Chapter 383 A Rare Gathering


    Hiram looked at Luke. "Collect as much evidence as you can." He saw the confusion cloud on the


    man''s face. "Even if we grew up together, I won''t tolerate her if she refuses toe to her senses," he


    said coldly sinking his head once again in the sofa.


    Luke couldn''t believe his ears and asked him one more time. "Are you really sure about this?" His


    eyebrows furrowed. "If this gets out, she would have no way back. Do you understand the conseque-"


    Hiram threw the documents on the table and cut him off,"Shouldn''t you be the one to answer those


    questions? You''re thewyer here, so why ask me the questions?" he said ncing at Luke.


    Hearing the finality in his tone, Luke pressed no further, throwing his hands in the air. "Alright, fine. I


    won''t ask anymore. I''ll gather all the evidence," he moved to stand up and walked towards a window.


    Looking outside, he said,"If you change your mind, you know where to find me, but if you don''t ..." he


    paused, as if waiting for Hiram''s response, but he remained silent. "The investigation will proceed


    ordingly, and all the evidence will be against your sister." Luke finished.


    Hiramy down on the sofa, deep in thought. Even if he did otherwise and prevented it now, the time


    woulde for the whole truth to be revealed.


    Lydia had brought all the consequences to herself.


    Hiram had been forgiving. He had given her so many chances, but she insisted on having her way.


    If she listened to him and stayed in the US, this wouldn''t have happened.


    Hiram had done everything as an older brother, but this was the end of his rope. It was time for her to


    face the music.


    His thoughts were interrupted when Rachel came in, holding two cups in her hands. She paused briefly


    by the door looking from one man to the other, then walked forward to put a cup of tea in the table.


    Luke sat down and sipped the warm tea. Then, Rachel handed the juice to Hiram.


    "What are you two talking about for you two look so serious?" she asked, and then turned to Luke.


    "Luke, I can''t thank you enough for everything you''ve done for my mom. Would you please stay for


    dinner? My mom wants to cook for you to show her gratitude."


    She smiled at him, her eyes expectant.


    Luke nced at Hiram and said "Hiram, can I? Fannie even wants to cook for me."


    he asked and looked at him hopefully.


    If Hiram didn''t agree, he wouldn''t dare take a bite even if a full table of delicacies wasid out in front of


    him.


    Hiram said nothing and just grinned. He sipped the juice Rachel gave him, his grin turning into a slight


    frown.


    Since the incident of him getting shot, Rachel had forbidden him to drink anything strong, including tea


    and coffee. He put the juice down on the table.


    "That would be good. I''m tired of being cooped up in here all day. You can rescue me from my


    boredom. It''ll be great if you can chat or y cards with me," he said.


    At once, Luke''s face visibly brightened with pleasure. "I''m all yours! I''ll give you a night you won''t


    forget!" The three of themughed at his words. Hiram added after they quieted down,"Oh, speaking


    of… Daniel is here at the city too. How about I call him toe over?"


    Hiram looked at Rachel and waited for her opinion.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    She nodded and said,"Yeah. It''s been a long time since west saw each other. We met that day in the


    hospital, but we barely had time to say hello. It would be nice if he coulde over."


    If there was anyone that could be her friend and her mentor at the same time, it was Daniel. He had


    taught her a lot of things and given her plenty of advice, some of which would be valuable to her for the


    rest of her life.


    "Okay, give him a call," Hiram said to Luke and reached for documents on the table, but Rachel was


    faster.


    "Alright, break time! You''ve been reading for nearly two hours. It''s not good for your recovery!" she said


    to him as she held the documents beyond his reach.


    Looking at his empty hands, Hiram had no choice but to relent to his wife. He looked at her and her


    furrowed eyebrows, and couldn''t help but smile. "Fine, fine. But at least stay here and chat with us. It


    feels awful to lie here and have nothing to do," he coaxed.


    "I have a better idea. Why don''t I take Jonny and Joyce here? They''ve beenining the whole day


    that no one ys with them. I''ll get them for you. Just wait a minute!" Rachel touched his head, gently


    A momentter, Rachel brought the kids with her to the study. Joyce came in with her sketch book and


    her favorite Barbie princess tucked in her arms while Jonny had his favoriteic book with him. Joyce


    climbed to the sofa and settles herself on Hiram''s side. Jonny walked over to Luke.


    "Uncle Luke, can you read thisic book with me please?" Jonny asked, his round eyes looking up to


    Luke.


