Rachel didn’t expect Tyler to suddenly ask her this. She lowered her head and pursed her lips.

She tried to make an excuse.

“Don’t think too much of it. I just think that you still have things to settle at work, and Cecilia’s situation is still up in the air. It’s really not the time for us to be talking about marriage.”

Tyler grabbed her shoulders, trying to pry an answer out of her.

“So answer me seriously. Do you want to be with me or not? Do you want to marry me?”

Rachel was at a loss for words. Of course, she wanted to be with Tyler, but she was riddled with debt right now. She would have to burden him with that once they got together–she didn’t want that.

Rachel pondered for a moment before answering Tyler as rationally as she could.

“Can we calm down for a moment? You know full well this isn’t the time to be talking about these things. Can we talk about it again when the crisis your company is facing has more or less abated?”

However, Tyler wasn’t a man so easily convinced.

He drew closer to Rachel, inching closer to her step by step. Rachel was leaning against the car door, her back flat against the window, with nowhere else to run.

Tyler stared at her, as though trying to look deep into her soul. The look on his face sent a chill down her spine. His voice was low when he spoke.

“Is there something you’re hiding from me?”

Rachel’s heart thumped hard in her chest. “What…what could I be hiding from you? I’m up to my ears in work. How could I have the time to hide any secrets from you? You want to get married, right? Well, sure! After you’re less busy with things at work and things return to normal, we’ll get married. Don’t you dare go back on your word!”

She didn’t dare to pit herself against Tyler. His eyes had a magical effect that somehow drew one to him and made one say things he wanted to hear.

The coldness in Tyler’s eyes dissipated with her words.

“You said it yourself. If you dare go back on your word, I’ll drag you to the city clerk’s office by force if I have to.”

Rachel saw the joy in Tyler’s eyes and realized how rare it was to see him smile like that. She could probably count on one hand the number of times he had smiled so genuinely since they got to know each other.

She could tell that the smile was sincere. She was so moved, she boldly pinched Tyler’s cheek.

“Oh, you really should smile more often.”

Tyler was surprised by Rachel’s sudden move. He arched a brow at her.

“Good on you. You’re getting handsy with me now.”

Rachel’s face flushed as she retracted her hand and dodged to one side. Before she could run, Tyler grabbed her wrist, his palm warm and his fingers calloused. He didn’t grab her too hard, but it was enough to stop her from escaping.

“Why are you running? Worried that I might swallow you whole?” Tyler leaned in closer, his breath grazing her cheek. “Weren’t you very bold just now, pinching my cheek?”

Rachel turned her face away, avoiding his gaze. She looked at the shadow cast by the street lamp above them.

“The way you looked at me just now, it’s as though I were your subordinate. I finally know why your colleagues fear you so much.”

“I just don’t want any secrets between us. I want you to know that you can rely on me,” Tyler said, his voice low and hoarse as he rubbed his thumb on her wrist.

His words pierced through Rachel’s heart.

She clenched her fists hard, her nails sinking into the flesh of her palm. She had to force herself to remain calm and not panic.