Those brats didn't restrain themselves, heedless of my gender. On the contrary, they were even more excited and wished they could have toast me with a bigger glass. They claimed to be oppressed most of the time, saying it would be a shame to lose their only opportunity for retribution.However, they didn't know that wine was like flavored water to me. I wouldn't have any reaction other than going to the restroom a few more times.It wasn't my concern if they couldn't stand toasting.Colin sat upright, his eyes filled with mist, smiling as he enjoyed my battle with his students. His students would cheer whenever I drank, while he would smile triumphantly.On the surface, he looked dignified and elegant without losing his composure. However, I knew that he was drunk."Enough. Lulu is a lady. How could she manage to drink so much? I'll take her place."Felix finally showed up to protect me.It was a pity that his action was redundant. I didn't need his help at all.I wasn't braggi
When everyone heard an unfamiliar voice, they became silent. Confusion gripped them as they gazed at Jasmine and her followers.As a socialite, her pomp was indeed extraordinary to bring a team.Jasmine donned a creamy white shawl around her shoulders and a bright red retro dress. Her long, wavy hair hung loosely on the bottom and wrapped in a bun on top. She wore matching-colored pearl earrings as well. Although her makeup was delicate, I thought it was a little too much. Her flaming red lips gave her a somewhat condescending look.Her clothes were well-fitting, and her makeup was exquisite. The two, in my opinion, were incompatible and didn't match. How could retro clothes and flaming red lips be a perfect match?I wasn't fond of cosmetics. I'd always thought that wearing makeup in layers was burdensome. I only brushed my eyebrows and applied lip gloss for formal events. It was far more convenient.Ever since our initial encounter, Jasmine had consistently worn makeup. She even
"Jasmine, what brought you here?" Colin was leaning against me, so I straightened his body to make him sit upright.I was clueless about what was wrong with him. Before Jasmine came, he was sitting pretty well. As soon as she arrived, he leaned against me lazily, as if he would fall to the ground if he couldn't maintain his balance.I had no choice but to stand up, put my arm around his shoulders, and let him lean into my arms. He then calmed down and took a few sips of water.When Jasmine witnessed our intimate interaction, her hypocritical smile instantly froze like a smiling mask. She didn't react for a few seconds.Gavin, who was standing next to her, cleared his throat slightly before she finally responded.She quickly suppressed the jealousy and resentment that was about to overflow from her eyes. "Today is Colin's birthday. How could I not attend? We share a unique bond despite our acquaintanceship. I ought to give him something as a token of my blessing."Her hypocritical
Madam? The way they addressed Jasmine amused me.She was so enraged at hearing the word "Madam" that her face contorted, and her dress hems began to shake a little."Who are you guys? You have no right to meddle in my business! Go away! Don't cause trouble for yourselves! Or you'll know the consequences!"She gave off an air of superiority and disdainfully drove away the students who were trying to be just.However, it wasn't easy to bully Jesselton College's students."Well, we're obviously inferior to those who aspire to be mistresses. Who are you then, Madam? Please don't disturb us. You're quite rude.""That's right, Madam. Mr. White and Ms. Luna are deeply in love. Disgusting people like mistresses can't get between them. Even if Mr. White is looking for a mistress, he'll find someone young and beautiful. He won't find an old woman. His taste isn't that bad."Jasmine's face was livid. When she was about to speak, a disposable cup filled with beer flew out of nowhere and bru
Colin was even more evil than Winston. He didn't come forward to deal with the troubles he caused. Instead, he chose to remain hidden and let me and his students handle the battlefield.What a terrible guy!"Shut up! Do you know who you are talking to? Do you want to die?" Gavin roared in a rare outburst.He was tall enough and had a loud voice, yet his words made no sense. We lived in a society with unwavering laws, freedom of speech, and equality for all.Were they going to disregard the law by killing someone due to humiliation? Did they believe having money would grant them the freedom to do as they pleased?"Sir, you must be over hundreds of years old. Have you been living in a tomb? Do you realize how long ago the Middle Ages were?"Gavin was well-trained and didn't argue with the girl who was talking. He only rolled his eyes irritatedly and didn't answer it. He should have realized that he had gone too far and couldn't continue to push the issue."Get out of the way! I wa
Perhaps Jasmine was unwilling to accept that such an excellent person like Colin didn't belong to her. Despite my inferiority to her in life experience and financial strength, he was obsessed with me. That didn't convince Jasmine.In other words, she was accustomed to having all the good stuff. She wanted to possess everything. So, she made every effort to seize Colin regardless of the consequences.Everyone wanted to keep their pride, and so did she. She was born into a wealthy family and was used to being admired. However, students who were younger and of lower status than her were now criticizing her and addressing her as "madam". She was going to explode with rage.Maybe Jasmine hadn't been this furious since birth.Her elegant features quivered and contorted irregularly. Placing her right hand on her leg, she clenched the bright red skirt's hem into a myriad of tiny pleats.It seemed like it was time for her to take the next step.Jasmine wouldn't have made such a big deal o
I originally wanted Colin to wear a suit, but he said it was only a gathering. The participants were all his students. Dressing too formally would be too proper and serious, affecting everyone's mood.After careful consideration, I thought he was right. So, he donned pants and a basic T-shirt with milky white sneakers. With good-looking facial features and black hair, he looked youthful.His attractiveness drew Jasmine in. She was fascinated, as if her eyes could no longer accommodate anything else.However, her attitude infuriated me. No matter how crazy she was, she shouldn't fail to grasp the meaning of his words.Her expression and emotions fluctuated several times within a few minutes.Jasmine's rationale soon returned. She looked pitifully at Colin, revealing her frail side through tears. She buried her face as though she'd been wronged a great deal. "Colin, I just want to celebrate your birthday. How can you bear to let them bully me? You disappointed me. I'm so sad."I co
"Colin, is it wrong to love you? I just fell in love with you. You shouldn't treat someone who likes you so cruelly."I had no idea whether Jasmine was heartbroken or couldn't take his remarks. She started to cry with her head down.Colin's expression didn't soften because of her words. He was silent for a while before saying firmly, "Loving the wrong person can cause irreparable damage. Please keep your love. I can't afford it, let alone need it."He was conveying that he would never love her in this life and she should stop wasting her efforts.Jasmine probably didn't expect Colin to speak so firmly. She turned pale. Her eyes, which had never revealed sincerity, were filled with sadness and disappointment.Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.After Colin finished speaking, he turned around and wanted to sit down."Colin White, I saved your life. How are you going to repay me?"Her sentence was like a hammer, striking my heart accurately and causing a fatal dull pain.Co
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