Withered Yet Freed

After being Nelson Jackson’s devoted simp for five years, Sarah Paterson became pregnant. Just as she was excitedly waiting for him to propose, Nelson had a change of heart when his high school sweetheart returned from studying abroad. Sarah didn't fight to keep the relationship. Instead, she went straight to the hospital, had an abortion, and immediately agreed to the arranged marriage her family had set up with a business partner's son. But Nelson came to regret his decision. He begged Sarah to keep his child, but she only gave him two words in response. "Too late." Chapter 1 "Dad, about the arranged marriage... I need to think about it for a while." Sarah Paterson clutched her pregnancy test results, her voice heavy. Her father's dissatisfied tone came through the phone, "What's there to think about? Has that good-for-nothing boyfriend of yours sweet-talked you again?" "If you don't want the arranged marriage, fine. Bring him to Sunday dinner this week so we can meet him. Good or bad, you should at least let us know who he is. It's been three years—he's been stringing you along, never meeting your parents, never mentioning marriage. What kind of relationship is that?" Sarah responded quietly to her father's words. "I'll ask him." Her father grunted, "Decide quickly. If he really can't find time to meet us, take him to Uncle Richard’s house. I'll have Richard and Nelson check him out. They've been looking after you all these years in the Brookshire. If they think he's decent and you truly love him, I won't stand in your way." Sarah paused, unsure what to say. After a moment, she replied, "Uncle Richard would probably approve." After all, the man was his own son, Nelson Jackson. As she finished speaking, the bedroom door opened. Sarah instinctively hung up the phone. She looked up and met Nelson's eyes. Nelson raised an eyebrow, his handsome face breaking into a smile. "What would my dad approve of?" As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around Sarah, his warm breath against her skin making her curl into his embrace. "About us being together," Sarah replied, watching anxiously for his reaction. Nelson continued kissing her, his voice husky. "You were talking to your dad again just now?" Sarah nodded. His large hand gripped her waist. "Did you tell him about us?" Sarah lowered her eyes. "Didn't you want to keep it private?" "Silly, of course I want everyone to know. But our families are old friends. Your dad spoils you, while mine is strict. If they found out I swept you off your feet when you'd barely come of age, they'd probably tie me up and beat me." Sarah stopped his wandering hand and cautiously asked, "So if I were pregnant now, would you come home with me to meet our parents?" Nelson looked surprised. "Are you pregnant? Weren't we always using protection? How could you suddenly be pregnant?" Seeing his reaction, Sarah felt a twinge in her heart. She avoided his approaching lips and said, "No, I was just asking hypothetically." Hearing this, Nelson tightened his grip around her waist, laid her on the bed, and took out a white pill. Sarah knew it was birth control. He stroked her hair gently and said, "Be good. Now isn't the time for us to have children. Take this. I'm going to shower—wait for me." Watching his back as he entered the bathroom, Sarah looked at the pill in her hand and tossed it into the trash can. Once again, she hadn't gotten an answer from him. He wouldn't marry her, it seemed, even if she had his child. Perhaps, from beginning to end, she was just a tool for his bedroom needs. Sarah first met Nelson five years ago at the Paterson family dinner. He had come with Uncle Richard to attend the event. At eighteen, Sarah had fallen for Nelson almost at first sight, captivated by his rugged handsomeness and striking good looks. Later, to see Nelson more often, she defied her parents' objections and moved to Brookshire, a thousand miles from home, to attend college. Since her father and Uncle Richard were friends, and worried about Sarah living alone in Brookshire, her father specifically asked Uncle Richard to help look after her. Uncle Richard then assigned this responsibility to Nelson. Originally, they had little connection—Sarah was busy with school, and Nelson was immersed in his relationships. They were merely acquaintances who occasionally exchanged greetings. Then, on Sarah's twentieth birthday, Richard asked Nelson to deliver her birthday gift. At Sarah's birthday party, Nelson somehow got extremely drunk. Unable to contact Nelson's girlfriend, Sarah had no choice but to take him back to his apartment herself. She should have left after dropping him off. But unexpectedly, the intoxicated Nelson grabbed her and wouldn't let go. By the time Sarah realized what was happening, Nelson had pinned her to the bed and taken her without restraint. The next morning when Sarah woke up, Nelson stared at her with his dark eyes and said, "Stay with me from now on, be my woman?" Sarah had interpreted his "stay with me" as dating, and inexplicably nodded in agreement. Later, she learned that Nelson had been drinking that night because his girlfriend was leaving the country. He had used Sarah to vent his emotions. Initially, Sarah had trouble accepting this, but afterward, Nelson treated her well—he was attentive, caring, and accommodating to her needs. The years since had passed peacefully enough. But now, with her graduation approaching, her father was pressuring her to return home for an arranged marriage, which she had refused. She had considered telling her father about her relationship with Nelson, but whenever she asked Nelson about going public, he would change the subject. Now, having just confirmed her pregnancy, she had wanted to test his intentions, but he seemed to have skillfully avoided the topic again. Chapter 2 The phone rang—it was Nelson's. Sarah was about to answer when Nelson emerged from the bathroom. She