Eleven Years All to the Wrong Man novel Chapter 197

"It doesn't matter who told me, Emma. Please, just listen to me..."

Evan slowly got up from the floor, his eyes growing red. He reached out, wanting to touch Emma, but—

"Don't touch me!"

Before his hand could reach her, Emma mercilessly slapped it away.

She took another step back, her eyes filled with terror and distrust as she looked at him.

"So what if I'm pregnant? This child has nothing to do with you. I'll take care of it myself."

Emma's eyes reddened as well. Her thoughts were in complete turmoil, and the scene unfolding before her felt absurd.

"Don't say that just because you're angry!"

Mrs. Hayes grabbed her daughter's arm. She had grown up in a single-parent home and knew how hard it was for a mother to raise a child alone. Besides, this child was Evan's, and he had a responsibility no matter what.

Emma didn't say anything. She lowered her head, her long hair falling over her chest and hiding her face.

She felt an immense sadness and pain in her heart. She had braced herself countless times for what she was about to say. It was a heart-wrenching decision, but she had no other choice.

"Mom."

Mrs. Hayes heard her daughter call her name softly. Before she could respond, she heard Emma's next words—"I don't want this child."

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean?"

Evan and Mrs. Hayes asked almost in unison.

Emma didn't look at the haggard, red-eyed man beside her. She turned to her mother, her eyes filled with tears, and said, word by word, "I'm not going to keep this child."

Mrs. Hayes's hand, which was holding her daughter's, gradually loosened. Her eyes were wide with shock.

Evan was even more stunned. He staggered back a step as if struck by lightning, his brow furrowed in disbelief.

"Emma, are you serious? Have you really thought this through?"

Mrs. Hayes didn't know what to say. She stepped forward, took her daughter's hand, and looked at her with heartfelt sympathy.

She was a mother. She loved her child more than anyone.

"Yes. I don't want to keep this child."

Emma closed her eyes in pain. A tear escaped and traced a path down her cheek, falling silently into the collar of her shirt.

She raised her arms and hugged her mother, burying her head in her shoulder. Life had been too hard. She wished she could go back to being a child, back to her mother's embrace.

"Alright, then we won't keep it…"

Mrs. Hayes let out a long sigh. Her voice was calm, but if Emma had looked up, she would have seen her mother's face streaked with tears.

Knowing her daughter was going to have an abortion was most painful for Karen Hayes. As a mother, she knew the immense physical toll it took. But if the marriage was unhappy, the child would only suffer after being born. So, it was better to end it now, to put a stop to all this misery.