Chapter 5 (Amanda's POV)

(Amanda's POV)

I slumped on the bed in my bedroom, lost in thought. It seemed that the secret that I had kept for years had been dug out from the ground. Those shameful secrets that have been sleeping for many years are about to be made public. I was so scared, I had lived carefully for so many years. Why is God still so unfair! I just wanted my daughter to grow up healthily. As I stroked my stomach, the anxiety became stronger. I didn't know how to restrain my power, I didn't know that this powerful force will be transferred to my child. Although I was careful enough, I still couldn't stop it. Tears came from my eyes, I didn't want to hurt my child, and I didn't know how to explain it to Jeff. Jeff, a hunter, how could he accept this fact? No, he couldn't accept it. Unfortunately, today happened to be his birthday.

At this moment, I heard footsteps outside the house, and I looked out the window. It was Jeff. It was late afternoon, and the sunset outside the house was about to go down. I regained my spirits and walked to the living room. "My dear, I'm back" and he kissed me. Then he touched my stomach, "How did the little guy behave today?" I squeezed out a smile, "He was quieter today, maybe it was because he was tired yesterday." "Our little princess..." Jeff didn't finish his words then Ellen rushed down from downstairs. "Dad! Daddy, you're back! I miss you so much!" "If you say that, mom will be jealous," Jeff joked with Ellen. "Mom! I miss you too, even though you just left my room!" Ellen said this and we both laughed. "Dad, look!" Ellen said to Jeff, pointing at the bow in her hair, "Does it look good?" My smile suddenly froze on the face, and I was afraid that Jeff would discover a secret that should only belonged to me. "Wow, the red bow. Who put this on for you?" "It's mom! My hair got knotted today. Mom helped me cut my hair short and put a bow on me. It's so pretty!" Ellen said excitedly. "It's so nice, my little princess,and it's very suitable for you." After speaking, Jeff stared at me, wondering if I think too much, I always felt that his eyes looked a little strange.

"Ellen, I prepared your favorite lasagna today, you can look forward to it." "Great, I love your mom!" Ellen looked happily that it seemed like that today was her but not her father who celebrated birthday. I quickly changed the subject, because I was afraid that Jeff would see the flaw. "Jeff, I prepared your favorite roast lamb, you can change your clothes first and the dinner will get ready in a few minutes. Oh, of course there is a birthday cake." "Thank you, Amanda." Seeing him enter the room, I finally took a sigh of relief. I hoped he would never see the flaws. At dinner, Ellen was carrying a cake, we sang a birthday song together, and Jeff made his birthday wish. "Amanda," he said suddenly, "what's the matter Jeff?" "I hope our daughter can lead an ORDINARY and healthy life." He specifically emphasized the word ordinary. There was a thump in my heart, but I couldn't tell him anything, I couldn't say anything, that secret I would never tell others. "Okay" I promised him.

Then, we finished dinner together. Ellen went back to his room after playing in the living room for a while. She took my hand on the bed, "Mom, can you tell me a bedtime story?" I couldn't refuse her sparkling eyes, and then started my story. After listening to my little story, she surprisingly didn't fall asleep. "What's wrong, Ellen?" "Mom, what does ordinary mean?" I froze for a while, and then explained to her, "Ordinary is simple but happy. Do you want to be an ordinary girl?" Thoughtfully, "I don't know, Mom. Maybe yes, maybe not. Can I tell you after thinking about it?" I smiled and nodded, and then I watched her eyelids grow deeper and deeper. The little princess finally fell asleep.

I closed her door gently, then turned around and leaned against the door. What did Jeff mean? Had he noticed something? How should I explain to him? A series of questions flooded into my mind together, and I didn't know what to do. When the secret is about to be discovered, this feeling is extremely painful. I pushed open the door of my room, and Jeff was already inside. "Amanda, don't you have a gift for me? A birthday gift." Jeff seemed a little disappointed. "Oh my God, I almost forgot it if you didn't remind of me. Of course I prepared a gift for you!" With that, I walked to the closet, ready to take out the surprise I prepared for him. At this moment, a sharp pain made me unable to stand.

Gosh! My stomach! The sudden pain made me lose my balance and I fell to the floor. Jeff seemed to be taken aback. "Amanda! Amanda! What happened!" Then, I heard the thumping footsteps in the hallway. It should be my daughter Ellen. She pushed the door open, "Mom! Mom, what's the matter with you!" Ellen said to me in a trembling voice while crying. I tried to lift my hand to comfort her, "I...I'm fine, baby." "But you look..." "Jeff, my water is broken... Hurry, hurry up...send me to the hospital.. .Our baby..." With sweat sticking to my face, Jeff tried to keep himself calm, "Amanda, hold on, let's go to the hospital." "Dad, take me! I don't want to be at home alone. !" Ellen took Jeff's hand while crying and said, "Honey, you should stay..." I was interrupted by Jeff before I could finish my words. "Ellen, go and change your clothes as soon as possible, let's go together." My consciousness gradually blurred, and then we went to the hospital. In the early morning, I gave birth to my second child, a girl. Ellen was about to have a younger sister. As I was exhausted, I soon fell asleep without noticing that the red bow on Ellen's hair was gone.