It was clearly not the case.The weather was scorching hot. Despite the short distance from the gate to my house, I ended up sweating profusely and was feeling sticky and uncomfortable all over. After placing my luggage, I headed straight to the bathroom for a shower.I felt much better and was feeling lazy after the shower. I had planned to continue my work at Crystal House, but after a busy morning, I felt really tired and didn't feel like doing anything. I decided to take a nap instead.A refreshing shower and taking a nap in a comfortable air-conditioned room was indeed a great pleasure in life.I ended up coaxing myself to sleep.I might have slept until dusk if it weren't for the blaring of my phone.Andrew's nervous and panicked voice came through as soon as I answered the call. I could feel his panic even through the phone. "Luna, can you come over? Queenie's bleeding. There's a lot of blood. She passed out. What should we do?"What? I jolted upright in shock, covering m
Queenie was lying in a pool of blood. There was so much blood that it seemed like all the blood in her body had flowed out. Could a person survive without blood?"Why hasn't the ambulance arrived yet?" I rushed to the window to look outside. The long street was filled with slow-moving cars, but there was no sign of an ambulance.Without thinking much, I knew that Queenie's condition was closely related to the message from Flynn.She had seemed too normal, which made me let my guard down. It was all because I lacked experience in such matters. I couldn't see the hidden turmoil behind her calmness.I had never hated Flynn more than I did now. If it weren't for his message, Queenie wouldn't be in such a situation.He could get engaged with whoever he wanted, marry whoever he wanted, and become a father for all I cared. Why would he want to hurt someone who loved him for so many years?Now I understood why Queenie, who used to be so thin that a gust of wind could blow her over, was n
I was struggling to suppress my fear before this. Colin's appearance made me feel like I had found my support. My emotions finally found an outlet, so I couldn't control myself anymore.Colin became worried when he saw me crying incessantly through the video call without saying a word. He repeatedly asked me what happened and why I was at the hospital. He told me not to rush and take my time to explain to him.I wanted to tell him everything, but I was trembling all over. It felt like my mouth was being controlled. I couldn't say a word except to cry."Darling, you have to stop crying and tell me what happened, okay? Be good. Your tears are making me anxious."I still couldn't speak no matter how I tried. Finally, Andrew took my phone and told Colin that I was fine, but Queenie had lost a lot of blood and was now in the emergency room.Knowing my relationship with Queenie, Colin was also extremely anxious when he heard about her situation. He repeatedly asked me to calm down and l
Andrew stood by the window, his hand tightly gripping the window frame. It seemed that he was trying hard to restrain his anger. But he would glance at Queenie occasionally with eyes filled with compassion and pain.This 20-year-old young man truly cared for Queenie.At exactly 5:00 pm, the nurses changed their shifts. The attending nurse came over specifically to inform us that Queenie needed to eat something nutritious since she just had a miscarriage and had lost a lot of blood.I had no idea what would be considered nutritious for her, nor did I understand how to take care of someone who had just miscarried. So, I thought about calling my mom for advice.But Andrew stopped me. He insisted that I stayed with Queenie while he left to prepare some food at home. He said that his family had a dietician who would know what was best for Queenie.I wanted to refuse, but there was nobody around who understood the situation. Even if I knew what would be the best food for Queenie, I wasn
Queenie covered her face and cried uncontrollably.Yes, she was right.But my heart hurt so much!It was a precious human life, after all."Lulu, I can't let go of it. That's my baby. How could I possibly let go of it? When I was pregnant with her, I thought countless times about giving her all my love, dressing her in pretty clothes, braiding her hair nicely, taking her to the amusement park, sending her to school, and playing pretend with her."But I'm not sure if a life without a father is what she wants. I don't want her to suffer. Lulu, I don't want to let her suffer, and I can't bear to lose her, but I have no choice. I can't let her become an illegitimate child. I just can't."She left me just like that. Even her father doesn't know about her existence. Lulu, my baby is so pitiful. I hate him so much."I hugged her tightly. I could only cry with her as I wasn't able to find words of comfort. "I know, Queenie. I know. She won't blame you. No one will. This isn't your fault
Colin had sent many messages to comfort me. He knew that I had been pampered since childhood and grew up without experiencing any hardships, so I would be scared when facing such things for the first time.In his messages, he reminded me that everything had to be done according to Queenie's wishes and that I should not act recklessly. Queenie would also regret it if it was a case of irreversible consequences.I was chatting with him while keeping an eye on Queenie. With his guidance and encouragement, I finally felt calmer.At 2:00 am, it was my turn to sleep. Colin was also getting tired, so I asked him to rest too.The night was terribly quiet, surrounded by darkness. It made me miss Colin all the more. I missed his embrace, the refreshing scent on him, and his loving gaze when he looked at me.In my heart, Colin's position was far more than just a boyfriend. Many times, he was like a father, a brother, a friend, and a husband to me. With profound love, he embodied all the roles
She had persisted living her life because of the baby in her belly. Now that the baby was gone, she had no hope left.Looking at her helpless face, I was afraid that she would end her own life."Queenie, no one is worth you torturing yourself like this. Why don't you learn to love yourself?" I racked my brains to comfort her."After such a long time, have you ever thought about your parents? They raised you, but you abandoned them for a man. Have you ever thought about how sad they are? If they know the suffering you're going through now, how heartbroken would they be?"Do you not want to live anymore? Do you want your parents to suffer losing you as well? Your baby is gone, but do you want your parents' baby to go too? Queenie Moore, you're a smart person. Why haven't you learned to see through things?"If your mother heard that you're not doing well, do you think she would beat Flynn up and take you back home? Your parents are both civil servants, and the Hayes aren't people the
When the group arrived home, it took everyone more than an hour to settle Queenie down comfortably in the guest room. Feeling perhaps safe in a familiar environment, she fell asleep rather quickly.Laura went to brew her something delicious and nutritious while Andrew and I sat on the couch in silence.Recalling the image of Queenie collapsing on the floor, I first felt fear, then I cried. I cried and cried.I felt terrible for Queenie. She was such a sweet girl, but she was done wrong by Flynn. He was a jerk. Not to mention that baby who didn't have a chance to see this world. The baby deserved all the love in the world. But due to her irresponsible father, she had to leave her mother.I felt guilty and stupid. Why didn't I notice that Queenie was pregnant? Why didn't I take better care of her?If she was sent to the hospital a second later, she could have died."Andrew, Queenie is a very sweet girl. But she isn't lucky. You—"I wanted to tell him that while Queenie used to dat
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