Chapter 403: Abortion

"I can do it, Mom. I need your help putting the wheelchair in the trunk," Manuel said.

"No problem," Justine replied, moving quickly. She was worried about Susan; what if she'd had a car accident? The trunk closed, and the car sped away, leaving Justine behind.

"Manuel!" she shouted, her voice laced with despair. She knew he'd left her because he feared for her safety in the high-speed car. Justine felt a surge of anger, convinced Susan was a black sheep.

The car raced onward. Manuel made a call. "Theodore," he said.

"What's up, Manuel? Missing me already?" Theodore teased.

"I need your help," Manuel said seriously, his tone silencing Theodore.

"What is it?"

"Find car AQQ888 on camera. It should be en route from my home to Kensbury Central Hospital. Thanks!"

"Got it," Theodore replied, sensing the urgency.

He was at a club. Dismissing the women around him, he barked, "Retrieve surveillance footage to track car AQQ888. Call me back with its location."

"Yes, sir."

Manuel hung up and accelerated, worried about Susan in the heavy rain. He gritted his teeth, driving as fast as he could.

Susan awoke in a gloomy hospital room, already in an operating room. Seeing a doctor, she anxiously asked, "I'm pregnant. How's my baby?"

The doctor, startled by her sudden awakening, replied, "You had an abortion. We're performing a dilation and curettage."

"How? I can feel her! Please save her!"

"Madam, you're in danger. You need this procedure immediately or you risk hemorrhaging. The child is deceased."

"Liar!"

"I'm a doctor. I know," the doctor insisted. "Since you're awake, please sign this consent form."

"No… My baby…"

"I understand, but it's the truth. Refusal could be fatal. Think of your parents! You can have another child. We'll minimize the impact on your uterus and preserve your fertility," the doctor pleaded.

"Madam, your bleeding is excessive! Sign the form or we can't save you!" The assistant doctor urged, placing the form near Susan's hand.

Tears streamed down Susan's face. This child had brought disaster—the loss of love, freedom, and now, its death. The sorrow was unbearable.

"Please, madam, sign!" the assistant doctor repeated.

Susan signed. Her world crumbled.

"Madam, we'll give you more anesthesia. You'll be fine when you wake up."

Susan closed her eyes, tears falling freely. This was her first experience with such profound loss.

Manuel received a call from Theodore.

"Manuel, stay calm," Theodore said urgently.

Manuel's face paled.

"Susan was in a car accident," Theodore reported, "on South Central Road. She's at the hospital. It seems she's safe, a fender bender, but I don't know about the baby."

Manuel remained silent.

"Manuel, are you okay?"

"Um… thank you," Manuel managed.

"Need me to come…"

"No."

Manuel hung up, his vision blurring, yet he remained focused. He didn't slow down, racing toward the hospital.

At the garage, he struggled to retrieve the wheelchair from the trunk using one leg. He entered the hospital.

The hospital was quiet. He hurried to the operating room.

As he arrived, he overheard nurses talking. "Another murder tonight," one said.

"What?"

"A woman had an abortion hours ago. The fetus was about four months, fully formed—a girl."

"I heard it was a car accident."

"It was, but the baby was alive when she arrived. She might have survived if the mother had held on longer," the nurse continued, her voice heavy. "I felt awful ending its life."

"Me too. It was a life," the other nurse agreed.

"Let's drop it. It's creepy," one said, and they left.

Manuel stared at the operating room, replaying their words: "She might have survived if the mother had held on longer." Tears welled, but he held them back. He waited, pushing his wheelchair toward the operating room, waiting for Susan.