The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 357: [ Volume 1] Chaper 357- refrain from being partial.

Chapter 357: [ Volume 1] Chaper 357- refrain from being partial.

"How is he?"

"Is the baby okay?"

"Will the divine beast thing affect them?"

"Should we save the father or the baby if it comes to that?"

The doctor, clearly rethinking his career choices, raised his hands. "Wait—just—"

"SHUT UP!" Aaron’s voice boomed, silencing the chaos instantly. Everyone froze, except for Esme, who was mid-rant. Aaron glared, and she clamped her mouth shut, sulking in the corner.

Aaron approached the doctor, his tone suddenly calm and collected. "Doctor, my apologies for the chaos. Please, enlighten us on the situation." He handed the poor man a handkerchief, which the doctor accepted like a lifeline.

"Well," the doctor began, dabbing his sweaty forehead, "there’s no danger. However, as the carrier of divine beast energy, the baby is absorbing power from the father. This... prolongs the delivery process slightly."

Aaron nodded thoughtfully. "I see. How long are we talking?"

"About half an hour," the doctor replied, visibly relieved by Aaron’s composure.

Esme, however, could hold her tongue no longer. "Half an hour? What kind of explanation is that? Speak in plain human terms, man!"

The doctor flinched, but Aaron didn’t stop her this time. He too was squinting at the medical jargon.

"I mean," the doctor stammered, "the baby’s just... taking its time to power up, like... uh, charging a phone?"

Esme rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t fall out. "So you’re telling me my husband’s lying in there, probably in pain, while this little brat takes its sweet time downloading updates?"

"No, no!" the doctor hurriedly corrected. "Your husband is fine! He’s actually sleeping peacefully right now."

Esme’s expression soured further. "Sleeping peacefully?! While we’re out here losing our minds? Typical!"

Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something about needing a vacation. The rest of the group simply stared at the operation room, waiting, while Esme’s muttering faded into the background.

Esme finally calmed down after what felt like an eternity of pacing. She stopped in her tracks and scanned the faces of her husbands, all of them sitting with visible tension, their eyes darting toward the ICU door every few seconds. A pang of guilt hit her—none of them had eaten in two days, and she’d been so caught up in her worry for Ray that she hadn’t noticed.

Taking a deep breath, she muttered to herself, "Way to go, Esme. Top-tier wife material."

She walked over to Jay, who sat with his head in his hands, his foot tapping nervously against the floor. Crouching down in front of him, she pulled out a water bottle from her jacket and offered it to him.

"Here. Drink this before you turn into a dehydrated ball of anxiety," she said, her tone a mix of affection and exasperation.

Jay took the bottle but stared at it blankly, his hands shaking too much to open it. Esme rolled her eyes and took the bottle back, unscrewing the cap with ease before handing it over again.

"Really?" she teased, ruffling his hair. "At this rate, you’ll faint before you even get to hold the baby."

Jay gave her a weak smile, finally taking a sip. "As if you’re one to talk. You’ve been pacing like a deranged rooster."

Esme snorted. "Fair point. But hey, it’s my first time being in this situation."

Jay’s smile grew as he raised the bottle in mock salute. "Same here. So, welcome to the club."

Esme stood up and began distributing water bottles to the rest of her husbands, retrieving them from her bag like some efficient water fairy. She knew they wouldn’t eat hospital food if their lives depended on it, so she decided to do something about it.

"Alright, I’ll be back in a bit," she announced, grabbing her car keys.

Helga, who had been rocking the baby in her arms, immediately reached out to stop her. "Where are you going?"

Esme turned, her expression calm. "To get some actual food. You think these guys will eat anything from the cafeteria? Please. I’m married to divas."

Helga frowned. "But you could just grab something quick from downstairs."

Esme gave her a pointed look. "Do you want me to come back with untouched trays and sulking husbands? I’d rather not risk it. I know what they like, and I’ll be back in 20 minutes tops."

Helga hesitated, clearly torn. "Then I’m coming with you."

Esme shook her head and tapped Helga’s shoulder playfully. "Nope. You’re staying here. Someone needs to keep an eye on Aaron before he combusts. Look at him—he’s already doing the foot rub thing."

Helga glanced at Aaron, who was seated in the corner, looking like he was ready to explode. His leg bounced nervously, and he kept rubbing one foot against the other. It was a habit only Esme and Helga knew about—a dead giveaway that Aaron was hanging by a thread.

"But you shouldn’t be alone," Helga argued, her tone more insistent now.

Esme stepped closer, placing a hand on the baby’s cheek and speaking in a softer, steadier voice. "Helga, listen to me. You’ve been my rock, my partner, my best friend through everything. But this is your family now. Aaron and this little one need you more than I do. I’ll be fine. I’ve survived worse than a grocery run, yaar."

Helga’s lips tightened, but she nodded, her grip on the baby tightening. "Fine. But if you’re not back in 25 minutes, I’m sending Aaron after you. And he’s not coming back without you."

Esme smirked, tossing her keys in the air and catching them with a flourish. "Deal. Now go make sure Aaron doesn’t eat his own nerves while I’m gone."

She walked out with purpose, leaving Helga to shake her head with a mix of exasperation and admiration.

That day, time marched on, its passing heavy with anticipation. The minutes stretched long, each one more palpable than the last. Even after an hour had passed, the soft, desperate cries of the newborn echoing through the room, Esme had not returned.