Stuck in you

Eric was suspicious when he heard that Jack and Rachel were going to be living together.

He put the rag down and grabbed Rachel's hand, leading her to the balcony.

Mendes, being a child, didn't know what was happening. This seemingly secret conference confused and intrigued him.

His interest grew when he saw Eric suddenly pulling Rachel into the balcony.

As much as he was curious, he was nervous, too. He promptly followed them and asked anxiously, "Where are you going?"

Rachel patted Eric on the arm, a signal for him to wait. She stopped walking and turned around. "We just need to talk. Can you stay here while we do that? We won't be long."

Mendes frowned and asked, "Can't I come with you?"

It was difficult to refuse the request of a child who was as cute as a bun, but Rachel immediately responded, "No."

Eric felt sorry for the little boy. He had thought that she would let Mendes come. He was only a child, after all.

"Stay here and wait for me, okay? We just have to talk for a bit in the balcony, and I'll be back before you know it." Although Rachel had not given in to the boy's request, she continued to talk to him patiently.

He was too young to understand what she meant. Even so, he didn't like that she was acting so secretive.

He only wanted to be part of things.

Mendes looked at Eric and then at Rachel as the two were about to leave. Pouting, he said reluctantly, "Okay, you go ahead."

Rachel was amused by the fact that the child was clearly hurt. "Be a good boy and wait for me. It'll only be a moment, sweetie."

Mendes looked at her with a hint of reluctance in his eyes. It could be difficult at times to convince a little child, but although he pouted, at least he was reasonable.

Lowering his voice, Eric asked, "How long will he be staying here?"

"Someone's picking him up tomorrow night." Lucas had already returned, and he had called Rachel earlier to let her know that he was going to pick up Mendes the following night.

Although she liked Mendes, Rachel no longer wished for him to stay any longer than he was scheduled to.

Honestly, if anything happened to the child, it would be difficult to explain things to his parents.

They hadn't shown up so far, though.

When Eric heard her response, he blurted out, "So let me get this straight. You will be left alone with Jack then?"

"Yes..."

you two living together all of a sudden?" Eric was agitated now. "Jack is playing you for a

to worry too

Are you kidding me? What's going on?" Eric

it difficult to explain the details to him. She had learned that sometimes, it was better not

everyone's eyes on them all the

Rachel simply told him that she and Jack were going

did not, however, tell him exactly when everything would be

bad news just kept piling on. "Rachel! Think it over! It's not safe to live alone

So, are you going to move in with us

You mean live with you and Jack? Be in

no room for me here. I don't think

plastered on Rachel's face. "There's a study downstairs. I think you would

struggled to come up with a response. He would never want to live with the man who almost cut his hand and threatened

he knew that Jack had done what he had done because

married Rachel and then treated her poorly

he was not as powerful as Jack was, had planned to bring his brother-in-law down in a cunning, less obvious way, but failed. Along the

had somehow brought this upon himself, he had not meant to in

could continue to talk about Jack behind his back, but he was afraid to be

has cost you? You don't want to be throwing away that kind of money. Besides, this place is too far

said what she was thinking. "You're afraid

silence, Eric nodded,

he disapproved of Rachel living with that monster. He said, "I find it strange, though, how

the deal. Instead, she patted him on the shoulder and said vaguely, "It's just for

she did not want to divulge too much. Wrapping up the conversation, she said, "That's it. In the coming months,

Eric kept silent.

of them turned their

had already made up her mind, there

telling him too much. She wanted to avoid the shock and embarrassment of him popping

to tell him about it now than to have to explain it to him

did not forget to inquire about the discussion. "What were you whispering about?" the boy asked, his eyes

"It's a secret. Shush."

His

grew, it seemed. When Lucas called, Mendes took the phone with

time, Lucas finally understood. He said, amused, "Okay, okay. We'll talk again

Yeah! Yeah!" Mendes exclaimed in agreement as he nodded

studied the little boy. Confused, he asked, "Rachel, whose child

preparing dinner, casually