Dealing with Mother-in-Law's Evil Swap

With ten days to go before my due date, I anxiously checked into the hospital, my nerves on edge.

Wade was seriously displeased.

"Why go to the hospital now when you haven't even given birth yet? That's just a waste of money! People used to have babies at home. You're so pampered, always running to the hospital. You need to save some cash for our family's dragon prince!" he exclaimed.

I wanted to roll my eyes and give him a piece of my mind, but I restrained myself.

The important thing was getting this baby here safely. Everything else could wait.

Two days before my due date, George finally made it back home.

Seeing him triggered a flood of emotions I'd been holding back.

I rushed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably—for the son I had lost in a past life, for the cruel hand fate had dealt me, and for him being treated like an ATM machine by his own family.

"Shhh, it's okay, I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere, I promise," he soothed, holding me close, just like when we first fell in love.

Seeing that I was about to pop, Wade remembered that Tracy's pregnancy timeline was similar to mine.

"You two got pregnant around the same time. Since you're about to give birth, I bet Tracy will be next. George, go get a room ready for your mom. You can both have your babies together tomorrow. It'll be good luck for my daughter-in-law!"

I clenched my jaw, flashing back to the horror of my past life - them stealing my baby while I was drugged and helpless, then shoving the rotting corpse of the infant they'd substituted into my arms.

I'd be damned if I'd let them pull that stunt again.

This time, I wanted them to weep over a real dead body.

I snuggled into George's embrace and interrupted with a smile.

"Tracy's carrying a dragon prince. There's no way their due dates would line up with a normal person's. I bet we'll need to wait a bit longer."

"A dragon prince?" George looked puzzled.

I squeezed his hand, silently telling him to play along.

"Really?" Wade asked uncertainly.

"Of course! Tracy hasn't even broken her water yet. If our little prince wants out, he'll come out when he's good and ready. No need to rush things," I assured him.

"Besides, with all the craziness at the hospital, don't you worry someone might try to snatch your baby?"

After placating Wade, I explained the "dragon prince" thing to George.

He was stunned, then blurted, "They're not just uneducated, they're downright stupid!"

Hearing George's unfiltered assessment made me chuckle.

To prevent a repeat of the past, I kept impressing upon him, "You can't leave the baby alone, not even for a second. You have to stay with him at all times."

Seeing my anxiety, he squeezed my hand.

"I know, I know. Don't worry, I swear I won't take my eyes off him until you wake up."