Chapter 210: He Lost the Right Leg
Susan turned to leave, wanting no more time wasted on Manuel. It didn't matter to her whether his affection was genuine or a strategic maneuver to maintain a foothold in the Phillips family. She only wanted to marry Henry and sever all ties with Manuel and Justine.
"Susan," Manuel called, reaching out to stop her.
Susan was disgusted. She intensely disliked Manuel's overtures, and in that moment, she reacted violently. She fiercely knocked his hand away as he grasped her arm. She admitted to using considerable force, fueled by her aversion to his touch.
However, her strength was no match for Manuel's. Unexpectedly, he lost his balance, stumbling backward. Behind him was a city street; though late at night, a few vehicles were still moving. A car, approaching at high speed, bore down on them.
The driver, despite braking, couldn't avoid hitting Manuel.
Bang!
Susan saw Manuel flung onto the hood, then tumbling to the ground. Blood was everywhere. Frozen, she had simply reacted, never intending to cause his injury, let alone his death. She remained paralyzed, even forgetting to stop the fleeing driver.
Instead of calling Henry, she called Hannah, her hands trembling. Hannah seemed her only confidante, her only solace.
Footsteps echoed from the hospital corridor. Hannah and Susan turned to see Edward, Justine, and Henry rushing toward them.
"What happened? How did the accident happen?" Edward asked anxiously. Justine's face was ashen.
Susan bit her lip, remaining silent, as did Hannah.
"What's the situation in the ER?" Edward asked again.
"He's been in there for about thirty minutes," Susan whispered.
"How did it happen?" Edward asked, immediately comforting Justine. "Don't worry. Everything will be okay. I believe Manuel will be fine. Don't panic."
He had always been so kind and caring toward Justine; his lifelong devotion was evident.
Susan watched them coldly, her anger simmering, but she remained silent out of respect for Manuel’s plight. Henry approached, embracing Susan in a show of comfort. Hannah felt awkward, glancing at Henry before looking away.
More footsteps approached. Traffic police arrived to investigate the serious accident. Susan recounted the events.
Justine finally broke, accusing, "You pushed Manuel?"
Susan looked down.
The police officer confirmed, "Miss Phillips, I need you to confirm if you pushed Manuel Johnson into the street, causing the accident."
Before Susan could answer, Henry interjected, "They were fighting. Susan called me, saying she was arguing with Manuel. Isn't that right, Susan?"
Susan looked at Henry; his quick thinking was apparent. Hannah had initially believed Henry's devotion to Susan was boundless, but now she saw his self-preservation at play.
"Is that true, Miss Phillips?" the officer pressed.
Susan nodded. She understood Henry's intentions.
"We're tracking the hit-and-run driver," the officer stated. "Keep your phone on and don't leave the city."
The police left. A tense silence settled over the waiting area. Susan's heart pounded, anxiety gnawing at her until Manuel emerged.
After what felt like an eternity, the operating room doors opened. A tired-looking doctor appeared.
Justine and the others rushed to him. "Doctor, how's my son?"
"The surgery was successful. He's out of danger. You brought him in just in time," the doctor announced.
Justine sighed in relief, the weight lifting from Susan's shoulders as well. She couldn't bear to imagine the alternative.
"But..." The doctor's hesitation renewed their apprehension.
"His legs were the most severely injured, especially his right leg. It nearly severed. We've repaired it, but we can't guarantee its function."
"You mean..." Justine stared incredulously. "My son will be crippled?"
"His left leg should recover with treatment," the doctor explained, "but the right leg... I can't guarantee it."
"No! My son can't lose his leg!" Justine cried, her composure shattered.
"Please calm down, Ma'am. This is a preliminary assessment. With treatment, a miracle might happen," the doctor offered.
A miracle? Miracles were rare.
Yet, a miracle occurred. While others were distraught, Hannah remained calm, her gaze falling upon a guilt-ridden Susan, who felt she deserved to die for her actions.