"I... Aaron. Nick's best friend since high school," Aaron replied hesitantly, unsure if the young girl in front of him was Nick's foster sister or cousin.
Amelia nodded. "I... Amelia." She was confused about whether she should explain to Aaron that she was his wife or not. But ultimately, she was more concerned about one thing: Nick's massive body. How was she going to carry her husband home?
Amelia reached out and wrapped Nick's arm around her shoulder. She tried her best to move at least a few inches with Nick. But they didn't budge. Nick's wasted body felt like a lifeless mass.
Sweat drenched Amelia as she looked at Aaron despairingly. "Do something!"
Aaron chuckled, amused by the sweet girl's antics. "I thought you didn't want any help."
Soon enough, Aaron and Amelia managed to get Nick into a taxi. Aaron was about to leave, but Amelia stopped him. "Don't you want to help me bring Nick inside the house?"
Aaron sighed in frustration. "If I had known, I would have taken him myself."
Amelia didn't want to be blamed. "You should have told me that you're a close friend of Nick's."
The three of them sat in silence inside the taxi, not speaking a word throughout the journey. It was true, Aaron had assumed it was Olivia who came to pick them up. But it turned out to be another girl.
The taxi stopped at a house unfamiliar to Aaron. He helped Amelia carry Nick inside and laid him down on the bed.
"So, when did Nick move here?" Aaron asked after successfully laying Nick down on the bed and covering him up.
"Since we got married," Amelia finally answered. "Our parents wanted us to live together."
Aaron nodded, understanding the situation. He had been a bit slow to realize that it should be something 'unusual'.
"What?" Aaron exclaimed, belatedly realizing. "You are his wife?"
Amelia winced, realizing Aaron's foolish reaction. The man stared at Amelia without blinking, while she poured water for Aaron. "Drink! You need to sober up."
Amelia walked away hesitantly. If Aaron was indeed Nick's close friend, he should know about Nick's relationship with Olivia. No wonder he couldn't believe it.
"You must be shocked because Nick didn't marry Olivia, right?" ("I didn't think Nick was a pedophile!") Amelia and Aaron said simultaneously.
Aaron's comment stung Amelia's ears, making her blood boil, and she wanted to kick him out of the house immediately. "I'm already eighteen, you idiot!" she spat at Aaron, showering him with specks of saliva.
Aaron shielded himself with his hands to avoid the rain of spit. Once they both calmed down, he asked, "What really happened?"
Aaron was afraid that Olivia would reveal what had happened between them and make Nick leave the woman.
Amelia hesitated to tell the story. It was too personal. She then asked, "Can I trust you?"
"Do you doubt me?" Aaron asked. "I am Nick's best friend. If you don't believe me, you can check his high school graduation book."
Unexpectedly, Amelia did check Nick's graduation book and found that Aaron looked slightly different. "Is this really you?" she asked suspiciously.
"What do you mean?" Aaron asked, feeling offended.
Amelia held back her laughter as she examined Aaron from top to bottom. She shook her head, pointing at the photo. "You used to be as thin as spaghetti."
Aaron had been skinny and malnourished due to his family's poverty. Since his mother remarried Simon, he started to improve and even grew muscles to cover his bones.
"Don't be mesmerized by me," Aaron said later.
"Ha! I'm not mesmerized by you," Amelia scoffed, pursing her lips. Nick was much more enchanting in her eyes.
"Now, tell me, what really happened?" Aaron asked. He was very curious about what had actually happened with Olivia.
Amelia then sat on the sofa next to Aaron. Her eyes stared at the carpet as if it was a beautiful and captivating pattern. "My sister canceled her engagement with Nick. Our families insisted that someone had to get married for the sake of the company. So, they forced the two of us to get married."
Aaron's mouth dropped open as he listened to Amelia's story. So, the girl in front of him was Olivia's younger sister whom he had seen before?
"Do you keep staring at my face like that?" Amelia asked uncomfortably.
Aaron shook his head. "I remember, you used to look like a walking balloon."
Amelia was furious. Aaron had brought up her disliked past. "Damn, you! Get out of this house quickly!"
Amelia pushed her guest towards the door. She didn't like being called fat. She did indulge in excessive eating as a way to cope with her broken heart. Aiden was the one who made her realize it was unhealthy.
"Go away, you cursed creature!" Amelia exclaimed, hitting the sofa pillow at Aaron to make him leave quickly.
"Fine! I'm going! I'm going!"
Aaron had reached the door. Then he remembered to ask one thing. "Wait! One more question. Why did Olivia cancel the wedding?"
Amelia stopped her rampage. She looked at Aaron with a sad face. "My sister is pregnant with another man."
Aaron's eyes widened. It felt like being struck by lightning. Olivia was pregnant? Please don't tell him it was his child!
"Where is she now?" Aaron asked anxiously.
Amelia shook her head resignedly. "Dad kicked her out of the house. She hasn't contacted me since she left."
Tears welled up in Amelia's eyes. But Aaron didn't even have the mind to comfort her, as his thoughts were preoccupied with the shocking news he had just received.
Suddenly, Nick's shout came from the bedroom, "Olivia! Don't go! I love you! Why did you leave meee?"
The heart-wrenching cry from Nick pierced through Amelia's ears, making Aaron realize many things. Nick still loved Olivia, and that meant his marriage to Amelia was a loveless one.
Amelia wiped her tears and forced a smile. "Go home! You can contact Nick tomorrow."
Aaron wanted to say something, but Amelia slammed the door shut. She could only walk away limply, leaving Nick's yard. "I have to find Olivia!"