Xavier, clearly annoyed, waved him off impatiently. ¡°Go stand over there. Don¡¯t get in the way while we¡¯re talking.¡± He eagerly grabbed Dr. Frank by the shoulders. ¡°What¡¯s your name, doctor?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Defino Frank.¡± When Defino Frank said it out loud, he looked a little embarrassed. Xavier froze for a second. This guy was definitely frank with his words. Realizing his reaction wasn¡¯t very polite, Xavier quickly forced a smile. ¡°Your name is definitely fitting.¡± Defino chuckled awkwardly. ¡°My mother picked it. She wanted me to grow up brave and to always speak my mind, because I was really timid as a kid.¡± Xavier seized the chance to smooth things over. ¡°I see. Well, why don¡¯t we step outside and talk? No need to disturb them here.¡± Defino didn¡¯t refuse. In fact, he nodded eagerly. ¡°Sure, sure, let¡¯s go.¡± With their arms around each other¡¯s shoulders, the two of them walked out of the ward. Tyler and Yale were left dumbfounded, while Sasha waspletely thrown off. Not long after, Sasha realized that if she stuck around any longer, she would be in trouble. After all, she hadn¡¯t actually had Frank forge anything yet. Technically, Tyler couldn¡¯t pin her down. Seizing the moment, she slipped away before anyone could stop her. Once Tyler got the full picture, he told Xavier to keep a closer eye on Jim. By then, they had already dug into Defino¡¯s background. ¡°Turns out, Dr. Frank said Sasha and Yvette brought him in. Their whole purpose was to determine if Jim has any kind of mental illness. If he does, they¡¯d have grounds to overturn his will and rewrite it.¡± Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed, a sense of unease creeping in his chest. ¡°How is Jim¡¯s mental state, then?¡± ¡°Dr. Frank swore on his decades of medical practice that Jim really does have psychological issues. If he¡¯s tested right now, it will definitelye back showing he¡¯s not of sound mind.¡± Tyler stroked his chin, his eyes narrowing. ¡°And how much stock do you put in Dr. Frank¡¯s words?¡± Xavier thought carefully. ¡°Based on my own judgment, I¡¯d say there¡¯s a seventy or eighty percent chance he¡¯s right.¡± Tyler gave him a sharp look, surprised at the response. Xavier was usually cautious. If even he was saying that, then maybe Defino wasn¡¯t bluffing. If Jim really was diagnosed as mentally unstable, this was going to be a serious problem. Just then, Yale walked over, looking excited. ¡°Mr. Hunt, there¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Ourpany just got a huge order! They specifically requested to work with us, and they¡¯re pushing to sign the contract as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Have you reviewed the proposal yet?¡± Tyler was usually too busy to look over partnership projects himself, so Yale would do the preliminary reviews. Though only an assistant, Yale was highly educated. He wasn¡¯t a specialist in everything, but he was more than capable of handling most day¨Cto¨Cday matters. ¡°I did. It looks excellent. I think you¡¯ll be pleased.¡± ¡°Show me.¡± Yale quickly pulled out his tablet and handed it over. ¡°Mr. Hunt, there are threepanies currently interested in partnering with us. Here, take a look.¡± Instead of taking the tablet right away, Tyler frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Why are so many suddenly looking to work with us?¡± ¡°I was surprised too.¡± Tyler fell silent, clearly thinking something over. Yale, still holding out the tablet, nudged it a little closer toward him. Her Exit 640 hapter 640 Tyler finally took the tablet from Yale and nced through it. After reading, he asked, ¡°Have you vetted all thesepanies?¡± ¡°I have. They¡¯re overseas¨Clegitimate businesses,¡± Yale replied quickly, swallowing hard as if afraid Tyler might doubt him. However, the word overseas already set off rms in Tyler¡¯s mind. ¡°Overseas?¡± he repeated. Yale tried to ease his suspicions. ¡°Yes, overseas. I¡¯ve already checked them out. Mr. Hunt, you don¡¯t need to worry. Besides, haven¡¯t we worked withpanies abroad before?¡± Tyler flipped through the proposal again. Everything seemed fine on paper, but something still felt off.¡± One foreignpany I could understand. But three, all at once? That¡¯s a red g.¡± Yale¡¯s fists clenched nervously, and he took a deep breath. ¡°H¨CHow is that a problem? I don¡¯t think there¡¯s an issue. Mr. Hunt, you know our current situation. Having anyone willing to invest in us right now is already a blessing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Yale wanted nothing more than to grab Tyler¡¯s hand and force him to sign the papers right there. But Tyler¡¯s voice stayed calm and steady, in stark contrast to Yale¡¯s desperation. ¡°The more desperate the situation, the more cautious we need to be. How do you know this isn¡¯t a trap?¡± Yale was about to explode from frustration. ¡°There¡¯s a detailed proposal right here! How could it be a trap? And even if there are risks, can¡¯t we just deal with them step by step?¡± Tyler pressed the tablet¡¯s power button to switch it off. Folding his arms across his chest, he gave Yale a strange look. ¡°What¡¯s with youtely? You¡¯re so jumpy. Afraid that if I go bankrupt, you won¡¯t get paid?¡± Yale¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Of course not, Mr. Hunt. I¡¯ve been at your side for years. I know better than anyone what kind of man you are. I¡¯d never leave you just for money. No matter if you go bankrupt or rise again, I¡¯ll stay with you.¡± Tyler coughed lightly into his hand, pushing Yale aside with a somewhat annoyed look. ¡°Watch what you¡¯re saying. I have a girlfriend now. If you keep talking like this, she¡¯s going to get jealous. For the record, I don¡¯t swing that way.¡± Yale hurried to defend himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that! I have a girlfriend, too.¡± Xavier, watching their back¨Cand¨Cforth, finally cut in. ¡°Can you two stop for a moment? Jim¡¯s situation is urgent. Work talk can wait.¡± If Defino officially dered Jim mentally unstable, Sasha would immediately push for further testing. Tyler turned to Xavier. ¡°So today, it was just Sasha? Yvette didn¡¯te?¡± Normally, those two stuck together like glue. Xavier was about to answer, but Yale jumped in first. ¡°Actually, I heard Yvette took William to see Ms. Lloyd. But apparently, they had some kind of falling out, and Ms. Lloyd ended up calling the police. Yvette got arrested. It¡¯s probably about what happened five years ago. Didn¡¯t Yvette and Sasha hire someone back then to try and hurt Ms. Lloyd?¡± Tyler nced coldly at Yale. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Yale looked back in bewilderment. ¡°W¨CWhat else should I have?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 641 Chapter 641 ¡°Yale, are you trying to get yourself fired?¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was restrained, as if he was about to explode the next second. Yale shrank his neck at once. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go ask Ms. Lloyd directly about what happened?¡± Tyler turned to Xavier. ¡°Mr. Lloyd will be in your care. If anything happens, let me know immediately.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After leaving the hospital with Yale, Tyler quickly tracked down the hotel Rachel was staying at. Rachel was just about to start drafting her fourth proposal when Jerry hurried over. ¡°Rachel, he¡¯s here!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± Rachel never expected it to be Tyler. After all, he seemed so busy these past few days that he barely had time to breathe, let alonee to her. ¡°Tyler,¡± Jerry said. Rachel¡¯s fingers froze on the keyboard. The next second, her pupils dted. ¡°What did you say?!¡± ¡°I said Tyler¡¯s here. He¡¯s already in the elevator.¡± Rachel panicked. ¡°You should¡¯ve told me earlier! Hurry, help me clean this ce up!¡± The two of them scrambled around. ¡°Stuff this into the bag¨Cquick! That can¡¯t be seen by him. Leave that unfinished project, it¡¯s fine.¡± Rachel was shoving files around while barking instructions. She knew Tyler¡¯s nature far too well. His suspicion ran deep¨Cif there was even the tiniest irregrity, he would pick it apart under a magnifying ss until it wasid bare. Before they had even finished hiding everything, a knock came at the door. Rachel¡¯s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. ¡°Hurry up,¡± she urged in a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m hurrying, I¡¯m hurrying,¡± Jerry muttered, cramming a messy stack of papers under the bed. The doorbell kept ringing, each press making Rachel tremble harder. When the room was just barely in order, she rushed to the door, hastily fixing her clothes and smoothing her messy hair. She pulled the door open, forcing a smile¨Conly to freeze when she saw Tyler standing there. Rachel blinked. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Tyler gave her a quick once¨Cover before sliding past her to nce into the room. ¡°I came to check on you and talk to you about something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Rachel brushed her bangs aside nervously. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Tyler paused for a second. He suddenly smiled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in?¡± Rachelughed stiffly. She was breathing a little too fast. No matter how hard she tried to stayposed, Tyler could still see the signs. He brushed a finger across the tip of her nose. It was slick with sweat. His voice was husky with a hint of teasing in it. ¡°Why so out of breath? Guilty of something?¡± ¡°No. We were just working. Come in.¡± Rachel instinctively avoided his gaze. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst out of her chest. She had to admit, Tyler¡¯s eyes were far too sharp¨Cone more nce from him and she felt she¡¯d crumble. Once Tyler stepped inside, he noticed that someone else was there. A young man, pale¨Cskinned and fresh- faced, but with a wild, guarded look in his eyes. The two men locked eyes for a brief moment. Tyler instantly picked up on the unspoken tension. He smiled slyly. Rachel rushed to make introductions. ¡°Jerry, this is Tyler. You¡¯ve heard of him.¡± Tyler extended his hand, every movementced with effortless nobility. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Rachel¡¯s boyfriend. You must be the one Yvette bribed five years ago to try and kill her, right?¡± Her Exit 642 On the surface, it sounded like an ordinary remark, but between the lines was a suffocating pressure. The atmosphere felt tense instantly. Jerry narrowed his eyes¨Csuddenly, they gleamed with a sharp, dangerous edge, like des drawn.¡± What, are you nning to call the cops on me?¡± Tyler let go of Jerry¡¯s hand, rubbing his fingertips as he raised a brow and gave Jerry a sidelong look.¡± You were a killer once. Leaving you at my girlfriend¡¯s side¨CI can¡¯t feel at ease with that.¡± Jerry¡¯s fists clenched tight, his jaw grinding. ¡°My life belongs to Rachel. Even if you want it, you can¡¯t have it.¡± Tyler caught the possessiveness in those words, and his lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Young man, you¡¯d better get this straight. The choice isn¡¯t yours to make.¡± Jerry refused to back down. Their gazes locked, sparks crackling between them. ¡°Then go ahead and try!¡± Seeing they were about to get serious, Rachel rushed in to stop them. ¡°Enough! Both of you, calm down. Jerry, he¡¯s just teasing you.¡± Tyler finally looked away from Jerry and faced Rachel. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been answering your phone?¡± ¡°Oh, I was busy just now, so I didn¡¯t pick up.¡± Without asking further, Tyler walked straight in, sitting down in a chair with casual authority. He didn¡¯t look like a guest in someone else¡¯s ce¨Che looked like the master of it. He had the posture of someone inmand. ¡°Did you know Sasha just brought a psychiatrist to see your father?¡± Rachel¡¯s expression turned tense immediately. ¡°How is my dad? Did Sasha do anything to him?¡± ¡°The doctor said your father¡¯s mental state is already deteriorating. You understand what that means, don¡¯t you?¡± Tyler didn¡¯t borate. He knew Rachel was sharp enough to piece it together without him spelling it out. Sure enough, Rachel instantly grasped Sasha¡¯s intentions. Her brows furrowed. ¡°So Sasha wants to use this to overturn the will, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Exactly. Which means, if Sasha manages to get your father for further testing, you know the consequences.¡± Rachel seemed a little sad. Frustration clouded her eyes. ¡°If my dad really is diagnosed with mental problems, doesn¡¯t that mean Sasha can do whatever she wants? And with their divorce still in the cooling¨Coff period, there won¡¯t be time to stop her.¡± Tyler massaged his temples. He was exhausted. Nights without sleep had hollowed him out. Rachel noticed. Her heart ached at how much thinner he lookedpared to a few days ago. Dark shadows pooled under his eyes. She ced a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest for a bit?¡± Tyler raised his hand to cover hers. ¡°Stay with me.¡± Rachel felt troubled. ¡°Can¡¯t you sleep by yourself? I still have things I need to finish.¡± Her proposal wasn¡¯t done yet. If Tyler stayed here, there was no way she could work. Tyler leaned his head against her arm, his demeanorpletely different from his usual coldness- almost childishly willful. ¡°You know about my sleep problems.¡± Rachel had no choice but to give in. This man was reminding her, in his own way, of the contract between them. Whenever he needed her, she was bound toply. Her Exit 643 Chapter 643 But if she agreed to Tyler now, what about the proposal in her hands? Her schedule was already tight. With Yvette having just been taken in, Rachel needed to follow up on that immediately. If Yvette managed to find a way out, all the time and effort she had invested would go to waste. She couldn¡¯t afford to fail at this stage. Jerry, standing to the side, seemed to notice Rachel¡¯s hesitation and spoke up on his own. ¡°Mr. Hunt, if you¡¯re too tired, you could take a sleeping pill. I have some in my bag.¡± Tyler turned his head, ncing past Rachel. His eyes instinctively locked onto Jerry, and Rachel could practically smell the hostility in the air. She repeatedly gave Jerry warning looks. Normally, he would have understood and held back. But today, for reasons she couldn¡¯t quite ce, Jerry was clearly emotional¨Cand she didn¡¯t know why. Tyler¡¯s voice came out cold. ¡°I have a girlfriend to lull me to sleep. Why would I need sleeping pills?¡± It was a blunt, cutting retort. Jerry¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line. Combined with his usual air of roguish defiance, he looked like an untamed beast¡ªone that had restrained itself only because of Rachel¡¯s presence. But now Tyler had openly challenged him, and Jerry¡¯s gaze was brimming with hostility. ¡°Even so, you can¡¯t interfere with Rachel¡¯s work. She¡¯s already exhausted these past few days.¡± Tyler shifted his gaze back to Rachel, a thoughtful gleam in his eyes. He smiled as his fingers hooked around a strand of her hair, twirling it between them. ¡°Oh, and precisely because she¡¯s exhausted, I need to take care of her.¡± His tone wasced with insinuation, leaving little room to mistake his meaning. Rachel¡¯s face flushed red. For a moment, she almost wanted to mp a hand over his mouth. She leaned close and whispered in his ear, ¡°Tyler, shouldn¡¯t you be heading to bed now?¡± Tyler raised a brow, a sly look appearing on his face. ¡°See? That wasn¡¯t so hard.¡± Rachel supported him toward the bedroom, but halfway there, she suddenly remembered something. ¡°I¡¯m just going to step out for a ss of water.¡± As she stepped outside, she spotted Yale reclining on the sofa with his eyes half¨Cclosed. At the sound of her footsteps, he opened his eyes. Rachel gave him a look. Yale immediately got up from the sofa and followed her out onto the balcony. Before she stepped out, Rachel pointed Jerry toward the bedroom, signaling for him to keep watch. If Tyler came out, Jerry was to alert them right away. Jerry understood at once and gestured an ¡®OK¡® with his hand. Rachel leaned gently against the balcony railing, her face showing clear traces of weariness. ¡°How¡¯s yourpany holding up right now?¡± ¡°Those overseas projects, they¡¯re your work, aren¡¯t they, Ms. Lloyd? I¡¯ve read them over. The proposals are excellent. wless, really,¡± Yale said. Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up at his words. ¡°So does that mean Tyler has already signed off on them?¡± Yale¡¯s mood suddenly dimmed. ¡°It¡¯s precisely because they¡¯re too wless that he hasn¡¯t signed. He actually suspects there might be a trap hidden in them.¡± Rachel pressed a hand to her forehead, speechless. ¡°Tyler and his paranoia. I get that sometimes it¡¯s useful, but honestly, there are times when he takes caution way too far.¡± Tyler wasn¡¯t like ordinary cautious people. If even the slightest doubt formed in his mind, he would dig relentlessly until he unearthed the whole truth and leave nothing behind. Rachel tapped her fingertips lightly against the balcony railing. ¡°What worries me is that if this suspicion of his keeps up, he really will uncover something.¡± Yale finally came up with a suggestion. ¡°My advice, Ms. Lloyd, is to start preparing countermeasures against Mr. Hunt¡¯s investigation. As for some of the trickier points, I might be able to help smooth things over.¡± Her Exit 644 Chapter 644 Rachel was so busy today that her head was spinning. At this point, her brain was about to crash. ¡°What about the fourth project I have on hand right now?¡± Yale thought about it, putting himself in Tyler¡¯s shoes. ¡°I think this time, don¡¯t say it¡¯s from overseas again. If we keep pushing that angle, I¡¯m afraid it really will expose us.¡± Rachel nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go with what you suggest first.¡± ¡°Okay. Also, Ms. Lloyd, could I trouble youter? When you sing for Mr. Hunt, please sing a bit longer. Help him sleep more deeply. He hasn¡¯t closed his eyes in days. If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Lloyd¡¯s incident, I doubt you¡¯d even be seeing him today.¡± Rachel frowned, her heart clenching just at the thought of him going several nights without sleep. Was this man trying to destroy himself? She asked Yale, ¡°And you don¡¯t even try to persuade him?¡± Yale smiled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯d have to be able to persuade him first. You know what Mr. Hunt¡¯s like better than anyone.¡± Rachel thought about it and realized he had a point. ¡°Fine. If there¡¯s any other issueter, let me know. For now, I¡¯d better get back inside.¡± Yale nodded. Back in the living room, Rachel told Jerry, ¡°If you¡¯re tired, get some rest. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard.¡± Jerry, however, was more worried about her. ¡°Rachel, aren¡¯t you going to rest a bit? And why does Mr. Hunt need you to stay with him just to sleep?¡± ¡°Because he has a habit¨Che likes to listen to me singing while he falls asleep.¡± Jerry was puzzled. ¡°Only singing?¡± Rachel was honest. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jerry immediately offered, ¡°Then how about this. You go rest, I¡¯ll sing for Mr. Hunt. What kind of songs does he like?¡± Rachel was dumbfounded. ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Yale, who had just returned from the balcony, was also stunned for a moment before hurrying over. ¡°Jerry, right? The thing is, Mr. Hunt only likes listening to women singing. Men? Not so much.¡± Jerry, always blunt, blurted out without thinking, ¡°Wow, Mr. Hunt sure is picky.¡± Yale was speechless. Rachel knew Jerry meant no harm. He was just genuinely trying to let her rest. She rose on tiptoe, ced a hand on his shoulder, and said, ¡°Enough, stop worrying about me. Go handle your own stuff.¡± Jerry didn¡¯t push further. Rachel went back into the room. Tyler was leaning against the bed, focused on his phone, clearly immersed in work from the look on his face. Carrying a cup of water, Rachel casually walked over to his side. ¡°I heard from Yale that yourpany already has investors interested. Why haven¡¯t you agreed yet?¡± Tyler finished typing hisst few words, closed the phone, and set it aside. His tone was displeased. ¡°Yale really doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing. Next month, maybe I should just ship him off to the media department to work as a paparazzo.¡± ¡°Come on, Yale¡¯s just concerned about you. And honestly, with a boss as difficult as you, who else besides Yale could even put up with you? Be grateful.¡± Tyler wrapped an arm around Rachel¡¯s waist and pulled her firmly into hisp. He clicked his tongue and looked into her crystal¨Cclear eyes. ¡°What, you¡¯re taking Yale¡¯s side now? Not that he has abs or anything. Those college boys who added you the other day, though? They¡¯re in way better shape.¡± If he hadn¡¯t mentioned this, Rachel wouldn¡¯t have remembered howst time, out of nowhere, her Facebook homepage had been mysteriously hidden. She struggled out of Tyler¡¯s arms to sit up, though he leaned right against her still, steadying her as if afraid she might lose bnce. Tilting her head, she looked him straight in the eye and said firmly, ¡°Did you mess with my Facebook ount?¡± Her Exit 645 Chapter 645 Tyler lounged against the headboard. ¡°What, you nning to scoop up all those college boys too?¡± he asked. Rachel stared at his dead¨Cserious expression and pursed her lips. His eyes could send a chill through anyone¨Cthough, by now, she was used to it. She leaned closer and studied his face. Tyler lowered his eyes, giving her the briefest nce. ¡°What are you looking at? Answer the question.¡± Rachel suddenly smiled. ¡°Tyler, you do realize you¡¯re jealous right now.¡± At the word jealous, Tyler scoffed, pointing to himself in disbelief. ¡°You think I¡¯d get jealous?¡± ¡°I mean, anyone would. It¡¯s normal. Who wouldn¡¯t?¡± She edged even closer, her forehead bumping his chin by ident. ¡°What, you¡¯re saying you¡¯re not human?¡± Tyler reached out and pinched her cheek. ¡°If I¡¯m not human, then what does that make you? Does it also mean you¡¯re sleeping with an animal?¡± Rachel froze,pletely caught off guard by his bluntness. Typical Tyler¨Chis words never had guardrails, always raw and unfiltered. But she liked his unrestrained honesty. He said things she herself could never bring out. Rachel smirked. ¡°Then maybe you should show off your animal skills¨Clike, I don¡¯t know, wag your tail and bring me some good luck.¡± Tyler chuckled and pressed her against the bed. ¡°You think I¡¯m a dog? What, you want me to sit, stay, and fetch?¡± Rachel nced at her watch, pulling herself back to focus. ¡°Alright, enough. You need to rest. I¡¯ll sing for you.¡± She opened herptop, settled beside him, and began humming softly while continuing to work on her project. Tyler closed his eyes. His voice was rough with fatigue. ¡°Your singing¡¯s getting worse. Haven¡¯t been practicing, have you?¡± Rachel red at him. ¡°I¡¯ve been drowning in worktely, and you still expect me to practice? If you want a concert, have Yale hire a professional singer.¡± Tyler declined. ¡°My wless sleeping face isn¡¯t something just anyone gets to see.¡± Rachel snorted. ¡°Oh, what¨Cworried they¡¯ll get obsessed with you?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll feel inadequate.¡± Rachel jabbed a finger at his chest. ¡°Tyler, could you at least try to be humble once in your life?¡± She shook her head at the thought of having to lull Tyler to sleep in this state. ¡°You know, I think I¡¯d make a great mom one day. After all, I¡¯m already putting a giant baby to bed.¡± Tyler stretched outzily. ¡°You should feel honored.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes, giving up. Arguing with Tyler was pointless. He could banter until sunrise without breaking a sweat. She definitely couldn¡¯t. She thought it¡¯d only take a song or two to knock him out¨Cafter all, Yale had said Tyler hadn¡¯t slept properly in days. But after two songs, his breathing still hadn¡¯t evened out. Rachel knew his patterns by now. Once he was asleep, his whole body would rx, and his chest rose and fell slowly. She closed herptop and leaned over to check. Propping herself on her elbow, she studied him. There was still no sign. Was he asleep? Carefully, she stretched out her hand and ced it against his nose. It was often said that when someone was asleep, their breathing would slow down significantly. Her Exit 646 Chapter 646 Just as Rachel¡¯s hand was about to touch him, Tyler¡¯s eyes suddenly snapped open. Rachel froze mid- motion, caught in his deep gaze that could swallow her whole. They locked eyes for a few seconds before Tyler abruptly reached up, cupped the back of her neck, and pulled her into a kiss¨Cso sudden, it stole her breath. Rachel could feel his breathing turn rough, his body temperature spiking even through the thin fabric between them. Her mind wentpletely nk. Her body just moved in rhythm with his. It wasn¡¯t until things started slipping out of her control that her rationale kicked back in. Panicked, she pushed at his chest. ¡°Tyler, you¡¯re insane. You¡¯re still injured!¡± ¡°Injured or not, that doesn¡¯t affect my performance.¡± Rachel was speechless. Afterward, Rachel stared at Tyler, who was already fast asleep. Something about it didn¡¯t sit right with her. A suspicion crept in¨Chad he nned this? She smacked her forehead in frustration. Of course, she had fallen for his tricks again. Her body felt utterly drained, every ounce of strength wrung out of her. But she still had more important things to do. Careful not to wake him, she nced down at her rumpled clothes. Feelingpletely ufortable, she tiptoed out of the room. She ran right into Yale, who had juste back with a bag. Rachel was instantly worried he¡¯d notice something was off, so she rushed to speak first. ¡°Tyler¡¯s already asleep.¡± Yale let out a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. As long as Mr. Hunt¡¯s sleeping, everything¡¯s fine. Oh, he asked me before we left to pick up some clothes for you, since you might need to stay here a while longer.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart sank. The sense of foreboding grew stronger. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this had all been orchestrated by Tyler. He was too prepared, like everything was falling neatly into his n. Of course, she didn¡¯t have proof of this yet. ¡°Thanks.¡± She took the bag back to her room, and when she opened it and saw the intimate apparel, she bit her lip. ¡®Tyler!¡® Was there anything that man hadn¡¯t already calcted? It was terrifying! Still, she had to admit, slipping into fresh clothes felt amazing. After a quick shower, she changed and finally felt refreshed. She rejoined Jerry to continue working. Jerry nced at the finished data, then at Rachel¡¯s obviously worn¨Cout face. