Chapter 4

I rejected her request at once. "No way, Daisy! If you slip and fall or knock into something while you're here, you're going to pin the blame on us, anyway! I—"

Daisy put on a pitiful look and said, "What are you saying, Winter? Are you seriously treating me like an outsider now? Aren't we family?"

Seeing that I was firm in my decision, Daisy then changed her target to Jerome. "Jerome, it's going to be a waste of money and resources if you hire two nannies to look after Winter and me.

"If I stay with you for now, Nancy will then be able to take care of us both at the same time. Wouldn't that be easier and lighter on your pocket?"

Before Jerome could get in a word, I said, "Money isn't the main problem right now, Daisy. If you really don't want to go back to your village, then we can arrange for you to stay at the hospital instead. It's safe and even more convenient for you there.

"I'm just looking out for both you and your baby!"

Jerome thought that my suggestion was a good one, too. He agreed with me and said, "She's right, Mom. You're going into labor soon, so it would be better if you stayed at the hospital for the time being."

A split second later, Daisy fell on her butt on the ground and began to throw a huge tantrum.

That gave me and Jerome a huge shock. After all, she was putting her baby's life in danger.

Jerome hurried up to her to help her up, but she kept clawing at his arms while sobbing hysterically.

"Perry! Look at what your son and daughter-in-law are doing to me! They want to kick me out of the house and have me spend the night all alone in the cold by myself!

"It was a miracle that I'd even managed to get pregnant with your baby at such an old age, and it's been so hard on me, but look at what your son is doing to me! Perry, I don't want to live anymore! Take me away!"

I finally witnessed a scene so ridiculous that I used to think it would only happen in low-budget soap operas on TV.

Eventually, Jerome gave in and softened his tone. "Alright, that's enough, Mom. Winter was just not in a good mood because of her pregnancy. Don't hold her words against her. You can stay here if you want."

Daisy's expression immediately switched as a huge smile appeared on her face. She accepted Jerome's offered hand and got back onto her feet, without a single trace of the crocodile tears she'd cried earlier.

"Of course I'd never hold it against her. We're family!"

…

As expected, over the next few days, Daisy wouldn't stop trying to brainwash me into having a cesarean procedure by repeating it to me every single day.

I didn't take any of her words to heart and refused to listen to her. After all, her expected delivery time was more than a week earlier than mine. If things went on like this, she would eventually have to give birth before I did.

I even made sure to get someone to install the hidden security cameras all throughout the house while Daisy and Nancy were both asleep one afternoon.

Since my soft-hearted husband, so loyal to his mother, had graciously welcomed a wolf into our sheep pen, I had to be on my guard always and be prepared for anything.

The days passed quickly, and I finally made it to the day when Daisy went into labor.

Nancy's face was pale as she helped Daisy shuffle into the living room. She then yelled at me, who was happily munching on some pumpkin seeds, "Winter, I think Daisy is going into labor. Quick, call the hospital!"

I was just about to stand up and grab my phone when a dangerous thought occurred to me.

Daisy was as pale as a ghost as she clutched her tummy in great pain. Her water already broke, and she was dripping everywhere she went.

If I found an excuse to delay getting Daisy to the hospital, would that mean something terrible would happen to her and the bastard that she still hadn't been able to give birth to?

However, I quickly snapped back to my senses. Nancy was also present. She would intervene at once because she'd never let Daisy suffer too much.

Before I could reorganize my thoughts, Nancy suddenly let go of Daisy and ran to the nearest phone to call the ambulance because she saw that I'd frozen in place.

But, while she was hurrying past me, Nancy slipped and started falling toward me. I couldn't avoid her in time, and she fell flat right on top of me.

The sudden sharp pain in my belly was so great that I blacked out at once.

Yet, right before the lights went out, I swear I saw a smug, victorious grin on Daisy's face as she stood there, watching me.

When I came to, I realized that I was lying in a hospital bed. Instinctively, I reached down and touched my belly, but it was as flat as a pancake. My baby was gone.

Jerome was sitting right next to my bed. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that I was awake.

"Dear, Nancy told me that you slipped and fell at home, so you were brought to the hospital along with Mom and underwent a cesarean. The baby's already born. Our little Corey Dyson is a very healthy baby boy."

I frowned. Did I slip and fall, or was I shoved to the ground?

I had been in such a fright back then that my memory had gone fuzzy. However, the first thing I had to do was make sure that my baby had not been switched.

I asked Jerome, "Where's my baby?"

Jerome brought the baby over and placed him in my arms.

I'd only taken a peek at him and immediately found myself about to faint once more.

This face was all too familiar. It was Casey! This was not Corey—not my baby! In the end, Daisy still managed to switch babies with me.