Chapter 101
Chapter 101
Chris couldn’t bring himself to answer Tyler’s question. He lowered his eyes.
“Can’t even say a word?” Tyler sneered. “You’re already second–guessing yourself, wondering if you screwed up, but you’ll never admit it. Hard to believe the Langford family ended up with someone as clueless as you”
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“It’s not like that,” Chris muttered. “Eleanor, maybe you misunderstood Serena, and that’s why things got so tangled between the three of us. Logan just called, he said it was all a misunderstanding, and Serena could be let out. Eleanor, is there something between you and her that still hasn’t been cleared up?”
“You sound pleased,” Eleanor shot him a look. “Do you think she acts gentle and kind, so she’s innocent? If you want to keep lying to yourself, that’s your choice.”
Her anger was palpable.
Chris, acting like he knew better, pressed on, “Eleanor, you’re mad because Serena’s getting off easy, right? She’s already lost so much. Can’t you just let her go?”
Eleanor clenched her hand into a fist, her voice cold. “I should’ve never gone easy on you. With a brain like yours, anything you bring into this world would just be a menace to society!”
Tyler cast a mocking glance at Chris. “She’s worried about Vera. But I guess that’s too much for you to get.”
Eleanor looked at Tyler. Only Tyler understood her. Chris was such an idiot, actually thinking she was upset because of Serena.
Since the two families were in a union,
“Ignore him. Let’s go.”
any bad press is absolutely off–limits.
*****Outside the inpatient ward, Eleanor stopped suddenly and clenched her fists in frustration.
“She told me to be careful with marriage, and now she’s careless about her own,” she muttered, “Men are such trouble.”
Tyler’s expression shifted slightly–he had the distinct feeling that he was included in that complaint.
“Am I part of the trouble too?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
“You? Not yet,” Eleanor said. “But if you ever piss me off or do something unforgivable, I won’t forgive you. I’ll definitely divorce you.”
Tyler quietly repeated her words in his mind. ‘Wont forgive. Will definitely divorce!
But they had an agreement. No matter what, even if they got divorced, he’d still be hers. She wouldn’t be able to get rid of him that easily. That thought made him relax a little.
“Hope we never have to get divorced,” Tyler mumbled under his breath.
“What did you say?” Eleanor asked, not catching his words.
“I was just thinking… If we ever divorced because of my fault, everything I own–including me–would be yours. Would that make you feel better?”
“That depends,” Eleanor replied. “If a man signs something like that and takes out a huge insurance policy, it’s suspicious. One minute he’s a model husband, the next he’s plotting her death.”
Tyler’s face darkened. He’d only brought up the agreement to reassure Eleanor that he wasn’t one of those troublesome
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Chapter 101
men.
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“Why do you look so grim?” Eleanor glanced at him. “Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t talking about you.”
still spent Seven years with that fool.”
Tyler forced a smile. “Seems like you know men pretty well. Yet you
“Because I kept hoping for a miracle,” Eleanor said quietly. “I kept thinking he’d change. It’s easy to see the truth when you’re on the outside, but when it’s your own life, you’re blind to it.”
“Let’s not talk about that anymore,” Tyler said. “Other people’s drama want you to come to me first, okay?”
s nothing to do with us. If anything ever happens, I
Eleanor looked at him, the moonlight casting a cool, distant glow over him, making him seem even more cool.
“Tyler, how old are you this year?” Eleanor suddenly asked.
He put a fist on his lips and coughed lightly. “I’m five years older than you.”
“Oh, so you’re middle–aged now.” Eleanor gave his stomach a playful pat. “But looking at you, you definitely don’t look like some greasy old man.”
Tyler caught her hand. “Stop it. If you want to see, I’ll show you when we get home.”
Now that she’d let her guard down, Eleanor felt a wave of sleepiness. “I feel like someone’s probably out there secretly watching you, and you don’t even know it. But honestly, I don’t have the energy to care. I’m so tired. My whole body aches from the fight. Carry me.”
Tyler nodded, scooped her up, and with a
glance over his shoulder, strode forward.
“Tyler…” Eleanor murmured, half–asleep. ” think I can actually relax when I’m with you.”
All these years, she’d gotten used to relying only on herself, always wound tight. Even today had been no different, until she saw him.
“I’m your husband. If I can’t make you feel safe, then I’ve failed.”
There was no reply. She’d already fallen asleep.
Tyler gently laid her down in the back seat, making sure she was comfortable, then took off his jacket and draped it over her.
Looking at her sleeping face, he smiled and kissed her forehead. Then, as he straightened and closed the car door, the warmth disappeared from his face. His voice turned cold. “You’ve been sneaking around long enough. Show yourself.”
Chris emerged slowly. “Tyler, I came here with you, remember? It’s late, and getting a cab now isn’t easy. Can you give me a ride home?”
Tyler shot him a cold look. “So you want me to be your driver? Or are you planning to pull something with Eleanor in the backseat?”
Chris shook his head quickly. “No, of course not!”
“Then you want to drive?”
“Yes-”
“Not happening,” Tyler cut him off flatly. “If you get any funny ideas, I’m not risking it.”
“Tyler, why are you always picking on me?” Chris protested loudly.
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“Because you’re a fool,” Tyler snorted. “I’m afraid if I hang around you too long, your stupidity might rub off on me. Now that Serena’s out, tell her to keep her head down. Don’t think her schemes went unnoticed.”
Chris pressed, “Tyler, what do you mean by that? You still have it out for Serena, don’t you?”
Tyler looked at him, disappointed. “The truth is right in front of you, but you keep making excuses just to protect your fragile ego, just to prove you weren’t wrong.”
“I’m not,” Chris muttered. “I’m not the one at fault. She’s the one who’s been hiding things. Why can’t she just be honest? She just wants me to feel guilty, to make me think I’m the bad guy here.”
“You’re intolerable,” Tyler said coldly, then turned and got in the car, ignoring Chris standing outside.
His hands clenched the wheel, still fuming inside. Spending seven years with someone so foolish was pure torture. It was a relief they’d finally split up–because even if everyone blamed him, he never would’ve let that marriage happen.
Eleanor slept straight through till morning, something she hadn’t enjoyed in ages. Usually, she was too stressed to get any real rest, or she’d be up late dealing with clients overseas, sometimes not getting to bed until one or two in the morning. And when she did sleep, her dreams were always weird.
Opening her eyes, she saw Tyler lying next to her. She couldn’t help but joke, “Tyler, are you my lucky charm or something?”
She reached over and, to her surprise, realized Tyler wasn’t wearing a shirt. Her eyes widened. Thinking of those abs, she slowly lifted the blanket covering him, trying to sneak a peek.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Tyler’s eyes suddenly snapped open.
