As for me, I was locked in a pigsty by the buyer, surrounded by heaps of pig dung. A short, filthy man kept urging me to submit to him, promising that if I bore him a son, I could sleep in the house with him and avoid further suffering.I thought seriously about it and decided that if it ever came to that, I would rather die than endure such humiliation.Tears welled up in my eyes, but I bit my lip to keep them from falling. I clenched my cold fingers in fear and glanced repeatedly at the door, calculating my chances of escaping. However, the wilderness was vast and unfamiliar, making the path to freedom uncertain.Soon, it was mealtime. Nico buzzed around like a bee, serving food and drink in a manner that seemed overly hospitable. I was beginning to suspect this was a deliberate ploy to win me over and make me feel at ease.What scared me the most was when Zuri suddenly appeared with a bottle of unknown liquor. He bit off the cap and poured the liquid into several white porcela
Besides, if Nico was also being deceived like me, we might be able to form an alliance and plan an escape together. I could only hope he wasn't a bad person and wouldn't betray me.With so much on my mind, I was too anxious to eat more than a few shaky bites.Elijah sighed. "I forgot you city folks are used to fine food. I doubt you can handle these simple dishes." He then turned to look at his wife, saying, "Ava, get some goat milk for the city girl. We don't want her going hungry on her visit here."I forced a polite smile. "Well, great… Thank you, sir, for the kind hospitality…"After the meal, there wasn't much entertainment in the countryside, so we all gathered around the TV. Ava brought me a chair with a thick cushion and beckoned me to sit. "Here, sit on this. It's soft and comfy. The show's about to start."The chair was just the right height, and the cushion was indeed soft and comfortable. However, I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles, my mind racing with tho
Colin cleared his throat, suppressing a laugh, and gently reassured me, "It's okay. Just go to sleep. I'll stay with you.""Promise me you won't hang up until I'm asleep," I pleaded."Alright," Colin agreed softly.I was truly exhausted. Selfishly ignoring Colin's evident weariness, I fell into a deep sleep lulled by his deep voice.With Colin's voice as my companion, I slept peacefully. I was no longer afraid and didn't have any nightmares. Instead, I dreamt that I was immersed in a sea of flowers, surrounded by their fragrant scent.I woke up at 6:00 am. As soon as I opened my eyes and saw the dark ceiling, the terrifying events of the previous night came rushing back. It wasn't until I pulled back the covers to see myself still fully clothed that I could take a deep breath, calming my racing heart.After getting ready, I opened the door to find Ava quietly preparing breakfast in the kitchen. She greeted me with a welcoming smile, "Good morning, dear. There's hot water in tha
I felt terrible for my wild thoughts from the previous night. I couldn't believe I had mistaken these kind, elderly folks for human traffickers.As Ava spoke, Nico chimed in with his own playful jab, teasing that I was too shy to eat and that I was a pampered child from the city who couldn't handle any hardship.Colin sat beside me, trying hard to suppress his laughter, his ears turning red from the effort. If it weren't for my constant warning glances, he might have blurted out the truth, and I would have been the butt of everyone's joke.Despite my frustration, I couldn't say anything directly. To keep Colin in check, I subtly stepped on his foot, warning him to behave.Alas, Colin caught my leg the next time I tried and propped it on his own lengthy limb, even mischievously pinching my calf as a final taunt.With my body halfway suspended in the air, I was too afraid to move for fear of tumbling to the ground. I quickly sat upright and focused on my meal, not daring to try anyt
Seeing Colin so exhausted, I couldn't imagine asking him to carry me. That would make me the worst girlfriend in history."I'm not tired. I've been practicing my self-defense skills with Zara, and we could do squats for an hour. My stamina is really good now, and I can walk for miles!" I boasted to Colin, holding his hand and bouncing with excitement."Are you tired, Colin? When we get back, I'll give you a massage so you can have a nice, restful sleep," I offered.Colin replied, "I am a bit tired, but it's not too bad. I can still manage. But Baby, you better keep your promise. I'm looking forward to that massage. I won't be able to sleep well without it."I gazed at him. "Of course, I won't forget! You're tired because of me. How could I not repay such kindness?"With a playful glint in his eye, Colin asked, "Oh, really? And just how does my baby plan to repay her husband's kindness?"I cocked my head, trying to think of a good way to repay him, but nothing came to mind. "You t
When I finally dragged my heavy, leaden legs to an open area, I understood why Colin had asked me that question and why the path seemed so familiar.This was the valley where Colin had been teaching, where heavy rains had triggered the mudslides, and where Jasmine had saved him.A rush of emotions overwhelmed me—love, hate, and something indescribably complex.I loved that the cruel forces of nature hadn't taken Colin's life, but I hated that this was where his entanglement with Jasmine began.With a look of surprise, I turned to Colin. His eyes seemed to glimmer with warmth as he pointed to the newly constructed buildings. "The last disaster caught the attention of many kind-hearted people. They rallied support and raised funds to build a new school for the children in a safer location. "Construction has already started and is expected to be completed before the rainy season. These new buildings will serve as temporary classrooms until then."I uttered, "That's great! Now, they
Although we had filled our backpacks with samples, we hadn't actually covered much ground. The mountain range extended ahead of us, with the same reddish hue permeating the entire landscape. This indicated a rich vein of mineral deposits in this region.Nico and I were both thrilled. If the results were what we hoped for, all the hard work would be worth it. Despite the challenges we had faced in recent weeks, our steps felt lighter with renewed hope.At the final sample site, the surrounding hills had transformed into a vivid reddish hue, extending to the tree branches wedged between the rocks. Looking ahead, the mountains stretching endlessly into the distance were all the same color.Everyone was stunned, and Zuri was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. Nico had previously mentioned that if the reserves were sufficient, it could pave the way for large-scale mining.If that were the case, Zuri's dream of bringing the younger generation back to work in the village could b
I understood the urgency of a 30-year-old man, but we couldn't get carried away with an audience present. The thought of anyone hearing us was mortifying.This wasn't our well-insulated apartment—a flimsy, poorly sealed door was all that separated us from the outside world. Every sound we made would be crystal clear to those nearby, making it feel like we were broadcasting live.No matter how bold I was, I couldn't bring myself to do it under these circumstances. However, Colin's persistence was overwhelming. Nothing I said could convince him. Once the beast within him was unleashed, there was no reining it without satiating its hunger.Realizing there was no escape, I decided to face the challenge head-on. If we were careful, maybe we wouldn't be heard. Attempting to calm Colin, I agreed to intimacy with strict discretion. We had to control ourselves and make as little noise as possible.Colin agreed quickly, but his body had already taken charge, leaving me unable to contro
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