But no matter how slim the chances were, we had to try and fight for it."Don't worry. If you're really determined and he comes to pester you, both Colin and I as well as our friends here will help you."Queenie told me many things that she couldn't express over the phone. We chatted until late at night, so much so that when we woke up in the morning, it was almost nine o'clock.I was thinking about Colin's trip to Lagado and planned to get some ingredients so that I could prepare some food for him.Just when I wanted to call him after getting ready, I saw the text messages he had sent me.He had guessed that I would sleep in, so he didn't call to wake me up. Due to a change in plans, his evening flight was changed to the morning, and he boarded at 8:30 am. He told me not to worry and that he would be back soon.He also said that during his absence, I should stay away from Matthew and other men who always stared at me, or he would deal with me after he returned.He rambled on in
Colin felt sorry for me. He reached out his hand, wanting to hug me. However, we were not just separated by two screens; we were thousands of miles away. He extended his fingers to wipe away my tears on the screen and tried to reassure me softly. He asked me to wait for him patiently and that he would be back soon. But I knew it was all empty words. "Soon" was still two months away; it wasn't going to be a day earlier. Moreover, two months was only an estimate. If he could not return in time, there was no telling when we would reunite. We had just started dating, and now he was off to a distant place. How was I supposed to survive alone? I cried uncontrollably, as though I could already foresee his apologetic announcement. Our separation would be prolonged indefinitely, with no end in sight.At that time, I was merely speculating. Little did I know, my predictions came true. I loathed how my negative forecasts always turned out to be true.…Queenie was one of the top studen
Queenie was trying to show herself that a breakup wasn't as tough as she imagined. It was just slightly painful. There was no medication to cure it, so it was something that she had to endure on her own.A month had gone by, and I was now facing the final examination of my first year of graduate school.Colin's calls became as regular as meal times. He offered detailed advice on every minor issue like a concerned father. It was only after I assured him that I would record his instructions on my phone and commit them to memory that he would agree to end the call. Every time this happened, Queenie would look at me with envy and comment that I was lucky to have met the right man. I had secretly asked Colin about Flynn's current situation. Surely, Flynn would have thought of reconciliation after spending four to five years with Queenie. Was he really unwilling to make an effort to salvage what they had?Colin said that it would be better for Queenie if they could part ways amicably.
As I was about to wave to grab Queenie's attention, a tall man hurriedly rushed out of the building toward her. He seemed to be shouting something. However, his haste almost caused him to trip as he descended the stairs.Queenie stopped and turned around to face the man. He leaned in and said something, but Queenie merely smiled politely. She shook her head before walking away.But the man was undeterred and continued to follow behind her with an unwavering grin. No matter what Queenie said, he refused to give up. Instead, he matched her pace and showed no signs of impatience. Queenie grew slightly impatient and appeared frustrated. Yet, the man didn't seem to mind and continued to smile sincerely. I suddenly felt the urge to cry. It was tears of immense joy as if my daughter had finally come of age. It was evident that the man liked Queenie. Queenie was an amazing woman. If she wasn't blinded by her past, many men would fall for her.The guy appeared slightly younger than Qu
It wasn't like I was unkind. Queenie and Flynn had broken up. Things would've come to this sooner or later anyway. I knew Queenie had sacrificed a lot for Flynn, so it was tough for her to make this decision. As a good friend of hers, I hoped that she could step out of her sadness as soon as possible. From what I had read, the best way to snap out of the sorrow of a breakup was by getting into a new relationship. Queenie had a new suitor now. Naturally, I had to do my part to help her start a new relationship. "Thank you for coming up with those suggestions. I just want to know what kind of flowers Queenie likes and the kind of food she wants for breakfast."And does she prefer traveling by foot or by car? I just don't want her to feel upset. I heard that finding out a girl's likes is the first step to pursuing a girl." Andrew had potential in this. I was satisfied. "Shut up and stop talking nonsense," Queenie said, her cheeks flaming. There was nothing she could do with A
It was always like this when it came to relationships. Breaking up was easy, but forgetting it all was hard. Queenie appeared to be indifferent and nonchalant after the breakup, but I knew that it was only an act. She still loved Flynn deeply. Even if she didn't get to see him for the rest of her life, he'd still occupy a spot in her heart. After all, he was a vibrant, colorful part of her life for so many years. Those five years they were together were the best years of her life. It was the first time she loved someone so deeply. "I'm sorry, Queenie," I hurriedly apologized. "I was too excited. I didn't say that on purpose. Don't be mad at me." I let her go as I apologized to her, guilt-stricken. Sitting up, Queenie tucked the strands of hair in her face behind her ears. She looked out the window at the sky, smiling gently."It's fine. We were together for five years, after all. It's just like keeping a pet. The pet owner wouldn't be able to let go of it after so many
"How's that unfair to Andrew? A relationship is a two-way thing. Even if you can't accept making him your boyfriend, you shouldn't outright reject him."Be frank with him about this. If he's willing, you two can be friends for now. You need a friend or two, anyway," I suggested.After putting in so much effort to persuade Queenie, she finally agreed to be friends with Andrew as of now. I could only help him so much. As for the rest, he would have to rely on himself and put in the effort. The temperature levels in Jinovy rose to such heights that the land was just like a barbecue grill. Despite the scorching weather, Andrew sent Queenie to and from work. The changes in the weather didn't deter him at all. …One day, I was delayed because something came up at school. When I came home, I saw Andrew busying himself in the kitchen with an apron tied around his waist. It was so diligent of him to prepare food for Queenie! Gosh, he might actually stand a chance now. I called out,
With my focus on the painting, I quickly forgot about the presence of the man and woman outside, providing them with a perfect opportunity to talk.It wasn't until I received a video call from Colin that I realized it was already dark outside. My stomach was growling too. Rubbing my empty belly, I opened the bedroom door while speaking, only to find that the two people outside were gone. Did they already... That was impossible. That wasn't how Queenie rolled.Stepping outside, I realized I had misinterpreted the situation when I saw them busy in the kitchen.The light cast upon them painted the illustration that they were a couple in love. The atmosphere was harmonious, reflecting the tranquility of time."Why aren't you saying anything?" Colin squinted through the screen but didn't notice anything unusual.Colin looked thinner, and he didn't look too good. But he was in good spirits. "You've grown tanner and thinner, Colin. Have you been eating well?" I asked worriedly."It'
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