Rachel walked downstairs, where Cecilia was still waiting for her. As soon as she appeared, Cecilia rushed up to her.

"So, what happened?" she asked eagerly.

"It didn't work out. Just like the rumors say, he's impossible to get through to."

Not only that, but Rachel had almost exposed herself in the process.

As she was about to leave his office, she had heard Tyler's deep voice behind her: "I heard you went deaf because of Mr. Lewis back then, Mrs. Lewis. Looks like you're all better now."

Rachel wasn't sure if Tyler would keep her secret, but deep down, she felt that even if she asked him, he wouldn't help.

Cecilia looked at her with guilt and said, "I'm so sorry I couldn't help you."

"It's fine. Actually, I think I've caused trouble for you."

Rachel shivered as she remembered Tyler's words to his subordinate earlier. As she was about to speak again, she noticed Cecilia standing still, frozen in shock. Her eyes were wide open, and she seemed lost in thought.

Rachel waved her hand in front of her. "What's going on? Are you okay?"

Cecilia slowly turned her head, her face full of disbelief. "I… I didn't sign to you just now, but... you could hear me?"

Rachel quickly covered her mouth. "Keep it down. Come here."

Once they were out of earshot, Rachel explained what had happened. Cecilia's reaction was pure excitement.

"That's amazing! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I was over here looking like a fool, clumsily signing to you."

Cecilia wasn't great at sign language, but luckily, Rachel was smart. Even if the person Rachel was talking to wasn't fluent in sign language, she could roughly tell what they were saying from the shape of their mouth.

"But you need to keep this secret for me. Not even William knows. And tell your friend who helped set this meeting that there's a good chance they might lose their job over it."

Rachel's voice grew softer as she repeated Tyler's words to Cecilia.

Cecilia hung her head, clearly upset. "This is bad. Tyler really is as ruthless as they say. It looks like your plan is going to fall apart."

-

When Rachel got home, she sold the custom wedding dress William designed for her.

She had finally come to a decision. Whether or not she got the Oasis Project, she needed money for the future. She wasn't the rich daughter of the Lloyd family anymore; she was just an ordinary person now, and to survive, she needed money.

She thought it would take days for anyone to buy the dress, but to her surprise, within three minutes, someone paid an unbelievable price for it.

Five million.

She stared at the deposit notification on her phone, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. She was already thinking about what to do with the money.

Just then, the door burst open. William walked in, sweat beading on his forehead. He knelt down in front of Rachel, looking desperate, his hands moving quickly as he signed.

"I saw you sold the wedding dress online. I designed that myself. Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?"

Rachel could see nothing but worry in William's eyes. She had always believed she understood him completely. From his gaze, she could read him like an open book. But now, as she looked into those same eyes, all she saw was insincerity.

She forced a smile, trying to sound calm as she replied, "No, I just think the dress is a material item. Remember that orphanage I told you about? It's in really bad shape; I want to donate money to them."

William looked at her with doubt in his eyes. "Really? It's not because you're mad that Samantha got the Oasis Project?"

Rachel pretended to be unaffected, patting his hand lightly. "Of course not. We're all alumni of the same school. Helping each other is the right thing to do. Don't overthink it."

After he heard that, William's tense face softened, his sharp features relaxing into a smile. "That's a relief. I knew you weren't that petty. Don't worry, I'll make sure everything goes smoothly with the project. I won't let anything go wrong."

Rachel almost laughed out loud. In William's eyes, he was being generous enough by giving away the most important thing to him. She knew now that getting him to give her the project was impossible. Her only chance was with Tyler.

Just as she was thinking that, William's phone rang. He glanced at it quickly, about to ignore it, but Rachel had already seen the name on the screen.

It was Samantha.

A bright, radiant smile crossed Rachel's face. "Who's calling? Why aren't you answering?"

William hesitated for a moment, then slipped the phone back into his pocket, forcing a smile. "It's just the company. But right now, I need to focus on you. You're much more important than work."

He spoke softly, a trace of affection in his eyes as he gently pinched Rachel's cheek.

However, she said, "Go ahead, take the call. It might be something important."

