In Labor, He Blocked My Rescue

During our vacation trip, my water broke on the way to the airport.

Someone helped flag down a taxi, and just as they were about to help me in, my husband rushed over and blocked them.

My wife has a history of fraud. The last person who helped her ended up paying five hundred thousand dollars.

The bystander jerked their hand back in fear, and the taxi driver refused to take me.

I had no strength to explain. I could only dial emergency services with trembling hands.

But when the ambulance arrived, Ethan just sneered coldly.

"My wife is in her third trimester and often leaks urine. Every time, she thinks her water broke."

"She has serious mental problems. No matter what the test results show, she'll accuse the hospital of scamming her."

"If you take her to the hospital, not only won't you get paid, but she'll also call the police and sue you."

The paramedics cursed and left.

I was drowning in despair when Ethan looked at me with complete calm.

"Your sister Sophia is pregnant. The baby is mine."

"Her due date is today. I promised her I'd make sure her child is born first."

"Just hold on a bit longer. As soon as she delivers, I'll arrange your surgery immediately."

Seeing tears pooling in my eyes, he patted my face as if to comfort me.

"You only have yourself to blame. Back then, I just drunkenly kissed her, and you made it everyone's business."

"She married some random guy out of spite against you, never expecting he'd be abusive and beat her until she miscarried."

"You owe her a life. Making you hold it in and deliver later is just helping you atone for your sins."

I looked at his indifferent eyes, a bitter smile forming on my lips.

Ethan, since you say I'm guilty, I wonder if repaying you with two lives for the price of one will be enough.

Another wave of excruciating pain tore through my lower abdomen. I knelt on the ground, unable to suppress my anguished screams.

Ethan looked down at me, his eyes holding reluctance and heartache, but not a trace of guilt.

The crowd around us had long dispersed. I looked up helplessly, my voice trembling.

"Ethan, please, take me to the hospital first."

The pain made me desperately clutch at his pant leg with blood-stained fingers.

Ethan kicked my hand away, stepping back with disgust written all over his face.

"I promised Sophia I'd personally accompany her during delivery. There's a professional team recording it for us. If my pants get dirty, she won't be happy."

Blood pooled between my legs, and amniotic fluid soaked the ground.

Ethan saw none of it.

His mind was only concerned with whether he looked presentable enough while accompanying Sophia during childbirth.

He didn't care about me, nor about the baby in my belly.

Then what were those ten years I spent with him, building his empire from nothing and tasting every hardship life had to offer?

My whole body trembled as I tried to question him, but the torture of contractions made me writhe on the ground.

Ethan glanced at his watch, a smile playing on his lips.

"Sophia should be delivering soon. You go home first. Once I'm done, I'll come get you."

My consciousness was beginning to blur from the pain as I pleaded with a trembling voice.

"Ethan, my water broke. If I don't go to the hospital now, the baby will die."

He bent down, stroking my head with something like pity.

The gesture was so casual, like petting a stray dog.

"Don't worry, I won't abandon you. After all, you're the real Mrs. Morrison, and you're the one I love most."

"But debts must be repaid. Atoning this wayknowing the pain will teach you a lesson, so you won't bully young girls just because of your status anymore."

"I've already instructed the family doctor to wait for you at the villa. You and the baby will be fine. At most, you'll just hurt for a while."

"Mia, don't be so dramatic. Same childbirth, but Sophia isn't making a fuss. She's just waiting quietly for me at the hospital. In this regard, she's much more sensible than you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ethan's phone rang abruptly.

Through the speaker came a woman's coquettish voice.

"Ethan, the doctor says I'm fully dilated and needs me in the delivery room now."

"Are you still with that old hag? Oh right, she's the one you officially married, Mrs. Morrison. The one in my belly is just a bastard."

"Ethan, if you don't come right now, I'm not giving birth."

The usually calm and composed Mr. Morrison's expression changed instantly.

His eyes filled with anxious panic, even his tone becoming humble.

"What are you talking about? I told you, only the one in your belly will be the Morrison family's firstborn."

"Mia's water broke and she's rolling around on the ground in pain right now. If you don't believe me, I'll take a video to show you."

He bent down, shoving the camera in my face.

Only after seeing my wretched state did Sophia laugh with satisfaction.

