Chapter 59 You Two Didn't Accidentally Run into Each Other Again, Did You?
The temperature stayed below freezing all week, made worse by a relentless wind.
Nancy, trying to win Steven back, stood outside in the biting wind for over an hour and still insisted on coming to work today despite being sick.
Rachel thought about how fragile Nancy had looked today, like she could be blown over by a strong gust.
She smirked. Nancy really was desperate.
Rachel felt a tightness in her chest, a dull ache mixed with a hint of pain.
Steven still loved Nancy. Hearing she was in the hospital, he couldn't harden his heart and came to be with her.
The emergency room at this hospital?
Rachel had never been to this hospital before. She looked around but had no idea where the ER was.
Just as she was about to look away, she noticed Benjamin standing in front of her. She hadn't realized when he had returned. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing," Rachel said, smiling slightly as she took the paperwork from his hand. "Where do we go for treatment?"
"The ER."
Rachel was surprised. She had been planning to find an excuse to go to the ER anyway.
What a coincidence.
Just as she was about to get up, she noticed the injury on his left arm. It was much larger than the one on her ankle. He had been standing on her right side the whole time, even in the car, so she hadn't noticed his arm was hurt.
In the chaos of avoiding the acid, he had shielded her with great force.
Her injury was minor, entirely because Benjamin had taken the brunt of it.
"Besides your arm, are you hurt anywhere else?" Rachel frowned, instinctively grabbing his arm to check the injury. "This is serious. Why didn't you say anything? Doesn't it hurt?"
Benjamin's eyes were downcast, his deep, dark eyes reflecting her delicate, beautiful face. He ppulled his arm away.
He said calmly and coldly. "It's nothing. I'll disinfect and treat it later. Let's go to the ER."
Rachel glanced at the paperwork in his hand, nodded, and slowly got up. Benjamin naturally supported her arm.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Benjamin gave her a faint glance. When they had fallen, he had taken the full impact. Although he had tried to cushion the fall with his hands, his shoulder blades and the right side of his back were now in noticeable pain.
He supported the limping Rachel as they slowly walked toward the ER.
Rachel, not getting an answer, didn't press further.
When they reached the ER, Rachel looked around but didn't see the familiar faces she was expecting.
The ER at Oasis Medical Center was large, with thirty beds divided into different sections, including a critical care area.
Not every bed was occupied; most were empty.
Seven or eight of the beds had their curtains drawn.
She pursed her lips, deciding to look for them after her own treatment.
As she looked away, a nurse approached and directed them to sit on one of the beds.
The nurse drew the curtain, preparing the supplies while instructing Rachel to roll up her pant leg. When she did, she saw that her knee was also scraped.
Minor injuries, nothing serious.
The disinfectant stung sharply as it seeped into her skin, making her leg twitch involuntarily.
"Don't move, keep it straight," the nurse reminded.
Rachel was quite afraid of pain.
As a child, her parents had to comfort her for a long time before she would get a shot.
She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and straightened her leg.
The blood-beaded wounds on her slim, straight leg were quite noticeable. Benjamin frowned but quickly looked away.
Rachel's leg injuries were minor, and the nurse finished treating them in a while.
The nurse applied bandages and advised, "Try to keep these areas dry for the next few days, walk slowly, and rest as much as possible. Apply medication and disinfect once a day. In two or three days, the wounds will start to scab and itch. Don't scratch them, just bear with it."
"Thanks," Rachel said softly.
The nurse, assuming that Benjamin was Rachel's boyfriend, turned to him and asked, "Where are you hurt?"
Benjamin paused, then looked at Rachel.
Rachel noticed his gaze and asked, "What's wrong?"
Benjamin didn't respond. After a brief pause, he began unbuttoning his shirt. In a few seconds, he had taken it off, revealing his muscular arms and chest.
Rachel was momentarily stunned.
She began to understand the meaning behind his earlier glance.
Benjamin's skin was a warm tan, his muscles well-defined, with a clear six-pack and a small mole below his right collarbone.
Steven worked out too, and his body wasn't bad either. Rachel bit her lip, about to look away when she noticed the injuries on Benjamin's back.
His right shoulder blade had a noticeable bruise with several cuts.
The most severe injuries were on his lower back and forearm.
Rachel frowned deeply.
"What happened to you two? A car accident? These are serious injuries," the nurse exclaimed, her focus shifting from admiring his physique to concern. "Let's disinfect these wounds. It'll hurt, so bear with it. Miss, hold your boyfriend's hand and don't let him move."Rachel was about to explain, but the nurse was already preparing the supplies. She instinctively looked at Benjamin, who also glanced at her.
Their eyes met.
All emotions were hidden in that moment.
Benjamin clarified, his voice calm and emotionless, "We're not a couple."
Rachel's expression remained natural, her voice steady, "Just friends."
"No need to hold my hand."
Rachel hesitated, then withdrew her outstretched hand without a word.
The nurse, slightly taken aback, reminded him, "It's going to hurt a lot."
"Okay."
The nurse, seeing his steady expression, began applying the disinfectant.
Rachel noticed how composed he was when their eyes met.
"Hold your girlfriend's hand. This is the fourth time I've had to reinsert the needle. Her hand is swollen, and I don't know where else to try," came a nurse's exasperated voice from behind a curtain.
Rachel didn't pay much attention, still thinking about finding Steven and Nancy. Then she heard a familiar voice.
A woman said softly and weakly, "I'm really sorry for the trouble. My head hurts so much. Could you please give me some painkillers?"
The nurse sighed, "I'll ask the doctor. If he agrees, your boyfriend can pay for them and get them from the pharmacy. Drink plenty of water, and don't cover yourself too tightly. You still have two more IV bags. It'll take one or two hours."
"Thank you," a deep male voice replied. "I'll go with you."
Rachel froze.
It was Nancy and Steven.
Benjamin recognized their voices too, his eyebrows raising slightly as he looked at Rachel.
Hearing the curtain being drawn back, Rachel steadied herself and opened their curtain.
Steven and Nancy, who was lying on the bed with an IV, both looked over.
Steven froze, his face paling as he saw Rachel. He muttered, "Honey."
Nancy was equally surprised, but seeing Benjamin sitting shirtless on the bed, her face showed a mix of schadenfreude and eager anticipation.
She hoped Rachel would expose their relationship.
She couldn't wait to see Rachel's disbelief and pain as she cried and asked Steven why he cheated.
It would be quite a show.
Rachel took two steps forward, a faint smile on her lips but cold eyes. "What a coincidence. You two didn't just happen to run into each other again, did you?"
Steven's face showed a flash of embarrassment, but he quickly regained his composure and grabbed her hand. "Honey, it's not what you think."
"What do I think?" Rachel pulled her hand away, pointing at the nurse with red-rimmed eyes. "I just heard her call you her boyfriend."
Steven's heart ached seeing her teary eyes. He quickly grabbed her hand again, gently explaining, "That was a misunderstanding. We already explained to another nurse earlier. Don't cry, honey."
He noticed Benjamin shirtless, his expression darkening, his brows furrowing.
Rachel ignored his gaze, continuing, "Really? Then why are you at the hospital? I don't believe in so many coincidences. Last time at the restaurant, now at the hospital. How do you explain that?"