The Silent Wife novel (Rachel and Justin) novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50

“I remember that they were here.” The voice behind her was clear and powerful. “Am I correct, Rachel?”

As she slowly returned to her senses, Rachel spun around to look at Hans.

“Long time no see.” The man before her was a head taller than her. In the eight years that passed since she last saw him, his bright and handsome visage was more mature than in her memory, but his smile was as still as brilliant as ever.

In astonishment, she gaped and signed. How… Why are you here?

As his entire family emigrated eight years ago, she thought she would never see him again.

In her twenty-nine years of living, he was one of those rare folks who brought warmth to her life. Like a sun, he had brightened her entire youth. When she was lonely and helpless, he stood firm and unmoving by her side.

Now that they were in the cafe next to the library, where the rich smell of coffee wafted, Rachel studied the man in front of her for a long time, feeling like she was in a dream.

“I know I’m handsome, Rachel, but I’m going to blush if you keep looking at me like that” Hans teased by batting his eyelids at her.

She couldn’t resist rolling her eyes at him. I see that your narcissism has never gone away, she retorted.

“Well, I’ll treat that as a compliment,” he chuckled before he looked out the window. “Things have changed a lot here, but you work in a good environment and it puts me at ease.”

When did you return? she asked.

“A while ago, but I was busy with the procedures surrounding my work transfer. If I knew your grandmother was in the hospital, I would have looked for you sooner to help you out.”

Work transfer?

A dumbfounded Rachel stared at Hans. You’re coming back for work?

“Of course. Did you think I was back on vacation?”

How about your parents… Midway through her signing, Rachel stopped as she suddenly realized that

something was amiss.

Hans, who was seated opposite her, forced a smile before he admitted with a pained expression, “My mom… passed away two years ago.”

Her expression froze. I’m sorry.

The primary reason why he had suddenly emigrated all those years ago was because of his ailing mother and she needed year-long treatment abroad. For the ease of receiving treatment, his father

chose to sell their company and move the entire family along.

“It’s okay.” Hans purposefully gave a breezy smile. “Two years have passed since then. My mother has suffered a lot in life and maybe death was a relief to her.”

All of a sudden, Rachel felt saddened.

His mother, whom she had met before, had been an extraordinarily gentle mom and that was how she

raised a son with such a bright and warm personality.

Snap!

Hans suddenly reached out and snapped his fingers in front of Rachel’s face, which startled her.

What are you doing? she asked,

“Don’t look so sad, okay? Whenever you do that, I’ll have to comfort you instead. I remembered that when we were in high school and I broke my leg, you cried so hard that someone not in the know thought I hurt you…”

Rachel snickered.

“Alright, forget about me. How are you doing?”

Before she could finish signing, her cell phone rang, which interrupted her..

When she looked down at it, she realized that it was a call from Frankie. All of a sudden, her heart thumped with a bad sense of foreboding.

“Are you at the library right now, Mrs. Burton?” Frankie asked when she answered the call.

Wedding favors? she thought in astonishment. Had she heard wrongly? Was Justin actually arranging for her coworkers to receive wedding favors?

“What’s wrong?” he repeated. “Why do you look so upset?”

While forcing herself to be calm, Rachel shook her head. Nothing, she signed. It’s just that I’m needed back at the office and can‘t accompany you anymore.

“Oh! That’s okay, go back to work then. I don’t need you to keep me company.” With a sigh of relief, Hans slouched in his chair with a smile. “I’ll just sit here for a bit before heading home. I’ll look for you on another day.”

Okay. After she nodded, she stood up only for him to stop her.

Rachel paused and looked at Hans uncomprehendingly. What? she asked.