Chapter 239: The Final Chance

Ashe listened to the vice dean and other hospital staff report on hospital matters, Xavier’s gaze unintentionally caught a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. Someone noticed his distraction and asked, “Dean, is something wrong?”

Xavier frowned. “Is that the gynecology department?”

“Yes, that area is mainly for pregnancy diagnosis and related consultations.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. If he was not mistaken, the woman he had just glimpsed looked a lot like Summer. But why would she be here?

“Get that doctor over,” he ordered.

It did not take long for Dr. Lois to step out of the consultation room. Upon seeing the hospital director himself, she immediately greeted him with utmost respect.

Xavier wasted no time. “What was that woman here for?”

Dr. Lois knew exactly which patient he was referring to and quickly reported, “She came in for an abortion.”

Xavier was momentarily stunned. “Was she alone? Where’s the father?”

Dr. Lois hesitated for a moment before responding truthfully, “She said she’s unmarried and didn’t provide any details. I assume it was an unplanned pregnancy. Her friend signed the consent form for the procedure.”

Xavier fell silent, frowning in thought. Should I tell Fraser? If the child was Fraser’s, he has the right to know. He could not just let Summer decide this all on her own. But if the baby wasn’t Fraser’s… Knowing his friend’s explosive temper, not only would Summer suffer, but this very hospital might end up in ruins.

Xavier sighed, rubbing his temples. “Arrange for the best doctor in the hospital to handle her case. Also, push her surgery to the very last slot of the day.”

After paying the fees, Yvette accompanied Summer through a series of blood tests and pre-op checks. Then, they sat outside the operating room, waiting. From morning until noon, they watched as one surgical bed after another was wheeled in and out.

Yvette pursed her lips. “What’s going on? That old woman said it’d take at most an hour. We’ve been waiting all morning, and they still haven’t called us in.”

Summer sat quietly beside her, hands wrapped around a cup of warm water, lost in thought. It felt like one of the most important exams of her life. She had prepared all the answers, steeled herself for what was to come, and was ready to walk into the examination hall and get it over with in one go. But the longer she waited, the more her resolve wavered.

Fear. Uncertainty. Guilt. All of it mounting to an unbearable peak. She did not know if it was just her imagination, but she thought she felt a faint flutter in her belly. The doctor had said she would not feel anything until three months in. And yet…

Summer’s grip on the cup tightened slightly. “Yvette, I can’t wait.”

“Don’t worry,” Yvette reassured her. “We'll be through this soon. Just a little while longer.”

They waited until 5 pm. Yvette was famished. Luckily, she had booked a private room in advance. Being in the hallway all day would have driven her crazy. And this hospital claimed to be one of the best private facilities in Haverbrook.

Just then, a nurse knocked on the door. “Ms. Stewart, it’s time for your procedure. Please prepare yourself.”

Summer looked up, a dazed expression in her eyes. Yvette squeezed her hand. “Don’t be scared. It’ll be over soon. Half an hour, and it’ll all be over.”

Meanwhile, inside the dean’s office on the hospital’s top floor, Xavier leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, his expression unreadable as he stared out the glass window. A phone spun idly in his palm. A knock sounded at the door. His assistant walked in. “Dean, Ms. Stewart’s surgery is scheduled to begin in ten minutes.”

Xavier’s hand froze. His eyes darkened. To hell with it. Worst-case scenario? He’d just have to open another hospital. He unlocked his phone, found Fraser’s number, and dialed.

Inside the operating room, Summer lay on the sterile white bed, staring up at the cold, blinding surgical light overhead. The air was crisp with the scent of disinfectant, chilling her to the bone. Two doctors stood beside her, pulling on latex gloves. They exchanged a glance before speaking. “Ms. Stewart, are you absolutely certain you want to go through with this? Once we administer the anesthesia, there’s no turning back. Although abortion procedures are common, there are risks. In mild cases, it can lead to uterine infections and fallopian tube inflammation. In severe cases, it may result in infertility. You need to think this through carefully.”