Chapter 408

Rachel’s eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

Jim was already old and gravely ill; that alone was hard enough. Now, he was tangled up in a legal case. If things went wrong, he could end up spending what little time he had left behind bars.

Rachel couldn’t hold her emotions back anymore. She got up, turning away from Jim.

“No, don’t overthink it. Just focus on getting better. I’ll find out the truth.”

With that, she hurried out of the ward.

When Tyler followed her out, he spotted Rachel standing alone in a corner, quietly wiping her tears.

He approached and pulled a clean handkerchief from his suit pocket. “Want this?”

Rachel glanced at it and politely declined. “No, I’m fine.”

“Well, if your snot and tears end up smeared all over your clothes, that’s one thing, but if it ends up in your mouth…”

“Ugh, stop! That’s disgusting!”

Before he could finish, Rachel quickly snatched the handkerchief and wiped her face. As soon as she finished, she realized what she had done, and now the handkerchief was a mess.

She bundled it up awkwardly and held it in her hand.

“I’ll wash it and return it to you in a couple of days."

“Sure.”

Then, she remembered something. “You’re not that old, but you carry a handkerchief? Isn’t that kind of old-fashioned?”

Tyler’s expression darkened slightly. “This was my mother’s.”

Rachel froze for a moment. She remembered catching a glimpse of the flower embroidered on the fabric earlier. The stitching seemed delicate and skillful.

“She embroidered the flower, too?”

He nodded. “It’s the only keepsake I have from her.

As he recalled her face, Tyler’s gaze grew distant. His mother should’ve lived to the age Jim was now.

Rachel noticed how the cold, powerful aura Tyler usually gave off seemed to waver in that moment.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. I was just curious."

“It’s fine.”

Tyler looked away.

Rachel suddenly felt the handkerchief burn in her hand. She grew awkward, especially knowing she had just used it to wipe her nose.

She understood how important a mother could be to a child.

“I’ll go wash this right now and return it to you clean.”

She turned to head toward the restroom, but Tyler reached out and stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

“No need to rush. Even if you wash it now, it won’t dry.”

Since he said that, Rachel didn’t insist.

“Mr. Hunt, can I ask you about someone?”

Tyler raised his brows. “Is this about William’s uncle?”

Rachel looked a little surprised. “You already know?”

“Even if I tell you where he is, how do you plan to approach him? Don’t say I didn’t warn you, he’s got a strange temper. What do you even have to offer him in exchange?”

Rachel took a deep breath. “I’ll offer whatever I have.”

Tyler’s brows immediately furrowed. His tone turned harsh.

“What do you mean by whatever you have? Be specific.”

Rachel didn’t immediately catch his meaning.

“I mean, whatever he wants, I’ll give it. And besides, Mr. Hunt, it’s not like I’m in control here. He holds all the cards.”

Suddenly, Tyler took a step closer, closing the distance between them. His breath brushed against her face. It was warm and laced with a rich scent of roses.

“What if what he wants is you? Would you give yourself to him, too?”