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡± Rachel, why were you in there so long? Is Mr. Hunt¡¯s insomnia really that bad?¡± Rachel froze mid¨Cyawn. She hadn¡¯t expected Jerry to ask that so directly. She knew he was already in his twenties, but he was hopelessly inexperienced when it came to rtionships. After pondering for a moment, she decided to deflect it. ¡°I was just discussing a few things with him. You know theirpany¡¯s in trouble right now. But listen, we¡¯ll need to change the location of our final project.¡± Jerry, ever straightforward, let the topic slide. ¡°I thought going international was the safest bet. Domestic projects are too easy to track.¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°Thest three projects were all based overseas. Tyler¡¯s already starting to notice something¡¯s off. If we push this one abroad too, don¡¯t you think he¡¯ll start connecting the dots?¡± Her Exit 647 Chapter 647 Jerry couldn¡¯t help but admire Rachel. In the end, he gave in. ¡°Rachel, whatever you say goes.¡± Rachel looked at him¨Cearly twenties, the perfect age for dating¨Cyet he buried himself in work every single day. Whatever debt he thought he owed her over the years, she figured he had pretty much paid it back by now. She tested the waters. ¡°Jerry, have you ever thought about dating someone?¡± The word dating caught him off guard. ¡°Rachel, do you think I¡¯m a little slow? Is that why you suddenly want me to date? Or do you think I¡¯m bothering you by sticking around?¡± The sharp edge in his demeanor vanished. He suddenly looked more like a boy than a man, vulnerable, as if she had scolded him for something he hadn¡¯t done. She hurried to reassure him. ¡°No, Jerry, that¡¯s not what I meant. I just think you¡¯re at the right age. Dating can actually be fun. You¡¯re always by yourself, and honestly, it worries me. Look, I¡¯ve got a boyfriend now, and I want you to have someone who can spend time with you, too.¡± Only then did Jerry seem to rx. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Rachel. Really. As long as I have you, I¡¯m okay. Besides, dating sounds like a hassle. Not my thing.¡± Rachel knew Jerry wasn¡¯t as tough as he pretended to be. His sharpness was just a shield¨Cunderneath, he was straightforward, even naive. But still, she wished he had someone by his side. Working nonstop left him far too isted. She pressed gently. ¡°How about this? Since you¡¯ve never tried dating, let me introduce you to someone when I find the right girl. You two can give it a shot. If it doesn¡¯t work out, that¡¯s fine too.¡± She looked at him expectantly. Jerry wanted to refuse, but when he saw her watching him like that, his resolve softened. In the end, he agreed. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll try.¡± Rachel smiled. ¡°Good. Who knows, maybe someday I¡¯ll even be at your wedding. I¡¯ll give you a generous cash gift.¡± Without thinking, she reached up and ruffled his hair. Jerry dropped his gaze, pouted, and muttered under his breath, ¡°I don¡¯t want to get married. I don¡¯t want your cash gift, either.¡± ¡°What?¡± Rachel leaned in, raising her voice. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Startled, Jerry instinctively backed away. ¡°Nothing.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t think much of it,pletely missing the flicker of unease on his face. Once they had finished most of the work, Rachel stretched and patted Jerry¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Do you want to rest for a bit?¡± Jerry stood up. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the Lloyd family estate,¡± Rachel said while narrowing her eyes. She needed to deal with Jim¡¯s things. If she let Sasha continue running wild, sooner orter, something would blow up. Without hesitation, Jerry replied, ¡°Then I¡¯m going with you.¡± Rachel smiled and tilted her chin toward him. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go.¡± Before leaving, she stopped by to tell Yale. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of. Watch over Tyler for me. And make sure he eats. He¡¯s been so caught up in work these past few days, he¡¯s probably skipped meals.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Yale said with a nod. Deep down, he couldn¡¯t help but think that if Tyler really did end up marrying Rachel, at least someone would finally be there to take care of the man. When Rachel and Jerry pulled up to the Lloyd family estate, she gazed at the house. Every time she came back here, she would feel something different. Her Exit 648 Chapter 648 She used to feel like this house was a stranger to her. Then came the disappointment. Now, it was just emptiness and indifference. She felt nothing at all. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Jerry knew bits and pieces about Rachel¡¯s family, but not the whole picture. Still, it was enough to feel rtable. It was the kind of family where people were around, but one was better off without them. Inside, Gerald sat in a chair sipping coffee, looking like he didn¡¯t have a care in the world. Rachel almostughed. Jim had been stuck in the hospital all this time, and Gerald hadn¡¯t visited him once. But Gerald was old, and she didn¡¯t exactly have the right to demand anything of him. Rachel went straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Sasha.¡± Gerald¡¯s expression turned serious instantly. ¡°Rachel, Sasha is your stepmother. How dare you call her by name? Have you forgotten all the manners this family raised you with?¡± Rachel gave him a cold, sideways nce. ¡°Don¡¯t bother nitpicking me every time I walk in here. I don¡¯t want anything to do with the Lloyd family. If it weren¡¯t for my dad, I wouldn¡¯t even bother setting foot in this house. I¡¯m only here to see Sasha.¡± Gerald clenched his jaw. His expression darkened. ¡°And what business do you have with her?¡± ¡°I want to talk about her little stunt of bringing in a psychiatrist to dere my dad mentally unstable.¡± Gerald¡¯s brows furrowed even deeper. ¡°What are you saying?¡± Rachelughed sarcastically. She didn¡¯t bother hiding her contempt. ¡°Unbelievable! You¡¯re really just sipping coffee like nothing¡¯s happening, huh? My dad¡¯s in the fight of his life, and Sasha¡¯s already plotting to take everything. Keep this up, and she¡¯ll have the whole fortune¨Cand maybe even this house. And you¡¯re still sitting here, cool as ice.¡± Gerald could hear the bite in her words, but he had no real response. ¡°Exin yourself. Your father¡¯s being treated at the hospital, isn¡¯t he? Haven¡¯t Yyette and Sasha been visiting him regrly?¡± Rachel shook her head in exasperation. Now she finally understood the saying that pitiful people often had their share of faults. Gerald waspletely blind to the fact that this household was falling apart. She didn¡¯t have time to waste spelling it out. ¡°Forget it. You¡¯re old. Just enjoy your retirement in peace. Go ahead and call Sasha down.¡± This time, Gerald didn¡¯t argue. He simply told the maid, ¡°Tell her to to be nothing but a snake. Jim met another woman after Rachel¡¯s mother died, but he was still good to Rachel while her mother was alive. Rachel never expected Sasha to backstab Jim when he needed family the most. Sasha descended the stairs and spotted Rachel. She smiled and flicked her hair back. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t our dear Rachel! Funny, I could¡¯ve sworn someone made it very clearst time she was done being a Lloyd. And yet, look who¡¯s back already.¡± Her Exit 649 Chapter 649 Rachel didn¡¯t bother with politeness anymore. A woman like Sasha didn¡¯t deserve her respect. Had Sasha treated Jim even halfway decently, knowing the kind of man he was, he never would¡¯ve left her with nothing. Unfortunately, her greed was boundless. Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed with disdain. ¡°Sasha, let¡¯s cut to the chase. You and I both know that even if my dad goes through more tests, and even if the doctors say he¡¯s under stress, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s perfectly sane. His mind is sharp, and he hasn¡¯t done anything irrational. That means his will is valid. End of story.¡± Sasha scoffed, brushing her off. ¡°Please. You think I¡¯m going to buy that? If your dad¡¯s unstable, then his will doesn¡¯t stand. Something like that can¡¯t be left to one person. It has to be discussed by the whole family.¡± Rachel nced coldly at her. ¡°Discuss it with whom? You? A woman on the verge of divorce? Tell me, Sasha, what¡¯s there to discuss with you?¡± ¡°So what if I¡¯m divorcing him? Right now, I¡¯m still his legal wife!¡± Sasha shot back, her tone defiant. Seeing she wasn¡¯t going to back down, Rachel stopped wasting words and went straight for the kill. ¡° Fine. Call your psychiatrist friend. Ask him yourself. With my dad¡¯s condition, what would further tests actually show? And while you¡¯re at it, call awyer. Find out whether his will can still be executed.¡± The facts were undeniable, and Rachel wasn¡¯t going to y games. Sasha hesitated, but Rachel¡¯s confidence rattled her. She finally called Defino and repeated Rachel¡¯s questions. His answer was blunt. ¡°Ms. Lloyd is right. At most, your husband is under stress with mild depressive symptoms and requires some treatment. That doesn¡¯t make him legally ipetent. The will would still hold, with maybe only minor changes.¡± Sasha¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What? Are you saying everything we nned is useless? You¡¯re the one who told me that if he was found mentally unstable, his will wouldn¡¯t count!¡± ¡°I did, but that only applies if he¡¯s truly mentally unsound and not just showing stress or mild depression. In this case, the impact is minimal.¡± Sasha felt herst hope shatter. Her earlier smugness evaporated, leaving her pale and stunned. Rachel took the chance to press her advantage. ¡°Sasha, you were with my dad for years. Why don¡¯t we end this clean? Take your share and go. We¡¯ll make sure you and your kid are taken care of. It doesn¡¯t have to get uglier than this.¡± Sasha gripped the railing, her face twisted with bitterness. Watching that money slip through her fingers was unbearable, but if she kept pushing and something backfired, she might end up with nothing. That thought gnawed at her. Finally, she lifted her head and asked tly, ¡°How much are you offering?¡± ¡°Two million,¡± Rachel said without hesitation. Jerry had run the numbers on their way over, factoring in Sasha and her child¡¯s past expenses. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was more than fair. Her Exit 650 Chapter 650 It wasn¡¯t an outrageous amount, but for covering their living expenses, it was more than enough. The moment Sasha heard that, she blew up like a firecracker. ¡°What did you just say?! Two million? Rachel, are you joking with me? You¡¯re trying to buy me out with only two million? Do you even know how much it costs to raise a kid these days? You didn¡¯t calcte a damn thing!¡± Sasha had already done her math before. With her n, she could get at least five million out of Jim, and that was the low end. Now, Rachel was chopping it down to two million. ¡°I¡¯ve already done the numbers. It¡¯s plenty, so stop trying to haggle.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t care what Sasha said. But to Sasha, two million was nothing. If she couldn¡¯t get what she wanted, she¡¯d rather gamble and risk it all. Maybe she¡¯d hit the jackpotter. Her expression hardened. She dropped the act. ¡°Rachel, if that¡¯s all you¡¯re offering, then there¡¯s nothing left to talk about.¡± Rachel frowned. She had underestimated Sasha¡¯s greed. She thought two million would be more than enough, but if Sasha kept pushing this fight, it would only make things worse for everyone. That was when Gerald finally seemed to catch on. His expression darkened with rage. ¡°Sasha, you venomous woman! Has our family treated you so badly? And now, you want to strip us of everything we¡¯ve got? You¡¯re nothing but a vulture!¡± Sasha sneered, no longer pretending. ¡°Too much? When I married into this family, I had nothing. I begged Jim to marry me, but he insisted on mourning his wife for three whole years. Do you know what I went through in those years? Do you know how many people looked down on me? Even the maids treated me like dirt!¡± She had hated those years, living under everyone¡¯s judgment. If it hadn¡¯t been for her good fortune in getting pregnant and delivering the baby within the first year, she didn¡¯t even want to imagine what her future would¡¯ve looked like. Gerald snorted. ¡°And whose fault is that? You knew his wife had just passed, and you still forced your way in. That¡¯s the price you pay.¡± Sasha fumed. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare pin it all on me! You think it was just me chasing him? He wasn¡¯t some saint, either!¡± 1/2 Gerald¡¯s face turned red with fury. He pushed himself up with his cane, voice shaking. ¡°Shut your mouth! You don¡¯t get to talk about him like that! And you think you¡¯ll get a single dime of this family¡¯s money? Dream on!¡± Sasha threw her head back andughed. ¡°Gerald, do you still think this is the old days? Let me spell it out for you. Even if Jim divorces me, I¡¯m legally entitled to a share of his money.¡± Rachel could tell the situation had spiraled. Gerald wasn¡¯t able to control Sasha anymore; she was At that moment, Jerry came over after taking a call. ¡°Rachel, the person we hired just arrived.¡± Rachel¡¯s tense expression finally eased into a smile. ¡°Bring him in.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 651 Chapter 651 : +15 BONUS A well¨Cdressed man in a tailored suit walked in shortly after. Gerald, seeing an unfamiliar face, instinctively asked, ¡°Rachel, dear, who is this?¡± The way he addressed her almost made Rachelugh. Gerald, of all people, suddenly ying the part of a caring elder¨Che wasn¡¯t fooling anyone. He only wanted to keep the Lloyd family¡¯s infighting from leaking out and ruining his reputation. Now, to protect himself, he was suddenly acting cordial with her. Rachel kept her tone t as she introduced him. ¡°This is Mr. Wright. He specializes in divorce cases like my father¡¯s. Sasha, don¡¯t think I brought him here to intimidate you. Thew is thew¨Cit¡¯s not something I can bend to my will. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can verify it yourself.¡± She nodded at Mr. Wright, who stepped forward and handed a document to Sasha. ¡°Ms. Dawson, given your situation, everything you want to know is exined in this file.¡± Sasha took the papers, suspicious but still flipping through them. She didn¡¯t even finish before her pupils contracted sharply. ¡°Impossible! You¡¯re lying to me! I¡¯ve already asked¨Cif he¡¯s dered mentally unstable, his will doesn¡¯t hold up on his word alone.¡± Mr. Wright replied patiently, ¡°That¡¯s true only under certain conditions. Thew is very clear. Unless there¡¯s undeniable proof that Mr. Lloyd has no grasp of reality or a documented history of mental illness, his will remains legally valid.¡± Sasha froze, her voice stiff and mechanical as she muttered the same words over and over. ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible. You¡¯re lying! You¡¯re all working together to trick me. Rachel, you just want to keep all of the Lloyd fortune for yourself, so you dragged in some so¨Ccalledwyer to scare me. Do you really think I¡¯ll buy this nonsense?¡± Rachel propped her elbow against her head, her voice cool and steady. ¡°You don¡¯t have to believe me. But everything he just said? You can verify it yourself.¡± Mr. Wright stepped closer and handed Sasha a business card. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, Ms. Dawson, feel free to investigate. We¡¯re a registered firm.¡± Sasha lowered her gaze to the card in her hand¨CSky Tech Enterprise, Law Division. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked back at him. ¡°You¡¯re with Sky Tech Enterprise?¡± Mr. Wright nodded. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m with Sky Tech Enterprise. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of us¨Cwe¡¯re one of the most well¨Cknown firms in the industry.¡± Sasha¡¯s mind went nk. Of course she had heard of Sky Tech. They were practically legendary in legal circles. Whether or not she dared fight, one thing was clear¨Cthewyer¡¯s words were most likely true. That meant her n was ruined. Her strength drained all at once. She copsed into a chair with a look of despair on her face. Rachel smiled. It seemed Sasha¡¯s matter had been handled. Just as Rachel thought the matter was settled for good, a maid ran in. ¡°Sir, someone¡¯s here to visit.¡± Gerald frowned. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Mr. Howard from the Ziegler family.¡± The name alone made Rachel¡¯s whole body tremble. She wasn¡¯t afraid of him¨Cnot exactly¨Cbut her reaction was visceral, automatic, and beyond her control. Ever since that incident, she hadn¡¯t had a proper night¡¯s sleep. Night after night, the nightmares came back to haunt her. Her Exit 652 Rachel had only just begun to feel a little better these past two days, and now Howard had to show up and stir everything up again. Gerald hesitated, weighing his options. The Lloyd family was already at odds with the Ziegler family because of Rachel¨Cif he turned Howard away at the door now, that would make the feud irreparable. Finally, he sighed and told the maid, ¡°Let him in.¡± Then, ncing at Rachel, he asked, ¡°Do you want to step out for this?¡± The maid chimed in cautiously, ¡°Yes, Ms. Lloyd. Maybe it¡¯s best you step aside for now. Mr. Howard isn¡¯t someone you want to provoke.¡± But Rachel never even considered leaving. Running away just wasn¡¯t in her nature. She shook her head firmly. ¡°No need. If he wants toe in, let him.¡± Soon, Howard was ushered inside. The moment his eyesnded on Rachel, his lips curled into that wicked, mocking smile. The malice in his gaze sent an involuntary chill down her spine. Her instincts screamed he was here for her. Howard, however, acted as though nothing had ever happened between them. He even had the audacity to greet her casually. ¡°Rachel, it¡¯s been such a long time.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even look at him. Instead, she turned to Gerald and said coolly, ¡°Since everything¡¯s been settled, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± She started toward the door with Jerry. Sasha, bitter and unwilling, could do nothing to stop her. But just as Rachel and Jerry reached the door, Howard¡¯s voice cut through the air. ¡°Wait!¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t surprised. A man like Howard never showed up anywhere without an agenda. She narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°What is it you want, Mr. Howard?¡± Howard didn¡¯t answer her. Instead, he strode straight toward Sasha and asked point¨Cnk, right in front of Rachel, ¡°Do you want to beat her?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± For a moment, Sasha didn¡¯t follow. Howard repeated himself, slower this time. ¡°You want to fight Rachel for the Lloyd fortune, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m asking¨Cdo you want to win?¡± Now Sasha understood. Her eyes lit up. ¡°Y¨CYou can help me?¡± Howard nodded. ¡°Yes. I can help you¨Cif you want it.¡± Sasha didn¡¯t even think twice. ¡°Of course I want it!¡± But then, suspicion crept in. ¡°Wait. But why would you help me?¡± Howard made himselffortable in an armchair, like he owned the ce, lounging with that spoiled, entitled air of his. ¡°Simple. I just want to go against her.¡± He tilted his chin smugly in Rachel¡¯s direction. Rachel pursed her lips, muttering under her breath, ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± Sasha, though, couldn¡¯t care less. As long as someone was willing to back her, that was all that mattered. ¡°Perfect. That¡¯s exactly what I need. If you¡¯re really willing to help me, then it couldn¡¯t be better.¡± Rachel and Jerry exchanged a nce. Both of them were stunned. The situation was absurd. Howard really had lost his mind. Soon, Howard made a call. ¡°Bring him in.¡± Her Exit 653 A sudden sense of dread washed over Rachel. Her gut told her that Sasha¡¯s matter was about to bepletely ruined by Howard. Momentster, a man in a tailored suit walked in. The moment Rachel saw him, she could tell that he was awyer. Every profession carried its own aura, and this man¡¯s was unmistakable. Howard hadn¡¯te here unprepared. The man stepped forward and introduced himself politely. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Bet Hurley, an attorney with Gxy Enterprise.¡± At the sound of his name, Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed, her cool gaze narrowing in recognition. Bet Hurley. Everyone knew who he was¨Cthe man who dominated half the legal field in the country. Since the day he¡¯d taken up practice, he had never lost a case. People said he could make even the dirtiest cases look clean. Just like that, Rachel¡¯s confidence slipped. She faced him squarely. ¡°Mr. Hurley, I know how formidable you are, but are you really going to defend this? My stepmother is trying to steal my father¡¯s estate while he¡¯s sick. Worse, she even tried to kill him not long ago. Is that really someone you¡¯re willing to stand behind?¡± It was herst hope¨Cthat maybe Bet had a shred of professional ethics left. s, she had underestimated the weight of money. Thewyer,posed and righteous in demeanor, replied, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I¡¯m just awyer. If someone hires me, I do the job As for right or wrong¨Cthat¡¯s your family¡¯s problem, not mine. My only duty is that once a case is handed to me, I fight to win it.¡± Rachel could hear it clearly. There was no room for negotiation She didn¡¯t waste another word. Fine. Then I¡¯ll see you in court¡± Howard chuckled, unable to contain himself. ¡°Rachel, are you still dreaming? Do you actually think you can turn this around? Let me spell it out¨Cyou don¡¯t stand a chance. Give up. Or better yet, get on your knees right now and beg Maybe then, I¡¯ll let your off.¡± Rachel shot him a look full of contempt. ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯ve been waiting for, isn¡¯t it? You want me to kneel and grovel at your feet. Howard, you¡¯re nothing but a rat in the gutter, stabbing people in the back. Tell me, do you really have nothing left in this world worth living for? Is your entire life just going to be about revenge against me?¡± Her words wiped the smirk off his face. Howard¡¯s expression turned awful. ¡°Rachel, what the hell are you so smug about? Who do you think you are?¡± Rachel¡¯s heart skipped; fear pricked at her chest. Before it could take root, Howard¡¯s demeanor flipped again. He burst outughing, wild and unhinged, his madness sending shivers down her spine. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I like about you. Anyone else, I wouldn¡¯t even bother with. But you? I love that fire in you.¡± If someone else had said those words, Rachel might have mistaken them for apliment. But from Howard¡¯s mouth, they were nothing but revolting. He toyed idly with the face of his watch, speaking with deliberate patience. ¡°So, Rachel, what do you say? Beg me, and I¡¯ll let you walk away.¡± Rachel¡¯s chest burned with fury, her eyes filled with hostility. She felt like she could put a bullet straight through this jerk! Her Exit 654 Rachel clenched her jaw and refused without even thinking. ¡°Howard, stop dreaming. Do you really think that¡¯s ever going to happen?¡± Howard smirked, shrugging like it was out of his hands. ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing I can do. It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t give you a chance. You just didn¡¯t want it.¡± Jerry had already been fuming at Howard¡¯s arrogance, and seeing that smug look pushed him over the edge. ¡°So that¡¯s it? You just want someone to kneel? Rachel sure as hell won¡¯t, but I will.¡± He started to drop down, but Rachel stopped him cold. ¡°Jerry! Who told you to kneel to scum like him? If anyone should be on their knees here, it¡¯s him in front of us.¡± The veins in Howard¡¯s neck bulged with rage as he roared, ¡°Rachel!¡± She lifted her chin with a mocking sneer. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, need your daddy to save you?¡± Howard pointed at her and trembled with fury. ¡°Fine. Fine! Rachel, keep running that mouth. I¡¯ll make sure you learn what happens when you act tough. And when you lose, even if you beg me on your knees, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to let her off, because I can end you right now.¡± Rachel froze. She didn¡¯t even need to look. She knew that voice too well. Her head turned instinctively, her eyes softening despite herself. He strolled in, looking half¨Cawake, but his presence was impossible to ignore. Their eyes locked, and before she could stop herself, she whispered, ¡°I thought you were asleep at the hotel.¡± Tyler came straight to her side, taking her hand in his. His palm was warm, wrapping around her cold fingers ¡°The band packed up. You think I could keep sleeping after that?¡± Rachel smiled and let his warmth steady her. It was summer outside, but her hands felt ice¨Ccold. The second Howard spotted Tyler, he tensed up like a cat backed into a corner. ¡°Tyler! Always running to her rescue, huh? Why the hell are you everywhere I turn?¡± Tyler slipped an arm around Rachel, pulling her close. He red coldly at Howard. ¡°Do you even hear yourself? If your girlfriend was getting attacked, would you stand in the back like a coward?¡± He didn¡¯t even let Howard answer before continuing. ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t. But then again, to you, women are disposable. With someone as selfish as you, there¡¯s no way you¡¯d ever stand up for one. No wonder none of them want you.¡± Tyler shook his head, sighing as if it were a tragedy. ¡°Pathetic!¡± And that¨Cpity¨Cwas the one thing Howard couldn¡¯t stand, especiallying from Tyler. ¡°Screw you, Tyler! You¡¯re nothing! Yourpany¡¯s about to go bankrupt, and when I see you next, you¡¯ll be on your knees calling me your daddy! If I¡¯m in a good mood, I¡¯ll even throw you a bone or two.¡± Her Exit 655 Chapter 655 ¡°Get lost! Even if someone¡¯s handing out scraps, it sure as hell wouldn¡¯t be you. My wife makes sure I eat.¡± Tyler pulled Rachel tightly into his arms. In front of everyone, he didn¡¯t hesitate to press a kiss against her forehead. The heat of his lips made Rachel¡¯s whole body stiffen. She shot him a shy, almost annoyed nce and whispered, ¡°Tyler¡­¡± ¡°Save that voice forter,¡± he murmured into her ear. His warm breath blew across her skin, making her shiver as a wave of intimacy spread between them. Rachel¡¯s cheeks flushed red. Sometimes she didn¡¯t know whether tough or sigh at him. How could this man carry himself with such careless swagger, no matter where they were? The sight of them, so openly affectionate, made Howard¡¯s blood boil. ¡°Hey! Are you two out of your damn minds? Tyler, you¡¯re about to lose everything, and you¡¯re here showing off in front of me?