    "Of course my dear godson!" he said, lifting Jonny into his arms. "Look at you! You are even more


    handsome than thest time we met." He bent down and said softly,"Would you like be my son-inw


    after my daughter''s born?" he asked, winking at the child.


    Jonny tilted his head and thought for a moment before asking,"What''s a son-inw, Uncle Luke?"


    Luke burst intoughter and put Jonny on hisp. He tousled his hair and said,"It means the husband


    of my future daughter. You''ll marry her just like your daddy married your mommy!"


    Joyce, who was drawing with Hiram on the other side, raised her head and looked at her parents, her


    eyes full of a child''s curiousity.


    "But, what will your daughter look like, Uncle Luke? Will she be as pretty as my mommy?" Jonny


    asked, his expression serious. His mom was the prettiest woman in his heart.


    Upon seeing his thoughtful expression, Lukeughed even louder. "I have no idea. Let''s wait and see


    when she''s born. Hiram, how about it? Let''s arrange a marriage for your son and my future daughter,


    shall we?"


    Hiram, who was watching Joyce drawing, raised his head and nced at him, saying coldly,"My son


    will choose his own wife when he grows up."


    Luke paused, seeming to be in deep thought, but his eyes twinkled with humor. "Oh, I see now. You''re


    not satisfied with Rachel because she was chosen by your grandpa, right?" he teased Hiram,


    anticipating his reaction since Rachel was there too.


    Hiram sat up at his question, and Rachel looked at him, surprised with the suddenness of his


    movement.


    "Of course not!" Hiram caught Rachel''s eyes. "I''m the luckiest man alive. I ran into the woman I was


    waiting for and married her. It was like divine intervention. I will always be grateful, for the rest of my


    life." he said unhurriedly, his eyes never leaving Rachel''s.


    Luke''s jaw hung open and he involuntarily shivered. Was this really Hiram? He had be more and


    more skilled at ttering his wife.


    "Daddy, Daddy! I want to draw a beautiful princess, but I can''t. Can you teach me?" Little Joyce asked


    her father sweetly and passed a water color brush to him.


    Hiram took the brush in his hand and reluctantly drew on a page. He wasn''t good at figure painting, but


    he didn''t have the heart to say no to his little daughter.


    After a while, Joyce asked him "Daddy, why does this princess look like my mommy?" She smiled at


    Rachel.


    "Because all I can draw is your mommy!" Hiram said without any hesitation.


    He had never studied how to draw any figure, especially women. When his daughter asked him to draw


    a woman, only one person filled his mind. Rachel''s expressions, and her voice were images and


    sounds he had engraved in his mind.


    Luke couldn''t feel any greasier and rolled his eyes. ''Can''t he stop showing his affection to his wife in


    front of me?''


    The afternoon passed quietly. Later on, the dinner table was surrounded with lighthearted


    conversations andughter between bites of sumptuous food.


    After dinner, Rachel took a walk in the garden with the twins. Not long after, she saw Daniel arrive in his


    car. Luke went out to wee him.


    It was gettingte, and it was time for the kids to go to bed. Rachel gave them a bath and was in the


    middle of tucking them to bed when Fannie knocked at the door.


    "Honey, Hiram asked you to fetch a bottle of wine for them," she said. "Just go and I''ll take care of


    them."


    "Okay Mom," she replied and then turned to her children. "Grandma will tell you a bedtime story so you


    can sleep well, okay sweeties?" she said and kissed them both on their forehead before standing up


    and leaving.


    She went to the cer and took a bottle of 1990 Latour. Then she went to the cupboard to get three


    wine sses.


    As she went up the stairs, she saw Hiram, Luke and Daniel chatting with one another on the sofa of the


    leisure room.


    Her spirits lifted at the rare sight. It has been three years since she felt this light.


    "Evening! Let me serve you the wine!"


    she said, her voice cheerful and her eyes smiling as she walked to them. She opened the bottle and


    poured out wine into the sses.


    Suddenly, Hiram asked frowning,"Where is my ss?"


    There were four people in the room, but he only saw three sses on the table.


    Rachel looked at him and said,"You''re not allowed to drink now, remember? You''re still recovering."


    She reached for his hand and looked at him sympathetically. "I''ll go get some juice for you." she said,


    almostughing when she saw the expression on Hiram''s face.


    Hiram squeezed her hand and said in a pleading tone,"Honey, it''s hard to have Luke and Daniel here.


    Please give me a ss of wine. Just one ss, I promise!"


    His eyes looked into hers with such brightness that Rachel could feel her resolve weakening.