82. The cry of their first child

SEVEN MONTHS LATER... 'Everything's ready!" Chelsey said with a smile as she closed the large bag containing the baby's things. She sighed. 'I'm sorry for bothering you too." She shook her head. 'You really didn't need to come here and accompany me." 'Hello, what are you saying? Why else would I be your child's godmother if I didn't want to be there when she was born? Plus, I'm not the only one here, right?" she raised an eyebrow. She nodded. Her friends and siblings had also arrived to accompany her to the hospital. It was her due month, and she could give birth anytime. Braun wasn't with her as he had an important project to attend to, but he promised to come immediately when she went into labor. Seven months had passed since the unforgettable wedding in Bali. They filled that place with beautiful memories where everyone had fun and celebrated. For Briella, that day would forever be etched in her memory. She was surprised when Braun's parents said they bought the entire resort to turn it into their vacation home. Braun was renovating the whole place and building a large, beautiful mansion for their family. When the footage of their wedding and the magazine from Sun Glow Fashion came out, it became the talk of the town worldwide. Almost everyone sought their copy, wanting to see if she indeed married the admired and feared influential figure in their world. Some were happy, some thrilled, some raised eyebrows, and above all, there were people whose only agenda was to criticize and blame her. In the first few months after the magazine became popular, their secret wedding became controversial, and their union was not made public. She received harsh words, ridicule, and insults from jealous people and those who only knew how to criticize others. The words 'OPPORTUNIST," 'USER," 'MONEY-GRUBBER," and, most of all, accusations that she trapped Braun into marrying her and using her unborn child became trending. If she were weak-minded, she might have committed suicide or hung herself as she read in comments and posts on social media. The reporters tried to ask for her statements about it, but she remained silent and let them talk badly about her. She didn't let it affect her, and if she didn't restrain Braun, they would indeed have consequences. She didn't need to explain to narrow-minded people like them, who, no matter how much you try to explain, won't stop, especially when influential celebrities get involved and stir up issues. She never engaged with such people; if she did, and they took action and caused harm, some would cry, and some would be imprisoned. There would be those who would be hit, and they would be angrier. Some would form groups to bring you down. In her world, there was no room for weak-minded people because if you succumbed to their insults and ridicule, you would end up being the loser and come out as the villain. 'Hello? Are you still there, Briella? Where did your mind wander off to again?" Chelsey interrupted her thoughts. She took a deep breath and smiled. 'I'm just thinking," she said. Chelsey tilted her head and raised her eyebrows. 'And what are you thinking about? Big Boss again?" She smiled faintly and nodded. 'Do you really think I deserve to be Braun's wife?" 'Here we go again with your emotional side. If you still doubt that you're the one Braun married, why don't you just leave him? Then, ask yourself again: if you're wrong about your assumptions, you can always go back. Surely, he would still accept you because his love for you is genuine," she sarcastically replied. She grimaced but didn't say anything more, adjusting her maternity dress. They were heading to the hospital now because that's what Braun instructed her to do, saying it's safer there because Nami and Travis were there, and she'd be monitored twenty-four hours a day. Many things had changed in their married life in the past seven months. Braun never neglected her, always supporting her during her pregnancy, even enduring her mood swings or sometimes being scolded for no reason. Her tantrums grew stronger every passing day, and if it weren't for Braun, she might have let herself go due to her cravings for food. Braun made sure she exercised regularly and also watched her diet. It wasn't easy for her not to get hungry now and then, wanting to eat and, most of all, sleep all day. Plus, there were tantrums when she didn't get what she wanted immediately. She took a deep breath and looked at Chelsey. 'How about you? Do you have any plans to get married?" 'W-What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I get married?" she snapped. She laughed softly. 'You caught the garter, so I'm sure you're next in line to get married," she replied, grinning. 'And who told you I'm getting married? Hello? Maybe you forgot, I don't have a boyfriend! So it's impossible!" she said, slinging the bag over her shoulder. 'Come on, let's go. You're giving me goosebumps with your talk." 'What if someone asks you to marry him?" she teased her as they left her room. 'I don't have a boyfriend. I'll find a boyfriend first before getting married," she added. 'Don't you know that whoever catches the bouquet and garter will be the next to get married? Why don't you ask Luigi?" she said, grinning at her. She couldn't help but burst into laughter when she saw Chelsey's expression. 