Stuck in you

Chapter 359 Attending The Engagement Ceremony

Hearing his taunt-filled words, Rachel blushed and said, "I won't do that again. This is the last time."

"Okay. Put down the note. I'll sign it later." The director raised his hand and knocked on the desk. This signified that he was done speaking. However, just when Rachel turned around to leave, he called her back. Pretending like something urgent had come up, he said, "By the way, there is an exchange meeting in Brookmount City next week. I planned to go there myself, but with my packed schedule, I can't manage it."

She clearly knew he was lying.

He was just lazy to attend it. Even though she despised him with all her heart, she nodded her head and said, "I'm free next week. I am more than willing to fill the slot."

He always got his way. He was aware Rachel wasn't the type of girl who would refuse to anything. Hence he constantly took advantage of her, overworking her.

"Okay, that's good."

Once she was out of his sight, Rachel rolled her eyes. Like a deflated balloon, she sat on her work chair and texted Jack. Then she tidied up the medical records scattered on the table. By the time she was done, Jack was there.

As soon as she got into the car, she began to complain profusely. "Thanks to you, I went to ask for leave and now I am stuck with an exchange meeting in Brookmount City next week." Disappointment was evident in her tone.

"How long?" Jack asked.

She shook her head and said, "I don't know yet. I haven't seen the meeting agenda."Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Seeing the depressed look on her face, Jack raised his hand and gently rubbed her head. With a smile, he suggested, "I happen to have nothing to do in the coming next week. How about I accompany you?"

His words instantly lit her up. Meetings were dreadfully boring when done alone. But it would be different if Jack was with her. In fact, it would look more like a vacation!

In the past, she didn't mind spending time alone. She would fill her spare time with books and other activities. Ever since Jack came to her life, the thought of being separated brought sorrow to her heart. Knowing he would be with her, her heart was overcome by happiness.

She had read about lovers wanting to spend all their time together. Back then it made no sense. However now that she was experiencing it, she realized it was all true. Two people who loved each other deeply indeed wished to be together all the time.

After the two of them reached home, they got changed and drove to the hotel. Once the arrived, their eyes scanned the parking areas. All kinds of cars were parked. It took them a couple of minutes to find an empty spot. Jack took Rachel's hand and got out of the car. He carefully fixed her hair which seemed to have gotten messy due to the wind. "Let's go in," he said and they both entered.

The bride's name was Jenny Zhou, and her father, Edmund Zhou, was JX Group's CEO. In the evening, besides the new couple's friends, most of guests were his business partners. Rachel caught sight of some familiar faces that she had seen in other banquets.

The engagement ceremony was done in Chinese style. After entering the hall, they saw a round table, leaving a passage in the middle for people to pass through.

There was a small card in the middle of the round table, containing the names of the guests. After searching for a while, Rachel realized she had been arranged to sit at the main table, along with the new couple and their parents.

Facing people's inquisitive eyes, Rachel smiled faintly. Jenny Zhou sat next to her. Even though she didn't know her, she felt a sense of familiarity.

But she felt no recognition in the bride's face. She shrugged it off thinking she had mistaken someone else for Jenny.

"What's wrong?" Jack whispered in her ear.

Rachel shook her head, took out the gift from her bag, put it on the table and said, "Congratulations, this is a gift from me and Jack. I hope you like it."

She had picked it up from the nearby shopping mall this noon. It was a simple but elegant bracelet. She smiled and said, "I don't know your preferences, so I chose something simple."

Jenny Zhou didn't bother to look at it. Instead, she handed it to the staff standing near her with a trace of arrogance. "Thanks, I'll open it after the function."

Before Rachel could react, an emcee in a black tuxedo walked onto the stage with a microphone and began to speak.

Rachel glanced at him for a while, but since she didn't know the couple, she had no interest in listening. Bored out her of wits, she glanced at her phone.

She had just received a message from Bill informing he had arrived at the airport. Soon, he would be off to France. There was only ten minutes left before the plane took off, so he took this opportunity to text Rachel

"Have a nice trip!" she typed and hit the send button. She nearly forgot Jack was sitting next to her. His magnetic voice whispered, "What are you looking at? Don't you want to enjoy the function?"

"No. It's nothing."

She quickly switched off her phone, while a guilty smile played on her lips. Rachel thought she was doing a good job trying conceal her panic. However, Jack saw through it. Her fear was evident to him.

He frowned, unable to decipher the reason behind this sudden change. Lately, she had been acting a bit weird. But he hadn't asked her about it. Instead, he convinced himself that he was simply overthinking.

