“Rachel’s incident is complex but I’m not getting rid of her just yet,” Jefferey answered in a faraway tone, but it sounded more like he was talking to himself. “She’s important to the company’s survival. I wouldn’t have kept her around otherwise.
Amber’s heart sank. After her father had gone out, she sat on the edge of her bed and gulped a glass of water. She was a spoiled girl, so that was the first time she ever heard her father talking about Rachel in such
a high regard. But instead of listening to him, she got jealous. Really? Important to the company? Why?
Riverdale’s winter was hauntingly beautiful and it was as if life itself seemed to have gone into a slumber. Not a soul was stirring, at least not on the surface. In a tailor shop within the old area, Janice pulled the curtains back slightly and rubbed her freezing hands. Ever since she was suspended, she had been helping her grandfather with his tailor business.
“Did you find her?” Julian quickly stood up. It had been two months since he got that slip from Rachel.
However, Janice shook her head. “No. Not even a clue.”
“How did this happen? She can’t have disappeared into thin air!” Julian was starting to panic. “It’s been two months. This can’t go on any longer. I’m going to ask him where he’s hiding her.”
“Do you think he’ll tell you?” Janice countered with a serious look. “No news is good news. Perhaps the best news.”
“So we’re just gonna do nothing but wait?” Julian was already getting ready to take Rachel overseas with him when he got that slip two months ago but when he went to see her the next day, there was nobody left in the
villa, save for Jennifer. That being said, Jennifer knew nothing about Rachel’s disappearance as well. After that, he turned to Janice, thinking that she could at least find some clue.
“Justin is a cautious man. We won’t find her that easily now that he has hid her away. And he knows I’m Rachel’s friend, so he’s going to be doubly on guard.”
Upon hearing that, Julian asked, “What should we do then? He’s going to kill Rachel at this rate.”
“He’s your cousin. You should know him better than I do. Since he’s hiding her, that means he’s not trying to kill her. My guess is…”
“What? What is it?”
“He’s worried that you might take her away.”
Julian paled and he plopped back down on the chair. “Great! Now I feel like punching myself. I should have been more careful and shouldn’t have let him know I was taking her overseas.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. We’re not out of options just yet.”
“What else can we do?”
“Since he locked her up, he’ll be seeing her for sure. We can’t get a hold on him, but someone can.”
“Who?”
“Gloria.”
Julian paused for a moment. Oh-yeah! Justin trusts Gloria the most. He’ll be on his guard, but not when it comes to her.
The bell chimed at midnight, announcing the arrival of Springfest. The feeling of festivity rose with each
chime, eventually reaching a fever pitch. Although Springfest was here, someone wasn’t in a celebratory mood. She was locked in a claustrophobic room with nothing but a bed, a simple desk, and a TV. It was airing
a Springfest program, though the show was coming to a close.
At the same time, the fireworks display was already starting. Rachel looked outside the window, immersing herself in the flashy display for a moment. Then she held the chair and stood up, revealing her slightly rounded belly. Indeed, she was already four months pregnant.
She only found out about it after Justin locked her in here. Since then, he told everyone to move everything out so she couldn’t kill the baby easily. Even the window was locked from outside, leaving just a small crack. It was through that crack Rachel saw the fireworks going up in the city center.
She touched the glass window, blinking at the blooming fireworks. Her eyes were shining a little but when she heard someone opening the door, the light died out.
The one who came in was none other than Justin. However, he was surprised to see Rachel standing before the window.
“I’ll be off then, President Burton. I’ll be here tomorrow morning,” Frankie told Justin, snapping the latter out of
Justin nodded and took the thermos lunch box from Frankie.
The door was then locked but it wasn’t the end. Rachel heard the sound of a chain rattling as it passed through the handle. Justin wasn’t satisfied with a smart lock, so he had to double up the security by adding a chain. It locked him in as well, but he felt more secure that way.
Rachel looked at the door and sneered at him. Why did you lock yourself in here too? You can’t get out in time if something were to happen.
“I’ll be fine,” Justin said. He then opened the thermos lunch box and murmured in a shockingly gentle tone, “You should eat something.”
Rachel put a hand on her lower back as she went over to the desk, but she was shocked to see what was inside the lunch box-pierogies.
“Pierogies are perfect for Springfest Eve. Gloria said you like leek and egg pierogies, so I got the restaurant to make this.” Justin set up the plate and poured some vinegar into it before handing a pair of chopsticks to her.
Pierogies always reminded Rachel of her late grandmother. Her grandmother loved to make her leek and egg pierogies back when she was still alive. They tasted different with or without the vinegar. I don’t feel like eating.
A frown creased Justin’s forehead. He picked up a pierogi, dipped it in vinegar and tried to feed her. “Here, have a bite.”
However, she turned away.
“Even if you don’t want to eat, the baby has to.”
I never wanted this child.
Justin’s face fell. A moment later, he gripped her face harshly. “Say that again.”
At this point, there was nothing but pure, unadulterated iciness on Rachel’s face. Not a day had gone by without misery after she found out she was pregnant. She struggled to come to terms after her first miscarriage, but she couldn’t bring herself to love the child she was bearing this time.
She was like a bird locked in a cage being fed by her owner. Her freedom was snatched away from her and she had lost the most basic dignity of what it means to be human, all because Justin wanted his child to come to this world.
Justin then gripped her face even more tightly, warning her, “Do you really think I can’t threaten you anymore? You think you can do anything you want now? I’ll have you know that thug who follows you around is searching for you everywhere. He even tailed me today.”
Rachel froze up when she thought of Victor. What did you do to him?
Justin let her go and tried to feed her the pierogi again. “Open your mouth.”
Rachel bit her lip as tightly as she could, glaring at Justin. She wanted to refuse but in the end, she opened her mouth and let him feed her. However, the pierogi tasted bitter, like despair and sadness.
It had been two months. Two whole months of suffering.
