Chapter 13Felix’s Pov “What! You are flying in this weekend?”, I exclaimed in both shock and excitement. I was on the phone with my younger brother Charlie.“Yes, Felix. I can’t wait to see you”, Charlie replied excitedly from across the phone.“Me too kiddo”, l laughed. As my mind began to replay fond memories l had shared with my younger brother. Before he had left for college two years ago in China.Growing up Charlie and l had always been close. He was a only year younger than me but I still treated him like a little child. Not in a disrespectful or devaluing manner. But because after our mother left. Charlie was the only family besides my father l had left.Charlie had been born as a premature child. So he was extremely sick and weak most of his childhood. As a result, l had to help my mother take care of him very often. And once my mother left us when I was ten and Charlie was only nine. The responsibility of looking after my younger brother had fallen onto me entirely.And for
Chapter 14Leigh’s Pov I unconsciously held my breath the moment l stepped inside the new house. No words could even begin to describe how magnificent the house was. It was wide and enormous but somehow had a cozy feeling to it. The interior was astonishing with a chic marble design.I could not even begin to fathom the idea that this was going to be my new house. Mr Gray had said my father and him had brought the property for Felix and l as a pre-advance wedding gift. But l doubted my father could even afford to buy a place like this.“This place is amazing daddy”, l heard Claire say as she emerged from what appeared to be the living room. Her grating voice echoing throughout the empty house.Felix’s response was a low, “yeah”.“I think it’s beautiful”, I said, as l mindlessly ran my hand on the kitchen wall. Felix gave me a quick glance but didn’t say anything. I surveyed the rest of the house in silence. Trying my best to be as inconspicuous as possible. Blending shamelessly into
Chapter 15Felix’s Pov “I see you haven’t changed a bit”, Charlie, my younger brother said casually. As l opened the door to my apartment that Saturday morning.“Charlie! Jesus fucking Christ. When did you get here?”, I asked in both glee and disbelief.Although l had been anticipating Charlie’s arrival. I had not expected him to show up at my doorstep that early in the morning without notice. Regardless, l was more delighted than surprised to see him.“Aren’t you happy to see me? I got your address from father. So l thought l could surprise you”, Charlie said jauntily as he let himself in. “I admittedly went to look for you at father’s house and was surprised to hear that you had moved out” , he continued.“Yes. I moved out as soon as you left. I couldn’t bare to stay with that old man for another second”, l replied bitterly. As l began to make myself some coffee.After my father had given me the company. Charlie had made the decision to go and study as a pediatrician in China. I w
Chapter 16Leigh’s Pov The weekend sped by. And before l knew it. It was already the day Felix and l would be moving into our new house. I looked at my apartment one last time. Before l picked up the last of my packed stuff. I was unhappy to move but l sure wasn’t going to miss this place. It had been a temporary and cheap solution after Dylan had kicked me out of his apartment. Hence the living conditions had been unsafe and unpleasant. I had to barricade the door with a chair every night because the lock was broken.Even though the whole engagement situation was unpleasant. I was glad l at least got something good out if it. Now l was going to be living in a large and possibly safer house than l could ever afford. Even if it was with a man l barely knew anything about. “Goodbye sweetie, come visit me soon”, Mr Fagger, the middle aged man that owned the building said with a disgusting wink. His tobacco stained teeth showing as his lips curled up into a sinister smile. Just as l
Chapter 17Leigh’s Pov “Which room do you want to sleep in?”, Felix casually asked. As he carried my box up the glass stairs in our new house. With me trailing close behind. “Whichever you chose is fine. I mean, l will have whatever room you will let me have”, l replied meekly. And for some reason, my heart was pounding rapidly in my chest. “Leigh this is your house too. You are allowed to choose where you want to sleep”, Felix deadpanned. As we reached the landing. “I can sleep in the guest bedroom”, I offered helpfully. Unsure of what else I was supposed to say. Felix turned to look at me with an impassive look on his face. Before he looked past me and said, “Charlie, take her stuff up to the main bedroom. I’ll sleep in the guest”.I turned to see Charlie climb up the glass staircase.With one of my boxes full of stuff l had labeled ‘appliances’. And he silently nodded his head to Felix’s request. Avoiding any form of eye contact with me as he walked past me. “No. It’s okay. I
Chapter 18Felix’s Pov “You’re alluring Miss Ellis, l could not help but stare”, l heard my younger brother Charlie say. The Instant l walked into the living room. After l had left the house to get some groceries.“Do my ears deceive me or are you actually flirting with my fiancée?”, l casually asked as l walked towards my younger brother Charlie and Leigh. Who were both standing aimlessly in the kitchen.I unintentionally locked eyes with Leigh and l immediately felt embarrassed. As recollections of the days previous event suddenly invaded my mind.I had just been climbing the stairs to my new room. When l suddenly heard Leigh scream from her bedroom. Immediately, I rushed towards the sound. Worried that something bad had happened to her.And when l had arrived at her door. A pair of bright pink underwear had been unexpectedly flung into my face. I remember that l had momentarily stood by the door in shock. Unable to process or react to what had just happened. And unintentionally, l
