Chapter 2

Staring at the two red lines on the pregnancy test, I was momentarily unsure whether to laugh or cry.

As soon as I left the bathroom, the argument coming from the living room left me stunned.

"Don't you understand the situation we're in? This is the only way we can escape this miserable life!" this was Jamie's voice.

"Mom! Bella Kirk and I just got married! How can I..." Toby said.

Thud! A sharp crack sounded as the pregnancy test dropped to the floor.

Jamie's gaze followed the test, and her expression turned extremely complicated.

Toby immediately reached out to me, looking a bit at a loss, saying, "Honey, actually I..."

"Honey, I'm pregnant." For some reason, when I said those words, I thought I saw a flicker of disgust in both Jamie's and Toby's eyes.

No, it must have been my imagination.

Sure enough, Toby immediately rushed over with joy, carefully helping me to the sofa.

"Really? I'm... I'm going to be a dad?" Toby asked me.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded repeatedly, already forgetting the discomfort and doubt I had just felt.

Toby seemed very happy, but he didn't show much enthusiasm; life went on as usual.

Jamie's attitude towards me softened slightly, but every time she saw Toby take care of me, she would roll her eyes.

When Toby wasn't around, her usual complaints had an added line, "Hmph! It's just a pregnancy. Does she really think nobody's ever been pregnant before? So dramatic!"

During my pregnancy, Toby was out early and back late every day, so busy he barely had time to rest. When he came home, he would quickly wash up and fall asleep.

I wanted to share my thoughts with him, but seeing how exhausted he was, I couldn't bear to disturb him. So, I quietly picked up the clothes from the floor and took them to the laundry room.

Just as I was about to put them in the washing machine, Jamie suddenly rushed over, eyes wide with anger, shouting, "What are you doing? Does the washing machine not use electricity? We don't even have money, and you can't save a bit!"

She angrily pulled the clothes out of the washing machine, tossed them into the laundry tub, and unplugged the machine before leaving with an annoyed grunt.

I stood there dumbfounded, staring at the pile of clothes in the laundry tub, unable to move for a long while.

"What are you standing there for? Get washing! Or do you expect me, this old woman with a bad leg, to serve you? Oh my! Young people today can't stand a bit of hardship. Back in my day, Toby's father and I had nothing, and we'd do any work just to survive!" Muttering, Jamie hobbled back to her room, but her words continued to echo in my ears.

I took a deep breath, blinked back the tears, held in all the grievances, and carefully bent down to start washing the clothes. Our family was deep in debt, and as Toby's wife, I had to save, be sensible, be obedient, I had to...

Splash! I tossed the clothes into the tub with frustration, my heart racing as I gently touched my belly, overwhelmed with a bitterness feeling. This baby came at a worse time.

However, the day I was due to give birth had finally come.

My water broke while I was at the market. Toby was on a business trip, and Jamie couldn't move well, so I had to endure the pain and go to the hospital alone.

After struggling to reach the hospital, the doctor informed me that the baby was in an abnormal position, with the cord wrapped around its neck twice and a half, making natural delivery risky. He recommended a cesarean section.

But I was alone and panicked, my hands trembling as I called Toby.

The phone rang for a long time before he answered, sounding a bit breathless. He said, "What is it? I'm busy right now."

"Honey, I'm going into labor. Come to the hospital quickly!" I immediately broke down, crying so uncontrollably that I couldn't get the words out.

"Tch! I'm out of town! How am I supposed to get there in time? Where's your mom? Isn't she with you?"

I could vaguely sense a hint of impatience in Toby's words, but his tone was so anxious and tense that I didn't think too much of it.

I calmed down a bit, sniffing, "I haven't had a chance to call her yet. The doctor said the baby's position is wrong, with the cord wrapped around its neck twice and a half. I need a cesarean!"

"Oh, you should call your mom right away! My mom can't move fast with her leg. You should have your mom come over first. As for the surgery... maybe you shouldn't do it. It's not good for the baby or you. We should..."

Before he could finish, another intense contraction hit me, causing my face to pale with pain, and the phone dropped from my hand.

Fortunately, a nurse helped me call my parents and Jamie, and they rushed over before the surgery.

But when the doctor brought the consent form, Jamie reacted with unusual agitation, "Absolutely not! She can't have surgery! I won't allow it!"