Chapter 72

Rachel smiled weakly at them. “What a coincidence,” she barely managed. “You’re here at the hospital too?”

Samantha found the encounter strange, too, and said awkwardly, “Rachel, this is my mom. She just got off the plane, which was poorly ventilated and packed with people. William and I were worried, so we brought her here for a check-up.”

Samantha then took it upon herself to make introductions. “Mom, this is my colleague, Rachel Lloyd. She’s great and often helps me out at work.”

At Samantha’s explanation, Charmaine Clark immediately grabbed Rachel’s hand and thanked her profusely. “Ms. Lloyd, thank you so much, really. Samantha is still so young and doesn’t really know much. She needs as much help as you can give her.”

Samantha whispered to Charmaine, “Mom, my colleague is hearing-impaired, but she can lip-read. Talk slower.”

“Huh? She’s disabled?” Charmaine blurted out.

Rachel’s face stiffened. She had a hearing impairment, but no one had ever labelled her as disabled before.

Knowing that her mom had spoken too rashly, Samantha felt awkward. She explained cautiously to Rachel, “My mom is a straight talker and doesn’t think much when she speaks. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Charmaine pulled Rachel over, surveying her from head to toe as she started speaking to her like they were age-old friends. “You’re so pretty, just like my daughter! Please don’t take my words to heart. I’m just like this, shooting my mouth off. Let me introduce you, this is my daughter’s boyfriend.”

Charmaine pulled William to stand before Rachel, as if she were at a show-and-tell session.

William’s face darkened and his brows furrowed, his jaw tense.

Samantha’s face turned pale, completely not expecting Charmaine to pull William to stand before Rachel as though she were presenting a prized possession of hers.

She lowered her head and bit her lip, the anxious look on her face way too blatant.

Rachel cast a questioning gaze at William. “So this is Ms. Judd’s boyfriend.”

William’s face was dark with displeasure. He looked up and signed to Rachel, “I’ll explain things to you when we’re back.”

Before he was done signing to her, Rachel said, “I shan’t bother your family of three, then.”

Samantha didn’t say anything further and simply held Charmaine’s arm. “We’ll take my mom to the doctor now, Rachel.”

Rachel nodded. “Go ahead.”

Samantha was about to leave when she realized that William was still rooted to the spot. She reached out and tugged the hem of his shirt. “William, let’s go. Our number is about to be called.” “Okay.”

William finally left with Samantha. He took another glance at Rachel when he brushed past her, but she didn’t even bother looking at him. She continued looking straight ahead, her eyes dead as still water.

No one realized how deeply her nails were digging into the flesh of her palms.

They hadn’t gone far when they bumped into Tyler.

After settling the bill for Rachel, Tyler walked back and saw William and Samantha with a middle-aged lady. He also spotted Rachel with her back facing him, her entire body shaking.

He didn’t need to think much to realize what was going on.

He stepped forward and blocked their way, casually greeting William. “Mr. Lewis, what a coincidence to see you here at the hospital! Did you finally realize that you should be accompanying her to the hospital for a check-up?”