Chapter 1310:
Was she lonely in there, even surrounded by doctors and nurses?
The hallway was empty, lit only by harsh white light that threw long shadows across the floor. Every second moved with painful slowness.
Then the delivery room door opened, and a nurse stepped out. Her eyes found Brad as he moved toward her, and she hesitated. “Sir, you—”
“I want to go inside,” Brad interrupted, his voice hoarse but steady.
The nurse’s brow creased slightly. “Sir, if you choose to be present, you need to be prepared. Childbirth can be graphic, and for some people, it leaves a lasting psychological impact—it can even affect relationships.”
𝗖𝗁𝘪n𝘦𝘴e 𝗻𝘰ve𝗅s 𝘵𝗋𝗮𝗻s𝗅аt𝗲𝗱 o𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝘭𝗇𝗈𝘷𝗲𝗅𝘀.cо𝘮
“I’m not afraid,” Brad replied quietly.
The nurse tried once more. “Are you certain? Many husbands panic or get in the way. Some faint. Then we have to care for them as well.”
Brad looked directly into her eyes before answering, slowly and clearly. “I’ve seen my wife at her worst and at her strongest. I won’t judge her for anything, and I’m not afraid of anything.” His eyes were slightly red, but his voice grew steadier with every word. “She’s vulnerable right now. She shouldn’t have to face this alone. I need to be in there with her.”
The nurse’s expression softened.
She gave a small nod, turned, and pushed the door open. “Come with me.”
Brad stepped inside.
Rylie lay on the bed, pale and drenched in sweat, looking like someone who had just fought through a storm. Her eyes were shut, her lips pressed tightly together as she endured each wave of pain in silence.
When she finally opened her eyes and saw him standing there, surprise flickered across her face—then slowly gave way to quiet relief.
“Why did you come in?” she asked softly, her voice weak but carrying a faint trace of a smile. “Didn’t the nurse warn you? Watching childbirth can be traumatic. She wasn’t exaggerating.”
Brad walked to her side, gently took her hand, and sat down beside the bed.
“I know,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “But you can’t compare me to other men. Nothing about this—nothing about you, or our child—could ever change the way I see you.”
Rylie was quiet for a moment before a small, tired laugh slipped out. “You’re silly,” she murmured, brushing his cheek lightly with her fingers. “But honestly—having you here makes me feel so much better.”
Brad lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her hand.
“Then it was the right choice,” he said softly. “If it hurts, squeeze my hand. I can take it.”
He stayed at her side through everything that followed.
The labor was relentless, and every wave of pain that crossed her face seemed to tear at something inside him as well. He held her hand without letting go, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and let her grip him as hard as she needed whenever the pain became unbearable. The noise and chaos around them barely registered—all he could feel was the ache of watching her suffer.
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