“No need,” Rachel said as she retracted her gaze awkwardly. She looked away and pursed her pale lips, feeling rather ashamed. Goodness, she couldn’t believe she got caught staring.

Tyler lifted a hand and glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting to attend later. Do you need me to call William next door over?”

Rachel smiled bitterly. “You really know how to joke, Mr. Hunt.” She would really have a screw loose if she wanted to call William over. It would only serve to humiliate and insult herself further.

“I’ll be off, then.” Tyler grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and made a move to leave.

Rachel suddenly called out to him, “Mr. Hunt, I have something else to tell you. Can you give me five minutes?” She knew that it wouldn’t be easy to contact him if she were to let him leave. She had to accelerate the progress of Project Oasis.

Tyler didn’t turn back to look at her. With his back still facing her, he said, “If you want me to sign an agreement with William, ask him to make you in charge of the project. When that happens, I'll sign it.”

Rachel furrowed her brows. “Why?” Then she added hurriedly, “Don’t worry, Mr. Hunt. I’m not a narcissist. I won’t assume that you’ll use your power to open doors for me.”

Tyler looked at her from the corners of his eyes. “Because I don’t want to work with someone pretentious and incapable. It’s a waste of my time.”

Rachel nodded, understanding where he was coming from. “I’ll tell him exactly what you said.”

Tyler opened the door and walked out. Rachel then realized that, given William’s skepticism, he might suspect that something was really going on between her and Tyler if she were to tell him word-for-word what Tyler just told her. Well, she couldn’t care less about it. She didn’t feel reassured with Samantha on the project and the high likelihood that Samantha might screw things up.

After the check-up, Samantha held Charmaine as they left the consultation room.

“Mom, the next time you feel unwell, you must tell me at once. Don’t try to put up a strong front,” Samantha said.

“Okay. Come to think of it, what exactly did that man mean? He’s got me confused. Who is William’s wife?” Charmaine asked.

Samantha was glad that her mother was advanced in years and didn’t comprehend what went on earlier. Otherwise, she was going to have a hard time explaining things to her mother.

“It’s fine, Mom. That man was just spouting nonsense. How could William possibly be married? Even if he were, it would be to me.”

A smile finally stretched across Charmaine’s face. “Exactly! You two have been together for so many years. Our entire family is looking forward to attending your wedding when it finally happens.”

“Mom…” Samantha blushed at Charmaine’s words, and looked coyly at William.

William, on the other hand, was at a loss for words. “Mrs. Judd, Samantha, you two stay here while I go ask the doctor if he has any further advice for us.”

Charmaine’s approval of William grew with every passing minute. "Thank you so much, William. Samantha has such good taste in men. You’re such an outstanding boyfriend!”

William nodded before opening the door to the ward and walking out.

The moment William left, Charmaine pulled Samantha in. “Why don’t you have a sense of urgency? Let me make things clear for you–miss out on this, and you won’t find a better man than him. Hurry up and get married. Even your younger brother has a girlfriend now, for heaven’s sake!”

“You know our family’s situation. We’re not loaded.” Samantha pulled out a card from her bag. “I have some money from my previous company. Make do with it for now. No matter what, you can’t let his girlfriend think that he can’t afford to be in a relationship.”