Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman novel Chapter 160

When Jean and John heard what the stranger had said to them, they exchanged surprised glances. When the shock wore off and they thought that perhaps Maranda had fainted, they became concerned.

Jean and John turned to face the stranger. They saw a middle-aged security guard. At their lack of response, the guard spurred them into action by saying, "She is in the clinic now. She looks terrible. You need to take her to the hospital at once."

Jean and John asked for directions to the clinic. As soon as the guard told them where to go, the two set off.

By the time they reached the clinic, John and Jean were breathless. They had run the whole way without stopping. When they entered the ward, they saw Maranda lying in bed. Her eyes were closed and she looked extremely pale.

Jean's body trembled with shock. She couldn't believe that just a few minutes ago she had been day-dreaming about a life with Zed in a beautiful, remote setting while Maranda had been so sick that she had fainted. What could have happened? She cried as she ran toward the bed, "How could this happen? Maranda, what's wrong with you? You looked all right when we got out of the taxi. But now? You look awful. What happened to you to make you look like this?"

"She's got acute gastroenteritis. We have already contacted the nearest hospital. The ambulance is on it's way. She will be fine. Don't be so worried." The doctor explained quickly. He seemed to be skillful at handling matters like this. He sighed as he continued, "Is she your friend? How did it get this bad? Was she feeling unwell prior to fainting? Had she gone to the hospital when she first started feeling sick, she would not be suffering like this. Now that her condition is getting worse, she has no other choice but to be hospitalized."

"As long as she will recover, it doesn't matter how long she needs to be in the hospital." Jean hurried to explain to the doctor.

"Acute gastroenteritis is not a serious disease. When Maranda reaches the hospital, the doctors there will have the facilities to care for her better. She will be all right soon." John, who was standing beside Jean stayed silent. He didn't know what to say. After a long while, he patted Jean on the shoulder and said, "She will be fine." Jean looked at John with a concerned expression and asked, "Really?"

"Yes. Believe me." John nodded his head firmly as reassurance to Jean.

Upon hearing the doctor's prognosis and John's comforting words, Jean began to feel a little better. Although her heart settled, tears still rolled down her cheeks.

'This is all my fault. If I had not been so careless, Maranda would never have been in this position. I should have insisted that she visit the hospital before we left for the shoot.

That way, we could have caught her illness before it reached the point where she needed hospitalization.'

Jean let out a rather long sigh. She bit her lip as she waited anxiously for the ambulance to arrive. When Maranda moaned in pain, Jean's hand flew to her chest as though she were feeling the same pain.

The ambulance came within minutes. The nursers and doctors in the clinic helped put Maranda into the ambulance.

Jean and John climbed in after Maranda had been settled.

Ten minutes later, the ambulance arrived at the hospital.

Several people dressed in white cloaks and masks rushed to the ambulance. They gently placed Maranda on a wheeled stretcher and pushed it toward the emergency room.

Seeing that the medical staff were busy attending to Maranda, Jean felt relieved. As the adrenalin wore off, Jean felt weak as though she couldn't stand.

A dizzy spell followed and Jean felt as though she were falling. Fortunately, a warm pair of hands held her upright.

"Thank you." Jean lowered her head as she thanked John in a low voice.

"Don't be worried. Maranda will be out soon. And she will be fine." John tried to comfort her.

"Don't be worried? I know that you are not worried about Maranda because you have no feelings for her, am I right? John, why are you so indifferent? Even if you don't feel any affection toward Maranda, she is still your colleague. In this sense, you should at least feel some amount of concern for her well-being."

Jean had never spoken so harshly with John before. Perhaps it was the shock from Maranda's illness that had forced her to vent so openly.

She glared at John in disbelief. Jean really couldn't understand how he could be so unmoved by Maranda's suffering.

John had not expected that Jean would lose her temper so suddenly. At first, he was startled. Then he felt his cheeks redden as embarrassment followed. Soon, his expression conveyed the sorrow he felt.

He was not as indifferent as Jean had thought. On the contrary, he felt extremely guilty.

After all, the last person Maranda had seen before she fainted was John. And it also happened to be the moment that she felt the most heartbroken.

But what had John done at that point?

John had intended to comfort Maranda, however, he ended up saying something awful. He had been selfish and had only thought of his own interests then. He hadn't known that Maranda was so weak and in such tremendous pain that she would be unable to withstand the heartache that followed.

As if he hadn't made the situation worse, John had then left Maranda alone as he went off to take his pictures.

John thought, 'If I had known that Maranda was so unwell, I would not have left her alone.

And now things have gotten worse. Jean is deeply upset.

What should I do now? Since I am the only man here, I have to be strong and reliable. Also I have to calm Jean and comfort her.

What should I do to comfort Jean? Should I say something reassuring? Should I show my concern?

