<h4>Chapter 467: Childbirth</h4>


    Mia quickly stepped forward to support her. "E, what’s wrong? Is it time? Are you about to give birth?!"


    E clutched her belly, the pain gradually subsiding, though the lingering heaviness was deeply ufortable.


    Luke stood up nervously as well. "What’s going on? Are you inbor?"


    "Obviously! Just look at her! And yet you still upset her?" Mia shot Luke an annoyed re before turning around and shouting loudly, "Dr. Robinson! Come here quickly!"


    Dr. Robinson had been organizing E’s medical records when she heard Mia’s shout and rushed out immediately.


    Seeing Mia help E onto the sofa, she breathed a sigh of relief. "E, are you feeling contractions thate and go at intervals? That’s calledbor pain. When it starts, it typically happens every half hour, then progresses to every fifteen minutes, ten minutes, five minutes, and finally every two minutes. That’s the usual pattern. Of course, some people deliver very quickly, so we need to act fast. Let’s get to the hospital right away—it looks like today might be the day for the surgery!"


    E, sitting on the sofa, felt the twins moving actively. Her belly was tight and slightly painful. "I don’t know. It just hurt once a little while ago. It’s only just starting..."


    "Has Mrs. Harris finished packing the bags?"


    Dr. Robinson frowned, knowing E was carrying twins. A natural delivery would be highly risky, so she and Eric had already agreed on a C-section.


    "I’m here! I’m here! Has the young mistress started feelingbor pains?" Mrs. Harris arrived with a suitcase just as Eric rushed downstairs, taking it from her hands. He saw Luke and Mia surrounding E.


    "What’s going on? Is our little girl causing trouble and making you ufortable?" Eric set the suitcase down and ced a warm hand on E’s belly.


    "I just felt some pain. Dr. Robinson says it might be contractions, so we should head to the hospital right away!"


    E smiled, her excitement evident. The long-awaited moment was finally here—the twins were about to arrive.


    "Then let’s get to the hospital immediately! What are we waiting for?" Lucas chuckled as he came down the stairs, carrying another suitcase. "Mrs. Harris, this bag has everything for E—choctes, snacks, and boiled eggs. Did you pack them as I asked?"


    Mrs. Harris nodded quickly. "Yes, everything is ready!"


    Eric supported E as they headed outside, but she turned to look at Lucas. "Dad, aren’t you going to work today?"


    Lucas’s smile was especially bright and full of affection. "Work? What day is it? Nothing is more important than the birth of my grandchildren!"


    E’s heart warmed. Yes, what day was it? It was her hospital admission day. Now, all she hoped for was to safely deliver the babies and for them to be healthy. That would be the greatest joy.


    "But, Dad, you’ve packed so much, and the doctor said no eating for twelve hours before surgery. So, I probably won’t need these things!" E said with a cheerful smile.


    Lucas looked at her, a bit confused. He hadn’t apanied anyone through childbirth before, so he didn’t know these details.


    "Well, that’s a shame. But I suppose we can enjoy the snacks ourselves!" Lucas joked. E pouted and gave Eric a slightly resentful look. Because of the nned surgery, she hadn’t even eaten breakfast, and now she was starving!


    Twenty minutester, another faint wave of pain passed through E’s belly,sting about a minute before subsiding.


    Eric immediately contacted the doctor to check on her. They brought her to the examination room, where Ey on the high table, her face flushed red.


    It was her first time giving birth, and the examination process was... undeniably awkward.


    After the examination, E endured the difort and put her pants back on. "Doctor, how am I doing?"


    "You’re one centimeter dted. We can prepare for the surgery now!" the female doctor said with a reassuring smile. E suppressed her excitement, readying herself for the procedure.


    Half an hourter, all pre-surgical checks wereplete, and everything was ready. E was wheeled into the operating room.


    Eric waited outside, pacing anxiously. He calcted the time—this was his fourth year with E.


    She hadn’t even graduated yet when she got pregnant. Although her professors assured her there was no issue with her earning her diploma, E’s brilliance meant her sess was never dependent on Eric’s influence. Her teachers had always admired her talent and hard work.


    But now, E faced something entirely unfamiliar—a C-section.


    "Eric, you don’t need to worry. This hospital has several of the best obstetricians working on her case. Nothing will go wrong," Lucas said calmly, trying to reassure him.


    Eric’s dark eyes betrayed his unease. "I know, but..."


    He had read extensively about childbirth, and the potential risks—hemorrhage, anesthesiaplications, and more—yed on his mind.


    E had never given birth before. Would she make it through this smoothly? She had always managed to navigate challenges like toxic exes with wit and strength, but childbirth was about her body, not her intellect.


    "E is strong. She’ll be fine. You need to trust her," Lucas said with a warm smile, though inside, he felt just as nervous. His calm demeanor was more for Eric’s benefit than his own.


    Eric took a deep breath and moved to a chair, sitting down to try and steady himself.


    In recent weeks, E hadn’t been sleeping well. She often needed to get up twice a night to use the bathroom, and it was always a struggle for her to move. Every time, Eric would help her up.


    Her restless nights meant his own sleep wasn’t great either.


    Now, his eyes were sore, his heart heavy with worry. He desperately wished E could already be out of surgery with their babies safe in her arms—but that was just wishful thinking.


    This wait felt like the longest of his life.


    Each second dragged on like a year. Impatient, Eric checked his watch again, thinking hours had passed, only to realize it had been mere minutes.


    Meanwhile, inside the operating room, Ey on the surgical table as doctors and nurses worked around her.


    The anesthesiologist approached, exining the procedure and its precautions before administering the anesthesia.


    The injection hurt—a lot. E gripped the bedrails tightly, her brows knitting in pain.


    "Rx. Don’t tense up. Just breathe. You’ll deliver your babies safely," one of the male doctors said softly. E panted, her concerns overshadowing any embarrassment she might have felt.


    As the anesthesia took effect, E felt the sensation in her lower abdomen gradually fade.


    She drifted into a semi-conscious state but could still hear the doctors discussing their next steps. She even felt the faint pressure as something sharp lightly traced her abdomen.


    The entire process was unsettling. E could hear the faint clinking of surgical instruments but felt no pain.


    Why did it feel like time was crawling so slowly?


    Her wide eyes stung with fatigue as she tried to focus. The doctors worked meticulously, and then she heard a soft tearing sound...


    Though she felt no physical difort, her heart raced with anxiety. She feared something might go wrong with the babies.


    Stay strong, E. Just a little longer, she told herself, clutching onto hope for her babies’ safe arrival.