Moments after welcoming my newborn into the world, my 8-year-old daughter arrived at my bedside. With a swift motion, she pulled the curtain shut and murmured…

She tried to resist, but her eyelids grew heavy, and soon she fell into a deep sleep. When she awoke, a different nurse was in the room, holding Thomas. Oh, you’re awake.

The baby was hungry, so I’ve been holding him. Deborah looked at the clock. It was past noon.

She had slept for four hours. A normal painkiller shouldn’t have made her sleep so long. The medication seems to have had a strong effect on me.

Deborah said, her head still foggy. Yes, Rachel noted that in your chart. We’ll adjust the dosage next time, the nurse said, handing the baby to Deborah.

That afternoon, Deborah felt another change in her condition. This time it was sudden nausea and heart palpitations. She pressed the nurse call button, and Rachel appeared immediately.

What’s wrong? I feel sick, and my heart is beating fast. Rachel took her blood pressure again and placed a hand on her forehead. You might have a slight fever.

Temporary fevers after childbirth aren’t uncommon. I’ll adjust the medication in your four. She changed the four bag and made another note about Deborah’s condition.

As Rachel left the room, Deborah saw her take out a mobile phone and send a message to someone. In the evening, Carol brought Lily to visit. Lily’s eyes sparkled when she first saw her little brother.

Mom, Thomas is so tiny. Deborah gently embraced her daughter and kissed her hair. Yes, he is.

But he’ll grow bigger and bigger. I hope he becomes as smart as you. Carol looked at Deborah with concern.

You look pale. Are you all right? Deborah told her about the changes in her condition and how the medication seemed too strong. Carol frowned.

That’s strange. Shouldn’t you talk to your doctor about it? Just then, Rachel entered the room again. She showed an overly friendly attitude toward Lily.

Oh, you must be Lily. I’ve heard so much about you from your mother. What a smart girl you are.

Deborah was confused. She had never mentioned Lily to Rachel. Lily herself clearly felt uncomfortable and moved closer to her mother.

I don’t know this nurse, Lily whispered to Deborah. Rachel, seeming not to notice, said, It’s medication time, and offered another pill. Deborah eyed the pill suspiciously but didn’t want to cause a scene in front of Carol and Lily.

She took the pill and waited for Rachel to leave. Carol, don’t you think there’s something strange about that nurse? Carol agreed. Yes, it was unnatural that she knew Lily’s name.

Lily left the room briefly, saying she wanted to get some water. When she returned, her expression was dark, as if she wanted to say something. When Carol excused herself to buy some food from the cafeteria, leaving Deborah and Lily alone, Lily approached her mother’s bed and said in a low voice.

Mom, I’ve seen that nurse before with Dad. Deborah’s heart jumped. What do you mean? Two weeks ago, Dad picked me up from school and took me for ice cream.

I saw Dad and that woman talking at an outside table. They both looked serious. Deborah was speechless.

Michael had said he would be working late that day. Lily had no reason to lie. That evening, after Michael’s brief visit, Deborah heard him leave the room.

However, he didn’t immediately walk away down the hallway. Instead, she heard Michael talking quietly with someone in the corridor. She couldn’t make out what was said, but it was definitely a woman’s voice.

That night, Deborah couldn’t sleep. Anxiety and doubt occupied her mind. The next morning, Deborah gazed at the sunlight streaming through the window, nursing her restless thoughts.

She had awakened several times during the night and hadn’t slept well. In the bassinet next to her, Thomas breathed peacefully. Feeling the fragility and preciousness of this small life, Deborah reflected on what Lily had told her yesterday.

I saw Dad with that nurse. Suspicions about Michael were eating away at her heart. She had sensed changes in his attitude before the birth, but she never imagined he might be involved with another woman, especially one who was her nurse…