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Chapter 13
Yvonne chuckled dismissively. “Ambi, why ask your dad? He’s never given birth. How would he know?”
She ruffled his hair. “Ask Grandma! It didn’t hurt at all when I had him. Your mom’s just being dramatic.”
Under her breath, she added, “Adopted girls are so fussy.”
Though quiet, Seymour heard it.
“Mom, don’t tell him that.” He pursed his lips.
Yvonne huffed. “Fine.”
Ambrose frowned. Yvonne’s words clashed with the doctor’s earlier
lecture.
But since Yvonne spoiled him, letting him watch cartoons when his mother said no, he chose to believe her.
“Grandma, can I watch “PAW Patrol” for 30 more minutes?”
“No. It’s late. We’ll visit Mom tomorrow,” Seymour said firmly.
The boy pouted at Yvonne, who shrugged. She wouldn’t defy her son.
“Watch tomorrow, okay? Skip the hospital.”
Seymour disliked her leniency but allowed it. It was better than risking Felicia mentioning divorce in front of Ambi.
Seymour stayed silent, tacitly agreeing.
But Ambi began to hesitate.
“Mom seemed so sad today. Shouldn’t I visit her?” he wondered.
Yet the thought of watching “PAW Patrol” without his mother’s limits. made him grin. “Okay! I won’t go to the hospital tomorrow!”
In the Pruitt family car, Mabel’s older brother, Roger Pruitt, fumed.
“Mom, did you see how Felicia treated Mabel? Does she forget she’s just an adopted daughter?”
He’d planned a post–concert celebration for Mabel, but Felicia’s labor ruined it.
Edwina sighed. “Licia had a baby alone. She’s stressed. Let’s be kind.”
She patted Mabel’s hand. “Don’t take it personally. Your sister’s just protective of her child.”
Mabel fluttered her lashes. “I’m not upset. I just worry she misunderstands
me.”
Roger sneered. “Misunderstand? She’s framing you! Childbirth isn’t special. Anyone can do it!”
Mabel hid a smirk.
“Roger, don’t say that. She’ll think you favor me.”
“We should favor you!” he snapped. “You’re the real Pruitt heiress. If you’d returned sooner, you’d be Seymour’s wife!”
“Enough!” Esteban Pruitt, Mabel’s father, had rushed from the airport to the hospital, only to witness the drama.
“Roger, as the eldest, watch your words!”
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Edwina shot her son a warning look. “Esteban, he’s just protective of Mabel. It won’t happen again.
Esteban was known in the Pruitt family for his strict authority. He treated his son harshly but showed gentler affection toward his two daughters.
When Mabel went missing years ago, and his wife couldn’t conceive again, he’d suggested adopting a daughter from an orphanage.
Mabel clenched her fists. After three years back in the Pruitt family, Edwina. Roger. Seymour, and even Ambi doted on her unconditionally, except Esteban, who treated her and Felicia equally.
“Dad. I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to her tomorrow. Don’t be upset.”
She knew his weakness. As expected, he sighed. “Mabel. I’m not blaming you. But today, Felicia suffered the most. You’re both my daughters. I won’t favor either.”
She feigned tears. “Dad, I’m just grateful to be home.”
At hospital.
After the family drama, Felicia lay awake,
To distract herself, she began massaging her abdomen to expel postpartum
lochia.
The returning nanny gasped. “Mrs. Lucero, are you… doing that yourself?”
Felicia held her breath, her hands moving with practiced precision.
Emma stared in awe..
With over a decade of experience, she knew proper lochia drainage. required skill and pain tolerance.
w
”
Yet Felicia showed no discomfort. Emma felt puzzled.
“Did you train for this? Does it … not hurt?”
Felicia smiled faintly. “It hurts, but pressing certain acupoints eases it.”
Emma glanced at the steadily flowing lochia and muttered, “You’re incredible, Mrs. Lucero.”
She’d never seen a new mother self–administer postpartum lochia drainage on day one after a C–section.
If not for her technique, her pain tolerance alone deserved applause.
Felicia smiled faintly. “Please fetch warm water to clean up.”
Afterwards, Mina woke.
Felicia tracked the time. The baby had nursed at 10 PM and now stirred again at 12:30 AM.
Emma placed the tiny bundle in Felicia’s arms. Mina suckled quietly, eyes. closed, melting Felicia’s heart.
Every newborn was pure magic.
But thoughts of Ambi’s behavior darkened her mood.
“Ambi, I want to love you and watch you grow. But even a mother’s heart can break.
“After endless disappointments, she’d let go.” she thought.
“Thank you for your help these days,” she t
the nanny.
She’d never use Seymour’s hired help again.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Lucero. I’ll settle down Mina for bed. She’s been so
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calm. You should rest now too.”
Alone. Felicia opened her phone’s alarm settings.
She deleted the alarms for making breakfast for Ambi and taking him to school.
She also deleted the alarms for taking him to attend kickboxing class and preparing milk after his homework.
Every trace of Ambi vanished.
Could she blame the child? No! Children mirrored their parents. Ambi’s disdain reflected Seymour’s.
So she erased it all.
Felicia created new alarms all for Mina.
This time, she’d raise her princess alone.
No repeats.
But she couldn’t stay a housewife.
She opened her contacts and texted, “Jarred, does the lab still need help?”
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