"I love them a lot. By looking at them, I can imagine the serious face you had when you were knitting them. Thank you, babe. I love you."My ears turned even hotter. Colin seized the opportunity to confess his love to me again as if I didn't already know his feelings. I was flustered, but deep down, I enjoyed what I heard very much."Happy birthday, Colin. I…" It was so hard to complete the sentence that all I could utter was a few inaudible syllables. I hoped the love in my eyes told him succinctly what I meant to say."What did you say, babe? I couldn't hear it properly. Say it again."Urgh! He was doing this on purpose. How mean! But fine, it was just "I love you." How hard could it be? It was his special day today, so I mustered the courage to say it out loud."I love you too. Do you hear it now?" I pulled his ears closer, took a deep breath, and yelled.His eyes lit up almost immediately. As I took in the mesmerizing beauty of those sparkles, he seized my cheeks and planted
Colin was shocked. It was his first time experiencing everyone's passion and his first time celebrating his birthday on such a grand scale. His movements became robotic, and his smile froze on his face.Even I felt that it was a bit too much, let alone Colin, who subjected himself to a stricter standard because he was their lecturer and senior.After the initial scream, the "porters" looked at each other and greeted loudly again, "And welcome Ms. Luna Lawson, the future Mrs. White!"It was alright at first, but the "Mrs. White" came without a warning. As shameless as I was thanks to Jasmine's training, I couldn't help but blush. Guys, wasn't it too early to call me that?"No need to blush. They're right because you'll be Mrs. White sooner or later," whispered Colin to my ear with a hint of smugness.Even if that was true, they didn't have to say it out loud in front of everyone. "Let's keep a low profile."Colin smiled and uttered something, but the loud cheer that erupted follow
Hannah, who loved good-looking guys, had probably never seen Felix smile before. When she saw it, she was so excited that her face blushed and she staggered backward, hands clutching her chest. I almost wish I could be there to steady her.Fortunately for her, Felix stepped in and held her from behind when she was about to fall, saving her from embarrassing herself. Hannah reminded me of Lilac when she was 18 years old. She, too, was a meek and innocent girl who was loved by Felix.Alas, their love didn't stand the test of time. The lovebirds turned into enemies after several years. Their affection had festered into hatred. And presently, Hannah was just as meek, if not more, than Lilac. I wondered if her feelings for Felix would earn her a happy ending.Speaking of which, I had been quite occupied lately and hadn't visited Lilac after she suffered a miscarriage. I wondered if she had been discharged. I never went to visit her after we sent her to the hospital. In fact, I even compl
The feast would take place at 4:00 pm. Before that, everyone was asked to have as much fun as possible in Crystal House. Under everyone's passionate invitation, Colin and I led the dance floor. The festive ambiance reached a new height, threatening to shatter the surrounding glasses.Winston's and Felix's presence must have triggered Colin somehow. We began with a traditional tango, but every movement he made was extra flamboyant like a peacock.When we passed by Felix and Winston, I saw Felix roll his eyes at us. The contempt in his eyes was so palpable that I wished I could stop the dance and give him the middle finger. Did he have to show me his long face?Winston's reaction was even more infuriating. He turned around and pretended that we weren't there at all. What a jerk! The lack of cooperation from those two pricks riled me up so much that I decided to blacklist them from my life.Colin noticed that I was pouting angrily. He stifled a chuckle and nibbled my ear. "Ignore thos
In other words, she was implying that a whole bottle of Coke was simply too much for my skinny frame. Therefore, I should pick either truth or dare.I immediately gave up on the bottle of soda when I saw its size. I had read enough romance novels to know that if I picked dare, I would be pranked. They might ask me to remove the belt of the guy next to me, walk backward, or kiss the first guy I saw. I couldn't do that.Besides, Colin was glaring at me, ready to pounce at me the moment I picked dare. Fine, I would pick the truth."So truth it is. Other than your father, who's the first man you fell in love with? What's his name?"Please. The answer couldn't be any more obvious. Decisively, I answered, "Colin."Colin looked at me in disbelief, his grip on me tightening. His fingers caressed my hand. Perhaps he was moved by what I said, or perhaps he finally obtained the acknowledgment he had always wanted from me. He was over the moon.I bent my fingers and scratched his palm to wak
"Felix, will you date me?" Hannah held her chin with both her hands and probed gingerly like a pet waiting for its master's treat.Felix gritted his teeth, and the veins on his temples throbbed furiously. Yet a suspicious hue of scarlet appeared on his earlobes. "It's just a game. Don't take it seriously.""But I'm being 100% serious, Felix. Are you turning me down?" Hannah's big, round orbs turned glossy. She pouted in a cutesy way. "If you agree to go out with me in front of everyone, we won't have to tell everyone that we're dating."Felix, I'm smart and obedient. I'll listen to you. And I promise I'll only love you even more in the future. Please say yes. You're missing out if you say no."The host jumped in to give the couple-to-be a final push. "I hereby declare that Hannah's confession is a great success! From now on, Felix will be Hannah's boyfriend. Please treat Hannah kindly, Felix. Come, a round of applause to these two lovebirds!"A thunderous applause erupted, and it
It wasn't until I arrived at the venue that I realized there was another group of about 20 students working behind the scenes too. Everyone toiled and pulled through to throw Colin a huge birthday party. Colin and I exchanged looks, touched by the kindness of everyone.We were in a vast, empty space. On the right were several long tables, adorned with light blue tablecloths. There were a few stools scattered about. Needless to say, it was the dining area.The air ventilation was better on the left, so three barbecue grills were set up. Flame tongues from the sizzling coals below were charring the sides of lamb shanks, unleashing the decadent aroma into the air. Our mouths already turned watery before the food was ready. To make sure we could eat as soon as possible, everyone volunteered to help out with the grilling. It was so festive.I offered my help too but was politely turned away. They said since I was Colin's future wife, I had the right to enjoy the party. Besides, since i
"You've been craving this. So, are you happy?" asked Colin in his husky, sultry voice. Of course, I was happy. What was this if not pure bliss?"But it's your birthday. You don't have to do this," I uttered, embarrassed. I knew he was the mastermind behind this pleasant surprise, but I nonetheless wanted to hear it from him.Maybe all women did this—they knew they were pampered and spoiled, but they wanted to hear it from their lovers. Not only would they feel smug about it, but they could also flaunt it to their friends later by pretending to complain about how sweet their boyfriends were.Today was Colin's birthday. Therefore, it should revolve around him. Why would he sacrifice himself to bring my dream to life?Colin grinned and kissed my head. "I'm yours. So it's only natural that my birthday revolves around you. I'm willing to do anything just to see the smile on your face."His perfect, symmetrical facial features curled into a handsome smirk. And as usual, his eyes sparkle
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