Chapter 8

Josie's dresses were always clean, but this time, her skirt was covered with dust, and she was bleeding at the temple. She was trying to catch her breath when she spotted Tyler and Shane, and her eyes widened instantly.

It was the first time he had seen the aloof Josie look like a mess. She had sent her men to search for them when she realized they were missing after the accident, and she tracked them down quickly to the warehouse.

There was only a minute left before the bomb would go off, and there was only enough time to remove one person's bomb. Josie chose to save Shane without hesitation. She quickly removed Shane's bomb and did not even look up when she said, "I'm taking him outside first, Tyler. I'll come back for you right away."

Tyler laughed. He must have stopped loving Josie because his heart no longer ached.

Only 20 seconds were left after Shane's bomb was removed. Shane hung tightly onto Josie's arm. He was trembling so badly that he could hardly speak. "We have to go, Josie! The bomb is about to go off!"

Josie pushed him away for the first time. She told him to get out of the warehouse immediately before turning to help Tyler remove his bomb. However, Tyler grabbed her hand and pushed her away.

He said calmly, "Take him with you, Josie. Just remember that from today onward, I no longer need you. It's none of your business whether I live or die. Plenty of people love me even if you don't, Josie."

Josie was taken aback.

Shane broke down and kept crying. "I'm really scared, Josie! If you don't go, I'll stay here too!"

The bomb was about to go off as the clock continued ticking. If they did not leave now, all three of them would die. At a critical juncture, Josie pulled Shane with her, and they dashed out of the warehouse.

Tyler closed his eyes as he quickly felt around the bomb with his fingers. He had taken blasting courses back in university, and he soon heard a clack. Tyler had successfully defused the bomb at the very last second.

However, the bomb still exploded, and he was thrown into the air by the heat wave. He saw Josie turning back for him while in a daze.

…

Tyler was in the hospital when he opened his eyes, and he felt an intense pain in his arm. Josie was sitting by his bed, and when she saw that he had woken up, she quickly pressed him down. "Don't move. You've just gone through skin-grafting surgery for Shane."

"What did you just say?!"

Tyler thought he had misheard what Josie said.

Josie was silent for a while before saying guiltily, "Shane's arm was burned in the explosion. He didn't want his arm scarred, and your skin color was closest to his, so we took some of yours for Shane."

Tyler looked at Josie in disbelief. "Did you ask for my permission, Josie?"

She tried to comfort him, saying, "I'll make it up to you. Haven't you always wanted to go on a date with me? After you get discharged…"

"Who cares?!" Tyler pulled the IV drip needle out of his hand, and blood started dripping from the wound. "You can't do this to me!"

She was taken aback.

"Shane is precious to you, so that would mean I'm dirt to you, right?" Tyler's eyes turned red, and his voice was trembling. "Just because I love you, you… You…"

He could not continue.

Josie felt bad, and she suddenly remembered what Tyler said in the warehouse. "Plenty of people love me even if you don't."

She was about to say something when her phone started ringing. Her assistant's anxious voice was heard on the other end of the call. "Ms. Sinclair, Mr. Sinclair wants the limited edition jeweled cufflink that belonged to the prince. It will be auctioned at Firzen tonight. Do you want to fly there…"

Josie replied with an affirmative answer before hanging up.

She paused a moment before continuing her conversation with Tyler, "Don't worry. I'll keep my promise about going on a date with you."

She left quickly after that.

When the door closed, Tyler could no longer hold back. He curled into a ball and hugged himself as he started sobbing.