Chapter 787

“She’s not some celebrity. That picture was actually Rachel.”

Tyler suddenly brought it up, making it clear to Wilma that he had never once intended to be with Sheryn. Wilma just stared at him with a blank expression. “What did you just say? That girl in the photo wasn’t a celebrity, but Rachel instead? But back then, you had just started college!”

“And what? Starting college means you can’t like someone or date?”

Tyler suddenly laughed.

Wilma wasn’t the only one taken aback. Rachel was just as stunned. She knew Tyler had noticed her early on, but never in her wildest dreams had she imagined Tyler had kept a photo of her back in his college days. Did that mean he had fallen for her all those years ago? Rachel froze. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess.

Wilma seemed to piece it all together and muttered, “You mean, you’ve liked that wretched girl since back then? You’ve carried feelings for that woman all these years in silence!” Her eyes suddenly filled with regret as she looked at Tyler. “But Tyler, you’re so exceptional. Do you know how many young women in Yurelia City are dying to win your heart? You shouldn’t have given your whole life away so early. You’ve never even had a girlfriend, and you’ve already decided she’s the one you’ll spend your life with?”

In a way, Wilma wasn’t wrong. Tyler’s background, abilities, and achievements stood far above those of others. Not just anyone could ever hope to match him. Yet, he had chosen Rachel. Tyler himself had wrestled with that very question. He turned around and glanced at Rachel.

“Maybe it’s just fate. There’s no reason for it, and it’s not because of who she is. I just knew.”

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t met other women. But with them, he could see right through to the ugliness inside them. Rachel was different. She never relied on anyone, good or bad. She just kept pushing herself forward, determined to rise on her own strength. That toughness reminded him of his younger self. Perhaps it was also because Rachel carried her own childhood scars, yet she never closed herself off. Even when she was wounded, she still wanted to heal his wounds.

Tyler didn’t realize that, for Rachel, it wasn’t one-sided. It was mutual. He thought she saved him, but she thought the same way of him.

Rachel, however, hadn’t imagined he had loved her since so long ago. Wilma’s shock quickly turned into fury.

“I don’t care! I only have one demand–release my daughter immediately! If you don’t let me see her, I’ll jump! Are you going to do it or not?”

Her patience was wearing thin. Her body trembled violently now, and Rachel could see her starting to sway on the ledge. The sight alone made Rachel’s heart clench.

Tyler quickly conferred with the police, pressing them again. “Is there really no other way? Not even a temporary release?”

“Even if there was, it wouldn’t be approved right away. Just the paperwork alone would take a day. Then there’s the flight, which will take another two or three hours. We can’t all just stand around here waiting.”

Tyler’s brows furrowed. As much as he hated to admit it, they were right. It really was a mess.

The officers, knowing Wilma was his aunt, turned to him. “She’s your aunt. She’ll listen to you rather than us, outsiders. You’d better talk to her yourself.”