CHAPTER 92

CHAPTER 92
Tyler’s POV

I lingered near the supply room, tucked just out of sight. From here, I had the perfect vantage point when Dominic approached Claire and asked to speak with her privately.

Her voice trembled just a bit when she agreed, nerves radiating off her like heat. That kind of vulnerability was beautiful.

I followed quietly, close enough to hear but far enough to remain unseen. They stepped into a dim hallway, the overhead light flickering just enough to cast their figures in sharp, fractured shadows.

Dominic’s voice carried, calm and precise like a man trying very hard to keep control.

“Claire, I need to be very clear about something,” he said, his tone even, measured. “My life with Ethan is my priority. My commitment is to him.”

I bit back a grin, leaning against the wall, savoring the words. Dominic thought he was ending this before it began. Instead, he’d just handed me a weapon.

See, to someone like Claire who was lonely, idealistic, hungry for connection that kind of firm rejection doesn’t read as final. It reads as restraint. It whispers I want you, but I can’t.

Dominic wasn’t closing a door tonight. He was leaving it cracked just enough for her to imagine what might be on the other side.

When he finally walked away, his back rigid, Claire stayed behind. I watched her from the shadows, her shoulders shaking, her hands trembling at her sides. Even without seeing her face, I could feel the storm of emotions she was drowning in: humiliation, desire, confusion.

I didn’t need to say a single word. Dominic had done the heavy lifting for me. Later that evening, I shifted my focus to Ethan.

Dominic was still at the clinic, buried in paperwork, which gave me the perfect window. I stopped by Ethan’s apartment carrying two cups of takeaway coffee, my knock soft and friendly.

“Ethan?” I called through the door, letting just the right amount of warmth touch my voice. “Hey, it’s me.”

The door swung open, and Ethan stood there looking like he hadn’t slept in days. His hair was a mess, his shoulders slumped.

“Rough night?” I asked, concern painting my face.

He let out a bitter laugh, one that sounded more like defeat than humor. “You have no idea.”

I followed him inside, setting the coffee on the counter like an offering. “Thought you might need a little caffeine therapy. You look like you’ve been stuck in your own head all day.”

Ethan gave me a faint smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I stayed quiet, sitting back in one of the kitchen chairs. Silence was my favorite weapon. Given enough space, people will always reveal more than they should.

Finally, Ethan exhaled sharply, breaking the quiet. “It’s Dominic,” he said, his voice strained. “He’s been… distant. Secretive.” His gaze dropped to the floor. “And then there’s Claire.”

I tilted my head, making my expression curious but not prying. “What about Claire?”

Ethan hesitated, then ran a hand through his hair. “At dinner last night, she… I don’t know. The way she was looking at him. It wasn’t just friendly.” His jaw tightened. “And Dominic… he seemed tense, like he didn’t know how to handle it.”

I let a thoughtful silence stretch, letting Ethan stew in it. Then, softly, carefully, I asked, “You don’t think Dominic would actually cheat, do you?”

Ethan’s head shot up at the word, his reaction immediate and visceral.

“No,” he said quickly. “Not physically. Dominic’s not like that.”

I gave him a slow, almost reluctant nod. “No, I didn’t think so.” I let a beat pass. “But… emotionally?” I didn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t have to. The implication hung between us, heavy and poisonous.

Ethan swallowed hard, looking away. “Sometimes… sometimes I think he’s slipping away from me.”

“Listen,” I said gently, my voice like velvet. “You’re not imagining things. I’ve seen the way Claire looks at Dominic too.”

“Dominic’s only human,” I continued. “Even the strongest relationships can get… complicated when someone new comes into the picture. Maybe he’s not sure how to tell you what he’s feeling. Maybe he’s trying to protect you by staying quiet.”

“You’ve been through so much together,” I added, my tone soothing. “But sometimes… sometimes people feel one thing and say another.”

Ethan’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to lose him.”

“You won’t,” I promised quickly, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Dominic cares about you. Just… keep your eyes open. That’s all I’m saying.”

I let the moment linger, then pulled back, standing smoothly.

Ethan stared at his coffee like it held all the answers, completely unaware that I’d just shifted his entire perspective.

When I left the apartment, I didn’t look back. I didn’t need to.

By the time Dominic returned home, Ethan would already be turning over every interaction, every glance, every silence between him and Claire.

Claire, meanwhile, would still be obsessing over Dominic’s “confession,” twisting his words into some forbidden love story.

Dominic would be stuck between them, trying to keep the peace while unwittingly fueling both narratives.

Two fires. One burning with desire, the other with fear. Both of them sparked and fanned by me.

The night air was cool as I walked down the street, hands in my pockets. Streetlights cast long pools of shadow across the pavement. This wasn’t chaos. It was control. Claire wanted Dominic, convinced he secretly wanted her back.

Ethan feared losing Dominic, convinced Claire was the wedge driving them apart. Dominic was scrambling to hold it all together, never realizing he was feeding the flames.

I was the invisible hand guiding every move. The trusted friend. The harmless bystander. The one no one would ever suspect. I smiled to myself, a sharp, cold thing.

Soon, Dominic and Ethan’s relationship would splinter. Claire would cling to Dominic, desperate to save him. Ethan would spiral, isolated and doubting, until he came to me for comfort.

Exactly as I’d planned. The pieces were all in place. Now, I just had to keep nudging them until the whole board toppled.