03
When I first got pregnant, I craved my mom’s slow–cooked ribs. I called her, acting spoiled, hoping she’d come to stay with me for a few days and cook for me. But she firmly refused.
She scolded me for being selfish. Lessie was pregnant and needed her, and since I was wealthy, I should just hire a nanny to take care of me.
Now that she was suddenly offering, I didn’t even have to think twice to know she had ulterior
motives.
I was sure they were planning to keep persuading me to have a C–section so they could go through with their baby–swapping scheme.
There was no way I’d agree to let two criminals live in my house. “No. I’m not used to sharing my space with others.”
My mother immediately lost her temper. “What do you mean ‘others‘? I’m your mother! I raised you! Lessie is carrying your late brother’s child, he’s the only bloodline of the Caldwell family!”
“This is my house. You have your own place, don’t you? If you think it’s too far from the hospital, then stay at a hotel.” I opened the door, making a gesture toward the exit. “If you think your house is too far from the hospital, you can stay at a hotel.”
Lessie exchanged a look with Celeste. Celeste instantly understood and collapsed onto the
floor.
“Oh, my dear, look at your daughter! Living in a mansion but refusing to let us stay!
Malcolm, just take me and your wife and child away. We two women simply can’t survive on
our own!”
If this continued, the neighbors would probably call the police.
Derek hurried outside to shield me, “Alright, alright. Angeline’s pregnant and not in a good mood. Don’t argue with her. fill go get a room ready for you.”
Feeling satisfied with the outcome, Celeste smiled and immediately got up from the floor. “I’ll take care of it myself, Derek. You should get some rest.”
In the following days, Lessie and Celeste nagged at me relentlessly, constantly urging me to have a C–section. I pretended not to hear them and firmly insisted on a natural birth.
As time passed, Lessie’s face darkened more and more. But there was nothing she could do.
She couldn’t exactly knock me out and drag me to surgery.
No matter what happened this time, I would not give birth on the same day as her, I had to
protect my child.
The days passed quickly, and soon, it was the day Lessie went into labor.
Panicking, she turned to me. “Angeline, call an ambulance! My water just broke!”
I stared at the puddle on the floor and remained still.
1
I had always believed that as long as we didn’t give birth on the same day, the babies wouldn’t be switched. And if my child hadn’t switched, then the tragedy wouldn’t happen.
But now, looking at Lessie’s pale face, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
Feeling satisfied with the outcome, Celeste smiled and immediately got up from the floor. “I’ll take care of it myself, Derek. You should got some rest.”
In the following days, Lossie and Celeste nagged at me relentlessly, constantly urging me to have a C–section. I pretended not to hear them and firmly insisted on a natural birth.
As time passed, Lessio’s face darkened more and more. But there was nothing she could do. She couldn’t exactly knock me out and drag me to surgery.
No matter what happened this time, I would not give birth on the same day as her. I had to protect my child.
The days passed quickly, and soon, it was the day Lessie went into labor.
Panicking, she turned to me. “Angeline, call an ambulance! My water just broke!”
I stared at the puddle on the floor and remained still.
I had always believed that as long as we didn’t give birth on the same day, the babies wouldn’t be switched. And if my child hadn’t switched, then the tragedy wouldn’t happen.
But now, looking at Lessie’s pale face, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
If Lessie died right now, that ungrateful little bastard Rickey would never be born!
I wondered, “If I delay her trip to the hospital, would she… die?”
Before I could act, Celeste quickly packed up and called an ambulance. Then, seeing me
standing there like a statue, she snapped, “What are you doing? Why are you just standing
there?”
Lessie didn’t say a word. Instead, she pushed Celeste’s hand away, pretending to walk
toward the door, only to suddenly lunge at me, crushing me under her weight.
I had no time to react and was hit head–on.
The sharp pain and shock overwhelmed me, and I lost consciousness instantly.
When I woke up, I was already in the hospital.
Derek and his parents were surrounding me.
Before I could speak, Derek quickly said, “You feel at home. Fortunately, Celeste called for help and got you to the hospital. The doctors performed a C–section, and the baby is healthy.”
“Did I fall?” I thought to myself.
My memory was blurry. I remembered standing there perfectly fine. “How could I have fallen? Could it be…?” I mused.
I struggled to see my baby. With just one glance, I nearly passed out again.
That baby was Rickey.
In the end, they still swapped my child.
