I believed he genuinely wanted to give me the guitar and didn't care about the money. I appreciated his kindness, but I couldn't accept it without reason.This was my bottom line, and I had to insist on it."I must give you the money. If you won't take it, I..."If he wouldn't take it, I wouldn't accept the guitar and wouldn't attend tomorrow's performance. But I couldn't finish telling him the last part.It wasn't that I lacked a conscience or was ungrateful. It was not that I wanted Felix's gift to become a tool I could use to threaten him either, especially since he gave the guitar to me with good intentions.He understood my stubbornness and pinched his forehead. Raising his eyebrows helplessly, he sighed. "You're always so stubborn. Do you have to be like this?""Yes." I gazed at him, insisting on my opinion.He looked at me deeply. The hushed argument lasted two minutes before he backed down and agreed to let me pay for the guitar myself."Give me your bank account number
Felix was rarely strict. He wouldn't let me refuse.I knew he meant well, but I just couldn't accept it.I had been having so much contact with him lately that we frequently appeared together in front of everyone.Two people in my apartment had already asked if I had a boyfriend. It showed that Felix and I had captured the attention of others.If someone were to slander me one day, I was scared my name would be on the love confession wall for all the college's professors and students to see. I had a pure conscience and wasn't afraid of what others said. But since it was unnecessary, I should nip the matter in the bud.Besides, I had just finished talking to Lilac during the day and went out with Felix again at night. Although there was a reason for everything, I didn't believe I could properly justify it. In that case, what would others think?I looked at Felix. His expression was frigid, concealing a trace of gloom."Thank you, but I can go back by myself.""Luna..."His ex
Several photos seemed to have been taken sneakily as the shooting conditions looked immature. However, due to Helen's beauty and Matthew's gentlemanly behavior, the photos turned out pretty good.There seemed to be a subtle understanding between the two. Their smiles were in sync when they naturally turned to glance at each other.Half an hour ago, Helen posted a photo to social media. It showed Matthew in a suit and leather shoes. He had his left hand around Helen's shoulder and held a glass of wine in the other. He was looking back at Helen with a calm and soft gaze, making one feel happy for them.Such a gentle exchange of looks made me believe they would have a wonderful future together.The most heart-fluttering part was the accompanying words, "Time stops whenever I'm with you."Through the years, Matthew and Helen had grown from being complete strangers to being dependent on each other.Matthew must have been moved by Helen's wholehearted devotion.Indeed, being loved sin
"I like waiting for you the most."In other words, it was not that Colin—who never had a romantic partner even when he was approaching 30—hadn't found someone he fancied. Rather, he had been waiting for some reason.The sour feeling in my heart grew stronger by the moment.In that case, what about me?If he already had someone he loved, why did he confess to me and ask me to accept him? Why did he speak so passionately, saying that he had always liked me!He was declaring his love for another person in such a possessive way without any explanation after confessing to me. I had even promised him to consider it seriously.What was I to him?Was I just someone he was using to pass the time while waiting for someone else?Felix was already a jerk, but if my guess was right, Colin was even worse.Was I doomed to be hung up on the two wrong choices I made, both from the Whites, for the rest of my life?I felt a little sad and angry.I maneuvered to his WhatsApp chat box and presse
Did I feel lost? How could I possibly not feel lost when the person who had been taking care of me all this while was suddenly distancing himself? But what right did I have to complain about it?I threw the phone aside and repeatedly told myself that Colin had found the love of his life. Wasn't this what I had always hoped for in the past? I should be happy for him.But for some reason, I just couldn't feel happy.I hadn't realized why I was so sad and upset. I was just deluding myself, telling myself that all this was normal and that it was bound to happen someday. It just came a little too sudden, so I wasn't mentally prepared yet.I kept comforting myself, telling myself to start getting used to this version of Colin and this version of me.However, even with all the excuses I could think of, I couldn't accept or forgive him for declaring his affection for another woman. Not before I had even given him an answer.We had a promise, but he had broken it. It was clearly his fau
My face looked a little distorted from the swelling after a night of crying. I put on heavier makeup to hide it. I put on a snow-white casual long dress with silver sequins embroidered on the hem and combed my clean hair to naturally drape on my back.I wore the white strappy sandals with pearls I had recently bought while shopping with Colin, carried my beloved guitar, and stepped out of the apartment.I didn't expect Felix to be waiting for me in front of the apartment building.When he saw me, a hint of surprise and delight flashed through his bright eyes.He was in an all-black attire. Looking at him like this gave me a headache again.With the way we were dressed and how we were about to perform in front of thousands of people, it would be a shame if we didn't generate some gossip-worthy news.If I had known earlier, I would have worn something colorful. It would have been better than me in all white and him in all black. We looked like angels descending to Earth.At 8:00 p
After bowing several times, the applause gradually subsided.As we left the stage, Felix took my hand.The moment our fingers touched, I instinctively pulled back. It seemed Felix had anticipated my reaction as he immediately tightened his grip, solidifying this act of holding hands.Since knowing Felix for 22 years, this was the first time we genuinely held hands. And this happened under the watchful eyes of thousands, in a manner where I was reluctant but he was forceful.The Luna Lawson from before she turned 18 might have eagerly anticipated such an act of holding hands with the dream of her youth. But the Luna Lawson of today only felt resistant.Yet, faced with so many onlookers, I couldn't just pull my hand away. Doing so would not only damage Felix's dignity but also lead to all sorts of speculation from those countless eyes.I simply accepted the situation after finding no way to withdraw my hand.It was just a collaborative performance. It was pure, open, and honest. T
I turned around to continue walking again. I saw a person less than ten steps ahead who had a small smile on his face.He was wearing dark-colored attire, standing tall and upright. His bright eyes twinkled like stars, and the smile on his lips was faint yet charming.Having not seen him for several days, with no phone calls or replies to my messages, I thought our paths had diverged for good. Yet, here he was, suddenly appearing before me. As our eyes met, we had lost the frankness and tacit understanding that had existed before due to my grievances and doubts and his scrutiny and probing. We had become worlds apart.The person who had occupied my thoughts for days suddenly stood before me, bringing more heaviness than surprise. I was overwhelmed with emotions.What had caused such a distance between Colin and me?It had only been a few days.He had brought me the tastiest candies just three days ago!Just three days had passed, but my feelings had shifted dramatically.I st
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