Countdown to My Divorce

Chapter 13

Rachel knew going to the hospital wasn’t an option.

What if the media caught sight of her like this–disheveled, drugged, with Tyler, William’s biggest rival, of all people? The scandal would spread through their circles before midnight.

It didn’t matter that Howard had spiked her drink. That spoiled heir would twist the story, claiming she had seduced him. And the Lewis family? They would gladly throw her to the wolves rather than clash with the equally powerful Ziegler family.

Slumped in the bathtub, Rachel shuddered. The icy water bit into her skin but did nothing to douse the fire raging inside her. If anything, it made it worse–the cold sharpening her awareness of every unbearable inch of heat. Her head spun; her body ached. She knew exactly how desperate her situation had become.

If it were Howard, she would rather drag them both to hell than surrender.

But if it was Tyler…

He was… tolerable. Better than the headlines screaming “Socialite Found Dead After Overdose“. Just the thought of that happening was terrifying.

Two warring voices battled in her mind, one telling her to ask Tyler for help, while the other told her no.

Tyler seemed impervious to women–all cold detachment and sharp suits. What if he really preferred men? Yet, compared to the other outcomes… one night with him was the simplest solution.

Rachel’s marriage to William had been a hollow shell for years. She wasn’t some blushing virgin clinging to virtue–not when he had shattered their vows first.

After thinking it through, Rachel slowly turned towards Tyler, who was sitting on the sofa outside and looking at his phone. “Mr. Hunt, could you help me?”

Rachel didn’t need a mirror to know how pathetic she looked right now. She was actually begging a man to sleep with her. But compared to William or Howard, she would rather it be Tyler. At least he didn’t seem like the type to cling to her afterward.

For a split second, surprise flickered in his dark eyes. He paused, the cigarette in his fingers hovering near the table as the overhead light cast shadows over his sharp features.

“Help you with what?” he asked.

Rachel met his gaze, embarrassed. Was a grown man like him really playing innocent?

Her nails dug into her palms as she awkwardly said, “You know… help me with this.”

Tyler rested his chin on his hand, watching her with dark, unreadable eyes. There she was–flushed, desperate, barely holding herself together in the bathtub–while he looked completely at ease, like a spectator enjoying the show.

The contrast was almost laughable.

as if he hadn’t heard her clearly, he tilted his head and asked louder, “Help

moment, Rachel wanted

wasn’t any better. One was a spoiled heir who trampled over people because his family enabled him, while the other was an impenetrable fortress–cold, calculating, and

as she fought to maintain composure. She refused to completely fall apart in front of Tyler. She was sure if

her pride won out, and her tense body relaxed slightly. “Never mind. Just

Chapter 13

+25 BONUS

this point, anyone would

“Who? William? I

now.‘

ask

“Great plan. Have William’s best friend ‘help‘ you,

wasn’t like that at all. Unlike William’s other friends,

He could probably find her someone safe. She needed relief, yes, but she also needed to survive this night. If only Tyler wasn’t being so difficult, she wouldn’t

family causing problems, I… I can pay you,” she

hesitation. After all, Tyler’s company and William’s were bitter rivals in the business world. If word of this got out, Rachel wasn’t the only one who would be in trouble. The Lewis family would make Tyler their

until the air itself

said abruptly. “But my rates are quite high, Mrs. Lewis. Can

her bank balance before

If he ever sold his services, he would be the most expensive escort

you have?”

“Two million?”

helped her recover a bit financially.

lips curled in amusement. “That’s

fell open

he think he was

reached their peak, making her thoughts turn murky and her body burn with need. Every nerve screamed for contact. Right now, she would probably

exhausted to keep negotiating, Rachel gripped the bathtub’s edge and hauled herself up. If he wouldn’t help, she would find someone else anyone. The hallway outside probably had someone; they

hand barely turned the doorknob when an arm hooked around her waist, yanking her back. Tyler pulled her flush against his chest with one arm

eyes scanned her flushed face as he said, “We were in the middle of negotiating. Who taught you to quit before closing

desperate need. But what surprised her more

up at him