The Broken-hearted She And The Icy He (Lily and John) novel Chapter 697

**TITLE: My Wife 697**

**Chapter 697 in Labor**

As James’s breaths grew short and ragged, a wave of worry washed over Lily. She swiftly flicked on the bedside lamp, its warm glow illuminating the room, and asked with concern, “Are you okay, James?”

“I’m fine,” he replied, though his voice was strained, barely masking the turmoil beneath.

He took a moment to steady his breathing, drawing her close into his embrace, as if her warmth could shield him from the remnants of the nightmare that had jolted him awake. “I just had a nightmare. Dreams aren’t real,” he murmured, trying to convince himself as much as her.

Yet, deep down, he wrestled with the lingering panic that clung to his heart like a shadow. The images from his dream haunted him, and he desperately reassured himself: the nightmare was merely a figment of his imagination, and nothing like that would ever happen to Lily.

Lily’s pregnancy had been relatively smooth, and she had only gained a modest twenty pounds. Her face had taken on a soft roundness, enhancing her natural beauty and radiance, while her limbs remained elegantly slender. But the sight of her swollen belly—enlarged by the presence of twins—filled James with an overwhelming sense of dread. The worry that surged within him felt insurmountable, a tide he could not control.

“Lily, we need to go to the hospital tomorrow,” he insisted, his voice thick with anxiety as he tightened his grip around her. The more he gazed at her belly, the more alarmed he felt. “I’ll stay with you the entire time. I can manage my work from the hospital for a while.”

Lily could sense the tension radiating from him. It had become increasingly apparent that he was waking up in a panic more often than not. Since her pregnancy had begun, she had been pampered and cared for, enveloped in a cocoon of love and attention. Approaching her due date, she still glowed with health and beauty, her skin luminous and vibrant.

Yet, in stark contrast, James seemed to have aged overnight, his once-vibrant demeanor dulled by worry. As she observed his haggard appearance, a mix of amusement and sympathy swirled within her. It was curious—when most women were the ones anxious during pregnancy, here was James, a bundle of nerves, while she felt remarkably calm.

“Anyone who didn’t know us might think you were the one expecting!” she teased gently, a small smile breaking through her concern.

Her belly, now quite large, made it difficult to snuggle comfortably in his arms, but she shifted slightly, wrapping him in her embrace. “James, you don’t need to be so anxious. I’ve heard that first babies tend to arrive late. When my friend gave birth to Millie, her due date came and went by a whole week, and she still hadn’t gone into labor. They had to induce her! My due date is still half a month away. Even with twins, it’s my first pregnancy, so labor won’t start too soon. Tomorrow’s hospital visit is really too early.”

But James shook his head vehemently. “No, I can’t shake this feeling of unease with you staying at home.”

He recalled the classes he had attended, where the instructor had reassured them that many women don’t go into labor until after their due dates, especially with their first child. Yet, the sight of Lily’s pronounced belly only deepened his unease.

Even with the family’s private doctor residing at the estate, his apprehension lingered, like a storm cloud overhead. He could feel his body trembling slightly, and Lily noted the tension in his frame.

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