Chapter 410: Manuel Gives Up

"So you'd rather be the villain, covering up your parents' grudge and letting Susan hate you?" Hannah summarized.

Manuel smiled faintly. "I'm not as noble as you think. I was just seeking an excuse to be with Susan. I tried, but I failed."

"Why do you think you failed?" Hannah asked.

"Susan doesn't love me. Even with my methods, she still loves Henry. As long as she loves him, she won't be happy."

"Manuel, I think—"

"I know what you're going to say," Manuel interrupted. "For me, one attempt is enough."

"Are you giving up?" Hannah asked.

Manuel had tried, but the results were unsatisfactory. Under the circumstances, anyone would give up.

Hannah felt a pang of sadness. Regardless of her parents' past, she didn't want Susan to suffer a similar tragedy. If Manuel gave up now, Susan would likely return to Henry, repeating the same fate.

"I've given up on Susan," Manuel stated.

"You'll just let her repeat the same mistakes?" Hannah exclaimed, losing her composure.

Manuel remained silent for a moment. "Hannah, do you think she can avoid that fate if I'm with her?"

Hannah was speechless.

"As long as she doesn't love me, she'll still face that dilemma. And I can't force her love, so I can't help her."

Hannah nodded silently. Manuel was right. Without his love, Susan would choose between her father and Henry. Her sense of justice would lead her to Henry, leaving Edward cornered, and repeating the past.

"Why don't you try again? She fell in love with you in my last life," Hannah pleaded, acknowledging her selfishness.

"When Susan died, I saw her phone. An unsent message: 'Manuel, I love you'," Hannah said, looking at Manuel. "It's true."

Manuel shook his head. "Knowing her, would she remain silent about her feelings?"

Hannah was at a loss for words. The unsent message was unlike Susan.

"If she loved me, she would have sent it. Maybe she was unsure, or just jotted it down and forgot to delete it," Manuel said bluntly.

"Maybe she lacked the courage to tell you..."

"Hannah, there's no need for excuses. It's difficult for me to love her again," Manuel said softly.

Hannah held back her words. How could love withstand such hurt? In this life, Susan missed Manuel, too.

"But I'll do my best to prevent Susan from suffering that fate," Manuel said.

Hannah was surprised.

"I'm the father of her child. Regardless of the miscarriage's cause, she carried my child for four months. Consider it recompense for her suffering," Manuel explained.

"What are you going to do?" Hannah asked, excited.

Manuel replied, "Let Susan and Henry be together, but Henry will never get Phillips Bank."

Hannah was momentarily confused, then understanding dawned. Manuel sensed her comprehension and said no more.

"You're going to…" Hannah blurted out, unable to contain herself.

She believed Susan's unsent message stemmed from a lack of courage, not Manuel's assessment. But she lacked proof, and couldn't ask Susan. Susan had never hidden anything from her. Hannah's thoughts were conflicted.

Compared to her, Manuel seemed at peace with his decision.

"Forced love isn't sweet," he said.

Hannah sighed. "All right. But my gut says Susan will regret it."

Manuel remained silent.

"By the way," Hannah said, remembering something, "you mentioned Henry's sister. Why did she tell you everything?"

"Henry's sister likes Henry. She didn't want him to marry Susan, so she told me everything and asked me to sabotage their marriage."

"I see," Hannah said, then murmured, "But I don't recall seeing her." Otherwise, she would have known about Henry's identity. Her focus on Charles had been a distraction, a source of continuing frustration.

"Maybe she hindered Henry's revenge and was…" Manuel trailed off.

Hannah understood. "Or maybe she was heartbroken and left."

Hannah nodded. Those were the only possibilities.

"So far, his sister seems harmless to Susan," Hannah concluded. They needn't worry about her.

Manuel agreed. "Actually, Henry loves Susan."

Hannah pursed her lips. She didn't want to admit it, but she had to. In her last life, after Susan's death, Henry never smiled again. If not for his vengeful nature, he and Susan could have been happy.

"So I quit. It's best," Manuel said with a smile. He sensed something from Hannah's silence. She had lived ten extra years, and knew more than he did. He suspected Henry loved Susan; she knew it.

"So, aside from himself, he won't let anyone hurt Susan," Manuel said calmly, as if narrating someone else's story. In her last life, Henry targeted Edward; Susan's death was her own choice.