My Darling, My Dearest

"I don't know how much you can tolerate her. But, you know, it's not good for a woman to be too willful."

Jack's eyes turned cold. "What exactly is your point, Rachel? Of all people, I don't need you to teach me how to deal with my woman."

'Oh, good! That's exactly what I want to hear, ' Rachel mused.

Smiling, she said, "I need your help, Jack.

I really don't care what you do with your woman. I am concerned with Eric. I just want you to help me intimidate that silly boy."

"I really don't understand what is on your mind. Aren't you afraid that I will do something bad to Eric?" Jack asked jokingly.

Smiling again, Rachel replied, "It doesn't matter. If something happens to him, I will fight you to death." The way she spoke the last line was so slow, and her tone was so low. Anyone who would hear her would feel the chills.

With that, Jack understood that she wasn't kidding.

The cynical smile plastered on his face slowly faded away, and he looked at Rachel thoughtfully.

What kind of person was Rachel? She could grab a bottle and smash it onto Eric's hand. And more importantly, she could bargain with him. ■3

Now, just when he thought that Rachel was going to protect Eric, she asked him to intimidate the poor kid instead.

She knew that Jack was a rational man and would not find fault with Eric for no reason. But when Jack and Celine used Eric in their game of deceit, she couldn't stand it anymore.

Instead of always worrying about Eric getting involved in their affairs, it would be better to take actions now. Jack could set a boundary that would serve as a warning to prevent Eric from crossing the line. Everyone was afraid of death. And, Eric wasn't an exception. Aside from her previous warnings, Jack's intimidation could help put some pressure on him.

Those could help Eric realize not to engage in a love relationship with Celine.

Meanwhile, Jack could not really figure out why Rachel's line of thinking was like that. Then, the mobile phone on the table vibrated.

After talking to Jack, Rachel stood up and was on her way to her room to sleep. Jack grabbed his phone and casually said, "Will you get me a quilt? I'll sleep here tonight."

Shocked, Rachel looked back, only to see him stood up from the sofa and strode towards the balcony, phone in his hand. He opened the door to the balcony, and a low gentle voice reached her ears. She clearly saw the impatience on Jack's face when he grabbed his phone from the table. ■3

Perhaps, men had two faces. And, one was specially made for their lovers.

Not wanting to talk with Jack anymore, Rachel proceeded to her room. The place where she lived was their wedding house, and Jack had seldom come here.

Since she was the only occupant, Rachel didn't think it was practical to have two beds in her bedroom.

Though there were other rooms, they weren't cleaned.

The bed, being a king-sized, was big enough for them to sleep on.

Standing in the middle of the room, Rachel was thinking while holding the quilt in her arms.

Finally, she decided to go out.

After the phone call, Jack walked towards the stairs.

At the top of the stairs, Rachel asked, "Jack, would you like to sleep in the living room tonight?"

Stunned, Jack raised his head and stared at a serious Rachel who was holding quilt.

Forcing a smile, Jack loosened his tie while still looking up at Rachel with languid yet sarcastic eyes. "Rachel, I just want to share a bed with you tonight. Why are you so lofty?" Really, Jack thought Rachel was thinking too much.

Holding the quilt in her hands tightly to prevent it from falling, Rachel replied, "Fine. I'll sleep on the ■3

sofa."

With a twist of his mouth, Jack suddenly took the stairs up in just a few seconds and stood in front of her.

Dwarfed by his height, Rachel took a couple of steps back. Seeing her act, Jack opened his mouth slightly and said, "Rachel, we are legally married."

"So what?" Frowning slightly, Rachel didn't like the aggressive way Jack approached her. So, she held the quilt tightly and moved two steps back.

"We are a legally married couple." Raising her head, Rachel looked straight into Jack's eyes. There was no emotion reflected in her eyes. "But, it doesn't include sharing a bed. Don't change the topic so fast. I can't follow you."

Curling his lips, Jack thought he hadn't seen such an honest person for a long time.

Putting his hands in his pockets, Jack leaned over and whispered in Rachel's ear, "Then, is there any problem in sleeping together?"

Rachel slightly lifted her long eyelashes and glanced at him, expressionless. Stepping backward again, she answered, "I like sleeping alone. Please, don't mind me. I'll sleep on the sofa and you can have the bed."

With his eyebrows slightly twitching, Jack had this sudden impulse of putting his hands on her shoulders to shake her.

'She was so dull and unbelievable!'

