Rachel and Tyler exchanged gazes, clearly not expecting the turn of events.

    After they left the hospital, a thought came to Rachel’s mind.

    “No wonder Mr. Ziegler went to such great lengths to bankrupt yourpany. He was trying to pave the

    way for Howard.”

    Tyler chuckled at Rachel’s conjecture. “He’s still deceiving himself. Doesn’t he know best how capable Howard is? Even if he bankrupts mypany and lets Howard manage their family business, that ck sheep of the family would blow his entire family fortune in no time.”

    Rachel agreed. “Yeah. The Zieglers‘ future was doomed the moment he blindly condoned Howard’s

    actions.”

    A sense of pity washed over Tyler at the thought of Steven’s illness.

    Steven’s ability at work in his younger days was clear for all to see. People of that generation earned every cent through hard work and grit, unlike youngsters nowadays, who had to depend on their family

    for funds to start a business.

    At the same time, Tyler respected the fact that everyone was born into their destiny.

    As Tyler pulled the car door open and tried to step in, Rachel hurriedly came to his aid. His leg injury made it difficult for him to enter the car. Tyler stopped what he was doing and turned around to look

    deep into her eyes.

    He said teasingly, “Are you that worried about me, knowing that I’m on the verge of bankruptcy?”

    At the gleeful look on his face, Rachel couldn’t help but smack his chest. “How could you be joking around at a time like this? Aren’t you scared of being bankrupt?”

    Tyler’s chest shook withughter.

    “I’ll still be able to feed you even if I be bankrupt. Didn’t you say so yourself? I can be a model with my figure. I could totally act as a domineering CEO. If that doesn’t work out, I think my hands look good enough for me to be a hand model.”

    Rachel chuckled and scoffed, “Seems like you really won’t die of hunger, then.”

    Given Tyler’s caliber, she believed that he could shine no matter the domain of his choice.

    Tyler pulled Rachel into the car with him. “So, rest assured. Even if I go bankrupt, I won’t let you or Ray go hungry. There’s really no need for you to panic, okay?”

    With that, he rubbed Rachel’s head out of habit.

    Rachel instinctively tried to avoid it; she couldn’t help but correct this bad habit of his.

    “Why are you doing that again? I keep feeling like you’re petting a dog whenever you do that ito /ime. Even Yale feels the same way, and it’s really awkward. It’s fine if you do it with just us, but please control yourself when others are around.”

    Tyler toyed with a lock of Rachel’s hair that came loose and hung at her shoulder. Amused, he said, ” Already exercising your rights as Ms. Hunt even before getting married?”

    The title of Mrs. Hunt was a distant notion to Rachel. She had never thought of being together forever

    with Tyler.

    She looked away, avoiding that invasive gaze boring through her soul.

    “Tyler, can you stop joking about that?”

    “Who’s joking around here? Have you had one too many boyfriends who liked to y you for a fool, or did one of them break a promise or something?”

    Tyler folded his arms across his chest, his brows arched, the corner of his lips crooked upward in a smile.

    Rachel shook her head. “Not at all.”

    “Is that so? Then why are you so agitated? Are you worried that I’ll really marry you, or that I won’t?”

    Rachel continued denying it. “I never even considered this possibility.”

    She immediately changed the subject, worried that Tyler might keep dwelling on this topic.

    “Anyway, what exactly is happening to yourpany? Can it be saved?”