Now, Rachel finally remembered. When she left the hospital, she only took the will Jim had written. She hadn’t brought that other document. No wonder Jim had said at the time, “Maybe this will help you.”

After the meeting ended, Rachel and Cecilia left straight away. They didn’t walk with Tyler. Rumors about him were still flying around—if they were seen leaving together now, there was no telling what the gossip mill might churn out next. Rachel didn’t really care, but Tyler might not want to be caught in any new scandal. All Rachel wanted now was to get her affairs in order. The less unnecessary trouble, the better.

Cecilia stood beside Rachel, visibly excited, her face lit up with joy. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Rachel. “You were so cool today! But you’re hurt. Come to my place, let me help you clean that up.”

“It’s nothing more than a scrape.” Rachel lifted her arm to look at the wound again—it was only bleeding a little. She wasn’t the kind to be squeamish. After all, she had survived worse. This didn’t even come close.

When the elevator doors opened, Rachel asked, “When are you moving? I can get someone to help.”

“No need to trouble yourself. Samantha already gave me the keys. She said I can stay for the rest of the lease term before moving out. Rachel, you always show up right when I need you the most.”

Rachel slung an arm around Cecilia’s shoulder. “Come on. Do we really need to say things like that between us? Let’s go, my treat.”

“It should be my treat.” Cecilia felt bad letting Rachel pay again.

The two were just about to hail a cab when a voice suddenly called out.

“Rachel!”

Rachel froze.

William strode up to her quickly. His expression was unreadable as he said almost wistfully, “Your hearing has really recovered.”

It would’ve been fine if he hadn’t brought that up. The moment he did, a sarcastic smile formed on Rachel’s previously calm face. “Bit of a letdown for you, isn’t it? Did you think my hearing was gone for good? Too bad. They healed just in time for me to hear every filthy word you and Samantha said behind my back.”

William had never seen Rachel so openly hostile toward him. All the thorns she had kept hidden were now on full display, and each word out of her lips hit harder than the last.

“I’m glad your hearing came back,” he said, clearly struggling to keep his voice steady.

Rachel didn’t avert her gaze. She stared directly into his eyes, studying every twitch and every flicker of guilt. She wanted to burn this version of him into her memory, as a reminder that no amount of pretty lies could ever redeem him. She didn’t even want to waste her words on him. Her narrowed eyes and the slight sneer on her face showed clear irritation.

“Say whatever you came to say. I don’t have time to watch you perform.”

William’s eyes flickered with guilt. “I didn’t want our paths to cross like this today. But Rachel, I never wanted to be separated from you. All these few years, I’ve been looking for you.”

This time, Rachel couldn’t help but laugh, but the sound rang hollow. Under the sunlight, her smile seemed to chill the air. “You were looking for me? What for? To silence me? Afraid I’d expose you and Samantha?”

William’s already somber expression darkened further. He was getting frustrated. “You know that’s not what I meant. I only came to warn you. Now that you’ve completely fallen out with Sasha and Yvette, they won’t let you go easily. If you insist on doing things your way, history will only repeat itself, just like it did five years ago.”

Rachel’s gaze sharpened at once. Her expression became serious. “What do you mean by that? Do you know what happened five years ago?”