Chapter 560 Extra I: Welcoming New Life
On May 1st, Aurelia gave birth to their third child via C-section—a baby boy weighing 7 pounds.
When the nurses carried the baby out of the delivery room, a crowd of family members rushed forward, each wanting to be the first to hold him. The baby's paternal grandparents, aunt, maternal grandfather, and uncles all vied for the honor.
Ashley had heard somewhere that whoever held the baby first would influence how the child would look when he grew up. The moment she learned Aurelia had gone into labor, she'd pulled out all her makeup and applied it meticulously, creating a flawless look.
Despite everyone's efforts, Phoenix managed to claim the baby first, leaving the others empty-handed.
Dominic watched Phoenix anxiously. "You better hold him properly—don't you dare drop my grandson."
Phoenix rolled his eyes. "This little thing? I could cradle him with one arm. How could I possibly drop him?"
Beatrice was practically green with envy. "Phoenix, hurry up and let me hold my great-grandson!"
Meanwhile, Nathaniel's dream of having a daughter was once again dashed—another son. But he had no time to dwell on disappointment; Aurelia was still in the delivery room, and his worry consumed him.
Occasionally, he could hear cries of pain from behind the doors—not Aurelia's voice, but the sounds still made his heart clench. Childbirth was never easy for any woman, and he couldn't stop wondering how she was faring.
After the baby was born, Nathaniel waited outside for several more hours until Aurelia was finally wheeled out. Everything had gone smoothly, and after observation, she could be moved to a regular room.
The anesthesia hadn't completely worn off yet, so Aurelia felt little pain initially. But by midnight, she began whimpering and crying out in discomfort.
Somehow, this delivery felt more painful than her previous one. Perhaps it was because Nathaniel was there—seeing his worried face seemed to make everything hurt worse.
Nathaniel was beside himself with worry, running back and forth to consult the doctors about pain relief. Their answer was always the same: there was nothing more they could do. They'd already administered all possible medications, and childbirth was inherently painful.
Aurelia understood this logically and tried to endure it. Twenty-four hours post-delivery, the doctors recommended she get up and walk around.
When Nathaniel helped her out of bed, Aurelia gasped sharply—the pain was excruciating, a tearing sensation that seemed to pull at her incision.
Tears streamed down her face, and Nathaniel made a firm decision: they would never have another child. The thought of getting a vasectomy immediately crossed his mind.
After a week in the hospital, they returned home safely.
The newborn had quite an appetite—eating frequently and in larger quantities than typical babies his age, then sleeping peacefully afterward.
Nathaniel had arranged for a professional postpartum care specialist to work alongside Dahlia in caring for both Aurelia and the baby.
He took time off work, leaving the company in Marcus's capable hands while he devoted himself entirely to his family. He learned every aspect of baby care from Dahlia, who was thoroughly professional, having received specialized training and single-handedly raised Jacob and Dorothy. Her knowledge of infant care was encyclopedic.
Within days, Nathaniel mastered feeding, burping, and soothing the baby to sleep. Taking on these responsibilities himself gave him a newfound appreciation for how challenging childcare truly was.
Looking at Dorothy and Jacob, now five years old, he couldn't help but wonder how Aurelia had managed when they were born.
Fortunately, all three children were formula-fed, allowing Aurelia to rest and recover without the demands of breastfeeding.
As days passed, Aurelia's body healed steadily. Moving carefully and avoiding her incision, she experienced little pain.
Nathaniel found time to visit the hospital and undergo a vasectomy.
When he returned home, he found Aurelia staring despondently at a table laden with nutritious meals.
The postpartum specialist was gently coaxing her. "Mrs. Heilbronn, please try to drink some. You need to rebuild your strength."
Aurelia had never enjoyed soups, and these past weeks had been torture—endless bowls of various broths and tonics. The specialist prepared different soups for every meal, each designed to aid recovery.
Whether they actually helped was debatable, but Aurelia was thoroughly sick of them.
Nathaniel entered slowly, changing his shoes at the door. Noticing his careful gait, Aurelia asked, "Where have you been?"
Not wanting to discuss the vasectomy in front of the specialist, Nathaniel replied, "I stopped by the office—Marcus needed help with something he couldn't decide on. Not enjoying your meal?"
Aurelia's face crumpled with misery. She couldn't stomach another spoonful of the soup, expecting Nathaniel to echo the specialist's encouragement about its benefits for recovery.
Instead, he surprised her by saying, "If you don't like it, don't force yourself. I've called Betty from Imperick—she's on the 4 PM flight, and Zack will pick her up."
Aurelia's face lit up with delight. "Betty's coming?"
Aurelia had always been a picky eater, and childbirth had weakened her appetite further. After observing her struggle with the specialist's cooking for several days, Nathaniel had arranged for Betty from the Bloom Villa to come.
Years ago, Nathaniel had sent Betty for professional culinary training. Having worked at the Bloom Villa for so long, she'd developed recipes specifically tailored to Aurelia's preferences. If anyone could make food that Aurelia would actually enjoy, it was Betty.
The doorbell rang, and Nathaniel answered it to find Betty with Zack behind her, carrying her luggage.
Aurelia was so happy she nearly cried—finally, she'd have delicious food again.
Nathaniel dismissed the previous specialist, and from then on, Dahlia and Betty worked together to care for the baby and prepare nutritious meals.
Surrounded by such attentive care, Aurelia's days became comfortable and pleasant.
A month later, her first postpartum checkup showed excellent recovery.
Upon returning home, she became somewhat overconfident, announcing her intention to diet in preparation for their wedding.
Nathaniel was exasperated. "Look at those skinny arms and legs of yours—what exactly are you planning to diet away?"
Aurelia's expression grew pained. "You're not looking at how loose my stomach is now."
"I've consulted the doctors—your abdomen is still in recovery and will gradually return to normal. That's not fat!"
Aurelia was anxious because their wedding date was set for the following month. This was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and she was determined to look absolutely stunning.
She refused to wear her wedding dress with a post-pregnancy body. "But I want to look beautiful in my wedding dress!"
Nathaniel put his hands on his hips in frustration. "What's more important—your health or wearing a dress?"
"Wearing the dress!" Aurelia declared without hesitation.
Nathaniel was at his wit's end. "Could you please be a little less stubborn?"
Aurelia gazed at him with innocent, pitiful eyes. "The way I look now, I probably can't even zip up the dress."
Nathaniel felt a headache coming on. The wedding dress from Elvenia had actually arrived and was stored in his office—he'd hidden it there, anticipating exactly this kind of anxiety.
Now her worries seemed even worse, though her waist had only increased by one inch and would certainly return to normal within a month.
"Come on, let's go try on the dress right now and see if it fits."
Aurelia blinked in surprise. "The dress is here?"
"Yes."
Aurelia immediately changed into street clothes and followed Nathaniel out.
They drove to his office to retrieve the dress, then returned to their new house for the fitting.
The design was exactly as Aurelia had seen in the sketches: a strapless, fitted bodice with an 8-foot train.
The entire gown was encrusted with tiny diamonds, set against luxurious starlight tulle that shimmered like a fallen galaxy.
Aurelia changed and examined herself in the mirror, turning this way and that, though she couldn't see the full effect with such a long train.
Nathaniel stood at a distance, taking photos, completely mesmerized. He'd imagined how the dress would look on her, but seeing it in person was even more breathtaking.
"See? I told you the dress would fit perfectly."
Aurelia sighed. "I'm sucking in my stomach right now."
Even without holding her breath, she could always wear shapewear underneath if necessary.
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