Chapter 858: Are You Satisfied Now, Oscar?

"Manuel won't die," Susan said firmly. Hannah looked at her, tears streaming down her face.

"He won't die," Susan repeated. "A devil like him will live forever. Even if he couldn't live that long, he'll live to be a hundred." She was comforting Hannah, and herself.

But Hannah's tears flowed more freely. She preferred Susan's blame to her comfort. Susan Phillips was her greatest blessing, Hannah thought.

"Don't cry," Susan said, wiping Hannah's tears. It was a command she also directed at herself. "The most important thing is to take care of yourself. And you're a mother now; don't cry easily, be brave, okay?"

Hannah felt heartened by Susan's comfort. After enduring so much, the innocent girl had become the protector Hannah had always longed for, a role reversal that caused her considerable heartache.

"We need to send her to the ward," the doctor urged. Susan wiped her own tears, releasing Hannah.

"I'm waiting here for Manuel," Susan said. Hannah nodded.

"I'll be with you in a moment," Susan added. Hannah shook her head. It was enough to be near Manuel, as long as he lived.

Hannah was escorted to the ward by medical staff, Miguel at her side. Susan watched them go, then turned back to the operating room. Her outward strength crumbled; she felt so fragile, terrified that any sound might shatter her composure.

It had been a very long time since Manuel had been taken into surgery. Why hadn't he emerged? Was he coming out or not? Susan shivered with fear.

He would come out, she told herself. His prolonged absence proved he could be saved; the doctors were still working. She was consoling herself.

Later, footsteps echoed in the quiet corridor. Susan turned to see Justine running toward them, eyes red and swollen, likely having already received news of Manuel's car accident. She was accompanied by Oscar, today's groom, and his best man, Theodore, along with several bodyguards.

"How's Manuel? Did he come out?" Justine asked anxiously, her voice laced with fear and terror. Susan had never seen Justine so distraught; she was always elegant and composed in Susan's memory.

Susan shook her head. She didn't know, and desperately wanted to know Manuel's condition. Justine, tears welling in her eyes, stared at the operating room door, fighting to regain control.

"Goddamn!" Theodore roared, the suppressed pain evident in his reddened eyes. If he'd known, he would have kept Manuel in Kensbury. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him.

He turned to Oscar, who had maintained an outward calm throughout. Theodore had received word of the accident during Oscar's wedding. He'd hesitated to disrupt the ceremony, fearing Oscar would abandon it immediately, which was unacceptable. However, after the ceremony, he'd broken the news. Oscar had left instantly, abandoning the reception and everything else. Theodore hadn't stopped him; not even Laird Wold had intervened. The Collins family remained silent, perhaps understanding that no one could stop Oscar.

They arrived at the hospital, going directly to the operating room to find Susan waiting alone.

The door opened. Everyone watched, breathless with anticipation. A doctor emerged, spotting the group and Oscar. He addressed Oscar respectfully, "Commander."

"How is he?"

"The car accident was severe; he suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries. The most critical injury was to his head. We performed a craniotomy to clear the blood, but he remains unconscious. He's in intensive care, and we'll assess his progress to determine his prognosis."

The operation was complete, but Manuel was far from safe. He could die at any moment. Oscar's fists clenched, his body trembling.

Susan and Justine wept openly at the news. Theodore berated himself, wishing he had forced Manuel to leave Kensbury the previous day. But, he reflected, had Manuel left, Hannah and her baby would have been in danger.

Manuel was wheeled out, his appearance unrecognizable; his head was heavily bandaged and shaved. Susan felt her heart break, wondering if she could survive without him.

Manuel was moved to intensive care. They could only watch him from outside, observing the tubes and his motionless body.

"Aren't you going to see Hannah?" Susan asked Oscar, her gaze fixed on Manuel.

Oscar flinched.

"Are you satisfied with the result of your desires?" Susan challenged, the rage simmering within her. She would willingly fight Oscar to the death, if she could.