Chapter 4The Million-Dollar Baby Trap

That night, I dreamed of Julian.

After the "forced incident," he seemed to get used to my touch.

Sometimes, he’d stare at me and gulp.

He didn't know what was happening to him.

Once, we were watching Ultraman. He kept glancing at me.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Sister..." He was breathing hard, hands fidgeting in his lap. "Every time I look at you, I feel like I'm going to explode. Am I sick?"

He asked innocently, but his eyes drifted to my neckline.

I understood immediately and burst out laughing.

I wish I had recorded it.

The only time we slept in the same bed voluntarily was when I was five months pregnant.

There was a thunderstorm, and the power went out.

He knocked on my door, hugging a Transformer.

"I'm scared. Can I sleep with you?"

"Fine. But..." I pointed at the toy. "That thing has to go."

"No! He stays with me!"

I hadn't been paid yet, so I compromised.

I slept on the left, the Transformer on the right, and Julian in the middle.

Thunder cracked. He grabbed me, burying his face in my back.

I realized he was terrified of thunder. It made sense; he was mentally ten.

I patted his back like a mom until he fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, I felt something hot pressing against my back.

His voice was husky but childish.

"Sister, I want to play horsie again."