From Discarded Wife to Queen (Tyrone) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Don’t Tell Anyone

Tyrone’s protection made Zera feel safe.

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She tugged gently on his sleeve. “Tyrone, forget the shoes. Go find your wife and explain things to her.”

He stayed composed. “Raine’s with her. She’ll be fine. I’ll take you back to the hospital.”

He signaled to the clerk to wrap up the pair Zera had tried on, then led her out of the mall.

The driver–an old hand who’d been with the Winters for years–wiped at his brow when he saw Tyrone. “Mrs. Winter just ran out of here in tears,” he said carefully.

“Drive,” Tyrone replied flatly, opening the car door for Zera and helping her in.

Zera handed him a bottle of water. “Here, Tyrone.”

He didn’t take it.

She studied him from the corner of her eye. His expression was calm, but his gaze was distant, unfocused -like his mind had drifted miles away.

Zera cleared her throat softly. “Tyrone?”

He blinked, coming back to himself, and turned toward her.

Her eyes filled with unease. “Can you promise me something?” she whispered. “Please–don’t tell anyone about me or my son.”

Tyrone frowned. “What do you mean?”

Zera’s voice trembled. Her eyes reddened as she spoke. “Back then, your grandfather used you to threaten me. He forced me to leave, made me go overseas and marry someone else–so you’d give up on me.

“I never forgot you, Tyrone. But that marriage…” Her words cracked. “He hurt me. Constantly. He made me have a child I didn’t want. I fell into depression. Some days, I wanted to end it all–but I couldn’t leave my

son.”

Tyrone’s jaw tightened.

She kept going, her voice breaking. “Maybe fate finally took pity on me. About a year ago, he overdosed. Died. After that, my son and I were finally free.

“I was alone abroad. I missed home. I missed my parents. I missed you. So I brought my boy back quietly.

“But, Tyrone, I’m terrified. If your grandfather finds out, he’ll hurt us again. Please don’t tell your family

I’m back.”

Her words tumbled out faster now, frantic. “I don’t want to relive any of that. I don’t want people whispering behind our backs. Please–until I’m better, don’t say anything about my son’s past. Not to your family. Not to your wife. Promise me.”

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Zera’s emotions swung wildly–fear, sorrow, desperation. At one point, she even muttered about ending her life.

Tyrone’s chest tightened. He reached over and pulled her gently into his arms. “Zera, don’t talk like that. None of this is your fault–it’s mine. Everything that happened to you and your son… I’ll take responsibility. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

Hearing that, Zera burst into tears, then forced a trembling smile. “Thank you, Tyrone. I’ll get better soon. I won’t keep worrying you.”

Tyrone took her back to the hospital, stayed until she finished her lunch, then finally left for the office.

When he checked his phone, there were dozens of missed calls–from Raine, from his mother, from the rest of the family. After a moment’s hesitation, he called Raine back.

The second she answered, he said flatly, “Has Aella made enough of a scene yet?”

Raine’s voice came through choked and frantic. “Aella’s missing! Mom and I are still out looking for her!”

The line went dead.

Tyrone froze for a moment, then turned toward the window. He lit a cigarette, his face unreadable.

In his mind, those two women were probably teaming up to get his attention again.

A knock came at the door. Noel Frost, his assistant, stepped in. “Mr. Winter, will the two–thirty meeting start on time?”

Tyrone answered with a low grunt.

Noel had been with him for years. Under his boyish face was a sharp, disciplined man–calm in business, capable in a fight, and fiercely loyal. He was Tyrone’s right hand.

After work, Tyrone left on time.

The driver, who rarely spoke out of turn, asked carefully, “Mr. Winter, should I take you home… or to Ms. Caldwell’s?”

Tyrone hesitated, then said, “Home.”

For the first time that day, the driver smiled faintly.

Tyrone leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes.

He had planned to stay away for a few days, let Aella cool off. But after seeing her earlier, she’d probably gone home and smashed half the house by now. Maybe she’d gotten it out of her system. Maybe they could finally talk.

When he walked into the villa, the lights were on–but the place was empty.

Unbothered, he showered, changed into pajamas, and went to his study to work.

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Chapter 8 Don’t Tell Anyone

It wasn’t until after nine that Virginia and Raine showed up.

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Virginia had been searching for her daughter–in–law all day. She looked exhausted–her lips cracked, her expression frantic. When she saw Tyrone calmly reviewing documents like nothing had happened, she almost fainted from rage.

Tyrone looked up first. “Don’t worry, Mom. She’ll be fine.”

He knew Aella’s temper. Once, he’d forgotten her birthday by a day. She’d disappeared for hours–only for him to find her later, soaking in a bubble bath with a glass of wine and a spa masseuse by her side.

That was Aella. No matter how dramatic things got, she always landed on her feet.

Virginia’s fury boiled over. She grabbed a cup of water and flung it right in his face.

“Tyrone,” she cried, her voice shaking, “I raised you for thirty years. I was always proud of you. But now- now I see you’re just like your father. Cold. Heartless.”

Tyrone stayed composed. “Mom, that’s not fair.”

Tears filled Virginia’s eyes. “Aella is your wife. That girl has loved you since she was a child. And instead of fixing things, you give her the cold shoulder? Do you really want this marriage to end in divorce?”

“We won’t divorce,” Tyrone said evenly. “I know where the line is.”

Raine gave a bitter laugh. “Oh, right. You think just because Aella loves you, she’ll never walk away. But you forget the more someone loves you, the harder it is for them to forgive betrayal.”

“Watch your mouth,” Tyrone snapped.

Raine shut up, fuming.

Mother and daughter stormed out together.

Tyrone lit another cigarette and sat back in silence.

At three in the morning, he finally picked up his phone. “Noel,” he said, “don’t come into the office for the next few days. Go keep watch at the hospital. If my wife shows up, call me immediately.

“And don’t forget–my mother–in–law just had heart surgery. She needs rest. Don’t disturb her.”

On the other end, Noel blinked at the clock, stunned. Three in the morning. His boss really was sending him to stake out a hospital in the middle of the night.

Was this another sleepless Tyrone Winter episode?

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