Resolute Decision

Lily Evans cooperatively reached out her hand so that Quentin Lin could test her blood type. The siblings joked and chatted as if nothing was wrong, but Margaret Evans, standing nearby, knew Lily was just trying to cheer her up, which made her heart ache.

Quentin Lin determined that Lily Evans had type A blood, then hurriedly took the people Alexander Hayes had gathered earlier to test their blood types as well.

Lily Evans was an adult; if she suffered massive blood loss, the need for blood would be far greater than what a baby would require for a transfusion.

Fortunately, the Prince of Qin's Manor was filled with people, as was the Lin Residence, and even if that wasn't enough, Alexander Hayes's three-thousand-strong elite Hayes Regiment was still stationed in the capital and hadn't left yet.

With so many people, gathering enough blood for both Lily Evans and the baby was a breeze.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rowan Lin was busy preparing medicine. In all his years of practice, this was the most cautious he had ever been—every portion, every drop, handled with utmost care, because his beloved daughter's life was at stake.

If anything were to happen to Lily Evans, Margaret Evans would be devastated beyond words.

Everyone was tense and busy, preparing for Lily Evans's delivery. Alexander Hayes refused to leave her side, guarding her as if she were a fairy from heaven—one glance away and she might fly back to the Celestial Pool.

Under Alexander Hayes's intense gaze, Lily Evans felt uneasy and joked, "I've heard a story about a wife who waited so long for her husband's return that she turned into a statue called the Waiting Wife Stone. If you keep staring at me like this, be careful you don't turn into a statue yourself—the Waiting Husband Stone."

But Alexander Hayes couldn't laugh this time. He just stared at Lily Evans, truly afraid something might happen to her.

"Lily, the medicine is ready," Dr. Rowan Lin said as he lifted the curtain and entered.

"Got it, Dad. I'm ready too," Lily Evans replied, taking a deep breath and pushing Alexander Hayes away. "Go outside, I don't want you in the room."

"Darling, I want to stay with you," Alexander Hayes said.

Lily Evans shook her head. She knew how frightening childbirth could appear, especially with all the blood. It wasn't that she was worried Alexander Hayes would be scared or disgusted; it was just that Lily cared a lot about her image and didn't want him to see her at such a disheveled moment.

So she'd rather have him wait outside the delivery room than by her bedside.

"Go wait outside and let Mom stay with me. You're a man, I feel uncomfortable with you here. Be good, Your Highness!" Lily Evans said.

Seeing Lily Evans's firm attitude, Alexander Hayes couldn't go against her wishes. He let Mrs. Wang take his place and waited outside the door himself.

Dr. Rowan Lin brought in the decocted medicinal soup and said to Lily Evans solemnly, "Daughter, think carefully. If you regret it now, it's still not too late."

Lily Evans shook her head. "For the sake of my child, I have no regrets. I trust you, Dad, I trust Quentin, and I trust myself. I will safely deliver this baby!"

"Good!" Dr. Rowan Lin sighed and handed the medicinal soup to Lily Evans.

Lily Evans smelled the bitter medicine, then tipped her head back and drank it all in one go.

As soon as the medicine entered her stomach, Lily Evans felt its effects—her belly began to ache.

Mrs. Wang hurriedly called in the midwives. They drew the curtain below Lily Evans's waist to separate her upper and lower body, since Dr. Rowan Lin would remain in the delivery room to closely monitor her condition and be ready to perform acupuncture if anything went wrong.

Lily Evans was already drenched in cold sweat from the pain. Mrs. Wang sat at the bedside, tightly holding her hand, wiping her sweat, and coaxing her like a child: "Lily, don't be afraid, I'm here with you. If it hurts too much, just squeeze my hand hard—it'll help. My good girl, I'll stay with you the whole time, so hang in there!"