At that moment, Angel couldn't help but fix her gaze on Arthur. Her lips parted slightly, as if she were about to speak, but the words faltered and never made it out.
Instead, she let out a soft sigh, finally murmuring, "Whatever happened… it's a long story. I'll explain it to you later."
Her mind, however, was far from quiet. Arthur's words echoed in her head.
Was Tryson really someone like that?
She tried to reason it out, searching for possible justifications that could defend Tryson.
From what she knew, he was a man consumed by his work—a tireless figure dedicated to his company, passionate about every aspect of it.
Tryson had always come across as competent, meticulous, and corporate to the core.
But if Arthur was right and his company had once gone bankrupt because of Tryson… then there had to be more to the story.
Didn't there?
With a heavy heart and a thousand unanswered questions swirling in her mind, Angel walked back to the car.
As she slipped inside, she tossed the bouquet of flowers onto the backseat. The cabin quickly filled with a tense, deafening silence.
Tryson reached for the ignition, ready to start the car, when Angel's soft yet weighted voice broke the stillness.
"Are you always like this?"
Her words hung in the air, and Tryson froze mid-movement. He turned to face her, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"I beg your pardon?" he asked, his voice cautious.
"Arthur. You know him, don't you?" Angel asked again, this time more heavily.
She watched Tryson's brow arch, his demeanor shifting as he leaned back slightly. "Why would you ask me that? He's a business tycoon—of course I know who he is. Everyone does," he replied flatly.
Angel shook her head, her tone sharpening.
"No, Tryson. That's not what I mean. Have you ever worked with him? Partnered with him on a project?"
Her eyes didn't miss the flicker of unease that crossed Tryson's face.
His jaw tightened, and his grip on the steering wheel grew firm. His gaze darkened, the calm exterior cracking just slightly.
"Tryson, I need you to tell me," Angel pressed, her voice unwavering.
"Can we talk about this later?" he muttered, his tone low, almost pleading.
"No, Tryson. No!" Angel's voice rose, sharp and resolute. "I don't want you telling me later. I want the truth now! I need to hear everything from you because I'm completely lost. Why are you making me your pawn? You've always wanted Riley in your life, and I let you have that. Why can't you let me be with the man I want? Why can't you just tell me the whole truth?"
"Because I can't let you go, okay?" Tryson's voice exploded, raw and unguarded.
Angel froze, her eyes widening in shock. The suddenness of his outburst left her momentarily speechless, her breath catching as she stared at him in disbelief.
"What are you even talking about?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion. "You can't let me go? You're the one who pushed me into this life, Tryson! You're the one who made your choices, and now you're pulling me back? You know Arthur—don't pretend you don't! And yet here you are, still trying to keep me tied to you. Still wanting me to be your girlfriend!"
Her words struck like lightning, and for a moment, Tryson's hardened expression faltered. His shoulders slumped slightly, the fire in his eyes dimming.
"Angel, please," he said, his tone softening. "Calm down. Remember… the baby."
He reached for her, but Angel's hand shot up, stopping him cold.
"If I have to remind you," she hissed, her voice icy and steady, "this is my baby. Arthur's baby. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep my child safe. That means staying as far away from someone like you as possible."
Her words landed with a finality that made Tryson flinch.
Without another word, Angel opened the car door and stepped out.
"Angel!" Tryson called after her, his voice tinged with desperation.
He scrambled out of the car, quickly catching up to her. Before she could take another step, he blocked her path, his imposing frame towering in front of her.
"Angel, you're not going anywhere," he said, his voice low but firm.
Angel stared at Tryson in sheer disbelief, her eyes wide with incredulity. "So now you're going to tell me where I can and can't go?" she said, her voice laced with scorn.
"Listen, Angel," Tryson began, his tone steady but pleading. "Say whatever you want, but you need to understand something. You're carrying a child—your child. I don't care if it's Arthur's; I just want to make sure you're safe. I can't bear the thought of losing you."
"Why, Tryson?" Angel's voice softened as she looked at him, her gaze piercing.
Her question hung in the air, a challenge that made Tryson hesitate. Their eyes locked, and for a fleeting moment, she saw the hesitation in him—the way his jaw tightened, the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
He was faltering.
Words seemed to fail him, and Angel couldn't help but let out a bitter smirk.
The realization hit her like a cold wave—she was just a pawn in this ridiculous game. Whatever his motives were, only he and God knew what he was trying to achieve.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" she said, her voice cold but quiet, her disappointment evident.
She took a step back, crossing her arms as her expression hardened.
"Fine. Let's get straight to it. Why did you play me like this? Wasn't it your idea to pull me into your life in the first place? And why, after everything, did you drag me back? I need answers, Tryson. I need them now."
Her words were sharp, cutting through the tense air like a blade.
Tryson opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His silence only fueled her frustration.
Angel shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and began walking away.
Tryson didn't move, rooted to the spot, watching her leave with a mix of regret and helplessness.
She flagged down a cab at the edge of the street. As she stepped inside, she cast one last glance at Tryson.
He stood there, frozen, his expression unreadable. And just like that, the cab pulled away, taking Angel home.