Chapter 4

I passed out from exhaustion.

When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Julian.

"Julian, where's our baby?" I asked weakly.

He chuckled. "You did amazing, darling! The baby's right over there with Kim. Don't worry."

I nodded and told him, "Bring the baby over. I want to see him."

He gave a helpless smile and asked Kim to bring the baby to me.

The baby hadn't been swapped. I let out a sigh of relief.

But then Julian asked, "How are you feeling now? Do you want something to eat?"

Almost as soon as he asked, Kim brought over a nutritious meal for new mothers.

I ate quietly, and afterwards, the urge to sleep returned.

Before drifting off, I repeatedly instructed him, "Julian, you absolutely must watch over our baby. Don't leave his side for a second, stay focused."

Julian looked even more helpless but patiently reassured me, "Alright. Get some rest, I'll keep a close eye on our baby."

His words eased my mind a little, but I still felt uneasy.

However, a new mother post-delivery is incredibly weak, and my body simply wouldn't obey my will.

I quickly fell back asleep.

When I woke again, it was three in the morning.

Julian wasn't there, and neither was Kim.

My heart tightened, and I immediately pressed the nurse call button.

The first person to enter the room was Mrs. Sterling, my mother-in-law.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"Both you and Seraphina have given birth to boys for our Sterling family, so how could I not come?"

"I had the chef make some chicken soup. Would you like a sip?"

I couldn't refuse my mother-in-law's offer, so I smiled and said, "Yes, please."

But inwardly, I desperately wanted to see my baby.

With my mother-in-law sitting beside me, watching me with a smile, I had no choice but to force myself to drink the soup.

I mindlessly finished the chicken soup, then proactively asked, "Mom, where did Julian go?"

"Oh, he just left the room to go to Damon's side. Your father had something to ask him. He'll be back soon."

"He just left?" I asked suspiciously.

My mother-in-law nodded without hesitation. "That's right."

But my unease persisted. Something felt off.

In my past life, when Seraphina and I gave birth to our sons, my in-laws didn't even visit us at the hospital that night.

Yet tonight, both my in-laws were here, and they had even called Julian away.

A preposterous, yet strangely true, premonition began to form in my mind.

"Mom, I want to see the baby."

"What's there to see in a baby? They all look the same. The most important thing now is for you to rest and recover. You can see the baby tomorrow."

My mother-in-law's words were meant to sound caring, but she was subtly refusing my request to see the baby.

My unease intensified, and I said again, "Mom, please bring the baby over. I want to see him."

But my mother-in-law commanded me sternly, "Rory, you've just given birth; you shouldn't get agitated. You've had your chicken soup, now rest. You can see the baby tomorrow."

She wouldn't let me see the baby.

But I was too worried the baby had been swapped, so I pressed the nurse call button again.

My mother-in-law frowned, glaring at me. I offered a sheepish smile. "Mom, I just want to see the baby for a moment. It's not that I'm disobeying you."

This time, Kim arrived very quickly.

"Mrs. Sterling, what can I do for you?"

"I want to see the baby."

Kim immediately brought the baby over.

With just one look, I knew something was wrong with the baby.

My baby had been swapped. This wasn't my child.

Both Seraphina's baby and mine were boys and both looked fair and healthy, but their lip colors were different.

My healthy baby's lips were pink. Seraphina's son, with the failing heart, had lips that were a faint purple.

And compared to my healthy child, the baby in front of me was clearly much weaker.

"This isn't my baby."

The conviction in my own voice propelled me to action. “Kim, call Julian. Now.”

But my mother-in-law stopped Kim. "You're not going anywhere."

Then, she looked at me coldly. "Rory, what are you trying to do?"