My expression stayed cool.
"There's no need."
He sounded a little impatient.
"My patience has limits. Don't think that just because you took Letitia's punishment for her, I'll put up with you. Pick the ring back up. I'll give you five minutes, that's it. Throw another tantrum and you can forget about ever marrying me."
The crowd watched me with sneers, already betting on whether I'd cave.
I even noticed Tyler quietly join their bet in the group chat.
But barely a minute later, his phone rang. It was Letitia.
"Tyler, are you here yet? My head suddenly started pounding so badly at the hotel. Can you take me to the hospital?"
"I'm on my way!"
Frantic, Tyler hurried off without sparing me a single glance.
Ten minutes later, Letitia's post showed up in my social media feed.
The photo caught Tyler in the act of massaging her temples.
The caption read: "Thank you, for always rushing to my side when I need you most."
My face stayed calm, neither happy nor sad.
I tapped a like and left a congratulatory comment, then headed to the little house I'd bought back when Tyler and I were together.
My mother's memorial portrait was kept there.
Joseph was very busy. Tomorrow was our family reunion day, and he'd insisted I bring the portrait along, saying his elders had never met our child.
I'd just found it and was about to leave when the door was suddenly shoved open.
Tyler stormed in, dragging Letitia by the hand, his face dark with anger.
"Hilary, what was that snide little comment you left on Letitia's post!"
I frowned.
A blessing, twisted into sarcasm.
It was almost funny.
Letitia hung back behind him, the picture of injured innocence.
"Tyler, don't blame Hilary. She must have seen you taking care of me again, that's all. She's just jealous."
Then she turned to me, tears welling up, and made her promise.
"Hilary, I'm sorry. I forgot how much you dislike anyone getting close to Tyler. I've never forgotten everything you did for me. These three years, I only wanted to look after him for you. Now that you're back, of course I should disappear from your lives."
With that, she rose as if to leave.
Tyler caught her arm and rounded on me with a roar.
"Hilary, that's enough. I'm not your property! I haven't agreed to marry you yet, so you'd better not think so highly of yourself!"
"And another thing. Letitia's spent these three years blaming herself because you took the punishment for her. That's how she ended up with these headaches!"
"And you? There's nothing in your head but jealousy!"
Watching it all, Letitia hid a smirk.
I'd seen this clumsy little victim act more times than I could count.
I looked at Tyler coldly and let out a scornful laugh.
"So you're saying her headaches are my fault?"
"And who was it that drugged me to protect her?"
"And who was it that took her punishment for three whole years?"
Tyler froze, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.
Seeing it, Letitia instantly dropped to her knees before me.
"Hilary, please don't be angry. It's all my fault. I never should have let you take my place."
"Hit me!"
And with that, she grabbed my arm and tried to drag my hand against her own face.
But before it could even touch, she toppled backward with a cry of pain.
"Hilary, if you want to hit me, then go ahead and beat me to death!"
Tyler immediately swept her behind him, shielding her.
"Hilary, if you so much as touch a single hair on Letitia's head, don't blame me for what I do!"
Even a fool could see she was faking. He couldn't.
Not now, and not back then either.
My face stayed calm.
"I have things to do. Get out of my way."
He let out a scornful laugh.
"Hilary, would you drop the act? You just can't stand to see me with Letitia."
"You were like this three years ago too. When are you finally going to admit it!"
