Chapter 2

The reply came almost instantly. "?" "Deal. I'll be there."

In the bathroom, the shower was running. Brandon didn't rush Chloe at all. Instead, he carefully plugged in the hairdryer for her, setting it to warm.

Meanwhile, the dull, heavy pain in my lower abdomen intensified. I slid down the wall and collapsed onto the floor.

Our nanny, Nora, couldn't bear to watch any longer. She helped me lie down on the sofa.

"Mr. Miller, you really can't delay this. Once the water breaks, the baby can suffocate at any moment. She needs to be in the hospital within thirty minutes."

"It takes time to drive there. What if Scarlett has a difficult labor?"

My sister-in-law, Amanda, chimed in anxiously. "Scarlett is weeks away from her due date. This is premature rupture of membranes. She has to go to the hospital immediately."

"Even if she can wait, the baby can't."

Everyone was looking at him with pleading eyes. But Brandon didn't even look up. He was busy packing Chloe's skincare products into her bag.

"It's fine. Chloe is just washing her hair."

Then he turned to me with a comforting smile.

"Giving birth takes time. Worst case, we'll just do a C-section. It's not like you wanted a natural birth anyway."

I looked at him, my voice trembling.

"Do you even know how dangerous it is when the water breaks early?"

"Yeah, I know."

Brandon turned his head, staring at the bathroom door, giving me a dismissive response. He clearly wasn't listening to a word I said.

I took a deep breath and threw a throw pillow right at his face.

"I said, the baby and I could die! I need to go to the hospital right now! Do you hear me?!"

Brandon was stunned by my outburst, his eyes instantly filling with impatience.

"What is wrong with you lately? Ever since you got pregnant, you think the whole world revolves around you."

"Chloe is just washing her hair, and you can't even wait for a few minutes? Didn't you promise she could be the godmother?"

The shouting in the living room disturbed Chloe. She ran out of the bathroom with dripping wet hair, wrapping her arms around me to baby-talk her way out of it.

"Please, please, Scarlett. Didn't we promise I'd be Lucy's godmother?"

"This is a major life moment! I can't look like a greaseball in the pictures. Let me just blow-dry it, it'll be super quick."

The moment the hairdryer whined to life, Brandon snatched it from her hand.

"She dries it too slowly. Let me do it so we can leave sooner."

I watched Brandon gently run his fingers through Chloe's hair, blow-drying it with utmost care. A bitter pang of envy struck my heart.

During my late pregnancy, whenever I asked him to help dry my hair, he always excused himself, saying he was too tired from work.

Just then, my abdomen violently cramped. More amniotic fluid leaked out. After helping me clean up, Nora's face turned pale.

"Oh my god, the fluid is turning yellowish."

"This is a sign of fetal distress. We really can't wait anymore!"

The hairdryer was buzzing loudly. Neither of them heard her. Nora walked straight over and yanked the plug out of the wall.

"Miss Scarlett must go to the hospital immediately!"

Chloe looked at Brandon in shock.

"Why is the nanny bossing us around in your own house? I just washed my hair, and she's making a scene?"

Brandon sneered.

"I told Scarlett I wanted my mom to come and help, but she insisted on hiring a nanny. What can I do?"

He plugged the hairdryer back in. The noise started again. Instead of worrying about me and the baby, they were complaining about me hiring a nanny.

Then, the hospital called to press us.

"It's already 10:20. Where is the patient? The delivery room and doctors are ready. She must be here before 11:00. Do not take any chances!"

The hairdryer stopped again. This time, I was the one who pulled the plug. I gasped heavily.

"11:00. I must be at the hospital."

"Fine, fine. We're going now, okay? You always make a mountain out of a molehill."

Under my urging, Brandon reluctantly grabbed the hospital bag and walked me out.

Just then, my parents and my brother, Logan, arrived. Seeing that we hadn't left yet, their expressions darkened instantly.