Return Of The Real Heiress: Secrets And Masks

As evening fell, just like last year, Morris took Cherise to the Chivers residence for the reunion dinner with Mary, Enya, and Steven. The feast was as sumptuous as ever, with fine wine and delicious food.

At the dinner table, Phoebe raised her glass. "Here's to Cherise's second reunion dinner with us. I'm so happy. Let's toast to yesterday and welcome tomorrow."

Everyone stood up and raised their glasses. Except for Cherise, who only took a few sips, everyone else drained their glasses.

Just then, fireworks lit up the night sky outside the window. Cherise felt something was different and grabbed Morris's hand. "My water just broke."

Instantly, the Chivers family residence was thrown into a state of tension. Except for Cherise, who remained calm, everyone else was panicked.

"Morris, go get the car," Phoebe said.

"Mr. Chivers, I've had a drink. I'll call Lex to come right away," Steven said.

"Enya, where's the maternity bag? I can't remember where I put it," Phoebe said.

"Leo, call Claire," someone said.

"Cherise, does it hurt? How are you feeling?" Morris said.

Three and a half hours later, Morris was standing outside the delivery room at Betrico Hospital, while everyone else was sitting on the benches. Claire was knitting a sweater, but it looked more like a long scarf.

Leo asked her awkwardly, "Claire, you've been knitting this sweater since Cherise got pregnant, and now she's about to give birth, but it still looks like it did at the beginning."

Claire looked at the closed delivery room door anxiously. "I know, right? Why can't I be as skillful as other grandmothers? Forget it. The baby's almost here. I need to focus. This helps me calm down. Leo, pull the back part for me."

Phoebe was also anxious, but she couldn't stand any longer. She sat down and looked at Morris, who was even more anxious than her. "Morris, sit down. Cherise is a doctor herself. She'll be fine, and so will the baby."

Morris couldn't relax. Just then, the door opened. Everyone stood up, but it was only a midwife who came out.

Morris stopped her, a bit impatient. "Where's my wife? She's been in there for almost three hours."

The midwife knew Morris and was a bit nervous. "Don't worry, Mr. Chivers. Your wife is doing well. Everything is normal. It's just her first time, and the cervix is opening slowly. But she's doing great. Please wait a little longer."

The midwife's words eased Morris's anxiety. He realized he had been rude. "I'm sorry. I was just anxious. Please take good care of my wife."

"It's okay. This happens a lot in the delivery room. It's understandable," the midwife said.

Everyone could see Morris's tension and unease.

Steven handed Morris a cigarette and pointed to the smoking room. Morris reached out his hand, but just before he touched it, he refused and made a fist. "No, it's not good for the baby or the mother. Cherise will smell the smoke later."

Inside the delivery room, things were much calmer. Cherise's breathing was steady, and she knew how to regulate it to ease the pain. Her only issue was the frequent contractions.

Soon, the midwife said, "It's almost time. The cervix is fully dilated. Let's go, Mrs. Chivers."

Cherise was indeed amazing. After her cervix fully dilated, it took less than fifteen minutes for a newborn baby, both rosy and wrinkled, to enter the world with a cry.

Throughout the process, Cherise didn't scream once. She was cooperating with the midwife's breathing exercises. However, she was visibly exhausted.

The midwife said, "Congratulations, Mrs. Chivers, it's a 6-pound-5-ounce handsome boy. You're so lucky to have two strong and handsome men protecting you in the future." She them placed the baby, cleaned and wrapped in clothes, on Cherise's side.

Cherise let out a soft "mm" and turned to look at the baby lying beside her. It was

just a tiny bundle, and it wasn't clear who the baby looked like.

She gently smiled and leaned over to kiss the baby, "Welcome, my dearest little prince."

After a few minutes with the baby, the midwife said, "Mrs. Chivers, the baby is very healthy, but he still needs to have a check-up. You also need to be examined for another half hour before you can be taken to the postpartum ward."

"Okay," Cherise said.

Outside, Morris was on the verge of losing it when the door opened again. This time, there was not only a midwife but also a small baby carriage pushed by her, and the baby inside it.

Morris was the first to run over. His eyes fell on the baby in the carriage for just a second, and then he anxiously asked the midwife, "Where's my wife? Why didn't she come out?"

The midwife was about to speak, but Morris cut her off, looking like he wanted to rush in. She quickly said, "Mr. Chivers, everyone, please rest assured, both mother and baby are fine."

"The delivery room is sterile, and family members are not allowed in for now. But don't worry, in half an hour, Mrs. Chivers will be in the postpartum ward. Let's take a look at the baby first. He's a cute little boy," the midwife said.

"Later, one family member will accompany the baby for a check-up," the midwife added.

Relieved that Cherise was fine, everyone followed the hospital rules and lined up to see the baby first.

However, Morris's heart was with Cherise. He leaned against the door of the delivery room, staring at the glass partition as if he could see through it.

Only when Phoebe approached with

the baby did he turn around. "Morris,

w.you

I know how you feel. You'll see

Cherise soon. Now you're a father

Look at your baby first. This is your

son. He's tiny and adorable. He looks more like Cherise. Hug him."

Hearing this, Morris slowly turned his head. At Phoebe's insistence, he reached out and took the baby.

Like Cherise, he gently smiled and said, "I knew you'd be a boy. You kicked me a few times in the womb. Son, you and I will protect your mom together from nownoveldrama

on."

A very long half-hour passed. In the VIP postpartum ward, Morris sat beside Cherise, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, while their son slept soundly in a transparent baby carriage.

Perhaps she had slept enough, or maybe she missed her baby, or she sensed someone familiar, Cherise slowly opened her eyes.

As soon as she opened them, she saw Morris holding her hand tightly. She smiled, "Mr. Chivers, have you seen the little prince?"

Morris nodded gently, kissed her hand over and over again, and said, "Cherise, you've worked so hard. I've seen the baby, and he looks like you. Cherise, giving birth is such a test of mental strength. Let's only do this once, okay?"

Cherise smiled again and shook her head, "We have the little prince, but I also want a little princess who can be protected by her big brother. How about that?"

In the end, Morris gave in to Cherise's pleading.

A month later Morris, holding their son in one arm and tightly holding Cherise's hand with the other, attended the full-moon party for their son, planned by Truman and Xenia. It was the best, warmest, and most child-friendly party they had ever organized.

After the party, they returned home. In the master bedroom, Cherise lay on her stomach, watching their sleeping son. She gently took his delicate little hand and placed it in Morris's big palm.

Their eyes met, and they shared a sweet, warm smile. In their eyes was the expectation for a beautiful future.