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
"Mr. Moyer, was I wrong?" I asked."Do you know what you're saying? You better come with me before I regret coming here, or there won't be a next time." Chris was embarrassed and furious.I felt like cursing his family. "Thank you, but please, there better not be a next time. I beg you.""Zara, I'll give you one last chance. Don't regret it later, and come crying to me." Chris was getting frustrated, and his speech became incoherent.Zachary couldn't take it anymore. He raised his hand and delivered a punch straight to Chris' nose, cursing through clenched teeth."Zara, you're actually letting your brother curse at me," Chris said.Zachary smirked before moving in and kicked him while he was down. "What's wrong with that? Did it hit a nerve? Or are you having trouble remembering? If you have trouble, I can carve it into your tombstone."Zachary was a long-distance runner and had learned martial arts before.In contrast, Chris was born into a wealthy family. Aside from his elega
My parents said that since most people would return home during the holidays, it was the perfect time for me to go on blind dates. If I met anyone I liked, we could visit each other's homes and let our relationship develop further.Although I was a little unwilling, I decided to listen to them this time. After all, my own judgment hadn't always been the best. It was more reliable to listen to them.Today's blind date was a peculiar one. The guy seemed quite honest, though his appearance wasn't exactly neat.He wore formal trousers with a belt fastened and a gray shirt with pink stripes that barely contained his round belly, the hem awkwardly tucked into the waistband. His face was round, with slightly thick lips, a slightly flat nose, and a shiny bald forehead.According to the introduction, this man was some kind of middle manager in a public institution, possibly at the level of a team leader.Once seated, he started recounting his illustrious career and pivotal role in the co
I was flabbergasted. In fact, moments ago, his face reminded me of something, but I couldn't quite put my fingers to it. But as he squinted and looked upward, shoving his flappy cheeks outward until they squeezed his nose into a tiny crease, I finally found the answer. He looked like an ass.I wanted to rebuke, but what could I expect from someone whose face looked like an ass? Whatever. "Mr. Civil Servant, I only finished my bottle of water after I sat down." I then brandished the water bottle in my hand. "It's also my water bottle. You finished the entire meal yourself. If you don't believe me, we can check the surveillance cameras here. The truth will surface."The man's squinty eyes opened slightly as he glanced at the camera lens above his head. His cheeks trembled, and he fell silent. Seeing that I was leaving, he scoffed. "Those who don't work for the government have no class."I wanted to slap him, but I decided not to after looking at my tender palm. His cheeks were so fa
I did everything I could to stop her from confronting Chris. Then, I begged her not to tell Lulu. She initially agreed, but she forgot about it as soon as she went home. She told Lulu everything.Luna was the nicest and the most stubborn among all three of us. Ever since Jade told her that I had broken up with Chris, I dreaded receiving her call. In the next few days, Lulu finally called. I forced myself to pick up the call. As she questioned me, I didn't know what to say.After all, I hadn't told her about my breakup. It wasn't a nice thing to do since I was her best friend. To my surprise, my fear that I might ruin Luna's day didn't materialize at all. She thought that I couldn't move on from that five-year-long relationship. She was very tactful in her consolation."Zara, why don't you move in with me? I miss you. Jinovy is a big city. It's bustling with opportunities. It's boring to live alone here. Why don't you come and work here?"That was my Luna, alright. She was kind and
I knew she would have a successful future, but I didn't know she was already very successful. Living inside her warm penthouse, I was envious of her. To console me and to make sure I moved on from the break-up sooner, Luna introduced me to her university classmate and friend, Queenie.The three of us had a lot of fun together. Queenie was an interesting woman. She was born in the north but was petite like a southerner. Her voice was soothing, and she was very kind. I already liked her the moment I met her. After idling for three days in Lulu's house, I began to hunt for jobs.I applied to several job positions that were relevant to my Bachelor's degree online. Then, in the evening, Lulu and I agreed to have pasta together. The restaurant was near Lulu's university and wasn't too far from the house. We went there in a cheery mood, looking forward to a fun evening out.To our dismay, we ran into Chris. The restaurant was just right next to the corner, but Lulu suddenly halted and glar
Luna laughed out loud. Chris's expression was darker than before. But before he could say anything, Faye charged out like a cool girl and stood with hands on her hips like a Karen. "Who did you say is a dog?""Whoever is responding to me." I folded my arms before my chest and tapped my feet. Faye was very good at acting. She acted like she was genuinely a protective girlfriend, but she was too skinny. She looked very weak when she brandished her fist and confronted us.It was just like that day. She used to wear jeans but she suddenly wore a skirt—a pink one, no less. Of course, Chris fell head over heels for her. She knew how to change her style. Chris didn't have to see one type of girl every day. Naturally, he was seduced."How does it feel to be a homewrecker? Maybe it fits your style very well?" I folded my arms before my chest and looked down at Faye.Annoyed, Faye began to flail her arms about and retort, "I'm not a homewrecker. Chris and I are childhood friends. He loves me
I thought that'd be one of the rare moments I ran into Chris. After all, Jinovy was a huge city. Loving couples could hardly see one another, let alone a chance encounter between acquaintances. Yet, that evening, as I waited for Lulu at the entrance to Jesselton College, I bumped into Chris once more.He was wearing a dark brown blazer without a white shirt and without any tie. I could see his collarbone from the collar. When I saw him, I had a feeling of deja vu that brought me to the day I first met him. He was wearing a white shirt then too. Other than the slight crow's feet beside his eyes, he looked just the same.His eyes were just as mesmerizing, and he was as aloof as before. Back then, I fell for him, and I ended with a heartbreak. While his eyes remained the same, I only wanted to stay as far away from him. I didn't know if he wanted to see me or not. But I definitely did not want to see him.I quickly turned my back on him and pretended that I didn't notice him. Unfortu
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