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.
that
anything For the second time that night, Rachel heard the word “friend.” She pursed her lips and looked away. The first time that Rachel
hurt her badly. That was four
her feelings, bringing to naught any affection she would have for others. “Oh, I see,” Ameer said as he touched
Clara was Ameer’s cousin, then Roger would be, too. “Oh, he’s not here. He’s in Baltimore for a month now. There’s a project there that he needs to oversee,” Clara explained as she unwittingly looked
embarrassed for asking about Roger. He glanced at Rachel but found her
and see them
saw the disappointment in his eyes. Clara s eyes darkened. She seemed to know something but she was careful enough not
and so is Riley,” Clara said. “It would be a good idea to have a
said goodbye to Rachel, and hurriedly left. He was a bit confounded. Clara followed Ameer with her eyes and then looked
It seemed that she had no intention to
that Ameer had given Rachel. He was looking at Rachel the way Roger had at that time. Clara had no wish that there would be another one in the family who would like Rachel. Roger was
you’re back here?” Clara asked, changing the topic. “Four years have passed quickly and yet, much has changed.” Rachel turned around so
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