Chapter 1867


    The fax machine beside Chloe suddenly rang, its shrill beeping breaking the silence of the room.


    Chloe''s eyes flickered with curiosity as she stood up and approached the machine.


    With her hand resting on it, her gaze fixed on the paper thaty quietly there, she hesitated for a


    moment, but eventually picked it up.


    The paper listed advice for expectant mothers,mon worries intermingled with old wives'' tales.


    Chloe skimmed through them, each point resonating with a mix of truth and superstition: "b2


    1. Avoid Fear: Many women harbor a fear of childbirth, which can affect their eating and sleeping


    habits, and even hinder their body''s natural stress responses, dying the onset ofbor.


    2. Avoid Impatience: Some expectant mothers grow anxious forbor to begin, especially as their


    due date approaches. They fail to understand that there''s a window of time around the due date


    whenbor can naturally begin.


    3. Avoid Carelessness: Some women take their pregnancy too lightly, finding themselves ill-


    prepared whenbor starts, leading to panic and mistakes.


    4. Avoid Exhaustion: Both physical and mental fatigue should be avoided during pregnancy. It''s


    important to reduce activity and ensure adequate rest.


    5. Avoid Laziness: Some women, fearing miscarriage or premature birth, be overly sedentary.


    This can lead to a more difficult delivery.


    6. Avoid Worry: Negative emotions can impact the smooth progress of childbirth.


    7. Avoid Loneliness: Expectant mothers often feel nervous before delivery and crave


    encouragement and support, especially from their partners.


    8. Avoid Hunger: Given the physical demands of childbirth, it’s crucial for them to eat well before


    labor to maintain their strength.


    9. Avoid Travel: It''s best to avoid long trips, especially by car or boat. Because various conditions


    are restricted during the journey, experiencing difficult childbirth is a dangerous situation that may


    jeopardize the safety of both mother and child.


    10. Avoid Medication: Childbirth is a natural process, and usually, medication isn''t needed. Misusing


    drugs or resorting to induction without medical advice can have severe consequences."


    Chloe read through the list meticulously, a heartfelt smile spreading across her face as she bit her


    right index finger. She knew this was how it would be. She was aware of the fears and concerns


    that could gue an expectant mother, and she was doing her best to avoid them, but even with all


    her preparation, she couldn''t bepletely indifferent.


    Just this morning, when Rose had brought up the topic, Chloe had felt a surge of nerves herself.


    Her dependency on Damon had be a habit. When she had mentioned her concerns to him in


    the morning, she had not expected such a strong reaction. When he came out of the bathroom, his


    words were scarce.


    Remembering the cigarette he’d had earlier, Chloe couldn''t help but smirk. It seemed he was even


    more nervous than she was. cing the paper back on the machine, she had just turned to leave


    the study when Damon appeared in the doorway.


    "Lunch will be ready in a bit. Why don''t you rest a little longer?" he suggested.


    Chloe shook her head with a softugh, "I''ve been resting enoughtely. I should get moving."


    Damon''s gaze swept over her legs, which were swollen and sore from the pregnancy. "Can your


    legs handle it?" he asked, concerncing his voice.


    With a yful smile, Chloe stepped forward and slipped her arm through his, "Looks like you''ll have


    to give me a good leg massageter."


    His lips curved into a gentle smile, "I''ll help you downstairs."


    "Okay."


    As they made their way down the stairs, Damon suddenly asked, "Do you want to know more


    details about your friend''s delivery?"


    Chloe paused, "What kind of details?"


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Some families opt for a birth photography service, documenting everything from before entering the


    delivery room to the moment of birth," he exined.


    Chloe looked at him with surprise, not expecting him to be aware of such services.


    "Watch your step," he reminded her gently. "If you''re interested, I can ask Danny to arrange it."


    Chloe raised an eyebrow, "Wouldn''t we need Rose''s consent for that?"


    "You could mention it to her," he said casually.


    "Rose might agree, but the tricky part might be convincing Morrison."


    Damon nced at her, "Do you really think Morrison''s opinion matters in this case?"


    Chloe thought for a moment. Right now, the expectant mother''s wishes were paramount. If Rose


    insisted, Morrison would have no choice but toply.


    Chloe chuckled softly, "You thought of this all by yourself?"


    Damon pressed his lips together, "Do you want it or not?"


