Chapter 5 - The Delivery Room
By the time Elena reached St. Catherine Medical Center, her contractions were close together.
Nurse Rosa helped her into the delivery room and tried to keep her calm.
“Your baby’s heartbeat is strong,” Rosa said. “We’re watching you carefully.”
Elena gripped her hand.
“My husband is coming.”
Rosa hesitated.
She had seen Preston walking through the corridor with Khloe.
When Preston entered, Elena felt relief for less than a second.
Then she saw Khloe behind him.
“Why is she here?” Elena asked.
“She was helping me when you called,” Preston replied.
“This is private.”
Khloe lowered her eyes. “I can leave.”
But she did not move until Nurse Rosa firmly directed her toward the door.
Preston stopped her.
“She can stay near the entrance.”
Elena stared at him through the pain.
“I said I don’t want her here.”
Before Preston could respond, the monitor changed rhythm.
Nurse Rosa checked Elena’s readings and called Dr. Morgan.
The senior doctor was assisting in another emergency, so the team began preparing according to her written plan.
Elena’s condition worsened quickly.
“We may need surgery,” Rosa said.
Preston stepped between the nurse and the equipment cart.
“No.”
Rosa looked at him in disbelief.
“This is not your decision.”
“I know my wife’s history.”
“Then you should know Dr. Morgan authorized emergency intervention.”
Khloe moved close to Preston.
“She told you Elena was trying to force this,” she whispered.
Preston looked at his wife.
Elena was crying, but her voice remained clear.
“Please listen to them.”
He heard fear.
But Khloe had trained him to interpret Elena’s fear as manipulation.
“No surgery,” Preston ordered. “She delivers naturally.”
The room became silent.
Nurse Rosa’s expression hardened.
“You are her husband, not her attending physician.”
Preston pointed toward the staff.
“If anyone operates without proper justification, I’ll hold this department responsible.”
Elena’s face crumpled.
“You’re risking us because you believed her?”
Khloe looked down, hiding the smallest smile.
May you like
Nurse Rosa saw it.
And in that moment, she understood everything.
