Chapter 2The $5 Sharing Era

After Sarah from 1003 left, I took a nap with my daughter.

My alarm hadn’t even gone off when a frantic pounding echoed from the front door.

I checked the monitor. It was her again.

The second I opened the door, she grabbed my hand. 「Please, I’m desperate, you have to help me!」

Her face was a mess of tears. I instinctively pulled my hand back and took a step away.

「What’s wrong? What do you need help with?」

As soon as I spoke, the baby in her arms started to wail.

I watched the crying infant, a prickle of suspicion running down my spine.

He was sound asleep just a moment ago. How did he start crying on command?

While I was trying to figure it out, her hand shot out and she grabbed my breast through my nursing pajama top.

「Wow, these are really something, aren’t they? You must be eating well.」

「You must have a ton of milk. My supply’s dried up. Could you give us a little?」

She was actually trying to unbutton my pajamas as she spoke.

I was stunned for a second by her audacity, then I snapped back to reality and slapped her hand away. 「What? You want my milk?」

「Yes, exactly! Your milk!」

I struggled to keep my composure. 「We don’t even know each other.」

「Oh, is that what you’re worried about? Well, if he drinks a little of your milk, we’ll get to know each other real fast, won’t we?」

「Besides, you had a girl. Girls don’t drink that much. My son can help you with the surplus! Think of it as… milk-sharing!」

「And who knows! Maybe after sharing your milk, our kids will grow up close. They might even get married one day!」

「Don’t worry, we won’t take it for free. We’ll pay you. How does five dollars a session sound? We can pay you weekly!」

「A carton of formula is way more than that, so you’re getting a great deal. You won’t lose out, I promise!」

My jaw was on the floor. I had never, ever heard of "milk-sharing" put like that.

After a moment of shock, I found my voice. 「Sorry, no. I barely have enough for my own daughter. There’s nothing extra for anyone else.」

Her face twisted in annoyance. 「How much can one little girl drink? If she’s not full, just give her formula!」

「Look at the size of you! There’s no way you don’t have enough milk! I’ve done my research. A woman with your… assets… you’re prime wet nurse material!」

I almost laughed out of sheer fury. So now she was auditioning me?

「Why don’t you buy your own damn formula instead of coming here to beg?!」

I moved to slam the door in her face.

But she wedged her foot in the jamb. 「Fine, fine! If we can’t share, then just pump some for me!」

「Let’s compromise. We’ll go halfsies. Your daughter can have the morning milk, and my son can have the afternoon milk. How about that?」

「But if I have to give him formula for the other half of the day, you’ll have to compensate me for the cost!」

Her demands were getting more and more insane. I kicked her foot out of the doorway.

And slammed the door shut with a deafening bang.

The rest of the evening passed without another visit from Sarah.

I thought that was the end of it.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. In the middle of the night, a bloodcurdling wail ripped through the entire apartment complex.