Chapter 237 Misunderstanding
“I’ll give it another shot!”
Rachel wore a white undershirt beneath her outer clothing The realization struck her- if the doctor cut it off, she would have no alternative but to don only her jacket afterward.
The prospect of wearing merely her underwear and jacket, particularly in Andres’s presence, sent a wave of discomfort through her.
“Let me help you,” the doctor offered, stepping forward with practiced confidence.
“Thank you.”
Despite having anticipated that Rachel’s injuries were severe, the doctor still gasped when she finally observed them directly.
Several vivid lash marks crisscrossed Rachel’s back. The assailant had clearly exerted tremendous force with each strike. Some areas bloomed bright red with bruising, while others had split open, revealing raw, shocking wounds beneath the torn skin.
“These are whip marks!” the doctor declared, her voice filled with certainty.
She asked abruptly, “Do you need me to call the police for you?”
Rachel froze momentarily before quickly composing herself. “Thank you for your concern, but I believe you’ve misunderstood. The person who brought me here is my friend. These wounds weren’t inflicted by him.”
The doctor, assuming Rachel was concealing the truth, began advocating earnestly. “Many domestic violence victims instinctively protect their abusers. But you needn’t worry. Your injuries provide clear evidence. I can help secure a medical assessment and testify on your behalf. Domestic violence follows a pattern. If it happens once, it will likely recur. Excusing this behavior now only ensures greater suffering later.”
The doctor remained convinced that Rachel suffered from domestic abuse, and equally certain that Andres was the perpetrator.
Rachel could only smile ruefully while repeatedly clarifying, “It truly isn’t like that. He
Chapter 237 Misunderstanding
and I are merely friends.”
“Then how did you sustain these injuries? Whip marks this severe don’t appear accidentally. Someone deliberately inflicted this harm.”
The doctor’s persistence caught Rachel off guard, leaving her struggling to explain the
circumstances.
Her hesitation only reinforced the doctor’s conviction that she was indeed an abuse victim, too frightened to speak out for fear of retaliation.
“I’ll disinfect the wounds first. This might cause considerable pain, so please prepare
yourself.”
“Okay.”
When the disinfectant contacted her broken skin, the pain seared through her with shocking intensity.
Yet Rachel clenched her teeth, refusing to emit even the slightest sound.
No matter how excruciating the sensation became, she merely tightened her fists and furrowed her brows deeply.
“If it hurts, you may cry out. It’s perfectly acceptable. No one can truly endure pain silently.”
“It’s fine. I… I can manage this.”
Though the discomfort was severe, it paled compared to the agony she endured during her illness episodes. She had weathered those moments alone, gritting her teeth and persevering.
There existed no reason to display vulnerability now.
“I wouldn’t have expected someone with your delicate frame to possess such remarkable pain tolerance. Have you frequently endured injuries?” The doctor inquired casually.
“Somewhat frequently.”
Rachel failed to recognize how her casual response might lead to misinterpretation.
In that moment, the implication eluded her entirely.
“Once the ointment takes effect, you’ll experience some relief. Ensure you keep these wounds dry for several days. Additionally, take the prescribed medication twice daily.”
Chapter 237 Misunderstanding
After applying the ointment, the doctor provided Rachel with additional instructions while prescribing medication for her.
“Actually, something piques my curiosity. May I ask you a question?” The doctor inquired while completing the prescription.
“Of course.”
“Most women, when injured, express significant concern about potential scarring. Yet you seem remarkably unconcerned. You haven’t even inquired about it.”
Rachel forced a smile. “I don’t particularly care about that.”
Previously, when her health remained intact, she would have worried deeply about her appearance and agonized over scars.
But now, having learned her remaining time was limited, scars seemed utterly inconsequential.
After donning her jacket, Rachel moved toward the exit.
When she pulled the door open, she discovered Andres already waiting outside.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, immediately rising and approaching her.
“The wounds have been treated. I simply need to apply the ointment regularly.”
“Alright, I’ll take you
home.”
“Take me to the hotel instead. I want to stay there for a few days.”
Andres immediately caught on. “You’re worried Jeffrey will get anxious, aren’t you?”
Rachel nodded.
They had only taken a few steps outside when a group of uniformed officers suddenly blocked their path.
“Officers, is something wrong?” Andres asked, keeping his tone polite.
“We received a report about a case of domestic abuse,” one of them stated. “We’ll need you to come with us to assist in the investigation.”
Andres blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Domestic abuse?”
His voice, though calm, carried a note of disbelief. A few passersby glanced over, their curiosity piqued.
Chapter 237 Misunderstanding
Even someone as composed as Andres couldn’t help but stiffen under the weight of unexpected scrutiny.
Rachel instantly put the pieces together. Without wasting a second, she turned to him and said, “Mr. Garrett, stay here for a moment.”
Without waiting for a response, she hurried back to the doctor’s office and explained the
situation in full.
A moment later, the doctor followed her outside and quickly cleared up the misunderstanding with the police.
Once the officers were satisfied with the explanation, they left without further trouble.
The doctor turned to Andres with an apologetic expression. “Sir, I’m truly sorry, I assumed she was in danger and acted without thinking I didn’t expect you two to actually just be friends. It’s not every day you see a friend as considerate as you.”
Andres curved his lips into a faint smile, though his eyes remained cold. “It’s also not every day you meet a doctor as ‘considerate‘ as you.”
The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss, and the doctor could only manage an awkward chuckle in response.
Rachel sighed and stepped in to ease the tension.
“Can we leave now?” Andres asked, his gaze on the doctor.
She nodded repeatedly. “Of course, of course!”
Once they got into the car, Andres pulled out his phone and made a call. “Book a room at the Garden View Hotel. Quiet location, good environment.”
Rachel, realizing the arrangement was for her, felt a wave of unease.
“Mr. Garrett, you’ve already done so much. You don’t need to go out of your way like this.”
“It’s just a small favor,” he replied, barely looking up.
Rachel hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Noticing her discomfort, he added, “I’m only asking someone to book the room. You’ll be covering the cost yourself.”
That made it easier to accept. “Alright. Let me know how much, and I’ll transfer it to you.”
When they arrived at the hotel, Andres personally escorted her upstairs.
12:05
After freshening up in the bathroom, Rachel stepped out–only to find Andres holding her phone.
It was pressed to his ear, his expression unreadable as he listened.
Then, noticing her presence, he handed it over, tilting the screen so she could see the caller ID.
Jeffrey. Her stomach tightened.
Sure enough, the moment she took the phone, his voice came through, laced with concern. “Rachel, why aren’t you home yet? I… I’ve been worried. And why are you with Mr. Garrett so late at night?”
Her palms grew clammy as unease settled in.
Before she could answer, Andres, still calm as ever, took the phone back and spoke smoothly. “Jeffrey, your sister and I aren’t just friends—we’re business partners. There’s an urgent issue with one of our projects that needs her attention. She’ll be busy for the next few days and might not have much time to look after you. Take care of yourself, alright?”
