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
"Chris, you may not love me, but I must love myself. I've worked hard in my studies and my job. I've taken good care of myself. I'm not here to be mistreated by you. In the past, I was stupid, thinking I could move you. But I don't think that way anymore, and I won't continue to do so," I said."No, Zara. You're my girlfriend. I've never thought of you as anything else. I went with Faye only because her parents weren't around, and we grew up together. I couldn't just abandon her." Chris' voice grew quieter as he spoke. Perhaps realizing how absurd his words sounded, he gradually fell silent."Oh, you couldn't abandon her, but you could abandon me. Why is that? Because you don't love me. I understand it now. Since I can't move you, let's just end it here."After we break up, you'll have your freedom, and I'll find someone who loves me. The world is big, and there are many people out there. I'm sure there's someone out there who belongs to me and loves me only."I smiled slightly, my
"Chris, you asked for my forgiveness, but what about me? Who will comfort me? You left me to face our families alone. When I was facing my parents' disappointment and the mockery of others, what were you doing?"Oh, you were helping your sweetheart who fell. She kissed you, and you couldn't resist, then you got carried away and used a box of condoms."Can you imagine what I have to face? You knew my parents were here to meet yours. You knew people would mock me for being pushed aside. You knew how important that day was to us, yet you let Faye make a scene unreasonably. You made me into a laughingstock."Chris, was that your so-called sincerity? Do you really want both families to meet again? Or are you so used to being in control and feeling bitter that I was the one ending this relationship? If that's the case, then just say it. Say 'Let's break up,' and I'll pick up my suitcase and leave."I don't care about anything anymore. I've been your lapdog for five years. I don't care ab
There were many times I cried very hard in my dreams, only to wake up alone in some hotel.I spent five years revolving around Chris. Now, when I tried to forget him, the pain ran deep in my bones and pierced through my heart like a dagger.Every night, when I couldn't sleep because of him, every cell in my body was in pain.Rationally, I knew I had to stay away from someone like Chris from the beginning. However, emotionally, after giving him five years of love without complaints, it was not something I could easily take back.I hated and resented him, but I also loved him.I hated that I had lost myself in this relationship and only had eyes for him. No matter how he treated me, I never thought of letting go.I resented that he knew there was someone else in his heart, knew how deep my feelings for him were, yet shamelessly deceived me.While he was enjoying my care for him, he was entangled in an ambiguous relationship with his beloved Faye. He never truly appreciated my devo
I remembered the day I left Chris' apartment with my suitcase, feeling truly empty.However, when I thought about the concern and comforting words from my parents, brother, and friends, I realized I wasn't truly alone. I only lost someone who never truly belonged to me.It was like a perfect world that had a dry leaf fall into it from the outside. You would think it was a precious gift from the world, so you exerted all your effort to cherish and protect it.Then, one day, you suddenly realized it was never a treasure. It was just a piece of trash blown in by the wind. It was everywhere once you stepped out of the room.How would you feel then?One would think that it was just trash. I could just throw it away, and I should have thrown it away long ago.The world was still the world, and I was still me. Nothing had changed.My world just excluded Chris Moyer.Time passed quickly when people were busy. By the time I completed my last task, it was almost New Year's.Due to my go
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