Chapter 19 His Wife

Jean smiled as she looked at Esme. She was about to turn and leave when she saw Tyler walking out of the elevator.

"What are you two doing?" he asked when he noticed Esme sitting on the floor and Jean standing in front of her.

His expression darkened as he walked toward them. He stopped beside Esme and offered a hand to help her up.

Seeing his outstretched hand, Esme teared up and placed one hand in his.

After helping Esme up, he turned to look at Jean. "What happened here?" he asked with a frown.

Jean glanced over cooly at him. "No matter how charming Lilian is, you should at least treat everyone equally," she said mockingly. "Otherwise, Ms. Esme here would come to me and cause trouble again."

Esme took a sharp breath and shook her head. "That's not true, Tyler. She's slandering me."

Jean's expression remained unchanged as she replied, "Esme, you didn't look so like this when you mocked me just now. Why are you pretending to be so pathetic now?"

Tyler's frown deepened as he watched Jean roast someone else with such calmness. "I never knew you had such a sharp tongue," he said, much to her annoyance.

She held back from snapping at Esme. Suppressing her emotions, she faced him calmly and asked, "Are you trying to take away my freedom of speech now?"

Tyler's brow furrowed as he walked toward her. "I know you're upset about what happened, but this was your choice. You have to deal with the consequences."

He stopped beside her. He looked her in the eyes and said, "Your father called me this morning. He's interested in a plot of land south of town. As long as you cooperate, I can guarantee that I won't disappoint your family."

He paused briefly before adding, "Your parents are smarter than you." He was now dangerously close to Jean, making her heart race.

Esme noticed the change in Tyler's gaze when he looked at Jean and hurriedly grabbed his arm. She said, "Tyler, why don't you follow me upstairs to visit my sister?"

Tyler stopped in his tracks.

Chris dispersed the crowd and returned beside Tyler when he was done. Noticing the ominous look on Jean's face, he said quietly, "Mr. Larson, allow me to send Mrs. Larson back home."

Chris sneaked a glance at Jean and gestured for her to follow him out of the place.

Tyler's face darkened when he realized that Jean obliged. She went after Chris without any resistance. He was pissed when he remembered Lilian said that Chris and Jean looked perfect together.

Esme watched Chris's and Jean's figures walking off into the distance. She noticed that Tyler stood rooted to the spot. Hastily, she urged, "Let's go."

Tyler's piercing gaze fell on her arm that was hooked in his. A shadow fell across his face. "She's still my wife. You should be kinder to her in the future."

Esme froze, overcome by shock. "Tyler—"

She only managed to call out his name when he pulled away from her and headed for the elevator. He left her staring after him in a daze.

Tyler had never said anything like this to her before. Was he starting to stand up for Joyce now?

Esme could not believe it. She could not believe that Tyler would fall for Joyce.

She chased after him and said cautiously, "Tyler, we've known each other for so many years. You should know the kind of person I am. Joyce was mad at me because of my sister just now …"

Tyler frowned. He didn't seem to buy it all. Esme could even sense a sliver of coldness and indifference in his eyes.

In the end, she bit her lip and lowered her head in silence. She was afraid that he would get mad at her for saying anything else.