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Chapter 106 - chapter 106: Baby(kang hyunwon)is here

The ninth month was going quietly but cruelly.

The nights had grown longer, and Taewon had been restless lately, waking at every small sound from Jihyun's side.

But on Saturday morning, around five a.m., something felt different.

The air was thick with a sharp, unstable scent Jihyun's pheromones.

It wasn't just distress. It was panic.

Taewon's eyes snapped open. The space beside him was empty.

"Jihyun?" he called, voice still heavy with sleep.

No reply.

Then he heard it the faint, choked sound of crying coming from the bathroom.

He didn't even think. He ran.

"Jihyun!"

The sight that met him made his heart drop.

Jihyun was sitting weakly on the cold tiled floor, tears streaming down his face,

one hand clutching his stomach. His pants were soaked.

The smell of amniotic fluid mixed with the overwhelming scent of pain and pheromones.

"Taewon-ah…" Jihyun's voice trembled.

"It hurts…"

Taewon didn't wait a second longer.

He crouched down, scooping Jihyun into his arms.

The moment his hands touched Jihyun's body, he could feel how cold and shaky he'd become.

"It's okay, Jihyun-ah, I've got you," he said quickly, trying to keep his voice steady though his heart was racing wildly.

But Jihyun's pheromones were spiraling out of control too strong, too unstable. The whole house could feel it.

As Taewon carried him through the hallway, Taemi, who had just stepped out to get water, froze in shock at the sight.

"Taewon-ah!" she called out, rushing over. "What happened omo, Jihyun!"

"I think the time's near," Taewon said breathlessly. "His water broke look!"

Taemi's eyes widened.

"We have to go. Now."

She didn't waste another word. She grabbed her phone and followed them to the car.

"I'll call Mom later. Just drive!"

Taewon nodded, his voice barely coming out. "Hold him steady, Taemi."

They sped through the early morning streets, the car engine roaring against the stillness of dawn.

Inside, Jihyun's body trembled violently, his face pale and wet with sweat.

"It hurts…" he gasped, clutching his stomach, his back arching from another contraction.

Taewon tried to calm him, releasing his own pheromones a strong, soothing scent meant to stabilize Jihyun's but it wasn't working.

Taemi switched to driver's seat as taewon pulled Jihyun closer in the back.

"Breathe, Jihyun-ah," Taewon whispered, brushing the wet hair from his face.

"Stay with me, please. I'm here, just hold on."

Taemi's voice trembled as she held the steering wheel.

"Oppa," she said, calling Taesung through the car speaker. "You're on shift still?"

Taesung's tired voice came through,

"Yeah, just about to finish. Why?"

"It's Jihyun. His water broke he's in pain, we're on our way to the hospital."

There was a pause. Then Taesung's voice sharpened,

"What?! I'll prepare the team. Hurry!"

Taewon's heart pounded. He leaned closer to Jihyun, pressing his lips to his forehead.

"It's okay, you'll be fine," he whispered, voice breaking. "We're almost there."

But Jihyun's cries grew weaker. His breaths came out in short, uneven gasps.

And then silence.

Taewon froze. "Jihyun?"

Jihyun's eyes fluttered open faintly. His hand trembled as he reached for Taewon's face, fingertips brushing his jaw.

"Taewon…" he whispered weakly.

"Don't… cry"

Before Taewon could respond, Jihyun's hand fell. His eyes closed. His head dropped to the side.

"Jihyun?!"

Panic surged through Taewon's chest. He shook him lightly.

"Jihyun, open your eyes hey, look at me!"

No response.

"Jihyun!"

His voice broke, the car filled with fear.

Taewon's trembling hands felt for a pulse it was faint, barely there. His heart felt like it had stopped too.

By the time they reached the hospital entrance,

Nurses and doctors rushed forward with a stretcher.

Blood stained Taewon's hands, Jihyun's pants soaked through as they lifted him.