casually handed him the phone, but Nelson gestured for her to answer it. Sarah swiped to accept the call and put it on speaker. A male voice came through, "Nelson, are you here yet? Everyone's waiting for you." Sarah set the phone aside and went into the bathroom. Nelson, toweling his hair dry, responded with a short, "Got it." Then he hung up. When Sarah came out of the bathroom, she saw Nelson adjusting his shirt in the mirror and applying hair gel—something he rarely did. Noticing Sarah watching him, he smiled. "Do I look more handsome like this?" He was naturally good-looking, and with just minimal effort, he could charm anyone. Sarah nodded, "Very handsome." He gave her a quick hug. "I have something tonight. Need to go out, so I can't stay with you." With that, he turned and left. Watching him walk away, Sarah touched her stomach, her feelings complicated. Lying in bed, Sarah couldn't fall asleep. After tossing and turning, she picked up her phone and started playing games. After a few rounds, a message from Nelson suddenly popped up on her screen. [Had too much to drink. Come pick me up. Golden Pavilion Club, Room 401.] He got drunk so soon after leaving? Sarah frowned but didn't think much of it. She grabbed her jacket and headed out. Nelson getting drunk wasn't unusual—she'd picked him up before. But this time was much earlier than usual. The alcohol must have been strong. The address wasn't hard to find. Sarah quickly arrived outside Room 401 at the club. She was about to push the door open when a conversation from inside froze her in place. An overwhelming bitterness rose in her heart. "Nelson, now that Lucy Leedon is back from abroad, what do you plan to do about Miss Paterson?" "What can he do? She's just a bedmate. You don't expect our Nelson to make her his official girlfriend, do you?" One of Nelson's friends spoke up, his tone full of contempt. Someone disagreed and defended Sarah, "You shouldn't say that. Miss Paterson has loyally stayed with Nelson for three years. She seems to love him deeply." "Hah!" someone else scoffed. "Love? So what? Nelson's heart belongs entirely to Lucy. Otherwise, why would he visit Lucy's college every time he went on a business trip, even though he was with Sarah? After breaking up for so long, he still thinks about her..." "Enough," Nelson frowned, cutting the person off. "Can't the alcohol shut your mouth?" The speaker laughed awkwardly and said no more. "Aren't you going in?" A gentle female voice came from behind her. Sarah turned around and met Lucy's mocking eyes. Lucy Leedon—Nelson's girlfriend from three years ago who had gone abroad. Or more accurately, his ex-girlfriend. In an instant, Sarah understood who had sent her that text message. Clearly, this ex-girlfriend hadn't called her here to pick anyone up. Pressing her lips together, Sarah looked at Lucy and replied calmly, "No, since he's not actually drunk, I won't disturb your gathering." Without lingering a moment longer, she left the club and returned to the apartment alone. That night, Sarah barely slept. Her mind kept replaying the conversation she'd overheard. So for these three years, whenever he went on business trips that lasted weeks, it was to see Lucy? Still thinking about her after breaking up so long ago—what did that make Sarah these past three years? A tool for his physical needs when he felt lonely? Or a pet that came whenever called? No wonder he was unwilling to tell their parents about their relationship. The person he wanted to marry had never been her. Three years. Her youth and her genuine feelings had merely been his entertainment. The next morning. Sarah dialed the number for the women's health clinic. The phone rang twice before someone answered, "Hello, Southside Women's Health Clinic. "I'd like to schedule an abortion. "As soon as possible." Chapter 3 The nurse who answered the phone was clearly surprised, probably because she hadn't seen anyone so eager for an abortion before. But she didn't ask too many questions—just inquired about some basic information and told Sarah to come to the hospital for an examination first. Sarah's nose stung with emotion as she nodded. "Okay, I'll come as soon as possible." "Where are you planning to go?" The bedroom door was suddenly pushed open, and Nelson walked to the bedside reeking of alcohol. Sarah quickly hung up the phone and shook her head slightly. "Nothing. Have you been drinking all night?" Nelson grunted in agreement, casually unbuckling his belt and removing his alcohol-stained clothes. As usual, he tried to embrace Sarah, but she instinctively moved away. He frowned. "What's wrong? Do I smell bad?" Sarah shook her head. After a sleepless night, she felt dizzy. She got up from the bed only to be pulled into Nelson's arms. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his lips lightly grazing her earlobe as he asked in a hoarse voice, "Going out soon?" "Yes," Sarah replied, avoiding his hot breath. He seemed not to notice her resistance. His hand rested on her waist, pressing her body against his. "Meeting a friend?" "No," Sarah was exhausted and didn't want to talk further. She pushed him away and said, "I'm going to take a shower." With that, she hurried into the bathroom. Watching her retreating figure, Nelson felt something was different about her. When she came out after her shower, Nelson was already sound asleep on the bed. He must have drunk too much last night—he didn't even stir when his phone vibrated beside him. Sarah glanced at the phone screen. The caller ID showed "Lucy." She wasn't going to answer, but the caller persisted. Sarah finally accepted the call. Before she could speak, a flirtatious female voice came through. "Nelson, did I disturb your rest? I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that I really appreciated you staying with me last night. I was so happy." "If you were that happy, why did you let him come back?" Sarah spoke without emotion in her