Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
A tall beautiful woman came down the stairs and interrupted everyoneâs conversation. She looked like a model. She was thin and her beautiful face looked smug.
âIf you want a granddaughter, it has to be your biological daughter.â Then, she looked at Mike meaningfully. âWho is this little beauty?â
âThis is Melandaâs daughter, Millie. Melanda, this is my girlfriend, Hannah.â
We greeted each other. For some reason, I hadnât liked this woman since the first time I saw her. It was no wonder. Mike hadnât had much taste in women since high school. Mandy and I had always complained about it.
âAunt Mary, can we eat now? I canât wait to taste your cooking!â Mandy interrupted the awkwardness.
âOf course you can, honey. Letâs go to the dining room together,â she said as everyone walked into the dining room. I, Millie, Mandy, and Dave sat on one side, and on the other were Uncle Steve, Aunt Mary, Mike, and his girlfriend, Hannah.
âLetâs all eat. Melanda, do you want me to take care of Millie for you? Youâre too thin, child. You have to take care of yourself,â Aunt Mary said.
âItâs okay, Aunt Mary. I can take care of her. Sheâs still a little shy since this is the first time meeting you guys,â I answered her.
âMelanda, where is the childâs father?â Hannah, who was sitting beside Mike, suddenly asked. I choked on my food. Mandy quickly handed me a glass of water. She had her mouth pursed and she looked angry.
âI donât know. We lost touch when I went to Manhattan,â I, not meeting anyoneâs eyes, replied with my head lowered. I pretended to be busy feeding Millie and covered my face with my hair.
âIs he local? Do I know him, Melanda? Does he know he got you pregnant? Tell me his name and Iâm going to go say hi to him,â Mike asked. His lips were pursed from anger and his gaze went cold.
Then, I heard Mandy choke beside me. She grabbed the water and drank it, then looked at me fiercely.
âAre you okay, Mandy?â Aunt Mary asked with concern.
âWhat? Oh, yeah, yeah. Iâm fine, Auntie. The food just went through the wrong pipe,â Mandy replied and continued to eat.
I saw Hannah sitting next to Mike while shooting daggers at me with her eyes.
Aunt Mary looked at Mike and then at Hannah and me. Suddenly she asked,
âMandy, howâs your wedding preparation going? Itâs two weeks away. Do you need my help?â
âThank you, Aunt. Everything went well. Now that my maid of honor is back, thank God, I will have a perfect wedding. Donât you agree, my maid of honor?â Mandy looked at me blissfully.
âOf course, darling. Itâs my pleasure.â
âThen, I will have the worldâs most beautiful flower girl.â
âCan I be your flower girl, Aunt Mandy?â Millie asked excitedly.
âOf course, darling. I donât want anyone but you.â Mandy looked at Millie fondly.
âYay! Thatâs great! So, is the best man Uncle Mike?â
âOf course! My baby,â Mike replied.
âIf youâre the best man, I think Iâm the most suitable candidate for the bridesmaid,â Hannah suddenly interrupted. Everyone fell silent.
âIâm sorry, Hannah. I didnât say you were going to be my bridesmaid. Melanda is my best friend. When we were young, we had a pact that we would be each otherâs bridesmaids. But donât worry, Iâll still invite you to my wedding,â Mandy told her with a shrug.
âArenât you going to say something?!â She turned to Mike, who didnât seem to understand what was going on around him.
âHannah, Mandyâs right. Melanda is the best candidate. This is Mandyâs wedding, so of course she has to choose the bridesmaid she wants,â he answered her thoughtfully. She gasped, then stood up and walked out of the room. Before she left, she gave me a hard look.
âWhy is she angry? Has anyone invited her to be their bridesmaid?â Uncle Steve was puzzled.
âDonât worry about her,â Mike said.
When I looked up, I found Mike staring at me. He quickly looked down at his food and pretended to study the shape of the steak on his plate.
When I turned to Aunt Mary, there was a mysterious smile on her lips as she stared happily at Millie.
I suddenly felt a headache.. Could I really handle this situation?