"What do you mean by 'were'? I am still one of the best lawyers but I decided to retire." Michael was offended.

"Yeah you are now too old, you worked harder, it is now time for you to take rest."

​​

"Yes and that's why I offered Nicholas a chance to be my partner."

"Yeah it was a good decision, Nick is a good child and very responsible."

"Yeah that's why I chose him." Then he remembered something and asked, "Now tell me about Daniel and Rachel, have you two given up on them and are really going to wait patiently for them to get together?"

"Yes but we will create opportunities so that they can meet frequently just in case" Anthony winked at his two friends.

"Yeah, like how you made Rachel stay at Daniel's home a few days back?" Michael asked James.

"That was out of concern for her but yeah we can come up with such ideas to make them spend more time together." James started thinking deeply to come up with more ideas.

"Hey, how about you and Rachel stay at Morris mansion tonight, you guys are anyway coming for Jim's surprise party, we will extend the time and then you say you are very tired and insist Rachel to stay at home for the night and it is anyway saturday the next day so she doesn't have office and Daniel too has leave, so it won't be inconvenient for them, what say?" Anthony already came up with a smart move.

"I love it, Tony you are really getting smarter these days." James praised his friend.

"What nonsense, I have always been this smart." Anthony grunted in annoyance and Michael laughed at these two bantering.

"For this plan to be successful ensure your daughter-in-law doesn't come in between and end up spending time with Rachel instead of Daniel." Michael knew Catherine very well.

"You are right, I'll inform Cat in advance and will tell her to not spend too much time with Rachel." Anthony decided to involve Cat too in this plan.

"Also inform Jimmy too." James added, "Remember that night too Jimmy was at Daniel's house and was third wheeling in their relationship."

"Oh god my family is the limit, I'll inform Jimmy too and just in case will tell Harry also not to interrupt these two." Anthony hit his head thinking his family itself is the biggest hurdle for Daniel and Rachel.

The other two laughed seeing his family scenario.

They finished their lunch and after bidding adieu to each other, they all went back to their homes.

...

St Christian City Hospital

Friday Evening

Anthony called Daniel "Hey, what are you doing? Hope you haven't started from the hospital yet" he asked as he tried to listen if there is any traffic noise in the background.

Daniel whispered, "Not yet grandpa, right now I am giving instructions to my interns so that I can leave soon."

"Okay, come soon and buy some donuts on the way, bring lot of donuts we are eight people and we should not fall short of it"

"Okay, do you need anything else grandpa" he asked.

"No, come as soon as possible"

"Okay"

Then Daniel instructed the two interns, Lisa and Steve, about some patients and then left for home.

After Daniel left, Lisa and Steve headed to their cabin and on the way she asked him, "So any plans for tonight?"

"Nope, why?"

"You know just"

"Why don't you invite me to your home for dinner?" Steve asked excitedly.

"Why should I?"

"Umm because I am your friend"

"Oh please, you want to come to my home so that you can know more about my sister." Lisa saw through his intentions.

Steve laughed and scratched his head, "You saw through me"

"Are you still not over her?"

"No, I mean I tried to get over her and since she was dating him at that time I knew I had no chance with your sister and you know her boyfriend used to glare at me, that cold and scary guy." he cursed and continued, "but now since they have broken up maybe I can try now to date her."

"Look Steve, let me be very honest with you, although they broke up, my sister is still into him and would never look at you."

Just then these two came across Emily and Matt who were leaving for their home.

"Long time no see senior" Steve immediately wished Emily and Matt.

"Hey, Lisa and you, what's your name?" Matt struggled to remember Steve's name, he knew his face but couldn't recollect his name.

They were all in the same high school but Lisa and Steve were juniors to Emily and Matt so they all knew each other.

"I am Steve" Steve was not offended by Matt not remembering him and introduced himself.

"Oh right, you were the guy who tried to propose to Emily in our school, I remember you very well." Matt teased him.

Steve felt awkward when Matt reminded him that awful day when he went to propose to Emily on valentine's day with a bouquet of red roses, unaware of the fact that she was dating Patrick and in addition to his misery he tried to propose to her right in front of Patrick. Before he could confess to Emily, the glare from Patrick intimidated him so much that he ran away from there before even uttering a word. Till date he was embarrassed of what happened.

"Oh you remember it seems." Steve didn't know what else to stay.

"Of course, the way you ran away was so funny." Matt laughed harder.

"Hey Matt, stop making fun of him." Lisa stood up for her friend against the bully Matt.

"Aww see our Lisa has finally grown up and is trying to shut me up" Matt patted her on the head, "Your sister didn't tell me you two are working here." Matt looked at Emily questiongly.

"Do I have to tell you everything?" Emily coldly replied, since she saw Steve here with Lisa she had a bad feeling.

"So Lisa, which speciality did you choose?" Matt seriously asked her.

"Neurology, I am currently interning under Dr. Daniel, so is Steve." she coldly replied to Matt.

"That's awesome, I wish you specialised in cardiology then you would have been under me" Matt winked at her with the underlying meaning to his words. Lisa was shocked as she didn't know how to react to this shameless man's words and Steve was enjoying the teasing.

"Shut up Matt, don't you dare flirt with my sister in front of me" Emily warned him.

"Okay, I'll flirt with her when you are not here, okay?" Matt naughtily smiled.

"It's okay Ems I don't care and I don't take him seriously." Lisa assured her sister.

"Good" Emily then started walking towards the exit.

"Ems" Lisa called her out and Emily turned around.

"Will you come home this weekend?" Lisa looked a bit scared while asking this question.

"No" Emily was about to leave when Lisa again said, "Mom and dad really miss you, although they don't say it out loud they wish to see you and always long for your presence."

Emily put her hand on Lisa's cheek lovingly, "I know they miss me, I too miss them but I can never forgive them for what happened, please Lisa don't make me come home." She then kissed her sister on the forehead and left.

Drops of tears formed near Lisa's eyes and just then someone offered her a handkerchief, she looked at the person and it was Matthew, although she doesn't like him she accepted it as she didn't want Steve to see those tears, "Give her some time, time will heal everything." Matthew seriously said and left from there to chase Emily.

Since the two stay in the same building, they come and leave the hospital together.

Lisa stared at his retreating back and wiped off the tears wondering if time will really heal everything.

Steve then came to Lisa and asked, "What happened in the past Lisa that your sister left home a few years back?" This was a very sensitive topic for Lisa so Steve never asked her although he was very curious about it but today since they were on this topic he gathered all his guts and asked Lisa.

"It's none of your business." Lisa coldly replied.

It was a very dark time for her family and she didn't wish to discuss her family matters with anyone else in spite of how close they were.

…

Outside the hospital

Matt quickly chased Emily and caught up with her.

"Ems are you alright?" Matt was concerned for her.

"Yeah I am fine" she wiped the small tear formed near her eye.

Matthew held her shoulder and turned her around facing him, "Ems you know you can cry right? I am here for you, so please don't keep everything inside, let your feelings out, let those emotions flow" Matt seriously advised her.

"I am fine Matt" Emily tried to smile forcefully.

Tringggg Tringggg

Emily's phone rang and she answered it, her expression turned into a shock after talking on phone she informed Matthew of a murder that happened and the burnt body is being sent to the hospital so she needs to perform an autopsy straightaway and therefore has been asked to stay back.