William didn't want to answer, but Samantha kept calling. He ruffled Rachel's hair, nodding toward the door to let her know he needed to take the call. She quietly watched as he walked out, the light in her eyes dimming little by little.

What she had once considered so important seemed to mean nothing to him, as it left his lips so casually. Had he forgotten what he had told her before? That as long as he was around, the project would be hers, no matter the cost?

Now, he had casually handed it over to Samantha with just the excuse of it being the higher-ups' decision.

The vibration of her phone pulled Rachel back to reality.

It was a message from Cecilia.

[I heard that Tyler will be attending the charity auction tonight. Not sure if he'll actually go, though. I heard he rarely attends events like this. You'll have to take a chance.]

Rachel wasn't sure if Tyler would actually be there, but she had to go. Maybe she would get lucky.

She quickly typed a reply: [Thanks.]

As soon as she sent the message, William came back into the room after his phone call.

He crouched down in front of her, looking anxious. "Hey, I've got to meet a business partner, so I might not be able to have dinner with you. But I'll come back as soon as I can."

Rachel quickly replied, "Don't worry about it. You go ahead. We can eat together another time."

She was actually glad he wouldn't be around tonight. She wasn't sure how to turn him down if he insisted on taking her out.

William couldn't help but kiss her forehead. "You're the best. When I get back, I'll buy that bracelet you liked at the auction."

"Alright. Go ahead," Rachel replied, playing the part of the understanding wife.

She turned her head, avoiding his kiss. Just the thought of those hands, that mouth, having touched Samantha made her feel utterly disgusted.

William didn't notice that something was off with Rachel. She could see how he was almost about to float off the ground with excitement. She knew she didn't want this forced relationship anymore, and couldn't bring herself to care about a love that didn't feel real.

Once William left, Rachel quickly grabbed some clothes from the closet and put on light makeup before rushing out the door. When she arrived at the charity auction, she took out the invitation. The brand had invited Lewis Enterprise, so it wouldn't be too hard to get in.

Inside, she searched the room but couldn't find Tyler.

Instead, she saw two familiar faces—William and Samantha. Samantha was adjusting William's tie, looking at him with eyes full of affection.

Rachel couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. This was his idea of meeting a business partner?

But that wasn't the worst of it. What happened next left her stunned.

A staff member came over and handed William a beautiful red velvet box. Slowly, he opened it, took out a bracelet, and gently placed it on Samantha's wrist.

Rachel's heart skipped a beat, and her legs felt heavy as she stood frozen.

The bracelet meant so much to her—it was the first piece of jewelry she ever designed. Back when her mother couldn't afford treatment, Rachel had sold it. William had promised he would buy it back once it was up for auction.

But now, seeing this, she realized that his promises meant nothing. For a man, what he said one moment could mean nothing the next. He could be loving and caring, always saying he loved her, but then turn around and act the same way with another woman.

Rachel bit her lip hard, trying to steady her breathing. She didn't even notice the small trickle of blood from where her teeth pierced her skin.

She watched as Samantha smiled brightly and threw herself into William's arms.

"William, you're the best!"

Then, with worry-filled eyes, she added, "But if Rachel finds out, do you think she'll be upset?"

"It's fine. She's generous and not that petty. Think of it as a welcome gift from me. Rachel is really good at what she does. If you work with her, you'll learn a lot," William said, his voice full of concern for Samantha.

From a distance, Rachel overheard his words, and her heart sank.

Generous?

In William's eyes, she could give up everything—the project, her design work, even her mother's last wish. And now, she was even giving up her husband. She could feel the weight of her own humiliation, even without looking in the mirror.

"Rachel Lloyd, how did you end up like this?" she asked herself quietly.

Just then, a teasing voice interrupted her thoughts: "I wondered why you suddenly wanted to work with me. Turns out, your husband has found someone new."

Rachel jumped back in shock. Her heel slipped, making her lose her balance and start to fall backwards. Her mind raced, fearing the worst. But in the next moment, steady hands gripped her waist.

For a moment, she was relieved that Tyler at least seemed a bit compassionate. But then, she saw the mocking smile at the corner of his lips, and his hands suddenly left her waist.

Rachel couldn't believe it—he was playing with her.