¡± Howard¡¯s gaze shifted to Rachel, eyes gleaming with cruel delight. ¡°And you, Rachel. When Tyler can¡¯t keep you anymore, or when he can¡¯t satisfy you, you can alwayse crawling to me as my mistress. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I was willing to marry you once. You turned me down, like you were too good for me. Have you even looked in a mirror? Divorced, been with God knows how many men, and you still put on airs with me? You were lucky I was even willing to overlook all that. Now? Toote! You made your bed.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression was one of pure disdain. That proud, untouchable aura of hers made Howard feel like his chest would explode. His veins bulged, fists clenched, and for a second, he looked ready to pass out from rage. He jabbed a shaking finger at the two of them. ¡°Rachel, Tyler, you¡¯re really tough, huh? Just wait! I¡¯ll enjoy watching how long you two can keep acting high and mighty!¡± With that, Howard stormed off. Bet followed close behind. Only when Rachel saw them leave did she finally exhale. She then turned to Tyler. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you resting at the hotel? What are you doing here?¡± The memory of Howard¡¯s near¨Cmeltdown made her uneasy. She feared Tyler might sh with him head- on. Afterst time, Steven had already been doing everything he could to push Tyler into bankruptcy. TOPS Now, with Howard in the mix, the grudge between the Ziegler family and Tyler was set in stone. Tyler narrowed his eyes and smiled yfully. ¡°I¡¯ve got a sixth sense. I felt my girlfriend was in trouble, so I came over.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that. Look at you, arguing with him like that. If he runs off and whispers in his old man¡¯s ear again, who knows what kind of mess he¡¯ll stir up.¡± Thinking about this made Rachel¡¯s head ache. By now, Gerald had finally processed what had happened. mming his cane against the floor, he heaved himself up from his chair and threw all the me straight at her. ¡°Rachel, did the Lloyd family owe you in the past life? Every time youe back, you throw this house into chaos!¡± Rachel¡¯s expression went cold in an instant. Just as she was about to fire back, Tyler raised his arm to stop her. He looked at Gerald. ¡°Old man, don¡¯t you think your favoritism has gone a little too far? Back when Rachel wasn¡¯t your granddaughter, you treated her like dirt. When you found out she was, you wrote her off as an illegitimate child. Meanwhile, your so¨Ccalled real granddaughter gets all your love¨Cbut what has she ever done for the Lloyd family?¡± Her Exit 656 ¡°Oh, right. Since Lloyd Enterprise isn¡¯t in your hands anymore, shouldn¡¯t you at least go through the ounts? Take a good look at what kind of contributions Yvette has made during her time as deputy CEO. How many major projects has she actually brought in for thepany?¡± Standing to the side, Rachel¡¯s heart pounded uncontrobly. All her life in the Lloyd family, she had relied only on herself. No one had ever stood up for her. Jim wanted to, but he feared Gerald too much¨Cthe way William had that unexinable fear of Tyler. Rachel had gotten used to fighting her own battles. But now, suddenly, someone was willing to step forward for her and defend her. That hollow ce in her chest seemed to be filled bit by bit. The harsh edge in her eyes softened. Gerald had tolerated Rachel¡¯s defiance, but with Tyler¡¯s brazen words, his rage boiled over. His chest heaved as he sucked in huge gulps of air, lips trembling with fury. ¡°Tyler! You¡¯re nothing more than her boyfriend right now! You haven¡¯t even stepped into the Lloyd family¡¯s doors, and you dare speak to me like this?¡± Tyler snorted. ¡°Old man, don¡¯t tter yourself. You think I care about stepping into the Lloyd family? What I care about is Rachel.¡± He nced coldly at Gerald. ¡°As for your family, if not for Rachel, I wouldn¡¯t even set foot in your house. Beg me toe in, and I still wouldn¡¯t.¡± Tyler¡¯s disdain was written all over his face, as if the Lloyd family was nothing more than filth under his shoe. ¡°You two are outrageous! Get out! Both of you, get out of my sight!¡± Sasha, seeing Gerald turn his wrath on Rachel and Tyler, quickly jumped in to add fuel to the fire. ¡°That¡¯s right! Mr. Hunt, your family has wealth and power, and small families like ours don¡¯t dare cross you. But that doesn¡¯t mean you can go too far! You should respect your elders! What right do you have to insult him like this?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth! You¡¯re no better! From today on, you¡¯re also out of the Lloyd family! I¡¯m not even dead yet, and you¡¯re already eyeing the family assets. Jim is your husband! How could you treat him like this? Do you have any conscience left at all?¡± Rachel froze for a moment. She had expected Sasha¡¯s meddling would only force Tyler to throw more barbs, but to her surprise, Gerald showed a sliver of decency byshing out at Sasha, too. Rachel almost wanted tough at the sight. Sasha, stubborn and defiant as ever, wasn¡¯t cowed. She sneered back without hesitation. ¡°Old man, the Lloyd family¡¯s wealth is supposed to include my share. And don¡¯t forget, my son is the only male heir of this family. All of it will belong to him eventually, so why not give it to me now to manage on his behalf? Do you think that if the assets end up in Rachel¡¯s or Yvette¡¯s hands, your great¨Cgrandson will ever see a penny of it? Shouldn¡¯t you be thinking about him?¡± Gerald¡¯s expression was stern, unmoved by her words. ¡°These matters are for us to decide. The child will never be shortchanged, but it¡¯s not your ce to meddle!¡± Her Exit 657 Sasha and Gerald were at each other¡¯s throats, shouting like there was no tomorrow. Catching Tyler¡¯s eye, Rachel gave him a quick signal. Without another word, the two of them slipped out quietly, bringing Jerry and thewyer with them. Even at the doorway, Sasha and Gerald¡¯s voices still echoed from inside. ¡°Old man, if that¡¯s how you want to y it, then I¡¯ll fight the Lloyds to the bitter end! After all the years I poured my blood and sweat into this household, do you think you can just toss me out with a few words? Think again! If I take my son and leave, the Lloyds will never see him again!¡± The moment Gerald heard her threaten to take the child, he nearly jumped out of his skin. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare! If you try to take that boy away, don¡¯t me the Lloyds for being ruthless. And don¡¯t think the Zieglers backing you means you can rest easy. Do you really believe Howard is doing this for you? He¡¯s after Rachel! Or have you already forgotten about Sheryn Lyons?¡± Gerald had overheard bits and pieces before¨Chow Sheryn had flipped her testimony in court, which was the only reason Rachel still hadn¡¯t been able to take Howard down. Instead, the Ziegler family had turned it against her, using her and Tyler of intentional assault. That case would drag on for ages if it really went to trial. As for Shery, betraying Tyler had sealed her fate. Tyler had cut off all support, leaving her and her family to fend for themselves. Howard, true to form, had used her and tossed her aside without a second thought. Everyone knew she wouldn¡¯tst long under his thumb. Sasha knew all of this, but she had no other choice. Without Howard, she didn¡¯t stand a chance. Her eyes bulged, her voice turning shrill and venomous. ¡°This is all your fault! You forced me into this!¡± But Gerald didn¡¯t even bother looking at her. ¡°Don¡¯t put this on us. You¡¯re the one who got greedy. Had you stayed in your ce, the Lloyds wouldn¡¯t have cast you out. But no¨Cyou wanted it all for yourself. Swallow the entire Lloyd fortune whole? Careful that you don¡¯t choke on it!¡± Blinded by desperation, Sasha couldn¡¯t hear a word of reason. To her, every sentence out of Gerald¡¯s mouth was just another attempt to deny her a share of the Lloyd wealth. She turned, eyes shing, to where Howard sat sprawled in a chair like a lord. Moving toward him with a sickly¨Csweet smile, she asked almost pleadingly, ¡°Mr. Howard, you really will help me, won¡¯t you? I have nowhere else to turn. Please, you have to help me.¡± Howard crossed one leg over the other, loungingzily as he picked at his ear with his pinky. ¡°Rx. Rachel¡¯s enemies are my friends. Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t need anything from you. I just enjoy going against that woman. The worse her life gets, the happier I am.¡± Gerald, still hoping to calm things down, tried to step in with a gentler tone. ¡°Mr. Howard, I know our family doesn¡¯t have your kind of power, but we¡¯ve known each other for years. For my sake, can¡¯t you let this go? You¡¯ve seen for yourself. Rachel is stubborn and doesn¡¯t even spare her own family. Forcing her won¡¯t do you any good. Some things just aren¡¯t worth it.¡± What Gerald didn¡¯t realize was that every wordnded like a p in the face. Howard despised being lectured. He mmed the table, shot to his feet, and jabbed a finger in Gerald¡¯s face. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are? Pointing fingers at me? Old man, you were unlucky enough to get saddled with a disaster like Rachel. Best get her on her knees before me and beg for mercy. Once I¡¯m done dealing with Tyler, it¡¯ll be your turn next!¡± Her Exit 658 Gerald¡¯s weathered face went pale with shock. ¡°Mr. Howard, you can¡¯t¡­¡± Howard didn¡¯t even nce back. As he left, he tossed onest warning at the Lloyds. ¡°I¡¯ve said what I needed to say. If Rachel doesn¡¯te crawling to me within a week to apologize, your family can start preparing for bankruptcy.¡± ¡°Mr. Howard¡­¡± Gerald gripped his cane, trying to follow, but his age betrayed him¨Che couldn¡¯t keep up. Once Howard was gone, the living room fell silent. Sasha turned to Gerald, smug as ever. ¡°See? I told you, Rachel¡¯s nothing but a curse. If you¡¯d just listened to me and cut ties with her earlier, would Howard have evere after the Lloyds?¡± Gerald¡¯s head throbbed. Rubbing at the few strands of hair left on his scalp, he snapped, ¡°Do you really need to rub salt in the wound? This whole house is in ruins because of you! Tell me this¨Cwhere¡¯s Yvette? I haven¡¯t seen her around these past few days.¡± At that, Sasha¡¯s smile grew sly, almost triumphant. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask your precious eldest granddaughter what she¡¯s been up to¨Clike how she managed to get her own little sister thrown into a police station.¡± Gerald froze. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Sasha, savoring every second, painted the story of Rachel and Yvette in the most damning light possible, piling exaggeration on top of usation. Gerald sat there, her words pouring into his ears like poison, every phrase hitting him harder than thest. The room seemed to spin. Before Sasha could even finish, his world went dark, and he copsed onto the floor. Startled, Sasha screamed. ¡°Old man!¡± Rachel and Tyler had barely returned to the hotel when her phone rang. It was Jim. ¡°Rachel, can youe to the hospital? Your grandfather fainted. He¡¯s been admitted,¡± Jim said in a panic. Hearing that Gerald had been admitted, her heart clenched with guilt. Could this be because of her? She steadied herself enough to ask, ¡°Which hospital?¡± ¡°The same one I¡¯m at. Sasha brought him in.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Ending the call, Rachel turned to Jerry. ¡°Jerry, take me to the hospital first.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Although she didn¡¯t like Gerald much, the thought that he might have copsed because of her left a heaviness in her chest. Thest thing she wanted was to shoulder more me. Tyler, noticing her expression, leaned back with arms crossed. His tone was casual and almost dismissive. ¡°You didn¡¯t argue with him. If anyone takes the me, it¡¯ll be me. Not you.¡± It wasn¡¯t the gentlest way tofort someone, but Rachel could see through it. This was his way shielding her. He was taking the weight onto himself. Strangely enough, it warmed her. of She studied him quietly. He looked steadier now than he had earlier, but there was still an undeniable weariness about him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go back to the hotel and rest?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ming with you.¡± ¡°But you look exhausted.¡± ¡°And whose fault do you think that is?¡± To anyone else, it might¡¯ve sounded like a simple remark, but Rachel could feel the deliberate sting in it. She pursed her lips and gave him the side¨Ceye. ¡°Shut up!¡± Her Exit 659 Chapter 659 Tyler couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Rachel¡¯s flustered, shy reaction. He let out a husky chuckle. ¡°Come on, you¡¯re not a kid anymore. How are you still so easy to tease? I was only joking, and you¡¯re acting like it¡¯s the end of the world.¡± As he spoke, he deliberately darted a nce toward Jerry and Mr. Wright. Rachel instinctively followed his line of sight¨Conly to catch both of them stifling theirughter. Her face burned hot. If she could, she would¡¯ve climbed into the backseat right then just to stitch Tyler¡¯s mouth shut. Thankfully, the car pulled up to the hospital just in time. Rachel let out a sigh of relief. Once they stepped out, Rachel turned to Mr. Wright. ¡°Thank you for today. I¡¯ll follow up with you about the next steps.¡± Mr. Wright clutched the file in his hands, looking hesitant. Rachel noticed immediately. ¡°Mr. Wright, if there¡¯s something on your mind, you can be honest with me.¡± Mr. Wright sighed. ¡°All right. Since you said that, I won¡¯t sugarcoat it. Thewyer Howard hired¨Cyou already know his record. He¡¯s never lost a case. We don¡¯t stand a chance against him. To be frank, I don¡¯t rmend you fight this battle at all.¡± He paused before adding gravely, ¡°But if you insist, you¡¯ll need to be prepared for two things. First, that thewsuit could drag on for a long time with no quick resolution, and second, that the odds of losing are very real. We¡¯re not dealing with an ordinary attorney here.¡± Bet was practically a living legend. Rachel didn¡¯t respond right away. She needed time to think. Maybe there was still evidence connected to Sasha that could turn things around. ¡°I¡¯ll consider it carefully. Once I¡¯ve made a decision, I¡¯ll call you.¡± ¡°That works.¡± After Mr. Wright left, Rachel and Tyler started toward the hospital entrance, Jerry following close behind. They had barely taken a few steps when Tyler stopped and turned to face Jerry. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you should head back.¡± Jerry frowned, his expression firm and serious as he answered, ¡°If I leave, how will Rachel get back to the hotelter? She¡¯s been exhausted these past few days. It wouldn¡¯t be safe for her to drive.¡± He looked Tyler up and down. Finally, his gazended on Tyler¡¯s injured leg. ¡°And frankly, Mr. Hunt, you don¡¯t look like you¡¯re in any shape to drive either.¡± Tyler pursed his lips. ¡°We¡¯ll manage.¡± But Jerry brushed past him without hesitation. ¡°You don¡¯t need to get rid of me, Mr. Hunt. I only take orders from Rachel.¡± The unspoken message was clear. No one but Rachel could tell Jerry what to do. Tyler froze for a moment, thenughed sarcastically. ¡°Loyal to the core, aren¡¯t you?¡± It hit him that Rachel had basically ced a rival right at his side. Rachel, meanwhile, was oblivious to the subtle sh between the two men. Her mind was too preupied with Gerald. What if something really had happened to him? It would be her fault. Perhaps her tongue had just gotten too sharptely¨Ctwo old men, back¨Cto¨Cback, ending up in the hospital after facing her. Guided by the directions Jim had given, Rachel walked into Gerald¡¯s ward. He was lying there in a hospital gown, hooked up to an IV drip. His face looked pale, and he was still unconscious. It seemed he had been through a real shock. When Sasha spotted Rachel, she immediately rolled her eyes. She started speaking sarcastically right away. Her Exit 660 ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time to admit it? You really are the curse of the Lloyd family! If it weren¡¯t for you, would the old man have been so angry that he ended up in the hospital?¡± Sasha went on. Rachel didn¡¯t even think before snapping back. ¡°And whose fault is that, really? Yours! When I asked you to step outside with me, you refused. If you hade with me, he wouldn¡¯t have overheard those words, and none of this would¡¯ve happened. I might bear the main responsibility, but are you really going to say you¡¯re not at fault at all?¡± Sasha frowned. She was t¨Cout refusing to admit any fault. ¡°Rachel, can you stop pushing the me on me every time something happens? What, are you trying to pick a fight with me now?¡± Rachel was tired of arguing with someone like Sasha. ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t feel like wasting my breath. Grandpa¡¯s already in the hospital¨Cbetter to focus on his health.¡± With that, she turned around to leave and find the doctor. Sasha, relentless as ever, called after her, ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m telling you, you can¡¯t wash your hands of this! You¡¯re responsible, and you have an obligation. You must take responsibility. My advice is to give up on the Lloyd family¡¯s inheritance sooner rather thanter.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t even acknowledge her rant, treating her words as nothing more than hot air. Still, Sasha¡¯s words lingered in her mind. She really was worried that she might have triggered Gerald¡¯s copse. Although she felt little affection for him, she couldn¡¯t disregard Jim¡¯s feelings. Jim didn¡¯t have much time left. She couldn¡¯t risk being the cause of something worse happening to Gerald on top of that. Just as Rachel was about to find Gerald¡¯s attending doctor, Leia walked over. ¡°Ms. Rachel¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Rachel always had a good impression of Leia. Most of the Lloyd maids only fawned over whoever held power in the household, but Leia was different. Leia had once worked for Rachel¡¯s mother, and they had known each other for many years. Because of that, Leia had always taken special care of Rachel. Leia nced warily into the hospital room before leaning in to whisper in Rachel¡¯s ear. ¡°Here¡¯s what happened. After you left, Ms. Dawson argued with Mr. Gerald. He got so furious that it nearly did him in. Then Mr. Howard added a few harsh words, and that¡¯s when Mr. Gerald copsed.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in sudden realization. So it wasn¡¯t her fault! Sasha had pushed Gerald over the edge. A frosty glint flickered in her eyes. She smiled coldly. Well done, Sasha! That woman tried to pin the me on Rachel when it was really her and Howard who had driven Gerald into this state. Rachel gave Leia a grateful look. ¡°Leia, thank goodness you told me this today.¡± Leia sped Rachel¡¯s hand with sympathy. ¡°You truly are loyal and kindhearted. Anyone else would have cut ties with this family long ago, but I can see it. You may say you don¡¯t want anything to do with the Lloyds, but deep down, you still care.¡± ¡°Leia, I know I shouldn¡¯t say this, but I feel I must¨Cfor your own future,¡± Rachel replied. ¡°You¡¯ve seen my father¡¯s condition. He doesn¡¯t have much time left. And as for Grandpa, you know his health even better than I do.¡± Chapter 661 Her Exit 661 Chapter 661 ¡°My dad has asked Sasha for a divorce. I suppose she¡¯ll leave the Lloyd household very soon. Perhaps you should make the necessary preparations.¡± Leia said morosely, ¡°Ms. Rachel, who would want someone at my age? What¡¯s more, I¡¯ve long gotten used to working for the Lloyds.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know what to say. Leia was right. She had been with the Lloyds for so many years, and old habits die hard. She might find it challenging to adapt to a new environment and work for another household. Rachel pondered for a moment, and soon, an idea came to mind. ¡°How about this, Leia? Don¡¯t work for the Lloyds anymore. How about working for me instead? But the problem is, I might not stay here in the future and might go overseas. Are you okay with that?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t quite confirm her ns for the future, but right now, she didn¡¯t really want to stay here. Rachel¡¯s words, rather than making Leia hesitant, delighted her. ¡°Sure, that¡¯s not a problem for me. I don¡¯t have children, and I¡¯m all by myself. It¡¯s the same for me no matter where I go.¡± Leia was smiling when she spoke, but Rachel could see a tinge of sadness in her eyes. Rachel couldn¡¯t hold back a question. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t have children, what about other rtives? Do you have any rtives, Leia?¡± Leia shook her head and choked back tears. ¡°I was abducted and sold to the mountains when I was young. Had I not met your mother back then, I wouldn¡¯t know whether I¡¯d be dead or alive now. Forget having any kin or family. I was too young when I was abducted, I don¡¯t even know where my family was and how my parents look like. I don¡¯t know anything about them¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you try to look for them after you left the mountains? You could¡¯ve reported your case to the police.¡± Leia shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s pointless. I tried reporting my case, but because I was too young when it happened and my memories were too blurry, I couldn¡¯t remember a thing. They did nab the human trafficker, though.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard that. ¡°You can find your family members through him.¡± ¡°When the police caught him, he resisted and ran onto the expressway. He got run down by a car.¡± Leia sighed. Rachel didn¡¯t expect Leia to have such a tumultuous life. It wasn¡¯t easy for the police to nab the human trafficker, so Rachel thought Leia could find her family through him. Who would expect things to turn out this way¨Cthat Leia would lose her only glimmer of hope? Rachel patted Leia on the shoulder and gave her aforting hug. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Leia. Even though my mom is no longer around, I can be your family. Follow me and I¡¯ll certainly pay you your worth.¡± A tear trickled down Leia¡¯s face. She wiped it away, gratitude shining in her eyes. ¡°Really? Thank you so much, Ms. Rachel.¡± ¡°Alright, we can discuss the details in the future. Whatever it is, know that there¡¯s a solution to the problem. Now go be busy.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After Rachel and Leia were done chatting, Rachel went looking for the attending doctor, oblivious to the fact that Tyler had overheard her conversation with Leia. He stood right around the corner, his deep, dark eyes narrowing dangerously. He thought that Rachel would have decided to settle down here after so long, yet she was still thinking of going overseas. She was nning to leave him once again. He had to find a way to make her drop the idea. Her Exit 662 Rachel consulted with the attending doctor, who took a look at Gerald¡¯s medical records and shook his head with a sigh. ¡°Mr. Lloyd has a heart condition and shouldn¡¯t be emotionally agitated at his age. If his condition suddenly res up, it would be very troublesome.¡± Rachel asked, ¡°Is there any treatment avable for his condition?¡± ¡°A coronary stent isn¡¯t rmended for a patient at his age. Instead, I rmend a conservative approach to treatment for him.¡± Rachel agreed. Jim probably wouldn¡¯t allow Gerald to undergo such a major surgery at his age. ¡°Alright. Prescribe him some medication, then.¡± Rachel was on her way to the pharmacy when she bumped into Tyler. A thought suddenly came to mind, and she called Jerry. ¡°Jerry,e over right now.¡± Jerry rushed to Rachel¡¯s side within five minutes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Rachel?¡± ¡°Jerry, I need to head to the pharmacy downstairs to get some medication. Help me apany Mr. Hunt for his medical review. Ask the doctor if his bandages need to be changed and when the cast on his leg can be removed.¡± Jerry shot Tyler a side nce, looking very reluctant. Being a straight talker, he didn¡¯t hesitate to reject Rachel. ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Rachel furrowed her brows, surprise shing past her eyes. ¡°Why not?¡± Ever since she got to know him better and earned his trust, Jerry had never gone against her wishes. It wouldn¡¯t even be an exaggeration to say that he was willing to go through hell and high water for her. Why was his rebellious streak suddenly showing when she asked him to go with Tyler for his review? Being the haughty and arrogant man he was, Tyler refused to back down. With a cold re, he said disdainfully, ¡°I don¡¯t need himing with me. We¡¯ll go after you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°But I want to go visit my dad after that¡­¡± Rachel said, clearly put on the spot. Tyler lifted his hand to nce at his watch and said gruffly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t have anything on right now, anyway.¡± Just as Rachel was helplessly thinking of what to do next, Jerry suddenly had a change of mind. ¡°I¡¯ll go with him.¡± His tone was still reluctant despite his verbal agreement. Rachel¡¯s eyes lit up, taking his word for it and turning a blind eye to his reluctance. ¡°That¡¯s great. Take him there now, hurry.¡± ¡°No need. I can go there myself.¡± With that, Tyler hobbled on his frame and headed to the consultation room by himself. Rachel cast him a worried look before turning to remind Jerry, ¡°Quick, catch up with him! He never takes care of himself.¡± Jerry tilted his chin haughtily. ¡°He said it himself. He doesn¡¯t need me with him. I¡¯ll go with you to the pharmacy instead.¡± ¡°Jerry, Tyler got injured because of me. I have the responsibility and obligation to take care of him till he recovers.¡± Rachel¡¯s face was solemn, a stark difference from her usual mild¨Cmannered and easy¨Cgoing temperament. Jerry knew this meant that she was serious about this. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go with him.¡± A smile lit up Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll take you out for a meal after this. It¡¯s been a while since you enjoyed the local cuisine here, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about thatter. I¡¯ll be off now.¡± Her Exit 663 Rachel waved her hands at Jerry with a bright smile. ¡°Huny on!