I was simply unimportant to him.It was just like the succulents I had on the windowsill. Every day, I would spend at least half an hour tending to them, and if any of them showed the slightest sign of trouble, I would immediately set them aside for extra care.Meanwhile, Chris never looked at those plants. Instead, he would be particularly displeased when I spent time on them. Perhaps, in his eyes, I was just like those succulents—unworthy of his attention and care. He never tried to appreciate them.After hearing my story, Zachary's fists were clenched so tightly that his veins bulged, revealing his anger.I laughed mockingly at myself and tried to calm him down. "Why are you so angry? It was the past anyway."After more than five years together, despite my wholehearted efforts, I couldn't compare with the person in his heart. I used five years to show that my love was just a joke."Damn it, those two bastards have gone too far!" Zachary couldn't hold back and cursed out loud.
Zachary spat out with a dark expression, "Haven't I been strict with you all these years? My throat was dry from all the nagging. If you had listened to even one word, you wouldn't have wasted five years of your life."It was very true.When I first got together with Chris, Zachary had warned me that Chris was unreliable. He said that Chris' eyes only showed indifference and lacked any affection or warmth for me.He said being well-matched in social status wasn't just nonsense or some old-fashioned saying. The Moyers were far superior to our family. As someone from an ordinary family, marrying into the Moyers would be tough. He advised me to think carefully and don't be stubborn.Even though my family was just an ordinary working-class family, they showered me with love. They gave me everything they had without hesitation.Unfortunately, I was so fixated on Chris back then that nothing and no one could stop me from going after him. I confidently told Zachary that Chris loved me an
Chris was standing on the balcony, examining the succulents that I hadn't checked for many days.While I was away, I had thought about sending him a message to ask him to check on them, but then I figured those succulents could survive without water for ten days or so. So, I left it at that.What I didn't expect was that Chris, who used to scoff whenever he saw me tending to those succulents, would now be holding a small spray bottle and playing the role of gardener.This was the first time in the five years we had been together that he had done something like this. It felt strange. Perhaps he knew I was coming back today and was putting on a show.However, why would he do that? Was he trying to show that he realized his mistake and wanted to apologize to me?It was unnecessary anymore.I pushed my suitcase into my room and closed the bedroom door without speaking to him.He remained on the balcony, silently watching me. I knew he was waiting for me to greet him first, but I did
With slightly furrowed brows, Chris continued, "That day when our parents met, it was my fault for causing you trouble. I'm really sorry. I originally planned to buy her a dress and send her back, but Faye kept badgering me, so I…""It's fine. It's in the past and unimportant anymore." I interrupted him calmly.Wasn't it too late to apologize now?It was like someone plunged a knife deep into your heart and then left it there. After you struggled and finally found a way to save yourself, they just turned around and said they were sorry, that they meant to pull the knife out but just forgot. It was all too little, too late.Besides, not every mistake can be excused with an apology, and not every apology would be met with forgiveness.I had no interest in hearing anything about him and his childhood sweetheart.Leaving the half-wet towel aside, I went to the dressing table and began my nighttime skincare routine.If I treated him like this in the past, Chris would definitely get a
I felt heartbroken time and again, but nothing changed.I was the one who fell for Chris. I was the one who lowered myself for him. I was the one who couldn't bear to leave him.It was no wonder Zachary always said I was lovesick. I had truly lived up to that in the past few years and had become completely blinded by love.However, the failed meeting with his family gave me a new perspective on our relationship. In the end, the one who loved more hurt more.The day after the failed meeting, I packed most of my belongings and sent them to my company dormitory. After that, my boss arranged for me to go on a business trip to a distant city.When I left home, I only took a small suitcase with some clothes and left without a word. I wasn't just leaving for a business trip. I was leaving him forever. I never wanted to see him again.It was a silent departure.That was why I didn't fill the fridge with food, didn't iron his suits that he would wear while I was away, and didn't leave st
We lived in a standard two-bedroom apartment with a shared bathroom. In order to get back into the bedroom from the bathroom, I had to pass through the living room.As I walked through the living room, I saw Chris leaning against the balcony, smoking.He bent one of his legs, his back against the wall. The half-smoked cigarette was between his lips as he looked at the starry sky. My succulents were right next to him. I just watched him silently.I wanted to check on my succulents since I hadn't seen them for over ten days. I was eager to know if they were doing well.Without me, Chris still had Faye, but my succulents had to tough it out on their own. Even though Chris might have taken care of them, it wasn't the same. I couldn't imagine what had happened to them after having someone who never cared about such things look after them.I stopped walking subconsciously, letting my thoughts become a chaotic mess.I debated whether I should go back to the bedroom or walk over to him
