Chapter 373 How Unpleasant To Speak


    Rachel was able to guess it was none other than Celia''s stepmother who was spitting out curses.


    From what Celia had told her, she knew that woman had a filthy mouth.


    "Let''s go, Rachel. I am sorry you had to hear that. I will treat you to a good meal and make up for


    this." In fact, Celia had no desire to have dinner there. After all, Bertha would never allow her to


    have an enjoyable time. How could she expect a peaceful meal? No! She was determined to leave


    and take Rachel elsewhere.


    Understanding how bad the situation was, Rachel nodded her head. Just when she was about to


    ease the atmosphere by asking about the food they would eat, the door was pushed open.


    Grim-faced, Bertha came to their view. Without even ncing at Rachel, she turned to Celia and


    said, "I''ve arranged a blind date for you. Change your clothes and wear something proper."


    "A blind date?"


    Celia shouted in disbelief. "I am not going!"


    Bertha red at her. "You have no right to say no. You didn''t have a boyfriend. Did you expect to


    live with us for the rest of your life? I am sorry, but we can''t take this nuisance any longer! Celia


    couldn''t help retorting, "First of all, I have a boyfriend. And didn''t you taunt me for having found a


    rich boyfriend? How did you forget it all of a sudden? Do what you want, I am not interested in this


    blind date!"


    Bertha sneered and said, "A rich boyfriend? He is probably ying with you. It is nothing but a time


    pass for him. Don''t waste my time. Get ready for the date I have nned for you."


    All this while, Rachel chose to remain quiet. After all, this was a family matter so she didn''t wish to


    meddle. However, now Bertha was crossing the line. "It''s Celia''s choice whether she wants to go on


    a blind date or not. You have no right to force her. From what I know, Celia pays for her expenses


    every month. How can you call her a nuisance?" she questioned.


    Only then did Bertha notice the woman standing beside Celia. She cast a scornful nce at her and


    asked, "Who are you?"


    "I''m Celia''s colleague," said Rachel indifferently.


    "And I''m Celia''s mother. As a mother, don''t you think I know what is better for her?"


    Celia couldn''t help shouting, "You are not my mother! My mother is dead!"


    Bang! A hand mmed against her face.


    Dn had overheard their conversation. He red at Celia and said, "Bertha is my wife now, which


    makes her your mother! You have no right to say your mother is dead when she is here!"


    Several time, Celia had told Rachel how awful her family was. But for the first time, Rachel had


    witnessed it with her own eyes. ''It is worse than I had anticipated,'' she thought.


    Rachel''s heart skipped a beat. She quickly pulled Celia behind her and spat out angrily, "Mr. Xu, I


    have no idea why you took offense in her words. Her biological mother is indeed dead. Your wife


    isn''t her mother, she is a step-mother."


    Dn had seen her several years ago. Back then, Rachel had a thin face and a crew cut hair. Her


    long and curly hair added to the fact she had gained a lot of weight made her unrecognizable to


    him. "Who are you? I''m trying to ingrain my daughter with some manners. This is none of your


    business so you better stay out of it."


    Dn had failed as a father. Yet he had the audacity to pretend like he was doing the right thing.


    This sounded ridiculous to Rachel.


    With a sneer, Rachel introduced herself, "I''m Rachel Shen."


    Dn was taken aback. His eyes widened in disbelief.


    Bertha had never heard of this name before. Seeing her husband''s perplexed look, she stood


    beside him and asked in a low voice, "Who the hell is she?" Turning her gaze to Bertha, Rachel


    added, "I''m Jack Fu''s woman. I hope that rings a bell."


    The same look of fear was now reflected on Bertha''s face as well. With some satisfaction, Rachel


    realized for the first time Jack''s name hade handy.


    She held Celia''s hand and realized she was still trembling. She had never seen Celia look like this


    before. Her condition pained Rachel. "Mr. Xu, you are now working for MK Group. Jack is your


    boss, and since I am his woman, you should consider me your boss as well. On top of that I''m


    Celia''s direct superior. Do you still think I have no business in these matters?"


    Even though she had asked a question, she didn''t give Dn a chance to speak. She went on, "I


    heard from Jack that in addition to the employees'' working ability, their attitude towards their family


    also matters. MK Group likes to evaluate every aspect of their workers'' lives!"


    This implied she had witnessed his attitude towards his daughter and was deeply dissatisfied.


    Hearing this, Bertha immediately smiled and said, "Miss Shen is right." She mentally cursed herself


    and Dn for their stupidity.


    Noticing the sudden change in their attitude, Rachel took Celia''s hand and walked out. When they


    arrived at the door, she deliberately stopped and asked them, "Would you mind if I take her away?"


    The two of them said in unison, "No, of course not. Please."


    After leaving the Xu family''s house, Celia kept her head down and didn''t utter a word The


    fingerprints on her face had be even more visible. After all, Dn''s p hadn''t been light. It


    still burned.


    Rachel offered Celia a room in her house. But she couldn''t get Celia to agree. She forced a smile


    and said, "Rachel, I''m not going to disturb you and Jack."


