David arrived at the house the next morning, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. Rachael greeted him warmly, leading him to the living room where they sat down.
"You look like you haven't slept," he said, shutting the door behind him. "Talk to me."
Rachael inhaled sharply. "David, you saw what happened yesterday, right?"
"Eloise and her mom?" David questioned.
Rachael nodded. "Yes."
"What about them?" David pressed further.
"My mom isn't ready to accept either of them. She's going through a lot of pain, and I can feel it. But, David, do you think Eloise could be my half sister? I'm just so curious."
"From the resemblance, Rachael, everyone saw it. It's just too hard to deny."
"Exactly," Rachael added. "Uncle Adam suggested we do a DNA test so we could get the facts right. Even the twins will not be left out."
"That's actually a good one." "I support that as well," David responded. "Hey, Rachael, why don't you dress up? Let me take you out for lunch."
Rachael smiled, her mood shifting instantly.
"Oh, David, that will be nice." She hurried to her room to take a shower, and in fourty minutes, she was dressed.
As she descended the stairs, she noticed David staring at her, his gaze lingering. A blush crept up her face.
"David, why are you looking at me like that?"
"You look amazing."
"Thank you."
They stepped out of the house and headed to a restaurant. The atmosphere was lively, and for the first time in days, Rachael felt lighthearted. But just as she took a sip of her drink, her eyes caught a familiar face.
She stiffened. "David..."
"What is it?"
She grabbed his arm, whispering,
"Uncle Adam said he was leaving for Russia this morning, but I'm looking at him right now."
David followed her gaze. There, sitting at a table, was Adam, his posture relaxed as he laughed. But he wasn't alone. Martha was sitting across from him.
Rachael froze. "David, what do you think they're doing?"
David exhaled slowly. "I don't know, but we should keep watching."
Rachael's expression darkened.
"Now I believe Eloise is his daughter and not my half sister. Just look at them, they don't seem like people who just met yesterday."
Rachael's voice turned cold.
"We should leave here and go to the VIP section. We can't let these people disturb our dates."
David nodded, and they asked the waitress to move their food and drinks to the restaurant's private VIP section.
Days passed, and the DNA results were still pending. Rachael couldn't shake her suspicions about Adam and Martha. Something wasn't adding up.
"I need to be patient," she muttered to herself. "DNA doesn't lie."
Determined to uncover the truth, Rachael and David began tracking Adam's movements. What they discovered was unsettling: He had never left for Russia. He had been staying in town, frequently meeting Martha in secret.
One evening, after following him to a secluded house, David turned to Rachael, his voice tense.
"This is bigger than we thought."
Two weeks after that, the DNA results arrived. Eloise and the twins all had George's blood.
Rachael sat in silence, processing the revelation. "This changes everything."
That day, she arranged a private meeting with Eloise, despite Harriet's strong disapproval.
"I saw the results," Rachael said as soon as Eloise sat down.
"The DNA test confirms that we're related. You're my half sister."
Eloise looked down at her hands. "I prayed for this to be true. Who wouldn't want to be your sister? The moment I stepped into this house, I felt connected to you. I've always wanted a sister."
Rachael studied her, emotions swirling.
"I don't know how to feel, Eloise. My mom doesn't accept you, and I don't trust Martha. But... I think we should try to understand each other."
Eloise met her gaze.
"I want that too."
A tentative bond formed between them that night.
Two nights later, Rachael and David went out for a casual evening stroll. They decided to stop by the Old Wine House, but surprisingly, the place was no longer the old place it used to be. Someone had renovated it.
"David, my mom must have sold this place, and she never told me. That's unfair."
David hesitated. "Maybe we should check it out."
They slipped inside, their eyes scanning the dimly lit space. They hid behind piles of bags, watching as men offloaded crates from a trailer. The sound of rustling bags and muffled voices filled the air. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. Rachael's eyes widened as she clutched David's arm.
"It's Adam," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The sight gave them nostalgia, recalling the whole incident with Rachael's father, who used the Old Wine House for his heroin business.
The sight sent a wave of unease through her.
"David, we have to get out of here."
They slipped out unnoticed, and Rachael stormed home. She burst into the living room, calling,
"Mom!" as she raced upstairs, boiling with anger and frustration.
"Mom!" she barged into her room. Harriet was applying her lipstick, preparing to go out, when Rachael came in.
"You sold the Old Wine House," Rachael accused.
Harriet barely glanced at her.
"Yes, and why are you wandering around Festac? Mind your business."
"You didn't tell me," Racheal insisted.
Harriet scoffed.
"Since when do I need your permission to sell my property? That place was in my name, not your father's."
Rachael's stomach dropped.
"Really, Mom? And you sold it to Uncle Adam. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"
Harriet's eyes widened briefly before narrowing. "And how did you know that?"
"I just came from there."
Harriet locked the door and the window and lowered her voice.
"Listen to me, Rachael. Whatever you see at the Old Wine House, you will keep quiet."
Rachael took a step back. "What? Mom"
Harriet moved closer, her voice venomous.
"Do you think the cars, the designer clothes, the diamonds, the gold, the properties... do you think it all came from the wine business?" A cold, mocking laugh escaped her lips, sending a chill down Rachael's spine. Harriet's expression turned glacial, her gaze piercing.
