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 passing comment.”

Tyler wasn’t someone who could be easily manipulated. 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 similar 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 to 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?”