An Inevitable Fate?

Both the girls hung their heads.

"You need to go back. Aunt might have come by now."

Rachel knew she had to go back eventually, no matter what. Jane's anger couldn't be solved by her disappearance. Her family was in misery and they needed her.

She had to go back to her family now even if they decide to discard her soon in the future.

The three left and reached the hospital soon. Rachel saw their house car and knew her mother had come.

Rachel wanted to speak to Darren but the latter excused himself saying that father's health was most important and they can speak later about the situation.

Rachel was thankful to him.

Rachel entered with her friend and saw her mother, sitting on the nearby bench, with swollen eyes.

Beside her, Jane was leaning on her left shoulder. They looked exhausted.

Rachel taking a deep breath walked towards her mother. Gabriel slowly lifted her head and saw her.

Rachel was in no better condition. She expected her mother to scold and blame her for everything just like Jane had done. She braced herself for the rebuke or even worse, a tight slap across her face from her.

But to her surprise, Gabriel took her daughter into a warm embrace and sobbed lightly. Rachel also hugged her.

"Are you fine, dear?"

Gabriel asked. Rachel felt her heart throbbing. Shouldn't she be the one asking that?

"Mom," She spoke softly.

Jane snorted from the side.

"Didn't you leave already?"

"Jane!" Gabriel warned.

"Mom, it's fine."

Rachel tried not to make it worse.

Gabriel had heard everything from Mr. Kenly and knew what had happened between her daughters. She could have never imagined, even in her dreams, that Jane could speak rudely to Rachel. She wasn't aware of the entire banquet scene but she believed in Rachel.

Seeing that Jane was still angry with Rachel, she decided to separate them now. She convinced Jane to go home saying she would take care of Colin.

"What about her?"

Jane was not ready to go if Rachel was staying.

"She will leave too. I will stay here."

After debating for some time, Jane left the hospital. Her mom had asked Mr. Kenly to drop her child.

In the hospital,

"You can stay, dear. She wouldn't know and if you go home now, she will start again."

"No, mom. I will leave too. You told her I would leave. I can't make you look like a lier."

Gabriel felt warm inside. Some times, legit children won't care about their parents but she got Rachel as her daughter and daughter-in-law who makes her parents as her first priority. How can anyone believe that Rachel was at fault?

"But where will you stay?"

Crysta who was standing a few meters away, came running to them.

"With me! She will stay with me in the hotel."

Gabriel beamed at her. Such a good friend!

Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Okay dear, be careful. You can take my car."

Rachel nodded and asked her to ask for Mr. Kenly for anything. She said she will be back in the morning and left with her friend.

_

After taking a shower, both of them collapsed on the bed. It was 3 pm and they were dead tired.

In just a few hours, so much happened and her life was all messed up.

In the darkroom, though Rachel was exhausted, she was still wide awake, thinking about the scene.

"What are your thoughts?"

Crysta startled her friend.

"I thought you were sleeping?"

"Now you know that I am not. Don't change the topic."

She was speaking with the blanket on her face.

Rachel huffed. What could she tell? She, herself didn't know anything.

But she told everything, including how she met him for the first time, how she made a dumb promise, what happened on the engagement day and after that.

"So, he was being a jerk from the starting. Nothing new."

Crysta found it amusing after hearing her friend's story. She giggled but Rachel's stare made her shut up. She spoke after clearing her throat.

"Okay, you believe that it was him who did that? Those photos?"

"Maybe, I don't know. Who else could be if not form him? No one else was there during those times apart from us. It should be him."

"Even though he objected for your marriage with Darren, he wouldn't go to such extent to destroy your reputation along with his. Don't you think?"

How did her friend know that the manipulative guy wouldn't do such a thing? He was clearly a wolf in the sheep's skin. He would do anything to get what he wanted irrespective of the consequences!