"We're not just wine merchants. Our wealth runs deeper than that. And if you value this life, you'll keep your nose out of things you don't understand."
"I am a dangerous woman, Rachael. Do not test me. You will stay away from the Old Wine House. Am I clear?"
Rachael stammered, "Yes... yes, ma."
"Rachael!"
"Yes, Mom?" Rachael responded.
"I'm sorry for shouting at you, but I don't want you to get involved in this. Just face the wine business, okay?"
"Okay"Rachael muttered softly, before walking out.
A few days later, Adam returned to the house. Harriet and even Kate welcomed him warmly. Everyone seemed to get along with him except Rachael.
"Excuse me, I'm going to my room," she said abruptly, standing at the dining table. No one tried to stop her.
As she climbed the stairs, Adam and Harriet cracked jokes, their laughter ringing through the house, reaching her room.
Rachael sat on her bed, her mind racing. She could no longer trust anyone.
The next few months were filled with mixed emotions for Rachael. She spent most of her time either locked in her room or supervising her workers at the winery. The only people she spoke to were Kate and the twins, Hayden and Harper. They were her solace, the only ones who brought a sense of normalcy to her otherwise chaotic world.
One afternoon, Rachael returned home and found Kate sitting on the couch, lost in thought. Her eyes were distant, and she didn't even notice when Rachael walked in.
"Kate?" Rachael called softly. No response.
She frowned and moved closer. "Kate!" she called again, louder this time.
Kate startled, as if broken from a deep trance. She blinked and looked up. "Oh, Rachael... I didn't hear you come in."
"Clearly. What's wrong? Where are the twins?"
"Upstairs, sleeping," Kate murmured.
Rachael's voice was laced with concern as she stepped closer to Kate.
"I've been standing here for a while, and you didn't even notice. Don't try to tell me everything is fine, Kate. I can see it's not."
She studied Kate's face, her eyes scanning for any sign of what was troubling her friend. Kate's eyes seemed distant, her expression a mask of sadness.
"Come on, Kate, talk to me," Rachael urged gently, placing a comforting hand on Kate's arm.
"Let's go upstairs and get away from everyone for a bit. What's going on?"
Kate hesitated, then nodded, leading the way to her room. She sat on the bed, wringing her hands nervously. Rachael remained quiet, giving her time to gather her thoughts.
Finally, Kate took a deep breath. "I need to start over, Rachael. I want to go back to Greendale. I need to be with my family, find myself again."
Rachael's brows furrowed.
"Are you sure about this?"
Kate nodded firmly.
"I've thought about it over and over again. It's the only way forward. But… I need your help."
"Anything."
"Can you take care of the twins while I'm gone?" Kate's voice wavered. "I'll come back to see them, of course, but I need this break."
Rachael's heart clenched. She reached for Kate's hands, squeezing them reassuringly.
"You know I will. But are you certain this is what you want?"
Kate swallowed hard, her eyes glistening.
"Yes."
A warm silence settled between them before they shared a tight embrace. When Rachael pulled away, she walked to her room and returned moments later, holding something in her hand. She extended her arm toward Kate.
"Take it."
Kate stared at the car keys in disbelief. "Rachael… I can't accept this."
"Yes, you can. It's my way of supporting you."
Tears spilled down Kate's cheeks as she threw her arms around Rachael. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Rachael smiled. "Just let me know when you get to Greendale."
Kate wiped her tears and nodded.
As Rachael turned to leave, she hesitated. "Kate, not to sound harsh, but… you can move on now. Richard is gone."
Kate exhaled slowly. "I know. Thank you Racheal."
As soon as Rachael got into her room, she grabbed her phone and dialed David's number.
"Hey, David. Guess what?"
"Tell me," he said, amusement in his voice.
She grinned. "We're parents now."
David chuckled. "What? How."
"Kate's going back to Greendale to start over, and she's leaving Hayden and Harper with us. We're their new parents, at least until she comes back."
David laughed. "That's actually cool. I'll gladly do it. Those kids love me already."
They joked about it, their conversation stretching deep into the night. It felt good to talk to him, to escape the weight of everything else for a little while.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, a voice startled her.
"You and David are dating, aren't you?"
Rachael sat up abruptly.
"Mom? When did you get in here?" She clutched the blanket to her chest, her heart still racing.
Harriet smirked.
"You didn't answer my question."
"He's just my friend."
Harriet chuckled knowingly. "Friend? That boy loves you, Rachael. You better not push him into the friend zone."
Rachael groaned. "Mom…"
Harriet waved her off.
"Dinner's ready. Come downstairs and join us."
She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay, Mom."
The next morning, Rachael and David stood by the driveway, watching as Kate hugged the twins tightly, whispering reassurances into their ears.
"I love you both so much," Kate whispered, pressing kisses on their foreheads.
Rachael swallowed the lump in her throat as Kate turned to her.
"Take care of them, Rachael. And take care of yourself."
"I will. Just promise you'll come back."
Kate gave a shaky smile. "I promise."
She got into the car, rolled down the window, and waved one last time before driving away. As the car disappeared down the street, Rachael felt a deep ache settle in her chest. She glanced at the twins, their little faces filled with sadness.
She forced a reassuring smile onto her face as she wheeled them back into the house.
"Don't worry, little ones," she cooed softly. "Your mom will be back soon."