Chapter 238: A Life About to Disappear

For the next month, Summer came looking for him every day, though she was actually there to see the dog. Slowly, Fraser began to anticipate her visits, even making sure there were plenty of delicious treats prepared beforehand. Her favorite? The little pudding.

Every time she arrived, Fraser remained as expressionless as ever. He would lounge in his chair, reclining slightly, pretending to rest his eyes. All the while, the lively chatter of a girl and a dog filled the air around him. But then, one day, she stopped coming.

In the first week of her disappearance, Fraser sent someone to investigate. They found out that the nurse had resigned. He searched for her afterward, but no matter how many people he sent, there was no trace of her.

Until one fateful night at a banquet. That was when he finally learned her surname was not ‘Leonard.’ She had been taken back by the Stewart family, and now she was called Summer Stewart. Fraser often wondered, what if he had found her before Trevor did, would things turn out differently?

Across the room, Xavier waved a hand in front of Fraser’s face. “What’s with you? Did I hit the nail on the head? I knew it! Our high and mighty Fraser Graham, who has a ‘cleanliness’ obsession when it comes to women, and Summer was the only one who gets under your skin?”

Fraser lifted his gaze, casting him an icy glance. He did not bother answering such a pointless question. “Get lost.” Xavier shrugged. Chasing a woman was the simplest thing in the world. So why did it have to be so complicated for this guy? If it were me? Money, luxury gifts, sweet talk. And if all else fails, just use that devastatingly handsome face to charm her senseless. Would Summer even stand a chance to…

At the same time, Fraser’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen. It was from an unknown number. His face darkened as he swiped to decline the call. “Not picking up?” Xavier asked. Fraser let out a cold scoff. “This is what happens when you call off an engagement. The old lady tries every trick in the book to harass me.” He turned off his phone and tossed it onto the table, then downed the rest of his drink in one go.

The next day at Havenbrook Archangel Private Hospital, Yvette accompanied Summer into the office of an experienced gynecologist, Dr. Lois. Dr. Lois glanced at the medical report and, as per protocol, asked in a detached tone, “Are you sure you want to terminate the pregnancy?”

Summer sat stiffly in the chair. Yvette held her hand. The cold, clinical voice made the air in the room even more suffocating. Yvette could feel the slight tremble in Summer’s fingers. She tightened her grip. Summer gave a barely perceptible nod. “And the father?” Dr. Lois asked.

She looked scared. Nervous. But then again, aren’t they all the same? Dr. Lois had seen too many women sitting in that chair to feel any real sympathy. “It’s standard procedure,” she continued. “The father needs to sign off on the operation.”

“I’m single,” Summer said. Dr. Lois’s gaze flickered with a trace of pity. “Any family members?” Yvette quickly spoke up. “I’m her friend. I can sign.” “Normally, it should be a parent or a close relative,” Dr. Lois answered.

Yvette’s patience snapped. “Normally? Since when is getting an abortion ever a normal situation? It’s a minor procedure. As long as someone signs, isn’t that enough?” Dr. Lois blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden outburst.

In fact, for adult patients, the hospital did not require a guardian’s signature. But this was a high-end private hospital. She had only followed protocol to ensure the doctors were protected. Still, seeing the growing irritation in Yvette’s eyes, she decided not to press the issue further.

She printed out a form and handed it over. “Fine. Go pay the fee first. Once that’s done, we’ll run a quick pre-op check. If everything looks good, the procedure will be scheduled in about an hour.”

Yvette took the form, then turned to Summer. “Summer, don’t be scared. I’ll be right outside the whole time. I heard it’s done under general anesthesia. By the time you wake up, it’ll be over.”

Summer nodded. She was not afraid of the pain. The thought that, soon, the tiny life inside her would simply disappear, suffocated her.

On the other side of the hospital, Xavier, now dressed in a white lab coat, strode in with a group of hospital staff surrounding him. This hospital was one of the many under his family’s medical group.