¡± Jerry quickly caught up with Tyler, who sensed that someone was beside him and said coldly, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Jerry shot him a haughty look and scoffed, ¡°What else? Rachel asked me to follow you to your medical review. Do you really think I want to be here?¡± Tyler¡¯s dark eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked sideways at Jerry. His voice was icy. ¡°Go do your thing. I don¡¯t need you around here.¡± Jerry insisted on following him. ¡°I don¡¯t have a say in this. I do whatever Rachel tells me to.¡± Tyler smirked, but the smile didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°What did she do to bewitch you and make you so obedient and submissive to her?¡± Jerry looked coldly at Tyler, not one bit affected by his intimidating aura. This was the reason Tyler paid more attention to Jerry. People usually feared him, yet this young man looked at him as though he were his enemy. Tyler had felt that way right from their first meeting. He saw aggressiveness and wariness in Jerry¡¯s eyes, which were filled with animosity toward him. Jerry said, ¡°You don¡¯t understand my rtionship with Rachel.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it just because she chose to spare you despite knowing that you were hired to kill her, and was even willing to give you a chance to turn over a new leaf?¡± Jerry nodded. ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s bold and amazing?¡± Until today, Jerry thought that Rachel¡¯s decision was a huge test of a person¡¯s character. To put it in another way, it was akin to having a Sword of Damocles hanging over her head. Tyler agreed with his assessment. ¡°You¡¯re right about that. If it were me, I¡¯d never leave a threat by my side. One wrong move might make me regret it for the rest of my life, after all.¡± Jerry nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why you should understand why I¡¯m willing to go through hell, no matter what Rachel asks of me.¡± ¡°Do you like her?¡± Tyler suddenly threw Jerry a question, sending a wave of shock rolling over Jerry. He didn¡¯t expect Tyler to be so tant about it. He stood stunned for a moment before retracting his gaze. ¡°Why should I answer you?¡± Tyler scoffed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you answer me or not. I just want to make it clear that whether you like Rachel or not, she belongs to me. Do you understand that?¡± Jerry tutted at Tyler. ¡°You speak so confidently, but how are you so sure that Rachel wants to be with you? I know everything between you two. Rachel won¡¯t want to stay in Yurelia City forever, and you can¡¯t make her stay. She has her dreams and aspirations, unlike other women you find elsewhere.¡± Tyler was both annoyed and amused to see how smitten Jerry was whenever he talked about Rachel. He was annoyed at this young punk of a love rival, and amused at how dull thetter was. Jerry looked more like a silly fan worshipping his idol rather than a rival. However, Tyler did agree with Jerry¡¯s take on Rachel. ¡°Of course. If she¡¯s like other girls, would I have any reason to like her?¡± Her Exit 664 Chapter 664 ¡°But of course,¡± Jerry said objectively. ¡°I agree with that.¡± Amidst their bickering, Tyler and Jerry finally made their way to the consultation room. Tyler stopped right outside and turned to Jerry. ¡°Wait for me outside.¡± Jerry refused. ¡°No, I¡¯m going in with you. Rachel reminded me to keep an eye on you, or you wouldn¡¯t listen to the doctor¡¯s instructions.¡± Tyler had never seen someone as stubborn as Jerry. If this were ancient times, he was sure Jerry would be some sort of suicide soldier. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with the boy and said nonchntly, ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Tyler walked into the consultation room with Jerry behind him. Xavier¡¯s brows furrowed at the sight of Tyler. He was about to speak when Tyler interrupted him. ¡°Alright, save it. Get on with the review, I have things to do.¡± Xavier sighed before shooting Tyler a helpless look. ¡°You¡¯re seriously¡­ Forget it. Let¡¯s head in for the check¨Cup.¡± Very soon, Tyler walked out, the check¨Cup all done. ¡°Well, can the cast be removed?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡­ You must be careful not to overwork yourself during this period!¡± Xavier had wanted to seize this opportunity while Tyler was injured to nag at him about his lifestyle, but he didn¡¯t expect Tyler to recover so quickly. That was a good thing, though. Xavier wrote Tyler a prescription and reminded him, ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you to take care of your health.¡± Tyler smiled brightly. ¡°So you mean to say that I¡¯mpletely recovered?¡± Xavier was reluctant to say yes. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can do whatever you want now that you¡¯ve recovered. I advise you to show some self¨Ccontrol. How are things with yourpany as of ?¡± ¡°Still alright.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t tell Xavier the truth. Why make Xavier worry when he wouldn¡¯t understand what was going on in the first ce? Xavier nodded pensively. ¡°We recently received a major client at our hospital, and I was wondering whether to introduce him to you. I think he¡¯s in the same line as you are.¡± 1/2 ¡°No need,¡± Tyler rejected Xavier without further thought. He knew Xavier hated backdoor dealings and pulling strings. Xavier was a doctor by profession, and his job was to heal the sick. A doctor should not be influenced by other interests or stakes at hand. ¡°Come here, I have something to tell you¡­¡± Tyler turned to Jerry, who was standing like a tree behind him. ¡°You heard it yourself. You can go back now.¡± Jerry didn¡¯t want to apany Tyler here in the first ce, and wouldn¡¯t even be here if Rachel hadn¡¯t asked for his help. He was naturally d to hear Tyler dismiss him. He turned to leave the consultation room at once. After taking the medication from the pharmacy, Rachel made her way back to Gerald¡¯s ward. She wanted to leave Leia with some instructions before leaving the hospital. She wanted to avoid Gerald, lest they start fighting again. When she arrived at the door of Gerald¡¯s ward with his medication in hand, she heard Jim¡¯s voice from inside the ward. Rachel could hear the helplessness in her father¡¯s voice. Tears welled up in her eyes at how he didn¡¯t have many days left on earth. She was turning to leave when she heard Jim mention her name. ¡°Dad, are you getting senile? Rachel is my daughter! Why are you treating her like this?¡± Her Exit 665 Gerald was lying on the bed, wearing an oxygen mask. He didn¡¯t look in good shape, and even his voice sounded breathless. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a good idea for her to keep being with our family?¡± Jim was confused. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Do you still can¡¯t understand what I¡¯m saying? Letting her stay with our family is only going to harm her. Yvette and Sasha are up to no good. Even I can¡¯t protect her, given my age. Or do you think you can, what with your indecisiveness and weak will? Wouldn¡¯t you rather let her make a clean break with the family? As long as she has nothing to do with us, Sasha and Yvette wouldn¡¯t do anything to her.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes widened at what she had overheard. She clenched her fists, her face scrunched with disbelief. Impossible! Gerald had always hated her and didn¡¯t want her as part of the Lloyds. As it turned out, it was because he didn¡¯t want Sasha and Yvette to harm her. Before Rachel had the time to digest what she just heard, Gerald went on, ¡°There¡¯s a file in the drawer in my study. Take it and keep it with you. I¡¯ll tell you more about it when the time is right.¡± Jim nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I know Yvette and Sasha are in cahoots to hurt Rachel. She has given the evidence to the police, and Yvette has been detained. If the evidence is legitimate, she might be sentenced.¡± Hearing that, a bad feeling overtook Rachel. Gerald went on, and his following words fell within Rachel¡¯s expectations. ¡°It was wrong of Yvette to do all that. She is getting too scheming, and she¡¯s picking up all of Sasha¡¯s filthy ideas. ¡°But no matter what, Yvette is also your daughter and a member of the family. Rachel listens to what you say, so why don¡¯t you tell her to drop the charges and have Yvette released? ¡°If Yvette ends up behind bars and word of it gets out, our family will be utterly shamed. How am I to answer our ancestors in theherworld?¡± Jim agreed with Gerald. From their perspectives, it was certainly the right thing to do. Both Rachel and Yvette were daughters of the family. More importantly, the Lloyds might be truly ruined if one of them were imprisoned, especially given their current decline. Rachel didn¡¯t want to hear any more. She had already guessed what was going to happen next. Naturally, she couldn¡¯t ept this. For Gerald and Jim, however, they couldn¡¯t bear to hurt either one of their daughters and granddaughters. She turned to leave and bumped into a nurse who saw the medication in her hand. ¡°You must be family with the patient in this ward. Come on in. Let me tell you about the dosage and all.¡± Rachel wanted to leave, but it was toote. Jim had already caught sight of her. ¡°Rachel?¡± She took a deep breath and forced a smile on her face, pretending she had heard nothing. ¡°Dad.¡± Jim smiled brightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe right in when you were at the door?¡± ¡°I just arrived. I came here to deliver the medicine.¡± Rachel could only make up an excuse. She didn¡¯t want to tell Jim that she had heard everything they had said earlier. ¡°Come on in.¡± Jim approached Rachel and pulled her toward Gerald. Rachel ced the medication on one of the shelves. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll leave. Dad, do take care of yourself.¡± Her Exit 666 Chapter 666 ¡°Wait, I have something to say to you.¡± Rachel wanted to leave right after putting the medicine down, but Jim stopped her. The smile she was trying hard to keep on her face stiffened. She clenched her fists and prepared herself mentally, then turned around to face her father. ¡°I know what you want to talk to me about, but I¡¯ll never agree to it. Yvette and Sasha hired someone to kill me. If I weren¡¯t lucky, you wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to see me here today. This isn¡¯t them being insensible or rash. It was a wilful murder. I¡¯ve already given her a chance, but she disregarded it. Since she doesn¡¯t care about our rtionship, don¡¯t me me for thinking like this.¡± Gerald cut her off. ¡°How could you say that? Since you¡¯re talking about giving her a chance, that proves that you can choose not to pursue the matter. You know about me and your father¡¯s situation. He is definitely going to divorce Sasha, too. Must you doom every member of the family before you¡¯re happy? ¡°She¡¯s your sister, albeit of a different mother. You two are rted by blood! Drop the charges against her, and we¡¯ll make sure she answers for her wrongdoing. I promise she won¡¯t do anything to hurt you from now on.¡± Jim was less harshpared to Gerald, but to Rachel, there was no difference. Both men wanted the same end oue. ¡°Why? Why should I always be the one making the sacrifice? Have you ever stepped into my shoes and considered things from my perspective?¡± Rachel said firmly. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t care about such things, but her family was always disappointing her. With time, she no longer held out any expectations for them. That didn¡¯t mean they could keep making herpromise time and time again. Gerald¡¯s face turned dark with displeasure. He pointed a finger at Rachel, then said usingly to Jim, ¡°Just look at the daughter you¡¯ve raised! I told you she¡¯s a stubborn one and you have to smooth out her edges, but you refuse to listen to me. Rachel, that¡¯s your younger sister we¡¯re talking about! Must you go to such extremes?¡± Rachel¡¯s chest heaved with emotion as tears filled her eyes. She clenched her fists so hard, her nails dug into the flesh of her palms. The pain was the only thing keeping her alert to what was happening around her. Her lips were pressed tight against each other, a firm and resolute look on her face. ¡°My sister wants me dead, and you want me to jump to her defence?! Do you think I have a screw loose? Or is her life the only one worth defending while mine amounts to nothing?¡± Jim looked morose and pleaded with Rachel, ¡°I¡¯m begging you, Rachel. Didn¡¯t you promise me that you¡¯d never send Yvette to jail?¡± ¡°I did, on the condition that she doesn¡¯t do anything wicked. But then she came marching to me with William in tow, using me of being unfaithful right in front of Tyler. Do you really think I¡¯ll believe that she¡¯ll treat me as a sister?¡± Rachel had long seen through Yvette. Jim and Gerald were the only ones still blinded by so¨Ccalled kinship and still believed that Yvette treated her as a sister. None of these mattered, though. What mattered more was their attitude. Forget it! She didn¡¯t want to talk about this anymore. She knew it was pointless trying to wake someone pretending to sleep. Jim refused to give up hope and continued pleading with her. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left. Can¡¯t you just take it as fulfilling a dying wish of mine?¡± ¡°Mr. Lloyd, are you using your life to guilt¨Ctrip Rachel?¡± Her Exit 667 Chapter 667 Suddenly, the low, icy voice of a man sounded. Rachel froze the moment she heard it. She turned around and saw Tyler, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He no longer had his support frame with him, and somehow looked a lot more spirited than before. His exquisitely carved features were as aloof yet elegant as she remembered. A cacophony of emotions roiled in the depths of those dark eyes as they looked at her. Tyler¡¯s appearance brought a stark change to the air in the ward, his aura intimidating and intense. Gerald, who was still gabbing away a second earlier, stopped talking. Jim knew that Tyler treated Rachel very well, and that made him respect Tyler even more. ¡°Tyler, it¡¯s like this¡­ We were talking to Rachel about Yvette. We weren¡¯t trying to threaten her with our lives. Both of them are equally important to us. She knows about my and her grandfather¡¯s condition. I also have a son who¡¯s still very young. We can¡¯t possibly leave the family with no descendants after we leave the world.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your family¡¯s problem and nothing to do with her. The day you thought she wasn¡¯t part of the Lloyd family and chased her out, she no longer has any obligations toward the family. How could you call her back when you need her and then kick her aside when you no longer need her? Is that how you treat family?¡± Tyler had always been a straight talker and never bothered mincing his words. His tirade beat upon Gerald and Jim like waves crashing ruthlessly on the shore. His words were way too harsh and straightforward especially for Gerald, who had always been an elderly figure of respect and authority. For someone who had never been on the receiving end of such harsh words, his entire body started shaking with anger. ¡°How¡­how could you say something like that?!¡± Tyler¡¯s gaze swept coldly across them. ¡°I have nastier things to say. Wanna hear them?¡± Gerald¡¯s face froze; he was stunned into silence. Although he had heard about how unbridled, proud, and temperamental Tyler was, he still couldn¡¯t quite take it when he was on the receiving end of Tyler¡¯s scathing remarks. Jim didn¡¯t want to offend Tyler. On the other hand, he was hoping Tyler would have Rachel¡¯s back in the future. He wanted his daughter to have someone to lean on when times got tough. He smiled at Tyler and tried to smooth things over. ¡°Hear us out, Tyler. You might have misunderstood Rachel¡¯s grandfather. We know that Yvette did something horrible to Rachel and this has gravely impacted her, but at the end of the day, Yvette is her sister. We will punish Yvette duly.¡± Tyler stuck his hands in his pockets and arched a brow at both men, the corner of his lips lifting in a smirk. ¡°Oh, and how do you intend to punish her? I¡¯d like to hear that. Are you going to give her a harsh beating? Or are you going to lock her up and make her reflect on her actions?¡± Silence ensued in the ward at Tyler¡¯s words. Gerald and Jim fell silent. Tyler was right. They were only intending to inflict a minor punishment on Yvette. They were making it clear how important Yvette was to them. If that were the case, how severe would their punishment for her be? Gerald paused for a moment before saying, ¡°What must we do for you to spare Yvette?¡± Tyler cleared his throat. ¡°It¡¯s simple. A life for a life. She hired someone to give Rachel a lethal injection and kill Rachel. In that case, make her go through the same thing. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t know if she¡¯d be able to survive such an ordeal. If she dies from it, she only has her bad luck to me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re ying us for fools!¡± Tyler¡¯s words made Gerald so angry, his face went red as he raised his voice at Tyler. Her Exit 668 Chapter 668 Tyler remained nonchnt, as if the matter didn¡¯t bother him one bit. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You want Rachel to forget what Yvette did to her, but when I ask for the same to be done to Yvette, I¡¯m ying you for a fool? If I remember correctly, Rachel wasn¡¯t conscious at that time. The chances of them seeding were close to a hundred percent. I didn¡¯t even ask for Yvette to be unconscious, and here you are, overreacting. You¡¯re too much!¡± Tyler¡¯s voice was so filled with rage, it sent shivers down their spines. Rachel looked at Tyler with tear¨Cfilled eyes. This wasn¡¯t the first time Tyler stood up for her, but it was different this time. He could tell her greatest point of weakness and what she truly cared about the most. He had voiced the words she wanted to say but knew were pointless. Over the years, no one bothered speaking up for her. If she did try to defend herself, Gerald would berate her for being insensible. No one was willing to hear her out, and none of her so¨Ccalled family had ever reflected on their own behavior based on her words. Tyler wrapped Rachel in his arms, domineeringlyying his im on her. ¡°Let me make this clear. From now on, no one¨Cno matter who, even if he is an elder¨Chas the right or reason to force Rachel to do anything. If you keep forcing her and insist on dropping charges just to fulfill your wants, I have what it takes to send Yvette back to prison again.¡± Gerald tried to sit up and pointed a trembling finger at Tyler. ¡°You¡­you two are heartless! You¡¯repletely merciless to even family! No wonder your father abandoned you and the Lewises refuse to acknowledge you as one of them, Tyler Hunt! I myself wouldn¡¯t want someone as cold¨Cblooded as-¡± ¡°Grandpa! I can forget what you say about me since I¡¯m born into this family, but Tyler isn¡¯t! You have no right to talk about him like that!¡± Rachel yelled. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want family like the Lewises, even if they wanted Tyler! Are they even worthy? Also, who says Tyler doesn¡¯t have any family? I¡¯m his family!¡± With that, Rachel grabbed Tyler¡¯s hand and lookedfortingly at him. ¡°I¡¯ve brought the medication. Let¡¯s head back. Don¡¯t you have a bunch of things to do at work? I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Tyler held Rachel¡¯s hand tight, their fingers intertwining as they felt the warmth from each other¡¯s palms. +15 BONUS They walked out hand¨Cin¨Chand,pletely ignoring the fire burning in Gerald¡¯s eyes. When they left the hospital, Rachel felt a load off her shoulders. She slumped on a bench and exhaled out loud, feeling all deted and spent. Tyler sat next to her. ¡°Well, do you feel great to release all that pent¨Cup frustration umted over the years?¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s exhrating. Hearing those words from a bystander like you feelspletely different from when theye from me.¡± The effect those words had waspletely different, too. Tyler turned to look at her. ¡°Don¡¯t think so much and just be yourself. Just follow your heart and ignore others. Don¡¯t bother about what other people think. I¡¯ll stay by your side unconditionally, even if you¡¯re wrong.¡± Rachel looked into his deep, dark eyes. Tears started welling up uncontrobly. She had been with William for seven years. All he had known was that she was a capable worker who dealt with stress superbly and had a resilient, never¨Csay¨Cdie spirit. However, he had never seen the vulnerabilities she hid. Her Exit 669 Chapter 669 +15 BONUS Conversely, Rachel realized that although she hadn¡¯t known Tyler for long, he saw clearly the vulnerabilities she hid underneath her veneer of strength. People fight in a bid to express their displeasure, in hopes that others might understand. Rachel used to fight over such things, but none of the fights turned out the way she wanted them to. She wanted Gerald and Jim to take notice of her. In the depths of her heart, she wanted them not to be so biased. She was a daughter of the family, too. Why were they so biased? It wasn¡¯t her fault they got the wrong child back then. Yet, the fights she picked and the resistance she put up were seen as insensible behavior. As time passed, it only deepened her disappointment with her family. Today, Tyler had brought to light her deepest vulnerabilities¨Cas if he could see through her. Tyler looked at her furrowed brows and the stubborn, unyielding look on her face. He wiped a tear hanging at the corner of her eye. ¡°Why is our strong Ms. Lloyd crying? You¡¯re so easily touched, I wonder if you¡¯ll get fooled by another man and run away with him. I¡¯d better keep a close watch over you,¡± he said teasingly. Rachel was initially immersed in her sadness, but burst outughing at his joke. ¡°We¡¯re just acting. Getting fooled by a man and running away isn¡¯t going to cause you any concern.¡± She had to admit that Tyler¡¯s words felt very genuine, as though they were really in a rtionship. Tyler looked at her with a small smile hanging on his lips. He held her chin gently with two fingers and turned her to face him. Rachel looked at the handsome man before her, his eyes twinkling with a smile like that of a suave and chivalrous gentleman. ¡°Things between us havee to this point, and you still think we¡¯re just acting? That¡¯s not very right of you now, Ms. Lloyd¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s heart raced as her mouth hung open in surprise at Tyler¡¯s words. She suspected she must have heard him wrongly. Tyler patted the back of her head. ¡°Did I speak in a foreignnguage that you don¡¯t understand?¡± Rachel shook her head, still in a daze. ¡°No¡­no. I just don¡¯t know how to react.¡± Tyler pulled out a napkin from his pocket and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± Rachel looked up at him. ¡°Huh?¡± +15 BONUS Tyler chuckled, amused by the confused look on her face. He raised a hand and gently knocked on her head. ¡°Are my words that difficult to understand, or are you just unwilling?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know what to say. Her head was in a mess and she had no idea what to think. Given her current situation, she wasn¡¯t nning to stay in Yurelia City. Rachel wanted to help grow Lloyd Enterprise for Jim¡¯s sake, but it now seemed unnecessary. She didn¡¯t have any expectations for Gerald to begin with, but things were different with Jim. She had always thought that Jim loved her. She couldn¡¯t exactly bring herself to say that Jim didn¡¯t love her, but when it came down to it, he subconsciously favored Yvette. He always failed to treat them both equally. Rachel didn¡¯t me Jim for that, but she had the right to make her choice. Her Exit 670 Chapter 670 Yvette had to pay the price for her actions. Rachel found herself in a dilemma as her resolve began wavering. She had never considered this possibility, but now that Tyler had mentioned it, she had no choice but to think in that direction. ¡°Let me think about this. It¡¯s all too sudden. Let¡¯s solve yourpany¡¯s crisis first,¡± Rachel said as matter- of¨Cfactly as possible. Tyler wasn¡¯t anxious. He knew Rachel wouldn¡¯t be able to run from him. ¡°Alright.¡± Rachel looked at the time and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tyler wrapped an arm around her waist as he stood up. They were about to move off when a thought came to her mind. ¡°Where¡¯s Jerry? Didn¡¯t he go with you to your medical review? How did that go?¡± ¡°Nothing much. Xavier told me to rest up.¡± Rachel assumed Tyler was probably fine, since he wasn¡¯t even using the crutch anymore. ¡°Good that you¡¯re fine. I suppose Dr. Jenkins reminded you to take care and not overwork yourself?¡± ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m in great shape and won¡¯t affect you.¡± His tone was deliberately suggestive, making Rachel¡¯s cheeks flush with embarrassment. She cast him a side nce. ¡°Can you please take this seriously?¡± Tyler arched his brow and chuckled. ¡°How am I not taking it seriously?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Rachel didn¡¯t know what to respond with and barely squeezed out, ¡°What did you mean by saying that it won¡¯t affect me¡­?¡± Tyler¡¯s chest shook, as though he was trying hard to hold backughter. ¡°What I meant was that now that I¡¯ve recovered, I can apany you wherever you want to go.¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°Um¡­ Was that really what you meant?¡± +15 BONUS Tyler turned to look at her, and their gazes locked. His exquisitely carved features were sharp and stood out perfectly. ¡°What else did you think I meant?¡± He inched closer to her. The night was getting darker as the sun dipped below the horizon. The dim street lights shone above Rachel and Tyler¡¯s heads. Tyler poked Rachel¡¯s cheek gently. Rachel didn¡¯t dare to admit that she was thinking in that direction. It was all Tyler¡¯s fault for teasing her so often, causing her to think that way. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have misunderstood him that way. She retracted her gaze, feeling her ears grow hot. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I thought. Wait here, I need to call Jerry.¡± Rachel hurriedly pulled out her phone to hide her embarrassment. She was about to dial Jerry¡¯s number when Tyler suddenly grabbed her hand and leaned in close to her. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he have legs? Or is he unable to find his way back home? Is that why you need to keep a close eye on him, like he¡¯s a child?¡± Rachel stared into Tyler¡¯s deep, dark eyes for a second too long before breaking off eye contact. She chuckled and said, ¡°Tyler, are you jealous of a child?