Chapter 266 Terrified

Chapter 266 Terrified
 The months flew by faster than anyone expected.
   Lucas's pregnancy had progressed beautifully, and with twins, everyone treated him as though he were carrying the world's greatest treasure.
   To be fair, he was because anywhere he passed, heads turned. 
   “Is he a man or woman? Is he really pregnant?” People were amazed. Lucas carried himself proudly giving out smiles as they admired him.
   Sally had practically begged Alex.
"Please, let him stay here until after the babies are born. I'll sleep better knowing he's surrounded by people."
   After much persuasion, and Lucas rolling his eyes at everyone's worry, Alex reluctantly agreed.
   So Lucas was staying at Benson's mansion.
   Unfortunately, everyone had taken the responsibility of looking after him a little too seriously. They were like…"Lucas, don't walk too fast."
   "Lucas, sit down."
   "No, put your feet up."
   "You should drink more water."
   "Eat another orange."
   "No, bananas are better."
   "He needs more vegetables."
   "What vegetables? He needs protein!"
   "No, soup!"
   "No, fruit!" And on and on.
   That fateful day, their voices blended together until Lucas felt his head spinning.
   Sally walked in carrying another bowl. "Lucas, try this."
   Emily appeared with a glass of fresh juice. "No, drink this first."
   Annie immediately objected. "He hasn't finished the milk I prepared."
   "Milk can wait. The juice first."
   "No! The soup!"
   "Come on, the fruits!"
   Lucas stared from one woman to another. His eyebrow twitched. Then another. Finally, he exploded.
   "Enough!"
   The room instantly fell silent. Everyone froze. Lucas slowly stood from the sofa.
   "I love every one of you..." He pointed dramatically around the room. 
   "...but enough of this madness!"
   The women blinked. 
   "I'm not made of glass!"
   Nobody dared interrupt him.
"I'm almost twenty-seven years old. I'm about to be called a Mom or Dad. And yet everyone keeps arguing over what I should eat like I'm five years old!"
   Emily looked guilty.
   Annie lowered her head.
   Even Sally quietly placed the bowl down.
   Lucas folded his arms. "That's it.
I'm going back to my husband's house."
   He pointed toward the door. "And nobody..." He narrowed his eyes.
"...nobody is allowed to visit."
   The women gasped.
   "Lucas!"
   "Sweetheart!"
   "Please don't be angry!"
   Ignoring their pleading voices, Lucas waddled determinedly toward the front door. "I'm leaving."
   Emily hurried after him. "Please wait!"
   Annie followed. "Lucas!"
   Sally clasped her hands together.
"My son, don't go."
   Lucas reached for the doorknob.
Then suddenly, he froze. His hand moved instinctively to his belly. His face twisted.
   "Ah..."
   A sharp pain shot through his abdomen. His breathing caught.
   "Oh..."
Another stronger wave hit him.
He bent slightly, gripping his bump.
"Oh... God..."
   Everyone stopped moving.
   Lucas looked up, panic replacing his anger.
   "Call..." He inhaled sharply.
"...call my husband."
Another contraction made him wince.
"I...I…" He squeezed his eyes shut.     
   Then gasped. "I think the contractions have started."
   Silence followed.
   Emily and Annie stared at him.
"What?"
   Lucas cried out softly as another contraction gripped him.
   "Our little miracles are coming..."
   Annie suddenly screamed so loudly the entire mansion echoed.
   "Mom! The babies are coming!"
   Sally's eyes became as wide as saucers. "Oh my goodness!"
   She nearly burst into tears. "At last!"
   The entire house erupted into chaos. "Call Alex!"
   "Someone call Doctor Kornelly!"
   "Bring the hospital bag!"
   Emily quickly wrapped one arm around Lucas. "Easy, we've got you."
   Another contraction hit. Lucas clung tightly to her arm. "It hurts..."
   "I know. You need to enter the car.
We're almost there."
   Annie helped support Lucas on his other side as they slowly hurried toward the waiting car outside.
