When I woke up again, I saw Daisy standing in front of me, yapping nonstop about something.

"Winter, I'm so thankful for you and Jerome. Back in the days when I was pregnant with him, I never had the chance to deliver in a private hospital and then recover at such an expensive postpartum recovery and retreat center later on.

"I'm sure that Perry would be so happy and grateful, too, if he were still with us today."

I then realized that I had been given a second chance at life, and I had returned to the day when both Daisy and I were scheduled to undergo cesarean sections to give birth to our baby boys.

However, the hatred in my eyes must have been a little too obvious for her. Daisy was stunned briefly before asking, "What's wrong, Winter?"

Jerome was right next to me, giving me moral support, when he also caught sight of the expression on my face. He asked in concern, "What's wrong, dear? Does it hurt somewhere?"

Although I was filled with rage and hatred for what was about to come, things still hadn't happened yet. So, I pondered it for a while.

The switch had to have happened right after the cesarean procedures. That was because the postpartum recovery and retreat center allocated separate rooms for both Daisy and me, and it would have been harder for her to switch the babies then.

I calmed myself down and wiped off the last trace of hatred on my face. Then, I smiled at Daisy and said, "Daisy, we're a family, after all. The child in your belly is Jerome's baby brother. And since you're willing to risk your life to bring him into the world, it's a given that we treat both you and him like royalty!"

Then, I turned to Jerome and said, "Honey, I feel like using the toilet for a bit. Can you please come with me? We'll let Daisy go in for the procedure first."

Jerome didn't suspect a thing and helped me to my feet before heading toward the toilet.

While walking toward the door, Daisy kept staring at my belly with a smug, confident look on her face.

After hearing the nurses outside preparing Daisy for the procedure, I quickly grabbed Jerome's hand and said, "Jerry, I think the internet has a point. I don't want to undergo a cesarean anymore. Let's just wait for a natural birth instead!"

Jerome was confused. "Weren't you the one who said that you wanted to undergo a cesarean with Mom on the same day? Didn't you say something about double the joy with double birthdays or something?"

Double the joy? Over my dead body!

Daisy had planted that idea in my head and repeated it to me daily until it was drilled into my system that natural birth would be more painful and risky compared to a cesarean procedure. If not for that, I would never have agreed to it.

Still, I couldn't possibly tell Jerome that I was reliving my life, or that I'd traveled back in time. That was too preposterous. However, I also didn't dare to wait until after the first switch had happened to switch my baby back. I didn't want Daisy to have a chance to do anything terrible to my son.

At this rate, the best bet was to give birth on separate days with her. That way, Daisy wouldn't have a chance to switch our babies anymore.

After all, my pregnancy wasn't at its full term yet. I had only brought forward the date because of Daisy's request to give birth on the same day.

Jerome was still as confused as ever, but he agreed to my suggestion anyway.

Finally, I managed to leave the hospital after all that stress. On the way back home, I made sure to order a few hidden surveillance cameras online, just in case I would need them someday.

As soon as we got home, however, I stood shocked at the door.

"Here, Daisy. Have some creamy spinach soup. Be careful—it's still very hot! Don't burn your tongue!"

That was Nancy Redwood, the live-in nanny that Jerone had hired to take care of me during my pregnancy. She was now happily serving Daisy a steaming bowl of soup at the dinner table.

More importantly, Daisy's baby belly was still present. She was still pregnant and had not given birth yet.

When Nancy saw that Jerome and I had come home, she hurried into the kitchen to bring out another bowl of soup for me.

"You're back too, Winter. Come and sit. Have some soup while it's still fresh and hot! I just made it a while ago."

As I sat down at the table, Daisy began to pout. "Winter, how could you not even bother telling me that you weren't going through with the cesarean today after all?

"I was already all propped up on the operating table when the nurses told me that you'd changed your mind. I told her that if that was the case, I wasn't going to undergo the procedure today, either!"

Daisy was a little indignant as she continued chiding me.

