"I'm sure you don't know this, but Felix does. We grew up together and have known each other for over a decade. "I feel like I was an accidental baby while my parents are the ones in love. Their relationship is super strong. They'd never take advantage of one another's unfortunate situations. "Plus, I'm the only child in my family, so I get all the good things they give me. I don't have to worry about anyone fighting over that with me."I knew how to be a bitch, too."You misunderstood me, Lulu. That's not what I meant. Felix was worried about you, so I accompanied him to visit you. I really mean nothing else. You're overthinking it."Maybe my words struck a sensitive point. Lilac's eyes were brimmed with tears. She gnawed on her lip, looking aggrieved as if I had bullied her.I was recuperating at home. She shouldn't have come in the first place if she didn't want to see me.I could understand that Lilac was jealous of me because of my past history with Felix. Nearly everyone
I hadn't done anything, so how did I piss off Lilac enough to cause her to come all the way to my house to provoke me?Lilac's tears began falling when Felix didn't come to her defense. She clung onto Felix's waist and buried her face in his chest, crying pitifully. "Please don't be like this, Lulu. I know my father is in prison, and my family isn't as wealthy as yours. I can't possibly meet your standards. But I really didn't mean anything else. I just wanted to visit you and keep you company. "If you really think less of me, Lulu, then I-I'll leave right now. I'll never come and bother you again," Lilac whimpered.What did I do to make her cry so much? How could she be able to cry as if on command? It would surely be a pity if she didn't get a career in acting.I got more and more annoyed by the second. I really hated Lilac's bitchy little waterworks show."Thank you for visiting me, Felix. You can both leave now. I'm tired, and I want to rest," I said faintly.There was no
I scoffed angrily. Was this still the Felix White I had known for 19 years? He had no conscience and such misguided principles. He was a jackass!When did I provoke Lilac? When had I ever given her an attitude? What other made-up offenses were he going to pin on me?This bitch deserved Felix the jackass!"I really don't know what to say about you, Felix White. You have a brain, so why don't you go back and think things through for yourself? "I'm tired of talking to both of you. Kindly leave my house. Thank you for visiting, but I'm afraid I must decline your kind gesture. Now, please leave!"Felix pulled Lilac by her hand and left the house fuming. I was left alone in the large living room, standing there like an idiot.Before stepping out of the door, Lilac shot me a look. The glee in her eyes was clear as day. I wanted to scoff.Lilac was only so bold because Felix spoiled her.But I neither wanted to fight for his affections nor steal them from Lilac. It wasn't like Felix
"That's enough. It's pointless." Felix's tone was annoyed. "I'll say this for the last time, Mom. Luna is, at most, only a sister to me, though not by blood. I will never have romantic feelings for her as long as I live. I'm going back inside. You can work on this yourself."I crouched outside the fence, crying while thoughts ran through my mind. I really needed to get rid of this eavesdropping habit.I thought I had shielded myself enough, but the moment I heard Felix say that he would never like me romantically and that he only wanted to marry Lilac, my tears fell uncontrollably.If he didn't want me, then I didn't want him either!I told myself again and again—I needed to get over Felix for good!…It had been several days since I'd seen Felix. I quietly enjoyed my vacation time without interruption.Felix came knocking on my door Saturday afternoon. I didn't really want to see him. What happened the last time he was here still remained fresh in my memory. But Mom quickly ope
Felix's implied meaning was basically—I'd dote on my girl no matter what, including taking the blame for her mistakes.In other words—come at me if you had a problem with her, not her!When I still refused, Felix began lecturing me about life values. It was irritating.So, in the end, I changed my clothes and went out with him.It was just a barbecue dinner. It wasn't like Felix could do any harm to me. If I insisted on not going, it'd only make me seem like I hadn't gotten over that matter.So I went!Mom gave me an umbrella before I left. She told me to come home early in a less than happy tone as it seemed like rain was coming. I had just recovered, so it'd be best not to get caught in the rain and catch a cold.Felix promised he would take care of me, which put a smile on my mother's face in return.I changed into a white dress and let my hair down. I then put on some light lipstick. Mom said my hair looked healthy and was most suited to be left falling down along my should
Felix placed the meat in his mouth and chewed.I didn't have much of an appetite. I ate a couple of mouthfuls of beef before stopping. I then waited for him to finish eating.My mind couldn't help but wander off as I looked at Felix's mop of blond hair.I thought back about our time as troublesome little kids, how we spent our youth as teens, and everything that had happened between us for 19 years.Felix stopped eating after getting full. He glanced at me and gave me a tissue to wipe my mouth.He and I hadn't been so close ever since that Thanksgiving incident. His gesture came out of the blue, making me dodge quickly.Felix paused before retracting his hand with a smile."We've finished eating. What do you want to tell me?" I asked.Felix's brows wrinkled. The emotions in his eyes were complicated. I was unsure what was on his mind."Lili was wrong for what she said last time. I'm here to apologize on her behalf. But you were at fault, too. "She was deeply affected after w
I would've caved in immediately back then.But when I grew up and knew what love really was. I would find that the me in the past merely caved in because I hadn't let Felix go.Felix spotted the minute changes in my expression and smiled. He grabbed my hand. "I never knew you could be such a wildcat. You're pretty amazing."Right? It also got me thinking. I was committed to being his lackey back then and listened to every word he said. I never got my time to shine, that was all.We didn't really talk much after that. I mostly listened to what Felix had to say.He told me about his life in university, his loving relationship with Lilac, and his plans for their future. He spoke of so many things and different people, yet never mentioned me.I couldn't help but wonder whether Felix actually knew what I was thinking or if this was his way of telling me to stop holding out for him.It wasn't really a pleasant barbecue.Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him f
"No, it really is her," I said faintly.Lilac had supposedly returned home with her mother after several days. She was standing under a small kiosk by the roadside. She held a large umbrella above her as the rainwater splattered her short skirt, making her curves all the more apparent.Lilac looked like a fake flower sprouting in the rain.She placed her hands near her mouth again before yelling, "Felix!"Felix saw her this time. Light glowed in his dark eyes. He ran out into the rain like an excited child, his white sneakers splashing in the dirty rainwater. "You're back, Lili."Felix ran over and held Lilac in his arms. She giggled happily.I stood there in the torrential rain, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb.Felix always managed to hurt me without so much as lifting a finger.The wind and rain swirled around me cruelly. My heart was colder than the weather right now.Lilac and Felix spoke to one another in the rain. Lilac giggled again
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