Withered Yet Freed

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.