"You sleep like a baby. I want to devour you." Colin's husky, magnetic voice murmured in my ear. I could hear the eagerness and restraint in his tone. I could even feel the warmth of his breath on the back of my ear. The crisp scent filled my nose. It felt so real, as if he was right beside me. I reached out and hugged him with all my strength. Then, I thought to myself that this dream felt too real, more real than any before. It was too good to be true.I yearned so desperately for Colin's embrace. We didn't have to do anything; I just wanted to hold him like this. Pressing against his chest, I wanted to listen to his strong heartbeat and inhale his crisp pine scent. That would be enough.Even in the dream, I knew that I was asleep. Everything before my eyes was a beautiful dream, but it felt so real as if Colin was right next to me. It was as if all I needed to do was to open my eyes to see him.So, I tried hard to open my eyes to confirm that this dreamlike scene was real
So, where did this thing on my neck come from?I quickly felt up my neck and found a small flower on a chain. The uneven texture left me utterly shocked.Emotions surged as I nervously caressed the chain. A suspicion formed in my mind that I could hardly believe.In my dream, Colin had placed an orchid necklace around my neck. The pendant in my hand was also a tiny orchid. So, last night wasn't just a dream!I leaped out of bed. A small square box poked into my palm when I propped myself up with my right hand. I opened it and found a set of high-quality brushes with soft, hard, and pointed bristles. Beside it lay a flat, paper box containing a very old book. The pages were worn, and even the corners were frayed, revealing an ancient paint recipe without a title page.No other words were needed. It had to be that Colin was back. His gentle calls to me in my dream were real.He had come to see me, but I had slept through it like a log, mistaking our long-awaited reunion for a mer
Mom yelled at the top of her lungs, making my ears pound in pain and my head spin. When would she ever treat me as gently as she did Dad? Instead, she always shouted at me. I guessed that was just another one of my unrealistic dreams."Lulu, you usually could even hear an ant crawling, so how did you sleep through such an important moment? We couldn't even wake you by pinching you! What kind of sleep were you in?" Dad held Mom's shoulders, silently comforting her while giving me a look of utter disdain.I was just asleep. How could that be my fault? It was all because of that damn pill. Who knew one pill would knock me out like that? The instruction manual didn't say it would."I couldn't sleep, so I took Dad's sleeping pill." I sobbed, finally admitting the truth.Mom and Dad stared at me with incredulous looks for a full minute, then exchanged bewildered glances before both silently left the room. They left me on my lonesome. I was stunned. What kind of parents were they? N
My mood was the brightest it had been in two months.This good mood lasted until Uncle Austin and Aunt Melinda came to visit us for New Year's with Felix tagging along. Since the incident with Felix, our families had grown distant. We now barely greeted one another, and that was only if we happened to meet. Otherwise, we'd never initiate contact.We weren't thrilled about their visit, but we put on good expressions for Colin's sake, especially since they were all smiles and full of well-wishes. There was also another important reason we let them in. I wanted to ask about Colin. Due to Jasmine's terms, Colin and I couldn't contact each other directly, but there were no restrictions on his family visiting.To my surprise, Hannah bounced in behind Felix, cheerful and unreserved. After greeting everyone, she clung to me, calling me "Luna" in the sweetest voice."Hannah? What's going on? Are you here to make an announcement?" I whispered to her when I found a chance.Her face flush
Felix was a real piece of work, a bona fide jerk.But when he mentioned Colin, my spirits soared. I tossed aside my toy and ignored Felix's snarky remarks. Leaning in with anticipation, I asked, "So spill it. What's Colin up to?"He shot me a disdainful glare, then flopped onto the couch with an air of indifference. "Colin came back yesterday afternoon, trailed by Jasmine's goons to keep tabs on him. He had this grand plan to get them sloshed at New Year's dinner. But those two could hold their liquor like champs. They drained my dad's top-shelf booze and still begged for more. "Eventually, my old man had to slip some sleeping pills into their drinks to knock 'em out cold, giving Colin the chance to sneak out and meet you."I had a hunch Colin went through a lot of trouble for this rendezvous. "So what's the deal, then?"Felix suddenly raised his voice, startling me. "He wanted me to check if you were crying and to tell you he'd find another chance to meet you, but you have to
No matter how great a birthday celebration might be, it just couldn't hold a candle to having Colin by my side."I have some unfinished business to wrap up. Birthday or not, it's no biggie." I shrugged, feeling nonchalant."Don't count yourself out just yet. Hannah's swinging by the day after tomorrow, and you're coming with us. We'll have dinner to celebrate. Heard she's got a surprise birthday treat for you," Felix insisted.Having Hannah around would usually lift my spirits, but I wasn't feeling it this time. "Maybe later. I have too much on my plate right now," I replied, my tone flat.Felix kept at it, trying to sway me with his charm and goodwill. But I held my ground, rejecting his offer for a joint family dinner. Then came his final blow. "I'll swing by the day after tomorrow morning to pick you up with your parents. Consider it a done deal. Bye."With a click, the line went dead.Tossing the phone aside, frustration surged through me like a tidal wave. Who had the band
I said goodbye to my parents with a twinge of regret for not whipping up one last meal for them. Then, I slung my knapsack over my shoulder and set off from home once more. Nico and I agreed to meet at the college before heading to Lagado together. But upon arriving, I discovered it wasn't just us two. Professor King and the couple, Matthew and Helen, were joining us.The mix seemed peculiar, but Nico filled me in—Professor King was off to a class reunion while Matthew was showing his new wife the ropes of his family business.At first, it was just Nico and me, and I felt a bit uneasy about it. But with three more familiar faces joining our crew, I found myself breathing easier. And having Helen along for the ride meant there'd be no shortage of lively conversations to keep the journey from feeling too lonely.When we rolled into Lagado, we checked into a pre-booked five-star hotel.Nico and I had originally planned to opt for a clean and safe guesthouse to cut costs. It wasn't
As long as Colin saw the post, he would know I was here. He was sharp. He would definitely get what I was trying to say.Whether he felt anxious or worried or even if my presence here could cause him some trouble, the fact remained that I was close by. Even if we couldn't meet, we could still look up at the same blue sky and breathe in the same city's air. It was almost like being together, and that was good enough.Over dinner, Nico mentioned that the next day was Independence Day, so we were taking the day off and picking up the mineral hunt the day after.I didn't mind. Since we started the lab, Nico had put in way more effort than I had, really showing how important he was. As his junior, it was only natural for me to follow his lead.Upon hearing I had no plans, Professor King insisted I accompany him to tomorrow's gathering. I felt awkward and declined. Why should a junior like me intrude on his classmates' reunion? I'd heard such gatherings often harbored secrets, and I
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