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Chapter 25
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A Game of Hearts Chapter 26
When I stepped out wearing my coat, Jessica was standing by the door.When Selena saw me, she stepped aside. "Seb, you two talk. You didn't eat much for dinner. Now that you're awake, let me make you some food."With that, she walked toward the kitchen.Jessica's face was flushed, her skin burning with fever. It was the same way she always looked when she was sick. Her face and neck were bright red, almost to the point of being frightening.She pulled a small red velvet box from her pocket, her hands trembling as she opened it. Inside were two matching rings."You said, if we ever got married, we'd have our initials engraved on the rings," she said, voice shaking. "I went ahead and ordered them. It's the style you liked. You also said you wanted to go to Baldara for our honeymoon, so I bought the plane tickets. We can leave next week."Seb, I was so immature, but after all these years, I'm finally awake now. Let's start over, okay?"These were things I once dreamed of, and I had
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 27
"Jess, you want me to seduce Sebastian and make him fall for me, so that no one can interfere with you and Cameron anymore, right? Don't worry, that's simple. Do you remember that time I got drunk at a bar and kept clinging to him, trying to get him to sleep with me? He definitely remembers that."Now that you're with Cameron, Sebastian must be feeling horrible. If I show up, he'll be putty in my hands. Of course, I'll pretend I don't know anything about your past with him. Leave it to me and don't worry. There's no way I'll let him ruin things between you and Cameron."As I listened to Selena's voice in the recording, my limbs went cold, as if the blood had drained from my body. It's no wonder that, no matter how often Jessica showed up, Selena never once asked me about my past with her.It wasn't that she didn't want to know. She already knew everything.For the past few years, I had seen Jessica as the light of my life. But in the end, her actions had only been because of a bet.
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 28
Selena really gave me the space I needed, not bothering me at all while she was away on her business trip.But everywhere I looked, there were traces of her. The balcony of my apartment was filled with her favorite orchids, while the fridge contained food she had prepared in advance, as well as the little snacks she always made.No matter which corner of the house I went to, my mind replayed all the memories of the time I spent with her.To be honest, I couldn't forget Selena. Since I met her, I'd truly felt her sincerity.I couldn't bear to stay at home, so I took the trash downstairs. When I reached the bottom of the building, I saw a young couple seemingly in a serious discussion. I thought it would be awkward to walk past them, but I still hadn't thrown the trash out, so I decided to wait at the corner. They would probably leave soon.As I stood there, I overheard their conversation."Babe, come back, okay? I miss you," said the guy.The girl hesitated for a moment before re
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 29
Selena responded quickly: [Everything's fine.]I responded with a smiling emoji.Just a few seconds later, Selena sent me a few photos. She then went on and on, telling me about the things she experienced while she was away. It felt like that incident hadn't affected us at all, and we had naturally slipped back into the easy, open conversation we used to have.Maybe it was because I started talking with Selena again, but my mood lifted almost instantly. I got so absorbed in my work that I forgot to eat lunch. When my colleagues returned from their lunch break, one of them told me a beautiful woman was waiting for me downstairs.The first person I thought of was Jessica. I went downstairs, and sure enough, it was her. She seemed to be doing alright. When she saw me, she didn't rush over like she usually would. She just stood there, quietly smiling.I took a deep breath and spoke first, "Want to grab a coffee at the café across the street?"Jessica nodded.When the server brought
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 30
There was a knock on the door. I opened it to find Selena standing outside, but before I could say anything, her phone rang."Hello?""Is this Selena Morris, Christopher Morris' family member? We're calling from Ashenford Central Hospital's emergency room. Please come right away."I could hear the urgency in the doctor's voice, even from where I stood.Without another word, Selena grabbed my wrist in a panic."Seb, take me to the hospital," she said, her voice trembling.I glanced at her, said nothing, and pulled her downstairs.-The hospital was packed.Since I met her, I knew that Selena had always been calm under pressure. But now, she darted into the crowd like a headless chicken, desperately trying to find the emergency room."Come with me." I suddenly gripped her hand. "I know a doctor. Don't worry."I guided her down a quieter hallway, away from the sea of people. She was pressed so close to me, it felt like we were squeezing through a subway car. With my one free ha
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 31
I gripped my phone tightly, knowing that things weren't as simple as I had hoped. But my feet felt like they were rooted to the ground; I couldn't move. I was afraid that there was something more between Selena and James.With anyone else, I could handle it.But James…Selena walked up to me. "Was that James?"Before I could say anything, she let out a bitter laugh."Seb, there's a lot I've been meaning to tell you, but I guess it can't wait any longer."With that, she turned and started walking away. I quickly caught up with her.By the time we reached the parking lot, James was already there. He was leaning against his black Maybach, a cigarette in his left hand. When he saw us, his eyes narrowed, but he didn't acknowledge me.He just waved Selena over with a casual gesture. "Come here."She glanced at me, her eyes clouded with pain, but didn't move.James smiled in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. Up until now, I'd always seen him as this larger-than-life figure, tr
