Chapter 2

That night, Charlotte had stepped out of the hospital, the weight of overwhelming medical bills pressing down on her chest. Unable to sleep from the constant stress, she had picked up a part-time job as a designated driver. Thankfully, she had gotten her license right after the SAT, providing her with an additional way to make money. "You have five minutes. Clean yourself up," came the man's voice, rough and strained. His face was flushed, and his brows were furrowed tightly, fighting to stay composed. Charlotte turned, standing at the shower door, her red lips pressed between her teeth as she gradually removed her reflective work uniform. Her undergarments slipped to the floor in a crumpled heap. The cold tiles sent a chill through her bare feet, biting straight to her bones. She shivered as goosebumps rose across her skin. As the hot water cascaded down, she hurriedly lathered up, scrubbing away the scent that clung to her body. The man's shower gel had a distinctive scent—sharp, fresh, and unmistakably masculine. Just as she reached for a towel, the door suddenly swung open. A rush of cold air filled the room as the man stepped inside. Charlotte instinctively covered her chest with her hands and crouched down in fear. The man's eyes were bloodshot, his gaze unfocused, and his breathing erratic. As soon as he stepped inside, he began taking off his coat and loosening his tie. Panic gripped Charlotte. Before the bathroom door could even close, she bolted, running toward the bed. She threw herself onto it, wrapping the blanket tightly around her body. But even beneath the thick covers, the cold still crawled into her bones, and her shivers wouldn't stop. A few moments later, the man emerged. With a sharp snap, the room was consumed by darkness. The darkness was suffocating, like an oppressive weight closing in around her. Fear flooded Charlotte's chest. She reached out into the void, her hands desperately searching for something to cling to. Under the influence of the drug coursing through him, the man gave in completely to his primal, instinctive urges. When it was over, he rose, walking silently into the bathroom. Lying there, Charlotte wept silently, her brokenness now laid bare. Minutes later, the man returned, now dressed in a robe, a phone in his hand. Fresh from the shower, his scent was clean and crisp, but the air around him felt colder still. "Give me your bank card." "My cards are in my bag, with my clothes." The man's gaze met hers, piercing and sharp as a blade. Charlotte pulled the blanket over herself as she made her way to the bathroom. In a rush, she quickly changed into her clothes, her hands shaking as she pulled out her bank card. With both hands, she handed it over to the man. As soon as the transaction went through, Charlotte wasted no time. She bolted for her car and sped off into the night. … Bianca listened to Charlotte's story, her chest tightening with a mix of anger and sorrow. Charlotte tried to reassure her, "It's okay, Bianca." Talking it out had already helped calm her nerves. She didn't want Bianca to worry—she'd made her choice, and there was no turning back now. "There's a women's and children's health center near the liver disease hospital. They should be able to help. I'll check tomorrow. You should head back to work." But Bianca refused. How could she focus on work when her best friend had just been rushed to the hospital? "I took half a day off. First, we'll check on Mdm. Moore. Then, we'll go to the hospital together." Charlotte didn't have the heart to argue. Her eyes stung, tears threatening to spill over once more. Life had dealt her some tough blows, but at least she had Bianca—always by her side, helping to mend the scars. By the time they arrived at the hospital, a nurse was already hooking Elyse up to an IV drip. Because of esophageal varices and gastric bleeding, Elyse hadn't been able to eat solid food for a long time, depending solely on IV nutrition to stay alive. Her cryptogenic cirrhosis had left her skin a sickly yellow, almost translucent under the hospital lights. Beneath the blanket, her abdomen was slightly swollen. Charlotte turned away, hastily wiping her tears. She couldn't let herself cry. She couldn't allow Elyse to see her like this. And she certainly couldn't let her know that she was about to make a choice that would end a life before it even began. While Elyse slept, Charlotte and Bianca rushed to the women's and children's health center to register and undergo the necessary checks. Just before the doctor finished his shift, they managed to secure an appointment for the abortion, scheduled for three days later. "Charlotte, you need to eat more. You're too thin. The surgery will take a toll on you, and you'll need strength to recover afterward." The thought of fragile Charlotte enduring the pain of the procedure weighed heavily on Bianca's heart. But with the appointment set, Charlotte had no choice but to summon her strength and face it. "I know," she replied, shaking the list of instructions in her hand, forcing herself not to focus on the pain. "I've studied medicine for four years—internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics… even traditional medicine." Bianca sighed, her desire to reprimand Charlotte fading as the words escaped her. In the end, all she could do was curse the man who had gotten Charlotte pregnant. "I'll be there with you the day of the surgery," she said. Charlotte wrapped her arm through Bianca's and rested her head on her shoulder. "You're the best, Bianca." After parting ways with Bianca, Charlotte made her way to the payment counter at the liver disease hospital, using the last of her savings—800 dollars. "I'll pay this for now and settle the rest soon. Please, just don't send any overdue notices to my mom," she begged. Having become familiar with her over time, the hospital staff processed the payment without a second thought and handed her the receipt. Charlotte had become numb to their impatience. It didn't matter as long as Elyse received the care she needed. … Brighton Group's towering building stood proudly in the heart of Jedburgh's busy business district, a true landmark of the city. Even though office hours had ended, the massive structure remained ablaze with light. On the top floor, the CEO's office glowed brightly, still illuminated well into the night. A steady, measured knock echoed through the door. Inside, the man remained unmoving. "Come in." His voice was deep, crisp, and unwavering. The assistant pushed the door open, revealing a stunning view of Jedburgh's bustling nightscape through the windows. The sleek black desk was neatly arranged with files in various colors. Behind it, the man was fully absorbed, his intense gaze fixed on the computer screen. "Mr. Hoffman, the investigation is complete." Fred Garner stole a quick glance at the CEO's face. With his high-bridged nose and sharply defined jawline, Daniel Hoffman's features mirrored his work style—relentless, decisive, and focused. "The woman's name is Charlotte Moore. She's a medical student at Jedburgh Medical College, currently enrolled in the eight-year combined MD program." "I see," Daniel responded, his attention still fixed on the screen as his fingers continued to type swiftly. Noticing Fred hadn't moved, Daniel's fingers paused for a moment. "You can leave now." "Mr. Hoffman…" Fred hesitated, aware of the urgency of the situation. Considering the circumstances, he felt it necessary to bring this to his attention. "Ms. Moore is pregnant and has scheduled an abortion in three days."