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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Withered Yet Freed: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

25 Kabanata

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

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 b

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 ligh

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 mornin

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

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 stoo

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 L

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 lower

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.

Chapter 10

Several key pieces of information flooded into his mind all at once. Without a moment to think, Nelson bolted out of the hospital room.Arriving outside Sarah's room, Nelson found it empty. He frantically grabbed a passing nurse and asked urgently, "Where's the patient who was staying here last night?"The nurse frowned. "She scheduled an abortion procedure yesterday. She should be in surgery now. You—"The nurse wanted to ask why nobody had visited Sarah during her hospitalization until now, but she saw Nelson's face turn ashen as he repeatedly muttered, "No, no..."He then stumbled frantically toward the obstetrics department.Along the way, he bumped into countless people in his panic. Not waiting for the elevator, he ran for the stairs. In his haste, he lost his footing and tumbled down the staircase.Lying at the bottom of the stairs, he couldn't get up for quite some time.Uncle Richard, who had come to visit Nelson, was in the hallway and followed when he saw his son rush

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