Chapter 1746


    Maja''s baby bump was starting to show, and Ian, not one to take any chances, had scheduled a


    check-up at the hospital for the next day. He wanted everything to be thoroughly examined.


    "Beck took me for a check-up before, it''s not necessary," Maja protested gently.


    "Let''s do it again, I''ll be with you this time."


    Ian knew that if they overlooked this check-up, Maja would be the one to sufferter, and he couldn''t


    bear the thought of that.


    Maja finally nodded in agreement, watching as he busily researched on his phone, poring over what


    foods she should eat and what to avoid.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    He''d only recently been brought back into the picture, and the role of a soon-to-be father had him


    frazzled, unsure of what to do.


    His only recourse was calling the doctor for advice and scouring the inte for information.


    He even secretly joined a dads-to-be group, behind Maja''s back.


    The group was a mixed bag of about thirty guys, all strangers to each other.


    The usual banter was about their wives, and Ian intended to ask for tips on soothing Maja''s mood


    swings during pregnancy, but the group was already abuzz with their own tales.


    [Pregnancy is such a drama, man. One minute it''s pickles, the next it''s ice cream. I''m mmed at


    work and now I''ve gotta cater to her whims, too. My mom was right; you can''t be too nice to women,


    or they''ll walk all over you,] oneined.


    [Mine still bikes over dinner to me after her shift. Doesn''t seem like a big deal to me. Pregnancy isn''t


    the end of the world,] another shrugged.


    [The whole gender war online is crazy. Women think they''re princesses. Our mothers didn''t even


    step foot in a hospital and still had healthy babies.]


    Ian''s face darkened as he read thesements.


    It was the story about the wife biking meals to her husband after a night shift that got him. The


    husband was boastful, as if this was normal.


    To Ian, it sounded like a horror story. A pregnant wife working nights, biking meals to herzy


    spouse? Unbelievable.


    Fuming, he typed, [If you''re so capable, why don''t you try giving birth?]


    That set off a firestorm in the chat.


    [If it weren''t for carrying on the family name, why would I need her? Plenty of women out there


    willing to have my kid.]


    [My wife''s pregnant with our third, and after two girls, I didn''t even bother visiting the hospital.]


    [Anyone siding with women is just apdog. But what''s the point of being apdog in a men''s


    group?]


    Ian''s eyes bulged in disbelief. How on earth did these guys even find wives?


    He quit the group immediately and reported it.


    Meanwhile, Maja, who had been resting on hisp, noticed his mood shift.


    "What''s wrong? Did the doctor say something?"


    "Just some garbage in a group chat. I''ve made our appointment; I''ll be with you for the check-up


    tomorrow."


    "Okay."


    Maja turned over and gently rubbed her belly, full of anticipation. Boy or girl, she wondered.


    That night, Maja slept soundly, but Ian was awake by 1 AM, his skin crawling with an unbearable


    itching that was quickly turning into pain.


    Sweat drenched him, and he rose to cover Maja with a nket before heading downstairs to the


    living room. The itch was too intense to be just that; it was apanied by an excruciating pain


    that seemed to be getting worse.


    Jeff, hearing themotion, came downstairs, wrapped in a robe. Ian had only recently returned,


    and Jeff had been staying in a downstairs bedroom, so Ian''s nighttime jogging was a surprise.


    "Mr. Raymond?" Jeff inquired, confused.


    Ian felt like his blood was boiling. Barely holding himself together, he managed, "Water, please."


    Jeff hurried to fetch a ss.


    Drinking it, Ian only felt worse. The difort woulde and go during the day, but at night, it hit


    him in waves.


    Queena, the genius from the researchb, had concocted something so potent it could erode a


    man''s sanity.


    Leaning against the wall, Ian felt at one point as if his body would ignite, his clothes burned off him.


    He rubbed his temples, his voice hoarse. "Don''t tell her about this."


    The doctor had said it would get better with time — distance from Queena would weaken the


    dependency — but the initial stages would be tough.


    Ian stayed there until 5 AM before returning to the bedroom.


    Maja had been sleeping a lottely, never waking up at night, so she hadn''t noticed Ian''s nocturnal


    struggles.