Chapter 4 You're My Mommy

Elise looked at her stepmother, who was seated on the sofa and preoccupied with counting money. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She was about to go back to her room when Harley stopped her.

"There's dinner for your father in the kitchen. Bring it to him."

Elise had been working for two days straight and was running a slight fever. At that moment, nothing sounded better than a few hours of sleep in her own bed.

Before she could refuse, Harley commented with a sneer, "What? Are you not willing to go? You can't make money for this family, yet you feel wronged to be asked to bring your father his meal? Let me tell you, if you don't go right now, your father will have nothing to eat! I have an appointment to play mahjong today. I'm leaving soon."

"Okay, I'll go." With a deep sigh, Elise went to the kitchen. The headache would have to wait.

If she didn't go, Harley would say more unpleasant words to her and her father would starve. Since she was going to the hospital, she decided to stay with her father tonight.

She dragged her exhausted body to the hospital. Halfway to her destination, raindrops started falling from the sky. Elise wanted to turn back, but she forgot to bring her key. The hospital was not too far anyway, so she gritted her teeth and plodded onward.

Soon, the drizzle became a steady downpour. Heavy raindrops showered her face and seeped through her clothes, and the harsh, cold wind seemed to penetrate right to her bones, making her shiver. Even so, her forehead felt unusually hot, and a wave of dizziness hit her.

Elise knew that her fever was getting more serious, but there was no time to think of herself. Instead, fearing that the rain would ruin her father's meal, she stripped off her coat, wrapped it around the lunch box, and cradled the bundle in her arms.

The hospital was just in front of her. She would be there soon. 'Dad must be hungry waiting for his food.'

Bang!

Out of nowhere, a limited edition Lincoln rushed toward her out of the heavy rain. Although the driver had braked sharply, the car still managed to graze Elise, who was running toward the hospital.

The last thing that she felt was a splitting headache before everything turned black.

Inside the car, the driver looked out and reported the situation to his employer, who was sitting in the back seat.

"We hit someone."

"A man or a woman?"

The driver ventured out with an umbrella held overhead and peered at the unconscious person. When he saw Elise's pale face, he turned around and reported, "It's a woman."

"Oh! Is she beautiful?"

Bewildered, the driver replied, "Uh, yes. She's very beautiful!"

"Then take her with us!"

The voice rose slightly, as if in excitement.

Another bright morning dawned.

Early morning sunlight shone through the window on a white goose-down blanket and slowly crept over the woman's long lashes.

Little by little, Elise opened her eyes as she felt the dazzling sunlight behind her closed lids.

She looked around and found her coat, jeans, T-shirt, shoes, and underwear scattered on the floor.

'Underwear?'

Elise's pupils dilated in an instant. She tried sitting up, but someone was lying on her legs, stopped her.

"My dear, can you sleep with me for a while?" A lazy voice drifted to her ears from underneath the quilt, accompanying a soft touch that made her heart beat fast.

Elise's mind went blank. She bolted up from the bed, pulling the quilt with her to cover her naked body.

Just then, the unknown creature under the quilt was completely exposed.

Fair buttocks faced the ceiling, and under an unruly mop of curly hair was a little face with sleepy eyes and pouted lips.

'A kid?' Elise tentatively touched the kid's butt, wondering if she were dreaming. After confirming that she was very much awake, she stared at the boy in puzzlement.

"Well! Then who do you think I am?" The boy scratched his head and got up with a pillow in his arms. He looked up into Elise's confused eyes and frowned. "Don't dream of sleeping in my daddy's bed. You're mine!"

"Who are you?" Elise asked, still confused by the situation. Why was she sleeping in the same bed with a child?

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you are my mommy from now on!"