Page 29 of Captive Bride

"Jeanette," she supplied, sounding unperturbed by my lapse. "Is there anyone else there with you who can help?"

"No, it's just us." I swallowed hard, glancing around the room that seemed so big, so empty. "My wife...Ade needs me."

"I understand," Jeanette replied softly. "Then I need you to listen to me very carefully. Can you do that for me, sir?"

"Yes, I'm listening," I said, my skin prickling with anticipation as Adriana squeezed my hand. Her face was pale, her lips drawn into a tight line. Seeing her in such distress twisted my insides, but I pushed down the panic threatening to engulf me. We were so close.

"Sir, when the next contraction hits and Ade pushes, you'll need to check if the baby's head is visible," Jeanette instructed, her voice unwavering as she methodically guided us through the birth.

"Alright," I replied, swallowing hard. The idea of delivering our child myself was a surreal one, but there was no other choice. With every second that ticked by, we were becoming more and more on our own.

"Also, try not to let Ade push too hard or too fast," Jeanette continued. "We don't want to risk a rapid delivery."

"A rapid..." My voice trailed off as another contraction seized Adriana. She let out a strangled cry, her fingers digging into my hand.

"Now? Should I check now?" I asked, my voice pitching higher with stress.

"Yes!" Jeanette confirmed.

Inhaling sharply, I did as she instructed.

“I don’t want you to look!” Adriana said.

I held back the urge to laugh. “Well, I don’t think you can do it yourself, so…”

She let out a growl that would have been comical under any other circumstances. "If you make jokes right now, Tristan Callahan..."

I couldn't help but chuckle, even if it was more out of nerves than amusement. The fear was still there, threading its way through my veins and making my heart pound against my ribcage, but there was also a strange sort of exhilaration. This was it - the moment we'd both been waiting for.

Another contraction ripped through Adriana, her body seizing up with the force of it. She let out a small cry of pain, her hand tightening around mine until her knuckles were white. I could hear her breath coming in short gasps, the sound intertwining with my own ragged breathing.

I wheeled myself to the bottom of the bed.

"Tristan," she gasped out, her voice strained with the effort. "Is... is the baby..."

My heart pounded as I forced myself to look down, squinting in the dim light. But I could see clearly enough – there was a tiny patch of dark hair visible.

"Yes," I croaked, feeling a jolt of adrenaline surge through me. "I can see the baby's head, Ade."

The relief in her eyes was palpable, and it was all the encouragement I needed.

"Good," Jeanette's voice came through the speaker again, "keep going. You're doing well."

Adriana nodded, her eyes fluttering shut as she rested for a brief moment. Then another contraction seized her and she pushed with all her might.

"Can you still see the baby's head?" Jeanette asked.

I swallowed hard as I nodded. "Yes, it's...it's coming out."

"Okay, then guide your wife to slow and controlled pushes. We don't want any tearing."

Tearing? My stomach churned at the thought but I pushed away my growing unease. "Ade...slow down, alright? We're almost there."

She nodded. “Fuck!”

I could see Adriana grit her teeth, her body trembling with the effort as she struggled to follow Jeanette's instructions. Her hand clamped tighter around mine, her nails digging into my skin. But the pain was negligible compared to the pained cries filling the room.

"Tristan," she whispered in-between gasps, "I can't...it hurts...I can't..."

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