The Betrayal Game: A Short Story

Part 13

Xin Yi mingled among the well-dressed guests who almost filled the entirety of their apartment. Her mother was in the nursery with the baby, but when Xin Yi saw Meilin and Xiang Lan walk in, she quickly went to grab the baby from her mother just so she could show off her beautiful baby boy to Meilin.

She rushed quickly to them, careful not to trip in her very high stilettos.

"Welcome. Meilin, Xiang Lan. I didn't think you would come, Meilin," Xin Yi smiled.

Xiang Lan turned to Meilin with a knowing look.

"I didn't think I would come too," Meilin said, and Xian Lan discreetly pinched her.

"This is my baby; he will be 18 months old in a few weeks," Meilin offered. Do you want to hold her?" Xin Yi asked but shoved the baby into Meilin's face without waiting for an answer.

"I just want you to have the feeling of holding a baby since, you know..." Xin Yi trailed off. Meilin knew precisely what she was implying.

Meilin held baby Kai in her arms. At that moment, it did not matter whose baby it was. It was not the baby of the woman who had an affair with her ex-husband, no. She recognized the baby was innocent of all the mess the adults had made, and there was no reason or justification to hate this baby. She didn't know how she was expected to react in this situation or how to relate to an ex-husband and his wife. She was sure she wasn't expected to interact with them this way because this would seem unbearable and awkward for most people. But when she looked into Kai's beautiful eyes, all her worries melted away.

"Meilin," Ziyu called as he approached her, unable to conceal his surprise at the view he was witnessing. Meilin was holding his child, and off to the side was Xin Yi, with a big smile plastered across her face. Ziyu recognized that smile as not born out of genuine pleasantness but rather from a triumph, perhaps over an enemy's downfall.

When Xin Yi saw him, her smile became more pleasant. "Look, Meilin loves babies," Xin Yi gushed.

Ziyu blushed, feeling ashamed at the sentiment of Xin Yi's comment.

"You're here," Ziyu said, a faint hint of alcohol on his breath. He had started drinking early at the bar, hoping the liquid courage would help him face Meilin after the terrible way he had treated her.

"Yes, I am," Meilin replied, adjusting the baby so Kai faced her directly. She made playful faces, and Kai mirrored her expressions, giggling with delight. As Xin Yi and Xiang Lan drifted off to mingle with the crowd, Xiang Lan took Kai with her, giving Meilin and Ziyu a moment of privacy. Kai blew a kiss to Meilin as he was carried away, and Meilin, smiling, returned the gesture.

"Cute kid," Meilin said, glancing back at Ziyu with a soft smile.

Ziyu had been watching her intently, absorbing how she interacted with Kai. He realized just how much he had missed seeing Meilin up close. When she turned her attention back to him, her gaze felt like it cut through the air, making him suddenly uneasy.

He grabbed her wrist and led her away from the crowd into a study devoid of party guests. When they entered, Ziyu closed the door behind him, muffling the ambient noise from the party outside. Confused, Meilin watched Ziyu while he stood by the door, his demeanour conflicted.

"Mei," Ziyu said softly as he rushed to hug her. He enveloped her in a tight embrace.

Meilin, taken aback, stood stiff, her hands by her side. After a few moments, she gently pushed Ziyu away with a bewildered expression.

"I'm sorry... I," Ziyu said as he tried to keep his composure. "How are you? How are your treatments?"

"Ziyu, if you wanted to know, all you had to do was call and ask while I was ill."