Chapter 17
Despite Tyler’s unwavering support and willingness to take a stock hit to defend her. Harper refused to let him fight this battle. She submitted her resignation letter and shouldered full responsibility for the plagiarism allegations.
As the packed her desk, her teammates hovered nearby, dearly upset to see her go. copying someone else’s work not just unethical but completely unnecessary
- go. None of them believed she was capable of stealing designs–her talent made
When Tyler burst in from an emergency board meeting, he found Harper boxing up her Wacom tablet and immediately tried to stop her.
T
“The board will back down once I explain everything, he insisted, actually removing items from the box she’d just packed. You’re the victim here. Why should your career get torched for something you didn’t do? In this industry, the plagiarist label is basically a death sentence.
Harper was genuinely moved by Tyler’s fierce defense, but she couldn’t stand watching him deal with the fallout. The scandal had already forced him to spend three straight nights in crisis management meetings, repeatedly defending his decisions to increasingly hostile board members–even with his status as the founder’s son.
“Tyler, I appreciate everything, but I’ve got savings,” she said gently. Maybe the universe is telling me I need to hit pause for a while.
Tyler tried several more arguments, each one more desperate than the last, but Harper remained firm.
Fine,” he finally relented, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. Take some time to breathe. When this media circus blows over, your desit will
he right here waiting
Seeing the dark circles under Harper’s eyes. Tyler privately acknowledged that some distance from the industry’s toxicity might actually be the best thing for her
Worried she might spiral into isolation, Tyler appointed himself as her personal distraction. Every few days, he’d appear at her door with tickets to indie film screenings, reservations at hidden gem restaurants, or Invitations to gallery openings–anything to keep her mind occupied
Harper found herself unable to refuse his well–intentioned ambushes, especially when her parents started texting daily with thinly veiled concerns about her “becoming a hermit.” Gradually, her emotional walls began crumbling.
Tonight followed his familiar pattern. Tyler had reserved a table at skyglass, an exclusive restaurant perched forty stories above the waterfront. The floor–to–ceiling windows offered spectacular sunset views over the river, and Harper found herself genuinely relaxing for the first time in weeks
That’s weird–where is everyone?” she asked, noticing the empty tables around them. “Did you rent out the whole-
She turned to find Tyler on one knee beside her chair, holding a bouquet of her favorite white peonies and a small navy velvet box.]
“Harper,” he said, his voice tracking slightly, “I’ve fallen completely in love with you. Will you be with me? For real this time?”
He opened the box, revealing a delicate diamond bracelet that caught the amber light of the setting sun.
“I designed it myself,” he added softly. “Please don’t shoot me down.
Over their months together, Harper had grown increasingly comfortable with Tyler’s steady presence. Her amnesia had functioned like a reset button, allowing her to discard her past baggage and embrace possibilities she’d never considered before]
So when he finally asked the question, she simply took the flowers with a genuine smile.
“Yes,” she said, surprising even herself with the certainty in her voice
Tyler lilinked repeatedly, dearly having steeled himself for rejection. Harper couldn’t help laughing at his dumbfounded expression
“Are you going to put it on me or just keep staring?” she teased, extending her wrist.
Tyler fumbled with the clasp, his usually steady designer’s hands suddenly clumsy. When he finally secured it, he gewily turned her arms and pressed his lips to the burn cars that still marked her skin:||
“I prondse ll never let anyone hurt you again,” he whispered against her arm||
When she let herself into her apartment that night, Harper felt like she was floating. She kept glancing at the bracelet catching the moonlight through her bedroom window, still feeling the warmth of his kiss on her scars
Chapter 18
