"Colin will abandon you! He'll choose me!" Jasmine was so enraged that she no longer cared about her reputation or the people around her.After hearing her words, I couldn't help but wonder if she liked Colin to the point of madness. Or maybe she was unwilling to lose to me, who came from an ordinary background.I lowered my head and smiled softly. She would never come to me like this if she was truly confident. Her actions were only a sign of her non-confidence and incompetence.Only dumb women would confront other women. The smart ones would choose to confront men instead.Perhaps Jasmine had considered using her tricks on men, but my boyfriend was stubborn. She found no way to draw his attention. That was why she came to me to declare her unwarranted determination and sovereignty."He would tell me if he really wants to break up with me." With a final pointed remark, I turned to leave, a sense of calm settling over me. Behind me, the abrupt thud of something hitting the groun
My boyfriend should be the one to protect me. But here was Winston. He appeared annoyed with me recently. "How did you know I was here?" I asked, puzzled."Someone told me. Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Winton asked.Winston's tone lacked warmth, but I chose to overlook it since he seemed genuinely concerned about my well-being."No, we only quarreled. We didn't do anything else.""Did you win?" he asked, a quirk in his eyebrow. "I got a small victory. By the way, you still haven't answered me. Who told you I was here?" I persisted. "Does it matter? It was Mr. White. He was out on business when he heard Jasmine come to you. He wouldn't be back for a while and worried you might be hurt. So he asked me to check on you."Winston scowled. It was clear he wasn't thrilled about helping Colin. "He always protects you. What's so special about you?"If Colin were here, he would probably say, "You won't understand how wonderful my baby is."A chuckle escaped me. Indeed, Colin was
Being adored by others should bring joy to a man. However, Colin felt only a dreadful burden. After a lengthy conversation, he was left with the strong sense that a significant amount of work was needed before he could collaborate with Jasmine. The path ahead seemed fraught with confusion and difficulty."Work isn't exhausting when both genders are present. You'll be working with a beautiful woman regularly. That's a win for men. You'll get what others don't. Why are you worried?" I commented, tinged with jealousy. It was his fault for being too handsome.Colin helplessly held my chin and lightly nibbled my lips. "Are you jealous again? If you think she's nice, I'll give her to you.""Tsk, I don't like women. You can keep her for yourself.""I don't want her either. What's the point of keeping such a woman? She may scheme against me until I have nothing left. I'd rather be with you. You only know to enjoy life and draw. That's much safer."His remark was no different from implyi
Jasmine spoke politely and respectfully, yet I couldn't help but detect a hint of pride in her tone.I couldn't help but pout with disdain. It was obvious she coveted a quiet environment, making it easier for her to scheme ways to win over Colin without detection.She spoke grandly, seemingly convinced she could conceal her less-than-honorable intentions."The old campus is far, location-wise. There are barely any visitors except for a few passionate art students, so it's very quiet. "Colin, however, has moved his office there for his college work. Students with academic questions will likely go to him there. It might make your boring office life a little more interesting."Jasmine paused for a moment before responding stiffly with a thank you.Only she knew the rage and resentment simmering beneath her gratitude. We'd fulfilled her request, and any further demands would make her seem greedy and calculating. It would be challenging to justify.After the call ended, I gave Ash a
Over the next few minutes, Jasmine's expression underwent several changes, shifting from pale to flushed with embarrassment and irritation.No matter how cunning she was, this outcome was completely unexpected. Yet, she couldn't find any fault with the setup. Objecting would be unreasonable, and declining the entire office altogether was out of the question.Jasmine had desired a separate office site to work with Colin. This room was large and spacious. Furthermore, it met her request perfectly, as no one else occupied it. It was no surprise that her expression darkened. It was also understandable that she became enraged since she wouldn't have the chance to manipulate or cozy up to Colin; I would keep an eye on her.Ash's plan was nothing short of genius. He'd masterfully thwarted Jasmine's scheme.My earlier blame toward him now felt unfounded. Relief washed over me at the thought of his magnanimity in forgiving me. Otherwise, I would have been too ashamed to face him.The tho
Jasmine's expression morphed into a caricature of hatred, like a movie villain poisoned by a potent concoction. Her teeth gnashed furiously, mirroring the rage she undoubtedly felt toward me. Anyone hearing such a description wouldn't struggle to imagine the depths of her loathing.I subtly nudged Colin to observe her reaction, but he simply stroked my hair with a casual air before settling next to me. He remained silent by my side, not even sparing her a glance.Since it was still early, I continued painting for a while. It was nearly 7:00 pm when my stomach growled. I reluctantly stopped painting to get food. Jasmine, too, wrapped up her work and took out her phone to make a call. As she waited for the call to go through, she stared at Colin next to me.I wondered if she was calling Colin. After all, she had been brazen in her attempts to snare Colin. A barrage of questions flooded my mind. Why was she neglecting her rehabilitation? Was a lifetime in a wheelchair truly a wor
"Jasmine is like a psychopath. When will she be normal again? Her constant schemes are getting tiresome," I lamented. "But I think it's rather enjoyable for us to deal with her together. We can't stop her anyway, so just treat it as a game of sorts."Colin was right. Dealing with a hypocritical woman could be a wonderful experience for us....Our dinner was a mini barbecue feast. I liked chicken better than mutton; I enjoyed eating it and often dipped it in the spicy sauce.Colin, on the other hand, had a lighter diet. Despite not being a fan of barbecue, he joined me. He only ate some vegetables, potatoes, cucumbers, and mushrooms. He reminded me to eat more vegetables when he noticed my penchant for spicy food. Just as I was requesting more sauce, Queenie called. Nearly a week had passed since Colin and I moved in together. I had previously agreed to video chat with her daily. But it was hard to implement because we were both so busy.By the time I finished work each day,
"Get lost, Lulu. You can't go a day without stirring up trouble, can you? I don't have the energy to deal with you. Get lost." Queenie clenched her fists tightly and cursed at me with a grimace.From her expression, I knew she disagreed with my words. Or perhaps she wanted to mask her gradually softening heart behind her dissatisfaction.Since she wanted me to leave, then so be it. I'd just get lost and leave space for them to nurture their relationship.After having a tiff with Queenie and giving Jasmine a good scolding, I let out a lot of pent-up frustration. My mood suddenly became much brighter. It seemed that swearing at people could make one feel healthier.I initially thought that with the college backing us up and professors supporting us, things would naturally progress favorably, and no one would disrupt my relationship with Colin. After all, we had support and weren't fighting alone.However, reality proved me wrong. I underestimated how far Jasmine would go to get what
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