Tyrone left Zera’s place without worry.
Over an hour later, he sat inside a private bar in the city.
When the door opened, he poured two glasses of whiskey.
Brad Keller strolled in and dropped onto the couch across from him. He leaned back, legs crossed, his shoes resting carelessly on the edge of the coffee table. His whole posture screamed spoiled rich kid.
He fixed his sharp eyes on Tyrone, his good looks marked by his signature single-lid eyes. “So, trouble with your wife?”
Tyrone swirled his glass, sounding worn out. “I can’t communicate with her.”
Brad saw everything clearly, as an outsider. He cut straight to the point. “Zera came back to town for you. If you don’t clear things up, Aella will leave you.”
Tyrone’s reply was calm, almost dismissive. “She won’t divorce me.”
In his mind, he was sure. Emotionally, Aella loved him and depended on him. She couldn’t leave him.
Financially, he had spent millions on her family. She could never repay that debt in her lifetime.
On her own, she had no real independence. She married him and became a full-time wife immediately after graduating from college. She was out of touch with the working world.
She had grown up rich. After marrying him, Aella had lived a life of luxury-designer clothes, fine dining, and the best of everything. Even if she found a job, her paycheck wouldn’t even cover her lifestyle.
Because of this, he wasn’t worried she’d walk away.
But Aella had a stubborn streak. She would fight him. That was inevitable.
Brad didn’t hold back and mercilessly tore into his lies. “I heard Aella’s already talking divorce.”
Tyrone raised a brow. “Raine told you that?”
Brad didn’t deny it. “Man, you better watch yourself. If Aella leaves you, you’ll never find another woman who loves you like she does.”
Tyrone’s tone was confident. “Relax. Even if you end up six feet under, you won’t live to see me and Aella divorce.”
Brad realized he couldn’t change Tyrone’s mind, so he switched the subject. “That Zera, though-she knows you’re married and still keeps you from explaining. Isn’t she clearly trying to break you two apart?”
Tyrone’s face darkened. His tone turned serious. “Brad, don’t talk bad about Zera.”
Brad adjusted his posture and leaned forward. “I’m not badmouthing her. I’m telling the truth. The way she acts-it’s obvious she’s trying to drive a wedge between you and Aella.”
Tyrone lit a cigarette. Smoke drifted around his face, blurring his eyes.
After a long silence, he said, “Zera came from nothing. She’s simple at heart. Years ago, for me to inherit the company smoothly, Grandpa forced her to marry someone overseas. She’s suffered so much for me. I owe her.”
He went on. “She’s been abused for years. Her health is bad. She battles severe depression. I have to take care of her.”
Brad gave a wry smile. “Just admit it-you still have feelings for her.”
Tyrone frowned. “Brad, she nearly ruined her whole life because of me. I have to take responsibility.”
He added, “Zera won’t allow me to explain things to Aella because she’s too sensitive, too proud. She’s worried Aella will use it against her, that outsiders will mock her, and that they will criticize her for doing all that to earn my sympathy or trying to climb her way up by wrecking my marriage.”
Brad pushed back. “So she forbids you from explaining to your wife, and yet she leans on you for everything. She drains your money, your time, your energy-even your marriage. If that’s not manipulation, then what is?”
Tyrone shook his head. “It’s not the same. I’m willing to repay her. It’s my choice.”
Brad went on. “You feel guilty toward Zera. You think you’re responsible for her. You still care for her. But what about Aella? What did she ever do wrong?”
Tyrone sounded weary. “No one said she did.”
Brad snapped, “You agreed she did nothing wrong, but you never explained anything and won’t let her divorce you. With Aella’s temper, it’s a wonder she hasn’t felt suffocated by all this.”
Tyrone felt a heavy pressure in his chest, but he didn’t think it was that serious. “I promised to let her work. That’ll make her feel better,” he said.
Brad gave him a look like he couldn’t believe what he had heard. “So you’re really not going to explain things to Aella? You think just because she’s crazy in love with you, she deserves to carry all this pain?”
Tyrone clinked glasses with him, calm as ever. “It’s not as bad as you put it.”
Right then, Brad’s phone rang.
On the other end, Raine’s voice exploded through the line. “Brad Keller! Is Tyrone with you?”
Brad held the phone away from his ear. “Hey, brat! Watch your mouth. Show me some respect.”
Raine shot back, “I’ll call you whatever I want. Aella’s in trouble-get Tyrone home now!”
It was still pouring when Brad drove Tyrone back.
By the time they arrived, the doctor had just left.
Tyrone rushed to the bedside. His eyes locked on Aella’s face-pale, too pale.
In her sleep, her brow was furrowed, her lashes wet, like she was trapped in a nightmare.
He held her hand. It burned like fire.
When he left earlier, she was fine-angry, yes, but full of fight. How could she suddenly be this sick?
If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it.
Aella had always been strong. She could hold a plank for ten minutes without breaking a sweat.
Tyrone turned to his sister. “When did her fever start?”
Raine looked guilty. “I couldn’t reach her by phone. I tried yours too. Mom got worried you two were fighting and sent me over. When I got here, she was lying out in the rain in the garden. I don’t know how long she’d been there.”
Brad nudged Tyrone with his elbow. “Did you argue with her before you left?”
Tyrone’s face darkened. “You both should go.”
Raine was worried about them. “Tyrone, she’s already had fever medicine. The doctor said you need to help her cool down and check her temperature every hour. If it keeps going up, take her to the hospital.”
Tyrone nodded.
Brad dragged Raine out of the master bedroom. “Come on, let’s battle this out. Tell me, when did I ever do you wrong?”
Raine yanked him by the collar. “Brad, you know where Zera lives. Take me to her!”
At that, Brad suddenly felt everything he did was worth it. He slipped out of her grip and smoothly bolted downstairs.
In the master bedroom, Tyrone wore a white dress shirt and black slacks, his sleeves rolled up to show the strength in his forearms.
He checked Aella’s temperature on schedule, helped her sip water, wiped her skin, and cooled her down with careful hands.
His calm focus made it look less like he was caring for his wife and more like he was carrying out a job.
“Tyrone.”
Aella’s hands moved weakly in the air.
Tyrone caught them and gently wiped her palms without even realizing how tender his touch was.
She called out his name even in her sleep-how could she ever really leave him?
Tonight, it was his mistake.
She had been too upset. He should have waited until she calmed down before leaving.
Her sickness dragged on for two or three days.
When she finally woke up, her head still felt heavy.
She had planned to meet a senior colleague, someone Samuel had introduced to her. Aella’s illness made her miss the appointment.
She needed to send an apology.
When she left the bedroom, she saw the study door wide open.
Inside, Tyrone was on the phone.
It was past ten on a weekday morning, and surprisingly, he hadn’t gone to work.
As he stepped out, he spotted Aella standing frozen in the hallway.
He walked over and reached out to feel her forehead.
Aella turned her head away.
Tyrone’s face darkened. “Aella, is this how a wife is supposed to treat her husband?”
Aella acted like she hadn’t heard him and walked toward the stairs.
She wanted to argue. She wanted to scream out all the bitterness in her heart.
More Kickass Romance Reads
Dive into irresistible romance stories packed with possessive heroes, forbidden passion, billionaire obsession, mafia intrigue, and heart-stopping twists. One chapter is never enough—your next addiction starts here.