Chapter 16
Because there were too many people, they split into two cars.
Rachel and Cecelia rode in Jonathan’s car, while the others took a taxi.
She sat in the front passenger seat because she gets carsick, while Cecelia, sitting in the back, was still looking outside and said, “That guy just now was so handsome. Even though he looked a bit tired, his charm was impossible to hide. I really wish I could get his contact information.”
Rachel didn’t say a word, but Jonathan noticed her silence and replied to the person in the back, “Can you just shut up? If there aren’t a hundred guys you think are handsome, there must be at least ninety. I really wonder how your eyes work.”
Immediately, Cecelia’s attention was diverted, and she forgot all about Benjamin, focusing instead on bantering with Jonathan.
Rachel watched the shadows of trees quickly retreating outside the window, her mind filled with Benjamin’s voice from earlier. There was no surprise in his tone, which meant it wasn’t a coincidence. So why had he come to find her?
So much time had passed by now; he and Angelina should be married already. That made it even less likely that he should be looking for her.
After thinking about it the whole way and getting nowhere, she simply decided to stop. After all, whatever happened had nothing to do with her
anymore.
Rachel was distracted throughout the meal. After dinner, she got into the car, and Jonathan first dropped Cecelia off before heading in another
Chapter 16
direction.
It was only then that she realized this wasn’t the way home, and she asked. in confusion, “Where are we going?”
Jonathan rested one hand on the steering wheel and said, “I’m taking you out to relax. You seem pretty stressed lately.”
Rachel was taken aback and wondered. Is that true?
But thinking about it carefully, she realized it was. Too much time had passed, her throat had only just recovered, and before the competition she practiced every day, afraid of making mistakes.
She hadn’t expected Jonathan to notice, and her heart warmed.
Jonathan took her to a go–kart track. The people there clearly knew him, and even though it was closing time, they still let him in.
After a few laps, Rachel felt much more relaxed. The emotions that had weighed on her heart after seeing Benjamin again had completely dissipated.
Afterwards, he drove her home. As she was getting out of the car, Rachel suddenly said, “Thank you for today.”
Jonathan crossed his hands on the steering wheel, leaning forward and turning his head to look at her. “You’re my patient. Of course I have to take care of you.”
She lowered her head and smiled, not mentioning that her mental state wasn’t really within his scope of treatment. After getting out, she bent. down, waved to him through the window, and went upstairs.
She considered this unexpected encounter with Benjamin just a small episode, and thought she probably wouldn’t see him again.
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Chapter 16
But at Rachel’s next performance, she saw Benjamin in the audience. She froze for a moment, but had no time to think before the show began.
Benjamin sat in the best seat below, his eyes focused on the person on stage. Back when he still had her, he had never come to watch her perform. Now, all he could do was sit among the crowd, no different from any other spectator, watching her from afar.
A dense, prickling pain spread through his heart.
After the performance, Rachel and her teammates left the stage and headed to the dressing room. Just as they turned the corner, she saw Benjamin standing at the door.
He looked at her with clear intent, while Cecelia, oblivious, excitedly grabbed Rachel’s hand.
Once inside the dressing room, Cecelia finally spoke up excitedly, “Why is that handsome guy here too? Is this fate? This time I have to…”
“Cici, I’m going out for a bit.” Rachel gently patted her arm, interrupting her.
She walked out, passing right by Benjamin without stopping, heading straight for the corridor around the corner.
Benjamin’s eyes lit up as he watched her walk by, and then he followed her to the corner.
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