In that split second, a burst of strength flowed through her. Just as she was about to hit the ground, she grabbed onto the edge of Tyler's suit jacket. His deep eyes showed a flicker of surprise before he reluctantly caught her again, pulling her back.

She stumbled into his hard, firm chest. Looking up with a frown, she was met with his intense, unreadable gaze.

"Are you trying to use me as a cushion?" he teased.

Rachel couldn't stand this man, especially after the way he had played with her. She pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance between them.

She couldn't admit it was intentional, so she muttered, "It was just a reflex. I'm sorry, Mr. Hunt."

If it weren't for him messing with her, this near-disaster wouldn't have happened.

Rachel clenched her fists, trying to stay calm. She still needed him for the Oasis Project. For now, he was like her only lifeline!

She took a deep breath, letting the tension leave her body, and forced a smile back onto her face. "Mr. Hunt, you must believe me now, right? I'm not a spy sent by Lewis Enterprise. I really want to work with you."

Tyler tucked his hands casually into his pockets as he lazily replied, "Who knows? Maybe you and your husband are just playing me."

Rachel pursed her lips tightly. This man had a trust issue the size of a mountain. She imagined any woman who married him might never even get a chance to talk to another man.

She smiled wider, trying to stay patient. "Why would I bother? Besides, we both know you could uncover the truth with one phone call. You've got that kind of reach."

Everyone at Nevalis University knew about Samantha and William's past relationship.

After a moment, Tyler spoke again, his tone reluctantly serious.

"If you're determined to work with us, let me make one thing clear. Once this project is under LS Enterprise, William will eventually find out about you. Once that gets out, it will cause a scandal for us at LS Enterprise. Who knows..."

He paused, leaning slightly closer to her. His warm breath brushed against her ear as he whispered, a dark chuckle escaping his lips.

"People might say you and I are in this together. Do you think you can handle that kind of accusation, Mrs. Lewis?"

Rachel stiffened, the weight of his words hitting her hard. She understood exactly what he was saying. If she pushed too hard now, she could burn everything down. But as long as she could finish the project before leaving, the gossip wouldn't matter.

Slowly, the tension in Rachel's face began to fade. She knew what she had to do.

"That's hardly your concern, Mr. Hunt. You're a businessman. As long as this project turns pure profit, nothing else should matter," she said.

She could tell Tyler wasn't the type to fear William's wrath. The man had an air of confidence that made him seem unafraid of anything or anyone.

With a faint smirk, he dropped his scrutinizing gaze and slumped back into his signature lazy posture.

"Hey," he called out to her.

Rachel looked up at him. "Yeah?"

His eyes moved past her, landing on the other side of the room. His voice took on a playful tone as he added, "Your husband seems to be staring right at us."

Rachel froze. She quickly turned her head, and sure enough, William was looking straight at her. The moment their eyes met, they both froze. William's face showed a flicker of surprise when he saw Rachel, but when his gaze landed on Tyler next to her, his expression darkened.

Samantha completely missed the odd look on William's face as she cheerfully came over to greet Rachel.

"Rachel, what a coincidence! If I had known you were coming, I wouldn't have joined William. Oh, but don't misunderstand. I just came along as a favor because he didn't have a plus-one."

Samantha seemed a little flustered as she gestured toward Rachel, her face turning pink as she nervously stole a glance at her. Her eyes showed signs of discomfort, and Rachel couldn't help but feel like some kind of a wicked stepmother, as if she had been deliberately bullying Samantha.

Just then, William seemed to snap out of his thoughts.

He walked over and took Rachel's hand. "I thought I told you to rest at home. Why did you come out on your own?"

For a moment, Rachel couldn't tell if he was concerned or blaming her. She kept her face neutral and said, "Remember I told you about the bracelet I designed for my graduation project? I heard it's being auctioned off today. Since you're busy with work, I decided to just take a cab and come."

When Samantha heard that, she instinctively tried to hide her wrist. However, Rachel's eyes landed on her wrist.

"Ms. Judd, how did you end up with that bracelet?" she exclaimed in surprise.

Samantha tried to hide it, but Rachel grabbed her wrist, revealing the soft blue bracelet to everyone.

