Chapter 750: Edward in Hospital

Susan stared, wooden-faced, as Emily leaped from the roof. Then came another deafening crash. For the first time, the fragility of life struck her with brutal force. Two lives had vanished before her eyes. Her vision blurred.

Returning from the brink of death, she felt not relief, but a crushing wave of grief. She hadn't truly hated Henry; her hatred stemmed from his threats against her and her father. Without those threats, guilt gnawed at her. Had it not been for her father's machinations, Henry's family wouldn't be in ruins, and Henry wouldn't have met such a tragic end. More importantly, Henry, in the end, had chosen to let go, to release her and allow her to live.

Tears streamed down her face.

Manuel sat beside her, breathing hard, near collapse. He too mourned the life lost before them. Yet, he acknowledged that in the face of a loved one's death, many might choose such an extreme measure. He himself had felt the same, the same urge to relinquish his hold when he could bear it no longer, the same impulse he'd felt toward Susan. His apology stemmed from his refusal to grant her request—he would have fallen with her, rather than loosen his grip.

Henry had let go. He had chosen to let Susan live. Manuel had even glimpsed a kind of relief on Henry's face as he released her—relief at everything. Death, perhaps, lessened hatred, but the living carried the weight of memory for a lifetime. Susan would carry the burden of guilt for Henry for the rest of her days.

Manuel rose, struggling to his feet, utterly drained. Blood loss from his wound weakened him further.

"Let's go," he said. He needed to go to the hospital, and so did Susan. Her leg wounds, inflicted by Henry, looked serious.

Susan turned to watch him struggle forward, step by agonizing step. She felt a profound gratitude, but the words caught in her throat. Manuel still felt distant, his back cold and unyielding.

She attempted to rise, but her leg wounds sent her tumbling back down. She lacked the strength to move on her own.

Manuel, hearing the sound, turned. Her pale face alarmed him.

"I'll call an ambulance," he said.

"Thanks," Susan replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Manuel nodded and left.

A police siren wailed; the police had arrived.

"Manuel," Susan called.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for saving me." Even though he’d let go in the end, he’d fought to save her, and for that she was eternally grateful.

"No worries."

He seemed unconcerned, already leaving. He couldn't hold on any longer; he feared fainting and frightening Susan further. He didn't want to upset her more.

Alone on the roof, Susan realized she didn't know what had become of her father. She had no phone, and Manuel was gone. Anxiety gnawed at her as she tried to rise, just as the police arrived.

Seeing Susan, they rushed to help. "Are you okay?"

"Can I borrow your phone, please?" she asked urgently. The officer quickly handed over his phone. With trembling fingers, she nervously dialed a number.

"Dad?"

"It's me, Susan," came Justine's voice.

"How's my dad? Where is he?"

"He's in the hospital…in the emergency room," Justine said, her voice catching. She'd contacted Edward immediately upon receiving Manuel’s message, attempting to prevent him from doing something rash. But Edward had refused to listen, only expressing sorrow for Susan and her. By the time she reached the villa, Edward had already slashed his wrists.

Blood was everywhere. Justine had held his wrist, called for an ambulance, and now he remained in the emergency room, suffering significant blood loss.

"Which hospital? Where is he?" Susan cried, her voice laced with panic. Fear overwhelmed her, tears flowing uncontrollably; she felt as if her mind would break. The devastation was crushing.

The police, witnessing her distress, were concerned.

"Please calm down, Miss."

"No! Please, take me to the hospital now, please!"

"Okay, I'll take you there. Don't panic, okay?"

He hoisted Susan onto his back and carried her down. By the time they reached the bottom, the ambulance had arrived. Susan was loaded into the ambulance, her wounds immediately attended to. She seemed numb to the pain, her gaze distant and tear-filled. The hospital arrived quickly.

Seated in a wheelchair, Susan ignored the doctors and nurses, demanding to be taken to the emergency room. Justine stood alone at the entrance.

She started when she saw Susan, her pale face a heartbreaking sight. Despite her initial dislike of Susan, born of her son’s actions, sympathy tugged at her heart.

"Your dad's still inside," Justine said.

"Why did he listen to Henry? He knew I couldn't live without him… why… why did he do that?" Susan sobbed, her composure shattering.

Justine didn't know how to comfort her. A sense of animosity always seemed to simmer between them. They simply didn't get along.