Samantha whispered in my ear, her breath tickling me. "Luna, I'll tell you a secret. My cousin is a very straightforward man. This is the first time he's brought a girl we don't know to a formal occasion. I really like you. Go for it. I'm looking forward to you becoming my sister-in-law."I looked at Samantha in surprise. She nodded vigorously, confirming everything she said was true.Matthew was in a good mood. He shooed Samantha away. He stared at my flushed face and whispered, "Luna, you have no idea how adorable you look when you blush. It's like you have two red apples on your cheeks. I really want to take a bite.""Stop talking nonsense. I'm not gonna listen to you anymore." His words were tinged with inexplicable affection, which made me even more embarrassed.He watched my cheeks redden further. His laughter was muffled, making his steps lighter."Dad, Mom, I'm back." Matthew brought me to the living room with a smile.Several socialites and ladies on the couch smiled i
Before I could finish talking, a sudden noise from the corner of the living room attracted everyone's attention.A middle-aged woman was helping a lady with a long dress up. "Be careful. Are you hurt?"Matthew glanced over at me and changed the topic. "Helly fell down. Lulu, we should go and take a look."Without saying anything else, he took my hand and led me over. He stood beside the middle-aged woman and kept a distance of two steps away from Helen. It was quite a gentlemanly move.When his mother saw us holding hands, a look of disgust appeared on her meticulously made-up face.The rising annoyance in my heart made me want to throw something at her annoying face."Helly, is it serious? We have a family doctor." Matthew bent down slightly. His concern was expressed with impeccable manners, showing the etiquette that a host should have."Matthew, take Helly to the backyard for a check-up. Be careful with her," Matthew's mother came over and ordered Matthew while looking at He
"Who doesn't know how smart is Helly? You're lucky to have such an intelligent and caring daughter. I'm not as lucky." Matthew's mother took over the conversation and engaged in small talk with the upper-class women.I wondered if it was really that impressive to study at Jesselton College. Their children were just among tens of thousands of students in that college. There was nothing to boast about.I was uncertain if they were doing it intentionally. They left me out and only talked about topics that interested them. They pretended I didn't exist.Being ignored like this, I felt like this was the same as being humiliated.Although I wasn't a daughter from a prestigious family, I was still cherished by my parents. I didn't depend on anyone and relied on my efforts to study and earn money. Thus, I wouldn't tolerate any disrespect from anyone. Plus, I only came here because Matthew had begged me to.I didn't envy these people's social standing or money. Thus, I didn't want to but
I raised my eyebrows without a word.She had casually labeled me as petty and aloof through that."Mom, it's nothing like that. Don't talk nonsense," Matthew said in a low voice while gripping my shoulder.Brenda glared at Matthew before saying with a smile, "What are you embarrassed about? Who doesn't know about this? You can't ignore Helly just because you have someone you like. Let me remind you that Helly is my goddaughter. "No matter who you marry in the future, she'll still be your responsibility. Thus, you're not allowed to neglect her at any time."The other women praised Brenda for remembering old friendships and being broad-minded, especially Helen's mother. She looked satisfied given how big her smile was.Helen was a decent woman, but her mother lacked the dignity a woman from a prestigious family should have. She was too narrow-minded and lacked grandeur.As slow as I was, I understood what was happening right now.Brenda was telling me that the daughter-in-law sh
To be honest, I could have better career prospects if I directly pursued a PhD after my undergraduate studies at Lincoln University. However, I wanted to be closer to my parents.Jesselton College was just my backup option. I didn't think studying there was anything to boast about either. Otherwise, I wouldn't have given up Jesselton College and chosen Lincoln University for my undergraduate studies back then.I didn't expect that studying at Jesselton College would make these wealthy mothers so proud.Perhaps in these socialites' minds, Jesselton College should only be reserved for the children of high-ranking officials or the wealthy elite. At least, someone as normal as me shouldn't be studying there.It seemed that they had been looking down at me from the start. Perhaps in their hearts, I had seduced Matthew with my looks. They didn't think I was as talented as their daughters. I didn't deserve to study at Jesselton College, let alone date Matthew.Well, excellence and social
I took out my phone and opened my bank account, patiently waiting for Matthew to tell me the price."I gifted you the dress, so I don't want you to pay me back. Mom, everyone, Lulu is the best woman in this world. She isn't materialistic at all. She doesn't care how much money I have, and I can't even dream of trying to win her heart using gifts."It took me days to convince her to wear this dress. You guys are just insulting her by saying that. I'm very unhappy about this."Matthew could barely keep the smile on his face. His expression was stiff, and he was trying to suppress his anger. His etiquette prevented him from driving people away, but he sent warning gazes to everyone in the room."Matthew, we watched you grow up. We're just worried that you'll be deceived. Young ladies nowadays seem innocent, but all of them are secretly scheming. You need to protect yourself, especially since your family is a prestigious one." This woman's behavior was absolutely disgusting. I wonder
"Lulu, don't go. Hear me out," Matthew called out angrily and chased after me.But I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. My pace quickened when I heard his footsteps. I hoped that a pair of wings would grow on my back and take me away from this gilded cage.And since I was in such a hurry, I didn't check where I was going. I ran into the person who was entering from the living room.The other person rubbed her forehead with a hiss. "Ouch! Today is not my day at all. It's not just me, is it? Huh? Luna? Are you alright? Why were you running?""Helen! Are you hurt? Sorry, I was running and didn't see you." After I greeted Helen, I walked past her, cutting off further interaction."I'm fine. I'll feel better after I massage the area. Where are you going? I couldn't talk to you just now, so I came back to look for you. Should we admire the flowers in the garden? It's beautiful over there," said Helen as she clung to my arm.My small conversation with Helen allowed Matthew to catch u
"Matthew, I did consider dating you. I considered spending the rest of my life in a joyous union with you. But you saw what happened just now. I have no place in your family. We're from two different worlds."You look down on my world, and I can't tolerate yours either, let alone be a part of it. Being ex-classmates is the best choice here. Matthew, let's not see each other anymore."I broke free of Matthew's grip and left stubbornly, leaving the heartbroken man behind me.I was devastated too when I turned around. I regretted attending this birthday party.It was never my wish to hurt someone who had been loving me for years. I didn't have it in me to break his heart, but I had no other options. I was just a person, and I had my dignity too.Matthew's parents had trampled on my dignity.My eyes were red and misty. I bit my lip hard to stop the tears from falling.I could cry, but definitely not before those who looked down on me.Helen looked at me and then at Matthew. Her mou
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