Chapter 6

My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom’s womb.

Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other.

When Mom was pregnant with me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers.

Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, “Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!”

Mom had replied, “Well, that’s not up to me. We’ll let her decide in the future.”

“Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper’s belly to be your wife?” Aunt Mel asked.

Felix had laid in Mom’s lap, giggling as he sucked on his thumb and mumbled the word “wife” repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal.

And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born.

By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn’t opposed to being his wife either.

Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix’s needs first.

Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic.

When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds.

I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare.

I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well.

It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn’t seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me.

That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty.

Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites’ kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch.

“Lulu, about today …” Mom started, but she couldn’t seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried.

Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today.

Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so.

As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters.

Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn’t the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel’s relationship was endangered too.

Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn’t bear to see her get hurt.

I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn’t be forced.

I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it.

When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn’t, I would let them know and not lead them on.

Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life.

However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well.