Colin told me Lagado was just a part of the Taylors' current collaboration with the college and that the previous run-in with Jasmine had only happened because she was here to lay the groundwork.The Taylors were planning to turn the mountainside into a villa area. They had specially picked out a village within a reasonable distance of the city that boasted fine countryside views for surveillance purposes.This was the village where the mudslide had happened.The project was centered on creating a neighborhood of colonial-style villas and thus included the development and reconstruction of the village. The design proposal was already underway, but a development like this required forcing out the current occupants of the village. The villagers did not want to leave behind the place where generations of their family had lived, and relocating them would be a challenge. Jasmine had bravely volunteered to take on the task. She had her reasons. The head of the Taylor family had pr
I never asked for money, power, or status. I never needed our love story to be something for the ages. So why was it so hard for my wish to come true?I wondered if there were others in the world whose love life was as plagued with troubles and obstacles as mine. If not, then what had I done to deserve such hardship?Jasmine was brazenly pursuing Colin, a man already in a relationship, and she was scheming to steal him from me. Why should I have to put up with the psychological abuse coming from this? What sort of world did we live in?My mother once told me love was as hard as life; both required careful nurturing. I hadn't taken her seriously before, believing that love was simple and needed nothing more than two people who cared deeply for each other.Now, I had to admit that love needed to be nurtured, and it took more than two people who cared for each other to make it last.Colin then told me he would be assigned to survey a remote area for the project and that reception
I couldn't help but wonder if Colin expected his trip this time to be exceptionally long. Neither Colin nor Ash had given me a clear timeframe for his return. As I glanced at the steaming bowl of oatmeal, Colin's message and location from a few hours ago came to mind. "I'm heading to the construction site. I heard the signal's spotty. I'll be cautious. Don't worry, I'll contact you once I've got a signal."I checked the latitude and longitude from the location pin. It was in a suburban area with overgrown weeds and dense trees. There was not a road in sight. It was undeveloped land. What could Colin, a designer, need to work on?My knowledge of civil engineering was limited, but from my understanding, the initial stages of a project typically require a professional architect team, not an artist. Colin's job focused on designing and crafting colonial-style elements that were added to a building after the main construction was complete. It was an on-site production. Unlike my Tudor p
Juggling my studies, my students, and the nearing completion of my project left me with no room for neglect. Colin's situation, while concerning, was something I couldn't directly control. The best course of action was to accept it and focus on what I could do. Patience and trust were key. I would wait and pray for Colin's safe return. Yet, I couldn't help but think that the dream of being with him felt distant. My head felt constantly stuffy and painful. Tears threatened to spill over, but I swallowed them back. Chaotic images flashed before my eyes. I told myself not to overthink, but my mind raced on.I couldn't keep crying because it wouldn't change the situation. It only proved that I was weak. Plus, those who cared about me weren't here to comfort me. What would I be crying for? However, what else could I do besides crying?It was dreadful to grow up. One would have to experience endless pain, helplessness, and challenges. I was once admired by many juniors and proud of
I headed to Colin's office after class to prepare for the next day's lesson. Finding it hard to concentrate, I set the mouse aside and sat at his desk to daydream.Suddenly, the sound of a cup being placed on the table brought me back to reality. Mr. Walker smiled and offered me a sip of water.Without thinking, I took a huge gulp, only to realize the water was warm. It settled in my stomach, instantly clearing my mind.I recalled my poor performance in the earlier class and felt utterly ashamed. I failed in my duties as a lecturer. If Colin had been there, he would have done a much better job than I did.My parents and Colin would be disappointed to learn that I failed at such a simple task. It seemed like I had much to learn. After finally making it through the day, I had no appetite for dinner or interest in going to Crystal House. All I could think about was Colin's safety. When I returned to the apartment, I collapsed onto the bed, unable to move. I stared at my phone, looking a
"I'm... fine... don't cry... not hurt... I'm really fine, baby." The last sentence came through the clearest. I finally heaved a sigh of relief. Just as I wanted to say more, the call abruptly ended. I found the line unreachable when I tried to call back.Nevertheless, at least Colin had responded and reassured me of his well-being. However, this sense of assurance was fleeting.Jasmine remained like a thorn lodged in my throat, causing me anguish with every thought. While Colin remained loyal to me, who knew what Jasmine would do to him after facing rejection? She harbored deep resentment and malicious intentions. Now that Colin was in Jasmine's territory, what obstacles orembarrassments might she throw in his way? Alone and isolated, Colin would have no one to turn to for advice or support. It must be incredibly tough for him.Jasmine was bound to take action; otherwise, she wouldn't have established such an elaborate scheme. My emotions worsened with each passing thought. I felt
I forced myself to focus on productive matters, unwilling to engage in pointless conversation with Winston. I didn't feel like talking, so I bent down to pick up the things from the ground and handed them to him. Quietly, I went to my easel, lifted the canvas draped over it, and sat down to gather my thoughts."Say, Ms. Luna, you look disheartened. You don't look too good. What happened?" Winston seemed to notice my unusual state of mind as he followed me back into the room. He stood beside me, watching me pick up my paintbrush, puzzled.Perhaps everyone was accustomed to my carefree demeanor. So, my sudden dejection and exhaustion surprised him. My hand, already holding the brush, paused momentarily. When I left, I had only tidied my hair without washing my face. The telltale traces of traces must have been too obvious for Winston to miss. Rubbing my face with my left hand, I firmly massaged my neck. I tried to appear more composed. "It's nothing. I'm just hungry," I replied
"I'll walk you back. We can talk along the way." Felix walked and took the lead. His hands habitually tucked in his pockets, relaxed and carefree."No need. I'm fine on my own." I rejected Felix without hesitation.Walking alone on campus at this late hour indeed posed a danger, but Felix himself was the embodiment of danger. I'd rather run back home than have him escort me, as he seemed scarier than any unknown peril.He stopped in his tracks, half-turning to face me. He smiled defeatedly. "So you really can't forget that incident, huh?"If it were you, could you forget?I took a step back, intending to walk around him. "I have a good memory. I can't help it."He pinched the bridge of his nose, clicked his tongue, and then looked at me briefly before speaking again. "I sincerely want to escort you back. Don't overthink it. The fact that you will be my sister-in-law is set in stone. We're destined to be family. So, my dearest sister-in-law, do you plan to treat me this way for
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