Colin stared at me expectantly. He was awaiting my approval.Logically speaking, he was right. I had no choice but to accept it."Jasmine saved you, after all. When you return to Jinovy, we can take care of her together. Let's rent a place for her. If she requires treatment for a long time, she needs a place to stay," I said insincerely.What happened before was in the past. Regardless of why Colin kept it from me, I assumed he did it for my good. In this case, I should face the hardship with him."You're considerate. Actually, we don't have to be so bothersome. How about we let Jasmine live with us? You'll be here at any time to take care of her. It's more convenient in this way.""What?" I exclaimed in disbelief.Did he mean he wanted a woman who had pursued him back then to live with us?I had only seen this kind of drama involving three people living together in romance novels. I always cursed the male lead when such an incident occurred. I never imagined that one day it wou
Colin was so shameless that he flirted with me even though we were thousands of miles apart. He made my heart race so rapidly that I couldn't even speak properly.I blushed, pursed my lips, and casually kissed the screen. Before hanging up, I heard him chuckle.I set the phone aside unhappily. I felt heavy. Something was weighing me down and making me nervous.Jasmine's appearance brought me a lot of pressure.Perhaps Colin detected my unhappiness. Less than half a minute later, he texted me, "Baby, my forever love. Wait for me to return."Forever love. I stared at the words in a daze. What he said was lovely, but I still couldn't feel better.I admitted I was afraid of Jasmine.If Colin got close to another woman, I would give him the utmost trust. However, Jasmine was different. She was a thorn in my heart that I couldn't remove.With Felix's case as a reference, it was hard for me not to think of Jasmine in that way. My mind was in a mess.When Felix made trouble, I was inv
I didn't respond. I didn't want to hide my true emotions in front of my best friend.Queenie gently stroked my hair and asked, "Is there anything you can share with me? Don't keep it in your heart. You'll get sick with worry."She was right. I was an adult. I had to learn how to handle situations like these on my own. I couldn't ask my parents for advice on everything. It felt good to have a best friend to share my issues with.So, I told Queenie about Jasmine's injury and that she was going sightseeing with Colin on Saturday.When Queenie heard the whole story, she felt troubled and couldn't think of a good solution for a long time. The whole matter was so thorough and aboveboard. I was upset because I couldn't find anything wrong with it. Others would accuse me of being ungrateful if I stopped Colin from taking Jasmine out.That was why I felt disturbed. There was no way I could deny his deeds. It gave me a big headache."Tell me the truth, Lulu. Do you believe in Colin so stro
I gritted my teeth and declared my will as if I wanted to swallow someone."Okay, okay, I got it. Put your hand down. Do you think you're a gangster? Fighting? Given how much Colin cares for you, he'll be heartbroken if you're injured."Queenie pushed my hand down. She left the bed with a helpless smile and turned off the lights for me.I wasn't sure if she hadn't eaten well recently. She appeared so unwell that she was clumsy when getting out of bed.It seemed that I had to tell Andrew to prepare some delicious food for her tomorrow.I took out my phone and checked it again. Colin's message lay quietly in the dialog box.I thought about it and responded with a few words, "Come back early. I miss you so much that I can't sleep." I ended my sentence with some lovely sobbing, kissing, and hugging emojis.I genuinely trusted Colin but didn't want him to accompany Jasmine. I felt uneasy thinking of him pushing a wheelchair and walking around with another woman.Responsibility and j
I heard my phone chime.Unsurprisingly, it was from Colin. It was a selfie he took in the bathroom. His eyes looking into the camera were filled with a mixture of grievance and satisfaction, and there was a faint blush of shyness on his face.He was an adult carrying the shyness of a young teenager. This characteristic of a puppy-like innocence seemed incompatible with his overall demeanor.As I pondered why he would make such a coquettish expression early in the morning, another message came in: "Guess what I'm doing?""Um, taking a cold shower?" I suggested according to the usual plot in a romance novel and waited for his response.He replied and added an irritated emoji: "You're partly correct. I wasn't showering but washing my pajama pants." What was there to be shy about washing pajama pants? Colin was becoming more and more contentious."Guess why I had to wash my pajama pants?"This time, I guessed somewhat seriously. Yet, even after pondering for a full minute, I coul
"What? T-Three times." I stammered in disbelief. He did it three times! Would there be any time left to rest? "Colin, y-you, um… You must be exhausted."His face turned red all the way to the base of his neck. He hung his head uncomfortably, focusing on whatever he was scrubbing in his hands. He was no longer looking at me, but his hand movements quickened noticeably. "That's my problem. It has nothing to do with you."Fine, it was none of my business. I wouldn't care and wouldn't ask.What a stubborn fellow.I gritted my teeth, suppressing a laugh.As the water continued to trickle softly, his face grew even redder. He began scrubbing more vigorously, as if he was venting his frustration.I was worried that whatever he was scrubbing would spoil with his reckless washing. Even high-quality materials couldn't withstand such treatment.I felt a little sorry for that piece of fabric.Seeing him being so awkward, I inexplicably felt that deep down, the mature Colin was still quite
I didn't expect someone to come to my side, making me jump in my seat when Winston spoke.It was outrageous for my junior to overhear me talking with my boyfriend like that. So, I quickly hung up the phone in a panic.Colin's message came quickly. It was just three simple words, but it made my scalp tingle."Wait for me!" Reading those three words was like looking at his face while he was gritting his teeth.Fine, I would admit that he succeeded in threatening me.I could just wait, I guess. It was not like I had never seen a dick before, even though I had no experience. He wouldn't actually kill me, would he?As long as I was still alive, I would have my chance for revenge later. By then, I hoped he wouldn't be the one begging me. Hmph!I decided to decline to help out with the welcoming party because last year's event had left a lasting impression. I didn't want to repeat the same mistakes. I preferred a simple life, without all the scheming, explanations, flattery, or showing
Felix's eyes changed a little, but they quickly returned calm.He smiled and said, "Aunt Harper, these vegetables were picked from the small garden. My mom said they're pretty good, so she asked me to bring some over. They're quite fresh.""Oh? Well, that's nice," Mom took the bag from Felix and opened it to take a look. She waved him in and said, "I'll keep the vegetables. By the way, I just baked some bread, so bring it home to your mom, okay?"After we moved here, no one had been taking care of the old house's garden. I heard that Uncle Austin and Aunt Mel had been taking care of it on our behalf. They would always send some harvest over.Felix listened to Mom's words and obediently responded. He sat on the couch, politely maintaining some distance between us.He gave me a faint smile, and I returned with a stiff one.We just looked at each other in silence.Suddenly, I realized that six years had passed. We had gone from being companions to strangers. The atmosphere became u
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