   "Easy...One step at a time."
   Lucas breathed exactly as Doctor Kornelly had taught him.
   "In..." 
   He inhaled shakily.
   "...out..."
   Another contraction..He nearly doubled over. "Oh...shit."
   Emily squeezed his hand. "You're doing great."
   Just as Lucas entered the car, Emily carefully helped Lucas into the back seat.
   Then Annie suddenly froze. "The babies' bag!"
   Without waiting for an answer, she spun around and sprinted back into the mansion.
   "Annie!" Sally shouted after her.
"I've got it!"
   Within moments, Annie came racing back out carrying an oversized baby bag stuffed with tiny clothes, diapers, blankets, bottles, and everything they had prepared over the last several months.
   "I got it!"
   Lucas leaned against the seat, sweat already covering his forehead.
His breathing had become uneven.
   "Where's..." He grimaced.
"...Alex?"
   Sally quickly dialed his number with trembling hands.
   "Pick up...Please pick up..."
   At that same moment, miles away in his office, Alex's phone began vibrating across his desk.
   The caller ID flashed one word:
Mom. Something in his heart tightened instantly. He snatched up the phone before the first ring had even finished.
   "Mom?"
    Sally's voice came through, trembling with excitement and panic.
   "Alex...The twins are coming."
   For one brief second, the world around Alex stood still. His heart stopped beating. Then it slammed violently against his chest.
   "The... the twins?" he stammered.
   "Yes!" Sally cried over the phone. "Lucas is having contractions! We're taking him to Kornelly's Hospital now!"
   Alex was already grabbing his car keys. "I'm on my way!"
   He didn't even remember hanging up. He rushed out of his office so fast that Jason, who had come to discuss some restaurant paperwork, barely had time to react.
   "Alex!"
   "The babies are coming!"
   Jason's eyes widened.
   "What?"
   Alex was already halfway down the hallway. "Call everyone! Meet us at Kornelly's!"
   Without waiting for a reply, he disappeared. His hands trembled as he drove.
   Every red traffic light felt like an enemy.
   "Come on!" He gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Please be okay, Lucas."
   His mind replayed every difficult moment they had survived together.
The kidnapping…the accident...the memory loss, which nearly drove him insane. The pregnancy, which came with its mood swings.
   "We've come too far, baby" he whispered.
   "Please dear heavens, "Don't let anything happen to him." His voice cracked, and his eyes became moist.
   At the hospital, Lucas had already been taken into the maternity ward.
   Another painful contraction made him grip the bed rail.
   "Ah..."
   Emily held his hand. "Breathe..."
   "In..."
   "Out..."
   Lucas obeyed, though beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
   Doctor Kornelly entered with two nurses. He examined Lucas carefully before smiling reassuringly.
   "The contractions are regular." He looked up. "It's time."
   Lucas swallowed. "So, we're really doing this?"
   Doctor Kornelly nodded. "We'll prepare for the Caesarean section."
   Lucas closed his eyes briefly. "Please, keep my babies safe."
   "And you, Lucas." the doctor replied kindly. "We'll take good care of all three of you."
   The operating theatre was quickly prepared. Nurses moved efficiently, checking equipment and confirming every detail.
   Lucas changed into a surgical gown while another nurse gently explained each step of the procedure.
   Although everyone remained calm, Lucas's heartbeat refused to slow.
He rubbed his stomach gently.
   "My little ones, we'll meet soon."
   Just then, the doors burst open.
   "Lucas!"
   Alex came running into the pre-operation area, breathless.
   The moment Lucas saw him, every bit of fear melted away. "You made it."
   Alex immediately knelt beside the hospital bed. "I'm sorry. I came as fast as I could."
   Lucas smiled weakly. "I know."
   Alex carefully held both of Lucas's hands. "Are you scared?"
   Lucas nodded honestly. 
"A little."
   Alex kissed his forehead.
"So am I."
   The admission surprised Lucas.
"You?"
   Alex gave a shaky laugh.
"I'm terrified."