Aethelburg, Private Hospital
On the sixth floor, a crowd of people gathered outside the obstetrics operating room. Every one of them was impeccably dressed, exuding an air of nobility.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet corridor.
A man came running, his handsome face etched with anxiety.
"Mom, how is Sylvia?" He had run in such a hurry that his suit was slightly disheveled.
"Paul, don't be anxious. We don't know anything yet." An elegant, regal-looking older woman standing in the corridor beckoned to Paul Ashworth. Two women in their thirties stood beside her, offering comfort.
"Mom, how could this happen? Her due date is still a month away! Sylvia was perfectly fine when I left for work this morning. Why is she suddenly in labor? What exactly happened?" Paul Ashworth asked urgently. He couldn't understand it; Sylvie had seen him to the door just that morning, and her due date was still a good while off.
"We're not sure either," Miss Ashworth said. "We were all chatting in the living room when Sylvie suddenly said she was having stomach pains."
Just then, the operating room door opened, and a refined, middle-aged man walked out. Paul Ashworth immediately rushed forward. "Mr. Lynch, how is she?"
Elder Lynch looked at the crowd with a grave expression. "Sylvia has been poisoned. We might not be able to save the baby."
Everyone was stunned, and Miss Ashworth nearly fainted on the spot.
The color drained from Paul Ashworth's face.
"Old friend," Mr. Ashworth said, his expression grave, "no matter what, you have to save them both. I'm begging you. If it comes to it, save the mother first."
"I will do my best." Elder Lynch returned to the operating room.
Five hours later, the operating light went out.
Finally, the sound of a baby's cry came from the operating room, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The tightly-closed doors of the operating room opened again, and a nurse walked out. "Congratulations, everyone. It's a beautiful little girl, and both mother and daughter are safe," the nurse said with a smile.
"Really? Mother and daughter are both safe? That's wonderful!" Miss Ashworth said, overjoyed.
Sylvia was wheeled out on a gurney. Elder Lynch followed, holding the baby. Paul Ashworth immediately rushed to Sylvia's side, took her hand, and looked at the doctor. "Mr. Lynch, thank you. Truly."
"Don't thank me yet. I have some bad news. Although both mother and daughter are safe for now, most of the poison in Sylvia's body was transferred to the baby. It's hard to say what her future will be like. We need to take her to the ICU right away."
Everyone's expression changed, their eyes filled with heartbreak.
"No matter what, she is the Ashworth family's little princess," Mr. Ashworth said, his stern gaze softening as he looked at the baby. "We will cure her, even if we have to exhaust all our resources to do it."
As night fell, the room outside the hospital ward was filled with people.
Paul Ashworth kept vigil by the bedside, his expression heavy.
Suddenly, the woman on the bed slowly opened her eyes, which held the dazed look of someone just waking up.
"Sylvia, how do you feel? Are you in any pain?" Seeing her awake, Paul Ashworth's eyes brightened.
Hearing the stir from inside the room, everyone rushed in.
As Sylvia Blaine came to, her first thought was of her child. "Paul, where's the baby?"
"Don't get worked up. Stay calm. The baby... she..." Paul Ashworth's expression darkened as he tried to soothe her gently.
"What's wrong with the baby? Tell me!" Sylvia Blaine looked at the others in the room; none of them looked well.
Finally, Mr. Blaine spoke up. "Sylvia, listen to me. You were poisoned, and the toxins in your system transferred to the baby. Her condition isn't good right now. She's in the ICU."
"How could this be? Paul, tell me she'll be okay. She'll be okay, right? Right? Please, tell me!" Sylvia Blaine nearly broke down, tears bursting from her eyes.
"Sylvia, it's okay. I'll make sure she's all right, I promise. You can't get agitated right now. The baby will be fine, trust me." Paul Ashworth held Sylvia Blaine, comforting her.
Listening to her sobs, everyone in the room felt their own hearts ache.
Once Sylvia Blaine was settled, Paul Ashworth said, "It's getting late, and everyone's had a long day. You should all go home. There are other children at home to worry about."
"Alright. We'll head home for now and come back tomorrow," Mr. Ashworth said. "Paul, take good care of Sylvia."