I was bending over to put on my shoes when the door opened from the outside.Chris entered, carrying a large bouquet of lilies in his left hand and several shopping bags in his right.It had been five years, but this was the first time he woke up earlier than me, the first time he bought me flowers, and the first time he carried shopping bags.When I loved him deeply, he had never done anything for me. Even a simple goodbye kiss would make him impatient. Now that I no longer loved or wanted him, he was suddenly willing to do everything.People truly are strange.Noticing the suitcase behind me, his expression changed instantly, turning to shock and confusion, mostly anger."Zara, what are you doing?"I shrugged and pointed to the suitcase. "Isn't it obvious? These are the last of my things. I'm taking them today and won't be coming back anymore. From now on, no matter where you go or who you're with, I don't care anymore. You're free."And I've paid the rent for this quarter. I
I wanted to refuse but couldn't let go of the suitcase in my hand in time. Before I knew it, he had pushed the suitcase back into my bedroom.He was a bit forceful, causing me to stumble and almost fall. My hand instinctively grabbed onto the nearest thing to steady myself.After falling onto the ground, I realized I had grabbed a small shopping bag with me. Because of the force of my fall, the bag tore and revealed a light pink dress that stung my eyes as if mocking me.My left hand, which had hit the ground hard, was throbbing in pain.Anger flared up suddenly. I kicked the dress away, got up quickly, and slapped him across the face. The crisp sound of the slap startled both of us.Back in high school, I never imagined there would come a day when I would slap the man I adored. Fate indeed played a cruel trick on people. Nobody belonged to anyone forever.A clear handprint appeared on Chris' cheek, and his eyes were filled with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment.I calmed
Luna furiously scolded me, asserting that I didn't deserve Queenie's love and that Queenie had been blind to my true colors all those years. Driven mad by desperation, I chased after Queenie, determined to tell her I was wrong and plead for another chance to prove myself. However, the young man intervened, delivering a swift and punishing combination of punches and kicks that knocked me to the ground. Humiliated, I struggled to get up and fight back, unwilling to lose to another man.Despite his youthful appearance, the look in his eyes as he glanced at Queenie was undeniable. It was a blend of love, desire, and possessiveness only a man could understand.I was consumed by the thought that he wasn't worthy of my precious Queenie's love.Nevertheless, my body felt heavy and powerless. It was as if the strength had been drained from me. The blows rained down on me, bringing with them a strange sense of relief amidst the pain. Part of me yearned for him to kick me harder, inflict
I wanted nothing more than to run to Queenie, to hold her tightly and tell her how much I missed her during those endless days apart. I wanted to kiss her deeply and feel the warmth of her embrace. I called out, "Queenie, I'm here."Seeing me seemed to jolt Queenie from her joyous state, replacing it with a vacant expression. Mere moments before, she had been smiling brightly, her eyes aglow with happiness. Now, she appeared lost, her initial elation dissipating into a blank, unresponsive gaze.I couldn't understand why she had turned so distant upon seeing me. The love and joy that once shone in her eyes were nowhere to be found. As I observed her, I wondered if our time apart had caused her to forget. Or perhaps the events of the past had wounded her so profoundly that she had stopped waiting for me.The thoughts terrified me, and I dared not ask for fear of confirming my suspicions. All I wanted was to hold her, kiss her, and tell her how much I missed her. Yet, it seemed tha
I had no interest in Daniela's pregnancy, so I kicked her out of the house. My friends came to console me, each expressing their sympathies with a drink because they didn't know how else to comfort me.The money I had sent to Queenie's account was quickly returned as the account had been closed. Her phone number became unreachable, and when I sought her at her parents' home, I found the elderly couple waiting anxiously for their daughter's return. I lost not only Queenie but any connection to her. I grew disinterested in everything, neglecting my company and spending my days in a drunken haze.Then, my uncle came. We drank through the night as he shared tales of his hardships, the painful memories of his mother, and the years he spent alone, suffering.He said, "Everyone has their fate, Flynn. And choosing one thing often means losing another. Just as you've chosen to fight for the family business, you've sacrificed a part of yourself. But you must rise and fight me with all you'v
