Chapter 638

The young nurse was engrossed in a romance novel when the commotion in the hallway startled her. She sprang up and quickly wheeled over a chair.

The burly man wiped his sweaty brow as his wife finally sat down. His voice trembled as he asked the elderly doctor, "Last month at the city hospital, they said she had over forty days left. How did this happen so suddenly? Is this considered premature?"

The old doctor examined the laboring woman, his brow furrowed. "She's already four centimeters dilated. Transferring her now is out of the question. Our facilities are limited, but we'll do our best to deliver the baby here."

Panic flashed across the man's face, his rough hands shaking. "The city's three hours away! My wife can't wait that long!"

The elderly doctor glanced at the woman, who was drenched in sweat from the pain, and made a quick decision. "Dr. Carter, your records indicate you're an OB-GYN?"

Evelyn Carter had already slipped on gloves. "Let me assess her first. Her contractions are irregular, and the baby's position seems off. Immediate intervention is necessary."

The fluorescent lights hummed overhead. The rural clinic lacked proper delivery equipment, and the operating room's sparse supplies were unsettling.

"We can't perform a C-section here," the old doctor murmured. "If this turns into a complicated birth..."

Evelyn adjusted the fetal monitor. "I'll attempt manual repositioning."

The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air. The woman dug her nails into the sheets but managed to ask weakly, "Doctor... will my baby be okay?"

Evelyn leaned down and grasped her trembling hand. "Your husband is right outside. Your whole family is waiting for you both to come through this safely."

At 3:17 AM, a loud cry pierced the night.

"Eight pounds, two ounces—a healthy boy." Evelyn placed the wrinkled newborn in his mother's arms. "He couldn't wait to meet you."

The woman smiled weakly, tears slipping into her hairline.

Cheers erupted outside. The grandmother barged in, eager. "Let me see my grandson!" Her calloused fingers reached for the baby's face.

Evelyn shifted to block her. "Newborns have weak immune systems. Please wash and sanitize first."

The father shuffled closer, his dark face flushed. "Doctor... can I hold him?"

Evelyn demonstrated how to support the infant's head and neck. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the mother turning her face away silently.

"Sir, there are some things we need to discuss privately." She guided him into the hallway and lowered her voice. "Your wife's emotional state isn't stable. She needs your support."

He blinked. "But she seems fine. My mother says all women go through this after childbirth..."

"Postpartum depression isn't a trivial matter," Evelyn cut in firmly. "Right now, she needs her husband's care more than anything."

From inside the room, the grandmother's loud voice carried: "Look at that forehead—destined for greatness! When will your mother arrive? She must see her grandson!"

Through the glass, Evelyn saw the new mother biting the corner of the blanket, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.