I forced down the bone-deep pain and looked up at him.

"Why? Why does it have to be her?"

"Ethan, have you forgotten? She was the one who drunk-drove and nearly killed you. She was also the one who pushed your mother off a cliff, leaving her body unfound."

What answered me was a cold, mocking laugh.

"What happened back then was just my bad luck. As for my mother, there were no surveillance cameras on the mountain. Even the police said it could have been an accidental fall. How can we blame Sophia?"

I collapsed on the ground, laughing until tears came.

Sophia, my half-sister from my mother's second marriage.

Spoiled and willful since childhood, she bullied me relentlessly.

After the SATs ended, she partied all night with friends, and despite everyone's warnings, insisted on drunk driving.

She accidentally hit Ethan, who had just finished his night shift.

With no one around, Sophia left Ethan bleeding on the ground and drove away.

Later, she pinned all the blame on me.

I was taken in for questioning. She was afraid the victim would press charges and the truth would come out.

Under the pretense of apologizing on my behalf, she lured Ethan's mother to the mountaintop and pushed her off the cliff when she wasn't paying attention.

I served three years for a crime I didn't commit.

After my release, I accidentally learned that Ethan's legs were disabled, and doctors said he'd spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

I found him and confessed everything.

When Ethan was in complete despair, wanting to end it all

It was me who knelt before his wheelchair and swore I'd help him stand again.

I took care of him for two full years, accompanying him through rehabilitation.

The day he successfully stood up, Ethan knelt on one knee and slipped a simple silver ring on my finger.

His eyes then were full of deep affection.

"Mia, you gave me a second life. Could I ask you to give me a chance to take care of you for the rest of yours?"

I believed him.

Even though he was so poor he couldn't even afford a proper wedding, I still married him without hesitation.

He said I bullied Sophia.

But he clearly knew that she had forced me to drink urine and kneel in a cage barking like a dog.

Those ten years of living hell were my lifelong nightmare.

After marriage, I woke countless times from nightmares, crying as I told him about dreaming of being beaten by Sophia.

His hands trembled as he held me, his eyes red as he promised he would rise up and seek justice for me and his mother.

To crush the family business, he threw himself completely into the corporate world.

But I never expected that the first thing he'd do after achieving success was to get entangled with Sophia.

When I caught them disheveled and kissing in my marital bed, I nearly lost my mind.

I slapped Sophia twice hard and posted photos of her half-exposed chest all over the internet.

Ethan's eyes turned red. He knelt before me and swore he was drunk and mistook her for me.

In front of me, he threw her out, saying he'd never see her again for the rest of his life.

I never imagined

He talked about seeking justice for me and his mother, but behind my back, he got Sophia pregnant.

My unwavering devotion earned me his cold indifference, saying he'd use my life and our child's life to apologize to Sophia.

I bit my mouth raw and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Ethan, why? Why are you doing this to me?"

No response.

He was so anxious he didn't even spare me a glance before leaving decisively.

The blood beneath me flowed more and more.

I hurt so much my consciousness started to blur.

But for the sake of my child, I still gritted my teeth and got up, stumbling toward the hospital.

By the time I reached the emergency room entrance, my entire lower body was soaked in blood.

After an examination, I was rushed to the operating room.

But unexpectedly, just as I reached the door, someone blocked my way.

I forced myself to lift my head, only to meet Ethan's cold eyes.

"Mia, didn't I tell you to go home and wait?"

"Stop playing weak. If you can't handle this little pain, why didn't you think about how much it hurt when you caused Sophia to be beaten until she miscarried?"

"I'm warning you, Sophia isn't fully dilated yet. Until her baby is born, no matter how much it hurts, you hold it in."

His face was full of impatience, but I didn't even have the strength to defend myself.

The doctor looked anxiously at him, trying to push him aside.

"The patient's water broke, causing massive hemorrhaging. She needs surgery immediately, or both mother and child will die."

Ethan kicked over the hospital bed, his eyes full of vicious mockery.

"How much did Mia pay you to play along with her act?"

"To make sure her child is born first, she'll do anything."

"So what if her water broke? Delivering a bit later won't kill her. Stop being so dramatic."

I lay sprawled on the ground in disgrace, unable to laugh or cry.

Ten years of life and death together.

