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..."

now. "Jack is playing

nodded silently, afraid that she was causing him to worry too

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

difficult to explain the details to him. She had learned that sometimes,

everyone's eyes on them all

definitely something that Eric would do, so Rachel simply told him that she and Jack were going

him exactly when

over! It's not safe to live alone with a man, especially given your

"That's exactly what I was thinking. So, are you going to move in with us

You mean live with you and Jack? Be in the same house with that

his shock. "There's no room for me here. I don't

face. "There's a study

a response. He would never want to live with the

what he had done because Eric was trying to use Celine to

had, after all, married Rachel and then treated

that he was not as powerful as Jack was, had planned to bring his brother-in-law down in a cunning, less obvious

had somehow brought this upon himself, he had not

but he was afraid

remember how much that house has cost you? You

his excuses, Rachel finally said what she was

silence, Eric nodded,

of Rachel living with that monster. He said, "I find it strange, though, how he's in such

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

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

Eric kept silent.

them turned their heads to find Mendes grinning and waving

Rachel had already made up her mind, there

wanted to avoid the shock and embarrassment of

tell him about it now than to have to explain it to him in the case he

of them came out, Mendes did not forget to inquire about the discussion. "What were you whispering about?" the boy asked, his

"It's a secret. Shush."

His lips curled

things from him, the more curious he grew, it seemed. When Lucas called, Mendes took the

finally understood. He said, amused, "Okay, okay. We'll talk again tomorrow, and this time, it'll be our secret. We won't

Mendes exclaimed in agreement as he nodded repeatedly and

little boy. Confused, he asked, "Rachel, whose child is he? Why do I feel like

dinner, casually