However, there was nothing Yvette could do about it. She was no match for Rachel in every regard.

Just then, Sasha chimed in. “Rachel, that’s not right of you! Since you’ve decided to cut ties with our family, you shouldn’t be interfering with the family business.”

“I’m not interfering with the family business. I’m just telling Dad the truth. Since you have no intention of discussing Dad’s condition, then may we never meet again. I hope you won’t ever have to beg me for help if you encounter any trouble from here on.”

With that, Rachel turned around and walked out, her back ramrod straight.

“Wait!” Howard yelled.

Rachel turned around and shot him an aggravating smile. “Mr. Ziegler, you heard it yourself just now. I’m no longer a daughter of the Lloyd family. I’m afraid your plan to marry me is now foiled. But…”

Rachel turned to cast a glance in Yvette’s direction.

“There is still one daughter left in the Lloyd family. You may want to consider marrying Yvette instead, Mr. Ziegler.”

Howard spat on the floor and said unceremoniously, “Feh! Do you think anyone can enter the doors of the Ziegler family? This woman is covered in branded designer garb. The only thing she lacks is a brand emblazoned on her forehead! And that perfume on her is seriously choking. I can find tons of cheap women like her in nightclubs.”

Yvette’s face flushed bright red at Howard’s assessment of her, the veins on her forehead popping.

“You…!”

“Enough!” Sasha warned, worried that Yvette might start arguing with Howard on impulse.

The Lloyds couldn’t afford to offend a bigshot like Howard.

Howard turned to smile gleefully at Rachel.

“Ms. Lloyd, I am deeply sympathetic that something so unfortunate happened to you. Don’t worry, I won’t despise you because of that. If you’re willing, we can still get engaged as planned. Whatever it is, you can forget about marrying Tyler. His family is extremely conservative and would never allow a sullied woman like you through their doors. My family, on the other hand, is very open-minded and worlds apart from his.”

Rachel was about to deliver a stinging rebuff to Howard when Tyler grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind him.

“Howard, do you want me to do a tally of how many women you’ve sullied? You’re just the pot calling the kettle black. Instead of pointing fingers at others here, you should go to the hospital for a thorough check-up instead.”

Tyler held Rachel’s hand as his gaze swept past everyone in the room. His towering figure stood right before her; for the first time, Rachel realized this was how it felt to be protected by another.

This was the first time she felt this way. When she came home with William in the past, he would always prioritize maintaining peace with her family and not let things get too ugly.

Tyler, however, didn’t care one bit. He wouldn’t give in to anyone who offended him, even if it were the king.

These two men were worlds apart in this regard.

Rachel finally knew what it felt like to have someone unconditionally stand on her side.

Howard pursed his lips in disdain, as though Tyler had hit the nail on the head.

“Since when did you start playing the part of the devoted lover? You haven’t had a single girlfriend over the years because you were waiting for her, is that it? I’d like to see if your father would allow you two to continue being together after knowing her past.”

Howard winked flirtatiously at Rachel, which made her hair stand on end.

“Ms. Lloyd, we’ll wait and see about this. For all you know, you might one day come back and beg me to marry you.”