¡± ¡°Is he a child? He¡¯s a man,¡± Tyler said bluntly. With a small smile, Rachel said, ¡°Well, he¡¯s still a child to me.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 671 Chapter 671 Tyler lowered his head, slightly upset. ¡°You see him as a child, but he might not think the same way about you.¡± Rachel, a divorcee, naturally caught the meaning behind Tyler¡¯s words. She didn¡¯t feel anything in particr, aside from having the urge tough. Covering her mouth to suppress herughter, she said, ¡°Are you going to watch out for every man who crosses my path? Tyler, your jealousy is getting out of hand!¡± Tyler nodded pensively. ¡°Yeah, it is.¡± He sat back up straight and stepped on the elerator. His side profile was tense, his jawline sharp as a de. Rachel knew at a nce that he was angry. She pursed her lips, deciding not to bother herself about it. Tyler was being ridiculous. He could be jealous of anyone but Jerry. Jerry had been single all these years while working for her. What would a kid like him know? Tyler had removed all the boys they met at the barbecue meat eatery who started following Rachel on social media, and adjusted her settings so her ount was only visible to him. Indeed, every CEO had a domineering side to him. Rachel ignored him the rest of the way. Jerry didn¡¯t answer his phone when she called him, so she tried again. This time, he answered it. ¡°Jerry, head back to the hotel yourself. There are some loose ends to tie up for this project; just finish it up by yourself,¡± she said. ¡°Rachel, are you noting back tonight?¡± ¡°Yeah. I need to help Tyler out at his office. Find food near the hotel and eat whatever you like. Don¡¯t count pennies on that.¡± ¡°But there are some figures I don¡¯t quite understand?¡± ¡°What are they? Send them to me and I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Hearing Rachel¡¯s response, Jerry didn¡¯t push further. ¡°Alright. Rest early if you can.¡± Tyler sneered when Rachel hung up. ¡°Seriously, can¡¯t you tell?¡± Rachel returned to the home screen on her phone and looked at Tyler with confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡°He¡¯s doing it on purpose. Why did he ask you to go back and take a look at the data when he could have just texted you instead?¡± That damn brat Rachel somehow found the jealous look on Tyler¡¯s face hrious. He looked dark and sombre to begin with his incisive eyes making him appear even colder. In the past, Rachel would have feared him and the aura he exuded. Yet now, instead of fearing him, she somehow always had the urge tough whenever she saw him. She burst outughing there and then. Tyler turned to look at her. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Rachel could hear the chill in his voice and the intimidating aura he exuded when he turned her attention toward him. She held back herughter and shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡± Tyler retracted his gaze and suddenly stopped the car at the entrance of a mall. Seeing him unbuckling his seat belt, she asked, ¡°Are you buying something?¡± ¡°One of our business partners ising from abroad in two days. I heard she¡¯sing back for business development. There is a project up for bid right now, and I want to give it a shot. You know how thepany is doing as ofte. It¡¯s miles apart from its heyday in the past.¡± Rachel understood what he meant. ¡°So you¡¯re doing it yourself this time.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Tyler opened the door, but suddenly turned back as a thought came to mind. Her Exit 672 ¡°I don¡¯t know much about women¡¯s stuff. Why don¡¯t youe with me to check it out?¡± Rachel hesitated for a moment before nodding. ¡°Sure.¡± She followed Tyler into the mall and paid attention to his gait. When she saw that he was walking perfectly fine, she inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. When Tyler first got injured, she was very worried that he might end up disabled. She even prepared herself for the possibility of taking care of him for the rest of his life. She knew how proud a man he was. How could he ept a disability in his body? Rachel never told anyone about it, but she had been on tenterhooks the entire time. She was also worried about putting pressure on Tyler. When they entered the mall, Tyler¡¯s gazended on the shops on his left and right, a jewelry shop and a shop of a well¨Cknown perfume brand. He asked Rachel, ¡°What shall we get?¡± Rachel analyzed the situation seriously. ¡°What kind ofdy is your customer? Is she an intellectual or a demuredy? Does she dress in an alluring or professional style? Is she radiant and poised, or cute and adorable?¡± Tyler was bbergasted by the range of options Rachel presented to him. ¡°Is there a difference?¡± ¡°Of course there is! Different kinds of women prefer different things. For example, women who dress more professionally wouldn¡¯t like jewelry. Demuredies, however, enjoy donning themselves with essories.¡± Tyler stood stock¨Cstill as he pondered the question before replying to Rachel in all seriousness, ¡°I¡¯d describe her as apetent and capable woman. She¡¯s probably professional in style, though sometimes people might see her as poised and elegant.¡± His description only served to confuse Rachel further. She was worried that Tyler¡¯s gift might end up backfiring on him. An idea popped into her mind. ¡°Do you have a photo of her?¡± Tyler pondered for a moment before pulling his phone out of his pocket. ¡°I have her on my messaging app. He clicked on her profile picture and handed it to Rachel, who nced cursorily at their chat history. To her surprise, the woman would text Tyler good morning every day and even report to him her daily schedule. Tyler, on the other hand, only selectively replied to work¨Crted texts. She clicked on her profile picture. The woman had long, straight hair, looking very radiant and poised. Rachel couldn¡¯t quite sense her dewy, and her face was an unforgettable sight. Tyler had been staring at Rachel the moment she took his phone. Seeing her fall silent, he bent over and looked into her eyes. His voice was low and slightly hoarse. ¡°So, got anything?¡± Rachel snapped back to attention at his words. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s get her perfume. I think a woman like her would already have plenty of jewelry.¡± ¡°Whatever you say. Let¡¯s grab some perfume.¡± Tyler and Rachel stepped into the perfume shop. The saledy in the shop surveyed Tyler from head to toe and knew at once that he was no ordinary man. She weed him enthusiastically, ¡°Sir, madam, how may I help you? Our perfume collections are all very well¨Cknown. Everyone who buys a bottlees back for more.¡± Tyler asked, ¡°Do you have any rmendations?¡± The saledy nced at Rachel standing next to Tyler. ¡°Are you getting a bottle for your girlfriend, sir?¡± Tyler looked cursorily at Rachel before retracting his gaze. ¡°No. It¡¯s for another woman.¡± Her Exit 673 Tyler¡¯s words didn¡¯t just stun the saledy. Even Rachel¡¯s body stiffened with shock. The saledy¡¯s gaze shifted awkwardly between Tyler and Rachel. She had seen her fair share of men buying perfumes for their affair partners, but this was her first time seeing one bring his girlfriend along while buying perfume for another woman. Rachel returned to the matter at hand. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s for a radiant and poised woman. Give me your best rmendation.¡± The saledy forced a smile on her face, pitying Rachel from within. She then started introducing them to one of the collections. Two other salespeople stood at the cashier counter and started gossiping under their breath. ¡°Men are getting bolder nowadays! They used to bother keeping their affairs a secret. They¡¯d bring the other woman to shop behind their wives¡® backs. I¡¯ve never seen someone as bold as this guy!¡± ¡°Exactly! But he¡¯s so handsome. I¡¯d want to marry him if I were a woman.¡± ¡°I think thatdy next to him looks good, too. She¡¯s beautiful¨Ctotally my cup of tea. Her cold and distant aura feels so different from other women.¡± ¡°I agree. Her presence makes everyone else fade into the background. I seldom see someone with such an aura.¡± ¡°But beautiful women often lead wretched lives. Men buy gifts for their affair partners behind their wives ¡®backs, but she¡¯s got it way worse. Her boyfriend¡¯s tantly bringing her to pick a gift for his affair partner.¡± ¡°Well, what else can she do? That¡¯s how the world is bing nowadays. You must be prepared to suffer like this if you want a rich boyfriend.¡± ¡°You said it.¡± Tyler overheard every word from the two salespeople¡¯s conversation as the saledy attending to him was introducing them to a perfume collection. He whispered into Rachel¡¯s ear, ¡°Why do salespeople love gossiping so much? Should I exin things to them?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Rachel grumbled inwardly, Was Tyler truly clueless as to why those two salespeople said what they said about them? It was all because of the deliberately suggestive answer he gave to the saledy¡¯s question earlier! He tantly imed to be buying a perfume for another woman when he appeared to be shopping with his girlfriend. Who wouldn¡¯t think in that direction? Tyler stared at Rachel¡¯s wless side profile, drawing so close he could even see the fine hair on her skin. Yet, he didn¡¯t see any change in her face; it remained calm andposed. He didn¡¯t know whether her nonbative nature was a good thing or not. By right, men should appreciate women who don¡¯t kick up a fuss. Yet, he somehow felt ufortable with her underwhelming reaction. The saledy introduced Rachel to some perfumes. She tried a few different bottles and finally ced three in front of Tyler. ¡°Try them yourself. See which suits her better.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t even bother looking at them and handed the decision to Rachel. ¡°I know nothing about this. It¡¯s enough that you¡¯ve tried it. A woman knows another woman best. I¡¯m sure you¡¯vee across a woman like her, and you¡¯ll make the best choice. I¡¯ll head over there and wait for you.¡± Tyler pointed to the lounge area. Rachel said nothing more and went back to sampling the three perfume bottles. The saledy snuck a peek at Tyler, casually lounging on the couch, before turning her attention back to Rachel, who was choosing between the three perfume bottles with utmost seriousness. Pity grew in her chest She said in a soft voice, ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s tough being with a man like that. Miss, you look so beautiful, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not difficult for you to find another boyfriend. He doesn¡¯t treat you as a fellow human being. You can¡¯t humiliate someone like this A woman should be shown respect and be treated with dignity.¡± Rachel¡¯s hand froze in mid¨Cair at the saledy¡¯s words. She turned to look at the saledy, noting thetter¡¯spassionate expression. Her Exit 674 The saledy thought Rachel had suffered terrible grief. Rachel wanted to exin the situation¨Cbut then she decided it wasn¡¯t necessary, since she seldom came here to buy things. Instead of making a response, she settled on a lily¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cvalley perfume. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡± The saledy was shocked. When she recovered from her surprise, she whispered to Rachel, ¡°Miss, this perfume is the most expensive in our shop. Are you sure you want your boyfriend to buy something so expensive for another woman?¡± Rachel¡¯s face changed slightly. She turned to look at Tyler, who was still lounging on the couch like he owned the ce, leisurely flipping through a magazine. He looked like he was born to enjoy life. What else could Rachel say when Tyler wanted to buy the perfume for a client? She forced a smile on her face. ¡°Please help me pack it up.¡± The saledy started wrapping up the perfume, but wouldn¡¯t stop talking. ¡°Miss, do you want a bottle for yourself? You might as well spend your boyfriend¡¯s money. He¡¯s already willing to spend it on another woman, anyway. You should pick one for yourself.¡± Rachel shook her head and rejected her politely. ¡°No, thank you.¡± She had perfume at home. If she wanted more, she could always buy it for herself. To the saledy, Rachel¡¯s rejection showed Tyler¡¯s unwillingness to splurge on her. The saledy pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, ¡°Men are incorrigible nowadays. He might be rich, but he¡¯s still unwilling to spend money on his girlfriend.¡± The saledy didn¡¯t speak very loudly, but it was loud enough for everyone else in the shop to hear her. Tyler probably heard what she said and nced at Rachel. ¡°Get a bottle for yourself.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t particrly d about it, especiallypared to the saledy, who said gleefully, ¡°Hear that, miss? Your boyfriend just told you to pick one! Quick, pick one you like. I can make some rmendations. Ady with your poise would only stand out more with some perfume on. For all you know, your boyfriend might have a change of heart ande back to you.¡± Rachel found the saledy quite a sweet talker. Though slightly gossipy, she wasn¡¯t annoying. An idea came to mind. ¡°How old are you?¡± Rachel asked. ¡°I just turned twenty.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still quite young. Can I chat with you while you introduce me to some perfumes?¡± The saledy¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard that Rachel wanted another bottle of perfume and nodded profusely. ¡°Sure! What do you want to chat about? Let me shortlist a few perfumes suitable for you.¡± Rachel was getting tired from standing for a long time and walked toward Tyler. She pulled out the chair he was resting his legs on. Tyler lurched forward,pletely caught off guard by Rachel¡¯s sudden move. He looked at Rachel with a strange expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t find anything you like?¡± Rachel grumbled, ¡°You¡¯re in public and not at home. Can you please watch your image? You look like a vagrant.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t quite understand what she meant. He shook out the magazine in his hands and asked, ¡°What do you mean by vagrant?¡± ¡°That means you look homeless, like a hooligan.¡± Rachel returned to the counter to listen to the saledy¡¯s rmendations. While the saledy gave some samples, Rachel asked her, ¡°What did you major in for your studies? Also, how much are you paid per month right now?¡± Her Exit 675 hapter 675 At Rachel¡¯s mention of her sry, the saledy immediately became wary. She looked naively at Rachel. ¡°Miss, are you trying to take my job? You won¡¯t be able to do this job. You have to deal with nasty customers all day.¡± Rachel had the urge tough at the fearful look on the youngdy¡¯s face. She hurriedly exined, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here to steal your job. I just think you¡¯re very friendly and speak very well. Do you want to consider a change of jobs?¡± Rachel thought of hiring this youngdy if she majored in a relevant field. Thepany was currently in need of a salesperson who could liaise with customers, anyway. The saledy was surprised by Rachel¡¯s question. ¡°Change of jobs? But what job can I switch to? I used to study finance and design. I only picked up sales after I started working.¡± It was Rachel¡¯s turn to feel surprised. ¡°You didn¡¯t study sales?¡± Rachel thought the saledy majored in that. It turned out to be something she picked upter on. That meant she must have some talent for it. ¡°Can I have your contact so I can share more with you? I¡¯m from a legitimatepany. You can even search for the name online. If you work for us, I guarantee you that the pay and benefits will be better than here,¡± Rachel said. The saledy¡¯s eyes lit up at Rachel¡¯s promise, but she didn¡¯t dare to speak too loudly. If her colleagues overheard, they might b to their manager. She nodded, then cleared her throat and said, ¡°Let me give you my number. I can inform you once we have new collectionsing in.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two of them exchanged numbers. Rachel picked a bottle of perfume to give the saledy more business. Since Tyler had asked her to get a bottle of perfume for herself, there was no need for her to be pretentious. What¡¯s more, she was going to help him outter. She would take this perfume aspensation for the hard work she was about to put in. While the saledy was busy packing up the two bottles of perfume, Rachel stood at the counter and turned around to look at Tyler ¡°Mr. Hunt,e here and make payment.¡± Tyler put down his magazine and made his way to the counter. He was very tall, and his intimidating aura overwhelmed Rachel as he stood next to her. He pulled his card out and swiped it on the terminal before keeping it away. The saledy handed Rachel two bags of different colors. ¡°Miss, this one is yours. And this¡­this one is the other woman¡¯s.¡± The saledy¡¯s gaze darted to Tyler when she mentioned the other woman. Tyler remained expressionless; he didn¡¯t even turn to look at her. He also chose to ignore the looks all the salespeople were giving him, as well as their conversations he had overheard. Rachel admired hisposure throughout this entire incident. Rachel took the bags and said to the saledy, ¡°I might need to buy another bottle for my friend. I¡¯ll text youter.¡± ¡°Sure. Let me see you two out.¡± The saledy walked Rachel and Tyler to the door, where Rachel subtly winked at her. She was quick on her feet, albeit a little gossipy¨Cbut that wasn¡¯t a problem for Rachel. It was a habit that could be curbed. If Rachel focused on the saledy¡¯s strengths instead, she was confident that thetter would end up outstanding at sales. She had to consider the position she could assign this saledy to in thepany. After leaving the mall, she gave Tyler the perfume she had selected for his client. ¡°This is for your client. I selected a Lily¨Cof¨Cthe¨CValley perfume for her. Do you want to try it out?¡± Tyler took it, then put it aside on the back seat. ¡°I don¡¯t know a thing about women¡¯s stuff. I¡¯m sure you made an excellent choice. Do you have anything going on recently?¡± Her Exit 676 Tyler started the engine. Rachel shook her head. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°If not, thene with me for a business trip.¡± ¡°To negotiate a deal?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rachel agreed to it without thinking twice. Given Tyler¡¯s current situation, it was good enough that someone was willing to negotiate a deal with him right now. At least, that gave hispany a chance to make aeback. Before all these happened, Steven and the entire Lewis family had a chance to reconcile with Tyler and fix their rtionship. And yet, they chose the worst option possible. It only served to drive Tyler further away from them. If they truly saw Tyler as family, they would understand the kind of person he was. When they chose to do it the hard way, a man as proud and haughty as him would never take it lying down. Had Steven backed down and talked calmly to Tyler, Tyler might have given them a chance. However, it all went wrong when Steven used a heavy¨Chanded method to force Tyler to yield. Rachel retracted her gaze. ¡°Can you let me bring Jerry?¡± The mention of Jerry¡¯s name made Tyler furrow his brows. ¡°Is he that indispensable to you? Must you bring him everywhere you go?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t want to tell Tyler the reason she wanted to bring Jerry around. It was very simple¨Cshe needed Jerry¡¯s help to get things done. Since she was giving away some projects, she couldn¡¯t leave thepany without any. She had to look for new deals to clinch. Yet, she couldn¡¯t let Tyler find out about that. She had no choice but to make up an excuse. ¡°I¡¯m worried about leaving Jerry alone in Yurelia City. You¡¯re aware that Yvette knows about Jerry being with me now. She¡¯s capable of anything when driven to a corner. If she got Sasha¡¯s help to attack him, what else do we have left to make sure she gets punished?¡± Seeing that Tyler was moved by her exnation, Rachel went on, ¡°Jerry is the only witness we have against Yvette. If anything happens to him, all the years of tolerating her would have gone down the drain. Who else will pose a threat to her?¡± Tyler pondered for a moment and didn¡¯t immediately agree to Rachel¡¯s request. He didn¡¯t promise anything and said, ¡°Let me go back and think about it.¡± Rachel furrowed her brows and threw a fit. ¡°If you don¡¯t let me bring Jerry along, go on your business trip yourself.¡± Tyler turned to look coldly at her, his voice icy. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Rachel folded her arms around her chest and argued, ¡°Think whatever you want. My request is straightforward. If you want me to work for you, then cooperate with me and work around my work arrangements. I need to do my work just as you need to do yours.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous. If you need to do work, I can assign Yale to assist you.¡± ¡°Yale doesn¡¯t know about my work. What¡¯s more, Mr. Hunt, at your level and position, you surely know what business secrets are, don¡¯t you? Would you let me see yourpany¡¯s critical and confidential information?¡± She didn¡¯t expect Tyler to agree to it so readily. ¡°Sure. Take a look at them whenever you want.¡± Rachel had wanted to use this to shut Tyler up, so she didn¡¯t expect his answer. She was stunned for a moment before turning her face away, as if she didn¡¯t care for Tyler¡¯s offer one bit. ¡°That¡¯s yourpany¡¯s information and none of my business. I¡¯ve already made myself clear on this matter. Do think it through, Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler said nothing more. After they returned to the apartment and opened the door, Ray charged toward Rachel and Tyler, as though telepathic. Rachel waspletely caught off guard, taken aback by the dog¡¯s overwhelming enthusiasm. Ray leapt up high and spun around in circles, asionally even pressing big fluffy paws on them. Rachel hurriedly stopped Ray. ¡°Alright now, calm down. I know you miss us, but there¡¯s no need to get so excited.¡± Her Exit 677 She almost couldn¡¯t quite take Ray¡¯s passionate greeting. Rachel¡¯s words didn¡¯t seem to do anything to quell Ray¡¯s enthusiasm, the dog seemed to wish to dive straight into Rachel¡¯s arms. Rachel stretched her hands out to stop Ray from getting too close while urging Tyler, ¡°What are you doing just standing there? Stop Ray!¡± ¡°Ray!¡± Tyler¡¯smand was all it took for Ray to sit obediently on the floor. Ray stuck out a tongue, looking innocently at Tyler. Rachel heaved a sigh of relief and gently patted Ray¡¯s head before walking to the couch and settling down on it. ¡°Ray might like me, but he listens to you when it matters the most.¡± ¡°Ray¡¯s just shameless. Dogs are very smart¨Cthey know when someone likes them and wouldn¡¯t bear to treat them fiercely. They¡¯re selective in treating people. Humans aren¡¯t the only ones who like bullying easy targets. Dogs are like that, too.¡± Tyler used hand signals to instruct Ray to lie and sit on the ground. Ray obeyed¨Cit was in stark contrast to his usual wild and unbridled behavior with Rachel. Rachel looked at Tyler¡¯s towering figure and imposing aura¨Canyone could sense it. Ray naturally could sense it too, having been with Tyler for so long. That was why Ray feared Tyler so much. Even dogs nowadays know how to read the room, let alone people. Tyler sat on the couch and patted Ray. Just then, Wanda walked out of the kitchen, stunned to see Rachel and Tyler. After recovering from the shock, a look of joy registered on her face. ¡°Goodness! Ms. Lloyd and Mr. Hunt, you¡¯re finally back. I was about to go to the hospital to visit you two if you had returned a minuteter.¡± Wanda had wanted to go a few days ago, but she was worried about leaving Ray alone at home. Tyler had instructed her not to leave Ray alone at home. This dog was very intelligent and might find a way to run away even after locking all the doors and windows in the house. Something like that had happened before. Tyler spent the entire night looking for Ray and barely had time to drink a sip of water until he finally managed to find Ray. Ever since then, Tyler never left Ray alone at home. Before Wanda came to help out, he would hire a professional to keep Raypany. +15 BONUS Rachel said to Wanda, ¡°I¡¯ve really missed your cooking in the past few days.¡± ¡°Just tell me what you¡¯d like to eat and I¡¯ll have it prepared right away,¡± Wanda said with a twinkle in her eyes. Rachel gave her a bright smile. ¡°You¡¯re so good to me, Wanda.¡± Tyler patted Ray¡¯s head and remarked suggestively, ¡°Why are you still so greedy? Your head is filled with food. Is there anything else besides that?¡± Ray looked at him with huge, glistening eyes. Rachel wondered if Ray could actually understand what Tyler was saying. She nced at Tyler and thought back on his words just now. Why did she have a niggling feeling that he may or may not be talking about the dog? ¡°Are you actually talking about me?¡± she asked Tyler tantly. But Tyler continued talking to Ray, ¡°There¡¯s nothing else aside from food in your head. I don¡¯t see you caring about other people. Even if you do, you seem to be caring about the wrong people.¡± Rachel could sense the hidden meaning in Tyler¡¯s words. ¡°Are you trying to say that I don¡¯t care about you?¡± Tyler sighed pitifully. ¡°Don¡¯t you know best if you care about me or not? I can¡¯t even be bothered toment about you.¡± Rachel opened her mouth, a look of indignation on her face, ready to refute Tyler¡¯s im. She was going to make him eat his words, no matter what. Her Exit 678 She was about to speak when Wanda held her back. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me to cook you something to eat? Come with me to the kitchen and see what you¡¯d like.¡± With that, Wanda dragged Rachel away. Tyler cupped Ray¡¯s cheeks in his hands. ¡°Some people are getting increasingly hot¨Ctempered these days. We can¡¯t afford to provoke them. We just have to give in to them, don¡¯t we?¡± Ray barked at Tyler, as thoughprehending what he just said. ¡°Woof, woof!¡± Rachel followed Wanda into the kitchen, where thetter opened the fridge door. ¡°See if there¡¯s anything you want to eat.¡± The mere sight of the ingredients made Rachel drool. ¡°Since you¡¯re offering, I won¡¯t hold back. I¡¯d like some prawns, soup, and steak. Can you do that?¡± Wanda nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll prepare anything you want to eat.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t stop herself from giving Wanda a huge hug. ¡°Wanda, you¡¯re awesome!¡± Wanda grabbed the ingredients from the fridge and said to Rachel. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, please don¡¯t count it against Mr. Hunt. He¡¯s probably jealous.