Chapter 1003
“But she’s in so much pain,” Hayden said, as if he could feel Keira’s pain himself.
“She’s only in pain because she wants to give you a child,” Lena countered, once again taking a jab at him. But as soon as she finished speaking, she recalled Aaron’s words from earlier—She shouldn’t have any more children in the future. So that’s why Aaron said that… He was feeling sorry for her.
A strange feeling flickered in Lena’s heart as she looked at Keira. “This pain comes in waves. When it eases, try to relax and rest. Have you eaten tonight? Did you eat much?”
Before Keira could answer, Hayden spoke for her. “She had a few dumplings and a couple of bites of cake, not much.”
“That won’t do. She needs strength to give birth,” Lena instructed Hayden. “Go get her some egg, sugar water, or milk—something to replenish her energy so she has the strength to deliver.”
She was right. The pain had subsided a little by now.
Keira looked at Hayden. “Go ahead and get it. Lena is here with me.”
“I’ll make a call and have someone send it over,” Hayden said, clearly unwilling to leave even for a moment.
“It’s the middle of the night. Don’t bother anyone,” Keira told him. “Besides, it’s New Year’s Eve. Just go yourself—Lena is here with me.”
Hayden wouldn’t refuse Keira at a time like this. Even though he clearly didn’t want to leave, he nodded and stepped out of the delivery room. The moment he did, he spotted Aaron standing outside. He had been so focused on his wife earlier that he hadn’t even noticed the man.
“You’re here just in time. Go get me some boiled eggs, sugar water, and milk—my wife needs them for the delivery,” Hayden said, fully intending to put him to use.
Aaron frowned slightly. “Does she need to eat that much during labor?”
Hayden nodded. “Yes. The more she eats, the more strength she’ll have. Your Dr. Lane said so.”
The words “Your Dr. Lane” made Aaron pause for a moment, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he simply nodded and left. “Prepare more,” Hayden called after him.
Lena immediately knew Hayden had sent Aaron to do the task when he returned so quickly, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she checked Keira’s latest prenatal records and glanced at the nurse’s blood pressure and ECG readings.
“Your blood pressure is a little high. Try not to be too nervous,” Lena advised.
“She’s in pain,” Hayden answered for Keira again.
Lena came over and gently brushed back Keira’s sweat-soaked hair. “I know you can do this. But if it really becomes too much, just tell me.”
“I can do it,” Keira said, even though the pain was making her question her entire existence. But she wanted to endure this—she wanted to experience the rawest form of childbirth.
Lena gave her a playful wink. “Lil’ Rea is always the best.”
Even with her here, even with Hayden by Keira’s side, the pain was unbearable. Every time a contraction hit, she couldn’t help but bite down on something. Hayden was always the one offering himself up, so his lips, hands, and even his arms were marked with her teeth.
Two hours passed. The pain reached its peak.
After another check, Lena finally said, “You’re fully dilated. It’s time.”
In that moment, Hayden’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Lena encouraged her as she assisted with the birth. Keira never realized before that delivering a baby wasn’t as simple as just pulling the baby out and cutting the umbilical cord. Because her baby was in the wrong position, Lena knelt on the side of the delivery bed to help adjust the fetal position. She used all her strength to press down and guide the baby lower. Thanks to her efforts, at that very moment, Keira’s body felt lighter.
A newborn’s cry filled the delivery room. Loud. Clear. Pure.
It was the most beautiful sound Keira had ever heard. Tears gushed from her eyes. She had endured so much pain without shedding a single tear, but the moment she heard that cry—it was as if a dam had broken.