A Love Trap

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Harvey was the other son of Aaron and Rae, Lesley's younger brother.

Harvey walked over to Lesley and declared in a rude tone, "I can go anywhere I want in this house."

He then turned around and left, his voice was full of arrogance.

Although Harvey was Lesley's brother, the deep seeded resentment bordering on hate that she had for him was indescribable.

Ever since Lesley's parents gave birth to Harvey, he was always handled with kid gloves as if he were a porcelain doll that could break any time. They worshiped the ground he walked on like a national treasure. Harvey, up to now, didn't know how to do anything for himself because his parents' hired servants to take care of his every need including eating and dressing up.

He had no idea how to take care of himself. He couldn't even do simple tasks like tying his shoe laces, because he always had an entourage of servants at his beck and call, who did everything for him.

Now that he was going to kindergarten, he had no idea how to relate with other children his age. He therefore acted like a little lord, bullying, beating and harassing other kids every other day.

It was a regular occurrence for Harvey to beat other kids without any reason.

If anyone didn't obey his often absurd demands, he would fall into a sudden bout of anger and beat them in blind rage.

He thought that the world revolved around him and everything was always about what he wanted.

It was obvious that Aaron and Rae had spoiled him rotten with too much love and very little discipline.

Besides, whenever the other kids' parents came to complain about Harvey's behavior, they always took his side and indicated that there was nothing wrong with their son's actions.

They didn't even feel the need to apologize, as their son was their little angel.

What could other parents do?

As a domineering and powerful family, other parents had no means of recourse, but to tolerate their little devil of a son's behavior, because no one wanted to be on the receiving end of his parent's wrath.

When it got too serious, some parents opted to move their children to other schools in order to stay away from Harvey. Basically, running away with their tails between their legs was their best option.

Otherwise, no one wanted to find out what would happen to their kids if they spent more time under Harvey's oppressive thumb.

Harvey's arrogance and petulant behavior was not limited to school. He was just as bad at home.

"Harvey? Lesley, have you seen Harvey? Is he here?"

Aaron came in shortly after

said, "Yes he is here. But we must make sure that nothing goes wrong at the wedding today. If he dares to mess around at the wedding, don't blame me if I

with a disgruntled and accusatory expression and exclaimed, "How could you say that? Harvey is your younger brother. What's the worst that he can do to

"Yeah. Lesley, don't you think that you are too resentful against

same way as your brother. So what makes you better

looked at her parents with incredulity written

had spoiled her very much when she was young, their treatment of Harvey was at a

that their parents preferred boys over girls and would bend over backwards to accommodate every illogical request the

wedding is about to start. Everybody, look

ordered, snapping her fingers as she prepared to leave the

stood up, "Lesley, have you really made up

don't love him anymore, and by the way, please don't call him 'foreigner',

steps out of the room in her

train of thought represented what most people would think at the

secret that Lesley had deeply

a mystery how she had suddenly gotten over

the bags she was holding in her hands and asked, "Is the wedding about

such crowded spaces but there wasn't much

facing a man who had foreign features. Beside the

priest who was about to have them say their vows stood between the

wedded wife, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till

"Yes, I am."

groom responded in poor mandarin with a strong foreign

opposite Lesley was much taller than her and made Lesley look like a timid little woman standing beside a

beside you, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death parts

her head and smiled as she looked

vows, they exchanged their rings which sparkled brightly, indicating that they were, by no means cheap.

the priest concluded the ceremony, "Well, by the power vested in me, I declare you, husband and wife, now joined as one in holy matrimony. The

looked at Lesley, all the love he felt for her reflected in his eyes as he drew closer to her and slowly planted a passionate kiss

hooted, teasing

those who had unsuccessfully pursued Lesley looked as if they had swallowed a rat. They felt as if that door had just been

never occurred to them that a foreigner would

person in the crowd who was more surprised and

things would turn out, the way they

she go