Zoey was worse. She didn't look at me at all. She kept talking to Aaron about me. Her disdainful gaze angered me.At critical moments, my best friends were useless.I felt sad. It felt as if everyone was targeting me. What did I do wrong? Could someone give me a hint?Even if a criminal received a death sentence, he would know which law he broke. It didn't make sense that I offended everyone just by passing a love letter. What did I do wrong?Confused, I returned to my seat. Staring at the table full of food, I didn't have any appetite.Colin remained silent with a straight face. He continued to drink alcohol and did not stop.Everyone pretended to be busy eating. The atmosphere at the table became heavy and uncanny.Bravely, Eden brought up topics to lighten the atmosphere. However, he was stunned by Colin's gaze. In the end, he pretended to be mute and focused on eating.During the meal, Colin didn't even spare me a glance.I knew Colin was angry at me. It was the first time
I couldn't do anything about other people ignoring me, but I was sure Colin couldn't continue to ignore me.The texts were sent one after another."Colin, were you happy today?"Colin, do you think my gift was too cheap? Is that why you don't like it? I'll buy an expensive one for you tomorrow. What do you want?"Colin, that restaurant's food is delicious. I want to eat there on my birthday, too."Colin, why are you angry? Can't you tell me the reason? I'm too stupid. I can't think of it."Colin, why didn't you want to go karaoke? I practiced songs for you."…I sent more than ten messages, but I didn't receive a single reply.Since he didn't want to reply to my messages, I could only call him.When I called him, I realized his phone was turned off.It seemed that Colin was extremely angry this time. But I didn't do anything I shouldn't do.I thought about it until 11:00 pm, but I still didn't know how I angered him. Maybe he was on his period, so his mood wasn't stable. I
At that moment, I panicked. Pulling out my phone, I called several people. I called everyone close to Colin whose numbers I knew, but no one picked up my call.Not wanting to give up, I called Aaron and Eden repeatedly. But none of them picked up.Were they pretending to be missing?Did something happen to Collin?At once, I ran to the studio in the research institute, passing through corridors and gardens.When I arrived, I realized the door to the studio was closed. No matter how many times I knocked, no one responded.I couldn't find Colin anywhere.My world was crushed.Defeatedly, I returned to the dormitory. Without eating anything, I went to sleep.There were no classes in the afternoon, so I slept until 5:00 pm. When I woke up, my stomach was rumbling.Colin said that he wanted me to gain weight and that I shouldn't skip any meals.I admitted that I was doing it on purpose. I wanted to starve myself. Since Colin wanted me to gain weight, he would do something if he k
"Right? I feel pity watching her pretending to be strong.""Why don't we help her? I feel bad seeing her in this state.""There are some things she should figure out herself. Besides…"I accidentally stepped on something. The sound alerted Queenie and Zoey. With foam on their faces, they were stunned."I came back to take my phone. I'll be leaving now. Queenie, Zoey, I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry," I said calmly with a smile.Actually, I wasn't really upset that Colin no longer cared about me. I just felt empty.It was fine, though.It was just a reenactment of the past. If I could persevere through the first time, I could do the same again.Besides, Colin and I did not promise each other anything.I thought that he must have found out Lilac was his family after calling his parents. As an outsider, he had already done a lot by taking care of me for such a long time. I shouldn't be greedy.I didn't blame Colin, as it was my fate.There were four cafeterias for studen
I was sure Colin was ignoring me for a reason.In the past, he'd treated me so well. I shouldn't make things difficult for him.Thus, I didn't call him again. Instead, I tried getting used to taking care of myself. I was scared that someone would say I was shameless once more.I was using my way to maintain my pitiful dignity.Actually, I thought about it before. No matter how great Colin treated me, he was still Felix's brother. He wouldn't have a fallout or draw a clear line with me for me and Felix.In the past, when I was friends with Felix, I'd lost to love.At this time, when I was friends with Colin, I lost to family.Thinking about it, I was quite pitiful.It was fine during the day. Many people came and went by. My attention could be diverted.On the other hand, it was tough during the night. I had a lot of free time after dinner. I didn't want my emotions to affect my roommates, so I sat somewhere in the corner of the campus. Usually, I would sit there for a few hour
Maybe I was afraid of hearing the answer. What if it wasn't what I wanted? I would be heartbroken for a long time.I had gotten used to Colin's company. If he suddenly left, I would definitely be sad and heartbroken.On the sixth day, in the morning, everyone had woken up except me. It was only then that Queenie realized something was wrong with me.I was conscious. I could hear the surrounding noises, but I couldn't open my eyes. My head was pounding, and every bone in my body hurt.I heard Queenie and Zoey discussing something in a low voice."She's burning up. Will she become an idiot?""She always sat in the wind. How could she not have caught a cold? Will she become an idiot? She already is one.""Let's not waste any more time. Hurry up and bring her to the infirmary. We can't leave her be.""We can't carry her. Why is she so tall? Call someone for help."My headache became more severe. My consciousness was also becoming blurry. Before I fell into darkness, I heard someon
"Alright. Be good now. There are no buts. You've already angered me without realizing it. I have yet to get even with you."You were out of my care for only a few days. How did you get so much slimmer? It took a lot of effort for me to fatten you up a little."You went and reversed all my work. Are you trying to be a skeleton?"I don't want to be a skeleton.Turning my head around arrogantly, I pretended that I didn't care if he was there. He had no right to say that to me."On that note, why aren't you eating?" Colin reached out to flick my forehead. However, I managed to twist my head and avoid it."I've already eaten. I do eat every day. Colin, you don't have to humor me here. You can go and accompany Jasmine." I sniffed, feeling slightly angry."I'm alright on my own."I did eat every day. But I was still becoming slimmer each day. I felt like it was such a waste of food since it did not help."How can you tell me you've eaten when you're all skin and bones? "That's enou
I struggled to break free from his embrace, wanting to hide under my sheets.I hated myself for acting like this and always crying. I felt weak.I did not want to be someone like Lilac, who always used her tears as a weapon against people.Colin laughed and caught me firmly. He pressed his forehead against mine. His voice was hoarse and slightly seductive. "So, are you still going to help deliver other people's love letters?"I shook my head obediently. "No.""Will you still try to help me find a lover?""No. Colin, I'm sorry." I apologized obediently.I finally understood what happened. Colin was angry at me for delivering another woman's letter.Now that I thought back about it, I had indeed acted too hastily.Colin had never told me about what kind of girls he liked. I could have been ruining Colin's chances at happiness by sending him all those letters."Alright. I know you're a good girl. I would also like to apologize to you. I shouldn't have left you alone for so man
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