Hearing the noise from the next room, one of the students, who had been gossiping about Emily earlier that morning, rushed over. “Emily, are you okay?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. “Where does it hurt? I’ll call the teacher. Don’t worry!” She quickly pulled out her phone.Emily’s right side was throbbing with pain, tears streaming down her face as she lay there, feeling numb and barely able to move.The teacher arrived shortly after, clearly alarmed. “Call an ambulance, quickly!” she instructed, her voice sharp with urgency.Emily wanted to assure everyone she was fine, but as soon as she tried to speak, the pain surged again, and more tears flowed uncontrollably.When the ambulance arrived, the teacher turned to the students. “You all stay here and keep selecting your pieces for the exhibition. I’ll go with her to the hospital,” she said, her tone firm yet reassuring.At Lichfield Hospital’s emergency room, the doctor reviewed the X-rays. “There’s no fracture, just
Just then, Justin pushed the door open and entered the hospital room.Emily frowned, giving him a puzzled look, and asked coldly, “What are you doing here?”Justin glanced at her, as if looking at an idiot. “The school called, saying you got hurt.” With that, he tossed the bag in his hand onto the hospital bed.It was only then that Emily remembered. Since she had lost her memory and had no family, she had listed Justin as her emergency contact when she enrolled.She walked to the bed, picked up the bag of medicine, and muttered an awkward, “Thanks.”Justin was a bit surprised. She actually said thank you? Didn’t she act all fierce just a few days ago?“Where’s Sean?” he asked casually, like he was just gossiping with an acquaintance. “Why didn’t he come to the hospital?”“That’s none of your business,” Emily replied, clearly annoyed, as she checked her face in the small mirror by the hospital bed.At least her face was unharmed.Justin let out a mocking laugh. “So, did he pla
Emily looked back at her with calm confidence, smiling slightly. “Thank you both for going out of your way to visit me.”Emma opened her mouth to say something else, but Justin interrupted, turning to Emma. “Didn’t you say you were going to get the medicine from Zac? Did you get it?”“I did!” Emma answered, her gaze filled with happiness as she looked at him.“Then let’s head out. There’s still work to do at the office.” Justin took the bag from her hand and, with a smooth motion, intertwined his fingers with hers as they walked out of the hospital room together.Emily’s eyes flickered briefly as she watched their fingers locked together, a shadow passing over her face for just a moment.“Bye-bye, Emily!” Emma turned back, giving a cute wave before matching her steps to Justin’s.The door closed behind them.Emily tossed her clothes onto the bed and sat down, feeling suddenly drained of all her strength. They looked perfect together, happy, like they had never been apart. These
After Emily got home, the bruised areas from her fall started to ache, and there was a dull pain in her chest as well.She went to her room, took off her clothes to apply medicine. The bruise was on her right side, so she clumsily applied the ointment with her left hand. Once she was done, she felt hungry but didn’t feel like cooking, so she ordered takeout.Halfway through her meal, her teacher messaged her, first checking on her well-being and then offering to cover her medical expenses. Emily politely declined, as she had already withdrawn from school. After all, it was her own misstep that led to the fall, not the school’s fault. It was her teacher and classmates who had called the ambulance and gotten her to the hospital.She sent a message thanking them and resumed watching her show while eating her takeout. After finishing her meal, she continued binge-watching. Now that she didn’t have to attend school or work at the school’s art exhibit, she could focus on recovering.Mean
“I might go to another city, or even abroad. I haven’t decided yet,” Emily said, leaning back on the sofa, her tone calm.“Either one sounds great,” Helen agreed, surprisingly enthusiastic. “You could go to the Merika State. My family’s over there. I’d love to take you to visit!”Emily fell into thought. The Merika State was the place where Emma and Justin reunited.“Fleure Academy is in the Merika State, too,” Helen suggested cheerfully. “You could continue your studies there.” She could tell from Emily's expression that she was hesitating. “Merika’s huge! The chance of running into that jerk Justin is pretty slim! And unless you plan on leaving Earth, there’s no avoiding him completely!” Helen added.Helen made a good point, and Emily’s mind suddenly cleared. Fleure Academy was the pinnacle of art schools. It would be a shame not to give it a shot just because of one heartbreak.With renewed determination, Emily nodded. “Alright, then. The Merika State it is.”“Great! Just wa
