Chapter 116 Obedient
“You’re just too easygoing and never cause trouble. If it were me or anyone else in that situation, we’d be making a fuss, calling our boyfriends to come running.” Natalia said it offhandedly, but Rachel felt a sting.
Her chest tightened, as if she’d just been hit with an uncomfortable truth she had been avoiding for years.
It was painfully obvious.
Even Natalia, who barely knew the details, had picked up on it.
But Rachel had spent years pretending it wasn’t the case.
Brian had picked her because she was the quiet, agreeable type–someone who wouldn’t stir up trouble.
She had no powerful family, no safety net. If he ever decided he was done with her, cutting ties wouldn’t cost him a thing. No backlash, no consequences. Just a clean break, as if she had never been there.
“Come on, let’s go,” Rachel muttered, grabbing her things with a newfound heaviness in her heart.
Just as they stepped into the corridor, Brian appeared out of nowhere.
The moment he saw her holding her bags, Brian quickly reached for them. “Why didn’t you call me? I would’ve
come sooner.”
“You had work, and I didn’t want to bother you,” she answered, keeping her voice light.
“You don’t have to do everything alone. Let me know next time,” Brian said with a soft but firm tone..
Rachel simply nodded, keeping her thoughts to herself.
Without another word, the three of them got into the car.
Rachel rested her head against the window, staring blankly at the passing city lights, lost in thought.
Natalia, ever the social one, kept the conversation lighthearted, joking with Brian and keeping the atmosphere
lively.
Rachel found herself smiling at Natalia’s energy, a small pang of envy creeping in.
Youth had a way of making everything seem effortless, full of endless possibilities.
“Are you okay?” Brian glanced at her, sensing something was off.
“I’m fine. Just tired,” she murmured.
Without a word, he took her hand in his, offering silent reassurance while gently guiding her head toward his
shoulder.
“Come here, lean on me, and rest for a bit.”
Chapter 116 Obedient
“It’s fine. I’d rather watch the view outside,” Rachel said simply.
Brian’s hand, mid–air, lingered for a moment before he hesitantly lowered it.
After a brief pause, he awkwardly pulled back.
Soft music played in the background, but the sudden shift in mood didn’t go unnoticed. Even Natalia, usually chatty, went quiet.
The silence stretched, thick and undeniable.
As the car turned a corner, Rachel suddenly spoke. “Ronald, pull over for a second.”
“But we can’t stop right here. We’ll need to go a little further.”
“Alright, just find somewhere we can pull over.”
As soon as the car stopped, she stepped out at a steady pace.
Brian was right behind her. “What is it? Did something catch your eye?”
“There was a lottery shop back there. I feel like buying some tickets.”
“Since when are you into lottery tickets?” Brian asked, clearly surprised.
He couldn’t recall her ever mentioning any interest in lotteries.
“No real reason, just felt like trying my luck,” she said lightly. Then, meeting his gaze, she added, “If you’re busy, I can go alone and take a cab home later.”
“Come on, let’s go.”
Without a second thought, Brian took her hand and led the way.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the small shop.
“I’ll take two of each,” Rachel told the shopkeeper.
“Got it,” the owner said, handing over a thick stack.
Just as Rachel was about to start scratching, Natalia’s voice rang out. “Me too. Two of each.”
Grinning, Natalia waved her tickets. “Let’s see who wins more!”
“Alright,” Rachel said, playing along.
She scratched through all sixteen tickets, only to find she hadn’t won a single prize.
Natalia peeked over curiously. “So? How much did you win?”
“You go first,” Rachel countered.
“Me?” Natalia grinned, counting her winnings before flashing five fingers. “Five hundred.
Spent 380, won 500–so that’s a profit of 120. Not bad, huh? What about you? More or less?”
“Less,” Rachel answered simply.
Chapter 116 Obedient
Natalia beamed, but the excitement faded when Rachel added, “Nothing. Not even a single win.”
“No way!” Natalia gasped, snatching Rachel’s tickets for a closer inspection.
She checked once, then twice, before finally sighing in defeat.
As they turned to leave, even the shop owner shook his head. “Miss, that’s some seriously bad luck. I’ve never
seen anyone buy that many and not win a thing.”
Rachel managed an awkward smile but said nothing.
Natalia, on the other hand, scoffed. “Wow, great customer service. Ever heard of tact?”
Hooking her arm through Rachel’s, she huffed. “Come on, let’s get out of here. No point listening to him.”
Brian, just getting off a call, turned to them. “How did it go?”
“Nothing could’ve been worse,” Rachel said with a shrug.
During the ride back, Rachel’s phone rang. It was Carol, saying she missed them and wanted them to drop by.
So, Brian let Natalia off midway before driving toward Carol’s place.
This time, his grandparents were also there.
Though their hair had turned silver, their spirits remained lively as they welcomed them with warm smiles.
“Finally! It’s been ages since I last saw you,” Carol said, her eyes lighting up.
She then turned to Brian with a playful frown. “You never listen. I only get to see Rachel when I call you first.”
His grandfather, Hector White, who always doted on Carol, chimed in, “Brian, do you even remember what
your grandma tells you?”
Brian sighed. “Of course, I do.”
Over lunch, Carol suddenly asked, “Rachel, did you like the wedding gown? Did you take any pictures? Show
me.”
Hearing that, Rachel hesitated. She wasn’t sure of how to respond.
If she said no, Carol would only press for more details.
And if she found out about Tracy, it would just cause unnecessary worry.
Before she could find the right words, Brian jumped in. “Grandma, something came up that day, so we had to reschedule. I’ll take Rachel again soon.”
Carol’s face fell. “What exactly are you so busy with? Isn’t that big company filled with employees? If everything depends on you alone, it might as well shut down. Trying on wedding dresses, taking photos, and picking rings -these things matter. And you postponed them?”
Hector shook his head. “Brian, you dropped the ball here. When I promised your grandma we’d try on wedding clothes, I got into a car accident on the way. Even with my head bleeding, I still went through with it.”
Carol huffed. “Exactly. You’re lucky Rachel is patient. Most women would have lost their temper by now.”
Chapter 116 Obedient
Realizing his grandparents were genuinely upset, Brian quickly apologized and promised to fix it.
Later that night, as they settled into their room, Brian wrapped his arms around Rachel from behind. “Rachel,
I’m really sorry about that day. Give me another chance, okay?”
