“Susan, don’t you trust me?” Hannah noticed Susan was on the verge of a breakdown.
“I don’t mean to complain about your suggestion,” Susan began.
“We’ve grown up together since childhood. We’re like sisters. I feel your pain more deeply than you know, and I know you’d do the same for me.” Hannah interrupted, her voice serious.
This seriousness was unusual for Hannah.
“I don’t always show how much I care, because I assume you know. But I need to be serious now. I’m willing to risk our friendship to persuade you to keep the baby.” Hannah’s determination was hard for Susan to resist.
However, Susan remained consumed by her pain and helplessness, feeling overwhelmed.
“What if I could share the chance of rebirth with you…” Hannah murmured.
Susan didn’t understand. Hannah didn’t elaborate. Rebirth wouldn’t necessarily be fortunate for Susan, Hannah reasoned, but at least Susan wouldn't experience the pain Hannah endured in her past life. This time, Hannah vowed to protect Susan.
Hannah smiled. “Trust me. One day, you’ll rejoice at your decision to keep the baby.”
But Susan remained unconvinced.
“Susan, consider this: do you think you were born into a happy family?” Hannah knew she needed to appeal to reason.
“No,” Susan replied.
Her parents had quarreled constantly until their divorce and her mother’s death. It had been a difficult childhood.
“But have you ever regretted being born?” Hannah asked.
Susan paused, surprised. She’d never considered it.
“If you haven’t regretted it, then you haven't,” Hannah concluded. “You were born into an unhappy marriage. If you don’t regret your own birth, how can you assume your baby will regret its? Perhaps it will even be grateful.”
Susan glared, yet found herself swayed, as always. She could never win an argument with Hannah. Her anger remained, though she couldn't articulate why. She glared silently.
“Saving a baby is the greatest deed. God bless you,” Hannah smiled.
Susan couldn’t refute this, yet couldn't admit it either. She tossed and turned. “I want to sleep. Stop talking. Go home.”
Susan rarely showed outward consent, even when she agreed.
“Alright, good night.”
Susan didn’t respond. Hannah smoothed the quilt and left the bedroom.
Manuel sat quietly in the living room. He flinched when Hannah entered.
'Did she look threatening?' Hannah wondered.
She sat beside him. Eyes on the TV, she teased, “Preparing children’s animation for your baby? Really?”
He finally relaxed, quickly changing the channel. He hadn't intended to watch cartoons; the channel defaulted to it. He was still reeling from Hannah’s message—a mix of disbelief, joy, and apprehension—leaving him frozen until Hannah and Susan arrived.
Susan clearly hadn't wanted him to know yet, a fact he understood. He'd been anxiously waiting.
“Manuel, you know Susan doesn't want the baby,” Hannah said seriously.
Manuel nodded. He hadn’t expected a change of heart.
“But I persuaded her to keep it. And she agreed.”
Manuel looked up.
“This baby is your chance to mend your relationship with her. I'm on your side, and I'll create opportunities. But if you don't take the initiative, you'll waste them. You have to win her heart this time. It's not impossible to change someone's love, if you try.”
Manuel smiled. “You make it sound honorable.”
“Henry is scheming and evil. It's a victory to take Susan’s love from him,” Hannah stated firmly.
Manuel felt better; after all, he was the “scheming and evil guy” in Susan’s eyes.
“The baby is safe. Don't worry if Susan threatens to abort it. She rarely goes back on her word to me, and she wouldn’t do it herself. But Henry worries me. He might sabotage you and the baby out of jealousy. Keep an eye on him.” Hannah warned.
The baby’s birth would be Susan’s chance at a new life; in her past life, she and Manuel hadn't raised a child.
Manuel simply looked at Hannah, neither nodding nor shaking his head. He couldn’t answer definitively. He wasn't sure if he could make Susan disillusioned with Henry, or if Henry would act. He could only change himself.
“Hannah, thank you,” Manuel said sincerely.
Regardless of the outcome, he was grateful.
“Actually, I want to thank you,” Hannah said sincerely.
Manuel looked surprised.
“Don't fail Susan.”
“Sure.”