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 flashed 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 explanations.

She took a wild but probably accurate 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 gaze landed on Rachel.

“All right, tell me, how’d you figure it out?”

“Howard is the Ziegler family’s only son. His father had him late in life, so naturally he’s extra precious. The moment something happened to him, Gerald would’ve launched an investigation.

“Even if you’re pretty well-known 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 explanation, 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. Did he hide whatever’s going on between him and Samantha from you?”

Rachel gave a faint, bitter smile. “Or maybe they never even planned to hide it in the first place.”

Tyler snorted. “Well, that’s that then. Forced love never bears sweet fruit.”

Rachel chuckled softly. “I never intended to force anything. Relationships 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-up. “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 sarcastic comment. “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 glanced again at the wounds on his back. “Do they hurt?”

“If I say yes, will you comfort 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 to comfort 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, flashing that devil-may-care grin. “I’d like to see them try.”