¡± Hearing that, Rachel¡¯s eyes widened and she eximed, ¡°Jealous?¡± Wanda took out the prawns from the freezer to defrost them. ¡°Yes. What¡¯s the problem? Anyone can get jealous. Isn¡¯t it normal?¡± ¡°I know, but I¡¯m just surprised to hear you say that Tyler gets jealous. A man like him doesn¡¯t seem capable of being jealous.¡± Based on her understanding, even if a man like Tyler did get jealous, he would never let it show. He¡¯d only admit it over his dead body. ¡°I think it¡¯s great that he gets jealous. At least, that proves that he cares about you. It¡¯ll be a problem if he doesn¡¯t get jealous,¡± Wanda said with a smile. Hearing Wanda¡¯s assessment, Rachel recalled what Tyler said to her at the hospital earlier today. He wanted to be with her, and he was absolutely serious and not joking about it. The thought sent a shiver down Rachel¡¯s spine. It was hard to believe that Tyler was being so serious with her. His reaction wasn¡¯t like what she understood of him. Rachel put down the vegetables in her hand, instinctively wanting to avoid this topic. ¡°Wanda, I¡¯ll go get some rest. I¡¯ll leave the cooking to you.¡± Wanda didn¡¯t expect Rachel to be so affected, but before she could probe further, Rachel had already left the kitchen. Rachel sat on the couch, still troubled by Tyler¡¯s words at the hospital. Before she coulde up with a solution for her problem, she received a text from the saledy from the perfumery. [Hello, miss. May I know where your office is located and what I might possibly do? I¡¯ve sent you my resume. Do check it out when you have the time.] Rachel immediately texted the saledy back, sending her the address of Lloyd Enterprise. There was no other domesticpany she could use right now. She couldn¡¯t possibly rope her into Tyler¡¯spany without his permission, either. She could only assign the saledy a role in Lloyd Enterprise for the time being and let her test the waters. If the saledy had the talent, Rachel might consider taking her along overseas. Rachel was so focused on texting, she failed to notice Tyler had drawn near to her. ¡°You got her contact not to ask about perfumes, but to poach her?¡± Her Exit 679 Chapter 679 Rachel was busy replying to the saledy¡¯s text. ¡°I think she has talent in sales.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s as good as you think she is. Think about it. She might be good at sales, but she¡¯s way too gossipy. Gossiping is a big no¨Cno in the corporate world, but she doesn¡¯t seem to find it a big deal. What if she starts gossiping aboutpany¨Crted matters?¡± Rachel had long thought of a solution for that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. We have clear rules guarding against gossip, and all employees must sign a non- disclosure agreement. Anyway, who doesn¡¯t gossip? Mr. Hunt, can you say that you¡¯ve never gossiped in your entire life?¡± Tyler had thought that Rachel was exining the situation to the saledy when he saw Rachel chatting with her for so long. Who knew that Rachel would think about recruiting at a ce like that? He didn¡¯t see thating. ¡°You were chatting with that saledy for so long, and you didn¡¯t exin to her what the other bottle of perfume was for?¡± Rachel munched on the lychees Wanda had peeled while texting a reply to the saledy. ¡°What¡¯s there to exin? Any man who dresses the way you do and brings a girl to a ce like that wouldn¡¯t be seen as decent.¡± Tyler was curious. He seldom paid attention to other things aside from work. Since Rachel was on this topic, he couldn¡¯t help but probe further. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Rachel had already sent a text to the saledy and was waiting for her reply. In the meantime, she put her phone down and started exining things to Tyler. ¡°A man dressed like you would never bother stepping foot into a perfume shop. Who¡¯d have the time to apany his wife to buy perfume? Only an affair partner can make a man willingly go to a ce like that. In a rtionship that¡¯s new and exciting, everything is still nice and dandy. ¡°Do you really think they don¡¯t have eyes to see? A man of your stature who wants to buy perfume for his wife can just get his assistant to buy it for him. Why bother buying it himself?¡± Tyler turned to look at her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you exin things to them? You probably heard what they were saying about you.¡± ¡°I did, but there¡¯s no need to exin.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t a fool. She turned around to look back at him with a glint in her eyes. ¡°Tyler, you¡¯re a smart man. Don¡¯t bother acting dumb with me. Weren¡¯t you the one who deliberately misled them, causing them to misunderstand that I was your partner who¡¯s apanying you to buy perfume for another woman? Aren¡¯t you the reason why they were tantly talking about me?¡± This man really knew how to put on a convincing act. Tyler didn¡¯t see anything wrong with his actions and said with a shrug, ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything about it back there, did you?¡± Rachel flung a pillow at him and scoffed. ¡°When did you be so childish?¡± It was something so trivial. Only a youngster barely twenty would bother pulling a stupid stunt like this. He was already past thirty, and always seemed so mature and wise to others. Since when did he be so childish? Tyler chuckled. ¡°Just now.¡± Just then, his phone vibrated. It was a voice message from his client, Heidi Yates. Tyler didn¡¯t hide it from Rachel and yed it out loud in front of her. ¡°Mr. Hunt, let¡¯s have a meal tomorrow afternoon and discuss the proposal after that. How does that sound?¡± Tyler replied in the affirmative. A momentter, Heidi sent him another voice message. ¡°One more thing. Can I ask you out for some drinkster?¡± Tyler nced at Rachel after ying the voice message. Her Exit 680 However, Rachel was busy texting and not paying him any attention. Tyler pursed his lips as fire burned in his chest. He pressed the record button on his phone and said to Heidi, ¡°Decide on a ce and send me the address ¡°Sure!¡± The joy and excitement in that single word rang clearly through the phone. It was as though Heidi had finally received the response she had been waiting for all along. This time, Rachel finally put her phone down and turned to look at Tyler. ¡°Is that the client you¡¯ll be meeting?¡± Relief exploded in Tyler¡¯s heart when Rachel finally asked the question he had been waiting for, but he forced himself to remain calm and collected. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re meeting tomorrow. Her schedule was brought forward, and she¡¯s returning right after discussing the project with us, so things are a little rushed. ¡°Is the timing a problem for you?¡± Rachel threw a lychee seed into the bin, her cheeks full of lychee that she was still chewing on. ¡°Probably not. I¡¯ll go pack my things after the meal. Let me first¡­ Let me go upstairs and rest for two minutes. Text me when Wanda is done cooking.¡± With that, Rachel headed upstairs. Tyler stared at her back profile, his eyes narrowing dangerously. She was probably going to give Jerry a heads¨Cup about the trip. She cared so much about Jerry, shepletely neglected what Heidi said to him. Tyler felt so suffocated, he texted his friends in the group chat. (I¡¯ll hammer whoever calls me a stubborn block of wood next time.] Jason was the first to reply. [What? Are there further developments to your story? Did you fight with Ms. Lloyd?] Luke chimed in, too. [Yeah, what¡¯s the situation right now? Tell us about it. We might just be able to think of a solution for you.] Tyler had always had his way at work and dealt with any difficulties with ease. However, he always felt powerless and inadequate whenever it came to Rachel. He briefly exined his situation to his friends. Jason came to a conclusion right away. [Tyler, isn¡¯t it obvious enough? She doesn¡¯t care about you. Didn¡¯t you say that you two signed an agreement? Even if she likes you, she¡¯ll probably stop herself. Think about it from another angle. When the agreement expires, your rtionshipes to an end. Liking the other party is a great loss for you.] Financial loss could always be earned back, but emotions weren¡¯t as straightforward and certainly not something one could simply take back or give away. Tyler typed a response. [But I already made myself clear this afternoon that I¡¯m serious. From the looks of it, she¡¯s still hesitant.] Luke texted a reply. [All the more it¡¯s a problem. She may really not like you that way. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be hesitant. Anyone would feel relieved when they find out that the person they like feels the same way. She¡¯d immediately want to make things official with you.] Tyler rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling his head pounding and his frustration growing from the textsing in. He never imagined that being in a rtionship would be so troublesome. Jason had the urge tough at the head¨Cscratching emoticon Tyler sent. [To think someone can actually drive our level¨Cheaded and almost emotionless Tyler Hunt crazy! Seems like Ms. Lloyd really is something.] Her Exit 681 Chapter 681 Tyler typed out a message. It read like a threat. [Jason, you must be too idle these days. Do you want me to tell your old man to ship you overseas for a while?] Jason immediately went quiet. Luke stepped in to calm Tyler down. [Alright, let me give you some advice. You should approach this from two angles. Firstly, push her a little. Secondly, make it clear that you¡¯re serious about her¨Cthat this isn¡¯t some casual game. By push, I mean forcing her to confront her own feelings. I¡¯ve met plenty of women like her. They clearly care but won¡¯t admit it. Honestly, that¡¯s exactly how Rachel is.] Tyler thought it over. Luke¡¯s words made sense. Rachel was the type to get tangled up, always caught between holding on and letting go. Tyler wasn¡¯t someone who wasted time. Once he had the answer, he stopped replying altogether. Jason noticed the silence and even tagged him a couple of times, but there was still no response. [I knew it! He treats us like a vending machine. Once he gets what he needs, he disappears.] Luke replied with aughing emoji. [That¡¯s just who he is. We should be used to it by now. But honestly, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s fully won her over yet.] Jason sent a sighing emoji. [Guess all we can say is, the road to winning her over is a long one. Good luck to her.] After pocketing his phone, Tyler mapped out a strategy in his mind. With a n in mind, he finally felt settled. Just then, Wanda walked out of the kitchen. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Tyler stood up and headed toward the stairs. ¡°Wanda,e eat with us.¡± Wanda froze. The Lewis family had strict rules. Maids didn¡¯t sit at the same table as the family. Rachel had invited her before, but never when Tyler was around. Wanda waved it off politely. ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ll eat elsewhere. It¡¯s the same.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t press on. He continued upstairs and was about to knock on Rachel¡¯s door when he heard her voice from inside. ¡°Jerry, I told you, it¡¯s not the right time yet. You¡¯ve only just gotten back. I¡¯ll handle things with Yvette. You don¡¯t need to worry. I know you don¡¯t want to leave me. After all these years working together, through everything we¡¯ve faced, you know me well enough. We have to finish what¡¯s already on our te first.¡± On the other end, Jerry sounded anxious. ¡°But Rachel, what if you can¡¯t bring yourself to walk away when the timees?¡± ¡°As if! Don¡¯t worry about me. We still have our own ns, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The call ended. Rachel sighed, reached for the door, and nearly walked straight into Tyler. They both froze. Shock flickered in Rachel¡¯s eyes. ¡°W¨CWhat are you doing here?¡± Tyler acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard a thing. ¡°Wanda asked me to let you know dinner¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rachel nodded, closed the door behind her, and followed him downstairs. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off. He¡¯d been standing there the second she opened the door. Had he overheard her call with Jerry? She didn¡¯t dare ask. If she brought it up, she¡¯d only draw more suspicion. Tyler wasn¡¯t like anyone else. His instincts cut sharper than most. Her Exit 682 Then so be it. Tyler would find out sooner orter. If he didn¡¯t ask, Rachel wouldn¡¯t say anything. But if he did, she¡¯d just have to find another way to deal with it. After the two of them sat down, Tyler grabbed some food for Rachel. ¡°Eat a little more.¡± Rachel looked at the food on her te, and suddenly her heart raced. They say a guilty conscience shows through¨Cthis must be what it felt like. It was such an ordinary gesture, but because she had just called Jerry and said all those things, she was worried Tyler might have overheard. Tyler was best at reading people. He was like a cat with a mouse¨Cit didn¡¯t have to eat right away. Instead, it would toy with its prey, make it suffer, and only kill it after the torment had broken it down. Just the thought of that made Rachel shiver. It was frightening. Still, she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to expose herself outright. She picked at her food without much appetite, while Tyler calmly ate his fish. He asked her, ¡°About what I told you earlier today¨Chave you thought it through?¡± Rachel suddenly looked up. ¡°What?¡± Tyler frowned. ¡°Rachel, do you not care what I say at all, or are you just pretending not to understand?¡± She froze for a few seconds before it clicked. ¡°Oh, right. I remember now.¡± ¡°Well? So do you have an answer?¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet.¡± ¡°Is it that you really haven¡¯t decided, or that you¡¯ve already made up your mind to turn me down?¡± His words cut straight into her weak spot. Rachel¡¯s expression stiffened. She couldn¡¯t reject Tyler¨Cnot yet. After all, she owed him too much. And to say she felt nothing for him wouldn¡¯t be true. The time they had spent together, and the things she had learned about the past, had only deepened her feelings for him. But it wasn¡¯t as simple as deciding whether to be with him or not. +15 BONUS She still hadn¡¯t finished her work elsewhere. She had her own goals to aplish. If she really stayed in Yurelia City with Tyler, it would hold her back. She had already made ns for her career. Tyler¡¯s presence felt like a stumbling block in her path, even though that sounded harsh. In the end, Rachel chose apromise. ¡°How about we wait until you¡¯re back from your business trip? Once you return, I promise I¡¯ll give you a definite answer.¡± Tyler didn¡¯t press her. ¡°If you say so.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Rachel knew very well that she couldn¡¯t avoid this forever. Sooner orter, she would have to give Tyler an answer. He wasn¡¯t someone who could be fooled so easily. After dinner, Rachel sat on the couch and yed with Ray. Her phone suddenly rang. She nced at the screen. It was Jim calling. Her brows furrowed. She ignored the first call. However, Jim was relentless and dialed again. In the end, Rachel picked up, though her voice was noticeably colder than before. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Rachel, I know you¡¯re upset about what happened today. But isn¡¯t there any way we can find some middle ground? Your grandfather¡¯s health is failing. We can¡¯t let him pass away with regrets, can we?¡± Just the mention of this lit the fire in Rachel¡¯s chest. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be thinking about my feelings, too? Am I not your daughter? Like I said before, I¡¯m not a saint. Yvette has never once treated me like her sister. If she had, she wouldn¡¯t have gone so far to hurt
  1. me. Dad, you should take care of your own health first.¡±
With that, Rachel was ready to hang up. ¡°Wait!¡± Her Exit 683 Rachel was already growing impatient. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve made myself very clear. The only reason I still acknowledge you as my father is because, even though you¡¯re tantly biased toward Yvette, I can at least understand it. She¡¯s your daughter, too. But you can¡¯t guilt¨Ctrip me. I¡¯m under no obligation to make up for the remorse you feel toward her.¡± Then, Jim dropped a different bomb. ¡°I heard Tyler¡¯spany is in trouble. If he can¡¯t secure investors soon, won¡¯t it be on the verge of bankruptcy?¡± At that, Rachel felt a sharp unease in her chest. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°I know Lloyd Enterprise can¡¯t solve all of his problems, but it could at least buy him some time. If you¡¯re willing to show your sister some mercy, I¡¯ll give you half of Lloyd Enterprise in exchange.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart clenched. She didn¡¯t even know how to process the emotions crashing over her. To think that, for the sake of saving Yvette¨Cthe same person who once tried to destroy her¨Cher father was willing to hand over half thepany. Her eyes welled with tears, though she didn¡¯t let it show. Instead, she asked him softly, ¡°If one day it were me in that position, would you use thepany to save me too?¡± Jim didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Yes.¡± The disappointment in Rachel¡¯s eyes softened just a little, but she still couldn¡¯t give him an answer right away. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. I¡¯ll give you a reply in a couple of days.¡± ¡°Alright. Take your time, there¡¯s no rush. As for your sister¡­ She brought this on herself. A little suffering in there will do her some good.¡± Thosest words eased Rachel¡¯s frustration somewhat. When she hung up, she nced back at Tyler and saw his brows drawn so tight they practically formed a straight line. She had been upset a moment ago, but seeing his face actually made herugh. ¡°Who ticked you off, Tyler? Should I get you a mirror so you can see the look on your face?¡± Tyler, looking every bit the stern disciplinarian, reached out and lifted her chin with his fingers. ¡°What, are you thinking of softening up and letting Yvette out?¡± ¡°No. Didn¡¯t I just turn him down?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t about to tell Tyler everything yet. She needed more time to sort things out. The real problem was that Tyler still hadn¡¯t signed the contract, which left a gaping hole in the situation. Tyler gave her a cool nce. ¡°You¡¯ve refused for now. But who¡¯s to say you won¡¯t change your mind after a night of thinking it over?¡± Rachel covered her mouth and coughed awkwardly. ¡°Could you not dissect every single word I say like you¡¯re running some kind of analysis on me?¡± Then, quickly, she switched the subject. ¡°What about yourpany? Have you figured it out yet? You don¡¯t have much time left. Don¡¯t just try tofort me with that line about how signing tomorrow¡¯s deal will solve everything. I know it won¡¯t be that simple.¡± At her words, Tyler¡¯s expression softened. He reached out and rubbed her hair affectionately. ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to worry about. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Rachel knew him well enough by now¨Cwhenever he gave her that same evasive reassurance, it meant the problem was far worse than he was letting on. But she didn¡¯t push. ¡°By the way, are you going back to the office to work overtime tonight?¡± she asked. Tyler finished eating, dabbed his mouth with a napkin, and leaned back. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. Why? Hoping I¡¯ll leave so you can sneak off to a bar with some guy?¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. ¡°I was just asking. You¡¯re way too paranoid.¡± ¡°Then why did Cecilia send you so many pictures of men? Pretty boys, gym rats, college guys, even engineers. Quite the variety, isn¡¯t it?¡± Her Exit 684 There was a teasing edge to Tyler¡¯sst remark. Rachel blinked in confusion. ¡°When did she even send me those? I didn¡¯t notice.¡± She quickly grabbed her phone and tapped on Cecilia¡¯s name, but before she could open the chat, Tyler snatched it away. He immediately started deleting the photos one by one. Rachel instinctively reached out to stop him. ¡°Hey, I haven¡¯t even looked at those yet! Why are you deleting them?¡± Tyler simply raised the phone above his head, out of her reach. ¡°What, I¡¯m not enough for you? You still want to look at other guys? You sure y around, don¡¯t you?¡± Rachel instantly corrected him after being offended. ¡°What do you mean, I y around? I just wanted to take a look! Everyone likes good¨Clooking things¨Cit¡¯s human nature. And besides, you already looked at them, so why can¡¯t I?¡± Tyler suddenly leaned in close, his sharp features inches from her face. His voice was low and husky, almost bubbling with heat. ¡°Aren¡¯t you satisfied with me? Do you still need to look at others?¡± The words dripped with innuendo, and Rachel¡¯s heart pounded. Her ears felt hot. Why was it that every time Tyler spoke, even when he wasn¡¯t being obvious, it still felt like he was radiating raw masculinity? And the worst part¨Cshe liked it. Some men didn¡¯t even have to try. Just by standing there, they carried that kind of aura that made them dangerously attractive. Rachel¡¯s heart clenched under his gaze. His dark eyes seemed to hook straight into her soul, and she couldn¡¯t handle it. She quickly turned away. ¡°Fine, forget it. I won¡¯t look. But Cecilia isn¡¯t that kind of person. She wouldn¡¯t just randomly send me pictures of handsome guys. Let me call her and ask.¡± ¡°Not until I¡¯m done deleting,¡± Tyler said tly. He was determined to delete them all, operating under the principle of better safe than sorry. Only after he cleared everything did he hand the phone back. Rachel immediately dialed Cecilia, who thankfully answered. ¡°Rachel, I was just about to call you. Why didn¡¯t you pick up earlier? Oh, and by the way, work at mypany isn¡¯t too busy right now. I heard Yvette got arrested.¡± ¡°Yeah. I called the cops on her. She won¡¯t be getting out anytime soon. ¡°Really? That¡¯s great! At least now, she won¡¯t be causing trouble for anyone. She deserves to pay the price for what she did.¡± Cecilia¡¯s tone held not a shred of sympathy. She clearly thought Yvette¡¯s downfall was well¨Cdeserved. ¡°Rachel, did you look at the photos I sent you?¡± she asked suddenly, getting straight to the point. Rachel froze. She sneaked a nce at Tyler, then stammered out, ¡°Y¨CYeah. I saw them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s perfect! So, what did you think? Aren¡¯t they all incredibly handsome? Just looking at them makes you feel refreshed, doesn¡¯t it? I handpicked every single one for you.¡± Rachel¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°What do you mean, handpicked for me?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but steal another nervous nce at Tyler, praying Cecilia wouldn¡¯t say something reckless. ¡®Please, please, just keep it vague. Don¡¯t say anything stupid,¡® she thought. But Cecilia only sounded puzzled. ¡°What do you mean? Of course I handpicked them for you! Look at those guys. Aren¡¯t they amazing? I¡¯m telling you, I can send them over to you, and then you can-¡± Her Exit 685 ¡°Uhh, Cecilia, don¡¯t say things like that!¡± Rachel cut Cecilia off in a hurry, terrified thetter might blurt something out of line. She could already feel Tyler staring at her intensely. If Cecilia kept talking, Rachel was certain she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep tonight. Cecilia,pletely baffled, asked, ¡°What are you talking about? Did you forget? Last time you told me that you wanted to run that project, but we¡¯d need a marketing hook. And what¡¯s more eye¨Ccatching¨C especially for women¨Cthan men? At the time, you said we should use a few good¨Clooking guys for the shoot. Then we¡¯d publish it through the magazine. It¡¯d be the perfect ad, right?¡± Hearing that, Rachel finally remembered. She had tossed out the idea to Cecilia before, just casually in passing. She had forgotten all about it after getting sidetracked with other things. It surprised her that Cecilia had remembered so clearly. She let out a long sigh of relief. ¡°That actually sounds good, but I didn¡¯t get a good look earlier. Tyler grabbed my phone and deleted everything by mistake. Can you send them again?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Let¡¯s just do live auditions. It¡¯ll be easier that way.¡± Rachel thought that was a good idea. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°By the way, have you finished that project you were working on? Do you need me to help with anything?¡± She didn¡¯t mention Tyler or the project she was helping with, and that alone eased Rachel¡¯s nerves. The whole conversation had left her on edge. Rachel replied quickly, ¡°No. It¡¯ste. You should get some rest.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up, Rachel set down her phone. Now was her chance to seize the upper hand. A sly smile appeared on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you owe me an apology for doubting me?¡± Tyler leaned against his elbow, tilting his head toward her. ¡°You don¡¯t get it. I¡¯d rather be overly cautious than risk letting someone shady slip through. What if one of those men had bad intentions? If the house went up in mes because of it, what would you do then?¡± Rachel pursed her lips. ¡°But you know I¡¯m not like that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not, but that doesn¡¯t stop people from hanging around you. And besides, Cecilia should¡¯ve exined the project better. That was just poor wording on her part.¡± ¡°You!¡± Rachel realized she couldn¡¯t win. His logic was too tight, and his mind too sharp. At that moment, Wanda chuckled. ¡°Alright, alright. None of this is your fault. Let¡¯s just say it was a mistake from Ms. Lloyd¡¯s colleague. Now, if you¡¯re finished eating. I¡¯ll clear the table. It¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you two head upstairs and rest?¡± Rachel lifted her gaze to the clock on the wall. It was a little past eight. She needed toe up with some excuse to get out tonight. If Tyler didn¡¯t sign off, the contract couldn¡¯t move forward, and the project would stall. That would mean all her efforts with Jerry would go to waste. She sent Cecilia a quick message, deciding she had no choice but to use thetter as cover. Then she turned to Tyler and said casually, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± Tyler was a little surprised. He raised his brows. ¡°Well, that¡¯s new. You¡¯re actually willing to go to bed early?