Such a Rude and Noisy Woman

From the sound of the footsteps, Rachel knew that Hiram had come in. She breathed a weary breath and smiled helplessly.

"I'm not a good wife because I was unfaithful. I hugged another man secretly," she said, and her voice awash with sorrow. She gave an empty laugh. "Maybe I don't deserve to be your wife, Hiram," she continued, and her back still turned to him.

"He knew I was in the room, but he still said all those things. It looks like there is nothing left to save from my reputation." She blinked against the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes.

Hiram stayed silent for some moments, looking at Rachel's back. Her shoulders were slumped and her head was bowed. His chest tightened at the sight. She looked so fragile, as if she would fall over the moment a breath of wind blew on her. Hiram sighed and said softly,"Rachel, you can tell me what happened that day. You know I will believe you."

She walked towards the sickbed. Two bags were on top of it, packed. She kept her gaze lowered to it, putting inside the two things she forgot. "He came to say goodbye.

He also said that he was letting go of his resentment, and that he would no longer intrude in our lives." She paused, hesitating. "He hugged me as farewell. It was the first and last." She zipped up the bag.

"I won't force you to trust me, but what I told you was the truth," she finished, her voice cracking.

Hiram listened to every word. He continued to look at her but made no move to come closer. "I believe you," he said gently.

A gasp escaped from Rachel. She turned around, her eyes glistening. "Really?" she asked, hesitant to meet his eyes. "Aren't you doubting me?"

Hiram closed the gap between them and put his hand on Rachel's chin. Lifting her face, he saw the question in her eyes. He held her gaze and his eyes speaking to hers. "I trust you." Hiram said as his thumb slowly traced her cheek. "I know who you really are, and I will always believe in you."

The embrace between Rachel and Patrick didn't make him feel good, but Hiram knew the woman he married. He trusted her, as he always had for the past four years.

Rachel closed her eyes and lifted her hand to touch Hiram's. She looked at him and her gaze answered his warmly. "Hiram, I will never leave you. As long as you believe me, I don't care about what other people say."

What other people thought of her was of no consequence. Only Hiram, and his trust mattered. His voice would drown out everyone else's, and for Rachel, that was more than enough.

"I promise. I believe you." They held each other for some time, letting the silence take away all heaviness.

After a while, Carl came in to help Rachel carry her things. They were going to return to home. They got out of the ward and saw Gavin and Lydia standing at the door.

"Hiram, why don't you go back to our villa first? Mom and I will take good care of you," Lydia said. Upon seeing that Hiram was about to leave, Lydia tried to persuade him to go with them. She knew that it would be difficult to see him again.

"Yes, Hiram, your mom is waiting for you at home," Gavin added.

Hiram glanced at Rachel and took her hand, then looked at his father. "Dad, I promised Joyce and Jonny that we would go home today. I will take Rachel and the kids to see mom and you in a couple of days." He intertwined their fingers and squeezed Rachel's hand as he answered. After nodding goodbye to Gavin, he left, and his hand still held Rachel's.

Gavin followed him with his eyes

and gave out a sigh when he was gone.

Lydia touched her father's back and said, "Dad, don't worry. Hiram said he would bring the kids to see us in a few days. You don't need to be troubled." Gavin looked at her.

"I know, Lydia," he replied. Giving out another sigh, he walked out of the hospital with Lydia.

Rachel and Hiram were on the way home. After some time, Hiram pulled over beside the road.

Rachel looked at him, her expression asking her question. "Honey, I need to meet someone. Wait for me in the car, I'll come back as soon as I'm done," Hiram said.

"Okay, but be careful. Don't stay too long," Rachel replied. She was still feeling worried as Hiram had not yet fully recovered. The doctor advised him to rest and avoid any physical or emotional stress.

Sensing her worry, Hiram smiled at her and said, "I know." He got off the car and

walked over to another car not far away.

Wade was waiting for him.

He opened the door of the car and Hiram entered.

Sitting on the passenger seat, Hiram stared at Wade and asked, "How is it?"

Wade sighed before answering. "I'm afraid you will be disappointed. I've tried everything. I took her on dates in the best places, gave her expensive gifts, but it's like she's made of diamond. It's impossible to cut through to her." He paused before apologizing. "I'm sorry, Sir. I did my best,"

he said.

"She already has her heart and mind set in stone. It's impossible to change it. You are the only one she loves."

Wade had exhausted all means to win Lydia over, but everything he did was in vain. Even after everything he had done, she remained cold to his advances.

Hiram wasn't surprised. If Lydia accepted Wade, she would stop clinging to him and have a life of her own. Wade was a good man. They would be able to have a good and happy life abroad.

However, it seemed as if Lydia knew Hiram's intentions, she was still desperately holding on to him.

"I know you tried. That's enough." Hiram gave him a quick pat on the shoulder and got off the car.

Rachel saw Hiram walking toward the car. She didn't expect him to come back so quickly. He was walking with heavy strides, and his expression closed. Rachel said nothing on their way back, sensing that something was on his mind.

When they arrived, Rachel asked Hiram to rest and take a few days off work. Hiram gave in, but asked Ben to deliver important documents from the company so he could look over them at home.

That afternoon, Luke came to see Hiram.

In the study.

Hiram leaned on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket. He read the documents as listened to Luke.

"Hiram, it took some time, but I found something useful in the recording you gave me. It's quite an important message."

"Get straight to the point and tell me what it is," Hiram said briefly.

From the pocket of his jacket, Luke took out the recording pen and played it. Voices flowed out and filled the room. "Do you hear that? There is a 'he' in the recording. I had to listen several times to be sure.

With this, we can be certain that Fannie was not the person being referred to. There was another man who buried the baby under the foot of the mountain." Luke looked at Hiram squarely and continued, "Not even Dave knows when the criminal buried the baby. This is all the evidence you need."

Hearing this, Hiram was thoughtful for a moment. "Do you mean that Lydia planned the whole thing the entire time?" he asked, a frown settling on his face.

"Well..." Luke hesitated but continued, "Yes."

Hiram gripped the documents in his hand. He felt his anger rising. He thought that Lydia's involvement was just coincidence.

He got her drunk last time to get information that Gavin might had told her. However, he realized now that his aim was completely misdirected. He didn't expect that Lydia was the mastermind behind the whole case.

"What will you do?" Luke asked, interrupting his thoughts. "From my own views as a lawyer, she broke quite a lot of laws by falsifying evidence, framing others, and damaging other people's reputation," Luke said carefully. "According to the law..." Luke's voice trailed off and he left the rest of the sentence hanging.

Lydia was Hiram's sister, even if she was a foster one.

It would ruin his family's reputation if the crimes were brought to light.

Hiram raised his head slowly. "Go to collect evidence," he said.

"What?" Luke thought he misheard him. 'Did I hear him right just now?'0000000☐☐☐☐