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.
her eyebrows. She and Clara knew each other but not so much that they would be regarded as good friends. Actually, she and Clara were not even friends. They
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
when a man and a woman came to hurt her badly. That was four years
hurt again as she was hurt then. Moreover, Abby died at that time. Rachel had blamed herself for her death because she 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
in Baltimore for a month now. There’s
Rachel but found her showing no interest
parents should be here, right? I’ll go and see them since I
every movement of Rachel and saw the disappointment in his eyes. Clara s eyes darkened. She seemed to know something but she was careful enough not
would be a good
left. He was a bit confounded. Clara followed Ameer with her eyes and then looked at Rachel “Ameer seems to
that she had no intention to pursue the
at Rachel the way Roger
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
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