Chapter 157 +25 BONUS

Rachel felt that Tyler looked completely out of place sitting there. He didn’t blend in with these people at all. He was like a deity who accidentally 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 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 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 platform. 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 explain 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 Tyler. 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-righteous explanation and honestly just felt like laughing, 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 placed 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 language as she signed back, “William, we’ve been together for how many years now? Seven? And you still don’t trust me, not even a little?”

Seeing her 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 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 rival company, I won’t be able to protect you. You’d better watch yourself.”