Chapter 187 It's A Small World
Chapter 187 It's A Small World
Awestruck, Rachel realized that the man standing in front of her was her friend Albert, who still looked
as pure and innocent as he did back when they had first met.
However, when she noticed Albert standing beside Mandy, she felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.
A feeling so strong and intense that stirred up an uncomfortable feeling in her.
"Rachel?" Albert exclaimed in astonishment, not having seen her in a long time.
"You know each other?" Mandy looked at both Albert and Rachel, then said awkwardly, "The university
I went to is near Albert's university. We met each other at a party."
Rachel took a step forward to look at Mandy and Albert, and said, "Albert, it's been a long time. Well,
it's a small world indeed!"
Mandy smiled back awkwardly. She coughed gently, to break the awkward silence, then turned around
and walked towards Nico to help him.
Nico, who had just finished his blood test, walked over to Rachel and Fannie.
"Fannie, your injury hasn't fully recovered yet. You shouldn't have taken the trouble to come here.
Thank you very much!" Nico said with an honest smile, as the eyes on his tanned face lit up.
Although Fannie's legs hadn't fully recovered yet, she was still in a better physical situation than Nico.
She went over to Nico and held his arms to support his body, and then walked him to the seating area
in front of them.
Meanwhile, Mandy grabbed Rachel's arm, dragged her to a corner and whispered, "Rachel, I was
wrong. I've realized my mistakes. That's why I don't even dare to show up in front of you any more after
Mr. Rong warned me.
But, please don't tell Albert about my past, okay?"
Surprised by Mandy's request, Rachel asked, "Mandy, is Albert your boyfriend?"
In truth, Rachel would feel sorry for Albert if Mandy was his girlfriend.
It was such a pity that an innocent man like Albert would end up becoming the boyfriend of the
infamous Mandy.
"Not yet. But Rachel, I love him so much. Please don't tell him about my past, okay?" Mandy pleaded,
as she looked at Rachel with puppy dog eyes.
Rachel sighed, puzzled at what to do about the matter. However, when she saw the imploring eyes of
Mandy, she decided to keep her secret and nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Rachel! I know I was very immature and childish back then, but I have changed. All I want
now is for my father to recover quickly and to find myself a good boyfriend to get married to instead of
following the same old path again."
Mandy assured Rachel.
Later, Mandy took Nico to see the specialist.
Meanwhile in a corridor outside the hospital, Rachel walked side by side with Albert.
"Albert, how have you been lately? Is everything all right?" Rachel asked.
"Rachel, I wanted to ask you the same question. When I asked my uncle about you, he scolded me
and told me to mind my own business, " complained Albert.
Rachel smiled at Albert's words and replied, "As you can see, I am standing right in front of you, safe
and sound."
"Yes, later I found out that you came back safe and sound. I am really happy for you. I'm sure Hiram
must have had his own reasons to make that decision. Everybody is talking about him now. This matter
has greatly damaged the reputation of the Streams Company, "
Said Albert, as they walked towards the end of the corridor, where a staircase led to the hospital
garden downstairs.
"The richer you are, the more enemies you have. Hiram's family is the biggest and richest family in H
city. Therefore, such reactions from people should have been expected, " added Albert.
Rachel took a look at Albert and replied, "I didn't expect you'd be so interested and well-informed on
this matter.
Streams Company is Hiram's concern. After all, he started all of this. Anyway, let's talk about you. Are
you and Mandy in a relationship?"
"Nothing has happened between us yet. We accidentally met at a party. Later, when her father got sick,
she came to me for help, " Albert said, as he walked down the stairs.
"Oh, I see, and since you are such a kind man, you didn't refuse her, right?" Rachel smiled.
"No, I didn't. You are right. It was no trouble for me. Besides, her father's life was on the line." Albert
replied to Rachel, smiling innocently.
Rachel turned her sights to the green plants on both sides of the garden path. She took a deep breath
and said, "Albert, I want to tell you something.
