My Darling, My Dearest

Rachel lowered her head and spat out the toothpaste foam from her mouth.

At the door behind her, Eric stared at the back of her head, dumbfounded at the sight.

Her glossy black hair had been shaved, and he could see the faint outline of scabs and bruises on her scalp. The back of her head had a gauze attached to it, just so it didn't incur any infections.

Eric's nose twitched as he watched Jack take care of her as if he was treating a child. He took the towel from the rack and helped his wife wipe her mouth.

Before Eric came here, Jonathan had already informed him of Rachel's condition. The doctor had told them that she would temporarily lose her sight due to a clot pressing on one of her visual nerves. Her vision would be blurred for a while, but it wouldn't be permanent. Today, she would have to go back to Ninwell City for further treatment.

When he thought of how urgent Rachel's condition was, Eric could feel his heart sink.

Uneasy, he turned and walked away. After waiting outside for a while, Eric saw Jack taking Rachel's hand and assisting her out of the bathroom as cautiously as possible.

Eric couldn't help but feel bad that he wasn't there when she needed him the most.

Rachel's head turned anxiously as she tugged Jack's arm. "Where is he?"

"I'm here," Eric replied.

Jack took Rachel in front of Eric before bringing out a chair for her to sit down. He glanced at his watch. "I'll go downstairs to buy some breakfast for you, okay?" "Okay."

Eric waved his hand when the man glanced at him. "Don't worry, I've already had breakfast."

Jack curled his lips. "I wasn't going to ask you."

"F" Eric glanced at Rachel and didn't finish. He was smart.

Now that his strongest backer was right beside him, there was no way Jack would bully him.

"Rachel, how about I give you my advice?"

"What suggestion?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"Let's leave this man and find you another husband." As expected, Jack stopped in his tracks. He turned around and glared at him. If looks could kill, Eric would've already been swimming in the depths of hell. A shiver ran down his spine, but Eric didn't show it. Instead, he smirked and burst into laughter.

This was his chance. When Rachel wasn't around, he couldn't find it in himself to strike back at Jack. Now that she was here, he could do everything he wanted.

'Take that, asshole!'

Hearing his words, Rachel pursed her lips. She could tell that Jack had stopped moving. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," they responded at the same time.

One was trying to hide while the other one was telling the truth.

Rachel snorted. "Don't glare at each other in front of me, okay? I may not be able to see now, but that doesn't mean I don't know what's happening."

She turned to the place where she had heard Jack's voice. "And you! Don't bully Eric."

Hearing her reproachful tone, Jack softened and decided not to make a fuss with that brat for the time being.

Ignoring the younger man, Jack smiled. "I'll come back soon."

Once he finally left, Eric placed his arms around his stomach and pretended to vomit. He rolled his eyes. "It's only been a while since I saw you last time, and you're already all over each other. It's disgusting." "What's disgusting?"

"You! I can't stand it."

Rachel crossed her arms over her chest. "You can shut up."

'I really don't understand the two of you. Didn't you guys fight? Why are you already in such good terms?'

He had thought that she was going to divorce Jack.

"I mean it. You have to help me," he yelled.

"What's wrong with you again?" Rachel sighed.

"What do you mean 'again'?" Eric's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Do you even know how Jack had treated me when you were away?" Just as Rachel was about to listen to his complaints, he quickly changed the topic.

"Do your eyes hurt?" he asked hesitantly.

"My eyes? What?" Rachel furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't understand what you're talking about." With a deep sigh, Eric leaned over and embraced her. Even then, he couldn't still believe that Rachel was right in front of her.

"It's good to see you here, you know?"

Eric tightened his hold around her. "When I got the news of what had happened to you, I thought I was going to lose you. I couldn't get through your phones. That's when I realized to call the hospital and..." Eric trailed off. Rachel leaned against his arms, hugging him back.

"I'm fine now, really," she whispered.

Eric buried his head on Rachel's neck and kept silent. What he didn't say was that he was at a loss during those times.

Fortunately, Jonathan was the one who had informed him of what had happened.

