Chapter 195

Of course William would know about the tattoo, but how did Tyler know?

Tyler casually crossed one long leg over the other. He leaned back in his seat with an air of nonchalance.

“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, caught up in a trend with a bunch of her female classmates.

She’d originally wanted a lily because it was her favorite flower, but 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.”

The last few words were emphasized.

Rachel couldn’t help but laugh, 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 how 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 some comfort.

She held out her injured hand.

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to blow on it?”

Rachel blinked. She instinctively wanted to explain 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 usual laziness 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-confident expression froze.