'Why do you have to remind me of that? God! It wasn't very comfortable! That jerk, he really had to do that!" Chelsey muttered, unable to contain her expression. She laughed even more, recalling that moment at their reception. Honestly, that was her intention, but she didn't expect that people would actually catch her garter and bouquet. 'Come on, it's just a game!" Janice said, pulling Chelsey towards the center. 'Well, you guys can just play without me!" Chelsey insisted, not wanting to catch her bouquet. She felt like Janice was really telling the truth earlier while she was getting ready. 'Don't be a party pooper, Chelsey! This only happens once in a lifetime, so come on!" Nami urged, helping Janice pull Chelsey. She just smiled and watched as they pulled Chelsey towards the center. Eventually, Chelsey gave in and went to the center. Only four people could catch the bouquet, so she didn't prolong it. They didn't include their parents since they were already committed. 'Ready?" she asked them. 'Ready!" they replied. She turned around and counted to three before throwing her bouquet backward. The women started laughing, with Chelsey's laughter being the loudest. When she looked back, she saw that nobody caught the bouquet, but when Chelsey and Janice moved aside, she saw the bouquet in Luigi's hands. 'Oh, does that mean you're next to get married, Elder brother?" Janice teased Luigi. 'Stop it, Janice. Do you want a brother-in-law like that jerk?" Chelsey retorted, pointing at the grinning Luigi. Before Luigi could respond, Nami spoke up quickly. 'Let's change the game! Since Luigi caught the bouquet, Braun will toss the garter to us instead!" 'That's fair, and I don't want to catch the garter and end up marrying Luigi. We're not a match, right, Bro?" Travis grinned, winking at Luigi. 'Fuck off," Luigi retorted, but he couldn't do anything as Braun positioned himself next to him. 'Ready girls?" he asked with a smile. Her friends moved back to the center. She glanced at Braun and nodded. Without saying anything, he tossed the garter, and since it was light, it landed in the front. There were moments of surprise before a scream broke the silence. 'No way!" Chelsey shrieked as she accidentally caught the garter. Laughter filled the surroundings, and she couldn't help but laugh at Chelsey's reaction. 'Big Boss! Why did you have to do this to me?!" Chelsey exclaimed, playfully stomping on the ground. 'Do I know who could be behind me?" Braun said, frowning. 'Tch! Y-You didn't even count to three! Do it again, Big Boss!" Chelsey ordered Braun. 'What the hell? And why would I do that? Are you really asking me to do it again?!" Braun raised an eyebrow at Chelsey. 'Okay, that's enough. It's unfair to Luigi if Braun throws the garter again," she said, laughing. 'Yeah, and it's just a game, Chelsey!" Nami agreed, laughing. 'Can't you just be happy and put the garter on Luigi?" she added, bursting into laughter again. 'What?!" Chelsey and Luigi exclaimed simultaneously. 'That's the rule, and it's like you've never been to a wedding before!" Janice said, holding her stomach and still laughing. 'Come on, dude," Travis grinned at Luigi and nudged him, extending his hand. 'What the hell are you thinking?!" Luigi raised an eyebrow, starting to get annoyed by their teasing. 'You need to sit in the center so we can all witness your and Chelsey's momentum. This is a very memorable event, you know," he replied, not waiting for Luigi to give his hand and pulling him to the center. She leaned against Braun, still unable to stop laughing. She felt Braun's hand on her waist, but she let it be. 'Come on, Chelsey. Don't keep us waiting!" Travis grinned at Chelsey as Luigi sat down. 'Put it on slowly until it reaches his thigh." Laughter erupted even louder as Travis seemed to demonstrate what Chelsey should do. 'Why don't you do it instead?" Chelsey retorted. 'Don't be a killjoy! It's your close friend's wedding; shouldn't we make them happy?" Travis grinned. Chelsey looked at her pleadingly, but she just grinned back at her. 'Put it on!" she said. Their other friends cheered, and even their parents joined in, so Chelsey had no choice but to do it. As she approached Luigi, she could see his face turning red. 'Make it faster, dummy. You're embarrassing me," Luigi said. Chelsey's eyes widened, seemingly not liking what he said. They all stood there, unable to move for a moment, their jaws dropping. Then, the whole rooftop was filled with laughter again. Even Braun couldn't help but laugh at what Chelsey did. Instead of putting the garter on his thigh, she put it around Luigi's neck. Her friends and everyone else were stunned by what she did, and for a moment, they couldn't move, their jaws dropping. Soon enough, the whole rooftop echoed with laughter, and even Braun couldn't stop laughing at what Chelsey did. 'I'll bet that they're gonna fall in love with each other," Braun said softly to her. She smiled back at him. 'And who will fall in love with the other first?" she asked him. 'Wanna bet, hubby?" 'I'll go with Luigi, of course," he replied, facing her. 'Mine is with Chelsey," she said, clasping her hands around his neck and leaning in to kiss him on the lips. 