On my son’s birthday 2

Even so, when I noticed the slab that was about to fall, I rushed forward without hesitation to shield him with my arms.

The slab struck me on my head and left a gaping wound. But he pushed me away and grabbed Leia’s hand. He asked her with a concerned look on his face if she was scared.

Williams Taylor burst in with a gas mask, and he was the first to rush over. He got hold of the only gas mask and handed it to Leia.

“Dad, please save Miss Leia first, she’s not well. Mom can wait for the other firefighters.”

Tears streamed down my face, and I wore a bitter smile. I raised the medicine bottle in my hand and said, “My medicine’s almost out. I won’t be able to hold out much longer in this smoke.”

On the exact same day seven years ago, I had suffered from severe complications during childbirth; I was on the verge of death.

I had grabbed Williams’s hand and asked him to save the baby at all costs before blacking out.

If it came to that, he had to choose to save the baby.

I had fought so hard to birth him. Yet, this child was holding on to Williams’s hand and begging him to save someone else today.

With Leia in his arms, Williams glanced at me and spoke coldly. “Christelle, you owe Leia this. Just wait for a bit, and my colleagues will be here soon.”

I instinctively grabbed his sleeves out of the desire to live and pleaded desperately, “Williams, I’m pregnant! You can hate me, but you can’t leave the little one!”

Williams was shocked. He had not been home much lately, and there had been no chance to tell him.

James saw his dad hesitating, and he pried my fingers off in anger.

“Mom, you can’t be so selfish! How can you lie to Dad like this?”

Leia was crying uncontrollably in his arms too.

Williams’s expression changed. Then, he shoved me aside and rushed out with Leia.

The thick smoke engulfed me, and my breathing became labored.

The inhaler in my hand was nearly empty.

I took one last deep breath and closed my eyes in despair.

A wave of bitterness washed over me.

I should not have started this ill-fated relationship.