Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“Hospitals generally proceed with caution around such cases, yet occasionally, patients conceal their statuses, leading to risky complications if blood is involved.”
“Precisely. The man concealed his illness. I heard he even bit someone by the elevator. We’re tracking them down to inform them now.”
Suddenly, a loud thud echoed as a medicine bag dropped to the floor.
Nicole’s complexion paled as she pieced everything together, a shiver of fear running through her.
The nurses, upon realizing they were overheard, quickly hushed. Concerns about harming the hospital’s reputation prevented them from spreading such sensitive information.
Rhett approached the nurse and asked, “Was the individual you mentioned intoxicated?”
The nurse replied, shaking her head, “I’m sorry; we can’t reveal that information.”
Remaining calm, Rhett explained, “I was bitten by an intoxicated man by the elevator. Is he the same patient you’re discussing?”
The nurse’s demeanor shifted, recognizing the poor soul in question was still in the building. Her tone turned grave. “Sir, please follow us for a check-up.”
Rhett’s expression darkened. It became apparent that the HIV-positive individual was indeed the man who had bitten him.
Nicole, taken aback by the gravity of the situation, never anticipated such an unlikely event. She stayed by Rhett’s side during the tests while the hospital staff repeatedly apologized. Despite the situation, Rhett kept his composure.
Guilt weighed heavily on Nicole, regretting Rhett’s presence with her at the hospital.
The circumstance seemed a cruel twist of fate, a bizarre accident.
Following the initial tests, Rhett began a regimen of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and was scheduled for regular check-ups. A single negative test was not definitive, as the virus might remain undetected initially.
The ensuing weeks promised to be challenging for anyone, potentially overwhelming for those less resilient.
Choked up, Nicole stated, “Mr. Bates, this is all my fault. I’m so sorry. If only I hadn’t brought you here…” Her voice faltered, consumed by her guilt. Who could remain composed under such stress?
Seeing the tears in Nicole’s eyes, Rhett offered consolation instead.
“Miss Lawrence, don’t worry. I have connections at a top research institute. They have cutting-edge technology and will confirm the effectiveness of the PEP within two weeks. The treatment is highly effective. It has a success rate.”
Even in this intense moment, Rhett’s ability to reassure Nicole highlighted his remarkable emotional strength.
Filled with remorse, Nicole said, “Mr. Bates, I will take care of all your expenses, including compensation for lost wages and emotional distress.”
Rhett, having regained his composure after the initial shock, managed a slight smile. “Miss Lawrence, I’m fine. I’ll treat this as a two-week vacation to unwind. Don’t fret over it.”
Nicole had never encountered anyone as emotionally resilient as Rhett. Many would have crumbled under such stress.
Rhett then rose effortlessly, as though unaffected. “Let’s leave, Miss Lawrence. I’ll drive you home.”
Nicole paused, suggesting, “Perhaps I should arrange a driver for you.” She was concerned about the safety of Rhett driving in his condition.
But Rhett reassured her with a confident smile, “Miss Lawrence, trust me, I can drive us home without any trouble. It’s really nothing. I’ve consulted with my friends at the research institute. I’ve received prompt treatment, and the risk of infection is very low.
Don’t be overly concerned. If such an extraordinary event were to impact me, I’d just accept it as fate. I hold no grudges.”
Nicole was in awe of his candidness and resilience. Wishing she could adopt even a fraction of his outlook, she realized her own suffering might be lessened.
Nicole made her way to the hospital.
Rhett had now been transferred to the provincial hospital for specialized care in infectious diseases.
When Nicole arrived, she found Rhett already hooked up to an IV. He seemed surprised to see her. “Miss Lawrence, what brings you here?” he asked.
“I happened to be nearby and thought I’d check on you,” Nicole replied, not wanting to admit she had come specifically to see Rhett.
Noticing his discomfort and pale appearance, Nicole asked, “Are you thirsty? Would you like some water?”
Rhett, though not particularly thirsty, had a sore throat. “If it’s alright with you, could you get me some water?” he asked.
“Sure, I’ll get some now,” Nicole said.
“My thermos is in my briefcase; I can’t reach it like this. Could you take it out for me?”
Nicole retrieved the thermos from the briefcase, inadvertently pulling out Rhett’s work along with it.
On the back of the ID was a carefully preserved photo of a woman with a bright smile and a lovely face.
Nicole assumed this must be Rhett’s girlfriend, even though he had never mentioned her. Clearly, he was deeply in love with her for keeping her photo so close.
Feeling groggy, Rhett didn’t notice the mishap. Nicole quickly put the ID back and went to get the water. On her way back, she ran into Conor, Jarrod’s assistant.
“Miss Lawrence, are you here to see Mr. Schultz?” Conor greeted her enthusiastically.
