Chapter 157: The deal
Rylee flinched, unable to meet Dylan’s piercing glare, feeling a twinge in his heart. Dylan was right. It was indeed him who wanted to leave.
His voice cracked slightly as he confessed, "Yes, I decided to quit. I was tired—tired of living under constant threats, of drowning in my shame. Every time I faced you, I felt guilty. I couldn’t bear it anymore. So I resigned and went far away from there where you couldn’t reach me – at least, that’s what I thought."
"You ran away like a coward," Dylan grunted, baring his teeth. "Instead of standing your ground and helping me expose Erica, you chose to hide."
"Exposing Erica?" Rylee scoffed, his tone full of contempt. "Are you kidding me now? "You adored her! You placed her above everyone, even your wife. I witnessed countless occasions where you scolded Ava, defending Erica without even hearing the full story. She bullied Ava right under your nose, and you never cared to find the truth. Instead, you blamed Ava. Why would I believe you’d take my side against her?"
Dylan opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out. Each word Rylee spoke was a painful truth he couldn’t deny. His chest tightened as memories of his blind trust in Erica flooded back—every time he had dismissed Ava, every time he’d turned a blind eye to Erica’s manipulations.
He realized it was his mistake. He was responsible for all the mess in his life.
"I thought leaving the country was my only option," Rylee continued regretfully. "I know I failed you, and I won’t make excuses. I’m ready to face whatever punishment you deem fit. Just... please, don’t hurt my family. They had nothing to do with this."
Dylan silently stared at him, his mind whirling. After some time, he stated solemnly, "I’ll let you leave, but only on one condition."
Rylee’s face was a mix of hope and apprehension as he looked up at him.
"Help me bring Erica to justice," Dylan stated sternly. "I want her behind bars for everything she has done. If you cooperate, I’ll make sure your family is safe, and you’ll have a chance to start over."
Rylee nodded solemnly. "I’ll do it. I’ll help you. It’s the least I can do to make up for my mistakes."