¡± Usually, Rachel was wary of going to bed with him, because he often made her sing at night. When he got picky, he¡¯d criticize one song as no good and another as not pleasing enough. For someone singing, it was downright nerve¨Cwracking. Rachel only smiled and said offhandedly, ¡°I just figured you haven¡¯t really rested well in a long time. Dr. Jenkins said you should take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Tyler nodded happily. He loved spending nights with her. Before Rachel, nights had always been lonely and felt no different from the days. Her Exit 686 Ever since Rachel came into Tyler¡¯s life, he began to look forward to the nights. It was a different kind of feeling. After going upstairs, Rachel was just about to head into the bathroom for a shower when Cecilia¡¯s call came through, right on cue. Rachel deliberately stood somewhere very close to Tyler, because putting the call on speaker would¡¯ve been too obvious. With how sharp Tyler was, he would definitely pick up on it. So instead, Rachel simply turned the volume all the way up and spoke as if everything were normal. ¡°Cecilia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± On the other end, Cecilia¡¯s voice sounded anxious. ¡°Rachel, something came up. Could youe over? There¡¯s something I need to talk to you about.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression grew tense. ¡°What happened? Tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not really something I can say over the phone. Can you juste?¡± ¡°Alright, wait for me at home, I¡¯lle right away.¡± After hanging up, Rachel grabbed her coat from the sofa and said to Tyler, ¡°You go ahead and rest. I need to run over to Cecilia¡¯s ce.¡± Tyler immediately replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°No need. She couldn¡¯t even say it over the phone just now¨Cobviously because she knew you were here. If you go, it¡¯ll only make it harder for her to talk.¡± ¡°I can wait downstairs. I won¡¯t go up.¡± Tyler tried apromise. ¡°Really, it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t. If you¡¯re worried, let Yalee with me instead.¡± Rachel quickly offered him an olive branch. Tyler didn¡¯t think much of it and naturally said, ¡°Alright.¡± Without the slightest suspicion, he called Yale right away and told him to to the apartment. Of course, Yale arrived within ten minutes. When Tyler escorted Rachel to the door and saw Yale, he looked a little surprised. ¡°That fast?¡± *Just happened to be nearby on business,¡± Yale replied. Rachel urged, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time, let¡¯s go. Cecilia won¡¯t wait forever.¡± Yale turned back to Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, we¡¯ll head out then.¡± ¡°Call me once it¡¯s taken care of.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Once Rachel and Yale were in the car and it had driven off, Rachel finally dared to speak. ¡°Do you think Tyler will get suspicious?¡± ¡°Probably not. I think we pulled it off pretty seamlessly.¡± But even as Yale said it, he didn¡¯t sound entirely confident. Tyler¡¯s mind was meticulous beyond measure -no matter how much one thought one knew him, he could always catch one off guard. They say time revealed a man¡¯s true nature, but with Tyler, that didn¡¯t seem to apply. Rachel felt a flicker of unease, but she could only push it aside for now. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s just get this done first. You have the office keys, right? We need to disable the cameras first. Otherwise, if Tyler checks tomorrow and sees we were there, it¡¯ll all be for nothing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lloyd. I¡¯ve already thought this through Worst case, I¡¯ll take the me and say it was me.¡± Rachel had been wondering how she¡¯d cover it up, but Yale jumped in with a solution on his own. She patted his shoulder heavily. ¡°Yale, Tyler was right to have chosen you for the job.¡± Yale scratched his head in embarrassment. ¡°Don¡¯t let Mr. Hunt¡¯s cold exterior fool you. He¡¯s actually a good person. He¡¯s just cautious, as you must have noticed. But once he lets his guard down, you won¡¯t regret it. He¡¯ll always step in to help you, and he¡¯ll never demand anything in return.¡± On that point, Rachel couldn¡¯t agree more. ¡°I think the same as you.¡± When they finally arrived at LS Enterprise, Yale looked up at thepany¡¯s name and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, do you know why Mr. Hunt named thispany LS Enterprise?¡± Her Exit 687 Rachel walked further inside and asked Yale, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think LS Enterprise sounds like someone¡¯s name?¡± Yale didn¡¯t give her the answer outright. Instead, he dropped a little hint. Rachel pressed the elevator button. ¡°Whose name?¡± Seeing that Rachel wasn¡¯t picking up on the clue at all, Yale tried again. ¡°Think about it carefully. Which other alphabet sounds like L?¡± Rachel pressed the button, and the elevator doors closed. She racked her brain. There were just too many possibilities. How could she possibly guess? ¡°Yale, you¡¯re just making things hard for me. Tyler knows so many people¨Chow would I know whose name he used? Don¡¯t tell me, it¡¯s his mother¡¯s?¡± Yale was speechless. Seeing that she couldn¡¯t guess, he gave up on the riddle. ¡°Closer than you think.¡± Ding! The elevator doors opened just then. Rachel froze. ¡°You don¡¯t mean me, do you?¡± ¡°L sounds like R, and R is the first letter of your first name. It¡¯s not that hard to figure out,¡± Yale replied. Not hard to figure out? This seems excessively subtle. Rachel had only tossed the guess out casually, never expecting it to actually be right. As she stepped out, she said, ¡°Yale, are you joking with me? How could that be? Why would Tyler name hispany after me? Besides, when he started thepany, I wasn¡¯t even around, was I?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you weren¡¯t there. What matters is that you¡¯ve known Mr. Hunt for a long time. You just didn¡¯t have your attention on him back then.¡± Rachel felt like she was dreaming. ¡°This is impossible! You must be joking. Is Tyler so bored that he¡¯d name apany after me? Why not call it TH or something?¡± After all,panies named after people are everywhere. There was no need for it to be her. Yale gave her a knowing smile. ¡°As for the real reason, Ms. Lloyd, I think that¡¯s something you should figure out for yourself.¡± +15 BONUS With that, Yale stepped forward and unlocked Tyler¡¯s office with his key. It wasn¡¯t Rachel¡¯s first time inside, but this time the office looked messy¨Cand Tyler was known for being meticulous. That could only mean one thing. He really was too busy, busy enough to let go of the tidiness he normally valued so much. Rachel walked over to the desk and saw papers scattered all across it. She casually picked one up and nced at it. They were all proposals, but all of them were piled here on Tyler¡¯s desk, which meant they had been rejected. That surprised Rachel. Tyler¡¯s proposals were usually the kind everyone fought to get their hands on, but now, nopany wanted them. Rachel lifted the stack and asked Yale, ¡°Yale, are none of these sessfully submitted?¡± Yale looked at the scattered documents and sighed. ¡°That¡¯s right, none. You know Mr. Hunt¡¯s situation right now. And there¡¯s another looming crisis. I¡¯m worried that if Mr. Hunt keeps refusing to give in to Mr. Thomas, and if word about his background ever leaks out¡­ For Mr. Hunt, that would be another heavy blow. Don¡¯t be fooled by the way he acts, like he doesn¡¯t care. He actually values family deeply. If he didn¡¯t, he would¡¯ve nevere back to Yurelia City.¡± Rachel could rte all too well. Everyone in this world longed for family. But when all one received in return was disappointment, one would be forced to be who they were now¨Cto try to give up on family, to stop hoping for even the tiniest bit of warmth. That was what happened when hope was exhausted. Rachel looked away. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get on with business. The contracts I had Jerry send you¨Cit¡¯s still with you, right?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve got it.¡± Yale took out the stack of contracts. Rachel picked up a pen, and Yale pulled out one of Tyler¡¯s previously signed contracts to use forparison. Her Exit 688 Tyler¡¯s handwriting was messy, full of personality, yet still recognizable. That was exactly what made things so difficult. Rachel took in a deep breath, picked up the pen, and tried copying it twice on scrap paper. It ended up looking nothing like his handwriting. Yale wiped at the sweat on his forehead. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, that¡¯s why I told you before that this n might not work. Stealing Mr. Hunt¡¯s seal would¡¯ve been the easy part. The hardest thing is imitating his signature. It¡¯s nearly impossible. I¡¯ve tried copying it myself before, but it¡¯s hopeless. If the signature looks even slightly off, people will notice right away, and if that happens, nothing can pass thepany review.¡± Rachel¡¯s palms were a little sweaty now. She was nervous that she wouldn¡¯t be able to pull it off. ¡°Don¡¯t rush me. Let me try again.¡± She studied Tyler¡¯s handwriting closely, tracing every curve and stroke. It had a lot of connected lines. She had dabbled a little in cursive writing before, but she hadn¡¯t expected his handwriting to be this intricate. Well, his name wasn¡¯t exactly simple either. Rachel spent another ten minutes practicing before handing her attempt over to Yale. ¡°So? Does this look a bit closer now?¡± Yale took it, nced at it, and looked pleasantly surprised. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s starting to resemble it.¡± Rachel sighed in relief before flexing her cramped fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll try again. In the meantime, get out his Yale scratched his head awkwardly. ¡°About that¡­ Mr. Hunt¡¯s seal requires a password. It¡¯s locked inside his safe.¡± Rachel froze mid¨Cstroke and stared nkly at Yale. The next moment, she felt like a volcano about to erupt. She nted one hand on her hip while leaning against Tyler¡¯s desk. ¡°So let me get this straight. First, you make me copy his signature, and now you expect me to magically know the password to his safe¨Cwhat, am I supposed to be the worm living in Tyler¡¯s stomach?¡± Yale gave an embarrassed chuckle and rubbed the back of his head. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, don¡¯t be upset. If I¡¯d told you all this in advance, you might¡¯ve refused. But thepany¡¯s in crisis¨Cwe can¡¯t just sit back and do nothing, right?¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve told me the whole truth! Look at us now¨Chis signature isn¡¯t even fully figured out yet, and you¡¯re dumping another mess in myp!¡± Rachel felt her head spinning. Both the signature and the seal were indispensable; missing either one would ruin everything. She pushed her bangs aside and massaged her temples. Comining was useless now¨Cbetter to just focus on the problem in front of her. Just as she was about to try writing again, a brilliant idea popped into her mind. ¡°Yale, do we have the kind of practice paper¨Clike the ones kids use when learning cursive writing? You know, the kind youy over the writing and trace the strokes through?¡± ¡°Oh! We do, we do! I¡¯ll go ask one of the other employees. I remember one of them¨Cshe¡¯s a single mom- her kid¡¯s been practicing cursive writingtely. Since she can¡¯t leave him home alone after school, she brings him here sometimes.¡± Rachel was intrigued. ¡°But isn¡¯t that usually againstpany policy?¡± In a big firm like Tyler¡¯s, where every employee¡¯s work was crucial and even the smallest mistake could cause huge losses, this would normally be forbidden. Mostpanies require employees to have undivided attention while at work. Yale exined, ¡°This was personally approved by Mr. Hunt. He said if those single moms left their kids at home alone, that¡¯s when they¡¯d be truly distracted. A child alone could get into trouble, and the mother would never be able to concentrate at work. Better to let them bring the kid here, where she can keep an eye on him. Then she can work without worry.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but give Tyler a mental thumbs¨Cup. ¡°No wonder Tyler has achieved what he has. It¡¯s not just ability. His vision is on another level.¡± Her Exit 689 Back when William was running hispany, there had also been plenty of single mothers on staff. Unlike Tyler, William was firmly against allowing them to bring their children to the office. Even an hour wasn¡¯t allowed. His reasoning was simple and blunt. Apany was apany, not a daycare center and certainly not a marketce. Rules were rules, and he wouldn¡¯t let anyone break them. As a result, nearly every single mother who struggled to juggle work and childcare ended up making mistakes on the job. William¡¯s only response was punishment after punishment¨Cnever once addressing the root of the problem. Yale quickly returned with a cursive writing practice book in hand. #1 ¡°Ms. Lloyd, this is all we¡¯ve got for now. Let¡¯s use it for now. I¡¯ll buy a new er to rece it for the kid. ¡°That¡¯ll do.¡± Rachelid the tracing paper over Tyler¡¯s handwriting and carefully followed the strokes, one by one, copying them in exact detail. Luckily, she had some experience with this kind of thing. Soon, she had managed to produce a version that was about seventy percent simr. She handed her work to Yale. ¡°Well? Do you think this will pass?¡± Yale examined it and was visibly impressed. ¡°More than enough. Unless someone questions the validity of the signature, no one¡¯s going to notice.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s get these contracts signed first, then we¡¯ll worry about thepany seal. I¡¯ll give you Jerry¡¯s number. Have him hack into the building¡¯s security system. If Tyler finds out about this, you¡¯ll be the one out of a job.¡± Rachel pulled up Jerry¡¯s number on her phone and passed it to Yale. Then, she strode over to Tyler¡¯s safe and began testing possible codes. This time, instead of Tyler¡¯s birthday or phone number, she entered her own birthday. Beep! It was wrong. Rachel¡¯s heart sank at the sound. It wasn¡¯t her birthday. Then what was it? What else would Tyler use as his password? While she was still thinking it over, Yale had already contacted Jerry. As he exined the situation, he couldn¡¯t help but mutter in amazement. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, I didn¡¯t realize Jerry had so many skills. He can even hack surveince. Once LS Enterprise gets through this mess, we should recruit him into our tech department.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Rachel asked as she tried a second password. This time, she used Ray¡¯s birthday. Tyler had mentioned it once before, and thankfully, her memory hadn¡¯t failed her. Most people might not notice, but Rachel knew that Tyler¡¯s feelings toward Ray weren¡¯t nearly as detached as he pretended. Some people wore a cold, indifferent mask, as though they had long since seen through the world¡¯s cruelty. But if you looked closer, you¡¯d see that they still had a softness inside. Yale admitted honestly, ¡°Our security system is one of the strongest out there. Even top international hackers have tried to crack it, and they all failed.¡± Rachel frowned. ¡°Yourpany is like a minefield. This is too tough.¡± All she wanted was to help Tyler, yet somehow it felt like she was just making her own life harder. Yale shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s just how Mr. Hunt is. Meticulous to the extreme.¡± Rachel had no response to that. ¡°Oh, right. I can¡¯t guarantee Jerry will manage to disable the surveince. It all depends on luck,¡± she said. ¡°I know. We¡¯ll just have to try. Ms. Lloyd, I ought to remind you that this safe only allows three attempts. You¡¯ve already used two. If thest one fails, that¡¯s it. Game over.¡± Her Exit 690 Chapter 690 Rachel crouched down and clenched her fists tightly. +15 BONUS This time, she didn¡¯t dare to make another reckless guess. She sank back against the floor, forcing herself to think carefully. ¡°Yale, has Tyler ever hinted at anything? I mean, something we could use to figure out the password from the way he talks?¡± That question clearly stumped Yale. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, Mr. Hunt talks to me about so many things every single day. How am I supposed to remember? You¡¯re putting me in an impossible spot.¡± Rachel gave him no room to wiggle out. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. If you can¡¯te up with something, then everything we¡¯ve done so far will be for nothing.¡± Yale pursed his lips. He then forced his memory into overdrive, reying every conversation he¡¯d ever had with Tyler that might have mentioned the safe. At that moment, Rachel¡¯s phone rang. It was Jerry. She felt a sudden dread in her stomach. She feared he had failed. She steadied herself and answered. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you couldn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°I pulled it off, but you¡¯d better hurry.¡± Rachel frowned, and her heart clenched. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I just got word that Tyler¡¯s on his way back to the office. Probably for work. You two need to move fast.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression darkened instantly. ¡°Where is he now?¡± ¡°About two miles out.¡± Rachel felt like her whole world was caving in. ¡°Got it.¡± She hung up and immediately turned to Yale. ¡°Hurry! Jerry says Tyler is only two miles from here.¡± Yale broke out in a cold sweat. He frowned hard. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, don¡¯t rush me. I¡¯m thinking as fast as I can. A moment , his eyes lit up. +15 BONUS ¡°I remember now! Mr. Hunt once said every password he sets has some kind of personal meaning. Like how his apartment code is your birthday. But he wouldn¡¯t use that for everything. He values rtionships, but some are simply out of reach. Ms. Lloyd, can you think of anyone? Could it be his mother?¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. My mom told me Tyler and his mother had a good rtionship. That rules her out. It¡¯s only those rtionships that are strained, unresolved¨Cthe kind you can¡¯t mend¨Cthat truly count as out of reach.¡± The answer clicked into ce for Yale, though he still found it hard to believe it could be Thomas. ¡°But can we really assume that? I think not. Mr. Thomas had such a terrible falling¨Cout with Mr. Hunt. Why would he ever use something rted to Mr. Thomas for such an important safe?¡± Rachel nced at him. ¡°So you think it would be William instead?¡± Yale shook his head. Rachel looked away. She crouched back down at the safe, ready to punch in Thomas¡® birthday. It wasn¡¯t that she held the Lewis family in such high regard¨Cit was just that Thomas¡® birthday was far too easy to remember. It was the twelfth of December. If Tyler really had used it, that would actually be a mark of brilliance. After all, everyone who knew him was aware of the rift between him and Thomas. No one would ever suspect he¡¯d choose that. Even given ten tries, they¡¯d never guess it. That thought gave Rachel more confidence¨Cnot certainty, but at least enough to try. With her heart pounding, she entered the numbers. She and Yale held their breath, and their gazes locked on the safe door. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Her Exit 691 Ding! It was the sound of a lock clicking open. Rachel and Yale stared at each other in shock. It really opened! They had guessed right. The two of them exchanged a quick, triumphant high¨Cfive, then swiftly pulled Tyler¡¯spany seal out of the safe and stamped it onto the contract. Jerry¡¯s call came through again. ¡°Rachel, are you guys done yet?¡± ¡°We¡¯re done, we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Toote¨Ceven if you¡¯re done, Tyler¡¯s already in the elevator. You¡¯d better find somewhere to hide.¡± Rachel grabbed her phone, yanked Yale by the arm, and darted into the wardrobe. Just as she was about to close the door, Yale blurted out, ¡°Ms. Lloyd, we can¡¯t hide here! Mr. Hunt has OCD. Every time hees in, the first thing he does is change clothes.¡± Rachel was so anxious that her words almost tangled up. ¡°And you couldn¡¯t have said that earlier?¡± THIT She threw open the wardrobe doors again, scanning the office. The problem was that there wasn¡¯t anywhere else to hide. Yale pointed to the desk across from Tyler¡¯s. ¡°Under there!¡± ¡°That¡¯s pointless. He¡¯ll see us right away.¡± ¡°Not if he sits down. Once Mr. Hunt sits at his desk, he barely moves.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°And if he doesn¡¯t move, are we supposed to stay here the whole time?¡± Yale, for once, sounded confident. ¡°You can always message him and tell him to leave. Trust me¨Cif it¡¯s you, he¡¯ll listen.¡± With no better option, Rachel reluctantly agreed. The two of them squeezed under the desk¨Cjust as the office door swung open. As expected, Tyler walked straight in, dropped into his chair, and started gathering the files on his desk. Then, he nced at the clock. He pulled out his phone and started to call Yale. Rachel seemed to sense it¨Cshe frantically pointed at Yale¡¯s phone. Yale scrambled, fumbling to silence it, but Tyler¡¯s call was alreadying through. In the nick of time, Yale hit the mute button. Rachel sighed in relief. Tonight felt like one long roller coaster ride. She had never been more terrified. When Yale didn¡¯t answer, Tyler grew suspicious and dialed Rachel instead. Her phone buzzed quietly, but she dared not pick up either. Tyler¡¯s expression darkened. Something wasn¡¯t right. At that moment, a security guard burst in. ¡°Mr. Hunt, someone reported an intruder in the building!¡± Tyler¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Pull the surveince footage.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Under the desk, Rachel and Yale both froze. If Jerry hadn¡¯t managed to disable the cameras, everything they had done would be exposed! ¡°Is the surveince taken care of?¡± Yale mouthed desperately. Rachel shook her head¨Cshe didn¡¯t know. In the rush to beat Tyler here, she hadpletely forgotten to ask Jerry about the cameras. Yale¡¯s eyes went wide. He spread his hands, gesturing wildly that he was ready to bolt right then and there. Rachel yanked him back down before he could move. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she mouthed. Yale jabbed at her phone, mouthing that she should text him. Rachel quickly typed a reply. [I¡¯m not sure about the surveince. But don¡¯t panic¨Cif you crawl out now, you¡¯re walking straight into a trap.] Yale typed back so fast his sweaty palms nearly dropped the phone. For a terrifying second, it slipped from his hand¨Cuntil Rachel snatched it midair just before it hit the floor. The two of them locked eyes, relief flooding through them. Then the guard returned. ¡°Mr. Hunt, the footage is ready.¡± Rachel and Yale¡¯s hearts clenched. If Jerry hadn¡¯t done his part, then everything they had risked was about to go up in smoke. Tyler clenched his jaw tightly. ¡°Well?¡± Her Exit 692 : +15 BONUS Chapter 692 The guard froze for a moment. ¡°Uhh, well, we just had the staff check, and it turns out the surveince system was damaged. Nothing came up.¡± Rachel and Yale both exhaled in unison, relief flooding through them. They were nearly out of their wits. Tyler mmed his palm on the desk with a heavy crack, his voice a low, furious snarl. ¡°Impossible! Ourpany¡¯s security system is the best there is. And you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s been sabotaged, and you can¡¯t even find out who did it?¡± The sheer force behind his anger made the guard stumble back two steps. Head lowered, shoulders trembling, he stammered, ¡°M¨CMr. Hunt, we¡¯ve already sent people to investigate. But it may take some time before we get results.¡± Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, the guard quickly added, ¡°Mr. Hunt, what about Mr. Yale? If we leave this matter to him, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll get to the bottom of it immediately.¡± He shouldn¡¯t have said that. The moment Yale¡¯s name came up, Tyler¡¯s fury deepened. His voice was ice- cold. ¡°Then find out where Yale is right now.¡± The guard was dumbstruck. Had Yale vanished, too? Tyler¡¯s gazended on him, still standing there like a fool, and his anger spiked. ¡°What are you waiting for? Do you need me to send you off myself?¡± ¡°S¨CSorry! I¡¯ll get right on it!¡± The guard bolted out. As the office door shut behind him, he pressed a hand to his pounding chest, finally letting out a shaky sigh. ¡®What¡¯s up with Mr. Hunt today? He¡¯s acting like he¡¯s ready to explode, or maybe it¡¯s just because of thepany¡¯s situation?¡® Still, for someone to break through thispany¡¯s security system was unbelievable. In all these years, no one had ever pulled it off. Whoever did it was a true master. While Tyler waited for the investigation results, Yale and Rachel exchanged a nce. They both knew the timing was critical. Any longer, and Tyler¡¯s suspicions would be confirmed. Rachel whipped out her phone and fired off a few WhatsApp messages to him. +15 BONUS [Tyler, there¡¯s a problem with Cecilia. We can¡¯t handle it. Can youe over?] Almost instantly, Tyler called back. But Rachel didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she declined the call. [I can¡¯t talk right now. Just head to the address I¡¯m sending you.] She quickly forwarded the location Cecilia had given her earlier. Tyler read the message, and without hesitation, picked up his car keys from the desk and walked out. Rachel and Yale scrambled out from under the desk. Rachel urged, ¡°Hurry, there¡¯s no time. We have to beat Tyler there, or everything falls apart!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± They slipped out through the back door, Rachel dialing Jerry as they moved. ¡°Jerry, we¡¯re heading out the back. You need to wipe every camera along the way. Tyler can¡¯t find even the slightest trace.¡± ¡°I know, but Tyler already has people repairing the system. I don¡¯t know if I can keep it covered.¡± Jerry didn¡¯t sound sure of himself. The truth was, Tyler¡¯spany¡¯s security system was miles ahead of anything else out there. He had poured his entire career¡¯s worth of expertise into trying to crack it. But Rachel didn¡¯t have the luxury to worry. *Jerry, I believe in you. You have to do this. We can¡¯t let everything go to waste.¡± She hung up, and she and Yale slipped into the parking garage, only steps behind Tyler. Thankfully, Yale was prepared. He borrowed a friend¡¯s car. Even so, Tyler simply drove too fast. No matter how hard Yale stepped on the pedal, he couldn¡¯t keep up. Yale was anxious. ¡°This isn¡¯t working. At this rate, we¡¯ll never catch him!