Trapped In Lace

Jonathan glared at Jack. "He wouldn't dare!"

Jack gritted his teeth in an effort to control himself. He couldn't stand it anymore. He felt like if he stayed here any longer, his father would just make all his decisions for him.

Without saying anything, he abruptly got up and walked out of the room. After a moment of hesitation, Rachel followed him out as well.

As they left, Jonathan and Eric, who were having a pleasant conversation in the ward, turned and looked at the door at the same time.

Then, they turned back to each other with tacit smiles in their eyes.

It was only when Jack reached the balcony that he realized that Rachel was following him.

He put away the pack of cigarettes in his hand and asked indifferently, "Why are you leaving the ward too?"

Rachel smiled thinly. "To let them talk."

Then, after a pause, she added, "Actually, I came out to say thank you."

There was a flicker of emotion in Jack's deep eyes before they became unreadable once again. He put his hand on the balcony railing and lightly tapped on its edge with his slender fingers.

"For what?"

Rachel nodded her head and said earnestly, "Thank you so much for your help in the past few days."

Upon hearing this, Jack smiled bitterly and stepped closer to Rachel, towering threateningly over her.

Rachel couldn't help but nervously take a step back, cornering herself against the balcony railing.

J

asking, "What do you think of Jack now?

How is he these days?" For a moment, Eric was dumbfounded. Then, he looked at her in disbelief and asked, "Are you serious?"

Rachel shrugged. "I'm just asking. Do you think he has changed?"

"Yes, he has. It's quite obvious."

Then, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he continued, "Rachel, has he been bewitched? How can someone's personality change like that? I'm curious."

If Jack were here, he would shoot daggers at Eric with just his eyes upon hearing this.

Rachel didn't know how to reply, but she was vaguely glad that she had someone to discuss this with.

She knew she couldn't talk about it with Lea, who would probably fly into a rage. And it would not be appropriate to discuss this with Lucas.

Of course, it was also strange that Eric was the one she was finally talking about it with.

'But maybe he doesn't understand what I am talking about...' she realized.

"Jack said... he wants to start over," she explained.

Eric repeated those words several times as if in a trance. Then, finally realizing what she had been trying to ask him, he said stupidly, "Rachel, are you saying he has fallen for you?"

Rachel nodded her head shyly. "That's exactly what I mean."

"Fuck! Is he out of his mind?"

"Can we have a civil conversation about this?" Rachel snapped. What did Eric mean by saying Jack was out of his mind? Was he insult Jack or her?