Chapter 241
After Stella hung up on Haynes without waiting for a response, Rachel was left in shock.
What was Stella up to with that phone call?
Was she trying to use Rachel as an excuse to keep Haynes around?
Even if Haynes came over, it would be to see Rachel, so what was Stella’s angle here?
With the call ended, Stella invited Mr. Burton and Keen to continue their lunch.
Rachel glanced at her own grumbling stomach. She hadn’t eaten breakfast, hoping to have lunch with Haynes. But then Mr. Burton had kept her there instead.
At least Haynes was on his way to get her, which was why she hadn’t stopped Stella from making the call in the first place. She needed him to see the tough time she’d been having here.
An hour later, Haynes arrived. By then, Stella and the others had finished their meal. Marvin was sorting through some herbs while Stella ground them into a fine powder. Rachel, the “patient,” sat on a chair, glancing expectantly toward the door.
When the tall, rugged figure of Haynes strode in, Rachel’s face lit up.
“Haynie, you’re here!” she exclaimed.
Haynes glanced at her hand. “Is the injury serious?” he asked.
Rachel, like a startled rabbit, quickly hid her hand behind her back. “No, it was just
a little cut. It’s healed now,” she replied.
Haynes frowned and gently pulled her hand out from behind her.
He froze. Rachel’s hand was unmarked, just as she had claimed.
His eyes flicked to Stella, who was busy with the herbs, and his voice dropped to
a dark, accusing tone. “Did you set me up, Stella?”
Before Stella could reply, Marvin chimed in. “Mr. O’Brien, why jump to conclusions and blame Stella? Ms. Pearce came here claiming she was in pain, saying her current condition made her prone to bleeding.”
Marvin continued, “She mentioned how last week, she cut her finger and you were so worried, insisting on a hospital visit and even prepped a blood pack just in case.”
“But at the hospital, an emergency came up, and her blood pack was used for another patient. You were so upset you fired all the doctors.”
Marvin, young as he was, had no reason to lie. Haynes was skeptical, but the boy’s details checked out.
Just then, Mr. Burton emerged, clutching a few medicine bottles. “Yep, that’s exactly what Rachel said. We didn’t dare bandage her without knowing more.”
Haynes turned a scrutinizing gaze on Rachel, his eyes deep and unreadable. “Rachel, is this true?”
Rachel’s fists clenched. She had forgotten that everyone here was Stella’s friend; of course, they’d side with her.
Thinking quickly, Rachel spun a story. “I’ve heard that medicine can be harmful if not used carefully. When I accidentally cut myself on the herbs, I panicked about infection.”
“I only mentioned the hospital incident to Ms. Cameron because Marvin here said he’s never worried about bumps and scrapes, and I felt embarrassed.”
She looked up at Haynes, her voice softening. “Besides, I didn’t accuse Ms. Cameron of anything. You jumped to conclusions without asking.”
Her eyes flickered with a hint of triumph as she spoke, hoping her story would hold.