Chapter84 I'm Allergic
The next day, at the hospital.
In the snow-white ward, the smell of disinfectant was sharp and thin.
The doctor was leaning over changing the dressing on Miranda's calf wound, using tweezers to hold a cotton ball soaked in medicine, gently wiping across the torn flesh, bringing sharp stinging pain.
Miranda didn't even furrow her brows, just quietly leaned against the headboard, letting the doctor change the dressing.
Just then, the ward door was pushed open from outside.
Ariana was practically hanging on Harrison's arm, following him step by step into the room.
Her eyes were slightly red, her face showing perfectly measured worry and guilt. As soon as she entered, she spoke in that soft, delicate voice.
"Miranda, how are you? I heard you were injured. Harrison and I came right away. I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."
Miranda didn't even bother lifting her eyelids, her voice cold as ice shards: "I don't need your concern. Get out."
The doctor's dressing change paused. Taking the hint, he packed up his things, quietly reminded her "don't get the wound wet," and quickly left this tense situation.
Harrison looked at her uncompromising attitude, his brows furrowing tightly, his tone carrying impatience.
"Miranda, don't be so ungrateful."
At his words, Miranda's gaze fell on their tightly linked arms.
"Ungrateful?" Miranda suddenly laughed coldly. "The online rumors were out for two whole days. When the whole internet was cursing me, did you two clarify anything? No. Now that the dirty water has splashed on you, your stock prices dropped, your reputations stink, now you know to come over?"
Her words made Harrison's face turn green then white.
"Just looking at you two makes me sick." The disgust in Miranda's eyes was undisguised. She raised her hand pointing at the door, emphasizing each word. "Now, get out."
"Miranda, don't say that..." Ariana's tears came instantly, streaming down. She picked up an apple in one hand and a mango in the other from the fruit basket she'd brought, timidly offering them over. "I know you're angry. It's all my fault. Have some fruit to calm down, okay?"
Miranda's gaze fell on those two fruits Ariana was offering.
Apple. Mango.
The curve of her lips grew colder.
Nausea churned in her stomach.
She remembered clearly. In college at a gathering, she'd eaten these two fruits together and immediately broke out in full-body rashes, with breathing difficulties, and was rushed to emergency.
And Ariana was right beside her at that gathering, witnessed the entire process.
She knew, and now she was doing it deliberately.
"Smack!"
A sharp sound.
Without even looking, Miranda raised her hand and swatted, knocking both fruits heavily to the floor.
The apple and mango rolled twice on the clean tiles, stopping at Harrison's feet.
This completely angered Harrison.
He stepped forward sharply, shouting: "Miranda, you've gone too far. Ariana came to see you with good intentions. What kind of attitude is this? She's also a victim of these rumors. Don't think you can bully people just because you're injured."
"Bully people?" Miranda leaned back against the headboard, lazily raising her eyes. "If you think I'm bullying you, then get lost. Why stand here blocking my view?"
Ariana seemed wounded by her words. She crouched down, trembling as she picked up the fruit from the floor, tears falling like broken beads, her voice choked but trying to appear strong.
"Harrison, don't blame Miranda. She's upset. It's fine if she takes it out on me. As long as Miranda can be happy, I... a little grievance doesn't matter."
Watching these two perform in front of her, the nausea in Miranda's stomach almost surged up her throat.
She stopped looking at Ariana and locked her gaze on Harrison's anger-filled face, questioning clearly word by word.
"Harrison, have you forgotten that I'm severely allergic to eating apples and mangoes together? Or do you think me just lying in the hospital isn't enough? You won't be satisfied until I'm in the emergency room?"
Harrison's whole body shook. He instinctively looked at the two fruits in Ariana's hands. A dusty memory in his mind was instantly awakened.
He remembered. That was a thing.
That year he'd said how could anyone be allergic to such common fruits.
Instantly, clear embarrassment and discomfort flashed across Harrison's face. His previously righteous momentum immediately deflated by half.
Seeing this, Ariana immediately panicked, throwing the fruit back in the basket like hot potatoes.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Miranda! It's my fault. I, I really didn't know you couldn't eat these two fruits. I didn't mean to."
Harrison opened his mouth. That belated apology was just about to come out...
The ward door was pushed open again.
A tall, upright figure walked in against the light. His steps were steady, carrying innate oppression, instantly attracting everyone's attention in the ward.
It was Clifton.
Harrison looked at this suddenly appearing man. The other's handsome face carried undeniable nobility and coldness. Those bottomless eyes just swept over lightly, yet made him inexplicably feel threatened.
He frowned and demanded: "Who are you?"
Miranda's heart sank. Clifton's identity couldn't be exposed.
She immediately spoke before Clifton could, coldly saying: "He's the police officer who saved me. What, my lifesaver needs to report his identity to you?"
She waved her hand in disgust: "Leave quickly. Every extra second you stay makes the air in this ward smell bad."
Harrison was choked speechless, his face livid, but he suppressed his anger and stated today's ultimate purpose: "Miranda, delete yesterday's statement and post a new one clarifying there was no cheating in our marriage."
"Ha."
Miranda was amused by his matter-of-fact attitude.
"Wasn't what I posted the truth? Harrison, in that marriage, who exactly was your wife? Me, or Ariana beside you?"
Her voice paused momentarily, becoming more severe: "Every word in my statement is fact. I won't change a single word, much less delete it."
"You!" Harrison's patience was completely exhausted. He stepped closer, almost grinding his teeth: "The recent rumors have seriously affected Whitmore's stock price. Miranda, what will it take for you to delete it?"
Just as he finished speaking, he felt an irresistible force suddenly push his shoulder.
His whole body uncontrollably retreated half a step.
Clifton had somehow appeared at his side, one hand seemingly casually pressed on his shoulder, yet containing absolute force.
The man's tall figure blocked between Harrison and Miranda in the bed.
Clifton didn't even glance at Harrison. He just looked down at Miranda, and only after confirming she was okay did he turn his head, using those dark eyes to look at the stunned Harrison.
"You're not welcome here." His voice wasn't loud but carried full oppression.
"Please leave."