Now You Want Me? Too Late

They arrived at the hospital in no time.

Noah dragged Tessa inside.

"Let go of me," Tessa cried. Fear flushed her face, and her eyes were bloodshot with tears.

Noah didn’t even slow down. He hauled her straight toward the operating room.

The doctor and several nurses were already waiting.

Tessa’s face turned deadly pale the moment she saw them. She clutched at Noah’s hand, trying to hold him back.

"Don’t... don’t do this. Please... You know I have a heart condition. The abortion surgery could trigger a heart attack."

Noah paused, but his grip never loosened. A chilling smile appeared on his face, terrifying Tessa even more.

She twisted her wrist as she struggled against his hold, but she couldn’t break free.

"Don’t worry. I have arranged for the best doctors. Nothing will happen to you." He raised a hand and motioned toward the nurses.

Immediately, two nurses stepped forward and seized Tessa by the arms.

"Get off me," Tessa screamed, fighting with all her strength.

It was useless.

The nurses dragged her toward the room ahead.

"Noah, you are a monster," Tessa shouted, her voice echoing through the hallway. "You heartless bastard! I hate you."

Suddenly, she jerked free and rushed at him. With fury coursing through her veins, she grabbed his collar.

"You think doing this will earn Elena’s forgiveness. You are wrong... She will never forgive you."

Noah’s nostrils flared. Anger surged violently.

"She left you. Do you understand?" Tessa shrieked, shaking him. "She is never coming back."

"Shut up," he thundered. With a furious shove, he sent her stumbling backward.

Tessa steadied herself and let out a bitter laugh. "You can shut me up. But can you bring her back?"

Her eyes gleamed with a strange light, a twisted sense of satisfaction filling her chest.

"Even if you beg on your knees, she won’t come back. You drove her away."

Those words pierced through his heart. He immediately recalled the time he had blamed Elena, chosen Tessa over her, and abandoned her when she needed him the most.

The hurt in Elena’s eyes, her disappointment, and her growing indifference toward him—everything gnawed at him.

"You chose me over her," Tessa continued. "You spent all your time with me, while she was suffering. You even gave me the pendant her father left for her. And I broke it."

A mocking smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "But what did you do? You believed my lies and pushed her down."

Holding his gaze, she tiptoed and whispered provocatively, "Do you know she had just returned from the hospital after those kidnappers had almost killed her?"

At that, Noah lost his final bit of patience and grabbed her throat. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes.

But Tessa smiled and forced out, "You hurt her again. She was bleeding, and you didn’t care. You took me away while locking her inside."

"Shut your mouth."

His grip around her throat tightened further, choking her.

Tessa could barely breathe. Panic struck her. She clawed at his arms, desperate to break free.

"Mr. Sinclair, let her go." The doctor hurried forward. "You will kill her..."

The doctor and nurses quickly pulled Noah away.

Tessa stumbled backward, clutching her aching throat as she gasped for air.

"Take her inside," Noah thundered. "Start the procedure."

Before Tessa could recover, the two nurses dragged her inside the operating room.

"Noah, you can’t do this to me," Tessa cried desperately. "Let me go..."

No one listened to her.

Inside, she was pinned to the operating table. Two nurses held her down firmly.

Tessa twisted her body violently. She glared at Noah, who stood a little away from her with his arms crossed over his chest.

There was no warmth in his eyes. He looked nothing like the man who had once sworn to love and protect her.

Tessa’s face crumpled as she sniveled. "I am the woman you love, the one you married. I saved you. You promised to protect me with your life. Please, Noah... Don’t kill our baby."

Noah said nothing. His expression never changed. He simply stared at her as if enjoying the scene.

The doctor prepared a syringe.

Tessa’s skin prickled with chills. "No... Don’t come any closer. Stay away from me."

The doctor stepped in closer. "Hold her still."

The nurses tightened their grip. Just as the needle was about to pierce her skin, the door burst open.

Everyone froze. They turned toward the entrance and saw Catherine walking in.

Her face was grim. Her eyes were blazing with fury.

"Mom?" Noah frowned, surprised. He had not expected her to be here.

Catherine stepped forward, glaring at each one of them. "Leave her alone."

Her tone was firm and commanding.

The nurses released Tessa instantly. Even the doctor stepped back hesitantly.

Noah’s frown deepened as he cast a displeased look at his mother.

Tessa nearly cried in relief, hope flashing in her eyes. On the way to the hospital, she had sneakily sent Catherine a message.

’Catherine, you have to help me. Noah has gone insane. He wants to kill the baby. Please come quickly and save your grandchild.’

And now Catherine was here.

Tessa put on a pitiful look, masking the satisfaction in her heart.

"Catherine, please save me."

Catherine gave her a blank stare before shifting her gaze to Noah. "You... Come with me."

She turned to leave.

"Catherine?" Tessa’s desperate voice from behind stopped her. "Please take me out of here. The baby is your grandchild. You can’t let these people abort it."

Catherine turned on her heel. Her cold glare settled on Tessa.

Tessa looked at her expectantly, hoping she would take her out of here. But Catherine said nothing.

That silence frightened her more than any words could. She inhaled deeply through her flared nostrils.

Catherine turned to the doctor. "Take her to a room and examine her. Make sure the baby is fine."

"Sure, Mrs. Sinclair."

As Tessa was escorted out, Catherine looked back at Noah. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Are you going to keep standing there all day? Come with me."

She strode out.

Noah clenched his fists. He was furious. His mother’s interference had ruined everything.

’No worries,’ he muttered to himself. ’It’s not late at all. I’ll deal with her later.’

He followed his mother.

Catherine didn’t stop until she came to an empty corridor. She spun around. Her eyes were bloodshot from anger.

"You... What do you think you are doing?" she asked fiercely. "You were going to force her to abort that child? Have you completely lost your mind?"

"She hurt Elena," Noah said without hesitation. "She lied to me, framed Elena again and again, and made her suffer."

He pointed at nowhere as he added, "That night at the banquet, Tessa fell on her own. But she lied to everyone, claiming Elena had pushed her."

Catherine frowned.

"I saw the footage. Elena didn’t even touch her. Tessa deliberately threw herself to the floor, just to frame Elena."

Catherine’s mind raced back to the night. She remembered everything.

Tessa’s tears, her torn appearance, the shattered glasses, and the spilled wine—everything had looked so messy.

Everyone had pitied her and taken her side, believing whatever she had said without a doubt. No one had bothered listening to Elena’s side of the story.

Catherine regretted not trusting Elena at the time.

"This was not the only lie," Noah added. "She kept manipulating me. And every time, I believed her lies and blamed Elena."

His lips curled into self-blame.

"She created a misunderstanding between Elena and me."

Catherine stared at him for a long moment, then sighed in dismay. "You finally realized your mistake? Don’t you think it’s a bit late?"