I was shocked. The chubby, always-smiling boy who was shorter than me had had a crush on me for many years?Matthew smirked, delighted to see the disbelief on my face. He ruffled my hair gently. "I was very mad when I found out. There were times when I wanted to confront Felix. But it was so many years ago. Why bring it back now, I thought."I was away these few years, and even when I returned, I hardly talked to the people in the group. I only learned yesterday and you and Felix weren't together. Before I came here, I told myself to keep a level head."But whatever I told myself was swiftly discarded when I saw Felix. I couldn't hold myself back. If you weren't there, I would've punched him.""I don't like violence." I didn't know what to say. These few words were the only ones I could come up with. It was difficult to talk about someone I had a crush on for years with someone who had a crush on me for years."Look, Lulu. I wouldn't have been so mad if he had treated you right an
"Farewell, Matt." I waved Matthew goodbye with teary eyes. We might not see each other anymore, but I'd never forget about him.Matthew froze mid-opening the car door. He then turned around and asked, "Lulu, will we meet again?"His voice was shaky. The sadness in his eyes threatened to flood over. The afternoon sun shone on his face, and I caught glimpses of wet spots in the corner of his eyes."Of course, we'll meet again. Who am I kidding?" Matthew cheered, opened the car door, and hopped in. He rolled down the car window and waved me goodbye before fleeing to the horizon.He was crying.I looked in Matthew's direction. Somehow, I had a hunch that we would meet again. Even if we did not see each other again, I'd forever remember that there was once a chubby boy who wrote 11 love letters to me. He had once devoted his love to me."Let's go back. Pining over him won't make him return." Colin came begrudgingly and dragged my arm.He was not more than ten steps away from Matthew
I felt guilty that I accidentally hurt Felix. It made me more annoyed."It's just a small cut. You'll be fine after we apply some ointment. I need to send Felix back to get him treated. We might be late for dinner. Is it okay?" asked Colin as he let Felix press the alcoholic wipe on the wound.It was just a simple dinner, not a grand occasion. I just needed to inform Mom beforehand. However, before I could speak, Felix uttered, "It's okay. Let's head to the restaurant. I haven't had dinner."I felt a lot better after I took my frustration out on Felix. He said we could go to the restaurant right away, and I complied. After all, I did hurt him just now. Inside the private room, my observant mom noticed Felix's injury. She quickly asked us what happened. Colin grinned silently as I fumbled in my mind to come up with an excuse. Telling her that I was asking Felix to return my love letters felt embarrassing. Aunt Mel then asked Uncle Austin to get some band-aids. She checked on her
Just as I finished washing up, Colin's video call came in.The phone rang just as I changed into my pajamas. I was still drying my hair with a towel in my hand.Without much thought, I used a finger to swipe and answer the call. I placed the phone on the desk as I sat down on the chair to continue drying my hair.Colin's handsome face immediately appeared on the phone screen. I took a glance and saw his eyes flicker slightly, a hint of light shimmering in them."Colin, you're not asleep yet," I chatted aimlessly, trying to fill the silence."Yeah, I was worried about you, so I wanted to take a look.""Really? I thought you were here to avenge Felix? He deceived me first, so you can't blame me for hitting him. I tried my best to stop myself, Colin. If he insists on being stubborn, I'll beat him up again."Hmph, this is so infuriating. He was caught hiding my letters but he still refused to admit it. He even said it was for my own good. How could I let him go just like that?"He'
Why didn't he show himself if he was at home? He should've said something so that I didn't have to argue with Felix.Where was he when I needed him? Just when I wanted to experience the happiness of reading my love letters, he came to disrupt things.Well, since he was here, I had to open the door."Colin, do you need something?" I blocked the doorway, not wanting him to come in.It wouldn't be good to let him see the mess on the couch.But he didn't even bother to respond to my question. He just raised his arm to push me aside and swaggered into the living room. He plopped down in my spot, casually picked up the letter, and started reading, "Dear Lulu, you're like the sky…"Why was he reading it out loud? This was so embarrassing and annoying.I hurried over and covered his mouth with one hand. I snatched the few sheets of paper he was holding with the other and put them back in the box. Then, I nervously asked if he wanted water."No thanks. Are these all from Matthew?" Colin
"I'm so tired, I don't want to go out. I just want to take a shower and go to bed. I woke up too early today. I'm feeling sleepy already." I lazily slouched in my seat and yawned deeply. I openly admired the stunning man beside me.Colin was the type of person who easily attracted others, both in appearance and in personality.Outwardly, he exuded refined elegance and wisdom. Inwardly, there was a seductive charm hidden within.He was like a beautiful flower with multiple facets. I wondered which lucky woman would own this flower in the future.But when I thought about him having a sister-in-law who would pester him all day and that he wouldn't be able to focus solely on me as he did now, I felt a little jealous.Indeed, a sister-in-law and a younger sister were natural enemies.Colin glanced at me sideways with a hint of a smile in his eyes. "Do you like my face this much? But you're not allowed to skip dinner. Tell me what you want to eat. I'll have it delivered to your dorm."
As soon as I spoke, Queenie's eyes turned red. Tears streamed down her face like raindrops as she cried on my shoulder.She bit her lip until it turned pale. She was trying hard not to make a sound as her small body trembled slightly. Her sobs choked in her throat, sounding like a whimpering small animal."It's okay. Stop crying. If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. Have you had dinner yet? Colin ordered food. It'll be here soon. Eat with me, okay?"She shook her head, her tears going everywhere. Her cries were breaking my heart into pieces.After consoling her for a while, the delivery guy arrived. I hadn't showered yet, so I put on my coat and ran downstairs to pick up the food.Colin had ordered quite a large package, enough for three people.That was exactly Colin's behavior, to always think ahead. Otherwise, Queenie and I might have gone to bed with half-empty stomachs if he had ordered only for one person."Queenie, you can cry later. Let's eat first. Col
After dinner, I lay down with Queenie on the bed and listened as she told me what happened.Queenie was a pure young woman with a delicate and charming appearance. She looked fragile and soft, but deep down, she was the type who wouldn't give up after falling in love.She put all of her heart into loving Flynn. She gave him all the love she had.However, being apart for over a month during the winter break made her miss him so much that she couldn't eat or sleep well.She told her parents she was going to a friend's place and bought a plane ticket to his hometown. She wanted to give him a surprise and let him know how much she missed him.When she arrived at Flynn's doorstep and was about to call him, she saw a short-haired young woman clinging to his arm and acting coquettishly in the yard."Luna, let me tell you, the houses of wealthy families aren't good at all. There's no fence or anything, and the gaps in the railing are so big. I saw them immediately. It's impossible to eve
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