Tyler had taken a seat when William and Samantha came over. He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, clearly enjoying the scene unfolding.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Rachel then looked directly at William, raising her voice as she said, "I get it now. You secretly bought it and wanted to surprise me, right?"

William was momentarily stunned, but then nodded along with her. "Yeah, I thought I'd swing by after my meeting and pick it up for you. That bracelet's been sitting around for so long, so I thought I'd have Samantha try it on for you."

Rachel smiled widely, her eyes sparkling. "I knew it! You really went through all that trouble, huh? But since I'm right here, I can try it on myself."

Samantha's face turned pale with a mix of anger and embarrassment. Though she was clearly fuming inside, she couldn't say anything. Rachel extended her hand, and Samantha reluctantly removed the bracelet and gave it to her.

Rachel put it on her wrist, making sure to flaunt it in front of William and Samantha. She shook her wrist slightly. "How does it look?"

"It looks great," William replied patiently, as he always did.

Then, Samantha suddenly spoke up, her voice soft and sweet as she asked, "Wait, isn't this man Mr. Hunt? How did you end up with him, Rachel? I thought our company wasn't working with LS Enterprise."

Everything had seemed to be going fine, but things had now taken a turn. Suddenly, the spotlight was on Rachel and Tyler, making Rachel's heart skip a beat.

Everyone in the industry knew that Lewis Enterprise and LS Enterprise were rivals. In Yurelia City, only those two companies had the strength to compete head-to-head. Getting too close to the competition was bound to raise suspicion.

But as long as her acting was good enough, it wouldn't be a problem.

Rachel kept her calm and smoothly replied, "I accidentally stepped on Mr. Hunt's shoe earlier. I figured I should apologize. That's not too much, is it?"

Tyler casually responded, "That's right. Mrs. Lewis was about to apologize to me, but then you showed up, Mr. Lewis."

William glared at Tyler, his brow furrowing in frustration as his expression darkened. "You—"

"Mr. Lewis," Tyler interrupted before William could continue. "Since you're here, you apologize on your wife's behalf. I don't usually like to make things difficult for women."

Rachel stared at Tyler in disbelief. Did this man not have any shame? He nearly made her fall earlier, and now had the nerve to say he didn't like making things hard for women—with a straight face no less!

William stayed silent, his expression dark. Rachel felt something was off with him tonight, especially after meeting Tyler. He seemed more restless than usual.

A few moments later, Tyler rubbed his forehead and spoke again in a clearly impatient manner: "I thought the rumors said you treat your wife like a precious treasure. Were those lies?"

The words were casual, but the pressure in Tyler's voice was unmistakable.

There was a time when Rachel would've immediately stepped in to defend William. She hated seeing people push her loved ones around. People could mess with her, but she wouldn't let anyone mess with the ones she cared about.

But tonight, she just wanted to see what William would do.

She knew him well. He was an extremely prideful man who wouldn't just apologize to the competition. Plus, there were so many people watching. If word got out, it would be all over the news by tomorrow.

The tension in the air grew thicker.

"Mr. Hunt, it's not that big of a deal. It's just a pair of shoes, right? We can pay for them if you'd like," Samantha cautiously spoke up.

Tyler raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Is this young lady perhaps your next wife, Mr. Lewis?"

The words stung, and Samantha's face turned pale.

William quickly pulled her behind him. "I forgot to introduce her to you, Mr. Hunt. This is our new colleague, Samantha Judd."

Tyler glanced at Samantha briefly, then looked down at his watch with disinterest. "I see. Never heard of her."

Samantha's eyes filled with hurt, her cheeks flushed red. She clutched William's jacket, her voice thick with emotion, calling out, "William..."

William's jaw tightened, his fists clenching and unclenching as he took a deep breath.

"My wife made a mistake. As her husband, I should be the one to take responsibility. What do you want, Mr. Hunt?" he finally said, his voice low and strained.

Just then, a waiter passed by, and Tyler raised his hand to signal for him to stop. "If you drink this bottle of champagne, I'll consider this matter settled."

