The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 481

The delivery ward was quiet except for the steady hum of machines. Harrell explained to Catherine that she had to stay put—no getting up, no heading back to her room.

Her stomach throbbed with a dull ache. Every small movement sent another wave of amniotic fluid soaking the sheets. Catherine hardly dared to open her mouth.

“Try not to stress,” Harrell told her gently. “You need to save your strength. C-sections really take it out of you, and you'll have a baby to care for afterward. You'll be weak, so don’t tire yourself out now.”

He kept coming by to comfort her, popping in and out, always checking up on her.

“I know,” Catherine replied quietly, her lips almost colorless. “Isn’t my surgery tomorrow morning? You should go get some sleep. There’s no need to stay with me.”

She could barely keep her eyes open, much less find the energy to talk. Still, Harrell didn’t budge.

“I’ll stay here tonight,” he insisted.

He pulled a chair next to her bed, sat down, and opened a medical journal. He looked ready to spend the whole night by her side.

Catherine wanted to tell him not to bother, but Harrell was already settled in. She gave up on protesting and closed her eyes, forcing herself to get some rest.

Half-asleep, she could have sworn someone stepped into the room. There were footsteps out in the hallway, too.

Harrell left for a moment and came back soon after. Through the sound of the door opening and closing, Catherine thought she caught Sally’s voice. It was brief, almost like something from a dream.

When morning came and sunlight poured through the window, Catherine squinted, covering her eyes against the glare. She woke slowly, blinking herself out of sleep. Harrell was gone—he must have gone to get ready for surgery.

From outside, she heard quick footsteps and two nurses passing by. Their voices drifted into the room.

“Why’s Harrell doing a surgery this early?”

“I heard it’s for Sally. It was added last minute and he couldn’t say no.”

“He had to squeeze her in before Catherine’s operation, so he had to get up really early. Catherine’s C-section was already scheduled, they can’t just push it back…”

Sally? Was Sally having a C-section too? Today?

Catherine frowned, trying to sit up. Just as she got halfway, she felt a sudden warm rush below her.

A cold numbness spread through her limbs. It didn’t take long before her eyelids grew heavy, then her eyes drifted closed.

The operating room was tense. Harrell was there, but so were several men in suits standing stiffly at the door. Equipment beeped steadily, giving the room a sense of rhythm even though everyone felt on edge.

After about fifteen minutes, a sharp, loud cry broke through the silence. The air in the room seemed even heavier.

The lead bodyguard came over. By then, Harrell had already wrapped the newborn in a soft receiving blanket.

“Is it a boy or a girl?” the bodyguard demanded.

“A girl,” Harrell answered without hesitation.

The bodyguard reached for the baby. “Let me see.”

Harrell sidestepped the outstretched hand. He nodded to his assistant to close up Catherine’s incision while he took the baby aside to check her vitals.

Three kilograms. Fifty-one centimeters. Harrell jotted down the numbers, never letting go of the baby for a second.