Without sparing a nce at the baby, Natalie brushed past the nurse and rushed into the delivery


    room.


    Laneyy on the operating table, her face ghostly white and her sweat-soaked hair clinging to her


    forehead. Natalie’s heart ached at the sight of her dear friend, so worn and fragile.


    “Natalie, have you seen our baby? Isn’t she adorable?” Laney tried to sit up, her eyes sparkling with


    excitement.


    “Stay still!” Natalie scolded gently. “You need to rest. You’re a mother now, and your little girl is


    absolutely perfect.” Hearing her baby was healthy, Laney sighed with relief.


    Exhausted, she fought to stay awake, her thoughts consumed by Garrett.


    “Where is Garrett? Hasn’t he arrived yet?” she asked, struggling to keep her eyes open. Natalie’s heart


    twisted with sympathy as she searched forforting words.


    Unbeknownst to her, L had silently followed. Seizing her opportunity, L interjected, “I contacted


    Mr. Harding. He said he’s too busy toe back and told you to take care of yourself.”


    Her voice dripped with malicious satisfaction. “What did you say?” Laney’s face crumpled with disbelief


    and anguish. She couldn’t fathom Garrett’s cold indifference towards her and their child.


    “Pay her no mind!” Natalie cut L off. Whirling around, she fixed L with a fierce re. “Get out!”


    L, cowed by Natalie’s intensity, muttered her discontent but retreated without further provocation.


    “Natalie… Did Garrett really say that?” Laney clung to Natalie, her voice pleading.


    Natalie quickly denied, “No, don’t listen to L’s lies. We’ve made contact with him and he is on his


    way over right now. He also asked us to take good care of you till he gets here.” Compared to L,


    Laney naturally trusted Natalie more. Hearing this, she finally rxed. However, the next second, a


    wave of intense pain once again swept through her entire body.


    “It hurts…” Laney appeared to be in anguish, gasping for air, as if she was about to pass out the next


    moment.


    “Laney!”


    Natalie was terrified, screaming, “What happened to you? Doctor! Doctor!” The doctors and nurses


    arrived as soon as they heard themotion.


    Blood dripped down Laney’s legs and her pupils began to dte. “Oh, no!”


    The doctor’s face became pale as he added, “She is hemorrhaging right now! We must do the surgery


    right now or she will bleed to death!”


    “Hemorrhaging? Why is she suddenly hemorrhaging?” Natalie’s mind went nk and she couldn’t


    process what was going on.


    But nheless, it was not the right moment to inquire. Laney needed to be rescued immediately, so


    Natalie had no choice but to step outside and wait.


    Ian couldn’t help but feel more nervous when he saw doctors and nurses rushing in and out of the


    delivery room with a grave look on their faces.


    When he saw Nataliee out, he hurried over and asked, “Mrs. Larson, is everything all right?”


    Natalie’s eyes began to well up with tears. She said in a hoarse tone while leaning against the wall,


    “Laney started to hemorrhage all of a sudden. They are conducting surgery to stop the bleeding.”This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    “How did this happen?” Ian frowned. “I don’t know. Suddenly…” Natalie covered her mouth with her


    hand as she couldn’t bring herself to speak.


    “Mrs. Harding will be fine.” Ian looked up at the red light above the door of the ICU as he spoke.


    In truth, he didn’t know if he was trying tofort Natalie or himself.


    L couldn’t hide the look of gloat in her eyes as she looked at the two flustered people and said, “She


    will be fine? Do you even know what you’re talking about? Only a handful of fortunate people survive


    from a puerperal hemorrhage.”


    The look in Natalie’s eyes suddenly turned cold. It dawned on Natalie that Laney’s hemorrhage was


    triggered by her own overwhelming emotions, and L was the one to me for it all.


    “You liar!” With a calm yet piercing gaze, Natalie demanded L’s phone, “Give me your phone! I want


    to see when you got in touch with Garrett.”


    L took a few steps back, lowered her head, and faltered, “I… I…”


    “Give me your phone!” Natalie said coldly. What gives you the right to invade my privacy like this?” L


    retorted.


    Natalie, no longer interested in conversing with L, snatched her phone and swiftly perused through


    the call history.


    As expected, there were no traces of contact bet**en Garrett and L.


    Natalie was further infuriated by the discovery that the most recent call L had made was to none


    other than Kailee.


    L had also sent messages to Kailee, reminding her of Garrett’s departure and providing updates on


    Natalie’s arrival.


    Natalie dialed Kailee’s number and within seconds, the call was connected, indicating that Kailee had


    been eagerly anticipating updates from L.


    “How is it going? Are Laney and her baby dead?” Kailee’s voice was venomous, causing quivers of


    terror to those who heard it.


    Natalie enunciated each word with an icy chill, “Regrettably, I must shatter your expectations. Laney


    and her baby are both unharmed.”


    The idea of Natalie being on the other end of the line had never crossed Kailee’s mind, causing her


    heart to skip a beat. Before she could gather her wits, she was met with Natalie’s frigid voice once


    more. “I will not let you sl*p away, Kailee.”


    Kailee’s nerves trembled with trepidation, and she abruptly ended the call. Ian prevented L from


    taking any action, leaving her powerless but to spectate.


    A sense of panic surged through her as L realized that Natalie was not going to let her go easily.


    In an instant, Natalie spun around to L andmanded Mesue, who had just arrived a few


    moments ago, “Detain L at once. I’ll deal with her once Laney gets better.’’


    Mesue heeded the instruction and yanked L away, ignoring her feeble resistance. “Natalie!”


    L howled and thrashed about, adding, “I was sent here by Mr. Harding! How dare you treat me like


    this? Are you sure you want to go up against the Harding family?”


    Natalie ignored L and waved at Mesue to take her away. Disdainful and repulsed, Natalie refused to


    even cast a single nce at the despicable L.


    At that moment, Leo and Vera made their entrance, their exp**ssions a blend of anxiety and concern.


    Upon observing the unfolding scene, Leo inquired, “What in heavens is transpiring? Why are you


    restraining L?”


    Natalie scoffed derisively, her disdain for Leo and Vera palpable, “Perhaps you ought to direct your


    question to L, the ‘ster’ assistant you so thoughtfully employed for Laney.”


    Though Natalie harbored a strong aversion to Leo and Vera, she had consistently maintained an air of


    cordiality. However, witnessing Leo’s disregard for Laney and the baby, and his unfounded usations,


    her anger boiled over, and she abandoned all pretense of politeness.