Chapter 4

I ignored them, biting my lip to keep from screaming in pain.

"Take your time. I'm not waiting."

Hearing that I was leaving, Chloe rushed over to block the door.

"Oh, come on! It's just a few minutes. I'm almost done. Do you really want me to look ugly holding my goddaughter? This is going to be a core memory photo!"

At 10:45, more fluid ran down my legs. I could barely stand. Logan called to pressure us.

"Why aren't you guys down yet? The hospital is rushing us. If we aren't there by 11:00, the chances of a safe delivery drop drastically!"

"Every minute we delay is another minute of danger!"

The contractions were coming in rapid waves. The pain was so intense I couldn't form words.

Amanda snatched my phone and roared into it:

"It's not that we don't want to leave! It's because a certain ugly drama queen refuses to step out of the house and won't let us leave either!"

"Hang on, Logan. Dad and I are coming up!"

When Dad walked in, Chloe was busy putting on false eyelashes in front of the mirror.

Arthur held back his rage and asked Brandon:

"Brandon, I've always treated you like my own son. When you married my daughter, I paid for your wedding, got you a car, and didn't ask you for a dime. All I wanted was for you to treat Scarlett right."

"How did you promise me back then?"

"Now, you're delaying my daughter's emergency medical care just to wait for someone else. Do you think this is acceptable?"

Logan clenched his fists.

"Brandon, when you were pursuing Scarlett, you swore you'd protect her for the rest of your life. That's why we trusted you with her."

"We saw how much she suffered during this pregnancy. Now you're making her wait? Tell me, how does someone 'wait' to give birth?!"

"But... I'm the baby's godmother," Chloe whimpered. "If my hair is greasy, how can we take photos?"

"Yeah, Arthur," Brandon chimed in. "Scarlett agreed to let Chloe be the godmother."

The two of them sang in harmony, making it seem like it was all my fault.

Arthur lost his temper completely. He roared:

"Godmother? What the hell is a godmother compared to her actual mother?!"

"Are you saying Scarlett has to wait for this girl to finish her makeup before she's allowed to give birth?!"

My dad had always been a peacemaker. He was always gentle with Brandon, and whenever Brandon and I had a tiff, he would tell me to swallow my pride.

This was the first time I had ever seen him so furious.

Brandon lowered his head, speechless. Chloe, having just applied her last eyelash, stood in front of Brandon.

"You can't talk to us like that. What do you mean 'waiting for me'? Even if we go to the hospital, we'll just be waiting. Why aren't you yelling at the doctors?"

"And Scarlett, if you hadn't asked me, I wouldn't even have bothered to be the godmother. Now everything is my fault."

"Fine! It's all my fault! I shouldn't have come!"

With a loud sob, she slammed the guest room door behind her.

Suddenly, another vicious contraction hit. My vision went black, and my knees buckled.

My family immediately rushed to carry me out.

But Brandon still blocked the door, his face grim.

"Scarlett, are you really in that much of a hurry? What difference does a few minutes make?"

"You were the one who wanted her to be the godmother. Now that you've caused a scene, go apologize to her."

"Or what? Do you want your baby to be born without her father in the room?"

He knew how terrified I was of childbirth. We had agreed that he would accompany me in the delivery room and cut the umbilical cord.

Now, he was using his presence as leverage. If Chloe didn't go, he wouldn't go either.

Fine. I'll just find my baby a new father.

Because ever since I sent that message, my Snapchat had been blowing up.

The latest message read: "I'm almost there."