"One step at a time? You're taking it too lightly. He's alone out there without anyone he can trust by his side. Aren't you afraid that the evil witch will get him when he isn't looking for a second?"Tugging my headphones, Queenie asked me a deep question. It appeared that she wouldn't let me off until I gave her a satisfactory answer.She wasn't forcing me but using her means to make me see the reality. Because of her question, my rather good mood sank into the pits.She was asking the obvious. Of course, I was more afraid than I could put into words!Lifelessly, I dragged my feet to the living room and plopped onto the couch in a daze. My spirits, which had somewhat received comfort from Professor King's plan during the day, plummeted again.Queenie's question was my biggest concern.I had trust in Colin's love for me. He would never do anything to hurt me, but Jasmine was different. Her aim was to make Colin hers and keep him forever. Even though she was aware that Colin ha
My heart shuddered. What did she mean by a special situation? Did she mean drunk, drugged, or hypnotized?I wondered if Queenie was truly my good friend. Why did she put a stake through my heart? I had been assuring myself that Colin would be fine, but here she came, sounding as though Colin would be in trouble. Was she here to comfort me or to make me more anxious?"I believe that Colin can control himself. As long as he's alive, he'll protect himself." Silently, I encouraged myself and also Colin.Whatever it was, I couldn't lose in morale. First, we would need to boost our morale before we had the confidence to take care of things afterward.Seeing how sure I was, Queenie kicked my calf in annoyance. "What makes you so sure?""Colin's love for me."For a moment, Queenie was dumbstruck. "Goodness! Lulu, why did you turn out like this after not seeing you for a mere few days? I don't think you're sure of the situation. Instead, you're just weak and useless!"Yes, she was righ
Andrew, who had been attending to the three of us, spoke to me seriously when he refilled Queenie's bowl, "Luna, if you need my help, I can ask my men to investigate it. Just let me know whenever you need help. I'm always ready."In other words, he promised to use his family's power to help when it was absolutely necessary. Queenie accepted the bowl of soup Andrew had graciously filled for her and smiled gently. She was pleased with Andrew's proposition.His words were the succor that stopped me from spiraling. I had a newfound clarity. Indeed, I was surrounded by good friends who were eager to help me. I was not alone.While Jasmine was powerful, she could not hold a candle to the Lamberts' influence. Andrew, Colin, and Xavier had told me that many times. And since Andrew wanted to marry one of my best friends, he wanted to get on my good side. To achieve that, he was willing to do me a favor.Now, he wasn't doing it just for me. He was doing it so that he could ask for Queenie's
My heart pounded faster, and I felt blood surging to my head. That was Colin—the Colin I had been pining over, worrying about the past few days. He looked safe and sound. He might have lost some weight, but the light in his eyes was still there.I took in his face greedily in the photo, quickly becoming emotional. Oh, Colin. He was perfectly fine. Why didn't he return my calls or reply to my texts? What happened to him? I caressed the face I missed so much until warm tears fell on my hands, searing my skin.The caption read, "Winter is cold, but I feel warm when I'm around you."Sheesh. Was she trying to promote a heater or something? As I cussed at her internally, she uploaded another post. The photo ignited my rage and made me furious.In the photo were two hands, one big and one small, wearing the same rings. The big hand belonged to Colin because the lucky bracelet I made for him was on the wrist. Needless to say, the smaller hand belonged to Jasmine.It was a cliché trick oft
Also, I ended the lucky bracelet with a square knot while the one on the hand in the photo was tied with a bowline knot. Even the color of the bracelet was slightly different.Jasmine truly did not think it through when she was pulling the trick. She must have assumed that I couldn't distinguish the differences and tried to fool me with a counterfeit. She thought she was smart, but her arrogance had just backfired on her. I wish I could be there to expose her embarrassing trick.Perhaps in her eyes, I was a foolish girl who relied on Colin for everything. She assumed that I knew nothing other than being possessive.After I posted my comment, people stopped commenting. Both Jasmine and I studied at Lincoln University, so we had many mutual friends. Those who commented knew that Jasmine had had a crush on Colin for many years.They were misled by Jasmine's post and offered their word of congratulations. Now, they had found out that it was just an elaborate scheme. I wondered what Jas
"It's a good citizen's responsibility to humble a scheming bitch." I shook hands with Zara, showing my solidarity. She laughed for a while before asking me a serious question, "Jasmine is rich and powerful. She might not be as beautiful as you, but she's above average."Those who date her won't have to work as hard to achieve a bright future. All men have their ambitions. No one in this world would turn a shortcut down. Colin is already a promising man. With Jasmine's help, he'll become successful almost immediately."Lulu, what makes you so sure he'll remain loyal to you forever?"Listening to her concerns, I was nearly moved to tears. Zara was right. Jasmine was a great catch, and many men would want to marry her. Yet Colin would never be one of those men.Why? Because Colin had integrity and humility. He craved success, but he preferred to earn it with his bare hands. He knew what he wanted and what he needed to do to achieve his goals. Most importantly, he loved me. A love th
Zara looked at me in shock for a while. Then, sadness briefly appeared on her face as she mumbled, "Urgh, I shouldn't have asked you that question because you're just going to flaunt your love with Colin in front of me. As someone who was recently dumped, I definitely didn't ask for this."If I catch myself running my mouth again, I should slap myself."The world was dark outside. And without sun, the wintry night was cold. Yet I felt warm because my heart was full of love. Recalling the moments I shared with Colin and the love he gave me, my heart was filled with tenderness.Oh, Colin. He loved me so much, and I loved him deeply too. We were fighting for our future together, so how could it ever fail? The hardships and setbacks would pass eventually. We would overcome them all. That was what I told myself.At night, I lay on the bed and scrolled my phone. I saw Colin's photo and learned that he was safe and sound. I felt triumphant after that fight with Jasmine because I had defen
My heart ached. Flynn had suffered the ordeal once and didn't want Colin and me to suffer it. His words also made me believe that he was still the arrogant lad who was in love with Queenie. Yet amidst the vicissitudes of life and the various temptations, he lost himself."Thank you.""Hang in there. If you need me, call me. I'm available 24/7.""Okay."It felt assuring to know that many people wanted to help me in this predicament. We'd all face a bumpy journey here and there. But by persevering and clinging to our roots, we would survive it no matter how daunting it looked.I fell asleep soundly, and the next morning, I felt revitalized. The sky outside was extra sunny too. My breakfast was on the table, alongside a small note, "Lulu, I've gone to my training. I'll let you know when it's over. Take care of yourself when I'm not around."If you encounter any danger, call the police or contact Winston. Also, you must do your squats for at least an hour every day!"I understood wh
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