"Congratulations, you're pregnant." Anne Sutton handed the pregnancy test report back to the woman before her.
This was her last patient. Once she was done, she could finally go home for the day.
The woman took the report but didn't leave. She looked at Anne Sutton and said, "Dr. Sutton, I want to terminate this pregnancy. Is that possible?"
Anne Sutton looked up at her. Having been a doctor for several years, she had seen it all before.
She said, "It is. But you'll need the father's signature."
"Can I sign for it myself?"
Anne Sutton glanced at the woman. "If there's absolutely no other way, that can be arranged. Please come back tomorrow. It's already getting late today."
'Situations like this are all too common nowadays!'
The woman said, "But I don't have time tomorrow. Can we do it today? I can pay you extra."
The woman's expression was so earnest that Anne Sutton couldn't refuse and told her to go handle the paperwork.
In the operating room, the woman was lying on the surgical table. Anne Sutton had just changed into her scrubs and walked in when someone approached her. "Anne, your boyfriend is here."
"Tell him to wait."
'Charles Prescott?'
'What's he doing here at this hour?'
Anne Sutton found it strange, but she was still on the clock and couldn't deal with him.
'No matter what, I have to finish my work first.'
She entered the operating room and was about to begin the procedure when, a second later, the door was kicked open from the outside.
She looked up and saw Charles Prescott standing in the doorway, his face dark.
Anne Sutton was taken aback. 'Is he this furious just because I was busy with work and couldn't see him?'
She spoke up, "Mr. Prescott, I'm not finished with work. Please leave."
The man had already strode in. He looked at her, then glanced at the woman on the operating table before turning back to Anne Sutton. "Who gave you the right to touch this child?"
Hearing his baseless accusation, Anne Sutton was speechless. "Are you insane?"
'If you're sick, you should see a doctor!'
'What's he doing, throwing a fit in here?'
The woman on the table had already sat up and thrown her arms around him, whining, "Honey, you're finally here! I was so scared! Your fiancée found out I was pregnant and tried to force me to get rid of our baby!"
At this, Anne Sutton froze.
'So, the child in this woman's belly… is Charles Prescott's?'
Charles Prescott looked up at Anne Sutton. "You've really got some nerve. If I'd been any later, this child would be gone, wouldn't it?"
Anne Sutton stared at Charles Prescott. She knew he was shameless, but she never imagined he would be so shameless as to have a child with someone else.
'And to think he would make a scene right in front of me!'
This whole affair had nothing to do with her. Before this, she didn't even know this woman was involved with Charles Prescott.
But now she understood. She had been set up.
She didn't recognize the woman, but the woman certainly recognized her.
After all, the fact that she was Charles Prescott's fiancée was known throughout all of Westhaven.
Anne Sutton said, "Mr. Prescott, you're mistaken. Before you arrived, I had no idea you had any relationship with her, let alone that you had a child together."
All these years, she had turned a blind eye to his philandering.
She was usually too busy with work to possibly care about his affairs.
Hearing Anne Sutton's words, the woman quickly retorted, "Of course you wouldn't admit it now!"
Anne Sutton gave the woman a cold look, having no desire to argue with her. She simply looked at Charles Prescott. "Surely a cheap trick like this isn't enough to fool you, Mr. Prescott?"
Charles Prescott saw her calm gaze and knew it was true—this woman had never really meddled in his affairs.
Yet, her composure was precisely what irritated him.
Charles Prescott glanced at Sylvia Warren on the operating table, then lifted her into his arms and started to leave.
Watching this scene unfold, Anne Sutton spoke up. "Wait."
Besides the three of them, there were other people in the operating room, including Anne Sutton's colleagues.
Everyone watching this dramatic scene found it somewhat ridiculous.
Who had ever heard of a mistress showing up pregnant to confront the fiancée?
They were all curious to hear what Anne Sutton would say.
Charles Prescott looked at Anne Sutton. "What is it?"
Seeing him about to leave with the woman in his arms, Anne Sutton said, "Mr. Prescott, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
"An explanation for what?" Charles Prescott looked at her indifferently.
Anne Sutton said, "Shouldn't you explain the existence of this child to your fiancée?"
Anne Sutton glanced at the woman in his arms.
'It was one thing when his affairs were kept out of my sight, but now that this woman has schemed her way right in front of me, does Charles Prescott really think he doesn't owe me a single word of explanation?'
Charles Prescott said, "This child is no threat to your position."
'So…'
'He's going to let her have the baby?'
'While he and I are still engaged.'
'It would be one thing if it were private, but this is happening in my hospital, at my workplace…'
Anne Sutton said, "Charles Prescott, what if you could only choose one of us?"
Hearing her words, a hint of impatience flashed in Charles Prescott's eyes.
He looked at Anne Sutton and said, "Are you kidding me? Are you even aware of the Sutton Family's current situation? What, if I choose her, are you going to break up with me?"
He had a superior air about him, as if she were nothing more than a joke in his eyes.
'His mistress causes a scene here today, and he still thinks I won't break up with him?'
'Just because the Sutton Family needs to rely on him right now?'
Listening to his words, Anne Sutton's hands clenched into tight fists.
Years ago, their families were of equal social standing, and they had arranged their engagement.
Later, the Sutton Family fell from grace, while Charles Prescott's father became the adopted son of the Fawcett Group's chairman. With his own career flourishing, the gap between the two of them widened.
Everyone said he was devoted and treated her so well, not abandoning her even under these circumstances.
She had almost started to believe it herself.
If she didn't know about all the other women he had on the side.
She might have even believed he was deeply in love with her.
For all these years, Anne Sutton had never dared to suggest a breakup.
Because her family was still counting on his help.
But now, a profound sense of exhaustion washed over her. "Let's break up."
Hearing her words, Charles Prescott was stunned for a moment. He looked at her. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious," Anne Sutton said. "You already have a child on the way. You can just marry her instead. Can't you?"
'Since he's never short on women, and since he doesn't love me, why should I cling to a position that hasn't been mine for a long time?'
Hearing Anne Sutton's words, Sylvia Warren was also surprised.
Everyone knew Charles Prescott had plenty of women over the years, but very few had ever been able to threaten Anne Sutton's position.
Who would have thought that Anne Sutton would now be the one to initiate a breakup with him?
'She's actually giving up the chance to become Mrs. Prescott?'
'That's a position so many people dream of!'
Charles Prescott looked at Anne Sutton, but he offered no words to make her stay. He simply said, "Fine."
Then, he left the operating room directly, still carrying Sylvia Warren.
As he left, the woman in his arms even flashed a triumphant smile.
Watching him walk out, Anne Sutton finally realized that in that single moment, she had become a joke.