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 32
This time, I chose to believe Selena.She watched as I raised my hand and swung it hard toward James's face. I put everything I had into that punch, splitting his lip."Are you nuts?" James growled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "We're sworn brothers, Seb. You hit me over this woman?"He looked me straight in the eyes. "You don't even know, do you? This woman has been with me for seven years. You don't like Jess anymore because of her, right?"Wiping the blood away, he continued, "Do you even know what's been happening with Jess these past few days? She's been a shell of herself. Crying all the time, saying she's lost you. If I had known the woman you liked was Selena, I would've slapped some sense into you the night I came back."Because this woman—she's a lot more filthy than you realize!"As James spoke, he grabbed Selena's shoulder and shoved her behind him."I don't know what happened between you and Jess, and I don't want to get into it. But if you're willi
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 33
When Selena returned to the emergency room's waiting area, Liam had been called away by the police to give a statement. Now, she sat alone on a bench, her mind a whirlwind of confusion.She regretted not telling Sebastian about her history with James sooner. All she could hope for now was that Sebastian wouldn't get hurt.Ten years ago, when she first met James, she had felt the same kind of panic and helplessness that gripped her now. It had started with a phone call from his assistant, asking her to come right away because her brother had gotten into some trouble at his company.She had taken a half-day off from work and grabbed a cab to James' office. When she arrived, he was sitting behind his desk, looking her up and down with those sharp, calculating eyes of his."Do you know what corporate espionage is?" he asked, his voice calm but chilling.Selena shook her head. She was no expert in law."Your brother works for us," James continued, his tone colder. "He took confidentia
Last Updated : 2024-11-29
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A Game of Hearts Chapter 51
Just before boarding the plane, I was about to turn off my phone when I got a text message.The contact name was Lena.My hand trembled as I opened it, and there, in front of me, was a picture. I zoomed in—it was an invitation. Another message followed right after.Selena wrote: [Sebastian, I'm getting married. Here's the invite. If you're free, bring Jess and come.]I stood there stupidly, staring at the invitation.After what seemed like an eternity, I finally typed back: [Sure. I hope you'll have a lifetime of happiness.]Maybe by this point, the truth didn't matter anymore.-In the end, I attended Selena's wedding. I kept my distance, watching from afar.She looked stunning. Her wedding dress flowed out behind her, thirty feet of white silk embroidered with roses so lifelike, they almost seemed to bloom with every step she took. I remembered how she once told me that when she got married, she wanted to wear a dress covered in roses.She had made her dream come true.The
A Game of Hearts Chapter 50
It had been over two years since I last saw James. He looked so different now—much thinner, his face pale and sallow. The energy he once had was completely gone. As we spoke, I discovered he was gravely ill with late-stage kidney failure.Maybe it's true what they say—when people were near the end, they spoke more openly and honestly.He looked at me and said, "Sebastian, back then, I was the one who tore you and Selena apart. Now, I'm about to die. I can't stop you anymore. Why don't you go to her?"I stared at him, my lips curling into a cold smile. "There's no need. Things between us were impossible for a long time."It had been two years. Selena had probably moved on. Since I made my choice back then, I shouldn't bother her anymore.He looked like he wanted to say more, but I cut him off before he could, saying, "To love someone, sometimes you just have to wish them the best and let them go. That's all."James took a deep breath. "I really want to apologize to you. I know I m
A Game of Hearts Chapter 49
It wasn't surprising when we won the bid. The announcement felt like a natural progression, but it still left me buzzing with excitement.After the meeting, the CEO of Xeron Innovations, Luke Xeron, personally came to speak with me."I really admire your talent," he said, shaking my hand firmly. "I'd like to extend an offer for you to join my company as deputy CEO."I smiled politely and shook my head. "I appreciate the offer, but I have plans to start my own design firm."Luke's eyes brightened. "I respect that. You've got vision. To help you get started, I'd like to invest three million in your company."His offer was generous, and with his help, the funding for my design company was secured. But before I could focus on that, there was still one major project I needed to complete—working with the government to bring The Ashenford Eye to life.Once the project started, I spent every day at the construction site, and lunch was usually a quick sandwich grabbed between meetings.O
A Game of Hearts Chapter 48
