Chapter 20
A protester rushed at Tyler with a knife glinting in his hand. Without even thinking, I stepped in front of him. The next thing I knew, a sharp, searing pain shot through me. The knife dug into m
twisting violently.
lower abdomen, and I felt it tear into my uterus,
Somehow, I made it out that day, but the damage was done. The workers backed off, but the
I could never have children.§
Tyler knelt beside my hospital bed, his face streaked with tears.
hit
“Zoey, I’m so sorry,” he choked out. “I swear, I’ll love you for the rest of my life. I’ll never leave you. I’ll
Once the injury healed, I knelt in front of my father, begging him to save Tyler. I even offered half of the William family’s fortune.
And, to top it all off, I married Tyler.
me hard.
be by yours
side.”
my
as
collateral,
forcing him to secure
Consequently, my father was furious and refused to come to the wedding.”
me your father again.“}
“You took half of the damn funds,” he said, his voice full of bitterness. “From now on, don’t ever call
Now, facing Jessica’s pregnancy, I was uncertain if my sacrifices for our love were even worth it.
When Tyler saw the pain on my face, he immediately pulled me into his arms. “Zoey, it’s my fault, but I had no other choice. We’ve been in love for more than ten years. We grew up together. I know everything you’ve sacrificed for me. Please, just understand where I’m coming from, okay?”
His words felt hollow, as if they held no meaning.
Martone I’ve always
“My love for Jessica… it isn’t real love,” Tyler continued, his voice desperate. “It’s just a need, Zoey. A man’s passion. The truly loved is you.”
I stared at him, my mind spinning in disbelief.}
‘When did he get this shameless?‘
‘Can love really be split like that–physical and emotional parts?‘
‘If it could, what did that make him? Just an animal?‘
Frustration was building up in me, my chest tightening.
I fought to hold it back and said, “Tyler, do you even get the difference between love like that? Doesn’t it disgust you?”
His face turned pale, his eyes darting to the ground as if he couldn’t face me.”
“Zoey, you’ve always been so generous and understanding. I thought you’d get it. Isn’t it all for the child?” He seemed to falter, his voice softer. “Why make such a big deal out of it? Once the child is born, we’ll have someone to rely on when we’re old. He’ll respect you as his mother. Why can’t you think long–term? Why hold on to this tiny bit of affection?”
I forced a smile, even though all I wanted to do was scream. “Tyler, should I thank you for giving me a child? Should I thank Jessica for helping me have one?“}
Tyler fell quiet, his eyes unreadable.
After what felt like forever, I finally asked, “What if I don’t agree? Are you gonna get rid of the kid for me?”
“Zoey, I know you can’t accept it right now, and it’s totally fine,” he said with a quiet sigh. “I’ll give you time to think it through. Currently, Jessica is interning at the company. I’m taking her back to Harrington to check out the new market, and she’ll visit her family.”
With that, Tyler turned and walked into the bedroom, leaving me alone to process it all.
…E
When I woke up, the sunlight was streaming through the window, and the bedroom door was wide open.
Tyler was gone.}
I turned to the bedside table and grabbed my phone. While browsing the newsfeed, I came across a post from Jessica on Instagram: [Taking the new son–in–law to meet the parents.]
Jessica and Tyler’s hands were tightly clasped together, sitting side by side on an airplane.
A second later, the post was deleted.”
My stomach turned, a sickening knot forming in my gut. As much as I wanted to rip apart that post, there was nothing I could do now. The damage was already done.
I paused for a moment, then went to the bathroom to freshen up before heading to the office.
When I walked into the company, it felt like a weight lifted off the staff. They greeted me like I’d just come back from a long break, clearly relieved to see me.
Rachel Parker, Tyler’s secretary, rushed over, grabbing my hand with a bright smile. Miss Zoey, you finally came to visit! The company’s been changing, and it’s been… a bit chaotic without you.”
Before I could even ask what she meant, I noticed that the layout of the CEO’s office had changed.
It used to be two separate rooms for quiet work, with a side platform but no real offices. A brand–new office was constructed, and the rooms were situated adjacent to one another.}
frowned, confused. “Why’s there an office here?”
11:11 AM
Rachel hesitated, avoiding my gaze. “Well, Miss Zoey, how should I put it? Staying home all the time isn’t good for your physical or mental health. You really need to come to the company more often.”
Perturbation washed over me, and my stomach tightened in discomfort.
“Rachel, can you have someone open the door?” I asked, my voice tight.\
She hesitated for a moment before gently pulling me by the arm. “Miss Zoey, Sir Tyler specifically instructed that no one is allowed in this office. Please, don’t look at it. Just come to the company more often from now on.“>
