They had arrived at dusk, but now it was already past eleven at night.
After so many long hours, every single minute felt like an ordeal.
Before long, Charles Chase and Mia Moore showed up as well.
“Has she had the baby yet? My godson!”
Mia Moore rushed over, panting for breath, and since Cecilia was still in labor, she could only peer anxiously through the little window on the door.
Charles Chase voiced his concern too, “Probably not yet, giving birth doesn’t go that fast.”
Mia Moore’s eyes turned a little red. “Poor Cecilia, she must be having a tough time.” From her spot, she could only see the end of the hospital bed and half of Xavier Foster’s silhouette.
After watching for a while, the two headed next door to wait with the others. No one was in any mood for sleep.
The nurse station was just beside them. On the whole floor, except for the doctors in the delivery room and the Fu family, there was no one else.
Bodyguards with sturdy builds were stationed by the stairs and elevators—no one could come up.
“Wow, I always thought family dynasties like the Fu’s would be cold and distant, but the CEO seems so worried about his wife. He hasn’t left her side all night.”
“I know, right? So enviable. He was comforting her when we went in earlier, incredibly gentle.”
“Exactly! He even came with Mrs. Fu for every prenatal checkup. There really are good men in the world, they’re just never ours.”
“But Mrs. Fu is wonderful too—beautiful and kind. Even I have a bit of a crush on her!”
The young nurses gathered together, whispering to each other, their voices brimming with envy.
The clock edged toward three. It was already deep into the night.
Xavier Foster watched the woman lying in bed; his deep eyes overflowing with tenderness and worry.
Even with the epidural, Cecilia couldn’t sleep soundly, tossing and turning as the dilation progressed too slowly. Dr. Song Ying had to give her more oxytocin to induce labor.
Every time Cecilia frowned like she might wake, Xavier Foster gently patted her back to soothe her.
As dawn broke and warm yellow lamplight filled the room, Cecilia finally opened her eyes, immediately spotting him sitting by her side.
Xavier Foster, thinking she’d only woken briefly, instinctively bent down to comfort her—the motion so practiced he’d done it countless times through the night.
Cecilia grasped his large hand and nuzzled her face against it. Seeing the red rims of his eyes after a sleepless night, her heart ached. “You should get some rest.”
But new fathers can never sleep. He cared far more for Cecilia. “I’m not tired, I just want to look at you.”
He knelt down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. So many thoughts crowded his mind—memories of everything they’d been through together looping endlessly.
From the time Cecilia first entered the Fu home, to now—the moment their child was about to arrive.
Xavier Foster was filled with overwhelming gratitude. “Wife, I love you. I love you so much.”
He leaned in close, his voice hoarse but earnest.
The sudden confession made Cecilia’s eyes instantly redden. She cradled his face, whispering, “I love you too.”
Light seeped softly into the world as the medication’s numbness began to fade. Xavier Foster helped Cecilia to the bathroom, and as he settled her back in bed, she frowned slightly.
A sharp, tightening pain gripped her belly, and she felt a rush of warm wetness beneath her.
“Um, Zhiye, I think...I might have, uh, messed up the bed.”
Xavier Foster pulled back the covers. Thanks to months of study about natural childbirth, he recognized the sign immediately—it wasn’t a mess, her water had broken.
He pressed the call button for the doctor right away. “It’s alright, your water broke. The baby can’t wait any longer!”
Dr. Song Ying soon arrived with a nurse and two other female doctors, conducting another check before preparing to wheel her into the delivery room.
“You’re almost fully dilated. It’ll be time to push soon, don’t worry.”
She spoke gently to Cecilia, then turned to Xavier Foster. “Mr. Fu, will you be going in with your wife?”
Without any hesitation, Xavier Foster nodded. “I’ll be with her.”
Cecilia was taken to the delivery room. Xavier Foster gave a word to the waiting grandparents, then quickly changed and joined her.
Only one person could go in. The others waited anxiously outside. Earlier the baby seemed in no rush—but now, as if sensing everyone’s anticipation, he seemed eager to come out.
“Mmm...” Cecilia leaned awkwardly against the hospital bed, anxiety flooding her as the epidural wore off and pain surged back.
Dr. Song Ying placed a reassuring hand on her knee. “Cecilia, it’s time. The baby will be here soon.”
“When it hurts, just bear down and hold your breath.”
Cecilia nodded, gripping the bed rail tightly. There seemed to be no break between the waves of pain. Somehow sensing his mother’s effort, the baby wriggled his way lower.
“Good, that’s it. Just a bit longer...”
Her small body arched and fell over and over. The pain seemed never-ending, reality growing blurry except for the urge to push.
A stifled cry escaped her lips—her abdomen felt like a hard stone sinking down, tears leaking from her eyes onto the pillow. Gasping for breath, she finally couldn’t hold back: “It hurts so much...”
Xavier Foster, seeing her pale face, eyes red-rimmed, slipped his hand under her back each time she tried. He gently wiped away the sweat from her brow. “Hang on, sweetheart. Once the baby’s here, it won’t hurt anymore.”
His voice was choked, her pain like a knife in his own heart.
“Cecilia, the baby’s already on the way, not much longer!”
Dr. Song Ying encouraged her. The baby was rather large—it was a hard delivery.
Barely a minute of rest before the pain forced her upright again. With each push, her whole body quivered.
“Is the baby...still not out yet?”
Her voice was thick with exhaustion and pain, growing numb.
“Almost. You can feel him already.” Dr. Song Ying brought Cecilia’s hand over, letting her touch the miracle for herself. “See? That’s your baby.”
The sensation under her palm was incredible. Knowing it was her baby filled Cecilia with renewed hope—she found her last reserves of strength.
At last, after a few more pushes, the baby slid out into the world, his cries starting faint then swelling strong and clear.
“It’s a boy.”
Cecilia felt utterly dazed. But hearing his cries, the tears she’d held back finally came pouring down. Their child—hers and Xavier Foster’s—had arrived.
She turned faintly to the man at her bedside. Xavier Foster let out a long breath and, ignoring the baby for the moment, pressed a kiss to Cecilia’s forehead and wiped away her tears.
“Sweetheart, you did so well. You’re a mom now.”
Cecilia shook her head, still weak. “It wasn’t that hard... Now you’re a dad.”
He squeezed her small hand in his palm. Their family had gained a brand new life.
She watched as the nurse wrapped the baby up and brought him over, laying him on her chest.
All at once, her heart turned soft and sweet, trembling like a pool of water.
The baby had stopped crying. He closed his eyes as if about to sleep, pink and wrinkled and perfect.
To Cecilia, he was the cutest baby in the world. “Look, darling, isn’t he adorable?”
Xavier Foster gazed at the funny-looking child, then wiped away Cecilia’s tears. To him, anything she gave birth to was the definition of adorable. “Yeah. He’s adorable.”
Dr. Song Ying finished up, smiling. “Let’s take the baby for a checkup. Rest a bit, Cecilia.”
Exhausted, Cecilia let her eyes drift shut.
Xavier Foster smoothed back her messy hair and kissed her gently. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Hearing his words, the little one in her arms gripped her finger a little tighter, a soft smile appearing on Cecilia’s face.