Chapter 3

After we rejected Julia that day, she backed off for a few days.

Tyler and I contacted a real estate agent about selling the house as we wanted to move out as soon as possible.

Three days later, we had just returned from a meeting with the agent when we bumped into Julia and Howard at the entrance of our apartment complex.

We immediately put our guard up, thinking she was back to push the boy on us again.

Julia pulled Howard over with a relieved smile on her face. "Michelle, Tyler, I've figured it out."

She patted Howard's head, looking every bit the picture of doting affection. "Since you don't like kids, I won't force you anymore. I've completed the adoption paperwork, so Howie's now my son. I'll raise him myself."

Hearing that, Tyler and I exchanged glances.

At this point in our previous life, Alex's wife, Catalina Tassi, was already tracking down his mistress. It was odd that she would choose this time to adopt Howard. Something just didn't add up.

"Oh? You're going to raise him yourself?" I asked. "Have you thought it through? This won't be easy."

"Well, I can't help it. We just click." Julia sighed. Then her tone shifted. "Michelle, we're best friends, so you have to help me when I get too busy."

Without waiting for a response, she rattled on, "Howie's allergic to peanuts. He can't have any. He's scared of the dark, so he needs a night-light. He won't eat carrots, but he loves peppers. Just don't make it too sweet…"

Howard stood quietly beside her, head lowered as he fidgeted with his fingers.

As I listened to Julia go on and on, the unease in my chest kept growing. If she had decided to raise him herself, why spell out his daily habits to me in such detail?

It didn't sound like she was just sharing. It felt more like instructions.

It felt as if she had already planned for me to raise the child.

After seeing them off, Tyler and I rushed home to discuss our next move.

"Something's not right," I said.

Tyler walked over to the window and frowned as he watched them leave. "Tell me about it," he replied.

I collapsed onto the couch. The more I thought about it, the more something about the whole situation felt off.

"She's officially adopted the kid now. What if she keeps finding reasons to leave him with us? As close friends, it won't be easy for us to turn her down."

"We can't let her get her way," Tyler said, falling into deep thought. "That kid's a ticking time bomb. Whoever ends up raising him will be the one to pay for it. We need to stay on our guard."

We spent the entire night devising a plan.

Yet, a few days later, an accident threw our plans into disarray.