"BP's dropping!" one of the nurses called.

Taewon tried to follow, but the emergency doors slammed shut.

He stood there frozen, chest heaving, blood still on his fingers.

Taemi stood beside him, hand covering her mouth to stop the sobs threatening to escape.

Taewon's legs felt weak. He stumbled toward the bench, collapsing onto it, eyes fixed on the red light above the emergency sign.

Moments later, Taesung rushed in.

"Where is he?!"

Taemi turned, her eyes red.

"Inside… he lost consciousness before we arrived."

Taesung clenched his jaw, trying to hold himself together. He walked to Taewon and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He'll be fine"

Taewon turned, trembling uncontrollably. His eyes were wild with fear.

"Hyung… save him… no one but him"

His voice cracked mid-sentence, tears spilling freely now.

"I can't lose him, please"

Taemi sat beside him, gripping his hand tightly.

"Taewon-ah, please. You have to stay strong for him."

But Taewon wasn't listening. His breath hitched in sharp gasps, chest tightening painfully.

"I'm losing him in front of me," he choked out. "And I can't do anything. I'm useless"

"Stop," Taemi whispered, hugging him tightly. "You're not useless."

He buried his face in his hands, his whole body trembling like a child's.

It was the first time in years anyone had seen Kang Taewon like this terrified, helpless, broken.

A doctor came from out of emergency room.

"Mr. Kang Taewon?"

Taewon shot to his feet.

"Yes, how is he?!"

The doctor exhaled.

"His condition is critical, but we're doing everything we can.

The baby's heartbeat is steady for. Please don't worry we'll try our best to save both."

But before the doctor could finish, Taewon said hoarsely, "Save Jihyun first."

The doctor hesitated. "Mr. Kang"

"Please," Taewon said again, his voice breaking. "If you have to choose save him."

Taemi grabbed him by the collar, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Taewon! Come to your senses! What are you saying?"

He didn't respond, just stared at the floor, voice shaking.

"No one is more important than him. I'm selfish when it comes to Jihyun. What would I do with a child if I lose him?"

Taemi's voice cracked as she hugged him tightly, feeling his tears fall on her shoulder.

"You'll have both. You'll see. He's strong, Taewon-ah."

But deep down, she could feel his fear and it terrified her too.

Inside emergency,

The sound of the monitor filled the operation room steady beeps echoing.

Jihyun couldn't open his eyes, but he could hear everything.

The rustle of gowns.

The metallic clang of instruments.

The muffled voices of doctors calling his name.

"BP dropping get more oxygen!"

His body felt heavy, too heavy to move.

There was pressure on his abdomen, sharp, unbearable but distant, like it was happening to someone else.

He wanted to call Taewon's name, but his throat wouldn't move.

Only his mind was awake, floating somewhere between darkness and sound.

It's cold he thought faintly. Taewon-ah

A faint image formed in his head of Taewon's "Stay with me."

That warmth was all he wanted to reach.

But then another contraction struck, and his weak body refused to respond.

The pain grew distant again.

Someone's voice echoed.

"Fetal distress! We need to proceed with emergency C-section now!"

And then silence, followed by the quick metallic snap of scalpels being arranged.

Dr. Seo, the lead surgeon, exchanged a quick glance with Taesung who had changed into scrubs to assist.

"Prepare incision," Dr. Seo ordered.

"BP still unstable, pulse shallow he's not responding well to sedation," a nurse said.

"He's weak"

"Omega bearing site compromised too much strain on the uterus wall."

"Then we move fast," Dr. Seo said. "Scalpel."

The first cut was made.

Jihyun's body jerked faintly under anesthesia as Taesung adjusted the line.

"Fetal heart rate dropping! We're losing oxygen flow"

"Almost there," Dr. Seo said firmly, his tone steady but his hands fast.

"Clamp. Suction."

Seconds felt like hours.

Then finally,

A sharp cry filled the air.

The baby's cry.