"Look, it's not that I'm being difficult on purpose, but even if you don't trust the surgeon you picked out yourself, you can't just abandon me at the hospital like that! What kind of trick are you trying to play on me?"

Jerome defended me at once and tried to explain things. "Mom, Winter would never play tricks on you."

Seeing that Jerome was taking my side instead of hers, Daisy's frown deepened. "Jerome Dyson! I am carrying your deceased father's baby in my womb! He is going to be your little brother!"

I scoffed. "I had always planned to have a natural birth. You were the one who kept bugging me to undergo a cesarean. So, how is it my fault that I didn't want to get the procedure now after all?"

Daisy was starting to lose her cool. She pointed at me, so furious that her finger shook. "What do you mean by saying that I'd been bugging you to do it? I was simply looking out for you!

"Don't you know how cumbersome it is to have a natural birth? And now, you're saying that you're not the one at fault for changing your mind at the last minute?"

Jerome quickly got between us both and tried to keep the peace. He gently clapped Daisy on the back and said, "Mom, you've misunderstood Winter.

"The doctor actually recommended we go for a natural birth after Winter's pregnancy is at full term. That's why we changed our mind about the cesarean procedure and left."

Daisy's eyes doubled in size when she realized that I had indeed changed my mind about having the cesarean procedure. Immediately, she tried convincing me otherwise.

"Look, Winter, I underwent a cesarean procedure when I had Jerome. And look at him today! He's tall, strong, smart, and handsome, too! You have to take my advice because I've been there and done that!"

Nancy chimed in as well, "That's right, Winter. It's not good to have a natural birth. See, so many pregnant mothers experience dystocia while giving birth and end up bleeding to death. It's just too risky for you!"

I was beginning to get impatient. "The doctor recommended that I have a natural birth. Are you telling me that you're far more knowledgeable than a gynecologist? Also, it's my choice whether I want to have a cesarean or a natural birth.

"Daisy, you're absolutely welcome to undergo a cesarean since you like it so much, but I'm not going to do it!"

I set down my bowl angrily and looked at Daisy with icy eyes. "And if you think that my gynecologist is not good enough or professional enough for you, then you can go back to your own village and have your baby there!"

Daisy's mouth opened slightly as she racked her brains for a comeback, but she had nothing. In the end, she blurted, "I'm just looking out for you."

I probably would have believed her if I hadn't had any memories of my past life.

There were just too many people who said that they were only doing such things because they were looking out for others, when in fact, they just wanted to ruin other people's lives. And to add on to that, I knew that Daisy had a motive all along.

I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes in exasperation. I said coldly, "I'm going to bed. If you don't have any further business with us, then I'll ask Jerry to send you home."

At that moment, Daisy seemingly found another trick up her sleeve as she looked at Jerome with a conflicted look on her face. "Jerome, can't you see that I'm about to go into labor very soon?

"It's going to be very hard on me if I have to travel such a long distance from my village to the hospital here. Would it be okay if I stayed here with you and Winter for the next few days?"

I could tell at once what her next plans were. She was planning to make her presence known at home while spending every day convincing me to undergo the cesarean procedure with her so that she could easily switch our babies.

I rejected her request at once. "No way, Daisy! If you slip and fall or knock into something while you're here, you're going to pin the blame on us, anyway! I—"

Daisy put on a pitiful look and said, "What are you saying, Winter? Are you seriously treating me like an outsider now? Aren't we family?"

Seeing that I was firm in my decision, Daisy then changed her target to Jerome. "Jerome, it's going to be a waste of money and resources if you hire two nannies to look after Winter and me.

"If I stay with you for now, Nancy will then be able to take care of us both at the same time. Wouldn't that be easier and lighter on your pocket?"

Before Jerome could get in a word, I said, "Money isn't the main problem right now, Daisy. If you really don't want to go back to your village, then we can arrange for you to stay at the hospital instead. It's safe and even more convenient for you there.

