Chapter 144

Nina didn't want to say anything more to her and lifted her foot to enter the door.

Deborah sidestepped to block the door and said, "Were you just on the phone with Isabella?"

"Yeah." Nina's tone was laced with fatigue.

"Did you tell Isabella what I mentioned to you before? What did she say? Is she willing to date Raymond?"

Nina frowned and said, "Bella already has a boyfriend. Please don't bring this up again!"

"Stop lying to me!" Deborah didn't believe her and continued, "I asked Charlie. He said Isabella doesn't have a boyfriend, but she's already pregnant. I used to feel like our Raymond is trying to woo your sister, but now being pregnant out of wedlock isn't exactly something to brag about for her. Even though Raymond didn't go to college, he's considered quite a catch in our town. Many girls want to date him, but I don't think they're good enough. It's only because Raymond likes Isabella and she's your sister that we're willing to compromise. As long as Isabella is willing to abort the child and marry Raymond, we'll accept her."

Deborah's words made Nina laugh.

"If Raymond is so popular in the town, you should go back early. Don't delay Raymond's marriage and then blame it on me!"

After saying this, Nina didn't care how embarrassed Deborah looked. She pushed past her and went straight into the house.

Deborah's face turned ugly with anger and said, "Are you trying to kick me out?"

She was about to follow Nina inside to continue nagging, but Nina had already gone into the bedroom, slammed the door, and locked it .

Deborah pounded on the door loudly.

Nina covered her head with a pillow, but Deborah's incessant nagging and cursing still came through intermittently.

As she thought about everything that happened today, Nina's mood hit rock bottom. And under Deborah's provocation, her tears finally rolled uncontrollably down her face.

Isabella received the call in the middle of the night.

She and Sebastian hurried to the hospital, but Nina was still in the operating room.

Outside the operating room, Charlie and Deborah were waiting.

Seeing Isabella, Deborah immediately smiled, "Bella, you're here."

Isabella shook off her hand and looked at Charlie, saying, "If anything happens to my sister, I'll make sure you pay for it!"

Charlie glanced at Sebastian but said nothing.

Deborah said, "We're family. There's no need to say such harsh things. Nina is carrying our family's bloodline and we don't want anything to happen to her either!"

Isabella was so furious that she was trembling. She glared fiercely at Deborah.

Charlie pulled her aside and said, "Mom, stop saying anything."

Deborah felt wronged and said, "Alright, I'll mind my own business."

As she spoke, she glanced at Isabella and Sebastian.

When the door to the operating room opened, a doctor walked out, saying, "Who is the patient's family?"

"I am!" Charlie walked over. "Doctor, how is my wife?"

"The child may not be able to be saved, and there is a risk of severe bleeding for the adult. This is the informed consent form, please sign it. We need to perform a dilation and curettage procedure on the patient immediately."

"What?" Deborah stood next to Charlie, her face ashen. "My grandchild can't be saved?"

Even at this moment, she only cared about the baby and didn't concern about Nina's condition.

Isabella stepped forward and said to Charlie, "Hurry up and sign it!"

"Oh." Charlie was also scared out of his wits. He snapped out of it and immediately grabbed the pen.

Just as he was about to sign, Deborah stopped him.

"Doctor, is there really no way to save the baby?"

Upon her saying, everyone's eyes turned to her.

The doctor shook his head and said, "The pregnancy was already unstable, and now there's severe bleeding. You brought her in too late. Both the baby and the mother are at high risk. As a doctor, we prioritize saving the mother. As for the baby, they're still young, so they can have another one in the future."

Deborah sighed and looked distressed. "Oh, you don't know how much money and effort I spent to get the medicine for Nina to conceive. Now it's all wasted!"

Isabella couldn't hold back any longer and pushed Deborah aside. "Charlie, sign it!"

Charlie didn't hesitate anymore and quickly signed his name.

Deborah slumped against the wall and sat down on the ground, wailing and pounding her chest. She said, "You can't sign it! You can't sign it! It was so hard for Nina to conceive, and that's a living life!"

"A baby is a life, but isn't my sister a life too?" Isabella practically screamed the words.

She was usually gentle and rarely lost control like this.

Her outburst startled Deborah, who didn't dare to make any more noise.

Meanwhile.

Inside Casino No. 1, the air was thick with smoke and noise.

Michael pushed open the door and walked briskly to one of the gambling tables.

The cards had just been dealt, and all bets were placed.

Sitting at the head of the table, Richard glanced up at him. "What's the matter?"

Michael looked at the table, knowing this game was important to Richard. So he held back and said, "I'll wait until this round is over."

Richard's brows furrowed and he stood up immediately.

"Richard, the cards are about to be revealed. Where are you going?"

Richard walked around the table, leaving behind a single sentence and saying, "I fold."

The table erupted in surprise.

"Fold?"

"With such a good hand, he folded?"

"That's millions in bets!"

"What happened?"

The murmurs of the crowd were left behind by Richard.

He pushed open the door to a private room and stood by the sink to wash his hands.

Michael followed him in. "Richard, you folded such a good set of cards?"

Richard's expression didn't change. He finished washing his hands and slowly dried them with a couple of paper towels, saying, "Did something happen to Nina?"

"Yes."

Richard's fingers paused. He looked up at his reflection in the mirror. "Did her jerk husband do something bad again?"

Michael shook his head and said, "Nina had severe bleeding and was rushed to the hospital."

Richard spun around, his face suddenly stormy. "What did you say?"

"Don't worry. Our people said she was taken to the hospital. Our contacts there are already looking into it. We should have news soon."

The room fell into silence.

Richard turned his back, his hands braced on the edge of the sink, and thought for a moment. "I should go there myself."

Michael tried to stop him. "Richard, even if you go now, you won't be able to see Nina. Her family is all there."

Richard pushed his hand away and strode out. "I won't be at ease until I see her with my own eyes."

The light in the operating room stayed on.

With each passing second, Isabella felt her blood run colder.

Sebastian sat down next to her and gently hugged her. "Nina will be okay. Don't worry."

Looking into his eyes, Isabella felt a bit more at ease and stiffly nodded. "Yeah."

The operating room door opened again, and a nurse came out. "The patient urgently needs a blood transfusion. Are there any direct relatives here?"