Chapter 19Leigh’s Pov “Jesus fucking Christ!“, Felix shouted. Yanking off his suit’s blazer. Before he immediately tore off his coffee soaked shirt. “I’m so sorry”, I began in a panic.“What is your fucking problem Leigh!” Felix shouted in anger. As he quickly began to wipe off the sticky hot liquid from his chest.“I’m sorry”, I whispered. Choking back the tears l suddenly felt stinging in the corners of my eyes.“Fuck!”, Felix cussed. As he wiped off the reminder of the burning liquid from his chest. The burn of the coffee leaving a reddish tint to his skin.“I’m so sorry Felix. I didn’t mean to bump into you. I swear”, I almost cried. As Felix’s harsh shouting had suddenly made me feel like crying.All l had wanted to do was make him some breakfast. Like a proper fiancée would. Instead l had messed everything up and ended up making him upset.Yesterday I had humiliated myself with the underwear incident. And l today l had thought l would make it up to him by making him breakfast
Chapter 20Felix’s Pov “You’re late”, Claire said as l walked into my office that morning. She was standing aimlessly by my desk with a bunch of files in her hands.“What are you doing in my office?”, l asked. Closing the door behind me as l slowly began to walk towards Claire.Claire’s eyes widened in panic for a brief second before she quickly regained her composure. “I was just uh organizing the files on your desk”, she stammered. Before she quickly set down the pile of files she had been holding onto my desk.I raised my eyebrow, giving Claire a questioning look. But I did not say anything as l proceeded to sit down on my chair. “What’s your problem?”, Claire suddenly asked. Leaning towards me as she set both her palms flat on the table. Her face only inches away from mine, I could feel her breath fanning my face. And smell the smell of her lavender scented perfume.“Nothing”, l replied coldly. “I just wanted to know what you were doing in my office that’s all”, l continued with
Chapter 25 Leigh’s Pov “Hey Charlie could you please do me a favor?”, I asked Charlie. Turning to look at him as l dried my hands on the dish towel he’d just handed me. “Charlie shifted slightly to face me. “Sure Leigh, I’d do anything for you.” He immediately replied. Before his eyes widened momentarily and he looked away. “I mean sure. What is it you want me to do?”, Charlie said. Clearing his throat as he glanced at me from the corner of his eyes. His eyes dancing around the room. I remained silent for a moment. As l had been slightly taken aback by Charlie’s response. But l didn’t say anything about it. Something about the way Charlie avoided my gaze told me he didn’t want me commenting on it. “Ok so umm..”, l hesitated a little before l continued. “You know how this engagement has been anything but easy for Felix. And how I’ve been constantly causing him trouble ever since l stepped into his life?,” I said wringing my hands together. Charlie frowned as l spoke
Chapter 24Leigh’s Pov “Is everything ok?”, Charlie asked timidly.Before he slowly turned around and placed the pan back on the stove. Switching it off. I turned to look at him, catching his expression. And l realized he was more concerned than anything else.“No! I’m really late for work!”, l exclaimed. My voice sounding sharper than l had intended it to. As l tugged at the roots of my hair in frustration.“My shift at the cafe began hours ago. My manager is going to skin me alive”, l said. My voice less sharper than before. Although she had never actually voiced it out loud, but rather implied it. One of Mrs Baxter’s, my manager at the cafe’s, biggest pet peeve was tardiness. She hated it when people were late especially if they had no good reason for it. This one time she berated one of the employees so much for being late, l almost felt sorry for her. She was very apologetic and even had a reason for her tardiness, but Mrs Baxter still fired her the next morning. And not to m
Chapter 23Leigh’s Pov Without saying anything else, Felix moved away from the door. Running his right hand through his dark hair before he sat down at the edge of the bed.I stared up at him in anticipation, from his bedroom floor. Silently waiting for him to reprimand me for being such a burden. Waiting for him to tell me that he hadn’t signed up for this. For him to tell me that l was ruining his life and that l was dramatic. But I was certainly not prepared for what he had to say next. “Leigh l don’t understand you”, Felix began in a defeated tone. He was sitting on the edge of the opposite side of the bed. And had his back towards me, so I could not see what his expression looked like as he spoke.“But l can’t really say l tried. In all honesty, I never wanted to try. To me you were just some girl l was forced to marry”, Felix said, with a small shrug of his shoulder. “This might sound selfish, but l just want my life back.” Felix paused a little before he spoke again. “But
