He tossed my phone back at me, and I caught it neatly. I managed to catch a glimpse of frustration on his grumpy face.My head started hurting. All of a sudden, I didn't know how I was supposed to spend the rest of my winter break with him around.If I got close to him, he would feel disgusted and get sick of me. But if I kept my distance from him, he then said that I was a killjoy who didn't know how to take a joke.Whatever I did, he would always find a way to criticize me.After getting my phone back, I wasn't in the mood to continue watching the movie anymore. Instead, I found myself over-analyzing the words he told me just now."You girls are all the same overthinking species."He used the plural form of "girl", which meant he was referring to me and at least someone else. But then again, it wasn't hard to guess who else he was referring to. First of all, he used to be quite anti-social since he was young and hated talking to females. I was the only exception. As of now, t
Good times always seemed to fly by. Before I knew it, it was time for a new semester.With Mom's and Aunt Mel's insistent interventions, I booked a ticket that was on the same day as Felix's.When we reached the airport, Lilac was standing at the roadside, craning her neck in anticipation. Felix was delighted to be out of his parents' sight. He ran over happily to take her hand and kissed her deeply on the forehead.So it was true that people in love always felt like every day apart was an eternity.Green with jealousy, I turned away and entered the hall with my suitcase.The airport was enormous, and there were countless people heading to their respective destinations. That was their destiny. In the future, our lives would be like that, too. We would go in two separate directions.With tears in my eyes, I said a silent goodbye to him in my heart.I had more classes this semester compared to the previous one. I put all other thoughts behind me and threw myself wholeheartedly
We got on well because of how similar our interests were, and it was really easy to be around Colin.I'd followed Felix on Instagram again. Sometimes, when I managed to squeeze out some time, I would look at the Instagram stories he shared to try and build up my resolve.Felix was now entirely different from how cold and impassive he had been in the past. He posted about how happy his life was almost daily. If Felix and Lilac weren't having a drink together, they would be holding hands on a date. In any case, all these sickly-sweet images of their love life made me feel like I was choking on something.I thought that Colin treating me to pork ribs would make me feel better, but Colin's return kept getting delayed. I had no choice but to go and get pork ribs twice with my roommate instead.When summer break started, Felix didn't contact me, and I didn't disturb him. Once more, I picked up my suitcase and started the journey home.I felt like I had become accustomed to life withou
"Luna, Lili's timid and shy, so you've got to treat her well. Don't disappoint me."I wouldn't disappoint him, but he had really disappointed me.We'd known each other for 19 years, and I was sure he knew very well what kind of person I was. But he was giving me an indirect warning in front of everyone as if I was some kind of sly, spiteful person.I wasn't that kind of person, but I was really disappointed.I said, "Okay."Uncle Austin and Aunt Mel probably knew about Lilac's family and were very unhappy about it. When dinner started, they kept plying me with food while ignoring Lilac completely.Lilac shrank back helplessly in her seat while Felix continuously comforted her in a low voice.My parents couldn't say much as this was the White family's affairs. As for me, I focused intently on eating and enjoyed the food thoroughly like the connoisseur I was.This was the most boring dinner I had ever eaten.When I had had my fill, I put down my cutleries and went out on the bal
Felix's voice was heavy and full of anger, and it was filled with pain, too.I felt as if I had been struck by something, crushing me and leaving me in agonizing pain.Something was flowing out of me relentlessly, and there was a lump in my throat. I wavered unsteadily on my feet, and my heart ached so much that it felt like it was about to split in two. 19 years, and he had once again denied it so heartlessly!What did that make me? My heart had almost died because of how much I loved and missed him, and all those days of my youth when I had worshiped him like a god … What a pity. It was just a one-sided infatuation on my part.I was extremely upset.It was fine if he didn't have feelings for me, but we had grown up together. How could he be so heartless as to describe me in that way? He should have been kinder to me, especially knowing how much I had liked him. I did not want to listen anymore because I didn't know what else Felix would say if I continued to hide here. His
I smiled and leaned on Aunt Mel's shoulder like I used to do when I was young. I said playfully, "Aunt Mel, please don't say things like this again. If my boyfriend finds out, he'll be unhappy."That night, I lay in bed sleeplessly for a long time. The pain in my heart continued to spread, and I gritted my teeth as I endured it.When it was almost dawn, Felix sent me a message on WhatsApp. "Do you really have a boyfriend? Who is he?"I stared at the phone screen unblinkingly for a long time until my eyes began to ache.No matter who he was, it wasn't Felix. Why did he still have to ask so much?I put the phone on silent mode and tossed it at the foot of the bed without replying.I didn't have a boyfriend. Whoever he was, it was my business and had nothing to do with Felix. I had no reason to tell him anything. The next morning, with huge dark circles under my eyes, I made plans with a few of my high school friends to go hiking.After the events of yesterday, I especially did n
But these were the facts. There was nothing I could say, so I just smiled bitterly."Felix, why don't you introduce your girlfriend to everyone?"Lilac leaned in Felix's arms, smiling shyly. She was obviously the one that Felix loved."When did you get a girlfriend? This isn't a third-party kind of situation, is it?" Jade said loudly, completely ignoring my hints. She had always been a direct person.These girls knew about my feelings toward Felix. When I had been scolded by him in public, they also had all known about it and had bullied Felix thoroughly for several days.Jade was very biased, and she was probably racking her brains to think of a way to find justice for me. I clapped a hand to my forehead in resignation. Jade really just said whatever was on her mind. I wished she hadn't made things awkward for me!"The two of us are both single. Isn't it normal for us to be in a relationship?" Felix was obviously displeased."Aren't you both … Mmph …"Zara Lowe was the close
Zara walked beside me and muttered in a low voice about how Felix was heartless and blind and would definitely regret his decision down the road. She said that Lilac was obviously not as innocent as she looked and was clearly just putting on an act for me. She also said that Lilac had all the vibes of a scheming bitch, and I was no match for her because I was such a blockhead.She was annoyed, and I didn't interrupt her until she'd finished her rant. Then I told her that Felix and I were history now and that she shouldn't mention it again.She gritted her teeth and lectured me about how useless I was. At that moment, she seemed like a mother worrying about my marriage prospects.I knew she just wanted to defend me, but the facts were right there. I had already distanced myself from Felix, and there was nothing more to be said about it.Besides, liking him was my own choice and had nothing to do with him.His feelings for Lilac had nothing to do with me either.Everyone should j
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