She tugged at Rachel’s shirt, slightly worried. “Rachel, let’s not talk to him so much.”

Rachel patted the back of Cecilia’s hand, reassuring her. She took Cecilia’s advice and ignored Howard. Provoking him wasn’t a wise thing to do, seeing how he was capable of anything.

Howard, on the other hand, refused to simply let it go. He looked smugly at Rachel. “Rachel, don’t get too full of yourself. I heard that Tyler’s trying to get his hands on the most popular lawyer in Yurelia City, who’s never lost a lawsuit in his entire career. I hate to break it to you, but my father beat him to it. Be prepared to lose the lawsuit! Don’t even think about begging me. I’ve lost all interest in you.”

To that, Rachel arched a brow disdainfully at him.

Howard sputtered, “Even if you stand naked in front of me, I wouldn’t want to touch you!”

Rachel told herself that it was pointless trying to talk sense into Howard, given the current situation. However, she couldn’t stand how arrogant that bastard was. His pride and arrogance would be unbridled if left unchecked.

Rachel finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Howard,” she sneered mockingly, “do you still think you’re a normal man, like you were before? I can’t believe you were fantasizing about me being naked. It doesn’t matter who’s standing naked before you—I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to get it up, no matter how hard you try.”

“Rachel!” Howard roared, his eyes wide and menacing. “Would I have become like this if it weren’t for you? I’m telling you–if I really become impotent, you’re coming down with me! You’ll be my slave for the rest of your life! I’ll torture you till the day you die!”

Howard’s bold claim made Rachel’s heart clench with fear. She was gripped by fear at the crazed look in Howard’s eyes. Others might feign insanity, but Howard was different. He might have really lost his mind! She didn’t doubt one bit that Howard was capable of doing what he claimed. Anything perverted and twisted was probably no big deal in his books.

“Who are you trying to torture?”

In the middle of Howard’s audacious display of arrogance, a low voice sounded from behind them.

Rachel’s heart fell with a thud as she looked in disbelief in the direction of the voice. A man stood a short distance away, dressed casually in a plain T-shirt. He was leaning on a cane, his face still wounded but handsome as usual. The overall look shaved the edge off his usual aggressive demeanor and made him feel a tad vulnerable. However, his deep, dark eyes remained sharp and incisive as usual.

It was hard looking straight into them.

Howard smiled wickedly at the sight of Tyler. “Tyler, why do you keep haunting me? You’re bent on protecting this woman, aren’t you?”

Tyler cast Howard a cold, demeaning gaze as he asked, “What else should I be doing? Protecting you instead of my own girlfriend?”

Howard’s face flushed red with anger at Tyler’s words. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. “Tyler, you still think you’re all that even at death’s door!”

Tyler always succeeded in upsetting his opponents and never allowed himself to get upset in a fight. He flicked a lock of hair away from his eyes, his tone piercing. “Of course, I do think I’m all that. I don’t know about you, though. I’d advise you to do more good deeds. For all you know, the heavens might give you a second chance if you’re repentant enough.”

“Damn you!”