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
Back then, our neighbors always seemed so envious of my dad's aquarium. Hence, I assumed his tank was one of the best. I used to brag about it to friends. I even invited them over so they could admire it.For the longest time, "the aquarium at Luna's" would always be mentioned whenever they spoke to their parents.However, after seeing the tank today, I came to the realization that there were too many things that I had yet to come across in this world. I didn't think such a grand aquarium existed. In front of the massive tank, my height of five foot five seemed relatively small. I looked up to admire a violet-colored fish. Its dress-like tail shimmered with its every movement and looked extremely beautiful. I could never get tired of watching beautiful things. I was incredibly entranced by the sight before someone let out a stifled laugh. Then, they patted my shoulder and asked, "What are you staring at?"I turned around and saw Helen. Matthew stood behind her, donning a full bl
I had turned on live location sharing. If he wanted to meet me, he'd be able to find me. I placed myself in a location where he could easily spot me. Once he did, his bright eyes would lock onto mine, and he'd flash me a delighted smile.What I needed to do was just to stay put and wait for a miracle to happen.I had a nagging feeling that he would appear. It was my birthday, and we had a promise—he said he wouldn't miss a single one of them.I didn't know how long I sat waiting. My eyes were dry and tired from staring at the door. The sky grew dark, and Colin still hadn't shown up.I felt upset and disappointed. I remembered his promise like it was yesterday, but it seemed like he was breaking it this year.I took out my phone. My parents had each sent me a message wishing me a happy birthday. Zara and Queenie did the same. I even received a lengthy message from Winston, but I ignored it.Hannah sent me an angry emoji before following up with a "Happy birthday". Then, she remind
The bigwigs started to take me seriously after hearing Professor King's praise and the Tudor style's undeniable impact. They each praised me for my accomplishments at such a young age. It was astonishing for them—how the young generation was surpassing the older one.Of course, I didn't take their praise at face value. Every word they said was influenced by the professor's standing. Professor King asked me to show respect to the seniors present by toasting each of them individually. I wasn't feeling particularly happy and didn't feel like drinking. But I couldn't disobey the professor, so I picked up my glass and gave a toast to each person. The opportunity to toast these bigwigs might seem small. But I actually understood that it wasn't an opportunity anyone could have. If not for Professor King, it would likely take me ten years to earn such an honor.He was doing everything he could to pave the way for me. It was a favor that no one could ask for, and I was immensely grateful
I knew that the person who arranged all of this had to be him. Could it be that the person I waited so long for at the club had actually been here, waiting for my return all along?Walking along the narrow path, tears that I had been holding back for so long finally streamed down my face. The emotions I had been suppressing for so long suddenly burst forth uncontrollably at that moment. All the unspoken longing, the unexpressed love, and the sorrow of not being able to embrace transformed into tears, flowing freely.I desperately wanted him to appear before me. I wanted him to be standing amidst the flowers and smiling at me. His eyes would sparkle, and his gaze would fall warmly upon me. He would be looking at me with tears in his eyes.I would rush and throw myself into his arms without hesitation. I could imagine hugging his slim waist, feeling the contours of his abs, and basking in his passionate love.As I walked further into the room, I saw a life-sized portrait of myself
No other man in this world would ever put so much effort into celebrating my birthday. My dad loved me dearly, but his attention and effort were always focused on my mom. Only Colin had a heart full of love solely for me.He gave me an unforgettable birthday in his own unique way, filled with warmth and romance. He knew I was here, and he came to see me. Even though he couldn't hug me in person, I could feel his love and devotion in every flower and every molecule of air.A warm current surged through my heart, spreading joy and comfort. On this particular day, I was filled with happiness and gratitude.Pulling out my phone, I captured the opulence of the room with a single click and posted the photo on social media. My caption was a simple but heartfelt, "Thank you, my love!"This time, I didn't restrict the post to be visible only to Colin. I wanted to share my happiness with everyone and let them know that I was deeply loved.I wanted to make it clear that the man who loved m
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