Chapter 2

My assistant asked what to do. I suppressed my anger.

"Call the director for approval. I can't authorize this!"

Director Thompson quickly responded, agreeing to let Derek in for the delivery. The application forms could be completed later.

Soon, Derek entered, wearing green scrubs.

Seeing him, Tiffany immediately whined and played the damsel in distress.

"Oh, darling, I'm in so much pain, I can't take it anymore…"

She's blatantly lying, I thought. She's semi-anesthetized; she wouldn't feel any pain right now.

Derek squeezed her hand, his voice full of feigned tenderness. "Honey, just hold on. After the baby is born, I'll give you a big reward."

"I want that limited edition bag from H brand…"

"Okay, okay, I'll buy you as many as you want."

By now, seeing that scummy couple, I felt no more anger, just a cold detachment.

I only had myself to blame for being so stupid!

Derek had been distant lately, forgetting my birthday and our wedding anniversary, and I actually thought he was just overwhelmed with work!

I kept telling myself internally.

Chloe, you're a doctor. You have professional ethics. Even if your enemy is on the operating table, you have to do your job!

After bracing myself mentally, I picked up the scalpel.

I skillfully made the first incision. Derek, who had leaned in to watch, suddenly rolled his eyes and collapsed.

I ignored him, continuing to cut through the second layer.

Tiffany shrieked, "Darling! What happened to you?!"

She even tried to sit up, but my assistant quickly stopped her. "Ms. Reed, please lie still!"

Two nurses rushed to help Derek to the side.

I knew exactly what was wrong with him. The guy was a hemophobe, yet he still forced himself to come in for the delivery. Guess he really loves Tiffany.

I scoffed internally.

We successfully delivered the baby: a tiny, skinny boy. The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, and his body was purple.

Tiffany asked anxiously, "Is the baby out?"

The assistant told her, "It's a boy."

She beamed, then asked, "Why isn't he crying?"

The assistant didn't answer. I calmly cleared the mucus from the baby's airways, held him upside down, and patted his feet.

A moment later, the baby finally let out a cry.

Hearing the cry, Derek was about to get up, but seeing the baby covered in blood and vernix, he immediately stretched his legs out and fainted again.

The midwife measured the baby's length and weight, then brought him over for Tiffany to hold, explaining, "Your baby is a bit weak and needs to go into an incubator."

Tiffany yelled, "An incubator? Are you trying to scam us because you think my husband is rich?"

My patience had worn thin long ago. I said in a low voice, "Premature babies with underperforming vitals must go into an incubator! If Ms. Reed doesn't trust this hospital, she can request a transfer!"

She bristled. "What's with your attitude?! Transfer then! My husband has plenty of money! If it wasn't for…"

She paused, then continued, "Who would want to give birth in this rundown place!"

I probably knew what she was going to say. If it wasn't for me being a doctor at a top-tier hospital in the city, and their fear of exposure, they wouldn't have chosen this small hospital for the delivery.

I couldn't be bothered with her anymore, leaving the remaining work to my assistant and the nurses.

I walked out of the operating room, intending to get some rest, when I saw a woman adorned in jewelry yelling like a fishwife:

"How could the baby be born before his due month?! I'll sue you all! I'll sue you until you lose everything!"

It was Ms. Hayes, Shirley Hayes!