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When Rachel woke again, she found herself surrounded by several interns under Benjamin’s supervision, and Angelina was among them.
She struggled to sit up, bracing herself on the bed. “What are you doing here?”
One of the interns, who looked honest and awkward, explained, “Dr. Garza said to use you as a case study, so he asked us to come ahead of him-”
Before he could finish, another nudged him with an elbow. “Why bother explaining to her? She’s just someone who clings to old debts. She doesn’t deserve our respect.”
Her face paled. Once, she might have brushed the words aside, but now they struck deep. Wasn’t it true? It was precisely because she “clung to old debts” that she trapped Benjamin.
“Exactly,” another chimed in. “If it weren’t for her, Dr. Garza could be with the person he truly loves.” Her gaze slid deliberately to Angelina, who shifted uneasily under the implication.
Watching the faintly embarrassed look on Angelina’s face, Rachel felt as if a sharp needle had pierced her heart.
Just then, someone snapped their fingers. “What if her mother only took the blame back then to secure her marriage to Dr. Garza? Someone like her could never reach a family like his otherwise.”
The others quickly picked it up. “That makes sense. Like mother, like daughter. Neither of them is any good. Her mother must have been
Chapter 7
viciously calculating.”
Rachel’s hands curled into fists. She could endure being insulted herself, but she would not allow anyone to slander Wendy.
Wendy had taken the fall out of gratitude, not for any hidden motive.
As their words grew sharper, she could no longer hold back. She pushed herself up and raised her hand, ready to slap the one mocking most loudly.
At that moment, Angelina noticed Benjamin about to enter. She quickly stepped forward–right into the path of Rachel’s hand.
The sharp crack of a slap echoed through the room. Rachel froze, stunned that she had actually struck Angelina.
And that was exactly what Benjamin walked in to see. In two strides, he pulled Angelina into his arms and shoved Rachel back forcefully.
His voice rang out, furious. “Rachel, what the hell are you doing?”
She stared at him, stunned. He had never spoken to her with such harshness before.
He ignored her. His eyes were filled with nothing but concern as he led Angelina out to tend to her wounds.
Ten minutes later, he returned and said, “Go apologize to Angie.”
Rachel turned her head away, lips pressed shut.
“I’ve spoiled you far too much all these years,” he said sternly.
Her whole body stiffened, her eyes stinging as she turned to look at him. “They were the ones who said I was using your kindness, that my mother
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only took the blame to climb her way into the Garza family. And I wasn’t trying to hit Angelina–she stepped in front of me on her own!”
There wasn’t the slightest hint of softness in his eyes as his voice turned cold. “And what if they’re right?”
Rachel’s pupils shrank, her breath faltered, and her eyes brimmed with disbelief. The flood of grievance and heartbreak nearly swallowed her whole.
So this was what he had thought all along.
Otherwise, why would he have orchestrated accident after accident to delay their wedding? Why would he call her nothing more than a responsibility?
She lowered her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “Fine. I’ll apologize.”
Dragging her broken body, she followed him to his office.
When the door opened, she stopped short. Angelina was seated. comfortably in his chair, alone, as if she belonged there.
The memory hit her hard. There had been a time Rachel had asked to wait for him in his office after work. He had refused, saying, “There are confidential files here. I can’t leave anyone inside.”
And yet here Angelina was, sitting freely. Principles only seemed to apply to the women he didn’t love.
She swallowed the ache rising in her chest and stepped forward. Standing before Angelina, she lowered her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you just now.”
Angelina’s eyes widened theatrically. She covered her mouth as though in
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shock. “Mrs. Garza?”
Benjamin immediately came to her side, ruffling her hair gently as he said in a protective tone, “We’re not married yet. Don’t call her that.”
Every other time people had called Rachel “Mrs. Garza,” he had never corrected them. But now, he did because it came from Angelina. He didn’t want to hear that word from the one he truly cared about.
Bitterness welled up in Rachel’s chest.
Angelina nodded obediently. “No worries, Ms. Hudson. I forgive you.”
Her gracious tone finally eased Benjamin’s displeasure. He glanced back at Rachel. “Go on. Get some rest.”
Rachel’s nails dug into her palms as she turned and left. But she hadn’t taken more than a few steps down the hall before someone brushed past and knocked her off balance.
She lost her balance and collapsed to the floor, pain shooting through her body until cold sweat drenched her forehead.
From inside the office came Benjamin’s tender voice. “Does your face still hurt? Let me put on some more ointment.”
Rachel’s tears finally broke free, splattering onto the floor in streams. She clutched her hand over her mouth to keep any sound from escaping. Her trembling shoulders were the only sign of her grief.
The next day, Benjamin left for a medical exchange at another hospital. He only took one intern with him–Angelina.
During Rachel’s week in the ward, the other interns came by one after another, and they always gave the same cutting remarks. They said that Benjamin only chose Angelina so he could take her out to eat, show her
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the best sights, and visit trendy spots together. Those were the things he had never once done with Rachel.
She said nothing, but every word tore her chest open wider. And at last, something inside her gave way, leaving only a calm clarity.
“Benjamin, I’ll set you free,” she murmured.
The day she was discharged, the first place she went was the Garza’s residence. She was going to end the engagement.
