Capture Her Heart After Marriage

Alexia stared at the calendar on the wall, realizing it was the fifteenth of the month. Payday.

Aunt Song thought for a moment before shaking her head. "No."

She didn't quite believe Aunt Song. Alexia’s mother was the kind of person who was only interested in money, and it was unheard of for her not to ask for money whenever the opportunity presented itself.

"Where's my phone?" Alexia turned her head, looking for her phone on the rolling bedside table.

"Here it is," Aunt Song said, handing Alexia’s phone to her from the bedside table.

Alexia couldn't get up, as everything hurt too much to move. Luckily, her left hand didn’t hurt enough to prevent her from checking her phone, but she didn’t have the strength to hold it up for very long.

Alexia tried turning her phone off and on several times before she realized her phone was working just fine. There were no missed calls, nor message notifications. It was extremely unlike her mother to let Alexia’s payday pass without asking for money. And yet, it seemed that her mother hadn’t messaged her

"There must be something wrong! My mother always asks me for money when she knows I’m getting paid!" Alexia said, her hand vaguely trembling as she held her phone.

Alexia lived in the Lancaster villa for over three years, so Aunt Song knew all about Alexia’s mother and her habit of asking for monetary compensation. She reached over and gently patted Alexia’s arm. "Mr. Lancaster just gave your mother a large sum of money. I’m certain she has more than enough right now that she doesn’t need to ask for any."

"I’m sure you’re right, Aunt Song, but I can’t help feeling anxious. Since she didn’t ask for any money this month, she will most certainly ask for more next time," Alexia worried, putting her phone down as she relaxed into the pillows.

Aunt Song sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing an apple and pealing it for Alexia as she spoke. "It's not impossible for what you’re saying to happen. Your parents ask you for money every month, and the more you give, the more they ask. They’re never going to stop asking if you don’t tell them no.”

Alexia raised her hands to cover her eyes. "I can't tell them no! They’re my parents. I know them. If I don't give them money, they’ll do anything and everything they can to make me regret it. I'm afraid if I refuse to give them more, they’ll go running to the Lancaster's group to make a fuss and even a family as powerful as the Lancaster’s will lose face." Alexia’s heart sank, knowing her parents were so terrible.

Yet she couldn't cut them out of her life. And doing so would be socially irresponsible because she had no idea what they would do for money.

"I think you’re thinking too much, Ms. Alexia. If you explain all this to Mr. Lancaster, I’m sure he would help. You may not be able to stop them but I’m sure he can." Aunt Song cut the peeled apple into small pieces and placed them in a bowl before handing them to Alexia.

Alexia took a bite. "I don’t want to bother him, that's why I never told him what my parents are like."

your husband, it’s his responsibility to help," Aunt Song replied

as she thought. "Maybe for some married couples… I treat him as my husband, but do you think he really treats me like his wife,

Aunt Song started to respond but stopped as she considered

you see why I don't want to bother him. In fact, it's not only that I don't want to bother him. I also don't want to hear him reject me. He’s already given them so much and I don’t want to owe him even

you mean?” Aunt

then told me my brother made a bad investment and when Chaim heard that,

ask for more. If the amount they want is too big,

think about it," Alexia said as she yawned and fell

*****

woke,

when she felt something around her, something pinning her down and preventing

chest laying with

great difficulty, she turned over to find

did he get here? How come

fact it was she

letting out a small yelp

he instinctively reached out to

she has just

in Chaim's arms in shock, panting as her heart rate slowed, the shock subsided, and she pouted

not sleeping and was

person, staring at him with her eyes wide open, and it was strange that he didn't react. What

Alexia rubbed her face in

he was asleep and didn't know how

you don’t want people

tongue out before responding. "I didn't mean to. I was just a little surprised when I woke up to