Queenie would then jump off the cliff, leaving me to jolt awake in a cold sweat. I endured each twilight in my hopeless vigil, counting down the days.On the 75th day, the door finally unlocked. I stepped outside and realized that this was the neighborhood where Queenie and I lived. All this time, we had been mere yards apart.My mom truly knew how to break a person's spirit. All I had to do was lift my head to see the pomegranate tree planted in our yard.I stumbled toward our home, my wounds screaming as I desperately called for Queenie. But the immaculate house stood eerily silent, echoing my footsteps like thunder.Except for Queenie, every possession remained meticulously in place—the exquisite clothes, expensive jewelry, and designer cosmetics.Queenie was gone, and the thought of losing her drove me into a frenzy.I collapsed in the middle of the room, sobbing uncontrollably. Regret consumed me. I should have never let my family's threats manipulate me and left Queenie to
I clenched my fists, barely resisting the urge to rush over to Queenie's side. All I wanted was to embrace her and whisper assurances that I would protect her, always. But I knew I had no right to do so.My dad's threat hung heavy in my mind, and the stares of Daniela and her mother bore into Queenie like daggers. One wrong move or word and those blades would descend upon Queenie, cutting her to shreds.The pain was unbearable. I felt sorry for Queenie. I was powerless and couldn't help her. With all my heart, I wished for her to stay strong and survive. She deserved better than me. Daniela's mother slapped Queenie, calling her a whore and a homewrecker, accusing her of seducing other people's boyfriends.Queenie stood rigidly, her gaze filled with humiliation. Her lips trembled, and the light in her eyes gradually faded.I winced in agony but held myself together, picking up Daniela and walking away.Countless times afterward, I berated myself for choosing to take Daniela away
We both knew the truth—neither of us could cross the chasm that had formed between our hearts.After that, I went home almost every day. We managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy in our day-to-day lives. We prepared sumptuous dinners and tended to our garden. I even considered adopting a pet to keep Queenie company while I was away.However, no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't rekindle the warmth we had once shared. Queenie hardly smiled anymore. No matter what I did to cheer her up, she would only give a half-hearted smile, her eyes remaining cold and distant.I knew something had transpired during our separation, but she refused to discuss it. My attempts to uncover the truth through private investigators were in vain. Any evidence had been meticulously erased.Eventually, I realized Queenie was simply biding her time, waiting for the moment when she would be forced to relinquish all hope and leave.A month later, my mother joyfully told me that Daniela was pregnant an
I grabbed a brush from the bathroom and scrubbed myself furiously, desperate to wash away the overwhelming sense of filth. Even as the rough bristles tore into my skin, drawing blood and causing searing pain, I felt no closer to feeling clean.My mind was consumed with thoughts of Queenie and the nearly five years we had spent together—the happy moments, the arguments, every single memory.At that moment, I realized I was terrified. Never before had I experienced such abject fear. Knowing Queenie's uncompromising stance on love and fidelity, I knew she would never forgive me once she discovered my transgression.She would undoubtedly turn and leave, heedless of any pleas I might make. I probably wouldn't even have the courage to ask for her forgiveness in the face of her justified anger.I regretted everything. If I had listened to my friends and taken Queenie away from all this, none of this would have happened. But I had hesitated. Even now, I couldn't be certain if my hesitati
Yesterday afternoon, my dad called and demanded that I make a decision within two days, or they would take action.I felt cornered because I genuinely didn't know how to talk to Queenie about this. The mere idea of her packing her belongings and leaving, accompanied by the unspeakable anguish it would inflict upon me, was a burden too heavy to bear.I wasn't sure if I could ever have a semblance of normality in my life again after that.So, I gathered some friends to drink with me. I drank heavily because I had made a decision—a disgraceful, heartless decision. The thought of what I would have to face the next day made life seem hopeless, so I drank even more.Before losing consciousness, I handed my car keys to my assistant, using my last bit of clarity to tell him to take me home no matter what state I was in.Even if it meant returning to the Hayes family's residence, he should not leave me out on the streets. Despite the imminent breakup, I wanted to part ways with Queenie in
My mom proved to be even more ruthless than my dad. She found me, dropped to her knees without a word, and begged me. She reminded me of the years they had spent raising me, pleading that I ensure they wouldn't be left without a sense of security in their old age.In essence, they were pressuring me to abandon everything. I was to pursue money and power for their sake, secure the Hayes family's head position, and ensure our grip on wealth and influence. Their priority was maintaining their luxurious, elevated lifestyle. My happiness, my desires—whether I even wanted those things—meant nothing to them. Sometimes, it felt like I was nothing more than a tool for achieving their ambitions.My dad told me bluntly that he would go after Queenie if I didn't comply. He said, "You're right. I'm incapable of outmaneuvering your uncle. But no matter how incompetent I am, I can easily make Queenie's life in Harveyton unbearable."To be honest, that day was the coldest my heart had ever felt