Chapter 4Raising the Wolf

As soon as we walked into the hot pot place, I saw Harper waving frantically at us, her eyes lighting up when she saw Liam.

Resigned, I led Liam over and introduced them.

"Liam, this is Auntie Harper."

The woman across from me immediately got defensive. "What Auntie? Don't listen to her nonsense. Liam, right? I'm your big sister Harper."

Liam obliged and called her "Sister Harper," after which she sent him off to get dipping sauces.

I knew she had something she wanted to say to me privately.

Harper dropped her smile, looking deeply pained. "Summer, tell me the truth. Did you take one look at Liam’s face and decide to play some sort of grooming game? He's underage!"

I looked at her like she was an idiot, picked up my water glass, and didn't reply.

She continued her guessing game weakly, "Don't tell me you want to... be his mom?"

I choked, nearly spitting out my water.

Harper hurriedly handed me a napkin. "Hey, I'm just throwing ideas out there! You hate drama more than anything. Don't tell me it's about repaying a debt of gratitude. I know you. You always keep things strictly business. You wouldn't raise her son just because his mother helped you back then."

She was right. I wouldn't.

So, why did I take him in on a whim?

Was it because, during that stare-down at the cemetery, I saw my past self in him?

I didn't know.

Liam came back with the sauces, and Harper and I appropriately dropped the subject.

During the hot pot meal, with Harper there, there was never a dull moment.

She actually managed to make Liam blush several times.

Before we left, as we stood by the car, Harper pulled me aside. She looked at Liam in the passenger seat and whispered, "I don't know why you took him in, and if you don't want to tell me, I won't ask. Raising a kid isn't easy. If you ever need anything, just say the word. Don't try to shoulder it all yourself. You hear me?"

I reached out, linked my arm through hers, and leaned close to her ear, drawing out my words, "I knowww~ You worry too much, Auntie Harper~"

She playfully smacked the back of my hand in annoyance and let me go.

Before heading home, we went to IKEA to order a wardrobe, desk, and chair to be delivered for the guest room.

From now on, that would be his room.

After getting everything arranged at home, I went back to my bedroom to catch up on sleep, leaving Liam to sort himself out.

That evening, I was woken up by the smell of food.

Rubbing my eyes, I groggily walked into the living room. Under the warm lighting, Liam was bringing plates out from the kitchen one by one.

I looked at the table full of food, then looked up at him in confusion: Did I bring home a personal chef?

Liam looked a bit embarrassed. "I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I made a few different things. I accidentally made too much, sorry."

I waved my hand to show it was fine and sat down at the dining table, still a bit dazed. So this is what it feels like to have someone cook for you at home?

In the days that followed, there wasn't much interaction between Liam and me.

Most of the time, I was holed up in my office drawing, occasionally going to the studio to meet clients with Harper.

Since Liam arrived, the house was always spotless, and a few small potted plants had appeared on the balcony.

Two weeks later, it was time for Liam to start school.

It was only when I dropped him off for registration that I learned from his teacher he had ranked first in his entire school on his final exams last semester.

This was what he meant by "grades are pretty good"?

I turned to look at the boy, noting the tips of his ears turning red and his back subtly straightening a bit more.

I chuckled inwardly; he was a bit like a cat.

Since the school was close to home, after asking for his preference, we decided he would commute.

The next day, we went back to the store to buy him a bicycle.

With that, he officially started his junior year of high school, and I poured all my energy into the studio.

Before I knew it, it was the Thanksgiving long weekend.