    Chloe nodded, "I''ll talk to Rose about it."


    With a simple "Hmm," Damon dropped the subject.


    After lunch, Chloe brought up the idea to Rose. Considering the significance of the moment, Rose


    agreed almost immediately without much thought.


    Damon immediately made a call to Danny.


    "This kind of thing is prettymon, but usually, it''s up to the Witt family to decide. Shouldn''t you be


    taking care of your own wife instead of meddling in someone else''s business? Or maybe you''ve


    taken a fancy to her friend?" Danny teased over the phone.


    Damon''s face darkened instantly, "Do you want to keep your hospital running or not?"


    Danny made a face, "Alright, alright! Just joking. No need to get all worked up."


    Without wasting more words on the doctor, Damon got straight to the point, "Start recording from


    the prep work, but edit out anything after she enter the delivery room before you send it to me."


    Dannyughed, "You do realize the whole point of recording this is to capture the moment when


    women give birth, right? You sure you want that part cut out?"


    "You expect me to watch another woman give birth?" Damon retorted.


    Danny fell silent. What the hell was wrong with Damon for shooting this video but editing out that


    crucial part?


    "Okay, you''re the boss. We''ll do it your way."


    Hanging up the phone, Damon pocketed his phone and nced up. His grandma and mother were


    strolling with Chloe and Yulia, heading back. He stepped down the stairs and walked towards them.


    --


    With just two days until her due date, Rose had the photographer set up the camera in her room,


    just in case the due date arrived earlier than expected.


    Morrison, on the other hand, seemed even more stressed. He stayed with Rose every day, not


    daring to leave her side. There were noticeable dark circles under his eyes. He abandoned work


    altogether and went so far as to block all thepany''s phone numbers.


    When his Mom showed up, he was there like a sentinel. When his Megan made her appearance, he


    was equally vignt. And let''s not even get started on the doctor''s visits.


    All the talk about contractions and the sticity of the cervix – terms that might have once made a


    man twitchy – didn''t faze Morrison anymore. He''d be an expert by necessity, practically feeling


    like he should be the one inbor, if that were only possible. But s, it was Rose who had to do


    the heavy lifting in the end.


    Morrison munched on whatever Rose ate, although he never seemed to eat more. It was like he


    was in some sort of sympathetic pregnancy.


    Sometimes, when the hospital room quieted down, Rose would catch Morrison secretly browsing on


    his phone, searching for information about pregnant women giving birth and various aspects of


    prenatal and postnatal care. Compared to him, she seemed to be more at ease.


    But once he set the phone aside, Morrison would fret over her, urging her to have a piece of fruit or


    a ss of water, his restlessness betraying his unease. His anxious doting actually made Rose feel


    less scared.


    He had just refilled her water ss when she sighed softly, crossed her legs, leaned back against


    the hospital bed pillows, and said, “The baby wants to hear you sing.”


    Morrison looked up, peering at her belly. “When did he decide that?”


    “Just now. Come on, you learned some songs, didn''t you? Start with ''Mother''s Love''.”


    Morrison flushed.


    “Come on.” Rose clung to his arm. “If you don''t sing, both the baby and I will be heartbroken.”


    Taking a deep breath, Morrison began his song. By the end of the song, Morrison''s brow was dotted


    with sweat. Rose, ever so supportive, pped enthusiastically.


    Morrison felt like he had used up a lifetime''s worth of embarrassment.


    “That was lovely. Okay, how about ''Good daddy, bad daddy'' next?”


    Morrison''s mouth twitched. Wasn''t she being a bit too obvious? A song about Mother''s Love, and for


    Daddy, it''s ''Good daddy, bad daddy''?


    So childish.


    “Hurry up! We''re waiting!” Rose''s eyes shone, her hands pping in anticipation.


    Morrison ran a hand over his forehead and, despite himself, took another deep breath—


    “I''ve got a daddy who''s tops, tops, tops, in the kitchen pots and pans go pop, pop, pop. When he


    does theundry, it’s snap, snap, snap. And when he''s happy, it''sugh,ugh,ugh, but if you''re


    naughty, it''s a tap, tap, tap.”


    Morrison''s voice carried an unmistakable sense of embarrassment as he sang the song with


    peculiar tones and odd pitches. Rose started by stifling giggles, but soon she wasughing so hard,


    tears threatened to spill.