The next day, Mr. Ashworth arrived at the hospital with the rest of the Ashworth family. Mr. Blaine came as well.
Sylvia Blaine was in a terrible state over her daughter's condition; her beautiful eyes were red and swollen from crying.
"Sylvie, you must take care of yourself, no matter how heartbroken you are. Eat something," Miss Ashworth said, taking out some congee she had made. She poured it into a bowl and handed it to Paul Ashworth, motioning for him to feed his wife.
Just then, Mr. Ashworth took out a box with an ancient, intricate pattern and handed it to Paul Ashworth. "This is a treasure the Ashworth family has held for many years—the Snow Spirit Pill. It can neutralize all poisons. It should be able to clear the toxins from the baby's body. Ask Elder Lynch to bring the child out of the ICU."
"Dad, thank you." As a member of the Ashworth family, Paul Ashworth knew exactly how precious the Snow Spirit Pill was. He took the Elixir from Mr. Ashworth and immediately called Elder Lynch.
A short while later, Elder Lynch walked in holding the baby. All eyes turned to the infant. Sylvia Blaine looked ecstatic. "Paul, the baby! I want to hold her." "Okay, hold on. I'll bring her to you."
Paul Ashworth took the baby from Elder Lynch and handed her to Sylvia Blaine. Everyone else crowded around to see the child.
"What a beautiful, delicate child," the wife of the family's second son marveled.
"Yes, I've never seen such a perfect and beautiful baby, either," the eldest son's wife agreed.
Everyone nodded in silent agreement.
"Paul, hurry and give the Elixir to the baby," Sylvia Blaine said urgently.
Paul Ashworth took the Snow Spirit Pill from the box and placed it in the baby's mouth. It dissolved the instant it touched her tongue. Everyone stared intently, watching the child's reaction.
"She moved! Her hand moved!" Sylvia Blaine cried with joy, her tears dripping onto the baby's face.
At that moment, the baby slowly opened her eyes, leaving everyone stunned. They were bright black eyes, as clear as a spring, looking as though they could see through everything in the world.
'What's going on? Didn't I die?' Seraphina Ashworth was confused as she looked at the people before her. She moved her hand, and seeing the tiny, infant-like limb, a strange glint flickered in the depths of her eyes.
"She's awake! This is wonderful, the baby's awake!" everyone cheered.
"Elder Lynch, quickly, check the baby! Is the poison completely gone?" Miss Ashworth said excitedly.
Elder Lynch stepped forward and took the baby's pulse. "The poison has been completely purged, but it has taken a toll on her body. She's very weak, so she'll need to be carefully nurtured and looked after from now on."
"That's good. As long as she's okay, that's all that matters." Mr. Ashworth smiled, relieved.
Mr. Ashworth took the baby from Sylvia Blaine's arms, holding her with the utmost care.
"Dad, why don't you give her a name?" Paul Ashworth said, his gaze incredibly tender as he looked at the daughter in his father's arms.
"We moved heaven and earth to save this child, and she has the face of an angel. Let's call her Seraphina," Mr. Ashworth said, looking lovingly at the baby in his arms.
"But Dad," asked the eldest son, Zachary Ashworth, "aren't we supposed to follow a generation name for our family?"
"That doesn't matter. It's not important. This will be her name." Mr. Ashworth's face was all wrinkles as he beamed at the baby. His laughter echoed through the room, while the others could only watch eagerly, waiting for their turn to hold her.
"My granddaughter is so beautiful. Seraphina... Seraphina Ashworth. Our Ashworth family's little Princess," Miss Ashworth cooed, playfully tickling the baby in her husband's arms.
"Heavens, she's just so beautiful. Will any man ever be worthy of our little Princess in the future?" a gentle-looking woman in a blue dress remarked. In their hearts, everyone deeply agreed.
The baby closed her eyes again, seemingly having drifted off to sleep.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, you two have work, so you should head back. First Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, you too. Mom, Dad, you all should go home and rest. Everyone's exhausted after the last two days. I'm fine to stay here." Paul Ashworth took the baby back from his father's arms.
"Alright, that's settled then. I'll bring some nourishing soup for Sylvia tomorrow. You take good care of your wife and my granddaughter," Miss Ashworth told Paul Ashworth. And with that, everyone went their separate ways.