Rachael's eyes fluttered open, her mind still reeling from the events of the previous day. The conversation with David had left her with more questions than answers. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she had been blind to his feelings for far too long.
As she got out of bed, her phone caught her attention. She had a text from David, confirming their meeting for later that day. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered what the day would bring.
As she descended the staircase, an unsettling stillness filled the house. Adam sat at the dining table, his fingers tapping lightly against the newspaper. His gaze flicked up as she entered the room. Their eyes met, holding for a moment in silent tension.
"Good morning," she said, her voice steady.
Adam barely acknowledged her, muttering something unintelligible as he turned the page.
Rachael let out a quiet sigh. She had expected this. Their last conversation had left a rift between them, one that neither seemed willing to bridge.
The sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence. Harriet entered the room, wrapping her arms around Adam's shoulders before pressing a slow kiss against his temple.
Rachael's grip tightened around the cup she was holding. The ceramic slipped from her grasp and shattered against the floor.
Harriet and Adam turned sharply at the sound.
"Are you alright?" Harriet asked, stepping toward her.
Rachael took a step back.
"Don't touch me," she snapped. Her eyes burned with accusation as she looked between the two of them.
"You two are having an affair, aren't you?"
Harriet's face paled. "Rachael, it's not what you think."
"Oh, really?" Rachael scoffed.
"Because I'd suspected it for a long time, but every time I asked, you both denied it."
Adam's lips curled into a smirk.
"And what if we are?" His voice was calm, almost mocking. "What does it change?"
Rachael's breath caught in her throat.
"I don't see the problem," Adam continued. "What belonged to your father can also belong to me."
He turned to Harriet, and to Rachael's horror, they kissed right in front of her.
She felt bile rise in her throat. "You're disgusting," she spat. "Does the rest of the family know?"
Before Adam could respond, a sudden knock at the door made them all freeze.
Harriet straightened. "I'll get it."
"No," Rachael interjected.
"It's David. I'll get it."
She turned sharply and strode toward the entrance, needing a reprieve from the suffocating atmosphere. When she opened the door, David stood there, his warm brown eyes searching for hers. Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly as if grounding herself.
"I brought you something," he murmured.
He stepped back and reached into his car, returning with a bouquet of flowers and a small gift bag. Rachael's lips parted in surprise.
"Thank you," she said softly, touched by the gesture.
David smiled. "Shall we go in?"
She hesitated but eventually nodded, leading him inside. The moment they stepped into the dining room, Adam's eyes narrowed.
"David," Adam greeted smoothly. "You should join us for breakfast."
"No, thank you," David replied, his tone polite but firm. "I already ate."
Rachael didn't give Adam a chance to say anything more. She grabbed David's arm and pulled him toward the stairs.
In her bedroom, she shut the door behind them and turned to face him.
"I need to tell you something."
David sat on the edge of the bed, waiting.
She took a deep breath. "About what you said last night… I feel the same way."
His gaze sharpened. "Rachael!"
"When Richard died, you were the only one who stood by me".
"I never wanted to take advantage of your kindness, and I convinced myself that I didn't see you that way."
She swallowed hard, her throat constricting with emotion. "But I do," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I love you, David."
The room seemed to hold its breath as David's gaze bore into hers. Time stood still, the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner. Then, without warning, David's face shifted, his eyes burning with intensity.
In a swift, fluid motion, he pulled Rachael toward him, his hands settling on her waist like a gentle vice. His lips met hers in a kiss that sent a rush of warmth coursing through her veins.
Rachael's fingers threaded through David's hair, pulling him closer as she lost herself at the moment. The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a sea of passion.
But their bliss was short-lived. A sharp knock at the door shattered the spell, leaving them both panting and disoriented. Rachael turned quickly, her pulse racing like a wild animal in her chest.
"Who is it?" Racheal called out, his voice low and husky.
Kate stepped inside with an amused smile. "Did I interrupt something?"
David cleared his throat, shifting slightly.
