Chapter 1. Birth or curse

"Oh my God, The baby is coming", Annie cried through gritted teeth as wave after wave of pain ruptured through her body. "Come my love, everything is going to be okay, we will reach the hospital soon" Peter Walter's escorts his beautiful wife Annie to his Lincoln. The driver holds the door open as Peter helps Annie inside the luxurious car. "STEP ON IT!" The driver jumps into his seat and speeds to St Michael's private hospital. Peter could not bear to see his wife in pain. Her water bag already broke and was messing his plush, expensive interior but he didn't care. Annie was all he cared about. 

Fifteen minutes later, Annie is wheeled to the delivery room. Beads of sweat line her forehead. Peter stands outside pacing. He eagerly awaits the birth of his son, the heir of Walter's industries. This baby was a game changer. Since his two brothers have also had sons of their own. He now stood a chance to claim a peice of the pie. 

Minutes felt like hours. He now sat on the bench tapping his fingers on the wooden arm rest anxiously. The door opens and the doctor steps out. "Congratulations Mr Walters". 

Peter rushes in. He did not expect the doctor to have anything else to say.  His wife lay on the bed craddling her bundle of joy. Peter walks to her bedside in three long strides with his long slender legs. He leaned in and kissed his wife looking at the new addition to their family. The colour drained from his face, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. Annie looked concerned,"is there something wrong dear?" 

All the warmth vanished from his eyes.His eyes were now as cold as ice.Looking at the baby, she had skin as white as snow, rosy red lips and a tuft of soft curly blond hair, "Get rid of it! She is no child of mine, I wanted a heir, not a burden of a daughter, there is no place for her in my home" 

Turning his back to his wife he stormed out of the room. Annie's eyes burned and the tears dropped from her eyelids as she squeezed them shut. The doctor had told her during delivery there were complications and she had lost an extensive amount of blood. She had only minutes to live after delivery. She held Adrianna tightly in her arms, " I am sorry my baby, I won't be here to give you a mothers love, I am sure your father will come around and love you enough for the both of us, I will always watch you from up above my darling". She kissed Adrianna's forehead feeling at peace. Her heart was full of love. 

Annie closed her eyes and took her last breath as tears rolled down her cheeks. The monitor on the side of her bed started to beep. The nurses and doctor rushed in seeing Annie's lifeless body on the bed with Adrianna still in her arms. Doctor Russell carried Adrianna in his arms as Peter walked in, he was concerned with all the commotion going on," Im sorry Mr walters, I tried to tell you". 

Doctor Russel was emotional,he could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, and blinked them back. In all his deliveries this was the first where he had lost the mother but had an incredibly healthy baby. There was pain and joy in this day. 

Peter glared at the doctor coldly as he made no attempt to take the infant from his extended arms. He took out his cellphone and made a call. 

"The maid, Martha, will be here to collect this filth, I am leaving" The room felt instantly cold. The doctor stood in shock. Adrianna was sound asleep in his arms, oblivious to the life she would be living. Dr Russell felt deeply saddened but he knew there was nothing he could. 

Time of death: five fifty seven pm. 

He handed over the baby to the nurse and jotted down the necessary notes following protocol. Adrianna was taken to the nursery. The nurse wrapped her snugly in a pink blanket, after giving her a warm bath and lay her in the crib. 

Annie's body was sent to the morgue and her belongings sent with the maid that collected Adrianna. There wasn't much except the chain and locket that she wore. The maid knew that Mrs Walters would want her only daughter to have it. She carefully tucked it in her pocket for safe keeping until Adrianna had grown.