The waiter soon served the dishes and poured the red wine for everyone present.When it was my turn, Matthew reached out to block it. "She doesn't drink wine. Just give her fresh juice.""Hey, I never knew Matt would help women.""Pretty lady, you're so lucky to have Matt protecting you.""Matt, this woman is beautiful, and she has a good temperament too. Have you ever thought about asking her to be your girlfriend?"Matthew ignored everything they said as if he hadn't heard anything.But when he heard the last sentence, he finally smiled meaningfully. "I want to. I'm working hard on it."Everyone booed, asking him to work harder on pursuing me as soon as possible.I had never experienced such a scene and did not expect them to bring up such a topic. I felt like a clown standing on the stage, which was very uncomfortable.Faced with everyone's teasing, I only responded with a faint smile.With the wine, the atmosphere at the table gradually became warmer. Others were toasting
Helen was lying on the bed, seemingly doing something. When she saw me come in, she looked at the roses in my arms for a few seconds and then turned away. She showed indignant disgust and was seemingly unreconciled.I didn't say anything, let alone do anything. I wondered what this woman disliked about me. Why did she hate me more and more? Did same-sex repulsion also apply to roommates?It stood to reason that it shouldn't. At Lincoln University, I got along very well with my two roommates. Why were the roommates at Jesselton College so difficult to get along with?Helen's unwarranted hostility was so strange.I put the roses on my table, thinking about finding something to keep them when Helen said, "I have hay fever."What? Hay fever?Did it mean that I had to throw away such beautiful flowers? I felt a little troubled. It would be a pity to throw them away.It was the first bouquet of red roses I had ever received. Apart from the sender's intention and the meaning of the flo
Around 8:30 am, Felix called me, completely waking me up from my drowsiness."What's the matter?" It was rare for him to call me."Luna, are you dating Matthew?"He seemed to have just finished some strenuous exercise. His voice sounded breathy and urgent."It's none of your business.""Let's not talk about whether it's my business or not. Take a look at the college's Facebook account. You've become famous."What!I immediately opened the college's Facebook account and saw the mess.At the top was a photo taken in front of the apartment door yesterday afternoon. The protagonists were Matthew and I, and the medium was the bouquet of roses that already had nothing to do with me.The photographer had chosen a good angle while taking the photo. Matthew was handing me the roses affectionately while I was biting my lip and looking at him shyly. We were looking at each other lovingly like a couple.If I hadn't experienced that moment myself, I would've thought the scene was so beaut
I waited a while after I sent the message, but Colin still hadn't replied.Such a situation was a rare case in the past four years.Apart from when he sent a love letter to Jasmine, he had never failed to reply to me.When I considered making a video call to Colin, Matthew sent me a voice call request instead.Upon answering the call, I could hear his clear laughter. He was obviously in a good mood. "Why is your voice hoarse? Did you just get up?"I scratched my messy hair, covered my mouth, and yawned. "It's a good thing you made a voice call. If it were a video call, I wouldn't have answered it. It'd damage my glorious image."Matthew chuckled. "What do you prefer for lunch? You choose it. I'll book the place."I hesitated.I thought it was just the two of us when I followed him last night, but I didn't expect it to be a gathering. One or two of his friends even targeted me. Although he took good care of me throughout the process, I felt unpleasant. At least for me, it was a
I didn't know how long they had been communicating. Seeing me coming out, they stopped talking and turned to look at me.Inexplicably, I could sense their tension and anger. If I accidentally threw a bomb at them, it would immediately cause a big explosion."You look pretty."Matthew walked up to me with a grin. "Let's go for a walk first. The research institute will start classes soon. We may not have time by then.""Okay, my classmate said there's a botanical garden nearby. There are many varieties of roses there. I want to take a look.""No problem. The roses I picked for you yesterday were from there. There are many varieties of precious flowers. If you like any, I'll give them to you.""Flowers should be free. They prefer to be planted in the soil and bathed in the wind and sunshine. It's too unfair to put them in a flower pot. I just want to have a look."Matthew didn't argue with me and followed whatever I said, listening to me.We walked onto the path. When I turned the
The botanical garden was beautiful. Even though it was early autumn, all kinds of flowers were still in bloom—especially the long rose gallery, which was similar to the one at Lincoln University.Looking at the gallery, I remembered that night when Colin carried me on his back and wandered around the gallery.I took photos of the gallery from several angles and sent them to him. "Look, this is the gallery in my college."After sending the photos, I didn't turn off the phone but stayed on the chat page. Colin hadn't responded to my messages since yesterday. I always felt like something was missing. And now, he was typing, which excited me."Have you ever thought of returning to Lincoln University to continue your studies?"I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I had thought about this, of course. However, I heard that the inter-provincial school transfer was difficult. "I've thought about it. But isn't it difficult?""If you want to come back, just tell me. I'll figure it out. I have
When I went in, only one seat was left. And I met someone beyond my expectations—Helen.There was only one seat, but two of us came. Perhaps someone did it intentionally, or they didn't expect me to attend in the first place.Either way, it was enough to embarrass me."Matt, you're late. As usual, you have to drink three glasses as punishment."It was Leo who spoke. He kept glancing at me, smiling arrogantly.Matthew's expression darkened, and he threw the car keys on the table. The loud thud made Leo's smile freeze.Helen raised her head to look at us. Her gaze was complicated. It was filled with anger, resentment, and hatred that came from nowhere.Did she hate me?"Why is there only one seat?" Matthew asked calmly.He looked stern, and his slightly raised brows told everyone that he was pissed off."Matt, I'm sorry. I originally said I wasn't going to come, but...""Helly, why are you apologizing? You're a member of our circle. We grew up together. We won't drive you out
"I've liked Matthew for many years. Everyone in the circle knows he treats me very well. But since you appeared, he has refused to see me. I even came here secretly after I got the news of the gathering."I deliberately took your seat, planning to make you embarrassed. But I regret it. I shouldn't have been so unruly. Making trouble for you is no different from making trouble for Matt. I'll never do such stupid things again. I'm sorry."But I long for Matt. I can't imagine how miserable I'd be without him. I don't like playing dirty tricks or even conspiracies. So, I want to compete openly with you on a fair basis."I know he doesn't like me yet, but who knows? Maybe one day, he'll suddenly realize that the person he likes is me. Luna, do you dare to accept my challenge?"Helen's words stunned everyone. Leo looked at her sadly, and something seemed to crack in his eyes.He was very affectionate toward her. It was a pity that she didn't sense it.It turned out that Helen was the H
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