Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
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Kylie merely fell asleep by herself on this new bed. The next morning, she woke up and did not see the trace of Andrew in the room. She guessed that last night, he must be staying in another room. This mansion sure had many spare rooms. She quickly went to the bathroom for morning routines, and scanned the upper floor to look for Andrew. He did not seem to be around.
She walked down the stairs to the dining room. Andrew was not there for breakfast either. At this time, a maid stepped in. Kylie asked, “…hm…good morning, your name is…”
“Good morning, Siu lai.” The maid greeted politely, “You can call me Lin jei. I am the housekeeper here.”
Kylie recalled Andrew mentioning about her, “Excuse me, Lin jei, have you seen Siu yeh?”
“Andrew Siu yeh had breakfast and left for work already.” Lin jei said, though she was curious why her master would go to work the next day after the wedding, which was supposed to be honeymoon time. She also wondered why Kylie did not know where her husband was.
Kylie was disappointed, “Alright. Thanks.”
“Siu lai, would you like to have breakfast now?” Lin jei asked.
“Sure. Thanks.” Kylie sat down. She comforted herself that Andrew might just be too busy and just wanted to go back to the office for a while to check things out. She can ask Lin jei for his office number, but felt odd to do so. She did not want to bother Andrew’s work anyway. She was hoping that he would call her soon, telling her that he was on his way back home.
Kylie kept waiting and waiting but Andrew seemed to have vanished. She sat in the living room by herself and stared at the TV English channel. She was still suffering from jet lag, so in the afternoon she fell for a nap. When she woke up, it was already dinner time.
“Siu lai, dinner is ready.” Lin jei slightly woke up Kylie at the sofa. Kylie rubbed her eyes and scanned around the house. Still there was no trace of Andrew. Lin jei caught her question from her eyes, “Andrew Siu yeh called and said he won’t be home tonight. He’ll be staying at the country club. I asked whether he wants to talk to you. He knew you’re sleeping, and told me not to wake you up.”
Kylie was disappointed. She sat down quietly at the dinning table as another maid served beside her. “I’m fine. Thanks. You and Lin jei please go ahead with your dinner.” She was polite and considerate, even at this moment.
Lin jei and the maid nodded and gladly went back to their area to join other servants for their meal. While they were eating and chatting, they peeked out and stole a look at Kylie. She was alone at the grand luxury dining room, had her head down eating, all by herself.
“Poor girl.” Lin jei lowered her voice. As the most senior worker in this household, she caught everything in her eyes, “Coming from a wealthy family, marrying to another wealthy family, seeming to be the luckiest in the world, except, having a husband who doesn’t love her.” The other servants shook their heads and felt sorry for their new lady master.
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It was near midnight. Andrew quietly walked into the house and surprisingly saw the lights still on. He stepped forward and found his parents sitting at the living room with dark faces.
“Mom and Dad.” Andrew greeted, “Oh yes, you two are scheduled to be back from England today. Hm, work is busy today and I’m really tired. I’m going to sleep now. Goodnight.” He did not want to stay.
“Where are you sleeping at?” Mr. Paul Ho asked coldly.
Andrew turned his face away.
Mrs. Belinda Ho tapped her husband’s arm to calm him down. She looked at Andrew, “It’s been a week since your wedding. But we realize for the past few days, either you slept in your study, or you simply stayed out the entire night. You haven’t spent much time with Kylie.”
“The news sure spread fast here. I wonder who the big mouth is.” Andrew was upset. He thought Kylie complained to his parents.
Mrs. Belinda Ho understood his words, “Kylie never said a word bad about you. She just said you’ve been busy with work. And as for the servants, they’re just doing their jobs and tell us, their masters, to what happened in the household.”
“It’s true that I’ve been busy at work. I stayed out a couple nights at the country club. You know I always do that. Once a week or so, I go there after work, enjoy a dinner, play bridge with friends, then have Spa and massage plus sleep over at the VIP room.” Andrew shrugged his shoulder.
“Yes you did that when you were single. But you’re a new wed. You should stay with your wife instead. How can you leave her alone in the house during your honey moon time?” Mr. Paul Ho was not happy.