Turning a blind eye to Jack's unkind expression, Rachel patted him on the shoulder as if she was ■3

encouraging him. "I'll let you sleep in my bed tonight, but I have only one pillow."

Turning back, she went to fetch her pillow. Jack stood stiffly at the edge of the stairs.

Closing his eyes, Jack thought to himself, 'This woman must be playing hard-to-get.1

Taking a deep breath, Jack went to the bedroom. If not for the open door, he wouldn't know which room it was.

As he was about to enter, he saw Rachel on her way out with her pillow and quilt. Jack couldn't even see her head.

Giving way to Rachel, Jack moved his body sideways. She just continued walking past him and went down without a glance at him. Standing still for a while and making sure that it was not a trick, Jack took a deep breath. Then, he entered the bedroom.

Just like all the other parts of the house, the bedroom had never been visited by Jack before.

Inside was a bed, a wardrobe, and an air-conditioner installed on the wall. It was still very cold. After looking around, Jack began to doubt if he was in the right place.

Was this a hotel or a woman's bedroom?

Jack pursed his lips. The room was an exact reflection of Rachel's personality, cold and tasteless.

Grabbing the quilt placed on the edge of the ■3

bed, Jack spread it out. He saw that Rachel didn't even leave him a pillow.

After taking off his watch and putting it on the bedside table, he went out and leaned against the railing on the second floor. He saw Rachel bending over and making her bed.

Everywhere he looked, everything was clean and tidy. Even the bed was in order, as if no one slept on it.

Rubbing his forehead, Jack wondered what kind of eccentricity this woman possessed.

"Rachel, what time will you get up tomorrow?"

Pausing a little before looking up, Rachel replied, "About half past six."

"Okay, that's just in time." After pausing for a while, Jack continued, "The driver will drop by at around nine o'clock. Remember to organize the living room. Don't let him see you sleeping on the sofa or find any trace."

"Wait!" Rachel straightened her back and asked, "Why will the driver come?"

"At Dad's request..." Rachel had no more questions after hearing his reply.

No wonder Jack suddenly decided to stay tonight. It turned out that someone would come to check on them tomorrow.

After turning off the lights, Rachel lay down. However, before closing her eyes, she was afraid that she would disappoint Jonathan as she and Jack were acting.

She didn't know if there were many couples like ■3

them...ridiculous couples in this kind of

relationship.

Not knowing until when she would wait to ask for a divorce, Rachel thought it might be the day she would meet the person she loved. Maybe, she might have to wait for a long time until Jonathan died, or until she was completely disappointed in this marriage. Both of them didn't want Jonathan to be sad. Thus, this was the common agreement they reached to protect their marriage. Although they didn't see each other often in the past five years, they always appeared harmoniously in front of Jonathan. Maybe Jonathan knew that they were like strangers to each other behind his back, but he pretended not to know it. Thinking of another possibility of getting rid of the marriage shackles, Rachel pondered it might be the day Jack and Celine's relationship could be recognized.

But it was only her thought. After all, she had nothing to do with what happened between them.

Rachel didn't wake up until dawn. She turned off her phone alarm, got up, brushed her teeth and washed her face. Then, she made herself a cup of warm water and drank it slowly. Jack's observation was right. She was a boring woman.

Every day was a routine for her. She set them according to her timetable. She was quite ■3

squeamish about staying in bed late and arriving at work late.

According to her best friend Lea, Rachel looked like a monk despite of her 25 years of age.

Disagreeing totally with her best friend, Rachel thought she had a good lifestyle. Her life didn't resemble that of the monk's.

It was around 7:30 in the morning when Rachel finished her yoga. She prepared her breakfast afterwards.

What she didn't notice was Jack's presence on the second floor. He watched her doing yoga until the time she went to the kitchen.

Observing her, Jack raised his hand and looked at his watch. It was only 7:30 am. The woman had the same lifestyle as his father.

'Should I bring her a newspaper?' Taking a deep breath, Jack turned around and went downstairs.

When Rachel was carefully frying the eggs, she heard Jack. He raised his hand, knocked on the kitchen door and asked politely, "Will you help me make breakfast?"

"A sandwich and soybean milk. Would those be okay?"

"Sure."

Well, Rachel hated those guys who were picky in food, such as Eric.

Coming out quickly, Rachel put the breakfast on the table. They ate side by side without disturbing each other. The atmosphere around them always seemed strange. They were either indifferent to each other or a tit for tat existed between them.