Mr. Clarke’s eyes widened as he scanned my bloodied body. He asked hesitantly,

“Are you sure that’s red paint?”

Adrian’s voice was firm and unwavering.

“I’m sure. Hand the phone to my wife. I’d like to say a few words to her.”

Mr. Clarke crouched down and brought the phone to my ear, looking at me with sympathy.

Adrian’s voice came through.

“Elena, I’ve had enough of your theatrics. Don’t even talk about giving birth today. You’d better hold it in!

“You don’t care about the baby’s safety and took medicine to induce early labor on your own, but the baby will never share a birthday with Evan. The baby's place will always be beneath Evan’s. Do you understand what I’m saying?

“Now, go back home obediently and don’t embarrass yourself by showing up in public again!”

His words cut through my heart like knives. Not only was I inferior to Sue, but even my child was no match for hers!

Tears mingled with blood slid down my cheeks, falling to the floor with a soft, sickening thud.

“Medicine…” I croaked hoarsely. “Adrian, so this is the extent of your misunderstanding of me. All these years of what I thought was love turn out to be nothing but a cruel joke.”

Adrian paced back and forth. Agitation was written all over him. His hand tightened around the phone as he prepared to scold me when a faint, drifting voice reached his ears.

“Adrian, let’s never see each other again.”

…

Mr. Clarke was kind-hearted enough to ignore what Adrian said about canceling the ambulance and brought me to the hospital.

A cold injection coursed through my body, easing the pain slightly, but a wave of sorrow swept through me. I could feel my child’s life slowly slipping away from me. I was losing her.

When I first discovered I was pregnant, I was overwhelmed with confusion and joy. The baby had been with me for eight months, slowly helping me grow into a mother. The baby shared my blood, and whenever I was sad, it would gently kick inside me as though it was trying to comfort me.

It had not even seen the world yet. It was so close to surviving, so close.

A warm hand gently wiped my tears with a piece of medical gauze, as the doctor above me asked urgently, “Have we contacted the patient’s husband? The pregnant woman’s condition is critical. She needs immediate surgery!”

A nurse chimed in, “Dr. Lane, her husband’s phone was reachable a moment ago, but the call was cut off. Now it’s switched off. We can’t reach him!”

“What about the surgery consent form? Who can sign it?”

“No one. We can’t operate without consent!”

Just as everyone was growing increasingly anxious, the doctor above me let out a heavy sigh and said,

“I remember Professor Quay has a surgery in progress. Ethan, check if it’s over. If it is, make sure he comes here immediately.”

In my haze, I felt the cold surgical instruments moving inside me. Then, faintly, I heard a baby’s cry. My eyes flew open in panic.

“Baby!”

A warm hand grasped my wrist, holding me firmly on the bed. A hoarse voice said, “Don’t move. The IV will come out.”

I turned around, and my eyes instantly turned red. I stared at the figure in front of me in disbelief and murmured, “Jerome…”

Jerome, my second elder brother, looked exhausted. His eyes were bloodshot. He could not hold back tears when he saw my pale face. He turned away, choking back a sob.

“Esmond is on his way.”

I broke down completely, crying like a child.

“Jerome, I was wrong.”

At last, he turned back, pulled me into his arms, and gently patted my head. “It’s okay, Elena. You’re okay. I’m here.”

In the middle of the night, Adrian suddenly heard the cry of a child in his sleep. He opened his eyes and instinctively turned his head. Evan was curled up quietly beside him, fast asleep.

After tucking the blanket around him, an inexplicable unease rose in his chest, making it impossible to fall back asleep. He lit a cigarette and checked his phone. There was not a single message.

As he recalled the unknown calls he had declined earlier that day, a surge of panic ignited in his chest like a raging fire. My face flashed through his mind as he dialed Dr. Cady's number.

“Dr. Cady, how is my wife doing?”

“Mrs. Shaw? Mr. Shaw, wasn’t she taken to the hospital by ambulance for delivery? When I arrived at the villa, the ambulance had just left. I thought I was too late and you had already called emergency services!”

Adrian paused for a moment, then shot up from his chair. There was a flicker of excitement in his voice.

“You mean she’s already given birth?! No wonder I heard a baby crying in my dream just now. The child must’ve just been born. There’s a connection between us!”

Dr. Cady hesitated for a moment when he heard the excitement in Adrian’s voice, recalling that what he had heard earlier did not seem to match this version. After a moment’s thought, he said carefully, “Mr. Shaw, I suggest you go to First Hospital to see your wife as soon as possible.”

Adrian nodded eagerly.

Just as he grabbed his car keys and was about to leave, Sue appeared at the doorway, holding Evan’s hand. The boy rubbed his sleepy eyes and reached out his arms.

“Daddy, carry me. I can’t sleep without you.”

Sue stepped forward, dressed in a light, sheer white nightgown, gently holding Adrian’s arm.

“Adrian, I heard it. Did Elena give birth? It’s late. Driving there now isn’t safe. Besides, she’s probably asleep. Giving birth is exhausting. Don’t disturb her rest. It’s not urgent.”

Adrian lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment. Then, he carried Evan in his arms and turned to Sue.

“You’re right. A few hours won’t make a difference. I can go in the morning. The child isn’t going anywhere. Francis is nearby. I’ll have him pick up some things and check on Elena first.”

…

The next day, Adrian bought a bouquet of tulips and called his secretary, Francis, to ask whether the baby was a boy or a girl.

Francis was sweating anxiously. He had already searched the hospital several times but could not find my ward anywhere.

After completing the discharge procedures, I walked to the front of the building. Just as I was about to get into the car, I heard someone shout behind me.

“Mrs. Shaw!”

I turned around. Francis came running over, disheveled and out of breath, pointing at his phone. “Mrs. Shaw, Mr. Shaw will be at the hospital any minute. Where are you going?”

I glanced at his phone, lowered my eyes, and tightened my hold on the urn in my arms. Without saying a word, I turned around and got into the car.

Francis stood there in shock, watching the black car drive away. Then, he said into the phone, “Mr. Shaw… Mrs. Shaw… She’s gone.”