<b>Chapter </b>181
“Not yet. She made an appointment. Let me check the time,” Jasmine paused for a moment and then said,
“Eleven o’clock.”
I nced at the time–it was already ten.
“Did she say why?” I asked Jasmine.
“No. She just said she did not want it anymore. She signed the papers herself. The baby is already over three
months along, so it would require an induced abortion,” Jasmine exined in detail.
I had never been a mother, but hearing that still made my heart tighten. I said, “Stall <i>her </i>for now. I <i>need </i>to contact
Alvin.”
“Are you sure you want to get involved?” Jasmine asked.
I hesitated for a moment before exining, “I just saw her yesterday, and today she’s getting an abortion. Who
knows what he will think if I don’t let Alvin know? Besides…”
This child was Benjamin’s only bloodline left in this world.
I hung up on Jasmine and called Alvin.
He did not answer. Considering how I had rejected him before, I thought maybe he would not pick up my calls
anymore.
Alvin finally answered just as I debated whether to hang up and try from a different number. His voice was cold as
he spoke, “Hello.”
“Thea is getting an abortion at Jasmine’s hospital‘ I got straight to the point.
“What?” Alvin was clearly stunned.
“The procedure is in an hour. If you go now, you can still stop it,” I said before hanging up.
Even after notifying Alvin, I still felt uneasy. So, I went to the hospital myself. Just as I parked, I saw Alvin sprinting from the parking lot toward the women’s and children’s clinic.
He was clearly nervous.
I quickly got out of my car and followed, but just as I was about to head toward the examination room, Jasmine appeared and grabbed my arm.
“Did he stop it?” I asked her.
Instead of answering, Jasmine pulled me aside and said, “There’s drama. Listen first.”
13:01 Thu, 21 Aug 9
She dragged me to the emergency exit, where I heard Thea and Alvin arguing.
?31%
“Why are you aborting this child? This is Benjamin’s only bloodline in the world! Who gave you the right to do this?” Alvin growled.
“Why am I doing this? Do you really not know? I want to be with you,” Thea said bluntly, her usual soft demeanor reced with directness.
Alvin said nothing. Thea’s voice softened, “Alvin, I know your family will never ept me if I keep this baby, and Benjamin’s parents do not acknowledge it either. So why should I keep it?”
“But if this baby is gone, then Benjamin will truly be gone too,” Alvin replied in a trembling voice.
“If I keep the baby, I can’t be with you. What am I supposed to do?” Thea asked in a low <i>voice</i>.
At that moment, I fully understood that people are ultimately selfish and act in their own interest.
“If you keep it, will we really be together?” Alvin countered.
The emergency exit door was slightly ajar. I saw Thea reach out to grab Alvin’s sleeve, but he pulled away and said, “Thea, you should know who I truly want.”
“But you and Zoe are impossible now,” Thea said, her voice trembling.
“If Zoe and I are impossible, then so are you and I,” Alvin answered. His words made Thea’s face pale.
Her lips trembled before she cried, “If you do not want me, what am I supposed to do?”
Alvin sighed, “Thea, I told you–I willpensate you for everything, except-”
She cut him off, shaking her head painfully. “What about a man? I need someone who will love me, who will be there to warm me in the dark. Can youpensate me for that, too?”
Alvin’s face stiffened. He had no words.
“Alvin, if you hadn’t kissed me, Benjamin wouldn’t have seen it and driven off recklessly. He wouldn’t have died, and my child and I wouldn’t be alone <i>now</i>. <i>You </i>ruined my happiness, so you have to make it up to me,” Thea used, leaving me utterly stunned.
I thought, ‘So, Benjamin’s death was Alvin’s fault.
‘That was why he had been taking care of Thea all this time.’