Chapter 54
Chapter 54
“Are you crazy? Don’t go near that!” Byron’s heart leaped into his throat as he saw Sylvia rushing towards the overturned tour bes. Almost at se thinking, he chased after her, grabbing her hand.
Sylvia yanked her hand away. “What I do is none of your business!”
A flush crept up Byron’s neck, the veins standing out. “Don’t be ungrateful. I’m worried about you!”
He regretted it instantly. ‘This woman abandoned her family for three years! Why should I care? Right, he was only concerned because she was Zack’s mother. That had to be it.
“Who asked for your concern?” Sylvia shot back coldly. ‘Has he lost his mind? Did he forget how he helped Joanna walk all over me three years ago How he’s pretending to care? Please. I wouldn’t trust him farther than I could throw him.
“Go worry about your precious Joanna. Don’t waste your breath on me!” With that, she ran towards the overturned bus.
Byron cursed under his breath. ‘Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth! All these men are hanging back, what does she think she’s proving
He whipped around, yelling at the executives he’d brought “What are you all standing around for? Go help!”
These pampered suits were terrified, clearly wanting to be anywhere else. But the Tyrant had spoken, so they reluctantly scrambled forward.
The bus door was mangled. People inside were trying to get out but couldn’t.
Sylvia tried kicking the door open, but it wouldn’t budge. Thankfully, the executives arrived, and together they managed to wrench it open, helping the passengers out one by one.
The passengers were Spanish tourists. One injured man, blonde and blue–eyed, looked frantic, shouting something in Spanish.
Everyone looked at each other, confused. No one understood him.
Just then, Sylvia pushed through the crowd, grabbed the man’s arm, and asked in fluent Spanish, stunning everyone, “What did you say? Your son is still inside?”
The man, realizing she understood, clung to her, repeating himself urgently.
Nearby, Byron, who was on the phone with the hospital and fire department, watched with a flicker of surprise. ‘Since when did Sylvia speak such perfect Spanish?‘
Sylvia quickly got the story – the man’s son was still trapped. She turned to rush back to the bus.
Byron saw sparks flickering on the ground near the leaking fuel. The bus could explode any second. He lunged forward and grabbed Sylvia’s arm again.
“What are you doing? Let go of me!” Sylvia yelled, furious.
Byron’s face darkened. He felt like an idiot for interfering. A part of him wanted to let go and let her face the consequences.
“Don’t move. Stay right here!” He took a sharp breath and ran towards the burning vehicle himself.
Flames licked at the metal, thick smoke billowed out, choking him.
He shouted again and again, finally hearing a child’s cry from a corner. He located a terrified little boy, scooped him up, and scrambled back out.
A moment later, the bus was completely engulfed in flames.
Sylvia stared, stunned. Her opinion of Byron shifted slightly, just for a second. But his next words made her see red again.
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Chapter 54
“I went in there for you. I don’t need you to owe me anything. Just drop this fight for Zack’s custody” Byron said,
“In your dreams!” Sylvia shot back, her voice icy.
Sylvia took the boy from Byron, gave him a quick check over, and returned him to the Spanish man before turning her attention to the other if dr
tourists.
Many had injuries from the crash. Sylvia took out the medical patches she carried and applied I them to those with fractures:
Since this happened right outside the News Center, reporters were filming everything. They captured the seemingly miraculous effect of the patches.
People with leg injuries were actually able to slowly stand up after applying the patches.
Sirens wailed as ambulances and fire trucks arrived. Since most victims were Spanish–speaking, Sylvia acted as a translator, helping medics understand injuries and organizing the others to provide their information.
Suddenly, Sylvia seemed to be in charge, everyone efficiently following her lead.
Byron watched from a distance, a complex expression on his face. An involuntary smile touched his lips before his usual stern mask slammed back into place. ‘Thinks she’s hot stuff just because she knows a foreign language?‘
After everything settled, Sylvia quietly left the scene. Heading back to her car, she saw Byron standing there.
She ignored him completely, reaching for her car door. Annoyed, Byron blocked her way. “Sylvia, do you remember that promise you made? You swore you’d never do anything I disapproved of! What was all that back there?”
“Don’t remember,” Sylvia cut him off flatly before he could finish. ‘Ancient history. Why would I remember that? I made a lot of stupid promises back when I was blind and still loved him. We’re divorced now. Those vows mean nothing.
Byron’s face flushed red with anger. “Sylvia, so you’re just going to pretend it never happened!”
Sylvia actually laughed, though without humor. “Byron, cut the crap. There’s nothing for us to talk about except Zack.”
“Fine! Let’s talk about Zack,” Byron ground out. “I expect you to drop this custody nonsense! You don’t deserve him!”
A woman who won’t even stand by her word isn’t fit to be Zack’s mother!
“Then we have nothing more to discuss.” Sylvia ignored him, pulled her car door open, and got in.
Byron felt a surge of fury at being dismissed. He leaned down, warning through gritted teeth, “Sylvia, don’t forget, one word from me, and you’ll never find a manufacturer for those patches of yours!”
His male pride flared. ‘I’ll show her. I can still control her.‘
The words were barely out of his mouth when the staffer from earlier rushed out of the News Center.
“Ms. Sullivan! Your helping those Spanish tourists was broadcast live! We’ve been getting calls nonstop! People asking about your patches… including several manufacturers who want to partner with you!”
A small smile played on Sylvia’s lips. She got back out of the car. “Really? Could you possibly give me their contact information?”
She’d hoped to promote her patches during the interview earlier. The accident had unexpectedly done the job for h
Byron watched Sylvia head back into the News Center, his face instantly darkening. A knot of discomfort tightened in his stomach. She was thriving without him.
He’d find a way to make her regret leaving him, to prove how foolish she’d been.
Over the next few days, Sylvia struck deals with several manufacturers. Soon, her medical patches were being mass–produced and appearing in hospitals
Chapter 54
and pharmacies.
The next morning, after dropping Ruby off at preschool, Sylvia drove to the courthouse,
Today was the hearing date for her custody case with Byron over Zack.
But she waited outside the courthouse for a long time, and Byron never showed up..
