Chapter 7

• He should feel relieved.
• He thought he'd feel relieved with her finally gone yet he felt anything but.
• The woman he'd been forced to marry two years ago, the source of many frustrations, was finally gone, and the mansion now felt cold and empty.
• He should be breathing a sigh of relief right now yeah but what was this weird feeling?
• Why does the mansion suddenly have this empty, cold vibe to it?
• “Hey Ty, didn't get Champagne from the wine stand, I think it's out of stock, I got this instead”
• Julie, Tyler's 'sweetheart’ and new secretary, was all smiles as she approached him in the living room, raising a bottle of Prosecco, the popular Italian sparkling wine and two wine glasses.
• She was a vibrant blondie with a naughty sparkle in her eye. The type of girl who made heads turn wherever she went, with her pixie-like features, slim figure, and sharp wit that frequently left him struggling to keep up.
• “Let’s toast to freedom!” She said as she poured wine in the two glasses and lifted them both, extending one towards Tyler.
• Tyler forced a warm smile on as he took the glass from her, trying as much as he could to hide the conflicting feelings going on in his head.
• “Yeah, let's toast” He let out. It was the second time he had spoken to Julie asides welcoming her since she arrived about thirty minutes ago.
• Julie raised her gaze to meet Tyler, in an attempt to toast when she noticed his demeanor.
• “Hey, what's wrong? Why ` you cold?” She asked, her brows furrowed.
• “Cold? Me? Nah” Tyler said, expanding his fake smile. “I'm the happiest I've been in a while” These words sounded so bitter on his lips.. what a big fat lie!
• Julie rolled her eyes, “I'm glad to hear that baby.” She said, rubbing his neat, fresh chin. “Shall we toast now?”
• “Sure” Tyler said, raising his wine glass.
• “To freedom, to happiness, to many more years together” Julie said, as their glasses met.
• Tyler's stomach churned somehow at the last toast, many more years together?
• “Cheers” He said, trying to distract himself from the thoughts that threatened to take over his kind as he collapsed on the two seater sofa close to him while taking a quick sip from the wine glass.
• Julie also took a sip and sat down beside him, her legs crossed.
• "So, you finally let her go, huh?" She started,her voice was full with satisfaction but she hid it. "I thought you were all about the ‘she doesn't deserve it’ thing,"
• She demonstrated the air quotes sign.
• "Well," Tyler murmured, frustratedly raking his hand through his hair and inhaling sharply. "It's not like I had any choice... I got evidence. Sam was really cheating on me."
• Julie made sure she wore her pretense mask well,, her brow arched in a flawless display of innocent interest.
• "You got evidence?" she asked, her voice tinted with alarm. "What kind of evidence?"
• Tyler glanced at Julie with something like fatigue in his eyes.
• "Are you serious?" He paused, “Julie, you know exactly what I am talking about. The photos of Sam and that guy from the art gallery. I can't believe she was cheatin' on me the whole time!"
• Julie looked at him with a feinged soft face and kind eyes, understandin' his pain.
• She leaned in closer, her fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from his brow for just a moment longer than necessary.
• "I'm sorry, Ty," she said softly, her tone almost tender. "I just wanted to be sure we were on the same page. But remember when I told you not to trust her?”
• Tyler forced a smile, but his eyes revealed the turmoil within.. Where did this feeling of being hurt come from?
• He's probably overthinking this.. he shouldn't be feeling this. Samantha was nothing and willnever be anything to him!
• "So, now that she's gone, will you be less guilty about what happened in London now?"
• Julie's voice jerked him back to the present.
• He swallowed hard, his fingers twitching as he tried to find the proper words.
• The recollection of their time in London, and the lines they had crossed, hung thick in the air.
• “Yeah... I guess,” he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.
• Julie paused for some secs before she finally said,
• “How about we watch some TV?” her voice light and breezy.
• The conversation was beginning to center too much on Samantha that b!tch and it wasn't sitting well with her.
• Tyler nodded in agreement, thankful for the distraction.
• As they nestled up on the sofa, the TV flickered on, the news anchor’s voice suddenly filling the room.
• "Breaking news: Samantha Blake, the wife of prominent entrepreneur Tyler Wills, has been involved in a horrific fatal accident. It is not yet known whether she is alive..."
• Tyler's heart stopped.
• What was..??
• His pulse began to race, a cold sweat breaking out over his forehead.
• His fists gripped hard, knuckles white as he looked back at the TV, unblinking, as if wanting the words to change.
• Samantha dead? No, it can't be.. How could it have happened? She left just a few hours ago!
• Tyler could hardly hear the news anchor as he continued to explain the accident.
• Anger, regret, fear, and a surprising feeling of loss fought inside him, leaving him raw and vulnerable.
• Was this his fault? Samantha had better not be dead.. no she had better not be dead.
• Panic rushed through his chest, felt like a flood that threatened to drown him.
• Without thinking, he leaped up, grabbed his car keys from the stool beside the sofa he was seated on and advanced towards the entrance.
• "Tyler, wait!" Julie yelled after him, her voice filled with anxiety.
• But he was already out on the compound, the car engine jerked to life and disappeared into the background.
• Julie stood at the entrance, watching in the direction Tyler's car disappeared, the noise of the engine fading into the distance.
• She let out a deep, frustrated breath as she ran her hands through her blonde hair.
• Really? He left me here without even a word?? She thought within herself.
• ‘Okay, have fun, lover boy.’ She muttered, a weird smirk playing on her lips as he returned inside.
• The TV was still showing the news of Samantha's accident.
• Her phone suddenly vibrated, flashing HIM on the screen. She licked her lower lips as a small smile came on her face when she saw the caller ID.
• She picked it up and responded with measured calmness.
• "Yes?"
• "The job is done," said the clear and deep voice.
• Julie curved her lips into a wicked sneer as her eyes twinkled.
• "Perfect.." She mumbled, the wicked smirk still playing on her lips.