Withered Yet Freed

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.