    It was meant to lighten the mood, but she was nearly dying ofughter. What wonderfully attentive


    lyrics!


    Morrison had a face full of embarrassment, struggling to finish the song. It took him a good while to


    ease up and somewhat suppress the shame he felt.


    Rose was stillughing uncontrobly, clearly enjoying herself.


    So, Mother''s Love was precious and selfless. Being a good daddy involved cooking,undry, and


    perhaps even spanking for bad behavior.


    “Enjoying yourself?”


    She nodded, grinning. “So, Daddy, do you want to be the good daddy or the bad daddy?”


    Morrison gave her a perplexed look. “If you take over the spanking duties, I''d be more than happy to


    be the good daddy.”


    Rose frowned and shook her head. “How could a mother spank her baby? That would make him


    sad. And you can''t do that either.”


    Morrison''s lips curled into a smirk. “You might not realize, but kids need discipline. Unless he never


    does anything wrong, a little punishment helps them behave. But you probably can''t handle that. I''ll


    do it.”


    Rose bit her lip, trying to hide a smile. “Then you... you have to go easy, okay?”


    Morrisonughed. “I''m his father, not his enemy. I won''t hurt him.”


    Rose stroked her rounded belly, reassured. “So, are you still up for being the good daddy?”


    “I want him to remember something good about me. He''s my son, not some foe.”


    She finally rxed. “It’s a beautiful day outside. Let''s go for a walk. A little exercise could help with a


    smooth delivery.”


    Morrison stood up, draped a coat over her shoulders, and masked her up. Together, they stepped


    out to get some fresh air.


    Molly and Megan had arrived that afternoon, bringing all the essentials for the birth – nkets,


    pillows, you name it. They moved into the VIP room since it was avable and settled in for the long


    haul.


    The night passed without a peep.


    Rose felt a nonchnce about it all, as if the baby woulde when it was time. With Morrison by


    her side, Megan and Mom in the next room, and the hospital staff on high alert, there was nothing to


    worry about. She slept soundly, without a care in the world.


    The next morning, Megan and Molly followed the doctor, inquiring about the situation. After a long


    discussion, it seemed Rose wasn''t quite ready to give birth.


    The doctor said to wait and see. A dy was possible but normal. No need for concern.


    Megan and Molly were grateful for the reassurance. Morrison, however, looked haggard. That little


    rascal was really putting everyone through the wringer.


    Just when they thought the wait was over, he decided not to show up. A born troublemaker, that


    was for sure. Morrison was already thinking about how he might have to discipline his son.


    “Rose, let''s just rx, no rush,” Molly said, trying to soothe her. “A dy is no problem. Don''t be


    nervous. The kid will probably be super clingy with youter on.”


    At that, Morrison suddenly looked up, his brows furrowing as he stared at Rose''s belly with a dark


    expression.


    Clingy? That little rascal really was asking for it.


    Rose, however, smiled happily. “With you all here with me, I''m not nervous at all! A baby clinging to


    me would be great. It means he likes me. I thought boys weren''t usually that clingy.”


    “Of course the kid will be clingy. You''re his mother, who else would he cling to?” Megan chimed in


    quickly, relieved to see Rose in good spirits.


    Morrison''s expression darkened further.


    That little brat! He hadn''t even had a chance to enjoy some quality alone time with Rose. There was


    no way that he would let that baby hog Rose''s time after he was born.


    Rose seemed to sense something was off and turned to look at Morrison, who was now staring at


    her belly with a chilling smile. It sent a shiver down her spine.


    Curled up on the couch with a hand on her belly, Rose shifted her weight and nced over. "What


    are you staring at?"


    Morrison pulled his gaze away and tucked the emotion from his eyes back into hiding. "I''m just


    mentally chatting with the little one, convincing him it''s about time toe out and be good."


    And letting him forget about being clingy after being born.


    Rose paused for a moment, then couldn''t help but burst intoughter, charmed by Morrison''s yful


    words.


    Right at that moment, everyone in the room witnessed a subtle movement across Rose''s belly.


    Even more astounding, two tiny footprints pressed outward, clearly visible. The little feet seemed to


    be pointed directly at Morrison.


    Rose gasped softly, her eyes widening with surprise as she looked down at her belly. "He''s so


    strong."