“Esme’s in labor right now.” He lowered his voice beneath the din of the crowd. “They’ve just taken her to the hospital. We need to be there.”
For a moment, Alyssa’s eyes widened in what was very clearly panic before she settled herself, smoothing the lush fabric of her dress slowly. “Well, Daniel, that’s what the doctors are for, aren’t they? Why do we need to be there? We can just visit after the baby’s been born. We won’t even have to deal with Esme that way.”
In that instant, all Daniel could do was stare at her in utter disbelief? Not go to the hospital for the birth? Was she utterly out of her mind? “You don’t want to be there when your baby is born, Alyssa?” His voice was hoarse with shock. “Your only child?”
“It’s my birthday, Daniel.” The dark-haired woman’s voice took on a sudden, dangerous edge. “And no, forgive me if I don’t want to spend it in a shitty hospital, watching some screaming woman piss herself. The baby isn’t going anywhere.”
At last.
Her true colors showed. Daniel felt guilt, shame and sorrow consume him as he realized what an idiot he’d been to even give Alyssa a second chance. It was clear that she cared nothing about the baby now, and that wouldn’t change when she held it in her arms – if, indeed, she even thought herself capable of such a thing.
“Why did you lie to me?” He demanded suddenly. “You told me Esme stopped working at Pierre’s a month ago. She went into labor in the goddamn kitchen. Why, Alyssa?”
“Oh, honey.” Now, she was sweet again – saccharine sweet. Like the bad taste left in your mouth after bitter chocolate. “I just didn’t want to worry you…” She reached for him, only to have him take her wrists in his grip to lower them firmly.
“What worries me is your complete and utter disregard for Esme’s safety. Or the baby’s. Now that I think about it, Alyssa, I don’t know how I ever imagined you could have changed.” By this point, a hush had fallen over the crowd as they took in the spectacle beginning before them. “It’s very clear what you want – and what you want has nothing to do with anything but yourself.”
Alyssa’s eyes narrowed into irate slits, and in that moment, she dropped all pretense of sweetness. “You know, coming from a man who bullied me into having a baby, Daniel, that’s a fucking riot.”
“Bullied you?” A harsh bark of laughter escaped him. “You could have walked away from me at any time. From us. But no, you were used to a standard of living that you couldn’t maintain, weren’t you? You needed me as your own private piggy bank? You’re standing here, bitching to me about me forcing you to have a baby when you aren’t! Esme’s in labor right now, and no one’s there to help her!”
“Fine. Then go. Go to your precious little whore. Just know that I’m not going to make things easy on you, Daniel. That baby’s half mine, and I’m going to make your life a living hell for what you’ve done to me!”
What he had done to her?
Oh that was just rich.
Leaning down so that his nose was inches from hers, Daniel made himself clear in a low growl. “The baby is mine, Alyssa. And I’m going to make sure any paperwork claim you have to it is rendered null and void. If you want to fight me, go ahead. But you’ll lose. I can personally guarantee that you will never see me or a cent of my money ever again.” With that, he straightened to grace her with a stiff smile. “Enjoy your party.”
Daniel strode through the restaurant to hop into the waiting car at the curb; the moment he was inside, they raced towards the hospital at breakneck speed. He could only hope he wasn’t too late to apologize to Esme – the true mother of his child. He needed her, he now realized, like he needed his next breath, and he only prayed that she didn’t scorn him after his faithlessness.
**
Christ, it hurt.
It didn’t matter how many books she’d read, nothing had prepared her for this. Her womb felt like it was waging war against the rest of her body, and every contraction sent pain spiraling through her. She tried to focus on Doctor Snell’s words, slowing her breathing as she gripped the bed rails for purpose, but she was afraid.
She’d never thought she’d be alone for this – the final part of her surrogacy.
As another contraction ripped through her, she cried out, her toes curling into the bed. The pain was followed by an incredible pressure between her legs, and she fought the urge to bear down and push. She wasn’t ready yet.
According to her attending physician, she was only eight centimeters dilated, which could mean another two to four hours of agony. She’d been offered an epidural, but hadn’t accepted, not knowing how Daniel felt on the matter. He might have turned her from his house, but the baby was still his.