Vicky's brow furrowed. "Are you saying that..."Lincoln nodded. "Either someone has been watching you on my mother's orders, or someone is tipping her off. However, because of my persistent injury, my mother has been devoting most of her time to taking care of me, so she probably hasn't had the chance to arrange for someone to spy on you.""So you're saying someone might be informing her of my whereabouts?" Vicky asked.Lincoln looked at her. "Vicky, when you and Miss Starling were walking around the mansion, did you encounter anyone?"The base of where the Harts resided was in Molivia, so there were not many people living in the mansion in Zendonia.Vicky considered for a moment and was about to say that she had not encountered anyone when something suddenly struck her, and her eyes widened.Lincoln noticed her change in expression and asked, "Vicky, did you think of something?""I did not encounter anyone, but...Aurora and I did see Tyler and Avery. However, we only caught a g
Valencia pointed at the sofa and said, "Sit."After Tyler sat down, Valencia said, "Tyler, I'm elated that you finally see that woman's true color. For your sake, I'm willing to spare her from death this time. However, that doesn't mean her deeds should go unpunished. Leave her to me, and I'll make sure she learns her lessons."Tyler was sitting lazily on the sofa and seemed a little absent-minded. "I'll make Vicky apologize to you for what happened this time."Valencia did not even have time to be smug about that before Tyler's tone turned sharp, "However, I hope you have a good reason for beating her up and wanting to take her away?"Valencia's face immediately changed. "What are you trying to say, Tyler?"She thought Tyler had finally come to his senses, so she was understandably upset by what he implied. How could she not understand what he was trying to say when she had been entangled in the Hart family's conflict for so long?The only reason Tyler would make Vicky apologize
Valencia wanted to refute Tyler's claims, but she knew clearly that he must have had solid evidence to say something like that. In other words, it would be useless for her to play dumb.After a few minutes of silence, she stiffly said, "It's true. I did force her to break up with you, but so what? It wasn't like she put up any fight at all. In fact, she caved in after I applied some pressure. Unlike you… You wouldn't give her up no matter what we did to you, and what does this mean? It means she doesn't love you as much as you love her."This time, it was Tyler who fell silent as no matter what, he was tied by blood to the Hart family, so he would need to endure more physical and emotional stress than Vicky.Regardless, he could take it all in strides. What he truly could not accept was Vicky demanding a breakup.Valencia snuck a peek at Tyler, and she instantly understood what his cold expression meant. After all, she had been through the same thing in the past. It would be normal
Tyler stood up slowly; his tall, strong figure gave off an oppressive aura. He smiled faintly at Valencia and said, "Make me angry, and Lincoln will suffer the consequences."Valencia's gaze quivered. "You dare to threaten me because of Vicky? How could you do that to your mother?!""Then do you plan to keep this up?"Valencia fell silent. She was so angry that she nearly blacked out. 'Tyler shot Lincoln not that long ago. God knows what else he'll do to him if he's seething. Lincoln might even end up dead this time.'She was not bold enough to risk Lincoln's life for a bet.Valencia started hyperventilating, and Tyler knew then that his message had gotten across to her. Instead of forcing her into the corner, he simply said, "Think about what I said. I'm going to head out now."Tyler strode out of Valencia's room and went straight to Vicky's room. However, just when he reached her door, he saw Lincoln coming out from her room, causing his face to immediately darkened."What are
Tyler sneered. "I haven't even left for that long, and you're already taking his side?"He and Vicky fought even before he left, and even when he returned, the fight only resumed where they left it.Vicky did not want to continue fighting with him, so she simply said, "Tyler, let go of Lincoln."Tyler's hand, the one grabbing Lincoln's collar, subconsciously tightened, and it caused his knuckles to go white. "And what if I don't? Are you going to go to hell with him?""Tyler, can you please stop being so unreasonable?" asked Vicky in a tone that sounded like she was trying to suppress her anger."Oh, so I've become unreasonable after you had a little chat with Lincoln, huh?" Tyler's gaze turned steely. "Vicky, don't tell me you've fallen for this ugly piece of sh*t!""Tyler, can you please stop being so rude? Lincoln is not an ugly piece of sh*t. The hives are just from his allergic reaction, and they'll be gone soon enough.""And what if they don't?"Vicky's eyelids twitched o
Vicky had no love or expectations toward Lincoln, so she could easily forgive him. Nonetheless, she had made up her mind, even though she did not show it—she had to get out of the Hart family's house as soon as possible.Tyler was displeased by how Vicky treated Lincoln since he never got that kind of treatment from her, so he asked her, "Vicky, aren't you going to say something?""Like what?" retorted Vicky nonchalantly."He lied to you.""So? Can you let go of him?"Tyler's face tensed, and his entire demeanor turned menacing.At that moment, Valencia had just finished changing into something more comfortable and had come out of her room to look for Lincoln. Her eyes immediately widened in shock when she saw Tyler had a grip on Lincoln's collar."Tyler, what are you doing to Lincoln? Let him go this instant!" Valencia's voice pulled Tyler back to his senses. He glanced at Vicky and saw she was looking coldly at him, and it made him release his hold on Lincoln's collar.The ne
"What are you talking about?!" Vicky thought Tyler was talking nonsense.The anger in Tyler's eyes burned even brighter when he noticed how impatient Vicky visibly was. 'How can she be so testy with me when she's so gentle and patient with Lincoln? She didn't even blame Lincoln when she found out he was lying…' Tyler was no doubt jealous of how forgiving Vicky was to Lincoln.His gaze turned hostile as he ripped off Vicky's clothes. Then, he turned on the shower, cranked it to full blast, and washed every inch of her body, starting with her head. She was frightened by how cold and focused Tyler's eyes looked when he wiped down her body.Vicky shivered due to how cold the water was, and she was worried Tyler would get a perverted kick out of this.Since Tyler had a thing about cleanliness, he started to clean Vicky from the top again after he was done washing her for the first time.Vicky looked at Tyler's handsome face as he repeated the same motion, and it felt like she was with
Once Vicky's hair was dried, Tyler carried her to the bed. "Stay with me tonight?" he asked in a low voice.Still, Vicky did not say anything. It was as if she had not heard him. Tyler did not mind, though. He brushed her swollen lips with his fingers and, in a hoarse voice, said flirtatiously, "Why aren't you talking? Do you still feel cold?"Vicky knew very well what he meant. She immediately raised her head and glared at him. "Why ask when you don't intend to let me go back to my room?" Her voice was hoarse, too.As expected, Tyler said nothing, which made Vicky chuckle drily. Their conversation stopped at that point. 'He's not asking me out of respect. No…he's asking for the sake of asking. His true colors have been revealed after pretending to be a gentleman for so long,' thought Vicky.After turning off the lights, Tyler got into the bed and hugged her. He had not slept like that in a long time, and frankly, it was painful for him to sleep without her. However, what was the p