ManyWriters

After twenty years of a child-free marriage, my husband suddenly changes his mind and wants a child.
A year later, at forty-two, I successfully give birth but end up fighting for my life due to massive blood loss of 1500 milliliters.
My husband, a doctor himself, not only abandons attempts to save me but tries to leave with our newborn baby.
In my hazy state, I overhear his conversation with a colleague.
"Doctor Huntington, you can't take the baby away now! The mother is hemorrhaging badly. Having the baby here might boost her will to live. Right now, the priority is to find someone to give her a blood transfusion..."
"Lavender's uterus was damaged because of me in the first place. This is our first child together, and the baby's first sight has to be his own birth mother! How could I let her take such an important moment away?"
"Say no more. Handle the rest as you see fit!"
In a forgotten corner, tears fall uncontrollably.
So, the ovulation shots I painfully endured each month were for his and his first love's embryo.
The child I risked my life to bring into this world was actually for someone else's happiness!

Twenty Years Of Child-free Marriage, Husband Suddenly Wants a Baby

"You're so thoughtful!" my mother-in-law said, glancing at me with disapproval. "Unlike some people who have no manners at all!"


Lavender smiled, soothing her, "Faye comes from a single-parent household. It's natural she doesn't understand these things, given her less-than-ideal upbringing."


As she finished speaking, Lavender casually loosened her heel where the skin had been rubbed raw.


Dashiell, visibly concerned, quickly helped her sit down. He gently applied medicine to her foot and produced a pair of soft slippers, personally helping her into them.


Afraid of hurting her, his movements were slow and gentle.


A bitter feeling welled up in my eyes at the inopportune moment.


Lavender flashed a smug smile in my direction.


"Don't overthink it, Faye. Dashiell and I have always been like this since we were kids."


As if finally remembering my presence, Dashiell stood up awkwardly and sat back down beside me.


Lavender glared at me hatefully, then suddenly pointed at my chest and shrieked.


"Faye, your chest... it's so gross and dirty!"


I looked down in the direction she was pointing, only then realizing that my chest was soaked through – I was leaking milk! Dashiell saw it, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes.


But he quickly concealed it, saying, "I'll take you upstairs to change..."


"Change what? It's just a little milk leak! The baby's hungry too, hurry up and feed him!"


With that, my mother-in-law unceremoniously shoved the baby into my arms.


I instinctively stepped back, not wanting to take him.


But unexpectedly, the little one suddenly reached out and grabbed my hair, giggling.


I winced in pain and pushed him away forcefully.


The child immediately burst into loud cries.


Lavender anxiously lifted the baby's clothes, revealing an angry red mark, clearly a pinch mark.


"Faye, if you don't like children, why did you have one? He's still so small, and you're already abusing him!"


Dashiell looked at me with eyes full of disappointment.


"Faye! Have you lost your mind? How could you lay hands on such a small child?"


Before I could explain, my mother-in-law raised her hand and slapped me across the face.


"We used to tell you to have a baby, and you wouldn't, saying you didn't like kids! I thought you were willing to live now because you had changed your nature. I didn't expect your thoughts to still be so vicious!"


"A woman like you is simply not fit to be my Huntington Estate daughter-in-law!"


I looked at the three people in front of me pathetically, a cold sneer rising in my heart.


Lavender hesitated for a moment, then quickly became aggrieved: "Faye, I only said a few fair words because I felt sorry for the child. Why do you have to be so hostile towards me?"


As she spoke, she looked at Dashiell with reddened eyes: "I think I'd better leave! I'm not welcome here anyway."


Dashiell nervously stopped her, appearing extremely flustered.


"Lavender, you're just being loving towards the child... What's wrong with that?"


"Faye! Aren't you going to apologize to Lavender?!"


Dashiell didn't spare me a glance, raising his hand to affectionately wipe away her tears.


I clenched my fists tightly until my nails dug deep into my flesh.


Finally, without saying a word, I turned and left the Huntington Estate.


Behind me, Dashiell's cold voice reached my ears.


"Let her go! Let her reflect on how to be a good mother for these few days!"


The cold wind blew away my last shred of numbness and hope.


I hailed a cab and went straight to the airport.


Chapter 5