voice. There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by Lucy's sharp voice, "Sarah? Why are you answering? Where's Nelson? Put him on." Glancing at the deeply sleeping Nelson, Sarah responded coldly, "He can't come to the phone right now. Next time, Miss Leedon, when you keep him overnight, try harder. That way he won't come back with energy to spare for me before he can finally sleep." "Sarah, have you no shame?" Even through the phone, Sarah could sense Lucy's face reddening with fury. Not wanting to hear Lucy's unpleasant words, Sarah simply hung up. Looking at Nelson sleeping beside her, Sarah eventually tore her gaze away. After a long moment, she silently apologized to the child in her womb. She needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible. Her appointment was scheduled for the afternoon. With plenty of time, Sarah decided to clear out everything that belonged to her from the apartment. Three years together had left too many traces of memories. During those three years, to make them feel more like a couple, she had gradually filled their small apartment with matching items—matching slippers, pajamas, cups... Nelson didn't like these things she bought. Sometimes he even found them annoying, thinking she was being fussy. Back then, she always thought that with time, he would get used to it and accept it. Now she realized that all these years, she had been forcing her wishes on him. There were quite a lot of belongings, and Sarah made several trips to throw everything into the dumpster downstairs. After dealing with all these items, Sarah returned to the apartment. Nelson had woken up at some point and was waiting by the door, his dark eyes watching her. "Where did you go?" "Throwing out trash," she replied, walking past him into the bedroom. Noticing that quite a few things were missing from the apartment, Nelson looked puzzled. "You threw out that much?" "Things I don't need anymore, naturally I got rid of them," Sarah answered casually, her expression unchanged. Nelson nodded, not making much of it. "Fine. If you don't like the old stuff, throw it out and we'll buy new things." The rumbling sound of the garbage truck came from downstairs as it carried away the several boxes of items Sarah had discarded. She glanced down briefly before looking away. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Nelson's handsome face smiling at his phone. Sarah had always known that Nelson was a cold person. He rarely smiled, and when he did, the smile never reached his eyes. But now, his smile was genuine—Sarah could tell immediately that it came from the heart. Was it Lucy on the phone? Most likely. She tightened her hand at her side and said, "Nelson, do you have time later?" "What is it?" Nelson didn't look at her. His eyes remained fixed on his phone, seemingly absorbed by whatever message he had received. Sarah pressed her lips together. "I need you to come with me to the hospital. I'm pregnant and planning to get an abortion..." Her words were drowned out by Nelson's ringing phone. Nelson got up to answer the call. When he returned and saw Sarah staring at him intently, he finally seemed to snap back to attention. "What were you saying just now?" Chapter 4 Sarah choked up, too upset to say anything more. She shook her head. "Nothing." Seeing this, Nelson didn't think much of it and started to leave. Just as he turned, he suddenly paused. Looking at Sarah, he asked, "Did you answer my phone?" Sarah was startled, remembering Lucy's call while he was sleeping. She met his eyes calmly. "Yes, why?" Nelson's expression darkened momentarily, showing some displeasure. But it lasted only a second before he said, "Nothing. In the future, don't answer my calls. I'll return them later." With that, he turned and left the apartment. Watching his hurried departure, Sarah stood silently for a while, flexing her numb fingers before calmly looking away. So, what she'd said to Lucy on the phone had upset him? Was he going to comfort Lucy now? It seemed the difference between love and indifference was indeed vast. In the afternoon, Sarah went to the hospital and completed a series of examinations. The procedure could only be done the next morning. After scheduling the appointment, she returned to the apartment. Having not slept at all the previous night, she was so tired that she lay down immediately upon returning. Sarah was awakened by the frantic ringing of her phone. As soon as she answered, an urgent voice came through, "Sarah, Nelson's been in an accident. Can you come to the hospital as quickly as possible?" Sarah frowned, instinctively wanting to refuse. Before she could speak, the urgent voice on the phone pressed again, seemingly in a great hurry. Thinking of Uncle Richard's care for her over the years, Sarah agreed despite her reluctance. At the hospital. Outside the emergency department, Sarah arrived to find George Mendes, Nelson's friend, and Lucy waiting. George looked anxious, his face pale, while Lucy sat in a chair crying dramatically, repeatedly blaming herself. "It's all my fault. If he hadn't been trying to cheer me up, Nelson wouldn't have had the car accident. It's my fault, all my fault..." From their scattered conversation, Sarah pieced together what had happened and couldn't help but want to laugh bitterly. He got into a car accident while trying to cheer up Lucy? So why had they called her here? To witness their undying love? Seeing her, George jumped up. "Sarah, the doctors need Nelson's medical history and insurance information. They said we should call family—we didn't want to worry his father yet." Sarah frowned. So these two had called her here to handle the paperwork and notifications? It seemed neither wanted to take responsibility, so they'd turned to her? Sarah didn't respond to their request. Instead, she called Uncle Richard directly. When Uncle Richard arrived, Lucy shot Sarah a resentful glare. She hadn't wanted George to