Soon, it was my turn to present."Good morning, everyone. It's an honor to be here today at the Ashenford Design Competition organized by the government. I'd like to start by showing you the 3D model our team has put together."I gave a nod to the two team members who were with me on stage.One of them, Logan, clicked the remote, and the screen came to life with my design—a black and white, simple… ball? Inside it were images of Ashenford, but what was this supposed to be?There was a confused murmur amongst the crowd.I smiled and said, "I know this might look a little strange to some of you. Some might think it's a hot air balloon with pictures of Ashenford's scenery, circling the city every day and lowering different flags at various locations. Others might think it's a unique building that belongs on top of a tall building, a mountain, or even a tower."Or, some of you might think this is a massive ship, placed in the river, floating down the stream alongside beautiful bloomi
A Game of Hearts Chapter 47
Samuel was incredibly efficient—by the time the morning was over, everything was set up.I had a plan now. Regardless of whether I won the competition or not, I was determined to start my own design firm. To have more time to prepare, I handed in my resignation.I rented a small office across from Ashenford University to use as a temporary studio. After investing some of my savings into the necessary equipment, Samuel, his students, and I got to work.The students, full of energy and enthusiasm, dove right in without hesitation, and we made steady progress. A week later, we finally finished our project. At the same time, the day of the Ashenford Design Competition's bid presentation arrived.As I walked to the venue, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the competition. Aside from our team—just a group of unknown designers—the other participants were established, well-known firms in Ashenford.But there was something about the students' youthful confidence that gave me hope. The
A Game of Hearts Chapter 46
After Selena left, I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. I started staying late at the office and pushing myself harder at the gym.One day, I overheard a new hire talking to a colleague about wanting to join the Ashenford Design Competition but feeling like he wasn't good enough yet. He seemed disappointed about it.As if sensing my interest, he turned to me. "Director Grant, I think you've got some serious design talent."I chuckled and replied, "Honestly, I've always been pretty interested in design."He grinned, leaning even closer. "Then, you should enter the Ashenford Design Competition!"Before I could say anything, he added, "If I had your talent and skills, I would've started my own design firm by now, instead of working nine-to-five for someone else."He gave a small laugh, as if it was obvious. "Every guy dreams of being a boss, right?"His words hit me harder than I expected.This guy, fresh out of university, was already thinking about stepping up and
A Game of Hearts Chapter 45
The next day, Selena left the country. I stood at a distance in the airport, watching her plane taxi down the runway.As it took off, soaring higher and farther away, I whispered softly, "Lena, be happy. Be better. Be free."I turned to leave, only to find Jessica standing behind me. I didn't know how long she had been there."You clearly don't want her to go," she said, her voice steady but laced with confusion. "So, why let her?"I didn't meet her eyes. Instead, I looked back toward the sky where Selena's plane had disappeared."Because she deserves more. She shouldn't be held back by someone like me."Jessica looked momentarily dazed.After a moment, she murmured, "Seb, you really are… amazing."As she quietly looked at me, I caught a fleeting look of hope in her eyes. I smiled, but didn't respond to her wishes. Instead, another thought crept in, and I turned to her."Four years ago, you gave Timothy two hundred thousand dollars, didn't you?"Jessica blinked, startled. For
A Game of Hearts Chapter 44
I studied the item Selena held out to me. It was a piece of amber, clear as glass, with a tiny cicada perfectly preserved inside.The memory hit me immediately. I had stumbled upon it by chance during a company retreat, deep in the heart of an untouched forest, buried under layers of leaves and dirt.The night I gave it to Selena, she'd been spending New Year's with me.After dinner, I handed it to her and said, "In some ways, this is a prison for the cicada, a place it can never escape. But cicadas only live for about eighty days, so maybe this amber also gave it a new kind of life—one that lasts forever."Almost jokingly, I had added, "Take it, Lena. Someday, if you really need to, you can trade it back to me for a wish."At that time, I knew that Jessica had been my prison in my earlier days. Giving Selena that amber had felt like a promise to start over.But reality had a way of shattering dreams.Looking at Selena now, I knew the truth. No matter how much I cared for her, n
A Game of Hearts Chapter 43
To completely sever Selena's lingering hopes, I moved away. I also deliberately avoided any chance of running into her. During that time, Jessica called me frequently and even came to see me a few times. But I turned her away every time.I knew clearly where my heart lay—I loved Selena, deeply.Turning her down wasn't because I still had unresolved feelings for Jessica. It was because I wanted Selena to be free to chase her dreams without hesitation.At one point, I had considered going abroad with her, supporting her as she pursued her goals.But there was always James.He had made it clear—if I didn't let go, he would continue to threaten Selena.With my current abilities, I couldn't stand against James. Besides, he promised me that he would arrange for Christopher to receive the best medical treatment overseas. After making another call to James to confirm the arrangements, I got the news the next morning. Christopher had already left the country, accompanied by medical profes
