<h4>Chapter 469: Postpartum Difort</h4>


    Eric furrowed his brows and kissed the back of E’s hand with a hint of worry. Just then, Chloe and the others rushed in, beaming with joy as they heard the news—E had safely delivered a pair of twins. Theirughter filled the room, their smiles broad and uncontainable.


    Of course, no one was happier than Eric and Lucas.


    After spending a short while with E, Eric headed to the neonatal observation room to check on the two little ones.


    The tiny babies each wore wristbands to ensure there were no mix-ups. Theyy quietly in their small incubators, their little bodies snugly wrapped in warm nkets.


    Although they had entered the world covered in blood, the nurses had cleaned them up thoroughly. They had a lot of thick hair, and even though their facial features hadn’t fully developed yet, it was already clear they were handsome little boys.


    It was hard to tell whom they resembled.


    With high, prominent noses, chubby little cheeks, tiny mouths just slightlyrger than a fingernail, and charming brows, Eric couldn’t take his eyes off them. However, thinking of E still resting, he reluctantly left the observation room.


    When Eric returned to the hospital room, E was still asleep. Checking the time, he realized it had been over half an hour since she was brought out of surgery.


    "Don’t worry," Lucas said with a cheerful smile. "Mothers are always exhausted after giving birth. It’s normal for them to sleep longer."


    "I know," Eric replied, taking a deep breath. He sat down by her side and held her cold hand again.


    Time seemed to crawl.


    Even though E had delivered their children, Eric found himself growing impatient.


    She had been asleep for over an hour now, and there were no signs of her waking up.


    It was still a bit chilly in April. Eric adjusted the nket over E, and just then, her eyes fluttered open.


    "E... you’re awake?"


    E opened her mouth to speak, her voice weak, her throat parched. "I... I want some water."


    Eric shook his head apologetically and kissed her hand with deep affection. "Honey, the doctor said you can’t have water for six hours. I know it’s tough, but please bear with it for now."


    Hearing this, E’s head drooped in dismay. She was so thirsty—her lips felt like they were about to crack. Since she had been scheduled for surgery, she hadn’t had any water for six hours prior.


    "That’s right, Mrs. Nelson," said a kind middle-aged nurse who had been attending to her. "You just had surgery, and you need to wait until you’ve passed gas before you can drink or eat anything. It’ll only be six more hours."


    E frowned, looking utterly defeated. "But... I’m so thirsty and hungry!"


    She turned her pleading eyes to Eric. "Where are our babies? Are they okay?"


    "They’re fine," Eric replied with a softugh. "They’re in the neonatal observation room right now. They’ll be brought here as soon as everything checks out."


    E didn’t insist on drinking water anymore, though her throat still felt painfully dry, and her stomach growled with hunger. It was the first time she’d ever felt as if she hadn’t eaten in months.


    "Hang in there. Six hours will fly by," Lucas said with a caring smile. "E, you’ve been amazing. Are you feeling any difort?"


    "No..." E shook her head weakly. "I’m fine... just really thirsty and hungry."


    At that moment, their friends began trickling into the room, some offering congrattions, others expressing their concern. They were mindful not to overstay their wee, knowing that E was still very weak and needed plenty of rest.


    After briefly greeting her and offering their well-wishes, everyone quietly left, giving E the chance to recover in peace.


    E closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep again, only to be woken upter by her unbearable thirst.


    Seeing her difort, Eric held her hand tightly andforted her tirelessly.


    "Darling, was it especially hard during the surgery?" Eric asked, his handsome face glowing with affection. "You’ve been through so much..."


    No words were needed to convey the deep emotions between them. E managed a faint smile. She’d heard stories about how women had their abdomens pressed after childbirth—a pain so excruciating that many described it as unbearable. Thankfully, she had been asleep during the procedure, aided by anesthesia, so she hadn’t felt much at the time.


    But now that the anesthesia had worn off, the wound throbbed with a searing pain that even speaking seemed to aggravate.


    "The wound hurts so much..." E whimpered, tears brimming in her eyes. A nurse quickly brought over a pain relief pump to help ease her suffering.


    Watching her in pain made Eric’s heart ache deeply. In that moment, he silently vowed never to let E go through childbirth again.


    With their two little bundles of joy, he feltplete. Raising their sons well would be his new life’s mission.


    "Hang in there, my dear. The pain will pass. Your two sons are waiting for you to hold them," Lucas said, though he wasn’t particrly adept at offeringfort. Still, his concern was genuine.


    E gave a faint smile, choosing to remain silent as much as possible to spare herself additional pain.


    Finally, six hours passed. She was able to drink some water and sip on the rice soup Mrs. Harris had brought. With the help of Eric and the nurse, she was gently turned onto her side.


    Every woman goes through the trials of childbirth, but the struggles, exhaustion, and pain that followed were things E preferred not to dwell on.


    Time flew by, and E’s health improved. Soon, she was discharged from the hospital, her body slowly but surely recovering.


    Back at home, they hired a postpartum nanny and two new helpers to take care of E and the twins.


    Eric, too, was reluctant to leave E and the babies. He skipped work most days, spending his time doting on the children and staying by his wife’s side.


    Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.


    One day, Eric carefully carried their younger son to E’s side. "Look, little bun! Open your eyes so Mommy can see you," he cooed softly.


    E had made remarkable progress in her recovery over the past two weeks. Though she had endured so much pain, every time she thought of their children, she felt it had all been worth it.


    The little one was sound asleep in Eric’s arms. E shot him a nce. "Why are you holding him like that? Let him sleep peacefully!"


    "He just fell asleep. He nodded off right after his feeding," Eric replied with a yful wink.


    Just then, their elder son let out a loud wail, waking his younger brother. The two began crying in unison, filling the room with a lively cacophony.


    "The big bun is crying! Come here, let Mommy feed you," Mrs. Harris said as she picked up the elder son. His tiny face was scrunched up in hunger, and it was clear he was famished.


    E immediately turned on her side, ignoring the twinge of pain from her wound, and began feeding the big bun.


    Eric had taken to calling the elder son "Big Bun" and the younger one "Little Bun." Fortunately, the elder son had a tiny mole between his brows while the younger one did not. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to tell them apart.


    As E fed the elder son, Eric’s gaze stayed fixed on her, unblinking. His throat felt dry, and an unspoken emotion welled up inside him as he watched his family,plete and perfect.