I didn’t know how long I had been out when someone woke me up.
It was Ian.
He sat on the edge of the bed, staring intently at me.
I froze, my breath caught. Could it be that he finally realized the child was gone?
My chest tightened, and my eyes stung with tears, but before I could say a word, he gave me a sheepish smile.
“Wife,” he began, his tone almost flattering. “I need to discuss something with you.”
I frowned. “What?”
He shifted closer, hesitating before continuing. “The day after tomorrow—the 8th—Paula is throwing a birthday party for her kid. I was thinking of giving them a cash gift of 5,000 dollars.”
I stared at him, my expression hardening as his words sank in.
He pushed on, seemingly oblivious. “And since the kid calls you Auntie, it’d be nice to show some respect, right?”
I raised an eyebrow. “How exactly do you suggest I do that?”
“Well,” he said, his voice brightening, “you could buy a pair of gold bracelets for the child! Gold prices are good right now, and I’ve already picked out a pair. They’re not expensive—just 15,000 dollars.”
It took me a moment to fully process his request.