Charles Northwood froze and immediately stood up. "Yes, I am," he confirmed. He anxiously watched the nurse, fearing she might say something he didn't want to hear.
"The baby can't be saved," the nurse said, her expression grim. "We need to perform surgery now. Please sign here."
Charles Northwood was taken aback, his fingertips trembling. The baby can't be saved? Impossible!
"The child must be saved!" Charles Northwood pleaded, having lost his usual composure. "I beg you, please try harder, will you?" At this moment, he truly seemed like a father, standing there helplessly watching the nurse, trying to grasp at the last straw.
"I'm sorry, the baby can't be saved," the nurse repeated gravely. "Any further delay could endanger the mother's life as well."
Charles Northwood froze. With a trembling right hand, he took the pen the nurse handed him. "You must keep her safe... you absolutely must..." he choked out, signing his name on the paper.
