Chapter 176 He's Coming
Susan left Jessica Accounting Firm and headed straight to the hospital.
Once there, she realized how bad the flu was; the place was packed.
Seeing the long line to pay, Susan frowned, guessing it would take at least two hours just to get some medicine.
Feeling weak and exhausted, she opted for a small clinic instead, got some meds, and went home to rest.
After taking the medicine, Susan fell into a drowsy sleep.
In the evening, she felt chills but managed to get herself a cup of hot water.
After eating a few crackers and taking her medicine, she fell asleep again. The next morning, she found she didn't even have the strength to get out of bed.
At ten the next morning, Morgan knocked on Jessica's office door.
"Come in," Jessica said, looking up from the ledger.
Morgan entered urgently, "Ms. Green, Susan hasn't shown up, and I can't reach her."
Jessica frowned.
"Susan's alone in Lindell Harbor, and she had a bad cold yesterday. Do you think something happened? She's usually very punctual," Morgan said, worried.
Jessica thought for a moment. "I'll handle it. You get back to work."
"Okay," Morgan said, leaving.
Jessica took out her phone and made a call.
The call didn't go through, making Jessica anxious.
About half an hour later, her phone rang, and she answered immediately.
"I was just in court. Is something wrong with Susan?" George's voice sounded rushed.
Jessica's lips curled slightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "So, if it weren't for Susan working here, you wouldn't have called back so quickly, right?"
George hesitated. "Jessica, you're a mature and rational woman. How did you end up becoming so pretentious?"
"You always label me like that," Jessica pouted, her earlier dissatisfaction fading.
"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have left Susan in your care," George laughed.
Jessica replied, "If she hadn't ended up at my firm, you wouldn't have left her with me, right?"
"You're overthinking it. I always wanted to introduce her to your firm, but she wasn't willing," George explained.
"I believe you. Susan's honest, smart, eager to learn, and hardworking. It's hard to find such employees these days. No wonder you care so much about her," Jessica teased.
"Alright, what do you need?" George asked, a bit impatient.
Jessica got serious. "Susan's had a bad cold. I sent her home to rest yesterday, but she hasn't shown up, and I can't reach her. I'm worried something happened, so I called you."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" George shouted, cutting Jessica off before she could finish, and then hung up.
"Hello?" Jessica said into the phone, but it was already disconnected. She felt a mix of frustration and disappointment.
She tossed her phone onto the desk, feeling a bit resentful.
A little over a month ago, George, who hadn't contacted her in ages, reached out and even came to Lindell Harbor to invite her to dinner.
Jessica dressed up and went, excited, only to find out George wanted her to look after Susan, who had just started at her firm.
At that moment, Jessica felt speechless.
She couldn't refuse George's request without seeming petty. Plus, she was curious about the woman who made George give up on Vivian.
George's request was simple: keep him updated on Susan, don't be too harsh on her at work, and help her out if possible.
Initially, Jessica thought Susan must be delicate, but she soon realized Susan was strong, smart, and hardworking.
Susan dressed modestly, followed the rules, had a straightforward personality, and worked with great enthusiasm. She even helped with physical tasks around the office.
Gradually, Jessica began to appreciate Susan. But sometimes, she wondered what made Susan so special. Susan wasn't exceptionally beautiful, just pleasant-looking, with a good personality but no notable family background. Although Susan was hardworking and had earned her CPA certification young, Jessica couldn't see what made her stand out.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Jessica thought she was better than Susan in every way. In the end, she could only attribute it to the age difference.
She was thirty-one, and Susan was twenty-seven. A four-year age gap was significant for women, and Jessica could only comfort herself with that thought.
Maple Valley was a three-hour drive from Lindell Harbor, but George made it in less than two.
"Susan! Open the door, are you okay?" George kept knocking, even considering breaking it down.
But there was no response, and George frowned.
He took a step back and kicked the door hard.
The door flew open, leaving a hole in the wood.
George quickly stepped inside, turned into the bedroom, and saw Susan curled up on the bed.
He hurried over and touched her forehead, finding it burning hot, and she was trembling.
"Susan?" George gently patted her cheek.
"Mm," Susan mumbled, unable to open her eyes.
George frowned deeply, covered her with a blanket, then bent down, scooped her up, and quickly walked out.
In the evening, the ward was brightly lit and eerily quiet.
Susan felt much better and finally opened her eyes.
Seeing the white surroundings and the IV drip, she realized she was in the hospital again.