“I’ve already obeyed you and married the woman back. What else do you want me to do? I need a life and I won’t change the way I am for anybody!” Andrew swung his arms and walked upstairs.
“Andrew, don’t tell me you’re staying at your study again tonight!” Mr. Paul Ho raised his voice, “Go back to your bedroom!”
“You want me to sleep with her?” Andrew frowned and surrendered. He hated to be annoyed, “Fine! I’ll charge up my energy now and have a rough one with her tomorrow night! Stop bothering me!” He scrambled into his study and shut the door.
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The next day, late in the afternoon, suddenly a crew from an exclusive furniture store delivered a new bed to the Ho’s house, said to be bought by Andrew just that morning. When Paul and Belinda Ho returned home that night, they were surprised to see this gigantic new bed.
“Well, it’s good. Andrew didn’t want to buy a new bed during the wedding planning. I guess…hm…he’s just not used to having another person sleeping beside him. This son is spoiled and picky.” Mrs. Belinda Ho spoke for Andrew, “Kylie, Andrew is now getting a new bigger bed so the two of you can be more comfortable. You like it?”
“Hm, of course, mom.” Kylie said softly.
“Kylie, I know Andrew might be a bit difficult to stay with, but actually he’s kind-hearted. I’m sure you two can get along. Please give each other more time.” Mrs. Belinda Ho smiled and tapped Kylie’s hand. She was not only comforting Kylie because of manipulation of business benefits, but frankly, she liked Kylie almost at the first sight when she met her in England. The Ho’s couple found Kylie to be an ideal daughter-in-law, and having the business factors was something on top.
Kylie gave a weak smile.
“Alright, Andrew has dinner with some business clients tonight, but he promises to be back early.” Mrs. Belinda Ho stood up, “I’m going. By the way, I’ve asked Lin jei to make some bird’s nest dessert soup. It’s for you. Have some before you go to bed, ok?”
“Thanks mom. Goodnight.” Kylie said as her mother-in-law left her bedroom. Then, she leaned on one side of the huge bed, waiting for Andrew. As promised, he came back home soon. He went into the bedroom and grabbed his pyjamas without giving a glance at Kylie at all. He walked away for his shower.
Andrew came back and asked coldly, “Why are you sitting here still?” He took off his glasses and lay down on the other half of the bed. He pulled up his quilt and mumbled, “I’m tired to death after one whole day of work. Oh right, no wonder you aren’t sleepy. You’ve got nothing to do anyway. You only wander around the house back and forth, polishing nails and drinking expensive bird’s nest soup. That’s all you do.”
Kylie bit her lips and turned the lamp off. She lay down, pulled up her quilt, and turned her back against Andrew. She was upset with Andrew’s comments on her.
There was a long silence. The huge bed made a large gap between them. Kylie was not dumb. She knew Andrew purposely bought this bed so he can sleep together, but actually far apart, from her. He can fool his parents. How sly.
“Andrew, I need to talk to you.” Kylie initiated. She turned around and looked at him.
“Go ahead.” Andrew still had his head buried in the quilt and did not move.
“May I ask,” Kylie was serious, “that from now on, when you speak to me, please look at me. Ever since I move in…for the past one week, everytime you talk, if ever, I only see your back.”
Andrew was surprised by her demanding tone, but he still did not shift his body, “Gee, you are requesting something from me.”
“Only respect.” Kylie insisted.
“Whatever.” Andrew mumbled.
Kylie was frustrated by his attitude. She gave up on her first attempt to bargain with him. She sighed and tried to go to sleep, but something seemed to be struck at her heart. After a long while, she whispered, as if to herself, “…if you hate me…why do you marry me? Why didn’t you say no?”
“Why didn’t you say no then?” Andrew was not asleep either and instantly fought back.
“I thought you would.” Kylie lowered her voice.
“I thought you would.” Andrew said the same, “If you’ve disagreed, then at this moment, I’ll still be a free happy bachelor, not like now.”
Kylie slightly sobbed, “…I can’t go against my dad…I never do…but if you’ve disagreed, then at this moment, I’ll still be in Switzerland…or London…my homeland…and not alone day and night in this house…like now…”