Mandy isn't the right person for you..."
Albert looked puzzled for a few seconds. Soon after he finally understood what Rachel had meant, he
looked back at her with a smile and replied, "I know that she is a woman of easy virtue. My friends
once told me that she had a bad reputation.
I just want to help her father. Nothing else."
Albert's words gave Rachel the confidence to breathe a sigh of relief.
Although Rachel had promised Mandy not to tell Albert about her past, she felt obligated to at least try
and warn Albert since they had been friends for a long time.
"It's all good. Actually, Mandy's not such a bad person. She just lacked parental control when she was
young. Thank you for helping her!" said Rachel.
"Well, I am only doing what I have been trained to do. There's no need to thank me. I would have done
the same for anyone else.
Oh, I heard that you and Hiram are going to the charity auction this Sunday, is that true?"
Albert asked.
Rachel's face suddenly dimmed as she replied, "Yes, my mother-in-law personally invited me, and I
agreed."
"But, are you ready for it? All the reporters from the major media outlets will be at the charity auction.
Can you imagine what you will face when you show up at the auction?" Albert asked with concern.
Rachel walked inside the garden and knelt down. Then, she stared at a withered flower on the ground
and said, "I know. There's a great risk of my identity getting exposed. Who knows, maybe there will be
bigger problems for me to face. I am certain that someone will ask me how I feel about the kidnapping
incident."
"Then, are you ready?" Albert asked again with concern.
Rachel plucked a red petal from the withered flower, and then stared at it. The edge of the petal had Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.
become yellow and curled up. Rachel suddenly realized that Autumn, the season of loneliness, had
come.
There was time when no one knew who she was. She could do anything she wanted to without ever
worrying about her personal image. However, if her identity as Hiram's wife were to get exposed, she
would have to carry the burden of that title for the rest of her life.
"Ready or not, I will have to face my problems eventually. When we were at school, we used to have
multiple correct answers to one question. But now, we only have one correct answer.
However, there's also a good side to this. At school, I'd have to choose the correct answers all by
myself. But now, I have someone in my life to help me choose the correct answer. Maybe, that's why
they say, 'What you lose on the swings, you make up for on the roundabouts'."
Rachel said, as she stood up and dropped the petal on the ground.
"Yes, you are right. At least, you have Hiram on your side, "
Albert comforted, realizing that no one apart from Hiram deserved someone as virtuous as Rachel.
Hiram, who Albert thought very highly of, finally found the perfect person to share the rest of his life
with.
At that moment, Albert felt envious of Hiram.
In truth, Albert was envious of the love they had for each other. The kind of love with which the wife and
the husband could face the difficulties of life together.
Fannie had been crying on their way back from the hospital.
"Mom, what's going on?" Rachel asked, giving Fannie a piece of tissue to wipe away her tears.
Fannie wiped her tears and then replied, "Nico has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and the cancer
cells have transferred to some of the other organs. I am afraid that he won't live long..."
The news had come to Rachel as a shock. She sighed helplessly, and hugged her mother, "Mom don't
think about it too much! We all have to face death someday. The most important thing for us is to
cherish the present."
"Death is no longer a big deal to me. I like to think of death as my chance to reunite with your late
father. But I won't be able to rest in peace if I die before I see my grandson or granddaughter." After all
that, Rachel finally understood the true motive behind Fannie's words.
Feeling embarrassed, Rachel let go of her and said, "Mom, I'll go and check out what we will eat for
dinner. Hiram just called me, and said that he will be home for dinner later."
"You always avoid having this talk with me. Why are you so shy? You are already in your late twenties."
Fannie shook her head and complained, as Rachel got out of the room hastily.
At dinner time, Hiram came back in advance without telling them.
Rachel was still helping her mother set up the table. Just as she placed a dish on the table, someone
surprised her with a hug from behind.
"Rachel, did you miss me?"