Chapter 22Leigh’s Pov I started to cry. As l heard the footsteps slowly approach me.Suddenly, l was nine again. And it was dark. Seating in the corner of my mothers house as the robbers assaulted my mother. It’s so dark and my breath is coming short. I am starting to feel dizzy. And my heart is thumping so loudly in my chest it’s starting to hammer my temples. “Oh dear lord, no, please no”, l silently cry. As l tug at my chest.The thumping in my chest is so overwhelming l start to lose sight of my surroundings. As my breath becomes shorter. I fall to the side, crying and gasping. I’m terrified of what is happening, of what is about to happen. So terrified, as the footsteps approach me.“Oh dear lord, please let this be a dream”, I pray. Tugging at my shirt. Desperately hoping for the uneasiness in my chest to go away.“Who’s there!”, the voice booms again. And l tremble in fear. I’m just a child. A small little child.“Pl-please…..d-don’t…hurt my mother”, I whisper. Panting as l
Chapter 21Leigh’s Pov “That’s fantastic Leigh!”, my friend Astrid shouted in excitement from across the phone that morning. As l walked down the busy streets of New York. On my way to work. I unconsciously tugged at the hem of my grey cardigan, just as Astrid’s voice chimed from across the phone.“I mean despite the fact that you embarrassed yourself in front of Felix. Or the fact that you did some possibly emotionally scarring things to the poor man, I’m glad to hear that the two of you are finally getting somewhere.” She said.I had just told her everything that had happened between Felix and l over the small period of time we had started living together. “I don’t know if we are getting anywhere yet. But I am glad he forgave me”, l replied with a small smile. As l maneuvered my way across the bustling crowd of people that were eager to get about their day.“And he even apologized for yelling at me, which is good l think. ““It’s definitely good! Soon the two of you will be shari
Chapter 20Felix’s Pov “You’re late”, Claire said as l walked into my office that morning. She was standing aimlessly by my desk with a bunch of files in her hands.“What are you doing in my office?”, l asked. Closing the door behind me as l slowly began to walk towards Claire.Claire’s eyes widened in panic for a brief second before she quickly regained her composure. “I was just uh organizing the files on your desk”, she stammered. Before she quickly set down the pile of files she had been holding onto my desk.I raised my eyebrow, giving Claire a questioning look. But I did not say anything as l proceeded to sit down on my chair. “What’s your problem?”, Claire suddenly asked. Leaning towards me as she set both her palms flat on the table. Her face only inches away from mine, I could feel her breath fanning my face. And smell the smell of her lavender scented perfume.“Nothing”, l replied coldly. “I just wanted to know what you were doing in my office that’s all”, l continued with
Chapter 19Leigh’s Pov “Jesus fucking Christ!“, Felix shouted. Yanking off his suit’s blazer. Before he immediately tore off his coffee soaked shirt. “I’m so sorry”, I began in a panic.“What is your fucking problem Leigh!” Felix shouted in anger. As he quickly began to wipe off the sticky hot liquid from his chest.“I’m sorry”, I whispered. Choking back the tears l suddenly felt stinging in the corners of my eyes.“Fuck!”, Felix cussed. As he wiped off the reminder of the burning liquid from his chest. The burn of the coffee leaving a reddish tint to his skin.“I’m so sorry Felix. I didn’t mean to bump into you. I swear”, I almost cried. As Felix’s harsh shouting had suddenly made me feel like crying.All l had wanted to do was make him some breakfast. Like a proper fiancée would. Instead l had messed everything up and ended up making him upset.Yesterday I had humiliated myself with the underwear incident. And l today l had thought l would make it up to him by making him breakfast
Chapter 18Felix’s Pov “You’re alluring Miss Ellis, l could not help but stare”, l heard my younger brother Charlie say. The Instant l walked into the living room. After l had left the house to get some groceries.“Do my ears deceive me or are you actually flirting with my fiancée?”, l casually asked as l walked towards my younger brother Charlie and Leigh. Who were both standing aimlessly in the kitchen.I unintentionally locked eyes with Leigh and l immediately felt embarrassed. As recollections of the days previous event suddenly invaded my mind.I had just been climbing the stairs to my new room. When l suddenly heard Leigh scream from her bedroom. Immediately, I rushed towards the sound. Worried that something bad had happened to her.And when l had arrived at her door. A pair of bright pink underwear had been unexpectedly flung into my face. I remember that l had momentarily stood by the door in shock. Unable to process or react to what had just happened. And unintentionally, l
Chapter 17Leigh’s Pov “Which room do you want to sleep in?”, Felix casually asked. As he carried my box up the glass stairs in our new house. With me trailing close behind. “Whichever you chose is fine. I mean, l will have whatever room you will let me have”, l replied meekly. And for some reason, my heart was pounding rapidly in my chest. “Leigh this is your house too. You are allowed to choose where you want to sleep”, Felix deadpanned. As we reached the landing. “I can sleep in the guest bedroom”, I offered helpfully. Unsure of what else I was supposed to say. Felix turned to look at me with an impassive look on his face. Before he looked past me and said, “Charlie, take her stuff up to the main bedroom. I’ll sleep in the guest”.I turned to see Charlie climb up the glass staircase.With one of my boxes full of stuff l had labeled ‘appliances’. And he silently nodded his head to Felix’s request. Avoiding any form of eye contact with me as he walked past me. “No. It’s okay. I