"Lauren, here—a hundred million," Aaron said. He whipped out his checkbook, scribbled a figure, and tore the page off for her.
"A hundred million for all this pain?" Lauren countered.
"Two hundred million more, then."
"Are you kidding me? Why are you being so stingy?"
"Hold on," Aaron said. A moment later, he had signed over half of his entire net worth to her.
"Aaron, you'll have nothing left," she said.
"What do I need money for? As long as my wife and daughter are rich, I'm happy."
"We're about to have a son, too!"
"He's a man," Aaron grumbled. "He can earn his own keep. If he's ever thick-skinned enough to ask for a handout, I'll break his legs."
Trading barbs with Aaron actually helped; Lauren felt the edge come off the pain. "Aaron, I think we're close. Why don't you go outside and cheer me on from there?"
"No way. I'm staying right here with you."
"You're throwing off my focus."
"But—"
"Who calls the shots in this house?" Lauren interrupted.
Aaron looked at her with pure concern. "You do, of course."
"Then are you ignoring me?"
"I'm going, I'm going," Aaron said quickly. "You've got this."
"Dismissed! I need to concentrate now."
"I'm out of your hair," Aaron replied, backing away.
The moment Aaron left, the medical team in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief. They had been staying at the Cross estate for a month, on call 24/7, but they never expected that the formidable, high-powered Mr. Cross of Azure Peak City acted like this behind closed doors.
"Dad? Why are you out here?" Amelia asked as he stepped into the hall.
"I came out to cheer with you," Aaron said.
A sharp cry echoed from inside the room, and Aaron's eyes welled up with tears.
"Lauren, I'll never forget this," he called out toward the door. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you! And you, you little brat—behave yourself! If you come out now, I'll make you Chairman. Stop torturing your mother; you know she hates pain! That's my wife in there... why won't this kid just get a move on and get out?"
Amelia and the others were used to his dramatics and paid him no mind. Inside the room, the doctors desperately wanted to tell him to keep it down, but no one dared to speak up.
As evening fell, the sharp cry of a newborn rang through the house, sending a wave of excitement through the waiting room.
"He's here! He's actually here!"
Amelia threw her arms around her father before pulling Nicole into a tight hug. "I'm a big sister now!"
"Congratulations, Amelia," Nicole said, a genuine smile lighting up her face.
Eventually, a nurse emerged carrying a small bundle. Aaron rushed forward, his voice thick with emotion. "How's my wife? Is she okay? Is she safe?"
"Mother and baby are both doing perfectly," the nurse reassured him.
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