Chapter 5
To avoid any further trouble, Elsie quickly fled back home. I had already sent that boy
the address to Charles‘ s house and I could already picture the drama that would unfold by the weekend.
When the weekend came, I followed the address Charles had given me and arrived. precisely on time.
After knocking on the door, I waited for what felt like an eternity before someone finally answered.
Charles stood in the doorway, looking disheveled, his hair a mess, his lips swollen and his body marked with faint traces of something I didn’t need to imagine. He froze the moment he saw me.
From behind the slightly open bedroom. door, Elsie emerged, hastily pulling on a shirt. Her lips were swollen as well.
“Your method of healing is certainly…..
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unique,” I remarked.
My words drained the color from their faces, pale, then green and back to pale again.
Charles tried to pull himself together, his voice shaky as he stammered, “It’s not what you think…”
But even as he spoke, it was clear he realized how absurd it all sounded. He mumbled something about getting ready and quickly retreated into the bedroom.
Leaning casually against the doorframe, Elsie shed her usual helplessness, folded her arms and looked at me with an air of smug superiority.
“I’ve already registered my marriage to Charles,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “We‘ re legally husband and wife now.”
She smiled as though her victory was undeniable. “I suggest you back off while you still can. There’s no way you can take
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him from me.”
Before I could respond, a voice I didn’t recognize cut through the tension. “Ah, you must be Cecile. Why are you all standing at the door? Come in, come in!”
It turned out that Charles‘ s parents were returning home.
His mother greeted me with a warm smile, taking my hand in hers. “Your uncle and I just returned from grocery shopping. Cecile, come sit down.”
She then turned to Elsie, her tone casual. “Elsie, when did you get here? I didn’t see you this morning before I left.”
Elsie hesitated, her voice faltering. “I just arrived,” she replied, clearly
uncomfortable.
Watching their exchange, I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Had Charles not told his parents about his marriage to Elsie?
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Chapter 5
At the dinner table, Charles‘ s mother was especially attentive, constantly filling my plate with more food. I ate everything she offered out of politeness.
After some light conversation, she suddenly brought up a topic I wasn’t expecting. “When will our families meet? You and Charles have both graduated; it’s time to start planning your wedding.”
She then turned to me with interest. “I heard you‘ ve started working. What kind of job is it?”
I noticed the sudden shift in Charles and Elsie’s expressions, their faces growing tense. I couldn’t help but let out a quiet
laugh.
His mother glanced at me, confused, while Charles shot me a quick warning look.
Setting my spoon and fork down, I answered, “Auntie, I work at the City Hall.”
“The City Hall?” she said, nodding with
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approval. “That’s a great job, stable and
you get to share in the joy of other
people’s happiness.’
99
I nodded in agreement, playing along.
“Exactly. The first couple I registered after starting was Charles and Elsie. I even stamped their marriage certificate myself.”
The words hung in the air and the room fell
into an awkward silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Auntie Kenna’s voice broke through, her
disbelief palpable. “What did you say? You mean Charles and Elsie are married?”
“Yes, Auntie. Didn’t you know?”
Before I could utter a word, Charles‘ s face darkened, his anger clear as he snapped at me. “I invited you here today to apologize to Elsie, not to cause trouble!”
His voice was sharp, but before I could respond, he added, “Mom, Dad, I had my reasons for marrying Elsie. After
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everything she’s been through, I married her to help heal her wounds.”
Elsie seized the moment, her voice. trembling as she added, “Uncle, Auntie, it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be upset. I promise I’ll take good care of Charles.”
Uncle and Auntie Kenna barely
acknowledged them, their faces dark with displeasure, as if the air itself had thickened.
Seeing that her words had little effect, Elsie resorted to her usual trick. She rushed to the balcony, pretending to be on the verge of throwing herself off.
Despite their obvious frustration, Uncle. and Auntie Kenna couldn’t help but rush to her side, with Charles joining them in a futile attempt to calm her down.
