Chapter 101
Byron had already heard Sylvia’s voice downstairs. The second he did, his whole expression turned dark. He thought, ‘What is she even doing here? Did she seriously come just to mess with me again?‘
Last night, his doctor friend had come by and drawn a ton of blood–to study the antibodies in it and try to come up with something that might help Sylvia’s allergies.
He’d done all that for her. And from the looks of it, she had no clue.
Already weakened by severe blood loss, Byron’s blood boiled with rage when Dillan provoked him on the way back, and a wave of dizziness
overwhelmed him.
Even lying in bed, Byron still felt the room spinning violently, his face now a bit pale.
The house doctor had already stopped by earlier and made it crystal clear–no stress, no anger. But the minute he remembered what Dillan said last night, it still made his blood boil.
“Get out.” Byron forced himself off the bed as Sylvia walked in, his voice cold as ice.
Sylvia frowned at him, gave him a quick once–over. “Well, you look pretty alive to me. Guess I worried for nothing.”
Byron’s heart skipped a beat at Sylvia’s words. He looked up sharply, his gaze locking onto hers with unexpected intensity. ‘She was worried about me? The thought caught him off guard, and, to his own surprise, a subtle warmth flickered in his chest.
The next moment, his expression darkened again. Byron thought bitterly, ‘There’s no way I’m buying it. All these years she’s been building her career abroad, never once reaching out to me or Zack, yet she’s always kept in touch with Dillan.
‘Why would she worry about me? It’s Dillan she’s really concerned about, isn’t it?‘
Sylvia wasn’t thrilled with the attitude, but she didn’t storm off either. She stayed by the door, quietly sizing him up. Even from a distance, it was easy to tell he wasn’t doing great.
He had on a pair of dress pants, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up, showing a bandaged arm.
Sylvia already knew he’d used his blood to save her. If she had to guess, that cut on his arm probably had everything to do with it.
“Did you eat anything today?” Sylvia asked, her eyes filled with mixed emotions.
“What does it matter to you?” Byron muttered bitterly, his chest tight with resentment. “Just go run to your precious Dillan. You like him so much, right? I’m done getting in your way.”
Sylvia was fuming at Byron’s words. She thought, ‘What’s with this arrogant jerk and his wild imagination? My relationship with Dillan is completely innocent. What’s with the jealousy? We’re already divorced.‘
Joanna stormed in, her face full of anger. “Sylvia, stop bothering Byron. Look at the state he’s in–how could you still come here just to piss him off?”
Sylvia didn’t even acknowledge Joanna. She just turned and called out toward the hallway, “Zack, come here for a second.”
Zack had been peeking curiously around the hallway corner. Hearing Sylvia call, he quickly responded and scampered over. “Mom, what’s up?”
Sylvia said, “Go ask the housekeeper to make Byron some porridge.” She could tell at a glance that Byron hadn’t eaten all day. His eye sockets were slightly sunken, and his eyes were bloodshot.
“Okay.” Zack chirped brightly and dashed downstairs.
“Sylvia, I said, get out, Byron snapped icily.
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Chapter 101
Joanna stood off to the side, barely hiding the satisfaction in her eyes. Well, now that Byron’s said it outright, maghe Sylvia will finally get the bird and leave, she thought.
Sylvia’s expression shifted slightly. Normally, she would have left without a second thought, but this time, she walked over to Byron, took Hind by the arm, and helped him sit in the nearby chair.
Byron’s heart suddenly kicked into overdrive. He stared at Sylvia in disbelief. I told her to leave. So why is she still here? Didn’t she Iris Dillan sé much? he thought.
“Did you hear what I said? Sit down.” Sylvia commanded sharply.
She’d never truly forgiven Byron. But that didn’t mean she’d let someone else get between them, either. She still needed to figure out exactly what went down between Dillan and Byron last night.
Joanna clenched her teeth in silent fury, jealousy and rage churning within her. ‘If only Byron would slap Sylvia right now that bitch. Byron told her fa leave, yet she had the nerve to stay.‘ She fumed inwardly.
Byron’s fury stemmed from his lingering feelings for Sylvia. So when Sylvia touched his arm, Byron felt his cheeks flushed. Putting on a stern face, he sat
down in the chair, pretending not to care.
A moment later, Zack came running back into the room with a bowl of porridge and a side of greens.
Joanna said, “Zack, take that porridge back downstairs. Byron has no appetite.”
Zack didn’t budge, instead turning his questioning gaze toward Sylvia.
With an icy glare at Joanna, Sylvia took the bowl of porridge and sat beside Byron. She scooped up a spoonful, pressed it to his lips, and ordered. “Open
up.”
Byron’s face felt warm. Joanna was right–he had zero appetite. ‘And what’s with Sylvia?‘ he thought. ‘Does she think I’m five or something, trying to spoon–feed me like this?‘
After a brief hesitation, Byron reluctantly parted his lips.
“Listen up, Byron. I don’t care what Dillan told you last night–there’s absolutely nothing between us.
“All these years, I’ve only been looking out for him because we’re from the same hometown, that’s all,” Sylvia explained irritably. If Byron weren’t sick right now, she wouldn’t have bothered explaining any of this.
Byron scoffed inwardly, unconvinced. ‘Sylvia was Dillan’s first love–how could there be nothing between them?‘ He looked ready to argue, but Sylvia thrust the spoon toward his lips again, forcing him to open his mouth.
Sylvia snapped, “Byron, stop your ridiculous assumptions. There’s nothing between me and Dillan–and even if there were, it’s none of your damn
business.”
Byron frowned, a subtle pang of disappointment flickering in his chest.
Joanna thought, visibly shocked, ‘Byron actually let Sylvia feed him? But he was so furious just moments ago. Her eyes darted craftily as she slipped out of the bedroom unnoticed. A cold, knowing smirk played at her lips while she texted rapidly on her phone.
Before long, Louis hurried upstairs and said, “Sir, there’s a Mr. Dillan Sheppard at the door asking for Ms. Sullivan.”
Byron’s face darkened. He shot up from his chair and said in a low, commanding voice, “Let him in.”
Sylvia’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘How did Dillan know I’m here?‘ she wondered. She instinctively shot a suspicious glance toward Joanna standing just
outside the door,
“Sylvia, did Byron drag you back here again?” Dillan stormed into the villa, fuming. His eyes swept over the lavish, multi–billion dollar estate, glinting with undisguised envy and greed.
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Chapter 101
“Byron, let her go! Stop messing with her! Sylvia loves me, not you!” he kept shouting.
Sylvia walked into the living room with a stony face. The second she laid eyes on him, she narrowed her gaze. “Shut up.”
