This exclusive club, being a public venue, didn't permit loud shouting. So, I took off running toward the direction where the group had disappeared.However, the club's immense size posed a challenge. By the time I reached the other side, Colin had vanished without a trace. Despite exploring numerous small corridors, I found no indication of his whereabouts.Elegantly dressed patrons continued to come and go, some with smiles, others with blank expressions. But none of them bore any resemblance to the person I was desperately seeking.Colin had disappeared. Could I have possibly misidentified someone else as him?No, that couldn't be.My eyesight had undergone rigorous training, and Colin was etched in my memory. I knew his figure better than my own.It had to be him. There was no room for error.Luxurious private rooms filled the area near the lounge, forming an array of interconnected spaces. Colin couldn't have vanished into thin air; he must have entered one of these rooms.
A strong hand grabbed my wrist, effectively halting my frantic search. I looked up to see Matthew staring at me in surprise. Concern was evident in his eyes. In his eyes, I saw my own panicked reflection. My hair was disheveled, and I looked like a mess."Matthew, I... I..." At that moment, I realized how hard it was to speak coherently when you were distressed."What's wrong? You look awful. Matt, let go of her and give her a moment to calm down," Helen said as she approached from behind, gently patting my shoulder.Matthew released my wrist and stepped back, smiling apologetically.Helen grasped my shoulders and said gently, "Lulu, take a deep breath. Don't panic. Slow down and tell us what happened."I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, struggling to push down my anxiety. It took a good three minutes before I could collect myself."I just saw Colin, but when I tried to catch up to him, he vanished. I have a feeling he's in danger. "Helen, you're familiar with the people
It was clear that Jasmine had a sinister plan in motion—she wanted to be the one to deliver the antidote.Colin was in real danger of being taken advantage of.The conversation I overheard between the man and woman hinted at a nefarious scheme. They wanted to set someone up for a compromising situation.As the pieces fell into place, it became evident that Jasmine had orchestrated it all. By instructing the tall guy to drug Colin, she would ensure that she and Colin could consummate their relationship right under my nose.Jasmine's fixation on Colin had spiraled into madness, pushing her to desperate lengths.My heart plummeted, yet my mind remained razor-sharp. I had to admit that I was too impulsive last night. Her plan was cunning, her intentions poisonous. If she pulled it off, it would rewrite the endings of countless stories.Even if Colin held feelings for me, it seemed our narrative might meet an untimely end.His conscience could weigh heavy, forcing him into retreat. P
Helen said, "Exactly. Mr. White knows what kind of person Jasmine is. He wouldn't be foolish enough to let his guard down around her. Don't worry too much. Let's think of another plan."How could I not worry? What else could we do?I grabbed hold of a passing waiter, hoping he might have some answers. "Excuse me, where's your boss? I need to speak with him urgently.""Sorry, Miss, but our boss is out of the country on a business trip," he replied, offering a respectful nod."Then who's running things on this floor? Or in the surveillance room? Where can I find them?""Sorry, but it's after hours now. Can I help you with something?""I've got someone really important here, but I've lost track of which room he's in. He's in danger, and I need to find him. Can you check the surveillance footage for me? I have the exact time frame. All I need is to know his location. We'll handle the rest.""Sorry, but our clients' privacy is confidential here. We can't give out their whereabouts. O
I shrugged off Helen's grip and bolted toward the path, leaving her and Matthew trailing behind. Their anxious calls to be careful and wait for them echoed in the air.Helen was on her period, making it hard for her to keep up. Matthew, torn between attending to her and fretting over my safety, was drenched in sweat.But I couldn't give a damn about anything else. My sole focus was fixated on that damn closed door. Schemes and caution be damned! I'd never felt so clear-headed in my entire life.As long as Colin was okay, nothing else weighed on my mind. From now on, it was all about the ones I cared for. The rest? They didn't mean anything.Finally reaching Nimbus Hotel, I found Suite 5. Memories of being shut out made me push the door with caution. To my surprise, it budged, inching open.Inside, darkness swallowed the room. Even with my sharp eyes, I couldn't make out anything, let alone tell if Colin was in there. Was this a setup? I nudged the door open a bit more and stepped
The best solution was to take it upon myself."I'm willing, Colin. I'm willing."Before the words even settled, his arms wrapped around me, lifting me effortlessly. After the brief dizziness, I found myself on a luxurious bed, enveloped by his scorching embrace.His kisses grew more intense and commanding. His trembling fingers traced every contour of my skin, causing us both to shiver with anticipation as we embarked on a journey of unparalleled pleasure. I embraced the onslaught from my lover, willingly becoming his remedy.As we finally connected, a sharp pang shot through me, but his deep, intoxicating kiss stifled any scream.In the air, sparks ignited, bursting with vibrant colors. A rush of intense satisfaction surged through me from head to toe.I moved in tandem with my lover's embrace, experiencing a rollercoaster of sensations from pain to pure bliss.Surrendering to the rhythm, I was pushed to the bed's edge only to be pulled back and then pinned down with a raw inte
"Damn, that was rough." I bit my lip, trying to endure the soreness in my body as I attempted to move.Suddenly, a figure flashed over. The hand around my waist kneaded restlessly. "Baby, you're just as I imagined. So sweet-smelling, so soft… and you make me so enchanted. I didn't control my strength well. That's my fault. Here, let me massage it for you."My face flushed hot and red in an instant. Hastily, I reached out to grab that hand that was about to cause trouble again, but Colin countered and placed my hand on his slender waist.His skin was smooth, and his muscles were perfectly defined.I pinched his waist in protest, but the more I did it, the more I couldn't help myself. So, I quickly let go.Colin's tall and muscular body trembled slightly. I knew he was hiding his face in my hair to laugh secretly.After such satisfaction, of course, he would laugh.Seeing how pleased he was, if it weren't such a private matter, I bet he'd hold a press conference to announce it to
Suddenly, Colin drew back the curtains. The morning sunlight poured in, casting light upon the messy bed.I raised my arm to shield my eyes from the sun, but through the gaps between my fingers, I glimpsed the scratches on his muscular back.Some seemed deep enough to have broken the skin, with traces of blood seeping out. One must be crazy enough to scratch someone like that. I couldn't bear to look at the sight.Blushing deeply, I pulled up the blanket to cover myself, pretending that none of it had anything to do with me. But Colin still caught me.He glanced down at the oval bite marks on his chest, and once again, a wicked grin spread across his face. "It's surprising how my baby can be so gentle yet so wild. Baby, tell me. Did you enjoy it? Don't hide yourself. Tell me, was it enjoyable? Which position was the most enjoyable?"Damn it. I didn't know how to respond to that. I wondered if his students and colleagues knew he was so shameless.I gripped the blanket tightly, ref
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