Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 347

Tyler drifted past rows of plush toys, letting his gaze wander until it landed on an oversized, floppy-eared dog. The thing looked ridiculously soft—clearly the sort of stuffed animal you could lose yourself in.

He reached out for it, only for someone else’s hand to snatch it up first.

Looking up, Tyler found himself face-to-face with Theodore, who was already grinning as he hoisted the toy.

It seemed Theodore had only just noticed him. He nodded in greeting, his smile easy. “Tyler! Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Tyler nodded back, mind flickering to the gossip Owen had shared earlier.

Theodore, apparently, had been pursuing some mysterious woman lately. The very day he’d topped the “most notorious heartbreaker” list, rumors had started flying about him dating this woman.

But Theodore didn’t seem the least bit interested in Tyler’s thoughts. He glanced around, then spotted something behind Tyler. “Excuse me, mind if I squeeze by?”

Tyler stepped aside, snapping out of his thoughts. He watched as Theodore picked up a floppy-eared dog hat to match the plush.

“Word is you’re chasing after a woman these days,” Tyler said, the words slipping out almost involuntarily.

Theodore adjusted his haul, smile never faltering. “Yeah. Her little girl loves this stuff. She’s adorable.”

“Is it worth it?” Tyler’s gaze was steady, searching Theodore’s face.

They both understood what Tyler meant.

With Theodore’s background, he could easily find someone who’d never been married—a woman without any baggage. Instead, he was going after someone divorced, someone with a child. Taking on another man’s kid.

“I care about her,” Theodore said after a brief pause, his tone suddenly earnest. “I want her so badly I can’t think straight. She’s all I think about, day and night, can’t sleep, can’t eat.”

He hesitated, then added, “But she’s married—or, she was. Her heart’s always been full of someone else.”

He shrugged, but the smile didn’t disappear. “That’s alright. I can wait. I’ve waited a long, long time. I’ve been lurking in the shadows, watching her, biding my time. And finally, I got my chance.”

He’d wanted to buy that for Bella.

Was Theodore talking about the same little girl—one who liked floppy-eared dogs too?

He shot Theodore a curious look, but Theodore was already looking down at his phone, as if something fascinating had caught his attention.

He angled the screen so Tyler could see.

An entertainment headline blared across the display: #EmiliaVivienne, The Bet#

Parker had sent them that betting agreement ages ago—now, it was trending everywhere. Emilia’s name had been blurred out in the leaked screenshot, but Vivienne’s was front and center.

The gist? If Vivienne could outshine Emilia, she’d officially be accepted into the Erickson family.

The internet, naturally, was losing its mind.