“No, I’m not,” Nicole replied, feeling a bit awkward due to Conor’s exuberance.
Conor glanced at the thermos in her hand, his expression puzzled.
Nicole explained, “A friend of mine is getting treatment.”
“Oh, I see…” Conor replied, disappointment evident in his voice.
As Nicole nodded and was about to leave, Conor quickly added, “Miss Lawrence, could you please check on Mr. Schultz? His back wounds have worsened, and he’s in a bad mood.”
Owing to Jarrod’s treatment, his darkened expression spoke volumes, even though he remained silent.
Conor knew Jarrod’s distress stemmed from not seeing the person he most wanted to see.
Unlike Conor, Alec had been with Jarrod for many years and had deep admiration and concern for Jarrod. This led Alec to favor Jarrod and resent Nicole.
If Alec could empathize with Nicole’s perspective, he wouldn’t voice many of his demands and might even feel angry about them.
But Conor wasn’t like that. As a highly competent assistant, his role was to alleviate his employer’s worries. He needed to be flexible and insightful, acting as a mediator between Nicole and Jarrod. He knew how to phrase things to make Nicole feel compelled to agree.
Sensing Nicole’s hesitation, Conor quickly added, “Miss Lawrence, the doctors can’t get Mr. Schultz to listen. I wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t necessary. Mr. Schultz instructed us not to disturb you, but…”
Conor paused for a moment and then continued, “There are countless decisions pending at the Schultz Group and numerous meetings awaiting Mr. Schultz. I can’t monitor Mr. Schultz constantly, and so many people rely on him. I’m desperate for his swift recovery.”
Conor’s words, though not directly accusing Nicole of neglect, conveyed the staff’s helplessness, making his request hard to refuse.
Nicole, still hesitant, said, “I appreciate your hard work, Conor. If I have time, I will visit.”
Nicole’s response was non-committal. She said she would visit if she had time. What did “if she had time” mean? She was already here. However, Conor didn’t dare push further. “Alright, Miss Lawrence, please take care of your matters first. But if you can, do visit Mr. Schultz.”
Nicole nodded and left with the thermos in her hands. When she returned to the infusion room, Rhett appeared to be asleep.
Nicole didn’t wake him and waited quietly, noticing the dark circles under his eyes that suggested he hadn’t slept well.
Given the trauma Rhett had endured, it was no wonder he hadn’t slept well. Despite this, he displayed remarkable composure under the circumstances.
When the nurse arrived to remove the IV, Rhett stirred awake. Clad in full protective gear, the nurse carefully removed the IV. The room was private because they were aware of Rhett’s condition.
After patching him up, the nurse reminded Rhett that he couldn’t leave the hospital tonight and needed to stay for observation to monitor for any fever.
Rhett, noticing Nicole was still there, felt a pang of embarrassment. “Miss Lawrence, you’ve been such a great help. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s no trouble,” Nicole replied with a reassuring smile. “It’s the least I could do.” She handed Rhett the water, and just then, her phone rang. It was the delivery driver.
Nicole had ordered a pot of congee for Rhett, thinking he needed something light to eat. Unable to cook for him herself, she had chosen a highly rated restaurant on the delivery app.
Nicole rose from her seat. “I’ll go get the congee.”
“There’s no need, Miss Lawrence. I’m not hungry,” Rhett said.
But as soon as he spoke, his stomach growled loudly, betraying his words. He felt a flush of embarrassment, and Nicole found it heart-wrenching that he still didn’t want to trouble anyone.
“Honestly, it’s my pleasure,” Nicole said gently. “Let me do something for you. It will make me feel better.”
Rhett hesitated and then spoke with surprising openness, “Miss Lawrence, believe it or not, I don’t blame you at all. This rare event happening to me can only be attributed to fate. It’s nobody’s fault.”
Nicole was taken aback by his candor, not expecting this.
“Sometimes, life forces you to believe in fate,” Rhett said, his expression cryptic.
“Fate can be changed,” Nicole responded with determination. “No matter what, we just need to do our best.”
Rhett agreed, saying, “You’re right, Miss Lawrence.”
As Nicole went to retrieve the congee, she spotted Conor hurrying away, deep in conversation on his phone. He didn’t notice her, likely preoccupied with a company emergency.
From a safe distance, Nicole overheard the conversation. “Mr. Schultz’s condition isn’t good. He can’t return to work yet. We need to find help and not rely on him for everything.”
Conor entered the elevator, while Nicole remained still for several moments before returning to Rhett’s side.
Upon completing his congee, Rhett addressed Nicole, “Miss Lawrence, you should go home. The hospital is adequately staffed with doctors and nurses. I’ll manage on my own. Please don’t inconvenience yourself.”