"Truth be told, Professor King, I hate to give in just like that. But at this point, I'm sure Colin is looking for a solution, and I cannot think of a better alternative. Let's see where it leads now. Jasmine may be evil, but she did injure her legs to save Colin."By right, we owe her a favor. As long as she does not do anything outrageous, I'm willing to put up with her unreasonable arrangement. I'll just pretend that this is the repayment she asked for."Professor King nodded contentedly and patted my shoulder. Then, he turned to Felix."Felix, explain to your parents later so they won't get worried. Lulu, this will be a huge trial for you and Colin. But I have faith in your character and your resilience. Hang in there. Don't let me down. If you encounter a problem you cannot solve, you can turn to me.""Thank you, Professor King.""Oh, Xavier heard your plight and was so mad that he couldn't sleep at all. He kept saying he wanted to reason with the Taylors. If it's inappropria
I cheered up almost immediately. I was sure Colin would also feel better if he knew I was in their company. It was only by living a happier life that he wouldn't worry so much about me.Oh, I was so worried about Colin that I forgot to ask Queenie if she had accepted Andrew's confession and the beautiful ring.Now that I knew Colin was safe, it was time to talk to my best friend."Why are you waiting here? You could have come inside," I asked her, amused. Andrew was a student at the college. She could enter the campus with him. "Why should I? There are so many entries here. How would I know which one you picked? If we missed each other, we would waste time trying to look for each other. Also, can't you pick up your phone? Is your phone just a prop? I was worried sick about you because I thought you were in danger!"Queenie slapped my arm and protested. I seized the opportunity to look at her fingers—there was no ring. I raised my brows and looked at Andrew. Did he fail?However,
"Lulu, have you gone mad? That's two years, more than 700 days! You could easily lose count of the days. Knowing how cunning Jasmine is, she could have drugged or made Colin drunk one day. What makes you think that Colin can hold himself back?"He might be a disciplined man, but he is a man nonetheless. And men, they think with their genitals. There are scientific and historical studies proving that chaste men are often impotent."I shook my head. Why would scientists do this kind of research? Did they have too much time on their hands or something?"I'm sure it must be a congenital condition. Maybe the medical knowledge back then isn't advanced enough to find the root cause."Queenie's face turned red from frustration. She was trying her best not to choke me with her hands. "That's not the point. Are you that naive or what? If Colin fell for Jasmine's trap and slept with her, could you forgive him? How are you two going to face each other? Will it not bother you?"Would I be able
I keyed in the personalized password to unlock the video. Before I could mentally prepare myself for it, Colin's handsome face appeared on the screen. My heart skipped a beat, and tears flooded my eyes, rolling down my cheeks. My heart pounded even harder—his beguiling face often had this effect on me.I hadn't seen him for two weeks now. His sudden appearance overwhelmed me, and more tears gushed from my eyes. I felt like a lone boat on the ocean that found a lighthouse. No words could describe the sensation.He wore a dapper black blazer with a dark shirt underneath and a striped crimson tie. His facial features remained flawless, and the same starry eyes I dreamed of looked at me affectionately. He opened his sexy lips, and a husky voice said, "Babe, it's been so long. Do you miss me?"I miss you so much, every hour, every minute, every second. I miss you in my arms, the familiar scent of your hair, and the way your legs wrapped around my waist during sleep. When you're not here,
Alas, the screen was cold. Oh, what I'd do to caress Colin's body! Come back as soon as possible, Colin. I wanted to feel you!As I watched the video in which he reassured me by saying how well he was doing, more tears rolled down my cheeks. I missed him a lot, so much so that I might turn crazy.Please come back, Colin. Forget about the stupid favor you owed Jasmine.I watched the video many times. I stared at his face greedily and tried to memorize everything he said, searing his muscly body into my memory.I wouldn't let Colin down, and I hoped he wouldn't let me down either. Then, I put my phone away and bit the blanket as I cried silently into this lonely night. Tears turned my face into a mess, and my heart ached torturously.After I stopped crying, I began to compose my response. I poured in my heart and soul and expressed how deeply I loved him. In the end, I wrote seven messages. I wasn't sure if he could read them—I certainly hoped so.At the same time, I was trying to
After listening to Zara's message, I looked at the time. It was 6:45 am. Her parents should be awake by now. The dial tone rang for nearly 50 seconds before it was picked up. Mr. Lowe's breathy voice appeared, and he asked who I was.After I introduced myself, he gave me a hearty welcome and told me that Mrs. Lowe had gone to buy breakfast and would be back soon. I told him about Zara's training. He was so emotional that he croaked as he thanked me.Then, Mrs. Lowe took over the phone. When she heard Zara had become a policewoman, she was over the moon."It's all thanks to you, Lulu. Otherwise…" Mrs. Lowe choked on her words. "The breakup with Chris affected her a lot. I thought she would be depressed all her life but… Thank you so much, Lulu."It wasn't all me at all. Zara was brave enough to get back up and move on from her past. I didn't do anything. I couldn't possibly accept their gratitude. We talked for several minutes. They were reassured to hear that Zara was doing well.
"Lulu, do you believe everything he said? Colin grew up under my nose. I trust him that he will not do anything to hurt you. But this is a serious matter. How certain are you of the truth? What you see can be deceiving, let alone what you hear!"Let's assume that everything he said is true. You're young so one year isn't too long for you. You can wait, but no one knows what will happen within this year. Felix also grew up under my nose, and I used to trust him as much as I trusted Colin. However, he hurt you and broke your heart."Melinda, too. You know very well how much she loves you. Yet she caused you pain because of Felix, despite the decade-long bond you two shared. I'm not trying to turn you into a cynic, but I want you to understand the treacherous nature of humanity."Colin is a kind child. But no one can predict the future. No one can promise that they will never change. You know how tempting money and power can be to an ambitious man. You're my only daughter. We don't nee
"Okay," I croaked.Mom had succeeded in making me cry with just a phone call. Then, I heard Dad's voice. "Harper, are we having an omelet today? Because I think you just burnt it."Mom's embarrassed voice sounded from the phone. "Oops, sorry."I smiled with tears. Dad and Mom loved and trusted each other. Surely, Colin and I would be like that, too. I understood my mom's apprehension. She wasn't doubting Colin or holding any prejudice against him because Felix and Aunt Melinda used to hurt me.She was merely worried about me. She didn't want me to get hurt again. I had evidence to prove Colin's commitment, and if I showed Mom that video, her doubt would vanish.However, I couldn't do that. At the beginning of the video, Colin talked about serious matters, but anything beyond that was inappropriate for a child or my parents to watch. I couldn't show it to Mom.I cried a lot, so my eyes were red, and my face was messy. Therefore, I washed my face again and tidied myself before leav
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