notify Richard, fearing that if he learned Nelson's accident was because of her, it would damage her image in the Jackson family. But Sarah had not only called him but also explained the cause of the accident, making Richard look at Lucy with considerable displeasure. Nelson's external injuries weren't severe, but from the doctor, they learned that in the accident, he had suffered damage to his reproductive organs. He might never be able to have children, though the good news was that he could still have a normal intimate life. Upon hearing this news, Richard seemed to age ten years in an instant. Outside the hospital room, Sarah, who had just sent George and Lucy away at Richard's request, overheard the conversation between the doctor and Richard. She touched her stomach, her feelings suddenly complex. "Sarah." Uncle Richard saw her standing at the doorway and motioned for her to come in. "Did you hear what the doctor just said?" Sarah nodded. Richard sighed, dismissing the doctor. After taking a deep breath, he said, "Don't tell Nelson about this. He's a man. If he finds out, I'm afraid he won't be able to accept it." Nelson's mother had died when he was young. Though Richard was upset that his son had injured himself, he ultimately cared deeply for him and feared that learning about his condition would devastate Nelson and crush his spirit. Sarah agreed, but her feelings grew increasingly complicated. Apart from his reproductive injury, Nelson hadn't suffered any major harm. But Sarah, who had already scheduled her abortion, suddenly didn't know what to do. If Nelson could never have children, it meant the baby in her womb would be his only flesh and blood. After all, she had loved him for years, and Uncle Richard had taken great care of her during this time. If she went ahead with the abortion without telling anyone, it would likely break Richard's heart. After much thought, Sarah decided to talk to Nelson. So on the day of Nelson's discharge, she went to the hospital to find him. But when she arrived, Sarah learned that Nelson had been discharged early. She hadn't received any notification about it. Uncle Richard also seemed unaware of his discharge. He called Nelson's phone. After a few seconds, a standard automated voice came through the line, saying the number she had dialed couldn't be reached. After several failed attempts, Sarah simply went home. Eventually, he would have to return to the apartment. Sarah waited in the apartment all day without Nelson returning. However, around midnight, she received a friend request. It was from Lucy. Sarah didn't know why Lucy would add her on social media in the middle of the night, but as if guided by some strange impulse, she accepted the request. As soon as they connected, Lucy sent her a video. Sarah opened it to see a noisy, lively party scene. The camera focused on Nelson and Lucy, both elegantly dressed, standing side by side next to a cake tower nearly as tall as a person. Chapter 5 Lucy pressed her hands together and made a wish over the candles on the cake. "I hope that every year from now on, Nelson will celebrate my birthday with me." After saying this, she gazed at Nelson with tender affection and asked softly, "Nelson, is that possible?" Nelson looked at her adoringly and agreed without hesitation. People around them started chanting, "Kiss, kiss..." After watching the video, Sarah let out a small laugh. So this was why he had rushed to leave the hospital early and blocked all messages—to celebrate Lucy's birthday? Sarah wanted to laugh at herself. Even though she had seen through everything, she still couldn't help considering his feelings when problems arose. How ironic. The next day, Sarah woke up very early. Nelson came through the door and seemed surprised to see her sitting up in bed, playing with her phone. "You're up early today?" Sarah made a small sound of agreement and silently got out of bed, heading to the bathroom. Nelson watched her go, somehow feeling that her gaze toward him was unusually detached. He found it strange. Following Sarah to the bathroom door, he hugged her from behind, resting his head on the back of her neck. He pulled an elegant box from his pocket and handed it to her. "Open it," he said with a smile. Sarah didn't look at the box. After washing up, she slipped out of his embrace and left the bathroom. Seeing her indifferent expression, Nelson paused, then opened the jewelry box himself and placed it in front of her. "That bracelet you kept mentioning—I had it custom-made. Do you like it?" Sarah, drying her face, glanced at it and nodded. "It's nice." Her response was so perfunctory that Nelson was momentarily stunned. Taking her hand, he asked, "Why aren't you happy? Is it because I didn't tell you about my discharge yesterday? The company suddenly had something urgent, so..." "Yes, I understand," Sarah interrupted, pulling her hand away. Her behavior was so unusual that Nelson suddenly felt uneasy. He suggested, "You've been running back and forth taking care of me while I was in the hospital. Let me take you out for a while." Sarah wanted to refuse—she needed to go to the hospital to reschedule her procedure and had no time to go out with him. But Nelson didn't give her a chance to speak. He simply found some clothes for her to wear and took her out. All day long, he accompanied her shopping, bought her jewelry, specifically took her to see the most popular movie, and even made reservations at her favorite restaurant. Sarah's feelings were complex. She couldn't understand what he was thinking. Wasn't Lucy the only one in his heart and mind? Why was he suddenly treating her this way? After shopping, Nelson took her to the Golden Pavilion Club. In the past, he had only called her to pick him up when he was drunk—he had never brought her along to meet his friends. Today, however, he brought her with him. In the private room, he even made a point of introducing her to his