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

This child, whether it's the nose or the eyes, looks almost identical to Lavender.


After all my hard work and struggle, the baby I gave birth to is actually my rival's child!


I lost control of my emotions and pushed the baby away.


Dashiell's expression tightened, and he quickly picked up the child before I could.


But soon, he was smiling and trying to soothe me.


"What's wrong? Is it the change in identity that's making it hard for you to adjust?"


"I know many new mothers experience anxiety after giving birth, which can easily lead to postpartum depression. It's okay, we can take it slow."


The indulgence and affection in his eyes were as usual.


If I hadn't heard the whole truth with my own ears, I would probably have fallen for it like I always did.


A doctor rushed in through the doorway.


I recognized him as Doctor Warwick, who performed my surgery on the day I gave birth.


Dashiell's expression changed slightly, and he gently patted the back of my hand.


"Faye, I'm stepping out for a moment. I'll be back to keep you company soon."


With that, he left the room without waiting for my response.


A strong sense of unease welled up inside me. Stumbling to her feet, she limped after him, following with difficulty.


"Didn't I tell you to take advantage of the surgery to implant the new fertilized egg into her? Why didn't you do as I said?"


"After you left yesterday, the situation became too critical. I was focused on stopping her bleeding, and then I forgot."


Dashiell's icy voice rang out again: "Fine. Go get the fertilized egg, I'll inject it myself!"


I covered my mouth tightly with both hands.


With each step, the tearing pain from below made me more aware.


I remembered the day my water broke, Doctor Warwick said the baby was about eight pounds, and recommended a C-section.


But Dashiell adamantly disagreed, insisting that a naturally born baby would be healthier and better for my postpartum recovery.


For the baby's sake, I endured the pain and persisted with a natural birth.


But in the end, due to the large size of the baby's head, I suffered a grade IV tear, requiring twenty stitches.


This was also the main reason for my subsequent heavy bleeding.


A wave of bitterness washed over me in that moment. Dashiell, would you still insist on making Lavender suffer through this if it were her?


Dashiell, who had returned, pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the beads of sweat from my forehead.


I shook my head slightly, remembering what he had just said, my heart nearly leaping out of my chest.


"Maybe the anesthesia has worn off, it's starting to hurt a bit now."


Dashiell tenderly pulled me into a tight embrace.


Tears of concern fell onto the back of my hand.


"Faye, you've endured so much for this child."


"I just got this pain medication from the ward. Come on, once we give you this, the pain will stop."


I looked at the medicine bottle in his hand.


A chill ran from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head.


Dashiell, are you so eager to squeeze out the last bit of value from me?


"Dashiell, too much pain medication isn't good for the body either. Maybe we shouldn't use it?"


Dashiell paused for a second, then gently reassured me.


"You've been away from nursing for too long, that's why you believe these things. I'm a doctor myself, don't you trust me?"


Chapter 2