NovelBookOutside the maternity ward, lan paced back and forth, sweat beading on his forehead.
The sounds of a woman in labor echoed continuously, his entire body tense as he peppered the nearby doctor with anxious questions.
"Everything's okay, right?" "Please, make sure she's looked after. Her voice... it's changed. Is she running out of strength?" "Maja? Maja!" He called out twice, wanting to rush in, but the doctor stopped him each time.
Sitting outside in the corridor were the rest of the Sanders clan-Augus, Dylan, and Beck, who had recently been driven to the brink of madness by a spate of blind dates-along with the family doctor.
The doctor was even more nervous than lan, a man who usually scoffed at religious beliefs, now found himself clasping his hands together, murmuring prayers.
With each sound from inside, lan's face drained of color.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe paced relentlessly, on the verge of smoking with anxiety.
"If it comes down to it, can we do a C-section? Get the best meds. I don't want her to suffer." He couldn't bear to listen any longer; any more, and he'd likely faint right there.
But as he spoke, the cry of a newborn cut through the tension.
A flicker of joy crossed his eyes, and soon Maja was wheeled out, her hair soaked with sweat, her complexion pale as death.
lan didn't rush to see the baby; instead, he went straight to her side, gripping her hand tightly.
"Maja, how are you feeling?" She tried to speak but couldn't muster a word, her voice reduced to a hoarse whisper.
Tears welled up in lan's eyes. "We're not doing this again, I'm sorry." A nurse quickly brought over two babies.
"Congratulations, it's twins—a boy and a girl." The previous ultrasounds had hinted at twins, but lan and Maja hadn't shared the news with anyone. They had quietly speculated- two boys or two girls-but nobody expected one of each.
lan had attended parenting classes, learning the proper way to hold a baby.
Now, his hands clumsy, he held one baby in each arm, their wrinkled little faces pulling at his heartstrings.
Maja, amused by the sight, asked, "Can we tell everyone now?" lan, full of mischief, had kept the twin news to himself, waiting for the moment they were born to show off to everyone.
As Maja was wheeled back to her room, drifting in and out of consciousness, she heard lan making calls, notifying everyone.
"Yeah, it's twins. Didn't tell you earlier-get your congratulatory cash ready." "Fitch, listen, it's a boy and a girl-just born. Get that cash gift in order." "Abner, caught that girlfriend yet? Main thing-I've got twins, a boy and a girl. Bet you didn't see that coming, huh? Ready the cash, will you?" Before he could finish, the call was cut off.
lan was ecstatic, his fingers trembling as he clutched his phone, his voice crackling with excitement.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAfter a persistent redial, Abner finally agreed, clearly green with envy.
lan snapped a photo of the babies' tiny fists and updated his Facebook status with a brief message. "Twins. Maja, you're incredible." The comments section exploded-envy, admiration, and not-so-subtle hints for cash gifts.
With a grand gesture, lan posted a $300,000 cash giveaway on his social media, sending the online. world into a frenzy that lasted well into the night. Holding his children close, he couldn't bear to let go. When Maja felt better, she sighed at his possessiveness.
"Let the others hold the babies," she urged.
lan had hoarded the babies so much that Augus, looking on, had been itching for a turn.
lan quickly called out, "Dad, csee your granddaughter." Augus's mood lifted considerably, thinking, 'So, you do remember I'm your father.' He'd waited so long without even a touch of the babies' hands.
A week later, as Maja was discharged and lan was changing diapers, Tyler called with urgent news.
"lan, there's trouble." "What happened?" "Fitch just received a preemie from the prison. The baby's in an incubator, fighting for life. It seems Zoey was the mother. She passed away after an armed gang broke into her safe house, startling her into early labor. The place caught fire, collapsing in the chaos. You might want to check on Fitch; he's beside himself." lan felt dizzy with shock. "You sure?" Positive. The baby might not make it. Zoey's gone, her body unrecoverable. We don't even know how the baby survived. Go see Fitch, he's like a madman."
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