If we are both drowning in misery over Maranda's suffering, who will be clear-headed enough to make proper decisions?'

John took a long breath and said to Jean bitterly, "No matter what you think of me and what you have said to me, I would like to clarify that I have not done anything wrong, Jean."

"Yeah. You are absolutely right. Men like you will never do anything wrong. Correct me if I'm being unreasonable! I am at fault for believing that you aren't as cold and indifferent as you behave. Your behavior and lack of remorse clearly show me how wrong I am. John, if you don't love Maranda, please do her a favor and stop giving her hope. Girls are blind and ignorant when it comes to matters related to love. And Maranda is no exception. She cannot afford to be played by you. First, you are cold toward her, then you show concern by buying her medicines. You need to pick one attitude and stick to it! Don't confuse her."

"I..." A bitter smile appeared on John's face. He was very eager to ask what Jean had meant when she said that he had given Maranda hope. But he could not do so.

John kept pondering over what he might have done that had confused Maranda.

'Since Maranda is my colleague, I bought her medicines. That is normal, isn't it? How could that be mistaken for hope? And now, when I'm trying to be strong and impassive, I'm being attacked for being too distant. Can I do anything right?

Why do women have such unreasonable expectations from men?'

John knew that Jean was anxious and sad since Maranda was unwell enough to need hospitalization. He also figured that she must be feeling guilty about something she didn't do to prevent this, just like he was feeling guilty. And so, he decided not to be harsh with Jean.

But the only problem was...

John looked toward the emergency room. It had been a while since the medical staff had wheeled Maranda inside. Why hadn't anyone come out as yet? They had been there too long! What was happening? Was she alright?

Silence engulfed Jean and John as they were lost in their own thoughts and worries. It was a while before the light above the emergency room door was turned on.

When the door opened slowly, Jean hurried forward with concern. She looked past the doctor and saw that Maranda was awake, although she was still on the stretcher. A nurse was wheeling Maranda out.

"Maranda..." Jean was very excited to see that her friend was alright. She thought she was speaking softly, but somehow, she ended up shouting. A nurse hushed Jean.

"Jean, I am sorry to have worried you." A weak smile crept onto Maranda's pale face. She stretched out a hand to hold Jean's hand and said, "Sorry..."

"What nonsense! No one has to apologize for being sick. It's not like you chose to faint! Don't apologize to me for something you could not control. We're friends. Friends don't need to apologize to each other. The most important thing for you to do now, is to rest and recover. Remember that! And stop woolgathering." Jean stopped Maranda from saying anything else. Instead, she wanted to comfort her friend. Maranda must have been terrified!

"Doctor, how is she?" John turned to Maranda's attending doctor and asked.

"Her illness is common. I'm sure the doctor at the clinic would have told you that it is acute gastroenteritis. It's not that serious. Don't be so worried. She needs to be hooked to an IV for the night as she is dehydrated. And then tomorrow, if she feels better, we will discharge her." The attending doctor took off his mask and said patiently.

"She fell down when she fainted. Did she not hurt herself? Can she still leave the hospital tomorrow?" John was a little amazed that Maranda had not been seriously hurt when she fell. And so, he asked the doctor. He had thought that Maranda's condition was terrible. But according to what the doctor had said, she was fine.

"Fainting is not a symptom of acute gastroenteritis. If you are worried about her, you can take her for a thorough check-up." The doctor advised.

"No. I am much better now." Maranda heard what the doctor said and rushed to explain. She did not want to make things more complicated than they already were. So she continued, "I wasn't feeling well in the afternoon. And I went to the bathroom many times. Over the past few days, I have been weak as well. Also, the long journey used a lot of my energy. All of these must have led me to faint."

"We'd better take you for a thorough check-up so that we can be sure." Jean stood by the stretcher and persuaded Maranda to listen to the doctor's suggestion.

"I don't need a check-up. I am aware of my condition. Don't waste more time than is necessary. I am certain that I will be fine by morning." Maranda shook her head and looked at Jean with big, firm eyes.

"Ok then." Jean had to give in when she saw Maranda's determination. She knew that no matter what she said, Maranda would not change her mind.

As Maranda was being wheeled to the ward, Jean walked alongside.

Once everything was settled, the women heard John speak, "It is time for dinner. I am going to buy some food."

John walked out the ward before any of the women could say anything.

Jean was surprised. She looked at John with a puzzled expression. She was deep in thought.

Did what she had said hurt John? Jean admitted that she had been anxious at that time.

And she had spoken too quickly. Since Jean had not stopped to think before speaking, she had said things that she normally would not have. Now Jean could see that she was being unreasonable. It wasn't John's fault that Maranda had fainted.

She thought that she needed to find time to apologize to John.

"Jean, I figured it out. John is in love with someone else. That is why he refused me." Maranda whispered.