friends. "Well, look at that! Nelson has finally decided to bring his little girlfriend out for us to meet. How rare!" Someone else chimed in teasingly, "Such a formal introduction—could wedding bells be in the air?" Nelson, with his arm half around Sarah, replied, "Cut the chatter. Get your wedding gifts ready. You guys will be the first to know when I tie the knot..." Halfway through his sentence, the door to the private room opened. It was Lucy. Nelson's words caught in his throat, and his expression suddenly changed. Lucy looked at the two of them, smiled, and walked in. Looking at Nelson, she said, "Nelson, you're getting married? When? Make sure to send me an invitation. Don't forget." Her unexpected appearance seemed to catch Nelson off guard. He removed his arm from around Sarah and replied awkwardly, "Marriage is still a long way off. No rush." Sarah wasn't oblivious. She noticed Nelson's strange reaction when he saw Lucy. She glanced briefly at his withdrawn arm, then calmly looked away. Sarah wasn't familiar with Nelson's friends and sat by herself, out of place with everything around her. As everyone drank and played games, getting into the spirit of things, someone suddenly brought the conversation back to Sarah. "Since this is the first time Nelson's ever brought his girlfriend to hang out with us, why don't we all drink a toast with her?" His suggestion was met with enthusiasm. Everyone raised their glasses toward Sarah. Sarah's first instinct was to refuse—after all, she was pregnant. But seeing everyone looking at her, she pressed her lips together, picked up the glass with its modest amount of alcohol, and prepared to take just a small sip. Unexpectedly, Lucy filled her glass to the brim and looked at her with a gentle smile. "We're all Nelson's best friends. What's the point of drinking together like that? Why don't each of us toast to Miss Paterson individually?" "That's right. This is the first time Nelson's brought you here. To show our sincerity, I'll toast to you first," George said, raising his glass and approaching Sarah. Sarah pressed her lips together. She hadn't expected Lucy and George to put her in this position. Her eyes instinctively sought out Nelson. Nelson smiled lightly and raised his glass. "I'll drink with you." Her heart sank. Her hand unconsciously moved to her stomach as she frowned and said, "I'm not feeling well today. I shouldn't be drinking. I'll use water instead to toast with everyone." Nelson frowned and was about to speak when Lucy suddenly said with a smile, "Since Miss Paterson can't drink, I'll drink for her. Come on, it's been a long time since I've seen you all. Let me drink a round with you." As she said this, she filled her glass and was about to drink when suddenly, the glass was snatched away. Nelson frowned, his tone dissatisfied. "You can't drink during your period, Lucy. Don't you have any common sense?" His voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the room heard him. All eyes turned to him. Chapter 6 Sarah kept her eyes lowered, the hand on her stomach clenched tightly. She gripped so hard that her fingers turned slightly white. "After all these years, you still remember even this?" Lucy asked with feigned embarrassment. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at the downcast Sarah with a hint of triumph. Perhaps realizing his reaction had been excessive, Nelson picked up his glass and said to his friends, "I'll drink with you all." With that, he downed the drink from Lucy's glass in one go. The group immediately started teasing them. Though no names were mentioned, their suggestive glances bounced between Nelson and Lucy, their meaning crystal clear. Sarah wasn't a fool, nor was she blind. Finding it hard to breathe, she got up and went to the restroom. Standing at the sink, she looked at her pale face in the mirror and couldn't help but laugh bitterly at herself. She really knew how to make herself suffer. Lucy's reflection appeared in the mirror as she approached and stood beside Sarah. She unhurriedly turned on the faucet and smiled. "I've been gone for three years. I thought Nelson would have forgotten me, but he's still so attentive—he even noticed when I was on my period." Sarah had no patience for her nonsense. As she turned to leave, Lucy blocked her path. After looking Sarah up and down, Lucy sneered, "I thought you were my replacement, but now I see you're just a tool for his physical needs." Sarah looked up at her, her expression cold. Suddenly she let out a short laugh, then her face darkened as she raised her hand and slapped Lucy hard across the face. "Smack!" Lucy was stunned. After a moment, her face contorted with rage as she lunged at Sarah. "How dare you hit me? I'll finish you!" Though Sarah had been well-protected by her family, her father had enrolled her in martial arts classes from a young age—partly for fitness, partly for self-defense. Almost effortlessly, she gained the upper hand, and Lucy received several more slaps to her face. But Sarah didn't escape unscathed—Lucy had pulled out chunks of her hair, leaving her looking disheveled. The commotion in the restroom grew too loud. Just as Sarah had Lucy pinned down and was raising her hand to strike again, someone stopped her. Sarah turned her head to see Nelson standing there, his face cold. Before she could speak, Nelson yanked her away and helped Lucy up from the floor. Almost instantly, Lucy's tears fell as she collapsed into his arms, sobbing quietly. "Nelson, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have appeared in front of you again. Then Miss Paterson wouldn't have attacked me just because you remembered my cycle. I should stay far away from you..." Despite saying she should stay far away, her arms held him tighter than anyone's could. Looking at Lucy crying uncontrollably in his arms, Nelson's face darkened terribly as he glared angrily at Sarah. Before he could speak, his friends started accusing