Sean walked in, carrying takeout bags in both hands. “Didn’t Emily say she took a fall and can’t go out? So I figured, why not bring the food here myself?“Besides, you probably don’t feel like cooking, right? So takeout it is.” He placed the dishes on the table. “It’s from Seven Kings. I know she loves it,” he added with a cheerful smile.“Oh, I’m impressed, kiddo! You’re really thoughtful!” Helen teased without a care, turning toward the kitchen to grab some plates and utensils.Sean’s smile faltered a bit at being called “kiddo.” He subtly glanced at Emily, worried she might see him as too young and be put off. When he noticed she didn’t react much, he felt relieved.“You really didn’t need to go to all this trouble,” Emily said casually. “You saved me at the pool last time, so I should be the one treating you to a meal.”“What’s the difference? You can take me out once you’re all better,” Sean replied, clearly happy just to spend time with her.During the meal, Sean was atten
“Just a week. Remember to be in Bay City by the 21st for the handover with the local government.”Emily received the contact information for the Bay City government liaison shortly after.“Got it.”A week later, she boarded the plane to Bay City, carrying her finalized artwork submission.As soon as she settled into her seat in first class, a familiar voice sounded beside her.“Emily!” Sean’s cheerful voice rang out again.“Sean? What are you doing on this flight?” Emily asked, surprised and confused.“Why, going on vacation, of course!” Sean replied, taking the seat next to hers.“So? Same flight?”“Yep!”Emily’s face clearly showed her disbelief.Sean chuckled and explained, “Helen told me you’d be working in Bay City. She gave me the flight number and seat assignment, too.”“Since we’re heading the same way, why not travel together!”As Sean explained, he took out his phone, adjusted the beauty filter and his posture, and snapped a quick selfie with Emily. He added a ca
Emma always acted as if she were superior and set apart from others, hinting at a special relationship with Mr. Yates. Yet how could she not know he took private jets for business trips? Emily, by contrast, was far more modest and polite.The gossip about Mr. Yates, Emily, and Emma had spread all around the secretary team. Being on the same floor as the CEO’s office, they had access to all the juicy details.“Alright, I’ll give him a call and ask,” Emma replied, trying to look casual.The secretary left the lounge.It was only today that Emma learned Justin would be traveling to Bay City for business. She had rushed over at noon in hopes of joining him, only to find out he had already left.Emma dialed Justin's number. After just two rings, he picked up.“Justin, why didn’t you take me along on your business trip?” she pouted, a hint of complaint in her voice. “I wanted to be with you. I don’t feel safe without you nearby.”On the other end, Justin rubbed his forehead, soundin
Haley shook her head quickly, flustered. “No… I mean—no.” Then she realized how that sounded and corrected herself. “Actually, yes. I’m just hot.”Helen blinked in confusion. “Hot? The classroom has air conditioning. Was the sunlight from the window hitting her seat?” Helen wondered.Without missing a beat, she rushed over and tugged the curtains tighter, making sure her bestie didn’t get “sunburned.” She still needed Haley to hold onto that top spot. Otherwise, she would lose her excuse at home for going out to “study” with Zac.The pressure and tension of senior year finally came to a close. On the day of the college entrance exam, when everyone stepped out of the test hall for the last time, their faces lit up with genuine smiles—relaxed, free, and full of relief.Haley tossed aside her textbooks. Her summer break was filled with makeup shopping trips with Helen or third-wheeling her and Zac on their study-dates-turned-real-dates.That routine came to an end the d
Haley’s eyes shifted as she thought quickly. “But… I don’t really like guys who rank higher than me on exams.”She gave a light shrug and continued, “I mean, I think we should be focusing on school right now. Relationships can wait until after we get into college, right? What if we don’t even end up at the same school? Long-distance never works, and after a while, we’d probably drift apart. Don’t you think?”Was that a gentle rejection? It seemed like it. Haley wondered if she had been too blunt. Had she left him any dignity at all?They still had a whole year of high school left together. She didn’t want things to get awkward between them. A harsh rejection would only make everything more uncomfortable.Justin furrowed his brows, thinking for a long moment before giving a single reply. “Okay.”Then he slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked off.Haley stood there, completely confused.“Okay? What did he mean by that?“Did he understand what I was trying to say?