    Rachel didn''t want to force her so she let it go. Suddenly, a thought urred to her. The lease of


    the house she had rented earlier hadn''t expired yet.


    She took out the key and ced it in Celia''s hand. "If you don''t have the heart to go home, you can


    live here. And if you need anything, you can call me or Lea. Don''t worry, we will always be there for


    you."


    "Thank you, Rachel." Nobody had done this much for Celia. The amount of care Rachel was giving


    made her emotional. She could no longer hide her tears.


    Once Rachel had dealt with all this, it was quitete. When she reached home, she noticed it was


    already seven o''clock. The house was quiet and she tip-toed her way into the kitchen. With an


    apron tied around him, Jack was busy cooking. Aromatic smell of food filled her nostrils. She


    couldn''t help but hold him from behind.


    Jack paused for a moment and asked, "Someone seems to be in a good mood. May I know why?"


    "Nothing," she said.


    But after a moment of silence, Rachel sighed and added, "Whenpared to a lot of people, I feel


    very privileged. I have the freedom to do want I want. On top of that, I have a man who loves me


    and enjoys spoiling me. I may have lost my parents, but your parents'' love made up for it. I am


    blessed with no reason toin.


    Life has been good to me."


    Jack knew her too well. She was someone who seldom let her guard down. She never allowed


    people to see her vulnerable side. Something had happened today for sure.


    Jack quickly finished cooking and began setting the dishes.


    Grabbing her shoulder, he asked in a gentle voice, "What happened?"


    Rachel was surprised by his question. Jack knew her too well! She walked out of the kitchen and


    made her way to the living room. Her face had a far-away look. "I just went to Celia''s house. Her


    family is quite unpleasant. Her father and stepmother treat her horribly. It''s better to be an orphan


    than to have such parents!" "You shouldn''t say that. It is an awful thing to say," Jack said like he was


    talking to a child. He also rubbed her forehead to rx her.


    Rachel nodded in agreement. She knew it was wrong to utter such words.


    The dishes were ready, but the rice needed more cooking. The two of them sat on the sofa and


    chatted casually. She loved having moments like this with Jack. It filled her in with so much peace.


    However, when the topic shifted to Celia and Marcus, the atmosphere became a little serious again.


    Jack took a look at his watch and was about to go to the kitchen. The rice must have been ready.


    But Rachel caught his hand and said, "In fact, another bizarre thing happened today."


    "What is it?" He sat down again, eager to hear.


    It had been a tiring day and Rachel was exhausted, Shey on his legs, closed her eyes and said,


    "Celia''s stepmother asked her to go on a blind date. But I''ve heard from Celia that thedy knew


    about her boyfriend. Someone had told her that Celia has a boyfriend,ing from a rich family. Yet


    she brought up a blind date. Don''t you think it''s a little strange?"


    Jack asked, "Who is the person her stepmother wants to set her up with?"


    "I have no idea, nor do I think Celia knows anything about it." Rachel sat up straight, crossed her


    legs and continued, "Jack, can you use your sources and check if my suspicion is right? I am having


    a bad feeling about this."


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Jack didn''t answer immediately, but seemed to be brooding over it.


    Rachel was afraid he would refuse. Like a child, she pouted.


    With a smile, he leaned forward and said, "To put your mind at ease, I will definitely investigate the


    matter. But what reward will I get in return?"


    "No reward," Rachel answered without hesitation.


    Jack shrugged his shoulders and said, "In that case, forget it. I''m a businessman and will never do


    business if there isn''t any profit."


    Rachel couldn''t help but roll her eyes. "Marcus asked you for help. Did he give you any reward? You


    were more than willing to give Dn a job. Why am I an exception?"


    "Marcus is different."


    Noticing the confusion in her eyes, Jack pinched Rachel''s chin and continued, "He is just a friend. I


    don''t want any favors from him. But you are my woman!"


    On seeing her surprise, he went on, "So tell me, what do you think of this deal?"


    His tone was seductive and Rachel flushed red. He hugged her and his lean body was pressed


    against hers. Rachel clearly felt the heat emanating from his body to hers.


    She wanted to push him away, but on a second thought, she raised her hands and caught his neck.


    Leaning forward, she whispered, "If the job is done well, then you won''t have to worry about the


    reward. I am more than willing to pay for it."


    Jack was about to say something, but before he could open his mouth, she changed the subject.


    "Until my job is done, I rmend you sleep in the study."


    "What?"


    It was Jack''s turn to be surprised.


    She took a few steps backward and said, "I don''t believe in paying in advance. I am sorry."


    Disappointment reeked through his face when he realized his ns had backfired. He instantly


    regretting asking for a favor.


    On the second day, when Rachel arrived at the hospital, she didn''t see Celia anywhere around.


    When she inquired, she learned Celia had asked for a leave. As soon as she got back to her office,


    she dialed Celia''s number. "What''s wrong? Why aren''t you here?" Author''s note


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