Sarah. "Miss Paterson, no matter what, you shouldn't resort to violence. Lucy is our friend too. You're being completely unreasonable." "Exactly. What happened between Lucy and Nelson is long over. You're being too petty holding onto it like this." "..." Listening to the chorus of hostile remarks, Nelson glared at Sarah and said coldly, "Sarah, apologize to Lucy." Sarah laughed bitterly. He hadn't even asked what happened before believing Lucy's version and deciding it was her fault. Taking a breath, Sarah gave a cold smile. "If you want me to apologize, keep dreaming." As she tried to leave, Nelson blocked her path. His face dark, brows furrowed, he said, "Sarah, what's happened to you? I wanted to bring you to meet my friends, and this is how you act? First you make a scene about not drinking, now you're jealous of Lucy and attacking her. You're being so childish." "I'm being childish?" Sarah laughed in disbelief. "Why don't you ask me why I hit Lucy? She was the one who first—" "Ouch, my hand..." Lucy winced, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Nelson. "Nelson, I think my hand is injured. It hurts so much." Learning she was hurt, Nelson's expression turned anxious. Ignoring Sarah completely, he carried Lucy out, rushing to the hospital. Watching them hurry away, Sarah felt a sharp pain in her chest. It took a long time for her to recover from the mixture of hurt and humiliation. Pushing back her tears, she left the club and took out her phone to call a taxi. Only then did she realize how far they were from the city center. None of the ride-sharing apps were finding drivers willing to take her request. Nelson had already driven off with Lucy. As for the others, when they passed Sarah, they all seemed to have agreed to ignore her completely. Sarah thought about asking one of them for a ride, but no one acknowledged her. She knew it was because of Lucy—they were getting back at Sarah for her. Unable to get a taxi, she began walking home on foot. All around was silence except for the howling of the bitter wind. Sarah had underestimated both her physical condition and the night's cold. After walking for who knows how long, she began to feel a dull pain in her lower abdomen. At first, she could just barely endure it, but gradually it became so intense she could hardly take another step. She knew if she kept walking, something serious would happen. Fighting through the pain, she clung to her last shred of hope and called Nelson. Having spent years in this city focused solely on him, she had no other friends to turn to. He was her only option. The phone rang several times but kept getting disconnected. Blood had begun to appear where she sat huddled on the ground. Sarah panicked and, hands trembling, dialed his number again. Just as she was about to give up hope, the call connected. "What is it?" Nelson's impatient voice came through. "Nelson, help me. I'm pregnant, and I think I'm bleeding..." Her voice was hoarse as she tried to control her panic. But before she could finish, the man's cold voice cut her off. "Pregnant? Is this your way of apologizing?" His tone grew icier. "Sarah, that's a terrible excuse. Come up with something new next time." Chapter 7 Apologizing? An excuse? Sarah's heart sank. He actually thought this was her way of apologizing? "Nelson, I've finished washing. Can you blow-dry my hair?" Lucy's flirtatious voice came through the phone. Sarah felt as if she'd been struck by lightning. All the words she wanted to say deflated like a punctured balloon. "Beep, beep..." The call disconnected. Sarah clutched her phone tightly as pain and despair washed over her. In the end, it was a passerby who took Sarah to the hospital. At the hospital. The doctor cautioned her to be careful with the pregnancy, explaining that the first trimester was the most critical time. After thanking the doctor, Sarah lay in the hospital bed, reflecting on everything that had happened the previous night. She had thought Nelson taking her shopping, buying her gifts, and introducing her to his friends meant he truly cared for her and wanted a future together. But now it all seemed laughable. No matter how sincere he pretended to be, when Lucy appeared, he could abandon her without a second thought. She shouldn't have had expectations, and she certainly shouldn't have pitied him or wanted to give birth to what would be his only child. After resting in the hospital for a few hours, her father called. "My precious daughter, what are you up to? Why haven't you responded to my messages? By the way, what's your ring size? Your mother and I saw a beautiful ring we want to buy for you." Sarah checked her messages and indeed, her father had sent her many texts, mostly about the arranged marriage. The last one asked for her ring finger size. After reading the messages, she felt a headache coming on. With the pregnancy and her feelings for Nelson now dead, she had no interest in thinking about an arranged marriage. Sighing, Sarah replied reluctantly, "Dad, forget about the arranged marriage. If I ever agree to it, I'll call you right away. Stop trying to show me wedding rings. I—" "Wedding rings? What wedding rings?" Nelson suddenly appeared. Almost instinctively, Sarah said into the phone, "Dad, something's come up. I'll talk to you tonight." With that, she hung up. Nelson frowned at her. "Sarah, you didn't tell your father about us, trying to force me to marry you, did you?" As he continued, his expression grew increasingly annoyed. "Haven't I told you that what happened between Lucy and me is in the past? Why are you always so suspicious and unreasonable? About going public, I've told you we'll do it when the time is right. You—" "I didn't tell my father anything," Sarah interrupted, looking at him coldly. "The ring is a golden anniversary gift he's buying for my mom. He asked for my opinion." Nelson was taken aback, then visibly relieved. Seeing Sarah's unhappy expression, he