Chapter 848: Susan's Struggle

"I'll talk to you when I return," Manuel huffed.

Initially, he wondered if Susan's attempts to speak with him stemmed from reluctance to see him leave. However, her actions today seemed unusual.

"Okay…" Susan nodded, walking away with a frustrated expression.

Watching her go, Manuel's sulkiness deepened. Clara noticed the shift in his mood; only Susan could affect him so profoundly. Though jealous, Clara feigned concern. "I've told the chauffeur to wait at the gate. There's a fast track at the airport for you; you'll catch your flight."

Manuel nodded.

"We should thank my father," Clara smiled, subtly reminding Manuel of her father's influence. She was also aware of Manuel and Oscar's relationship, though he rarely spoke of it.

"Thanks," Manuel replied politely.

Clara's annoyance was barely concealed. "Come on, let's go. I'll see you off at the airport."

"No, thanks. You should go home."

"It's fine. We're going the same way, and I'll tell the chauffeur to take me home afterward," Clara insisted.

Manuel seemed to relent, delighting Clara. Although he kept his distance, he always compromised when she insisted. She believed he still harbored feelings for her; were it not for Susan, they would likely be together. In her view, Manuel didn't truly love Susan; his reluctance to let go was likely frustration over their failed relationship.

That, Clara reasoned, was simply the nature of men.

As they drove off, Susan, watching from her nearby parked car, felt a mixture of emotions. Seeing them drive away intimately, she thumped the steering wheel.

What else could she do to make him stay?

She started her engine and followed, like a shadow.

On the way to the airport, she remained frustrated, even considering ramming their car to make him stay. But the risk of his death was unacceptable; a dead Manuel wouldn't help Hannah.

After a long struggle, teeth clenched, she made a decision. She accelerated, crashing her car into a nearby barricade. The impact echoed the previous car crash, hammering her head. Dizzy and nearly unconscious, she fumbled for her phone to call Manuel. A crash, she reasoned, might keep him.

She struggled to reach her phone, her head twisted and stuck. Then she saw Manuel's anxious face knocking on her car door.

Had he discovered her accident?

He failed to open the door, then punched the window. Clara, who had followed, was stunned, as was Susan. He punched the window with his bare hand.

"Mr. Johnson, calm down! I've called the police," Clara urged.

The window remained intact. Undeterred, he punched again, the sound indicating the force of the blow. The chauffeur ran to get a hammer.

Manuel continued punching.

Crack! The window shattered.

Susan covered her head. She felt herself being pulled from the wreckage. Looking up, she saw Manuel's agitation. Her initial acceleration had been hesitant due to fear, so her injuries were likely minimal.

"Manuel…" she called.

While dizzy, she wasn't severely injured, except for some cuts from the broken glass as he pulled her out.

After extracting her, he examined her carefully. Minor bleeding, but no life-threatening wounds.

"Are you okay? Any pain? Still dizzy?" he asked.

It was a clear road. He couldn't understand how she'd hit the barricade. If he hadn't been watching in his rearview mirror, she might have gone unnoticed for hours.

"It hurts," Susan said, pained.

"Where?" Relief quickly turned to alertness.

"Everywhere…I might be dying…" she whined.

"You're irksome, but you'll survive," Manuel said seriously.

Susan was speechless.

"Tell me where it hurts!" he repeated. He worried about internal bleeding. He lifted her into his arms, startling her. Then he shouted to the chauffeur, "Hospital!"

It dawned on her then: she had succeeded—Manuel would stay.