Didn't Winston choose to distance himself from me? He was the one who started calling me "Ms. Luna". Yet he was suddenly acting like we were best of friends. What was he up to?Why couldn't he just say what he wanted? Did he really have to wink and make faces like that? I already had Zara with me. I didn't need him to walk me home.He insisted on walking with us despite our refusal. So, he walked with us until we reached my apartment. Chris rushed toward us as soon as I locked the door. He grabbed Zara's arm and started babbling, "Zara, don't push your luck. I already promised to have another discussion about our engagement. Why are you still making a fuss? "I have been friends with her for over 20 years, and she has no other friends in this city. How could I stand by and watch when she's in trouble? Since when did you become so selfish and unreasonable? "I'll have you know that this is the last time I'm doing this. If you don't come home with me, don't blame me for whatever
Chris watched as he kissed the woman feverishly in the video, and his face immediately paled. He was in shock and enraged. He was also incredibly embarrassed about being publicly exposed. However, he wasn't sorry at all. "How dare you stalk me, Luna? How wicked of you to sabotage the relationship between me and Zara like this!"I had nothing to say. Zara was better off without him. He was ruthless and cold. He didn't deserve her love.Fortunately, he cheated before they got married. Hence, it wasn't the worst-case scenario. She was able to prevent further losses.Winston also leaned over to take a peek. After he realized who the people in the video were, he had already punched Chris in the face.Chris was entirely focused on the video. He was so adamant about trying to take my phone from me that the punch caught him off guard. The blow landed right on his face. He instantly jolted awake at the pain. He instinctively put a hand over where he was struck before spitting out a mo
"Felix White?" Wide-eyed, Zara exclaimed. She shot me a quick glance before promptly shielding me from him. She stared at him cautiously. With her right foot forward, she assumed an offensive stance and said, "What do you want?"Zara had been athletically gifted as a child. She picked up kickboxing at the age of five and received quite a few awards since then. Most men wouldn't be able to get within reach of her. Going against Felix, who was as skinny as a twig, was hardly a challenge.During high school, no one in our entire friend group was ever picked on because of her. At the smallest inconvenience that we encounter, she would promptly jump to our defense. The reputation of her intimidating kicks terrorized the entire school. When I was berated by Felix back then, she had wanted to beat him up multiple times. However, I stopped her from doing so. I wasn't afraid, nor did I feel bad for him. I just didn't want her to waste her energy on my personal matters.With Zara present,
My head was a mess. It was filled with endless thoughts and worries. "Are you wearing enough layers, Colin? Please remember to keep yourself warm! Also, I miss you. Could you send me a photo?" I sent a text.There was no response. My chest felt constricted. I felt like crying, but my eyes were so dry they couldn't form any tears.Zara exited the shower and caught me blanking out. She promptly sat down next to me and pinched my cheeks. "Don't overthink it. We know what kind of person he is," she comforted me softly.I held my phone in front of her. She lowered her eyes and took a quick glance. Her gaze lingered for a moment before she said, "In the digital age, it's so easy to create a false impression via a single photo. "Even if there is something going on, Colin would definitely tell you about it in person. You need to trust his character, as well as your taste in men—at least after you turned 20."I used to worship Felix like a god before I turned 18. That essentially me
I held back a laugh. How could it not sound familiar? They had the same surname.Based on her expression, it didn't seem like she was lying. She didn't know who Winston was. I still felt like something was going on between them, though. It was odd that they got into a fight right after they met at the airport. They didn't even ask for each other's names.I wanted to know the truth really badly. Hence, I promptly sent Winston a text. I asked him if he was back at his dorm yet. I also asked if he was injured while subtly asking if he knew Chris.Half an hour passed, and I received no response. Tired of waiting, I cast my phone aside and headed to sleep.We studied at the same college and painted at Crystal House together. There were plenty of opportunities to meet. There was no rush. I would just ask him when I was able to get around to it.It didn't matter who Winston was. It wouldn't change the fact that Zara broke up with a cheating bastard.I had a chaotic dream. Some of the
Unfortunately, he had underestimated Zara. Perhaps it would've been more fitting to say that he never got to know her at all. When he used brute force on her, she utilized her experience in martial arts and flipped him over her shoulder.After he let out a pained cry, Chris lay on the ground. Fighting back the pain that was coursing through his body, he shot Zara a look of disbelief and exclaimed, "Did you just hit me?"Zara dusted her body. Then, she jabbed her finger toward him and said, "Do you know how well I've been treating you for the last few years now? I'm warning you. Stay away from me, or else." Her tone was calm but laced with a hint of sarcasm.After she turned to leave, I followed suit. I was utterly impressed by her shoulder throw. Instead of signing up for a defense class, I wanted to learn directly from her instead. With enough practice, I, too, would definitely be able to flip someone over like she did.Slightly concerned, I reached out to take her hand in mine.
Surprised by my question, Winston paused. But he answered truthfully, "That jerk is my uncle's second son. He used to be an outstanding guy, and my parents always told me to take him as a role model. Who knew he'd go astray and embarrass the Moyers?"It turned out that Chris was Winston's cousin. That meant they were as close as biological brothers."He always has the same poker face, never smiles, and acts all high and mighty. In reality, he's just using his cold appearance to hide his dirty and vile heart. But some people still choose to stay with him and think he's someone they can trust for life. Love sure is blind."As Winston said the last sentence, he grew agitated. He raised his hand and angrily snapped a branch off a nearby tree."Who's that someone you're talking about?" I quickly picked up on the key point.He would probably give me a vague answer."Your best friend. Who else? Despite never feeling loved, she wasted so many years on him. It's such a waste of time."He
That evening, I shared the story with Zara over dinner, but she didn't seem surprised. She simply said that she never wanted anything to do with Chris again. It didn't matter to her who got punished or how severely. She was focused on serving the public now.Zara had found a job. She had a fifth-degree black belt in kickboxing and was a law graduate with excellent grades. She was hired by the city's police department for her impressive academic record, clean background, strong combat skills, sharp mind, quick reflexes, and high loyalty. After passing her probation period, she would become an official officer.Zara seemed slightly happier after finding a job. She smiled more often now and confidently said she would be the best officer. It looked like she was gradually forgetting the pain Chris had brought her.Soon, she would move on and start a new life like Queenie.However, I couldn't shake the feeling that Winston was interested in Zara. On the other hand, Zara seemed not only
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