Outside the maternity ward, lan paced back and forth, sweat beading on his forehead.

The sounds of a woman in labor echoed continuously, his entire body tense as he peppered the nearby doctor with anxious questions.

"Everything's okay, right?"

"Please, make sure she's looked after. Her voice... it's changed. Is she running out of strength?"

"Maja? Maja!"

He called out twice, wanting to rush in, but the doctor stopped him each time.

Sitting outside in the corridor were the rest of the Sanders clan-Augus, Dylan, and Beck, who had recently been driven to the brink of madness by a spate of blind dates-along with the family doctor. The doctor was even more nervous than lan, a man who usually scoffed at religious beliefs, now found himself clasping his hands together, murmuring prayers.

With each sound from inside, lan's face drained of color.

He paced relentlessly, on the verge of smoking with anxiety.

"If it comes down to it, can we do a C-section? Get the best meds. I don't want her to suffer."

He couldn't bear to listen any longer; any more, and he'd likely faint right there.

But as he spoke, the cry of a newborn cut through the tension.

A flicker of joy crossed his eyes, and soon Maja was wheeled out, her hair soaked with sweat, her complexion pale as death.

the baby; instead, he went straight to her

how are

speak but couldn't muster a word, her voice

eyes. "We're not doing this again, I'm

quickly brought

it's twins-a boy and

ultrasounds had hinted at twins, but lan and Maja hadn't shared the news with anyone. They had quietly speculated-two boys or two girls-but nobody expected one of each. lan had attended parenting classes, learning the proper way to hold

each arm, their wrinkled

the sight, asked, "Can we tell

twin news to himself, waiting for the moment they were born to show off to

and out of consciousness,

you earlier-get your congratulatory cash

and a girl-just born. Get that cash gift

I've got twins, a boy and a girl. Bet you didn't see that coming, huh? Ready the cash, will

ecstatic, his fingers trembling as he clutched his phone,

a persistent redial, Abner finally agreed, clearly

babies' tiny fists and updated his Facebook status with a brief message.

admiration, and not-so-subtle hints for

gesture, lan posted a $300,000 cash giveaway on his social media, sending the online world into a frenzy that lasted well into the night. Holding his children close, he couldn't

Maja felt better, she sighed at his

others hold the

so much that Augus, looking on, had been itching

quickly called out, "Dad,

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