softened his tone. "I didn't mean anything by it. I just don't want our original plans disrupted. Don't overthink it. About last night, Lucy isn't holding a grudge, but you did hit her..." "Are you finished?" Sarah cut him off, her patience exhausted. She didn't want to exchange another word with him and just wanted him gone. All she needed to do now was schedule the procedure, pack her things, and go home. Seeing her cold demeanor, which even revealed hints of disgust, Nelson furrowed his brow, assuming she was still upset with him. Knowing he couldn't comfort her right away, he decided to wait until her mood improved. But before he could leave the room, a nurse called from outside, "Family of Miss Sarah Paterson, please come collect the patient's pregnancy test results." By the time Sarah tried to stop the nurse, it was too late. Nelson froze, his body stiff for several seconds before he turned to look at her. Before he could ask, the impatient nurse placed a series of report forms in his hands and left. Seven weeks pregnant, with a fetal heartbeat. Chapter 8 Looking at the pregnancy report, Nelson finally raised his eyes to Sarah, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Last night, when you said you were pregnant and bleeding... that was true?" Sarah remained silent, not answering. Nelson felt his heart drop. After looking at her for a while, he finally asked, "Is the baby... okay?" "It's fine." Silence hung in the air for several moments. Nelson stared at the report in his hands, not knowing what to say. Sarah watched him, trying to read his confused and complicated expression, wondering what his feelings were about this child. The hospital room remained quiet for a long time. Nelson held the pregnancy report, his emotions in turmoil. Eventually, he looked at Sarah and asked, "This baby—what do you plan to do with it?" Sarah looked at him and countered, "What do you think I should do?" As she asked this, her hand unconsciously gripped the blanket tightly. Her bright dark eyes remained fixed on him, waiting for his answer. Nelson's gaze lowered slightly. After hesitating for a few seconds, he said, "Since it's already here, let's keep it." Sarah's tense body froze for a moment. "Okay," she replied. Perhaps because he had learned about Sarah's pregnancy, Nelson didn't bring up the club fight again. Though he had been in a hurry to leave earlier, he now stayed at the hospital with Sarah. He even began discussing marriage plans with her, asking what kind of proposal she wanted and what style of ring she preferred. Sarah listened calmly to his fantasies. If she hadn't seen his messages ordering gifts for Lucy, she might have wavered in her resolve for a few seconds. Unfortunately, she had seen his affectionate messages to Lucy and the special apology gift he had prepared for her. He only managed to stay with her at the hospital for two hours before growing restless. He excused himself to use the bathroom, but really went to call Lucy. "Mmm... as long as you like it... I'll bring her later... she is my girlfriend after all..." Sarah couldn't hear everything clearly from the bathroom, but she gathered enough to know he was talking to Lucy. Half an hour later, Nelson returned, though Sarah had no idea what he and Lucy had discussed. Nelson asked Sarah to attend his good friend George's wedding with him that evening. Sarah didn't want to go, but Nelson had endless reasons why she should, and she agreed just to stop his pestering. At the venue, Sarah discovered that Lucy was a bridesmaid. Since they had already had their confrontation, when they saw each other, Sarah showed no expression. Lucy glanced at Nelson and just smiled understandingly. After the bride and groom had completed the ceremony, just as things seemed to be wrapping up, the emcee suddenly invited the groom's friends to come on stage for the bouquet toss. Naturally, Nelson was called up to the stage as well. As the bride threw her bouquet, amid the cheers of the crowd, Sarah watched as Nelson easily jumped up, first among everyone, and caught the bouquet. The emcee spoke up, "The bouquet has been caught by the groom's handsome friend. Tell me, sir, seeing how desperately you fought for these flowers, are you planning to give them to a special lady?" All eyes turned to Nelson. Sarah sat among the guests, watching him calmly. After just a few seconds of hesitation, Nelson looked toward Lucy and smiled softly. "Yes, I want to give these flowers to her. I wish her happiness, fulfillment, and joy." With that, he handed the bouquet to Lucy, who pretended to be surprised, covering her mouth. "Nelson, you..." During this exchange, her triumphant gaze met Sarah's from across the room, full of mockery. The emcee, assuming the two were a couple, encouraged Nelson to get down on one knee and propose. Immediately, the guests and Nelson's friends began wildly cheering them on. "Propose! Propose!" The chants echoed throughout the room. Watching this scene, Sarah couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. Her presence now seemed completely unnecessary. Without her there, Nelson would probably be gazing lovingly at Lucy and asking, "Will you marry me?" Seeming to remember that Sarah was watching from below, Nelson turned to look into the crowd, accidentally meeting Sarah's scornful eyes. Nelson panicked for a moment, then awkwardly handed the flowers to Lucy. Leaving the banquet hall, Nelson looked at Sarah's calm, detached expression and tried to explain, "About what just happened, don't overthink it. Everyone was just having fun, so..." "I understand," Sarah replied simply, without saying more, and walked toward the car. "Nelson, Miss Paterson, wait!" Lucy came running from a distance, still clutching the bouquet. Reaching them, Lucy looked at Nelson and said, "Nelson, it's hard to get a taxi here. Could I ride with you two?" Then she glanced at Sarah, asking timidly, "Would that be okay, Miss