Be My Cure Now

Chapter 2 Rumors

At Clarice's bedside was her colleague and close friend, Susan Green. Her usually neat curls were a bit messy, her beautiful brows furrowed in worry, and her eyes full of concern.

"Who is Eric? Are you okay? Oh, Clarice, do you know how worried I've been about you?"

Clarice tried to look around the room for Eric, but there was no one else in the room except for them. "The person who brought me here, where is he?" she asked, trying to remove the IV drip so she could go out into the hallway to search.

Susan, quick on her feet, stopped her immediately. "Clarice, you need to finish this medication. The person who brought you here already left, and he didn't leave a name. But the nurse on duty said, based on his silhouette, he seemed to be a handsome man."

"Seem to be?" Clarice hesitated.

Eric was always the center of attention wherever he went; no one would describe him in such vague terms.

Thinking carefully, the voice from yesterday didn't sound like Eric's.

Could it really just have been a good Samaritan who didn't want to be recognized?

Maybe the bitter lemon scent had misled her. In fact, Eric's ghosting had turned that scent into a key to her memories—every time she smelled something similar, it dragged her into painful recollections.

Susan said, "Forget about that for now. I was just about to ask—what happened? How did you inhale the sleeping gas?"

Clarice briefly explained what had happened earlier, causing Susan to get angry and curse, "That bastard, he's disgusting! I'm calling the police!"

Clarice tried to calm down the agitated Susan, "Take it easy..."

Suddenly, Susan seemed to realize something, her expression shifting. "By the way, Dan was also brought to the hospital. I heard he was found in a bush, bruised and battered, and the only thing left on him was his underwear."

Clarice paused for a moment.

That really did sound like something Eric would do...

Susan raised an eyebrow, "If I get the chance to meet this righteous knight, I'll definitely thank him for saving you."

If it really was Eric, he probably wouldn't want to see her, right?

And she should hate him, not hope for a reunion with him, right?

Clarice lowered her head, "It's a pity I don't know him. I wouldn't know how to thank him."

Susan, always quick-tempered, replied, "To be honest, he's more useful than your husband. You went through such a dangerous situation today, and I was the only one by your side... You should move on. The Jamon in prison isn't worth waiting for."

Clarice didn't say anything.

She was indeed waiting for Jamon. Waiting for him to be released from prison, and then divorce him.

The next morning, Clarice had just reached the hospital entrance when Susan rushed over, looking anxious.

"Clarice, are you okay?"

"What's going on?" Clarice had a sinking feeling.

"Dan is spreading rumors that he caught you in an affair and was attacked by your lover!"

"What about the director? Is he just letting this slide?"

"The director's out of town on a business trip."

When they arrived at the surgery department, they saw a crowd gathered, with someone loudly recounting an exaggerated story.

"Honestly, I was shocked! Dr. Clarice Ford always seemed so upstanding, but she actually has a lover... I accidentally ran into them last night, getting cozy on the road by the hospital's southwest corner... And then, her lover attacked me and left me like this!"

Dan pointed dramatically to his face, now heavily bandaged, with his swollen eyes peeking out like slits.

"Pfft!" Clarice couldn't help but burst into laughter at how ridiculous he looked.

Her laughter was contagious, and soon low chuckles rippled through the crowd.

Dan glared in the direction of the laughter, looking even more absurd.

"Stop spreading lies, Smith! Your story is ridiculous!" Susan shot back angrily, clearly not buying his story.

"Story? What would I gain from making this up?" Dan quickly regained his composure, adopting his usual amiable demeanor. "Besides, there have already been plenty of rumors about Clarice. I just happened to witness this one firsthand."

His words sparked a wave of whispers among the onlookers.

"Yeah, remember that time Dr. Swift's wife came here and accused Clarice of seducing her husband?"

"And wasn't her husband jailed for fighting with another man?"

"Right, that's not normal. Maybe Dr. Ford really has a history of infidelity..."

Furious, Susan stepped forward to stop the rumors, but Clarice held her back and instead stepped up, speaking loudly and clearly. "Let's call the police. Assault is a crime, and so is slander."

She looked Dan in the eye, her gaze unwavering.

"Dan, if you're truly the victim, why haven't you called the police? And I recall there are surveillance cameras near the southwest corner."

Clarice lifted her phone and started dialing 911.

Panic flashed across Dan's face.

He was a newcomer. Unfamiliar with the hospital's layout, he hadn't realized there were cameras on that secluded road.

Dan had recently gotten engaged to the director's daughter and secured a transfer to this hospital through her father's influence. After the director retired, he was sure to take on the position.

If the footage of his behavior with an unconscious Clarice surfaced, it would destroy not only his gentlemanly image but also his engagement. His career would be ruined!

Dan was already beginning to regret mentioning it. There were other ways to get back at Clarice!

He looked up to meet Clarice's icy stare, and cold sweats began to trickle down his face.