Chapter 3

My parents looked at Jamie in shock, their faces full of confusion, saying, "Jamie, the child is in danger right now; we need to proceed with the surgery immediately! Otherwise, Bella might have a difficult labor!"

Jamie waved her hand dismissively, her face full of disdain, saying, "Don't try to scare me! I've had two children myself; She was not that fragile! Didn't the doctor say it's just a possibility? They're just trying to make money off us! A natural birth is fine, there's no need to waste so much money."

Saying this, she gestured to the doctor, "We won't be having the surgery, just a natural birth. What woman hasn't given birth? There's no need to be so dramatic!"

"But..." The doctor and nurses tried to persuade Jamie, but she insisted on a natural birth, even threatening to make a scene, accusing the hospital of unscrupulous practices to earn surgery fees.

Helpless, my parents agreed to cover the costs of the surgery so I could go ahead with it.

Jamie finally stopped causing trouble, but she kept rolling her eyes at my parents.

When I came out of the operating room, only my parents were there waiting for me; Jamie was nowhere to be seen.

I didn't have the energy to dwell on it, as the post-anesthesia pain made me tremble all over. The spot on my back where the needle had been inserted hurt and itched, and no matter what position I lay in, it was uncomfortable.

"Mom, Dad, where's the baby?" I asked my parents.

My dad looked at me lovingly, holding my hand to comfort me, saying, "Don't worry, the baby is fine. Baby was about six pounds, and the baby is under the blue light in the incubator. I'll bring the baby to you in a bit."

"Is the baby okay?" I looked at them expectantly.

"She's fine, just a bit of jaundice. It's a girl, and she looks like Toby," my mom said with a soft laugh, brushing the hair that clung to my face.

"Hmph!" A cold snort broke the warmth of the moment.

I turned to look in the direction of the sound and saw Jamie leaning against the window, talking on the phone. When she noticed my gaze, she rolled her eyes at me impatiently.

"I told you not to have the surgery, but you insisted on a C-section. Now look! She has to stay in the hospital for a week. There's so much to do at home and at work, and I still have to go to work with my leg injured! It's just a girl, you're treating her like a treasure!" Jamie said to my parents.

"Jamie, I don't like what you're saying. Bella went through so much to give birth to this child for your family. This child carries your family name too, doesn't she? If you don't cherish her, we will!" my dad's face turned pale with anger, and he couldn't help but retort loudly, despite being in a hospital.

I quickly grabbed my dad's hand, shaking my head to stop him.

"Hey! This is ridiculous, you're the one who insisted on paying for the surgery, right? What does it have to do with me?" Jamie widened her eyes in disbelief, looking at my dad, saying, "Now you're complaining about the suffering? I told you not to have the surgery, but you insisted! And now you're blaming me!"

"Enough! This isn't a place for arguments! If you want to argue, do it outside. The patient needs rest! Just leave one person here to take care of her!" With the doctor's intervention, my dad held back his anger.

The tense atmosphere dissipated instantly when the baby was brought in.

Toby rushed back the day before I was discharged, as his leave was scheduled three days before my due date.

My parents were initially worried that Toby and his mother wouldn't take good care of me during my postpartum recovery period, but seeing Toby's sincere attitude, accepting all the criticisms and blame, they agreed for me to return to the Toby's home after my discharge.

The surgery left an ugly scar on my once smooth belly. Initially, it bothered me, but all my discomfort faded away the moment I saw the tiny, delicate baby. For the child, everything was worth it!

At first, I found it hard to adjust. I couldn't sleep at night, and I had to get up frequently to check on the baby, change diapers, and breastfeed, all of which I did myself.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Toby, but he had to work during the day and help with the baby at night, which was too exhausting for him.

Once my postpartum recovery period was over, I planned to find a part-time job to help out a bit.

Jamie said her legs were hurting, and she had to work to help her son, so she couldn't really help me to care the baby.

I didn't say much, and once I could get up, I urged Toby to return to work, while I took care of myself and the baby.

When the postpartum recovery period finally ended, I told Toby I wanted to go out and find a job. But what I didn't expect was his response.