My Darling, My Dearest

Rachel was stunned. How did the man know her name? "Do I know you?"

"Miss Shen, I am an executive officer in the cardiology department at the Affiliated No.1 Hospital. We would like you to come work at our hospital. I can assure you that you will be treated better than you are right now," the man introduced himself.

'Is he trying to make me switch jobs?'

Rachel thought, spitefully. Her eyes darted towards the gate of the hospital. Various colleagues and superiors breezed in and out.

It seemed that the person who had set her up hated her with every fiber of their being. Why else would they send this person to her while she was at the hospital? The person wanted Rachel's colleagues to believe that she was connected to the Affiliated No.1 Hospital.

She gave the man in front of her an icy stare and asked, "Who asked you to come here?"

"Miss Shen, I do not see the need to divulge that information. I just hope that you will at least think about it. Our conditions are better than this hospital. You are a smart person. You should know what would be the best for you." Without waiting for her to respond, he turned around and walked away. His steps were quick as he disappeared around the corner.

Rachel wanted to chase after him but thought better of it. She stared at the business card in her hand, clutching it tightly. Unlocking her phone, she opened the browser.

After some research, she dialed Jack's number. "Jack, someone came to look for me and tried to make me quit this job for a new one. But, the business card he gave me wasn't his," she rambled, as soon as he picked up. "Something seems wrong."

It only meant that he was sent by someone.

Not far away, Celine sat in a black car.

She rolled down her window and threw out a handful of shells of melon seeds. "Is it done?" she asked, indifferently.

"It all went according to the plan, Miss Duan. I met her at the gate so I am sure many of her colleagues took notice."

The man speaking was the one who was going to poach Rachel.

Celine smirked, content. "Good. I'll transfer the money to your account tomorrow, but you have to remember that you can't tell anyone what happened today!"""

"You do not have to worry, Miss Duan. We maintain the confidentiality of our guests," he said, smiling. He motioned to his lips as if he was zipping them. Waving at her, the man got out of the car and walked away.

It was very quiet in the car now. Only the soft hum of the air conditioning could be heard. Celine leaned back in her seat, smiling. She hoped that it would not be long before Rachel would be even more humiliated.

"Achoo!"

Rachel blew her nose. 'Why did I catch a cold again?' she thought, miserably.

She dragged herself out of bed, took out a couple of antipyretics and filled up a glass with water. Picking up her phone, she dialed Lea's number. "Were you sleeping?" she asked, when her friend received the call.

"No, not yet. I just gave Rita some milk and coaxed her to sleep," Lea replied.

"Okay."

Rachel had felt like talking to someone so she had called Lea. But, now that they were talking, she had no idea what to say.

She did not even know where to start. Silence fell as she stirred the powder.

A few seconds later, Lea lay down on her bed. She sighed in comfort and asked, "What happened? What have you been up to lately?" "Nothing. I just go to work every day."

"Do you really think I have forgotten how to be a friend ever since I had a baby?" Lea laughed. With a hint of seriousness, she added, "Tell me the truth!"

The last time Rachel had called Lea in the middle of the night was the night before she and Jack got married. She hadn't said anything then and simply hung up the phone.

Remembering this, Lea sat up in bed. Excitement laced her voice. "Rachel! Are you getting married to Jack again?"

However, before Rachel could answer, she heard Rita wake up and start crying.

Fortunately, Henry immediately picked her up and consoled her gently. He gestured to Lea to go talk in the study.

Getting comfortable in the leather chair in the study, she did not have to worry about waking anyone up. "If you do not tell me right away, I am hanging up. Your goddaughter is crying," Lea said, trying to make Rachel talk.

"Don't." Rachel started telling Lea what had happened without sparing any details. She talked quietly as if she was talking to herself and sighed in between.

She realized how much she had changed recently. She seemed to be becoming different than who she used to be. Rachel had thought Lea would disapprove of her marrying Jack again. But, her friend simply sighed more heavily than Rachel herself.

She continued to sigh four more times and didn't stop.

