Caught in a haze of discomfort, her mind drifted through a myriad of memories with Leonel- both joyful and painful.
After a moment, the doctor asked softly, âWould you like someone with you during the delivery?â
Previously, Leonel had been by Alexisâ side when Daniel was born.
Now, despite their divorce, Leonel was the father and he waited just outside.
Under the stark light of the delivery room, Alexis, resting her face against the pillow, gently shook her head, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.
The doctor softly touched Alexisâ cheek and whispered, âIâll step out for a moment to speak with your parents.
â
Alexis nodded in agreement.
Throughout, she made no inquiries about Leonel.
Exiting the delivery room, the doctor closed the door with a gentle click.
Outside, Rena approached the doctor with concern.
âHow is everything?â
With a comforting pat on Renaâs hand, the doctor smiled.
âSheâs doing well.
I donât expect the delivery will take more than two hours, and the baby is quite lively.
It seems sheâs eager to meet the world.
â
Relieved, Rena expressed her desire to be present at the birth.
Suddenly, Leonel, his voice hoarse, interjected, âMom, let me be with Alexis.
â Evelyn clung to his hand, her grip tight.
Rena faced a tough choice, but the doctor intervened, âAlexis has requested not to have anyone accompany her.
â
Leonelâs gaze grew distant as he leaned against the wall, staring at the delivery room door that separated him from Alexis.
Suddenly, a womanâs high-pitched scream echoed from the adjacent delivery room, a stark reminder of the pain childbirth could bring.
Leonelâs complexion turned pale, his fingers trembling involuntarily.
In that moment, he was filled with regret.
He had wanted a baby primarily to keep Alexis close, but now, she was enduring the agony of labor because of his selfishness.
Waylen, witnessing Leonelâs distress, was incensed.
âWhat good does regret do now? The baby is almost here.
â
Leonel murmured an apology.
Disdain flickering across his face, Waylen turned to gaze at the delivery room door, his mind consumed with worry for his daughter.
He harbored a fierce urge to confront Leonel more aggressively.
Just then, the delivery room door swung open.
A nurse stepped out and addressed the doctor, âDr.
Hill, her cervix is fully dilated at ten centimeters.
Please, come quickly.
â
Dr.
Hill rushed inside.
In the hallway, the Fowler family stood in tense silence.