Page 67 of Billionaire Temptations

“You’re staying?”

“Yeah. I’m not leaving you alone. I have some work to do, so I’ll just sit on the couch and do it. Now close your eyes.” He smiled.

A couple of hours later, I awoke to a severe cramping in my stomach—cramping so bad that I could barely breathe.

“MAX!” I screamed.

Within a second, he came running into the room. “What’s wrong?” He leaned over me.

“I don’t know. I’m cramping really bad. Something’s wrong.”

He pulled his phone from his pocket and called Darren to get here as fast as he could. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

Tears were streaming down my face as I tried to get up with Max’s help.

“Come on, sweetheart. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“No, Max. Something’s wrong.” I doubled over, and he grabbed me.

“Okay. Let’s just get you to the hospital.”

I struggled to get down to the lobby. The pain was intense. I slid into the back seat, and as soon as Max climbed in next to me, I laid my head on his shoulder, and he took hold of my hand. Darren pulled up to the emergency entrance, and Max flew out of the car and ran inside, getting a nurse to come outside.

“What’s going on, honey?” the blonde-haired woman asked. “How far along are you?”

“Twenty-eight weeks, and I’m cramping really bad.”

“Okay. Let’s get you out of the car and up to the labor and delivery unit.”

She helped me out of the car while Max held the wheelchair, and I sat down.

“How far apart are the cramps?” the nurse asked.

“They’re constant.”

As she wheeled me up, Max held my hand. Once we arrived at the labor and delivery unit, I was immediately put into a room, and two nurses helped me into a gown and quickly hooked me up to the fetal monitor. I looked at Max and grabbed his arm.

“You need to call the girls and tell them I’m here.”

“I will in a bit. Let’s wait and see what the doctor says.”

Within minutes, Dr. Richardson walked in the room. “I’m glad I was here, Emma. What’s going on?”

“I think I’m in labor, Dr. Richardson, and it’s way too soon.”

He put my feet in the stirrups and looked at Max.

“It’s okay. He’s the baby’s father.”

Dr. Richardson nodded and examined me. He looked at me and pursed his lips. “It’s time, Emma. We need to do a C-Section now.”

I looked at Max and shook my head as my lips trembled and the tears ran down my face.

“No. It’s too soon.”

“We don’t have a choice.” The door flew open, and two men came in with a gurney. They helped me from the bed and rushed me down the hall and into the operating room. Max followed behind and changed into scrubs and a mask. As I lay there while the nurses prepped me, horrific thoughts flooded my mind. It was too soon, and I wasn’t prepared for what might happen to her.

“It’s okay,” Max spoke as he pressed my hand against his lips.

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