Chapter 783

“I can be even more out of character. Want me to show you?”

Tyler’s hand slid onto her soft, slender waist, making Rachel’s whole back tense up.

She pushed him away. “You can’t keep staying up so late. If you do, I’ll seriously worry you’ll just collapse one day. Get some rest.”

Tyler knew Rachel was exhausted, too. If they kept going, he could handle it, but he was afraid she couldn’t.

He knew his own stamina all too well. Normally, he thought he had excellent self-control, but with Rachel, it completely vanished. Around her, he couldn’t stop. He craved everything about her and couldn’t pull himself away.

In the end, he just held her in his arms. Rachel casually pulled up a story on her phone, ready to read it to him, when suddenly Tyler pressed his fingertip against her lips.

“No need. Tonight, I want to try something else.”

Rachel looked up at him in surprise.

“What is it? Why do you want to try sleeping on your own all of a sudden? You’ve always relied on medication before. Won’t skipping it and going straight to sleep naturally be difficult?”

She had always been observant and sensitive. Maybe it was a habit born from her childhood, but she could catch on quickly whenever something was off.

So the moment Tyler said that, she immediately sensed something wasn’t right.

Rachel cupped his face in her hands. He still looked strikingly handsome in spite of his weariness. Her voice softened.

“What’s wrong? Do you feel unwell? Or did something bad come back to you again?”

Tyler raised his brows playfully. “What, are you worried about me?”

Rachel, stubborn as ever, balled up her fist and thumped his chest.

“Who said I was worried about you? Tyler, when are you ever going to get rid of that narcissistic streak?”

He looked into her eyes.

“I’ve found such an amazing woman. Why wouldn’t I be narcissistic?”

Rachel silently thanked the heavens for bringing them together. Only she could feel the changes Tyler had brought into her life.

With William, she never got true devotion. She had to sacrifice herself to make room for his ambitions.

But with Tyler, it was different. She didn’t have to be the only person giving in the relationship. He made sure she could pour her energy into herself first and not everyone else. Even when weighed against bonds of family he couldn’t fully cut off, he still chose her. He treated her fairly and never forced her to sacrifice for the sake of ties she didn’t owe.

Tyler’s childhood had been far from perfect, but he had grown into a good man.

Rachel buried her face against his neck. Her voice grew softer.

“You’re a good man, too. Maybe I should be a little narcissistic myself.”

“Of course, but it’s not just being narcissistic. You should be confident, too. You won the man none of the other women could ever have.”

Tyler’s eyes narrowed slightly as he chuckled.

“Don’t overthink things. If there are ways to help you sleep, like me reading you a story or singing to you, it’s not so bad. Even if the trauma from your childhood never really fades, it’s okay. You don’t have to force yourself to fix it. If something can’t be changed, then all we can do is accept it,” Rachel said.

Rachel had always felt a deep ache for Tyler, though she never said it aloud. She worried it might hurt his pride.