Everyone froze for a second, then the nurse said, half trembling, "It's a boy."

Taesung exhaled, his hands falling briefly against the table.

"He's breathing fine."

But the relief didn't last long.

"Jihyun's BP collapsing!" one nurse shouted.

"Oxygen saturation dropping fast pulse erratic!"

"Get epinephrine ready!" Dr. Seo barked.

Taesung's face turned pale.

"He's going into hypovolemic shock get more blood prepared, quickly!"

The baby's cries were replaced by the rush of machines.

Jihyun's body convulsed slightly, then went limp.

Inside that darkness again, Jihyun's thoughts barely flickered.

He could feel something slipping from him.

The warmth of Taewon's hand.

The weight of their baby.

Everything was fading, piece by piece.

It's quiet, he thought. Maybe… I'm dreaming.

Then faintly,

Taewon… don't cry… please… not again.

And the world went dark completely.

Outside the operating room,

Taewon stood frozen as the red light above the door blinked.

The baby's first cry echoed faintly from inside.

For a moment, he didn't move. His body was shaking, hands trembling uncontrollably.

Then a nurse stepped out, holding a tiny blue-wrapped bundle.

"Mr. Taewon," she said softly, "It's a baby boy."

Taewon looked at him, eyes wide and wet, his throat too tight to speak.

He reached out carefully, touching the baby's cheek with trembling fingers.

He was breathing small, alive, warm.

But Jihyun wasn't there.

"Where's Jihyun?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

The nurse hesitated.

"They're… still working on stabilizing him, sir."

Taewon's chest tightened again. "Still?"

Before he could say more, the red light flickered off. The doors opened.

Dr. Seo came out, removing his gloves, exhaustion written all over his face.

"Mr. Taewon," he said quietly, "the surgery was successful the baby is safe."

Taewon's breath caught. "And Jihyun?"

Dr. Seo hesitated, looking at the floor.

"He made it through the operation, but"

Taewon's entire body stiffened. "But what?"

Dr. Seo took a deep breath.

"Due to severe hemorrhage and oxygen loss, his body entered hypovolemic shock during the surgery.

His pheromone system overloaded, triggering neural fatigue. He's currently in a comatose state."

Taewon's breath stopped.

"Coma?"

"Yes," the doctor said softly.

"The oxygen deprivation and hormonal imbalance caused a temporary shutdown in his neural response. In simpler words his body gave up to protect itself."

Taewon's mind went blank.

He could still hear the doctor's voice but it felt far away.

"We've transferred him to the ICU. His vitals are stable for now. It may take days or weeks before he regains consciousness."

Taewon's knees nearly gave out. Taemi caught him quickly.

"Taewon-ah…" she whispered, tears falling.

Dr. Seo continued,

"He's a rare case, Mr. Taewon. The Omega's reproductive line was weaker than average

It's possible he used up all his pheromonal and cellular energy to sustain the pregnancy. That exhaustion pushed him into postnatal coma."

Taewon's hands clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms.

"So… he saved him with his life," he whispered.

Dr. Seo's eyes softened.

"He fought till the last moment. You should be proud of him."

Proud.

The word stabbed through his heart.

As he looked toward the ICU doors,

He walked forward, step by step, until his hand pressed against the cold glass dopr.

Inside, Jihyun lay peacefully, as if asleep his chest rising faintly with the rhythm of the ventilator.

"Jihyun-ah…" he whispered.

"You did it."

He smiled weakly, tears sliding down his face.

"Our baby's here. He's beautiful. Just like you said he'd be."

He closed his eyes, forehead resting against the glass.

"But you promised… you'd open your eyes first."

The baby's small cry echoed from Taemi's arms nearby soft, innocent, unaware of the storm around him.

Taewon turned, his face pale but gentle, and touched his tiny hand.

And for the first time in his life, Taewon felt what real fear was.

Not of death.

But of living without Jihyun.

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