Patting on Jack's shoulder, Rachel said in a low voice, "Stop looking at me."

He shifted his gaze to the LED screen on the stage. Photos of the new couple in various poses were being displayed. From childhood to adulthood, every photo that had them was being shown. The crowd watched it with pleasure.

However, something on the screen froze Rachel's smile. Presently, the screen displayed a selfie of Jenny Zhou and her fiance, but behind them stood three people.

Other people paid no heed to the three figures that stood in the background. Their focus was on the bride and groom. However, Jack's eyes remained fixed on them. These three people were none other than Bill, Andy and Rachel.

This photo was taken on the day they took Andy to the hospital for examination. It was the moment where Andy was speaking sentimental words to them.

In the photo, Rachel and Bill were holding hands.

Looking at Jack's obsidian-like eyes, which were shining with cold and sharp light, Rachel's heart thudded against her chest. She felt the fury that was emanating from him. She bit her lower lip and whispered, "It's not what you think."

Jack didn't answer. He began to clench his fist and his lips were pursed. It took him a lot of effort to hide his anger. He could lose it any second.

Since he didn't want to make a scene here, he tried to remain calm.

Rachel tried to hold his hand, but he dodged. Even his chair moved a little, but thankfully nobody noticed.

Her heart sank thinking how hard it would be to convince him her innocence. Even in her wildest dreams she hadn't imagined something like this would happen.

Rachel was a little flustered. Once again, she mustered some courage and looked up at him, wanting to explain the whole story. But Jack wouldn't give her a chance. To avoid her, he looked straight at Edmund Zhou, who was sitting opposite to him. "Mr. Zhou, I used to hear you talk about your daughter at meals and worry about her future. Now you can rest assured."

"Exactly!" Edmund Zhou raised his glass and smiled. "I'm finally relieved."

Jack had never been a talkative person and rarely took the initiative to strike up a conversation. But today, he began to talk profusely with everyone near him. It seemed like he wanted to relieve his depression. This way, he could ignore Rachel.

Rachel's hands twisted uneasily. If she had any idea this would happen today, she wouldn't have hidden the truth from Jack.

This place began to feel chaotic. Seeing everyone raise their glass to celebrate, Rachel's uneasiness intensified. Looking at the emotion in Jack's eyes, she knew that he had misunderstood her.

After a while, Edmund Zhou stood up with a glass of wine in his hand and said loudly, "I'm very happy you all made it today. Come on, let's drink together!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, several people raised their glasses, getting ready to drink. Rachel, however, lowered her head, looking uninterested in the celebration.

She stood like a sore thumb and everyone's eyes fell on her. Jenny Zhou made a distasteful expression.

Touching her shoulder, Jack whispered, "Everybody is staring at you. Don't make them wait."

His voice was flat and emotionless, but it definitely got Rachel's attention. She shivered a bit. Soon, his eyes apologetically looked at the bride's father. "That's how she is. She keeps getting lost in her thoughts,' Jack said, making her sound like a child.

"It doesn't matter," said Edmund Zhou, taking no offense. Today was the best day of his life. Nothing could make him unhappy.

Rachel composed herself, raised her glass, smiled and said, "I'm sorry."

Once the wine made its way to her throat, she felt a burning sensation. Even without looking at herself in the mirror, she knew that her face must have been flushed.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, she said, "I'm sorry. I feel a bit unwell so I will get going. Once again, congratulations on your engagement."

After saying that, she left the spot. She didn't even bother to glance at Jack. In her hurry, she forgot her jacket behind but she wouldn't go back to take it. Once she was outside, she felt relieved at leaving behind all the hustle-bustle. The ominous wind was freezing her, but she continued to walk.

The hotel was located a little far away from the central of Ninwell City. Almost everyone came here by their own car. She couldn't expect to catch a taxi there. Standing there for a while, she wondered what

to do. She had no courage to go back in and get her coat. Just when she was thinking about this dilemma, she saw Jack stepping out of the hotel, her coat in his hand.

His lips were pursed and the displeasure he felt remained undisguised. He walked past her and went straight to the parking lot.

She almost wanted to call his name, but his ice-cold face stopped her.

A trace of bitterness appeared on her face. 'Is he planning to leave me stranded here?' she couldn't help but wonder. She rubbed her arms, hoping that would warm her up. Suddenly, Jack slammed the brake and stopped the car right in front of her. He rolled down the window and said, "Get in the car!"

The sky was dark. It was bereft of any light. One couldn't even spot the moon. The despair she felt in her heart was reflected in the weather.