Chapter 11 Jack is Back

• Rachel's POV:
• I gave a warm smile and got up from the chair. "Watch your TV."
• After picking up the painkillers from downstairs, I made my way to the local supermarket.
• Once I had gathered everything Jane needed, I noticed the display of sanitary pads on the shelf and realized I hadn't had a period in almost two months.
• Since my miscarriage three years ago, my cycle had become irregular, often skipping a couple of months at a time.
• Still, it should be coming soon.
• Just in case, I decided to buy a few extra packs.
• After paying, as I was heading out, a woman walked in, jostling my shoulder and causing my shopping bags to fall to the ground. She then brushed off her clothes with a look of disdain. "Don't you watch where you're going?"
• I looked up to see Joanna Murray, that irritating woman.
• "After all this time, you still haven't learned to navigate a store properly?"
• Joanna looked me over with an air of superiority and a touch of contempt. "Oh, it's you. What are you doing here so late? Don't tell me you're sneaking around to meet someone while my cousin is away/"
• I was in no mood to engage, so I started picking up the bags she had knocked over. "Joanna, since you've been abroad, you really should have stayed away. You might not know this, but I'm not just evil; I also hold grudges."
• Joanna's face shifted slightly. "What are you plotting?"
• I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, nothing much. But it might be best if you never find yourself pregnant. Otherwise, you might want to be cautious around me. You never know when I might decide to come after you and … "
• I let my gaze casually wander over her.
• Joanna looked alarmed. "You're crazy. You're the only one who knows if you're pregnant. Don't think you can blame me just because I bumped into you by accident. And don't even think about making any moves on me! The Murrays won't let you get away with it! And … and my cousin will definitely divorce you and kick you out of the Murrays. You won't get a thing!"
• "Well, we'll see how it turns out. I'm not the one who'll be losing."
• "You're insane!"
• Joanna shouted one last insult before turning on her heel and rushing out, nearly crashing into someone at the corner.
• I watched her retreating figure with a smirk of disdain on my lips.
• ...
• Back home, I stored the groceries in the fridge and took a cup of hot water to Jane, who was lying listlessly on the sofa.
• Jane eagerly took the cup, her eyes lighting up as she held up her phone. "Guess who just texted me."
• "Was it Mr. Bean or Spongebob Squarepants?"
• "I'm serious." Jane showed me her phone, which displayed two lines of text.
• "Hi, I'm Jack.
• "Do you have any news about Rachel?"
• I stared at the messages for a long time, until the phone screen dimmed.
• After a pause, Jane said, "Jack's back in the country. He's been searching for you everywhere. I'm not sure who gave him my contact information. Should I tell him you're staying with me, or would you prefer I pass him directly to you?"
• I shook my head instinctively. "No, not yet … let's hold off for now."
• Jane sighed and sent Jack a message as I instructed.
• She showed it to me before sending it. It said she hadn't heard from me in a while but would update him as soon as she had news.
• I smiled at her in gratitude.
• Whether Jack could tell she was stalling, I couldn't be sure. He responded with a brief "Thank you" and didn't follow up.
• That night, as I lay in bed, sleep eluded me.
• My mind was a whirlwind of unsettled thoughts, and it wasn't until dawn began to break that I finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.
• But it wasn't long before my phone began to vibrate incessantly. After a few moments of fumbling, I managed to answer.
• A man's voice came through the receiver. "Mrs. Murray, there's an issue at the company. It's best if you come over to see for yourself."
• I didn't catch all the details and only began to clear my foggy mind after the call ended.
• The company? Which company?
• I checked the caller ID—Ted, Dean's assistant.
• I quickly ran my fingers through my hair, put on some clothes, washed up, and grabbed a cab.
• When I arrived at Murray Corporation just past noon, the area was crowded with lunchtime activity.
• As I approached the building, I heard a disturbance at the entrance.
• "How dare you lay a hand on me! I'm the CEO's father-in-law. Do you think I can't have you all fired?
• "This is outrageous. You tell Dean that even though we're getting a divorce, we're entitled to half of the assets.
• "My daughter has been married to him for three years, sleeping beside him every night, and now he refuses to give her a single cent. Is he even a real man?"
• I arrived just in time to hear the last remark. My face drained of color, overwhelmed by a wave of embarrassment. I wanted to disappear right there.
• I started to turn away, but Ted appeared beside me without my noticing. He whispered urgently, "Mrs. Murray, your father has been causing a commotion here for the past half hour, making a huge impact on Murray Corporation. Mr. Murray expects you to handle this within three minutes, or he'll call the police and take legal action."