Chapter 3

She avoids my gaze, her cheeks flushing instantly.

My own heart skips a beat, but I dare not respond.

Seeing my lack of reaction, disappointment flickers in her eyes.

"Oh, oh, oh..." Sophia Laurent sways gently, cradling the baby, trying to lull him to sleep.

I pretend to play with the rabbit, reaching into the cage to pet it. The rabbit retreats to the far corner, its front paws thumping the floor impatiently.

I chuckle. "The rabbit's thumping its feet. That means it's annoyed!"

Though it's just a trivial fact, Sophia shoots me an irritated glare and stops swaying. "Who are you implying that about?"

I quickly apologize. "I wasn't talking about you!"

As I speak, my gaze inadvertently drifts downward.

Sophia's face reddens. "John, what on earth are you saying?"

Just then, the baby begins to cry, probably hungry.

Sophia turns slightly to the side and lifts her shirt to nurse him.

But I can still catch glimpses of her beauty.

The baby fusses, nursing for a few moments before crying again. I watch Sophia, my focus beginning to waver.

Unable to soothe the baby, she looks to me for help.

I wash my hands and take the child. Strangely, the moment he's in my arms, his cries cease.

"He really seems to like me!"

Sophia looks at me with clear satisfaction.

Pleased, I quickly urge her to continue feeding him.

Without hesitation, she bares her breast again.

We work together to comfort the baby, creating a warm, peaceful moment.

"He listens to you. Tell him to drink more!" Sophia adores this.

I play along. "Good baby, drink more of Mommy's milk. If you don't, Uncle John will have to drink it instead!"

Sophia falls silent.

I immediately regret my inappropriate words, cringing inwardly.

After feeding, the baby falls sound asleep.

"I should head out. See you tomorrow!"

I prepare to leave, but a torrential downpour suddenly erupts outside.

The rain pours down violently, more like someone dumping buckets than mere rainfall.

"Mom just texted. She said the rain's too heavy, so she's going straight home and won't come back. Since you're taking me to the hospital tomorrow anyway, why don't you just stay the night?"

Sophia tries to persuade me to stay.

I hesitate. "Don't you have an umbrella?"

"No!" she replies firmly. I have a feeling there probably is one somewhere.

She doesn't seem to want me to leave, so I reluctantly agree to stay.

After dinner, Sophia tells me to amuse myself for a while in the living room. She says she wants to take a shower and then chat with me.

I play with the game console in her living room while she showers.

The bathroom isn't far, and the sound of running water seems to echo right beside me.

I can't concentrate on the game. My mind keeps wandering to Sophia's alluring figure.

Her body is perfect, the subject of fantasy for everyone at the company.

My throat feels parched. I could drink the entire water cooler dry.

Right then, Sophia emerges from the bathroom.

She's changed into a very seductive nightgown.

Thin and semi-transparent, it leaves little to the imagination.

I feel like slapping myself. How could her ex-husband not cherish such a beautiful woman?

"John, I wanted to discuss something with you?"

My mouth acts before my brain. "You're not looking for a new dad for the baby, are you?"

"Are you afraid?"

Her eyes fill with disappointment.

I quickly backtrack. "I meant I'd be willing! Why didn't you let me finish?"

Sophia's tears turn to laughter. "You're so funny!"

Getting back on track, I say I was just joking and ask what she really wanted to discuss.

She looks embarrassed. "John, you heard what the doctor said today, right?"

I hadn't dared forget a single word of the female doctor's advice.

"I heard."

"Okay, well, John, the thing is... I need your help."

Sophia explains she's worried. If she doesn't express the excess milk, she'll definitely get clogged ducts.

But she's divorced. She can't exactly ask her ex-husband.

So she wants my help. Of course, she doesn't expect any responsibility from me, and I shouldn't get any wrong ideas.

"John, will you help me? I wanted to ask you because I trust you during this sensitive time."

She is determined to have me be the one to assist.

Every cell in my body is buzzing with a mix of thrill and anxiety.

"I... I..."

I truly don't dare say anything careless now.

Sophia looks near tears. "You'd just watch me suffer? I'm not asking you to take responsibility. If no one helps me, I'm afraid something really bad might happen!"

The doctor said today that Sophia already has lumps. If it gets worse, she might need surgery.

Health is serious. There's no room for carelessness.

I grit my teeth. "Alright, I'll help you. But... I'm really not trying to take advantage! Please don't think poorly of me."

Whether I want to is one thing, but stating my intentions is another.

Hearing this, Sophia is delighted. "Let's go into the bedroom then. The living room feels too strange for this."

"Let's go."