He should feel relieved.
He thought he'd feel relieved with her finally gone yet he felt anything but.
The woman he'd been forced to marry two years ago, the source of many frustrations, was finally gone, and the mansion now felt cold and empty.
He should be breathing a sigh of relief right now yeah but what was this weird feeling?
Why does the mansion suddenly have this empty, cold vibe to it?
“Hey Ty, didn't get Champagne from the wine stand, I think it's out of stock, I got this instead”
Julie, Tyler's 'sweetheart’ and new secretary, was all smiles as she approached him in the living room, raising a bottle of Prosecco, the popular Italian sparkling wine and two wine glasses.
She was a vibrant blondie with a naughty sparkle in her eye. The type of girl who made heads turn wherever she went, with her pixie-like features, slim figure, and sharp wit that frequently left him struggling to keep up.
“Let’s toast to freedom!” She said as she poured wine in the two glasses and lifted them both, extending one towards Tyler.
Tyler forced a warm smile on as he took the glass from her, trying as much as he could to hide the conflicting feelings going on in his head.
“Yeah, let's toast” He let out. It was the second time he had spoken to Julie asides welcoming her since she arrived about thirty minutes ago.
Julie raised her gaze to meet Tyler, in an attempt to toast when she noticed his demeanor.
“Hey, what's wrong? Why \` you cold?” She asked, her brows furrowed.
“Cold? Me? Nah” Tyler said, expanding his fake smile. “I'm the happiest I've been in a while” These words sounded so bitter on his lips.. what a big fat lie!
Julie rolled her eyes, “I'm glad to hear that baby.” She said, rubbing his neat, fresh chin. “Shall we toast now?”
“Sure” Tyler said, raising his wine glass.
“To freedom, to happiness, to many more years together” Julie said, as their glasses met.
Tyler's stomach churned somehow at the last toast, many more years together?
“Cheers” He said, trying to distract himself from the thoughts that threatened to take over his kind as he collapsed on the two seater sofa close to him while taking a quick sip from the wine glass.
Julie also took a sip and sat down beside him, her legs crossed.
"So, you finally let her go, huh?" She started,her voice was full with satisfaction but she hid it. "I thought you were all about the ‘she doesn't deserve it’ thing,"
She demonstrated the air quotes sign.
"Well," Tyler murmured, frustratedly raking his hand through his hair and inhaling sharply. "It's not like I had any choice... I got evidence. Sam was really cheating on me."
Julie made sure she wore her pretense mask well,, her brow arched in a flawless display of innocent interest.
"You got evidence?" she asked, her voice tinted with alarm. "What kind of evidence?"
Tyler glanced at Julie with something like fatigue in his eyes.
"Are you serious?" He paused, “Julie, you know exactly what I am talking about. The photos of Sam and that guy from the art gallery. I can't believe she was cheatin' on me the whole time!"
Julie looked at him with a feinged soft face and kind eyes, understandin' his pain.
She leaned in closer, her fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from his brow for just a moment longer than necessary.
"I'm sorry, Ty," she said softly, her tone almost tender. "I just wanted to be sure we were on the same page. But remember when I told you not to trust her?”
Tyler forced a smile, but his eyes revealed the turmoil within.. Where did this feeling of being hurt come from?
He's probably overthinking this.. he shouldn't be feeling this. Samantha was nothing and will never be anything to him!
"So, now that she's gone, will you be less guilty about what happened in London now?"
Julie's voice jerked him back to the present.
He swallowed hard, his fingers twitching as he tried to find the proper words.
The recollection of their time in London, and the lines they had crossed, hung thick in the air.
“Yeah... I guess,” he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.
Julie paused for some secs before she finally said,
“How about we watch some TV?” her voice light and breezy.
The conversation was beginning to center too much on Samantha that b!tch and it wasn't sitting well with her.
Tyler nodded in agreement, thankful for the distraction.
As they nestled up on the sofa, the TV flickered on, the news anchor’s voice suddenly filling the room.
"Breaking news: Samantha Blake, the wife of prominent entrepreneur Tyler Wills, has been involved in a horrific fatal accident. It is not yet known whether she is alive..."
Tyler's heart stopped.
What was..??
His pulse began to race, a cold sweat breaking out over his forehead.
His fists gripped hard, knuckles white as he looked back at the TV, unblinking, as if wanting the words to change.
Samantha dead? No, it can't be.. How could it have happened? She left just a few hours ago!
Tyler could hardly hear the news anchor as he continued to explain the accident.
Anger, regret, fear, and a surprising feeling of loss fought inside him, leaving him raw and vulnerable.
Was this his fault? Samantha had better not be dead.. no she had better not be dead.
Panic rushed through his chest, felt like a flood that threatened to drown him.
Without thinking, he leaped up, grabbed his car keys from the stool beside the sofa he was seated on and advanced towards the entrance.
"Tyler, wait!" Julie yelled after him, her voice filled with anxiety.
But he was already out on the compound, the car engine jerked to life and disappeared into the background.
Julie stood at the entrance, watching in the direction Tyler's car disappeared, the noise of the engine fading into the distance.
She let out a deep, frustrated breath as she ran her hands through her blonde hair.
Really? He left me here without even a word?? She thought within herself.
‘Okay, have fun, lover boy.’ She muttered, a weird smirk playing on her lips as he returned inside.
The TV was still showing the news of Samantha's accident.
Her phone suddenly vibrated, flashing HIM on the screen. She licked her lower lips as a small smile came on her phone when she saw the caller ID.
She picked it up and responded with measured calmness.
"Yes?"
"The job is done," said the clear and deep voice.
Julie curved her lips into a wicked sneer as her eyes twinkled.
"Perfect.." She mumbled, the wicked smirk still playing on her lips.