Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance.When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away.Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up.Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off.The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else.No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this.Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himsel
"I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically.I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix."My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited.I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue.If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish.Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor."Felix … what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation."Lulu, get up.
Because of that, I swore that I would change.My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb.Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other.When Mom was pregnant with me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers.Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!"Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future.""Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked.Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he sucked on his thumb and mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled be
I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!"Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile.I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water.Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me.As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better … Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it."I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within.I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done.I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep.By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites
Dad was silent for a while before he finally said, "Alright, I'll start looking for houses tomorrow."Tears streamed down my face.I cried for all the love for Felix that was deemed absolutely worthless and also for the love and protection Mom and Dad had given me. No matter what happened, they would always be the people who loved me the most.I lay back on my bed, but I couldn't fall asleep. All the memories I had created with Felix for the past 18 years came flooding back to me.My heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces, and more tears streamed down my face silently.The boy I had loved with all my heart just wasn't meant to be mine. Both of us were simply destined to walk on different paths. We would walk further and further away from each other with no turning back.Farewell … Felix and my dreams!…The next day was a weekend, so I lay in bed quietly and refused to get up.Mom and Dad came in to check in on me a few times. Since I appeared to be fine, they
I lay in bed silently. My door was not fully closed, so I could still see what was happening in the living room.Felix had stood up and had his head lowered in front of Mom and Dad. "Uncle Gerald, Aunt Harper, I'm sorry for what I did last night. I should not have humiliated Lulu like that. "Lulu is a very good girl, and I didn't mean what I said last night. I don't know what had gotten into me last night for me to say all of that. I'm really sorry. Please forgive me."Dad's expression was stormy. Mom was silent for a bit before she replied, "Felix, you don't have to apologize. You're both all grown up now and will lead your own lives. It's not appropriate for her to follow you around all the time. "If it weren't for your words yesterday, we wouldn't even have noticed the severity of the situation. Lulu already said she would change yesterday, and we've already talked to her as well. In the future, the both of you will be neighbors and nothing more.""Harper …" Aunt Mel said ple
Now, I understood that his patience for me had nothing to do with that ridiculous pact our mothers made on our behalf. He had already gotten sick and tired of me. It was just that he had been suppressing it the whole time.Mom's and Aunt Mel's words must've triggered him that night and made him explode. Or, perhaps, he had wanted to create such a massive scene so that everyone would know he would never be with me.I would always remember what he said to me. I would do as he asked, but this would also be the last time I would do anything for him or listen to his words.I had loved him for so many years, and now, it was time to let him go.That day, we didn't speak at all as we walked to school.The morning sun was warm and bright, yet he and I were like cold and distant strangers.I stepped into the classroom first, and Felix followed closely after. I had always been following after him, so it was quite amusing now that our roles had reversed.Our classmates loved to tease us.
That evening, I didn't bother waiting for Felix after school. I wasn't going to wait for him anymore. Halfway home, I heard some kicking sounds from behind me. I knew it was him, but I didn't turn back to look at him.I still liked him, but from now onward, I would keep my feelings to myself. Liking him would now only be my own problem. As time passed, I was sure he would soon disappear from my life.Since then, I never went to school with him anymore. Although we would still bump into each other occasionally, I would only nod politely at him without saying anything else.There were many times I saw him stopping by the roadside as if he was waiting for me. He'd bite his lips like there was something he wanted to tell me, but I'd always pretend that I never noticed him and just walk past every time.My classmates didn't quite believe me when I said I didn't want to have anything more to do with him the last time at the podium. After all, I'd been stuck to him like glue for more than a d
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