Have I Told You Lately

Burring herself in Lillian's arms for a long while, Rachel gradually calmed down. She rubbed her reddened eyes and looked at Lillian. Then she asked, "Lillian, how's going with you and Mr. Barnes?"

Lillian was in a daze for a moment. She looked like a sensible mature woman earlier, but she blushed instantly now. She coughed awkwardly, pretending to be calm. She answered, "We've back to where we were. But he'll take me along on all his business trips and he takes good care of me."

Rachel was still listening with interest, but Lillian stopped.

Rachel blinked. "That's all? Didn't he confess his love to you? Even not a hint?"

Lillian looked at Rachel, her eyes dimmed. Curling her lips, Lillian shook her head and said, "Nope. He's not talkative and always serious. I can't figure out what's on his mind at all." ""Have you tried to sound him out?"

As if Rachel's questions had reminded her about something, Lillian instantly rolled her eyes and said rudely, "Damn it! Of course, I have. I deliberately received a rose banquet from one of my admirers in the company, but he didn't react anything. He also never mentions about it afterward." Rachel was speechless.

There were some ways that she could figure out, but Lillian was smarter, and she could think of more ways. If none of them worked, it seemed that all Lillian's efforts would be in vain. "So he hasn't touched you again, has he?"

Upon hearing it, Lillian looked a bit weird, which made Rachel wonder if she felt lost or fortunate. Lillian shook her head obediently. "Since then, I don't have guts to drink. Even in the business dinner, I'll just drink a little, so I didn't make the same mistake again. He also keeps good manners and distances himself from me."

Rachel fell into the silence. She couldn't understand what that man was doing. She had a feeling that he could control himself more than Kenneth could in love.

Lillian didn't know what was on Rachel's mind. She tilted her head and hesitated. Then she added, "Actually I've thought of getting drunk again after that, or perhaps I could pretend to be drunk to test his mind. But I accidentally saw a photo in his wallet, so I gave up decisively."

Rachel gaped. She asked in surprise, "Has he married already?"

At a loss, Lillian shook her head, "I asked him if he's married before that incident happened, and his answer was negative. On that photo was a young woman in her twenties. She looks beautiful. I guess it's his girlfriend."

"Have you seen her in real life?" Rachel creased her brows and all her delicate features shrank together.

She wondered if that was truly a misunderstanding.

"No, I haven't. But I heard him answer the phone calls," said Lillian. Grabbing Rachel's hand, she lowered her voice, "I've never seen him talk so gently to anyone else before."

It was a tenderness that indeed made her jealous.

Rachel's mood got worse instantly. Hurriedly, she comforted Lillian, "Stop thinking about it. Perhaps it's not the way you guessed. When he went to find you that day, I could see he was truly anxious, which couldn't be pretended."

Lillian scratched her hair and heaved a sigh. "I've thought it through and decided to give up. If he could keep being like this, at least it means I have a good taste in men. His characters are quite OK. Perhaps that night we both were hammered. He wanted to take the responsibility, but I refused him. I'll take it as if that incident has never happened. Anyway, it's unnecessary to force the couple to break up."

Rachel looked at her and curled her lips up into a helpless smile. "Your idea of love was definitely positive that those mistresses should feel ashamed in front of it. Since he has distanced himself from you, why does he always take you along with him on all business trips?" Lillian was choked by her questions. Rolling her eyes, she didn't know how to answer it. She stammered, "Well, well... I have no idea, either."

"So, have you become his personal assistant?"

Lillian glared at her and denied, "Of course not! I have my own job. Actually, I don't want to go, but he always has official reasons. Besides, he's my boss. What else can I do?"

Rachel's eyes, focusing on things in the distance, became darkened. She was lost in thought.

"Alas! Let's change the topic... It's really annoying." Lillian waved her hands irritably. As if she suddenly thought of something, she tugged Rachel and said, "Oh, by the way, you can't go to work recently. How did you explain it to your company?" Now seldom people knew Rachel was the daughter of the judge of City N, who was arrested and put in prison. Rachel also kept it a secret to avoid unnecessary troubles.

"I asked for a leave and told them that my mother is sick," Rachel answered in a flat tone.

No matter who got sick, she couldn't leave the hospital nowadays. Fortunately, Mr. Lopez didn't ask her for more details. She hadn't get a chance to take care of the business in the company, so she didn't how it was going with her apartment.

"All right. If you're too busy, do let me know. I can help you take care of your parents."

Rachel looked at her with a grateful smile. "Thanks a million, Lillian."

After chatting for a while, Lillian left.

Arriving downstairs of the inpatient building, with her bag in her hands, Lillian stopped after taking a few steps. Then she pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number.

When the call was connected, she spoke while walking, "I've sent your money to her. It seems she doesn't suspect anything. She's feeling much better now. The situation you worried about shouldn't happen."

After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the line, a man's deep voice was heard. "Thank you, Miss Chou."

Lillian slowed down her pace. Looking up at the sunny sky, she said indifferently, "Mr. Shawn, although I don't want her to do something that she would regret it either, I hope you could think in her shoes. I don't want to figure out what your purpose is to give her this money, but you certainly have put her in an awkward and embarrassing situation. Any woman with dignity wouldn't accept it." "I understand. That's why I contacted you, Miss Chou."

Lillian raised her eyebrows and snorted. She interrupted him coldly, "No, you don't understand. You called me after you've made a fuss but failed, didn't you? You've only seen that she's in a difficult time now and realized that she needs help. You thought that as long as you offer your help, she should accept it as long as she's not a fool. Mr. Shawn, you still don't understand Rach until now, and nor have you understood why she insisted on divorcing you back then."

The was only silence on the other end of the line.

Just when Lillian thought he was going to hang up the phone, the man's voice was heard again. "Do you understand it, Miss Chou?"

"Ho..." The woman curled up her red lips and snorted. "Of course I know. But so what? You know I wouldn't tell you. If you can never understand it, it only means that you guys are not destined to be together." Then Rachel's affection to him was in vain.

The man's affirmative voice sounded. "I didn't ask you for the answer. However, Miss Chou, I should thank you for telling me about it. Please do go over to accompany her more recently. Thanks." As he finished his words, he hung up the phone.

Lillian was taken aback. She put down the phone, glared at it, and curled her lips in hatred. "You are so helplessly dull!"