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Chapter 34
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2024-11-29 20:51:11Related chapters
A Game of Hearts Chapter 35
James had told me two things in the parking lot earlier.First, for seven years, Selena had been working towards the goal of studying abroad. She had been so close to achieving it, but then she met me. For my sake, she chose to give up that dream. It wasn't until James said it that I realized just how much Selena had sacrificed for me.Initially, I promised myself that since she gave up her dreams for me, I would treat her right for the rest of our lives.But then, James revealed another truth.Four years ago, Jessica secretly went to the people my parents owed money to and paid off the two hundred thousand in high-interest debt. After the deal was done, the creditor tried to take advantage of her. To protect herself, Jessica jumped into an icy river in the middle of winter. Although she survived, the injuries she sustained caused her to suffer permanent infertility.I didn't know if James' story about Jessica was true yet—I needed time to find out.In the five years I was with J
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 36
As I thought things over, I made sure Selena, sitting in the passenger seat, didn't notice.When we got home, I grabbed the bag and headed into the kitchen to cook. Selena was lost in thought, sitting alone at the dining table. When the food was ready, I poured her a glass of red wine."Want some?" I asked.She nodded.Her alcohol tolerance seemed especially low tonight, with her barely able to handle two glasses before getting tipsy. Maybe because she had been holding so much in, she seemed to talk without thinking.She walked over, sat on my lap, and grabbed my shirt collar.I raised an eyebrow. "Don't mess around."But she pulled at my cheek, tugging it this way and that, asking,"How did you know about my brother? Did that jerk James say something?"I took her hand and held it in mine. "Yeah, he did. He said we can't be together. He also said I should stop dreaming because he has evidence of your brother's crime, and there's no way you'll ever get away from it."Her eyes di
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 37
The next morning, I took the day off. After dropping Selena off at work, I turned the car around and floored it, heading out to the outskirts of town. Finally, I slammed on the brakes, stopping in front of a construction site.I slowly rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and stuck my hand out, watching the smoke rise and mingle with the dust kicked up by a nearby bulldozer. I flicked the ash out the window, my eyes landing on Timothy, who was working at the site.Timothy used to be my parents' business partner. They worked together for over two years before he double-crossed them. In the end, my parents owed him fifty thousand dollars.Back then, the business had just failed, and I was still in middle school. My family was barely getting by; there was no way we could pay off that debt, not even the two thousand dollars we initially owed him.In an attempt to pay it off, my parents moved us to Ashenford for work. But Timothy kept hounding us. Desperate, my dad signed a loan agr
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 38
Four years ago, I was sent on a business trip out of town in December. It turns out, that was when Jessica was hospitalized. For four years, she never mentioned it to me once.I honestly didn't know how to describe how I felt right now.On one hand, I knew Selena was willing to give up her dream for me. On the other hand, I realized that when I was at my lowest, it was Jessica who stepped in to help me.I laughed bitterly. Life was really cruel to me.I have no idea how I made it back into the city. But just as I was getting close to the company, I got a call from Selena. She said the doctor told her that her brother had briefly woken up, but was still in critical condition. He could wake up again at any moment, so she needed to stay with him at the hospital.Selena was already there, so I immediately drove over. By the time I arrived, Christopher was awake. Though his body was still weak, he was holding his sister's hand tightly and speaking to her.Remembering what James had sa
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 39
Cameron escaped?I couldn't react for a moment and simply stood there blankly. With him now on the run, the first thought that came to my mind was whether he could be going after Jessica. She had told me previously that she was the one who had given the police the tip that led to Cameron's arrest.Just as I was lost in thought, my phone rang at the worst possible moment, cutting off all my speculation.It was Cameron."Sebastian, Central Tower, Building A. I need to see you," he said, his voice rough and tired."I'm not coming," I replied. "We have nothing to talk about. You should turn yourself in, Cameron. You might get a lighter sentence. But adding a prison break to your drug trafficking sentence? You're looking at life now."He laughed, seemingly irritated by my words. "Don't give me that crap. I've got Jessica now. You have thirty minutes to get over here. Don't think you're completely innocent in this. If it weren't for you, Jessica would still be loyal to me. I was even g
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 40
In a dimly lit, abandoned parking lot, Jessica slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes covered by a piece of cloth, she couldn't make sense of her surroundings.She slowly began piecing together the events. She had been out shopping, planning to meet a friend. After parking in the underground lot, she had the unsettling sensation of being watched. Turning around, she saw no one, but the feeling lingered. Uneasy, she quickened her steps, eager to reach the elevator.As the dim lights flickered overhead, the silence of the place felt oppressive. Then, a sudden, sharp sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Before she could react, a cloth—soaked in a pungent-smelling chemical—was pressed to her face. She struggled to breathe, panic rising in her chest, before her world finally went dark.As Jessica was recalling all this, the black cloth over her eyes was ripped away. She never expected the first person she saw after waking up to be Cameron. It looked like they were in an abandoned parki
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 41
I floored the gas pedal, my heart racing as fast as the engine beneath me. The longer I took, the more I feared that Cameron might harm Jessica. If he was involved in drug trafficking, it meant he was capable of anything. His heart was as dark as they came, and all I could do was pray that Jessica would still be fine when I got there.As I approached, I could see Cameron waiting in a secluded corner of the parking lot. Cigarette butts littered the ground at his feet, a clear sign he had been waiting for a while.When he heard my approach, he looked up. The dim, flickering lights of the lot illuminated his gaunt face. His eyes were bloodshot, deep red veins webbing across his pupils, as if he hadn't slept in days.I stopped about 200 feet away from him. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, his head lowered, watching me."What's wrong, Sebastian? A big, tough guy like you scared to come closer?" he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.I didn't move, keeping my distance
Last Updated : 2024-11-29A Game of Hearts Chapter 42
Selena watched me holding Jessica tightly in my arms, her steps slow and deliberate as she approached."Sebastian, what's the meaning of this?" she asked, her voice trembling with pain.Each word cut into me like a blade."So, this is why you secretly signed me up to study abroad?" Selena said, tears streaming down her face.I forced myself to swallow the ache in my chest, masking it with impatience."Some things don't need to be spelled out. Saying it outright won't do anyone any good." I met her gaze coldly. "What you see is what it is."Without another glance, I scooped Jessica into my arms and started walking away."Sebastian! I don't believe you!" Selena called out from behind me, her voice cracking. "If you can't let go of Jessica, then what were we? What was all that? Was it a lie? Tell me it wasn't a lie!"Her sobs tore through me, threatening to unravel everything. My heart twisted, as if it might collapse under the weight of the truth and shatter into pieces. I stoppe
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
