Mrs. Loxley was wearing an elegant sapphire blue dress, embroidered with patterns in the same color scheme. She wore her hair up with a tiara-like hairpin on her head while the tassels on her earrings sparkled. She held her head high as if only by doing so could she appear superior to me.But what she didn't know was that there had never been any competition between us. Everything was just her own presumptions. I felt sorry for Matthew for having such a person as his mother.I had been shuffling between people with the professor and hadn't noticed her presence until now. Seeing her, I just felt annoyed.Jinovy was so big. How could I bump into her so easily?What a small world!The arrogant Mrs. Loxley obviously recognized me too. Standing proudly among a group of middle-aged women, she looked at me with caution, resistance, and a hint of surprise.But whatever she had in mind, it had nothing to do with me. I simply didn't want to deal with her at all. So, I just looked past her
Judging by the way he dressed and the exquisite box, the shoes inside should have a five-figure price tag.There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. We were complete strangers, yet he came over and offered me a gift out of the blue. This made me wonder and felt the need to be cautious.Why would a stranger spend so much money just to help me out?My feet were hurting, and I needed a pair of comfortable shoes. But not like this.With this in mind, I politely smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Thank you, Mister. But I don't need it.""Why? Your feet are obviously hurting. Why refuse my help? Why endure when you can get comfortable?" The man raised an eyebrow, his playful expression deepening. His curiosity seemed to heighten as well.Was he curious about me? Why?He persisted by extending his hand and continuously pushing the box in my direction. I had to take a couple of steps back to maintain a polite distance."I specially brought this to you. Othe
"Oh, you're the professor's son. Nice to meet you. I'm really sorry for the misunderstanding earlier. I was too sensitive," I said apologetically and extended my right hand to shake his, feeling so embarrassed that I could bury my head in the ground."I rarely attend these kinds of gatherings, and I'm not very familiar with them. I must've made a fool of myself. I apologize."I really felt ashamed. He came over with good intentions, yet I mistook him for some scheming opportunist. Were there really so many bad people in this world?At this moment, I was doubting the education and guidance my parents gave me.Xavier seemed to appreciate my embarrassment. He laughed heartily with a slight wrinkle in his nose and shallow dimples on his cheeks."My dad said you had a stubborn personality and wouldn't accept what I brought. I didn't believe him and had to try. I even made a bet with the old man. I thought I had it in the bag, but I never expected to lose so miserably.""Okay, I'm sorr
It was nice to have a chat with an old acquaintance. Fortunately, I wasn't rushing for the restroom."Professor King brought me here," I explained.He nodded and stared at me with his dark eyes for a moment before saying, "I heard you went through a lot some time ago. I'm sorry I couldn't help you or…" He swallowed the rest of the sentence and shook his head regretfully.The unfinished sentence should be "or be by your side".I understood his meaning, but I couldn't respond to him.I was not a person who dragged things out, especially when it came to relationships. It would only end up hurting both parties.Moreover, from what I observed, Matthew's feelings for Helen were growing rapidly.After he let go of me, it would be easy to notice Helen's goodness.As a good roommate, I shouldn't be having private conversations with the person she loved."It's all in the past now, nothing to worry about. With Colin looking out for me, everything turned out fine."He swirled the wine in
Due to my past with Matthew, the biases from both their families toward me, and to ensure that Matthew and Helen had a perfect engagement banquet, I decided not to attend it. This was also to save myself from any trouble and to let Helen be a happy and carefree bride-to-be.However, I would still send them a wonderful engagement gift to celebrate their day.I smiled and shook my head. "I have quite a lot of urgent matters on my plate lately. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it. But I sincerely wish you both the best."Helen's face showed some disappointment, but she didn't refute me—perhaps out of regret or selfishness.Matthew thanked me and left. I watched his slightly hunched tall figure, which seemed lonely as he walked away.I waved at him and bade him farewell in my heart, "Goodbye, fatty. Be happy."Then, I turned and continued my way to the restroom.As I passed the men's restroom, a gentle breeze blew into my eyes, causing me to raise my hand to rub my eyes. I didn't
Wouldn't you feel like you were being kept in the dark and feel like crying aggrievedly? Wouldn't you angrily ask him why he was deceiving you?I had to admit, at that moment, I was both shocked and angry.There was also that feeling of being betrayed by the person I trusted the most. It felt like being stabbed in the back. It was a truly uncomfortable feeling.Jasmine probably didn't expect to bump into me. When she came out in her wheelchair and saw me standing next to Colin, her expression changed. Besides the initial discomfort, there was more of an irritation of being discovered.I couldn't understand it. She was the one coming to an event with my boyfriend. I hadn't even shown my anger, but she had shown hers. Who gave her the nerve to behave like that?My gaze casually swept over Colin and Jasmine.But Colin calmly met my gaze, not rushing to explain. Instead, he leisurely put his hands in his pockets and looked very relaxed. There was a hint of playfulness in his eyes.J
Jasmine visibly panicked.This was the truth!As I had guessed, how could Colin possibly do something to upset me?Jasmine was exposed on the spot and inevitably felt a bit embarrassed. She looked at Colin resentfully and quickly teared up. It was as if Colin had wronged her.This woman was absolutely full of drama.Clearly, she was the one talking nonsense, yet she still managed to put on a pitiful appearance. She was always ready to push others into the hole she dug. She was unbelievable.But her appearance really did make people feel sorry for her. If I were a man, I might be easily swayed by her fragile demeanor.Men naturally had that protective trait. They could brave themselves to face any dangerous situation, but few could resist the tenderness and beauty of women.Jasmine understood that well and applied it skillfully.However, she hadn't realized that the man she was infatuated with was not what she thought he was. She also didn't expect that the lies she spun would
This was not just about making me misunderstand, but it seemed like Jasmine intended for everyone around to misunderstand her relationship with Colin as well.Colin furrowed his brows after listening to Jasmine's words. He didn't respond to her but quietly squeezed my hand a bit, indicating that he would let me handle the situation.I rolled my eyes in frustration. Why should I clean up the mess he made?!"Fine, you saved Colin before. It's only right for us to take care of you. Since we bumped into each other here, we'll send you back together. "By the way, it seems like your caretakers are unreliable too. In that case, why don't we hire two new ones for you? Last time at the rehabilitation center, a nurse said they have professional caretakers who could provide massages and other services as well."What do you think, Jasmine? Do you want to consider hiring them instead? We'll cover the expenses.""Thank you. But I think there's no need for it now. I'll give my caretakers a cal
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