hapter 56
Chapter 56
Byron didn’t like what Sylvia said one bit.
He’d expected her to mention their past connection, but instead, right in front of Felix and Zander, she flat–out said they had ‘issues‘.
Sylvia remained calm. ‘Well, we are divorced,‘ she thought wryly, ‘so of course there were issues! It’s not like I lied.’
Felix frowned, his tone turning serious as he addressed Byron. “Byron,” he said, “Sylvia seems like a wonderful woman. How could you possibly have
issues with her?”
Byron pressed his lips together, saying nothing. Out of respect for the older man, he couldn’t really argue.
At this point, Zander couldn’t resist jumping in. “Yeah, Byron, maybe you’re being a bit too much of a hard–ass. We guys might put up with it, but Sylvia’s a woman. What’s the issue?”
Byron grew even more irritated. ‘Why does everyone suddenly think I’m the bad guy here?‘ he fumed internally, ‘And Sylvia’s the innocent one?”
He shot Zander a dark look. ‘Already taking her side,‘ he thought sourly. ‘Looks like I’ll have to straighten him out later.
Seeing Byron’s sulky expression, Sylvia felt a secret little thrill of satisfaction.
‘This–arrogant man has had things his way for too long,‘ she mused. ‘Everyone around him walks on eggshells, and it’s just made him more domineering
and full of himself.‘
“Felix, let me check your pulse,” Sylvia said, moving to his side. After taking his pulse, she wrote out a new prescription slip.
“You’re recovering very well, Felix. I’ve made a small adjustment to your remedy. Keep taking this for a bit longer, and the effects should be even better.”
Felix beamed, clearly pleased, and handed the slip to his nearby assistant. Once Sylvia was seated on the stone bench opposite him again, his expression
turned earnest.
“Sylvia,” he began, “I’ve picked out someone I think you should meet. A potential boyfriend. You two could try going out.”
Sylvia blinked, taken aback. “Felix, I… I really don’t need that,” she stammered slightly. “I’m doing fine on my own right now, and I don’t want to get involved in anything complicated.”
Felix smiled reassuringly. “Sylvia, every woman can use a good man in her corner. I know a bit about your background, so don’t you worry. This man will accept everything about you.”
As Felix finished speaking, his gaze shifted pointedly towards Zander.
Zander felt his cheeks warm and darted a quick, almost shy glance at Sylvia.
Sylvia caught the look and Zander’s reaction. A suspicion dawned on her. “Felix,” she asked cautiously, “who exactly are you talking about?”
“My grandson, Zander!” Felix announced without hesitation.
Sylvia was stunned. “Oh, no, that wouldn’t work at all!” she said quickly, shaking her head. “Zander and I are just friends! How could we possibly get involved like that?”
‘Okay, so I asked him to pretend to be Ruby’s dad once,‘ she thought frantically, ‘but that was just a desperate measure! It wasn’t real!‘
Byron, who had overheard everything, felt a small knot of tension ease inside him, though his expression remained carefully neutral. “Felix,” he said calmly, “that’s really not practical. They’re not suited for each other at all.”
Zander shot another quick glance at Sylvia before giving a casual, elegant shrug. “Actually, Byron,” he drawled slightly, “I don’t see why not.”
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Sylvia stared at Zander, completely bewildered. ‘What on earth does he mean by that?‘ she wondered, confused. ‘Is he actually agreeing to this?
Byron’s expression darkened instantly. Even though he and Sylvia were divorced, the idea of Zander, his own friend, going after her rubbed him the
wrong way.
His face was a mask as he cautioned, “Zander, you should really think this through. Marriage isn’t a game.”
Felix cut in, clearly displeased. “Byron, why don’t you and Zander take a walk around for a bit? I like to speak with Sylvia privately.”
‘This kid keeps getting in the way,‘ Felix thought, irritated. ‘Got to get him out of here.‘ He recalled Sylvia mentioning the ‘issues‘ between her and Byron. ‘Definitely can’t let him stick around! He’ll sabotage this whole thing if he stays any longer!‘
“Come on, Byron, let’s go for that walk,” Zander urged, quickly moving over and pulling Byron up from the stone bench.
Byron gave Sylvia one last icy glance before reluctantly walking off with Zander.
“Alright, Sylvia, they’re gone now,” Felix said patiently. “You can speak freely. What’s on your mind?”
Sylvia paused, gathering her thoughts. “Felix, my priority right now is my child,” she explained carefully. “If I were to get involved in a relationship, I feel it wouldn’t be fair… to my child.”
Felix waved her concern away with a smile. “That’s exactly why I suggested you and Zander just spend some time together first, see how things go.
“Zander is a very considerate man, great personality. I believe he would be very good to both you and your child.”
Afraid she might refuse again, Felix launched into further praise for Zander.
Meanwhile, not far away by the edge of the lake, Zander and Byron stood facing each other.
Zander looked thoroughly annoyed. “Byron, what’s your problem? Why are you so against me and Sylvia getting together? Don’t tell me you’re that hung up on tradition. You think because she’s divorced, she can’t find someone new?”
Byron yanked irritably at his tie. “If you still consider me a friend,” he ground out, “then stay away from her.”
Zander looked completely baffled, his annoyance growing. “Then give me one good reason! You expect me to just drop it because you snapped your fingers?”
Byron could see Zander was actually serious about Sylvia. A wave of frustration washed over him. He clenched his jaw and finally snapped, his voice loud, “Because Sylvia is my ex–wife! Is that reason enough for you?”
“What?” Zander felt his mind go blank for a second. He stared at Byron, eyes wide with disbelief.
Byron hadn’t wanted anyone else to know about his history with Sylvia, but Zander had forced his hand.
Zander was still reeling. “Byron, you’ve got to be kidding me,” he stammered, “Are you absolutely sure? You and Sylvia were actually married? How did I never know?
“I thought… hell, everyone thinks Joanna Moore is your wife! People call her Mrs. Blair all the time! How could it possibly have been Sylvia?”
Zander’s words made Byron’s chest tighten uncomfortably. He felt a flicker of guilt, as if Zander was accusing him of having wronged Sylvia, of keeping her hidden away without recognition while Joanna got the public title.
“We’re divorced now, there’s nothing more to say,” Byron snapped dismissively. “Anyway, it’s impossible between you and Sylvia now. You’re my friend. She wouldn’t agree to it, it wouldn’t be right.”
Zander pinched the bridge of his nose, looking resigned. This was way more complicated than he’d bargained for.
He gripped the metal railing by the lake, staring out at the calm water for a long moment before letting out a sigh. “Okay,” he said quietly. “I get it. I know
what to do.”
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Chapter 56
Byron breathed a silent sigh of relief. The whole awkward situation boiled down to Zander not knowing his history with Sylvia. Now that it was out in the open, it would be fine.
The two men walked back together to where Felix and Sylvia were sitting.
Byron gave Zander a meaningful nudge. “Zander,” he prompted, “there’s something you need to make clear to your grandfather.”
Zander forced a smile, steeling himself to explain why it was impossible, but Felix beat him to it, beaming broadly. “Zander! Great news! Sylvia has agreed to try going out with you! Any objections from your end?”
Under Felix’s persistent urging, Sylvia had reluctantly agreed, mostly because she didn’t want to upset the old man. Her plan was to talk to Zander later and straighten things out privately.
Hearing his grandfather’s announcement, the words Zander had been about to say died on his lips. Heat rose in his cheeks, but he managed a smooth, almost imperceptible smile.
“Alright,” he said, his voice even. “If Sylvia’s willing to give it a try, then I have no objections.”