But my unbearable agony was just dramatic pretense in his eyes.

My scalp went numb with pain. I couldn't hold back anymore and clutched my belly, screaming.

The doctor's expression changed as well.

"Sir, the pregnant woman's condition is truly critical. If we delay treatment and she dies, her family will hold you accountable."

The doctor bent down to help me up, but Ethan spoke coldly again.

"Family? She has no family."

"Mia is my mistress. She knew today was my wife's due date and deliberately put on this act to compete for my attention."

"If she delays my wife's delivery, you can forget about keeping this hospital open."

The hands supporting me suddenly let go. I fell heavily back to the ground.

Blood spread beneath me. I lay on the cold floor, barely conscious, every organ trembling with pain.

A smile appeared on Ethan's lips.

He bent close to my ear, his tone tinged with rare heartache.

"Does it hurt? Good. Only by remembering today's pain will you stop using your status as Mrs. Morrison to make things difficult for Sophia."

"Be good, Mia. Stop making a scene. Only by being obedient can you suffer less."

"Just hold on a bit longer. Once Sophia delivers, I'll arrange for you to enter the operating room immediately."

"Although your child won't be the firstborn, I won't play favorites. I promise, whatever Sophia's child has, yours will have too."

"I told you, the person I love most is you. For this lifetime, you'll always be my Mrs. Morrison."

I bit through my lip, my smile mixed with blood.

Ethan, your love is too heavy a burden. I don't want it.

And I don't want you anymore.

The next moment, someone lifted me up.

Ethan carried me all the way back to the hospital room, personally watching as the doctor administered the suppressant before leaving satisfied.

I lay in the hospital bed all night.

I'd pass out, then be jolted awake by the pain.

I couldn't live, and I couldn't die.

The nurse who changed my dressing looked at me with disgust, deliberately pinching my leg hard.

Her unconcealed gossip cut into my heart.

"Mistresses deserve it. In so much pain and no one cares. She might as well die."

"Who told her to be so arrogant? The wife is giving birth, and this homewrecker has the nerve to show up and compete for attention, thinking spreading her legs makes her the man's true love."

"The wife really knows how to handle people. Fully dilated, got the epidural, but just won't push. As long as she doesn't deliver, the mistress can die in pain for all she cares and still won't be allowed in the delivery room. So satisfying."

I pulled at my lips, the smile bitter.

Satisfying? But I was Ethan's wife.

I couldn't understand how someone who once would have risked his life for me could now be so cruel.

Another contraction hit.

Before I could scream, the hospital room door was pushed open.

Sophia walked in holding her newborn baby, supported by someone.

I never expected my mother, whom I hadn't seen in years, would accompany her.

Sophia looked at me with triumphant eyes.

"Mia, knowing you're suffering, I specially brought your nephew to see you."

"Both mother and baby are safe. When the baby was born, Ethan was so moved he cried."

I suppressed my anger and looked at her.

"He's not my nephew. Take your bastard and get out."

Sophia gave a cold laugh and slapped me hard across the face.

"What right do you have to tell me to leave?"

"Last night when you were screaming, Ethan was right next door in the delivery room with me. But he didn't care at all, only focused on comforting me."

"So what if you're Mrs. Morrison? The unloved one is the mistress. The one in your belly is the bastard."

Blood mixed with tears from my split eye.

But Sophia wasn't planning to let me off.

She bent close to me, malice unconcealed in her eyes.

"You really are lucky to be alive. After suffering all night and you're still fine. How about I help you out and send you and your bastard on your way together."

She grabbed the thermos from the floor and swung it hard at my belly.

I pushed her away desperately and stumbled toward the door.

As soon as I ran out of the room, I crashed into a familiar embrace.

After seeing Ethan's concerned face clearly, I gripped his sleeve tightly, my voice trembling.

"Ethan, save me. Sophia's gone crazyshe's trying to kill our baby."

Ethan's expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, a baby's shrill cry came from the hospital room.

He shoved me aside hard and kicked the door open, rushing in.

The next moment, someone grabbed my hair and dragged me back into the room.

The scene before me made me tremble uncontrollably.

Sophia knelt in the middle of the room, holding the blood-covered baby.

"Ethan, I just wanted Mia to share in my joy so she could deliver smoothly, so I brought the baby to see her."