My Darling, My Dearest novel Chapter 16

Letting out a sigh of relief, Jonathan stood up and said, "Let's have dinner first." He acted as if nothing had happened, Rachel smiled to herself, and thought, 'See, he's no longer concerned about where on earth Jack has gone.'

And so it was time for him to find out what had happened between her and Jack. As she ate, Rachel pondered over how she might deal with Jonathan's questions.

After they finished eating dinner, Jonathan challenged Rachel to a game of Go. Rachel agreed, and went with him to the study upstairs.

Jonathan took out his chessboard, set it up carefully on the table, and arranged the black and white stones. They sat down opposite each other.

Jonathan stretched his arms and rolled up his sleeves. "It's been quite a while since the last time I played Go. I hope you'll take it easy on me."

Rachel said modestly, "You'd still be a better player than me if you took a ten-year break."

Jonathan giggled, flattered by her compliment. He waved his hand to brush her words aside and said, "Come on, it's been ages since we played Go. Let's have a warm-up game first."

Rachel nodded in agreement, and said, "Please!"

Rachel and Jonathan then began a silent battle with the black and white stones. At first he was taken off guard by her moves, and when he realized that she was really playing to win, he was totally unable to gain the upper hand.

Within twenty minutes, Jonathan suffered a crushing defeat.

Glancing at her father- in- law's gloomy face, Rachel felt a little embarrassed. Trying to offer an excuse, she suggested, "Maybe the color was bad luck for you."

Jonathan silently nodded and they exchanged the stones.

Not daring to be careless again, Jonathan spent an attentive hour with Rachel, absorbed in the game. At last, the game closed in a tie.

Jonathan shook his head in dissatisfaction and said, "Let's play again."

And so the third round began.

After her nap, Tracy awoke to find that the two were still playing Go in the study. She asked the servant to prepare some fruit. Then she took it upstairs by herself.

The two were completely focused on the board, and paid no attention when she came in.

Noticing the intensity of their concentration, Tracy put down the plate lightly and didn't say a word.

Of course, she knew what her husband's temper was like, so Tracy went to a corner and sat down, watching them play Go in silence.

Ten minutes later, at the brink of defeat, ■3

Jonathan had lost his spirit for the game. He put down his last stone in frustration, closed his eyes and sighed, "I lose. I'm getting old!"

Rachel began to wonder if she had gone too far. While her brain raced for a way out of the awkward situation, she dropped the black stone she was holding in her hand.

As Jonathan said, he had lost the game. He had no chance of turning the tables on Rachel after she placed that stone.

After a while, Rachel said with a warm smile, "You're my teacher in the game of Go. This only means you are a good teacher."

Jonathan laughed in consternation. He shook his head and tapped on the board. "I'm getting old..." He looked at her with a meaningful look, and said, "At my age, I can only play Go to kill time. Others can play with their grandchildren."

Rachel was struck silent by his comment. What could she possibly say to him?

Tracy carried over the plate of fruit, just in time to comfort Rachel.

Rachel had been prepared for Jonathan to probe into their relationship, but she hadn't expected him to be so frank. She hadn't even slept with Jack yet, so how could she give him a grandchild?

It wasn't easy to satisfy him. Rachel wished she could tell him that he would not wait so long if he waited for Jack and Celine to have a baby.

Tracy was also a bit excited by the topic, but she felt that Jonathan's question was too abrupt, so ■3

she rushed forward to distract them. While passing a piece of fruit to Jonathan, she winked slyly at him, to hint that he shouldn't be so anxious.

Then Tracy stood up and smoothed her hair. Pretending that she still had other things to do, she walked away and said, "After you've done, go out for a walk. The weather is lovely today."

Rachel nodded and said, "We will, Mom."

After living with the Fu family for many years, Rachel was still not very close to Tracy, nor too distant from her.

To Tracy, having Rachel live with them simply meant nothing. They had enough money to raise her.

After Jack and Rachel's marriage was arranged, Tracy became a little more enthusiastic toward Rachel. But then she discovered that the relationship between Rachel and Jack was as cold as ice, and Jack even got involved with Celine now.

Tracy's dissatisfaction was clear enough. Even though it wasn't written on her face, her lack of warmth toward Rachel was pretty obvious.

She didn't like Celine, but she didn't like Rachel either. She felt that her son had been wronged, and that he deserved a better woman.

Even if Rachel had nothing wrong with her, she didn't impress Tracy, who thought that Rachel had no idea how to satisfy her husband.

Rachel had always known that Tracy was dissatisfied with her, but she always pretended to be completely unaware of her mother- in- law's negative opinion. ■3

Before, Rachel thought that Tracy disapproved of her marriage to Jack and wanted to end it. But now, she discovered that Jonathan and Tracy hadn't given up on their marriage yet.

After Tracy left the room, Rachel knew what Jonathan was going to say.