On the day my wife gave birth, I followed her hospital bed all the way from the hospital room to the door of the operating room.
I had already agreed with my wife beforehand that I would be the one accompanying her, and just as I was about to follow her inside, the doctor gave me a look.
“Are you Michael Carter?”
I froze for a moment. Michael was my wife Sarah Miller’s ex-boyfriend, the man she once considered her first love.
While I was still stunned, hurried footsteps sounded behind me. I turned and saw Michael, panting heavily, stop right in front of the doctor.
“Doctor, I’m Michael.”
Watching the doctor lead Michael inside, I rushed forward, only to be blocked by a young nurse standing to the side.
“Only the husband is allowed to accompany the mother-to-be. What are you doing here causing trouble?”
The operating room door closed right in front of me. I forced down my humiliation and tried to comfort myself.
It’s fine. They must have mistaken him for someone else.
I crouched helplessly by the door, tortured by the thought of Sarah enduring the pain of childbirth alone while I, her husband, couldn’t be by her side.
Time passed slowly until at last the door of the operating room opened.
I rushed forward in one step.
“Doctor, how’s the mother?”
The doctor hadn’t answered yet, but my gaze had already locked onto Michael, who was holding a tiny baby in his arms.
The joy of becoming a father instantly overwhelmed me, sweeping away the irritation I’d felt about Michael being inside.
“Give me the baby.”
I reached out my hands, but Michael completely ignored me and walked past, holding the child.
My face darkened, and I was about to follow, when Sarah’s weak voice came from behind.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and push me back to the room.”
I stopped in my tracks and looked at her pale face, moving closer to comfort her.
“You’ve worked so hard, honey. I wanted to go in with you, but the doctor called for Michael.”
Sarah’s expression flickered unnaturally, and she gave a couple of forced coughs.
“Maybe the doctor made a mistake. It doesn’t matter—you were still here waiting for me.”
Though I found it strange, I didn’t press further, mindful of her condition.
I pushed Sarah’s hospital bed back to the room. Michael was already standing beside the baby’s crib. When he saw us, he smiled warmly and walked over.
Right in front of me, Michael scooped Sarah up and gently placed her on the bed. Their intimacy stabbed at me like a knife.
Sarah never once refused him, even looking shy.
Only after a while did Sarah finally think of me, meeting my gloomy stare before quickly looking away.
Michael put her down and then got up to pour her a glass of water.
I snatched the cup from his hands.
“Michael, thanks for your help, but my wife and my son are mine to take care of.”
Michael’s expression didn’t change, but Sarah’s face filled with dissatisfaction.
She said outright that I was being rude, that Michael was only being kind.
“You have to look after me and our son all by yourself. Isn’t it better to have Michael help share the burden?”
Sarah slapped the cup from my hand, ignoring the scalding hot water splashing across my skin, and then turned to Michael.
“Michael, help me pack up my things. We’re going home.”
Just then a nurse came to tell us to complete the discharge paperwork. Sarah gave me a look, and I bent to pick up the cup, swallowing my anger as I followed the nurse out.
I thought Sarah was only upset because I embarrassed her in front of an outsider. Since she had just given birth, I decided not to argue with her.
But when I returned to the hospital room, the sight that met me made my blood boil.
Sarah was cradling the baby, while Michael stood at her side, the three of them looking like a perfect little family.
Their conversation cut into my heart like knives.
