"Oh, look, Jasmine. Colin gave me this bracelet when I was at Lincoln University. I cherish it a lot since it was given by someone I love. I've never taken it off. I don't think I'll wear another bracelet no matter how pretty."Jasmine tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and glanced at my bracelet. Then, she uttered gently, "I know, but you don't find a bracelet you like every day. As women, we should rely on ourselves. We can't ask our boyfriends to pay for everything."If you're not financially independent, you'll be extra vulnerable even when you're married."I gritted my teeth, wishing so badly that I could sink my teeth into her. She was implying that I was poor and that I was leeching off Colin's wealth. I was infuriated. But I wasn't going to let my anger take the bait. I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.When she provoked me, I had to keep my cool. If I lost my cool, I would be giving her what she wanted. So no, I would not give her what she wanted. I'd make her f
Colin and I chatted for a while before ending the conversation reluctantly.Within those three minutes, Jasmine showed expressions of mortification and anger. More and more malice accumulated in her eyes. When we bade farewell, her bodyguards appeared silently again and leaned forward to talk to her. Their gaze kept returning to the bracelet.Too lazy to deal with them, I left the luxury shop. When we arrived at the entrance, Queenie let out the laughter she had been stifling. She gave me a thumbs-up and said that Colin sure doted on me a lot. He and I had become a couple who could read each other's minds.She also complimented me on my expertise in dealing with a hypocrite. According to her, I had learned how to manage the situation better after having been "trained" by Jasmine.As we walked, I felt that someone was staring at me intensely. I turned around and saw that Jasmine was glaring at me. The hatred in her eyes almost manifested as blades, ready to pierce my body. I ignored
I was surprised to hear that from Andrew, who majored in finance. I often relied on others for everything. If I said I wanted to have my own art studio, Colin would be the one establishing it. I'd just join once it was done.But upon hearing Andrew's rally, I was enticed. He truly had what it took to be the family's future scion—he could be very convincing. And I was very convinced. Perhaps deep down, I had always wanted to achieve something on my own.Colin was capable enough to give me a comfortable life where I could pursue what I wanted to do without a care. But presently, I was his girlfriend. And in the future, I would be his wife. I wanted to fight with him instead of being the pampered princess."An art studio doesn't appear magically. I need a place to paint. The mural is only half-finished. I need a conducive environment."Queenie tossed the fish filet that Andrew had given her earlier back onto his plate. Then, she sanitized her cutlery with a tissue paper before grabbin
"Then just bear with it for a while. You like Crystal House, don't you? If you buy a house now, you have to renovate it, furnish it, and air it. That takes a long time. You can't stop painting for a year, can you? And I like that we're living together. Living alone is so boring."I'd love that too. But the issue was Colin."What do you mean you're living alone? You have me. I'll always keep you company. I won't abandon you." Andrew seized the opportunity and confessed his love. His frizzy hair pressed against Queenie's shoulder like a cat asking for pets.I was vexed. Look at the confession and the blatant public display of affection. How was I supposed to eat like this?Queenie rolled her eyes and sneered, "If men can be trusted, pigs will fly."I laughed out loud. What was that? Also, did I hear it correctly? Why did it sound like she was complaining about Andrew's sudden disappearance?I thought Andrew would start defending himself passionately and apologize sincerely about hi
"Oh, Colin, are you almost done with your project? You're back so early today."Colin grinned at me and said, "Well, I want to…"As he spoke, he put his hands into the pockets of his jacket. Suddenly, his smile froze and he left the sentence hanging."What's the matter, Colin?" I asked, confused. I wondered when he became this cryptic.Colin stiffened and proceeded to brush the back of his fingers against my cheeks. "Nothing. Just eat."After he joined us, the dinner became less lively than before. I could now focus on my food. Dad often told me to never speak with my mouth full. It would affect digestion, apparently.Queenie was my good friend and knew her boundaries. The only interaction she had with Colin was a polite greeting. And Andrew was a student. While he wasn't an art student, he was respectful toward every lecturer from the university.So when Colin was home, we'd stop joking around. We only communicated with each other with our eyes. Colin was very tired so after di
Gosh. He kissed my feet.His lips were not going to touch my lips now that they had touched my feet. I would say no to him when he kissed me next time. He didn't mind the hygiene, but I did!"I have things to handle now, so head to the school later. If you need me, call me. If you miss me, text me. I'll reply to you. I'll try to finish everything before noon so that we can hang out in the afternoon."After I heard the soft thud of him closing the door, the make-believe understanding look on my face vanished. There went my date. If he kept doing it, I wouldn't be able to stand it anymore!I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I was dejected. For once, he came back early. But the next day, he left very early too. We hardly even talked. What kind of relationship was this? While he promised he'd try to finish everything before noon, the key word here was "try".Knowing him, he would be busy until night.Like an abandoned pet, I woke up alone and took a shower. Then, I spaced
"Queenie, get lost!"…At 8:00 am, Queenie and I left the apartment and parted ways. I mulled about what Andrew told me yesterday and I found myself agreeing to what he said.If Winston wanted to stalk me, he'd follow me wherever I went. Stopping visiting Crystal House would not solve that. Besides, I was part of the team for the competition they had been preparing for. I couldn't quit halfway.Therefore, I decided to continue working at Crystal House. If I had to leave that place one day, I'd find another apartment. If I had done nothing wrong, I had nothing to be afraid of.Ah! Crystal House was closed!I sat under a tree in the courtyard and waited as I looked at the research materials on my phone. It occurred to me that I had to get spare keys from Winston so that I didn't have to wait for someone to unlock it next time.In a heavily edited photo, a lithe forearm was carrying a platinum diamond bracelet. The design and materials of which were very familiar to me. Its infuria
I stared at my phone screen for ten minutes under the tree. When my screen darkened, I'd touch it again until it lit up. Finally, when the photo turned dim once again, I ran.I needed the answer. A lot of unanswered questions were plaguing my love life. I wanted to find the truth. I hailed a cab and went to the luxury boutique. A middle-aged man was walking in, and two rows of beautiful women in uniform greeted him courteously.I made a beeline for the accessories area. The shop attendant glanced at me and recognized me right away. Then, she let out a sigh. "You must be the girl from yesterday. What a shame. A guy bought the bracelet for his girlfriend. I know you must regret it a lot, but I can't do anything about it now."Perhaps to demonstrate how stellar her promotional skill was, the staff member rambled on and gave away the details of the whole transaction, save the personal information of the buyer. I didn't even need to ask her.According to her, a very handsome man came to
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