Chapter 3

"Why are you guys still here? Let's go, hurry!"

But before we could cross the threshold, Chloe screamed again. She touched her hair in frustration.

"Oh my god! I forgot to curl it!"

"Can we wait just a little longer? I'll curl it super fast."

My mom, Mandy, couldn't help but plead.

"How about you stay home and get ready? We will take Scarlett to the hospital first. This is a matter of life and death."

Chloe plugged in her curling iron, her tone relaxed and unbothered.

"Don't worry, Mandy. I'll be done in a sec. We should all go together."

"I am Lucy's godmother. I have to look beautiful when I hold her for the first time."

"If you want to go together, hurry up! My sister can't wait for you to do your makeup!"

Logan yelled at Chloe, his patience gone. Chloe's hand holding the curling iron froze, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Why are you yelling at me? I didn't do this on purpose. I'm trying to be fast."

"Who knew Scarlett's water would break today? I didn't have time to prepare anything either. I'm stressed too!"

My mom ignored her, supporting me as we headed for the elevator. Logan and my dad, Arthur, ran down to start the cars. But Brandon, without a second thought, stepped back into the apartment.

"It's okay, Chloe. Take your time. Don't burn yourself."

Hearing this, Mom gave Brandon a chilling look. The baby in my womb was kicking violently due to the lack of oxygen. I gasped in pain and glared at Brandon.

"I need to be at the hospital by 11:00."

"It's already 10:30. Are you coming or not?"

Seeing my pale, sweating face, a hint of guilt flashed across Brandon's eyes. But he just pushed me gently back onto the couch to comfort me.

"Stop throwing a fit, Scarlett. You're acting like you're in so much pain just to make me prioritize you over Chloe."

"She'll be ready soon. Be good."

I was forced to lie back on the sofa. The contractions were no longer just dull aches; they felt like ripping pain.

Chloe was still preening in front of the mirror.

As our eyes met, cold sweat poured down my forehead. She stuck her tongue out at me.

"Well, since my hair is curled, I think I'll just put on some makeup. It'll only take a few minutes."

"Brandon, help me choose. Nude or dusty rose for the lipstick?"

Amanda, who had been quiet, finally snapped.

"Enough is enough! Scarlett is waiting to go to the hospital!"

But Chloe walked over and wrapped her arm around Amanda's, saying in an envious tone:

"Scarlett is so lucky. Her whole family shows up just for her giving birth."

"Unlike me, nobody cares about me. I just want to look pretty to welcome Lucy. Scarlett understands, right?"

I was in too much pain to speak. She took my silence as consent. Brandon looked at me too.

"Just five more minutes. Once she's done, we leave immediately."

Another wave of contractions hit. I gripped the sofa cushion tightly, waiting for the agonizing pain to pass before I spoke.

"Brandon, on the day we went to get our marriage license, she insisted on coming. You insisted on waiting for her. She overslept, City Hall closed, and we never got registered."

"At our rehearsal dinner, she insisted on riding in your car. She got drunk the night before and missed the ceremony."

"Today, I am asking you one last time. Do you choose me and the baby, or do you choose to wait for her?"

Brandon's face darkened completely.

"Are you really using childbirth as an excuse to bring up old grudges?"

Chloe gasped dramatically, covering her mouth.

"Wow, Scarlett. I didn't know you were so petty. Do pregnant women have nothing better to do than pick fights?"

"Whatever, I won't argue with you. I'm not even done with my makeup."

I looked at her. First, it was washing hair, then makeup, and after this, she'd probably want to pick an outfit. It would take at least another hour.

At 10:40, my leaking fluid began to show traces of blood.