My Darling, My Dearest
Chapter 7

Michael stared at Rachel, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Marcus smiled his usual smile, and Jack wore a long face, his lips pressed tightly together. His eyes were dark. Rachel slightly shifted her eyes. She had to see her other patients during her shift. What were they doing here?

Michael, the most talkative of the group, spoke first. It was the first time he had heard Rachel speak this much. And he didn't understand why she belittled herself in front of her husband's mistress. However, before Michael could open his mouth, Rachel interrupted him. "This is the hospital. Please refrain from making noise."

Michael was about to say something, but was stopped by Rachel. He felt upset.

Even the two bodyguards who had been standing by the door were clearly affected.

Rachel had just openly reprimanded Celine. However, she wouldn't allow the others to say something.

Michael could not help mumbling, "You can't deprive me of my right to speak."

Rachel glanced at him but said nothing. She walked back toward her desk, sat down, and started sorting the documents in front of her. She wanted to go on with work as usual. ■3

"Why are you here?" Celine asked. Although she was initially taken aback by the situation, she was now calmer. Her voice trembled slightly, however.

Jack glanced at Celine and then looked at Rachel. "We've come to see Eric."

Rachel put down her pen and looked up at him.

"Yes, yes, we're here to visit Eric. Which ward is he in?" Michael inquired, the same cynical smile plastered on his face.

Rachel was dubious. Even so, she took them to the patient's room.

Michael greeted Eric with a smile after having rearranged his bouquet.

Jack simply looked at Eric. He didn't say a word the whole time.

'Do people usually act this way when visiting a patient?' Rachel thought to herself as she watched. She didn't want to badmouth Jack, albeit in her own head, but his behavior had angered her. How he acted had nothing to do with her, but when it came to Eric, she couldn't keep silent.

Jack looked around the room, as visitors tended to do. Something on the bedside table caught his attention. It was a thermos bottle. His face grew darker.

"I made some soup. When I learned that Eric is here, I knew I just had to bring him some," Celine explained, unafraid of Jack.

Rachel was so enraged that she felt like slapping Celine right then and there. What was this woman doing stirring up trouble on purpose? ■3

The room fell silent when they heard what Celine had said.

Jack looked at Eric. He made a conscious effort to look less stern, but his words sounded frightening nonetheless. "What a blessing in disguise then."

Eric remained motionless in his hospital bed. He smiled but seemed to have shrunk in bed, probably because of Jack's harsh tone.

He felt like a fool as everyone looked at him.

Michael noticed Eric's hands. He moved closer and studied them. After a while, he asked, "Rachel, how are his wounds?"

"No big deal," Rachel replied coldly.

"Then why did he need to stay in the hospital for so long?"

"For in-hospital observation."

The last thing that Rachel wanted was to talk to these people. She just wanted them to leave as soon as possible, and her voice clearly conveyed her thinning patience.

Then something occurred to her. She had tried her best to keep Eric in the hospital these past days, but then Celine began visiting him every day. Was it possible that Jack now thought that she was giving Celine and Eric a chance to spend time together?

Every day, Rachel made Celine feel unwelcome. However, Celine insisted on visiting Eric, something which was out of Rachel's control. Besides, she took comfort in the fact that the bodyguards that Jack had sent to protect Celine knew exactly how ■3

Rachel had tried to get her to leave.

Upon hearing her response, Michael kept quiet. It was clear that Rachel was in a foul mood today.

For a moment, an uncomfortable silence filled the room.

"Since he's alright, let's go," Jack proclaimed. He grabbed Celine by the hand and made for the door.

This time, Celine did not struggle. She let Jack hold her hand and lead her toward the door.

Michael and Marcus exchanged a look and followed the two.

Suddenly, something crossed Rachel's mind. Did Jack come over today because he wanted to take Celine away?

"Jack, please wait!" Rachel found herself stopping Jack at the door.

He stopped, still holding Celine's hand.

Everyone else in the room turned toward Rachel, greatly intrigued.

"I have something to tell you," she said, speaking a little softer this time. Rachel walked up to him, glanced at the people around them, and continued, "Let's talk."

Michael had turned and walked toward Rachel's office before Jack could even say yes.

Rachel looked at Celine and said to Jack seriously, "Come to my office, alone."