Chapter 178 Thea Is Here

Chapter 178 Thea Is Here
Eden’s Point of View 

All my life as a doctor, I had been the one rushing patients from the emergency bay to the trauma room and straight into the operating theatre. It was a normal routine to save other people’s lives. But never in my life, not even once, had I imagined there would come a day when I would be the one lying on the gurney.

Theron ran beside me as the orderlies wheeled me down the corridor, his hand wrapped tightly around mine as though letting go might cost him my life. His long strides struggled to keep up with the speed of the moving bed.

Somewhere behind us, Lola rushed back and forth in a frenzy, shouting instructions at nurses as we were pushed into the gynecology ward.

Then another contraction hit.

It crashed through my body like a violent earthquake, tearing through my lower back and pelvis, far worse than every single period cramp I have had in my life.

“Ugh!” A small scream escaped my lips, my voice echoing down the corridor. I had no idea what my body was doing to me. It felt as though I was transforming into something entirely different.

The pain was so raw, so primal, that my fingers tightened around Theron’s hand until my knuckles turned white.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I am never doing this again.

Theron’s eyes flickered down to our joined hands, and he tightened his grip on me just as fiercely.

“Babe, breathe.” Theron was unsure of what to do, but he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “You’re not breathing.”

I nodded weakly, biting down on my lower lip as I tried to obey him. I sucked in air—hard and fast.

Too fast.

Each breath scraped through my chest, sharp and painful, like my lungs didn’t know how to work properly anymore.

“Ooou…” I moaned, the sound slipping out helplessly.

I knew childbirth was painful. Of course I did. I’d read about it, heard women talk about it, seen clips on social media. But people rarely described this. Instead, they posted pictures of their babies, glowing and smiling, talking about how magical the experience was—how it was the most beautiful and important moment of womanhood.

Why didn’t anyone say it hurt like this?

Why didn’t anyone warn me it would feel like my body was tearing itself apart?

Why didn’t anyone say it would feel like I was transforming into some kind of monster?

The pain eased slightly, leaving behind a trembling emptiness that made my limbs feel weak and heavy. Nurses moved quickly around me in the triage area, their hands efficient and quick.

They helped me out of my clothes and into a thin hospital gown.

“Deep breaths. Deep breaths,” Theron reminded softly beside me.

I forced myself to inhale again, slower this time, my chest rising and falling as I tried to regain some control over my body.

“How long before I start pushing?” I asked anxiously.

It felt like I had been trapped in this endless cycle of pain for months, wave after wave crashing through me—but no one had mentioned anything about pushing yet.

“Ah—no!” I moaned, curling forward as another wave of pain gripped my abdomen. My hand slid beneath the heavy curve of my belly as if I could somehow hold the pain in place.

“It hurts so much,” I complained again. “When do I start pushing?”

“Soon, love. Soon.” He knelt beside the bed, his voice gentle despite the tension in his face. “I know you’re in a lot of pain right now—”

I cut him off sharply.

“No, you don’t.”

The words came out harsher than I intended, but another wave of frustration and pain was already climbing up my spine.

Theron didn’t argue.

“Of course I don’t,” he said quietly. “I can’t imagine how painful this is because I’m not the one who’s pregnant.”

His immediate agreement caught me off guard, and suddenly my vision blurred as tears welled in my eyes.

“But I’m going to be here through all of it,” he continued softly. “I know my presence won’t magically stop the pain… but if hitting me helps, you’re allowed to.”

Despite everything, a weak, breathless laugh almost escaped me.

Another contraction threatened in the distance, and panic tightened my chest.

“I want to get up,” I told him.

“Okay.” He rose immediately and slipped an arm around my waist, steadying me as he helped me off the bed.

The room felt too bright, too loud, too small, and even too quiet.

A nurse rolled a birthing ball toward us, and with Theron supporting most of my weight, I lowered myself onto it. We tried everything—slow swaying movements, walking around the room, leaning against him while I breathed through the tightening waves of pain.

Sometimes I managed.

Sometimes I didn’t.

