A Life Left Behind

Back in my room with the baby in my arms, Derick and Jasmine came strolling in.

Jasmine's gaze clung to my son the second she walked in, her face lighting up.

"Lily's kid sure is a looker! Spitting image of his mom!"

I could not help but let out a scoff, pulling the blanket tighter around my baby, shielding him from her prying eyes.

Jasmine could not contain her shock.

"Lily, why on earth are you swaddling the baby in cotton? It's so rough and cheap, it could scratch his delicate skin. Here, take my silk blankets instead!"

She was quick to flaunt her pricey silk quilts and garments, reaching out to take my baby into her arms.

I brushed her hand aside, my voice icy. "He's my son. I'll look after him my way."

Jasmine paused, a flicker of irritation passing through her gaze before she masked it with a grin. "But of course, Lily, the queen bee with all the cash and clout. Naturally, you'd only want the best for him: only the best of things and the finest education. He's bound to be brilliant and tough, just like you."

Maybe she was already dreaming of the day he would inherit my fortune, her eyes brimming with love as she gazed at him.

Derick chimed in, "Lily, what do you think about calling our boy Nathaniel?"

He had been set on that name since I was pregnant, insisting we use it once the baby arrived.

Only later did I learn that Nathaniel was the name of Jasmine's deadbeat dad.

He was pushing for it because Jasmine wanted to leave her own legacy on the child.

I shut that down fast. "No, his name will be Ayden."

Derick's expression darkened. "But we had a deal that I'd get to name him, didn't we?"

"Ayden was my granddad's name. My dad made it clear before he passed that he wanted my baby to carry it. Besides, it's my dad's legacy that's keeping us afloat. Unless you're ready to foot the bill?"

Derick tensed up, a clear sign.

Ever since we got together, he had been living off me. How could he possibly support a child?

Jasmine's mood soured at that.

"Lily, your dad was a Mafia legend, and it's pretty cool you named your kid after him! Just make sure to raise him right, okay?"

I kept my face blank as I answered, "Don't worry about it. Focus on your own kid."

When her child came up, Jasmine scoffed, "Don't get me started. My kid's dad died before he was even born, and the little guy's just a pain. Just looking at him stresses me out."

"Tell me about it. The doctor just found out he's got a heart condition, and almost died of hypothermia a bit ago." Derick said under his breath, "That doctor's a miracle worker, bringing him back from the brink."

Derick's words sent a chill down my spine.

Both Jasmine's kid and mine had congenital heart disease.

In my previous life, Jasmine's kid got through it with some pricey surgery. My baby, though, caught a bad cold early on and did not make it because of complications.

Despite knowing the kid was sick, Derick and Jasmine did nothing but throw a washcloth over him. Thank goodness I had switched the kids back in time. Any later, and I might not have been able to save my own.

I bit back my anger and hurried them out the door.

Two days later, Derick came to pick up me and Jasmine from the hospital. Jasmine beat me to the punch, cooing over the baby in my arms with love in her eyes.

Her own kid, dressed in nothing but a flimsy onesie, was tossed aside at the foot of the bed.

I shielded my baby, not letting her get a good look, and frowned. "It's freezing out there. Aren't you worried that not bundling up your kid will lead to a cold, or worse, complications?"

Jasmine just rolled her eyes and, without much care, picked up her child.

"Newborn clothes cost a fortune, and it's not that chilly outside. A brief exposure won't freeze anyone to death."

Derick joined in the conversation. "That kid's nothing like our little lord. He doesn't even have a father, not nearly as pampered."

With that, they left the hospital room.

I watched them go, their foolishness and indifference so blatant that I could not help but scoff.

Would they act the same if they knew the child shivering from the cold was their own son?

I had offered my advice out of kindness, and whether they heeded it was up to them.