"I'm so tired. I'm going to wash up and go to bed." I yawned before picking up my luggage again and walking to my bedroom."Lulu, what happened to you? Who did this to you? How did you get hurt like this? Would these leave scars? Tell me everything. I'll help you."Queenie forcefully pulled down the zipper of my coat and pointed at the hickeys on my neck and collarbone before she exclaimed loudly, "Lulu, don't be sad! I'll call Mr. White right now. What kind of boyfriend is he? How could he leave you alone at times like this? Why is he so busy?"She picked up her phone on the couch as she spoke and was about to dial the number.Andrew, who was laying out the sheets on the couch, calmly glanced toward me and nodded knowingly after hearing Queenie's words. "Looks like you were attacked quite harshly."Indeed, birds of a feather flock together. Both of them had the same rotten character.I snatched Queenie's phone and threw it back onto the couch with annoyance as I gave her a stern
My head was buzzing from Queenie's chatter.Was she here just for gossip?"Nothing happened. I, Luna Lawson, am still a virgin. Queenie, get out of my bedroom now. If you dare to say another word, I'll hit you with my shoe." I pointed at the door, hoping she would disappear from my sight and let me have some peace and quiet."But…" She seemed not to have heard my words as she pushed my hand down and continued digging. "Why didn't anything happen? You should feel like you're on a honeymoon after being away for a few days. How was it possible that nothing happened on such a beautiful night? Any man would find it hard to resist."Lulu, are you sure it's Mr. White who's incapable?"I felt like crying and hitting my head against the wall.Why was it so hard to get some sleep?It seemed like unless I told her everything, she was not going to let me sleep.Alright, I would spill it so I could go to sleep sooner."We were halfway there when the professor called, saying there was an
I slept obediently until the morning.The next morning was like every other morning—the same blue sky, the same white clouds, and even the chirping of birds outside the window seemed to be the same.At the same time, it was different from the other mornings.The reason was because of the good news that I received. It almost made me faint in my excitement.At seven in the morning, I was about to leave for college with Colin after having breakfast, and Queenie and Andrew were washing dishes in the kitchen. That was when the professor called me.Recently, I would get a headache whenever I saw anyone or anything related to the professor. So, the early morning call not only gave me a headache but also had the potential to ruin my entire day.Professor King was really up to something.Looking at his name on the screen, I wondered why he called Colin away in the middle of the night and then called me early in the morning.What did he want? Was he trying to torture us both by making us
However, Dreamlight's success was not solely due to my effort. I just did a few paintings to enhance the beauty of the houses. So, I couldn't take all the credit for such a big achievement.Of course, I did contribute to the success of the project, I wouldn't deny that.After working hard for so long, seeing the great results that were far beyond my expectations really made me overjoyed.But I couldn't really show how happy I was in front of my mentor. That would be too frivolous and might disappoint him."Thank you for your praise, Professor. And thanks to Dreamlight as well for such a high evaluation. I'll continue to work hard and strive for more good results," I responded humbly to express my respect and gratitude to the professor.He played a significant role in my career as an artist. He had invested so much energy into nurturing me.I could say that without the professor, there wouldn't be the Luna Lawson of today. To be more precise, I wouldn't have been able to achieve t
We were just normal young people who were eager to study and work hard. We wished to become great people and protect each other.The professor always managed to bring us back on track when our thoughts and actions strayed. And being appointed specifically to lead a project was a great honor.With so many famous artists out there, why would the partners choose inexperienced people like us?It might be a coincidence for me, but for Colin, it was clear that they trusted his capabilities. So, it would be a little ungrateful not to accept the offer.Furthermore, this might be a rare opportunity that shouldn't be missed. Opportunities waited for no one, so a precious opportunity like this could significantly shorten one's struggle on the journey to success.I understood the professor's desire to see his students succeed, but I never thought my future husband was one of the chosen ones.We could live a normal life of dating, get married, and have a family of our own. We could live peace
The professor slumped into his chair and let out a deep sigh after finishing his words.What a tactic he was using! The other two lecturers in the same office looked at Colin and me with a mix of envy, worry, and sympathy.I could only cry in frustration in my heart. The professor had labeled me as a stumbling block.But I wasn't. I was just an ordinary young woman who wanted to live a simple life.Why was I being accused like that by the professor? I was just trying to see if it was possible to turn it down. It didn't mean that Colin would definitely reject the offer. Was it really necessary to get so angry?Getting angry was bad for the old man's health. He had to take care of himself. And all this frowning and glaring wasn't going to help the teamwork among the faculty.Although, to be fair, what the professor said was mostly true—except for the exaggerations.Fine, as youths of the new era, we had to do our best."Are you taking on the project or not?" The professor's ang
I knew that I had done a great job on that project, but there was no need for them to be so exaggerated.I thanked them multiple times to calm down the heightened atmosphere in the classroom.After class, as I followed the crowd out, some of my fellow classmates came over to chat with me. They said they were my fans and they wished to learn from me in the future, making me feel a little embarrassed.I had planned to go to Crystal House to paint in the afternoon. Colin was so busy that he only sent a text asking me to have lunch by myself. So, I decided not to go home for lunch and just grab something at the cafeteria.As the weather turned colder, I felt a chill in my stomach after I ran to the cafeteria. So, I ordered a bowl of hot minestrone soup.Just as I was about to eat after finding a relatively quiet spot, another person sat down across from me.Looking up, I didn't expect to see Winston's sour face. He stared straight at me with a fierce gaze, making me put down my spoon
Actually, after we had a barbecue together the last time, Jade and I discussed Zara and Chris. Both of us felt that they were not a good match for each other.Zara was the outgoing type of woman. She was warm and treated others sincerely. She practiced kickboxing since she was young and even won second place in a junior competition for two consecutive seasons. If it weren't for her injury, she might have become a professional kickboxer now.But Chris seemed to be the opposite. He was indifferent and aloof, as if he wasn't aware that he was Zara's boyfriend. He always treated her coldly.Even someone slow like me could see that Chris was not really into Zara. They stayed together solely because Zara was holding on to their relationship.At that time, I didn't understand why Zara, who had a strong personality, could be so persistent in this one-sided relationship. In my opinion, it wasn't worth it at all. I even wanted to tell her to leave Chris.There would always be someone who wa
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