"I'm just looking out for both you and your baby!"

Jerome thought that my suggestion was a good one, too. He agreed with me and said, "She's right, Mom. You're going into labor soon, so it would be better if you stayed at the hospital for the time being."

A split second later, Daisy fell on her butt on the ground and began to throw a huge tantrum.

That gave me and Jerome a huge shock. After all, she was putting her baby's life in danger.

Jerome hurried up to her to help her up, but she kept clawing at his arms while sobbing hysterically.

"Perry! Look at what your son and daughter-in-law are doing to me! They want to kick me out of the house and have me spend the night all alone in the cold by myself!

"It was a miracle that I'd even managed to get pregnant with your baby at such an old age, and it's been so hard on me, but look at what your son is doing to me! Perry, I don't want to live anymore! Take me away!"

I finally witnessed a scene so ridiculous that I used to think it would only happen in low-budget soap operas on TV.

Eventually, Jerome gave in and softened his tone. "Alright, that's enough, Mom. Winter was just not in a good mood because of her pregnancy. Don't hold her words against her. You can stay here if you want."

Daisy's expression immediately switched as a huge smile appeared on her face. She accepted Jerome's offered hand and got back onto her feet, without a single trace of the crocodile tears she'd cried earlier.

"Of course I'd never hold it against her. We're family!"

…

As expected, over the next few days, Daisy wouldn't stop trying to brainwash me into having a cesarean procedure by repeating it to me every single day.

I didn't take any of her words to heart and refused to listen to her. After all, her expected delivery time was more than a week earlier than mine. If things went on like this, she would eventually have to give birth before I did.

I even made sure to get someone to install the hidden security cameras all throughout the house while Daisy and Nancy were both asleep one afternoon.

Since my soft-hearted husband, so loyal to his mother, had graciously welcomed a wolf into our sheep pen, I had to be on my guard always and be prepared for anything.

The days passed quickly, and I finally made it to the day when Daisy went into labor.

Nancy's face was pale as she helped Daisy shuffle into the living room. She then yelled at me, who was happily munching on some pumpkin seeds, "Winter, I think Daisy is going into labor. Quick, call the hospital!"

I was just about to stand up and grab my phone when a dangerous thought occurred to me.

Daisy was as pale as a ghost as she clutched her tummy in great pain. Her water already broke, and she was dripping everywhere she went.

If I found an excuse to delay getting Daisy to the hospital, would that mean something terrible would happen to her and the bastard that she still hadn't been able to give birth to?

However, I quickly snapped back to my senses. Nancy was also present. She would intervene at once because she'd never let Daisy suffer too much.

Before I could reorganize my thoughts, Nancy suddenly let go of Daisy and ran to the nearest phone to call the ambulance because she saw that I'd frozen in place.

But, while she was hurrying past me, Nancy slipped and started falling toward me. I couldn't avoid her in time, and she fell flat right on top of me.

The sudden sharp pain in my belly was so great that I blacked out at once.

Yet, right before the lights went out, I swear I saw a smug, victorious grin on Daisy's face as she stood there, watching me.

When I came to, I realized that I was lying in a hospital bed. Instinctively, I reached down and touched my belly, but it was as flat as a pancake. My baby was gone.

Jerome was sitting right next to my bed. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that I was awake.

"Dear, Nancy told me that you slipped and fell at home, so you were brought to the hospital along with Mom and underwent a cesarean. The baby's already born. Our little Corey Dyson is a very healthy baby boy."

I frowned. Did I slip and fall, or was I shoved to the ground?

I had been in such a fright back then that my memory had gone fuzzy. However, the first thing I had to do was make sure that my baby had not been switched.

I asked Jerome, "Where's my baby?"

Jerome brought the baby over and placed him in my arms.

I'd only taken a peek at him and immediately found myself about to faint once more.

This face was all too familiar. It was Casey! This was not Corey—not my baby! In the end, Daisy still managed to switch babies with me.