bTyler’s /bbdeep /bvoice bwas /bright next to her bear/b. The photo frame in her hand was swiftly taken away.

“bDoesn’t /bthe breal /bthing look better?b” /bhe asked.

Rachel had been pretty embarrassedb, /bbut the second she heard that remarkb, /bthe awkwardnesspletely disappeared.

b“/bbI wasn’t /bstaring at your picture because I’m obsessed with you. I just identally knocked it over while grabbing the nket.”

b“/bIs denying everything your personal motto?” Tyler’s voice sounded nonchnt as usual.

Rachel nearly rolled her eyes. Hugging the nket, she brushed past him and asked, “Is narcissism yours?”

Tyler smirked a little as he turned and watched her walk out of the room, nket in hand. He lowered his head, eyesnding on the photo of a younger version of himself in the frame.

The usual edge in his expression softened for a moment.

But as soon as his gaze shifted to the old man in the picture, his brows instinctively knit together.

“Eyesore,” he muttered.

With a sharp smack, he flipped the frame face down on the nightstand.

Meanwhile, Rachel was downstairs spreading out the nket on the couch. She had considered asking Tyler about the photo, but on second thought, decided against it.

After all, it was his personal business. Maybe it was just a photo taken by coincidence.

As she settled under the nket and got ready to sleep, the familiar scent of Tyler clung faintly to the fabric.

She was usually the kind of person who had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar ces, but for some reason, she drifted off unusually fast that night.

By the time Tyler came downstairs, she was already asleep.

She looked peaceful, hershes fluttering slightly. Her skin seemed pale yet delicate. It was a serene sight.

His warm fingertips gently traced her brow as he murmured, “Heartless little thing. How could you forget about me so quickly?”

In the end, he simply tapped the tip of her nose lightly.

“Goodnight.”

The next morning, Tyler had just finished his morning run and was heading back when he noticed a vehicle parked nearby.

He slowed to a stop and walked up to the car before tapping on the window.

The window rolled down to reveal a man in a baseball cap who seemed annoyed.

“What do you want?”

b“/bbIs /bthis a good spot for taking photos?” Tyler asked, leaning against the car with a casual demeanor that still managed to carry a subtle hint of pressure. “The view doesn’t seem great. Want to move inside? I could strike a pose for you.”

bThe /byoung man clearly wasn’t used to dealing with people like Tyler. Just one look from him could make someone’s entire body

btense/b.

bHe /bstarted stammering. “I–I don’t know what you mean-”

b“/bIf you don’t understand, just hand over the camera,” Tyler said with his palm open. “bOr /bI’ll take it myself.”

The guy broke into ba /bcold sweat. Panic was written all over his bface/bb. /bbHe /breluctantly handed over the camera that had bbeen /bhidden behind his seat.

Tyler patiently clicked through the photos one by one.

In several shots, Rachel was seen getting out of his bcar/b. The guy had clearly been trying to capture it from every angle.

bTyler /bnced over his shoulder at him and asked, “Tell me, does the way I’m looking at her in this picture seem a little different bto /byou?”

The guy blinked. “You seem very affectionate.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “You misunderstood. I look at dogs the same way.”

He kept scrolling through the images, some of which were taken from oddly tricky angles. He even gave a little critique as he did

bSo. /b

“Your technique’s actually pretty good. It’s a bit of a waste doing this kind of work.”

The guy chuckled nervously. “Just trying to make a living.”

“Who sent you?”

Tyler favorited a few of the photos.

Clearly smart enough to realize he wasn’t getting away, the man didn’t even try to resist anymore. He gave in and confessed everything.

??

A