Chapter 140 A Boy or a Girl Born?

Chapter 140 A Boy or a Girl Born?

"What are we going to do, Elena? This baby..."

Talia stared at the swaddled infant, clearly a girl, and stomped her feet in panic.

Elena, still weak from childbirth, glanced at the baby in Talia's arms. A sharp glint flashed through her eyes.

"Shut up!" she barked at her frantic mother.

Then, bracing herself, she sat up and grabbed Talia's clothes, her voice hoarse. "Get the doctor to take the baby to the incubator. Tell them she's premature and needs monitoring."

Talia's eyes were still wet with tears. She stared at Elena in confusion. "What good will that do? She's a girl. No matter how long we hide it, the Davis family will find out eventually."

Elena lowered her voice. "I've already paid off the doctors. They'll announce it's a boy. Once the baby opens her eyes, you'll swap her with the one in Room 603."

"What?" Talia gaped at her daughter.

Elena closed her eyes against the pain, her voice raspy. "Just do as I say."

She'd prepared for this scenario long ago. Before knowing the baby's gender, she'd found a pregnant woman due around the same time, though that woman had delivered two days earlier.

Worried the timing wouldn't align, Elena had forced herself into early labor today, making it look premature so the babies' ages would match.

She knew Talia was timid. Until everything was settled, she hadn't told her the full plan.

But now, unable to move, she had no choice but to rely on Talia to complete the switch.

Talia nodded helplessly. "I... I understand."

Elena's gaze burned into her. "Whether we spend the rest of our lives in comfort or misery depends on you."

If this scheme fell apart, Preston's retaliation would be ruthless. She couldn't afford to lose. She couldn't afford a single mistake.

Talia nodded, trembling.

Elena seized her hand, looking her dead in the eye. "This is my last chance. I've already crossed Preston. If I don't give the Davis family their heir, I'm dead."

Talia looked at her daughter, guilt churning in her chest. She forced down her panic and said through gritted teeth, "Elena, don't worry. Mom won't let you lose."

Reassured by the promise, Elena let herself slip into unconsciousness.

By the time Preston and Violet arrived, Elena had already given birth.

The first thing Violet asked Talia was, "Boy or girl?"

Talia wiped the sweat from her forehead, her voice shaky. "A... a boy. But he came early. He's in the incubator now."

Violet immediately beamed, clasping her hands together. "Wonderful! A boy! The Davis family has an heir!"

Preston's expression remained cold, his sharp eyes unreadable. "How's Elena?"

Hearing him ask about her daughter, Talia felt a flicker of hope. Maybe Preston did care about Elena after all.

But the next second, when she met his gaze, her heart lurched.

That look wasn't concern.

Remembering Elena's instructions, Talia lowered her head slightly. "Lady Elena hurt herself during the premature delivery. She's still unconscious. The doctors don't know when she'll wake up."

She paused, forcing a smile. "Even at the most critical moment, Lady Elena was thinking about protecting the baby. She really loves this child."

She tried to emphasize how difficult the birth had been, hoping Preston would show some sympathy.

Preston didn't buy it. He let out a cold, mocking laugh.

Of course Elena would protect the baby, it was her last lifeline.

"Take us to see the child," Preston ordered flatly, his face devoid of any concern for Elena.

Talia's anxiety spiked. "The baby can't be seen right now."

Violet frowned. "We'll just look from outside. When you're told to lead the way, you lead the way. Why so much back talk?"

This woman Elena brought in had no manners whatsoever. How dare she argue with her employers?

Scolded, Talia hung her head low, her mind racing.

The baby hadn't been switched yet. Elena had said to wait until the baby opened her eyes.

But she didn't dare disobey Preston's order. She had no choice but to lead them to the incubator room.

Fortunately, all newborns looked the same, and they could only observe from outside the glass.

Violet gazed at the grandson she'd been waiting ten months for, grinning from ear to ear. "Good, good, good. He looks just like you. Such a handsome boy."

Preston frowned at the wrinkled little bundle. He couldn't see the resemblance at all.

Still, knowing this was his heir, his expression softened slightly. He turned to the anxious Talia. "You'll be in charge of Elena's care from now on. Since she's done her duty by giving birth, I'll let things slide for now. We'll settle everything else after she's discharged."

Talia relaxed a bit, nodding with a smile. She ventured cautiously, "Sir, would you like to see Lady Elena?"

Preston's face remained expressionless. "What's there to see?"

The fact that he wasn't making trouble for Elena was mercy enough.

Talia tried again. "But Lady Elena, she, "

Violet cut her off. "Enough. Of course you're on Elena's side, she brought you here. Do you think it's your place to question what your employers do?"

Talia immediately shut her mouth. The more she said, the more trouble she'd cause. She couldn't afford to offend these two.

When Elena woke, the hospital room was empty. Not even a doctor, let alone Preston.

Though she'd expected this, disappointment still crept into her heart.

She'd given the Davis family a son, yet Preston still didn't value her.

It must be because of that risky move she'd pulled before. Preston was holding a grudge.

The incision in her abdomen throbbed dully even under the anesthesia, but she bit down hard, refusing to make a sound.

It's fine, she told herself. She'd given the Davis family a child. As long as she had the baby, she could still win Preston's favor eventually.

She struggled to sit up, her lips dry and cracked.

She was thirsty.

An IV drip was still attached to her hand, and her lower body was completely numb.

A glass of water sat on the bedside table, but she couldn't reach it no matter how hard she tried.

That's when Talia returned, her forehead slick with sweat. Seeing Elena straining to reach something, she rushed over. "What are you doing? If you need something, call me! You can't move around like this."

Elena noticed no one was behind her, and her eyes dimmed. "Where were you?"

Talia leaned in and whispered a few words.

Elena's tension eased. Letting them see the baby was fine, it would reassure them. "I'm thirsty."

The doctor had warned that Elena couldn't drink water yet. Talia dipped her finger in the glass and dabbed some moisture on Elena's lips.

"Be careful with the switch. And don't hand the baby over to Preston yet."

She couldn't risk Preston taking the child and then discarding her.

She needed this baby to secure her place as Mrs. Davis.