¡± If Tyler got there first, they would be exposed. Rachel had seen enough. ¡°Pull over. Stop the car,¡± she ordered. : Her Exit 693 Yale was dumbfounded. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, if we stop now, we¡¯ll definitely lose him.¡± ¡°Trust me. Just pull over.¡± Hearing that, Yale had no choice. After all, if nothing unexpected happened, Rachel would most likely be Tyler¡¯s wife. Offending her was out of the question. Besides, if what they were doing behind Tyler¡¯s back ever came to light, he¡¯d probably need her to put in a good word for him. Yale pulled over, and Rachel unbuckled her seatbelt, quickly switching seats with him. By the time he realized what was happening, he was already sitting in the passenger seat. ¡°Wait¨CMs. Lloyd, you¡¯ve seen Mr. Hunt drive. He¡¯s no slouch. And you¡¯re wearing heels, what if something hap-¡± Before he could finish, Rachel stepped on the elerator and shot forward. Yale nearly mmed into the dashboard, only saved by his seatbelt. He clutched the door handle tight, eyes glued to the road ahead, terrified that her driving might cause an ident. As it turned out, he hadpletely underestimated her. He thought he knew Rachel well enough after working for Tyler all these years, but he had no idea she could drive like this. The way her hands and feet moved in perfect sync¨Cit was obvious she wasn¡¯t just a casual driver. Yale couldn¡¯t hide the admiration in his eyes. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, have you trained in racing or something? How are you this good behind the wheel?¡± ¡°Back when I was abroad, I followed a racer for a while. Picked up a few things along the way. Didn¡¯t think it¡¯d actuallye in handy one day,¡± Rachel answered casually. Rachel had always been strong with both her hands and her mind¨Cnever one to waste her brainpower. The moment she lost interest in something, she¡¯d throw herself into the next challenge. Yale couldn¡¯t help but give her a thumbs¨Cup. Respect was written all over his face. ¡°You¡¯re incredible, Ms. Lloyd. Honestly, I always thought it was a waste for you to stay at Lewis Enterprise. You¡¯d be better off in ourpany.¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°Tyler has you guys already, that¡¯s more than enough. Me joining wouldn¡¯t really make sense.¡± Her ambitionsy elsewhere anyway. Back at the research institute, her colleagues had been talking about developing a new project¨Csomething that could benefit everyone. She wanted to give it a shot. Meanwhile, the car shot through the busy streets like a fish slipping through a stream, never easing up for a second. Yale, stuck in the passenger seat, was paying the price. Rachel kept swerving and cuttingnes. Even strapped in, he was tossed around like he was stuck on a carnival ride. Frowning, he felt his lunch threatening toe back up. By the time they finally screeched to a halt, it was thest straw. She unbuckled, ready to say something, but Yale had already bolted out, fumbling with his seatbelt and throwing up. Rachel froze and stared at him, doubled over in misery. She furrowed her brows. She had been so focused on the road, she hadn¡¯t thought at all about how rough the ride must¡¯ve been for him. She grabbed a bottle of water from the car and handed it to him. ¡°Sorry, I had no choice just now. Here, drink some water, it¡¯ll help.¡± Yale epted it, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and forced a sheepish smile. ¡°Apologies, Ms. Lloyd, what a sight to make you see.¡± Just then, Cecilia rushed over with some people. ¡°What took you two so long? These guys are about ready to quit¨Cand they¡¯re demanding more money!¡± ¡°More money¡¯s fine. Just get them moving. If Tyler shows up any earlier, the whole thing will blow.¡± Cecilia, who had already made preparations, nodded quickly. Her Exit 694 ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Right after she said that, Tyler¡¯s car pulled up. Through the window, he saw Rachel arguing heatedly with a group of men. ¡°Cecilia¡¯s husband was the one who borrowed the money! What¡¯s this got to do with her? Bullying a defenseless woman like this, do you think that¡¯s right?¡± ¡°Het husband¡¯s gone now, so of course we¡¯reing after her. Here¡¯s the IOU¨Che owed us 200,000. We¡¯ve already looked into it. The neighborhood her house is in? Prime real estate. If she sells it, she can pay us back with plenty to spare.¡± Rachel quickly defended Cecilia. ¡°That house isn¡¯t even hers to sell! She has no grounds to liquidate it.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t care! We just want our money. And if she doesn¡¯t pay up, don¡¯t me us for getting rough!¡± One of the men raised the club in his hand. Meanwhile, Yale was still leaning against a tree, looking worse for wear. Rachel gave him a quick nce, then sighed and turned back¨Che didn¡¯t look suspicious. It seemed more like he had been in a scuffle and hade out hurt. Rachel shielded Cecilia, holding her tight, bracing for the blow. But the pain never came¨Conly a shriek. ¡°Argh! My arm! It hurts, it hurts!¡± Rachel and Cecilia looked up. Tyler was standing in front of them, the man already sprawled on the ground from his strike. After seeing Tyler, the thugs froze. One quickly rushed to haul his buddy up. ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯ll pay for this¡± the man spat and red at Cecilia before hastily retreating with the others. Rachel immediately turned to Cecilia. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Cecilia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. What about you?¡± I¡¯m fine too. Thank goodness Tyler showed up when he did.¡± By then, Yale¨Chaving recovered from vomiting¨Churried over to Tyler ¡°Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler¡¯s expression was dark ¡°What did I tell you before? Did you forget already? I told you to protect them, and what do you do? You hide off to the side while two women are left on their own.¡± Yale¡¯s shoulders hunched instantly, and his neck shrank back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hunt, they were too fierce. I couldn¡¯t handle them.¡± Tyler¡¯s piercing gaze swept over him. ¡°Strange. You don¡¯t look injured at all. You seem perfectly fine to me.¡± Thatst line made Yale¡¯s heart race. He lowered his head silently. Sensing danger, Rachel quickly stepped between them. ¡°Don¡¯t me Yale. He did his best to help us¨Cyou saw for yourself how many of them there were.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no excuse,¡± Tyler snapped. Yale nced at Rachel. ¡°Ms. Lloyd, you don¡¯t need to cover for me. This was my failure. I didn¡¯t protect you properly.¡± Rachel looked up at the sky. ¡°Enough. It¡¯s gettingte¨Cwe should head back and figure out our next step there.¡± But Cecilia shook her head. ¡°No, Rachel. I¡¯ve already caused you enough trouble. Don¡¯t waste more of your time on me.¡± She even bowed to Tyler. ¡°And Mr. Hunt, I¡¯m sorry to have dragged you into something so trivial.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. But Cecilia, I do want to know¨Cweren¡¯t you supposed to be meeting Rachel about something? How did you end up crossing paths with these men?¡± Cecilia froze. ¡°Huh?¡± Her Exit 695 Chapter 695 Cecilia wasn¡¯t really feeling guilty because of Tyler¡¯s question¨Cwhat rattled her was his eyes. It felt as if she looked into them for even a second longer, he¡¯d drag her straight into a pit. She quickly looked away. Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest. Rachel, seeing Cecilia¡¯s state, feared she might slip up. She hurried forward to step between her and Tyler. ¡°Alright, you should head home. I know today gave you quite a scare. Go rest, and we¡¯ll talk about this in a couple of days.¡± Cecilia, looking dazed, nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll just call a cab.¡± Tyler tilted his head slightly, peering past Rachel at her. ¡°You don¡¯t want us to give you a ride?¡± Thest thing Cecilia dared was to actually let Tyler drive her¨Cshe couldn¡¯t handle the suffocating pressure that clung to him. ¡°No, really, it¡¯s fine,¡± she waved quickly, terrified he might insist. Rachel and Yale exchanged a look. No words were needed¨Cthey both understood. For Tyler to suddenly offer something like that, it almost certainly meant suspicion had already crept into his mind. With his personality, he¡¯d never otherwise suggest giving Cecilia a ride. Rachel could only hope Tyler wouldn¡¯t dwell on it further, or that Cecilia hadn¡¯t revealed too much. Still, watching Cecilia shrink and tremble in front of Tyler left her feeling helpless. Couldn¡¯t Cecilia hold herself together a little? Tyler wasn¡¯t exactly about to eat her alive. She had nned carefully for so many scenarios¨Cyet she hadn¡¯t ounted for Cecilia losing herposure the moment sheid eyes on Tyler. Rachel helped her into the cab and, to stave off Tyler¡¯s doubts, added a reassuring line. ¡°As for your husband¡¯s debts, we¡¯ll handle them. Don¡¯t worry too much. Just focus on taking care of yourself and the child.¡± Cecilia was still trembling in fear when she looked at Rachel. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m so sorry. I only wanted to talk to you about my rtionship, but instead I ran into my husband¡¯s creditors and nearly dragged you into danger.¡± Rachel gently patted the back of her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Go home and rest¡± ¡°Okay,¡± The cab pulled away quickly. +15 BONUS Tyler narrowed his eyes at Rachel. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm before turning to him. ¡°Sorry for dragging you into this. I was just afraid we couldn¡¯t handle it ourselves.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll talk back at the apartment.¡± This time, Rachel returned with him. The air inside the car felt stifling, and neither of them spoke. Rachel¡¯s nerves gnawed at her. She had always thought she had a steady temperament, but now, she found herself straining to keep it together. She considered starting some small talk but worried that with Tyler¨Cso sharp and calcting- every extra word might just expose her. It was better to say nothing. Back at the apartment, Tyler shrugged off his jacket. Rachel sat on the sofa, pretending to y with the dog, though her attention never left him. Tyler must have sensed it. He suddenly turned around. Rachel looked away in a panic and gave Ray a few pats on the head. ¡°Ray, you¡¯ve been eating too muchtely. I don¡¯t think I can let you keep this up.¡± ¡°Come upstairs with me,¡± Tyler suddenly said to her from behind. 2 Her Exit 696 Chapter 696 Rachel pouted. ¡°Oh.¡± Dragging her feet, she followed Tyler upstairs, her heart thundering in her chest as though it might burst out. Could he have already picked up on something? Apart from Cecilia, there shouldn¡¯t have been anything suspicious. Closing the door behind her, Rachel clenched her fingertips tight and forced herself to appear calm as she stepped forward. ¡°What is it?¡± Suddenly, Tyler spun around and pinned her against the door. His fingers tapped lightly against the wood. The cold gleam off his watch reflected on her. ¡°Your acting¡¯s not bad, Rachel.¡± Rachel froze for a beat. She then smiled as if confused. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Tyler leaned closer. His cedar and tobo scent rubbed off on her. ¡°Don¡¯t you think Cecilia¡¯s reaction was strange? The way she looked at me wasn¡¯t like fear at all. It was guilt.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She knew it¨CCecilia¡¯s slip had caught his attention. Digging her nails into her palm, she steadied her voice. ¡°You must be joking. Cecilia was scared, that¡¯s all. She¡¯s timid. You know that better than anyone. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have called me over in the first ce.¡± She tried to push him back, but Tyler didn¡¯t budge. His gaze bore into her until she felt a chill down her spine. ¡°Her husband¡¯s debts aren¡¯t new. People must¡¯vee knocking plenty of times. Tell me¨Csomeone used to facing that kind of mess, would she really fall apart like that? And funnily enough, she only got that scared when she saw me. Almost as if she owed me money.¡± Rachel knew there was no point dancing around the edges anymore. She shifted tactics and went straight for the heart of it. ¡°You think we¡¯re putting on a show? Fine. Then tell me¨Cwhat would we gain from staging all this for you? ¡± Tyler studied her delicate face in silence for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, a low, huskyugh slipped from his throat. The sudden sound threw Rachel off. She frowned slightly. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Tyler finally released her, stepping back to give her space. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to exin now. If you stay quiet, don¡¯t cry to me when I find out the truthter.¡± His smile might have been dazzling, but to Rachel it felt like the weight of a steel jack pressing down on her chest, suffocating her. Putting on a show of indifference, she lifted her chin. ¡°If you want to investigate, go ahead. As for me, I¡¯m going to shower and rest.¡± With that, she brushed past him, pulled clothes from the wardrobe, and disappeared into the bathroom. Tyler stood and watched the bathroom door for a moment before turning his gaze away. Just then, Yale knocked. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I heard something¡¯s happened at thepany. Do you want to go take a look?¡± Tyler opened the door. He looked Yale up and down, who stiffened under the scrutiny. Yale¡¯s feet felt as heavy as lead, refusing to move. Forcing a tight, awkward smile, Yale asked, ¡°Mr. Hunt, why are you looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?¡± Her Exit 697 yler shot back, ¡°Do you think you¡¯ve done well enough?¡± Yale¡¯s heart pounded as he looked timidly at Tyler. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what do you mean by that? Don¡¯t look at me like this¨Cit rattles me. If you think I¡¯ve done something wrong, you can just tell me directly.¡± Tyler¡¯s stare cut right through him, like a de pressed against his skin. Every second of eye contact cranked up the pressure until Yale was close to spilling everything. But if he spoke, he¡¯d drag Rachel down with him. He could afford to take the fall himself, but there was no way he¡¯d let Rachel get burned too. Leaningzily against the doorframe with arms crossed, Tyler tilted his chin at him. ¡°Yale, why didn¡¯t either you or Rachel answer my calls?¡± At that, Yale¡¯s instincts screamed danger. He rushed to exin. ¡°Mr. Hunt, don¡¯t misunderstand. Ms. Lloyd and I are clean¨Cthere¡¯s nothing between us. We weren¡¯t ignoring your calls on purpose. We were busy at the time, you saw it yourself. We really didn¡¯t have a chance to pick up.¡± ¡°Is that so? Yale, you know me. I can¡¯t stand being lied to¨Cespecially not by the people around me.¡± Tyler¡¯s voice dropped, deep and menacing. ¡°I¡¯m giving you the chance toe clean right now. If you tell me the truth, I¡¯ll forgive you. But if I find it out on my own, it won¡¯t be so easy then.¡± Yale¡¯s heart nearly leaped out of his chest. His mind was torn in two¨Cif he confessed now, maybe Tyler would let him off, but Rachel¡¯s secrets would beid bare, and he knew she wasn¡¯t ready for Tyler to uncover the truth. He could sacrifice himself, but dragging Rachel down was out of the question. After a long inner struggle, Yale finally made up his mind to cover for her. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I¡¯m not hiding anything from you. You saw the situation yourself. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can send someone to investigate.¡± Tyler stepped closer, staring him down for a long moment before finally pointing at him. ¡°Go to thepany.¡± Yale only let out a sigh of relief once Tyler¡¯s back was turned. But it was only temporary. Tyler was already suspicious, and if heunched a deeper investigation, unless everything was airtight, exposure was only a matter of time. When Rachel came out of the shower, Tyler was already gone. A WhatsApp notification lit up her phone. It was from Tyler. [Something came up at thepany. I need to deal with it. Don¡¯t wait for me. Go to bed.] Rachel sighed in relief. She had been worried in the shower that if Tyler kept pressing her tonight, she¡¯d slip and expose herself before morning. At least with him gone, they had some breathing room. She quickly called Jerry. ¡°Jerry, Tyler¡¯s starting to get suspicious. Hurry up and patch the gaps¨Canything unfinished needs to be airtight. Even if he digs into it, he can¡¯t be allowed to find a single crack.¡± Jerry¡¯s voice sounded tense. ¡°Alright, but my skills only go so far. If Tyler hires a hacker stronger than me to dig through the system, I can¡¯t guarantee the surveince won¡¯t be restored.¡± Her Exit 698 apter 698 Rachel froze for a moment. She wasn¡¯t sure herself, but at this point, what was done was done. Now, all that mattered was figuring out how to fix it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let¡¯s just figure it out along the way.¡± When Tyler arrived at thepany, the entire building was lit up. Instead of going straight in, he only ordered Yale to call in the technicians and the staff on the night shift. Trailing behind, Yale couldn¡¯t help but ask about what happened. It felt wrong to stay in the dark. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what exactly happened at thepany?¡± ¡°The surveince system was destroyed. Someone must have broken in. Check every important file and contract thoroughly¨Cmake sure nothing¡¯s missing.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Yale pressed the elevator button and added, ¡°But whoever did this must be incredible. Our security system is supposed to be the best in Yurelia City, and they still managed to crack it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s always someone better and smarter. The moment you think yourpany is untouchable, that¡¯s the moment it starts falling apart.¡± Yale lowered his head respectfully. ¡°Understood, Mr. Hunt.¡± Tyler moved with a purposeful stride, the kind that sent a chill in his wake. When he pushed open the office doors, the ce was in chaos¨Cemployees scrambled through contracts and files, checking every detail. Tyler¡¯s gaze suddenly shifted to the safe. He walked over, crouched down, and opened it. Yale, standing a few steps away, felt his heart nearly leap out of his chest at the sight. He even pressed a hand against his upper lip to steady himself. The safe looked untouched. Tyler flipped through the files inside. Nothing was missing, but one thing caught his attention. There were three contracts he didn¡¯t immediately recognize. He pulled them out, scanned the partnerpanies, then flipped to thest page. His brows furrowed deeply when he saw the signatures and seals. ¡°Yale!¡± His roar snapped Yale to attention, making Yale jump. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Get over here.¡± Yale exhaled shakily. He then walked up and asked respectfully, ¡°Yes, Mr. Hunt? What is it?¡± ¡°Exin this contract. I¡¯m certain I never signed it¨Cso why is my signature andpany seal on it?¡± Yale blinked in confusion and shook his head. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I have no idea. I haven¡¯t even been in the officetely. Last time you told us to put those projects on hold, so I didn¡¯t touch them. Besides, no one else knows the safebination but you. As for the signature and stamp¨Ccould it be that you signed it yourself and just forgot? It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Tyler¡¯s tone was firm. ¡°I didn¡¯t sign it. I¡¯m absolutely certain.¡± Yale immediately distanced himself. ¡°I have no clue. The safe can only be opened by you, no one else. And the signature, look at it closely. Isn¡¯t it your handwriting?¡± Tyler narrowed his eyes at the page. The signature was indeed his, down to the handwriting itself. But he knew, without a shred of doubt, that he hadn¡¯t signed it. Her Exit 699 Chapter 699 Tyler gripped the contract tightly, as if something had just clicked in his mind. He turned to the others stillbing through the files. ¡°You can stop investigating.¡± Everyone froze mid¨Ctask. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what do you mean? Stop? We¡¯re not investigating anymore?¡± ¡°I already know what they were after.¡± Tyler rose with the contracts in hand. ¡°Their target must have been these documents.¡± A few people exchanged confused looks. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what do you mean by that? Are you saying they broke in just for these projects? But that doesn¡¯t make sense¨Cthe contracts are with foreign partners, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yeah, and once contracts like these are signed and printed, they¡¯re final. Nothing about them should be a problem.¡± Yale quickly jumped in, trying to muddy the waters and divert suspicion. ¡°Mr. Hunt, could it be that you already approved and signed them earlier, but then forgotter on?¡± Tyler red at Yale. ¡°Yale, do you take me for my old man, so senile I can¡¯t tell if I signed something or not?¡± Yale immediately lowered his head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, Mr. Hunt.¡± Pointing to the stamp and handwriting, Tyler continued coldly, ¡°At first nce, it looks like mine. But if you look carefully, the handwriting has a delicate, almost feminine quality to it. Itcks the force of a man¡¯s pen. Which means it was forged by a woman imitating my signature.¡± Yale¡¯s heart jolted violently. Did Tyler already figure everything out? They hadn¡¯t even nned their next move yet. Yale dared not say another word. He was afraid that any slip would shift Tyler¡¯s suspicion directly onto him. At that moment, the technicians approached cautiously. ¡°Mr. Hunt, we tried to recover the surveince footage just now, but we failed.¡± Their voices grew smaller and smaller. They didn¡¯t dare to even meet his gaze. The office air¨Cconditioning was set to its lowest, yet Tyler¡¯s expression was colder than the room itself. +15 BONUS He walked to theputer with the ck screen before knocking on the desk with his knuckle. ¡°You¡¯ve been at this for two hours, and this is the result you brought me?¡± The technicians broke out in a cold sweat. Their voices trembled. ¡°M¨CMr. Hunt, we really did everything we could. We don¡¯t even know who this person is. They¡¯re far too skilled. We¡¯ve been trying to figure it out for so long, but we still¡­¡± ¡°Still what?¡± Tyler suddenly stood up. His suit jacket swept across the table, scattering papers in a harsh rustle. He loomed over the technician, his presence crushing. ¡°I pay you generously, not to hear excuses.¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt, we-¡± The man tried to exin, but Tyler cut him off with a single raised hand and a cold re. ¡°Don¡¯t bother showing up tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mr. Hunt-¡± They tried to plead, but Yale had already stepped forward to drive them out. ¡°Enough. Your skills arecking¨Cthat¡¯s on you. Mr. Hunt was clear from the start. The one thing he won¡¯t tolerate is outside forces breaching our system. The surveince was destroyed, and now you can¡¯t even restore it. You know thepany rules.¡± The technicians nced at each other before leaving in defeat. Tyler then questioned the other staff one by one, but the answers were the same. None of them had seen anyone enter the building. Leaning back in his chair, Tyler frowned intensely. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, the intruder was most likely someone on the inside. Only an insider would know the building¡¯syout well enough to slip in unseen.¡± Her Exit 700 Chapter 700 Yale couldn¡¯t help but shiver again when he heard Tyler¡¯s words. Tyler raised his wrist and nced at his watch. It was already 2 in the morning. By now, there wasn¡¯t much point in digging any further. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Start an internal review first.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Everyone in the office responded one after another. The group slowly dispersed, some stifling yawns, already resigned to the fact that no one would be getting much sleep tonight. ¡°Seriously, who has the guts toe after ourpany? They must be insane.¡± ¡°Yeah, and our security system is supposed to be the best. For someone to crack it, I¡¯d really like to know which genius pulled that off.¡± ¡°Forget about who did it. All I know is the geniuses in our own IT department are out of jobs now. We¡¯d better just focus on our own work. Otherwise, the next unemployed folks could be us.¡± ¡°True, true.¡± Tyler ced the three contracts on the desk before shifting his gaze to Yale. ¡°Who introduced this project to you? Which overseas firm? I want to meet their representative.¡± Yale froze on the spot. Representative? Did Tyler want to meet the person in charge? That was impossible¨Cif they met, the whole charade would fall apart! Feeling anxious, his thoughts began to race, Tyler, noticing his silence, barked impatiently, ¡°Yale! What are you doing? I¡¯m talking to you.¡± Snapping back, Yale forced a quick answer. ¡°Oh, Mr. Hunt¨Cyes, the representative. I¡¯ll reach out to them first thing in the morning.¡± Tyler tapped his fingers on the desk, his eyes dropping to the contracts again. Hebed through every page, but there was nothing suspicious at all. It was just a straightforward agreement with no hidden uses. ¡°Why would this partner insist on working with us? Are they out of their minds? Don¡¯t they realize ourpany is on the verge of bankruptcy?¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Mr. Hunt, I already raised those same concerns. But their representative told me they believe in your ability. If you manage to turn things around, their firm sees this as a major project¨Cand they hope for long -term cooperation with you in the future.¡± Tyler¡¯s brows furrowed deeper. ¡°This still feels off. Look into the representative¡¯s background thoroughly.¡± Yale panicked when he heard this. ¡°Mr. Hunt, we really don¡¯t have the time to be digging into this. Shouldn¡¯t we focus on pushing the project forward? And besides, whether or not someone forged your signature, the contract is already effective.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Tyler frowned and nced coldly at Yale. ¡°Have you already contacted them?¡± ¡°I did a while ago. Everything was ready except for your signature. But since it¡¯s already there, naturally, the contract is valid now. Mr. Hunt, whatever else happens, the most important thing is tounch this project immediately. We should also spread the word. Let outsiders see that there are stillpanies willing to work with us.¡± Tyler tugged irritably at his tie after hearing this, leaving it hanging loose around his neck. His intense gazended on Yale. ¡°Yale, did you have anything to do with this?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!