During that time, he had been anxiously waiting for some news.

It was the first time he had encountered such a thing, and it was during those times when he felt the most hopeless.

The only person he thought of asking help from was from his mother who was his only family left other than Rachel. However, when he tried dialing his mother, her phone was switched off. In a trance, he had to hang up.

He thought that he was going to be an orphan.

His parents divorced when he was very young.

His father didn't want him and left him to his mother.

However, his mother also didn't want him. She was the type of person who yearned for adventure. She didn't want to be tied down to something constant. Having a son was like shackling her down to land, which was something she didn't like.

Almost all the Shen family members had passed away. His mother had to find someone to send her son to. Suddenly, she remembered about Rachel.

After getting in touch with Rachel, she sent her son back. She gave him plenty of excuses as to why she was doing this.

However, he wasn't stupid back then. He knew for a fact why he was being sent back here. His parents wanted nothing to do with him.

In the past two years he had been staying in Ninwell City, his parents ignored his very existence. The only time they actually acknowledged it was whenever they wired him money.

If Rachel hadn't been keeping an eye on him, he might have degenerated into a criminal. Just the thought of losing her made him want to sob.

He hugged her even more tightly.

"I was so scared," he whispered.

Even if she couldn't see him, she could tell that he was shaking.

Rachel stiffened for a moment before relaxing against his touch. At that moment, what had happened when she had been buried under the ruins flashed through her mind.

She was just an ordinary person. No matter how strong she seemed, she was overwhelmed with fear at the face of these situations.

During her stay in the hospital, she had thought about a lot of things.

She had thought of what would happen to the Fu family, Jack, and even Eric if she was dead.

Even back then, she couldn't help but realize something.

Who would take care of Eric if she was gone?

She blinked back the tears as they snuggled into each other's arms.

Ever since he reached adulthood, Eric had seldom exposed his feelings. After leaning against her shoulder for a while, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He released Rachel and examined her carefully. She looked well enough, but he could tell that she had lost some weight.

When he was holding her just now, Eric could feel some of her bones sticking out of her skin. He pulled her sleeves only to see her frail arms. He sighed. "You need to take in more nutrients," he lectured. Rachel didn't have a good appetite these past two days. After what had happened, it was natural for her to lose weight.

However, she wasn't aware of how thin she was. Given her loss of sight, it was hard to know what she looked like now. She reached out her hand to touch her bare head. "Am I ugly?"

Rachel was nervous when she asked him that. Women always wanted to look beautiful.

She even asked Jack the same question.

He quickly responded that she was the most beautiful girl in the room.

Even then, she still didn't want to believe it.

Thinking that Eric might be more reliable, she gazed up at him and dropped her hand awkwardly.

As expected, he scoffed and shook his head. "Of course not!"

However, before she could smile at him, he burst into laughter.

Although she wasn't ugly, she definitely didn't look her best. Rachel scowled, and he quickly quieted down.

During the time they boarded and got off the plane, Rachel didn't say a word to Eric. Every time she felt him close to her, she would huff and edge away.

Jack had no idea what had happened between them during the time he bought some breakfast.

However, when he saw how careful and silent Eric was around her, he couldn't help but feel amused.

To apologize, Eric quickly bought her a hat.

Rachel took the hat and rubbed her hands around it, trying to get a feel of what it looked like. Eric had good fashion sense. He didn't just buy any hat for Rachel. Instead, it was a neat baseball hat. It was subtle, and it also fitted her well. Due to this, she chose to forgive him.

When they arrived to Ninwell City, they quickly headed to the hospital.

Being in such a cold and distant environment, Eric wasn't in the mood to laugh around anymore.

There was always something about the smell of disinfectant around hospitals that made people worried and depressed.

The Fu family's bodyguards escorted her out of the car and into a special elevator that was reserved for important guests. Without another word, they were brought to a private ward.

Everything was personally arranged by Jonathan.

Given his status, the hospital made sure to pay attention to this distinguished guest and make sure she had the best care possible.

Author's note

^4^. G°°se Mfiiiisn

Translator: Scarlett5555