Chapter 305: A Twist of Fate (5) – Susan Broke Down

Manuel, expecting Susan's return to be delayed, was startled by Hannah’s voice announcing her arrival. He remained silent as Hannah guided a distraught Susan to his room. A dim light still illuminated the space. Manuel, having risen, sat on the bed. Hannah, looking at him directly, stated, "Susan was drugged." Manuel’s expression changed instantly.

"I'll investigate, but right now, Susan needs you," Hannah said, her voice laced with anxiety. Manuel gazed at Susan, whose face was flushed and contorted in agony. She appeared to be at her breaking point.

"Manuel, she's all yours," Hannah said, helping Susan onto the bed. Recognizing Susan's critical state, Hannah quietly left.

"Hannah," Manuel called out.

Hannah turned back.

"Thank you," Manuel said.

Hannah offered a faint smile. You don't need to say that. Aren't you the one who suffered most in the last life? she mused, departing with Jimmy.

Alone in the room, Susan writhed on the bed, suppressing her overwhelming urges.

Tia, unaware of Susan's drugged state, naively offered, "Mr. Johnson, may I assist her? You need rest."

"No, leave now."

"But Ms. Phillips..."

"Get out!"

Manuel's sharp tone startled Tia; his anger was unusual. She hurried from the room, closing the door. His outburst indicated the seriousness of the situation.

Immediately after Tia's departure, Susan sprang from the bed, rushing into the bathroom and slamming the door. Manuel, shocked by her sudden action, could only watch. Was she choosing to suffer alone rather than seek his help? His emotions were a confusing tangle, but he vowed to respect her boundaries.

Manuel sat for a long time, until a sound from the bathroom finally spurred him into action. He maneuvered himself into his wheelchair and went to the bathroom door.

The door was locked. Manuel frowned and knocked, "Susan!"

Only the sound of breaking objects responded. He called again, louder this time, but received no answer.

Realizing something was terribly wrong, Manuel wrestled with the door handle, his hands slamming against the wood until it finally burst open, bruised and battered.

He found Susan on the floor, her face contorted in pain as she rinsed herself with cold water, clutching a broken glass. Blood stained the floor around her.

Manuel stared at her for a long time before approaching. The drug's effects were clearly devastating.

"Susan..." he said softly, but she remained motionless, her grip tightening on the glass shard.

"Manuel, take me to Henry!" Susan cried out, her priority even in this state, fixed on Henry. Manuel swallowed, speechless.

"I beg you. Please, take me to Henry. Please," she pleaded, raising her head, her eyes bloodshot, her body trembling. Her breath seemed to burn.

In that moment, Manuel understood: her restraint stemmed solely from his presence; she endured only because he wasn't Henry.

Without speaking, Manuel gently lifted Susan into his arms and onto his lap. She was soaked and too weak to resist. Internally, she lamented the drug's incomplete effect, her sobriety highlighting the agonizing fact that the man holding her was not Henry.

Hannah had taken her to Manuel, a decision Susan didn’t blame her for. Hannah, viewing their marriage as a commitment, assumed Susan would only sleep with Manuel. But Susan didn't love him; intimacy with him would be unbearable. She feared she would literally die.

Leaning against Manuel, she felt his presence. He wheeled her from the bathroom. She fought to control herself, to avoid taking advantage of him.

"Manuel, I beg you, please take me to Henry!" Tears streamed down her face, overwhelmed by pain and despair.

Holding her burning body, Manuel stopped by the bed, seemingly oblivious to her pleas. He carefully pried the glass shard from her palm, the wound bleeding deeply. He staunchly controlled the bleeding while simultaneously retrieving a first-aid kit.

Before he could reach it, Susan began to touch him. Manuel was stunned, sensing her mental collapse, her abandonment of her own beliefs. He allowed her touch, neither encouraging nor resisting, overwhelmed by her desperation.

Tears streamed down her face as she kissed him. "Manuel, we don't love each other. This won't be happy for us. Could you take me to Henry, please?" she whispered, her voice breaking. She believed this to be her life's darkest moment, one she would eternally regret. She would hate herself to death. But she couldn't help herself.