Colin was talking nonsense. Why should I waste my energy peeling the shrimp when someone had already done so?When I was a kid, I had my finger pricked by a shrimp. I didn't want to get pricked again. If no one peeled it for me, I'd eat it whole, spitting away the skin."Then don't eat shrimp."He was quite domineering. Who was he trying to scare? I wouldn't listen to him."That won't work. I like shrimp." I wrinkled my nose and pouted cheekily. I looked away, refusing to look at him properly."Who is that?""Winston.""Didn't I say—" Colin rubbed his forehead helplessly as if I had caused him a headache. "Tell me, what are you making a fuss about?"I showed him an unhappy expression. "Repaying the savior with life."Colin was stunned for a moment. "What do you mean?""Stop pretending. Didn't she save your life? She even wrote you letters while we were at Lincoln University. You two reunited and spent many days in the same place. You even held her so tightly when you got out.
I learned this trick from Julia. I might appear unsatisfied or challenged Colin, yet it was coquettish.As a result, I could attract him. Although he would get bothered, he would feel amused and focused on me. Julia stated few boyfriends could escape this trick.In addition, I dared to do this because I knew he couldn't kiss me right now.If he were here, he wouldn't ask my opinion when he wanted to kiss me. The outcome would be the same whether I agreed or not.The other thing was that I didn't dare to provoke him. I was afraid he would become impetuous and take the final step in bed with me. After all, I'd seen the excited spark in his eyes many times. It was scary.I wanted to save the most beautiful moment for the most memorable day. I didn't want to be too intimate with him in advance. Thus, I only teased him. He still had to wait for the most important moment to do anything he wanted with me.Colin grinned meaningfully. His dark eyes were as deep as the night sky, and his s
Flynn was dressed in black, casual attire. He stood straight and upright, but his eyes were dim and lonely.It had only been one night. Flynn, who had always been cold and sharp, appeared to have experienced countless hardships and was depressed.I held Queenie's hand worriedly. She smiled gently at me and said softly, "I'm fine. You can go ahead.""Don't worry, Luna. I'm with Queenie. Even if my life is at risk, I'll keep Queenie safe."Andrew glanced at Flynn coldly before hugging Queenie's shoulders as if he were a knight guarding a princess.Usually, she would shake his hand off. However, in front of Flynn, she silently accepted it.She later told me she felt quite despicable to accept Andrew's kindness, but I didn't think so.He was willing to help her, and she was willing to accept it. They were a perfect match. She was far from despicable.When Flynn saw this scene, he instantly felt deep pain and embarrassment. His body shook violently.Even though I was far away, I co
I took Flynn to a quiet place and sat down. "I believe Queenie was sincere when she said those. She wanted to be with you in this life. You know better than anyone else how much she loved you."But, have you made plans for your future? In other words, have you ever considered what kind of life you want to offer her? For example, when are you going to meet her parents? When will you marry her? How many children are you planning to have?"He frowned and looked at me, dumbfounded and confused. He seemed to be asking if he didn't love enough and why he had to consider so much. He had given Queenie all his love."You haven't considered it, right? In other words, she has no place in your future. I believe you love her, and she sincerely loves you."But, to put it bluntly, you prefer glory, wealth, and superiority over her. You never thought about giving her a home. All you want is a harbor called 'Queenie' where you can rest when you're tired."However, she's human. She'll feel pain, di
After saying so much, I assumed I had made it clear, but Flynn didn't seem to take my words seriously.I couldn't help but become irritated. After hurting Queenie, he professed to love her sincerely. What on earth did he mean? What did he think of her?Did he think of himself to be the master of the world? Nothing in the world would alter according to his will. Why couldn't he focus more on Queenie?"You said you love Queenie deeply and can't live without her. I'd like to ask—can you give up everything for her? Give up your family background, money, Daniela, and your child in her belly for Queenie. Can you do it? If you can, I'll persuade her to stay with you forever."Flynn was stunned, and his expression darkened. His eyes darted from side to side, refusing to look at me.My heart continued to sink as if a ball of ice had blocked it. I felt cold and stuffy.He spoke of love so profoundly that I was almost shaken. Despite having a profound affection, he still chose power before
It was summer vacation. There was no one in the college, so it was quiet.The sun was up. It was so hot that I began to sweat. I had lived in the north for several years and was accustomed to the northern climate.Jinovy was colder than Southsville but not as pleasant as the north. When the sun rose, I was covered in sweat. I felt annoyed because my entire body was sticky.I was a Southerner. However, at moments like this, I missed the cool breeze from the north, which could blow from any direction at any time. That was refreshing.I hurried down the path with the paperwork, eager to return to the apartment and enjoy the air conditioner to dry my sticky sweat. Unexpectedly, I met Winston by the fountain."Hello, Luna. What a coincidence." He was polite and greeted me with a smile."Hello, Winston." I smiled back, wondering why he didn't go home for the summer vacation. However, I didn't know him well. I didn't want to get closer to him either. So, I had no reason to ask such a qu
I secretly gave Winston a big thumbs up. He was quite perceptive at such a young age.He stopped laughing and walked forward. "Let's go. It's in college. I believe you'll like it."I pouted. Winston said it as if that place was tailor-made for me. What if I disliked it? Could he destroy it and start over? Most boys didn't think deeply before saying something. Mature men were better. At the very least, they were more steady and reliable.Anyway, there wouldn't be any man better than Colin in this world....If Winston hadn't led the way, I wouldn't have known the college had such a quiet and mysterious paradise.It was an old campus I had never visited. There was a large courtyard with a row of three-story buildings built slightly back.Peach trees had been planted in a broad space in front of the yard. The fruits were ripe and densely packed. They were so red that I wanted to eat them. Their fruity fragrance was overflowing.Perhaps no one took care of this place. Some ripe fru
When it came to painting, it was quieter at home. I preferred painting in a quiet environment. It was just that my place wasn't big enough, and there wasn't such a large drawing board. I couldn't display larger paintings there.Thus, I long wished to have a spacious, bright, and well-equipped studio. Due to various reasons, I hadn't realized my wish until now.To put it bluntly, the place Winston prepared for me fulfilled all of my studio fantasies in another way.The area here was large enough. Easels and drawing boards were available in various sizes without restrictions, which fully matched my painting requirements.It surprised me. Winston successfully impressed me with a glass room.In this situation, it proved that a person could move someone when using a suitable method. Nothing was impossible. It relied on how he did it and whether he met the other party's expectations.Winston was fantastic at understanding the key to achieving things by accommodating my tastes.This gl
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