There were moments when the pain crushed straight through my composure, and I completely fell apart, sobbing as if my life depended on it. The tears came uncontrollably, my body shaking as I clung to Theron.

I begged.

I begged the nurses.

I begged him.

I didn’t even know what I was begging for…

For the pain to stop?

For the baby to come faster?

For a moment of relief?

But I begged anyway, just get this thing out of me already.

“I’m sorry,” Theron muttered again, as I clamped my teeth down on his shoulder.

He didn’t even try to pull away, but I noticed he was trembling himself; I had just been here complaining terribly and selfishly about how much pain I am in, but Theron must be in pain too, right?

“Bite me as much as you want.” He urged.

So, I did, I bit down even harder, hard enough to draw blood. “That’s my girl.” He palmed my hair gently, not moving even in the slightest.

It was as though I was biting him with nothing but plastic teeth; I know this is hurtful for him too— that lying son of a gun.

“Good girl, let it all out.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as my fingers fisted his shirt. Biting him didn’t make anything better.

The pain didn’t ease, didn’t dull—it just kept coming. Hours passed like that.

The contractions weren’t far apart from each other now.

They were closer. Harder. Meaner.

“Ah!” I whimpered, my voice barely a whisper as I buried my face against Theron’s chest. “I don’t think I can do this.”

My body trembled against him.

“It’s so painful.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” His voice cracked as he held me tighter. He had been apologizing like this for hours now, as though the pain was somehow his fault. “I promise this is the last one. We are not having any more kids after this.”

“Ughhh!” I groaned, another contraction ripping through me before I could even catch my breath.

Then the nurse stepped closer, checking quickly before straightening.

“She’s fully dilated,” she announced calmly. “You can start pushing with your next contraction.”

My head snapped toward Theron.

Fear tightened in my chest so suddenly that it stole the air from my lungs. Panic flooded through me, and I shook my head weakly.

“I don’t think I can do this,” I said, my voice trembling. “I don’t want to do this.”

“You can do this, love. You can.” Theron pressed another kiss to my forehead, his hand brushing damp strands of hair away from my face. “We’ll breathe through it together.”

Before I could answer, another contraction tore through me—stronger than the last.

“Hugh!” I screamed, my entire body tensing as I bore down and pushed with everything I had.

“Breathe, breathe,” Theron urged beside me.

I dragged in deep, shaky breaths, trying to follow the rhythm they kept repeating.

“You’re doing so well, babe,” Theron encouraged, his voice steady even though I could see the fear and awe in his eyes. “You’re the strongest woman I know. Just a little more. I promise you’re going to be alright.”

“Ugh—no!” My head fell back against the pillow, my chest heaving violently as I struggled to catch my breath. I was exhausted already. I have been doing this for how many hours now? Eight? Ten? I don’t remember.

But it’s long enough for a full day to have passed.

“I can see the head,” the nurse announced, her voice calm but excited. “You’re doing a great job. Keep going.”

Those words gave me just enough strength to try again.

I pushed myself up slightly, propping my shoulders off the bed, gripping the sheets beneath my fingers.

I groaned loudly, bearing down with every last ounce of strength I had left, pushing with everything inside me.

“You can do this, babe. You’re doing great.”

“Come on, just a little more!”

The nurses’ voices blended with Theron’s anxious encouragement, everything around me stabbing at my senses—too loud, too sharp, too overwhelming. But I pushed anyway, drawing on the very last bit of strength I had left.

Then, with one final, desperate heave, I heard a sharp cry pierce the room.

For a moment, the world stopped; the pain. The fear. The exhaustion.

Everything froze in that single, fragile sound.

My baby was crying.

My child was here.

And it was alive.

Tears welled in my eyes as I lifted my head weakly, staring at the tiny human in the nurse’s arms while they quickly wiped away the blood and mucus from her small, trembling body.

“She’s a girl,” Theron whispered into my ear.

He pressed a trembling kiss against my cheek, and when I turned slightly, I saw the tears shining in his eyes.

“Our Thea is so beautiful…”