Impatient, Rachel asked, "What do you think?"

"Rachel, I will not lie to you. I have heard about Jack from Henry over the years. I just want you to be happy. Do you understand?"

Lea scratched her head irritably. She wanted to make a long speech like she had before. But, she was exhausted after taking care of Rita.

She couldn't fully express her fleeting thoughts.

"Rachel, forget it. If you want to be with Jack, you have my approval," Lea said, feeling defeated. "But you have to do one thing."

"What?"

"Wipe out Celine!"

The two friends talked for more than an hour before hanging up. Rachel drank her medicine and fell into bed. But, Lea's words echoed in her mind. She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

The next morning, she went to work haggard and tired. Everyone thought she looked tired because she was having a difficult time choosing which hospital to work at. Celia looked at Rachel sitting in her office and forgot that she had work to do. She sat down in front of her and rested her chin in her hands. "Rachel, are you really going to resign?" she asked worriedly. Rachel shook her head. "But, I heard a rumor going around," Celia said.

"If I find another job, I will tell you immediately!"

Rachel ushered Celia out gently without explaining it further.

She leaned back in her chair, her hands clasped together. In the past two days, she had kept a close eye on the director's office. Many people came in and out of there.

She had also overheard two nurses asking to borrow his computer because they had to upload something.

Rachel now realized that it was not easy to investigate this matter.

Her phone rang. She picked up and heard Bill's voice on the other end. He asked her to hang out with him, but she wasn't in the mood. She excused herself saying she had a lot of pending work.

She hung up the phone and laid it on her desk. As soon as she raised her head, her eyes met the director's. He stood in the doorway, his face expressionless. He did not say anything but stared at her with his piercing eyes.

Since the phone call a few days ago, the two of them had not talked or seen each other at the hospital.

Rachel calmed her throbbing heart. "Director, what can I do for you?"

The director gave her a cold look. "I have submitted relevant evidence with respect to my paper. I am now waiting for their judgment. How is the investigation going? It has been so many days. Don't tell me that you still have no clue. Do you want to drag this out longer until I forget it?"

He glared at Rachel now. "My memory is not that bad."

This paper was too important to him.

Right now, he was just a vice professor. To be a professor, he had to publish a couple of papers. The one he had just submitted was his last one.

"Director, I didn't do it. Believe me, I will find the evidence and prove it!" Rachel lowered her eyes and they were curtained by her long eyelashes. There was a hint of uneasiness and exhaustion visible in her eyes.

Even two days later, Jack had not said anything to Rachel regarding this matter. She had been rethinking her take on this matter when he contacted her. He had made some progress at last.

As it turned out, Jack had been getting ready to go to work as usual. But when he opened the door, he came face to face with Celine, holding a thermal box in her hand.

"Jack, I made some breakfast for you. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Take it with you," she urged, pushing the box in Jack's hands. Celine looked especially innocent in the white summer dress she wore as a lovely smile twitched the corners of her mouth.

But Jack didn't buy it anymore.

He twisted his cuff link, walked straight past her and stepped outside without a word. But his car did not start. There was something wrong with it.

The car had suddenly gone on strike.

He had no choice but to call the driver and have him pick him up. But before Jack could finish asking the driver, her car keys thrust in his hand.

Celine looked at him and smiled, "Jack, I drove here today. You can take my car."

Jack checked his watch. He had an appointment with an important customer today who had flown in from abroad. He absolutely had to meet this client to discuss cooperation for the next quarter.

He took the car keys from her and sat in. That was when he saw the business card.

It looked familiar. Realization dawned on him. The name on the card was of the man who had shown up at the hospital to find Rachel!

Jack held the business card out the window. In an icy tone he asked Celine, "Whose business card is this?"

"A friend of mine."

Celine tried to snatch it out of his hand, but he was smart enough to dodge her.

Jack sneered, his eyes sharp and cold. "A friend? Why didn't I know that you have a friend who works in a hospital? Celine, you have so many friends!"

Author's note

Goose BBSS

Translator: Scarlett5555