I've had conflicts with my parents over this. But once they solemnly say that they were doing it for my own good and that women could not simply go to such places, I'd be defeated.The words "for your own good" were what I couldn't stand the most. As soon as my mom said them, I would compromise on anything—no matter how big the issue was.It could be said that going to a bar was the biggest dream I've had since I became an adult, apart from painting.This time, the three of us would sneak out. I was ecstatic as I was finally fulfilling my dream.Queenie was feeling down because of her love troubles, but I was thrilled. We came to an agreement to visit the bar quickly.Colin called on time to ask what I wanted for dinner, but I politely declined, saying that I was going out with Julia and Queenie.Once he heard that we were planning to go out, Colin started giving all kinds of motherly advice. After I repeatedly assured him that we would be fine, he reluctantly hung up but was sti
Actually, I had a natural ability that only my parents knew about. We never told anyone about it, not even the Whites.Back when I hadn't started school, there was once during New Year's celebrations when my parents were too busy to watch over me as they were entertaining guests.I imitated the adults and sat on the balcony. I poured myself a glass of white wine and drank it alone. By the time my mom noticed, I had already drunk more than half the bottle. I just casually told my mom the water wasn't good, it was too spicy.My parents were terrified and rushed me to the hospital. But the doctor, looking at me playing on the ground, said I was fine.It turned out that I had a high level of a certain enzyme in my blood, which quickly metabolized alcohol.In other words, I naturally had a high tolerance for alcohol. After some practical experience, I found out that I wouldn't get drunk if I drank only one type of alcohol. Once I mixed it with something else, I'd be out cold in no time
Despite our desperate struggles to defend ourselves, we were simply not strong enough against the men who frequented the bar.My left wrist was scratched and bleeding. Queenie was forcibly fed a bottle of strong liquor and had passed out in her seat. Julia was surrounded by several men, dodging and weaving among them. Her coat was splashed with alcohol, and her hair, once neat, was now disheveled."Don't touch her!"The man who forced Queenie to drink laughed menacingly as he reached for her collar. Without hesitation, I grabbed the ashtray from the table and smashed it on him.The ashtray was made of thick, transparent glass. I swung it with all my strength. With a cry of pain, the man's head immediately turned red.The lights were too dim for me to see how big the wound was. But the man sat on the couch, clutching his head and groaning.I made up my mind to use the ashtray to strike anyone who dared to touch us.However, I didn't have the opportunity to strike again as Colin
Queenie was unconscious after being forced to drink some strong liquor, and my wrist was injured. Hence, we went to the hospital for treatment.The doctor treated my wound and said it wasn't deep, but it happened to cut a blood vessel, which caused more bleeding. I was instructed to avoid getting the wound wet and change the dressing regularly. My wound would heal in a few days. The doctor also advised me to eat more food with iron when I returned home.Queenie regained consciousness after having her stomach pumped, but she felt weak all over and dizzy. The doctor gave her some fluids and suggested she stay overnight for observation.Flynn wanted us to return to the dorm. He said he would take care of Queenie in the hospital.Julia and I were worried. What if Queenie refused to let Flynn take care of her and things got out of hand? We naturally wanted to take care of her ourselves, so we insisted on staying. Colin had no choice but to accompany us.I had wanted to stay and let C
Oh no, I got carried away and forgot about the person next to me.Feeling uncertain, I pulled the blanket higher, trying to cover my face and wrap myself entirely."Don't suffocate yourself. It's your turn now. How many bottles did you drink?" Colin pulled down the blanket to reveal my head, his elegant and dignified face showing a hint of mischief.Not daring to refuse, I extended my hand from under the blanket and made a two with my fingers."Two bottles?" Colin gritted his teeth.I added another finger."Three bottles?" Veins started to bulge on Colin's temple.Unable to hide, I added another finger."How many exactly?" There was a grinding sound as he clenched his jaw.With no choice, I reluctantly opened my entire palm. "I only had five bottles, really. I'm not lying."The veins on Colin's temple had popped out. He grabbed my fingers with his left hand and gritted his teeth. "You sneaked off without a word and drank five bottles. Do you know what sort of place that is? D
Queenie, that heartless woman, glanced at me for a moment before she yawned and turned around to nestle in Flynn's arms. She was like a well-behaved kitten.I risked my life to accompany her to the bar just to make her a little happier.Julia, heartless as ever, just covered herself with the blanket. She left a tiny gap to peek through very discreetly.Sure enough, the tables had turned.I was just laughing at Queenie's embarrassment before. Now, they were watching my embarrassing moment.I was so angry! I wanted to cry!I didn't know how long I cried. Just when I felt my tears dry, Colin's expression finally softened a little. But he was still quite unpleasant."What are you crying so loudly for? Cry again and I'll call Aunt Harper."Colin was threatening me!I wanted to cry a bit more but was afraid he would really call my mom. If she knew what happened today, she would probably fly here immediately to deal with me.Thinking about that, I decided against it."Are you still
Although Jesselton College was still a few hundred miles away from Southsville, it was much closer compared to Lincoln University. There was a flight every day, making it convenient for round trips.On the day of our farewell dinner, my besties and I drank beer, white wine, and fruit wine. Each of us got so drunk that we lost our bearings. We huddled together and cried as if we would never meet again.It was Colin who carried me back to the dorm that day. I shamelessly vomited all over him.…Four years had passed, and I was already 22 years old. I was no longer the little girl who would cry all night because of Felix.When I met him on campus, I greeted him casually with indifference.I never told him about going to Jesselton College for graduate school. Over the past two years, our interactions were limited to social media and my occasional return home.His relationship with Lilac was good. Although she was still pretentious whenever we met, she treated Felix well. I had gradu
The end of September in Jinovy was still warm. I sat under the shade of a tree, fanning myself with my hand while waiting for my new roommate to go to the cafeteria with me. Then, I heard someone calling my name.I turned around and saw a man standing under the sun. He wore a white shirt with dark stripes and gray trousers. He was smiling gently at me.The midday sun pierced through the leaves, leaving spots of light on his face.Matthew?"Matthew, what are you doing here? What a coincidence," I exclaimed happily, standing up and walking toward him.It had been over two years since we last met. When we parted ways back then, he asked me, "Lulu, will we ever meet again?"The world was indeed small. In just two years, we met again in the vast sea of people at Jesselton College.In an instant, I remembered the tall man who bade me farewell with tears in his eyes. He had quietly stood there, expressing his feelings, regrets, and reluctance to leave me.Time had transformed him, tur
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