Daniel knew that Jill had made loud noises on purpose last night. She was intending to make their love affair known to everyone so that the man sleeping with her couldn't deny their relationship.
But to her disappointment, that man turned out to be Daniel. Since Hiram had come to her tent and taken a look the night before last, she had assumed that the man who came into her tent last night was also Hiram. She had tried her best to please him, but it was all in vain.
Jill lingered in the tent for a while. When she finally stepped out, she told everyone that she was feeling out of it and wanted to go home. Just as Hiram had predicted, she asked for leave voluntarily.
Having done such a shameful thing, she was too embarrassed to stay there any longer.
Hiram granted her leave instantly, and arranged for a man to accompany her home.
Everybody felt relieved at Jill's departure. She was such a scheming girl that her presence made everyone feel uncomfortable.
At noon, Rachel helped Gary make the fire and cook. She seemed to be adept at doing everything. They hadn't expected Rachel, the wife of the CEO, to be so amiable, so they began to look at her in a new light.
Having been brought up in the countryside, Rachel had learned how to make a fire and cook when she was still a child. She hadn't volunteered to do anything when Jill was there, because Jill had been eager to show off.
Knowing Jill's intention, Rachel had left all the chances to her. But just because she hadn't helped around didn't mean she didn't know how to.
Now that Jill was gone and everyone was busy with their own tasks, she tried to help them as much as she could.
After lunch, Rachel prepared to wash the dishes. "Put them down, Rachel, " Gary said. "You've helped me a lot already. Now go and rest. I'll get someone else to wash the dishes."
Then he turned to Daniel and said, "Daniel, come here. Remember the bet you lost? All the dishes are yours."
Daniel walked over reluctantly and gave Gary a hateful look. "There's already someone who is willing to wash the dishes. Why bother me? Such a great friend you are!"
Rachel helped Daniel put all the bowls and dishes into a basin so that he could take the basin to the river to do the washing. "What's the bet you guys had? Tell me about it, " Rachel asked while putting the dishes away.
Gary opened his mouth to tell her but Daniel cut in immediately. "Shut your big mouth!" he exclaimed before spraying water at his face. He rolled up his sleeves and got ready to wash the dishes.
Rachel shook her head with a smile and asked no more. She knew that it must be something that the two men felt embarrassed to share.
"I'll help you carry the basin to the river, " Rachel said to Daniel. It was difficult for one person alone to carry all the dishes.
So, Daniel and Rachel carried the basin together and walked towards the river.
As they were putting the basin down, Rachel's fingernail brushed over Daniel's hand. "Sorry, did I hurt you?" she asked quickly.
Daniel put down the basin and saw a tiny scratch bleeding on the back of his hand. "It's said that women are like roses with thorns, beautiful to look at but painful to touch. Now I know that's true, " he joked.
Now that Daniel's hand was hurt, Rachel decided to wash the dishes for him. "I know you like joking around, but this time you're actually right. I do have thorns."
"Aha, what does that mean?" Daniel asked curiously, washing the dishes together with Rachel.
"Before Hiram, every man I went on a date with had something bad happen to them. Two or three of them got into car accidents after the blind dates with me, and another two got fired by their bosses when they tried to have a date with me. You may not believe it, but lots of strange and ridiculous things happened to me."
Rachel was drying the dishes that had been washed with a cleaning cloth while recollecting her 'good old days'.
Now she could talk about her unpleasant past leisurely as if it had nothing to do with her.
Daniel didn't think what Rachel said was true, but it seemed that she wasn't joking.
"No matter. Those are all coincidences. You shouldn't take the blame."
Rachel put the dishes back into the basin and stood up. "Believe it or not, it happened anyway. And it's over now. Everything is predestined!"
She turned her eyes to Hiram, who was attentively watching Chad draw. Hiram raised his head as if he had felt her gaze.
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