Chapter 8
He suddenly remembered that I had indeed mentioned finding another part–time job at an escape room, though I hadn’t specified which one.
Various strange incidents over the past few days began to make sense.
No wonder I had a wound on my forehead when he returned home that day–it was from the money he’d thrown.
And that photo of the elderly woman in the hospital bed–Tyler had thought she looked familiar but couldn’t place
her.
Now he remembered everything.
He wished he could give himself a resounding slap across the face.
Ethan watched Tyler’s changing expression and sneered:
“Finally remembered? You let a girl waste five years of her youth just to spite Olivia, all for that ridiculous promise. Do you know how much Emma suffered from your so–called ‘debt repayment and saving your mother‘? Just open your eyes to look at how sick and tired she’s become!!”
“And you couldn’t even be bothered to keep your lies straight. You easily forgot who that old woman was, but did you ever consider Emma’s feelings? What was all her hard work and sacrifice for? Just seasoning for your relationship with Olivia?!”
“Now you’re happily getting engaged to your princess and kicking Emma to the curb. Scum like you doesn’t deserve a good woman like Emma Star!”
“Enough! I never intended to abandon Emma!” Tyler furiously interrupted him, suddenly understanding something.
After years of friendship, he couldn’t miss the bias in Ethan’s words and the emotions hidden in his voice.
He grabbed Ethan’s collar:
“Ethan, I considered you a brother, and you’re coveting my girlfriend? You have feelings for Emma, don’t you?!”
“So, what if I do? If you had treated her well, I could have buried my feelings forever. But the way you trampled on her, I want to be by her side and never let anyone hurt her again!”
Tyler punched him in rage:
“BULLSGIT! Emma is mine, and she won’t leave me. You’ll never take her from me. I’m going to find her now.”
Tyler turned to leave but was suddenly stopped by the approaching Olivia:
“Tyler, where are you going? Our engagement ceremony starts in a few hours. Are you still going after that
Two years lios He Gave A Lonely Grave I Paved
6.5%
Chapter 8
despicable wretch?”
To her surprise, Tyler slapped her:
“Shut your mouth! Who gave you permission to call her that? Don’t think I don’t know why Emma was at that party and what you tried to do to her.”
“Olivia, we were over the moment you abandoned me to go abroad. You know exactly why we slept together and why we’re engaged, but you’d better not push me to my limits!”
“I’m going to find Emma now. You’re not pregnant anyway, so the engagement will have to wait.”
Hearing this, Tyler’s mother came in with a dark look on her face and said sternly:
“Tyler, have you forgotten your promise to me?”
“If you walk out that door today, you’re no longer Hayes. There are plenty of promising cousins who could inherit the company. Are you sure you want to postpone this engagement?”
“As long as you fulfill your obligation, I won’t interfere with whatever else you want to do.”
Tyler hesitated, his fists clenched tight. Though he didn’t speak, his halted steps revealed his choice.
Tyler’s mother smiled with satisfaction as Olivia happily threw herself into his arms.
Only Ethan looked at him with contempt. He took out his checkbook and, just as Tyler had done to me, casually wrote some numbers and threw it at his feet.
“Congratulations, Mr. Hayes. I won’t be attending your engagement ceremony. Here’s my gift–keep it safe.”
“But remember, Tyler, you’ve lost your last chance. I hope you won’t regret it later.”
Tyler watched Ethan’s retreating figure, his knuckles turning white with tension, his heart screaming:
“No, this isn’t the last chance. Emma wouldn’t bear to leave me. I just need to wait–wait until I marry Olivia, until she bears the Hayes heir, until I secure Hayes Enterprises. Then I’ll find Emma back!”
“By then, no one will be able to separate us!!”
