Victor''s face darkened as he slid his finger across the screen to end the call.


    "Why aren''t you answering?" Finley asked.


    Victor''s tone was tinged with mockery. "This is the trouble with canceling the engagement. The olddy finds new ways to pester me every single day."


    He flicked his phone off and tossed it onto the table, then drained thest of his whiskey in one swallow.


    *


    The next morning.


    CapitolionHorizon Private Hospital.


    Nte walked alongside Isadora as they entered the gynecology clinic to see Dr. Joslyn, a specialist.


    Professor Lowell nced down at the report, asking in her usual, clinical manner, "You''re sure you want to terminate the pregnancy?"


    Isadora sat stiffly in her chair, Nte''s hand wrapped tightly around hers.


    The doctor''s frosty tone only made the hospital''s sterile air feel heavier.


    Sensing Isadora''s trembling fingers, Nte squeezed her hand reassuringly.


    Isadora gave the faintest nod.


    "Where''s the father?" the doctor asked.


    Isadora looked down. "He''s not here."


    At that, Professor Lowell finally nced up, taking a proper look at the young woman before her.


    Isadora had striking eyes and wless pale skin-she was beautiful, but under the harsh re of the hospital''s fluorescent lights, her face was drained of all color.


    Nervous and afraid. But then again, what woman in this situation isn''t?


    Having seen this scene y out countless times, Dr. Joslyn felt little sympathy. "It''s standard procedure-you''ll need the father''s signature for consent."


    "I''m single," Isadora replied quietly.


    At that, Dr. Joslyn''s gaze softened, just a fraction.


    "Then is a rtive with you?"


    Nte spoke up, "I-I''m her friend. I can sign."


    "It''s usually supposed to be a parent or family member."


    Nte''s patience snapped at the doctor''s cold insistence.


    "Usually''? What''s ''usual'' about any of this? Nothing''s normal here. It''s a routine procedure—someone just needs to sign, right?"


    Dr. Joslyn hadn''t expected the outburst, and for a second, she was taken aback. Truth was, adult women could sign for themselves these days. But this was a private hospital-protocols were strict to protect the clinic and its staff, so she always asked a few extra questions.


    Now, sensing the tension, Dr. Joslyn dropped the matter and scribbled out a payment form.


    "Alright, go pay at the desk. After that,e back for a quick checkup. If everything looks fine, you''ll be able to go in for the procedure-should be about an hour''s wait."


    Nte took the form and turned to Isadora. "Don''t worry, I''ll be waiting right outside for you. They''ll put you under, so when you wake up, it''ll all be over."


    Isadora nodded.


    It wasn''t the pain she feared.


    She couldn''t really exin it, but the thought of her baby disappearing from her


    body in just a little while made her chest so tight she could hardly breathe.


    *


    Elsewhere in the hospital, Finley strode down the corridor in his white coat, surrounded by a group of staff. This was one of the private hospitals owned by hispany, and he was listening to the deputy director''s update as he walked.


    Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.


    Someone noticed his distraction. "Is everything alright, sir?"


    Finley frowned. "That''s the women''s clinic over there, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, that wing is for OB-GYN-pregnancy consultations and the like."


    Finley narrowed his eyes.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, he''d just seen Isadora''s silhouette.


    But what was she doing here?


    "Go fetch the doctor from that office," he ordered.


    Momentster, Dr. Joslyn emerged from the clinic, recognizing Finley as the


    hospital''s director. She greeted him respectfully.


    Finley got straight to the point. "What was that woman here for?"


    Dr. Joslyn understood immediately and answered without hesitation. "She came in for an abortion."