Your First Love is Pregnant? I'm Done Being Mrs. Hawthorne!

###Chapter 24: He’s Here

A look of heartache filled Adrian Pemberton’s eyes as he heard her cry.

"Nina..." he called out, his voice laced with worry.

Nina Wainwright sniffled and apologized to the woman. "I’m sorry. I’ve been trying so hard to find a job, trying so hard to earn the money to pay you back, but I can’t find anything. I really do want to pay you, I never intended to run from the debt... But I only have a few thousand on my card. I’m so, so sorry..."

The onlookers couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy at the sound of her choked voice.

"I really don’t want to pressure you. Your father was the one who borrowed the money, so it shouldn’t have anything to do with you. But please, try to understand our situation. We were scammed into lending it to your father. We’re not even asking for the interest..." The woman’s eyes reddened, and she began to cry as well.

At that moment, Nina Wainwright was so desperate she wanted to jump off the building and end it all.

She had warned Raymond Wainwright countless times that if he couldn’t afford to run a company, he shouldn’t open one. She’d told him to stop putting her in the difficult position of having to ask Zachary Hawthorne for money.

But he wouldn’t listen.

Now, with debt collectors hounding them, he was in a coma and her mother was hiding in the hospital room, leaving Nina to face all the pressure alone.

She was only human. She was being driven to the brink of insanity.

Amid the chaotic scene, the surroundings suddenly fell silent.

The gawking crowd watched as a handsome man in a sharp suit entered with a commanding stride, an elite-looking man following close behind.

Zachary Hawthorne stood before Nina Wainwright, who was tear-stained and at her most wretched. He looked down on her. "Silas Sinclair, take her away."

Silas Sinclair hurried forward, helped Nina Wainwright up from the floor, and led her away by the arm.

Just as the woman was about to speak, she heard Zachary Hawthorne say, "Willing to kill yourselves over two million?"

The debt collectors, of course, had no idea who he was, but his distinguished air made him stand head and shoulders above everyone else. They all fell silent, not daring to speak.

Zachary Hawthorne glanced at the woman with the bleeding wrist and said in a neutral tone, "Dr. Pemberton, I’ll have to trouble you to treat her wound."

He paused, then continued, "Go back and find the loan receipts. Figure out which institution the investment was made through, and bring all the organized contracts to the hospital. That’s the only way you’re going to get the money."

His speech silenced everyone.

A smirk played on Zachary Hawthorne’s lips. "What’s the matter? Can’t provide the evidence?"

It slowly dawned on the onlookers that this group might just be putting on an act... But they were far too committed to it—she had actually slit her wrist.

Silas Sinclair, who had returned, addressed the group, his tone calm as he continued, "If you can’t provide them, I’ll call the police right now. None of you will be going anywhere. Aggressive debt collection is illegal."

The woman who had cut her wrist no longer dared to let Dr. Pemberton treat her. She stammered, "We’ve been very gentle these last few days... The company has its requirements. If we don’t get the money, we’ll lose our jobs."

"That’s your problem," Silas Sinclair said, his expression cold.

It was only then that Adrian Pemberton understood. After all that, this group was just another set of aggressive debt collectors, only using a different method.

When the woman tried to lead her people away, Silas Sinclair blocked their path. "Leaving without making things clear? Do you think a hospital is a place where you can just show up, cause a scene, and leave whenever you please?!"

"What are you doing?! Isn’t it illegal to stop us?!" the leading woman shrieked.

Silas Sinclair grabbed her by the collar. "You’ve been disturbing public order in a place like a hospital, affecting everyone’s rest for nearly a week. How about we talk about whether *you’ve* broken the law? Not to mention threatening ’if someone dies, we all die.’ Which of your statements, which of your actions, *wasn’t* illegal?!"

His every word was sharp and impactful.

The onlookers broke into applause and cheers.

"These aggressive collectors have so many tricks up their sleeves these days! A few days ago it was a group of thugs, now a gang of women. They even hurt a doctor, and look at the beating they gave the poor young man she hired to protect her father! They should call the police!"

"Call the police! Arrest them all!"

Silas Sinclair shoved the woman back.

More security guards arrived at once and surrounded the women.

Zachary Hawthorne shot them a cold glance. "I’ll leave this to you," he said to Silas Sinclair.

He turned and left.

When he arrived at the office of the inpatient ward’s director, he saw Nina Wainwright standing by the window, cradling a cup of hot water.

When she realized Zachary Hawthorne had come in, Nina Wainwright turned around. She wanted to say something, but it felt as if a hand were squeezing her throat, and she couldn’t get a single word out.

"What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Zachary Hawthorne said with a hint of mockery as he walked over to a chair and sat down.

Nina felt the air catch in her throat, leaving her choked with indignation.

"You want to get a job, but you can’t even handle a few thugs? How do you expect to work?" Zachary Hawthorne asked, his face grim.

"Did you do all that and say all that just to mock me for not being fit to work?" Any gratitude Nina had felt for his help moments ago instantly turned to dust in the face of his derisive words.

Zachary Hawthorne’s gaze grew cold. "You’ve been running around for days. Do you have anything to show for it? You didn’t even think to investigate the source of the debt. What exactly have you been doing all this time?"

His words left Nina Wainwright speechless.

"Trying to pay off a two-million debt with a ten-thousand-a-month salary? You really think highly of yourself," Zachary Hawthorne scoffed.

Nina Wainwright slammed her cup down on the windowsill.

"You have all this fire for me, but when those people were bullying you, all you could do was cry?" Zachary Hawthorne shot to his feet, his own voice now laced with anger.

Nina felt as if his every word was a slap in the face.

And yet, he was right about everything.

"If you want to keep being stubborn and refuse to come home, fine. But this is the only time I’m helping you!" Zachary Hawthorne shot back, turning to leave.

Just then, Silas Sinclair pushed the door open and entered. "They’re looking for you," he said to Zachary.

Nina knew exactly who "they" were.

’Zachary Hawthorne only helped her because it was convenient. The one he was truly concerned about was still Luna Sterling.’

Zachary Hawthorne grunted in acknowledgment and left.

Silas Sinclair’s gaze fell upon Nina Wainwright, his tone as neutral as ever. "If they come to collect the debt again, tell them to provide the receipts and the loan contract. Understand the channels Mr. Wainwright used to borrow the money before you do anything else."

Nina Wainwright nodded. "Thank you."

Silas Sinclair didn’t reply. He completely ignored her thanks and turned to leave.

Nina knew he didn’t like her, but for him to react that way to her sincere gratitude... It still made her feel incredibly awkward.

After leaving the director’s office, she returned to the hospital room door and saw Adrian Pemberton was still there. She quickly walked over to him. "How’s your injury?"

"I’ll get it treated in a moment. As for Zachary Hawthorne... does he plan on helping you resolve this?" he asked, his tone slightly tense.

Nina Wainwright shook her head gently. "He’s not that kind."

’He wants me to bow my head and go back to being Mrs. Hawthorne, to give up any thought of getting a job.’

*****