'Deal." She struggled to remember the joyful event that happened on the very day of her wedding with Braun. She glanced at Chelsey, who was happily chatting with Kimineah and Jeydon. He didn't know which of the two would confess their feelings for each other first, but he knew that the relationship between the two would be happy and colorful in the future. As they were leaving the house, she didn't notice the wetness in front of her, and what happened next suddenly shook them all. She slipped and sat on the floor, biting her lip as she felt the pain in her stomach. 'Oh my God!" Chelsey exclaimed in surprise. 'Briella!" 'I-I think my w-water just broke," she said, feeling like she was peeing, and suddenly, there was blood flowing down her thigh. 'B-Blood!" Kimineah exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock. 'W-What do I do? Wait... I need to call Big Boss—" 'Chelsey, calm down, okay? We need to go to the hospital!" she said, holding onto Jeydon tightly and shouting. Her stomach was already aching, and she felt like she was really about to give birth. Braun! 'Right! To the hospital, Jeydon, help your sister get into the car. I'll drive," Chelsey said, but before she could get into the driver's seat, Kimineah took the keys from her. 'I'll drive," she said. Chelsey nodded and helped Jeydon get into the car. 'Call Nami, tell her we're on our way to—fck!" she screamed again because of the pain in her stomach. In panic, Chelsey grabbed her phone and dialed a number. 'Hello? Oh God, Nami, emergency! Briella's bleeding! She got an accident, and she's—B-Big Boss?!" They looked at each other, and she wanted to laugh at how confused she seemed when she was panicking. How many times had this happened? Briella bit her lip to suppress the pain in her stomach. Shaking, Chelsey handed her the phone, and she took a deep breath before taking it. 'H-Hello?" he said. 'How are you feeling? What happened to you? Why are you bleeding?" Braun asked, bombarding her with questions. 'It was just a small accident, h-hubby," she winced again as her stomach throbbed. Tears were welling up in her eyes because the pain was getting worse and worse. 'I'm on my way to the hospital. Are you far away?" he asked. She was about to respond, but a sharp scream drowned out what she was about to say. She heard Braun curse on the other line, and there was nothing he could do because of the increasing pain she was feeling. 'We're here! Hold on, Briella. I just need to park the car," Kimineah said. As soon as their car stopped, there was a stretcher ready, and Nami and Travis were there to assist her. Travis was surprised to see her bleeding, and although Nami seemed panicked as well, she didn't show it. 'To the ER," she told the staff holding the stretcher. 'You're okay," Nami reassured her as she followed. 'Just take a deep breath," she ordered him. Briella followed her instructions and took several deep breaths. When they arrived at the ER, they immediately attended to her, cleaned her up, and changed her clothes before preparing her for childbirth. 'I-Is Braun there?" she asked Nami as she approached her. Before she could answer, Braun entered the ER, wearing a hospital gown and a mask. She breathed a sigh of relief and immediately grabbed her hand. 'I'm here, wife. Everything will be alright, you'll be alright," he said and kissed her forehead. Sweat was forming on her forehead, and she tightened her grip on Braun's hand as her stomach throbbed again. 'It's time," Nami said, positioning herself at her feet. She massaged her stomach several times until she felt like something was coming out of her. 'Push, Brie! Don't stop, and I can see the baby's head!" Nami said. 'Come on, kid. Don't make it hard for your mommy!" Braun said firmly as if their child could hear her. She pushed hard, almost splitting her lower lip from biting it too hard and trying not to scream. She never thought that giving birth to an angel in this world would be this difficult and painful for mothers. Briella felt relieved when the baby finally came out of her womb, followed by a loud cry from the baby. She couldn't help but cry when she heard the most beautiful music she had ever heard—the cry of their first child with Braun. She felt Braun gently kiss her on the side of her head. He wiped the sweat off her forehead and fixed her messy hair. 'Congratulations! It's Aubrielle El Cueva!" Nami smiled. She handed their baby to a nurse for cleaning. Despite feeling weak and exhausted, she managed to smile and turn to Braun. 'You lost; I win. It's a girl, hubby. It's our baby Aubrielle, our princess," she tearfully told her husband. He approached her and kissed her on the lips, not caring where they were right now and who was around them. 'You're always the winner, wife. Thank you for bringing our sweet little angel into this world. Thank you for giving the treasure that every man desires. I love you, wife." Braun handed their child to them. She smiled as she held the baby. She couldn't help but cry as Braun's facial features, including her heart-shaped face, resembled hers. Braun hugged them both and gently kissed their little angel's forehead, then she kissed him on the lips. For her, there was no greater joy in life than that moment when they both welcomed their first child. She already knew that Braun would be a good father to their child and her as well.