Chapter 2

How did he get here so fast?

I looked at him with suspicion.

Ethan rubbed his nose uncomfortably—his classic tell when he was lying.

"Uh, I was just meeting a client nearby, so I came right over. Are we ready? Let’s go."

He reached for the bags.

I didn't have the energy to argue with him right then.

"Fine! Let’s drive your parents back to their house!"

Brenda immediately bolted upright from the bed.

"Of course we're going to your place! I need to recover. Who's going to cook and look after me at my house?"

I stared at Brenda. She suddenly shrunk back, hiding behind Richard as if she was scared of me.

Richard chimed in, "Where else would we go? Your apartment is huge and has spare rooms. Plus, the baby is so small and Brenda is weak. How can she manage alone?"

I saw right through them. This was a carefully planned ambush. They knew I would never agree if they asked beforehand.

Ethan looked incredibly torn.

"Babe, look at her. It’s going to be a disaster if they go back to their place. My dad’s back is bad, so he can't help. They’re my parents. I can't just leave them to suffer."

Richard let out a few timely, theatrical coughs.

It's always easy to let trouble in, but impossible to get rid of it.

"No!" I said firmly. "We both work full-time. We don't have time to take care of a newborn. If they stay with us, the baby will cry all night, and we won't get any sleep. How are we supposed to work?"

Richard’s face darkened as he stared at Ethan.

"Ethan, this is your mother and your baby brother."

I had no choice but to compromise slightly. "We'll hire a professional night nanny! We'll pay for it!"

"No way," Brenda snapped. "Nannies are strangers. We don't trust them. Besides, a nanny can't handle both me and the baby. It’s too much work."

Then what about Richard? He was perfectly capable of moving around. Why couldn't he help his wife of thirty years?

Before I could object further, a nurse walked in to clear the room.

"Room 18, we need this bed cleared for the next patient. Please pack up."

Ethan grabbed my hand.

"Babe, please. Let them stay for just one month so my mom can recover. I’ll hire a nanny to do all the work so it won't bother you. We’ll just be there to help out in case of emergencies."

Seeing my icy expression, Ethan quickly added, "Just one month. I promise, they won't bother you. Once the month is up, they go home. I swear."

With the nurse pushing us out, I couldn't resolve this right now. I had to swallow my anger and let them come to our place first.