Chapter 2

A searing, tearing pain ripped through me, and I realized I’d been reborn to the moment of my difficult labor.

Right now, Blake’s first love, Ashley, was in the delivery room right next to mine.

Clutching my belly, I rasped out, "Give me blood! A transfusion!"

The next second, my mother-in-law, Brenda, stormed into the delivery room. Her face was a thundercloud, and she didn't hesitate to slap me, hard.

"Blood transfusion? Do you know how much that costs?"

"If you hadn't insisted on coming to this small community clinic to give birth, the money we saved could've lasted us for ages!"

My face stung with throbbing pain, but I bit down hard on my lip.

If I hadn't insisted on coming here, with the abysmal hygiene conditions at home, both my child and I would have been dead!

My voice, raw with pain, was barely a whisper. "Please! I'm having a difficult labor, give me blood!"

"Otherwise, the baby will be brain-damaged!"

Brenda scoffed. "Why are you so overdramatic?"

"I think you're just not trying hard enough, you just want to slack off, that's why you can't push him out!"

I ignored her taunts, grabbing the nurse's cold, clammy hand. "Please, help me!"

The nurse glanced at my lower body, her expression grave as she nodded. "She's hemorrhaging badly! Prepare for a blood transfusion!"

Just as the nurse was about to leave, Brenda blocked her path, her shifty eyes glinting with a cruel light.

"Our family won't pay for any blood transfusion! We don't have the money!"

"What's a little blood? Every woman bleeds during childbirth! She just needs to tough it out."

I clenched my teeth, screaming at the nurse, my voice raw, "I have money! I'll pay for it! Please, get me the blood!"

At that, Brenda finally moved aside, but she kept muttering about how dramatic I was.

Just as the nurse returned with the blood bag, Blake burst in and snatched it away.

"Ashley is also in difficult labor! She needs the blood now! Give it to Ashley first!"

My heart seized. "No, Blake! I'm hemorrhaging too!"

Blake scoffed. "Who are you trying to fool?"

"I know you can't stand Ashley, but how could you lie about something so life-or-death? Have you no shame?"

"You're screaming your head off, but Ashley's in so much pain she can't even speak!"

I gritted my teeth. "I'm carrying *your* child! Can you really be so heartless?"

"You and Ashley have the same blood type. You can donate your blood to her, it's the same thing!"

As soon as I said that, Brenda scowled and started yelling at me.

"Is that how a wife talks? His blood is his life force, darling. Donating it would drain him, weaken him! How dare you suggest such a thing?"

Before I could retort, Blake was already turning to leave with the blood.

He said, "You're so strong, you can just grit your teeth and get through it. But Ashley… she can't!"