Chapter 2

Just as I neared despair, a chorus of car horns suddenly sounded outside.

Windows rolled down as drivers stuck their heads out, shouting forward:

"Cars ahead, clear the lane! Someone's about to give birth!"

The emergency lane opened up. The driver's car flew forward.

But just five minutes from the highway exit, we got blocked again.

She'd pressed the horn so hard it was practically smoking, but the cars ahead still wouldn't budge.

The pain in my abdomen came faster and more intense.

Amniotic fluid mixed with blood dripped onto the car floor.

Cold sweat soaked my entire body. I couldn't tell anymore when I was conscious and when I'd blacked out from the pain.

When I came to again, the driver was outside arguing with someone.

"The emergency lane is for saving lives! Blocking it like this could kill someone!"

The driver spat on the ground, looking completely dismissive.

"We're not the only ones stuck here. If you want to yell at someone, go yell at the cars up front!"

"Stop making a scene at me, or don't blame my fist for not having eyes!"

Seeing the man actually about to hit the driver, I forced myself through the pain to open the car door and pull her behind me.

"I... I really am in labor. Please, I'm begging you, just move aside..."

This effort took every ounce of strength I had. I stumbled and couldn't support myself, collapsing to my knees on the ground.

Blood stained the snow red beneath me.

The man hurriedly got back in his car and slammed the door shut.

"I didn't cause this—don't try to scam me!"

Perhaps because the scene was so obviously dire, many people got out of their cars and ran toward the vehicles ahead.

They knocked on windows one by one, desperately trying to explain.

"There's a pregnant woman who can't hold on much longer!"

"We all have wives and children—please, save them!"

The pain struck again. Just as my consciousness was fading, the cars ahead moved in perfect unison, clearing the emergency lane.

Some cars even pressed tight against neighboring vehicles, willing to risk scratches, just to make the path wider.

The driver and people nearby quickly lifted me into the car.

"Don't be scared—we'll be at the hospital soon!"

The car started moving again. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

"Thank you!"

The driver smiled. "We're saving you, but we're also saving any of us who might face danger in the future."

But we'd barely driven two minutes when traffic patrol cars blocked our path.

Logan's buddy, Marcus, stepped out of the car with a frown.

"So you're the ones disrupting traffic and causing multiple collisions on the highway?"

The driver tried to explain.

But Marcus cut her off directly.

"You women drivers are all the same—causing chaos. They should ban you from the roads entirely!"

The driver's face flushed red with anger.

Before she could get her rebuttal out, she heard my scream.

She rushed back into the car to wipe the cold sweat from my forehead.

"Hang in there—five minutes at most and we'll be at the hospital!"

Marcus stepped forward. Seeing it was me, a flicker of suspicion crossed his eyes.

"Mrs. Stewart, what are you doing here?"

I bit down hard on my finger, forcing myself to stay conscious.

"I'm in labor. You need to—"

Halfway through my sentence, Marcus's phone rang.

"What's up, Logan?"

"Your wife? Yeah, we found her. But..."

He looked at me with confusion. "She seems like she's actually in labor!"

Logan's mocking laugh came through the phone.

"How is that possible? She's still a month away from her due date."

"Just to compete for attention with Melissa, she'd make up any lie."

"Don't worry about her! I left her on the highway on purpose today to teach her a lesson about her attitude!"

My head spun violently. The pain felt like it was tearing my body apart.

After one piercing scream, my vision went black and I passed out completely.