Emma and her little clique of schoolyard mean girls had Justin completely surrounded.“I’ll ask you one more time,” she said, smug and unbothered. “Will you be my boyfriend or not?”“No,” Justin replied coldly, his face unreadable.“Hey!” one of Emma’s loyal followers stepped forward, cracking her knuckles and getting way too close. “Do you even know who our Emma is? She’s the heiress of the Xander Corporation. She’s giving you a chance, and you should be grateful. You better say yes.”“What, you want us to beat you up before you agree?” another girl sneered.Justin didn’t flinch. His icy stare locked onto the girl who spoke, completely unbothered by the threat.Emma waved a hand to hold her crew back, pretending to be generous. Then she turned to Justin again, cocky and bold.“I like you way too much to have anyone rough you up,” she said sweetly. “But I heard you’re trying to get into Altiplano University in the capital. Here’s the deal—if you go out with me, I’ll have my dad
As soon as Justin sat down and pulled out the textbook for the next class, a hand suddenly reached out from beside him.“Hey, I’m Zac White,” Zac said.Justin glanced up with a cold look, then went right back to pulling out his notebook and pen—completely ignoring the extended hand.Zac awkwardly pulled his hand back, speechless.“Man… this guy’s seriously cold. What a show-off,” he thought to himself.The class flew by. When the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Haley and Helen linked arms and headed off toward the bathroom. Zac immediately trailed after them.“Where are you two going? Take me with you.”“You planning on going into the girls’ bathroom, you perv?” Helen smacked his hand away, not wanting their classmates—or worse, their teacher—to get any ideas about the two of them dating.Zac scratched his nose. “Fine, I won’t go in the girls’ room… but I can go to the guys’ one, can’t I?”“Hmph!” Helen huffed, scrunching her nose playfully.Zac clutched his chest
At a top-ranked high school in Lincourt City, the bell rang.Students still lingering in the hallways or restrooms were urged to hurry back to class.Outside, the summer heat simmered, accompanied by the steady buzz of cicadas. Inside, the air-conditioned classrooms offered a much more comfortable escape.In Class 2–1 of the junior year, students hurried back to their seats. Just as the final chime faded, the homeroom teacher walked in, holding a stack of freshly graded exam papers.“For this round of mock exams,” she announced, loud and clear, “the top score in the entire grade once again goes to our very own Haley!”A wave of murmurs and applause followed. “Let’s all work hard and try to catch up to her next time!”She began handing out the papers in order, from the highest score to the lowest.After Haley got her paper, the next few went to her seatmate, Helen, and the student sitting behind them—Zac.“Work hard and catch up?” Helen muttered as she slid back into her seat, s
But what did it matter, even if she still loved him? The pain he caused her in the past was still there, lingering beneath the surface.They had loved, they had hurt, they had been entangled for years. But not every love story had to end with forgiveness and reconciliation.Haley couldn’t pretend the past hadn’t happened. She couldn’t smile and pick up where they left off, as if nothing had ever gone wrong.She would always remember that street in Merika State, when Justin turned away, picked Emma up in his arms, and left her standing there alone.Even if he had mistaken someone else for her, the pain he caused and the love he failed to give were real.And that wasn’t something she could ever forget.She could make peace with the past, but she could never erase it.Her heart ached, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she turned and walked away.*Years later, Haley passed away peacefully in her bedroom at the estate.That same day, Justin had gone out to the grocer
It was just a shame that life rarely worked out the way people wanted it to.*Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.Chase and Alex had grown taller and older. Haley’s once-small jewelry brand had not only found its place in the industry—it had grown into a globally recognized luxury label, known for bespoke, high-end pieces.As for Justin, he split his time between Haven State and Merika State. Whenever he wasn’t busy, he would shamelessly camp out at the estate, claiming he was just there to “see the kids.”Eventually, no one even bothered to call him out on it anymore.One day, Haley had a business meeting with a potential partner—a widowed single father. Somehow, Justin caught wind of a rumor that the man had feelings for Haley and was actively pursuing her. Word had it that she was interested too, and they were currently having dinner together at a restaurant.The second Justin heard that, he canceled a company meeting, boarded his private jet, and flew straight to Mer
As soon as Haley stepped into the room, Justin followed right behind her.It was the first time he had ever set foot in Haley’s room—the space where she lived in Merika State.“Get out!” she snapped.“Haley, I just wanted to see you. Please don’t make me leave, okay?”His eyes scanned the room. The walls, the shelves—everything was filled with Haley’s photos. There was even a custom-built glass display case, clearly made with love, housing her pictures from childhood to adulthood. It was something Evelyn had put together just for her, and it overflowed with affection.There were portraits of her alone, family pictures, and right at the top—photos of Chase and Alex.Justin looked at each one carefully, as if he were trying to piece together a life he hadn’t been part of, but desperately wished he had been.Then his gaze landed on a particular photo: Haley in her teens, wearing a soft pink-and-white hoodie with little bunny ears on the hood. Her pale skin, big round eyes, and brig
“Haley…” Justin’s voice was weak. There was so much he wanted to say, but he didn’t even know where to start.“I heard you’re sick?” Haley said.“I… I’m fine. I’m not really sick, I just—”“Take care of yourself. Heart problems aren’t like other illnesses. Just look forward. Let go of the past. Meet someone new. Live your life.”Justin fell silent. His head dropped, and the phone pressed against his ear was clenched so tightly in his hand that his knuckles turned white. He wrestled with the words for a long moment before finally managing to force out.“Okay.”But he knew. He wouldn’t meet someone new. Without Haley, what kind of life could he possibly call “living”?The call ended. Life went back to its quiet rhythm. Justin no longer clung to Haley or tried to find her. After one more day in the hospital, he threw himself back into work and took over the reins of RC Corporation.They had truly managed to part on peaceful terms.After returning to Merika State, Haley d