Paterson?" Sarah was too disgusted to respond and simply got into the car without a word. Of course, Lucy got in with Nelson's unilateral permission. On the way back, Lucy seemed very happy, holding the bouquet and chatting endlessly with Nelson. Sarah sat in the back seat with her eyes closed, silent, trying to block out everything and rest for a moment. Suddenly, the car dramatically accelerated. She opened her eyes, about to ask what was happening, when she heard a loud crash. The car flipped onto its side and tumbled into a field by the roadside, landing upside down with its wheels pointing toward the sky. Chapter 9 Sarah was dazed from the impact, her vision darkening as she found herself curled up in an awkward position inside the car. When she tried to move, she realized she was pinned against the seat by the deployed airbag, completely stuck. Lucy had fainted from fear beside her. Nelson struggled out of the driver's seat, stumbling a few steps. Seeing that Lucy was unconscious, he pulled her out of the car. He glanced at Sarah still trapped inside, and before she could speak, he picked up Lucy and said, "Sarah, Lucy's passed out. I need to get her to the hospital first. I'll call someone to rescue you right away." With that, he hurriedly left with Lucy, so anxious that he stumbled as he went. Sarah froze, the words for help caught in her throat. She heard a dripping sound—gasoline was leaking. Before she could process the pain in her chest, Sarah desperately struggled to get out of the car as flames appeared on the hood. A wave of despair washed over her. She didn't want to die here. She frantically called for help while struggling with all her might. Fortunately, some passersby spotted her. They punctured the airbag and helped her escape the burning car. "BOOM!" Just after she reached safety, a massive explosion rocked the area. Looking back, she saw the car engulfed in flames, shattered into pieces. Her face turned deathly pale as her entire body trembled. Finally unable to hold back her tears, Sarah crouched on the ground sobbing, her whole body shaking. The bystanders assumed she was just in shock and patiently comforted her. After nearly dying and crying uncontrollably, Sarah unexpectedly passed out. When Sarah woke up, she was in the hospital, traumatized and emotionally unstable. Her mind kept replaying the moment of the explosion after she'd escaped. She couldn't bear to think what might have happened if the passersby hadn't appeared. And through it all, Nelson had never once cared whether she lived or died. Sarah's heart sank to rock bottom, instantly turning cold. "That Miss Leedon is so lucky. She just fainted from fright, but that rich Mr. Jackson rented an entire VIP floor for her recovery and brought in hospital specialists to examine her from head to toe. He's been running around personally taking care of everything. I've never seen such a devoted man." She overheard nurses gossiping admiringly nearby, obviously talking about Nelson and Lucy. Sarah lowered her eyes and deleted all contact information related to Nelson from her phone. After resting briefly, she went to the obstetrics department and scheduled her procedure for early the next morning. The next day, Sarah woke up early. After washing up, she prepared to go to the surgical room for pre-operation preparations. But just as she stepped out of her room, she ran straight into Nelson. Seeing him, Sarah was startled—how did he know she was hospitalized? Before Sarah could speak, Nelson said, "Lucy was unconscious all day yesterday, so I couldn't come check on you earlier. The car exploded—are you and the baby okay?" So he knew about the explosion, knew she was trapped in the car, and knew she was pregnant. Yet he still left with Lucy, leaving her to fend for herself. Looking at him calmly, all love gone from her eyes, Sarah replied, "We're fine." Seeing that she really was unharmed, Nelson sighed with relief. "That's good. Once Lucy's feeling better, I'll make it up to you and the baby properly." "No—" need. Before Sarah could finish, Nelson's phone rang. It was Lucy calling. Something must have happened, because after taking the call, Nelson hurried away. Watching his retreating figure, Sarah's eyes were as still as dead water as she walked calmly toward the obstetrics department. Meanwhile, just as Nelson rushed into Lucy's hospital room, he suddenly collapsed without warning. The doctors frantically took him to the emergency room, and after a thorough examination, discovered his fainting was due to complications from the previous accident. Learning this news while lying in the hospital bed, Nelson wasn't particularly concerned and tried to get up to see Lucy. But the hospital staff stopped him, suddenly turning serious. "Also, we found something else in your test results. Mr. Jackson, due to your previous accident, your reproductive system has suffered irreversible damage. According to the report, you are now completely unable to father children." "Unable to father children?" Nelson froze, as if he'd heard some ridiculous joke, and turned to look at the doctor in disbelief. The doctor understood what a devastating blow this news was for a man. He silently and solemnly handed the report to Nelson. As Nelson held the report, still unable to accept that he couldn't have children, two nurses chatting outside his room were suddenly overheard. "That poor Miss Paterson in Room 601 downstairs is in such a sad situation. After being in that car accident and experiencing such trauma, she's all alone. I tried to contact her family yesterday, but couldn't reach anyone. This morning she scheduled an abortion, and she's going through that all by herself too." "I know, hospitalized alone, surgery alone—her family must be really heartless. Though maybe she didn't notify them about the abortion because she doesn't want them to know." Nelson's mind suddenly exploded with realization. Room 601! Paterson! Abortion!