Elegance defined the woman. Her long hair was combed back and styled into a chignon. A diamond hairpin held the hair knot in place. A pair of delicate pearl earrings underscored her gentle face and the matching necklace accentuated the royal blue cheongsam that wrapped her curvaceous figure. Rachel immediately recognized the woman. It had been four years since she last saw her, yet she hadn’t changed. She looked gentler than she was in her white gown back then. “Dr. Jimenez, it’s been a long time since we last saw each other,” Rachel said. Clara had seen Rachel from a distance. She just wasn’t sure it was her. And now, standing in front of her, Clara stood transfixed.
A few days ago, Clara had heard that Rachel was still alive. Still, it felt surreal seeing Rachel with her own eyes.
“Cousin,” Ameer addressed her politely. Rachel raised her eyebrows, surprised. Clara was Ameer’s cousin?
“Ameer’s mother and my mother are sisters,” Clara explained when she noticed Rachel’s confused look. “Clara, do you know Miss Bennet?” Ameer threw an inquiring look at Clara and then turned his eyes to Rachel.
friends.” Rachel furrowed her eyebrows. She and Clara knew each other but not so much that they
Rachel’s puzzled look. But when they caught each other’s eyes, they smiled without explaining anything For the second time that night, Rachel heard the word “friend.” She pursed her lips and looked away. The first time that Rachel heard the word was from Carson. It didn’t make her feel uncomfortable. Carson was a
that she was transported back to a time when a man and a woman came to hurt her badly. That was
not able to protect her. Since then, she had suppressed her feelings, bringing to naught any affection she would have for others. “Oh, I see,” Ameer said as he touched the tip of his nose. Thinking of what he hadn’t said to Rachel, he felt his face flush. And now that Clara was here, the more he couldn’t say what he wanted to
then Roger would be, too. “Oh, he’s not here. He’s in Baltimore for a month now. There’s a
Ameer felt embarrassed for asking about Roger. He glanced at Rachel but found her showing no interest
go and see them since I haven’t seen them
Clara s eyes darkened. She seemed to know something
would be a good idea to have a good chat with
confounded. Clara followed Ameer with her eyes and
shrugged her shoulders. It seemed that she had no intention to
look that Ameer had given Rachel. He was looking at Rachel the way Roger had at that time. Clara had no wish that there
quickly and yet, much has changed.” Rachel turned around so that she could rest an elbow on the railing. Looking down, she said, “Oh, I heard that you’re now the vice director. Congratulations!”
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