"I just saw you come in and wanted to say hi," Kate said, then raised a brow at Rachael. "But I should probably leave."
Rachael shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "No, it's fine."
Kate grinned. She winked before slipping back out of the room, leaving David and Rachael alone again.
Rachael turned back to David, her smile fading slightly. "We have a lot to talk about."
David nodded. "Yeah, we do."
"The media won't stop talking about me, I don't even care anymore," she muttered.
"You shouldn't," his voice was calm, reassuring. The last thing I want is for you to be distracted. How about we take a drive? Some fresh air might do you good."
"That sounds fun," she said, already grabbing her bag. "Let's go."
They rushed downstairs, but Adam and Harriet were nowhere to be seen. Rachael didn't bother questioning their absence. It was better that way.
"Kate, I'll be back!" she called out before stepping outside with David.
Kate, from her bedroom window, watched as the two of them left.
The evening air was crisp as David maneuvered the car through the quiet streets. The city lights flickered like stars trapped in glass, and for the first time in days, Rachael felt a semblance of peace. The tension in her shoulders loosened as the wind played with her hair, the world outside blurring past her window.
David reached for the car stereo, switching to a mellow tune that hummed softly in the background. "This is nice, right?" he said, glancing at her with a small smile.
She nodded, leaning back against the seat. "It is."
They drove aimlessly, weaving through the streets as they talked about nothing and everything. David stole glances at her now and then, his eyes lingering just a little too long, as if he was memorizing every detail of her face.
After what felt like hours, he pulled into a dimly lit lounge.
"Let's chill here for a bit," he suggested.
Rachael hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed. The two of them stepped inside, the warm hum of conversation and soft jazz music greeting them. They found a quiet booth near the back, away from prying eyes.
David ordered drinks while Rachael scanned the room, her gaze flitting across the patrons absentmindedly, until her eyes landed on a familiar figure.
"David," she whispered, barely moving her lips.
He turned to her, brow furrowing. "What's wrong?"
Her eyes were locked on a corner of the lounge where a hooded figure sat across from a man. The figure's posture, the slight tilt of the head, was unmistakable.
Kate.
But that wasn't what made Rachael's blood turn to ice. Kate wasn't alone. She was with Andrew. And she was dressed like a man.
David followed her gaze, his expression darkening. "That's Kate?"
"Yes," Rachael hissed. "She doesn't want to be recognized."
The realization sent a wave of questions crashing into her mind. Why was Kate meeting Andrew in secret? What was she hiding?
"We should leave," she muttered.
David nodded but hesitated when she gripped his hand. "I don't want to go back to the house," she admitted. "I want to stay with you."
"Rachael…"
"Please. I don't want anyone to know where I am."
David sighed, squeezing her hand. "You'll be fine, but we need to be careful."
"Maybe you should go home first, let them see you, then slip out later."
She considered it and then nodded. "That's right, that's what I'll do."
When Rachael stepped into the house, the scent of dinner lingered in the air. The atmosphere was eerily quiet.
In the living room, Kate sat on the floor with the twins, gently putting a diaper on one of them. She looked up as Rachael entered.
"Hey, you're back".
"How was your outing with David? Kate asked, her voice light. "I hope you had fun."
Rachael stood still, saying nothing. Her eyes bore into Kate with a quiet, burning fury.
Kate frowned, shifting slightly. "Dinner is ready. Would you join me?"
Rachael's silence deepened. The room felt heavier.
Kate put the baby down carefully and stood, her face etched with concern. "Rachael? What's wrong? You're not answering."
Rachael's eyes glistened, her lips pressing into a thin line. When she finally spoke, her voice was low, steady.
"I don't trust you anymore, Kate."
Kate's breath caught, but before she could respond, Rachael turned sharply on her heels and stormed upstairs, slamming the door behind her.
Harriet, who had been sitting quietly in the corner of the room, stood up and walked toward Kate, her expression unreadable.
"What did you do?" Harriet asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kate swallowed hard, her fingers trembling as she clenched them into fists.
"I wouldn't know."