Samantha quickly reached out to stop him. "That won't do. William can't hold his liquor. I'll drink in his place, Mr. Hunt."

As she spoke, she reached for the champagne, ready to down it. However, William snatched it away before it touched her lips, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Don't be ridiculous! You're allergic to alcohol."

Rachel swayed where she stood, the words hitting her like a punch to the chest. She stumbled back two steps, her throat tightening. He remembered Samantha was allergic to alcohol, but forgot that Rachel was allergic to dust. Her fingers clutched the back of the nearest chair, knuckles turning white.

William drank the champagne in one go, while Samantha's eyes were filled with concern, watching him with evident worry.

Tyler looked like he was watching a show as he leaned casually against a nearby chair, his eyes never leaving William as he finished the bottle of champagne. Then, he clapped slowly, as if impressed.

"You truly have a remarkable tolerance for alcohol, Mr. Lewis."

After saying that, Tyler waved a hand carelessly, slipped his hands back into his pockets, and walked out of the auction hall.

William's stomach churned, the alcohol hitting him harder than he expected. However, he kept his composure and looked at Rachel with a pale face. He staggered over to her, grabbing her hand and trying to steady himself as he raised his hand to sign to her.

"Tyler isn't someone who should be messed with. Stay away from him."

Noticing how unstable William was, Rachel instinctively reached out to hold his arm. "You need to go home and take some medicine for this."

He nodded slowly, then turned to Samantha. "Take a cab home. Let me know when you arrive."

Samantha smiled sweetly and nodded. "Okay."

Then, she turned to Rachel and signed awkwardly, saying, "Rachel, please take care of William. His stomach is usually sensitive after drinking, and he gets severe stomach pains the next day. Also, can you make him some chicken soup?"

Rachel's breath hitched at Samantha's words. She didn't respond directly but gave a pointed reminder instead.

"Be careful on your way back, Ms. Judd. And from now on, call him Mr. Lewis in public. If someone overhears and thinks you're... something else, it could cause problems."

Without giving Samantha a chance to argue, Rachel guided William out of the room. Samantha stood there, staring at their retreating backs. She pursed her lips tightly together, eyes full of frustration.

As Rachel helped William toward the exit, she caught a glimpse of Tyler in the distance, casually leaning against his Bugatti. He had a cigarette between his lips, his head slightly lowered as he spoke into his phone.

When he turned his head slightly, his cold, dark eyes met Rachel's. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away. As she opened the car door and helped William inside, Tyler's car drove past them, the two vehicles mere inches apart.

As Rachel got into the backseat, a strange, uncomfortable sensation crept over her. It felt like needles pricking at her back, like someone was watching her. She couldn't shake the feeling.

She didn't understand why Tyler acted that way toward William. It was clear to anyone that it was a deliberate attack.

William had been in the business world for so many years, and she had never seen him act so uneasy around anyone. It made her wonder if something had happened between William and Tyler that she wasn't aware of.

William looked miserable. After downing an entire bottle of champagne, it was no surprise that he wasn't doing well. The strong smell of alcohol filled the car, making Rachel wrinkle her nose. She fought the urge to gag and rolled down the window to let the air circulate, and the feeling of unease gradually subsided.

When they got home, Rachel and Arsen Smith helped William to his room.

Arsen noticed how drunk William was and said, "Madam, I'll prepare some hangover remedy. You take care of Mr. Lewis."

"Go ahead," Rachel replied, glancing at William.

She saw how cracked and dry his lips were, and was about to get up to pour him some water when she heard him mumbling something.

"Don't go… Don't leave me… Once I'm rich, I'll marry you, Samantha…"

Rachel felt her heart, which had been adrift all evening, plummet into an abyss.

She had always believed that William's drive to inherit the company, to earn his grandfather's approval, was for her. She thought he was working so hard to give her a better life, to make up for the pain she had suffered as a child.

Through his toughest times, she had stayed by his side. She had been there through every all-nighter, every brutal negotiation. Even that time she landed in the hospital with alcohol poisoning after attending a social event with him, she hadn't voiced a single complaint.

But now, he was telling her that his true motivation had been Samantha.

It had been that woman all along.

Then, what about Rachel?

What did that make her?